Spe cia l Fa l l -Ti me Hol id ay Is sue

November 16 December 6, 2017

Bashara Family to Build a New

IN THIS ISSUE:
Pg. 2 This Could be a Celebration
Pg. 4 A History of Thanksgiving
Pg. 5 Anne Watson for Mayor!
Pg. 12 Vermont-Raised Alpaca
CAR-RT SORT
Hotel by Nat Frothingham
T
he Bashara family has owned and managed the Capitol
Plaza Hotel at 100 State Street, opposite the Pavilion Office
Building and adjacent to the Vermont State House, for almost
24 years. Over time the hotel has become a fixture of life in the
capital city.
Now, according to Fred Bashara, who is president of the Capitol
Plaza Hotel, the Bashara family is taking on the familys biggest
project yet a plan to build a completely new, five-story hotel with
an estimated 80 rooms and a new parking structure on their own
property at the rear of the Capitol Plaza Hotel.
The Vermont-based DEW Construction Corporation has been
selected to build the new hotel at a cost of between $15 and $20
million. The Basharas want to break ground next spring and hope to
open the new hotel one year after that, but no later than June 2019.
An essential part of the overall plan announced by the Basharas at a
press conference in the Montpelier Room of the Capitol Plaza Hotel
on November 14 is a franchise agreement that has been approved
both by the Bashara family and the Hilton hotel chain. Under terms
of that agreement the new hotel will be called Hampton Inn and
together a financial package of at least $15 million from the Northfield
Savings Bank, the Vermont Economic Development Authority
(VEDA), and the Small Business Administration, among others.
As he continued to talk about the familys new hotel venture, Bashara
underscored the value of working with the Hilton chain. All the
specifications, he said, including architecture, inspections, fire
safety, the approval process, will be subject to the demands of the
Hilton chain.
There is an additional important aspect to the project.
The construction of a new hotel on the Capitol Plaza site creates
an opportunity for the City of Montpelier, if the city can move fast
enough, to take a very big step toward solving its perennial downtown
parking problems.
Planning for the new Hampton Inn & Suites includes a parking
garage. If the city moves quickly to create a Tax Increment Finance
(TIF) district, then money generated from the One Taylor Street
project ($14 to 15 million) and the new Bashara family hotel ($15 to
$20 million) can be directed through the TIF mechanism to parking

Permit NO. 123

Montpelier, VT

and utilitiespublic projects that benefit the city as a whole. And

PRSRT STD

U.S. Postage

Suites a Hilton brand hotel. the planned parking garage could in fact be built as a larger parking
PAID

We are the owners, said Fred Bashara. Were building the hotel.
But the Hampton Inn & Suites name and franchise constitute
a powerful draw for the travelling public. Bashara described the
Hampton Inn value in these words: Weve heard from some of
our Capitol Plaza guests that they want access to broader loyalty
programs, mobile apps, and digital platforms, like those offered by
Hilton. We think the Hampton Inn & Suites adjacent to our existing,
award-winning Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center is a great
combination.
Bashara went on to say, When a visitor to Montpelier spends a
night at the Hampton Inn & Suites, that person knows exactly what
to expect. Said Bashara, We have to meet their standardsthe
architecture, the look of the hotel, the operations, everything about
the hotel.
Montpelier, VT 05601
garage, serving not just the new hotel but the entire downtown.
But timing, as ever, is critical.
We want to start digging in the spring,said Bashara about the
construction timetable. And Bashara wants the Hampton Inn &
Suites to open in the spring of 2019 or, as he said, early June.
Practically speaking, Montpelier is just beginning an application to
the state to get approval for a TIF district. That process can take six
months, and the Basharas want to start digging in the spring of 2018.
But theres a complication. If we put a shovel in the ground before
we get the TIF district, thats a problem. We need the support of the
city and state to push this thing forward, he said.
If the city wants a four or five-story parking garage with TIF money,
can the city move forward in time? Thats a critical question.

As part of the deal with the Hilton chain, the Capitol Plaza Hotel This isnt just for us, Bashara said. Its for the city as well. If we
will continue as its own corporation. A separate corporation will be can get a TIF district, the city can own this deck. Then it can be
four of five stories high. And that means covered parking, central to
P.O. Box 1143

created to run the Hampton Inn & Suites.

downtown, and a benefit to everyone downtown, he observed.
The Bashara family will own both hotels. The Basharas are putting
The Bridge

(continued on page 3)

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

PA GE 2 N O V E M B E R 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 T H E BR I D GE

This Could Be A Celebration Now!

David Mallett
Photo by Jill Wenner. Dan and Will Lindner,
Copyright 2012. The Sky Blue Boys

A
s we celebrate The Bridge and its first quarter century serving Montpelier and nearby Pisgah and Mount Hor, the words of Dan and Will Lindners song Welcome to Willoughby
towns, there is much for which to be grateful: Having the smallest, most splendid were almost always playingin my mind, if not on the speakers. It celebrated the return
capital in the United States; a free press; our Bill of Rights; Vermont and a heritage of peregrine falcons to Willoughby, and the song captured the gloriousness of that miracle:
of hard work and a working landscape; our wildlife; our farms, granite quarries, and ski Welcome to Willoughby, its good to have you back, its good to have you flying high and
areas; our neighbors; our traditions of working together, tolerance, and generosity. We live in free. I spent warm summer days fishing the rivers and streams of the Kingdom and the
difficult times, but we here in central Vermont and northern New England have been blessed Lindners lyrics were always with me: Ill take the hills and the valleys full of sunshine, Ill
with gifts beyond what many could even imagine. Among those countless gifts are writers, take the long days working with my hands, Ill take the fields and forests in the moonlight,
journalists, poets, musicians, and our artists. The Bridge is celebrating those gifts this holiday Ill take my chances livin from the land. I never quite dared to take my chances living from
seasonand with your support we hope to keep celebrating those gifts for another quarter the land. But I loved the hills and I loved the music.
of a century. As part of our celebration, we are being joined by some of the finest musicians Please join us for a celebration at the Unitarian Church in Montpelier, 7:30 pm, December
in New England and Vermontwhose music, like The Bridge has celebrated a special way of 9th.
life: Dave Mallett, Mike Burd, Banjo Dan Lindner, and Will Lindner.
Dave Malletts music, like Robert Frosts poetry, has always celebrated New England, the Trains a leavin from the station
land, the farms, and the honest, hardworking people who live here. But his songs have
Need a brand new generation
had universal appeal as well. They have been covered by everyone from the Muppets to
the Clancy Brothers, John Denver, Kathy Mattea, Alison Krauss, Emmy Lou Harris, Arlo This could be a celebrationnow.
Guthrie, and countless others. In fact, I was once driving through Ireland and I stopped at
a local grocery store near the Cliffs of Moher. They had a display of CDs and I bought one
called Irelands Greatest Pub Songs. Of the twelve songs on the album, three had been written David Kelley
by Dave Mallett. I sent the CD to Dave when I got home and he told me he had never gotten
any royalties whatsoever from the album but he was glad to know that he had written 25
percent of Irelands greatest pub songs. Daves music celebrates, people, places, and our ideals.
His most recent album is called Celebration.

This cant be our destination

This could be a better nation
Time to set the big horse racin
We can change the situation
Trains a leavin from the station
Need a brand new generation
This could be a celebration now.

According to the New York Times, Mallett harks back to the earnest ambitions and heartfelt
melodies of Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, singing with the conviction that folk can still be
heroic. David Mallett has a lustrous, melancholy voice that both engages and lulls the listener,
never stretching too high or too low but always staying comfortable and believable.
About Nashville says There is no doubt that he has left an unfading imprint on Music City
and Classic Americana Music forever.
On December 9th Mallett will be joined at the Unitarian Church in Montpelier by the
Sky Blue Boys, Banjo Dan and Will Lindner, in our concert celebrating The Bridge, our
community, and the Season.
All a bunch of words need to be a song is a sudden burst of confidence.
Like Mallett, the Lindners music reminds us of the remarkable gifts we in Vermont have David Mallett to a little girl who asked for advice on how to finish some
been given. I remember the first time I saw Lake Willoughby. I was awed by its grandeur.
songs shed been writing. with Mike Burd and David Fitzgerald Kelley at
Eventually I was fortunate enough to have a place of my own there, and I got to spend
some of the best times of my life on Lake Willoughby. I usually drove up on Route 16 from
Lakeview Elementary School, Greensboro, Vermont, in 2015. Photo by Lily
Barton, and as I came upon the North Beach at the Lake, looking South toward Mount McAteer.
T H E BR I D GE N O V E M BER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 PA GE 3

HEARD ON THE STREET

Home Break-Ins on the Rise in Montpelier
After area residents find their homes have been broken into,
many of them look into installing home security systems.
Jesse Harper, owner of Montpelier-based Vermont Security,
is one of the people they call, and he has been getting a lot
of calls recently.
This has been our busiest year, Harper said of his five-
year-old company. This summer was particularly bad in
terms of intrusions. It has been unprecedented. Homes
on dirt roads in rural towns are common targets, but now
Harper is seeing more burglaries in Montpelier, most of
them in daytime hours when people are at work.
Harper blames the increase on opiate and heroin addicts
seeking cash and jewelry, economic pressures, and outside
groups who target Vermont and make a living from
stealing. He also noted that convicted burglars may not be
off the street for long. Our prisons are overcrowded, and
we are not a punitive state, he observed.
The first thing he advises people to do is lock their doors.
Monitoring by neighbors is also helpful. If you are
suspicious, call the police or take a photo of a license plate,
he advises. But installing a security system is the most
effective solution, he said. Statistics show a residence is two
to three times more likely to be broken into if there is no
security system, he claimed, since thieves avoid homes with
signs, stickers, and cameras. So far, none of our customers
has had a break-in, he said.
A basic residential system involves a keypad control system,
door contacts, motion detectors, and an alarm. More
elaborate installations include the ability to monitor and
control the system and thermostats with a smartphone.
Average installations by Vermont Security cost $99 to $199,
Harper said, with monthly fees of $35.99 to $59.99. When
a system detects an intrusion, a monitoring company calls
the owner, then the police, he said.
Harper, who went to Montpelier schools and worked for
a national alarm company for five years before starting
his own company, primarily sells residential systems. He
will be exhibiting at a local home show scheduled for
Friday evening, November 17, at the Bethany Church in
Montpelier.
State Commission Thwarts Ice Rink on State
House Lawn for Upcoming Winter
Last winters State House lawn scene of skaters of all ages
gliding across the ice will not be repeated this winter. The
Capitol Complex Commission, a state body charged with
overseeing the architectural and aesthetic integrity of the
State House grounds, opted not to move forward with a
proposal for another season of ice-skating on the lawn. At a
meeting on Wednesday, the Capitol Complex Commission
withheld support for a motion by Commissioner Paul
Carnahan to approve the skating rink for a second season.
The State House lawn is state-owned public property.
Last year, the Capitol Complex Commission approved a
one-season pilot of the rink. According to a public survey, it
was widely hailed as a success. Of those who responded, 87
percent supported continuing the operations of the rink for
future winter seasons. An end-of-season report on the rink
noted that [the pilot] enjoyed a strong public reception, saw
lots of use, and there were no reported incidents of serious
harm or injury. Further, the rink stayed on budget, without
reliance on state taxpayer dollars for any direct expenses.
This year, the Capitol Complex Commission balked at
project re-approval, citing aesthetic concerns. The City of
Montpelier is exploring other locations to site an outdoor
skating rink for the upcoming winter.
Were disappointed that well be losing the rink as a
downtown community attraction this winter, lamented
Kimberly McKee, one of the members of the Put a Rink
on It Committee, a volunteer group that helped bring
the project to fruition last winter. We gladly would have
worked with the Capitol Complex Commission to address
their concerns for a more enhanced structure for future
seasons.
This years proposal to re-install the rink was supported
Montpelier Alive, the Montpelier Downtown Business
Association, the Montpelier City Council, and city staff.
Being able to ice skate under the golden dome of the State
House had terrific appeal, said Nate Hausman, another
member of the Put a Rink on It Committee. Across the
country, the bonds uniting communities are being strained.
Its unfortunate to see such a visible, dynamic community
asset here at the nucleus of our state go away.
Those who would like to register comments related to the
rink with the Capitol Complex Commission can email them
to Department of Buildings and General Services Executive
Assistant Judy Bruneau at judy.bruneau@vermont.gov.
For more information, contact Kim McKee (Phone:
610-246-0380, Email: mckee.kimberley@gmail.com).

New Hotel (cont. from p. 1) Hollar Discusses Montpeliers TIF Application

When asked if there was a demand for more family. Our family runs this together, said
and the Bashara Familys Proposed New Hotel
hotel rooms in Montpelier, Bashara cited a Bashara. If someone is on vacation, someone
marketing analysis prepared by a hospitality else takes over. Then Bashara got specific
professional that showed that such a demand mentioning his four children, their wives, Montpelier Mayor John Hollar talked to The Bridge by phone on November 15, the
for added hotel space exists in Central their grandchildren. Almost every one of day after the Bashara family announced plans to build a new $15 to $20 million
Vermont. One of the Capitol Plaza Hotels them has worked for us, he said. new hotel on their downtown property at the rear of the existing Capitol Plaza Hotel.
strongest assets is the solidarity of the Bashara Specifically, Hollar had these comments to make about the possible use of (TIF) or
Tax Increment Financing revenue as part of the hotel project.
The Hilton Chain Heres how TIF revenues could be employed to support a project like the one that the
Bashara family is proposing.
According to a website posting, Hilton is one of the largest and
fastest growing hospitality companies in the world with more than 5,100 At the moment, the City of Montpelier is in the process of putting together an
properties, with nearly 838,000 rooms in 103 countries and territories. application to secure state approval for a TIF district in Montpelier. If Montpelier
wins state approval, it would be allowed to go ahead almost immediately and invest
Hilton reports more than 69 million members in its award-winning
some of the predicted and added tax revenue from a development project to build
customer loyalty program, the Hilton Honors club. or improve public infrastructure projects in the TIF district.
For example, such projects funded by TIF might include, as Hollar said, Roads,
bridges, power lines, water and sewer, parking facilitiesreally any kind of public
infrastructure that would be beneficial to the public and tied to private investment such
as the Bashara familys proposed new hotel.
When Fred Bashara announced plans for a new hotel on Bashara-owned property
at the rear of the existing Capitol Plaza Hotel, Bashara took pains to mention his
interest in securing TIF revenue to support the familys project.
But in his phone call to The Bridge, Hollar said, We have not received anything
in writing from the Basharas about the use of TIF money relating to that project.
Certainly wed be happy to review anything from them, he added.
Talking about Montpeliers TIF application currently being put together, he said, The
application is a complicated process. It involves the consideration of a wide range
of factors. We are looking at a range of different options of how we would use TIF
revenue for a number of different public infrastructure projects.
Explaining the TIF application in greater depth, Hollar said, There are standards we
have to meet. We have to show that this private project wouldnt happen without the
citys investment. We have to show that x wouldnt happen without y.
The City of Montpeliers TIF application, Hollar said, is well underway despite its
complexity.
When asked if he thought there was a good chance that the City would get approval
from the state for its TIF application, he said, I think it will hang on our application.
Hollar didnt think Montpeliers application would be denied because of competition
from other municipalities. I think if we submit a compelling application, we have a
strong likelihood of getting approval for a TIF district.
Hollar went on to say that at least one other Montpelier developer is interested in
being approved for a TIF district. The owners of Sabins pasture have expressed a
desire to be included in a TIF district, he said.
PA GE 4 N O V E M B E R 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 T H E BR I D GE

Lets Talk Turkey by Larry Floersch

H
istorians are not sure when the first celebration of Thanksgiving took place in a Little Lamb. She also went on to become the editor of Ladies Magazine in Boston. But it
America. Some say it occurred in 1621 in the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts was in her successful novel, Northwood, a book about slavery and New England virtues, that
as a celebration for a bountiful harvest. Others say it was earlier, in 1619 at the she promoted the turkey as the symbol of Thanksgiving. According to the website The Dodo,
Berkeley Hundred land grant in Charles City County, Virginia. Other historians claim in Northwood she described what would become the idyllic Thanksgiving table, taking the
that it was in Texas in 1598, and two historians from the University of Florida argue that the opportunity to introduce turkey as its star:
first thanksgiving service was in Florida, [It] is considered as an appropriate tribute
at the Spanish colony of St. Augustine, on of gratitude to God to set apart one day of
September 8, 1565. Thanksgiving in each year; and autumn is
For the most part, however, as every the time when the overflowing garners of
schoolchild knows, we now accept that America call for this expression of joyful
the first Thanksgiving was in Plymouth in gratitude.
1621, but the exact date is unknown. It was The roasted turkey took precedence on this
probably much earlier than the last Thursday occasion, being placed at the head of the
in November--most likely September 29 table; and well did it become its lordly
according to Plymouth historians--because station, sending forth the rich odor of its
it was a celebration of the harvest, and by savory stuffing, and finely covered with the
late November in Massachusetts the harvest froth of the basting.
is well past.
Up until the Civil War, celebrations of
In addition to uncertainty about the place thanksgiving were sporadic and on a state by
and date, no one knows exactly what was state basis. Hale believed strongly that there
on the menu. Historians have been able to should be one national day of Thanksgiving,
identify who cooked the meal, four Pilgrim November Bliss. Photo by Michael Jermyn
and over 17 years wrote letters to five
women--Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth presidents, Taylor, Fillmore, Buchanan,
Hopkins, Mary Brewster, and Susanna White along with some of their daughters and servants Pierce, and Lincoln, promoting the idea.
but not what they cooked.
It was finally Lincoln who responded and in 1863 proclaimed the last Thursday in November
The Plymouth colonists noted that fowl in abundance was on the table. Their guests for as the official national day of Thanksgiving. Until that proclamation, Independence Day
the celebration, the native Wampanoag, lacking a written language, left no record of what and Washingtons Birthday were the only national holidays. Thanksgiving has grown to
they were offered. To the Pilgrims (and Wampanoag) back then, with their wider palate, become the second most popular
fowl could have meant ducks, geese, herons, cranes, swans, partridge, and wild turkeys. holiday in the United States, just
Given the location of the colony on the behind Christmas, and because
coast, migratory waterfowl would have it is nonspecific when it comes to
been in great abundance in September. religion, it is a holiday that we as
In the accounts of the day the mention of Americans can celebrate together.
waterfowl was prominent, but wild turkeys
were also abundant in the area. We can So even though it was not specifically
only assume that turkeys were on the table mentioned as a component of the
along with waterfowl, fish, venison, squash, menu on that day in 1621 when the
and corn. Pilgrims and Wampanoag sat down
in peace together to celebrate the
So how did the turkey become the symbol harvest, we can safely assume they
of Thanksgiving as we know it today had turkey, perhaps not as plump
instead of, say, a goose? and tasty as the turkeys offered by
The honor for promoting the turkey our Vermont farmers today, but
probably falls to Sarah Josepha Hale, a just as welcome. And according to Photo Public Domain
writer, poet, and editor from New Wikipedia, more than 46 million of
Sarah Josepha Hale, the Mother of Hampshire. As a poet, she is probably most the birds will grace our tables across the land this Thanksgiving. We at The Bridge wish you
Thanksgiving. Public Domain. familiar for her nursery rhyme Mary had all a bountiful and peaceful Thanksgiving feast.

The Bridge publishes every first and third Thursday of the month, except in July when we only publish on the third Thursday.
Our next issue comes out December 7
T H E BR I D GE N O V E M BER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 PA GE 5
Anne Watson Announces for Mayor of Montpelier
A
t a Montpelier City Hall press conference on
November 6, city councilor and Montpelier High
School physics teacher Anne Watson announced her
candidacy for Mayor of Montpelier. Voters in Montpelier will
choose a new mayor next year at City Meeting on March 6,
2018.
Watson was introduced at the press conference by Mary
Hooper, former Montpelier mayor and Montpelier
representative to the Vermont House, and by Jack
McCullough, a longtime member of the Montpelier Housing
Task Force.
Hooper explained her support for Watson, saying, She has
the skill set and values. Shes creative and an out of the box
thinker, and she listens to others in developing consensus.
McCullough said that Watson is a great person to work
with. He said that she would make Montpelier a welcoming
community and noted that she is an educator and a coach
with strong ties to young people.
McCullough said he had campaigned for Watson in a recent
council election. I went door to door for her. He said. I
cant tell you the number of people who said they were happy
to support her. Anne is going to be a great mayor for the
future.
In her own remarks, Watson noted her five years of service
on the City Council and pointed out that for three of those
years, shes been council president. I do the job whenever hes
not available, she said about pinch-hitting for John Hollar,
Montpeliers current mayor.
By Nat Frothingham
Watson emphasized her commitment
to developing affordable housing
Anne Watson. Photo courtesy of Anne Watson
in Montpelier. I want to grow the
quantity and quality of housing in
Montpelier, she added.
She identified financial and energy
sustainability as two of the goals she
would pursue as mayor. She also raised
the issue of flood resiliency. She noted
Montpeliers history of flooding. But
she said, We can enact policies that
can mitigate the impacts.
She praised the Councils careful
process in taking on the hard
conversations about the Citys budget.
Those conversation include asking the
sharp questions of Can we afford it?
She described her working style by
drawing from an example of how she
worked with Montpelier High School
students to decide the best energy
source for heating the high schools
greenhouse. She said the students participation is at the heart of making good decisions.
explored the alternatives and eventually settled on solar
panels. She said she thought the student discussion had a She concluded her remarks optimistically by listing a number
great value. If there hadnt been a student discussion, the best of positive developments in Montpelier such as the district
alternative would not have been chosen. heat project, the local commitment to Net Zero energy, the
newly paved roads, and the new businesses that have opened
We can do this together, she said about her belief that broad up on Barre Street.
PA GE 6 N O V E M B E R 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 T H E BR I D GE
A Message From City Hall
This page was paid for by the City of Montpelier.
Winter is Coming
By William Fraser, City Manager
A
s the temperatures start to dip and we move closer to snow plowing season, the
annual budget preparation process is underway. We expect the formal budget to
be presented to the City Council on December 13th and 20th. The Council has
set a preliminary target that the municipal property tax rate be contained within the
inflation rate, which is between 2.0% and 2.5%. Early budget projections show that the
baseline increase could be near 5% so the annual belt tightening and budget reduction
will be in order.
Based on the 2017 Annual Report from Property Valuation and Review, Montpelier has
the 18th highest effective municipal tax rate (16th highest in 2016 and 13th highest in
2015) in the state. For the 2017-18 tax year, 70.3% of residents received a property tax
adjustment payment from the State of Vermont with an average payment of $1,354. This
represents an increase of 6% from the prior year and an increase in the payment amount
of $20. Circuit Breaker payments for those with household income of less than $47,000
decreased from 448 recipients to 434 and averaged $1,223 for the current tax year.
Of course budget considerations are not just numbers. They reflect services and projects
delivered by the city government. Heres a look at some accomplishments from this past
year as well as challenges facing the municipality in the coming year.
Accomplishments:
Made substantial progress on the 1 Taylor Street project, including securing the purchase
and sales agreement for the Montpelier Beverage property. Spring groundbreaking is
scheduled.
Expanded housing options at 1 Taylor Street, the French Block on Main Street, 250
Main, Barre Street, and elsewhere.
Completed phase 1 of the Northfield Street Reconstruction project, and the Montpelier
Makeover downtown paving project.
Brought Caledonia Spirits headquarters to Montpelier. Ground breaking in spring.
Coordinated TIF review, which could lead to significant economic development.
Completed three bridge maintenance projects, 3.4 miles of new bike lanes, and the Elm
Street/Spring Street 4-way stop control.
Purchased and installed needle disposal boxes for City buildings.
Reduced crime by about 4 percent over last year, and continued the success with Project
Safe Catch addiction recovery program.
Completed zoning recommendations and updated the Master Plan for public input.
Secured grants to help pay for crosswalk flashing beacons, public art, housing projects,
and more.
Removed the old Brown Derby Restaurant through enforcement of public nuisance
ordinance.
Merged Senior Center, Recreation Department and Parks for a more comprehensive,
efficient operation.
Saw significant increases in Community Services programs and services to meet
growing demand.
Increased Community Justice programs to help reduce crime and enable people to
rebuild their lives.
Held a well-attended public forum on racial justice.
Challenges:
The City continues to face infrastructure challenges, as seen in the delayed Northfield
Street work.
State demands for stormwater improvements while important will be costly.
Managing the Berlin Pond drinking water source, which is now open to public activity
and access, will also be a challenge.
Meeting the goal of purchasing and installing Net Zero- LED street lights and other
energy efficiency goals will require funding and commitment.
The City will need to secure bond votes for an upgrade & waste to energy project at
the wastewater treatment facility, as well as improvements to infrastructure (water &
sewer mains).
We need to resolve the intersection design at Barre and Main Streets.
The fate of the Citys aging Recreation
Center, which is not ADA compliant and
requires significant upgrades, should be
decided.
Weather related events and emergencies
continue to be a challenge.
As does the Citys ability to handle the growing financial and human cost of drug
addiction.
We are also taking a serious look at the threats nationwide of violent or terrorists acts,
looking for ways to ensure our Capital City remains safe.
Budget projection assumptions
Base revenue growth on known values only
Assume % increase in the Grand List
Project salaries and wages based on negotiated and anticipated Collective Bargaining
Agreements
Assume a 6% annual increase in health insurance for calendar year 2019 and beyond.
Revenue Projections
A number of development projects are pending, scheduled to start or will be completed
in 2018 and 2019. The construction of Caledonia Spirits, the Taylor Street Multi-modal
Transportation Center and Downstreet Housing Project, the French Block housing
project, the Taylor Street bike path and the Central VT Regional Bike Path will change
the landscape of our community. Each of these projects will improve the Grand List and
reduce the overall tax burden on residents.
The creation of a Tax Increment Financing District could also pave the way for a significant
infrastructure project leading to considerable Grand List growth. Development potential
within the downtown district or Sabins Pasture for instance is difficult to forecast at this
time.
Personnel Cost Projections
Police and Public Works Collective Bargaining Agreement has been negotiated for FY19.
Cost of Living Adjustments for those employees will increase 2% in FY19. The Fire
Department Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on June 30, 2018.
City-wide this means an approximate increase in wages excluding overtime of $130,000.
With overtime, the cost rises to an anticipated $150,000 however this an estimate and
subject to numerous factors, including weather.
The increase in wages also increases wage-based employer costs such as Social Security,
Medicare, retirement contributions and workers compensation insurance. We anticipate
an increase in the employer retirement contribution rate for FY19. For budget purposes,
we are using a 0.25% increase for VMERS and a 5% increase in workers compensation
premiums. These additional costs contribute another $50,000 to wage related costs
bringing the total wage related increase for the General Fund to $200,000.
The final 2017 BlueCross/BlueShield health insurance premiums are now finalized. The
proposal is expected to be the best it has ever been with our current rates remaining flat
(as compared to a 17% increase in 2016). Our current employee pool claims are down
dramatically and employees are utilizing preventative screening programs, obtaining
routine exams and avoiding in-patient hospital care. The continued development of the
employee wellness program is also giving employees access to biometric screenings, flu
shots, chair massages, acupuncture, weight loss classes, recreational activities and more.
The average book of business increase for BC/BS customers for 2018 is 7%. The flat rate
increase for 2018 coupled with a small shift in the demographics of the current employee
group (family vs. single plans) results in a slight decrease in overall health insurance costs
for 2019 based on factors known at this time.
Budget items that historically have been untouchable:
Of the projected $14.1 million in FY19 total General Fund Expenditures, the follow items
have historically been unavailable for any budgetary changes.
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.
T H E BR I D GE N O V E M BER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 PA GE 7
Montpelier Community Invited to Create and Celebrate Public Art
MONTPELIER Montpelier middle
school students are inviting family, friends,
and the general public to help create a public
art installation on November 18, and to
celebrate that installation when it is erected
on December 1 at City Hall Plaza. The
installation of wind-operated sculptural
forms is part of ArtSynergy, a new initiative
aimed at creating a public art master plan for
the city.
In March, the city won and matched a
$50,000 Our Town grant from the
National Endowment of the Arts to develop
a master plan for public art; ArtSynergy
is a collaboration of the city government,
MontpelierAlive, and the Community
Engagement Lab to develop that plan along
with a community-wide vision for how public
art can be more integrated into Montpelier.
Since last spring, ArtSynergy has been
sponsoring a series of workshops and
discussions during which residents are invited
to participate and generate ideas. ArtSynergy
requested proposalsand received 24 of
themfrom Vermont artists for the design
and installation of a large public art work
at the One Taylor Street Redevelopment
Project. (Three finalists will present to the
public in January; the installation is slated
for April 2019). A survey about public art has
been posted on the MontpelierAlive website.
Most recently, renowned teaching artist Cori
Savoor began a seven-day residency at Main
Street Middle School working with fifth and
seventh graders.
During the residency, students will learn
about the value and importance of public
art; its contribution to a creative, local
economy; and its place in the development
of public space, historical context, and effect
on community building, Savoor said. We
will understand the constraints of weather,
the stages a public-artist must go through to
About ArtSynergy:
realize their work, and study artists who work
with the elements to tell their stories. Public art helps to define a city by honoring its history, celebrating its culture,
Works of art completed for the students final and creating rich experiences for residents and visitors alike. Art activates
presentation will consist of a series of wind- spaces and invigorates economiesand brings smiles and inspiration to folks
operated forms, such as banners and flags, of all ages, day in and day out. A new initiative of the City of Montpelier in
windsocks, and windmill/ spinners. collaboration with Montpelier Alive and the Community Engagement Lab is
the development of a strategic Public Art Master Plan and a community-wide
Community Day will be held November vision for how public art can be integrated into the framework of the city of
18 from 10 am to 2 pm at Main Street
Montpelier. Visit MontpelierAlive.com/225/ArtSyngeryProject
Middle School. The works of art the students
create will be installed and celebrated at the
next Montpelier Art Walk on December 1,
and are expected to remain on view for about
About Gowri Savoor:
two weeks.
Upcoming ArtSynergy Dates:
November 18: Community Day for Main
Street Middle School art installation, 10 am
to 2 pm, Main Street Middle School
December 1: Main Street Middle School
project installed at City Hall Plaza for
Montpelier Art Walk. Snacks and reflection
afterward at Lost Nation Theater
Mid-December (date TBA): Three finalists
chosen for One Taylor Street Art Installation
Mid-January, 2018 (date TBD): Finalists
present concepts of their proposed installations
to the public. Ongoing: Public invited to take Gowri Savoor is a Vermont-based visual teaching artist whose practice
Public Art Survey: Visit MontpelierAlive. includes sculpture, drawing, and the Indian art of Rangoli. Born in England,
com/225/ArtSyngergyProject and click on she was educated in Manchester and Leeds, and moved to the United
Take Our Survey! States in 2007. Savoor is the founder of A River of Light, an organization
committed to bringing art to the community through participatory art events,
parades, and installations. She has been a teaching artist for over 17
years with experience in arts integration and community building, and
continues to exhibit both nationally and internationally. She is perhaps
best known locally for her "River of Light" lantern parades, including one
in Montpelier in 2015 and 2016. She is a Senior Teaching Artist with the
Community Engagement Lab. For more information, visit GowriSavoor.com
and CommunityEngagementLab.org
PA GE 8 N O V E M B E R 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 T H E BR I D GE

Medicare Open Enrollment Information Important Medicare Dates

by Glennis Drew

T
ired of digging through all the junk mail printed in red, white, and blue this month
(which often sported an American flag or a bald eagle or some combination of the
two), I called the information number from the Medicare.gov website to find out
how to tell the genuine article from a sales pitch.
According to the helpful representative, all official documents from Medicare will have
the CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) logo at the top of the document
as well as a 12-digit control number that refers to the specific form it is printed on. In this
way, if you call Medicare in regard to the document, they will be able to see the document
you have in front of you and can help you.
If what you are looking at does not have the CMS or Social Security logo and it doesnt
have the control number, it is probably an advertisement.
If what shows up in your mailbox is addressed to you in something in that looks
like handwritten script but does not have a return address
you recognize, it is probably an advertisement. Many inkjet
printers can spray names and addresses on envelopes in a
typeface that looks like handwriting.
The point of all the smoke and mirrors is to get you to open
the envelope and read their sales pitch. If they get you to call
them, they have a chance to convince you to purchase what
they are selling, be it insurance or even a new car.
As the days draw down to the December deadline, telemarketers
have started making robot callingeven to cellular phones.
They also manage to litter your email inbox with ads that
sound dire.
This is what you need to know:
No one can switch you out of a plan without your permission.
If what you are looking at does not have the CMS or Social Security logo and it
doesnt have the control number, it is probably an advertisement.
W hile Medicare plans CAN change each year, the change that most often occurs is
a change in the amount of your premium or in the individual drugs that are covered
by your particular plan.
If you are happy with the plan you have, you do not need to change anything. Your
coverage will simply roll over for another year in January.
Remember, Medicare plans can change each year
September & OctoberReview & compare
Review: Your plan may change. Review any notices from your plan about
changes for next year.
Compare: Starting in October, use Medicares Plan Finder to find a plan that
meets your needs. Visit the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov/find-a-plan.
October 15Open Enrollment begins
This is the one time of year when ALL people with Medicare can make changes to
their health and prescription drug plans for the next year.
Decide: October 15 is the first day you can change your Medicare coverage
for next year.
December 7Open Enrollment ends
In most cases, December 7 is the last day you can change your Medicare
coverage for next year. The plan has to get your enrollment request (application)
by December 7.
January 1Coverage begins
Your new coverage begins January 1 if you switch to a new plan. If you stay with
the same plan, any changes to coverage, benefits, or costs for the new year will
begin on January 1.
Making changes to your coverage after January 1
Between January 1 and February 14, if youre in a Medicare Advantage Plan
(like an HMO or PPO), you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare.
If you switch to Original Medicare, youll have until February 14 to also join a
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Your coverage will begin
the first day of the month after the plan gets your enrollment form. In certain cases,
you may be able to make other changes if you qualify for a Special Enrollment
Period. Visit Medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to
learn more. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.

Rick Winston to Offer a Seminar on

Independent Films
F
ilm instructor Rick
Winston will present a
three-session seminar
on the history of American
independent film, at the
Montpelier Senior Activity
Center, 58 Barre Street, on
three consecutive Mondays
(November 20, November 27,
and December 4) from 6:30 to
9:00 pm.
As long as Hollywood has
existed, there has also been a
rich vein of independent films
made by uncompromising
and often brilliant filmmakers
unconcerned with financial
rewards. The first session will
cover such little-known pioneers Maya Deren, one of the pioneers of
of the era 1920-1970 as Oscar the independent cinema movement.
Micheaux, Sidney Meyers, Maya This Photo is from her 1943 film
Deren, Morris Engel, Ruth "meshes of the Afternoon."
Orkin, and Leo Hurwitz. The
indie explosion of the early 1980s, the 1990s to the present day.
which featured the work of Spike Lee,
Jim Jarmusch, and John Sayles, will be The cost will be $40 per session or $100 for
the focus of the second session, while the all three sessions. For more information,
third session will cover indie films from please contact Rick Winston at 454-7103
or through email at winsrick@sover.net.

Did You Know?

The issue The Bridge publishes on the third Thursday
of each month is mailed to every 05602 residence.
Perfect for promoting your business,
event, store sale and more!
Advertise in The Bridge:
249-8666 or rick@montpelierbridge.com
223-5112 ext. 11 or michael@montpelierbridge.com
T H E BR I D GE N O V E M BER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 PA GE 9

Signature Styles Offers Green Beauty Products by Glennis Drew

T
he owner of Signature Styles salon in Montpelier,
Tess Onorato, and her entire staff (Jenn Lincoln,
Brenda Brassard, Juliet Walker, and Jessica
Millett) have completed training as Certified Ouidad
Curl Specialists through the Ouidad (pronounced we-
Dad) product line. Ouidad products are specifically
formulated for curly and wavy hair. They are offering free
personalized consultations for clients with all types of
curls, from wavy to kinky.
The salon, located in the covered walkway to the Capitol
Plaza Hotel, was chosen by Ouidad as the exclusive retail
outlet for their products in Central Vermont. Signature
Styles carries the entire line of Ouidads gluten-free styling
products, which were originally developed in 1985 and
marketed under the name, Curly Girl. While gluten
free is not normally something associated with hair care
products, Onorato stressed Sixty percent of what goes on
your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream! For those
allergic to gluten this is good news.
Said Onorato, Without a doubt, our bodies are constantly
exposed to many chemicals in our personal care products,
home cleaners, and environment. And as women, we
may be sustaining even more damage from toxins and
chemicals. Our skin soaks in everything . . . the good and a carcinogen-free line of makeup using state-of-the-art
the bad. Soaps, lotions, makeup, lipstick, mascara, eye natural formulations. Unable to find products that would
shadow, toothpaste, and hair-care products are known to make her feel beautiful while not introducing harmful
harbor toxic chemicals. Yet no one does anything to ban chemicals to her skin, she developed her own.
or stop the use of such things. The FDA doesn't regulate Signature Styles offers a free Hynt all-natural, non-toxic
the ingredients in cosmetics. lip gloss with any $49 makeup purchase.
Signature Styles is part of the current green beauty
Call Signature Styles at 229-2500 for a free consultation.
revolution taking place across the country. Before your Log on to SignatureStylesVT.com to see makeover videos
mind goes to the wicked witch makeup from the Wizard using these high quality lines of natural makeup.
of Oz, please be assured that the green reference is to
all-natural products free of dyes, perfumes, and
other chemicals, which, along with diet and
exercise all contribute to the green beauty
movement.
In addition to the Ouidad product line,
Signature Styles carries Alima Pure organic
makeup, manufactured in Portland, Oregon,
along with Hynt beauty products and EcoBrow.
All of these lines are plant- or mineral-based and
use non toxic, naturally derived preservatives.
Hynt beauty products were developed by Meryl
Marshallthe president and chief product
officer as well as a breast cancer survivorafter
Marshall searched for
Watercolor by Nona Estrin

Tess Onorato and her staff at Signature Styles salon.

Photo by Michael Jermyn

The Time of Moss and Fern

C
andles, which came out for the storm and subsequent week-long black-out, stay
put, to cheer us through the time change and early gloaming, the shock of dark
just after mid-afternoon.
And suddenly, holidays are upon us. Interesting, holidays and time change, superimposed
by us humans upon late fall. I hardly know what to think of this time of year until
venturing out on a cold sunny day, down a small mossy path, where the the green is a
powerful reminder of this season, after leaf fall and before snow. The time of moss and
fern still green, and of beech leaves still holding tight to the tree.
PA GE 10 N O V E M B ER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 T H E BR I D GE

Opinion Unconscious Biases by Brian Ricca

T
he Montpelier Public Schools Leadership Team
is participating in a training with CQ Strategies
called the We All Belong Series, in a sustained
effort grow our own cultural competency. One of the goals
in the MPS Action Plan is "To implement an articulated
multi-tiered system of support to provide equitable learning
opportunities for students in safe and inclusive learning
environments." A substantial part of that commitment is
working to address our own shortcomings and actively
grow as leaders in MPS for this work.
During a discussion at a recent training, one of the
participants asked our facilitators if there is a way to ever
fully overcome unconscious bias. The facilitator paused
before answering, and the answer was stunning in its
simplicity. "Well, do you brush and floss everyday? While
doing that is never going to fully prevent dental decay and
larger problems in your mouth, we still know that is just
good dental hygiene."
We all do something everyday that is not guaranteed to
make a difference but is considered just good practice.
I have unconscious biases, simply by growing up and
breathing in the ethos in the United States of America. We
all have unconscious biases that impact us as we go about
living in the world. Anyone who says otherwise is simply
not being fully honest. Once we have admitted that we
have biases, we must take the next step to ensure that we
are working to keep them in check and do what we can
to minimize their impact on our day-to-day relationships.
And for those of us in education, the expectations are
much higher. We must be vigilant not only for the biases
in our own life; we must be just as vigilant for evidence of
biases in our students, in our schools, and our community.
As educators, our responsibilities include educating the
whole child, not just the head but the heart as well. We
must ensure that our students are practicing habits that
will prevent further development of biases, as they move
in relationships not only during the school day but during
the rest of their lives as well. We state in MPS that one of
our goals is to have our students be in "safe and inclusive
learning environments." We have a responsibility to our
students, as well as to our fellow human beings to be
aware of our unconscious biases. At the 2017 Rowland
Foundation Annual Conference in late October, Professor
Ruha Benjamin inspired and challenged us around issues of
race in the state of Vermont. A tweet from MHS Principal
Mike McRaith summed up her message insightfully: A
big takeaway for me is to help the overserved understand
their privilege and develop empathy so they can be whole.
There are real issues of equity and privilege in our state.
They extend beyond that of just race and include class,
gender, gender identity, and ability, to name just a few.
Anyone who feels marginalized in 2017, who is not a
position of privilege, is working harder and harder everyday
to overcome the injustice AND then engage in the process
of learning.
I am not whole, because I am overserved and I have
privilege. I promise to brush and floss everyday to try to
keep my unconscious biases in check but will need help
with my blind spots. Will you help me? I promise to help
you with yours, so that we can honor all our students to
make schools truly safe and inclusive for all of them.

Opinion Equilibrium by Paul GIllies

T
he Editor remembers hearing me say once that over the last few decades the State
has absorbed powers normally exercised by the municipalities of Vermont, and that
this has caused an imbalance. I dont remember that, but then I have said many
things Ive forgotten. Thats not important. What is, is, is that so?
Because if it is true, perhaps we should be concerned. Lets investigate.
We should start with an age-old question of how Vermont came to be. Did the state create
the towns, or did the towns create the state? If the latter, goes some thinking, then the state
must do the bidding of the towns, rather than vice-versa.
That isnt the way it came to be or how it is today for that matter. Vermont is among the
most centralized of the states. All power comes through the legislature, to be implemented
by state officials and local officials. There is very little range of independent action for
towns.
Vermont is not a home rule state. Home rule in that context means the ability to enact
laws locally, without having to rely on legislative approval to make them enforceable. That
thought is best expressed in a line from the Vermont Supreme Court, when it wrote (and
repeated many times), towns are mere agents of the state created to perform administrative
functions. Thats a discouraging thought for some officials.
The problem is always trying to ensure that towns and town officials do what they are
required to do under the law.
There is a suspicion that they cannot perform, inherent in statute. Decisions made by towns
in land use, with rare exceptions, and property valuation disputes, when they are appealed,
are treated as though what happened at the town level is irrelevant. These appeals are heard
de novo, meaning anew. All the work of notices, hearings, and decisions at the town level
is put aside, and a trial judge decides the outcome of the contest.
Then theres history. The federal government gathered robust powers formerly exercised by
the states during the era of the New Deal, and those changes remain with us in health care,
transportation, and civil rights, among others. Returning power to the states to fashion
their own answers to basic needs is a theme that persists in every attempted reform. As
national policies on climate change or immigration policy are debated in Washington, the
states are beginning to adopt their own strategies to address these challenges.
The same centripetal movement has occurred in the relations between the state and
municipalities. The occasional demands for a return to local control are largely unmet
promises. Despite its mythic claim to be the home of direct democracy, the choices
left to towns (and voters) have diminished over time. Towns no longer have primary
responsibility for the poor. This ended in 1968. In 1969, the federal courts ordered
legislative apportionment, ending the one-town, one-vote rule in the House. Rural town
power diminished significantly. Act 250 arrived in 1970, creating a superstructure for land
use regulation that left only a small role for towns to play. Act 60 re-established a statewide
property tax, investing additional control over the local tax by the state. There is no Tenth
Amendment in the Vermont Constitution, applicable to the state and the towns, and no
limits to the duties towns have traditionally assumed that the state can take back from the
towns.
School mergers are another strong sign of a shift in power, away from local government.
While Vermont had traditionally resisted enfranchising county government with additional
powers, as other states have done, it has created regional governmentssolid waste districts,
regional planning commissions, supervisory unionsthat exercise their own powers and
may, in the future, take on more of the duties required of towns, because they can be more
efficient and more manageable.
This trend is in many ways unfair to the towns. Towns are very different today than they
were just a few decades ago. There are educational programs and courses where local
officials learn their jobs, and they are well-attended. Professionals now manage the cities
and most larger towns. There are established systems for finance, tax appraisal, and record-
keeping. There is more openness and competence in local offices.
But yes, Mr. Editor, there has been dilution of local power. Those who wanted to take
back Vermont, presumably from the state, lost, and centralism won. But thats not how
it has to be. Many towns are fully capable of managing themselves, without direct state
oversight. Their officials have earned the right to be respected. Its time to reverse the trend.

Tell them you saw it in

The Bridge!
T H E BR I D GE N O V E M BER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 PA GE 11

Incognito Salon Helps Montpelier Food

Shelf
Montpelier Incognito Salon, located at
27 State Street in downtown Montpelier,
is encouraging people to help alleviate the
food insecurity issue in the community.
On November 1, they made available
in the salon a drop box in which people
can leave non-perishable food donations.
These donations will be given to the
Montpelier Food Shelf for distribution.
A box for monetary donations was also
made available on the counter. That will
allow the food shelf to distribute much
needed items for community members
in need. The drop box will be available
through the holidays and its contents will
be given to the food shelf as it fills up. For
more information about this effort, please
email littlesaloninvt@gmail.com.
PA GE 12 N O V E M B ER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 T H E BR I D GE
Vermont-raised Alpaca: A Source of Breeding Stock, Fiber, and Healthy Meat
by Glennis Drew
I
f you put specialty meat markets carrying alpaca
into your search engine, you will be shown a very
credible list of product availabilitymost of it from
on-line suppliers. Ranging from Specialty Meats and
Gourmet in Wisconsin, to Twisted Suri Alpaca Ranch
in Minnesota, from Ohio to Indiana, Vermont (Cas-Cad-
Nac Farm), and even on Amazon, alpaca is ready to muscle
in on bison as a low-fat, low-cholesterol alternative to beef
and pork.
A member of the South American Camelid (SAC) family,
alpacas have existed in some form as a domesticated species
for thousands of years, having been derived by selectively
breeding of two of its wild cousins, the vicua and the
guanaco (the fourth member of the SAC family, likewise
a domesticated species, is the llama). Originating on the
Andean Altiplano, alpacas were bred at altitudes of 11,500
to 16,000 feet and, at those chilly altitudes, they were and
still are prized primarily for their fleece.
The first alpacas were imported into the United States in
1984, supporting a business that was initially focused on
the sales of breeding stock, treating the alpaca more like
an exotic, high-priced pet. Today though, with a domestic
herd totaling 300,000 to 500,000 animals, alpaca ranching
and farming in the United States is maturing and gradually
transforming itself into a legitimate agricultural enterprise,
based no longer just on live animal sales, but also a
burgeoning domestic textile industry. An inevitable part
of such a fiber-producing livestock industrythink Merino
sheep and one of its most famous byproducts, New Zealand
Lambis the use of alpacas as a source of protein.
Although relatively new to the American market and
palette, alpaca meat is consumed routinely in Peru (which
has the largest domestic herd in the world, between 1.5 and
2 million animals), as well as in Australia, New Zealand,
and parts of Europe.
Because the USDA does not recognize the alpaca as
a meat animal, the inspection and sale of their meat
falls under the jurisdiction of local state agencies and
departments of agriculture, as well as the U.S. Food and
Drug Adminstration. Vermont is one of nineteen states in
the U.S. offering state inspection and retail sales of alpaca
meat as well as sales of any alpaca meat inspected by other
states.
Alpaca Stew with Dark
Beer & Root Vegetables,
from The Cas-Cad-Nac
Farm Cookbook
Make this stew with your favorite dark Vermont beer
(I personally like Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout). There are
so many excellent options out there these days that I
encourage you to have some fun selecting your favorite
brew. This is a great cold- weather meal and, like the
other slow-cooked recipes in this book, the flavor really
improves when the dish is prepared a day or two before
serving.
Jean-Luc Matecat
Serves: 6
Preparation Time: 3 hours
2 pounds alpaca stew meat
cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons butter
Cas-Cad-Nac Farms alpacas. Photo by 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
First Light Studios. 2 Vidalia onions, cut into -inch cubes
Dressing out at approximately 60 pounds (similar in 2 large carrots
size to a white-tailed deer), alpaca is a mild-flavored 1 head of celery root (optional)
meat and easily takes on the flavors of other ingredients. 2 Yukon Gold potatoes
Because of its mild flavor, it can easily be substituted in 4 cups stout or other dark beer
any recipe that would normally call for beef. It is best 1 cup tomato pure
served rare to medium and, because of the absence of 10 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried)
fat, becomes dry if overcooked. 1 bay leaf
The Bridge was recently in touch with Ian and Jennifer Sour cream
Lutz, the owners of Cas-Cad-Nac Farm in Perkinsville, Hearty bread
Vermont, and marketing specialist Pam Knights of
Pam Knights Communications who collaborated on a To Prepare the Stew
cookbook of alpaca recipes with Chef Jean-Luc Matecat. Cut the stew meat into -inch pieces, if not already
According to Ian Lutz, Although I can feel reticent small enough. Set aside.
about it at times, after 20 years in this business, we
are viewed as leaders in the U.S. alpaca industry, and Peel the carrots, celery root (if using), and potatoes;
as with any other fiber-based livestock herd the world cut into roughly -inch cubes. Combine the flour,
over, we felt the need to help develop the market for our salt and pepper in a medium-size mixing bowl. Toss
animals meat as a natural byproduct of a responsible the alpaca pieces in the flour mixture so they are
livestock operation. Given that the very idea of alpaca thoroughly and individually coated. Shake off the
meat here in North America was so new to the cultural excess flour, and set aside.
landscape, though, we jumped at the chance to develop
our cookbook along with Jean-Luc and Pam. It was not Heat a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or pot.
only great fun getting to test cook some of the recipes, Moving quickly, melt the butter and add the flour-
but most importantly it helped give us an easy answer coated meat. Brown the alpaca pieces on each side
when customers would ask, How do I cook alpaca? until caramelized. Cook the meat in batches so as
The meat from this farm is sold primarily online since, not to overcrowd the pan. Next, add the vegetables
according to Knights, Cas-Cad-Nac Farms online and continue to saut. Use a wooden spoon to scrape
sales are working well and are easier for them to manage the bottom of the pan as you cook the vegetables.
since theyre such a busy, multi-faceted operation. This should help release the solids stuck on the
The Lutz family has had their farm on the southern bottom. After about 3 minutes, add the dark beer.
slope of Mt. Ascutney since 1997. Their current herd Continuing to scrape the solids off the bottom of the
numbers between 200 and 300 animals depending pan, add the tomato pure, thyme, and bay leaf and
upon the time of year. Cas-Cad-Nac Farm has won bring to a very gentle simmer. You may need to add a
many awards, including the Large Breeder of the Year bit of water, making sure the liquid just barely covers
(2017, 2012) and Reserve Large Breeder of the Year the meat and vegetables.
(2013, 2014) from the nationally acclaimed Futurity
Show, which is held each April in Kansas City, Missouri. Simmer the stew for about 1 hours until the meat
In addition to selling breeding stock domestically and is tender. Adjust for seasoning.
internationally, the Lutzes also co-own the Vermont
Fiber Mill & Studio in Brandon, Vermont, where the The stew will
majority of the farms annual fiber clip is processed and taste better
sold. For more information visit CCNFalpacas.com. the next
day, as all
stews do, so
plan ahead.
To serve,
top each
bowl with
a spoonful
Tell them you of sour
cream, and
saw it in accompany
with a piece
of hearty
The Bridge! bread.
Photo by First Light Studios Enjoy!
T H E BR I D GE N O V E M BER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 PA GE 13
PA GE 14 N O V E M B ER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 T H E BR I D GE
C a l e n d a r o f E ve n t s
Community
Events
Events happening
November 16December 9
THURSDAY, NOV. 16
Reframing Aging. The public is invited to
Central Vermont Council on Agings Annual
Meeting. An opportunity to meet Central
Vermont Council on Aging board and staff
and learn of the many ways CVCOA is looking
to the future of supporting older Vermonters.
Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman will be
the keynote speaker. 9 a.m.noon. the Charlmont
Restaurant, 116 Vt Route 15W, Morrisville.
smason@cvcoa.org
Norwich University Writers Series: John
Hausdoerffer. Hausdoerffer is Professor of
Environment, Sustainability, and Philosophy
at Western State Colorado University, where
he also serves as Executive Director of the
Center for Environment & Sustainability and
as the Director of the Master in Environmental
Management program. 4 p.m. Norwich
University, Kreitzberg Library Multipurpose
room, Northfield.
Open Forum on Addiction Recovery and
How it Affects Families. Dr. Ellamarie Russo-
DeMara will be talking about addiction recovery,
how it affects families and how gratitude and
a strong support system play a crucial role in
treatment. 5:306:30 p.m. Twin River Health
Center, 108 N. Main St., White River Junction.
280-1303.
End the Cycle of Holiday Weight Gain. Learn
healthy ways to manage stress and anxiety in your
body, as well as the importance of self-care and
prioritizing your health in the holiday season. 67
p.m. Hunger Mountain Co-op community room,
Montpelier. $8 members; $12 non-members.
RSVP: info@hungermountain.coop
The Ghost of Lord Balfour: Palestine on the
100th Anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.
Mark Hage, Kathy Shapiro and Wafic Faour,
activists with Vermonters for Justice in Palestine,
will explore the meaning and intersections of
the100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration
and 50th anniversary of Israels brutal military
occupation of Palestinian lands. 7 p.m. Kellogg-
Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier.
223-3338.
In Our Own Back Yard: Bill Schbart. Schubart
discusses his new book Lila & Theron and the
changes in the rural culture in Vermont. 7 p.m.
Stowe Free Library, 90 Pond St., Stowe. 253-6145
FRIDAY, NOV. 17
Immerse yourself in a weekend of Spanish
PAINTING CLASS
The perfect Holiday Gift for an artist?
Individual lessons that will bring more success immediately. Lots of
affordable high quality options are available. For more information
contact Jo atmackenziejotom@gmail.com454-7330 and visit me
atJomackenzie.com
with Learn Spanish VT: Beginners Weekend.
Nov. 1719. Join Carlos Reyes, a native Spanish
speaker for a weekend of Spanish Immersion in
Montpelier. 3 Days, 16 hours and all the Spanish
you can absorb. A full cultural and language
experience. Learn Spanish VT will help you
break the language barrier. $250 (some discounts
may apply) for ages 15+. Spaces limited. Find out
more at www.learnspanishvt.com, 279-2070
Motivation to Run Through the Winter. Ditch
the winter blues and stick to your running plan.
Learn how to set yourself up for success through
the holiday season and beyond. 67:30 p.m.
Hunger Mountain Co-op community room,
Montpelier. Free. RSVP: info@hungermountain.
coop
SATURDAY, NOV. 18
Immerse yourself in a weekend of Spanish
with Learn Spanish VT: Beginners Weekend.
See event description under Nov. 17.
Winter Clothing Drive. Free good quality
clothing is available at the Old Schoolhouse
Common gym. If you have good quality clothes
to donate, please drop them off at the library
during the week before the event. 9 a.m.1 p.m.
Jaquith Public Library, School St., Marshfield.
426-3581
Orchard Valley Holiday Market. Join us for
this thoughtful shopping experience in time
for holiday gift-giving featuring fine artists and
retailers. Crafts, books, local products, and so
much more. 10:30 a.m.3:30 p.m. Vermont
College of Fine Arts gallery, 36 College St.,
Montpelier. 456-7400; orchardvalley@ovws.org
GED Testing: Barre. 11 a.m.4 p.m. Barre
Learning Center, 46 Washington St., Barre.
476-4588
The Bradford Historical Society Museum
Open House. On display among local artifacts
is an 1810 Wilson Globe and a special exhibit of
the impact of World War I on the local area. 15
p.m. 172 N. Main, Bradford. Free. 222-4423.
Plan and Deliver: Childbirth Essentials. This
interactive class focuses on evidence-based
knowledge and holistic care for late pregnancy,
labor and immediate postpartum. 68 p.m. Well
Space, 23 Summer St., Barre. Register: http://
www.goodbeginningscentralvt.org/what-we-do/
the-birthing-year/
SUNDAY, NOV. 19
Immerse yourself in a weekend of Spanish
with Learn Spanish VT: Beginners Weekend.
See event description under Nov. 17.
MONDAY, NOV. 20
Play Reading- Neil Simons Come Blow
Your Horn Come participate in reading Neil
Simons comedy. Scripts provided; parts chosen
at random. Fine to listen rather than read. 6:30
STRATEGIC PLANNER WANTED
City of Montpeliers Senior Activity Center seeks experienced consultant to facilitate a strategic
planning process between December 2017 and April 2018. The Strategic Planning process is part of
a larger national accreditation effort. To request full RFP, please email jclar@montpelier-vt.orgor
seewww.montpelier-vt.org/msac. Proposals preferred byDecember 1.
Performing
THEATER, DANCE,
Arts STORYTELLING, COMEDY
Nov. 16: LNT Aid! Vermont Stars come out for
Lost Nation Theater. 4th annual concert with mega-talented & fun artists doing their remarkable
respective things to raise much needed funds for Lost Nation Theater. Great tunes, great laughs great
storytelling with Vermont stars of stage and song! With Patti Casey, Jon Gailmor, Taryn Noelle (with
Dan Boomhower), and George Woodard, plus Special Guest Star, Emmy-Winner Gordon Clapp. 7:30
p.m. Montpelier City Hall Arts Center, 39 Main St., Montpelier. $25. 229-0492. lostnationtheater.org
Nov. 29: Thanksgiving Chautauqua. Tim Jennings & Leanne Ponder, Tom Azarian. Our
Chautauquas are a variety series of close-up unamplified performances for adults, children, and mixed
audiences. 79 p.m. 4-Corners Schoolhouse 945 Vincent Flats Rd., East Montpelier. Adults $10;
children $5. Limited seating. tim@folktale.net. www/folktale.net/chautauqua.html. 223-9103
Dec. 2: A Childs Christmas in Wales Echo Valley Community Arts will be presenting its annual
dramatic readings of A Childs Christmas in Wales. Local actors, Tom Blachly, Elizabeth Wilcox,
Naomi Flanders, Lila Brooke, Xavier Woogmaster and Demetrius Wickenheiser with fiddler Susan
Reid will bring their talents together to enhance the magic of Dylan Thomas famous Christmas
poem. 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, Rt. 2, Plainfield. Suggested donation:
adults $10; kids $5. Goodies and cider after each reading.
For more event listings and event details visit montpelierbridge.com
p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., http://www.bearpondbooks.com/event/bill-
Montpelier. Email questions to Nancy Schulz: mares-jeff-danziger-full-vermonty
SaddleShoes2@gmail.com
SATURDAY, NOV. 25
TUESDAY, NOV. 21
SUNDAY, NOV. 26
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 22
Grief and Bereavement Support Group. Open
to anyone who has experienced the death of a
MONDAY, NOV. 27
loved one. 1011:30 a.m. VCHHH, 600 Granger Montpelier Senior Activity Center Open
Rd., Barre. 223-1878. House. All are invited to join us for class
performances, light refreshments, and socializing
with friends and acquaintances. It is also the first
THURSDAY, NOV. 23 day of winter class registration. Learn all about
Thanksgiving Day Service. Gratitude is a healing MSAC and partner organizations. 57 p.m. 58
power. Please join us for a special Thanksgiving Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518
Day Service. 10 a.m.a.m. First Church of Christ,
Scientist, 145 State St., Montpelier.
LBTGQ Film & Discussion Series. Classic
45th Annual Free Community Thanksgiving film about a boys prep school and how the
Dinner. Organized by the Washington County homophobic culture of the time deals with a
Youth Service Bureau/Boys & Girls Club. non-conforming student (1956; 122 minutes). 6
Traditional Thanksgiving menu. Home deliveries p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St.,
available. 11:30 a.m.2 p.m. Bethany Church, Montpelier. 223-3338.
115 Main St., Montpelier. For more info. or to
Grief and Bereavement Support Group. Open
volunteer: 229-9151. to anyone who has experienced the death of a
East Montpelier church to hold free loved one. 67:30 p.m. VCHHH, 600 Granger
Thanksgiving dinner. Hosted by Crossroads Rd., Barre. 223-1878.
Christian Church. A traditional menu of turkey
with all the fixings and dessert will be served.
Live Storytelling Workshop Group. Come
give and receive friendly and productive group
Seatings at noon and 1 p.m. Fassett Rd. off Rt. 14 feedback on true personal stories for Extempo
in E. Montpelier. Call 279-6225 for reservations. or The Moth. We will help wherever youre
at, from brainstorming which of your life
FRIDAY, NOV. 24 experiences could work as stories, to testing out
Bill Mares & Jeff Danziger: The Full
a story to make tweaks before the performance.
Youre also welcome to attend just to listen and
Vermonty Authors Bill Mares & Jeff Danziger give feedback. 67:45 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard
offer a book signing for The Full Vermonty:
Vermont in the Age of Trump. 11 a.m.1 p.m.
Library, East Montpelier Room, 135 Main St.,
Montpelier.
Bear Pond Book, 77 Main St., Montpelier. Free.
T H E BR I D GE N O V E M BER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 PA GE 15
Visual Arts
EXHIBITS
Through Nov. 17: One Hundred Somethings. An
exhibit of art by first-year students at Lyndon State
College. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery at Johnson
State College. jsc.edu/Dibden. 635-1481.
Through Nov. 18: Show 21 at The Front.
Contemporary Vermont artists, including guest
artist Alisa Dworsky. The Front, 6 Barre St.,
Montpelier. www.thefrontvt.com. info@thefrontvt.
com. 552-0877
Through Dec. 15: Stephen Sharon, Color
Communication. Large abstract color paintings.
Pratt Gallery at Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Rd.,
Plainfield. 322-1604. artcommittee@goddard.edu
Through Dec. 15: Ren Schall, New England
Stone Portraits. Paintings. Morse Block Deli, 260
N. Main St., Barre
Through Dec. 16: The Paletteers of VT Fall Art
Show. Aldrich Public Library, Milne Room, 6
TUESDAY, NOV. 28
Guidance on Filling Out FAFSA. These informal
workshops offer guidance on filling out the
FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student
Aid, and the Vermont grant application. Students
and parents also can ask questions and learn about
the college financial aid process, including how to
apply for scholarships. 5 p.m. U-32, 930 Gallison
Hill Rd., Montpelier. https://www.fsaid.ed.gov
Bill McKibben Reading Radio Free Vermont
Environmentalist and New York Times Bestselling
author Bill McKibbon reads and talks about his
debut novel, Radio Free Vermont: a Fable of
Resistance. Q&A and booksigning to follow,
with samples from the Alchemist Brewery. 7
p.m. Bear Pond Books, 77 Main St., Montpelier.
bearpondbooks.com
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 29
Rick Winston presents Contemporary Iran in
the Films of Asghar Farhadi. These provocative
films present a microcosm of modern Iran and the
inevitable complications that arise, especially when
interactions cross class and gender differences.
An Osher Lifelong Learner Institute program.
12:302:30 p.m. Savoy Theater, 28 Main St.,
Montpelier. www.learn.uvm.edu/osher
Fall Science Speaker Series Set at Johnson
State: John OMeara. John OMeara, St.
Michaels College astronomy and physics
professor, the atomic history of the universe.
45:15 p.m. Johnson State College, Bentley Hall,
Room 207, Johnson. http://jsc.edu/EHSseminars.
GED Testing: Barre. 49 p.m. Barre Learning
Center, 46 Washington St., Barre. 476-4588
Planning Your Advance-Care. Learn how to start
the conversation about what you want for end-of-
life care, leaving you with time to focus on what is
important. Understand available options, fill out
the Advance Directive, and get tips for talking to
your family. 56 p.m. Hunger Mountain Co-op
community room, Montpelier. Free. RSVP: info@
hungermountain.coop
Calendar of Events
Washington St., Barre. paletteers.us
Through Dec. 22: Holiday Pop Up Art Shop.
Highlighting many colorful and fun local Vermont
artists work.at affordable prices! There are many
distinctive, fun and beautiful options of locally
made craft items and paintings to choose from, so
stop by to take a look and view the art exhibits at
the same time. Center for Arts and Learning, Barre
St., Montpelier. 262-6035. twwoodgallery.org
info@twwoodgallery.org.
Through Dec. 23: Fantastical Landscapes and
Imaginary Places. Features over 100 works by 53
artists. Artists were invited to depict those places
that exist only in their imaginations. The exhibit
includes 3 dimensional works, photographs,
monoprints, and mixed media works as well as
paintings in oil, watercolor and acrylic. Bryan
Memorial Gallery, 180 Main St., Jeffersonville.
www.bryangallery.org
Through Dec. 29: Nick Neddo, Primeval
Pigments. Original artwork created from
wildcrafted media. Neddo makes every part of his
creations utilizing fibers, furs, berries, beeswax,
mud, sticks and stones to create the tools of his
THURSDAY, NOV. 30
Writing Your PoemCity Poem: Growing
a Poem from Idea to Literary Art with Rick
Agran. Writing your PoemCity poem is
designed to help you grown an idea, story, or
feeling into a poem. Any skill level; third in three-
part series. 6:30 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library,
135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338.
FRIDAY, DEC. 1
Immerse yourself in a weekend of Spanish with
Learn Spanish VT: Intermediate Weekend. Dec.
13. With native Spanish speaker Carlos Reyes.
A full cultural and language experience: speak,
sing, cook, play and learn conversational and
listening skills. For business, travel or continued
learning. Learn Spanish VT will help you break
the language barrier. $250 (some discounts may
apply) for ages 15+. Spaces limited. Find out more
at www.learnspanishvt.com, 279-2070
Surviving the Future. Panelist discuss aftermath
of the market economy, inspired by David
Flemings lifes work. 7 p.m. Sterling College, 16
Sterling Dr., Craftsbury Common. Free. https://
sterlingcollege.edu
SATURDAY, DEC. 2
Immerse yourself in a weekend of Spanish with
Learn Spanish VT: Intermediate Weekend. See
event description under Dec. 1
SUNDAY, DEC. 3
Immerse yourself in a weekend of Spanish with
Learn Spanish VT: Intermediate Weekend. See
event description under Dec. 1
Dance, Sing, and Jump Around! A family dance
for all ages. Circle and line dances and singing
games, all taught and called. Live traditional
music. 34:30 p.m. Plainfield Town Hall Opera
House, rt. 2, Plainfield. Suggested donation $5 per
adult. Free for children. No one is turned away.
http://dancesingandjumparound.weebly.com
creative process paintbrushes, ink, charcoal,
paint, papers and pens. The works themselves are
also crafted from homemade paints, inks, charcoals
and papers. Pavilion Office Building, 109 State
St., 5th Floor, Montpelier. Photo ID is required for
admission.
Through Dec. 29: Craig Mooney, Green
Mountain State of Mind. Landscape paintings
that provide the viewer with a welcome escape to
far-off environments. Vermont Supreme Court
Gallery, 111 State St., Montpelier
Through Dec. 29: Cindy Griffith, Magic in
the Landscape. Inspired by nature, Griffiths
work is characterized by amplified colors and
textures creating a magical-realism effect in her
representational art. The Common Space Gallery at
River Arts, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisville. riverartsvt.
org
Through Dec. 30: August Burns & Heidi Broner.
New American realism. T.W. Wood Art Gallery,
46 Barre St., Montpelier.
Through Dec. 30: Vermont Landscapes. 38
paintings by 18 artists, all of whom paint in
Vermont, can be seen in the public spaces of the
Community Song Circles. Every first Sunday.
A community sing-along open to all ages and
musical abilities. We use the popular songbooks
Rise Up Singing and Rise Again. 68 p.m. Center
for Arts and Learning, 46 Barre St., Montpelier.
Free; donations welcome. vtcommunitysing@
gmail.com
MONDAY, DEC. 4
Robins Nest Nature Playgroup. Outdoor
playgroup for parents, caregivers and children ages
0-5. Join us for two hours of spontaneous play,
exploration, discovery, song, nature-inspired art
and oral storytelling. Based entirely outdoors; dress
accordingly. 10 a.m.noon. North Branch Nature
Center, 713 Elm St., Montpelier. Donations
welcome. www.northbranchnaturecenter.org.
229-6206
TUESDAY, DEC. 5
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6
Walk-Through Wednesdays at Orchard Valley.
Join us one Wednesday of each month for an
introductory visit to the OVWS grades school
(8:309:30 a.m.) and our mixed-age kindergarten
and Farm & Forest classes (9:3010:30 a.m.)
on our East Montpelier campus. Campus tour
and Q&A time during each. 2290 VT-14, East
Montpelier. enrollment@ovws.org. 456-7400
Grief and Bereavement Support Group. Open
to anyone who has experienced the death of a
loved one. 1011:30 a.m. VCHHH, 600 Granger
Rd., Barre. 223-1878.
Rick Winston presents Contemporary Iran in
the Films of Asghar Farhadi. About Elly. These
provocative films present a microcosm of modern
Iran and the inevitable complications that arise,
Lamoille County Courthouse on the first and
second floors. 154 Main St., Hyde Park. http://
www.bryangallery.org/exhibitdetail.php?gallery=50
Through Dec. 31: John F. Parker, Assemblage
Art. Sculptural wall pieces. White River Gallery,
35 S. Windsor St., S. Royalton.
Dec. 130: Members Art Show and Festival of
Trees & Light. Brings together the community to
share and celebrate the season through decorated
evergreens, a Hanukkah display and over 100
artworks by our members. Opening reception:
Dec. 1, 57 p.m. Helen Day Art Center, 90
Pond St., Stowe. https://www.helenday.com/
community/150-2016-members-art-show-2
SPECIAL EVENTS
Dec. 1: Montpelier Art Walk. Visit art exhibits
at participating downtown venues. Many will
have the artist in attendance and refreshments
for art viewers. Guidebooks will be available at
participating business. 48 p.m. Downtown
Montpelier. montpelieralive.org
especially when interactions cross class and gender
differences. An Osher Lifelong Learner Institute
program. 12:302:30 p.m. Savoy Theater, 28
Main St., Montpelier. www.learn.uvm.edu/osher
Fall Science Speaker Series Set at Johnson
State: Kent McFarland. Kent McFarland,
Vermont Center for Ecostudies, natural history
and conservation of Vermont butterflies. 45:15
p.m. Johnson State College, Bentley Hall, Room
207, Johnson. http://jsc.edu/EHSseminars.
The Power is in Your Hands. You will be shown
hand yoga postures (Mudras) to help strengthen
and open lungs. Some background will be shared
on the hands by Frances McManus who has
been a hand and foot Reflexologist for 18 years
and teacher of yoga for 30 years. 5:307:30 p.m.
Hunger Mountain Co-op community room,
Montpelier. $10 members; $20 non-members.
RSVP: info@hungermountain.coop
The Wonderful World of Bats with Jerry
Schneider. This interactive talk with slides
helps people move beyond old stereotypes to
an understanding of the importance of bats for
farmers, fruit growers, the rain forest, and us.
6:45 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, School St.,
Marshfield.
THURSDAY, DEC. 7
FRIDAY, DEC. 8
Country Christmas A Holiday Celebration. Dec.
89. Come visit the Mad River Valley during the
Holiday Season. Help our shops, galleries, inns
and restaurants welcome winter in style with this
fun-filled two day event. Kids of all ages join the
merriment with indoor and outdoor
PA GE 16 N O V E M B ER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 T H E BR I D GE
Live Music
VENUES
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. Other shows
T.B.A. bagitos.com.
Every Wed.: Open Mic
Charlie Os World Famous. 70 Main St.
Montpelier. Free. 223-6820.
Every Tues.: Karaoke, 9 p.m1 a.m.
Nov. 17: Lewis Franco & the Missing Cats
(swing) 6 p.m.; The Cop Outs (Celtic punk) 9
p.m.
Nov. 18: Clever Girls/Some Hollow/1881 (rock)
9 p.m.
Nov. 20: Eric Nassau (acoustic folk) 9 p.m.
Nov. 22: BA Funkhouse (soul rock) 9 p.m.
Nov. 24: Scott Graves & Chris Martin (acoustic
rock 6 p.m.; Papas Porch (high energy bluegrass)
9 p.m.
Nov. 25: John Lackard Band (blues) 9 p.m.
The Den at Harrys Hardware. 3087 Main St.,
Cabot. Free.
Nov. 18: Katie Trautz, 57 p.m.
Dec. 2: Barry Hayes
Gustos. 28 Prospect St., Barre. 476-7919.
Nov. 17: Jeff Shelley (acoustic) 57 p.m. No cover;
MIRAGE (rock cover band) 9 p.m. $5.
Nov. 18: Latin/Salsa Dance party w/ Papi Javi, 9
p.m. $3.
Nov. 22: NOS4a2 (hard rock covers) 9 p.m. $5.
Nov. 24: Stone Bullet (hard rock) 9 p.m $5.
Nov. 25: DJ Lafountaine (Top 40 pop/trance) 9
p.m. $3.
Positive Pie. 10 p.m. 22 State St., Montpelier. 229-
activities, including a visit with Santa. http://www.
madrivervalley.com/event/country-christmas
SATURDAY, DEC. 9
Country Christmas A Holiday Celebration. See
event description under Dec. 8.
Montpelier Memory Caf. The Cafe is a social
gathering where people in early to mid-stage
memory loss disorders, and their care partners,
can come together to connect and support one
another in a relaxed, non-judgmental atmosphere.
1011:30 a.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center,
58 Barre St., Montpelier. Call Liz Dodd at 229-
Calendar of Events
0453. positivepie.com.
Dec. 1: Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Benefit With
BOSSMAN (reggae) 10:30 p.m. By donation.
Dec. 8: Lespecial (electronic) 10:30 p.m. $5.
Whammy Bar. 7 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., 7:30 p.m. 31
County Rd., Calais. Thurs., Free. whammybar1.com.
Every Wed.: Open Mic
Nov. 16: Jenn and John (original Americana/folk/
rock)
Nov. 17: Novak-Nanni (rock/Americana)
Nov. 18: Silver Maples (Halle Toulis /Louisa
Franco /Ava Clithero)
Nov. 25: Papas Porch (bluegrass)
Nov. 30: Dave Keller and The Maple Corner Blues
All-Stars (blues)
Dec. 1: Penny Arcade (jazz/swing)
Dec. 2: Inner Fire District (Klezmer)
SPECIAL EVENTS
Nov. 16: Johnson State College hosts Choral
Concert. Choral groups from Johnson State and
Saint Michaels colleges and Castleton University
will perform In Windsor Forest and other works.
8 p.m. Johnson State College, Dibden Center
for the Arts, Johnson. $5 (cash only.) Reserve:
jscboxoffice@jsc.edu. 635-1476
Nov. 1819: Montpelier Chamber Orchestra:
A Gift Far Greater. Includes performances of
Mozarts Symphony No. 29 in A Major, K.201,
and Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian
Carlo Menotti. Six soloists. Nov. 18, 7 p.m; Nov.
19, 4 p.m. Montpelier City Hall, 39 Main St.,
Montpelier. Free. Reservations recommended.
montpelierchamberorchestra.org.
Nov. 18: An Evening of Gospel with The Small
Choir. Part of the Montpelier Community Gospel
Choir. An a cappella selection of traditional and
9630 for more details.
GED Testing: Barre. 1 a.m.4 p.m. Barre
Learning Center, 46 Washington St., Barre. 476-
4588
Winter Owl Exploration. We will travel to Dead
Creek WMA to view hunting Short-eared owls.
Afterwards we will visit nearby spots in search of
Northern Saw-whet, Eastern Screech, Long-eared,
Barred, and Great Horned Owls. 38 p.m. North
Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm St., Montpelier.
$10 members; $20 non-members. Pre-registration
required: 229-6206
contemporary gospel music. 7 p.m. Waitsfield
United Church, 4335 Main St., Waitsfield. By
donation. vtgospel.com
Nov. 18: Sharon Shannon Sacred Earth
Tour. Sacred Earth is Irish accordion master and
music producer, Sharon Shannons, first new
studio album in 3 years and her 10ths tudio
album to date. There are Irish influences here
of course but these are cheerfully mixed in with
often unexpected styles from around the world,
including for the first time, Africa. 7:30 p.m. Barre
Opera House, 6 N. Main St., Barre. $1830.
Barreoperahouse.org
Nov. 30: Music at Noon series: Lynnette
Combs. 900 Years of Organ Music in 45
Minutes. The series serves as a short respite in the
historic sanctuary with local musical offerings.
Noon12:45 p.m. Christ Church, 64 State St.,
Montpelier. Free; Donations accepted for local
food shelf.
Nov. 30: A Celtic Family Christmas Tour. Join
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, the
award-winning fiddle virtuosos. The duo and their
children bring the Cape Breton Christmas to you
with fiddle and step dancing. 7 p.m. St. Johnsbury
Academy, Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury. $1557.
www.natalieanddonnell.com
Dec. 2: Vermont Fiddle Orchestra Winter
Concert. Under the directorship of David
Kaynor, the VFO will perform a concert featuring
Northern and Nordic fiddle music traditions
with tunes from Norway, Sweden, Shetland Isles,
Ireland, Scotland and New England.7 p.m.
Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier.
Adults $15; seniors/students $12; kids 12 and
under free. vtfiddleorchestra.org. 229-4191.
Dec. 7: Music at Noon series: Arthur Zorn.
Send your event listing to
calendar@montpelierbridge.com.
Deadline for print in the next
issue is November 30
Poetry of the Season with community readers and
organ improvisations by Arthur Zorn. The series
serves as a short respite in the historic sanctuary
with local musical offerings. Noon12:45 p.m.
Christ Church, 64 State St., Montpelier. Free;
Donations accepted for local food shelf.
Dec. 3: Benefit Concert with Vermont Fiddle
Orchestra. Benefit concert for the Moretown
United Methodist Church. Refreshments, bake
sale and lots of toe-tapping joyful music! 2 p.m.
Harwood Union High School Auditorium, 458
Route 100, Moretown. Adults $10; seniors $8;
kids ages 1218 $8; family (2 adults & 2 kids)
$30; kids 11 and under free. 496-3505 or 229-
4191.
Dec. 1 and Dec. 3: Vermont Philharmonic
presents Handels Messiah. With Lisa Jablow,
Conductor and soloists Lillian Broderick
(soprano), Ana Maria Ugarte (alto), Brian Landry
(tenor) and Tim Wilfong (baritone). Adults $20;
seniors $15; students $5.
Dec. 1: 7:30 p.m. St. Augustine Church, 16
Barre St., Montpelier. vermontphilharmonic.
ticketleap.com/vermont-philharmonic-messiah-
concert/
Dec. 3: 2 p.m. Barre Opera House, 6 N. Main
St., Barre. barreoperahouse.org
Dec. 9: The Bridge benefit concert featuring
David Mallett. Join us for a benefit concert
celebrating The Bridge and local journalism,
featuring renowned singer/songwriterDavid
Mallett! The Sky Blue Boys, along with Banjo
Dan and Will Lindner will also be special guests.
7:30 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St.,
Montpelier. Tickets are $20 and all proceeds
benefit The Bridge, now in its 24th year. https://
form.jotform.com/72883934676171 or follow
link at montpelierbridge.com.
T H E BR I D GE N O V E M BER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 PA GE 17
Weekly
ARTS & CRAFTS
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.
Tuesday Night Knitters. Every week except
for the 1st Tuesday of each month. All levels
encouraged! A small but dedicated group
of knitters invite you to share your projects,
questions and enthusiasm for the fiber arts! At the
Cutler Memorial Library, 151 High Street (US
Route 2), Plainfield. 454-8504, www.cutlerlibrary.
org.
Crafters Group.Bring your own projects, or
work together on projects to sell to benefit the
Senior Activity Center. We can all learn from
each other! Every Wed., noon2 p.m.Montpelier
Senior Activity Center,58 Barre St., Montpelier.
223-2518.
Photography Club. Every Thurs., noon1
p.m.Led by professional photographer Linda
Hogan. Great chance to get and give some
feedback on your work and see what others are
doing. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58
Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Drop-in River Arts Elder Art Group. Work on
art, share techniques and get creative with others.
Bring your own art supplies. For elders 60+. Every
Fri., 10 a.m.noon. River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant
St., Morrisville. Free. 888-1261. riverartsvt.org.
BICYCLING
Open Shop Nights. Volunteer-run community
bike shop: bike donations and repairs. Wed., 46
p.m.; other nights. Freeride Montpelier, 89 Barre
St., Montpelier. 552-3521. freeridemontpelier.org.
BOOKS & WORDS
Lunch in a Foreign Language. Bring lunch and
practice your language skills with neighbors.
Noon1 p.m. Mon., American Sign Language;
Tues., Italian; Wed., Spanish; Thurs., French.
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St.,
Montpelier. 223-3338.
Club de Franais Intermdiaire.Lecture
(reading). Conversation. Grammaire. Every Mon.,
12;452 p.m.Montpelier Senior Activity Center,
58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Italian Group. A fun-loving group meets to
converse in Italian. Every Tues.,1:152:45
p.m.Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre
St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Ongoing Reading Group. Improve your reading
and share some good books. Books chosen by
group. Thurs., 910 a.m. Central Vermont Adult
Basic Education, Montpelier Learning Center,
100 State St. 223-3403.
BUSINESS, FINANCE,
COMPUTERS, EDUCATION
One-on-One Technology Help Sessions. Free
assistance to patrons needing help with their
computers and other personal electronic devices.
30 min. one-on-one sessions every Tues., 10 a.m.
noon. Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St.,
Waterbury. Free. Registration required: 244-7036.
FOOD & DRINK
Community Meals in Montpelier. All welcome.
Free.
Mon.: Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., 11
a.m.12:30 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. Rt. 2, E.
Montpelier. $4 suggested donation. 223-3322.
twinvalleyseniors.org.
Calendar of Events
Feast Together or Feast To Go. All proceeds
benefit the Feast Senior Meal program. Tues. and
Fri., noon1 p.m. Live music every Tues., 10:30
11:45 a.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58
Barre St., Montpelier. Seniors 60+ free with $5
suggested donation; under 60 $7. Reservations:
262-6288 orFEAST@montpelier-vt.org.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Bone Building Exercises. Open to all ages. Every
Mon., Wed. and Fri. 7:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.
Twin Valley Senior Center, 4583 U.S. Rte. 2, E.
Montpelier. Free. 223-3322. twinvalleyseniors.
org.
Tai Chi for Seniors. Led by trained volunteers.
Advanced class: every Mon. and Fri., 12 p.m.
Beginners class: Tues. and Thurs. 1011 a.m.
Twin Valley Senior Center, 4583 U.S. Rte. 2, E.
Montpelier. Free. 223-3322. twinvalleyseniors.
org.
Living Strong Group. Volunteer-led group.
Sing while exercising. Open to all seniors. Every
Mon., 2:303:30 p.m. and every Fri., 23 p.m.
Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St.,
Montpelier. Free. Register: 223-2518. msac@
montpelier-vt.org.
Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management Program.
Education and support to help adults at high risk
of developing type 2 diabetes adopt healthier
eating and exercise habits that can lead to weight
loss and reduced risk. Every Tues., 10:3011:30
a.m. Kingwood Health Center Conference
Room (lower level), 1422 Rt. 66, Randolph. Free.
Register: 728-7714.
Tai Chi for Falls Prevention. With Diane Des
Bois. Beginners and mixed levels welcome. 2:15
p.m. Barre Area Senior Center, 131 S., Main St.,
#4, Barre. Free. Register: 479-9512.
Tai Chi Classes for All Ages. Every Tues. and
Thurs., 1011 a.m. Twin Valley Senior Center,
Rte. 2, Blueberry Commons, E. Montpelier. Free.
223-3322. twinvalleyseniors@myfairpoint.net
HIV Testing. Vermont CARES offers fast oral
testing. Wed., 25 p.m. 29 State St., Ste. 14 (above
Rite Aid), Montpelier. Free and anonymous. 371-
6224. vtcares.org.
KIDS & TEENS
The Basement Teen Center. Safe drop-in space
to hang out, make music, play pool, ping-pong
and board games and eat free food. All activities
are free. Mon.Thurs., 26 p.m., Fridays 3-10 p.m. group, meets the third Tuesday evening of the
Basement Teen Center, 39 Main St., Montpelier.
BasementTeenCenter.org
Story Time and Playgroup. With Sylvia Smith for org
story time and Cassie Bickford for playgroup. For
ages birth6 and their grown-ups. We follow the Friday Night Group. Social gathering of LGBTQ
Twinfield Union School calendar and do not hold
the program the days Twinfield is closed. Wed., 10 month, 6:30 8:00 pm. Free pizza and soft drinks.
11:30 a.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St.,
Marshfield. Free. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.
org.
Lego Club. Use our large Lego collection to create
and play. All ages. Thurs., 34:30 p.m. Kellogg-
Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Free.
223-3338. kellogghubbard.org.
Dads & Kids Playgroup. Playtime and free dinner.
Every Thurs., 57 p.m. For Dads and their children
ages birth5. Family Center of Washington
County, 383 Sherwood Dr., Montpelier. fcwcvt.org
Drop-in Kinder Arts Program. Innovative
exploratory arts program with artist/instructor
Kelly Holt. Age 35. Fri., 10:30 a.m.noon. River
Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisville. 888-1261.
RiverArtsVT.org.
Teen Fridays. Find out about the latest teen books,
use the gym, make art, play games and if you need
to, do your homework. Fri., 35 p.m. Jaquith
Public Library, 122 School St., Marshfield. 426-
3581.
Mad River Valley Youth Group. Sun., 79 p.m.
Meets at various area churches. Call 497-4516 for
location and information.
MUSIC & DANCE
Barre-Tones Womens Chorus. Open rehearsal.
Find your voice with 50 other women. Mon.,
7 p.m. Capital City Grange, Rt. 12, Berlin.
BarretonesVT.com. 552-3489.
Dance or Play with the Swinging Over 60 Band.
Danceable tunes from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Recruiting musicians. Tues., 10:30 a.m.11:45 a.m.
Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St.,
Montpelier. 223-2518.
Monteverdi Young Singers Chorus Rehearsal.
New chorus members welcome. Wed., 45 p.m.
Montpelier. Call 229-9000 for location and more
information.
Ukelele Group. All levels welcome. Thurs., 68
p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre
St. 223-2518.
Barre Rock City Chorus. We sing songs from
the 60s80s and beyond. All songs are taught by
rote using word sheets, so ability to read music is
not required. All ages welcome; children under
13 should come with a parent. Every Thurs.,
6:308:30 p.m. Church of the Good Shepherd, 39
Washington St., Barre.
Gamelan Rehearsals. Sun., 79 p.m. Pratt Center,
Goddard College. Free. 426-3498. steven.light@
jsc.edu. light.kathy@gmail.com.
OUTDOORS
Walks with Joan.Easy to moderate walks around
Montpelier for healthy exercise and conversation.
Every Tues., 1011 a.m.Montpelier Senior Activity
Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Trash Tramps. Walk around Montpelier
collecting trash to help beautify our City. Bring
gloves, other supplies provided. Every Tues., 23
p.m.Tuesdays2-3pm, Montpelier Senior Activity
Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
RECYCLING
Additional Recycling. The Additional Recyclables
Collection Center accepts scores of hard-to-recycle
items. Mon., Wed., Fri., noon6 p.m.; Third Sat.,
9 a.m.1 p.m. ARCC, 540 North Main St., Barre.
$5 per carload. 229-9383 x106. For list of accepted
items, go to cvswmd.org/arcc.
RESOURCES
Onion River Exchange Tool Library. More
than 100 tools both power and manual. Onion
River Exchange is located at 46 Barre Street in
Montpelier. Hours are Wed. and Thurs., 10 a.m.2
p.m. For more info. or to donate tools: 661-8959 or
info@orexchange.com.
SOLIDARITY/IDENTITY
Rainbow Umbrella of Central VT. Adult LGBTQ
Register: 479-3253.
month at 5:45 p.m. for a casual dinner at a local
Deepening Our Jewish Roots. Fun, engaging text
restaurant. The gathering place is 58 Barre St. in
study and discussion on Jewish spirituality. Sun.,
Montpelier. Info: RUCVTAdmin@PrideCenterVT.
4:456:15 p.m. Yearning for Learning Center,
Montpelier. 223-0583. info@yearning4learning.
org.
youth, ages 13 22. 2nd and 4th Fridays of the
Supervised by LGBT adults trained by Outright
Vermont. Unitarian Church, Montpelier. For more Roller Derby Open Recruitment and
info, email Nancy: SaddleShoes2@gmail.com Recreational Practice. Central Vermonts
Bowling. Rainbow Umbrella of Central Vermont,
an adult LGBTQ group, bowls at Twin City Lanes
on Sunday afternoons twice a month. For dates and
times, write to RUCVTAdmin@PrideCenterVT.
org
SUPPORT
Turning Point Center. Safe, supportive place
for individuals and their families in or seeking
recovery. Daily, 10 a.m.5 p.m. 489 North Main
St., Barre. 479-7373.
Sun.: Alchoholics Anonymous, 8:30 a.m.
Tues.: Making Recovery Easier workshops,
67:30 p.m.
Wed.: Wits End Parent Support Group, 6 p.m.
Thurs.: Narcotics Anonymous, 6:30 p.m.
Al-Anon. Help for friends and families of
Alcoholics.
Sun.: Trinity Church, 137 Main St.,
Montpelier (back door) 6:157:30 p.m.
Tues.: Bethany Church, 115 Main St.,
Montpelier (basement) noon1 p.m.
Wed.: Bethany Church,115 Main St.,
Montpelier (basement) 78 p.m.
Thurs.: Bethany Church, 115 Main St.,
Montpelier (basement) noon1 p.m
Sat.: Turning Point, N. Main St., Barre, 5 p.m.
(child friendly meeting)
Sex Addicts Anonymous. Mon., 6:30 p.m.
Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier. 552-
3483.
Overeaters Anonymous. Twelve-step program
for physically, emotionally and spiritually
overcoming overeating. Sat., 8:309:30 a.m. at
Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 39
Washington St., Barre. 249-3970.
Mooditude Support Group. A professional and
peer-led support group, not a therapy group.
For people with depression, bipolar disorder,
seasonal affective disorder, dysthymia etc.). Every
Wed., 45 p.m. Bethany Church,115 Main St.,
Montpelier. (downstairs at end of hallway). Free.
223-4111 or 522-0775.
Weight Loss Support Group. Get help and
support on your weight loss journey every Wed.,
67 p.m. Giffords Conference Center, 44 S. Main
St., Randolph. Free. No registration required.
Open to all regardless of where you are in your
weight loss.
Wits End. Support group for parents, siblings,
children, spouses and/or relationship partners of
someone suffering with addiction whether it is
to alcohol, opiates, cocaine, heroin, marijuana or
something else. Every Wed., 68 p.m. Turning
Point Center, 489 N. Main St., Barre. Louise:
279-6378.
NAMI Vermont Connection Recovery Support
Group. For individuals living with mental illness.
Every Fri., 34 p.m. Another Way, 125 Barre St.,
Montpelier. 876-7949. info@namivt.org
SPIRITUALITY
Christian Science Reading Room. You're invited
to visit the Reading Room and see what we have for
your spiritual growth. You can borrow, purchase or
simply enjoy material in a quiet study room. Hours:
Wed.Sat., 11 a.m.2 p.m.; Wed., 57:15 p.m. 145
State St., Montpelier. 223-2477.
A Course in Miracles. A study in spiritual
transformation. Group meets each Tues., 78 p.m.
Christ Episcopal Church, 64 State St., Montpelier.
279-1495.
Christian Counseling. Tues. and Thurs. Daniel
Dr., Barre. Reasonable cost. By appt. only: 479-
0302.
Prayer Meeting. Ecumenical and charismatic
prayer meeting. Every 1st and 3rd Thurs., 6:308
p.m. 8 Daniel Dr., Barre. 479-0302
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. For those
interested in learning about the Catholic faith, or
current Catholics who want to learn more. Wed.,
7 p.m. St. Monica Church, 79 Summer St., Barre.
SPORTS & GAMES
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.
YOGA & MEDITATION
Christian Meditation Group. People of all faiths
welcome. Mon., noon1 p.m. Christ Church,
Montpelier. 223-6043.
Zen Meditation. With Zen Affiliate of Vermont.
Wed., 6:307:30 p.m. 174 River St., Montpelier.
Free. Call for orientation: 229-0164.
Montpelier Shambhala Meditation. Group
meditation practice. Sun., 10 a.m.noon; Wed.,
67 p.m; learn to meditate free instruction
the 1st Wed. of the month. New location:
5 State Street, 2nd floor, Montpelier. info@
montpeliershambhala.org, www.montpelier.
shambhala.org
Sunday Sangha: Community Ashtanga Yoga.
Every Sun., 5:407 p.m. Grateful Yoga, 15 State
St., 3F, Montpelier. By donation.
Send your event listing to
calendar@montpelierbridge.com.
Deadline for print in the next
issue is October 27
PA GE 18 N O V E M B ER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 T H E BR I D GE

From the Publisher, Nat Frothingham

The two letters that follow are from friends of The Bridge Robbie Harold and Bill Perrault.
Robbie Harold lives in Montpelier, is a wonderful writer, and a personal friend. I asked Robbie to write a letter to value The Bridge as we seek financial
support during our current end-of-the-year fundraising drive.
Bill Perrault lives in Montpelier, and this year in January, he phoned to suggest that The Bridge turn its attention to a festering mess that had developed
over at the Econo Lodge on Northfield Street. I asked Bill to describe how The Bridge had been helpful last winter in drawing attention to a situation at
the Econo Lodge that had become so bad that it needed the attention of local government.
Remember what Charles Dickens famously wrote in the opening paragraph of his novel A Tale of Two Cities: It was the best of times, it was the worst
of times,Let me say whats been good and whats not been all that good this past year.First, whats bad? The Bridge is not yet the great paper we
imagine, but sometimes it is a useful paper and a good paper that we resolve to make a better paper.
The Bridge after almost 24 years still cannot offer health insurance to our valued staff members. We are reporting some of the news, typically the news
thats like the low-hanging fruit on the apple tree the news thats easily reached. We can climb to the highest branches of the apple tree. We can
pursue difficult, sometimes complex, sometimes controversial stories, and we are committed to that.
We can offer basic protection to our employees, like health insurance. And we are committed to that. And we can become a paper that is much more
than a could-read paper and more like a must-read paper.
But we need your help and dollars to get there. Whats good? On the good side of the ledger is that ad sales grew this year by 6 percent over the
comparable 10-month period in 2016. Good also is that the community who reads and supports The Bridge now owns and governs the paper through
a not-for-profit board of directors. No one wants The Bridge to disappear.
Thats why a small group of committed early members of our board established a not-for-profit. Becoming a locally based not-for-profit with a
committed board of directors has already prevented us from making mistakes, and meeting and talking has regularly improved the decisions we make.
I am more than just grateful to our many Friends of The Bridge, who serve on our board, who write for us, who criticize the paper, who suggest stories
we ought to write, and who sometimes astonish us. About two months ago, longtime friend of The Bridge David Kelley phoned me with an offer to
bring acclaimed singer and songwriter David Mallett to Montpelier to give a concert that among other things would celebrate the 24th anniversary of
the founding of The Bridge in December 1993. Please read Davids personal invitation to David Malletts concert to benefit The Bridge on page 2.
If you cant join us at the concert, please make a contribution to The Bridge by using the return address envelope in this issue. Or if the envelope is
missing, please write a check made payable to The Bridge and mail it to this address: The Bridge, P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601.
Thanks!

A Letter From Robbie Harold
When I brag to friends from away about why Montpelier is
such a great place to live, I talk about community, civility, the
vibrancy of our local businesses and institutions, the balance
of urban and natural amenities, the sense of feeling valued
here. Social capital is what makes Montpelier work: things
we invest time and energy in, things we treasure, that provide
returns not measurable in dollars.
The Bridge newspaper is both a great example of our regions
social capital and a vital agent in building and maintaining it.
The Bridges news reports and features illuminate areas of local
politics, culture, and sub-communities we mightnt otherwise
see or understand, waking us up to our neighbors concerns
and contributions, both local and global.
The Bridge provides an inclusive space to help us appreciate the
perspectives of fellow citizens who live and think differently
from us. We wont always agree with what we read there, but it
makes us think and, sometimes, empathize. Its calendar pages
help us navigate the sometimes insurmountable opportunities
on offer in a small region with an amazingly vibrant arts and
culture scene.
The Bridge has always been a labor of love. No ones getting
rich as a staffer or contributor. When I subscribe or send
money or an article to The Bridge, Im making a social capital
investment that I know will yield rich returns for me and our
community.
A Letter From Bill Perrault
This letter is written to express my strong support for The
Bridge, Central Vermonts invaluable local newspaper, in the
context of the Fall fundraising drive that is now underway.
I always enjoyed reading the paper but never gave much
thought to the work and professionalism inherent in each
issue. That all changed for me when I reached out to Nat
Frothingham in January of this year out of desperation
regarding the former Brown Derby buildings adjacent to,
and part of, the EconoLodge property on Northfield Street/
Route 12.
Most dictionaries offer rather lean definitions of the term
Fourth Estate. Wikipedia offers a definition that is more to
my liking for purposes of this letter:
a segment of society that wields an indirect but significant
influence on society even though it is not a formally recognized
part of the political system. The most commonly recognized
part of the Fourth Estate is the news media, or press.
In the case of the Brown Derby, the Fourth Estate succeeded
where nothing else did.
My family has lived on Colonial Drive, off Northfield Street,
for the better part of 30 years. Over that time we, along with
our neighbors and everyone else driving north and south on
Northfield Street, observed the slow but steady decline of the
EconoLodge/Brown Derby property, located on one of the
major gateways into our city.
My hopes for an improved streetscape were raised in 2009
when the property owners received Design Review Committee be called an abandoned building ordinance.
and Development Review Board approval to enclose the open And now I come to the point of this lengthy letter. With
balconies on the main EconoLodge structure as part of a larger increasing frustration, in early February 2016, I reached out
renovation. At that time I was informed by city staff that the to Nat Frothingham at The Bridge, who listened patiently and
two buildings in question were to be demolished and the land carefully to my concerns. I asked him if the newspaper might
was then to be green space. I was encouraged. be interested in reporting on the issue and he agreed. I then
Over the following months I observed the renovation of the provided him with a rough history of the problem and copies
main building (the quality of which was disappointing). I also of documents I had secured over the years.
observed increasing amounts of trash, food waste, and graffiti What he did then was extraordinary. He researched the issue
around and on the two vacant buildings. I then contacted deeply, speaking with all parties involved (other than the
city staff again and learned, contrary to what I was first told, owners, who did not respond). When he learned the minutes
that the demolition of the two structures was not a mandated of the May 2016 City Council meeting were not available to
component of the project; rather, the creation of the green him online at City Hall, he actually went to the offices of Orca
space was optional and at the total discretion of the property Media, the company that recorded the meeting, and viewed
owner. Bummer. the entire tape recording - totally above and beyond anything
I continued to inquire about the condition of the entire I expected.
property in the following months. In early May of 2012, then The final product, an editorial, included a comprehensive,
Building Inspector Glen Moore conducted an inspection of cogent summary of all that had transpired over the years. It
the property. Life safety issues being paramount, most of the also strongly advocated for the removal of the two buildings.
focus was appropriately on fire safety and structural problems
To give more credit where credit is due, after the editorial was
in the EconoLodge building, which was occupied on a daily
published, Mayor John Hollar reached out to me and, at his
basis. As for the then-abandoned Brown Derby building and
the ancillary lodging building to the rear, the report in general invitation, I met him on site at the Brown Derby. From that
identified leaking roofs and trash and construction debris point on he communicated with me and energized the city
both outside and stored in each building. The report then toward the much needed ordinance that was recently adopted.
mandated that the buildings be secured against entry, rodent It is very much to his credit that he pushed so hard for the
proof, weather tight and the interiors emptied of contents or ordinance, which ultimately produced the long-desired results.
the building(s) shall be demolished, properly disposed of and So, the Fourth Estate, embodied in The Bridge, stepped in,
the site graded and seeded. The deadline for this action was shed a bright light on a negative situation, and played an
June 7, 2012. I was again encouraged. immense role in improving the appearance of our community.
On October 12, following citations issued under the newly
Fast forward four years (I knew the buildings had never been
adopted ordinance, the two dilapidated buildings were
emptied of trash over that time and indicated to city staff
demolished. Amen to that. Going forward, I encourage all
that the buildings in my opinion constituted an unregulated
above-ground landfill). Nothing at all changed until May of Central Vermonters to not do what I did for years, which is
2016 when I and a contingent of neighbors appeared before to take The Bridge for granted. Clearly, it is an exceptionally
the City Council to express our ongoing concerns. special resource, and I ask all readers to make a financial
contribution during this critical Fall fundraising campaign.
Following that meeting a countless number of huge roll-
off trash containers sat
outside the buildings and
were filled up and hauled
away. The buildings were
emptied of trash, but
the graffiti and physical
deterioration continued.
When I asked what was to
happen next, city staff told
me the removal of the trash
(roughly four years after
the mandated deadline)
was a step in the right
direction but the city had
no legal authority to take
it any further. Planning
and Development Director
Michael Miller informed
me that Montpelier, unlike
Barre, lacked what might
T H E BR I D GE N O V E M BER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 PA GE 19

Opportunity to Purchase now. By the way, I am writing as individual citizen. At the moment,
I am not on the Jump n Splash board.
Electric School Buses
Editor,
Sandra Vitzthum, Montpelier
The Montpelier School district has a rare opportunity to apply for

Letters
money to purchase electric school buses, as part of the settlement with
Volkswagen over their fraudulent diesel emissions tests. Out of the Thanks for the Bike Rack
$17.8 million total, $2.7 million is ear-marked to replace older mass-
Editor:
transit transportation with newer diesel or electric transportation.
Kudos to Central Vermont Medical Center for acting immediately
Electrifying school buses rather than replacing diesel buses with
on a suggestion that I submitted to the patient advocate office.
new diesel buses will help us reach our zero emission goals as well
Earlierthis fall, I made two trips to CVMC for tests. On both
reduce air pollution, which incidentally affects kids (and seniors)
disproportionately. occasions, I entered via the main door and searched in vain for a rack
where I could lock my bicycle. Because the presence of a bicycle rack
At a time when the proposed Republican budget includes cancellation promotes wellness and is a welcoming sign to cyclists, I contacted
of federal tax credits on electric vehicles as of 2018, which experts the patient advocate office and learned that there is a bike rack at the
believe will set back their sales considerably, it is most important for entrance to the emergency department. When I suggested that it be
states and municipalities to step forward. Already cities such as Los Angeles, London, Seattle, re-located to a spot where it would see more use, CVMC did one better. The hospital kept the
and Mexico City have committed to all-electric bus purchases by 2025. Closer to home, rack at the emergency department and added one at the main entrance. Thanks, CVMC, for
Massachusetts has a pilot program underway .
being so prompt and responsive to this request!
Although the consensus is that they pay for themselves over their lifetime, with lower fuel and
maintenance costs, as well as significant health-care savings for Vermonters from less pollution,
the upfront costs for these buses are significant. Let us use these funds as an investment for Nancy Schulz, Montpelier
our children and future generations. In the process, we can show students an example of how
public policy can improve our lives; how switching from fossil fuels to electric can fight climate
change and air pollution, and how the restitution paid by a polluting company like Volkswagen
Thanks to All Who Helped
can be used to directly mitigate the damage it caused. Puerto Rican Farmers
Young people are inheriting a world whose environment has been greatly threatened, through Editor:
no fault of their own. A very sincere thank you to everyone who filled the Haybarn Theater at Goddard College
We need to take any steps we can , and as quickly as possible. on Nov. 10 for the concert to benefit Puerto Rican farmers. We exceeded our goal of $3,000.
An event such as this has many parents. The musicians who gave of their time and talent
and who delighted us with their incredible performances are Sergio Torres of Barre; Mark
Deborah Messing, Montpelier
Greenberg, Coco Kallis, and Paul Miller, formerly members of Coco and the Lonesome Road
Band; Evan Premo and Mary Bonhag of Scragg Mountain Music in Marshfield; Eduardo
Response to Sheir Fernandez, Rauli Fernandez, Duffy Gardner, and Karl Miller of Arana, a Plainfield ska and
jazz band; and Jairo Sequeria and Miriam Bernardo, whose Latin rhythms have made them
favorites in Vermont.
Editor:
Just as with any endeavor of this sort, many people behind the scenes made it possible. Bennett
I once again find myself diametrically opposed to my neighbor Richard Sheir with his recent Shapiro, whose company Madtechsound provides sound engineering for scores of performers
op-ed on a wellness center for Montpelier. in Vermont and across the country, gave his talent and time unstintingly to guarantee that the
The feasibility of a wellness center, not a health club, is being investigated by a citizen task musicians and vocalists were heard with clarity and in all their nuance. Brian Prendergast of
force in partnership with the City of Montpelier. Central Vermont has several wonderful Brian P Graphic Arts in Montpelier donated
health clubs, including First in Fitness. This center would have a different focus and different his considerable talent to creating the beautiful
elements. poster and L Brown & Sons Printing in Barre
First of all, the center we envision must be in walkable distance for the 20,000 people who donated their services to produce it. Thanks also
work and live in Montpeliers center. As we move toward a pedestrian- and bike-based to Goddard College, which freely provided the
community, ready access to exercisetwelve months a yearis essential. Its a question of Haybarn Theater, and the staff at the Plainfield
time as well as fossil fuel usage. college: Paul Shper, Matthew Stewart, and Meg
Hammond, Scott Blanchard and members
Second, I hope one focus of this center will be two pools, a warmer one for therapy and of his facilities staff, including David Palmer
classes and the other cooler for lap swimming. Richard is correct that Vermonts population is and Annie Majoros. Goddard also helped with
aging, and the very best medium for exercise and rehabilitation is warm water. There is a large publicity, and thanks to Michelle Barber for
unmet demand for aquatic therapy in central Vermont. A second pool is needed for backup her work.
and reliable services as well as for cooler exercise such as lap swimming. There is no two-pool
facility in central Vermont now. Two-pool facilities across the country pay for themselves. Sara Norton, Debra Stoleroff, and Eric Bachman
USA Swimming has mentored the construction of hundreds of pools, both privately and were there when we needed extra hands. Finally,
municipally owned, that are financially successful. Manuel and Myrna ONeil, members of the
Vermont Puerto Rico Solidarity Group, both
Third, this center has the potential to serve all ages in ways that we cant even envision now, inspired and worked tirelessly to bring greater
with less expensive overhead. That is the purpose of the feasibility study, to examine a range depth to the meaning of solidarity with Puerto
of business models and determine what might work for Montpelier. Rico. The evening was an artistic, social, and
Montpeliers wellness center wont be made possible by a couple of generous private donors financial success because of the generosity and
(like the Stowe Swimming Hole), but we do have a population that is strongly committed caring of all these people and the folks who
to sustainability and health. North Branch Nature Center just successfully raised funds for showed up at the concert. Thank you.
its wonderful new building. Montpelier has strong and visionary businesses that may well
partner in this effort. Richard, I hope you will stop feeling doomed about your property taxes
and buy a swimsuit to join your neighbors at the pool some cold winter day a few years from Joseph Gainza, Marshfield
PA GE 2 0 N O V E M B ER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 T H E BR I D GE

Whats in a Name?
by Larry Floersch

I
am here to raise a question of
huge importance, especially to
those of us who live in Vermont,
where it once was boasted that we
have more cows than people. Here
goes what is a cow a cow of?
Even Einstein dodged that question,
preferring instead to waste his time on
his unified field theory to explain something as simple as gravity.
Think about it a minute. Orient yourself. We know that roosters and hens are the male
and female of chickens and sows and boars are pigs and ewes and rams are sheep.
But when it comes to cows and bulls we are at a loss. Cows and bulls are the male and
female ofwhat?
Now I know what youre thinking, But Lare, a cow is a cow. Everybody knows what
a cow is. Well, of course its a cow, unless its male, then its a bull! But a bull is not a
bull cow (although in that weird Paramount Pictures animated feature film Barnyard
(2006), the male lead character was called Otis the Cow and all the bulls had, instead
of the usual bullish equipment, udders, and seemed quite comfortable with that!)
I suppose you could argue that cows are cattle, which they are, but cattle is a word
is derived from chattel, quite literally, property. It has nothing to do with the name
for living creatures. And Ive never heard anyone refer to one cattle. That would be as
foolish as referring to one soldier as a troop (Oh, wait a minute, someone at FOX news
just did that. Never mind!).
According to Wikipedia, Cattle may be cows, bulls, oxen, heifers, steers, bullocks, or
calves. That encompasses a lot more than just cows. And cattle are, not is. Trying
to shorten cattle to a singular, for example, to cat, would confuse the issue even more,
although it could lead to a whole new category of amusing videos on the web.
The Latin genus and species for the critters, Bos taurus, do not give us a clue to a common
name, although my granddad did call his lead cow Bossie. And lets face it, cow bos and
bull bos dont roll off the tongue. And taurus sounds automotive.
Perhaps you are thinking cows are bovines, which is a word derived from the Latin
name of the subfamily to which they belong, Bovinae. But you still have the same
problem, that is, bovine as an adjective refers to critters having the characteristics of
the creatures in the subfamily Bovinae in the same way that ovine refers to animals in
the sheep family or murine refers to mice and rodents. But, in the case of bovine, what
is that animal? According to the dictionary bovine as a noun means an animal in the
cattle group, which also includes buffaloes and bison.
There are cow moose and bull moose. But if you Google bull or bulls, you get
hundreds of hits for a television show on CBS starring Michael Weatherly or a professional
basketball team in Chicago, and nothing about what a bull is a bull of.
And then you have breeds. You can have Holstein bulls, Hereford steers (steers are bulls
that lack both their original bullish equipment and, unlike Otis the Cow, an udder),
and Guernsey heifers, but the names Holstein, Hereford, and Guernsey are based on the
places where those breeds originated. From what animal did the breeds originate?
Perhaps you like beef? I do, but I prefer it grilled, not as a name for cows, because a beef
cow is not the same as a milk cow, and a bull beef just sounds silly.
Its like being on a Moebius stripwe always end up at the same place without crossing
an edge. This situation is deeply disrespectful to Elsie and Elmer and all their kin, who
give us milk, Ben & Jerrys, yogurt, leather, and quarter pounders with cheese, not to
mention all those Far Side cartoons of cow antics drawn by Gary Larson.
So I think we need to investigate this more and either uncover what a cow is a cow of,
or lacking any resolution there, give them a name. Im leaning toward giving them the
name of a politician. Many politicians are quite familiar with the residue of cows and,
especially, bulls.

The Rituals of Mummification by Joseph D.

Book Review Reich Review by Wayne S. Burke

T
he first time I read the work of
Joseph D. Reich it was in an
online publication, Boston Poetry
Magazine. Zany, manic-sounding riffs,
rants, blurbs, one-liners, analyses, orations,
cogitations, and poetry. Poems without
formal beginning or middle or ending that
flowed like a mighty stream before cutting-
out, until the next torrent; a formlessness
that, in the work of a less-talented, less-
prolix poet might prove fatal. But with
Reich it does not matter. His oeuvre
ten published books of verseRituals of
Mummification his tenthis a saga, a
vast monologue, and however loose and
disjointed, Proustian in conception and
execution.
At 184 pages, Rituals is slightin size
not contentcompared with other Reich
productions--The Housing Market (600
pages) and The Hole That Runs Through
Utopia (792 pages). Rituals has four
sections. The longest, and best, A Hx of
Consciousness, is a poetic rap that swings
and flip-flops with the rapidity of the
narrators thoughts and moods, moving
wherever consciousness takes him. From
(#25) Brookland (Brooklyn), where
ebullient tom
boys with angel
lick mischievous
laughter control
the neighbor
hood
& head back home
ward to brown
stones of dusk
past the virgin
marys locked
up in chicken
wire so the delink
wents wont get to (them).
to Vermont (where Reich currently
lives),
we finally made it up here
like the von traps escaping
nazi-occupied Austria up in
to the breathtaking swiss alps
with a droopy wild apple tree
dropping apples into our yard
to reminiscences of the narrators putative
childhood (long/island jewish),
to his years as wise-guy high-school
underachiever, to his experiences as traveler,
and worker, and disturbed suburbanite
husband and father, and elsewhere. A free-
flowing poeticized drama/melodrama told
in a voicethe Ithat is consistent
throughout and always recognizable. A
personable though sometimes cantankerous
mix of humility and egomania that is,
ultimately, endearingly human.
Reichs affinity and sensibility lie close to
those of the Beats, particularly to Kerouacs
nostalgic yearning for an America more
pure and innocent than the present version,
an America of honest trustworthy citizens
who look one another in the eye. Laconic
Gary Cooper types. The myth of America
rather than its reality. It was a yearning
that led Kerouac into disillusionment with
a culture often far less than noble. Reich
too is disillusionedevident in the work,
which, unlike Kerouacs, is tempered and
leavened by humorous and polytechnic-
takes on the absurdity of modern life. A
world-weary acceptance of things often
coupled with savagely funny dissections of
the cultural milieu. Like Kerouac, Reich
is capable of lyrically potent flights of
rhetoric; dazzling descriptive passages of
prose-poetry that rival the best of the
Daddy of the Beats:
feels like philadelphia louisiana patterns, such occasions often achieving
biloxi butte montana the a more constrained pitch than Reichs
beautiful usual rhetoric, and imagery that is more
crystallized, some of it reminiscent of the
maddening aroma of the
mellifluous magnolia grace of verse of William Carlos Williams.
gladiolus The great tandem train whistle
ruffled luxuriant petals of soulful screech
pachysandra romance of wild
whose horse lungs
orchid
feels like the dew of stoops & penetrate
boardwalks every pour & pours
of wildernesses & ballfields &
jungle gyms into the transcendent historical folklore
& streetcars of bridges & rivers The hyperkinetic and highly inventive
rambling language and phraseology Reich uses often
through villages with the mercurial delight and surprise. Part put-down and
& put-on, shuck and jive, romanticized farce,
screed, sociological tract (Reich is, or was,
transitory elements sprinkled
ephemerally a social worker), including jargon from the
DMS IV manual mixed with hipster-lingo;
during the delicate stages of dawn
& dusk #48. some Walt Whitman-like list and catalogue
poems; orations with and without the
The style of the writing is straight-forward soap box; satirical Op-Ed pieces all in
columnar, occasionally including e.e. eminently readable logorrhea-ish bulk. A
cummings-like constructs quasi-eccentric display of erudition, angst,
6 o and exposition; autobiographical, political,
social, and existential. A potpourri of
clock
pulchritudinous language poeticized.
in the
morning This is work not easily classified. I do not
know what the rituals for mummification
through
are. I do know, aesthetic considerations
the dusty aside, this is entertaining stuff. Once
blinds of picked-up, it is hard to put Rituals down.
melon It is a hybrid concoction, reveling in the
use of language, by an author refreshingly
collie
without pretense, who is willing to appear
bedroom vulnerable and is writing mostly from the
in the gut.
day Wayne F. Burkes latest published book
luge . . . of poetry is titled A Lark Up the Nose
Occasionally the columns are broken of Time. Published by Bare Back Press
(barebackpress.com).
into fragments and phrases in irregular
T H E BR I D GE N O V E M BER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 PA GE 21
Book Review
I
f light and funny are not words that spring to mind
when you hear that Bill McKibben has a new book,
you are in for a great surprise. Radio Free Vermont,
McKibbens first novel, is an entertaining and hilarious
romp through the Green Mountain State that is utterly
delightful and very, very local. It is the story of Vern
Barclay who works for a Vermont independent radio
station that gets taken over by an out-of-state corporation.
When that corporation makes Vern do a live broadcast at
the opening of the new St. Albans Wal-Mart, Vern and his
techie sidekick Perry decide to pull a not-so-minor act of
rebellion that soon has them on the run and hiding from
the authorities.
Vern is a traditional salty Vermonter who values local beer,
local music, and local economies over big corporations.
Being a fugitive is not going to stop him from doing his
regular radio show, Radio Free Vermont, underground,
Radio Free Vermont by Bill McKibben (Penguin
Random House, 2017)
underpowered, and underfoot. Nor is it going to slow
down the pranks they are playing to make their point.
Mysteriously, the Brattleboro Starbucks sound system
is hacked and Grace Potter music is piped in. Then
bandits kidnap a Coors Light truck coming into the
state and replace all the beer with Vermont micro brews.
But dont worry, they tell the bewildered driver, they
recycle! Next thing he knows, Vern has unwittingly fueled
the local secessionist movement and finds himself their
much-needed leader. That doesnt stop him from making
sure to report on the important stuff like the score of
the girls hockey game between U32 and Harwood and
enjoying a Sip o Sunshine on the regular. How to do this
without being detected by the authorities and the not-
amused Republican governor gets more and more difficult,
however, leading to a crazy climactic scene on skis and
snowmobiles in a noreaster (of course) just in time for
Review by Claire Benedict, Bear Pond Books
Town Meeting Day.
Radio Free Vermont is the seasons political book that
wont get you down. It is warm-hearted entertainment
with a Trump-era message of passionate resistance that
is handled gently. McKibben has written a love story
to his home state that reminded me why I love it, too.
I was thoroughly amused by the whole cast of colorful
charactersI particularly enjoyed Sylvia and her School
for New Vermonters (a.k.a., flatlanders)and whipped
through this book. The shenanigans in this story kept
me reading and laughing while the "local is good" social
message rang out. Sprinkled with Vermont references
from Bernie to Montpelier's own Buchspieler to Mark
Johnson, this book couldn't be anymore Vermont-y if Ben
and Jerry were sitting on top of Camel's Hump drinking
Heady Topper!
PA GE 2 2 N O V E M B ER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 T H E BR I D GE

Shop Local in
Montpelier!
Flannel Friday sales and events begin
November 24 downtown!
T H E BR I D GE N O V E M BER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 PA GE 2 3
Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce
I
have recently returned from a training
program for Vermont Chamber of
Commerce executives, our annual
Mini-Institute. At our annual professional
development session, I was reminded over
and over again about why chambers of
commerce are vital to our communities
success. Whether in formal seminars or
informal networking opportunities, I
shared in the energy that my colleagues have
about our chambers and the work that we
are doing in our communities. Chambers
of commerce harness the energy of business
leaders to help grow our economy. We are
engaged in promoting all businesses, large
and small, mom and pop businesses and
big box stores. We promote cutting-edge
technology companies and those that are
just getting an on-line presence.
Our members are truly representative
of all segments of our communities. We
are composed of businesses as diverse as
accommodations and insurance, business
services and personal services, construction
and legal, health care and child care. Our
members are educators, restaurateurs
and financial service providers. Choose a
business type and you will find them in our
membership.
What makes all of these businesses want
to invest in our chambers of commerce?
The reasons vary. Some are looking for
advice on growing their business, while
others want to make themselves available
to help other businesses grow. Many are
attracted to the networking opportunities
that we have, while others are dedicated
to advocating for a strong pro-business
economy.
The common thread that runs through
membership in chambers of commerce is
that it is an investment in our communitys
well-being and future. I look at the mission
statement of the Central Vermont Chamber
of Commerce often and ask myself, Are
we living up to the tenet that we have
articulated?
The mission of the Central Vermont
by Bill Moore
Chamber of Commerce is to guide, inspire,
and promote the best interests of the
businesses and professionals of the area,
and to enhance the economic, cultural,
educational, and recreational opportunities
of its citizens and visitors.
I am very pleased to report that I honestly
believe that we are. Our meetings, whether
dealing with issues that affect business
operations, such as this weeks Chamber
$marts and ents program on human
resource issues presented by Montpelier
attorney Caroline Earle (Friday November
17), or programs on cybersecurity, briefings
by the President of the Federal Reserve
Bank of Boston, Dr. Eric Rosengren
or programs on using social media as a
business marketing tool, Central Vermont
businesses get great information from the
Chamber.
Advocating for the business community on
the local, state and federal levels is a key
component of promoting the best interests
of businesses and professionals in the area.
It is also an important element of our
work to improve the business community
by promoting a pro-business, free-market
economy.
Supporting tourism by being an active
presence at events like The Big E, the
New York Times Travel Writers Show
and The Hartford Courant Travel and
Tourism Show is vital to our efforts to
bring visitors to our region.
In all of our activities, we provide networking
opportunities for the participants, whether
it is a committee meeting, a mixer, or a
major program, the business community
gravitates to the Chamber, we truly are The
Voice of Business in Central Vermont.
In so many ways, the Central Vermont
Chamber of Commerce is working to grow
our economy and create jobs. Call me at
802-229-5711, or drop an email to Bill@
centralvt.com. Ill be happy to speak with
you about how you can be a part of this
great organization.
PA GE 24 N O V E M B ER 16 D EC E M BER 6, 2 017 T H E BR I D GE

BE SEEN! BE HEARD! Advertise in The Bridge by contacting:

Rick: 249-8666 rick@montpelierbridge.com Michael: 223-5112 ext. 11 michael@montpelierbridge.com