Professional Documents
Culture Documents
12
~ Leonard Cohen
Photo by Michael Jermyn
IN THIS ISSUE:
Pg. 5 Zoning in Montpelier
Pg. 7 Possible School
Mergers
Pg. 8 City Clerk Requests
Investigation
The Bridge
P.O. Box 1143
Montpelier, VT 05601
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Essay
by Holly Day
Continued on Page 23
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Nature Watch
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Thank
You!
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square feet, though density would remain the same or decrease somewhat. Many minimum
setback distances are also being reduced. In parts of the old High Density district, for
example, the rear setback would drop from 30 feet to 10 feet. Also adding to potential
density is a group of mostly optional Planned Unit Developments that would allow base
district density to increase by 25 to 50 percent if goals such as energy efficiency and
affordability are met. Under the proposed zoning, any conforming single-family house in
the city could be converted to a duplex. The density changes reduce overall nonconformity
and satisfy the Master Plan goal of boosting housing. But Commission chairman Kim
Cheney has pointed out that the Plans goal of increasing housing does conflict in some
ways with other Master Plan goals, such as preserving traditional residential neighborhoods
and conserving open land.
There would be many more zoning districts, most with new names. The number of
different zoning districts in the city would increase significantly, and most traditional
names for districts would be eliminated. Under current zoning, for example, there are three
generally residential-only districts: Low Density, Medium Density and High Density. The
new zoning proposes six different residential districts, plus a new Mixed Use Residential
district, with new names linked to their maximum density. The Residential 6000 district,
for example, will be an area where there can be one unit per 6,000 square feet. Much of
this district is now called Medium Density (at 10,000 square feet, it is less dense now than
is being proposed). The new generally residential-only districts would include Residential
1,500, Residential 3,000, Residential 6,000, Residential 9000, Residential 17,000, and
Rural. Other districts would include Urban Center 1, Urban Center 2, Riverfront, Eastern
Gateway, Western Gateway and Mixed Use Residential.
The size of the Mixed Use district has been scaled back since an earlier draft. Mixed
Use is a new type of district, where both residential and some limited commercial uses are
allowed. The minimum lot size is 3,000 square feet, and maximum density is two units
per 1,500 sq. ft. An earlier draft map showed this district extending into several residential
areas, which sparked objections from residents of St. Paul and other neighboring streets.
At the City Councils urging, the Planning Commission scaled back the district mostly
to busier arterial streets such as East State Street (including Vermont College), Northfield
Street at the downtown end, the western end of State Street beyond Bailey Ave., and
a portion of Elm Street. The permitted commercial uses in this district include stores,
markets and professional offices. Conditional uses include restaurants and general offices.
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MONTPELIER Partly in response to a state law requiring that school districts pay for
10 hours of preschool per child per week, a classroom at Union Elementary School has been
converted into a preschool classroom serving about 28 children in two shifts a day. The
preschool, which opened at the start of the school year, has been a huge success for the school,
according to Union School Principal Chris Hennessey. The parents are loving it.
There had been concern that the Union preschool would be oversubscribed, so the school
was prepared to hold a lottery last summer to fill its preschool slots, but that did not prove
necessary, Hennessey said. We still have a couple of openings, he noted. As an alternative to
going to the Union preschool, parents can choose to receive a rebate for the expense of sending
their children to a private, state-qualified preschool such as Turtle Island or the Family Center.
Parents this year are receiving $3,092 per child for about 45 Montpelier children aged three
to five to attend such private preschools this year, he said. We do have preschool choice in
Montpelier, and it is working really well, Hennessey said.
Housing
Creation of new housing has been a priority for the City.
The key policy effort for housing will be the new zoning
proposal. The Planning Commission is wrapping up their
work. The full zoning proposal is now expected to be taken
up by the City Council in February after the budget is
completed.
A new housing development strategy has been drafted, is
being reviewed by the Housing Task Force and will be
submitted to Council for approval as part of the Master
Plan revision.
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The Union preschool is only available for 2 to 3 hours a day, and some parents need longer
coverage. Parents using a qualified private preschool can pay for a longer day and use the
$3,092 rebate to cover part of their bill. The rebate is not available for daycares or preschools
that are not approved by the state. Union was able to dedicate a room for preschool because
the fifth grade moved over to the Main Street Middle School a couple of years ago, Hennessey
said. Even with that move, the school is space-challenged because the school continues to
see larger classes of 85 to 95 students entering kindergarten each year, he said. Including the
28 children in the preschool, there are now about 440 students at Union Elementary School.
Environmental
The City has been very active in addressing environmental
issues and new regulatory demands.
Stormwater: A new stormwater master plan has been
prepared and approved. Projects and maintenance
requirements to meet the plan will be included in the
upcoming and future budgets. The City needs to begin
creation of an independently funded stormwater utility.
CSO: Much discussion about the Combined Sewer
Overflow issue occurred over the summer including a
fairly lengthy analysis in this Bridge page. The city is taking
active steps to reduce overflows and improve monitoring.
The next big step is to consider the best way to address the
many private roof drains which remain connected to the
citysewer pipes. Should the city enact punitive regulations,
create financial incentives or provide funding? Or some
combination?
Berlin Pond: The State of Vermont has begun permitting
for a boat launch on Berlin Pond. The City is filing as a
party on all permit applications. In the meantime, the city
is updating its source protection plan to reflect new risks
potentially created by recreational use.
Net Zero: The city is planning several projects to continue
reduction of city energy use. Many of these will be included
in the upcoming budget. The biggest challenge for the Net
Zero initiative is sustaining this effort for work with private
property owners throughout the community.
Budget
The annual budget preparation process is underway. We
expect the budget to be presented to the City Council
on December 21st. Based on Council comments, the
budget will likely show different funding options related to
different tax potential tax rates.
Personal
As I write this article, my status as City Manager is up in
the air. I thank the many people who have offered words
of support and encouragement. Although this is a difficult
situation, I will keep my commitment to provide the most
professional management that I can until there is a final
resolution.
Thank you for reading this article and for your interest
in Montpelier city government. Please feel free to contact
me or your elected officials with questions or comments
about the City Government. I can be reached at wfraser@
montpelier-vt.org or 802-223-9502. Other city officials
email addresses and phone numbers are available on the
web.
Thats more than we had six years ago when the fifth graders were here, Hennessey observed.
Union School is one of the largest elementary schools in the state, he added. Act 166 was passed
by the Legislature in 2014 and signed into law by Governor Peter Shumlin. It provides universal
publicly funded pre-kindergarten education for a minimum of 10 hours per week for 35 weeks
annually for all three, four and five year old children who are not enrolled in kindergarten.
The Legislature did not provide any new funding for the program, so the money for Act 166
comes from the existing state Education Fund, which is funded primarily by state and local
by Phil Dodd
property taxes. It is one of those dreaded unfunded mandates, Hennessey said. But the
principal thinks preschool education is important for young children and is a strong supporter
of preschool. He said Union was fortunate to find and hire four high-quality educators
including two preschool teachers, a special educator and an educational assistant when
it started its program earlier this year. The morning and afternoon sessions at the Union
preschool have 16 available slots each. In the morning session, 10 slots are reserved for children
who qualify for Head Start, which has income restrictions. Head Start, a federal program,
provides funding for half of a teachers salary, Hennessey said. However, the total cost of the
Union preschool per student is still higher than the $3,092 per child rebate amount, he said.
We think this program gives us a lot of bang for the buck, Hennessey said. We are getting
more kids in earlier, creating a better bridge to kindergarten and requiring less intervention
later.
Looking farther into the future, Hennessey speculated parents may start to wonder if the
Union preschool could expand to cover more hours and/or more children. But he noted a full
day preschool would have only 16 children in a classroom, compared to the 32 that can be
handled in two shifts, so there would be extra staff costs. Expansion would require community
discussion, Hennessey said. The fourth grade cant be moved to the Main Street Middle
School, so room to expand would probably have to be found somewhere other than the existing
Union School, he added. Expansion of hours would also create competition for the private
preschools in the Montpelier area that offer full day preschool. Right now, the Union preschool
is serving a niche market of parents who only want or need two hours per day of preschool,
Hennessey said. Sign-up for next years preschool will be held in the spring, when the school
will use various means to reach out to parents.
There will be fewer openings at Union next year, perhaps requiring a lottery, because as many
has half of the children currently enrolled in the Union preschool could continue there next year.
To qualify for preschool next year (or for a rebate to cover private preschool), a child will have to
turn three years old by Sept. 1, 2017. Hennessey said that beginning in March, parents of young
children can watch for information about next years preschool sign-up on the Union School
website at mpsvt.org/ues. If parents have questions, he invited them to call him at 225-8200.
Bookmark:
montpelierbridge.com
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On The Road
by Carla Occaso
MONTPELIER During a regular city council meeting Nov. 9 at City Hall, roughly 20
residents took turns speaking out following reports in numerous news outlets concerning City
Manager William Fraser's contract nonrenewal.
Officially, there has still been no decision. The council has not met and voted in a publicly
warned meeting on the matter, Hollar said. However, repeated questions from the public have
led City Clerk John Odum to request an investigation from the Attorney Generals office.
Most citizens who spoke praised Fraser and criticized a process whereby a majority of the
city council, led by Mayor John Hollar, informed City Manager Bill Fraser on Oct. 26 in an
executive session that they did not intend to support the renewal of his contract in March.
That meeting followed a private meeting between Hollar and Fraser on Oct. 24 in which
Hollar informed Fraser that he believed a majority of councilors would not support the
continuation of his contract.
I have no objection to someone from the Attorney Generals office looking at this and making
a determination, Hollar said.
At the core of the controversy is the fact that the majority of members knew about Hollars
discussion with Fraser, while three did not. Hollar is the seventh member of the seven-member
council. The three who were not in the loop claim they did not know about Hollars discussion
with Fraser until they were informed in the executive session. Hollar served as a tie breaker,
siding with the three councilors who do not want to renew Frasers contract against three who
do want to renew Frasers contract.
Called into question by the public has been whether this creation of an unofficial decision by
four members of the council and informing the city manager of said unofficial decision
outside a regularly warned council meeting breaks Vermonts Open Meeting Law.
Hollar spoke by telephone with The Bridge Nov. 11.
There was never a meeting of the majority of the council prior to this discussion with Bill.
Three councilors came to me at separate times and told me that they did not support the
renewal of his contract. I told Bill that there had been no final decision because the council
had not yet met, but I felt it was important to give him a heads up about what was certain to
be a difficult discussion, Hollar explained. He also said, I did not make a concerted effort to
make this decision prior to my meeting with Bill on Oct. 24.
As for whether this incident may lead to a pricey legal issue, Hollar says, No.
If we go forward with this, we would have to have a hearing and we would have to state
our reasons ... that poses a challenge in terms of the general practice of not having public
discussions about personnel matters, and my desire not to have a public debate about the
managers performance, Hollar said. Hollar hopes to stave off such a situation. We will have
ongoing discussions with Bill and his attorney and hopefully will reach a mutual resolution.
The Bridge also reached out to the Secretary of State's office inquiring about whether the
open meeting law had been violated. Jenny Prosser, general counsel and director of municipal
assistance, said simply that the council had wandered into a grey area. Regarding the question
of talking about an issue outside a duly warned meeting, Prosser said the law only applies if you
have a quorum (in this case four members) discussing an issue. The mayor is a member of the
council. The law would only apply if you have four members in a quorum, she explained. The
Bridge asked about the legality of a decision arrived at by a quorum of a public body following
a series of conversations (either in person, by telephone, social media or email) outside a warned
meeting.
A series of conversations that lead to a decision has not yet been put before the court,
Prosser said. We get lots of calls on board transparency issues. We let them know it is a grey
area. We have gotten calls from citizens with concerns about boards (having a) ... string of
communication. The context has been emails. Sometimes phone calls. It is not uncommon.
Anyone has a right to challenge the board in court, she said.
Frothingham: You have written a letter to the State of Vermont Attorney General calling for
an investigation into whether or not Mayor John Hollar, by actions he took in advance of the
Wednesday, Nov. 9 City Council meeting, may have violated Vermonts open meeting law. What
evidence do you have to call for such an investigation? If you dont have evidence to back up your
call, why are you calling for an investigation?
I have concerns, Ive heard the concerns of some of the city councilors (for whom I act
MONTPELIER City Clerk John Odum has requested an investigation by the Attorney
Generals office into the nonrenewal of City Manager William Frasers contract as made public
recently. It seems that what has been called into question is the procedure by which the decision
was reached and the manner in which Fraser was informed. Mayor John Hollar informed Fraser
on Oct. 24 that a majority of the board did not support renewing his contract. The full board
did not meet until Oct. 26, and at that time, three of the seven board members said they did not
know a decision had been reached. The Bridges publisher Nat Frothingham spoke with Odum
recently in a question and answer session.
Odum: Your question misses the whole point. I am neither equipped nor qualified to collect
evidence. If I were, I wouldn't have written the letter, Id just investigate it myself.
his summer I bought an old toboggan at an auction. It needed some work but the price
was right and it brought back memories of winters gone by. Recently I was reminded
of my purchase by some friends who were talking about getting out their sleds and
toboggans for the upcoming winter. Not everybody likes to hit the slopes in the winter, but
getting some form of exercise is important. It could be a walk in the country, a sleigh ride or even
strapping on a pair of snowshoes for a walk in a meadow. My point is we have options in the
winter. Whatever you do, be smart. Dress for the conditions, dont overdo it, and if you end up
on a back road, make sure you are mindful of traffic and road conditions as you walk on the road.
MONTPELIER Linda Quinlan has announced that she, Anne Charles and Keith
Koslant have started a new show. The show, called LGBTQ (All Things Lesbian Gay
Bisexual Transgender Questioning), is in its third week. It airs Saturday night at 8, and
can be downloaded from their site. The show is aired on ORCA, a local television station
located at the corner of Main and East State streets in Montpelier.
A Reflection
Trump.
e all feel dirty right now, dont we America? We could all use a good shower. We feel
dirty for so many reasons, and weve been feeling this way long before the so-called
election process imploded into the dumpster fire that is a President-elect Donald
Frankly, Bernie Sanders would have provided the type of cleansing, and refreshment, warmth
and comfort that I desperately need. But that water was shut off at my house, and redirected,
for many in my neighborhood into a much colder utility that, while providing water that was
tolerable for bathing, didnt provide the quality of shower that most of my neighbors preferred
lukewarm at best, but often cooler than body temperature, enough to make you uncomfortable,
but still feel mostly clean (on the outside).
A few days ago, this water too was shut off for almost everyone else in the neighborhood and all
that is left is frigid, shockingly uncomfortable water that you have to jump in and out of each day
without ever feeling especially clean, and things like actual hygiene and cleanliness have become
a mystery for most. I wish I could say its not my water, but then, I wouldnt have any water at
all. And that condition hasnt hit my neighborhood, yet.
Garrett Heaney is the proofreader of The Bridge and a local artist. His work can be seen at ahny.us.
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by Dot Helling
Photo courtesy of
Carole Burns
by Larry Floersch
Brownsville is not Montpelier. For one thing, Brownsville has a number of very wide
boulevards, up to six or eight lanes in some places. And it has an abundance of
parking spaces. I know you wont believe this, but you can even find parking spaces in
DOWNTOWN Brownsville.
Gina is very enthusiastic about the landfill. One reason is the extensive compost processing
facility they have built there. Gina told me with pride that they could process an elephant
and in one week there would be nothing left not even bones. A bit of hyperbole I
thought, but when questioned, she assured me that THEY HAD IN FACT processed an
elephant in one week. The carcass had come from the Brownsville Zoo.
The other reason Gina loves the landfill is the view. The mound that covers Brownsvilles
trash is now at about one hundred feet and, like landfills everywhere, is a popular place
for birds in this case seagulls, vultures and caracaras. And because it attracts the
rare Tamaulipas crow, it is a place that birdwatchers cherish. Once you scare away the
birds from the top of the landfill, you have a commanding view of you guessed it
BIRDWATCHERS, who must dodge the huge trash-compacting bulldozers in their efforts
to put a checkmark next to Tamaulipas crow in their list of bird sightings and to avoid
becoming extinct themselves. Beyond the birdwatchers you can see the city of Brownsville,
South Padre Island in the Gulf of Mexico, the massive oil rigs in dry dock in Port Isabel,
and, across the Rio Grande Mexico.
One of the candidates in our recent national election made an issue of, and I quote,
hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants literally pouring ... pouring over the border
from Mexico. I thought what better place to witness this phenomenon than from the
top of the landfill. I had images in my mind of large masses of people in sombreros and
huaraches moving north like army ants. To my dismay, I could not detect any masses of
illegal immigrants from top of the landfill.
Gina was also kind enough to take me to another favorite birdwatching spot, the Sabal Palm
Sanctuary, which is on the banks of the Rio Grande. You literally pass through The Wall
(yes, they already have one here, although it has numerous gaps in it) and enter a no-mans
land crisscrossed by Border Patrol roads to get to the sanctuary. I excitedly took one hiking
trail to an overlook on the banks of the Rio Grande itself, hoping to spot masses of illegal
immigrants. I saw a lot of great-tailed grackles, green jays, mosquitoes and mesquite trees,
but no illegal immigrants.
The Rio is not so Grande at this point in its course. It is pea green and about as wide as the
North Branch of the Winooski. You can easily huck a rock across it into Mexico.
The fact is, I dont think I saw any illegal immigrants while in Brownsville. I was told
they exist, but unless they were in all those Range Rovers and Mercedes with license plates
from the Mexican states of Tamaulipas or Campeche in the parking lots of the H.E.B.
supermarket and the Walmart, I couldnt point to one. And if the people in those cars were
illegal immigrants, they blended in quite well.
To discourage people from other states such as Vermont from coming here just to
drive around and park willy-nilly, Brownsville has two deterrents. One is Texas drivers, all
of whom took their training from NASCAR. The average speed on those wide boulevards
seems to be about 60, with lots of unsignaled lane changing and tailgating. The drivers here
also tend to herd like Texas longhorns at stoplights, lane markers being mere suggestions.
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by Ivan Shadis
made the 1,800 mile trip from here to the Sioux prairie. I learned of it from
a friend and then three days later I was on the road with a caravan and we
went across the country and got there.
They worked in the camps for three weeks, first building a kitchen, then
helping distribute goods and hold ceremony. Using material that was donated
to Coravos in Vermont, the group was able to set up a camp specifically
designed for women and from which they helped organize a daily women's
prayer at the river. In the Lakota tradition, women are the keepers of the
water and the men are the keepers of the fire and so it was asked that the
women pray at the river. In a message home posted to Facebook in early
September Coravos wrote, Every morning we go to the kitchens to collect
the prayers of all the women who cook and serve the people to carry with
us. Every morning we travel down to the waters together, in song, and place
our feet in the sacred mud. In their camp they brewed herbal teas and put
up traditional structures for women. We built a moon lodge so that theres a
specific place for women.
Coravos published frequent updates to her Facebook page giving reports on the
camps and rallying support. In a post written a week after arriving, Coravos
talks about a growing sense of solidarity as people continue to assemble and
demonstrate against the pipeline. [They] hope that people will just go home
and the drilling continue. Instead, today we marched to the drill site, seven
Nations with four riders each. She wrote, We are calling in herbal remedies,
medicines, organic farm fresh food. Among the responses one commentator
was quick to ask, What can I do to support the movement from VT?
Coravos saw a distinction between action on the front lines, where violence
has erupted, and in the camps, which she described as sites of peaceful
cooperation. Of the give-and-take between prayer and direct action against
the pipeline she said Some of the Lakota people dont want the actions to be
taking place and others are grateful and believe the answers to those prayers
is that type of action. Throughout our conversation Coravos's emphatic
expression remained: that those gathering at the camps were unified by the
call to protect water.
Ki Walker of Royalton is another Vermonter who went to work in the camps.
He stayed two weeks working in the kitchens there. Walker, who spoke during
a report held at the Plainfield Community Center on Sept. 17, said that his
work consisted of waking up at 6 a.m. each day, then making breakfast, lunch,
dinner and food drops for those mobilizing in action.
Walker said that while there was a lot of ceremony and prayer related to
people spiritual practice and for water, to him it was very clear that people
are there to stop the pipeline, not just assemble in prayer, with desire in the
camps to resist the pipeline as early as April and manifest in the direct action
interventions which have continued in the months since.
Walker said that as far as he knew no one in the camps is interested in
people holding signs in solidarity. Walker suggested that people doing direct
interventions to stop construction of fossil fuel infrastructure in their own
communities would create a more meaningful feeling of solidarity.
Walker stressed that the complexity in distributing needed goods among
the camps was exacerbated by the intense threat of violence faced by
demonstrators and the onset of winter, and urged supporters from afar to
self-organize around obtaining and transporting specific items with actual
supplies better than money.
Both Walker and Coravos identified winter supplies, particularly insulated
tents, as the crucial need facing the camps. The pipeline company thinks
people are just going to leave once the weather gets cold. It gets cold there.
Colder than here. Its rugged. Most of the people are saying were not going
to budge and part of what I feel like our mission there is to make sure that
people are able to stay through the winter, said Coravos.
Wool socks, winter boots, insulated winter sleeping bags, and insulated tents
capable of withstanding freezing winter prairie winds are the most needed
supplies.
On Oct. 9, a day before the federally observed Columbus Day, a federal
appeals court rejected the Standing Rock Sioux Tribes request to permanently
stop construction on a section of the NDAPL. Standing Rock Sioux
Chairman David Archambault II vowed to continue fighting the pipeline.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is not backing down from this fight We
will not rest until our lands, people, waters and sacred places are permanently
protected from this destructive pipeline.
With construction workers and equipment active on the site seven days a
week, the pipeline company has stated it will complete the pipeline by the end
of 2016. On Oct. 15 over one hundred militarized police wearing body armor
and carrying batons and rifles were deployed against resistors gathered at the
construction site.
Coravos left Vermont again in mid-October to continue work in North
Dakota, but is back in town for the moment.
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Calendar of Events
Community Events
Events happening
Nov. 17 Dec. 3
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18
Friday,
November 25
Wear your
flannel and
get great
deals in
downtown
Montpelier
stores.
Montpelier's cozy
version of
Black Friday
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21
The Mountainclature League of Poets. In an effort to directly address our nations recent flood of
hate and bigotry, this open gathering of poets from
throughout the area will be an opportunity to
meet, hear each others works, and discuss the ways
we as poets might directly bring our collective
voices to the forefront of public conversations here
and beyond. 57 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library,
East Montpelier Room, 135 Main St., Montpelier.
Grief & Bereavement Support Group. Open to
anyone who has experienced the death of a loved
one. 67:30 p.m. CVHHH, 600 Granger Rd.,
Barre. 223-1878.
Becoming A Father. In this fatherhood class, men
will gain perspective from discussing the road that
lies ahead. This class helps men give voice to their
concerns about becoming a dad, gain support and
start the process of making decisions. 68 p.m.
Aldrich Public Library, 6 Washington St., Barre.
http://www.goodbeginningscentralvt.org/thebirthing-year.html. 595-7953. info@goodbeginningscentralvt.org
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22
The Lived Body. A talk exploring the psychology of the body, mindfulness and being with
Robert Kest, Ph.D. 67:30 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard
Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. For more info,.
contact 229-6989 or Ryokan@juno.com.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26
Performing Arts
THEATER, STORYTELLING,
COMEDY
Nov. 17: LNT Aid. An all-star concert to benefit
Lost Nation Theater will feature actor and
writer Rusty DeWees, singer-songwriter Jon
Gailmor, bluesman Dave Keller, stand-up comic
Maggie Lenz, physical comedian Tom Murphy
and singing raconteur George Woodard in
concert. 7:30 p.m. Montpelier City Hall Arts
Center, 39 Main St., Montpelier. $25. 2290492. Lostnationtheater.org.
Nov. 18: Stroke Yer Joke. Try five minutes of
your best open-mic stand-up comedy before
a live audience. 8 p.m. Espresso Bueno, 248
N. Main St., Barre. Free. 479-0896. events@
espressobueno.com. espressobueno.com.
Nov. 25: Bueno Comedy Showcase. A wide
range of talented standup comedians, from here
& away, working longer sets. 8:30 p.m. Espresso
Bueno, 248 N. Main St., Barre. $6. 479-0896.
events@espressobueno.com. espressobueno.com
Friday,
November 25
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Live Music
Calendar of Events
VENUES
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. Open mic every Wed. Other shows T.B.A. bagitos.com.
Nov. 17: Art Herttua & Ray Carroll Jazz Duo, 68 p.m.
Nov. 18: Dave & Rory Loughran (acoustic classic rock/folk) 68 p.m.
Nov. 19: Nov. 5: Irish Session with Sarah Blair, Hilari Farrington, Benedict Koehler, Katrina VanTyne, Bob
Ryan and others, 25 p.m.; Troy Milette & Dylan Gombas, 68 p.m.
Nov. 20: Bleecker & MacDougal (folk) 11 a.m.1 p.m.
Nov. 24: Italian Session, 68 p.m.
Nov. 25: Squirrels Crackers (country/bluegrass/Cajun) 68 p.m.
Nov. 26: Nov. 5: Irish Session with Sarah Blair, Hilari Farrington, Benedict Koehler, Katrina VanTyne, Bob
Ryan and others, 25 p.m.
Nov. 27: Southern Old Time Jam, 10 a.m.1 p.m.
Nov. 30: Paint n Sip with Liz Lawson, 68 p.m.
Dec. 1: Grammy award winning musician Jim Rooney joins Colin McCaffrey, 68 p.m.
Dec. 2: Art Herttua & Ray Caroll Jazz Duo, 68 p.m.
Dec. 3: Irish Session with Sarah Blair, Hilari Farrington, Benedict Koehler, Katrina VanTyne, Bob Ryan
and others, 25 p.m.
Charlie Os World Famous. 70 Main St., Montpelier. Free. 223-6820.
Every Mon.: Comedy Caf Open Mic, 8:30 p.m.
Every Tues.: Godfather Karaoke, 9:30 p.m.
Nov. 18: Blue Fox (blues) 6 p.m.; Eric Nassau feat. Alanna Grace Flynn (folk) / Abby Jenne and the Hard
Livers (soul rock) 9 p.m.
Nov. 25: Sara Grace (acoustic soul) 6 p.m.; Talking Doctor (rock) 9 p.m.
Whammy Bar. 7 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., 7:30 p.m. 31 County Rd., Calais. Thurs., Free. whammybar1.com.
Nov. 17: Jenn and John (John Smythe)
Nov. 18: Chad Hollister
Nov. 19: Cookie's Hot Club
Nov. 23: Open Mic
Nov. 25: Kelly Ravin
Nov. 26: Bird Full of Trees
Nov. 30: Open Mic
Dec. 1: The Flatlanders
Dec. 2: Penny Arcade
Dec. 3: Sid Morse Blues Jam
THE BRIDGE
SPECIAL EVENTS
Nov. 17: Summit School Sampler. During the day, enjoy an instrument petting zoo, workshops, jam
sessions, teacher and student showcases, shape note singing, senior center ukulele orchestra and the Trad
Camp All Stars. In the evening enjoy dinner/raffle, dance and cash bar. 111 p.m. City Hall, Main St.,
Montpelier. $25 all inclusive ticket. 793-3016. director@summet-school.org.
Nov. 19: Tenores de Atere. The only ensemble outside of Sardinia that is dedicated to singing cantu a tenore
music. 7 p.m. Christ Church, 64 State St., Montpelier. Suggested donation $1015.
Nov. 19: WORST.SONG.EVER. Musicians, hobbyists, & hacks sign up in advance to cover their least favorite
pop music from any era. Semiannual special event with audience voting & trophies! 8 p.m.Espresso Bueno,
248 N. Main St., Barre. $5. 479-0896. events@espressobueno.com. espressobueno.com
Nov. 20: Capital City Concerts presents A Feast of Suites. Lou Kosma conducts a professional orchestra n
three orchestral suites: Gustav Holsts Green Brook Suite, Telemanns Suite in A minor featuring flutist Karen
Kevra ,and Schoenbergs Suite in the Old Style, a distinctly tonal homage to J.S. Bach. 3 p.m. Montpelier
High School Smilie Auditorium, 5 High School Dr., Montpelier. $1525. www.capitalcityconcerts.org.
Tickets may also be purchased (cash or check only) in person at Bear Pond Books, Montpelier, and at the
door.
Nov. 21: Stardust: Great Lyrics & Songs, 1911 1927. An evening of music with Jim Hogue (ukulele &
vocals) and Catherine Domareki (vocals). 78:30 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier.
Nov. 22: Electric Hot Tuna. American roots and blues. 8 p.m. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, 122
Hourglass Dr., Stowe. $5565. 760-4634. SprucePeakArts.org.
Nov. 26: John Lackard Blues Band. 9 p.m. Sweet Melissas, 4 Langdon St., Montpelier. No cover.
Dec. 2, 4: The Vermont Philharmonic presents Handels Messiah. Performances will present the entire
first part of Messiah and concludes with three numbers from Part II, including the beloved Hallelujah
chorus, and four numbers from Part III. Adults $15; seniors $12; students $5. vermontphilharmonic.org
Dec. 2: 7:30 p.m., St. Augustine Church, 16 Barre St., Montpelier
Dec. 4: 2 p.m., Barre Opera House, 6 N. Main St., Barre. 476-8188.
Dec. 3: 15th annual Festival of Choirs. Join us in singing Handels Hallelujah chorus. 6 p.m. Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 73 Essex Way, Essex Junction.
Dec. 34: The Vermont Fiddle Orchestra. Under the direction of David Kaynor, the orchestra will perform
New England, Quebecois, Shetland Isles and Appalachian tunes and more. vtfiddleorchestra.org
Dec. 3: 7 p.m., Vermont College of Fine Arts, College Hall Chapel, 36 College St., Montpelier. Adults
$15; seniors and students $12; kids under 12 free.
Dec. 4: 2 p.m., Hyde Park Opera House, Hyde Park. All proceeds will benefit the 2nd Congregational
Church Save the Steeple Fund
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THE BRIDGE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30
Grief & Bereavement Support Group. Open to
anyone who has experienced the death of a loved
one. 1011:30 a.m. CVHHH, 600 Granger Rd.,
Barre. 223-1878.
Visual Arts
Calendar of Events
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3
EXHIBITS
Through Nov. 30: A Fishing Tale. A photography exhibit of the fishing adventures of Linda Hogan and
Rachel Senechal. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Kitzmiller Room, 135 Main St., Montpelier.
Through Nov. 30: The Art of Lynn Spencer. This exhibition is a part of Celebrating Berlin. KelloggHubbard Library, Non-Fiction Room, 135 Main St., Montpelier.
Nov. 28Dec. 9: Johnson State College Student Artwork. Featuring Kyle Selmers abstract expressionist
paintings in various media and Cecil Gerrys puppet theater and painting installation. Reception: Dec. 1,
35 p.m. Johnson State College, Julian Scott Memorial Gallery. jsc.edu/Dibden. 635-1469.
Through Dec. 9: Paletteers of Vermont Fall Art Show. Aldrich Public Library, Milne Room, 6
Washington St., Barre.
Through Dec. 30: Shedding Light On The Working Forest. Paintings and poetry by visual artist Kathleen
Kolb and poet Verandah Porche. Vermont Supreme Court Gallery, Montpelier.
Through Dec. 30: Mary Admasian, Shadowlands. Paintings, assemblages and sculptures, mixed-media
paintings are created on birch panels. Her application technique of spray-paint, acrylic paint, graphite, cold
wax, colored pencil, and watercolor pencil materials creates a surface that layers the visual space and imagery
of each painting. Pavilion Building, 109 State St., Montpelier. http://MaryAdmasianART.com
Through Dec. 30: Studio Place Arts presents Celebrate! An annual local arts celebration featuring a wide
variety of art and crafts created by SPA member artists. Reception: Nov. 19, 46 p.m. Studio Place Arts,
201 N. Main St., Barre. 479-7069. studioplacearts.com.
Through Jan. 7: Annual Holiday Group Exhibition. Illustration, mixed media, photography, pastel and
oil painting. Reception: Nov. 18, 68 p.m. Axels Gallery and Frame Shop, 5 Stowe St., Waterbury.
axelsgallery.com
Through Jan. 13: Michael Strauss, Making Thought Visible. Strausss paintings are a form of visual
reasoning in brightly colored compositions, mainly in pastel and ink. Opening reception and talk: Dec.
2, 68 p.m. T.W. Wood Gallery, 46 Barre St., Montpelier. 262-6035. twwoodgallery@gmail.com. www.
twwoodgallery.org
MCO Will Play Beethoven One More Time in Free Public Pop Up Concert
MONTPELIER The Montpelier Chamber Orchestra will perform Ludwig Van Beethovens
"Symphony No. 8 in F major" at a pop-up concert on Tuesday, Dec. 6. The performance
begins at 6 p.m. at the former One More Time storefront on Main Street in Montpelier. The
concert is free and open to the public. A potluck reception will follow.
As many music lovers in the area now know, our Nov. 6 fall concert at the Vermont
College of Fine Arts was abruptly interrupted by a rogue fire alarm and we were never
able to finish, explained MCO Music Director Anne Decker. We cannot recapture
that moment, but we are hoping that this free public performance will compensate the
community in a small way for that which was lost.
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THE BRIDGE
Weekly Events
ARTS & CRAFTS
BICYCLING
244-7036.
Personal Financial Management Workshops.
Learn about credit/debit cards, credit building
and repair, budgeting and identity theft, insurance, investing, retirement. Tues., 68 p.m.
Central Vermont Medical Center, Conference
Room 3. Registration: 371-4191.
COMPUTERS, EDUCATION
RECYCLING
Additional Recycling. The Additional Recyclables Collection Center accepts scores of hardto-recycle items. Mon., Wed., Fri., noon6 p.m.;
Third Sat., 9 a.m.1 p.m. ARCC, 540 North
Main St., Barre. $1 per carload. 229-9383 x106.
For list of accepted items, go to cvswmd.org/arcc.
RESOURCES
SOLIDARITY/IDENTITY
Roller Derby Open Recruitment and Recreational Practice. Central Vermonts Wrecking
Doll Society invites quad skaters age 18 and up.
No experience necessary. Equipment provided:
first come, first served. Sat., 56:30 p.m. Montpelier Recreation Center, Barre St. First skate
free. centralvermontrollerderby.com.
Zen Meditation. With Zen Affiliate of Vermont. Wed., 6:307:30 p.m. 174 River St.,
Montpelier. Free. Call for orientation: 2290164.
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LEGAL NOTICE OF
RETIREMENT
CAROL A. VASSAR, M.D.
150 Main St
Montpelier, VT 05602
tel: (802) 223-1766
fax: (802) 223-1767
Dr. Vassar will be retiring on December
19, 2017. Patients should call Central
Vermont Medical Center, Physician
Access Line, 802-371-5972, for the names
of medical practices currently taking
patients. Gifford Hospital also has a
primary care practice in Berlin taking
patients, 802-224-3200. Please obtain,
sign and date a request for medical records
for your primary care and send to Dr.
Vassar at the address above. Thank you.
SPIRITUALITY
N OV E M B E R 17 N OV E M B E R 3 0 , 2 016 PAG E 19
THE BRIDGE
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THE BRIDGE
N OV E M B E R 17 N OV E M B E R 3 0 , 2 016 PAG E 21
THE BRIDGE
Editorial
From left to right: Nichole Billow, Charles Gasaway, Ivana Ford, Dana Humphrey, Master
Chef Justin Reed, Derek Wenzer, Austin Wolley, Aaron Reyes, Breanna Todd, Kate
Bofferbrot, Joe Graves. Photo by Michael Jermyn
MONTPELIER The women and men pictured above are just some of the 24 Coast
Guard Food Service Specialists now completing a special three-week culinary course at
the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier.
The 24 Coast Guard students will celebrate the completion of their studies with a
Commencement Dinner on Nov. 17 and a Commencement Ceremony at the Pavilion
Auditorium beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 18.
Nichole Billow, one of the standout Coast Guard students who will complete the NECI
course on Nov. 18 hails from Las Vegas. As a young woman she worked for her parents
who were in the food business in Las Vegas. Then she attended college at the University
of Nevada, with a concentration in marketing.
And in July 2010, almost on an impulse, she joined the Coast Guard. After her initial
training, she qualified as a First Class Culinary Specialist and soon enough found herself
on one of six cutters in the waters off Bahrain cooking for a crew of 22. She was good
at what she did shopping for food while the cutter was in port, then going out to sea
and serving up food.
I love being on the water, she said. Youre in a boat. Youre on a living platform.
Billow was so good at shopping, cooking and serving up meals at sea that she was name
FS of the Year which translates into Best Cook in the Coast Guard.
For more information about becoming a food specialist for the U.S. Coast Guard, contact
Food Service Chief Master Chief Justin Reed at 757-582-0381 or email culinarycareers@
uscg.mil
n a wide-ranging phone conversation with musician and conductor Lou Kosma he spoke
with genuine anticipation about a Capital City Concerts string orchestra concert to be
performed on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. at Montpelier High Schools Smilie Auditorium.
This is an unusual program, said Kosma, who played for 36 years in the bass section of the
Metropolitan Opera and has conducted widely in his home state of New Jersey as well as with
the Vermont Philharmonic.
Its unusual, Kosma explained, because all the offerings are called suites and the theme of
the concert is A Feast of Suites.
The first offering is the Green Brook Suite by English composer Gustav Holst described in
a CCC press release as an inviting and picturesque work from the composer best known for
his gigantic suite, The Planets.
The second offering is Telemanns Suite in A minor for flute and orchestra. CCCs Artistic
Director Karen Kevra calls this composition the greatest flute suite of the Baroque period. I
adore this piece because it is so inventive, she wrote. It has dazzling virtuoso movements, an
overtly expressive and gorgeous Italian style aria, swashbuckling dances for the strings, plus it
opens with a grand overture in the French Baroque style.
But thats not all when the Council is split as it is today the
Mayor in this case, Mayor John Hollar can break the tie
and Mayor Hollar has gone on record not to renew the managers
contract.
There has been a great deal of hush-hush talk about wanting
to confine discussions about the City Managers performance to
executive sessions. There may or may not be wisdom in that.
Certainly the 20 Montpelier citizens who addressed the Council
on Nov. 9 were there because they wanted to be there and were
there to support Bill Fraser and to worry out loud about open
meeting issues.
There is some irony in Vermonts open meeting law. It celebrates
transparency and accountability. On the other hand, it specifically
provides for closed, private council meetings for employmentrelated discussions.
We published the first issue of The Bridge in December 1993 and
in all the 20-plus years of the papers existence, Bill Fraser has
been Montpeliers City Manager.
Nobodys perfect. Nobody walks on water.
After the intermission, the string orchestra will perform Arnold Schoenbergs Suite in the Old
Style, described as a distinctly tonal homage to J.S. Bach.
Talking with great enthusiasm about the Schoenberg piece, Kosma said, Dont be frightened
off. You see the name Schoenberg and dont come to the concert.
Dont react that way, he said, noting that the Nov. 20 string orchestra concert will offer two
traditional pieces at the beginning. Then follows the Schoenberg composition. You get to a
piece you will really ponder. Its a very, very difficult piece, an imaginative piece. The last thing
you hear is very accessible. None of it is crazy. What I really hope is that people stretch a little.
Come and listen and enjoy, he concluded.
the people who work at City Hall. In short, weve been lucky to
have Bill Fraser as City Manager in what is, by any measure, a
difficult job.
Everyone will have his or her own take on this but, as I see it,
Montpelier is contending with a number of intractable problems
that wont get fixed easily.
Property taxes are high too high.
Water fees are high too high.
Rents are high, and we have an affordable housing crisis.
For far too many people, its hard to find work that pays the bills.
Our downtown is the envy of other cities and towns across
the country because we can walk through it, enjoy it and its a
constant source of visual, social and historic delight. But lets be
candid. Parts of downtown are thriving. Parts of downtown are
just holding their own. And parts of downtown are struggling.
Montpelier used to have a population of about 9,000 people.
Slowly, weve lost people. Now, the City has about 7,800 people.
And everyone here thats left is supporting a city thats also a state
capital and is daily the magnet for thousands more people than
the people who live here and pay the taxes.
Although I dont think this has clearly come into public view,
increasingly, I am seeing the impacts of the growing trade and use
and consequences of drugs and addiction.
Email us at
editorial@montpelierbridge.com
Happy Thanksgiving!
For more information about the November 20 CCC concert please go to capitalcityconcerts.org.
Tickets are available at Bear Pond Books, Montpelier, and at the door.
We want to hear
what's on your mind.
Master of Ceremonies
Russell Clar
Meredith Kerin
Lila Stratton
Help support The Breeze, a publication for youth and by youth, by making a
donation. For past issues of The Breeze, please visit montpelierbridge.com.
PAG E 2 2 N OV E M B E R 17 N OV E M B E R 3 0 , 2 016
THE BRIDGE
Letters
Editor:
In response to Dot Helling's inquiry as to why Montpelier folk go "down" to Burlington, I say it is
because it is down the Winooski River and towards a large body of water, Lake Champlain. Why
do we say "going down to Maine?"
As a child growing up in North Waitsfield along the Mad River, we always said we went "up
street" when going to Waitsfield Village, and "down street" when we went to Moretown Village,
obviously a reference to the fact that the Mad River flows north and meets the Winooski in
Moretown. We also said we went down to Burlington, down river, obviously, and "over (Duxbury
Hills) to Waterbury." This may be a Native American trait left over from the days when waterways
were much more the way people got around the state than by either horse and buggy or mechanical
vehicles. I am often asked this question by folks from "down country", yet another curious
Vermont aphorism adopted well before the 1960 hippie influx.
Mary Alice Bisbee
Trump is anti-Semitic
Editor:
802.262.6013 evenkeelvt.com
For anyone familiar with the ugly catchphrases of anti-Semitism throughout history, Donald
Trumps campaign was an alarming one. He talked of an international banking conspiracy and
ran an ad in the closing days of the campaign linking Hillary Clinton to three Jewish individuals
in the world of finance: philanthropist George Soros, Goldman Sachs chairman Lloyd Blankfein
and Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen.
So it is especially distressing to learn that Trumps campaign chief Stephen Bannon, the likely
source of this strategy, is, as of this writing, in line to become the White House chief strategist
and senior counselor. Bannons Breitbart News has been a constant source of slurs not only against
Jews, but against the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans community, Muslims and African-Americans.
What clearer message can there be that such voices of intolerance will have an influential platform
in the administration to come?
Rick Winston and Andrea Serota, Adamant
N OV E M B E R 17 N OV E M B E R 3 0 , 2 016 PAG E 23
THE BRIDGE
My alarm bells went off when I read this. I wonder what is going on in the Clerks office. What
does Mr. Odum mean by that statement? What kind of work is he suggesting? Please clarify.
Cynthia Liepmann, Randolph Center
Response from City Clerk John Odum by email to The Bridge:
It means when election season is over, the Board of Civil Authority needs to go through the list
and identify people they believe have moved, so they can be sent a challenge letter asking them to
confirm that they are still residents, or that they have in fact moved elsewhere.
Before we make dinner, Beth requests that her space be clean, claiming a clean kitchen is
essential to high-level cooking. We spritz and wipe, wash dishes in the sink and put them on the
drying rack. Then, and only then, do we begin dinner preparations. I always chop the vegetables
and Beth always supervises. She makes sure I am using the right knife, and cutting the veggies to
the proper size. Do you remember how I taught you to slice those onions? she asks.
you this stuff so you can go out anywhere in the world and be successful. As soon as our plates
are cleared, we rise to our feet. Clean up, Beth says smiling. Many hands make light work.
You think, or you know? Beth grabs the knife and demonstrates again and again until there
are no more onions for me to cut.
My dad likes to listen to National Public Radio as we cook. He asks if we are talking about the
upcoming election at school and if we arent, he assures we talk about it then. This election is
like no other!
When it comes time to set the table, Beth takes out her green, artisan plates and the round glass
napkin rings. She joins me at the table and shows me that in the place I have just set, the sharp
end of the knife should point in towards the fork instead of out. I hope you know Im teaching
Rocque Long
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Yes, I say.
The usual then? she laughs.
Yes, I confirm.
Divorce has forced me to navigate two different worlds. When I travel from one house to the
other, I must rework myself to accommodate each lifestyle. My food experience is no exception to
this rule. The disparity between my mother and fathers taste in food has brought inconsistency
to my diet. In a whirlwind of baked brie and cinnamon buns, my wrap is stabilizing. Each day,
it stands as a reminder that I still know what I like to eat.
At the school cafeteria, I buy the same sandwich every day: a garlic and herb wrap with a little
bit of mayonnaise, turkey, cheddar, tomatoes, banana peppers, and spinach. The lunch lady has
memorized my order.
223-3447
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THE BRIDGE
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