Interview with Outgoing MHS Principal Mike McRaith • Page 8

FEBRUARY 6 – FEBRUARY 19, 2019

LOVE $ ��N�Y

IN THIS ISSUE: All Things LGBTQ Reaches Youth through New Show
Pg. 4 Can Bioplastics
Save the Day? By Sarah Davin

Pg. 12 City Aims for New
Charter Change
Pg. 17 Happily Ever After
Kids?
U.S. Postage PAID
A ccording to a 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
survey on sexual identity and health-related behaviors, 29.4
that we think other people should be educated about. We want
to help create support and a safe space. We can show them how
percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual students answered that they to do that and teach them how to find the help that they need.”
had attempted suicide in the 12 months prior to the survey, and
many more, 42.8 percent, contemplated suicide. The show also creates a venue in which topics that might
otherwise be avoided are brought to the front. “We talk about
A new show—All Things LGBTQ Youth Edition—on Onion the things you don’t really hear being talked about, especially by
River Community Access Media (ORCA) hopes to address this youths,” explained Jules. “Our youth edition had an ‘Aro and Ace’
serious issue and others by giving area Photo by Adrienne Fortune episode, so aromantic and asexual. I
LGBTQ students a platform to discuss am ‘ace,’ so I knew about romantic
gender- and sexuality-related themes. love. I learned so much more about

Permit NO. 123

Montpelier, VT
PRSRT STD

“It’s really important for young platonic love and different kinds of
ECRWSS

people’s voices to get heard because love, like familiar and aromantic.
in some ways they are probably more It was an amazing experience to sit
on top of what’s happening with down with people who are aro and
that generation and the needs of that ace and get to talk with them about
community,” said Linda Quinlan, it.”
who co-hosts the adult edition, All
Things LGBTQ, with Anne Charles “We did a mental illness episode
and Keith Goslant. “I really wanted where we talked about self harm and
to have a show that gave a voice to suicide. As a youth, you don’t have
young people, especially since there a lot of resources. The point was to
is so much depression and suicide in be a resource.” Youth Edition has
this demographic.” also highlighted other issues such as
labels, how to be an ally, and a special
Youth Edition is hosted by Montpelier Sophia Flora (left) and Jules Caserta (right) transgender panel was featured in
High School student Jules Caserta episode four.
and Main Street Middle School
Montpelier, VT 05601

student Sophia “Steve” Flora. During each hour-long episode, Moving forward, Youth Edition
the two, along with other LGBTQ students, aspire to educate would like to incorporate more voices and opinions by inviting
and connect with fellow youths and allies. “From my point of guests to the show. “I think it would be very cool to be able
P.O. Box 1143

view,” said Sophia, “we do a lot by talking about certain topics to interview people,” Sophia offered, “to include other people
The Bridge

Continued on Page 3

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

PAGE 2 • F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019
HEARD ON THE STREET
Pelkey to Skate for Team USA in Rivalry Series
Montpelier native and Olympic gold medalist Amanda Pelkey was selected to play for
Team USA in a three-game Rivalry Series against Canada this month. Pelkey, who is
in her third season skating for the Boston Pride of the professional National Women’s
Hockey League, will join 12 other members of the team that defeated Canada in the
gold medal game at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. The three-game series will be
played February 12–17 in London, Ontario; Toronto; and Detroit. Pelkey, a forward,
has four goals and four assists in 12 games with the Pride this season.
No Contested Races for City Council, School Board
Barring an unforeseen write-in campaign, it appears that Lauren Hierl will be the next
new member of the Montpelier City Council. Hierl, who is executive director of the
Vermont League of Conservation Voters, was the only candidate to submit signatures
to appear on the Town Meeting Day ballot for the District 1 Council seat being
vacated by Rosie Krueger. Incumbents Jack McCullough in District 2 and Ashley Hill
in District 3 are also unopposed for re-election. Likewise, Andrew Stein and Steve
Hingtgen are the only candidates for two three-year seats on the School Board. Kassia
Randzio and Shelby Perry are seeking separate slots on the Parks Commission; Tammy
Fundraising Campaign
Five months into our $50,000 Bridge to the Future campaign, we are
almost 2/3 of the way to our goal. Thanks to all those who have already
given.
Please send your potentially tax-deductible donation to:
Friends of The Bridge, P.O. Box 1641, Montpelier, VT 05601.
You can also donate online at www.montpelierbridge.com/make-a-donation/
Bridge Community Media, Inc.
P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601 • Ph: 802-223-5112
Editor in Chief: Mike Dunphy
Managing Editor: Tom Brown
Publisher Emeritus: Nat Frothingham
Copy Editor: Larry Floersch
Calendar Editor: Sarah Davin
Layout: Sarah Davin, Marichel Vaught
Sales Representatives: Rick McMahan
Distribution: Sarah Davin, Amy Lester
Board Members: Chairman Donny Osman, Jake Brown, Phil Dodd, Josh Fitzhugh, Larry Floersch,
Greg Gerdel, Irene Racz, Ivan Shadis, Tim Simard, Ashley Witzenberger
Editorial: 223-5112, ext. 14 • mdunphy@montpelierbridge.com
Location: The Bridge office is located at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, Stone Science Hall.
Subscriptions: You can receive The Bridge by mail for $50 a year. Make out your check to The
Bridge, and mail to The Bridge, PO Box 1143, Montpelier VT 05601.
montpelierbridge.com • facebook.com/thebridgenewspapervt
Twitter: @montpbridge • Instagram: @montpelierbridge
T HE BRID GE
Legacy is seeking the post of School District Clerk; Shelley Quinn is seeking to become
School District Treasurer; and Kimberly Cheney is seeking an at-large seat on the
Central Vermont Public Safety Authority. No candidate applied for an open seat on the
Cemetery Commission.
Local Businesses Support Furloughed Federal Workers
During the long (and unfinished?) government shutdown, several area businesses
stepped up to support federal workers. Julio’s provided (and is still providing) free
meals for federal employees and their immediate family until paychecks are received.
Birchgrove Baking also offered a free small latte or drip coffee. The Vermont Foodbank
invited any federal employees impacted by the recent government shutdown to join
one of their free food distributions, and Northfield Farmers Market offered free food
for furloughed workers.
City Pays Employees to Free Up Parking
Montpelier city employees can now see their paychecks increase by about $100 a
month—if they opt not to claim an employer-paid parking space behind City Hall.
That’s the initial result of a scaled back program the city initiated to help free up some
parking spaces this winter, during a time construction of a downtown parking garage
was anticipated to, paradoxically, reduce parking spaces in the short term. The garage
construction is not happening, while the project is under appeal, but the incentive
remains for city employees.
Montpelier City Manager William Fraser says city employees have been given parking
in the lot behind City Hall as a benefit. He said typically 20 to 30 spaces are taken up
by city employees. To make more of those spaces available to the public, the city offered
its employees $50 per pay period instead. At this point, four people have signed up for
the incentive, Fraser reported.
An additional incentive to free up the parking spots has been dropped, Fraser said. The
city leased a lot on Downing Street—off Barre Street, about a two-minute walk from
City Hall—and proposed to offer employees a choice of parking there at no charge or
parking in the City Hall lot for a fee of $50 per pay period. However, with the parking
garage construction on hold, the city observed “ample parking” in the City Hall lot, so
the Downing Street lot lease was canceled.
Nature Watch
by Nona Estrin
Artwork by Nona Estrin
W
e move toward spring. Blue jay pre-mating f locks are in
full swing in our yard, where 15 or so jays that would never
otherwise hang out together, cluster, with specific morning
behavior and impressive vocalizations, to enact an age-old ritual, before
choosing mates. And the snow....so much of it that for the first time in
years, it’s looking like I’ll have to feed at least one hungry owl a few mice
to get it over a rough time before the weather breaks.
T HE BRID GE F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 • PAGE 3

All Things LGBTQ Reaches Youths through New Show Continued from Page 1

instead of just talking amongst ourselves. I think it would be cool to eventually have a
discussion with an adult peer and see what is going on from their point of view.” Jules
added, “We definitely don’t have a shortage of new ideas. We have so many ideas we
want to cover and so many shows we want to do.”
It’s an experience that students like Sophia have found rewarding. “I think it’s been a
really good opportunity for me,” said Sophia, “I’ve actually come across a lot of people
who say, ‘Oh, you’re this person. I’ve seen you on the show.’”
Supporting fresh voices like the ones featured on the show requires community
awareness and engagement. “For Youth Edition, the biggest thing you can do to
support it is to keep watching and listening. Try to spread it around,” explained Jules.
A new episode of the show is filmed each month. The show is nearing its one-year
anniversary after its 11th episode was filmed in January.
For anyone interested in watching and supporting All Things LGBTQ Youth Edition,
the episodes can be watched on demand at orcamedia.net/series/all-things-lgbtq or on
ORCA’s YouTube channel. All Things LGBTQ runs on Saturdays at 8 pm, Tuesdays at
1 pm, and Fridays at 10 am, with the adult and youth editions incorporated into the
adult edition’s cycle.

Got a news tip? We want to know!

Send it to editorial@montpelierbridge.com
Recycle or mdunphy@montpelierbridge.com Design & Build

THIS PAPER! Custom Energy-Efficient Homes

Additions • Timber Frames
Weatherization • Remodeling
Kitchens • Bathrooms • Flooring
Tiling • Cabinetry • Fine Woodwork
PAGE 4 • F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019
Can Bioplastics Save the Day? Not So Fast!
By Mike Dunphy
W
ith plastic bans on the lips
of lawmakers around the state
and images of bags floating
with jellyfish across our social media
streams, Vermonters are becoming
ever more conscious of the impact
of plastic on the environment and
finding ecologically friendly alternative
packaging. An industry has risen to meet
the demand, with increasingly higher
quality and more accessible products as
the technology improves, but integrating
them into Vermont’s waste and compost
infrastructure appears to be a far more
challenging hill to climb.
A case in point is the new compostable
“BioBag” available in the bulk food
department of Hunger Mountain
Co-op and City Market in Burlington.
Made from “Mater-Bi,”—a type of
bioplastic that uses starches, cellulose,
and vegetable oils—the bags are fully
compostable, and according to Hunger
Mountain store manager, Kari Bradley,
“break down fully into carbon dioxide
and water, essentially.” In addition, the
bags are certified by the Biodegradable
Products Institute (BPI)”—an essential
designation for many composters and
waste management districts.
However, try to bring the bags to a local
composter, such as Vermont Compost
Company (VCC) or Grow Compost,
and they won’t be accepted, because the
source material is not strictly organic.
“They are not allowed by the National
Organic Program,” explains Kurt
Ericksen at VCC, “and our products are
approved for organic use.” This means
users of the bag must either compost it
in the backyard, or bring it to one of two
waste districts in Vermont that accept
them—Chittenden Solid Waste District
(CSWD) and Windham Solid Waste
Management District.
Furthermore, organic composters are
generally skeptical of “bioplastic” in
almost any form, thanks to issues with
producers “green-washing” products to
make them seem more environmentally
friendly than they are. “Vermont has
witnessed a lack of reliability regarding
claims of biodegradable and compostable
products,” Ericksen notes. “That’s
a problem when your end goal is to
rejuvenate the soils from which we grow
our food.”
It’s a perspective shared by Michele
Morris, director of outreach and
communications at CSWD, who
disputes the “bioplastic” term itself. “We
prefer to use a very narrow term, which
is ‘certified compostable products,’” she
explains, pointing to Coke’s Dasani
“plant bottles” as an example of the
confusion that comes with the term
“bioplastic.” “They are sourced from
biological material but manipulated in
a way that it acts like a regular plastic
soda or beverage bottle,” she points out,
“so it no longer has the same properties
as a corn-based plastic. Not every
compostable item is created equally.”
Josh Kelly, materials management
section chief at the Waste Management
and Prevention Division of Vermont’s
Department of Environmental
Conservation, adds, “The USDA
basically says if something has been
synthesized, it is not certified organic
and thus cannot be used in organic
agriculture, so you can take dairy
manure from a non-organic farm and use
that manure on your farm and continue
to be certified organic…but the minute
you take a BPI-certified, compostable
bag and put it into a compost pile and
use that on your organic farm, you’ve
just violated your NOFA [Northeast
Organic Farming Association] organic
standards.”
“Fundamentally, it has more to do with
what’s being introduced to our soils,”
Ericksen elaborates, and that comes back
to the transparency of the producer. An
organic certifying agent has to know all
of the details of the entire production
line and how that’s going to impact soils
on organic farms. If they don’t have
enough information or the impact is
deemed negative or not in line with the
National Organic Program [the federal
regulatory framework governing organic
food], the materials won’t be approved.
As for manures, Ericksen counters, “The
science behind utilizing well-managed,
composted manures from conventional
farms for the benefit of organic farms
is very strong, but the science behind
using ‘biodegradable’ plastics in compost
to apply to organic soils is mostly
inadequate when trying to justify their
approval.”
A second problem with using
compostable packaging is that many of
them will not break down in backyard
compost piles because temperatures will
not reach the required 141–160 degrees
Fahrenheit, leaving what looks like
broken up plastic bits in your compost
pile. “The compostable, disposable
dishware, silverware, and flatware,”
explains Cassandra Hemenway at Central
Vermont Solid Waste Management
District, “is all designed for industrial-
sized composting, not for backyard
compost, as it doesn’t get hot enough.”
Another major reason for the wide-scale
rejection of plant-based plastic in our
compost and waste streams is not the
technology, but the psychology, which
creates a “gateway” effect. “The general
public doesn’t see a distinction between
a compostable cup and a conventional
coffee cup,” said Morris at Chittenden
Solid Waste District. “Folks who don’t
accept these products are very rightly
concerned that when somebody sees a
compostable coffee cup in a compost
bin, they automatically assume that all
coffee cups can go in that bin. That’s
a legitimate concern and something we
battle.”
Ericksen agrees. “It creates a challenge
because we pick plastic throughout
our process. If a machine operator is
turning a pile and sees what looks like
plastic, they will step down from their
machine and remove the plastic. When
the biobags have been blended with
food, it is difficult to discern them from
any other plastic, so we’re stopping the
operation and stepping down to inspect
and remove the bag.”
Compounding the problem is the
conditioning Vermonters (and many
Americans) have received toward “Zero-
Sort” methods in recycling, where
everything is tossed in a single bin,
and then picked apart at materials
recovery facilities. Recycling workers
and advocates have long argued against
this policy as significantly degrading the
value of the product and that carries over
to composting.
“Throwing everything in one bin, what
we call Zero Sort Recycling,” notes
Hemenway, “completely devalues the
product. Once you mix everything
together, people throw in things that
aren’t recyclable, so our brilliant plan
to put all our recyclables into one bin
and then let a machine deal with it
has backfired.” It also means it will be
harder to retrain the public to separate
out compostable packaging.
The effort to increase bioplastic
alternatives for Vermonters then falls
on educating the public and changing
behavior. “We walk that line of making
recycling and waste reduction and all
of our efforts easy for folks to do, or
else they’re not going to bother.” Morris
explains. “You have to make it easy
for people, make it accessible, and you
have to make it consistent. It’s the same
thing with food scraps and composting.
T HE BRID GE
The more you start accepting, the more
complicated it gets, and the more people
get confused and don’t want to bother.”
The first battle to fight, according to
Morris, is better labeling so the distinction
between bioplastic and regular plastic is
clearer.” The second, she explains, is
providing access to more places that
process bioplastic material. “If you are
a restaurant in Central Vermont… and
you’ve invested in these compostable
products, but your population doesn’t
have access to anywhere to compost it,
then should you be actually bothering
to buy that product?” It’s a sentiment
shared by Hemenway, “That’s why the
biodegradable plastics aren’t simple
because they require an infrastructure in
place to take them.”
Much would need to happen on the
policy side, including at the USDA and
NOFA-VT, to welcome these materials
into compost streams. Creating new
facilities at waste management facilities
would require vast sums of money, most
likely obtained from taxpayers. “It’s
not something we can manage on our
existing budget,” Hemenway notes. “It’s
the kind of thing that if a private sector
person said, ‘You know what? I think I
see a market for this,’ we are in sore need
of that type of thing right now.”
Diving deeper down the rabbit hole
brings the question of whether, in the
grand scheme of things, insisting on more
compostable packaging and bioplastic
actually solves the larger problem of
waste. For example, is it better to use a
bioplastic item that’s been manufactured
in China and transported on a ship to
the United States? Also, plastics preserve
food that would otherwise be wasted and
create huge amounts of greenhouse gases
and emissions. “You buy bread, and it
comes in a plastic bag,” Kelly explains.
“If you bought it in the bioplastic bag,
it might start to degrade and fall apart
before you finish the bread,” especially
because BioBags breathe 40 percent
more than regular plastic bags.
The greater achievement for nearly all
those involved in the debate is reducing
the amount of disposable products
altogether. In other words, it’s not
about making environmentally friendly
packaging more accessible and of higher
quality, but guiding people to reusable
and durable containers.
“It’s not as simple as these bags are better
than those bags,” Kelly emphasizes, “it’s
about not producing waste in the first
place.”
T HE BRID GE F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 • PAGE 5

Down Home Parking

Treats! Space Raffle!

Cash Bar! Toast The

Wednesday, February 13 Bridge!
PAGE 6 • F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019
School Page
Celebrating Black History Month
Montpelier High School will celebrate Black History
Month in a big way again this year. After the historic
event of being the first known public high school
in the country to fly a Black Lives Matter flag last
February, the high school will be celebrating Black
Excellence this year.
Led by the school’s now largest student group, the
Racial Justice Alliance, Montpelier High School
students will participate in workshops and activities
geared to inform and inspire. As part of the month,
the high school will also host a photo art installation.
The art installation will feature the work of artist
Sha'an Mouliert. The series is titled, “I Am Vermont
Too.” In addition to the workshops, activities, and
Superintendent’s Corner
We had the opportunity to welcome Dr. Alexander
McNeece for our January 28th inservice day. Dr.
McNeece specializes in working with school faculties
concerning school culture. Our day was intense and
productive—marked with amazing conversations
regarding our current cultures. The staff was asked
to begin analyzing where our system works in
producing high levels of learning and where we have
work to do. These conversations are the building
blocks for taking our system from one that is good
to one that is great.
In addition to Dr. McNeece’s work in culture, he
also dives into the topic of student engagement. He
gave MRPS leadership his recently published book,
Launching and Consolidating Unstoppable Learning
(Solution Tree Press, 2019). In it, McNeece describes
five student mindsets: agitator, retreater, probationer,
aficionado, and academician.
While all five piqued my interest, the last two,
aficionado—the student who plays the game of school
well to receive extrinsic rewards (e.g., good grades,
academic awards, etc.)—and the academician—
the student who is intrinsically motivated to learn
more—particularly did so. McNeece states our
aficionado students need opportunities for autonomy
to make their own decisions and praise in the process
rather than the end result. Academicians, on the
other hand, need time for social interaction to teach
what they know and build upon their ideas through
the help of ideas from others.
These mindsets sparked my thinking about my own
children and how I can best support their growth. I
know it will also move the thinking of the teachers
throughout MRPS. My hope is that it is yet another
way teachers and families can work together to
better support our growing learners.
T HE BRID GE
By Libby Bonesteel February 2019
to make a path in the snow for easy walking to and from
art installation, The Racial Justice Alliance will also the ice skating area. Additionally, teachers set up a great
hold a “Music of Color” dance at the beginning of the
course on the RVS grounds for the snowshoers. It was
month and several movie nights open to all students.
quite a sight watching elementary students attempting
February’s concentrated learning and celebration of to hike through more than two feet of snow. It ended
Black Excellence will continue the school’s effort to up being a real test for the snowshoes, which worked
increase our community’s recognition of historically
fantastic.
marginalized groups throughout our past and present.
On February 22, the month of activities will culminate Roxbury Village School was also fortunate to have many
with a keynote speech from former Vermont House high school volunteers assisting students to and from
Representative Kiah Morris. Advisors Sarika Tandon stations, lace up ice skates, as well as snowshoes. The
and Sue Monmomey have been working closely with extra hands and energy from these folks is priceless. One
the Racial Justice Alliance student leaders to plan of the most important stations involves reading at the
and prep everything and get Montpelier High School Roxbury Senior Center. We have received such thanks
ready for another busy, important Black History and appreciation for the time spent over there and the
Month. kids are always so gracious. Finally, RVS owes a big thank
Main Street Middle School you to Misse Axelrod for helping us pull together these
marvelous activities and the volunteers who generously
Main Street Middle School (MSMS) is in our first year with donated their time and resources. Here’s to another
whole school implementation of restorative practices. A successful Winter Sports Program!
restorative approach offers tools to focus on student outcomes
to create a safe, inclusive, and equitable community through Union Elementary School
building relationships. A team of MSMS educators is The Union Elementary School is celebrating the social
trained in restorative practices and are facilitating this work. and emotional growth of students as an emphasis is being
Some restorative practices are proactive, including weekly placed on several key initiatives that promote student
circles for building community and a sense of belonging. growth in this area. One example is the Positive Behavior
We believe that students learn best when they have positive Interventions and Support (PBIS) system within the
relationships with classmates and with teachers. school. Recognized as a School of Distinction several
years ago by the state, Union Elementary has rekindled
Every member of our school is part of a Homeroom/TA the focus this year to ensure students are receiving a high-
and on Friday mornings participate in a restorative circle. quality social experience combined with their academics.
Early in the year our Friday circles focused on getting to A committee of teachers and other staff members has
know one another and building relationships. We are now been meeting once per week to focus on this work, and
moving to discussing values and will eventually use our the team recently was awarded a grant to attend the
circle process for conflict resolution when needed. BEST Institute this summer in Killington.
To provide a sense of this structure, Friday circles begin with Students have time carved into each day for a “morning
an opening that is often a quote or a short reading that helps meeting,” which provides each teacher a chance to connect
us focus. Next, there are questions posed that each member at a deeper level with students and constantly focus on
has the opportunity to respond to while everyone else building a strong community within the classroom. This
(truly) listens. Circle prompts may involve sharing favorite time is often used to focus on the goals of PBIS, which
memories, things that frustrate us, difficult experiences, are tied to encouraging students to be kind, responsible,
or what character traits we value most. While this type of and safe community members.
communication is new with respect to addressing behavior
and expectations at MSMS and may have felt awkward at Student celebrations are held once per month to recognize
first for some students, many are now reporting that Friday those who are going above and beyond and also to review
morning circles feel calm and they enjoy learning about expectations around how students treat one another and
behave throughout the building.
their classmates and teachers.
Roxbury Village School Another example of the school’s commitment to social
and emotional growth is tied to the school’s first Kindness
Roxbury Village School (RVS) is in the midst of another Club, which has started meeting once per month. With
Winter Sports Program. Each Wednesday afternoon our nearly 50 students enrolled, this club has completed a
students enjoy snowshoeing, ice-skating, and reading at the sock drive for the homeless and is planning a tour of the
senior center for a community outreach. city to distribute free hot cocoa to spread good energy
Several volunteers have worked extremely hard to make through the community. Students are driving this group
all of this happen for the energetic students. The Roxbury and have been pivotal to its success.
Volunteer Fire Department poured the water for the ice rink
and Mother Nature was more than happy to make it freeze
in record time. Family members of school staff used tractors
T HE BRID GE
Montpelier Plagued by Water Main Breaks
Photo by Andrew Brewer
Union Elementary School Prepares Montpelier Community
Lantern Parade
U
nion Elementary School (UES) invites the entire Montpelier
community to join them for an evening lantern procession on
Thursday, February 21. This year’s theme is “Shine Your Light,
Share Your Story.”
The lantern procession will begin at 6 pm at Union Elementary School.
Led by the Burlington samba band Sambatucada!, the parade will go from
the school through downtown Montpelier, covering Loomis, School, Main,
Langdon, Elm, and Court streets before finishing on the State House lawn
with a fun finale celebration with decorated luminaries, live music, a dance
performance, and free hot chocolate and cider. The event will end at 7 pm.
Visual artist Gowri Savoor will guide UES students in making their lanterns
during an art residency from February 5 to 19. All preschool through
fourth-grade students will create handmade lanterns from sustainable
materials including willow and tissue paper. Lanterns will be suspended
from bamboo poles and lit with battery-operated LED lights.
The lantern parade is made possible through the support of the the UES
Parents Group, as well as Lake Champlain Chocolates, Champlain Orchards,
F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 • PAGE 7
Photo by Phil Dodd
Photo by Andrew Brewer
and the Hunger Mountain Co-op, who made generous donations. The
Montpelier Police Department, Montpelier Alive, and Montpelier City
Council also assist in this community event.
Montpelier residents and community members will also have the
opportunity to create their own lanterns at one of our free one-day lantern
making workshops (donations welcome). All tools and materials will be
provided. If you have a pair of hand-held pruning shears, please bring
them along. You’ll find it useful to have a pair of your own.
The workshop is not suitable for children under six, and those above six
must be accompanied by an adult. There will be a limit of 20 participants
for each workshop. For more information and to book your place for the
February 9 workshop at Union Elementary, please contact Kristina Kane
at kristinak@mpsvt.org. To register for the February 16 workshop at the
Montpelier Senior Center, please call (802) 225-8699.
For more information about the school art residency, the lantern workshop,
and the community lantern parade, please visit uesart.blogspot.com
This text was provided by Union Elementary School.
PAGE 8 • F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019
Principal Mike McRaith Reflects on Tenure at Montpelier High School
Compiled by Mike Dunphy
A
t the end of January, Montpelier
High School (MHS) Principal
Michael McRaith announced
he would be stepping down in June
to take a new position as assistant
executive director of the Vermont
Principals’ Association (VPA) after a
four-year tenure at MHS. McRaith sat
down with The Bridge to reflect on his
time as principal, what he’s most proud
of, what still needs to be accomplished,
and the role of principal in today’s
world.
The Bridge: What exactly does the
new position entail?
Michael McRaith: The Vermont
Principals’ Association has been
contracting with several people to
do pieces of jobs, and they just took
all those pieces and put them into
one new job of assistant executive
director. Those pieces are running the
Leadership Academy for principals
and any school people who want
to come, and any other professional
learning opportunities throughout
the year that the VPA hosts, or if
there’s some new legislation that needs
explanation, or bringing speakers in
from other places to inspire. It also
will be coordinating the mentoring
program for new principals and
serving as the VPA liaison to the
Waddington Leadership Initiative.
What drew you to the position?
McRaith: I’m interested in working
from the statewide perspective and
just seeing what kind of positive
impact I might be able to have. I
felt like I’ve had a short tenure as
principal, for six years [including
his tenure at Enosburg Falls Middle
School], but a pretty intense one.
Mike McRaith, photo by student Adam Blair
Also, I’ve presented a lot in the last
few years at workshops both in the
state and in the New England region,
so I feel relatively plugged into the
professional learning network. I
thought that I might be able to be of
good use. I’m interested in working
statewide and being of the most use
I can be to the greatest number of
students.
As principal, how have you worked
with the VPA?
McRaith: I’ve been on their
professional learning and support
committee for the last two years,
which essentially is led by what will
be my new role. There is a group
of principals that help plan the
Leadership Academy, so I’ve been on
that team thinking about what kinds
of things would be important for
us to offer learning on. I’ve gone
to the academy six out of the past
seven summers. And also, if there’s
just something that I bump into that
is difficult, I’ve called the executive
director a few times and just said,
“What you think about this?”
T HE BRID GE
Can you give an example?
McRaith: Two years ago, when the
students came to me and said, “We
want to raise the Black Lives Matter
flag,” that was not something that I
knew exactly what to do, or what the
legal ramifications were. So I bounced
that off of those folks and that was
helpful. Sometimes it’s just good to
have a talking partner, and the VPA
can provide that for principals.
Was accepting the job a no-brainer
for you or did you really wrestle
with it?
McRaith: I definitely wrestled with
it. I had pretty much made the
decision by the time they offered the
job because when I was applying, I
had a long time to think about it. The
thing that I wrestled with is leaving a
community that I feel connected to.
How did your colleagues and
students react to the news?
McRaith: People knew that I was
happy here, which I am, so there
was an element of surprise for sure,
but they have been very kind and
generous and supportive of me. I was
nervous about telling people because
that made it real that I was leaving a
place that I feel really good about.
In 2015, The Bridge asked you,
“What would you like your legacy as
principal of MHS to be one day?” and
you responded, “If I left this place…
I think that would be something I
would be proud of, if people said,
‘well, at Montpelier High School…
it’s a place of kindness, it’s a place
of respect, and students treat one
another that way and staff treat
students that way, and the students
treat the community that way.’”
Do you feel you’ve achieved this?
T HE BRID GE
McRaith: I think if you asked our
community, faculty, and students,
you’re going to hear that that’s a
value of ours. I think that it has gone
well as far as relationships go. You
know teenagers are going through
hard things. They’re going to make
mistakes, and sometimes they’re going
to be mean to each other. So it’s not
perfect. It’s not all holding hands and
everybody always getting along. But
I do think that overall this is a place
of respect and kindness, and certainly
that’s a value of ours as a community.
What accomplishments do you leave
feeling most proud of ?
McRaith: The thing I feel the best
about was that the student council
presents an award, the Peter Clarke
Award for Excellence, and they choose
one faculty member each year. Last
year they gave it to me, and that was
really big for me, because kids don’t
mess around. If they didn’t think I
was doing a good job, they would let
me know. And they certainly wouldn’t
give me that award. And there’s so
many outstanding educators here that
could win that every year. So that to
me was a really good moment.
The legacy part of it will be
proficiency-based learning. We have a
functional system of proficiency-based
learning and assessment that wasn’t
here when I started and was a major
undertaking for us. We’ve had more
than 20 schools visit us to see it in
action. We’ve been featured by M.I.T.
in their online community class, so
that’s gonna go global. We’ve also
been featured in the Great Schools
Partnership.
The other thing that I’m really
proud of is not just the raising of a
Black Lives Matter f lag, but really a
general awakening of our privilege
and implicit biases and our need to
do better around cultural competency
for our students across the district.
I’ve seen a lot of good growth for our
faculty and students in that area. It
was not easy. It has not been easy.
There’s a long way to go. We were
the eye of the storm for hate and
white nationalism for a minute there,
and this community and school really
stood behind our values and the
ideals of equity and having a fair and
just education system for all of our
students. I am proud of that.
Like teachers, are principals
expected to be and do much more
than 10‒20 years ago?
McRaith: I don’t know the difference
that much because of being a relatively
new principal. I’m only in my sixth
year. But I have asked the executive
assistant here, Val Belanger, who’s
been helping principals for at least 20
years, and she says, “definitely.” She
feels the demands are higher, that the
24-hour cycle of communication is a
lot different than it used to be. I don’t
have to respond on the weekends and
at nights, but I basically do. And I
think that that is very appreciated by
our community.
This community in particular has
really made it clear to me that they
want me to be rested and have a
balanced life. But it is very difficult
for many principals around the state
and beyond to achieve that balance
and deliver what people are expecting.
I think there’s a little bit of hypocrisy
there in trying to encourage our
leaders to be sustainable and have a
balanced life, but also be available,
listening, and responsive around the
clock.
Sounds like that could shorten
tenures of principals
McRaith: Somebody just asked me if
there was too much pressure on the
Montpelier High School principal,
and that’s why Adam [Bunting] was
here for three years and I was here for
four. I don’t think that’s unique to
Montpelier in any way. The average
tenure for a Vermont principal is
really short. There are some principals
who have been in those roles for a
long time, but a lot of principals
in Vermont, 23 I think, are first-
F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 • PAGE 9
year principals this year. So there is
a very high turnover rate, which is
something in my work with the VPA
that I want to look closely at and see
if I if I can change.
What would be something that
could affect that change?
McRaith: I think more communities
need to have a reasonable expectation
about the number of hours that that
school leader is going to put in. The
principal can’t be at every game and
dance and isn’t going to answer every
email at 11 at night or Saturday
morning.
How many hours do you put in a
given week?
McRaith: Average for me is 70 hours
a week. A lot of that is self-inf licted,
and I have a hard time leaving work
undone.
Is there something else about the
role of a principal that the public
doesn’t realize?
McRaith: The modern principal is
an instructional leader, which means
that they’re really in the classroom
and a part of curriculum decisions
and instructional practices. That’s
evolving really quickly—what it
means to teach. We are no longer the
holders of content. Kids can watch
The History Channel and look up
anything they want at any given
time. So we’re really into this other
zone of how to help students be great
learners and builders of content, not
just consumers of content. That’s a
dynamic element of being able to
lead teachers in those instructional
practices and curriculum choices.
The other piece of it is that a lot of
principals are also managers. When
you add our custodial staff, our kitchen
staff, and all of the coaches, teachers,
and everyone else, that’s almost 100
people who think I’m their boss in
one way or another. There’s a lot that
comes along with that. You are also
the public relations person; you’re the
head of customer service; name it and
you could say, “Well, the principal
should’ve known about that,” or “The
principal could have done something
better,” or, “Where was the principal
there?”—anything. But I think that
this community and faculty here gets
that, and this is why it’s a good job
and sustainable.
What is your advice for the next
principal of MHS?
McRaith: One of the other things that
I think has gone pretty well but will
need to continue to have energy is our
Flexible Pathways program, connected
to Act 76. I think Montpelier High
School has done very well by that law,
and there will need to be continued
energy, as we have more and more
students participating in that.
The achievement gap is another issue.
That’s the really obvious thing for the
district and the school to continue to
chip away at. It’s really about our our
students of low social and economic
status. Just based on the statistics
using standardized test scores, our
students, particularly our boy students
with free and reduced lunch, just do
not perform as well as other groups.
That’s not OK. We can do better; we
will do better; we are doing better.
But that’s going to continue to be a
challenge for any principal.
The other thing I would tell them is
to just enjoy the faculty and staff, and
let them lead. They have really good
instincts; they know the place; they
know the community. There’s a little
bit of magic here, and you can just
plug into that and utilize it to just
make the place better and better.
PAGE 10 • F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 T HE BRID GE
How to Live Happily-Ever-After You Have Kids
I
n her pivotal 2007 book Mating
in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic
Intelligence, Esther Perel explores
the complexity couples face after
having children. “Having a baby is a
psychological revolution that changes
our relationship to almost everything
and everyone, from our sense of self
and identity to our relations with our
partners, friends, parents, and in-laws.
The making of a family calls for a
redistribution of resources and, for
awhile, there seems to be less for the
couple: less time, less communication,
less sleep, less money, less freedom, less
touch, less intimacy, less privacy,” she
writes.
According to Perel, the addition of
children brings less spontaneity, which
poses challenges to a marriage. “Family
life flourishes in an atmosphere of
comfort and consistency. Yet, eroticism
resides in unpredictability and risk.
…Sex, a harbinger of loss of control,
is fraught with uncertainty and
vulnerability. But when kids come
on the scene, our tolerance for these
destabilizing emotions takes a dive.
Perhaps this is why so often it is
relegated to the fringes of family life.
What eroticism thrives on, family life
defends against.”
This constant tension of craving
adventure in the face of a very
drudgerious, tedious experience of
caring for a newborn can leave happily
married people in a state of tremendous
stress. Dr. Bruce Chalmer, clinical
psychologist and a former Montpelier
resident and grandfather, agrees with
Perel: “Maintaining intimacy can be
especially acute for new parents, for
whom there is suddenly a new person
in the mix whose needs necessarily
take precedence for a long time. For
intimacy—by which I mean emotional
honesty with yourself and each other—
the skills you need aren’t at all about
lowering anxiety. Rather, you need
to be able to tolerate anxiety without
freaking out.”
While hearing from experts is
affirming, hearing from those in the
trenches offers more comfort. As a
new mother of an almost one-year-
old, I can attest to the challenges that
come with adjusting to a new normal,
most significantly the lack of time to
connect and the lack of sleep. Jessica
Ticktin, a freelance writer, educator,
and mama of four in Burlington, agrees
that having children “can be a difficult
time for many couples” and encourages
new parents “to find ways to have fun
to offset some of the heaviness that
can settle into couples after having
a baby, when both of you are feeling
overwhelmed and exhausted.”
She also observes that having children
can, in fact, make a marriage healthier.
“Having kids made my marriage
stronger,” she says. “It allowed my
husband and me to give to each other
and be really vulnerable and support
each other. We also saw each other in a
new light as we took on new roles and
this increased our attraction to each
other because we were so amazed by
the other’s skill and compassion with
our children.”
Holly Lane of East Montpelier, a
nonprofit professional and mother of
four, recalls that her marriage also
changed for the better after having
children. “Babies bring so much joy,
but they steal away your sleep, your
downtime (that was a thing once,
right?), your money, your time to do
anything but the essentials. At the same
time, in the haze of exhaustion, for me,
building our family made us more of a
team. Humor became a shared coping
mechanism; we had our inside jokes
and our shared quirky sense of humor
to help us through the questioning,
philosophizing, and compromising
that parenting demands. And then
there’s the challenge of figuring out
how to balance taking care of our own
needs while taking care of each other
while also, together, taking care of the
small people we created together—and
that’s a shape shifter of a task, but
I absolutely cannot imagine doing it
with anyone other than my husband.”
As for me, watching my husband
become a father has been such a joy. He
is tender and loving with our daughter
and cherishes making her laugh and
watching her grow and change. I’ve
also deeply missed the times when we
could just hang out together without
being exhausted or always listening to
the monitor and creating the weekly
jigsaw puzzle of daycare pickup and
dropoff. We’ve also grown a lot
together—and individually—over the
past year. We’re better at prioritizing
the endless demands and do our best to
help the other, and we’ve become great
at finding an hour for a walk outside
together in the middle of a hectic day.
Becoming a family is not easy, but it
holds a promise for so much joy. “I think
of having children as the beginning of
becoming a family, not just becoming
parents,” Lane remarks. “A first baby
is like a crazy trust exercise; if you’re
lucky, you have a trusted partner
alongside you. Hold on to the humor.
Watch for the wonder. Be kind to
yourselves and to each other. Embrace
By Molly Ritvo
the challenges. It’s always hard, but
always worth it.” Ticktin agrees, noting
that it’s more important than ever to
find enjoyment in the haze of new
parenting: “I teach birth classes to
expectant couples, and when we cover
the postpartum stuff I always tell them
to find ways to connect with each other
even if it means bringing the baby with
them. Try doing something together
that’s fun and gets you moving. Fresh
air and getting out of your house is
key.”
I’ve also taken solace in reminding
myself that this is just a chapter. Dr.
Shara Brofman, a clinical psychologist
specializing in the psychology of family
building, reminds new parents that
it’s important to look at the bigger
chapter: “When couples are struggling,
it’s important to take a step back, take
a breath, and think about what has
worked in the past to manage stress.
You already have skills that can help.
Although people may have the sense
that they’re starting from square one,
it’s usually not an accurate or full
picture. Keep in mind that this is also
a particularly difficult time, and that
things may become easier in certain
ways in the long run. You’ll likely need
to make adjustments and process the
loss of what was, but it doesn’t mean
that something new can’t at times be
wonderful, or even just fine.”
As Valentine’s Day approaches, this is
the perfect time to bring a little more
love and romance into our lives, with
or without a baby. And to remind
ourselves that although happily-ever-
after may be a product of Disney movies
and fairy tales, finding pockets of joy
in marriage with children is something
always worth celebrating.
T HE BRID GE
Money Can’t Buy Love, but a Financial Game Plan Can Keep
a Relationship Together By Christine Moriarty
I
f “money can’t buy happiness,” does “love
have anything to do with it?” It turns out
both are keys to improving the quality of
your life. A 2004 study on quality of life by Wil-
liam Fleeson, associate professor of psychology
at Wake Forest University, found that if one’s
marriage is going well, overall one’s life is better.
“More than any other area,” he explained, “it is
rare to have a high-quality life without having a
high-quality close relationship.”
What was second on the list of quality of life
predictors? Financial stability.
It naturally follows that if you have a good fi-
nancial partnership, your life is better. Whether
you are married or with a life partner, money
plays a role in your relationship, and it is worth
investing time and energy into your financial
partnership to improve one’s life for the long
term. Yet, most couples fall short in this arena.
For the majority of couples, money is harder to talk about than sex. They do not
discuss money because the topic carries so much emotional weight. In addition, some
couples may not understand enough about financial issues to know where to begin
a conversation. Or, one person might believe the other knows a lot more and should
manage all pieces of their financial togetherness.
The truth is, unless both individuals in the couple have input and understand their
money, they are not likely to stand on solid ground. Sharing money is about as inti-
mate as a couple can get outside the bedroom. With our money is our hopes, dreams,
histories, and foibles, and without this financial transparency you cannot truly build
a joint future.
The reality is that the old rules do not make sense in today’s world. Marriages and
partnerships are more complex. Merging households and merging lifestyles are so dif-
ferent than when earlier generations coupled up or married young. Now, a couple may
have previous marriages, stepchildren, and prior financial commitments to consider.
Understanding these differences is the first step toward recognizing that your life and
your partnership is your own modern-day creation. As a result, so does your financial
life need to be uniquely formed—by each of you—to create that quality of life we all
strive for. This takes some time and effort but is possible.
Making decisions together will make a difference to your financial life. Remember-
ing that you are on a financial journey with your partner may be the key to financial
and relationship success, most of all, your happiness. With a little effort you and your
partner can improve the quality of years together.
F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 • PAGE 11
Strengthen your financial communication and
quality of life together by following these tips:
Talk as a team
If you have never talked finances before with
your partner, now is the time to start. But take
it slow. Set aside time—an hour—when you
will not be interrupted. Talk about your feel-
ings and thoughts of where you are financially.
There is no right or wrong. Agree to regular
conversations once a week, where you will move
into more details and changes. Take it one step
at a time.
Maintain some shared money
While keeping an account for yourself, sharing
expenses and a checkbook establishes and main-
tains a camaraderie and communication that
otherwise might not reinforce the team nature
of your partnership.
Set spending rules
Agree to discuss all expenditures over a certain amount, say $100. That way the pur-
chaser has to slow down before they make an impulse decision. The partner will not
feel left out on the buying decision, and it becomes a “win-win” for your pocketbook
and your relationship.
Choose priorities with understanding
As a couple, you each have treasured expenses that may serve your individual interests.
Each of you should be able to pick an expense that is sacred. This may be his monthly
night out with the guys for brews and a ball game and your regular pottery class. Even
if this is “separate” money, understanding the importance can help your love life.
Ask for help
Having an outside financial team that can give a couple objective advice can some-
times smooth out the rough patches. This may range from a tax professional to a
Certified Financial Planner ™ to a therapist. Knowing there are resources out there to
help you can make all the difference in the world. You are not alone.
C.D. Moriarty is a financial author, speaker, and educator. She is dedicated to empower-
ing others around their money so they can achieve their dreams. She can be found through
her website, MoneyPeace.com
PAGE 12 • F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 T HE BRID GE
Council Seeks Authority to Regulate Energy Efficiency
By Tom Brown
M ontpelier residents on Town
Meeting Day will be asked to
decide on a proposed change to the city
charter that would give city councilors
the authority to set and enforce energy
efficiency standards for residential and
commercial properties.
If approved, the change would allow
councilors to establish energy efficiency
thresholds for all new and existing
residential, commercial, and rental
buildings in the city.
“The intent here is to allow the city to
create some ordinances that would protect
renters from high costs of energy as well
as protect home-buyers when they go
to buy, or renters if they were renting a
house,” Mayor Anne Watson said. “The
two things we have in mind, one is about
creating regulations around the energy
efficiency of rental buildings, and also
around energy disclosure at the time of
sale of the building.”
The mayor believes that improving the
energy efficiency of the city’s rental stock
is essential to meeting the city’s net-zero
energy goals and could make rental units
more affordable by reducing heating costs.
“We can’t legitimately have a conversation
about net-zero energy as a community if
we don’t have a strategy around rentals,”
Watson said, noting that 40 percent of the
city’s housing is in rental properties.
The thought is that some landlords, and
certainly not all, have little incentive to
weatherize their buildings, particularly if
tenants pay for heat, and that tenants have
no authority to make such improvements
themselves.
On the homeowner side, Watson envisions
a requirement for sellers to provide an
energy assessment profile to would-be
buyers that would assign a score to the
home similar to the mileage rating on
a new car sticker. Such an assessment is
offered by Efficiency Vermont for about
$250 and differs from a full energy audit,
which is more expensive, she said.
The new proposal is a spinoff from
the charter change approved by voters
in November that gives the council
the authority to ban single-use plastic
bags. That proposal originally contained
language that would give the council the
authority to regulate energy efficiency and
other environmental concerns, including
plastics. The city council found the
language too broad and elected to split
the charter change request into separate
parts, resulting in the plastic bag vote in
November. All city charter changes must
be approved first by voters and then by the
state legislature before going into effect.
While the idea is fresh and any ordinance
is many months away at the least, Watson
is aware that property owners might be
skeptical of any new housing regulations
from the city.
“We are looking for a lot of input from
all as we move forward,” she said. “I want
to make sure we have the dials set right,
that we find the right numbers for our
market.”
As a realtor, landlord, and homeowner,
Tim Heney has a large stake in this debate
and while no specific details are set in
stone, he is concerned about the city’s
capability to take on another regulatory
function.
“If we’re going to improve housing
in Montpelier and make it better for
everybody, it’s not just Montpelier,
it should be a statewide policy, and it
should be at a level where it’s uniform and
enforceable,” he said.
Watson and Heney both point out that the
majority of property owners in the city are
committed to weatherization and energy
efficiency and should be recognized for
their efforts.
Heney said property owners are faced with
rising costs on many fronts, including
taxes, flood insurance, and routine
Proposed Charter Change:
The charter change language gives the council the authority to:
Enact ordinances enforcing minimum energy efficiency standards and disclosure
requirements for existing and new commercial and residential properties that are
generally consistent with State, Federal, and other energy efficiency standards and
reporting systems.
maintenance, and that there are other
ways the city could help boost energy
efficiency. A recent renovation of a single
apartment unit his family owns cost about
$20,000 he said.
One way the city might help improve
weatherization without mandates is
through the permitting process, Heney
said. For example, if a property owner was
seeking a permit for a new roof, perhaps
they could be advised on ways to add
insulation at the same time.
Watson said Efficiency Vermont has
committed to assign a person to deal
directly with rental property owners and
connect them with rebates, loan programs,
and other benefits such as those offered to
homeowners. She also suggested that any
ordinance might be not take effect until,
for example, a year or more from when it
was adopted to give property owners time
to adjust.
As a science teacher and a strong believer
that humans need to act now to combat
climate change, Watson said the city has
a responsibility to do what it can to be a
leader. When asked how that squares with
a new parking garage she said:
“I want that structure to be the single
biggest venue for electric vehicle charging
stations in the state,” which would require
at least 15 spots, she said.
Voting will be held on Town Meeting
Day, March 5, at City Hall, and early
voting will start as soon as the printed
ballots are received, which is likely to be
this week, City Clerk John Odum said.
T HE BRID GE F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 • PAGE 13

Hubbard Park Grapples with the Multi-use Trail Challenge

By J. Gregory Gerdel

While a few people have expressed concern about allowing fat bike access to a
Photo courtesy of Montpelier Parks limited number of trails, that concern has come from people who have not been
on the trails, Beyer said. “We’ve had no complaints about an actual incident with
a bike rider. People should understand that a fat bike traveling on a snow-covered
trail is moving no faster than a skier,” he added.

While it’s not expected that dog walkers will keep their pets from walking on
the ski tracks, their paws make a small impression relative to those of human
footprints. And many park users have observed that dog owners have been
increasingly diligent about picking up after their pets.

Beyer pointed out that walkers wearing snowshoes have consistently stayed on
the flat surfaces of the groomed trails this year, respecting the ski tracks. On the
several side trails through the deep powder snow, snowshoes, and back-country
skis are complementary modes of winter adventure.

For maps of the trail systems in Hubbard and North Branch Parks visit:
montpelier-vt.org/211/Park-Maps

Information about current grooming and trail conditions, along with postings
about activities and special events, are regularly posted on facebook.com/
MontpelierParks

T
his winter’s abundant snowfall has been a boon to the Montpelier Parks
Department’s effort to provide multiple recreation options on the city’s U-32 Limits Access to School Ski Trails
trails, but it has also focused the need for mutual consideration among
The U-32 administration reports problems with unauthorized skiing on the
users choosing different means of locomotion on those trails.
school’s trail system. Skiing is not allowed during school hours or scheduled
team practices or ski events after regular school hours. The Bill Koch League,
This year has successfully included fat bike access on selected trails, but the a program for children ages 5–14 run by the Onion River Nordic Ski Club, is
many-years-long effort to groom tracks for classical skiing continues to be hosted on Saturday mornings and community members may use the trails outside
undone by walkers who step directly on the groomed tracks, either post-holing school hours and team practice times. If you have questions, please contact:
them, or obliterating them entirely. The set tracks on the main trails in Hubbard
Park, and the trail from the New Shelter to the Tower in particular, rarely
survive more than an hour after the staff have groomed them. Lesley J Fitch
U-32 Administrative Assistant to the Principal
The message to the many people who walk in the park is to stay in the flat,
groomed area in the middle of the trail, and not walk directly on the track set (802) 229-0321 ext. 5127, or lfitch@u32.org
for skiing. Parks Director Geoff Beyer notes that they are now grooming a “skiers
only” loop to the inside of the perimeter trail in the large field at the North
Branch Park.
PAGE 14 • F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 T HE BRID GE

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program Encourages Saving at Tax Time

By Liz Scharf

M
onica T. of Barre is the first to tell you that February is one of her favorite
times of the year, and not just because it’s her birthday month. February
is also the time she counts on her tax refund. For the first time, she will
be using Capstone Community Action’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program
(VITA) to help her file and claim the tax credits for which she and her family are
eligible.
For many working Vermonters, the month offers relief as families enjoy a large
influx of cash during tax filing season in the form of federal and state tax credits
and refunds, often in the thousands of dollars. This money is frequently used to
pay past-due bills, pay down credit cards, pay for heating fuel, and even rent. It also
goes directly into the local economies as families use the money to buy clothing for
the kids, replenish household items, dine out, and pay for needed car repairs. And,
if there’s some left over, many families put the money in savings to use throughout
the year for other expenses.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one of the most effective federal
programs to lift lower income workers out of poverty. Considered a wage subsidy,
the EITC comes as a lump sum during tax time with other credits and the amount a
tax filer receives depends on the income, family size, and filing status. A single mom
with two children who makes $25,000 per year can expect to receive approximately
$4,300 as a credit, as well as a state EITC of approximately $1,500. And, with two
young children, the family may be eligible for a refundable federal child tax credit of
$1,400 per child. These credits are available to workers and provide much needed
relief to families who may be struggling to meet their monthly financial obligations.
Nermina Beslagic has been using the VITA program for the past four years through
Capstone Community Action. As a small business owner who runs A Cut Above
the Rest Dog Grooming out of Four Paws Inn in Barre Town, she has relied on
Capstone’s VITA program to help her file her taxes. While Capstone does not file
business taxes, the program does help individuals who are filing personal income
taxes with simple schedule Cs as long as their microbusiness doesn’t maintain an
inventory or record depreciation.
get the refunds they are due. And I love meeting all the different people who come
in for help with their taxes. Such interesting people I have met, it’s so fascinating
to hear about such a wide variety of lives.”
Capstone’s Savings and Credit Program, which provides no-cost financial counseling
and coaching to help central Vermonters reduce debt, improve their credit, budget
and save money, oversees the Vermont Saves Campaign, a local affiliate of America
Saves. In partnership with a number of like-minded organizations that understand
the importance of saving money, including the Vermont State Employees Credit
Union, the Vermont Bankers Association, Jump $tart, Vermont’s Community
Action network, and others, the Vermont Saves Coalition encourages clients to
develop the habit of saving because even a small amount can help with a car repair
or an unexpected financial emergency.
Tax time is the perfect time to begin a savings account and volunteers like Warren
offer clients the opportunity to set aside a portion of their refund for a rainy day.
Through a national campaign called Save Your Refund, filers assign an amount to
deposit into savings when they set up direct deposit of their refund with their tax
preparer and then can enter an online contest at saveyourrefund.com to win weekly
cash prizes.
Capstone’s VITA program, managed by Laura Sudhoff, begins free tax filing for
families who earned $55,000 or less in 2018. There are various locations around
central Vermont, including the Kellogg-Hubbard Library on Wednesdays, the
Aldrich Public Library on Saturdays, at Capstone in Barre on Mondays, Tuesdays,
and Thursdays as well as several other satellite sites. For complete details on
locations and times, visit capstonevt.org or call (802) 477-5148. Families who
make $66,000 or less can file taxes for no charge on myfreetaxes.com.
Liz Scharf works as the Savings and Credit Program Coordinator at Capstone
Community Action. She is a certified VITA volunteer and AFCPE® Accredited
Financial Counselor®

As a single mom, she values the tax help. “Ninety percent of my refund will go
toward paying bills in advance, such as my car and business insurance, business
expenses, and internet for the year,” says Beslagic who counts on the EITC and the
child credit for her young daughter. “My refund is crucial in helping me to be able
to survive financially throughout the year. It helps having more financial stability
as a single mom earning below the ideal amount.”

Beslagic isn’t the only person looking forward to tax season. Capstone’s steady crew
of volunteer tax preparers is excited to begin helping central Vermonters file their
taxes and access their refunds and credits. Susan Warren of Middlesex is in her
third year as a VITA volunteer. When she retired from her job at the state, she was
looking for a challenging opportunity to fill her time. “Helping people with their
taxes is so rewarding. The process intimidates so many, and it’s great to ensure they
T HE BRID GE
Facing Shylock in The Merchant of Venice
I
t’s hard to imagine a greater challenge
for a Jewish actor than playing the
infamous Shylock from Shakespeare’s
The Merchant of Venice. Shylock is
familiar because of many famous
portrayals, yet elusively complex—is he
villain, victim, or both?
In an era rightly sensitized by the
greatest humanitarian catastrophe in
history, the play invites charges of anti-
Semitism; the actor must balance the
risk of offending a modern audience
against an inauthentic portrayal, or one
that’s slavishly derivative.
I want to share my approach to this great
role, and how I reconcile being Jewish
(raised Reformed and Bar Mitzvahed)
with playing a Jewish villain, who for
many Jews epitomizes the most harmful
of anti-Semitic stereotypes.
First onto my reject pile went imitation—
company-mates from my freshman
year at SUNY Purchase College love
to remind me about my all-too-close
impersonation of Peter O’Toole in
Becket—so despite my admiration for
Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino, and a host
of great BBC portrayals of Shylock, I
knew that wouldn’t work.
Next onto the pile was the “super-
F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 • PAGE 15
By Matthew Grant Winston
saturated you” of Photo of and by Matthew Grant Winston b r e a k i n g p o i n t been put upon, spat upon, publicly
classic method by the dominant humiliated, undermined repeatedly in
acting, expounded culture, and he’s business. As written by Shakespeare,
by my mentor hardened his heart he’s a full human being with universal
David Garfield. to survive. But we feelings.
Although the deep glimpse the feeling The shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of
self-knowledge of human soul within Life Synagogue demonstrates that anti-
his approach can when he learns that Semitism is alive and well in America.
build emotional his daughter, “fled The Merchant of Venice is a problematic
versatility, it risks with a Christian,” part of that dark history. Sublime in its
bringing the same has traded his stolen poetry and in its exploration of the risks,
persona to every turquoise ring for illusions, and realities of love, it makes
role—a bit like a monkey. “Thou us uncomfortable even as it uplifts us.
Jack Nicholson, tor t u re st me,
perhaps. Tubal. It was my We can’t turn away from the ugly and
turquoise. I had it distasteful issue of anti-Semitism. We
That left two must face with honesty and courage the
approaches I’ve of Leah when I was
a bachelor. I would instinctive human fear of what looks
chosen to blend: different, what acts, dresses, worships,
first, animal exercises, in which you not have given it
for a wilderness of monkeys.” Those and sees the world differently. For this
study a creature closely—a vulture, for and other reasons I’m happy to play
Shylock—and embody its physicality understated lines, and that ring, embody
a man’s grief and loss. Shylock in these times, and I hope to
until you know it so well you can embody him in all his truth and fullness.
transfer it to a character. The second is My grandfather Irving Winston,
the great Michael Chekhov’s refinement passionate and bullheaded, fled starvation The Merchant of Venice plays at the
of the method-acting approach, wherein in Russia when he was 13. I remember Plainfield Opera House on February 14,
an actor uses physical gestures to awaken him unkind at times, especially to my 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23 at 7 pm and
his subconscious connections to his grandmother; tyrannical and brilliant, February 17 and 24 at 2 pm. General
character’s emotional states. more tough than tender—qualities that admission is $15, and students / seniors are
must have seen him through extremes $12. Call 229-5290 or email blachly@
I’ve felt connected to Shylock for a long together.net for ticket reservations.
time; he’s no stereotype. He and his of deprivation. Like him, Shylock has
fellow Jews have been abused to the developed survival mechanisms—he’s
PAGE 16 • F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019
Support Good Samaritan Haven this Month at Hunger Mountain Co-op
D
edicated to transforming the
lives of people experiencing
homelessness, Good Samaritan
Haven (GSH) is more than just a homeless
shelter. They have a variety of facilities that
provide guests with shelter beds, essential
items to meet their basic needs, and a wide
variety of support services to help them
gain employment, apply for benefits, find
treatment, and locate stable housing.
The organization is working to reduce
homelessness in Central Vermont while
prioritizing that every person is treated with
dignity, compassion, and respect during
their time of need. In 2018, GSH helped
57 people gain stable housing, served 228
people 11,310 meals at their facility, and
saw their guests stay an average length of
51 days.
We spoke with Oliver Kelley, Good
Samaritan Haven’s AmeriCorps member
who serves as their resource specialist, to
find out more about their wide variety of
programs.
When and how did Good Samaritan
Haven get its start?
The Good Samaritan Haven was started by
a group of Barre clergy and congregations
in 1986. They were responding to a need
they saw due to the number of people
sleeping on the streets. There was quite
a bit of backlash from some community
members, but the people who felt strongly
about the need for shelter continued to
persist, and it was allowed.
How has the organization changed
since it first began?
The shelter has grown from seven beds to
30. We provide evening meals, showers,
and laundry. We now receive support from
citizens, elected officials, and numerous
individuals.
Has the problem of homelessness in our
community improved or gotten worse
in that time?
There are considerably more homeless
people now than there were then.
What are some of the most prevalent or
widespread causes of homelessness in
our community?
Lack of affordable housing and living
wages for many people. Mental illness and
substance abuse are two other primary
causes of homelessness in our area. We
see many of our clients who are facing
one or both of these issues. One way
GSH addresses this is our partnership
with Washington County Mental Health
Services. We have a Washington County
Mental Health Adult Access Clinician
who is available to meet with our guests
at the house. Many of our clients come in
with mental health issues, are survivors of
domestic violence, and/or have experienced
trauma. Those things really need to
be addressed if we want someone to be
successful in the long run.
In what variety of ways does Good
Samaritan Haven care for our homeless
population?
First and foremost, Good Samaritan
Haven provides emergency shelter to
individuals experiencing homelessness.
While accessing shelter, our guests have
hot meals, the ability to do laundry, and
a warm, safe place to sleep. For our guests
staying at the main house, we assign them
a GSH housing counselor. The housing
counselors help our guests to access a
variety of community resources, connect
with housing opportunities, and to move
towards self-sufficiency.
What is life in the shelter like for
someone who stays there?
During the winter, our guests are allowed
to return to the shelter at 4 pm. They are
allowed to make themselves a snack, do
chores, take a shower, and watch a movie.
Six days a week, we serve dinner at 7 pm.
On Fridays, Hedding Methodist Church
hosts dinner at their building. Guests stay
in one of our dorms, or on a cot in the
dining room. At 11 pm, we turn the lights
out with the expectation that everyone is
quiet. This way, everyone has a chance to
get a decent night’s sleep. It is very much
a communal living environment, and we
strive to make the shelter as comfortable
as possible for the 25‒30 people staying
with us.
Can they stay there for an extended
period?
GSH has a 90-day program, and each
guest is assigned one of our two housing
counselors upon arrival. They will have
regular meetings with the housing
counselor to identify a plan for moving
forward. Usually, guests are assigned tasks
designed to help them move toward self-
sufficiency. These tasks can be things set
up for them by the housing counselor,
such as going to credit counseling at
Capstone. Tasks are sometimes things
that the housing counselor sits down and
walks a client through, such as filling
out an application for the Barre Housing
Authority. Alternatively, a task may be
something a guest is expected to do on
their own time, like going down to the
McFarland Building to get their SNAP
benefits straightened out or apply for a job.
Tell me about the seasonal warming
shelters.
T HE BRID GE
GSH has three warming shelters: Hedding
Church in Barre, Bethany Church in
Montpelier, and a location in Lamoille
County. They operate from about
November to April and allow GSH to
increase its bed capacity from 30 beds to
91 during the coldest part of the year.
What basic needs do you provide to the
people you serve?
We offer the things our guests need for
daily life in the shelter, such as hygiene
items, bedding, socks, and more. One
of the major challenges for guests is
transportation in our rural area. Most of
our guests do not have a car, so they need
to access the bus for doctor’s appointments,
employment, and social services. GSH is
able to offer a limited number of bus passes
for guests who have no income.
What type of support services do you
provide, case management, etc.?
Our housing counselors provide case
management. We also have a peer
support services employee who comes
in the morning to help guests complete
chores, makes their beds, and learn
practical life skills. And we have the
adult access clinician from Washington
County Mental Health Services who is
available to meet with our guests. The
Projects for Assistance in Transition from
Homelessness (PATH) program offers
additional assistance to people dealing
with mental health problems. The Family
Supportive Housing Program offers
assistance to parents (either mothers or
fathers) working on family reunification
and provides help with housing and other
needed support.
On a practical note, GSH also prepares
people for transition with our NeST House.
Located in Montpelier, it is a smaller
population that is more like apartment
living. There is overnight staff, but the
guests there are much more self-sufficient.
GSH sends guests from the main house in
Barre to NeST if they are doing really well
and are almost ready to take the next step
towards self-sufficiency. For someone who
has been chronically homeless, NeST is a
great opportunity to change that pattern
and take the often scary step toward an
apartment of one’s own.
How does Good Samaritan Haven get
its funding? How can people support
the organization and its work?
GSH’s funding comes from state (Office
of Economic Opportunity) and federal
(HUD) funds. We rely heavily on
individual donations and receive much
support from local churches and civic
groups.
This text was provided by Hunger Mountain
Co-op. To support Good Samaritan Haven,
simply opt-in to being asked at the register to
round up your purchase to the next dollar at
hungermountain.coop/give-change or speak
with a customer service rep at the co-op.
T HE BRID GE F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 • PAGE 17

Norwich University Kicks off 200th Anniversary Year

By Daphne E. Larkin, director of media relations and community affairs at Norwich University

Photo courtesy of Norwich University We achieved our goal a year ahead
of time, raising $100 million solely
to support the academic program
at Norwich and our students via
scholarships. That is how much
our alumni, employees, and
friends believe in our mission. As
a result of our campaign, we have
newly enhanced programs and
facilities in cybersecurity, the arts,
engineering, architecture, sciences,
and liberal arts.
colonel was Sarah S. Patchem, who
held the position in 1997. Norwich
was early in online education, too,
establishing its first online program
in 1997.
We hope that you will join us at the
State House and events during the
rest of the year to celebrate the past
200 years and take the first steps into
the next 200 of doing both Vermont
and the country proud.

On campus, the Sullivan Museum

and History Center highlights Daphne E. Larkin is director of media
many Norwich firsts and other relations and community affairs at
examples of innovation, growth, Norwich University.
and historic breakthroughs in
several exhibitions. Many in central
Vermont might not know about
the many “firsts” that happened
here. Here are a few:
In 2011, in response to damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene, teams of Norwich students
gave a total of 4,000 hours of service to neighbors over the course of one month.
Norwich has the country’s oldest

T
wo hundred years ago, Capt.
Alden Partridge, a former
superintendent at West Point,
founded Norwich University as part
of his mission to educate citizen
soldiers in the skills needed to build
and defend the republic. This makes
2019 a significant milestone in the
history of Norwich University, and
a year-long schedule of events is
underway—starting with a full day
of programming on February 20
at the State House in Montpelier
and a community scavenger hunt
sponsored by many local businesses
(See insert in this issue.)—to pay
tribute to the many positive impacts
the school has had on Vermont and
the United States.
(SMC) in the country. SMC is a
federal designation that recognizes
colleges or universities that have a
standing Corps of Cadets—students
who attend classes in uniform—and
offer the Reserve Officers’ Training
Corps (ROTC) program.
Norwich also educates many non-
military students. Some of these so-
called “civilian” residential or transfer
students might have prior military
service, or they might just come to
Norwich for a specific academic
program, an athletic team, or because
they appreciate the structured,
professional atmosphere the Corps
of Cadets creates on campus and in
the classroom.
collegiate band; it was the first
college to teach civil engineering; in
1974, the college admitted women
into the Corps of Cadets, two years
before the United States Military
Academies, with our first female
cadet graduating in 1975. This year,
Norwich appointed its seventh female
Regimental Commander—the top
student leadership position in the
Corps of Cadets—with psychology
major and student-athlete Morgan
Woods. Norwich’s first female cadet

Today, Vermonters can feel the

Partridge’s legacy lives on in the way
impact of Norwich in their local
that Norwich continues to innovate
hospitals and medical providers—
education today. We continue to
we place many nurses in local and
identify the areas of education critical
regional institutions every year.
to society, such as new disciplines like
Norwich students and graduates are
cybersecurity, international business,
everywhere, designing sustainable
and construction management, and
housing in area architecture firms,
build an academic program around
working on roads and bridges,
that need. We are also investing
developing solutions to mitigate
heavily in international education
stormwater runoff in public spaces
opportunities that prepare students
in response to climate change, and
to be culturally agile in their thinking
building sustainable communities.
and leadership.

Every year Norwich students spend

In anticipation of celebrating the 200-
thousands of hours volunteering in
year anniversary, five years ago we
the community, from staffing after-
launched our bicentennial “Forging
school programs to helping neighbors
the Future” campaign. The five-
remove snow. In 2011, in response
year fund-raising campaign, timed
to damage caused by Tropical Storm
to culminate this year, is committed
Irene, teams of Norwich students
to creating the best possible learning
contributed a total of 4,000 hours of
environment through state-of-
service to neighbors over the course
the-art academics and world-class
of one month.
facilities. It is designed to enhance
the university’s strong position as we
Norwich is the oldest and the only step into our third century of service
private Senior Military College to the nation.
PAGE 18 • F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019
9 Ways to Say “I Love You” in Montpelier
T
he Valentine Bandit isn’t the only one with romance in the heart this
Valentine’s Day. Area businesses are also tapping heart strings with specials
and events on and around the holiday. Say “I love you” with a local flavor
at these shops in and around Montpelier.
North Branch Cafe
Casanova famously ate 50 oysters a day for breakfast to keep up his legendary
libido. On February 15, North Branch Cafe will be serving up a catch of fresh
raw Maine oysters from 4 to 7:30 pm, along with some of the best oyster-friendly
wines from around the world. Reservations are required.
Global Gifts
Make an exotic gift to your loved one, with a piece of jewelry from Global Gifts,
on sale for 20 percent off from February 8 to 14.
Alpenglow Fitness
Buy a $100 gift card and get a complimentary pair of Barre socks ($15 value)
through Valentine’s Day.
Charlie O’s
Rock out on Valentine’s Day to the “queer-phonic, multi-sonic, jazz-shamanic
experience” of Jaguar Stereo and the pop rock harmonies of Yestrogen. The theme
is self love, so the night is titled “I Love Myself.”
Bohemian Bakery
Sweeten the holiday further with special Valentine’s cakes and cookie boxes—
large and fabulous meringue rounds filled with fresh berries, whipped eclairs filled
with raspberry cream and topped with chocolate icing, and more.
T HE BRID GE
By Mike Dunphy
Manghis
The esteemed bakery makes a variety of special sweet treats for your sweetie. This
year’s crop include chocolate cherry cheese buns, lemon blueberry twist, maple
pecan buns, and heart-shaped challah. Place orders by Tuesday, Feb. 12, for
Valentine’s Day pick up.
The Quirky Pet
Give Fido some extra love on Valentine’s Day with specialty treats from the
bakery case. The frosted heart-shaped cookies are made with a peanut butter and
molasses base in Wareham, Massachusetts.
Nutty Steph’s
Make a gift of chocolate even more saucy with a set of chocolate vulvas, naturally
made with the best chocolates from around the world, grown in protected forests.
Enjoy three flavors—divine dark, peppermint, and caramelized—as well as the
fact that a portion of proceeds go to supporting Planned Parenthood. Every box
also contains collectors cards designed especially for this campaign by Dutch
illustrator, Hilde Atalanta of The Vulva Gallery.
Capital City Concerts
Sunday, February 17 at 3 pm, at the Unitarian Church, Capital City Concerts is
celebrating love and romance with a “Valentine’s Weekend.” On the bill are sensual
works by Astor Piazzolla, Johannes Brahmns, Camille Saint-Saens, and more
T HE BRID GE
Community
Events
Events happening
February 6‒February 22
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Tech and Tea. Wednesday morning technology
workshops through Feb. 27. Covering social
media, internet, smartphones, and safety.
Montpelier High School. Call for more info. and
to register: 223-2518. Ages 50+
Orchard Valley Walk-Through Wednesday.
Join us for this monthly open house event during
the school day. Observe main lesson in grades 1–8
and visit our mixed-age kindergarten programs,
including Farm & Forest. 8:30–10:30 am. Grace
Farm Campus, 2290 Rt. 14N, East Montpelier.
Pre-registration required: enrollment@ovws.org or
456-7400
The Christ Church Community Lunch.
11 am–12:30 pm. 64 Main St., Montpelier.
Salvation Army Community Lunch.
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
Climate Change: The Vermont Perspective.
Lead author of the VT Climate Assessment,
Scientist and Professor Gillian Galford will discuss
our future climate and how it will impact our
communities, natural resources, agriculture and
tourism. An Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
program. 1:30 pm. Montpelier Senior Activity
Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Free to OLLI
members; $5 suggested fee for all others.
Forum: Re-visioning Career & Technical
Education in Central Vermont. Share your
input and thoughts on the future needs of career
& technical education. 6–7 pm. Barre Town
Municipal Offices, Conference Room 1.
Mid-Week Movie: Love After Love. 6–8 pm.
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
St., Greensboro. $5 suggested donation.
highlandartsvt.org
Camp Meade Talks: John Cohn, The
Importance of Play. Hear Cohn describe his own
passion for play, and how and engineering degree
has taken him from the workbench to corporate
boardrooms, to eating rats on reality TV. 7 pm.
Red Hen Bakery, 961 Rt. 2, Middlesex.
campmeade.today
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Trinity United Methodist Church Community
Lunch. 11:30 am–1 pm. 137 Main St.,
Montpelier.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Four Fridays in February: Living Through
Loss’ Series. Free, weekly bereavement series is
open to anyone who has experienced the loss of
a loved one, whether in death or a relationship
change such as divorce. Noon–1:30 pm. Gifford
Medical Center, Red Clover Conference Room,
Randolph. 728-2107
Vermont College of Fine Arts Friday Night
Reading Series. With former Program
Director and current faculty, Miciah Bay Gault,
new Visiting Faculty Bianca Stone, and local
writer and artist Frances Cannon. Readings of
fiction, poetry comics, and graphic memoir.
5:30–7:30 pm. Cafe Anna, College Hall, 36
College St., Montpelier. vcfa.edu
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Annual Wine & Chocolate Weekend. Feb.
9–10 pm. We are teaming up with Cocoa Bean of
F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 • PAGE 19
Calendar of Events
Performing
Vermont for a special wine and chocolate pairing, THEATER, DANCE,
STORYTELLING,
Arts
just in time for Valentine’s Day! Fresh Tracks
Farm Vineyard & Winery, 4373, Rt. 12, Berlin.
freshtracksfarm.com
COMEDY
Feb. 6: Step Afrika! The first professional dance
Barre Congregational Church Community company in the world dedicated to the tradition of
Meal. 7:30–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre. stepping. In stepping, the body is used as an instrument to create intricate rhythms and sounds through
a combination of footsteps, claps, and the spoken word. 7 pm. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, 122
Pie For Breakfast. Over 150 pies. Proceeds Hourglass Dr., Stowe. $25–55. sprucepeakarts.org
benefit the Waterbury Rotary Club’s Youth
Exchange Program. 8–11 am. Waterbury Feb. 8–10: The Pink Hulk: One Woman’s Journey to Find the Superhero Within. Award-winning
actor, playwright, and two-time cancer survivor Valerie David is debuting her critically acclaimed,
American Legion, 16 Stowe St., Waterbury. $5 for
comical one-woman show. Feb. 8 and 9 at 7:30 pm; Feb. 10 at 1 pm with talkback to follow. Grange Hall
all the pie you can eat. waterburyvtrotary.org Cultural Center 317 Howard Ave., Waterbury Center. $15. sevendaystickets.com. Adult language and
Winter Wild Edibles. Bundle up and join themes.
NBNC teacher naturalist Ken Benton to Feb. 14–17, 21–24: Plainfield Little Theatre presents The Merchant of Venice. William Shakespeare’s
sustainably forage and cook a variety of delicious gripping comedy/drama set in fascist Italy. Thurs.–Sat. at 7 pm; Sun. at 2 pm. Plainfield Opera House,
wild foods from the surrounding landscape. Rt. 2, Plainfield. $15; students and seniors $12. Tickets: blachly@together.net or 229-5290
10 am–1 pm. North Branch Nature Center, Feb. 16: Vermont Dance Alliance Winter Gala. Premiere works by six diverse Vermont choreographers
Elm St., Montpelier. Registration required: from the Vermont Dance Alliance. 7 pm. Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro.
northbranchnaturecenter.org Tickets start at $15; students $10; 20% off for seniors. highlandartsvt.org
Free Community Lantern Making Feb. 20–21: American Girl Live. Experience American Girl® in an all-new musical, featuring all-
Workshop. Make your own lantern for original songs and unforgettable experiences. Join your favorite American Girl characters and the
the Union Elementary parade with willow campers as they follow their hearts, share their dreams, and learn the power of friendship. 7 pm. Spruce
branches and tissue paper. 10 am–3 pm. Union Peak Performing Arts Center, 122 Hourglass Dr., Stowe. $45–75. sprucepeakarts.org
Elementary School, Montpelier. Pre-registration Feb. 22: Pin-Ups Prefer Pie. A variety show of burlesque, comedy, and drag! Hosted by Prudie Peepers.
required: uesart.blogspot.com Raffle to benefit Rainbow Umbrella of Central Vermont. DJ KOMORO (of Electrolads) will close out
the night. 9:30 pm. Positive Pie, State St., Montpelier. Advance $15; at door 20. Sevendaystickets.com
Valentine Poetry Reading. The Northeast
Storytellers group members and guests will appear Feb. 22: Kathleen Kanz Comedy Hour. A wide range of talented standup comics from here and away
in the gallery sharing their love-themed readings. working longer sets. 8:30 pm. Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main St., Barre. Free/by donation. 479-0896.
espressobueno.com.
1 pm. The St. Johnsbury Athenæum, 1171 Main
St., St. Johnsbury. 751-5432
Chapters in History Three: The Twenties:
Roaring and Otherwise. A free program
series of reading and discussion on second Sat.
afternoons. 2 pm. Jaquith Public Library, School
St., Marshfield. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival:
Dateline Saigon. Dateline-Saigon tells the story
of five Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists who
courageously reported during the early years
of the Vietnam War. Q & A with filmmaker
Tom Herman and VT Digger’s Anne Galloway
follows. 4–5:30 pm. Highland Center for the
Arts, 2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro. $10
Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival: All The
Wild Horses. Follows riders from around the
world as they compete in the longest and toughest
horse race on the planet: the Mongol Derby.
6:30 pm. Highland Center for the Arts, 2875
Hardwick St., Greensboro. $10
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Annual Wine & Chocolate Weekend. See
listing under Feb. 9
Introductory Wildlife Tracking. Learn the
fundamentals of tracking and awareness to better
understand the stories animals leave behind.
9 am–1 pm. North Branch Nature Center,
Elm St., Montpelier. Registration required:
northbranchnaturecenter.org
Dance, Sing, and Jump Around! IN NEW
LOCATION. A family dance for all ages. Circle
and line dances and singing games, all taught
and called. Live traditional music. 3–4:30 pm.
Capital City Grange, Rt. 12, Montpelier. Free
for children. $5 suggested donation per adult.
dancesingandjumparound.weebly.com
International Folk Dancing. With Sue
Morris. All levels welcome. Every Sun. in Feb.
5–6 pm. Beth Jacob Synagogue, 10 Harrison
Ave.
Montpelier. Screening of Howard Zinn: You
Can’t be Neutral on a Moving Train. Film
about historian, activist and author, Howard
Zinn. Followed by Q&A with film producers.
6 pm. The Savoy Theater, 26 Main St.,
Montpelier. $5–20 suggested donation. No one
turned away for lack of funds. PJCVT.org
PAGE 20 • F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 T HE BRID GE

Visual Arts
EXHIBITS
Through Feb. 8: Creating with Paper.
A pop-up exhibit of collages by Sandra fw
Beaty. A large installation of paper collages,
many depicting scenes from Beaty’s extensive
travels. Bryan Memorial Gallery, 180 Main St.,
Jeffersonville. 644-5100, info@bryangallery.org
Through Feb. 13: Our Vanishing Vermont
Landmarks. Pen-and-ink drawings by Sandra
Brockmeyer Button whose work captures the
character of historic barns and other farm
buildings throughout central Vermont. Gifford
Gallery at Gifford Medical Center, 44 S. Main
St., Randolph.
Through Feb. 15: “Something Dear”
Photographer’s Workroom. The workroom
is a study in project creation and portfolio
development. Emphasis is on photography as
process and practice, and using cameras as a way
of seeing. T. W. Wood Gallery. 46 Barre St.,
Montpelier. twwoodgallery.org
Through Feb. 20: Hidden Surprise. Clay
masks by Janice Walrafen. Expressions of
feelings on the artist’s journey to wholeness.
They are made of clay and decorated with
natural materials, beads, and thread. Montpelier
Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier.
Through Feb. 21: Binta Colley, It’s All in
the Details: Botanical Illustrations (and
More). Reception: Feb. 6, 3 pm. Julian Scott
Calendar of Events
Memorial Gallery at Northern Vermont Through March 2: Scrap Yard: Drawings by Through April 19: Thom Egan, On Making
University-Johnson. NorthernVermont.edu Mark Heitzman. An exhibit of 10 large-scale Pictures. Wood block prints, lithographs, and
Through Feb. 23: The Way We See It: Social graphite or charcoal drawings of tools and other colored low reliefs. Reception & Artist Talk:
[In]Justice. A group show highlighting the objects. On display at The Morse Block Deli,
located 260 N. Main Street, Barre. For info:
Feb. 7, 5–7 pm. River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant
St., Morrisville. riverartsvt.org.
work of four artists who are responding to their
own view of social injustice—be it racism, www.studioplacearts.com Through June 1: Thomas Waterman Wood:
sexism, religious discrimination, or genocide. Through March 2: The Art of the Portrait, The Master Copies. A selection of Wood’s
Axel’s Gallery, Stowe St., Waterbury. August Burns. The exhibition is a rare master copies from the T.W. Wood Art Gallery
opportunity for the public to view paintings collection. While Wood was in Europe he fell
Through Feb. 28: Jaquith Invitational Art
Show. Works in a variety of media by 17 local from this outstanding Vermont Artist. 5031 in love with the paintings of the European
Main Street, Waitsfield. 496-6682 Masters, including Rembrandt and Turner.
artists. Jaquith Public Library, Old Schoolhouse
Common, 122 School St., Marshfield. 426- Through March 9: The Front presents Following current fashion, Wood copied
3581 SHOW 30. Recent works by the membership paintings to learn techniques from the masters.
of Montpelier’s sole collective art gallery. 6 Barre T.W. Wood Gallery, Montpelier. 262-6035.
Through Feb. 28: Aspects of the Universe. twwoodgallery.org
Paintings in acrylic and watercolor by Marina St., Montpelier. info@thefrontvt.com
Feb. 15–Dec. 21: 200 Years—200 Objects.
Sprague of Chelsea, Vermont. chelsealibrary. Through March 12: Northern Vermont
com 802-685-2188 University-Lyndon Community Art Exhibit. An exhibition celebrating Norwich University’s
bicentennial. Curated to include objects
Through Feb. 28: Cheshire Cat’s in-house Theme is “To B or Not to B,” and all artwork
must relate to the letter “b” in some way. from the museum collection, as well as
artists. Lucy Ferrada presents her whimsical documents and images from Archives and
hand-painted wooden bowls. Dawn McConnell NVU-Lyndon, Quimby Gallery, Lyndonville. Special Collections, that reflect and retell
presents her colorful, painted stoneware. NorthernVermont.edu
the university’s 200-year history. Opening
The Cheshire Cat, 28 Elm St., Montpelier. Through March 28: Ryan Geary, Ascent reception, Feb. 15, 4–6 pm. Norwich
cheshirecatclothing.com (Part One: Eulogy). A collection of 2D and 3D University Sullivan Museum and History
Through March 1: Winter Juried Exhibit. 26 collages. Opening reception: Feb. 7, 5–7 pm. Center, Northfield. norwich.edu
local Vermont artists. Works include paintings, River Arts Center, Copley Common Room, 74
prints, photographs, sculpture, fiber arts, and Pleasant St., Morrisville. www.riverartsvt.org. SPECIAL EVENTS
jewelry. T.W. Wood Gallery. 46 Barre St., Feb. 8–April 7: Precarious Magic: The Feb. 9: Eric Tobin Winter Painting
Montpelier. twwoodgallery.org Paintings of Kate Emlen. Painted scenes of the Demonstration. Tobin will complete a large
fields and forests of Vermont and the coast of format painting from start to finish, including
Through March 1: Axel Stohlberg, Abstract
Maine. Opening reception: Feb. 8, 5 pm; artist commentary about composition and palette, as
Vermont. Paintings, drawings, collage.
talk 6 pm. Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 he works. 1–3 pm. Bryan Memorial Gallery, 180
Opening reception: Feb. 7, 4:40–6 pm, artist Main St., Jeffersonville. Free. bryangallery.org
talk at 5 pm. The Gallery at Central Vermont Hardwick St., Greensboro. highlandartsvt.org
Medical Center, Berlin.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Community Lunch at Unitarian Church
Montpelier. 11 am–12:30 pm. 130 Main St.,
Montpelier.
Salvation Army Community Lunch.
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
Free Documentary Showing: Ask Us Who
We Are! Documentary on the foster care system
in Vermont. 6–8 pm. Aldrich Public Library, 6
Washington St., Barre. 585-9861
The World of Ludwig Bemelmans. A
presentation by Janet Pocorobba, Associate
Professor at Lesley College. Through dramatic
reading, lecture, and visuals, we’ll explore Ludwig
Bemelmans, man and myth. 7 pm. Kellogg-
Hubbard Library, 35 Main St., Montpelier.
223-3338.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12
Barre Congregational Church Community
Meal. 7:30–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
The League of Women Voters 99th
Anniversary Celebration. Hors d’oeuvres, cake,
talk, laugh, and get to know each other. Cash
bar. 5:30–7 pm. North Branch Café, 41 State St.,
Montpelier. RSVP: lwvofvt@gmail.com
2019 Parent-Child Dance. 6:30–8:30 pm.
Capitol Plaza Hotel, Montpelier. Advance tickets:
$20/couple + $5 extra guest. At door: $25/couple +
$7 extra guest. montpelierrec.org/familydance
Film Screening: The Face of Winter. A film by
Warren Miller Entertainment that features world-
class skiers and snowboarders on slopes on various
continents. 7 pm. Vermont University-Lyndon,
Room 100 of the Academic and Student Activity
Center. Free. katheryn.ebner@northernvermont.
edu
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13
Tech and Tea. See listing under Feb. 6
Cross-country Ski Craftsbury with Green
Mountain Club. Moderate. Various distances. All
abilities. Craftsbury Touring Center. Trail fee or
pass required. Bring lunch and water or buy at the
center. Contact Mary Smith, 505-0603 or Mary
Garcia, 622-0585 for meeting time and place.
The Christ Church Community Lunch.
11 am–12:30 pm. 64 Main St., Montpelier.
typewriter. The Bridge will publish your notes
along with photos of the event in the following
issue. 4:30–7:30 pm. Down Home Kitchen, 100
Main St., Montpelier. $15 suggested donation.
Mid-Week Movie: Unsane. 6–8 pm.
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
St., Greensboro. $5 suggested donation.
highlandartsvt.org
Wild Cousins of Our Best Friends: Wolves,
Coyotes, and Foxes. Sue Morse will share
her amazing photos and personal adventures
with wolves, coyotes, and foxes. 6:30 pm.
Plainfield Opera House, Rt. 2, Plainfield.
jaquithpubliclibrary.org
Author Talk: “Unschooling in Paradise” by
Kathleen Kesson. Unschooling embraces the idea
that children possess an inner compass that can
guide them into and through rich and authentic
learning experiences. 7 pm. Kellogg-Hubbard
Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14
Trinity United Methodist Church Community
Lunch. 11:30 am–1 pm. 137 Main St.,
Montpelier.
America” in 1997. From her unique experiences,
she discusses the origin of prison art, her
encounters with the inmates and the impact
that art has had in their lives. 4 pm. Mack Hall
Auditorium, Norwich University, Northfield.
norwich.edu.
Annual Adamant Decadent Desserts & Wine
Tasting. With live music. 5:30–7 pm. Adamant
Community Club. $15. More info.: 223-5760 or
adamantcoop@gmail.com
Free Discover Girl Scouts Event. Girl Scouts
of the Green and White Mountains will host the
information session for girls and parents. Meet
Girl Scouts and volunteers, learn about expanded
STEM and outdoor programs, enjoy fun girl-led
activities, and more. 6–7 pm. Barnet School, 163
Kid Row, Barnet. girlscoutsgwm.org
Naturalist Journeys Presentation Series:
Naked in the Lake: A Superior Adventure.
The planet’s largest freshwater lake is the stage for
Bryan Pfeiffer and Ruth Einstein’s canoe trip on
Lake Superior, where ancient rock and crystalline
water offer some of the most beautiful paddling
anywhere. 7–8:30 pm. North Branch Nature
Center, Elm St., Montpelier

Salvation Army Community Lunch.
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
Refugee Resettlement: Globally and Locally.
Refugee Counselor Anna Wageling will talk
about how the VT Committee for Refugees and
Immigrants has served over 8,000 refugees and
those granted asylum who have established new
homes in VT since 1980. An Osher Lifelong
Learning Institute program. 1:30. Montpelier
Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier.
Free to OLLI members; $5 suggested fee for all
others.
We Love The Bridge. Celebrate The Bridge
turning 25, share your thoughts about the paper,
and maybe even get involved yourself. There will
be food, a cash bar, birthday cake, and more. Meet
your friends, community members, and staff of
The Bridge during the celebration. While enjoying
the delicious food and good cheer, leave a note
for The Bridge on Down Home’s famous house
In Our Own Backyard: Charlie Nardozzi.
Nardozzi will be talking the best plants and
techniques for problems areas around your home
such as shade, wet spots, hot, dry locations, slope
and clay or poor soil. 7–8 pm. Stowe Library, 90
Pond St., Stowe. 253-6145
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15
Cycles of Life. A place of comfort where we can
all come together to listen, talk and share about the
things in life’s cycle we are all experiencing in our
own way now for ourselves and the earth we live
on. 11:45 am–1 pm. Twin Valley Senior Center,
Rt. 2, East Montpelier. 223-3322
Four Fridays in February: Living Through
Loss’ Series. See listing under Feb. 7
Norwich University School of Architecture +
Art presents artist Phyllis Kornfeld. Inspired
after teaching in prisons for 14 years, Kornfeld
published “Cell Block Visions: Prison Art in
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Snowshoe Laraway Mountain with Green
Mountain Club. Waterville. Moderate. 4 miles.
Via Long Trail. Crampons may be preferable
depending on trail conditions. Contact Morgan
Irons, 223-7044 or morgan.irons@myfairpoint.
net for meeting time and place.
Barre Congregational Church Community
Meal. 7:30–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
Winter Birding in the Champlain Valley. Join
expert birder and NBNC Teacher Naturalist Zac
Cota on a trip to one of New England’s premier
winter birding destinations. 8 am–4 pm. Sign up
at northbranchnaturecenter.org
Goddard Graduate Institute Visiting Day.
Participate throughout the day for a sampling
of residency activities, see graduating student
presentations, take a tour, and more. 11 am–4 pm.
Goddard College, Pitkin Rd., Plainfield. 322-1646.
T HE BRID GE F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 • PAGE 21

Calendar of Events
Feb. 8: Jeff Shelley & Patty Lynch, 5 pm; Nite Feb. 9: Bob Dylan Wannabe. Solo contest. 7 the students, alumni, and faculty of VCFA’s
Sky, 9 pm, $5, 21+ pm. Mingle Night Club, N. Main St., Barre. MFA in Music Composition. 8 pm. College
Feb. 9: DJ LaFountaine, 9:30 pm, 21+ Feb. Hall Gallery, VCFA, College St., Montpelier.

Live Music
VENUES
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. 229-9212.
Bagitos.com
Feb. 7: Colin McCaffrey and friends, 6 pm
Feb. 9: Irish Session, 2 pm
Feb. 10: Southern Old Time Music Jam,
10 am
Feb. 14: Old Time Music Session, 6 pm
Feb. 15: Dave Loughran, 5 pm
Feb. 16: Irish Session, 2 pm; Barry Bender, 6
pm
Feb. 17: Eric Friedman Folk Ballads, 11 am
Feb. 21: Italian Session, 6 pm
Feb. 22: Latin Dance Party, 7 pm
Charlie O’s World Famous. 70 Main St.
Montpelier. Free. 223-6820.
Every Tues.: Karaoke, 7:30 pm
Feb. 6: Blues Jam w/ John Lackard (open jam),
6 pm
Feb. 8: Sclott Graves (acoustic) 6 pm; Be-er/
Stolk (rock), 9 pm
Feb. 9: Second Saturday: Cartoons &
Cocktails (party) 3 pm; Medicine Tribe (rock),
9 pm
Feb. 11: Sex Trivia Hosted by Miss Jubilee
(quiz), 8:30 pm
Feb. 14: Yestrogen/Jaguar Stereo (indie/jazz),
9 pm
Feb. 15: Tin Talisman/Lake Superior (rock),
9 pm
Feb. 16: Zeus Springsteen/Miku Daza (rock),
9 pm
Feb. 18: Music Trivia hosted by JJ Cyrus (quiz)
8:30 pm
Feb. 22: Z-Jaz (jazz) 6 pm; Valentino/Rust
Bucket (old-time), 9 pm
Espresso Bueno. 248 N. Main St., Barre. 479-
0896. espressobueno.com.
Feb. 9: Jazzyaoke (live jazz karaoke), 7:30 pm,
$5
Feb. 22: Reid Parsons & Co. (Americana),
7:30 pm
Gusto’s. 28 Prospect St., Barre.
gustosbarvt.com
Feb. 7: Blue Fox, 5 pm; Open Mic Night,
8 pm, 21+
14: Jacob Green, 5 pm; DJ Bay 6, 8 pm
Feb. 15: Joe Sabourin, 5 pm; NOS482,
9 pm, $5, 21+
Feb. 16: DJ KAOS, 9:30 pm, 21+
Feb. 21: Jacob McLaughlin, 5 pm; DJ Bay 6,
8 pm
Feb. 22: Eric Lindberg, 5 pm;
The Complaints, 9 pm, $5, 21+
Whammy Bar. 31 W. County Rd., Calais.
whammybar1.com
Every Thurs.: Open Mic, 7 pm
SPECIAL EVENTS
Feb. 6: Musical Story Telling for All Ages.
The award-winning Aeolus Quartet joins Scrag
Mountain Music co-Artistic Directors Mary
Bonhag (soprano) and Evan Premo (double
bass) and prominent Montpelier-based theater
artist Kim Bent in an interactive program
of fantastical music inspired by favorite
childhood tales including James Balentine’s
Three Billy Goats Gruff and Jon Deak’s The
Ugly Duckling and B.B. Wolf. 6:45–7:30 pm.
Jaquith Public Library, School St., Marshfield.
jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
Feb. 7: New Suede Blues. Veterans of
northern Vermont’s music scene, New Suede
Blues promise to entertain with a night of
funky roadhouse blues-rock. 6–8 pm. Café at
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
St., Greensboro. No cover.
Feb. 9–10: Scrag Mountain Music presents
Musical Storytelling for All Ages. Scrag
co-Artistic Directors Evan Premo (double bass)
and Mary Bonhag (soprano), will be joined
by the award-winning Aeolus Quartet and
acclaimed Montpelier-based theater artist Kim
Bent (narrator) for concerts that showcase how
chamber music can bring our most memorable
storybook fables to life. Come as you are, pay
what you can. scragmountainmusic.org
Feb. 9: 10 am, Bread & Butter Farm, 200
Leduc Rd., Shelburne
Feb. 9: 4 pm, Lost Nation Theater, City Hall,
39 Main St., Montpelier
Feb. 10: 4 pm, Middlebury Community
Music Center, 6 Main St., Montpelier.
Feb. 10: Pete’s Posse Concert. Vermont’s own
toad-roots trio. Twin fiddles in tight, wild harmony
over high-powered guitar. 4–6:30 pm. Cabot
Town Hall, 3084 Main St., Cabot. Advance $16;
at door $20. 793-3016.
Feb. 10: Film and Media Music Festival. A
variety of approaches to the marriage of music
to picture, as offered by VCFA students, faculty
and alumni —from fiction films, to animation,
video art, webisodes, documentaries, game
scores, and jingles. 8 pm. Noble Lounge, VCFA,
College St., Montpelier. vcfa.edu
Feb. 11: Electronic Music Showcase. An
evening of electronic sound and multimedia;
VCFA students and faculty perform new work
for instruments with live electronic sound and
video. 8 pm. Alumni Hall, VCFA, College St.,
Montpelier. vcfa.edu
Feb. 12: VCFA MFA in Music Composition:
The City of Tomorrow. Premiering piece
written by MFA in Music Composition students
that reflect a cross-section of approaches to new
music. 8 pm. College Hall Chapel, VCFA,
College St., Montpelier. vfca.edu
Feb. 13: VCFA MFA in Music Composition:
The City of Tomorrow and Anna’s Ghost. See
event under Feb. 12
Feb. 14: VCFA MFA in Music Composition:
Anna’s Ghost and invoke. See event under
Feb. 12
Feb. 15: VCFA MFA in Music Composition:
Anna’s Ghost and invoke. 2 pm. See event
under Feb. 12
Feb. 15: Thea Wren & Daniel Gaviria.
6–8 pm. Fresh Tracks Farm Vineyard &
Winery, 4373 Rt. 12, Berlin. freshtracksfarm.
com
Feb. 15: Maple Jam. Vermont’s own a cappella
jazz septet. The snazzy vocal masters return to
warm up a winter’s eve with jazzy vocal sounds,
spotlighting classic love songs in honor of
Valentine’s Day. 7:30 pm. Chandler Music Hall,
71-73 Main St., Randolph. Advance $21; Day of
show $24. chandler-arts.org
Feb. 15: Songwriting Showcase. Partnering
with Café Anna (cash bar) to highlight the
diverse songwriting and performing talents of
vcfa.edu
Feb. 15: Heartless. Heart & Zeppelin
Experience. 9 pm. Rusty Nail, Stowe. Advance
$8; Day of show $12. 21+
Feb. 16: VCFA MFA in Music Composition:
Invoke. 2pm. See event under Feb. 12
Feb. 16: A Night of Jazz. Pianist Daniel Bruce,
along with special guests Ronald White on
bass and Andy Gagnon on drums. Benefits
the United Church of Northfield. 7 pm. 58 S.
Main St., Northfield. $15 suggested donation.
485-8347.
Feb. 16: Noam Pikelny and Stuart Duncan.
Bluegrass duo. Spruce Peak Performing Arts
Center, 122 Hourglass Dr., Stowe. $25–35.
sprucepeakarts.org
Feb. 16: Dr. Strangeways. KISS tribute. 9 pm.
Rusty Nail, Stowe. Advance $10; Day of show
$15. 21+
Feb. 16: Dance Party with DJ Craig Mitchell.
10 pm. Bolton Valley Sports Center.
Feb. 17: Vermont Philharmonic 60th
Anniversary Season presents “Classics &
Contemporaries.” The program includes
Vermont composer Erik Nielsen’s Fanfare in B
flat for Orchestra, 2018 winner of the Borowicz
Memorial Student Scholarship Henry Wu
performing the first movement of Mozart’s
Piano Concerto in A Major, Lake Tyrrell in
Innisfree composed in 2017 by Rufus Reid and
concludes with Antonin Dvorak’s 1895 Cello
Concerto in B minor, op. 104 with virtuoso
soloist Emily Taubl. 2 pm. Barre Opera House,
6 N. Main St., Barre. $20; seniors $15; students
$5. vermontphilharmonic.com
Feb. 17: Capital City Concerts presents
“Heart & Soul.” Edward Arron returns
with wife, pianist Jeewon Park, violinist
Theodore Arm, and flutist Karen Kevra. They
will perform works by Piazzolla, Massenet,
Saint-Saëns, and Brahms. 3 pm. Unitarian
Church. 130 Main St., Montpelier. $15–25.
capitalcityconcerts.org
Feb. 21: Howie Cantor. Singer-songwriter of
folk. 6–8 pm. Café at Highland Center for the
Arts, 2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro. No cover.

Contra Dance. Dance to the calling of Luke
Donforth with traditional dance tunes provided
by the accomplished duo of Joanne Garten on
fiddle and Brendan Taaffe on guitar. 8–11 pm.
Introductory session at 7:40 pm. Capital City
Grange, 6612 Rt. 12, Berlin. Adults $10; kids and
low income $5; dance supporters $15.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17
First Presbyterian Church Community
Breakfast. 7:30–9 am. 78 Summer St., Barre.
Cold-Snow-and-Warm-Hearts-Post-Valentine’s-
Day Snowman Building Contest. Bring your
own special snowman-building equipment and
accessories, or partake of our modest selection
of scarves, carrots and mismatched socks. Hot
chocolate and treats. 3–6 pm. Museum of
Everyday Life, Rt. 16, Glover. Free.
International Folk Dancing. See listing under
Feb. 10
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Community Lunch at Unitarian Church
Montpelier. 11 am–12:30 pm. 130 Main St.,
Montpelier.
Salvation Army Community Lunch.
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts Virtual Info
Session at Goddard College. Hosted on Zoom, a
web conferencing platform that allows participants
to join by video or phone. 6 pm. RSVP: https://
goo.gl/forms/D0hGFoDhL6Z5Ferr2. More info.:
322-1646
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19
Barre Congregational Church Community
Meal. 7:30–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
Full Moon Snowshoe Hikes (for families).
Under a full moon and surrounded by sparkling
snow, let’s snowshoe by lunar light! Led by
NBNC’s teacher/naturalist staff. Snowshoes and
hot chocolate provided. 7–8:30 pm. North Branch
Nature Center, 713 Elm St., Montpelier. RSVP
required: northbranchnaturecenter.org
Reading by Visiting Writer Achy Obejas.
Author The Tower of the Antilles, Ruins, and Days of
Awe. 7 pm. Goddard College Community Center,
Plainfield.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20
Tech and Tea. See listing under Feb. 6
The Christ Church Community Lunch.
11 am–12:30 pm. 64 Main St., Montpelier.
Salvation Army Community Lunch.
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
Mid-Week Movie: Oceans 8. 6–8 pm. Highland
Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro.
$5 suggested donation. highlandartsvt.org
Sounds Good: Music Themed Movies. 7 pm. turtles, frogs and salamanders in Vermont and
Jaquith Public Library, School St., Marshfield. abroad. 7–8:30 pm. North Branch Nature Center,
Contact library for film title: 426-3581 Elm St., Montpelier.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Adult Improv Night with Justin Lander.
Come spend a fun and possibly funny evening
Trinity United Methodist Church Community learning and playing improv comedy games
Lunch. 11:30 am–1 pm. 137 Main St., in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. 7–8 pm.
Montpelier.
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
Community Lantern Parade. Union Elementary St., Greensboro. By donation. highlandartsvt.org
School invites the entire Montpelier community
to join us for an evening lantern procession. This
year’s theme is “Shine Your Light, Share Your
Story.” Parade from Union Elementary to the
State House Lawn with a family friendly finale
celebration. 6–7 pm. uesart.blogspot.com
All Our Black Voices with Toussaint St.
Negritude. In celebration of Black History
Month, please bring your poetry books and join
local poet Toussaint St. Negritude for an open
reading-in-the-round of your favorite African-
American poets. 6:30 pm. Kellogg-Hubbard
Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Four Fridays in February: Living Through
Loss’ Series. See listing under Feb. 7
Naturalist Journeys Presentation Series: The
Secret Lives of Vermont’s (Lesser-known)
Reptiles and Amphibians. Vermont herpetologist
Kiley Briggs shares stories of lesser-known snakes,
PAGE 2 2 • F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 T HE BRID GE
How Should You Respond to Market Volatility?
What’s going on with the financial mar-
kets? Specifically, what’s behind the price
swings of the past several months? And,
more important, how should you, as an
individual investor, respond?
To begin with, the recent volatility was
not really all that extraordinary. The
daily drops pushed U.S. stocks down
about 10 percent from their recent re-
cord highs, although they have regained
some of that ground. A 10 percent
drop represents a “correction”—not a
crash—and historically, corrections have
occurred about once a year.
So what seems to have caused these mar-
ket jitters? Here are the key culprits:
• Anticipated slowdown in economic
growth and corporate earnings. The
stock market is forward-looking—inves-
tors make decisions based on what they
think will happen. And right now, many
investors are anticipating a slowdown
in economic growth (partially due to
higher tariffs and trade disputes) and
corporate earnings (as the jolt from the
corporate tax cuts begins to fade). We
may still see reasonably strong economic
growth and corporate profits, but pos-
sibly not at the same level as we had for
much of 2018.
• Rising interest rates. The Federal Re-
serve raised interest rates in 2018. While
higher rates are not bad for all market
sectors, they can slow the expansion
plans for many businesses, resulting in
reduced growth prospects. The Fed may
continue its gradual rate increases, but
investors are closely watching for any
signs that might lead the Fed either to
pause or increase rates more rapidly.
• Slowing global economy. The global
economy is growing more slowly than
expected, resulting in lower returns for
international stocks and a particularly
sharp decline in emerging markets.
While it’s useful to understand the
factors causing the recent stock market
gyrations, you’ll want to focus primarily
on what you can control. Consider these
suggestions:
• Keep realistic expectations. Try to
maintain realistic expectations about
how your investments are likely to
perform over time. After five years in
which the S&P 500’s returns have aver-
aged almost 14 percent per year, we may
well be in for a period of more typical
returns, possibly in the 5 to 6 percent
range. As always, though, there are no
guarantees when it comes to anticipat-
ing the performance of the financial
markets.
• Review your mix of investments. From
time to time, and sometimes in response
to changing market conditions, you may
need to change the mix of investments
in your portfolio. So, for example, if
higher market volatility makes you un-
comfortable, you may want to consider
adding bonds or other fixed-income
vehicles, as these types of investments
tend to stabilize stock-heavy portfolios
during turbulent times.
• Don’t get scared away from investing.
You may not like seeing multi-hundred-
point plunges in the Dow Jones Indus-
trial Average, but don’t get scared off
from investing. After all, recent stock
market history has taught the value of
patience: If you had given up on invest-
ing in March 2009, at the market’s low
point in the Great Recession, you would
have missed out on the 300 percent
gains achieved before the current round
of volatility. Of course, the market’s past
performance can’t guarantee what will
happen next.
The financial markets will always fluctu-
ate—sometimes violently. But as an
investor, you should strive for calmness,
patience, and discipline—because these
attributes can help you look past today’s
headlines toward the future you envi-
sion.
This article was written by Edward
Jones and provided by Gabe LaJeunesse,
AAMS®, Edward Jones
T HE BRID GE F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 • PAGE 23

OP-ED The Elephant in the Sanctuary

by Elizabeth Courtney

I
recently attended an evening meeting at Christ
Church to learn more about the historic buildings
on State Street. It became clear as the evening pro-
gressed that this meeting actually had a dual agenda
plus an unusual hidden component.
It was indeed a lesson on the historic architecture of
State Street. It was also a consciousness-raising precur-
sor to a fundraiser for the church’s “Hearts on Fire”
campaign to restore the structural integrity of the
building. And then there was the unspoken, unnamed
elephant in the sanctuary—the controversial four-story
parking garage proposed for the southern boundary of
the church property. It was not mentioned out loud but
was palpably present throughout the evening.
The program was a series of presentations and remarks
made by the State House Curator, David Schutz; Christ
Church project manager, Shawn Bryan; Jamie Dug-
gan, representing the Montpelier Historic Preservation
Commission; and Steve Everett, from the newly revital-
ized Montpelier Heritage Group. Later, Eric Gilbert-
son, Sandy Vitzthum, and Sharon Winn Fannon joined
a panel discussion. Paul Carnahan, Vermont Historical
Society historian; Kevin Casey from city government;
and others made substantial points.
Ellen Lovell, who long ago ran the Vermont Council on
the Arts and most recently served as the president of Marl-
boro College, skillfully managed the presentations as well
as the audience of more than 50 eager citizens. Although
participants were asked to say what characterizes State Street
to them and how they view its future, the proposed devel-
opments behind the church and across the street where the
former Gulf station stood were not overtly mentioned.
The sanctuary of the church was a fitting space to learn
about historic architecture. With its vaulted ceilings and
magnificent stained glass windows, this stone structure
is an iconic landmark at the gateway to the historic core
of the downtown business district. But as Shawn Bryan
made clear in his presentation, like any other, this
building needs maintenance. Incredibly, the “Hearts
on Fire” campaign to raise a million dollars to renovate
and restore the 150-year-old church has garnered a for-
midable $600,000 from within the congregation alone.
It is now rightly seeking support from the community.
The ravages of time are one threat to the historic beau-
ties on State Street, but what about the impacts of
new structures on the old? I could hear the elephant
stir. Schutz described the practice of razing the old to
make way for the new with the sad demolitions of the
old Post Office and spectacular 19th-century train sta-
tion. He pointed out the turning point that took us
away from demolishing the historic treasures in favor
of the new. It came when the old Pavilion building was
rebuilt, saving its beauty by adaptively reusing it, rather
than taking it down to make way for the new. And he
referenced the new bank building across State Street
from the Pavilion, skillfully designed to be sensitive to
its older next-door brothers.
Still, no mention of the proposed development planned
to sit so close to the back boundary line of Christ
Church that some folks wonder if the sun will ever hit
the stained glass windows again. No mention of the
new building coming to the corner of Davis and State.
Would it be of a fitting scale to anchor that corner
across Davis from the Pavilion? Would its design echo
some of the features of the Pavilion? Those topics were
tucked neatly under the timid pachyderm trembling in
the shadows of the sanctuary. Despite Lovell’s best ef-
forts to air these concerns, no one would mention them.
Montpelier residents and those who call Montpelier
their city need to talk about these thorny issues. We
need to protect our architectural treasures, not only
from the ravages of time but also from the destruction
that can result from nearby development that may be
blind to a context of historical significance.
The city has just won a grant for the design of a new
streetscape for State Street, and there are plans to con-
duct a new master plan for the downtown. Residents
and neighbors alike should be prepared to participate
in these public forums for the sake of the beauty and
integrity of Montpelier’s historic heritage.
I am grateful for the initiative Christ Church and the
Montpelier Heritage Group have taken to put on this
informative program. There should be more and regu-
lar meetings on this and similar topics. And, when we
meet again, let’s be sure to bring the elephant out of the
shadows so we can hear what she has to say.
Elizabeth Courtney is an author, a landscape architect,
former chair of Act 250’s Environmental Board, and for-
mer executive director of the Vermont Natural Resources
Council. She may be reached at elizabethcourtneyvt@
gmail.com

Classifieds
OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Bookmark:
PERFECT LOCATION WITHIN A 3 MINUTE WALK TO CAPITAL. montpelierbridge.com
Renovated throughout. First floor handicap accessible, one rest room, and
storage. Includes private off street parking, weekly office cleaning, heat,
hot water, electricity, snow removal, landscaping and full maintenance.
Single or multiple offices starting @ $300.00 per month.
Phone: 508-259-7941
PAGE 24 • F EBRUA RY 6 - F EBRUA RY 19, 2019 T HE BRID GE

Advertise in
the NEXT ISSUE:
Town Meeting
and Summer
Camp
In Circulation Feb. 20
–Mar. 6
ALL AD MATERIALS AND AD
SPACE RESERVATIONS DUE
FRIDAY, February 15.
For more information about
advertising, contact
Rick McMahan • 802-249-8666
rick@montpelierbridge.com