the charlotte news | july 31, 2014

The Charlotte News Volume lVI Number 24 The VoIce of The TowN Thursday, July 31, 2014

Roberts Honored for 45 Years at Horsford Retirement Party

Pouring rain wasn’t enough to keep family, friends, co-workers and well-wishers from coming out last Sunday to celebrate Leo Roberts’ retirement after 45 years of working at Horsford Gardens & Nursery. Among those celebrating Roberts (second from left) were current owners Charlie Proutt (left) and Eileen Schilling (right), as well as former owner Sallie Soule (second from right). Proutt read a speech thanking Roberts for teaching him how to run the nursery and told the crowd that many customers would only deal with Roberts. The rain came and went during the event, but the smile never left Roberts’ face.

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Focusing on Farms, Commission

Begins Town Plan Workshops

Brett SigurdsonTHE CHARLOTTE NEWS

With the release of the first draft of the 2015 Town Plan at the end of June, Charlotte’s Planning Commission last Wednesday took a big step in its work with the first of several planned com-munity workshops. About 25 people filled the chairs at Town Hall to discuss and provide feedback on the commis-sion’s chapter on agri-culture.

The fact that agricul-ture was the first chap-ter to receive a pub-lic hearing is perhaps fitting, as language in the Town Plan has read “agriculture is and shall remain the pri-mary economic activ-ity in Charlotte.” Yet the workshop, led by planning consultant Brandy Saxton of Port Henry, N.Y.-based PlaceSense, showed just how tenuous that assumption may be.

According to the presentation at the out-set of the workshop, the amount of land being actively farmed in Charlotte is decreas-ing. Fewer people in town are making their living by farming, and those farms that remain have either down-sized their operations or consolidated. The farms that remain are diversifying, expanding into other business sectors like retail, dining, tourism, education and event hosting, among others.

Despite the apparent decline of large agricultural operations, the number farming in Charlotte and the county has actually been growing, mostly due to an increasing number of small farms, noted Saxton. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of small farms—defined as less that 50 acres—

in Charlotte increased by 17 between 2002 and 2007. In Chittenden County, the number of small farms increased by 178 between 1992 and 2012.

Saxton noted that these numbers may not paint an accurate portrait of agriculture in Charlotte at this moment, as these were the most up-to-date fig-ures on farming in the area available.

The question of keeping agriculture as the cornerstone of the community’s

identity—which all at the workshop seemed to support—raised several oth-ers: How does the town define an agri-cultural enterprise? (Some wondered if homesteading was considered “farm-ing” or whether keeping chickens or growing veg-etables constituted such an operation.) How does the town promote diversi-fied farm operations without their grow-ing so large they impede neighbor-ing residents? And how can the town encourage more farmers to get their start in Charlotte?

Currently Charlotte uses the Vermont secretary of agriculture’s definition of “agriculture”—there isn’t a defini-tion of “farming” in the town’s Land Use Regulations—which encompasses cultivation of land for growing and harvesting everything from crops to Christmas trees to maple syrup and managing everything from livestock to horses to fish and bees.

Yet the state’s definition may not be the same definition Charlotte would

Next towN PlaN workshoP

What: Natural ResourcesWhen: Thursday, July 31Where: Town Halltime: 7 p.m.

The Commission has also scheduled workshops on trans-portation and energy for Aug. 21 and land use Sept. 4. The workshops are open to all. For updated agendas and a copy of the first draft of the Town Plan, visit the town’s web-site at charlottevt.org. Those who cannot attend the work-shops can send feedback to the Planning Commission at [email protected].

Hit the Beach for 2nd Annual

Celebration Aug. 3

Building on last year’s success, the Charlotte Recreation Commission will host its second annual Town Beach Party on Aug. 3 from 3–8 p.m. at Charlotte’s Town Beach.

According to Bill Fraser-Harris, chair of the Recreation Committee, last year’s party—which drew over 200 attendees—was so full of great food and entertainment that “everyone agreed it was worthy of making an annual event.”

Further, the Town Beach Party captured something of the community spirit the Recreation Commission tries to promote, he added.

“We have an amazing waterfront available to all Charlotters, and it is managed by the Recreation Commission,” said Fraser-Harris. “We felt that the community could be well served by a fun, free event where everyone’s small contribution led to the greater good. Our mission is building community through connections to the outdoors.”

Planned this year are an open-air pig roast and potluck, live music from the Mystic Party Band, a demo of paddle boards, kayaks and other water gear courtesy of Out-door Gear Exchange, a Celtic dancing demo, and activities like soccer, volleyball, tennis and more. Attendees are invited to bring a chair, a blanket and their favorite beverage, Fraser-Harris said.

Admission to the event is a dish to pass or a $5 donation for dinner, as well as the usual beach parking fees. Fraser-Harris added that the beach party is carry-in/carry-out and will be a zero-waste event.

For more information, or to volunteer, contact Fraser-Harris at 425-3663 or [email protected].

One of several topics discussed at the July Selectboard meeting

John HammerThe charloTTe News

A key meeting regarding the Char-lotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (CVFRS) was held on July 21 at which time the provisional finances for Fiscal Year 2014, which ended June 30, were reviewed. It was noted that the figures included still outstanding accounts such as patient billing.

Dave McNally, president of the CVFRS corporate board, painted a rosy picture in stating that they were “clearly under budget and have man-aged it reasonably well this year.” A number of adjustments were discussed

that would provide more clarity in future reports.

During the financial discussions, Peter Trono raised the question whether the town was adequately compensated for calls, particularly paramedic calls, to surrounding towns. His concern and that of others in the audience was that because Charlotte is the only one with paramedic services, its call load for mutual aid was greater than that of other towns and that it was costing the Char-lotte taxpayer. The consensus among all parties was that the matter needs further study.

The issue of the rescue squad’s con-

For 30 years, the Charlotte Children’s Center has been providing a place for young children to learn by playing. As it celebrates its anniversary, a look at how some things never change.

Brett SigurdsonThe charloTTe News

On a hot summer day, a pair of two-year-olds at the Charlotte Children’s Cen-ter are cooling off by playing at a water table in the facility’s expansive play-ground. But the kids are doing more than playing: they’re also learning—learning about how water can clean and move and, yes, even cool.

This is the kind of play-based learning that other kids are doing under supervi-sion of teachers in the playground: driv-ing in cars, playing in the sand, exploring the trees. It’s the kind of learning that forms the bedrock of the Charlotte Chil-dren’s Center, a place where toddlers to pre-kindergartners aren’t known for their

ages; they’re known for names that speak to the ethos of the school: explorers, builders, adventurers, seekers. This year the nonprofit is celebrating its 30th year of making major learners out of curious kids.

Sitting in an upstairs kitchen in an old Victorian house on Ferry Road that has served as the Charlotte Children’s Center for over 25 years, Director Nancy Elder and board member Marilyn Richardson discussed how the Center came to be and how it’s changed since 1984.

The Center grew out of a need for quality childcare in Charlotte, recalled Richardson. “There was nothing around.”

So “the Janes,” as they’re fond-ly called—Sara Jane Von Trapp, Jane Peters, Jane Ross-Allen—and Nancy Small banded together to form the Chil-dren’s Center. The first location was in what was known as the Kiley House on

Thirty Years Old and Still Playing

One Rescue Suspension Lifted,

Another Extended

Town Plan continued on page 10

Selectboard continued on page 21

Children’s Center continued on page 7

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Commentary

The distressing events in Gaza and Israel reflect two very differ-ent historical narratives. There is an Israeli story and a Palestinian story. The seldom-heard Palestinian story is as follows:

It was not until 1882 that a trickle of Jewish refugees from the vicious anti-Semitism in Europe began to settle in Palestine. At that time, there were about 500,000 ethnic Arabs in the area now called Israel and the West Bank, compared to about 25,000 religious Jews, who resided mainly in the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem.

Prior to 1882, the indigenous Arab people had lived on the land for over 1,000 years. The Muslim Ottoman Empire (predecessor to modern Turkey) controlled Palestine until the British conquered Jerusalem and the surrounding area in 1917. By that time there were about 70,000 Jewish colonists on land purchased from absentee Ottoman landowners.

After the British took over under a post-World War I League of Nations Mandate, Jewish immigra-tion into Palestine accelerated and a Jewish paramilitary organization was formed. Palestinian revolts dur-ing the 1930s were put down by the British Army and the Jewish para-

military, and the leaders of the revolt were killed or exiled. The League Mandate, which had promised inde-pendence to the Palestinians, was ignored even though similarly situ-ated Lebanon, Syria and Iraq became independent.

The British in 1947 gave up on the conflict in Palestine and turned the problem over to the United Nations, which created Israel. Within two years, over 700,000 ethnic Arabs had been exiled and the State of Israel had expanded its boundaries to over one-third more territory than provided under the UN Resolution. Property belonging to Arabs who fled or openly opposed Israel was confiscated by decrees issued by the Israeli government.

Fast forward to the 1967 “Six Day War,” when Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, Syria’s Golan Heights, all of Jerusalem and the present West Bank. Palestinian Arab East Jerusalem was annexed at that time. The captured Egyptian territory was returned as part of the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty nego-tiated at Camp David in 1979.

However, the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Golan Heights have remained under Israeli occupa-tion since 1967.

The Israelis have now included within the boundaries of Israel over 75 percent of the land lived on by the indigenous Palestinian Arabs in 1882 (not including settlements in the occupied West Bank). Over 80 percent of the original Palestinian population has been driven out. There are over one million refugees in the West Bank, Gaza and neigh-boring Arab countries. The occupied West Bank now has around 200 Israeli settlements containing over 300,000 settlers, not counting the settlers in the annexed Palestinian section of Jerusalem.

The people who live in Gaza are overwhelmingly the children or grandchildren of the very people who lost their homes and jobs after the creation of Israel or as a result of the 1967 war. Arguably they have the same right of defense as the Israelis who settled on top of them and the same right to ask for the recognition of a Palestinian state that Israel demands for a Jewish state.

The conflict will not go away. Sadly, Israel will need to continue suppression of Palestinian resistance into the indefinite future.

Ed AmidonPopple Dungeon Road

On the Roots of the Israel-Palestine Conflict

Charlotte Business: Ain’t Like It Used to Be? Brett Sigurdson’s article “Ain’t

Like It Used to Be” in the latest issue of the Charlotte News had me ready to close the doors of the Old Brick Store and run for the mountains. The horrible business climate and har-bingers of doom gave me a sleepless night. But before I turned my back on my potentially failing business, I decided to take one last look at my sales figures.

Today looks great, last month was stellar, and upon further inspection, Year-To-Date is up 25 percent. Am I a fluke? Or is Charlotte really not as bad off as the Charlotte News made things out to be?

All snarkiness aside, I was curious about some of the News’s observa-tions, so I decided to take a closer look. A simple search on the Vermont Department of State website lists 584 active principal business addresses right here in our little town. Granted not all of those are for-profit, or operat-ing in Charlotte, but I think that figure sheds a little light on the contention that Charlotte’s business community is failing. The businesses highlighted by the article (Uncle Sam’s, Steve’s Citgo, Lake Champlain Waldorf School and EatingWell) left for rea-sons irrelevant to the town itself—buildings that were too small for the growing needs of the business, owner retirement and lack of management. Did these businesses attempt to stay as they were or expand but were shut down by the Selectboard? Other than a failed attempt to place a Jolly Mart at Steve’s corner, I could find no evidence that the town forced these businesses to leave or shut down.

At the same time, new business-es are popping up and thriving in Charlotte. A quick flip through the News shows a plethora of hard-work-ing Charlotters who advertise regu-

larly in the paper. The Selectboard is working diligently on creating a town septic system, and while still in its early stages, this Selectboard is on task and hoping to make the system a reality.

As a business owner in Charlotte, I have always felt that my concerns are regarded and addressed. My high-est profile issue was the Ferry Road sidewalk, and while my opposition to it was mischaracterized (I feel the sidewalk should come after the empty buildings find their purpose), the Selectboard was diligent in mak-ing me a part of the planning.

The Charlotte News paints a pic-ture of a once-thriving town that has hit the skids. It’s a faulty vision, though—folks lined up at the train station waiting to board for their com-mute to Burlington (the six of us who rode the train regularly never waited long to embark), a bustling business park that is turning into a ghost town. Ain’t like it used to be? It used to be we did not have a Children’s Center, a Senior Center, a Fire and Rescue, a public library.

And the idea that Charlotte will ever be anything other than primarily a bedroom community is silly. We all live here because Charlotte is not Burlington, and I think you would be hard pressed to find one person who wants it to be. There are some things that would be nice for convenience sake, but most of those things do not make business sense.

As the former owner of a restau-rant and a busy café in a much-larger population, I can attest with experi-ence that a pub/restaurant/café would have a difficult time surviving with such a small population.

Honestly, think of how many times you would eat out at a restaurant in Charlotte— twice a month? Once a

month? Multiply that by the number of folks who live here and divide that by ten percent—the likely number of people who would actually come out. That number is not one that can sus-tain a restaurant serving two or three meals a day. And a grocery store? We already have one grocery store, and it survives not on people buying groceries but on people buying deli items. There is a cost associated with being small and rural, and once again you can’t have it all.

Charlotte’s draw is not its industry. Years ago, when it was primarily an agricultural town, the people who lived here made their living here. There are those who hang on, and to them we are grateful—our farm-ing families are critical to our rural nature, and thankfully, more farmers are choosing Charlotte as their home. They maintain the fragile open space and beauty we love and cherish. The rest of us who make our living here do so because we work hard and love what we do.

Change will come to Charlotte. The corner of Route 7 and Ferry Road will turn around, the buildings between Ferry and Greenbush will see businesses move in. Hopefully these changes will be well thought out and make business sense, not only to our town but also for the business owners themselves.

Meanwhile, 700 people walked through the door of the OBS last Sunday. Not one of those people commented on our lack of commu-nity, our failing business climate or the empty train station. The most frequent answer to the question “How is your day going?” was “Another day in paradise.”

Carrie MacKillopStockbridge Road


Letters PolicyAll opinions expressed in Letters and Commentaries are those of the writers and not

of The Charlotte News, which is published as an independent, nonprofit, non-biased community service and forum.

Letters

On the cover

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In appreciation of community spirit

I’ve always been happy to call Char-lotte my hometown—now more so than ever with my involvement at the special 20th Town Party on the green. You see, I’m just a “regular resident,” as I like to refer to myself, only now I have this volunteer capacity that throws me in the public spotlight periodically. My fifth year celebration of Ceal Moran’s Geneal-ogy Day was a figure under the tent (it’s being held at the Charlotte Senior Center Aug. 9). My interests seem to center around family, and now I guess you could say it really overflows to “my love of community.”

Please take a moment to thank volun-teers you come across, and by that I mean

especially those regular folks “behind the scenes” at places like SCHIP (who also celebrated their special tenth year at the Town Party, and we all know they serve residents of surrounding community as well as Charlotters).

I’ll end with a recent comment that seems to say it all that was shared during conversation at a Vermont pet store reg-ister check-out that went something like, “Vermonters are a bunch of conscientious people that care on a higher level.” We really do... So here’s a big shout that I’m hoping spreads like wildfire: Go Charlot-ters, Go!

(And thanks for making a difference one random act of kindness at a time).

Ceal Moran

Nature’s Way

Charlotte can have business and beauty

Brett Sigurdson’s July 3 “Charlotte’s Web” column paints a gloomy portrait of the local business environment. Business owners (and prospective business own-ers) face challenges, including restrictive zoning ordinances, lack of water and sep-tic, and distance from population centers. Most vexing, though, is a pervasive anti-business attitude.

Rural charm and scenery are the essence of Charlotte, and nobody wants to lose this.

But let’s be honest, the addition of a restaurant, tearoom or hair salon won’t turn us into Taft Corners. Yet when our neighbors try to open a hometown shop we circle the wagons.

When we maintain Charlotte as rural parkland we lose places to gather and build community. We compromise the majesty of our green spaces with “For Sale” signs and vacant/neglected busi-nesses. We harm our environment when we’re forced to drive to Burlington for work, to South Burlington for grocer-ies, to Shelburne for gas, etc. With some energy and effort, however, we can gain the tax revenue, philanthropic efforts and time-saving convenience local business provides.

Mike Russell and his committee have ideas we should listen to. As I understand it, the proposal is to develop a plan for retaining our existing businesses, make our land use ordinances less onerous, and recruit businesses that suit the needs and character of our town.

It’s possible for us to welcome com-merce while maintaining our rural Green Mountain identity. After all, isn’t inde-pendence, helping others and buying local what Vermont is all about?

Chris Falk

Lake Road

Cafferty for County Sheriff

I would like to take this opportunity to endorse Ed Cafferty for the position of Chittenden County Sheriff.

I have known Ed for many years. He is an honest and straightforward person, a respected member of the Vermont State Police and an adjunct professor of Crimi-nal Justice at Community College of Vermont. His credentials make him well qualified for the position.

But qualifications are not everything. Ed has a vision of what the sheriff’s department can be beyond what it is today. The department is responsible for transport of prisoners, for courthouse security, for traffic control and, when contracted by municipalities, for police services. Ed proposes to expand those responsibilities by actively working with

other police agencies in illegal-drug enforcement and prevention, creating a Community Advisement Committee, and instituting safe home and business pro-grams.

Also important, in my opinion, is his strong support for universal background checks for all gun sales, an issue that I also hope to address in the upcoming legislative session.

So I encourage you to vote for Ed in the Democratic Primary election on Aug. 26. If you will not be available to go to the polls then, you can vote by absentee ballot anytime between now and the elec-tion by contacting the town clerk.

Of course, I hope you’ll cast a vote for me as your State Rep, too.

Rep. Mike Yantachka

Charlotte-Hinesburg

(Chit 4-1)

An Unfortunate Phrase In your recent and truly fine article on

the lack of growth, or even maintenance, of existing commercial and light indus-trial development in Charlotte [“Ain’t Like it Used to Be,” July 3, 2014], one unfortunate phrase grabbed my attention and provoked a reaction. It referred to the decline in Charlotte’s business fortunes and attributed this to the “battle between conservation and development.”

As far as I know, those concerned with the conservation of natural places have not been impeding or battling any development within the town areas zoned for such uses, unless they have included designated wetlands within those zones. If that were the case, then it would be a bad choice of location on engineering as well as ecological grounds. Charlotte conser-vationists have usually not been opposed to appropriate commercial/light industrial development, and they support designated growth zones as essential to an economi-cally balanced town.

Of course there is concern and appropri-ate opposition from conservation interests to ill-advised housing developments that are proposed for areas of significant wild-life habitat or areas of high public value as shown on maps, available to any devel-oper, in Town Hall or on the web. The location of housing is usually flexible and with the help of the Planning Commission can often be positioned or limited to avoid serious damage. To call any such legitimate negotiations between private and public interests in town a “battle” is perhaps in this case a little more appropri-ate, but it is also inflammatory and not at all helpful to the process.

The landmark United Nations Summit Conference in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro was titled “Environment and Development,” not versus. In fact, without a conserved environment (clean air, pure water, pro-ductive soil, healthy plants and animals) there can be no development or life. It bothers me to see this red-flag phrase used that unnecessarily perpetuates an adver-sarial mindset.

Larry Hamilton

Bittersweet Lane

Thanks for Another Successful Town Party

Hallelujah! Great weather prevailed and contributed to the success of the 20th annual Town Party on the Green. As in the past this event would not have happened without the efforts of many. First, our sincere thanks to John Crabbe of Vermont Tent Company, whose very generous donation to the Friends of the Library makes this event possible, and to the Charlotte Selectboard for again assuming the cost of providing tent space for the various town and local nonprofit organizations.

Thank you so much to the Fire & Rescue Auxiliary for so efficiently providing food and sustenance to fuel the party, to Town Constable Josh Flore for traffic control, to the Children’s Center staff and board for setting up a myriad of fun activities in honor of their 30th anniversary and to the many town organizations for sharing their information and enthusiasm. The Quinlan School and Senior Center provided some respite from the rigors of the celebration. And thank you to the incredible Charlotte Library staff members for their cheerful assistance, infinite patience and intestinal

fortitude in tolerating the massive invasion of their space.

We also need to acknowledge and thank all those who donated the close to 6,000 good-quality books that were clearly essential to the success of the book sale! Some donated books have been added to the library’s collection; others have been earmarked to give to kids attending this fall’s Tractor Parade and to kids on a Native American reservation. We also donated a few boxes of books to our neighbors at the Charlotte Children’s Center.

As always an enormous thank you goes to the more than 40 volunteers (too many to mention individually here) who sorted books, set up the book tent, cashiered and cleaned up. Kris Gerson and Abby Foulk oversaw the Greening of the Town Party with the able assistance of some very special rising third grade students!

Last but not least we thank the Friends of the Bixby Library for transporting the remaining books to Vergennes to add to their ongoing book sale.

Friends of Charlotte Library Board:

Laura Cahners-Ford, Denise

Danyow, Shanley Hinge, Nan Mason,

Beth Merritt, Dana Murphy and

Martha Whitfield

Microburst Topples Charlotte TreesA microburst storm wind hit the shore of Charlotte on July 23 in the vicinity of

Popple Dungeon Road, causing amazing damage to large trees. It seems to have

been about one-half mile wide and did not reach far inland. This photo shows Ed

Amidon standing amid some of the damage and mourning the loss of some very

large conifers in the shoreland protection zone. Larry Hamilton, Charlotte’s

tree warden, was quick to reopen Whalley Road, which was blocked by fallen

trees. Thankfully, no structures were reported damaged.

Photo and text by Tree Warden Larry Hamilton.

Be prepared for whateverlife throws your way

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Brett SigurdsonTHE CHARLOTTE NEWS

In medieval times, some European countries would go through a sort of temporary cultural shift around the first of each new year. The upper echelons of society such as clergy and kings would be subordinated by peasants, or fools, for a day, and low culture would rule the land during celebrations called “feasts of fools.”

Burlington will see a similar cultural transformation as an international lineup of street performers, musicians and vaude-ville acts take over the city for the seventh annual Festival of Fools, Aug. 1–3. And acting as the role of the lead jester—the top fool—is Charlotte’s Woody Keppel.

Sitting in his East Charlotte home,

whose cabin-like interior is filled with instruments and American vaudeville accouterments, Keppel reflected on the role of the fool today and how his festival keeps old traditions alive.

The first thing to understand, he said, is that the word “fool” is a misnomer.

“The fool in today’s society, the word conjures up low status,” said Keppel. “But really in the Middle Ages it was extremely high. The fool could make fun of the king. He permitted that.”

Playing the fool is in Keppel’s blood, and he embraces it (his phone number, for example, is 1-800-Foolery). While growing up, Keppel’s father schooled him in the art of Laurel and Hardy—still his favorite comedians—Charlie Chaplin and the Marx Brothers. He was attracted to their irreverence, the way they targeted higher social hierarchies and the govern-ment, but in an inoffensive way.

Keppel eventually entered the world of modern vaudeville through his bumbling duo Waldo and Woodhead, a musical/comedy/acrobatic act that has performed throughout the world. During these trav-els Keppel performed at long-standing Festival of Fools celebrations in Edmon-ton, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Dublin and Hali-fax—where Waldo and Woodhead was named the top performer one year—taking note of how each of the popular festivals worked, how they attracted attendance and entertained the masses.

By the time Keppel decided to move to the Burlington area, he had amassed a considerable body of knowledge about how to make a big festival work, and he

knew a Festival of Fools could be big in Burlington. In fact, he moved here because of how successful buskers on Church Street were and the supportive audiences they drew.

When he found out the city was look-ing for a summer festival in 2006, Keppel knew what to do.

“I had one in my pocket,” he said. “It was just the convergence of like minds.”

Working with Charlotter Doreen Craft of Burlington City Arts, Keppel planned the debut of the first Festival of Fools in 2007. That year provided a template for future festivals: a mix of street perform-ing, vaudeville, cabaret and comedy. It also set a standard for quality enter-tainment, as evidenced by the festival’s reception.

“Immediately there was a connection,” said Keppel.

Part of this comes from the quality of acts that Keppel curates, a balanced mix of circus-skill shows, character-driven

performances and music. Part of it also comes from Keppel’s insistence on mak-ing the Festival of Fools a place where families can come together and enjoy a good time.

“I look at my job as putting as many laughs on the street as possible,” he said. “Burlington will have more laughs in the world that weekend.”

Among the acts providing laughs and entertainment this year (see sidebar) will be Keppel’s own Hokum Bros., a trio that plays a humorous take on Americana, like Woody Guthrie playing alongside Oliver Hardy. Like all his acts, Hokum Bros. carries on the lineage of vaudeville, the American invention that in the early twentieth century was the country’s most popular form of entertainment, now rel-egated to something of a subculture in the entertainment industry.

Yet Keppel sees this classic entertain-ment style lasting precisely because of events like Burlington’s Festival of Fools.

“I think the art form is definitely going to last,” he said. “I think these downtown festivals held annually—they’re just so popular with the public and the perform-ers. I see no reason why they won’t last. It’ll find a place always.”

Keppel is already planning for next year. Like a classic vaudeville act, he sees the festival lasting long into the future because of the core ingredient of the festi-val’s makeup: laughter.

“Comedy is such a great counterpoint to life’s tragedies,” said Keppel. “It plays a role in society because it keeps our offi-

cials in line. Nothing can really stand in the face of humor.”

Charlotte’s Woody Keppel (center) is the driving force behind the Festival of Fools, and there’s one thing that drives his work: making people laugh.

Playing the FoolThe 7th Annual Festival of Fools

The Festival of Fools features the best international street performers on four main stage locations surrounding the Church Street Marketplace and City Hall Park. It will feature continuous street theater, performing to over 10,000 visitors to Church Street each day, mak-ing it one of the biggest such festivals in the country.

A big reason for this is the quality of the acts Keppel brings in as the event’s artistic director. This year is no dif-ferent. The scheduled acts range from vaudeville performers to live music to kids’ shows to acrobats.

The Festival of Fools kicks off Fri-day, Aug. 1, at 1 p.m. with “pre-show foolery” compliments of Keppel’s own Hokum Bros. At 6 p.m., Mayor Miro Weinberger will officially open the fes-tival with the Fools’ Gala Opening, featuring the giant puppets and music of Big Nazo Band. The Fool’s Cabaret with Modern Times, a musical panto-mime duo from Hardwick, will follow on the City Hall stage, as will music by Starlight Lounge in front of Halverson’s Upstreet Café. Closing out the night’s events will be a screening of Buster Keaton’s classic silent film The General at City Hall Park.

The weekend will feature continous performances by acts like the Very Merry Theatre, a youth performance group based in Charlotte; Swing Noire, a swingin’ jazz group from Bristol; MamaLou, the world’s strongest woman; and Broadway performer Fred Garbo and his Inflatable Theatre Com-pany, among others.

The festival will culminate on Sunday with the Feast of Fools from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m, which will feature a literal feast of good food and performances at City Hall Park. The festival will close at 5:30 p.m. with the “Last Laugh Variety Show” at City Hall Park, where all of the performers will come out for one final performance.

For a full list of all the Festival of Fools’ performers and schedules, visit vermontfestivaloffools.com.

The Charlotte News ��-XO\��

New Library Drop Box Installed in East Charlotte

Here we have the Charlotte Library’s handsome and official

new book return box, installed recently on the front of Spear’s

Store. A higher level of customer service is thusly extended to

residents living on the east side of town. In Charlotte a problem

becomes an opportunity when the right people come together.

Photo and text by Stephen C. Brooks

Susan CrockenbergContributor

At the July 14 Selectboard meeting, mem-bers gave a unanimous thumbs-up to applying for a $20,000 municipal planning grant, which requires a 30-percent match from the town, to assist with drafting a West Charlotte village wastewater system policy/ordinance. Although the wastewater report submitted several years ago included technical information and cost estimates from engineer Dave Mar-shall, who volunteered his expertise, Selectboard member Fritz Tegatz stated that costs and needs may have changed in the interim. Mike Russell spoke forcefully in favor of the Selectboard’s moving quickly to implement a wastewater policy to foster commercial inter-ests in the village. According to Russell, if the excess septic capacity allotted to the Town Hall were sold at $60 per gallon, it would generate funding to expand the system. Tegatz stated that the wastewater policy should coordinate with the new Town Plan and added that it’s unclear whether businesses that have expressed interest in expanding would be willing to pay the costs of connecting to the town septic capacity. Russell suggested that more people needed to come forward and express interest in expanding business in the village in order to move the proj-ect along.

Budget talks A discussion of the budget preparation time-line ensued. Matt Krasnow suggested inviting all committee chairs to meet and talk about the budget preparation process, then determine how many meetings would be needed for each committee. In response to the point that the Selectboard should not simply accept what-ever increase a committee requested, Selectboard member Charles Russell proposed that they begin with an assumption of zero growth. Selectboard member Ellie Russell suggested that they begin with a zero budget and simply ask the committees to start over in making up their budgets for the next year. Town Clerk/Treasurer Mary Mead emphasized that the board needed to ask more questions of the people presenting bud-gets and should be aware of how much of their previous budgets committees had actually spent. She suggested that the board use its Thursday meetings to talk among themselves about the budgets they would respond to at their subse-quent Monday meeting. Charles Russell pointed out that the Thursday meetings, though open to the public, were poorly attended and argued that Selectboard deliberations should occur in front of Charlotte citizens. At Chair Lane Morrison’s suggestion, the board agreed to work backward from the date the budget must be complete to when the process should begin, as is usual. Carrie Spear asked if two meetings were always enough to decide on a committee budget. The board’s response: maybe not.

Homestead declaration penalties waived

Mead proposed the Selectboard waive the eight-percent penalty for late filing of the Home-stead Declaration, which the State of Vermont has reinstated after a number of years of no penalty. Mead explained that the change has confused people and also that often when people neglect to file on time it is due to illness or other personal or family crisis. Morrison asked if there was a point at which it was too late to file (essentially whether the request was to extend the deadline for filing or simply do away with it). After some confu-sion, it was ascertained that the proposal was to do away with it. Charles Russell asked about the cost to the town of eliminating the penalty, which prompted Mead to retort that that could be a homework assignment for the Selectboard. Ellie Russell noted that it is difficult to know

how many people fail to file because of hardship or due to carelessness. In any event, the Selectboard agreed unani-mously to waive the penalty for late filing of the Homestead Declaration.

safety committee regroups The board considered whether there is a need for a community safety committee, and, if so, what its focus should be. Police services, road safety and emergency planning were suggested topics. Bonnie Christie and Carrie Spear have volunteered to serve on such a committee, with Krasnow as board liaison. Charles Russell said that the committee would be advisory to the board, as was stated at Town Meeting. Kras-now mentioned that safety concerns were being conveyed directly to the State Police. In future, complaints should be funneled through him.

speeding on Bostwick road Shelburne residents Nick and Cindy Cowles expressed concern about the high speed of vehicles making the 90-degree turn on Orchard Road, often breaching the fence that surrounds Shelburne Orchards and endangering horseback riders who use the road. They also identified the stretch of Greenbush Road as it approaches Bost-wick Road—where cars from Charlotte come over the hill very fast—as a danger spot for horseback riders. The Selectboard unanimously agreed to the Cowles’s request for signs warning motorists of horse traffic at those spots. It also discussed other options, such as dropping the speed from 45 to 35 mph as Greenbush Road approaches the Shelburne town line, posting a 15 mph speed limit at the turn on Orchard Road, and painting a section of the road to draw drivers’ attention to horse traffic. Krasnow will ask the Vermont State Police to monitor that section of Greenbush Road. The board may hire an engineer to work with the Safety Committee to examine areas of concern and ensure that any changes in the speed limit are enforceable.

otHer BusinessIn other business, the Selectboard

� �� DSSURYHG� 97UDQV� UHSUHVHQWDWLYH� 3KLO� &DUW-er’s request for temporary easements for con-struction outside of the Route 7 right-of-way and conveyance of any remaining rights within the Route 7 right-of-way at intersections with town highways (State Park Road, Thompson’s Point Road, Higbee Road, old Higbee Road) and the recreation path in preparation for the Route 7 project, scheduled to begin in 2016. Accord-ing to Carter, these easements have no value to adjoining property owners. The Agency of Transportation reimburses the town a nominal fee for the permanent easements.� ��GLVFXVVHG�D�VRXQG�V\VWHP�IRU�7RZQ�+DOO��7KH�expected cost of the system is $8,000 to $11,000. The board will contact Ben Chartrand, who runs an electronic sound and AV business, to deter-mine if he could create a sound system at lower cost.� �� GLVFXVVHG� D� SURSRVDO� E\� 6WHSKHQ� %URRNV� WR�install white pine bulletin boards and a built-in table to provide more space for the ever-increas-ing selection of notices, brochures and sign-up sheets that currently surround the town clerk’s public desk in Town Hall. Brooks would construct the boards and table at a cost of $2,600—$600 for materials and $2,000 for labor—to be paid into the private improvements pot of the cemetery funds. Brooks brought a pine bulletin board to demonstrate the high quality of his work, but several Selectboard members requested drawings, noting that the layout was hard to visualize. Spear inquired where the money for the project would come from. Charles Russell objected to depositing funds into the cemetery fund given that the tax-payers had not agreed to do so. Brooks suggested in that case they could just pay him. Tegatz will provide the scale drawings, after which the Select-board will reconsider the proposal.

Selectboard Moves Forward with Wastewater Planning Grant


Wings Point.Richardson recalls the first time she

brought her then 18-month-old son to the Center. When she arrived, she saw a group of 18-month-olds walking in line gathering sticks and leaves, exploring the area. She immediately enrolled her son.

“It certainly provided a need for me because I was a working mom,” she said. “The big thing is the ‘q’ for quality. I think it’s provided: a community-based setting where kids can have quality edu-cation and childcare. It’s far more than just care, and to me that’s the important piece.”

Other parents agreed, and the Center quickly outgrew the Kiley House. The organization’s board began to fundraise to purchase the current facility and fix it up for five classrooms. It’s been there, growing, ever since.

While the Center has grown in the last 30 years, its basic mission hasn’t.

“If you’re sending your kids here we’re hoping it’s because you want them to spend a lot of time engaging in the natural world and outdoors and learn-ing about that world,” said Elder. “You also believe children learn best through play.”

Here is an example of what Elder means. Children recently dug a trench from a rain barrel to a water tub the staff had dug in the ground. They filled it with rocks and stretched plastic tubing. Since then, they’ve been watching how water moves from the barrel to the pond over different mediums, how it pools and how it disappears when it eventually evaporates.

And this. In the room for four-year-olds the staff has constructed a rudimen-tary oceanographic laboratory complete with microscopes, test tubes and a pre-tend laptop computer the children use as they explore what objects float and sink and why water gets darker the deeper one goes in the ocean.

And this. The children keep gardens in five raised plots near the playgrounds. Each garden is based on a book they’ve read—one is The Little Red Hen (Makes

a Pizza), another is Growing Vegetable

Soup—and each contains vegetables that are the ingredients from the book. As the plants grow, the children keep track of their progress from seed to sprout to plant.

“They’re planting it and tasting it and smelling it,” said Elder. “It becomes theirs.”

This kind of experiential learn-ing—connecting reading and doing—is at the heart of the Cen-ter’s mission. This augments the autonomy the Center teaches its

children. As lunchtime approached, for example, the three-year-olds were each busy washing their hands and collect-ing their respective lunches from their class’s fridge—all with minimal guid-ance.

“If you listen, there are about 30 chil-dren right now and it’s not chaos,” said Elder. “It’s a very harmonious environ-ment.”

For Richardson, a former early child-hood educator, the skills the Center instills in its children serve a vital pur-pose.

“I just love this age,” she said. “This developmental age—what hap-pens between birth and 6—is such an important time.”

Elder is quick to point out that the Children’s Center doesn’t differ mark-edly from other such programs—all of its teachers are trained and certified to meet Vermont Early Learning Stan-dards, for example—but the focus on play and the natural world sets it apart from other programs across the coun-try, though perhaps not in the state.

“We’re pushing back against the notion that kindergartners have to be first graders,” said Elder. “So many other places in the country are more rote. But in this area, a lot of schools follow the same approach. It’s a for-ward-thinking approach in the state.”

Despite this, much has remained unchanged at the Center, according to Richardson.

“I think you could have walked in here 25 years ago and seen the same thing,” she said. “Kids still like the

same kinds of games, the same kinds of songs, the same kinds of activities.”

After the children finish lunch and get ready to take naps, Elder takes a moment to look toward the future. “The first children who came here are probably starting parents. We’re hoping to serve that next generation.”

But as far as the Center changing what it does? That likely won’t happen.

“Childhood doesn’t change. We want to continue to make childhood as happy as we can for families and children.”

Charlotte Children’s Center by the

numbers

number of years: 30ages served: Six weeks old to five yearsnumber of kids: 62 full- and part-time studentsamount filled: At 98 percent capacity with wait lists for some programs (however, that shouldn’t discourage parents from inquiring, said Elder)teaChers on staff: 10longest tenure: 18 years (many have been there around ten years)Parents involved: All of them—Richardson said all parents are seen as partners at the Center.stars from state steP-ahead Pro-gram: Five, the top ranking, which indicates the school goes beyond basic licensure requirements.number of ComPuters: Zero. “We want children engaging with human beings,” said Elder. “We’re real-ly big into kids having extended conversations with their peers and teachers. That’s probably a big dif-ference with other centers. You wouldn’t have seen a computer here 30 years ago and you won’t see one now.”oPen: 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., five days a week, year-round, save for some holidaysmore information: charlottechild-renscenter.com, 425-3328.

Nancy Elder (right) talks with children in the playground of the Charlotte

Children’s Center recently.

Children’s Center continued from page 1

Thanks to Judy Tuttle for send-

ing this picture of art someone

made out of rocks and wood

and other found objects at

Charlotte’s Town Beach.

Have a photo you’d like to

share? Send it to news@charlot-

tenewsvt.com

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Jorden Blucher

Contributor

Editor’s note: Blucher is running the

entirety of the Long Trail, which spans

Vermont north to south, for a project

called Running Down Cancer. This piece

details the first leg of his run on June 24,

a 26.8-mile section from Manchester to

Wallingford.

As I move along the trail I touch the

front pocket of my racing vest yet again,

feeling the 35mm film canister. The con-

tents that it carries are more important to

me than anything else that I have.

The night earlier I had placed a small

amount of my dad’s ashes into that can-

ister—a fitting way to carry him on my

run, as he was the one who fostered my

love of photography. That night was far

more emotional than I thought it would

be, though surprisingly I wasn’t nervous

in the least. A calm had set in with the

knowledge that the Lord will help lead

me through the first leg of my journey

running the Long Trail.

I stepped on to the trail just after 7:20 a.m.

This part of the trail is much more buffed

out than the northern sections because

it coincides with the Appalachian Trail

and thus gets more traffic. Nonetheless, I

need to watch my step as I make my way

up the flanks of Bromley Mountain. I am

feeling lonely—something that I am not

accustomed to on my runs. This leads me

to sprint up the mountain faster because the

summit is my first check-in point. Before

long, I step out of the woods onto a ski trail;

its summit is my destination. As I climb I

realize I probably skied this trail long ago.

Back then, nearly every Friday afternoon

my dad would volunteer to take me and

other classmates to Bromley to learn to

ski. When I reach the summit I kneel down

and take the film canister from my pack. I

say a prayer of thanks and sprinkle a bit of

my dad’s ashes. After a few deep breaths

I continue on.

At the Mad Tom Notch road crossing,

I’m happy to discover that not only does

the water pump work but two men have

already primed it and offer to pump while

I refill my water bottle. Unfortunately,

I neglect to put my bandanna over the

opening and end up filling it with some

rusty water. After treating the water and

fixing some hot spots on my feet, I begin

the climb up Styles Peak. I watch the trees

change from hardwoods to soft and soon

am running on a carpet of pine needles,

nearly enclosed in a tunnel of pine trees.

Dark clouds hang ominously to the east as

I look over the valley, and I am certain that

soon I will find myself running through

the rain.

The only way to know that you have

passed over Peru Peak is because the trail

flattens for a moment and there is enough

space between the trees to tell there is no

more vertical gain. The beginning descent

off the peak is extremely steep, but soon

the pitch eases and I am able to motor all

the way down to the Peru Peak shelter. A

sign about bears back at Mad Tom Notch

and copious amounts of moose droppings

have me whooping and clapping most of

the way down, something my time spent

living in the West has conditioned me to

do. But I’m also worried that because I

spend most of my time running looking

down, I’m more likely to run into the back

end of a bear.

The Peru Peak shelter is very nicely

situated next to a clear mountain stream.

I linger long enough to leave my calling

card and then push on to Griffith Lake.

Here the wind begins to pick up and blows

strong and steady across the lake. I shuffle

along the boardwalk that makes up most

of the trail here, the slippery wood mak-

ing for a much higher fall rate than the

normal trail.

The last stretch of trail to the summit

of Baker Peak is a scramble over a nar-

row ribbon of rock that at times has me

guessing where to go, as the white blazes

that mark the trail are hard to find. Baker

Peak is the highlight of this section of

trail because from there I get an aerial

view of the fields and woods that I played

in as a child as well as of my childhood

home. Directly across from Baker Peak,

rising up out of the valley in front of

me, is Dorset Mountain. It is a peak that

holds a great

deal of mean-

ing to me—it is

carved into my

wedding band

and inked into

my forearm as

a tribute to my

father.

I last sum-

mited Baker

Peak nearly 20

years ago, and

the image I had in my mind was that of

a nearly bald summit with an expansive

view. What I remember and what I find,

however, are very different—so much so

that I walk past what I think is the summit

just to double check that it is actually the

top. Here I also sprinkle a little bit more

of my dad’s ashes.

As I cross over the Big Branch River

on the suppression bridge, nearly 18 miles

into my run, I look down into the deep

clear cold pools of the river. Though I

know that the water is bone-chilling cold,

I have never wanted to lounge in these

pools as much as I do at this moment.

This river holds a special meaning

for me not only from all the days spent

swimming in its cold clear pools, but also

because when I was young, my dad and

brother and I hiked into a campsite along

the river. I do not know why this trip holds

so much significance for me nor why the

picture of the three of us sitting on a large

boulder in the river (above) is so impor-

tant. But it is something I have carried

around to all the places that I have lived

over the years. I take a couple of moments

to visit the spot where we camped and

sprinkle some more ashes along the bank

and at the campsite.

I am eager to get to Forest Road 10 a

mile and a half away where my family will

be waiting with my friend Ed, who will run

the last several miles with me. As I round a

corner our dog spots me and starts to bark.

The boys and my wife have hiked a short

distance in from the road to meet me.

After a quick break, Ed and I start off,

walking at first while we catch up. Ed is

one of my running inspirations because

he has lost an entire person in weight and

has run a handful of marathons. He has

offered to run with me on this last leg

because he knows how hard the last miles

can be and wants to support me.

The trail is rocky enough at the start

that we have to slow to nearly a walk,

and then the trail disappears altogether.

Around mile 20 my legs start to really

feel the fatigue of being on the move for

nearly seven hours. My energy level has

also begun to decline, and the miles that

seemed to be falling away earlier in the

day seem now to be crawling by.

We move out of the hardwood forest

and into a stand of tall pines. The terrain

becomes littered with jagged rocks, and

the pitch increases significantly in some

spots. The last mile of the trail is a rather

steep constant downhill over an old road,

and though my quads are screaming, I

have no desire to walk, and so I continue

running the last mile of as fast as I can

with wobbly legs and a foggy head.

We reach the White Rocks picnic area

after three hours and eight and a half

miles. I have been on the move for almost

nine hours, covering just over 25 miles

while gaining 4,726 feet of elevation and

losing even more: 5,370 feet.

I have learned a lot on this first run that

I will carry over not only on my daily runs

but also my Long Trail Runs to come.

Despite my fatigue I feel really good, and

I am already looking forward to the next

run.

Jorden Blucher is a stay-at-home-dad and

the legs behind Running Down Cancer. To

learn more and to donate go to running-

downcancer.com. His next run, a 24-mile

stretch from Wallingford to Sherburne

Pass near Killington, is scheduled for

Aug. 2.

The First Steps of a Long Run

An old photo of the author (left) with his dad and broth-

er near the Big Branch River.

The Valley of Vermont looking south from Baker Peak.

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Larry HamiltonContributor

Trees are your best antiques

—Alexander Smith (1829–1867)

How much delight we take in the large old roadside and home shade trees that enhance so many of our houses, roads and lanes in Charlotte. These are a legacy from those forethoughtful folks of yore who planted them as saplings and maintained them largely for the next generation and the next and on. Some, of course, may be residual single trees left deliberately in land clearing.

For instance, Ted Mont-gomery’s swamp white oak at Ten Stones has “seen” the War of 1812 and has survived every adversity since. With a girth of 160 inches, it has a greater diameter than any other known tree of its spe-cies in the town. To provide a future legacy, Ted planted a new young oak in 2012 as a memorial to his wife, Sarah.

Large trees such as this, and the unusual slippery elm at the Garretts’ on Thomp-son’s Point Road or the white cedar in Barber Cemetery, are really part of Charlotte’s heritage. It was with the idea of finding and listing these large old organisms that I started the mild competition to list the largest (and osten-sibly the oldest) native trees of each species.

This Charlotte Big Tree Roster is posted in Town Hall and is updated as new “champions” are found. For instance, last month the largest silver maple on the corner of Prindle Road and Spear Street was displaced by one on the land of Selectboard Chair and Mrs. Lane Morrison on Lake Road. At the Town Party, Charlotte News board member Tom O’Brien thought perhaps he had a champion shagbark hickory. At 132-inch girth it is indeed impressive and a wonderful summer residence for bats, but it comes in only as number 2. Sorry, Tom, but it, too, is a heritage tree.

A town concern about preserving such heri-tage trees may be of help when there is a question of their removal, even though healthy. Such is the case with an ancient sugar maple on the land of Mike Hinsdale, which until July 22 was threat-ened by the Route 7 road widening/improvement project. The tree is just on the edge of the state right-of-way. It had been proposed, however, to remove it so that the power line could be relo-cated to that side of the road because the existing line is in the way of a temporary detour lane. Would a young sapling and a bit of cash pay-ment be an adequate trade-off for a healthy

maple that has stood watching the passing traffic for over 200 years? Not in this druid’s mind! I worked with the Vermont Trans-portation Agency to try to save this tree by having Green Moun-tain Power shift the line further west. Lo and behold, I was tele-phoned on July 22 that VTrans will get the power line shifted out of the detour lane in order to save the tree! “Score” for a legacy tree!

And it was because we are gradually losing our heritage trees along the roadsides due to natural senescence, disease, salt injury, windstorms and road widening that the Rutter Fam-ily Tree Restoration Program was instituted in 2007. There are now 436 trees planted along our roads. What a legacy was pro-vided by the Rutter Family grant and its additional challenge grant to the community that supplied the funds to carry out this work! Thank you once again Bill and family.

The last dollars in the fund have been spent this spring on replacing five trees that had failed. Your tree warden suggests that anyone wishing to leave a tree legacy on his or her own property start the planning process now for the fall. Tech-nical help is available. And if anyone wishes to leave a public legacy of trees, tax-exempt contri-butions to the town would be welcomed by your crew of Charlotte tree stewards.

Larry Hamilton is Charlotte’s volunteer tree

warden.

Legacy Trees: Our Heritage

This 200-year-old, healthy sugar

maple near the state’s right of

way along Route 7 was threat-

ened with cutting during the

upcoming road construction

process. The tree was recently,

saved thanks to the work of the

author.

Beautiful Weather Brings Out Town Party Crowd

July 12 proved an ideal day to throw a party. Under bright blue skies Charlotters came out to

enjoy the fun and fellowship that is the annual Town Party. While it was hot out, revelers cooled

off under the big tents that hosted local organizations and the annual library book sale, the

proceeds of which help augment the library’s budget. There was also lots of action at the Senior

Center and the Fire Hall, where Charlotte Volunteer Fire & Rescue provided a lunch of burgers,

hot dogs and cool drinks.

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Life on Windy

Corners Farm

Amos BaehrContributor

The food is good at Windy Corners Farm— really good. What do I mean by good? Fresh, really fresh, some-times measured in minutes from har-vest to plate; clean, the kind of clean that means the bugs and snails were picked off by hand; and local—amaz-ingly I eat several meals a week where every ingredient but the salt and pep-per comes from within 1,500 feet (not miles) of the table. You hear a lot about good, fresh, clean local food, but if you want to know what all this really means, stop by and have a meal with us at Windy Corners Farm.

With all that local emphasis our table always has an international flavor. Tiny and Roel, my housemates and own-ers of Windy Corners Farm, are from the Netherlands. Table topics include Roel’s work in Cambodia or New Zea-land, with related condiments or recipes and food stories. On a recent visit by a colleague I was surprised to hear opin-ions on the palatability of tarantula. That’s right, I said tarantula. Thankfully we can’t get that locally!

But the warmest surprise for me came when Roel promised me a special breakfast of sausage from his homeland. When unveiled I recognized it immedi-ately. The conversation revealed that Roel grew up near the homeland my mother’s people left in 1862. Windy Corners is a huge, small world.

Creative blend is an accurate descrip-tor of the activities around here. Tiny is a visual artist in both clay and water colors. Roel spins and knits with both wool and computer code. His simula-

tion models of economic dependence on ecosystems may help stem the tide of self-destructive market activity. His sweaters will positively keep you warm. I do some creative and technical writing and a variety of construction projects consistent with the creative flare in the Big House, the Milk House and the Love Shack (old chicken coop pressed into residential service after a house fire).

The ebb and flow of such a wide range of interests is matched by the ebb and flow of the resident population. At the moment there are only the three of us, but a steady reunion of dozens of former students, colleagues, family and friends occurs. In August we will welcome two semi-permanent residents in the Milk House. A second private apartment is under construction in the Big House, anticipating another couple or small family buying in. We have composting toilets and a high efficiency wood-fired boiler for the radiant floor heating. The majority of landscaping services (translated: lawn mowing) are accomplished with the teeth of cattle, sheep and goats and the blade of a scythe. Innovation and tradition are evident in both the activity and infra-structure at Windy Corners.

The mention of the scythe recalls the contrast between the back-to-the-land romance of my youth and my sweat equity at Windy Corners Farm. My scythe is precious in part because it does not drown out the sweet sensations of life within and around me. Scythe mowing elevates body awareness in the form of sweat and discipline. After three seasons I am actually faster with a scythe in some situations than you could ever be with a power mower. I am still years away from the even

height that comes automatically with a machine, but I expect to achieve that.

I, of course, will never match the sheer volume possible with a machine in an open space. But no machine will ever help me synchronize my breathing with the steady rhythm of my blade and the gentle swing of my body. It takes training and practice to turn lawn mow-ing into a recreational activity, but it can be done with a scythe in due time.

Most people are committed to the complex machine / simple technique paradigm, and the switch to a simple machine with refined technique eludes them. Windy Corners Farm is a good place to explore the realities of modern, postmodern and antiquated paradigms in thought and action.

Call then—come visit in your work clothes. I can’t promise what tide you will find rising: wood working, pottery firing, cheese making, honey extrac-tion, wood splitting. The list goes on. It varies season to season and year to year. Our permanent residents don’t always know what’s next, but it won’t be boring.

This is not a place for a lot of enter-taining; it’s a place where you learn to entertain yourself with others. A nota-ble exception being World Cup football season, which piques the international flavor. Time a visit right and there will be fresh fish from Lake Champlain. Fishing is my “job,” along with turn-ing technical jargon into contemporary cliché.

It’s a tough job but somebody...

Amos Baehr is a farmer at Windy Cor-ners Farm in West Charlotte.

like to use, said Saxton.“The definition of what is considered

farming in Vermont is very broad,” said Saxton. “It’s where we’re faced with the questions with what’s going to happen in these rural areas to these add-on busi-nesses and activities—do they fall under the umbrella of what you guys consider ‘farming’?”

Some audience members suggested that up-to-date data and maps on all the farm and agriculture operations in town, big and small, would help the Planning Commission refine its definition.

A diversified fArm economy

A big part of the evening’s discus-sion centered on how to allow for more diversified farm operations while balanc-ing the town’s land use objectives and preventing undue burdens on neighboring property owners. Here too the issue of definitions came up, particularly in reference to a discus-sion question about agriculture as the “primary economic activity” in Charlotte. In discussing the issue of allowing more on-farm businesses in Charlotte, for example, some wondered if it was a chicken or egg scenario. Dave Nichols, owner of Nichols Fodder Farm in East Charlotte, asked, “If I was going to have a country inn and have guests and feed them my own vegetables and food I grew, is agriculture my primary activity?”

Others wondered if the town could help farmers by having a more business-friendly attitude.

“One of the issues we hear about,” said Nancy Wood, “is the reputation of Charlotte as being terribly negative and restrictive and unwelcoming to business-es of all kinds, and this is limiting the sale of properties. I mean we have a very bad reputation, and it’s partly because we all get involved in saying what we can’t do rather than having a positive approach to creativity and entrepreneurship, whether it’s in agriculture or in other kinds of businesses.”

Adam Hausemann, owner of Adam’s Berry Farm, agreed. “To me there needs

Town Plan continued from page 1

Town Plan continued on next page


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to be a change in permissiveness,” he said. “The farm B&B is nothing new, nor is selling from farms. This is how farms have thrived since the beginning of agriculture. When we talk about dif-ferent businesses, they’re just different sales outlets. I think the town needs to recognize this.”

Others urged the town to be more cre-ative, to think of busi-nesses that provide essential infrastruc-ture for farmers.

“Maybe we should do some soul search-ing about what kind of agriculture we want,” said Mel Huff. “There are a horrible lack of slaughterhouses. Maybe we should look at what farmers need. We need all parts that make it thrive.”

While many dis-cussions encouraged

allowing more on-farm businesses, some questioned ways to maximize the amount of agricultural businesses while ensuring they don’t get too big.

Said Town Planning and Zoning Administrator Jeannine McCrumb, “We

have such a large rural district that you are encompassing everything from smaller neighborhoods that are very different—they’re almost like residential areas—to farms. So the difficulty that you have sometimes is that some entrepreneurs get so big others start to complain. That is often what happens.”

But Peter Carreiro asked, “You’re going to tell people they can’t be too big?” he asked.

“It’s not about the money,” responded Roel Boumans. “It’s about the impact on the land.”

The discussion moved to finding a balance of agricultural businesses while keeping the landscape open and beauti-ful—the central issue the Commission is hoping to settle.

Encouraging morE farmErs

Because the number of small farms in the area is growing, some at the meeting talked of how to encourage more farming by young people. The town’s Demeter

Park, which consists of 119 acres of prime agricultural soils and is currently being leased to a single farmer, was cited as a possible place where the town could provide a farm incubator, something like the Intervale.

However, some wondered if young farmers would invest in the land if they were only renting it. The cost of owning land in Charlotte, too, could be too much for a young farmer, so others wondered if they would stick around.

The Planning Commission intends to consider all the feedback it received from this workshop and others for future drafts of the plan. McCrumb was happy with the feedback the Commission received at its first workshop.

“Overall, I think the workshop went well and fostered some good discussion,” she said. “I was also happy to see some different folks from the farming commu-nity in attendance.”

Brandy Saxton (left) and Jeannine McCrumb

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VERMONT TRUNK SHOW SATURDAY, AUGUST 9th | 12 - 7pm

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9th Annual Peter Coleman Photo Contest

Winner, Wonders of Charlotte (Youth): “Full Double Rainbow” by Dana

Govett (16)

Best of Show (Youth): “Hay Bales” by Dana Govett (16)

Best of Show (Adult): “Eastern Tree Frog” by

Terry Dinnan

Runner Up, Wonders of Charlotte: “Antique Hay Rake”

by Fred Murphy

Runner Up, Animal (Tiny Weevil):

“Homage to Jimmy Durante” by Rich

Steele

Winner, People: “Blowing Bubbles” by Amira Silverman (15)

birdseyesitework


9th Annual Peter Coleman Photo Contest

Best of Show (Youth): “Hay Bales” by Dana Govett (16)

Winner, People: “The Queen of Charlotte” by Chloe Lyons (14)

Winner, People: “Blowing Bubbles” by Amira Silverman (15)

Winner, Landscape (Youth): “Ice on McNeil Bay” by Kaelan

Murdock (16)

Honorable Mention, Miscellaneous: “Marine Gear”

by Chris FalkFor a look at all the winners of this year's Peter Coleman Photo

Contest, take a look at our Facebook page. Many thanks to

everyone who entered photos in this year’s contest, and to our

three judges: Patricia Coleman, Sarah McGarghan and Linda

Williamson.


Timothy Gould

Contributor

Congratulations! You’ve initiated a

regular exercise program, the first and

arguably most important step in the effort

to improve your physical health.

Perhaps you’ve joined a gym,

scoped out some group exercise

classes, signed up for a 5K, enlist-

ed a group of friends as work-

out partners or pulled the dirty

laundry off the home treadmill.

In any case, you’ve bought new

sneakers to support the endeavor,

and they look great. So now you

are all set to begin exercising and

embark upon the path to a bettered

you, right? Well, pause the “Get

Pumped Mix” on your iPod and

please spare a moment.

Consider this: Your vintage first-

generation Mustang (all right, Corvette

– whatever makes the analogy agreeable

to you) has been sitting beneath a cover

in your cold, dusty garage all winter. On

the first nice day of spring you tear the

cover off and, without checking the gas

or oil, pull out of the garage and immedi-

ately open up on the road. You promptly

set task to breaking last year’s 0 to 60

acceleration record, which you almost

accomplish before smoke starts drifting

ominously from under the hood.

That was predictable, right? Do you

think you might have taken a more grad-

ual approach—checked the vitals, let the

engine warm and fluids run—before ask-

ing so much of your car? Sure you would

have. You wouldn’t abuse your favorite

classic vehicle in such a way, nor would

you expect smooth performance from

something so recently woken from a sed-

entary state. If you wouldn’t do it to your

car, why do we so often ask our bodies

to make the abrupt leap from inactive

to active and expect good results? Why

don’t we take stock of our level of con-

ditioning before we impose new physical

stresses on ourselves?

The answers likely lay somewhere in

the world of exercise psychology, relating

to our desire for immediate results and

tendency to act hastily during bouts of

motivation. But in our ambitious haste,

we often leave ourselves prone to injury.

In fact, many musculoskeletal injuries are

rooted in periods of relative inactivity fol-

lowed by sudden acute stints of activity.

Classic examples include muscle strains,

tendinitis and stress fractures. Our bodies

adapt to stresses placed upon them over

time, which is why we can gain flexibility

through stretching, strength through resis-

tance training, and endurance through

long duration exertion.

When such stresses are introduced sud-

denly and without preparation, however,

they can overload our tissues and result

in damage. Body tissue (be it muscle,

tendon, ligament or bone) that has lacked

physical stress adapts to a sedentary state.

This can result in reduced diameter in

muscle fibers, decreased loading capacity

of bone, impaired extensibility (flexibil-

ity) of tissue and less tensile accommo-

dation in tendons. Therefore, the body

does not possess the ability to take on

stresses to which it is not accustomed. To

become stronger, fitter and more flexible,

controlled forces must be gradually intro-

duced to avoid injury.

Considering that injury is one of the

top reasons people drop out of exercise

programs, how do you get started while

minimizing risk?

The first thing to do is to take stock

of where you currently are. An assess-

ment of your baseline strength, flexibility,

endurance and movement patterns is an

ideal way to determine the proper starting

point for your program and to help guide

its progression. By identifying your sta-

tus and limitations, you can set priorities

in training and design a plan that address-

es your individual needs. Focusing on

these areas will reduce injurious stresses

and help you meet goals through subse-

quent advances in your training.

For the most comprehensive and objec-

tive assessment, specially trained physi-

cal therapists, certified personal trainers,

athletic trainers and exercise physiolo-

gists can conduct screens. On your own,

you can begin by trying various stretch-

es and noting your areas of difficulty,

checking your heart rate during activity

and comparing it to target exercise heart

rates, acknowledging previous injuries

and residual limitations, and perform-

ing measures such as the YMCA step

test, chair stand test, squat test, push-up

test, pull-up test, single leg balance test,

plank and sideplank tests. (You can get

started here: sparkpeople.com/resource/

fitness_articles.asp?id=1115.) Many of

these tests have published age and gender

norms; you can look them up and com-

pare your performance to averages. As

always, your physician should be aware

that you are beginning a new exercise

program and clear you to do so.

It’s like I tell the runners I work

with: “Don’t run to train. Train to run.”

Avoid the painful pitfalls of the Weekend

Warriors and Couch to 5Kers: Take stock

of your physical profile and prepare your-

self before you begin your new activities.

You will stay healthier and find success

by taking a little extra time beforehand.

Timothy Gould holds a doctorate in phys-ical therapy from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., and works at Dee Physical Therapy in Shelburne.

Get In Shape Before Getting In Shape

Why don’t we take stock of our level of conditioning before we impose new physical stresses on ourselves?

By Margaret Woodruff

Summer days: The tomatoes are

ripening in the library garden and the

chairs on the porch are welcoming read-

ers of all ages and it feels like we are

in prime summer mode here at the

Charlotte Library. Thanks to our Youth

Services Librarian, we’ve had a host

of programs to fascinate and entertain

kids taking part in our “Fizz, Boom,

Read” summer program in July. If you

were fortunate enough to stroll into the

library last week, you might have expe-

rienced the balloon rocket launch or

witnessed the e-textile project in action.

As we move into August, our program

pace slows down but our offerings con-

tinue. With the expert work of our Tech

Librarian, Susanna Kahn, the library

now has additional computer access for

e-mailers, internet rovers and job seek-

ers. You can still hop on our two stal-

wart public computers, but if you prefer

a laptop or e-reader just ask at the desk

and we’ll get you fitted out with one of

our latest devices. And, don’t forget to

pick a Sun Gold tomato as you pass the

vegetable patch!

Upcoming at the LibraryMonday, August 4, 5 p.m.: Very

Merry Theatre performs on the

Library lawn. Bring a picnic, low

chairs and bug spray to enjoy this

troupe’s rendition of “Once On This

Island.”

throUghoUt the SUmmer

Wednesday Night Knitters. Join us

every other Wednesday evening at 5:30

pm, next on August 6. We compare

notes, knits and share good company.

Library Contact Information

Director

Margaret Woodruff

Youth Services Librarian

Cheryl Sloan

Hours

Mon, Wed: 10 a.m.-–7 p.m.Tues, Thurs, Fri: 10 a.m.-–5 p.m.

Sat: 9 a.m.-–2 p.m.

Phone 425-3864

Email [email protected]

Website charlottepubliclibrary.org

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Ferry Road, Charlotte, VT

[email protected] Commerce St. Williston, VT.

Feline Veterinary Hospital and Boarding Suites

Affectionately Cats

For more info call 860-CATS(2287)

Cats hide pain and illness very well, but 85% of older cats have arthritis. This painful condition can make your cat reluctant to play, jump, groom and even use the litter box. If this sounds like your cat we can help.

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The Café Menu

MONDAY, AUGUST 4 :Bulgar salad with cranberries and pecans, summer carrot salad, pound cake with fresh blueberries

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6: Curried chicken salad, cucum-ber salad, birthday cake and ice cream

MONDAY, AUGUST 11: Chicken salad, corn-black bean salad and watermelon salad, bread, blueberry dessert

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13: Deli meat roll-ups, green bean salad, homemade dessert

Senior LunCheonS are held every Wednesday at noon. Reservations are necessary in advance and can be made by calling the Senior Center at 425-6345. A $4 dona-tion is requested. Reservations are not required for the Monday Munch.

August artist Kate Hartley “has always found inspiration in close observation of the natural world and in the ever-changing play of light and shadow over organic forms,” she said. Her exhibit, which runs from August 1-31, will include watercolors, illustra-tions from Good Morning Loon, and a few of her recent mosaic works that incorpo-rate flowing forms within a tile and glass format. She’s excited to show her artwork in her hometown.

––––“Sail” by ferry to Essex

for a Mid-day Concert and Lunch on Thursday, Aug. 14. We will meet at the Senior Center at 10 a.m. and go together to board the 10:30 a.m. Charlotte ferry. A very short walk (one block) to the Essex Community Church is where Vaughn Watson, renowned organist, will per-form. The concert starts at 11:30 a.m., lasts about 45 minutes, and admission is by donation and much appreciated. Afterward, you can visit the unusual shops in town for a bit and stop in at one of the local eateries for a bite to eat before returning home to Charlotte

via ferry by 4 p.m. Please call the Center for a detailed description of each concert offering. Registration required. Fee: Lunch money and $7.00 for round-trip ferry ride.

––––The Center is pleased to host the

American Red Cross Blood Drive for this much needed community event on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 2–7 p.m. The comfortable atmosphere and great snacks make giving the “gift of life” at this site most pleasurable.

–––––

Here’s a chance to show your “fall colors” in our 9th annual Charlotte Senior Center Community Art Show. With a theme of “My Vermont,” this show will hang in the Great Room for the month of September and is open to all “creative spirits” 50 or older in our community. Registration forms with specific details are available in the front foyer at the Center with a deadline for submitting forms of Aug. 15. As always, there will be a reception for the artists, friends and relatives on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 1 p.m.

––––Hank Kaestner will take us on

another Bird Watching Expedition Wednesday morning, Aug. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon. Good views are guar-anteed through Hank’s “Oh-my-God” telescope. Meet at the Center so we can carpool together to the location Hank has scouted for spectacular bird watching. Please register for this event; if we have to change the date

due to bird migration or weather, we will call you. Registration required. No fee.

––––Join us for our Annual Summer

BBQ Friday, Aug. 22, beginning at 5 p.m. Bring a friend. Bring the family. Join the fun. Enjoy the music and enter-tainment of Woody Keppel & Friends, a world-renowned vaudevillian who will perform his unique brand of bumbling earnestness. Please RSVP by Aug. 15. Fee: $12 per person.

A group from the Senior Center on a recent kayaking trip to Farrell Dam in Panton.

Several people participated in Ceal Moran's "Celebrating Family" workshop July 23. Pictured are (From left) Mike Yantachka, Janet Yantachka, Ceal Moran, Mary Lovejoy and Jim Lovejoy.

Charlotte Senior Centerby Mary Recchia,

Activities Coordinator

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SPORTS by Edd Merritt

Summer is when the Twins come out to play

The “Twins,” of course, being Vermont and New Hampshire 2014 high school graduates who recently faced off on the soccer pitch, the basketball court and the LAX field. CVU was well represented on both men’s and women’s squads, as well as by Coach Ute Otley who led her charges to victory in the women’s basketball, maintaining her undefeated coaching streak for the year.

Charge they did. With four Redhawk players on the Vermont team, the Green Mountain girls carried a 15-point lead into the second half, holding on for a 79-66 victory. CVU’s Amanda Beatty was the second highest scorer for Vermont with 13 points, behind the team-leading 17 by Rice’s Hailee Barron. Redhawk Emily Kinneston hit for 12 points and snagged 13 rebounds. Kaelyn Kolasch and Amanda Lougee, whose free throw in the last seconds of the state championship game, won the title for CVU, were also on the Twin State squad.

The men were not as fortunate, as New Hampshire snapped a four-game losing streak by defeating Vermont 91-75. The winners worked well off a pair of guards who led numerous fast breaks resulting in baskets. Charlotte’s Lucas Aube was a leading member of the Green Mountaineers.

Girls from both states

drink from the Lions

Soccer Cup

A goal from U-32’s Emily George with just over a minute remaining in the game gave Vermont a 2-2 tie with New Hampshire in Twin State soccer. Charlotte was well represented on the team by Haliana Burhans and Mackenzie Kingston. Both women again demonstrated talents they displayed during the regular season. Burhans’ speed and foot skill with the ball and Kingston’s strong play regardless of her position contributed to the team’s strong showing.

Vermont soccer boys

knock the granite off the

mountain

CVU’s Peter Castano hit the net twice for Vermont as the boys defeated New Hampshire 4-1. With its defense as much in evidence as its offense, Vermont held the opponents scoreless for three-quarters of the game. Zach Evans also represented CVU.

Machavern crosses the border to pick up

his first motor-sport victory of the season

Bowmanville, Ontario, proved to be the site for Charlotte’s Dillon Machavern to win Round 7 of the Lamborghini Blancplain Super Trofeo North America auto race. His Lamborghini Gallardo, fielded by Mitchum Motorsports, won overall honors. A pit-stop violation by the competition helped Dillon take the lead, losing it only for a lap as he spent his mandatory 90 seconds in the pit before regaining the front of the pack and holding it for the final 20 minutes of a 55-minute race. This was his first time this

summer as a solo driver, having prepared well with a team in Watkins Glen. The Canadiann Tire Motorsports Park turned out to be a friendly venue as Dillon finished 15th in a BMW, following up with two trips to the podium in the Lamborghini and the first overall win by an amateur.

Charlotte’s Lawrence Dee leads Jr. Voyageur

Lacrosse to victory

The Vermont Junior Voyageur boy's lacrosse team completed an undefeated 9-0 Montreal Junior Lacrosse League season last week by handing the host team, the Shamrocks, an 11-5 defeat. St. Michaels College junior and CVU graduate Lawrence Dee led the victory with three goals and two assists from his attack position. This follows up on a pair of wins over Montreal in late June in which Lawrence garnered 11 points on 8 goals and 3 assists. He is the son of Mike and Justine Dee of Charlotte.

Haliana Burhans (23), shown here during the regular season against Essex, partici-

pated in the recent Twin State soccer game against New Hampshire.


Rec News

by Kristin

Hartley

Oh what a summer! What a beautiful place to call home! There are so many outdoor things to do here, I hope you get outside and recreate.

Currently

The Charlotte Town Beach is a hop-ping place. Come play some tennis, have a picnic, watch the sunset or take a dip. Resident seasonal beach passes cost $20, $40 for nonresidents. A day park-ing pass is $3 for residents and $6 for nonresidents. The beach is now pack-in, pack-out trash, so please remember that whatever you come in with must go out with you. No dogs are allowed at the beach.

Our town tennis courts have just been resurfaced, and we have new nets and a freshly painted backboard as well. Pickle ball lines have now been put down, so if you are a pickle ball player Charlotte beach is the place to be.

Greg Smith is organizing our 2014 Wednesday evening adult tennis play. Come join your neighbors and fellow tennis enthusiast for pickup tennis. Meeting time is 6:30 p.m. Bring your racket, some balls and some game. This group meets every playable Wednesday throughout the summer. Fridays are the regular backup dates.

––––Our 2nd annual beach party will

take place Sunday, Aug. 3, from 3 to 8 p.m, so mark your calendars. It will be a potluck affair. Bring a dish and share a free pig roast. (If no dish please donate $5.) Free admission with a beach pass or pay to park. We are lucky to have the Mystic Party Band entertain us while you try free kayaking, paddle boarding and other water sport demos sponsored by Outdoor Gear Exchange. Our story-teller is back this year and so are Celtic dancers. There will be soccer, horse-shoes, ultimate Frisbee and a free tennis drill. This party should be lots of fun!

––––This summer the Charlotte Rec

Department is supporting the Vermont Parks and Recreation Association by selling discount tickets to the Great Escape ($35), Six Flags of New England

($38) and Bromley Adventure Park for ($28). Have a fun summer adventure with your family. Tickets are available here at the town offices.

Summer CampS

It has been a busy summer full of camp opportunities. There are still a few left to participate in if you have not signed up already.

Green Thumbs Gardening Camp.

This camp is being offered the week of August 4-8, for 1st through 5th graders.

Voltage Soccer Camp will to be held at CCS the week of August 18-22; this is a half day camp.

Horseback Riding Camp will be held at the Livery Horse Farm in Hines-burg. Come join your friends the week of August 11-15.

Fall programming

Fall soccer signup has begun. It is an awesome time of year! Early signup truly helps us set up the right sized teams with the right number of coaches so everyone has a good experience. The cost of our program is $40 with T-shirt and $35 without. The deadline is Aug. 1. After that, fees will be $65 and $60.

Fall soccer is for preschoolers through 8th grade—6th–8th graders may sign up if they don’t want to play on the school team. The season begins the week of Sept. 2, and games begin Saturday, Sept. 6, and continue through Oct. 11. Prac-tice schedules will be set according to

each coach’s availability.Preschool and kindergarten teams

meet once a week on Saturdays, and 1st-2nd graders practice once a week with Saturday games. Third through 6th graders practice twice a week with Sat-urday games.

There is a soccer cleat exchange here at the town offices. If your child has outgrown his or her cleats or you are in need of a larger size come share in the cleat exchange.

––––Fall programming will be posted

soon on the Charlotte town website. We will be adding Celtic dance, after-school piano, afterschool percussion, afterschool horseback riding and a Red Cross babysitting certification class, so check it out.

We have just begun registration for our fall driver’s education class, which begins Oct. 13. Sign up is on a first-come, first-served basis, and spots fill up quickly.

adult programming

Adult early morning boot camp is the place to be at 6 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday mornings outdoors at CCS. It is so much fun! We have such a great community—come out and join us and make a commitment to fitness. This class will continue through the summer. There are eight class sessions, but you can join at any point.

The beginner adult biking series run

by Karyn Lewis will happen again in September. I hope you will mark your calendar and join this group.

Registration forms and more informa-tion for all programs can be found on our town website (charlottevt.org) or here at the Charlotte Town Offices. If you have questions please e-mail Kristin Hartley at [email protected].

As always there are full and partial scholarships available for all recreation programs. If you have any questions about any of our programs contact me at [email protected] or 425-6129, ext 204.

Participants get in shape at adult early morning boot camp at CCS. The class continues through the summer.

Learn ‘Secrets of

Mt. Philo’ Aug. 5

Join Judy Chaves of North Fer-risburgh for an exciting, in-depth look at Mt. Philo’s past during a presentation titled “Secrets of Mt. Philo” on Friday, Aug. 5, at the Mt. Philo Inn beginning at 7 p.m. This illustrated history of Vermont’s first state park is being presented jointly by the Charlotte Historical Society and Charlotte Land Trust. Admis-sion is free and refreshments will be available.

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August Outdoor Ideas

As August stretches ahead of us,

there’s plenty of summer left for

exploring the outdoors. Here’s an

update on Charlotte trails and about

Local Motion’s Trail Finder.

If you’ve not visited Local Motion’s

Trail Finder (http://trailfinder.info) in

a while, you are in for a treat. This

interactive site allows users to select a

type of recreation (e.g., biking, walking,

hiking, cross-country skiing), features

(wildlife, historic site, restroom, dogs

allowed) and location by region or

by town. Check off your preferences

and—voila!—Trail Finder suggests

a range of trails with descriptions,

maps, photos, driving directions and

links to further information for each.

A selection of walking trails in the

Burlington area featuring a natural area

produces 24 trails, including several

unfamiliar names like the Awasiwi

Trail in South Burlington that follows

the Potash Brook, and Forestdale Loop,

a two-mile trail in Essex.

The Trail Finder site is not perfect—

the results of a search for walking

trails in Charlotte did not include Mt.

Philo—but it is a useful tool and an

introduction to new venues.

Charlotte has an extensive array of

trails, some included in the Trail Finder,

others not. Work continues on the

Town Link Trail, which will eventually

connect Mt. Philo to the Town Beach.

The recreational trail is suitable for

walking, biking, snowshoeing or skiing.

The following sections are open to

the public and in varying stages of

completion:

� �� 6WDWH� 3DUN� 5RDG�� 7KH� 7UDLOV�Committee is writing a grant proposal

and beginning prep work for this

section.

�� 7KH� JUDYHO� DQG� JUDVV�0HOLVVD� DQG�Trevor Mack Trail runs between State

3DUN�5RDG�DQG�/RZHU�2OG�7RZQ�7UDLO��

Views expand to the Adirondacks

DFURVV�WUHOOLVHG�ZLQH�JUDSHV��5RXQG�WULS�a half hour or more. Parking on Lower

2OG�7RZQ�7UDLO�

�� $QRWKHU� VHFWLRQ� RI� WKH� WUDLO� ZLQGV�from Champlain Valley Cohousing

�&9&�� RQ� *UHHQEXVK� 5RDG� WR� 5RXWH�� DFURVV� IURP�/RZHU�2OG�7RZQ�7UDLO��Final work on this section will be

completed this summer. Common Way

LV� �� PL�� VRXWK� RI� )HUU\� 5RDG� RQ�*UHHQEXVK�5RDG��7KH�WUDLO�GHSDUWV�IURP�the southwest corner of the housing

DUHD�� 7R� 5RXWH� �� DQG� EDFN�� ±��minutes.

�� 1HZ�PRZHG� SDWKV� ULVH� XS� %DUEHU�+LOO� EHVLGH� WKH� 2OG� /DQWHUQ�� 7UDLO�follows Mack property fence to the

south and continues toward the inn.

�� )RU� &KDUORWWH¶V� �� &HOHEUDWLRQ��volunteers cleared paths fanning out

IURP�%DUEHU�+LOO� DQG� WKH�2OG�/DQWHUQ��2QH�VXFK�WUDLO�FRQQHFWV�WR�WKH�&KDUORWWH�)DPLO\�+HDOWK�&HQWHU�RQ�)HUU\�5RDG�

�� )URP� WKH� WUDLQ� VWDWLRQ� D� KHDUW\�walker can continue north and west

across brush-hogged trails that lead to

/DNH�5RDG�EHVLGH�)RUWLQ¶V�/LWWOH�9HJJLH�%DUQ�� 0DUJDUHW� DQG� 0LNH� 5XVVHOO�continue to improve this section of trail

across their land. For those who prefer

better footing, a mowed trail follows the

IHQFH�OLQH�RQ�)HUU\�5RDG��PLOH�IURP�the train station to the Knowles Farm at

WKH�FRUQHU�RI�/DNH�5RDG�

Elsewhere in Charlotte:

� � ��$W�WKH�&KDUORWWH�3DUN�DQG�:LOGOLIH�5HIXJH�� DOVR� NQRZQ� DV� WKH� 'HPHWHU�property, trails for pedestrians and hors-

HV� WKUHDG� WKURXJK� �� DFUHV� RI� IDUP-

land, succession woodlands and wet-

lands. A series of loop trails rise more

WKDQ� �� IHHW� WR� H[SDQVLYH� YLHZV� RI�Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks.

Parking lot on east side of Greenbush

5RDG�� PL�� QRUWK� RI� )HUU\� 5RDG��7KHUH�LV�QR�DFFHVV�IURP�5RXWH��2SHQ�daily from 8 a.m. until a half hour after

VXQVHW��1R�SHWV�

� � � �� 3HDVH�0RXQWDLQ� LQFOXGHV� D� 890�1DWXUDO� $UHD�� /RZHU� DQG� XSSHU� ORRSV�are well marked, and spurs lead to

expansive views. A trailhead sign

details Pease’s natural history and has

an excellent map. Pets must be leashed

and on the trails at all times. Please

clean up after them.

� � �� 6WUDGGOLQJ� 0RQNWRQ�� +LQHVEXUJ�DQG� &KDUORWWH�� 5DYHQ� 5LGJH� LV� D� ��DFUH� 1DWXUH� &RQVHUYDQF\� SUHVHUYH�encompassing wetlands, bobcat dens

and migration corridor, nesting areas

for ravens, three state-significant for-

est communities and an anticline—a

unique geological feature known local-

O\� DV� 7KH� 2YHQ�� 9HUQDO� SRROV� SUR-

vide breeding habitat for wood frogs

DQG�VSRWWHG�VDODPDQGHUV��7DNH�5RVFRH�5RDG� VRXWK� WR� HQG��/HIW� RQ�5RWD[�5G�� PL�� 7R'R� ,QVWLWXWH� VLJQ� LV� RQ� WKH�left. Gravel road leads to trailhead and

1DWXUH�&RQVHUYDQF\�VLJQ��1R�SHWV�

� � �� :LOOLDPV� :RRGV� LV� D� 1DWXUH�Conservancy preserve in an island of

trees amidst farm fields. A boardwalk

keeps visitors above often-waterlogged

soil and the tangle of roots that grow

above ground. The trail weaves beneath

giant hemlocks, old oaks and white

SLQHV�� /RRN� IRU� 1DWXUH� &RQVHUYDQF\�VLJQ�RQ�ZHVW� VLGH�RI�*UHHQEXVK�5RDG��PLOH�VRXWK�RI�7KRPSVRQ¶V�3RLQW�5G��3DUN�DW�URDGVLGH��1R�SHWV�

� � �� 0W�� 3KLOR�� 9HUPRQW¶V� ROGHVW� VWDWH�park, offers year-round access to views,

recreation, and geology. The park sits

RQ� D� ��IRRW� VKHHS�EDFN� PRXQWDLQ�rising abruptly from the Champlain

Valley. Both an asphalt road and hiking

trails climb to the summit, where picnic

tables, benches and chairs look toward

Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks.

0W�� 3KLOR� 5RDG� DW� 6WDWH� 3DUN� 5RDG��Admission charged mid-May to mid-

2FWREHU�� D�P�� WR� VXQVHW�� 3HWV� PXVW�be leashed.

� � �� 3ORXIIH� 7UDLOV�� WZR� PLOHV� RI� SXE-

OLF� SDWKV� RQ� �� DFUHV� RI� WRZQ�RZQHG�ODQG� DORQJ� WKH� /D3ODWWH� 5LYHU� LQ� (DVW�Charlotte. Meadows, fields and views

of the Green Mountains. Plouffe Lane

LV�RII�RI�&DUSHQWHU�5RDG��HDVW�RI�6SHDU�Street. Parking and picnic table near

WUDLOKHDG��2SHQ� WKH�JDWH�DQG�HQMR\� WKH�trails.

(QMR\� VXPPHU� DQG� VWRFNSLOH� VRPH�sweaty memories for the long winter

ahead!

Out-Doors

by Elizabeth Bassett

Soccer Skills at CCS

A coach watches two young soccer players practice during a kids’ soccer camp held at CCS recently. TetraBrazil runs the camp, and the kids are divided into two groups—one of 7 and 8 year olds, the other of 9, 10, 11 and 12 year olds. There’s a mix of boys and girls in each group with about 25 kids in all. That afternoon, the older group was practicing dribbling around cones, and the younger group was passing, shooting on net and defending.

Ph

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by E

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There are katrillions (not sure if

that’s a real word, but it stands for a

disastrously large number) of books,

articles and online resources that exist

on the tribulations of transitioning into

parenthood. So, we are all pretty well

informed concerning the effects it has

on us. Now, it’s somewhat beyond the

bounds of possibility to completely

understand babies’ experiences, but,

thanks to science, we have some com-

prehension of what it’s like for them

before they go from womb to world.

We consign to oblivion the dramatic

changes they endure. But, we do turn

their world upside down. We rock it.

In their uterine home, they are warm,

safe-guarded and cushioned within

the bubble of the amniotic sac. They

breathe and swallow amniotic fluid

that engulfs their little bodies like a

memory foam mattress.

They have their own personal feed-

ing tube that’s linked to their bodies

so whenever they are hungry, they

just give it a little tug (not really)

and out comes their order of food.

No waiting to nurse or waiting for a

bottle to warm. For nine months, they

hear sounds of gurgles, rumbles, shh-hhhh’s and swooshes replicating the

sound of ocean waves, harmonious

and untroubled. In the background on

surround sound, there is always one

never-failing stable sound of a heart-

beat—thump-thump-thump—which is

always on continuous play, fixed and

steadfast, all day and all night.

Some babies are also known to

dream in the womb, which always

made me wonder, what do they dream

about? They have no knowledge of

the outside world, so do they dream

of what they envision it to look like

because of sounds they hear? Or do

they just dream of Mom?

Babies also startle in the womb,

suck their thumbs and even hiccup.

Whenever my son Caden hiccupped,

I would catch myself centering on it,

anticipating every future hiccup, aston-

ished by how human he was beginning

to feel within me. Clearly these were

signs that his nervous system was

developing quickly.

Anyone who has been pregnant can

attest to the fact that very early on

babies learn how to do cartwheels and

ride motor cross in utero. Sometimes,

I would worry they would lacerate

or rupture something in

there. I was afraid they

would kick themselves

in the eye or get their

toes stuck in their ears

from all the rallying

and contorting they do.

I swear it’s like they

walk along your uter-

ine walls, pushing out

as they go, preparing

their legs for walking

and movement. And as

they grow in size from

a pumpkin seed to a

kumquat, their move-

ments get stronger and

more colossal.

And, alas, at some point, they have

to depart their comfortable familiarity.

They eventually get evicted when the

miracle of birth takes place and their

voyage in the womb comes to an end

The cord is cut, severed; lifelines dis-

united. Then they see the light of the

outside world ablaze.

They draw in oxygen for the first

time (kind of like in The Abyss, when

they go from breathing the oxygen liq-

uid to air). They open the floodgates.

They screech and holler and all hell

breaks loose. For the first time they

feel the touch of human hands cupping

around their wrinkly, waxy, mucky

bodies. The smells of this distant land

must be forceful and acrid. The cold

stings their little bodies. Their hands

and legs thrash all over the place, reach-

ing for a barrier, reaching for contain-

ment, finding nothing but space. And

then they feel cold clamps, suckers

and goop. No wonder they cry—it’s

the only way they know to express and

communicate what they are feeling.

And, finally, they are reunited again.

Mother and child.

The warmth and softness are felt,

the smell of something familiar. You

can’t possibly spoil them this young;

they have already been affixed to their

mother for all those months, a link

stronger than any on earth. The love

has been constructing and the physical

kinship has laid down the foundation

for one of life’s greatest loves. You

are affected with something you can’t

explain, something so beyond words

that you never knew existed. Your eyes

and heart begin to swell.

Welcome my sweet, sweet baby.

Nice to meet you. I am your mommy.

The Humbled ParentThe Miracle of

… EvictionSera Anderson

Contributor

Whenever my son Caden hiccupped, I would catch myself centering on it, anticipating every hiccup, astonished by how human he was beginning to feel within me.

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Kerrie PugheContributor

Be sure to stop by our table at the Town Party this month!

Thank youWe appreciate the fresh eggs from

Rachel Hutchins. Thank you for the support from Deedle Kiley of Kiley Family Partnership—East Farm and to Walter Gates. Thank you to the Senior Center and Charlotte Central School for keeping the Food Shelf in mind

when they have extra portions.

Wish lisTThank you to all who responded

with donations on our wish list! Our wish list now includes fresh vegeta-bles, salad dressings, ketchup, mus-tard, pickles and mayonnaise, as well as toilet tissue, shampoo, dish soap and healthy kids’ snacks.

Updated wish lists will also be included in the Charlotte Congre-gational Church and Our Lady of Mount Carmel weekly bulletins.

The Charlotte Food Shelf is run entirely by volunteers, and all dona-tions go directly for food or assistance to our neighbors in need. If you are a customer of yourfarmstand.com, you may make a donation to the Food Shelf as part of your online order. Oherwise, checks may be mailed to:

Charlotte Food Shelf & Assistance403 Church Hill RoadP. O. Box 83Charlotte, VT 05445

Donated food drop-off locations: All non-perishable food donations may be dropped off at the Charlotte Library, the Charlotte Congregation-al Church vestry, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church (main entrance) or at the Food Shelf during the distribution mornings. We request that all fresh foods be dropped off at the Food Shelf by 7:30 a.m. on the distribution morn-ings (see Ongoing Events calendar on page 22.

The Charlotte Food Shelf is located on the lower level of the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry. Distri-bution days/times are posted in this newspaper and on the bulletin board in the Charlotte Congregational Church hall. You may also call the Food Shelf number (425-3252) for a recording of the distribution times.

We are open to all community resi-dents. Privacy is very important and respected in our mission of neighbor helping neighbor.

For emergency food call John at 425-3130.

For emergency assistance (electric-ity, fuel) call the Food Shelf at 425-3252.

For more information, call Karen at 425-3252 or visit our website at sites.google.com/site/charlottefoodshelfvt/.

Food Shelf News

The Food Shelf is open from 7:30–9:30 a.m. on the following Thursdays:

Aug. 7, Aug. 21Sept. 11, Sept. 25

It will also be open from 5–7 p.m. on the following

Wednesdays:

Aug. 6, Aug. 20Sept. 11, Sept. 25

Food shelF hours

Jane Kiley, REALTOR®

Your Right Choice in Any Market

Call/text (802) 343-9980 JaneKileyRealEstate.com

[email protected]

Premium Quality, Fine Details Offered At$1,390,000 Charlotte

Elegance and comfort describe this spacious 4 bedroom, 6 bath custom built home on 5+ acres. Spectacular lake and Adirondack views. Chef ’s kitchen, media room with 100” screen, master with gas fireplace and balcony, pool, sauna, multi-sport court. 25 minutes to Burlington.

MLS# 4343511

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Spectacular Building LotOffered At$185,000 Hinesburg

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MLS# 4136574

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Year Round Lake Residence

On Lapham Island, this home was built in ‘96 and has been meticulously maintained. Main

house has enough room for everyone, and the charming Cottage makes for additional

guest space or rental.Bridport.$349,000 | MLS# 4227253

Live the Vermont Dream!

Restored 1856 Farmhouse on 75 acres offers unparalleled natural beauty including a

swimming pond, 2,200’ of the Huntington River, large barn, sugar house, and lush open

pastures. Starksboro.$629,000 | MLS# 4365245

Chris von Trapp, REALTOR®

[email protected](802) 343-4591

www.ChrisvonTrapp.com

Charlotte VT Barn Home

Sited on 7.5 acres and recently renovated, this 4 bedroom, 3 bath home is

loaded with the warmth and charm you would expect. Features a hand crafted

European style wood stove.$625,000 | MLS# 4312672

4 Season Waterfront Living

Ferrisburgh, just 25 minutes from Burlington and the

airport. This totally upgraded and renovated Cottage has TXDOLW\�¿QLVKHV��OLYLQJ�URRP�

ZLWK�¿UHSODFH��D�VXQURRP�RYHU�looking the water and more! $499,000 | MLS# 4229805

Classic 3 bedroom farmhouse, with 2 bedroom apt. in back ell. Property has 11.32 acres of land ZLWK�ODUJH�PHDGRZV�FHUWLÀHG�organic. 3 car attached garage. $499,000. Adjacent residential lot could be added.

Dottie Waller, Realtor, CBR 846-7849

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^Ö��Ù�^ãÙ��ã�«�Ù½Êãã�

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Estate sale. Wonderful opportunity to make this 12+/- acre property your own. Expansive yard in all directions surrounds the house. Woods and hillside in back with trails, spring and small cave! Unique open concept KRPH�ZLWK�SDUWLDOO\�À�QLVKHG�ORZHU�level. Metal roof installed in 2012. Features a large side deck and front patio. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Call Sheila for more details.

Sheila Jacobs, REALTOR®

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Real Estate Listings

ditional licensing came under intense discussion follow-

ing the financial review. The probationary period for the

state operating license has been extended an additional

three months. The state wants to see more evidence that

CQI (Continuing Quality Improvement) procedures are

up to date. CQI procedures are reporting and review

protocols that review, analyze and provide feedback on

rescue calls and provided services. The paramedic opera-

tions suspended earlier this year have been restored.

However, Dr. Laurel Plante, the EMS District 3

medical director, has called for a six-month probation-

ary period to allow “time to ensure there is demonstrable

change.” Key to ending this probationary period is regu-

lar attendance at District 3 meetings.

McNally stated that, “Internally within Rescue, we

are trying to look at how to restructure and improve

our operations and communications with the district.

Meg (Modley) has taken over as head of service.” He

further stated that the board is carefully looking at how

best to utilize rescue resources and to leverage paid and

volunteer personnel to improve services going forward.

Consideration is being given to establishing a full-time

paramedic rescue director / head of service position.

Dr. Ruth Uphold, who offered to look into the com-

munications and relationships between CVFRS and

EMS District 3, reported that she was very supportive

of Rescue. She expressed grave concern regarding the

need for more accountability within the organization; at

the very least, a performance improvement plan needs

be put in place.

She said her conclusions came after having spoken

with people at all levels. She discovered that of the three

district-wide provisional licenses issued over the last ten

years, two have been to the CVFRS. More important, the

last provisional license has now been extended a further

three months. In her eyes, this extension was not just a

slap on the wrist but indicative of the need for a major

change in behavior and possible restructuring.

Dr. Uphold, in making this verbal report, felt that

her offer to improve the communications between the

CVFRS and District 3 had been successful. The Select-

board has taken the issue under advisement and is seek-

ing an early combined meeting with the CVFRS board to

discuss the Memorandum of Agreement and personnel

issues.

Wage classification planThe Charlotte Selectboard continues to hold multiple

meetings in an effort to finalize the wage classification

plan. The plan is about 75 percent completed, and by the

time this article is read the Selectboard will have met

with a consultant from the firm of Gallagher

Flynn to validate their concept. They will

also have met with the town’s contract audi-

tors to determine the appropriate tax rate and

approve a plan to adopt a modified accrual

basis for accounting in town books.

greenbush speedingThe speeding problem on Greenbush Road

came up during the final discussion period.

Matt Krasnow, the Selectboard representa-

tive working with the Charlotte Safety Com-

mittee, reported on a very interesting meet-

ing he’d had with the State Police liaison for

Charlotte. They reviewed this year’s incident

log and discussed a number of concerns,

including the speeding.

The discussion resulted in Krasnow’s

very enlightening four-hour ride in a police

cruiser on patrol in Charlotte. Krasnow was

impressed by the close attention paid by the

officer to events occurring in Charlotte. This

extended down to and included monitoring

Front Porch Forum on the cruiser’s com-

puter.

The discussion evolved into specifically

addressing the growing concerns of speed-

ing in the village centers. The result was the

decision to paint fog lines (those white lines

along the side of the roads 10-feet from the

centerline) on each of the four crossroads

emanating from the two major intersections

(Four Corners and Baptist Corners) for a

distance of 0.4 miles. Traffic engineers have

proved that these lines have the psychologi-

cal effect of slowing drivers down.

These lines will be tried for a year and represent a

first step in addressing the problem. Krasnow said he

would be happy to discuss any safety concerns and can

be reached at 922-2153 or by email at mattkrasnow@

townofcharlotte.com.

Selectboard continued from page 1

Selectboard continued on next page


Have an event you'd like

published in our

calendar?

Send it to [email protected]

Places To Go & Things To Do

MONDAYSSenior Center Café, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Featuring

soup, salads, bread and dessert. No reservations necessary.

Charlotte Multi-Age Coed Pickup Basketball Open Gym, 7–9 p.m. at the CCS gym. High school stu-dents welcome. Call 425-3997 for info.

WEDNESDAYSCharlotte/Shelburne Rotary Club, 7:30–8:30 a.m.,

Parish Hall, Trinity Episcopal Church, Shelburne.Newcomers Club of Charlotte, Shelburne and sur-

rounding area meets once a month on the third Wednesday from September to June. Variety of pro-

grams, day trips and locations. Information: Orchard Corl, president, 985-3870.

AA Meeting, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 7 p.m.Senior Luncheon, Senior Center, noon. For reserva-

tions, call 425-6345 before 2 p.m. on previous Monday. Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., 7:30 p.m., Fire Station.Charlotte Multi-Age Coed Pickup Basketball Open

Gym, 7-9 p.m. at the CCS gym. High school stu-dents welcome. Call 425-3997 for information.

Food Shelf, open from 5–7 p.m. June 11 and 25. Lower level of the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry. Information: Karen at 425-3252; for emer-gency food call John at 425-3130.

THURSDAYSFood Shelf, open from 7:30-9:30 a.m. June 12 and

26. Lower level of the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry. Information: Karen at 425-3252; for emergency food call John at 425-3130.

FRIDAYSAA Meeting, Congregational Church Vestry, 8 p.m.Charlotte Playgroup, 9:30–11 a.m., CCS MPR. Free,

ages 0-5.

ONGOING EVENTS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31

Selectboard meeting, 9 a.m., Town Hall. Planned is a joint meeting with Board of Auditors. Agenda at charlottevt.org.

Town Plan workshop: natural resources, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Share your feedback on the first draft of the 2015 Town Plan. For more info, see story on page 1.

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, 8 p.m., Saint Michael’s Playhouse, Colchester. Cash’s remarkable life story is told through his music, cli-maxing in a performance that will both move and exhilarate. Performances continue through Aug. 5. Cost: $32.50–$43.50. More info: saintmichealsplay-house.org, 654-2281.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1

Festival of Fools, 6 p.m., Burlington. Fun sum-mer festival kicks off with Fools’ Gala Opening, with Mayor Miro Weinberger. For more info on festival, see page 4.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2

Saturday Story Time, 11 a.m., Phoenix Books, Burlington. Listen to and enjoy stories with your little ones. Check out the store’s website, phoe-nixbooks.biz, and Facebook page for details. Free. More info:

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3

Town Beach Party, 3–8 p.m., Charlotte Town Beach. See story on front page.

Wild mushrooms of summer, 1–3 p.m., Green Mountain Audubon Center, Huntington. Join your mycological tour guide for a colorful presentation introducing the region’s most distinctive and deli-cious species, followed by a foray in the rich woods that surround the Audubon Center. Members: $25, Nonmembers: $30. Preregistration required. More info: 434-3068, [email protected].

Presentation: Smugglers and Shootouts, 2 p.m., Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, Winooski. In 1807, a cargo ship known as the Black Snake was caught smuggling potash by federalized Vermont militia on the Winooski River, and the resulting shootout killed two of the militiamen and Jonathan Ormsby, a farmer living at the Ethan Allen Homestead. Author Gary Shattuck will discuss his new book about the incident, which has come to be called the Black Snake Affair, and then take visitors to the approximate site of the event where a State Historical Marker commemorating the incident will be dedicated. Cost: free. More info: [email protected], 865-4556.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5

Presentation: Secrets of Mt. Philo, 7 p.m., Mount Philo Inn. See story on page 17.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7

Planning Commission meeting, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Regular meeting scheduled. Agenda at charlottevt.org.

First Thursday Music at the Vineyard with the Beerworth Sisters, 6 p.m., Shelburne Vineyard. Local singer-songwriters, the Beerworth Sisters, return to the Vineyard with a whimsical mix of folk,

country and classic rock. Music will be outdoors, weather permitting; indoors if not. Come early, bring family and friends and settle in for a great evening. Wine and Fiddlehead for sale by the glass. American Flatbread pizza by the slice. Free. A por-tion of beverage sales will benefit The Champlain Housing Trust. More info: shelburnevineyard.com, 985-8222.

Book signing: Paula Marcoux, author of Cooking with Fire, 5:30–8 p.m., Intervale, Burlington. Cooking with Fire stands out for its fun, affordable, accessible approach that mixes the DIY aesthetic with a pinch of geek, a pat of humor, and a gener-ous serving of culinary history—and, of course, truly mouthwatering recipes. Marcoux is the food editor of Edible South Shore magazine, writes on food his-tory topics for popular and academic audiences, and consults with museums, film producers and publish-ers. Event part of Summervale activities.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8

Opening reception: Summer Horizons: New Vermont Paintings by Bonnie Acker, 5:30–7:30 p.m., Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery, Shelburne. Acker creates paintings, paper collages and fabric banners and is immersed in numerous food and farming adventures. Her work has been featured in Vermont Life Magazine and several books includ-ing The Art of Lake Champlain and The Community Land Trust Reader. Free.

Contra Dance, 8 p.m., Shelburne Town Hall. Queen City Contras will hold its regular dance with calling by Mary Wesley and music provided by Geordie Lynd, Roger Kahle and Dan Restivo. All are wel-come, all dances taught, no partner or experience necessary. Beginners session at 7:45 p.m. Please bring clean soft-soled shoes for dancing. Cost: $8/adults, 12 and under/free. More info: queencitycon-tras.org.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10

Yoga on Shelburne Beach, 8–9 a.m., Shelburne Beach. Shelburne Recreation, with the help of Yoga Roots, a local Shelburne yoga studio, is hosting a series of free yoga classes at Shelburne Beach. You do not need to be a Shelburne resident to attend. No registration necessary, just bring a mat. If you don’t have one, there will be a few extras on site. Also scheduled for Aug. 24. Free. More info: yoga-rootsvt.com.

Switchback Brewery Beer Tasting, Mt. Philo, noon–4 p.m. Come to the top of Mt. Philo for a beer tasting as well as Dakin Farm meat and cheese and jams. Gold Town Band will perform. Cost: admission to park.

MONDAY, AUG. 11

Monday Night Fun Run, 5:30 p.m., Peak Performance, Williston. More info: vtpeakperfor-mance.com.

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Community Alliance Church, Hinesburg, Gathering Place, 9 a.m., Sunday School, 9 a.m., Worship, 10:15 a.m. Information: 482-2132.

Charlotte Congregational Church, Worship, 10 a.m., Sunday School, 10 a.m. Information: 425-3176.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mass, 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Information: 425-2637.

St. Jude, Mass, Hinesburg, 9:30 a.m. Information: 482-2290.

North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church, Hollow Road, Worship, 10 a.m., Sunday School, 9:45 a.m. Information: 425-2770.

Cross Roads Chapel, Relocated to the Brown Church on Route 7, Ferrisburgh. Worship, 11 a.m. Information: 425-3625.

Assembly of God Christian Center, Rtes. 7 and 22A, Ferrisburgh, Sunday worship, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sunday School, 9 a.m. Information: 877-3903.

All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farm Road, Shelburne. Sunday Service 9 a.m., Evensong Service 5 p.m. 985-3819

Trinity Episcopal Church, 5171 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne, 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. “Space for Grace” (educational hour), 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist (with child care and Sunday School). 985-2269.

Town bridgesThe Selectboard swiftly took care of actions on three

of the town’s six bridges. First, it approved payment of

an amount not to exceed $2,000 to Stowe Pest Control to

treat the Seguin (Rule) Bridge for carpenter ants and pow-

der post beetles. Then, it approved a request for proposal

to repair railings on the Spear Street Bridge (#13). Last,

it approved an eight-ton weight limit over the Carpenter

Road Bridge (#30). This will apply until temporary repairs

are made to the support structure. A scope of work seeking

cost proposals for this repair was also approved.

oTher businessA proposal received from Building Energy Company

to replace the library roof and insulation would cost in

excess of $104,000, far higher than the budgeted amount.

The Selectboard voted to broaden the search for addi-

tional proposals in an effort to find a lower bid. It will

also undertake a search for grants as well as look for other

sources of funding.

Jim Donovan, Charlotte’s representative on the Chit-

tenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC),

presented an update on regional planning issues. He

reported that two CCRPC studies are ongoing: the feasi-

bility of Route 7 pedestrian crossings at the Ferry Road

intersection, and sidewalk improvement and storm water

management along Ferry Road in the West Village. A

third study will start soon on the feasibility of locating a

Park and Ride lot in Charlotte.

In an administrative action, the Selectboard changed

the compensation package for the animal control officer,

Cali Griswold, to $500 quarterly to better compensate her

for services. Her role is strictly restricted to dog problems.

She can be reached at 373-3442. For other animals, Char-

lotters should contact the Vermont game wardens.

Selectboard continued from previous page


Since 1977, Lafayette Painting Inc. has been providing the best interior painting service avail-able. Let our experts transform your space. Call us at 863-5397 and see our work, references and more at LafayettePaintingInc.com (56-24)

MOWING: Call Portfolio Cuts to handle all your mowing needs. Professional lawn stripping with bag-ging capabilities. Consistent, Quality work everyday. Call Nathan now for free estimate. Fully insured 734-7135, Portfoliocuts.com. (57-02)

NEW AT THE MT. PHILO INN: Overnight accom-modations, spacious 2-3 bedroom suites available by the day, week or month. Adjacent to Mt. Philo State Park, with panoramic views of Lake Champlain. Each "wing" in the historic inn has a private entrance, full kitchen, laundry and porch. MtPhiloInn.com 425-3335.

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Heat your home with a Maxim Outdoor Wood Pellet Furnace by Central Boiler and gain energy independence. Boivin Farm Supply 802-475-4007. (57-01)

VACATION RENTAL: Thompson's Point lakefront camp available for rent Aug. 9 through Aug. 23. Five bedroom, 3 bath, water access on main lake with spec-tacular sunset views! $2500/week, plus Vt tax. Call Martha at 210-380-3963 or email [email protected]. (24)

PUMP FOR SALE: Gould water pump #20. $100. Please call Bill Powers, 425-3370. 160 No. Shore Rd.

ARE YOU TIRED? Of overpaying for a mowing service and getting sub-par work? Then call Portfolio Cuts today for a free estimate. Local references, fully insured. Consistent, quality work. Call Nathan 734-7135. Portfoliocuts.com. (57-02)

35TH ANNUAL TOWN-WIDE MARKET DAY: Essex, NY, Saturday, August 2, 10 am- 4 pm, rain or shine. 50+ exhibitors - art, antiques, collectibles, farm products, food, music, more! Half price ferry 10 am- noon for walk-ons only. (518) 963-7494. (-24)

to Anne and Marc Richter on the birth of their son Eliam Gabriel Kirby Richter, born June 24 at Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington.

to Christina and Matthew Moulton on the birth of their son Anthony James Moulton, born June 21 at Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington.

to Kathryn Drumheller of South Burlington and Christopher Little of Charlotte who announced their engagement recently. The son of Mr. and Mrs. William Little of Charlotte, Christopher is a marketing and business-development specialist with Wintersmiths.com and Ursa Major of Burlington. Kathryn is a marketing manager with Wealth Management Systems based in New York City. They plan an August wedding.

to Sam Darling who graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a bachelor of science in marine transportation and a U.S. Coast Guard license as a third mate in the Merchant Marine. Sam has been hired by the Otto Candies Corporation, which services the offshore oil and gas industry, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Brazil.

to Rachel Baginski who earned placement as one of 196 incoming freshmen in the University of Vermont’s Honors College. Invitation into the Honors College is based upon the student’s academic achievement in high school and the university’s commitment to create a diverse learning community. Rachel plans to major in biology.

to the following Rice Memorial High School students from Charlotte who earned placement on the honor roll for the fourth quarter, 2014: Connor Gorman, Emma Hudziak, Avery Kidd, Anna Schibli.

to Kendra Heaslip, a junior majoring in business administration at Merrimack College, North Andover, Mass., who earned placement on the dean’s list for the spring term 2014.

to Madeline Weaver, a student at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y., who earned placement on the dean’s list for the spring semester 2014.

to Noa Urbaitel, a senior at Champlain Valley Union High School whose prose piece titled “Mondays” appeared in the July 18 issue of the Burlington Free

Press as part of the Young Writers Project. Noa’s piece focuses on just about everything going through a boy’s mind except schoolwork on this and every Monday since his sophomore year. He’s particularly interested in a classmate, Michelle. “It’s Monday,” he says to her. “I’m aware,” she replies. “Would you like to go steady with me?” he asks, at which point she slams her locker, says “not this week,” and retreats down the hall. Read the story to discover the boy’s thoughts on this incident.

to Andrew Blake, a graduate of Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, who was hired as an investment operations analyst with Pinebridge Investments in New York City. The son of Sara and Tony Blake of Charlotte, Andrew carried a double major in college composed of business and environmental studies.

to Charlotter Richard Flood of Flood Financial Services, Inc., South Burlington, who was a featured speaker at the Lincoln Financial Network Mastery of Advice planning forums held in Las Vegas and Chicago. Providing insight as a top performer nationally, Richard addressed about 500 people in each forum.

to Lori Lustberg, formerly of Charlotte who, in June, was elected to serve on the board of directors of the Association of Divorce Financial Planners (ADFP). An attorney who practices out of Shelburne, Lustberg is also editor in chief of the ADFP News, the Association’s monthly newsletter. She provides clients going through divorce with in-depth financial analysis as well

as mediation services.

to Meg Smith, who was featured in the summer 2014 issue of Vermont Woman as executive director of the Vermont Woman’s Fund. According to the article, the fund was started 20 years ago as “the only Vermont non-profit dedicated to providing grants to girls and women exclusively.” Meg’s vision includes a desire to “increase the level of grant making to girls and women in Vermont, helping to support their goals to be successful and thrive.”

to Birgit Deeds who was featured in an article in the July 27 Burlington Free Press that spoke of her work on developing the gardens at Shelburne Farms and showed several pictures of the results. Birgit describes herself as a “lifelong gardener” and has been involved with the restoration of the Vanderbilt/Webb Shelburne Farms mansion since 1984. The formal gardens in front of the house overlooking Lake Champlain are where Birgit volunteers daily.

to Leon Leary, a student at the University of Maine at Farmington who earned placement on the college’s dean’s list for the spring semester 2014.

is expressed to family and friends of Lindsay Goldsborough Reagan of Portland, Maine, who passed away July 4 at the age of 49. Living with her family on Shelburne Point, Lindsay spent many hours during her younger years on her horse Charlie at the Charlotte Pony Club. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Lindsay’s name to Foreside Financial Services, Three Canal Plaza, c/o Samantha

Around TownCongratulations

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The practice of medicine should take into account that immortality wasn’t designed for humans.

Jim Morse is a former Vermont Supreme Court Jus-

tice living in Charlotte. Find more of his Doodles & Jots

in his book, available at the Flying Pig Bookstore or

online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Red Barn Books.

Morse's Doodles & Jots

The Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary Club’s newest

member is Ed Cafferty (left), who was welcomed

into the club by membership chair Ric Flood of

Charlotte. Cafferty is well known around town

for his efforts in determining and analyzing com-

munity needs for policing. He teaches criminal

justice at Champlain College with a specialty in

crime associated with the heroin epidemic. He

also works part-time for the Vermont State Police,

is running for sheriff of Chittenden County and is

writing a book.

Cafferty Named New Rotarian

the charlotte news | july 31, 2014

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