Tributes to Scott Skinner and Nancy Sherman • Pages 14 –15

J anuary 9 – J anuary 22 2019

A I
D T
O C E C V I
A V T S A T S S
&
IN THIS ISSUE: Non-Citizen Voting Effort Began with a Single Push
Pg. 8 Lankum at the Barre by Tom Brown
Opera House

Pg. 10 Women’s March
Vermont
Pg. 11 Lobbyists at State
House on the Rise
U.S. Postage PAID
T
his issue of The Bridge focuses on activists and advocates,
many of whom are paid by lobbying firms or nonprofit
organizations to advance a variety of causes. Here in
Montpelier, however, one persistent person can still toss a pebble
that ripples into the lives of real people.
That was the case with one city resident, Roberta Garland, who
tossed the stone that will, pending legislative approval, give
residents of Montpelier who are not U.S. citizens the right to
vote in municipal elections by as soon as Town Meeting Day this
March.
Garland, a neophyte in the ways of municipal governance,
contacted City Clerk John Odum, whom she credits with helping
to facilitate discussions that led to the question ultimately being
put to voters.
Odum said he had been asked before, mostly by residents with
foreign-born spouses, about non-citizen voting, and he usually
answered that he didn’t think it was possible. But in researching
the idea further he found precedent for non-citizen voting in
Maryland and other places and became curious whether it might
fly in Montpelier. Takoma Park, Maryland, has allowed the

Permit NO. 123

Montpelier, VT

practice since 1992, and the law has weathered several challenges.
PRSRT STD

While the idea of non-citizen voting is not original, and she had
ECRWSS

plenty of help along the way, it was Garland who initiated the
petition that led to a city charter change vote in November that
would allow non-U.S. citizens who live in Montpelier the right to
vote in city elections, such as for mayor or the municipal budget.
Voters approved the ballot item, 2,857–1,488, or 65.7 percent of
votes cast in favor. The proposed charter change would not allow
non-citizens to vote in state, federal, or school-related elections,
the latter due to Roxbury’s membership in the Montpelier school
district. It also does not apply to people who are in the U.S.
illegally. It’s unclear how many Montpelier residents would be
affected by the change, but the number would likely be small.
For Garland and other supporters the issue is one of fairness, she
said, explaining that non-citizens contribute to and are part of the
community and are welcomed to participate in city life right up
until Election Day.
Montpelier, VT 05601
“I said ‘Let’s talk about it,’” Odum said. “I thought is was a
fascinating conversation to have. The vote itself I thought was a
real affirmative statement of the values of the city.” He helped to
connect Garland with others who had inquired about the issue and
soon the petition was launched.
Garland’s interest has a familial origin as well, owing to the fact
that her wife, Maike, is a Norwegian citizen and the two lived
in that country for a while where she, Roberta, had voting rights
under a non-resident visa.
“My wife can’t vote here and through this process I’ve gotten to
meet other people who are not U.S. citizens but have lived here a
long time and are paying taxes to the city and can’t vote,” she said.
“I spoke with one person who said their father would have loved
this because he was not a U.S. citizen but he lived in Montpelier
for years and years and would have loved to vote and feel 100

“It's about fairness and inclusivity and justice for people who are percent part of the culture. You feel part of the community until
involved in the community,” she said. “It's about giving people a Election Day and then you are excluded, which doesn’t seem
real sense of belonging rather than saying you can belong until right.”
P.O. Box 1143

this point but, sorry, you can't belong here.”

The Bridge

Continued on Page 3

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

PAG E 2 • J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 THE BRIDGE
HEARD ON THE STREET
Kizy Opens on Barre Street
The former home of Beau Butchery on Barre Street has found a new tenant and is now
open for lunch. Helmed by Kismet owner Crystal Maderia, “Kizy” echoes the cuisine of
its big sister on State Street, serving a gourmet menu of pesto-rye tartines with avocado
or cheese, grain bowls, kale salads, broth and noodle bowls, coddled eggs, and smoked
veggie hash Wednesday through Friday, 11 am–2:30 pm. For Maderia, the return to the
space is somewhat of a homecoming. It is where Kismet originally opened its doors in
2006, and the dishes reflect those originally served there, with the addition of a juice bar.
A refrigerator and grab-and-go case have fresh-pressed juices, grain bowls, and broths for
take away.
Kellogg-Hubbard Executive Director Retiring
Tom McKone, executive director of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library for the past five years,
has announced he will be retiring at the end of June. McKone started as interim direc-
tor during the library’s search for a new director back in 2014 and was asked to stay on
permanently. During his tenure, he has worked successfully with the Board of Trustees to
establish financial and operational stability after a period of change at the library. Board
President Steve Gold said they have an active search committee, which is planning for a
replacement, and will have a hiring committee in place this month. The search and hir-
ing process will take place this winter and spring.
School Board to Review Proposed After-School Program Change
After a flurry of concern that the long-standing Community Connections after-school
programs will be replaced by a private sector contractor from Chittenden County, the
Montpelier-Roxbury School Board has established an advisory committee to review
the situation. Concerned parents, responding to the issue raised in a discussion on the
“Friends of Montpelier Schools” Facebook page, made a strong showing at the January
2 meeting of the school board. Parents explained that the decision by Superintendent
Libby Bonesteel to change the management of the program was made without sufficient
notice to or discussion with the community. The board voted unanimously to create an
advisory committee to establish what is important to the community for this program
and report back to the board. The committee will be made up of two board members
(Bridget Asay and Jim Murphy volunteered), two parents, two students, Superintendent
Bonesteel, and two staff members. Parents interested in serving on the committee should
email board chairperson Jim Murphy: jimmurphy@mpsvt.org
Sen. Doyle’s Wife Struck While Crossing Street
The wife of former Washington County Sen. Bill Doyle and a friend were struck by a
car while crossing Main Street on Saturday evening, according to a Montpelier Police
Department news release. Olene Doyle, 86, and Janet Kacewicz, 64, were struck as they
crossed Main Street near the Savoy Theater at about 5:30 pm. They were not using a
crosswalk when they were hit by a vehicle traveling south on Main Street, the release said.
The driver was identified as Jonah Bronstein, 43, of Calais. Police said speed or alcohol
were not factors in the incident.
Open Seat for District 3 City Council
No one has filed signatures as of yet to run for the District 3 City Council seat being
vacated by Rosie Krueger, who is not seeking reelection. Councilors Jack McCullough
in District 2 and Ashley Hill in District 3 have indicated that they will seek reelection in
March. Incumbent school board member Steve Hintgen is running for reelection, and
Andrew Stein, who was appointed to a seat vacated by Peter Sterling, said he will seek
election to a full term. Candidates must file signatures by January 31 to appear on the
March ballot. The number of signatures required are 25 for city offices and the Central
Vermont Public Safety Authority board, and 30 for school offices.
The Bridge wishes to extend its heartfelt gratitude to John
Lazenby, to took the photo for our 25th Anniversary issue and
was erroneously (if not criminally) not given a photo credit.
Nature Watch
by Nona Estrin
Artwork by Nona Estrin
I
nfrequent dustings of snow on ice create poor skiing but great tracking.
We get a look at what's plentiful this year, and no surprise—squirrels
everywhere. Lots of turkey, low on hare, low on fisher. Shrews out
though, and coyotes, fox and mice about average. All the above, and
we ourselves, dependent on pollinators doing their work a season away,
producing the seeds, berries and plants that sustain us now. This year, in
the legislature, another chance to address use of certain pesticides, and
rally around this fragile and vital balance we call life.
T H E B R I D G E J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 • PAG E 3

Non-Citizen Voting Effort Began with a Single Push Continued from Page 1

The next step is for the state legislature to approve the non-citizen voting charter change, a
process that could be completed in time for Town Meeting Day in March, although that is
far from a certainty. Rep. Warren Kitzmiller (D-Montpelier), who is the ranking member of
the House Committee on Government Operations, said he expects to introduce a bill that
combines both of Montpelier's charter change requests (the other would give the city council
the right to ban some single-use plastic bags) in the early days of the current biennium. His
committee is the first stop for bills dealing with changes to city charters.

“It is realistic to think it can be done before town meeting,” Kitzmiller said, putting the
odds at about 40 percent. “If we act quickly, before the committee gets buried later in the
session, it's conceivable.”

Kitzmiller said he and fellow Rep. Mary Hooper (D-Montpelier) support both Montpelier
charter changes, noting that the committee is “loath to tell towns they can't have something
they already voted on.”

Garland said she learned much from this journey and encountered relatively little resistance
to the idea while canvassing for signatures. A few people argued that their ancestors had
to earn U.S. citizenship in order to vote and so should our more recent immigrants, but
Garland says times have changed.

“Some people cannot become U.S. citizens without giving up their citizenship of birth
and for some reason they may not want to cut that tie,” she said. “Some are on a track to
citizenship and it can take a long time, depending on your situation. There are a variety of
reasons why people aren’t currently citizens but they are in Montpelier at this point and this
is their city.”

Should the charter change be approved, the next step might be to approach the school board
to extend non-citizen voting rights to those issues as well, Garland said. That would require
a similar vote in Roxbury at the very least.

“Implementation will be the bar for success but there is a success here in getting this on the
ballot,” Odum said. "All it takes is one person to get it started."
Photo by Tom Brown
The Bridge wish to apologize for placing an incorrect byline in our previous issue.
The story "Wild Animals, Like Humans, Employ Many Strategies to Survive
Winter" was not written by Louis Porter, but Tom Rogers. Our apologies to Tom.

Bridge Community Media, Inc.

P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601 • Ph: 802-223-5112
Editor in Chief: Mike Dunphy
Managing Editor: Tom Brown
Publisher Emeritus: Nat Frothingham
Copy Editor: Larry Floersch
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PAG E 4 • J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 THE BRIDGE

A Walk Through the French Block Apartments Photos By Mike Dunphy

T H E B R I D G E J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 • PAG E 5
Derelict Dam Removal Opens New Habitat for Wild Trout
By Bret Ladago, fisheries biologist in the Fish & Wildlife Department
Photos by Brett Ladago
F
riends of the Winooski River has completed plans
to remove a crumbling dam from Bull Run in
Northfield, opening up more than 25 miles of
high-quality streams for wild trout.
The dam was constructed in the 1920s to create
a reservoir for swimming and boating at a private
summer camp. The reservoir was drained in the 1970s,
leaving a broken dam with tons of sediment backed
up behind it. The property now belongs to Jonathan
and Lisa Burr, who operate The Woods Lodge. Their
land has been badly damaged by flooding over the past
decade, and they look forward to removal of the dam
and restoration of a more natural stream through the
scenic forest surrounding their lodge.
In 2011, Tropical Storm Irene caused Bull Run to run
wild. It tore through the recreation area at The Woods
Lodge and deposited a lot of mud in the pool. It took
until well into the summer of 2013 to restore the
pool and lawn to usable condition, just in time to be
destroyed by another heavy flood.
“We lost the ability to access the river and the banks
and to promote that as an amenity for our guests,”
said Lisa Burr. “This project will give us an accessible
natural area for our guests to enjoy Bull Run, and
hopefully bring more anglers to Northfield.”
Plans to remove the dam include the removal of more
than 20,000 cubic yards of the sediment that has
built up behind the dam over the past century. The
Burrs’ swimming pool will also be removed during the
project. A new channel will be constructed for Bull
Run, with trees and shrubs planted along the stream
and throughout the floodplain to encourage the stream
to settle into its new course; to provide shade, because
fish like cold water; and to improve habitat for wildlife
and birds.
The presence of the deteriorating dam and large
amount of built-up sediment is a major risk to
downstream habitat, water quality, private property,
and infrastructure. If the dam fails, the mass of
sediment would suddenly flow downstream, making
the water turbid and smothering fish habitat. The
sediment would fill the channel and displace water,
which would cause more erosion of downstream land.
The erosion would eat away at private property and
could damage roads and bridges.
One important goal for removal of the dam is to
naturalize sediment transport so that material regularly
moves downstream during floods. A sediment-starved
channel, which is common downstream of dams, can
lead to down-cutting and bank collapse. Sediment
naturally moving down the river channel is important
for maintaining bank stability and for creating in-
stream habitat. Gravel rolling down the river bed over
time creates important spawning habitat for wild fish.
A natural river without dams is a safer and healthier
river.
Bull Run is home to abundant wild (naturally
reproducing) trout, including brook trout, brown trout,
and rainbow trout. Dams block fish movement and
interrupt natural stream processes that provide good
habitat and food for fish. Trout move for a variety of
reasons and have been known to travel long distances
to spawn, seek food, or find cold water.
A recent study within the Battenkill in Southern
Vermont showed movement of brown trout of up to
nine miles. As dams block this movement, trout can no
longer move upstream to find suitable spawning habitat,
escape warm water temperatures, or seek adequate
food. By removing the Camp Wihakowi Dam, the
connection to upstream habitat will be restored and
that will improve trout populations throughout Bull
Run.
The design work has been completed by Milone &
MacBroom of Waterbury, the same firm that engineered
the removal of the East Burke Dam and the restoration
of the Dog River floodplain at the Water Street park
in Northfield. The work was funded by grants from
the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the
Department of Environmental Conservation. Friends
of the Winooski River will seek permits and funding
for removal of the dam in 2019.
PAG E 6 • J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 THE BRIDGE

School Page By Libby Bonesteel January 2019

Photos courtesy of MRPS

B
udgeting for the next school year is in full
swing at Montpelier-Roxbury Public Schools
(MRPS). As town meeting fast approaches,
the school administration and board have been hard
at work putting together a budget that represents the
needs in our school community as well as puts build-
ing blocks in place to develop our capacity in future
years.
With four new administrators this school year, the
budgeting process was one of collaboration, evalua-
tion, and prioritizing immediate needs. While The
Bridge has done a previous piece on expected tax rates
and various statewide influences on those tax rates,
the district has put together a quick FAQ outlining
some of the priorities in this budget.
How does the district determine staffing needs?
For classroom teachers we are guided by board policy
on class size. Board policies can be found at mrpsvt.
org. Principals take ample time going through each
position together to clarify and prioritize needs across
buildings.
Why hire a human resource coordinator?
We are an organization with a $24 million budget.
The majority of this funding goes directly to the sala-
ries and benefits of our 240 staff members. Taking
care of our staff members is a priority. We also need
a point person to ensure the district is following all
labor and health care laws. The position would essen-
tially build expertise in all personnel matters, includ-
ing hiring a more diverse workforce and increasing
our efficiency.
What will busing for Main Street Middle School
look like?
Bus routes have not been determined for MSMS.
This process is typically done in late spring or sum-
mer by the bus company. Should the community sup-
port this budget, more information will be coming
concerning busing routes and services.
What would the social emotional learning coordi-
nator do?
The leadership team has pinpointed a need to build
the capacity of our staff regarding the social emo-
tional learning of our students. Part of this position
would be like a coach who works with teachers in
developing skills to build relationships and routines
with students who display more challenging behav-
iors. Another responsibility of this position would be
to guide the district in developing programming to
support students in need of building social emotional
skills.
Why is the district proposing a study for language
immersion?
Montpelier High School students and staff enjoyed a
Language immersion has been a desire of many in the
few rounds of bowling at the Twin City Family Fun
community for awhile. Developing an entirely new
Center celebrating Unified Sports.
program is not an easy task, and going down this
road will require quite a bit of planning with people
who have supported other districts with language im-
mersion. The intention of this funding is to take the
time to learn and follow an implementation process
that can sustain the test of time.
What is happening with facility renovation?
The playground and vestibule project at Union El-
ementary School are in full swing and, barring any
surprises, will be completed prior to next school year.
Bids will be going out for the remainder of the bond
projects at MHS and UES. In addition there will be a
separate article to vote on for a capital fund for other
needed renovation work.

Frog dissection right before a vacation! Engaged

MSMS students at work.
Superintendent’s Corner

A
s I sit here thinking about what I would like to share with the community in my inaugural
Superintendent’s Corner in The Bridge, the music of my playlist in the background seems to
be guiding me. The randomness of a playlist is be a good analogy for the first six months of
any new superintendent’s tenure in a school district. David Bowie is telling me all about “ch-ch-ch-ch-
changes.” The Indigo Girls sing of the folly involved with solving any kind of problem by sticking in
the right formula. Louis Armstrong reminds me “what a wonderful world” we live in.
Since I was hired in June, time has been nothing short of a whirlwind, filled with building relation-
ships with some amazing new colleagues and students, learning a different set of systems and struc-
tures, and beginning to work through challenges the district faces. One thing is certain—Bowie, The
Indigo Girls, and Louis Armstrong are onto something—change is a constant, there is no one, right
formula for solving every problem, and we do, indeed live in a wonderful world filled with puzzles,
humor, candor, and resilience.
For this month’s column, I wanted to take the opportunity to re-introduce myself to the community.
In future columns, this space will be used to give quick introductions to new ideas and discuss chal- Visiting artist Brendan Taaffe works with students at
lenges the district is problem-solving. Each month, all four schools will give a shout out to the fabu- Roxbury Village School. Students combined story-
lous things happening in our hallways and classrooms. We’re looking forward to sharing our news telling, drawing skills, and Abenaki history into a
with you! fabulous presentation.
T H E B R I D G E J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 • PAG E 7
A Bear Pond Books Winter Reading List
T
here’s an abundance of great books out
this winter that we’re reading and loving
at Bear Pond Books. One that Claire and
Cora both recommend is Inheritance by Dani
Shapiro. In the exceptionally well-written memoir,
Shapiro finds out through genetic testing that her
deceased father is not actually her biological father.
The implications for Shapiro, who identifies very
strongly with her deep Jewish roots, and the
process she goes through to find out who her
biological father is, are thoughtfully and honestly
portrayed. Cora calls the story “incredibly
moving. Her discovery and all its resulting
impacts on her sense of who she is, her struggle
to reconcile her memories of her parents with
what she now knows, and her approaching of her
biological father and his family with apprehension
and tenacity—I found myself with a lump in my
throat many times.”
George is raving about All That Heaven Allows: A
Biography of Rock Hudson by Mark Griffin, which
he calls the first sympathetic biography of the
legendary actor. “It’s a complete portrait one of
the nicest people in the world. Plus there’s a lot of
gossip.”
Claire enjoyed the new novel The Perfect Liar by Tom Greene, president of the Vermont
College of Fine Arts. It’s the story of a newly married couple who move to Burlington
from New York City to be welcomed by mysterious notes left on their front door. It’s a
wonderfully twisty thriller that will keep you turning pages. Winter of the Witch is also
by a Vermonter, Katherine Arden, and it completes the popular Winternight trilogy.
We predict the long-awaited Bowlaway by beloved author Elizabeth McCracken will be
a popular book this winter, too. Rob is looking forward to The Border by Don Winslow,
the final book in his Power of the Dog trilogy about the criminal underworld behind
the war on drugs. Rob says of the trilogy: “They’re exciting and timely and good for
people who enjoy action, adventure, and intrigue.”
Jane’s picks from the Children’s Room include Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta
By Claire Benedict, owner of Bear Pond Books
and Cori McCarthy. It’s the story of King Arthur
reborn as a teenage girl, who will do anything to
find her parents, even start a revolution. It’s a wild
intergalactic ride that is also LGBTQIA-friendly.
Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers returns
to the world of medieval France in this alt-
historical fantasy in which French court intrigue
is complexly woven into the lives of two sisters—
young assassins trained undercover in St. Mortain’s
convent. Intelligent feminist characters smartly
balance the royal drama and romance.
In Pay Attention, Carter Jones, author Gary
Schmidt delivers yet another heartfelt and funny
middle-grade novel in which Carter, beleaguered
by the death of his little brother, the father who
doesn’t seem to miss him, and good old middle
school, gets jolted to life by the appearance on
their doorstep of a proper British butler, sent to
help out his family.
A number of staff favorites are also coming out
in paperback soon, which means widening the
audience even further. Some that we’re particularly
excited about getting in the hands of readers are
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, and How
Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky.
A mini-trend we’ll be seeing this year is books by presidential hopefuls. If a politician
has a new book out, you can bet they are planning to run for president. Kamala
Harris’s book The Truths We Hold: An American Journey comes out this month, joining
Kirsten Gillibrand's children’s picture book Bold and Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won
Women the Right To Vote. Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Julian Castro, and Joe Biden
all have books on the shelves, as well.
In other news about political books, this month the government’s big report on climate
change, “The Fourth National Climate Assessment Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and
Adaptation in the United States,” that was released in November, is being published,
and a new Trump White House tell-all called Team of Vipers, by Cliff Sims will be
making big headlines.
PAG E 8 • J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 THE BRIDGE

Lankum Brings Irish Folk with a Bite to The Barre Opera House
By Mike Dunphy

“What will we do when we have no with his wife, Hilari Farrington, leads
money?” asks the opening track of Photo courtesy of Barre Opera House the weekly Irish sessions at Bagitos in
Lankum’s 2017 breakthrough album, Montpelier. “His work is held in very
Between the Earth and Sky—called high regard amongst pipers.”
“brilliant, raw, detonating folk” by The The show is the last of the short,
Guardian newspaper. The question sets six-date tour that also lands in
the edge for the collection of tracks Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, and
that tells tales of poverty and pain, Massachusetts. After the huge stages
fight fascists and militarism, and pine and bright spotlights of back home,
for lost love. Indeed, the last words of playing in smaller places to people
the album, in the song “Willow Sky,” who may not know the band or music
depict a hanging. “And now it’s time is a welcome exercise in humility for
to leave you all / It’s time to say my Lynch. “It’s definitely important to put
goodbye / For they are going to stretch things into perspective and definitely
me up / Between the Earth and sky.” keep a sense of humility about these
While tragedy may fill the songs of things,” Lynch reflects. “To go back
Lankum, great cheer has followed their to places like this and play in smaller
career in the past few years, bringing venues where people don’t really know
enormous success in the United who we are or not necessarily care—
Kingdom and Ireland to the four stops your head getting too big, really.”
members—brothers Ian and Daragh It’s also reminiscent of the majority of
Lynch, Cormac MacDiarmada, and their career, which only saw success
Radie Peat. That’s translated into relatively recently. “For years and
appearances on the countries’ top years we would play anywhere that
stages, from the Royal Albert Hall in would have us; we played in dive bars;
London to Vicar Street in Dublin, and we played in squats, anywhere at all.
TV shows such as Later...with Jools It’s only relatively recently that we’ve
Holland. With the attention has also started to play these bigger venues, like
come a slew of awards including the the Royal Albert Hall.”
2018 BBC Radio Folk Awards for “Best
Group” and “Best Original Song,” the As for presenting themselves to an
RTÉ Radio 1 (the Irish broadcasting American audience, Lynch doesn’t give
network) Folk Award for “Best Folk it much thought. “As far as coming to
Group,” and “Best Folk Singer.” the States now, it’s a bit of a blank slate. I suppose we’ll be going about what we reckon
is a true representation of all the different aspects of our music, to give people a taste of
This Saturday, January 12, Vermont is lucky to welcome “the most convincing band all the different elements of what we do.” It also gives the band a free space to work out
to come out of Ireland in years” to the stage of the Barre Opera House on their first new material. “There’s no better way to get material as tight as just playing it on tour.”
official tour of the United States—and first experience of Vermont.
Many of those elements come with a bite, not just in the song selection and lyrics,
“I don’t really know anything at all about Vermont, to be honest,” says Ian Lynch, the but voice and instrumentation. Peat’s husky vocals carry the weight of Johnny Cash
group’s piper and co-founder. “I think I came across it mentioned in an H.P. Lovecraft while riding on sparse, gently rolling waves of Uilleann pipes, concertina, accordion,
story once or twice, and that would probably be the extent of my knowledge.” He was, fiddle, guitar, viola, harmonium, and tin whistle—conjuring images and sensations
however, well aware of master pipe maker and player, Benedict Koehler, who, along of wistful, gray Irish seascapes, or the quiet, whiskey-blushed afterhours of a Dublin
night. “It’s probably not a conscious decision,” Lynch explains, “but the songs we do
arranging, the traditional songs, they do tend more to the darker side of things.”
Some of that edge goes to the old field recordings of traveler singers that Lynch loves.
“I think they would all have that edge as well. In the past, things sound to me a lot
more rough and ready. That’s something you wouldn’t really hear so much in this
genre of music these days; things a lot cleaner and a bit more polished.”
It was one of those old field recordings, “False Lankum,” about a child-murdering
villain, that gave the band its name. “It’s really one of my favorite recordings that
I’ve ever come across. It was made by a song collector here in Ireland named Tom
Munnelly. He made a recording of a desperately impoverished man named John
Reilly, who sang this 24‒25-verse ballad. It’s amazing because the song is almost
completely cinematic, singing about these lords and ladies, betrayal, murder, and
everything else. You can hear his kids messing about in the background, it’s just a
very, very atmospheric recording. For us it just represents different things; we thought
it worked well.”
While Lynch is extremely grateful—and even somewhat surprised—by the band’s
immense success, he tries to keep his focus on the root impetus for the band. “We
didn’t set out to do any of this. We were just four friends who got together and wanted
to make music that we love. As far as I’m concerned, the other three people in the
band are some of my favorite musicians in the world, and I just love spending time
making music with them. I just want to carry on what we’re doing, which is making
music that we like. That’s the bottom line.”
Lankum plays the Barre Opera House on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 pm. Tickets for
Lankum are $26. Order online at barreoperahouse.org or call the Barre Opera House
at (802) 476-8188. The Opera House is handicapped accessible and equipped for the
hearing impaired.
T H E B R I D G E J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 • PAG E 9

Parking Garage Opponents Seek Non-binding

Vote at Town Meeting By Tom Brown
Text of Proposed Non-Binding Ballot Item
Shall the City Council withhold spending of the $10.5 million (Ten Million Five

A
Hundred Thousand Dollars), as authorized in Article 1 of the November 6, 2018,
group of Montpelier Official Ballot, until the following shall occur:
residents who were
dissatisfied with the pace of 1. That, for the benefit of downtown merchants and other businesses, there is a
a November bond vote for a $10.5 written commitment by the City to provide sufficient remote parking spaces and
million parking garage are asking transportation services to the downtown during the construction phase;
the city to voluntarily meet a series
of conditions on the project. 2. That it is clearly shown that there will be safe, continuous public sidewalks
The group intends to place a non- and bike lanes along the road leading to and from the entrance of the garage from
binding question on the March State Street;
Town Meeting Day ballot that
asks the city to withhold funding 3. That the comprehensive traffic study required by the Development Review
for the project until their list of Board in its December 13, 2018 decision is completed immediately, not one year
seven criteria are met. They are not later;
asking for a revote on the bond,
as the deadline for filing such a 4. That soil remediation on the site is completed and the findings and cost of this
request has passed. The results of work be made public;
the March ballot item would be
advisory, meaning the city would 5. That the bid process is completed with the costs of the successful bid being
be under no obligation to abide by the conditions even if passed. within the bond limits;
Voters in the November General Election approved construction of the four-story
structure, which would be built behind Capitol Plaza Hotel in conjunction with an 6. That all State and municipal permits and sub-permits, including water quality
81-room Hampton Inn and Suites hotel, by a vote of 2,459–1,877. The 348-space permits if required, have been issued and any appeals resolved;
garage would require no increase in property taxes and the $10.5 million bond would
be paid through parking fees and the proceeds of a new Tax Increment Financing 7. That a public report projecting operating costs and revenues over the expected
(TIF) development district. life of the garage, including pay down of the bond, is completed by an independ-
ent accountant who has experience in public parking garage operations.
Critics of the garage project had complained before the November vote that the process
was moving too fast and information was, in some cases, incomplete. The concerns
spelled out in the proposed ballot item have to do with alternative parking during
the garage and hotel construction, sidewalk and bike path safety, contaminated soil
remediation, bidding, permitting, and a breakdown of costs.
Most of those issues were addressed by City Manager Bill Fraser during the runup to
the November vote, but petition organizer Rebecca Davison said the group wants the
city to provide “more depth” to the details.
“There are still things that need to be done,” Davison said. “The process was very
quick and we think that looking at the things we have listed are important steps for
this development or any development.”
She said the group hopes to meet with Mayor Anne Watson as soon as possible, even
as it collects the 311 signatures needed to place the question on the March ballot. The
deadline for submitting the petition is January 24. The group earlier filed for party
status in the city’s Development Review Board’s permit process questioning whether
the garage project conformed with the city’s master plan, among other things. The
board granted the permit with conditions in December.
“We are looking forward to having a conversation with Anne and getting as much
information as we can,” she said.
Watson said she was eager to meet with them, too, regardless of whether the proposal
is binding, and plans to contact the group this week.
“It is great when people have specific, well-thought-out concerns that can make the
project even stronger,” Watson said. “Even if it’s not binding there is a lot of good that
can come out of this conversation.”
Fraser said the city is already meeting most of the conditions on the proposed list and
is happy to discuss the issues with the group.
“Even if it’s advisory and it passes, we have a moral obligation to respond and we are
hoping to comply with all of them,” he said. “We’re doing most of them anyway.”
He did express concerns with some of the specifics of the group’s request, such as a
traffic study, saying the city recently completed one and the purpose of doing a second
study a year after the project is complete is to determine whether the initial study was
accurate in predicting the project’s impact on traffic. Regardless he said the group’s
concerns should be addressed.
“Communication and conversation is always better,” he said.
Next up? An Act 250 hearing by the District 5 Environmental Commission on the
combined hotel-garage project is set for January 16.
PAG E 10 • J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 THE BRIDGE

Women’s March Vermont Expands its Plan for Local Action

By Sarah Davin

O
n January 21, 2017, at Vermont’s first Women’s March, former Vermont Gov. Courtesy of Women’s March Vermont
Madeleine Kunin spoke to a crowd of more than 15,000 attendees: “We are not
alone in our fear; we are not alone in our despair, and we are not alone in our
grief for what might have been. We are together in our strength and in our determination.
And why are we here? What are we marching for? We march for respect.”
The Women’s March returns to Montpelier for the third time on January 19 to continue
its campaign for equality and dignity for all. This year, the organization is incorporating
new tactics, starting with expanding beyond being a once-a-year event in favor of a
year-round call to action. Unlike previous years, the Women’s March Vermont plans on
taking the step of paying speakers for their time. Kristen Vrancken, one of the organizers
of the Women’s March Vermont explained, “Our speakers are predominantly women of
color who have been asked to pour their hearts out there and have received no financial
compensation for doing so. Paying a small speaker fee is the least we feel we can do.”
This year marks a change of tactics for the Vermont chapter of the Women’s March.
The Women’s March mission is to draw attention to a broad set of issues, from equal
pay to immigration, LGBTQIA rights to climate change, and Black Lives Matter to
sexual violence. The Women’s March in Vermont hopes to take this one step forward
by embracing a Vermont-centered legislative agenda. “We would like to see the Equal
Rights Amendment codified in Vermont law,” said Vrancken. In addition, Women’s
March Vermont supports two different reproductive freedom initiatives that Planned
Parenthood has been working on and would like to see a Vermont constitutional
amendment to legalize abortion in the state.
While all of the issues represented by the Women’s March are important, one particular
topic feels especially urgent. “Where we feel the focus really needs to be amplified is
on the significant uptick in hate crimes, white supremacists, and neo-Nazi activity,
nationally, but certainly in Vermont as well. We think that this is something folks need to
be made aware of, and we need to come together as a community to support marginalized
communities,” Vrancken elaborated. According to the FBI’s hate crime statistics, 34 hate
crimes were reported in Vermont in 2017. That is more than four times more than in
2015, when only eight hate crimes were reported.

This is not the first time that Women’s March Vermont has taken a stand against
prejudice, since events at the beginning of 2018 forced the national Women’s March and
its sister marches to grapple with anti-Semitism within its own ranks.
In February 2018, national Women’s March leader Tamika Mallory attended, and
received a shout-out in, an anti-Semitic speech given by Nation of Islam leader Louis
Farrakhan in Chicago. Since then, the national chapter has been struggling, losing
support, and splintering into smaller organizations. In fact, there will be no march in
New Orleans this year, with the Louisiana chapter announcing that unless the current
leaders of the national chapter step down, they will not organize the march. Organizers
in Chicago have also canceled that city’s march.
Despite this controversy, the 2019 Vermont Women’s March continues as planned.
Vrancken affirmed the local organization’s independence, saying, “Women’s March
Vermont is affiliated with the national chapter, but we are an independent chapter. We
do not receive any funding from the national chapter. We work independently. We work
collectively on mass actions and we are able to communicate with our sister chapters
through the forums that the Women’s March provides, but we are an independent
volunteer-led organization.”
Vrancken also indicated a Facebook post the Women’s March Vermont made on March
13, 2018, which reads, “Anti-Semitism, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia are
in no uncertain terms unacceptable and inexcusable. Silence in the face of Jewish hate
is not an option. While we wish that the national response had specifically done so,
Women’s March Vermont emphatically denounces Louis Farrakhan's anti-Semitic and
homophobic statements.”
The 2019 Vermont Women’s March will rally at the State House lawn on January
19. Gathering for the demonstration is expected to begin at 9:30 am. Speeches and
performances will begin at 10 am and last until noon. The keynote speaker will be former
Bennington state Rep. Kiah Morris, who had to withdraw from her most recent Vermont
House race after receiving racially motivated harassment and threats. The rally will also
include speakers Tabitha Pohl-Moore, president of the Rutland area NAACP; Amanda
Garces, coordinator of the Vermont Coalition for Ethnic and Social Equity in Schools;
Mariko Silver, president of Bennington College; Sarah Launderville, executive director
for the Vermont Center of Independent Living; former Gov. Kunin; and more.
The best guess of Women’s March Vermont organizers for expected attendance is 1,500
to 2,000 people, but they hope for more.
If you would like to volunteer at the 2019 Vermont Women’s March, email the organizers at
vermont@womensmarch.com.
T H E B R I D G E J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 • PAG E 11

Number of Lobbyists and Advocates at State House on the Rise

By Phil Dodd

T
he number of people and firms registered “The public has a right to know who is working
with the state as lobbyists—including those the halls of the State House and who works for
who advocate for nonprofits—has risen over whom,” Burns said. “That information should be
the past few years, continuing a trend that long-time easily accessible to the public.”
lobbyists say has been underway for decades and is In Vermont, much of that information is online. The
making the State House a more crowded environment. secretary of state’s office has a searchable database
In the 2017‒2018 biennium, a total of 1,145 (sec.state.vt.us/elections/lobbying.aspx) that lists
lobbyists, lobbying firms, and employers with in- all lobbyists, lobbying firms, and employers with
house lobbyists were registered with the state, up 7.8 employees who lobby. The database also shows
percent from the number registered in the 2015‒2016 how much lobbyists spend on lobbying and how
biennium, according to figures on the secretary of much they are paid. The state even publishes an
state’s online lobbying disclosure database. More and online “photobook” that provides photos and contact
more businesses and nonprofit organizations believe information for all registered lobbyists.
they need to have advocates in the State House to There are lobbyists who are in the State House every
watch out for their interests, insiders say. day of the session, but many of Vermont’s registered
As a group, the lobbyists registered with the state lobbyists may only get there from time to time. The
are paid millions of dollars per year, providing a database includes out-of-staters who register when
big economic boost to the Montpelier area. In they are sent to testify on a bill as well as employees
the 2017‒2018 biennium, total compensation for of businesses and nonprofits who only rarely visit the
lobbying reported to the secretary of state was $33.2 capitol or an administrative agency. But if more than
million dollars. $500 of their pay comes from lobbying activities, they
The definition of lobbying in Vermont law includes must pay to register and file financial disclosure forms
those working on behalf of nonprofits as well as several times a year.
businesses. Among other things, it covers anyone With the Legislature just back in town, lobbying in
attempting to influence legislative or administrative action and soliciting others to do Montpelier is in full swing. VPIRG’s Burns said it will be an interesting start to the year
the same if they receive at least $500 in compensation for their efforts. because there are about 40 new legislators this year, which he called a “big number.”
Lobbying is an activity protected by the U.S. Constitution. Among other things, the “It is a neat time at the beginning of the session,” he added. “There is goodwill and a
First Amendment protects free speech as well as the “right of the people…to petition feeling we can all work together. We’ll see how long it lasts.”
the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Nevertheless, courts have allowed some regulation of lobbying, such as Vermont’s
requirement that lobbyists register, pay fees, and file financial reports, according to
attorney Chuck Storrow, a veteran lobbyist with Leonine Public Affairs in Montpelier.
Storrow, one of six lobbyists at the firm, noted that citizens, local officials, and
administration employees do not have to register to lobby, but said there seem to be
more of them visiting the State House even as the number of registered lobbyists and
lobbying firm swells compared with a couple of decades ago.
“The physical capacity of the State House is overtaxed, in my opinion” he said. “It can
be brutal trying to get a seat in a committee room, and even the cafeteria can be busy.”
With so many people in the building, it is also getting more challenging for lobbyists to
talk with lawmakers, he said. But in general, Vermont lawmakers are still very accessible,
and it is usually possible to “get their ear or present testimony,” he said.
Because Vermont legislators work part-time and do not as a rule have their own staffs,
the information and research lobbyists can provide is important. “Most legislators value
input from lobbyists and advocates,” Storrow said. “But they take it with a grain of salt
since they know we have a desired outcome we are pursuing and they factor that in.”
To retain the trust of legislators, it is important for lobbyists to be credible,” he
noted. “You have to provide objective facts and put your cards on the table.” That
means lobbyists and advocates must spend considerable time outside the State House
researching issues, work that counts toward the lobbying compensation that must be
reported, he said.
Another function of lobbyists is simply to watch what is going on so they can report
to their clients or organizations about when a bill is going to be voted on or how
sentiments are shifting among legislators, according to Paul Burns, executive director
of the nonprofit Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG). He is a registered
lobbyist entering his 19th session.
“We specifically look for opportunities to connect with our members on issues being
discussed so they can comment,” he said. “We might send an email to tens of thousands
of our members and urge them to email or call their legislators. It is very hard for people
to track what is happening in the State House—a difficulty exacerbated by the declining
number of journalists in the State House—so we work to keep them informed.”
Burns said he has witnessed both an increase in the number of Vermont lobbyists and
a decline in the number of journalists covering the Legislature. “On both counts, that’s
challenging,” he said.
A half-dozen VPIRG employees are registered as lobbyists and are in the capitol on a
regular basis keeping track of issues important to VPIRG, but several other VPIRG
employees or contract lobbyists also register because they may lobby for VPIRG
occasionally, Burns said. “We try to be hypersensitive about complying with the
lobbying law, which we support,” he said.
PAG E 12 • J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 THE BRIDGE
Profiles of Compassion: 7 Activists Ma
Compiled by Mike Dunphy
Photo courtesy of Diane Fitch
Photo by Kreig Pinkham
Photo by Frank Fernandez
Photo courtesy of Laurie Garrison
Diane Fitch of the Central Vermont Refugee Action Network
W hen the Syrian crisis peaked in 2015, Diane Fitch, a native
Vermonter, visualized providing shelter. “My elderly
parents hoped to offer a home to Syrian refugees, so I began
exploring whether that was possible. I visited the Vermont Refugee
Resettlement Program in Colchester and talked with Laurie
Stavrand, their volunteer coordinator. We came up with ideas on
how a group in Central Vermont could assist new Vermonters from
a variety of countries and backgrounds.”
Thus, Central Vermont Refugee Action Network (CVRAN), a
group of committed volunteers, was born. During the past three
years, the organization has hosted 10 visits of new Vermonters living
in the Burlington area and state capital, including giving a tour of
the State House and the Vermont History Museum, a visit with
the governor, and a community lunch. Participants have included
immigrants of all ages from Somalia, Sudan, Nepal, Bhutan,
Mary Anne Owen of the Return House Program
at the Washington County Youth Service Bureau
R eturn House is a residential program for young men aged
18–23 who are re-entering the community from periods
of incarceration. Kreig Pinkham, the executive director of the
WCYSB says, “The work of Return House is some of the most
demanding work that we do at the WCYSB. Not only do many
of the residents have complicated histories, but incarceration
itself is a traumatic event.”
On top of that the residents are moving through a period of life
that can be challenging in the best of circumstances. The resi-
dents come to the house not knowing what to expect or who to
trust. Owen builds a sense of trust and a confidence that centers
on their capacity to be the positive change in their own lives.
For many of the residents, it’s the first time they’ve had someone
truly believe in that capacity.
Eliza Cain of Circle
E liza Cain works part-time at Circle (formerly Battered
Women’s Services and Shelter) as the Legal Services
Coordinator. She first got involved in the domestic violence
field as a volunteer in 1994. She’s since worked at domestic
violence programs in Oregon and Vermont. Cain began work
as a hotline and support group volunteer with Circle in 2000,
becoming a part-time staff member as of 2011.
She supports victims/survivors to navigate both the family
and criminal court systems. This can include supporting
victims/survivors as their (ex) partners face criminal charges
to attending final abuse order hearings with them. Cain also
Susan Erisman of Central Vermont Humane Society
I t takes a village to run an animal shelter. At Central Vermont
Humane Society (CVHS), the village includes a legion of
dedicated volunteers, without whom CVHS could not save
more than 1,000 animals a year. More than 40 people from the
community regularly and generously donate countless hours
to CVHS, walking dogs, fostering kittens, helping the office,
providing transport, and supporting special events.
On any given day there are over 60 animals in the CVHS shelter.
Each and every one needs to be fed, walked, and socialized every
day. Most importantly, keeping everything clean keeps the
animals, and people, happy and healthy. The Society appreciates
Perhaps Montpelier’s greatest attribute is the dedicated cadre of a
work—often as volunteers—for area nonprofits and organization
would like to pay tribute to just a few of these advocates and acti
Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma, Iraq, Syria, and Morocco.
There is a waiting list for those excited to visit the capital, most for
the first time.
The Network also welcomes all refugees settling in Vermont with
gifts of kitchen knives and cutting boards. Members also provide
tutoring, conversation, and friendship to new Vermonter CCV
students, migrant farm workers, and immigrants recently settled in
Montpelier. This past year, CVRAN sponsored a panel to update
the public on immigration challenges and hosted the performance of
an original play, Que Nochebuena, portraying refugee experiences.
Diane Fitch, who lives in Calais, is also an artist whose paintings
were recently shown at the Vermont Supreme Court Gallery. She
is professor emeritus of painting and drawing at Wright State
University in Ohio, where she taught for 30 years.
Owen works diligently to ensure that the residence is more than
a program—it’s a temporary home for the young men who stay
there, some for as long as a year. Return House is an inviting,
nurturing environment where residents can focus on personal and
career goals as well as on learning how to be positive members of
a community. It’s tireless work that can demand attention at any
moment of the day or night. Owen commits to the work daily out
of a conviction that the program is the best shot for altering the
path of repeat criminal behavior for this vulnerable population.
For many of the residents, Owen’s direct involvement with them
on a daily basis is an essential component of their personal journey
away from the behaviors that led to incarceration.
facilitates support groups for community members and shelter
residents and meets with community partners to encourage
victim-centered responses to domestic violence.
Her passion for the work shows in the level of support,
compassion, and energy she shares with every single individual
with whom she is working. It serves as inspiration and hope to
the individuals she is working with as well as to the advocates
who work alongside her.
Circle is grateful to Eliza Cain for juggling family, friends, and a
business so that she can find the time to be the amazing advocate
that she is.
its devoted volunteers who come in on a regular basis to do the
hard work of cleaning and scrubbing pet dishes, litter boxes, and
more.
Susan Erisman is one such volunteer. She has loyally been
coming every Thursday for over a year. She takes care of the cat
wing and works hard in the central cleaning area, which is the
hub of the shelter. At CVHS, every adoptable animal that comes
through the doors is saved. The Humane Society goes the extra
mile for the animals in its care, and it is only able to do that
because so many community members, such as Susan Erisman,
go the extra mile for CVHS.
 T H E B R I D G E J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 • PAG E 13
aking a Difference in Central Vermont
activists and advocates who go above and beyond in their
ns that make the state a better place. In this issue, The Bridge
ivists who do such great work for the community.
Photo courtesy of Nicole Whalen
Photo courtesy of Pat Hoffman
Photo courtesy of Sam Sanders
Faye Longo of Vermont Foodbank
F aye Longo will help fill your belly by first winning your heart.
You may have met her recently at a senior center, church meal,
homeless shelter, food pantry, gas station, daycare, or even your
own living room. In her role as 3SquaresVT Outreach Coordinator
at the Vermont Foodbank, Faye travels around the state sharing
information about 3SquaresVT, a federal nutrition program that
currently helps about 70,000 Vermonters boost their monthly food
budget.
However, as many as 150,000 Vermonters may be eligible for
3SquaresVT. There may be obstacles that prevent people from
accessing 3SquaresVT, but they are no match for Longo’s boundless
enthusiasm, empathy, resourcefulness, and humor. Her joyful energy
outshines the darkest Vermont winter days.
Daily work in such close proximity to the issue of poverty can be
challenging. But Longo responds with solutions and recognizes the
worth in every person. After getting you signed up for 3SquaresVT,
she might send you resources about mental health programs,
affordable dentures, or suggestions for that cousin, grandparent, or
Pat Hoffman of Montpelier Community Justice Center
A victim outreach specialist at the Montpelier Community
Justice Center (MCJC), Pat Hoffman was instrumental
in launching MCJC’s Victim Outreach Program when she
volunteered her time for the better part of a year to create
protocols and strategies for reaching out to victims of crimes in
the immediate aftermath of the event.
The Victim Outreach Program, which has been operating in
partnership with the Montpelier Police Department since 2015,
offers victims of property crimes a sympathetic ear and resources
in a timely manner, rather than being constrained by the
workings of the criminal justice system. Hoffman calls people
who have reported property crimes in Montpelier, listens to their
stories, and helps them figure out how to take care of needs that
were created as a result of the crime.
Sam Sanders of Vermont People with AIDS Coalition
M ontpelier resident Sam Sanders says, “I’m not an activist.
All I know is that as a gay man in the 1980s, so many of
my friends and lovers were dying I had to be there for them.”
Since then Sanders has spent 35 years as a volunteer serving the
Vermont AIDS community. “I did hospice training to learn how
to help people die. I was a ‘buddy’ to many folks who were sick
and dying. That’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life and
why, at age 77, I am still involved.”
Since the 1980s Sanders has been deeply involved in many
Vermont AIDS service organizations. After attending many
retreats, where volunteers and AIDS care-givers met to share
information and experiences, it became obvious to them that
AIDS-positive people needed their own gathering. “The stigma
of having AIDS back then was huge. People were scared of
touching an HIV-positive person, of sharing a water glass. The
trauma was overwhelming. HIV-positive people needed a place
where they could relax and be themselves.”
neighbor you mentioned. She might also check in with you a year
later just to see how things are going, because she cares.
This year Longo has put special attention toward supporting older
adults. According to Debbie Boyce, a SASH Coordinator and fellow
champion who partners with Longo, “Faye’s positive attitude is a
chain reaction. Her dedication and determination bring the best
outcomes for all of her clientele.”
When not at work, Longo is busy raising her kids, building community,
and engaging in personal advocacy work. Did you hear her recently
on the radio talking about the importance of affordable high-quality
childcare? Or maybe you heard her testifying in Montpelier about paid
family leave? Or perhaps you attended her leadership workshop about
overcoming adversity? In the description for that workshop, Longo
wrote, “People from all walks of life have the power within them to
change the world. Those who have overcome the most often carry a
unique strength in this regard.” These lines are apt for the way Longo
puts her whole self into all she does. Plus she’ll have you laughing before
you know it.
Because attention to the harm caused to a victim is at the heart of
the restorative justice approach, making this program operational
was the fulfillment of a long-held goal at the MCJC. Hoffman
was critical to its inception and its continued successful operation.
People have expressed their appreciation for this parallel justice
initiative, in which community outreach and support is available
for victims and does not depend on whether or not the person
who offended is identified or prosecuted. People with whom
Hoffman has made contact have reported that they feel like
their community cares about them, something that all residents
of Montpelier can appreciate. Through her excellent work, Pat
Hoffman has strengthened the bonds residents feel with their city
and with law enforcement. Since its inception, Hoffman’s work
has been recognized as a vital part of the MCJC’s operation.
And so evolved “The Gathering of Friends,” the first of 29 retreats
for AIDS-positive Vermonters and their partners that Sanders has
helped organize, and the Vermont People with AIDS Coalition,
of which Sanders has been board member and secretary for 29
years. “I started working in the kitchen at the retreat because
there was a lot of distrust in the HIV-positive community of
HIV-negative people like me. I didn’t want to impose. But now
my role is keeper of the flame, holding together the spiritual
energy of the HIV community. That is the most important thing
I do in my life.”
What’s next for Sanders?
“Even with the new meds, many people are still suffering from
the virus and from the side effects of the medications. Newly
infected people need to learn the ropes. The perception that the
AIDS epidemic is under control is not true. There’s still so much
work to be done.”
That’s Sam Sanders, Montpelier resident, the man who for the
past 35 years is “not an activist.”
PAG E 14 • J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 THE BRIDGE

Scott Skinner: A Parting Glass By David Kelley

Scott Skinner of Middlesex, a partner in the rejoin their friend with the frostbitten feet, one
Montpelier law firm Biggam Fox Skinner and said to the other, “Do you think we’ll be doing
a former director of the ACLU of Vermont and this forty years from now?” The reply: You’ve got
the Vermont Public Research Interest Group, died to be kidding; I don’t even want to do it next year.
December 15 at age 76. He is remembered here by Forty years would be as likely as a sexual predator,
his friend David Kelley. with no background in politics or the military,

S
becoming president of the United States.’”
cott Skinner was born in the 1940s in
Pennsylvania, but he came of age in the ’60s. Upon reaching the top of Hunger Mountain we
Perhaps the ideals extolled by John Kennedy usually celebrated with Scott’s drink of choice:
made a lasting impression on him. Or maybe Mr. Boston ginger brandy. Mr. Boston Ginger
it was his parents, or being an Eagle Scout, but Flavored Brandy is possibly the most unpretentious
whatever the cause, Scott was an idealist. He was drink known to humankind. It now has a special
in one of the first waves of Peace Corps volunteers. unpretentious place in the folklore of Vermont.
They sent him to Nepal—and he never stopped Scott always found room for laughter, but more
caring about the people in the remote mountain importantly he found good almost everywhere he
villages of the Himalayas. His career was devoted went and in almost everyone he met. Will Rogers
to caring about others—children in Vermont said he never met a man he didn’t like, and I have
whose parents couldn’t afford dental care, children a feeling Scott could say the same thing. Scott
without access to education on the other side of helped us all see our better angels. His idealism,
the world, and workers injured on the job. integrity, and kindness were palpable. Just being
Scott’s caring didn’t end with people. Last spring around him served as a reminder of how good we
we sat together at a public hearing of the House might be.
Fish and Wildlife Committee. Almost any kind of The two of us worked on a couple of people-
hunting is sacrosanct in Vermont. But Scott told to-people exchange programs together. One was
the committee that coyote-killing contests weren’t with lawyers and businessmen in Russia. Another
hunting. He said he and Mary let folks hunt deer Photo courtesy of Justin Skinner was with lawyers and journalists in Bangladesh
on their land, but if anyone came there just to see and Nepal. There were no luxury hotels or three-
how many animals could be killed in a single day they would post their land. With the help course meals on these programs. In the far reaches of northern Russia you took your
of Scott’s testimony, coyote killing contests are illegal now in Vermont. chances. But no matter how remote or how spartan, there was no such thing as a place or
As much as he cared—about wildlife, his garden, his neighbors, and children as far away meal that wasn’t good enough or for which Scott wasn’t cheerful and grateful.
as Nepal—Scott never took himself too seriously. A sense of humor accompanied him What did trouble him was poverty, suffering, and no access to education. The lack of access
everywhere he went. to schools in the high mountain villages of Nepal was especially troubling, and when we
As everybody knows, he was the driving force behind “Vermont’s premier winter event”— returned from Nepal, Scott and his law partner, Pat Biggam, began their own effort to
the Hunger Mountain Climb. The magnet on my refrigerator door has the 50th anniversary change that. At last count they had helped build a half-dozen schools.
Hunger Mountain Climb scheduled for February 13, 2027, and looking back at old notices Canceled flights or canceled visas tend to make my better angels hard to find, but sitting in
from “Hunger Mountain Climb World Headquarters,” I can’t help but smile: Scott’s office and talking to him was a lesson in Zen-like “mindfulness.” He was patient and
Back in 1977 when two climbers crawled through a minus 20-degree-F blizzard on their paid attention to details and sought solutions. That might be why he was a great gardener
hands and knees and briefly touched the summit and quickly slid down the mountain to and a great cook. He seemed to revel in cooking, especially for large groups of people. I
think he felt like a great Italian chef in the
kitchen.
Visiting Scott and Mary at their home in
Middlesex was always a special kind of event.
Their home is a classic Vermont farmhouse
on a classic country road. The barn is full
of political posters from every conceivable
campaign—including a few of my own.
The house is full of eclectic artwork. The
repartee between Scott and Mary at home
was a little like a Spencer Tracy-Katharine
Hepburn movie. One of the best parts of
those visits was watching how happy Scott
seemed to be when cooking some exotic,
new-found recipe for everybody.
One of my favorite writers is Ernest
Hemingway. Knowing this, Scott gave
me his father’s copy of A Farewell to Arms.
It was published in 1929. On the inside
cover is the signature of Joseph Osmun
Skinner. To pick the book up and hold it
is to be connected to the past. It is a past
full of memories that don’t die and where
Scott still lives, always reminding us of
how good we might be.
I drank a dram of Mr. Boston Ginger
Flavored Brandy tonight. I am grateful for
all of the memories and all that it reminds
me of, but drinking ginger brandy at my
desk isn’t the same as drinking ginger
brandy on top of Hunger Mountain in
February. Scott’s spirit will be there again
on February 16th. I hope to share another
dram with him then.
T H E B R I D G E J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 • PAG E 15

Remembering Nancy Sherman

Longtime resident Nancy Sherman, who served Nancy served on countless committees, studies,
six terms on the Montpelier City Council and was and work groups. This service did not just result
active in virtually every aspect of city life, died on in a plan or a recommendation, it often ended
December 23 at age 74. She is remembered here in a community benefit. The historic Taylor
by John Thomas Poeton of the Unitarian Church Street bridge was preserved. The Montpelier
and state Rep. Mary Hooper, a former mayor of Circulator supports a walkable community. The
Montpelier. “new” senior center became a vibrant gathering
place. The district heating plant uses wood and
moved some oil tanks out of the flood plain.
Pillar of the Church Barre Street was revitalized with more than 75
By John Thomas Poeton units of new housing.
Nancy would be quick to say she was not
D uring a homily about a decade ago, Rev.
Maggie Rebmann, Minister Emeritus of
the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, referred
responsible for these projects, but without her
quiet, persistent, and insistent support they
would not exist. Nancy would also be quick to
to a few very active, long-time members of our say that all of the projects she worked on were
church as “pillars of our church.” People who, not accomplished. The recession of 2008 shelved
through their leadership activities, involvement, a doable plan for Sabin’s Pasture, it took too long
and energy every day, held the church together to pave the sidewalks on Sabin Street and to
and represented the church’s mission and vision. take care of blighted properties, these being just
Nancy Sherman was one of those people. a few items on her to do list. Nevertheless, with
Nancy was a very active member of the Unitarian a vision for our future, Nancy was not afraid to
Church of Montpelier for decades. Over time tackle hard projects and to give her best to help
there were many activities and programs where our city.
she was directly or indirectly involved. If there The uniting thread in her work was a belief that
was a job to be done or a position to be filled, each member of the community must thrive in
Nancy was a willing volunteer. order for our whole city to be its best. During
Most recently Nancy had co-chaired the growth her service on the City Council she exercised
and facilities task force, which finished its term with the development of three plans this theory and she was always optimistic, always encouraging us to stretch and to do as
for the future expansion of our church. This will be presented soon to church members much as possible for Montpelier.
for approval and a possible capital campaign. In the past Nancy was a member of the Nancy’s engagement was motivated by a deep commitment to our community and it
finance committee and the stewardship committee and involved in numerous church was energized by the great joy she took in her work. Her lovely eyes would brighten on
pledge drives. a chance encounter and a conversation about a person or a need. Her enthusiasm for
Nancy volunteered for many roles at the church, including being Sunday school teacher tackling a problem was irresistible. Her goodwill and dogged determination propelled
for middle-grade students. She was frequently an usher and a greeter, always welcoming many a good work. Montpelier is a better place for her many years of service. Thank you
people at church with a friendly smile and meaningful conversations. Nancy—and thank you Michael for sharing her with us.

In preparation for our holiday fair, Nancy would often lead a team of women to make
numerous crafts to be sold at the craft table. In recent years Nancy was the “pecan lady”
at the fair, ordering and selling fresh pecans to raise funds for our annual budget. On the
day of her passing Nancy was scheduled to be one of the Sunday counters.
Every Monday the community lunch program at the Unitarian Church serves
approximately 125 full-course meals to the public. Nancy Sherman was actively involved
in the development of this program and almost every Monday, with her husband
Michael, would come wash and put away the dishes, pots, pans, and never leave until
the job was done.
Nancy was loved by everyone who knew her at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier. To
say that she will be missed in every way is an understatement. Her “pillar” will hold the
Unitarian Church of Montpelier strong for years to come.

A Lasting Legacy
By Mary Hooper

N ancy summed up her life this way: lived, loved, built family, 50 years of happy
marriage, no regrets, checked out when it was done.
She captured her essence perfectly; she did not need to embellish or draw attention to
her accomplishments. However, this humble sentiment fails to acknowledge how big of
an effect she had on our community. It is hard to think of a part of Montpelier civic life
that has not been touched by Nancy: housing, food, transport, schools, the library, her
church, theater, all matters of city business.

We welcome your letters and opinion pieces. Letters must be

fewer than 300 words. Opinion pieces should not exceed 600
words. The Bridge reserves the right to edit and cut pieces.
Send your piece to: editorial@montpelierbridge.com.
Deadline for the next issue is January 17
PAG E 16 • J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 THE BRIDGE

Support Local Nonprofits by Rounding Up at Hunger Mountain Coop

D
id you know that you can support a local nonprofit organization or
community partner by rounding up your purchase at the register at
Hunger Mountain Co-op? By doing so, you are participating in a
collective effort to support organizations and programs that have a direct impact
on our local community. By giving your spare change, you are creating the
change you want to see in our region and the world.
Each time you check out, you can round up your total to the nearest dollar
and that extra change will become part of a donation toward organizations
such as Good Beginnings of Central Vermont, Prevent Child Abuse Vermont,
Community Harvest of Central Vermont, the Humane Society, and many
others. The organization that is the Give Change recipient changes on a monthly
basis.
The Give Change recipient for January is Capstone Community Action. With
a wide range of services, Capstone Community Action seeks to “help people
achieve economic well-being with dignity and develop partnerships to strengthen
Vermont communities.” Their aim is to assist people in meeting their basic needs,
such as food, shelter, and transportation, while building sustainable communities
by supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses as well as community partners
and program participants to ensure they are heard, educated, and able to achieve
their goals.
When you shop at Hunger Mountain Co-op through February 2, you can
choose to Give Change by rounding up your total to the nearest dollar. All of
the change collected will go to support Capstone Community Action. To do this,
simply go to hungermountain.coop/give-change and opt-in to being asked at the
register to round up your purchase to the next dollar or speak with customer
service.

Since 1972
Repairs • New floors and walls
Crane work • Decorative concrete
Consulting • ICF foundations
114 Three Mile Bridge Rd., Middlesex, VT • (802) 229-0480 
gendronbuilding@aol.com •  gendronconcrete.com
T H E B R I D G E J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 • PAG E 17

Supreme Court Gallery Exhibits Ann Young’s Paintings

Photos courtesy of Paul Rogers Photography

A
nn Young has been selected as the first Vermont Supreme Court Gallery artist for
2019. Her solo exhibition, titled Fellow Travelers, is on view through March 28.
This talented multidisciplinary Northeast Kingdom artist has a strong background
in ceramic sculpture, illustration, site-specific installation, and painting.
Fellow Travelers showcases powerful large-scale oil paintings with narratives that reach deep
into the human condition and their environments. Young is a great observer of relationships
between people, places, and spaces. The artist, through observation, and social integration
puts forth allegorical imagery that makes you think and question what really is going on.
Mostly self-taught, in 2001 Young began her journey into oil painting, influenced by her
extraordinary teachers Max Ginsburg and Dominique Medici and inspired by the works of
Dutch masters and impressionist artists. Truly, you can see how she discovered her creative
direction.
“We are fellow travelers. We move about in space. We journey through a lifetime of
emotion, only to find in the end, that it is not the goal that matters, it is the striving.”
Ann Young was born in Chicago and raised in Illinois and Nebraska but has lived all of
her adult life in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. She dabbled in the “back to the land”
movement and raised a family and has always been interested in representational art.
From her first paying job illustrating the varmints of the Nebraska plains through her stint
as an illustrator for The Center for Northern Studies in Wolcott, Vermont, to her pseudo-
abstract closeups of pond vegetation and of sea life found on beaches, she has looked to
nature for inspiration.
She received a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design, which sidetracked her into
ceramics and sculpture. She spent years in a fruitful career making miniature porcelain
animal and human figures for the wholesale craft market. She taught ceramics at Lyndon
State College and in the public schools. An interest in large wooden sculpture occupied
several years culminating in large-scale gallery installations.
In 2001 she began to devote herself to the exquisite hues and textures that oil painting on
canvas allows. It was with studies of people in portraiture and in social interaction that she
chose to explore these possibilities and has since devoted almost all of her efforts to painting
her fellow travelers.
This event is free and open to the public.

T.W. Wood Gallery Opens Two Exhibitions in Montpelier

T
he T. W. Wood Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of
two new art exhibits. The annual Winter Juried Exhibit will be
on view in the Contemporary Gallery, and Something Dear will
be presented by the Photographer’s Workroom in the Group Exhibitions
Hallway.
The Juried Exhibit highlights an eclectic group of 26 local Vermont
artists. Work includes paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture, fiber
arts, and jewelry. The show brims with works by Barbara Bendix,
Robert Chapala, Cindy Griffith, Kate Longmaid, Kenneth Saxe and
Ann Young and many others. “The three-person jury” [Mary Admasian,
Elliott Bent and Linda Mirabile] was particularly challenged due to the
large quantity and quality of the work submitted,” said Ginny Callan,
the Gallery’s executive director. “They worked diligently to come to
agreement on the work selected and came up with a diverse and exciting
selection.”
Something Dear will exhibit the works of the Photographers Workroom,
exploring the idea that we all carry within us something that is precious,
whether it is an expression or experience, a story we wish to share, or
an object that connects us with our past. The artists, including Nancy
Banks, Christie Carter, Kay Jostrand, and Rosalind Daniels, share
their own experiences of “something dear.”
Something Dear runs until February 1, and the Winter Juried Exhibit
runs until March 1 Photo courtesy of T.W. Wood Gallery
PAG E 18 • J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 THE BRIDGE

Montpelier Aims to Make Streets Safe for All By Carl Etnier

L
ike many cities around the in order to accommodate bike lanes.”
country, Montpelier touts being Yet, as he pointed out, “both roads are
a walkable, bikeable community. heavily used for on-street parking,”
Yet the term is merely aspirational in so how does the city accommodate
key parts of the city. Few streets have drivers who want to park on the road
bike lanes, and some heavily traveled and cyclists who want to ride safely on
corridors don’t even have sidewalks. the same road, while leaving room for
Space is limited, and cars take up much drivers to travel at a faster pace than
of the streetscape, both for driving and cyclists?
parking. What’s a city to do? Casey identified East State Street as
Montpelier’s City Council adopted a another problematic street; it’s not
“Complete Streets Design Report” at only narrow and has parking on both
its December 12, 2018, meeting to help sides, there’s also a retaining wall that
answer this question. The Complete makes widening the street perhaps
Streets mission is to make streets serve prohibitively expensive.
the transportation needs of all users For situations like these, the toolkit
and to recognize that streets are a section of the city’s Complete Streets
valuable social space, not just a place Design report lists various ways to
for transportation. improve street safety, even where the
In an interview in City Hall, Montpelier’s community development specialist, Kevin ideal streetscape seems unattainable. The catalog contains space-gobbling measures
Casey, explained the Complete Streets ideal as “bikes, pedestrians, other vehicles, all such as separated paths for pedestrians and for bicycles, but also things such as the
operating in the right of way together, safely.” In low-traffic, residential streets on the “sharrows” that have sprouted on downtown streets—painted arrows that indicate the
west side of town, this can be accomplished with everyone sharing the same street. In lane is to be shared by bicycles and other vehicles.
streets with more—and faster—traffic, other measures are needed to reduce potential The toolkit also contains ways to slow down motor vehicles, from changing speed
conflicts between types of street users. limits to narrowing lanes and installing speed humps. And it emphasizes thinking
Casey emphasized that users are looking for not just some safe streets, but a citywide about bike parking and bus stops in planning street changes. For example, do bus stops
network. “If I’m riding a bike, I don’t want the road to change at an intersection, and connect with safe ways to walk to and from nearby homes and businesses?
all of a sudden the bike lane disappears.” Miller also wrote that the design report could be used to make simple, quick changes
City planning director Michael Miller wrote in an email to The Bridge, “A majority of to streets. “Occasionally we may simply need to repaint lines. A road with 12-foot lanes
Montpelier’s roads may already be compliant [with Complete Streets design] or may and 2-foot shoulders could be repainted to have 10-foot lanes and 4-foot shoulders,”
only need minor adjustments.” He identified Barre Street and a portion of Elm Street which can become bike lanes.
as two of the city’s more “challenging” streets; they “should have no on-street parking He also said the city would consider how to achieve Complete Streets design in
budgeting for the city’s capital improvement plan (CIP). “So think of a street that is
identified as needing a sidewalk, and it currently does not have one. We could add that
as a project to the CIP as a separate project, or we could wait until the road comes up
on the CIP and increase funding to build the sidewalk at the same time as paving/
reconstruction.”
The plan was funded by a $45,000 Better Connections grant from the Department
of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and VTrans. Richard Amore
oversaw the grant for DHCD. The Montpelier resident literally walks the talk of
complete streets—a little over two miles each day, to and from work. In an interview
at his National Life office, he said he had walked his child to school that morning on
the way to work. For Amore, whose background is in architecture and community
planning, Complete Streets is just one component of building more “vibrant places.”
He celebrated the “Montpelier mile,” which takes 30 to 40 minutes to walk, because
there are so many conversations with friends and neighbors that happen along the way.
Amore said neighborhood safety can increase when more people are out walking and
observing the streets, and making it easy for people to live in town with one less car
both promotes greater financial diversity and leaves residents with more disposable
income to spend at local stores.
The Agency of Transportation also sees streets as more than transportation. Jackie
Cassino oversaw the grant for VTrans, and she described the funding of plans like
Montpelier’s as something that has arisen in a post-Tropical Storm Irene world, where
“cross-agency collaboration and pooling of funding resources is used to answer these
sort of squishy problems that are not always a transportation issue and not always a
land-use issue. They’re usually somewhere in the middle.”
Cassino also complimented Montpelier on bringing in Department of Public Works
staff early in the complete streets planning process. She said workers who are “doing
the work, maintaining the roadway day-in and day-out” have a lot of insights to offer
on what is achievable.
Now it’s up to the department to start to achieve what’s in the plan—and up to the
city to fund the work.
T H E B R I D G E J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 • PAG E 19
John Barleycorn Must Live!
I
just saw an item in
my favorite science
magazine that
global barley crop yields could drop by 17 percent in this
century. According to the article, barley is particularly
sensitive to warmer temperatures and drought, which
are likely to increase because of global warming. The
decline in yields could lead to a doubling of barley
prices by 2099 according to one of the authors.
“Big deal,” I thought, “less beef and barley soup
in the world is a good thing.” I always disliked
Campbell’s beef and barley soup, which is the
first thing I think of when I hear the word “barley.” There is just something about
those little grayish-brown cubes of “beef” and those mushy waterlogged grains of
barley with flecks of bran still attached.
Barley, of course, is used in more dishes than beef and barley soup, and that I blame
on Scotland, which is a place where the men wear plaid skirts and knee socks and
something called a sporran that covers their crotch area and everyone talks like Sean
Connery. I suspect it was the Scots who first made beef and barley soup because
they have a penchant for mixing barley with meat byproducts. I’m talking about the
national dish of Scotland, the delightful and nutritious dinner treat from the highlands
called “haggis,” in which barley is mixed with other vegetable matter and the internal
organs of a sheep and then stuffed into the sheep’s stomach and roasted. You don’t have
to be Sean Connery or a member of the Black Watch to say “Yum” to that!
But the article went on to fill my heart with dread. The authors pointed out that a
shortage of barley could be disastrous because barley is used to make beer. That’s right,
no barley, NO BEER!
That could cause the economy of Vermont to collapse. Whereas in olden days
we boasted of having more cows than people in the state, we now have more
microbreweries than artisanal bakers, and the number of artisanal bakers in the state
far surpassed the number of cows long ago. And the state’s human population would
continue to become more elderly because, regardless of Governor Scott’s policies and
programs, young people would shun moving into the state if they can’t get beer.
Weaving Ourselves into Our Webs
I
’ve lived through many national crises, but never one as threatening to our claimed
values as this current swamp. Although collectively we share responsibility for our
addictions of consumer capitalism and greedy, ambitious corruptions of political
processes, evidence suggests current cracks in our system have been deepened by
Russian hacks and trolls, splitting left against right, bottom against top, slicing racial,
gender, religious, and geographical divides into chasms.
One image for healing is the web of life woven by the Native American archetypal
Spider Woman. Despite their amazing strength, filaments of a web do break daily. Yet
the web’s whole circular structure is remarkably sturdy—unlike hierarchical edifices
characteristic of our economy and government (vulnerable as the twin towers). The
strands of a web reach out in all directions, connecting or ending at key nodes, with
expanding spiraling layers, their edges clinging to surrounding anchors of the natural
world: tree stumps, branches, rocks, porches.
As somebody who grew up as a Catholic army brat, I respect conservative values of
courage, duty, honor, patriotism as well as religious values of charity, justice, humility,
and sacrifice, which guided my parents and grandparents. Fortunately, within family
history I’ve discovered key stories which challenge hierarchical requirements for blind
obedience: my grandmother, a nun, left her teaching position and the convent because
of meanness inflicted by religious authorities on her students; my father disobeyed
(or ignored) orders during the Korean War because following them would have
unnecessarily sacrificed the lives of his men.
Come of age during the Civil Rights, anti-war, women’s, gay, and environmental
movements, all of which I joined, I am familiar with tensions between right and left
currently splitting U.S. apart (exploited by members of our ruling class in bed with
the Russians). During the Vietnam War, two of my siblings served in Vietnam—one,
in combat, rebuilding bridges; one with the Red Cross—and two of us were arrested
protesting the war. But, thanks to our shared values, respect for differences, and
fondness for each other’s uniqueness, our family weathered these conflicts with even
By Larry Floersch
Imagine if the price of barley doubled. Instead of $8 for a pint of your favorite
microbrew from Hill Farmstead or von Trapp’s or the Shed or the Alchemist or
Lawson’s Finest, think of $16 or more! It is obvious that something needs to be done,
and fast.
We can’t count on the current administration to do anything. They think global
warming is a hoax. Besides, he (you know who I mean) is only worried about the price
of kola nuts because, unlike his predecessor, he doesn’t drink beer and only drinks
Pepsi, and anyone who knows anything knows that Coca Cola is the way to go and
therefore that guy (you know who I mean) has his taste buds in his...But I digress.
Those of us who know global warming is real see the huge risk here and know we
must do something to protect the barley supply. But there are many of you who are
not convinced.
So for those of you who love beer but think global warming is not real, what I propose
is a variation on Pascal’s Wager. As you may remember from freshman philosophy
class, Blaise Pascal was a French philosopher, mathematician, and physicist who lived
back in the 1600s, got a programming language named after him, and tried to build
calculators, but he couldn’t get them to fit in your hand because there was a severe
shortage of microprocessors in the 1600s. In fact, you needed a forklift to move his
calculators, so they didn’t sell well because there was also a shortage of forklifts back
in the 1600s.
Pascal’s Wager was based on his thoughts about the existence of God, which is
an important subject, but the logic can be applied here because, as the writer Jean
Shepherd once said, “BEER! The Mother of Us All!”
According to the Wager’s logic in this instance, global warming is either real or it is not
real. If global warming is not real and we do something to combat it, we’ve wasted our
time. But if global warming is real and we do nothing, the Scots may hoard barley so
they can continue to make haggis, and the price of beer will DOUBLE.
So if you’re not convinced global warming is real but you love beer, join us other beer
lovers and take the risk of wasting your time. Work with us to reverse global warming.
Then in 2099 we can all continue to waste time at our local taverns, raise our glasses
of $8 beer in success, and have a bowl of beef and barley soup—or some haggis. Yum!
By Margaret Blanchard
greater love and respect for each other. Through these tensions, we gained broader
perspectives on our shared world and a fuller sense of belonging, which does not mean,
however, that we all, now or ever, agree on the issues.
I believe this country has the potential to heal and grow together—if, for this crucial
moment, we can weave ourselves into the natural webs of life by consciously choosing
threads which already connect us, reaching out to link us with those on both our
left and right, below and above, in front, behind, using whatever threads help tie
us together: a common need (food, clothing, shelter), a shared love (dogs, children,
nature), a parallel history (trauma, jobs, spiritual insight). As the novelist E. M.
Forster expresses this need: “Only connect.”
Grandmother Spider, with her eight legs (compassion, courage, generosity, creativity,
insight, justice, perseverance, wisdom) offers us inspiration. Like the patient spider,
whose web often snaps apart from wind gusts, passing legs, rain or fallen branches,
we must be willing to reweave ourselves into our webs—even after somebody, out of
malice, fear, or unconsciousness, breaks our connections, shatters the whole.
PAG E 2 0 • J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 THE BRIDGE
Community Events
Events happening
January 9–January 25
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9
Orchard Valley Walk-Through Wednesday.
A monthly open house event during the school
day. Observe main lesson in grades 1-8 and visit
mixed-age kindergarten programs, including
Farm & Forest. 8:30–10:30 am. Orchard Valley
Waldorf School, Grace Farm Campus, 2290 Rt.
14N, East Montpelier. Pre-registration required:
enrollment@ovws.org or 456-7400. ovws.org
The Christ Church Community Lunch.
11 am–12:30 pm. 64 Main St., Montpelier.
Salvation Army Community Lunch.
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
Mid-Week Movie: Marshall. 6–8 pm.
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
St., Greensboro. $5 suggested donation.
highlandartsvt.org
Reading by Visiting Alumna Chana Porter.
Currently writer-in-residence at The Catastrophic
Theatre in Houston, with three world premieres
between 2017 and 2020. Porter is the co-founder
of the Octavia Project, a free summer writing
and STEM program for Brooklyn teenage girls
and nonbinary youth. 7 pm. Haybarn Theatre at
Goddard College, Plainfield.
Constitutional Crisis? Speaker Series. A
discussion with UVM Associate Professor Lisa
Holmes, Vermont Law School Professor Peter
Teachout, and Middlebury College Professor
Matthew Dickinson as they discuss presidential
powers, historically and currently, and how the
role of Congress fits in. 7 pm. Kellogg Hubbard
Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338.
Calendar of Events
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10
Trinity United Methodist Church Community
Lunch. 11:30 am–1 pm. 137 Main St.,
Montpelier.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11
Hunger Mountain Co-op Member
Appreciation Weekend. Jan. 11–13. Stop by
the Co-op throughout the weekend for shopping
discounts, local vendor demos, product samples,
and fantastic raffles, including a $100 Co-op
gift card and two tickets to the Summit School’s
Spice on Snow Winter Music Festival, valued at
$300. Hunger Mountain Co-op, Montpelier.
Volunteer Recruitment Session. Learn about
volunteering with school groups at the Vermont
History Museum and Vermont State House.
10:30–11:30 am. Vermont History Museum,
109 State St., Montpelier. vermonthistory.org.
828-1413
Naturalist Journeys Presentation Series.
Wolves: Ecology, Conservation and Conflict in
the Northern Rockies. NBNC’s annual winter
event series featuring expert naturalists and
teachers sharing their studies from the wildest
corners of the world. 7–8:30 pm. North Branch
Nature Center, 713 Elm St., Montpelier
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12
Hike Camel’s Hump with Green Mountain
Club. Huntington. 4.8 miles. Moderate to
difficult. Via Burrows Trail. Start at the Burrows
trail-head in Huntington. Returning on the
same trail. We will use snowshoes or microspikes
depending upon conditions. Contact Steve or
Heather Bailey, 622-4516 or stevecbailey@gmail.
com for meeting time and place.
Barre Congregational Church Community
Meal. 7:30–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 13
Cross-country Ski Craftsbury with Green
Mountain Club. Moderate. 6–10 miles.
Cross-country ski the leader’s favorite trails at
Craftsbury Touring Center. Experience required.
Cross-country (classic or skate) skis required or
may be rented at the Center. Bring water, snacks,
and lunch or purchase at the Center. Trail fee
or pass required. Contact Phyllis Rubenstein,
793-6313 or Phyllis@PhyllisRubensteinLaw.
comcastbiz.net for meeting time and place.
Silent Film Series: “The Cameraman.” Silent
film aficionado Rob Mermin screens The
Cameraman featuring Buster Keaton. Back
by popular demand maestro Bob Merrill will
• New Construction
• Renovations
• Woodworking
• General Contracting
223-3447
clarconstruction.com
Performing Arts THEATER, DANCE,
STORYTELLING, COMEDY
Jan. 9: Laugh Local VT Open Mic Comedy Night. See aspiring local comics or try it out yourself.
Support local comedy by performing or watching those that do. This event may contain some adult
themed material and is recommended for mature audiences. Sign-ups 7:30 pm. Show at 8 pm. The
Dog River Brewery, 1400 Rt. 302, Suite 4, Berlin. Free; donations welcome. 793-3884.
Jan. 25:The Tell Off. Winning raconteurs from Season VIII of Extempo vie for audience votes and
cash prizes in the eighth annual storytelling tournament of champions. Half of all proceeds benefit
Waterbury recreation; opening night of Winterfest. 8 pm. American Legion Post 59, 16 Stowe St.,
Waterbury. $10.244-7174. storytelling@extempovt.com. extempovt.com
Jan. 25: Kathleen Kanz Comedy Hour. A wide range of talented standup comics from here and away
working longer sets. 8:30 pm. Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main St., Barre. Free/by donation. 479-0896.
espressobueno.com.
accompany the film on HCA’s Steinway. 2 pm.
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick TUESDAY, JANUARY 15
VCFA Visiting Writers Event: Author and
St., Greensboro. $10. highlandartsvt.org
Illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi. 10:45–11:45 am:
Dance, Sing, and Jump Around! A family A presentation entitled: “What Picture Book
dance for all ages. Circle and line dances and Writers Should Know About Picture Book
singing games, all taught and called. Live Illustration.” 7–8 pm: Reading. 8:15 pm: Book
traditional music. All dances taught and called Signing. Vermont College of Fine Arts, College
by Liz Benjamin and Stan Carlson. 4:30 pm. Hall Chapel, College St., Montpelier. vcfa.edu
Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, Rt. 2,
Barre Congregational Church Community
Plainfield. Suggested donation: $5 per adult but
Meal. 7:30–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
no one is turned away. 223-1509
Zumba-Like Fitness Dance. Every Sunday. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16
Music by secular and Christian artists. 4–5 pm. The Christ Church Community Lunch.
East Montpelier Elementary School, 665 Vincent 11 am–12:30 pm. 64 Main St., Montpelier.
Flats, East Montpelier. Free for women 18 and
Salvation Army Community Lunch.
older.
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
MONDAY, JANUARY 14 Gathering of Chess Players. The purpose of the
Community Lunch at Unitarian Church gathering is to assess possible interest in a Central
Montpelier. 11 am–12:30 pm. 130 Main St., Vermont Chess Club, and to play chess. Open
Montpelier. to all ages, genders, and ability levels. No cost
Salvation Army Community Lunch. but please bring your own chess sets and boards,
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre. notation pads, and chess clocks, if you have
them. 6–9 pm. The Berlin Mall Hub (near the
Scam, Fraud and Identity Theft with Amy
entrance of J.C. Penney).
Schram from the Better Business Bureau.
Mid-Week Movie: “Chappaquiddick.” 6–8 pm.
This program will cover the most common
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
scams currently circulating in the community,
St., Greensboro. $5 suggested donation.
the major red flags to watch out for and the
precautionary steps we can take to protect MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts Virtual Info
ourselves from falling victim to identity theft. Session. Online Information Session to learn
6 pm. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., more about Goddard College’s low-residency
Montpelier. 223-3338. Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts
Goddard Graduate Institute Virtual Info (MFAIA), a graduate program that engages
Session. Join Goddard Graduate Institute artists from a variety of practices, including
Faculty Member, Sarah Van Hoy, and visual arts, dance, music, theater, performance
Admissions Counselor, Daphne Kinney-Landis, art, social practice, design, digital media,
and the literary arts, to study in a rigorous
who will discuss our graduate programs and
interdisciplinary context. This info session
answer your questions. This Info Session will be
will be hosted on Zoom, a web conferencing
hosted on Zoom, a web conferencing platform
platform that allows participants to join by video
that allows participants to join by video or
phone. 6 pm. RSVP: https://goo.gl/forms/ or phone. 7 pm. RSVP: https://goo.gl/forms/
ZqjDn9I2el0NFYWg1. More info.: 322-1646 aCDxPCxyEekxV4Lp2. More info.: 322-1646
To see a listing
of Weekly Events
and more detailed
event listings, visit
montpelierbridge.com
Rocque Long
Painting
• Insured
• 30+ years professional
experience
• local references.
802-223-0389
T H E B R I D G E J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 • PAG E 21
Visual Arts
EXHIBITS
Through Jan. 18: Northern Vermont
University-Lyndon Faculty Art Exhibit.
NVU-Lyndon, Quimby Barclay.Tucker@
NorthernVermont.edu.
Through Jan. 20: Show 29. The Front
celebrates the opening of Show 29, featuring
recent works by the gallery’s members. 6 Barre
Street, Montpelier thefrontvt.com, 552-0877,
info@thefrontvt.com
Through Jan. 31: Illuminate: The Winter
Group Show. Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery,
86 Falls Rd., Shelburne. 985-3848.
Through Feb. 1: Endangered Alphabets. Tim
Brookes explores the elements of calligraphy,
woodwork, linguistics, anthropology and
human rights to address a question: what
happens when a culture loses its alphabet? Artist
Talk and Reception on Jan. 17, 4–6 pm. VT
State House Cafeteria, Montpelier.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
Trinity United Methodist Church Community
Lunch. 11:30 am–1 pm. 137 Main St.,
Montpelier.
Green Mountain Club Slideshow: “Hiking off
the Beaten Path: The Best Adventures You’ve
Never Heard of in the Northern Rockies.”
A visual tour of lesser-known (and often
endangered) landscapes by Zack Porter of the
Northeast Wilderness Trust. 7 pm. T.W. Wood
Gallery, 46 Barre St., Montpelier. Free.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18
Dream to Reality…Start Your Business. What
are the steps to starting a business? Is it for me?
Can I start a business from my home or garage?
Can I buy an existing business? Why do I need
to write a business plan? What goes in it? How
can I borrow money to get started? We’ll answer
all your questions! 8:30–10 am.
Capstone, 20 Gable Pl., Barre. capstonevt.org
VCFA Visiting Writers Event: Author Ibi
Zoboi. Lecture. 10–11 am. Vermont College
of Fine Arts, College Hall Chapel, College St.,
Montpelier. vcfa.edu
Cycles of Life. We invite you to join with us
in this place of comfort where we can all come
together to listen, talk and share about the things
in life’s cycle we are all experiencing in our own
way now for ourselves and the earth we live on.
11:45 am–1 pm. Twin Valley Senior Center,
Rt. 2, East Montpelier. 223-3322
ArtSmart - What is Chamber Music? Bring a
brown bag lunch and join Artistic Director Jia
Calendar of Events
Through Feb. 15: “Something Dear”
Photographer’s Workroom. The workroom
is a study in project creation and portfolio
development. Emphasis is on photography as
process and practice, and using cameras as a
way of seeing. Opening Reception: Jan. 10
from 5–7 pm with live piano music by Jim
Thompson. T W Wood Gallery. 46 Barre St.,
Montpelier. twwoodgallery.org
Through Feb. 23: The Way We See It: Social
[In]Justice. A group show highlighting the
work of four artists that are responding to their
own view of social injustice—be it racism,
sexism, religious discrimination, or genocide.
Reception: Jan. 18, 6–8 pm. Axel’s Gallery,
Stowe St., Waterbury.
Through Feb. 28: Aspects of the Universe.
Paintings in acrylic and watercolor by Marina
Sprague of Chelsea Vermont. Opening
Reception: Jan. 25, 6-8 pm.
chelsealibrary.com 802-685-2188
Through March 1: Winter Juried Exhibit. 26
local Vermont artists. Work includes paintings,
prints, photographs, sculpture, fiber arts, and
jewelry. Reception: Jan. 10 from 5–7 pm, with
live piano music by Jim Thompson.
T.W. Wood Gallery. 46 Barre St., Montpelier.
twwoodgallery.org
Kim for a behind-the-scenes look at the classical
music world and Chamber Music. Spruce Peak
Performing Arts Center, 122 Hourglass Dr.,
Stowe. Free for concert ticket holders; $10 for non-
ticket holders. Reservations required: 760-4648
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19
Barre Congregational Church Community
Meal. 7:30–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
Women’s Rally: Montpelier. Women’s March
Vermont announces a Women’s Rally in
Montpelier in coordination with sister marches
and rallies in cities and communities across
the globe. Featured speakers include Kiah
Morris, Madeleine Kunin, Dr. Mariko Silver,
Dayle Sargeant, Melody Walker Brook, Brenda
Churchill, Krista Scruggs, Tabitha Pohl-Moore,
Amanda Garces, Sarah Launderville, Caroline
Whiddon, Freweyni Adugnia, Beverly Little
Thunder and MacKenzie Murdoch along with a
musical performance by Patti Casey.
10 am–noon. Vermont State House, 115 State
St., Montpelier. womensmarchvermont.com
Singing Our Truths Series Begins. Six Week
Poetry Writing Series “Singing Our Truths” is
a free, six-week poetry-writing class available to
anyone who has experienced sexual assault at any
point in his or her life. During the six weeks of
the class, participants will be guided by Vermont
poet, book author, and professor, Marjorie
Ryerson, to share their stories and write about
their experiences. 12:30 pm. Kellogg-Hubbard
Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Register:
223-3338
Through March 2: Scrap Yard: Drawings by
Mark Heitzman. An exhibit of 10 large-scale
graphite or charcoal drawings of tools and other
objects. On display at The Morse Block Deli,
located 260 N. Main Street, Barre. For info:
www.studioplacearts.com
Through March 2: The Art of the Portrait,
August Burns. The exhibition is a rare
opportunity for the public to view paintings
from this outstanding Vermont Artist. 5031
Main Street, Waitsfield. 496-6682
Jan. 22–March 12: Northern Vermont
University-Lyndon Community Art Exhibit.
Theme is “To B or Not to B,” and all artwork
must relate to the letter “b” in some way.
NVU-Lyndon, Quimby Gallery, Lyndonville.
NorthernVermont.edu
Jan. 21–March 28: Ryan Geary, Ascent (Part
One: Eulogy). A collection of 2D and 3D
collages. Opening reception: Feb. 7, 5–7 pm.
River Arts Center, Copley Common Room, 74
Pleasant St., Morrisville. www.riverartsvt.org.
Jan. 21–April 19: Thom Egan, On Making
Pictures. Wood block prints, lithographs, and
colored low reliefs. Reception & Artist Talk:
Feb. 7, 5–7 pm. River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant
St., Morrisville. www.riverartsvt.org.
Film Screening: “Farmer of the Year.” Join
Craftsbury-based filmmakers Kathy Swanson
and Vince O’Connell for a special screening of
their independent film. 7 pm. Highland Center
for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro.
$10. highlandartsvt.org
Dinner and Slide Show on Birds. David Mears
will present a slide show and share interesting
facts about birds as well as the history of bird
protections in the United States and Vermont.
7:30 pm. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St.,
Montpelier. 7:30 pm. Vegetarian dinner at 6
pm for $20. Presentation is free. SaddleShoes2@
gmail.com
SUNDAY, JANUARY 20
First Presbyterian Church Community
Breakfast. 7:30–9 am. 78 Summer St., Barre.
Film Screening: “Farmer of the Year.” Join
Craftsbury-based filmmakers Kathy Swanson
and Vince O’Connell for a special screening of
their independent film. 2 pm. Highland Center
for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro.
$10. highlandartsvt.org
Zumba-Like Fitness Dance. Every Sunday.
Music by secular and Christian artists. 4–5 pm.
East Montpelier Elementary School, 665 Vincent
Flats, East Montpelier. Free for women 18 and
older.
Kathy and Steven’s Long Walk on the Camino
de Santiago. In the summer of 2018 Kathy and
Steven Light (of the Fyre and Lightning Consort)
Through June 1: Thomas Waterman Wood:
The Master Copies. A selection of Wood’s
master copies from the T.W. Wood Art Gallery
collection. While Wood was in Europe he fell
in love with the paintings of the European
Masters, including Rembrandt and Turner.
Following current fashion, Wood copied
paintings to learn techniques from the masters.
T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier. 262-6035.
twwoodgallery.org
SPECIAL EVENTS
Jan. 9: Art Gallery Opening and Reception
– Dianne Shullenberger and John Snell.
This fabric collage and photography show
reflects John Snell and Dianne Shullenberger‘s
fascination with rocks. They focus on patterns,
details, textures and pay tribute to the adjoining
vegetation in a rock’s environment. 6–8 pm.
North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm St.,
Montpelier. northbranchnaturecenter.org
Jan. 25: Reception: The Paintings of Louis
Fried. Painting initially to recover from a
debilitating stroke, Fried channeled his vision,
determination and confidence into what
became his passion. 5 pm. Highland Center for
the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro.
walked the entire Camino de Santiago, over
500 miles. They will show photos and videos,
talk about their experiences and play medieval
and traditional music from the Camino on their
newly acquired Galician bagpipes and harp, lute,
guitar, recorders, whistle, clarinet and more. 4
pm. Plainfield Opera House, Rt. 2, Plainfield. By
donation. 498-3173
MONDAY, JANUARY 21
Community Lunch at Unitarian Church
Montpelier. 11 am–12:30 pm. 130 Main St.,
Montpelier.
Salvation Army Community Lunch.
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
Medicine Buddha Sadhana & Prostrations to
The Thirty Five Confession Buddhas. Medicine
Buddha practice is particularly helpful for those
who may be sick, injured, or suffering in any
way, including beings in the animal realm.
5–7 pm. Milarepa Center, 1344 Rt. 5 South,
Barnet. milarepacenter.org
Full Moon Snowshoe Hikes (for families).
Under a full moon and surrounded by sparkling
snow, let’s snowshoe by lunar light! These
family-friendly programs will involve many fun
nighttime activities for kids and parents alike.
Programs led by NBNC’s teacher/naturalist
staff. Snowshoes and hot chocolate provided.
RSVP required. 7–8:30 pm. North Branch
Nature Center, 713 Elm St., Montpelier.
northbranchnaturecenter.org
PAG E 2 2 • J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 THE BRIDGE
Live Music
VENUES
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. 229-9212.
Bagitos.com
Jan. 10: Old Time Music Session. 6 pm
Jan. 12: Irish Session, 2 pm; Barry Bender
6 pm.
Jan. 13: Southern Old Time Music Jam,
10 am
Jan. 17: Italian Session, 6 pm
Jan. 18: Dave Loughran, 6 pm
Jan. 19: Irish Session, 2 pm; Duo d’ Accord,
6 pm
Jan. 20: Eric Friedman Folk Ballads, 11 am
Jan. 24: Red Clay - Montpelier HS Jazz
Band, 6 pm
Jan. 25: Latin Dance Party, 7 pm
Charlie O’s World Famous. 70 Main St.
Montpelier. Free. 223-6820.
Every Tues.: Karaoke, 7:30 pm
Jan. 11: John Smyth (acoustic) 6 pm; Carter
Glass (rock) 9 pm
Jan. 12: Bloodshot Bill w/ Special Guest
(rockabilly) 9 pm
Jan. 14: Sex Trivia (quiz) 8:30 pm
Jan. 18: Z- Jaz (jazz) 6 pm; Muddy Ruckus
(blues rock) 9 pm
Jan. 21: Music Trivia (quiz) 8:30 pm
Calendar of Events
Jan. 24: Spice On Snow Fest w/ Chaque Fois
& The Rear Defrosters (Cajun/honky tonk)
9 pm
Jan. 25: NOS4A2 (classic metal tribute)
9 pm
Espresso Bueno. 248 N. Main St., Barre.
479-0896. espressobueno.com.
Jan. 12: Jazzyaoke (live jazz karaoke),
7:30 pm, $5
Jan. 25: Umlaut (rock n’ polk) 7:30 pm
Whammy Bar. 31 W. County Rd., Calais.
whammybar1.com
Every Thurs.: Open Mic, 7 pm
Jan. 11: D. Davis, Liz Beatty, Seamus
Hannan, 7:30 pm
Jan. 12: Myra Flynn/ Paul Boffa, 7:30 pm
Jan. 18: Red Hot Juba, 7:30 pm
Jan. 19: Lewis Franco and the Brown Eyed
Girls, 7:30 pm
Jan. 24: Willa Mamet and Paul Miller, 7 pm
Jan. 25: Sky Blue Boys (Dan and Willy
Lindner) 7:30 pm
SPECIAL EVENTS
Jan. 11–13: Scrag Mountain Music Presents
Joy, Pleasure, and Sweet Nourishment:
A Concert of Early Music Concerts. A
performance of works by Jean-Baptiste
Barrière, John Dowland, John Eccles, George
Frideric Handel, Guillaume de Machaut,
Henry Purcell, and a piece that invokes the
spirit of early music by the young New York
City-based Canadian composer Matthew
Ricketts. All shows 7:30 pm. Donations
welcome. scragmountainmusic.org
Jan. 11: Bread & Butter Farm, 200 Leduc
Rd., Shelburne.
Jan. 12: Christ Church, 64 State St.,
Montpelier.
Jan, 13: Warren United Church, 339 Main
St. Warren.
Jan. 11: Rock City! Concert. Rock & Soul
chorus with 50 singers and one rocking band.
This season, the group will present an evening
of songs from the sixties through the aughts, in
four-part harmony, with a great band. 7:30 pm.
Barre Elks Lodge, 10 Jefferson St., Barre. $10
benefits the Turning Point Center of Central
Vermont.
Jan. 12: Kind Bud. 1–5 pm. Stowe Mountain
Rd., Stowe. Free.
Jan. 12: Susan Gaeta Concert. The evening
of Sephardic music will also include Havdalah
blessings, Q&A, and reception. 6:30–8:30
pm. Beth Jacob Synagogue 10 Harrison Ave.,
Montpelier. Adults $18; ages under 18 $6.
Jan. 12: JAZZ: with Ira Friedman & Rich
Davidian. Ira Friedman & Rich Davidian,
keyboard and sax, with guest vocalist Allison
Mann. Live, acoustic, intimate setting. 7 pm.
18 Langdon St., 2nd floor, Montpelier. $15.
Reservations: allisonjoymann@comcast.net
Jan. 12: Lankum. Irish breakour band is a
four-piece traditional folk group who combine
distinctive four-part vocal harmonies with
arrangements of uilleann pipes, concertina,
Russian accordion, fiddle and guitar. 7:30 pm.
Barre Opera House, 6 N. Main St., Barre. $26.
barreoperahouse.org
Jan. 17: Cal Stanton. Renditions of lesser
known songs and original compositions.
Contemporary blues/folk. 6–8 pm. Café at
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
St., Greensboro. highlandartsvt.org
Jan. 19: Spruce Peak Chamber Music Society
Presents Rhapsody in Stowe. Audience
and ensemble will be seated on stage for a
more intimate evening. Program will include
selections from: Gershwin “Rhapsody in Blue,”
Mozart “Kegelstatt” Trio in E-flat Major,
and more. 7 pm. Spruce Peak Performing
Arts Center, 122 Hourglass Dr., Stowe. $35.
SprucePeakArts.org
Jan. 19: Contra Dance. Dance to the music
of Dave Landford and Collin McCaffrey with
Adina Gordan calling. Everyone welcome!
No experience and no partner needed. Intro
session at 7:40 p.m. Please bring clean, soft-
soled shoes. 8–11 pm. Capital City Grange
Hall, 6612 Rt. 12, Berlin. Adults $10; kids and
low income $5; dance supporters $15.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
Barre Congregational Church Community
Meal. 7:30–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
The Christ Church Community Lunch.
11 am–12:30 pm. 64 Main St., Montpelier.
Salvation Army Community Lunch.
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
Investigative Reporting in a Fishbowl.
VTDigger Editor Anne Galloway will describe
how interacting with sources and protecting
whistleblowers can be challenges to investigative
reporting in Vermont. An Osher Lifelong
Learning Program. 1:30 pm. Montpelier Senior
Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Free
for OLLI members; $5 suggested donation for
others.
MFA in Creative Writing Information Session
at Goddard College. If you would like to learn
more or have questions about our MFA in
Creative Writing Program, please join us for an
informational session with Program Director,
Elena Georgiou. This session will be conducted
using the Zoom videoconferencing platform,
but you can also call in with a phone. 5:30 pm.
RSVP: jenn.renko@goddard.edu
Waterbury Historical Society Meeting. Chuck
Magnus will tell us the history of the Caboose
on Perry Hill and show a video “Backyard
Goldmine.” 6 pm. Waterbury Municipal
Building, Steele Community Room, Main St.,
Waterbury.
Mid-Week Movie: “The Shape of Water.”
6–8 pm. Highland Center for the Arts, 2875
Hardwick St., Greensboro. $5 suggested
donation.
Indie Lens Pop-Up Film and Discussion:
“RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the
World.” This film brings to light a profound and
missing chapter in the history of American music:
the Indigenous influence. Abenaki musician
Bryan Blanchette will speak following the film.
7 pm. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St.,
Montpelier. 223-3338.
T H E B R I D G E J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 • PAG E 2 3

Calendar of Events
THURSDAY, JANUARY 24
New Vermonters Friendship Group. Are you new to this country? Welcome to Vermont! Come Naturalist Journeys Presentation Series: Nibbling on Natives in Your Backyard and Beyond.
meet for some casual conversation and refreshments. People from the Central Vermont Refugee Action Russ Cohen, expert forager and author of “Wild Plants I Have Known … and Eaten” will explore
Network and Central Vermont Adult Basic Education will join us to talk about the services they offer. native edible plants suitable for landscaping or wild nibbling. Homemade samples will be shared.
10–11:30 am. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Hayes Room, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338. 7–8:30 pm. North Branch Nature Center, Elm St., Montpelier.
Trinity United Methodist Church Community Lunch. 11:30 am–1 pm. 137 Main St., Montpelier.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 Send your event listing to
Waterbury Winterfest 2019. Jan. 25–Feb. 3. A 10-day festival featuring indoor and outdoor venues,
traditional and not-so-traditional events. Various location in Waterbury. WaterburyWinterfest.com calendar@montpelierbridge.com.
Keeping the Books & Tax Planning For Small Businesses. Denice Gagne will talk about the tax
law to make sure you pay only the tax you owe and no more. She will point out often overlooked tax Deadline for print in the next issue is January 17.
deductions that you may be able to take. 9–10 am. Capstone, 20 Gable Pl., Barre. Register: 477-5214

To place a classified listing call 249-8666

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT
PERFECT LOCATION WITHIN A 3 MINUTE
WALK TO CAPITAL.
Renovated throughout. First floor handicap
accessible, two rest rooms, and storage. Includes
private off street parking, weekly office cleaning, heat,
hot water, electricity, snow removal, landscaping and
full maintenance. Single or multiple offices starting
@ $300.00 per month. Phone: 508-259-7941
Classifieds
NOW HIRING
PAX IS HIRING LOCAL COORDINATORS! Work
from home, help high school foreign exchange
students find great host families, and earn cash and
travel incentives. You will be a part time contractor,
we work with people not quotas. Questions? Contact
Kimberly at keckhardt08@gmail.com, or apply
online at pax.org.
HELP WANTED
THE CAPITAL CITY FARMERS MARKET is hiring
a dynamic, local-food loving individual to promote,
market, and enhance the vibrancy of our downtown
Montpelier farmers market. This individual is capable
of creating and executing a long-term marketing and
promotion plan that grows our vendor and consumer
base.
A detailed Job description can be viewed at http://
capitalcityfarmersmarket.com/were-hiring/.
Interested parties may submit a cover letter, resume,
and three professional references to manager@
montpelierfarmersmarket.com
PAG E 24 • J A N UA RY 9 – J A N UA RY 2 2 , 2 019 THE BRIDGE

Recycle
THIS PAPER!

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Custom Energy-Efficient Homes
Additions • Timber Frames
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