Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
He a lth y
a nd
Fit
Dur ing
Winter
page
Adamant Co-op
Celebrates 80 Years
IN THIS ISSUE:
4: Healing with Nature
9: Health Hazard Cleanup on Barre Block
12: Spotlight on Vermont
College of Fine Arts
The Bridge
P.O. Box 1143
Montpelier, VT 05601
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hub of all the roads that lead into Adamant, and it is the beating
heart of the Adamant community.
The story of the Adamant Cooperative goes back to the days
when Vermont, like the rest of the nation, was in the jaws of the
Great Depression. Out of economic desperation, the residents of
the Adamant area began looking for ways to make things better.
In the winter of 1934-1935, the Methodist pastor who served
Adamant, Raymond Ebbett, urged his congregation to start
study groups on the consumer cooperative movement that had
begun to flourish in the United States during those desperate
economic times. As a result of those studies, in April of 1935
11 families formed a buyers club by contributing $5 per family
(the equivalent of $87.50 in 2015) and placed orders for bulk
groceries to be delivered to Adamant. The buyers club was an
immediate success and prompted additional investigation into
founding a true cooperative under the laws of the state of Vermont. On August 1, 1935, official shares in the new cooperative
were purchased by 39 families for $5 per share, and the Adamant
Cooperative was born.
The capital raised through the sale of the shares was used to rent
an existing store in Adamant, which was owned by a woman
named Minnie Horr, and to purchase the existing inventory.
In earlier times the shake-sided building in which the store and
Adamant Post Office was located had served as a boarding house
for workers in the Adamant granite quarry. It is the same building in which the co-op is located today.
An accounting at the end of 1935 showed the Adamant Cooperative had a small surplus. No doubt buoyed by that success,
the residents of the area began to look at other ways to improve
their lot.
One of the core programs of President Franklin D. Roosevelts
New Deal was the Rural Electrification Act, the legislation for
which was passed in 1935. A study group turned their focus to
this new program, and in 1939 brought into being the Washington Electric Cooperative in East Montpelier. According to Calais
historian Weston Cate, the first three presidents of the electric
co-op had also been directors of the Adamant Co-op.
Continued on Page 11
THE BRIDGE
Recycle
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T H E B R I D G E
MONTPELIER On Saturday, Jan. 24, dont miss Buch Spielers 42nd anniversary
celebration, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. The store at 27 Langdon St. will offer 42 percent off sales on
selected merchandise, refreshments, and from 5 - 9 p.m., Myra Flynn will perform and
introduce her new jewelry line. And, of course, owner Fred Wilber will be showcasing his
DJ talents.
Owner Terry Youk wrote, There have been many wonderful and knowledgeable folks who
have worked at Downstairs Video over the years that we would be remiss in not thanking
them for their support and for sharing their love of film. The list is long but in particular
we would like to thank George Shumar for his long and dedicated service to DV. Also, to
all of you who have long been patrons, while we are sad to see DV fade away, we are grateful
for the many years to have been of service and to have gotten to know you. Thank you for
your support we had a good run! Call Terry or Eric at the Savoy at 229-0598 if you have
interest in buying the business.
THE BRIDGE
ORANGE When thinking of medicine, health and healing, you might first think
of hospitals. Or you might think of doctors, pills and pharmacies. But some people who
practice the art of healing swear by the power of mother nature.
Sandra Lory of Orange has embarked on studying and using a grassroots healing system
that involves herbalism and the ancient art of cupping to bring people back to a sense
of wellness. I am a traditional cupping therapist and a folk herbalist and a food justice
educator, Lory said during a recent telephone interview. Her website, www.mandalabotanicalsvt.com, explains further: My practice combines traditional cupping therapy and
topical use of aromatic plants for physical healing and spirit cleansing. The combination
of these two techniques unblocks stagnant energy and balances overstimulated pathways
in the body. The opportunity awaits for you to enter sanctuary and deepen your relationship with nature, as plants are an integral part of every service I offer.
Cupping therapy is an very old healing technique that dates back to the ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Indians. Lory describes it as one of the oldest and most globally
practiced healing arts that, while still popular in some spots, is making a comeback in
the United States. Sort of the inverse of massage therapy, that relies on pressure, cupping
applies suction creating a negative pressure on a muscle or muscle group.
Lory uses cups made of hand blown glass while traditionally healers used whatever material was available to them. If they were in a nomadic tribe, they might use the horns of an
animal. If they lived among bamboo, they might use that. (Cupping) was practised with
local resources, Lory said. Nowadays people even use plastic suction cups. It is a really
effective practical therapy that originates from the shamanic sucking tradition, she said.
Cupping can be used to alleviate a number of conditions, including sciatica, TMJ (tight
jaw), persistent cough, sports injuries, edema (swelling) and water retention, abdominal
issues, wounds that are slow to heal, neck pain, chronic pain, and even blocked creative
energy. Cups help to move stagnant pathways of the body and overstimulated pathways
of the body. It is most commonly used today through martial arts. It is an efficient way of
helping an injured muscle to heal, Lory said. She is a member of the International Cupping Therapy Association, but she adds a twist to her practice by using aromatic plants to
enhance the treatment. She transforms plants into salves, oils, ointments and linaments,
but she is happiest just using them freshly picked from the dirt.
Many factors go into how she chooses which plants to use, but she is most strongly guided
by the seasons. For example, in winter she uses soft evergreens such as white pine and
cedar. In summer, she tends to use basil, spearmint, lemon balm, verbena and bee balm.
These plants work well with cupping because they resonate quickly with the body and
increase the benefits of the treatment. It smells great, disinfects the air and refreshes the
spirit, Lory said.
And for Lory, getting into the ancient healing arts isnt just some new-age fad. She is following in the footsteps of her foremothers. Although they came from different parts of
the world, both of her grandmothers were cuppers and one was an herbalist as well. One
grandmother was from Slovakia/Hungary while the other is from India. In fact, Lory has
travelled all over the world, from her grandmothers ancestral homes to Haiti, Palestine
and beyond.
Herbalism has become a central part of her practice. Lory has trained as an apprentice
herbalist with Rosemary Gladstar and others, and she completed a clinical herbalism
training with Guido Mase in 2003-2004. She describes herbalism as the use of plants for
healing purposes and for preventative care of the body mind and spirit. They can even
be used in first aid. I feel plants can treat many ailments of the human body, she said.
I believe each person is an ecological expression. We are part of nature. We need nature,
and in this rapidly changing global climate, we need to attune to the practices of our
ancestry and the foods and medicines of the bio region where we live.
This leads to Lorys third interest, one that is interconnected with health and healing:
Food justice education. Food justice incorporates cooking, nutrition and gardening all together. It also involves politics, ecology, food access and food knowledge. Access to food
knowledge is more complexly layered than someone just going to a store or marketplace
to buy something. It is a very politicized system that has become quite industrial and corporate, she said. She has been involved with the Good Food Good Medicine program of
Foodworks, a farming cooperative that dissolved in 2013. But the education program has
carried on at the food justice system in Barre. The idea is to focus on a seasonal approach
to food through community gardening, cooking, affordable nutrition, family health, food
preservation and leadership. However, Lory said she is taking a year off from education in
order to get her farm established in Orange (a town just outside Barre), build a house and
do some writing about her international herbal and folk healing experiences. She likes to
be outside among the trees and plants.
Montpelier High School has Speed Tracs now. The (Snap Fitness) trainer Ian is going
around to schools to train gym teachers how to use Speed Tracs. We got Speed Tracs
here as well, Witte said. Other programs offered at Snap Fitness includes Grit, a small
personal training program that involves total transformation.
For Grit, four instructors take in about 26-30 people into the 8-week program. The program uses diet, strength training and cardio. There is a meal plan and a Facebook forum
where everyone communicates.
As for something new and different for Witte, she is going to a training in Cambridge,
Massachusetts in early February. In February I will be a CX instructor, Witte said. CXWorx is a 30-minute core class that comes from an Australian company called Les Mills.
Over at First in Fitness in Berlin and Montpelier, exercise classes are still popular. Employee Elaine Caplis, who has worked at First in Fitness for 20 years, said she enjoys the
Pilates classes and weight training. Cross training is also a favorite among fitness buffs.
In addition, new classes formed this winter for Zumba and Aqua Zumba up at the Berlin
facility.
Yoga, though nothing new in town, has become a fitness staple in Montpelier. Those who
are interested can check out the Fusion Studio on Main Street, or check out the website at
www.fusionstudio.org. Yoga can also be found at Yoga Mountain on Main Street, Grateful Yoga on State Street and Geezum Crow Yoga on Elm.
The Montpelier Recreation Department also offers fitness and outdoor education. The
Rec Department staffs the Central Vermont Civic Center on Gallison Hill Road. Their
website is www.montpelierrec.org. Ice skating is now happening on the Montpelier pool!
And talk about skating! The B.O.R. Ice Arena in Barre has been a center of family fitness
for generations. Part of the Barre Civic Center, the arena hosts hockey, figure skating and
more. According to their website, The B.O.R. underwent renovations in 2002 and this
complex has accessible restrooms, a lift for access, an enclosed and heated concession area
and a large third floor meeting room/training space.
Other winter fitness pursuits, such as skiing (downhill and cross country), walking, running and fat tire bike riding are all plentiful and accessible in our area, which is perhaps
why Vermont is always near the top of those healthiest state rankings each year.
T H E B R I D G E
THE BRIDGE
This event is a good way to become informed before casting a vote for how your
tax dollars will be spent for the upcoming
year.
District Heat:
As we close out all aspects of the construction portion of this complex project, the
total cost will only be about 5% above
the originally projected budget. While we
never want to exceed budgets, we consider
this successful given the many dynamic
aspects of the work while it was occurring. Any excess expenses will be folded
into the annual operating budget costs of
the system so that they are not incurred by
the general taxpayers. In comparison, the
States side of the project ended up about
40% over their original budget estimate.
This project, despite its controversy and
temporary disruption, will benefit the city
and state for many years to come with its
use of renewable energy sources and modern technology.
Annual Report:
For many years, the Citys annual report
book has been delivered to every household
in mid February. In an effort to save costs
and also be environmentally responsible,
the City Council has chosen to discontinue
this practice.
Instead of direct delivery, the annual report
will be made available online in a searchable PDF format on the citys website. For
those that prefer the paper book, copies
will be available at City Hall, the Library,
the public schools and the post office.
This change saved the city a couple of
thousand dollars. More importantly, it
saved 2,000 annual reports from ending
up in the solid waste stream.
We welcome any feedback about this significant change from prior years.
Guidelines:
T H E B R I D G E
any classes at Montpelier High School are smaller than the school's own class size
policy guidelines.
The school offers classes in a broad range of subjects. But declining student numbers
have made compliance with the school's class size policy impossible in many of these
classes. And since teachers and other staff are the major school expense (some 75 percent), smaller class sizes are a primary driver of increased per-student costs.
The high school's class size policy sets optimal and minimum average class size guidelines within different subject categories. A few categories are exempt.
In terms of these averages, all high school classes subject to the policy during the 2014
fall term were below the optimal size guideline, and the minimum size was met in just
one category (English).
The range of actual class sizes not average sizes for all classes at the high school
last fall is illustrated in a graph with this article.
In addition, the table with this article shows that for the 103 classes to which the class
size policy applied, 60 percent had fewer students than the minimum guidelines. And
of the 92 classes to which the optimal size policy applied, 88 percent had fewer students
than the guidelines.
At city-meeting a year ago voters rejected the Montpelier school district's budget. In the
wake of this, the Montpelier School Board charged a special committee with finding
ways of maintaining educational goals while also better controlling school spending.
The special committee proposed that Montpelier seek to collaborate with U-32 in jointly
offering selected classes to ninth through twelfth graders from both schools. The result
intended would be larger class sizes while retaining a broad range of subjects offered, but
with fewer teachers required and thereby a lower per-student cost.
The Montpelier School Board considered the idea, broadening it to include middle as
well as high school classes. Three board members favored the idea; four opposed it. And
then, rather than reject the idea outright, the board voted to table the matter.
So what now?
Should Montpelier school officials lower their high school class size policy guidance?
Or should Montpelier and U-32 try to collaborate without leaders at either school
having to sacrifice their approaches to giving their students the best high school education possible?
Ben Huffman lives in Montpelier.
mps
THE BRIDGE
personalization
community
sustainability
Since Montpelier High School first offered computer programming last fall, the semester-long class has filled to capacity each time. Many students are continuing their love of
code in Computer Programming II, and some are now working as teaching assistants to
help their peers debug and troubleshoot their work. Teaching Assistant & Programmer
Kirby Gordon explained, Of all my classes, Computer Science goes by the fastest; I get
wrapped up in helping other students with their work and the period just vanishes.
In its inaugural year at MHS, 36 students have already taken at least one programming
course, and interest continues to grow. Teacher Whitney Machnik observed that students
are incredibly motivated by the work, saying What they did to stretch themselves was
more than I could ever have realistically asked of them. They sought out peers for help.
They used the Internet to ask questions and to look up coding advice. They revised and
revised and revised.
Social Justice
& the Arts at
MSMS
Part of the students high level of engagement may come from the fact that they choose
and design real-life projects. Their coding is not just an academic exercise, but used in
practical applications that serve a purpose: Chris Staab created a program that tracks
computer sign-outs in the library; George Valentine used an Arduino and sensor to monitor outdoor temperature & humidity in order to choose the right ski wax; Rachel Currier
used a Raspberry Pi and camera to film class presentations at one-minute intervals in
order to make a time-lapse film; Jon Kilian created a chi square test for data and formulas
from his AP Biology class.
In addition to working above and beyond class time to create their programs, students
also linked their work to the new MHS Learning Expectations, a set of transferable skills
all students will develop before graduation. Machnik said that Problem-solving and
Habits of Learning came up often, especially considering the perseverance and critical
thinking needed to write code that will actually run.
If the true test of a student-centered curriculum is a desire to keep learning, the MHS
coders exemplify this passion. What I find fascinating about this course and these students is that they are not done with their programs even though this was their midterm
exam, Machnik explained, They almost all said, at some point, What I want to do
next with this is
UES Turns 75
This coming month, Union Elementary
School students, alumni, staff and community membersas well as their family and friendsare invited to celebrate
the schools 75th anniversary during the
first-ever UES Winter Carnival! Look for
special events during the school week of
February 16-20. Leading up to the Winter
Carnival, there will be residencies led by
Vermont artists, culminating in a parade
from UES to the Vermont College of Fine
Arts Green. This lantern-lit, samba parade will be made possible thanks to local
artist Gowri Savoor and the musicians
of Sambatucada who will be leading the
special evening celebration.
If your family, organization or business
is interested in helping to sponsor this
unique celebration, please contact UES
Art Teacher Kristina Kane at kristinak@
mpsvt.org or call the school.
Do you or someone you know have a story
to share about Union Elementary? We
would love to read it or invite you to share
it as a visiting storyteller. Please send us a
letter with your story or contact Sharon
Pine (2nd Grade Teacher) at sharonp@
mpsvt.org
T H E B R I D G E
THE BRIDGE
ADAMANT I was manager of the Adamant Cooperative store for not quite two
years from sometime in March 1990 until
the end of February 1992.
In the very earliest days of my time as manager, someone drew my attention to a story
written as a special feature by Sally Johnson
and published in the New York Times on
Feb. 7, 1990.
Johnson wrote about the founding of the
Adamant Co-op during the Great Depression and how the co-op had thrived through
the 1940s and 1950s. But Adamant, like so
many other rural communities, lost many of
its farms in the 1960s and 1970s. Increasingly, people who lived in Adamant worked
someplace else.
Johnson wrote about plans to close the store
and plans to keep it open. Short of a miracle, Johnson wrote in the Feb. 7 piece,
the Adamant Co-op is likely to go out
of business this spring. But a miracle had
already happened. After the nine-member
board voted in December to close the store on Jan. 31, 15 neighbors promised to donate a
total of $450 a month through April to keep the store running. And Johnson went on to
say, The board will vote again on April 27.
I ought to remember that April 27 meeting because by then I was manager. But I dont
remember that meeting. And the store did not close. Instead, as the founders of the co-op
had done, Adamant community members pulled together. They wrote and won a grant
from the Division of Historic Preservation to put a new roof on the co-op building. And
board President Cindy Cook and others met with U.S. Postal Service officials and brought
a contract post office into the store.
Chief among my memories of working at the store from 1990 to 1992 was the sort of local
friendship and support that was offered to me. There was a local woman who brought me
a cooked lunch from her home. And there was Ina Slayton, who lived up the road. I would
phone her and she would bring down a pail of hot water so I could mop the floor. (There
was no hot water at the store at the time.)
I remember one day when a fellow came out from the Agriculture Departments Weights
and Measures and tested our scales to see if they were giving accurate weight. He sur-
T H E B R I D G E
was broken. Once again the board looked at the possibility of closing the store.
A fortunate side effect of the loss of the Adamant Credit Union was that the U.S. Post
Office, which had been in the credit union building, moved back into the Adamant Cooperative Store, where it remains today. That shift refocused community activity at the
store, and community members once again stepped up to save the co-op.
And so the co-op continues on today, 80 years after its founding, as the village post office,
grocery store, purveyor of crafts and gifts, art gallery, and ad hoc community center. It
still takes bulk orders and provides area residents with groceries, including locally raised
meat, eggs, and produce, a selection of cheeses, locally baked bread, milk, soft drinks,
wine and beer. Most weekdays a hot lunch is also available, along with a few chairs next
to the wood stove in which to enjoy it. As the community center, the co-op organizes the
annual springtime Adamant Black Fly Festival. And from time to time they also organize
concerts and afternoon teas. In the summer, the co-op sponsors dinner cruises on the
local ponds (bring your own dinner and flotation device). Also during the summer, Friday
night cookouts often draw large crowds, basking in the humble beauty of the village, the
good food, and the warmth of what real community feels like.
And this year, to mark the anniversary of the Adamant Co-op and to honor the hard work
and gumption of its founders, current members are putting together a book of recipes,
art and poetry.
The Adamant Cooperative store is open seven days a week: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays,
9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. You can also visit
the co-ops website at http://www.adamantcoop.org.
Minnie Horr's store and the U.S. Post Office in Adamant circa 1930
Profile of an Adamant
Storekeeper: Susan DeForge
by Carla Occaso
THE BRIDGE
The Higher-Ed
Vermont College
Architectural renderin
have become a real transformative force eco- Greene: We attracted a board of trustees. We
nomically for the city of Montpelier.
raised half a million dollars in capital to buy
Frothingham: I know the impact is there in the campus and three academic programs. We
the dollars, and I see the students from time to put together a long-term business plan. We
built a plan for growth. We became the fastest
time, but it doesnt feel clamorous.
college to achieve accreditation in the history
Greene: We have a very opaque campus. It of New England, and we are the first people
is brick, and you cant see through the doors. in a long time to figure out how to make this
You often cannot hear the music that is hap- campus work.
pening in the chapel unless you are in the chapel. We are about to invest $3.5 million into Occaso: What is the key to success?
two significant architectural projects. We are Greene: We have a clear vision of where we are
going to be redoing Alumni Hall into a state- headed. We have a business model that works
of-the-art arts center. It is going to have a glass financially, and the college is financially stable
front inside the pillars so when you drive up when a lot of institutions are not.
the hill and there is an exhibition there or an Frothingham: Kids are laboring under a debt
event, youll be able to see right into it. We are load of many thousands of dollars as they try
going to be creating a new faculty center right to enter the workforce postponing family
here. The garage is going to be taken down life, postponing home ownership.
and turned into a contemporary architect-designed building where faculty will live. There Greene: The average student graduates with
around $25,000 in debt. In other words, the
will be a sculpture garden out front.
price of a Toyota. Except unlike a Toyota, it
The next iteration of what we are doing as an is not gone in four years. You carry it with
institution is building a campus that is reflec- you for life. And the average income that a
tive of our mission as a 21st-century fine arts graduate of a four-year college makes over the
college. We are going to make the first invest- course of a lifetime amounts to a million dolments in this campus since 1965.
lar difference between having the degree and
Carla Occaso: What is the most popular pro- not having it.
gram?
Frothingham: Do we really need more artists?
VCFA President
Thomas Greene
SCHOOL
OVERVIEW
Format: Low-residency
Tuition (Varies per program. Below are two examples):
$9,683 per semester for MFA in writing plus $750 room and board per residency.
$10,750.00 per semester MFA in film plus $525 room and board and $637 equipment fee per
Financial Aid: Need-based and merit-based scholarships
Accreditation: Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. thro
of Higher Education.
Programs: Writing, Writing and Publishing, Writing for Children and Young Adults, Film
Graphic Design, Art and Design Education,
Enrollment: 375 combined programs
Faculty: 8090
T H E B R I D G E
ducation Series
of Fine Arts
rie Leussler
Montpelier
Mission Statement: Vermont College of Fine Arts is a national center for education in the arts, fostering the excellence of emerging and established
artists and advancing the arts to create a more humane world. From their website: http://vcfa.edu/about-vcfa
Housing: dormitory
r residency
History: For the last 175 years, Vermont College has served as a pillar institution in Vermont, serving thousands of students from across the country.
From its beginnings as Newbury Seminary to its illustrious history as Vermont Junior College and Vermont College, the institution has provided
opportunities for students of all disciplines to pursue their educational goals. Vermont College officially opened its doors as Newbury Seminary in
Newbury, Vermont, in 1834.
Since 1868, Vermont College has been located on a 31-acre campus in Montpelier at the intersection of East State Street and College Street. The striking campus, patterned with brick buildings and centered by a scenic college green, was previously the site of a Civil War hospital.
In June 2008, Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) bought the historic Vermont College campus and three MFA programs from Union Institute &
University, which had owned the campus since 2001.
Admission contact: To speak with an admissions counselor, call toll-free 1-866-935-VCFA or 802-828-8600 or contact the Admissions office via
email. admissions@vcfa.edu.
THURSDAY, JAN. 22
FRIDAY, JAN. 23
SATURDAY, JAN. 24
THE BRIDGE
TUESDAY, JAN. 27
SUNDAY, JAN. 25
Cross-country Ski Warren with Green Mountain Club. Easy to moderate. Various distances.
Relaxed pace. Oles Cross Country Ski Center.
Mostly open terrain. Bring lunch or purchase at
touring center. Meet at Montpelier High School,
5 High School Dr., Montpelier. Fee or season
pass. Call Reidun or Andrew for meeting time:
223-3550.
The Waterbury American Legion Post 59 Bingo
Fundraiser. Doors open 11 a.m.; quickies noon;
regular games 1 p.m. Lunch available. Waterbury
American Legion, 16 Stowe St., Waterbury. 2448404.
Ice on Fire. The bigger-than-life winter festival
returns to the open fields at NBNC. Participate
in wonderful winter activities including a parade,
storytelling, winter games and outdoor theater,
and a huge closing bonfire. 25 p.m. North
Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm St., Montpelier.
Suggested donation: adults $3; children $1; family
$5. 229-6206. northbranchnaturecenter.org.
Twin Valley Senior Center Take-Out or EatIn Sunday Dinner. Delicious beef stroganoff,
noodles, peas, roll and carrot cake. Benefits Meals
on Wheels Program for homebound seniors. 46
p.m. Twin Valley Senior Center, Rte. 2, Blueberry
Commons, E. Montpelier. $10. Reservations
required. Susan: 223-6954.
MONDAY, JAN. 26
The Little Engine That Could Earns Her Whistle comes to Chandler
Center for the Arts in Randolph on Feb. 2.
Performing Arts
THEATER, STORYTELLING
& COMEDY
Jan. 23: The Vermont Burlesque Festival:
Granite City Showcase. An evening of campy,
beautiful, sensual and sometimes humorous burlesque. For open-minded, fun-loving folks who
want a night of over-the-top grown-up entertainment. Hosted by The Logger, Rusty DeWees,
this 3-hour event promises a total of 20 acts.
Doors open 7 p.m. for cocktails and live jazz;
show starts 8 p.m.; after-party at Cornerstone
Pub & Kitchen 11 p.m. Barre Opera House, 6 N.
Main St., Barre. $2530. barreoperahouse.org.
vermontburlesquefestival.com.
Jan. 24: M or F? Vermont Pride Theater at
Chandler presents a world-premiere benefit, the
stage adaptation of popular book M or F? in a
staged reading. A talkback with the actors and
the books authors will follow the performance.
7 p.m. Chandler Music Hall, 71-73 Main St.,
Randolph. Adults $12; students $6. 728-6464.
chandler-arts.org.
Jan. 24: CD&FS Faculty and Student Works in
Progress Showcase. Choreography by Hanna
Satterlee, Isadora Snapp, Rosemary Leach, The
New Crew and Evan Lewis. 7 p.m. Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio, 18 Langdon St.,
3F, Montpelier. Adults $10; children $5. Benefits
floor fund. 229-4676. cdandfs.com.
Jan. 30: The Tell Off: Storytelling Tournament
of Champions. Winning raconteurs of extempo
vie for audience votes and cash prizes in the
fourth annual competition. 7 p.m. Post 59 of The
American Legion, 16 Stowe St., Waterbury. $10.
Proceeds benefit Waterbury Recreation. 2447174. storytelling@extempovt.com. extempovt.
com.
AUDITIONS
T H E B R I D G E
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28
THURSDAY, JAN. 29
FRIDAY, JAN. 30
Visual Arts
EXHIBITS
Through Jan. 23: Shamus McCaffrey Langlois,
Totems and Lovers, Clowns and Villains.
Sculpture, painting and drawing exploring the
transitional spaces between experience, desire
and transformation. Gallery SIX, 6 Barre St.,
Montpelier. 552-8620. gallerysixvt@gmail.com.
http://gallerysix.weebly.com/
Through Jan. 30: Tibetan Buddhist Thankgas.
Various artists. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm St.,
Montpelier. 223-1431. tulsitearoom.com.
Through Jan. 31: Michael T. Jermyn, New
American Impressionism. Local photographer
Michael T. Jermyn presents some new photographic works along with a few old favorites.
Tues.Sun., noon10 p.m. Chill, 32 State St.,
Montpelier. 223-2445 or 223-1570.
Through Jan. 31: Richard Ambelang, Photographic Abstraction. Abstract inkjet (giclee)
prints of derelict boxcars: graffiti, rust, peeling
paint without larger context. Mon.Fri., 7
a.m.7 p.m.; Sat. 7 a.m.5 p.m. City Center, 89
Main St., Montpelier. richarda@sover.net.
Through Jan. 31: Amanda Amend, Vermont
Watercolors. Three Mountain Caf, Mad
River Green, off Rte. 100, Waitsfield. 652-9893;
amanda.amend@gmail.com. Three Mountain
Caf: 496-5470.
Through Jan. 31: Jo Levasseur. An exhibit of
18 drawings, mostly landscapes in chalk pastel,
colored pencil, acrylic and pencil. Reception:
Jan. 30, 68 p.m. Royalton Memorial Library,
23 Alexander Pl., S. Royalton. Free; open to the
public.
Through Feb. 21: 3 New Shows at SPA. Opening reception: Jan. 24, 3:305:30 p.m. Studio
Place Arts, 201 N. Main St., Barre. 479-7069.
studioplacearts.com. facebook.com/studioplacearts.
Main floor: Amore. More than 20 local artists explore love and passion through their
paintings, sculptures, prints and assemblages.
Second floor: Cecilia Kane, How Am I Feeling Today? Portraits on vintage hankies.
Third floor: Ann Young, Autumn Pond
Abstract. Paintings.
Through Feb. 22: David Powell and Peter
Thomashow Exhibition. Two-person exhibition of sculpture (Peter Thomashow) and
collage (W. David Powell). The work is playful,
scientific, historical and a mix of imagined and
real. Gallery hours: Wed.Sun., noon5 p.m.
Helen Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Donations. 253-8358. mail@helenday.com. helenday.com/exhibitions/east-gallery-upcoming
Feb. 628: Jackie Smith, Heart-Shaped
World. Viewing the world through a heartshaped lens, both literally and figuratively;
Jackie Smith finds love in unexpected places in
her fanciful photographs. Opening: Feb. 48
p.m. Cheshire Cat, 28 Elm St., Montpelier.
223-1981. cheshirecatclothing.com.
Through Mar. 1: Jen Lashua. Paintings.
Lashuas work is influenced by Intuitive Painting and Color Energetics, and she is currently
studying to become a certified color aroma
therapist. The Shoe Horn Boutique, 8 Langdon
St., Montpelier. 223-5454.
Through Mar. 2: Through Our Lens. Photography exhibit created by teens and young adults
participating in the The Big Picture Project.
Gallery hours: Mon.Thurs., 9 a.m.4 p.m.;
Fri., 9 a.m.2 p.m. The Copley Common Space
Gallery at River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St.,
Morrisville. 888-1261. riverartsvt.org.
Through Mar. 2: John Snell, This is Why I Live
Here. Photographs focusing on images made in
central Vermont throughout the four seasons
that highlight why Snell loves living here. Fri,
35 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., noon2 p.m. Chandler
Lower Gallery, 71-73 Main St., Randolph.
728-6464.
Through July 31: Kara Walker, Juxtaposition, Contemporary Specters, and Harpers
Pictorial History of the Civil War. The artist
combined her signature overlays of black
silhouettes with historic lithography to produce
Through Mar. 8: The Art of Place. Showcasing
poignant and sharp commentary on stereotypes
work from both well-established and emerging
found in the nations history of slavery, Jim
artists from around the northeast. The question
Crow and segregation that still infiltrate present
placed to these artists How do your surroundstereotypes. Mon.Fri., 8 a.m.4 p.m.; Sat.
ings inform your work drew responses from
11 a.m.4 p.m. Norwich University, Sullivan
28 photographers, fiber artists, printmakers,
Museum and History Center, Northfield. 485installation artists, clay artists and painters. Fri.,
2183. academics.norwich.edu/museum/
36 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., noon3 p.m. Chandler
Center for the Arts, 71-73 Main St., Randolph.
728-6464.
Through Mar. 21: W. Ward, Tiny Mighty.
Ink, watercolor, mixed media with a focus on
folklore with futurism. Opening: Jan. 30, 68
p.m. See Art and Author Night listing in the
main calendar. Jaquith Public Library, 122
School St., Marshfield. Free. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
Through Mar. 28: HOOKED in the Valley. 36
hooked rug pieces by the Mad River Rug Hookers with a wide range of subject matter, color
and design. Mon.Fri, 10 a.m.3 p.m.; Sat. by
appointment. The Festival Gallery, #2 Village
Square, Waitsfield. 496-6682. valleyartsfoundation.org.
Through Mar. 31: The Eyes Have It: Portraits
and Figures by August Burns. A collection of
paintings and drawings of men and women by
one of the areas most accomplished portraitists.
Art Walk Reception with acoustic guitarist
Andy Pitt: Feb. 6, 47 p.m. Gallery hours:
SPECIAL EVENTS
SATURDAY, JAN. 31
SUNDAY, FEB. 1
THE BRIDGE
TUESDAY, FEB. 3
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4
MONDAY, FEB. 2
Classic Book Club. New members always welcome. Most first Mon., 68 p.m. Cutler Memorial Library, 151 High St. (Rte. 2), Plainfield. Free.
454-8504. cutlerlibrary.org/resources/bookclub.
T H E B R I D G E
THURSDAY, FEB. 5
Music
VENUES
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. Free. 2299212. bagitos.com.
Jan. 23: McBride & Lusson (folk/Americana)
68 p.m.
Jan. 24: Irish Session with Sarah Blair, Hilari
Farrington, Benedict Koehler, Katrina VanTyne,
Bob Ryan and others, 25 p.m.; Blackbird
Storm (classic country, blues, folk) 68 p.m.
Jan. 25: Eric Friedman and Gretchen Doilon
(folk ballads) 11 a.m.1 p.m.
Jan. 31: Irish Session with Sarah Blair, Hilari
Farrington, Benedict Koehler, Katrina VanTyne,
Bob Ryan and others, 25 p.m.; Rehab Aged
Cheese (jam blues) 68 p.m.
Charlie Os World Famous. 70 Main St., Montpelier. Free. Call for show times if not listed:
223-6820. Additional performances T.B.A.
Jan. 23: Abby Jenne, 7 p.m.; Donna Thunder
& the Storm, The Wards
Band (rock) 10 p.m.
Jan. 24: Sara Grace, 7 p.m.
Jan. 30: Paul Caltado, 7 p.m.; Enemy Self,
Burning Monk (hip hop) 10 p.m.
Jan. 31: Wes Hamilton, 7 p.m.; Amadis
(metal)
North Branch Caf. 41 State St., Montpelier.
7:309:30 p.m. Free. 552-8105. donia@thenorthbranch.com. thenorth-branch.com.
Jan. 23: Borealis Guitar Duo (Celtic, American, Scandinavian, Klezmer)
Jan. 24: Michelle Rodriguez (jazz/blues)
Jan 31: Cygne (electric folk)
Nutty Stephs. 961C U.S. Rte. 2, Middlesex. All
performances are from 710 p.m. unless noted
otherwise. Free unless noted otherwise. 2292090. nightlife@nuttystephs.com. nuttystephs.
com.
Jan. 22: Cooie & Friends (jazz)
Jan. 23: Blue Gumbo (blues)
Jan. 24: Jazzyaoke! 7:3010 p.m. $5.
Jan. 29: Jim Thompson
Jan. 30: Rauli Fernandez & Friends
Jan. 31: Gabriel Presents: A Stringed Affair
(electric/ acoustic violin)
Positive Pie. 22 State St., Montpelier. 229-0453.
positivepie.com.
Jan. 23: The Lynguistic Civilians, 10 p.m. 21+.
$5.
Sweet Melissas. 4 Langdon St., Montpelier.
Free unless otherwise noted. 225-6012. facebook.
com/sweetmelissasvt. Additional performances
T.B.A.
Jan. 23: Honky Tonk Happy Hour with Mark
LeGrand, 5 p.m.; Dave Keller Band, 9 p.m. $5.
Jan. 24: Penny Arcade, 5 p.m.; Crushed Out,
Lake Superior, 9 p.m.
Jan. 27: Open Mic Spotlight, 5 p.m.; Open
Mic Night, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 6
SATURDAY, FEB. 7
Weekly Events
ART & CRAFT
Beaders Group. All levels of beading experience
welcome. Free instruction available. Come with
a project for creativity and community. Sat., 11
a.m.2 p.m. The Bead Hive, Plainfield. 454-1615.
Noontime Knitters. All abilities welcome. Basics
taught. Crocheting, needlepoint and tatting also
welcome. Tues., noon1 p.m. Waterbury Public
Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. 244-7036.
Women Knitting for Peace Group. Knit/crochet
items to be donated to those in need world-wide.
Bring yarn and needles. Thurs., 1011 a.m. and
67:30 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center,
58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518. For basic info.
and patterns: knitting4peace.org.
BICYCLING
a.m.1 p.m.
Tues.: Bethany Church, 115 Main St., 11:30
a.m.1 p.m.
Wed.: Christ Church, 64 State St., 11 a.m.
12:30 p.m.
Thurs.: Trinity Church, 137 Main St., 11:30
a.m.1 p.m.
Fri.: St. Augustine Church, 18 Barre St., 11
a.m.12:30 p.m.
Sun.: Last Sunday only, Bethany Church, 115
Main St. (hosted by Beth Jacob Synagogue),
4:305:30 p.m.
Lunches for Seniors. Mon., Wed., Fri., Noon.
Twin Valley Senior Center, 4583 U.S. Rte. 2, E.
Montpelier. $4 suggested donation. 223-3322.
twinvalleyseniors.org.
Feast Together or Feast To Go. All proceeds
benefit the Feast Senior Meal program. Tues.
and Fri., noon1 p.m. Live music every Tues.,
10:3011:30 a.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Seniors 60+ free with
$7 suggested donation; under 60 $9. Reservations:
262-6288 or justbasicsinc@gmail.com.
BUSINESS, FINANCE,
COMPUTERS, EDUCATION
Computer and Online Help. One-on-one computer help. Tues. and Fri., 10 a.m.1 p.m. Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury.
Free. Registration required: 244-7036.
Lunch & Learn. Every Tues., noon1 p.m. North
Branch Caf, 41 State St., Montpelier. Free.
Limited seating. Reservations: 552-8105. Detailed
info. on each topic: thenorth-branch.com/upcoming-events/
Sex Addicts Anonymous. Mon., 6:30 p.m. Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier. 552-3483.
SOLIDARITY/IDENTITY
SPIRITUALITY
THE BRIDGE
RECYCLING
Additional Recycling. The Additional Recyclables
Collection Center accepts scores of hard-torecycle items. Tues. and Thurs., 12:30 p.m.5:30
p.m. ARCC, 540 North Main St., Barre. $1 per
Tell them
you saw it in
The Bridge!
T H E B R I D G E
SERVICES:
FREE MOTORCYCLE:
802.262.6013 evenkeelvt.com
WORKSHOPS:
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS AT VERMONT
CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE HERBALISM
252 Main St., Montpelier
pre-registration required; for details and
registration, visit vtherbcenter.org
Winter Wellness
with Shona Richter MacDougall
Feb. 2, 6-8pm; $12
Make Your Own Immune-Boosting Cough
Syrup with Juliette Abigail Carr
Feb. 11, 6-8pm; $17
Luxuriously Healthy Hair: Simple Hair Care
Recipes with Joann Darling
Feb. 25, 6-8pm; $17
SEEKING LAND TO
PURCHASE:
BUYER: Land with timber, requires 25 or more
acres. Cash buyer. Quick closing. Send contact
information to: Landwithtimber@comcast.net.
HOUSING WANTED:
THE CENTRAL VERMONT COMMUNITY
LAND TRUST is seeking to rent one-bedroom
apartments now through September 2015 to
house our established long-term tenants during
a renovation project. If you have apartments
in Montpelier and are interested in guaranteed
rent and lease enforcement, please contact Liz
Genge, Director of Property Management at
477-1333 or LGenge @cvclt.org.
GREGS
PAINTING
802-479-2733
gpdpainting@aol.com
Rocque Long
Painting
Insured
30+ years professional
experience
local references.
802-223-0389
Since 1972
224.1360
New Construction
Renovations
Woodworking
General Contracting
223-3447
clarconstruction.com
THE BRIDGE
n the several weeks since Jan. 1, friends of The Bridge have gathered close to 700 signatures in a petition drive to seek financial
help for the paper from Montpelier voters on Town Meeting Day
March 3.
Here are the chief things I have learned from this drive:
Many people in Montpelier value The Bridge and want it to continue.
Editorial
Not everyone we talked to wanted to sign our petition. Some people couldnt sign because
they werent registered to vote or were registered to vote but voted outside of Montpelier.
Some people who were registered to vote in Montpelier, when asked to sign the petition,
didnt sign. But the majority of people we talked to who vote in Montpelier did sign and
many of them said while signing, I love The Bridge. Where do I sign?
I learned that some people were concerned about the papers independence if taxpayers
voted to give The Bridge financial support.
Not every reader of The Bridge liked a recent editorial I wrote endorsing Scott Milne for
governor. I know that. I also know that some of our readers liked that editorial because
they stopped by our office, or sent an email message or phoned to tell me they supported
what I wrote.
Among the people we talked to, some said if there is a single question on their minds
about The Bridge seeking an appropriation from the voters on Town Meeting Day, its
their fear that The Bridge might give up its independence.
I dont think theres any paper anywhere that can assert its independence in a vacuum. We answer to our readers. If our readers find
us to be unthinking and irresponsible, they will stop reading the
paper. We answer to our advertisers. They want to know how many
people are reading the paper. They are critical about what goes into
the paper and what doesnt go into the paper and they care about
our fairness in dealing with controversy. On very rare occasions an
advertiser will be in touch to let us know they dont like our editorial point of view or the
way we handled a story and that theyre pulling their ads from the paper. Our independence is not unchecked. Nor should it be.
I cant believe that if voters choose to give us financial help that our independence would
be compromised. After all, voters are our readers. Lets answer to them. We answer to
them anyway. And lets not make this mistake. Lets not imagine that city government
would own or control The Bridge.
We are going to the voters. If they want The Bridge to continue, they can vote to help
us. If they dont want the paper to continue, they can vote against us. Or they can vote
against us and tell us what alternatives we should be exploring to keep the paper alive.
January is a tough time to be seeking signatures. But going out and talking to people faceto-face has given us something like 700-plus encounters with the very people we need to
be talking with and listening to and overall thats been heartening.
Opinion
T H E B R I D G E
Opinion
Then again, books need readers, and unless something happens like what happened in
Ferguson, Missouri, then nothing is happening. America is beyond race or indifferent
to race or consistently racist or all at the same time because America is a very big word.
Since my novel is historical, it is in a nebulous category known as the past. There is not
necessarily much interest in that past even though that past deeply determines the present
moment. The past is not very exciting. It happened. The verb tense condemns it.
But it is not the fate of my novel that Im writing about. What Im writing about is the
sheer emptiness of discussion about race in the United States. We live in a nation where
everyone could read books by Frederick Douglass and James Baldwin and Zora Neale
Hurston and Gwendolyn Brooks and not just read, but talk about, those books. We
would have to admit that this nation is founded on two tragedies the slaughter of native people and slavery and that the stain of tragedy never goes away. Adulthood is the
admission of that stain. Thats not to say we should revel in the stain or be guilt-ridden,
both pointless stances. Its to say that tragedy is what haunts this nation, and until the nation is able to face up to that in some sort of focused way such as education that makes
that tragedy palpable then there will be much talk but little to counter the despair of
many black people in this country.
Opinion
Surprised and Appalled by
Budget Request
Dear Editor, the Montpelier Bridge
Upon reading the Jan. 8 Montpelier Bridge editorial announcing that it was seeking
petition signatures to put a budget request for $27,254 on the city meeting ballot and
explaining the reasons for doing so, I found myself surprised and appalled by this particular initiative.
Not having quite formulated my thoughts enough to form an articulate opinion on the
subject, when the writer of the editorial was out braving bitter sub-zero temperatures in
order to gather signatures recently, I mentioned it was something I needed to think more
about first and declined to sign the petition at the time.
When asked again today by someone else who was seeking signatures for it, and having
thought it over, I explained some of the reasons behind my reluctance to sign the petition.
Although I am willing to sign most candidate petitions more often than not, I tend to
only lend my signature to those ballot questions or budget requests I am supportive of
and intend to vote for.
Considering that the Montpelier Bridge is both an independent newspaper serving the
community and a business, it is my opinion that using taxpayer dollars to support it
crosses a certain line, one murky at best and better if completely avoided. If this line does
get crossed, it could easily head us toward a rather slippery slope.
While the newspaper has served the community faithfully and those involved with it
have worked very hard over the past 21 years doing so, this is not enough of a justification for it to seek, nor obtain, taxpayer dollars. Neither is the fact the newspaper has been
unable to obtain sufficient revenue from ads or subscriptions and the like.
This is certainly the case when the City Council is currently considering a municipal
budget that could possibly gut, among other essential services and projects, funding for
Officer Jake the police dog as well as the housing trust fund.
If the newspaper intends to remain a truly independent member of a free press, no matter
how noble and forthright might be its cause or case, the Montpelier Bridge ought not to
be seeking direct taxpayer support in order to remain afloat and should instead continue
to seek funding elsewhere.
Therefore, if the budget request manages to acquire enough signatures to be placed on
the ballot, sadly, I shall be compelled to vote against this funding initiative.
Morgan W. Brown
Montpelier
Despair? Its not a word that makes it into the discussion on television
when something bad happens. Yet it seems to me the crucial word.
As churches have weakened, as family ties have slackened, as the
economics become more and more brutal, as the advertising machine
touts worthless wares relentlessly, as guns and drugs are glorified,
despair has grown. But, but, but . . . I hear you say, but there is no
but. The United States is built on the idea of individuals pursuing
happiness. If they are blocked then there will be hell to pay. To understand the nature
of that pursuit is probably the single most important thing an education can do for an
American, since otherwise he or she is bound to a kind of excited darkness.
There is no shortage of books that tell truths about race in this country. The police in
Ferguson could read those books and talk about them. The outraged young people could
read those books and talk about them. The police and the outraged young people could
even sit and talk with one another. Im saddened that it takes a murder to provoke a discussion. In writing Teach Us That Peace, I read and thought a great deal about Martin
Luther King Jr. There is no bringing that remarkable man back, but there is always the
opportunity to pick up a book or teach a book or stand up to the forces of business-asusual. Surely Doctor King did.
THE BRIDGE
Letters
In the Dec. 18 issue of this paper, the publisher, Nat Frothingham, took the (apparently) unprecedented action of writing an
editorial in support of a candidate for governor of Vermont. I would not have known
it was a departure from The Bridges tradition, if Frothingham hadnt written thus.
As one might expect, in the subsequent (Jan.
8) issue, there were responses both for and
against. There was agreement from Peter
Buknatski, and there was cogent disagreement from Vince Rossano. Cool.
Then there were some missives that sounded
just plain ridiculous. Please stop delivering
The Bridge to our residence, demanded one.
I cant support The Bridge on this one
in spirit, deed, or financial contribution,
another wrote sternly.
Read something that you would like to respond to? We welcome your letters and
opinion pieces. Letters must be fewer than 300 words.
Opinion pieces should not exceed 600 words.
The Bridge reserves the right to edit and cut pieces.
Send your piece to: editorial@montpelierbridge.com.
New
Possibilities
for Old Scars
by Irvin Eisenberg
T H E B R I D G E
Nature Watch
by Nona Estrin
ow comes the time of the year I most love in Vermont. Since Dec. 21 the
sun, from our house, has lingered at least 25 compass degrees south of Spruce
Mountain. In the next weeks the earth starts it's tilt "south" in earnest, and
within a month will be at the flanks of Spruce, on its way north. Some years, red winged
blackbirds and a few earliest migrants may even be here. Things are about to be on the
move! And if the snow will just oblige us, now comes the best outdoor winter time with
longer days, hotter sun, and a rosy glow on lavender shadows morning and evening. A
snow picnic is in order now! All we need is a blazing day, and a sheltered spot, some time
around the Feast of Saint Brigid on Feb. 7, our halfway point between Winter Solstice
and the first day of spring. Or traditionally, a bonfire to honor the day!
Valentine's Day
Feb. 5 18, 2015
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THE BRIDGE