the bridge, april 4, 2013

IN THIS ISSUEA POET IN THE HOUSE

Ellen Bryant Voight kicks off April poetry celebration

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PIECES OF WARNew book on the Civil War

in the Green Mountains

4

INCOMING IDEASNew councilor Edgerly Walsh

talks housing, accessibility

7

CALLING IN SICKMontpelier teachers can

take lots of time off

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courtesy Rachel Senechal

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Connecting Montpelier and nearby communities since 1993 | APRIL 4–17, 2013

by Max Shenk

I never commanded troops in whom I had as much confidence as those of this gallant state.

—General Philip Sheridan, Union commander

Howard Coffin’s upcoming book, Something Abides (see story on page 4), contains nearly six pages of Civil

War–related sites inside the city limits of Montpelier. For those who are interested in a downtown Montpelier Civil War walking tour, here are a few highlights:

The Coffee Corner, at 83 Main Street, was the location of the abolitionist newspaper The Green Mountain Freeman.

The Vermont State House, according to Coffin, is “a treasure trove” of Civil War

history and connections. “I think it’s our great Civil War site. So many things hap-pened there. The war really began there for Vermont when the legislature met. The State House is preserved almost exactly as it was during the war,” said Coffin, with both the House and Senate chambers containing many original furnishings and chandeliers dating back to the beginning of the war.

Later, the State House was a hub for annual soldier reunions. “They usually started with an afternoon meeting at the County Courthouse and then would move up to the State House, where they’d give speeches and so forth,” said Coffin. Many of Vermont’s great heroes at-tended and spoke at these reunions, including George Stannard, who led the Vermonters at Gettysburg, and Stephen Thomas, who led the Eighth Vermont at Cedar Creek and later served as lieutenant governor. Bronze tablets

inside the State House honor Stannard, Thomas, Lewis Grant, William Wells and other Vermont Civil War heroes.

The lobby of the State House is called the Hall of Flags and was once where Vermont’s Civil War battle flags were displayed. Ac-cording to Coffin, most of those flags are now stored for preservation, but in the rear of the building, three of them still hang in the Old Supreme Court Chamber, and appoint-ments can be made to see others by contact-ing the State House curator.

The Cedar Creek Room, on the second floor of the west wing of the State House, is perhaps the must-visit site in Montpelier. The room is named after Julian Scott’s grand-scale painting The Battle of Cedar Creek, which, according to Coffin, “is one of the

A POET IN THE HOUSE

yant Voight kicks off courtesy Rachel Senechal

A Tour of Civil War Sites in Downtown Montpelier

Sloan Hospital during the Civil War. This 12-ward hospital complex was built on the grounds of the Montpelier Fair-ground, now Vermont College of Fine Arts. At one time during the Civil War, over 400 wounded soldiers convalesced here. The buildings were dismantled and sold for housing when the war ended. Photo courtesy Bailey/Howe Library, UVM.

New Money.Check out our special supplement in the center of the paper.

see CIVIL WAR, page 5

HistoryWalking Through

• APRIL 4 –17, 2013 THE BR IDGE

THE BR IDGE APRIL 4 –17, 2013 • PAGE 3

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HEARD ON THE

STREETDistrict Heat Construction to Begin

The city has announced its district heat program construction plans, which start on April 16 with water system work, according to a handout from the city. Bridge ad representative

Carolyn Grodinsky reported that the construction is planned to occur only during the week, unless the project falls behind schedule. A map the city provided shows dates for planned activities, with the last noted date appearing as September 31.

FEMA Funds Rental Housing Renovations

FEMA’s Multi-Family Repair Program renovates unoccupied multifamily rental housing units that need to be brought to a habitable standard in areas where rental units aren’t suf-

ficient. In return, property owners make repaired rental units solely available to disaster sur-vivors for up to 18 months from the disaster date. FEMA says that in Barre roughly $87,000 in federal funds fixed a South Main Street apartment building, providing five rental units to families, several of whom owned their own homes but needed temporary housing while they repaired their damaged dwellings. FEMA’s coordinating officer Mark Landry said, “It could have cost as much as $50,000 apiece to purchase mobile homes for use by these families . . . Then we would have had to sell off the mobile homes or otherwise dispose of them. This was much more cost-effective.” According to FEMA, 106 mobile homes and 157 stick-built homes were destroyed or substantially damaged by Irene in Washington County.

New 355-Acre Park in Barre

The Trust for Public Land has announced that a 355-acre forest, which includes a variety of popular trails used for hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling and cross-country

skiing, will be protected as the Barre Town Forest. The land in Graniteville and Websterville includes the site of one of the first granite quarries in Barre, established in 1790. The Trust for Public Land facilitated the town’s acquisition of the land from the Rock of Ages Corporation and other private owners. It will be protected from future development with a conservation easement held by Vermont Land Trust and Vermont Housing & Conservation Board. The $1.37 million for the project came from a variety of public and private sources. The largest, $400,000, was from the U.S. Forest Service’s Community Forest program. Another $310,500 was from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board. The Community Forest Fund, estab-lished by the Open Space Conservancy and Jane’s Trust, provided $220,000, and the town of Barre and Millstone Trails Association each contributed $100,000. The remainder came from private donors and foundations.

Wanted: Caretaker for Hubbard Park

Geoff Beyer, Hubbard Park’s caretaker, is moving onward. He advised: “Montpelier is looking for a park caretaker for mainly after hours care of Hubbard Park. The caretaker

will be required to rent and live in the park house. The park work will be about 15 to 20 hours per week, the pay of which will be close to the rent charged. Approximately seven hours per week will be counted for having a significant presence around the park and for being on call in the park after hours and weekends. The remaining eight to 13 hours will be to perform park duties, including: Ensuring appropriate visitor use of Hubbard Park; educating park users regarding park rules and policy; providing assistance to park visitors; maintaining a safe and clean park after hours; and assisting with park projects on weekends and evenings. Looking for ability to communicate effectively with the public, be a positive representative of the city, operate tools and heavy equipment, conduct basic trail maintenance, and be able to lead a wide variety of volunteers.” For a more in-depth description, check the city web page. Send resume, letter of interest and references to Montpelier Parks, 39 Main Street, Montpe-lier, VT 05602.

Barre Resident Recognized by the Red Cross

Barre resident John Doon was recognized by the Red Cross and the governor for his work in New York and New Jersey in the wake of Hurricane Sandy to help thousands displaced

by the storm. Last week, Doon was presented with a certificate of appreciation by Red Cross leaders. Doon joined other volunteers and local Red Cross leadership that same afternoon for a ceremony with Governor Peter Shumlin who signed a proclamation marking March as American Red Cross Month in Vermont.

Veterans Services Available at Johnson State College

Johnson State College is now offering counseling services to area veterans on Fridays, partnering with the South Burlington Vet Center. The vet center at JSC is housed in the

JSC Counseling Center, on the lower level of Senators South. Appointments are available to veterans and their families or significant others from 10 a.m. to 2:30 on Fridays. To schedule an appointment, call Marie Milord at 862-1806. For information about veterans’ services at JSC in general, contact David Bergh at 635-1200.

—compiled by Bob Nuner

P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601Phone: 802-223-5112 | Fax: 802-223-7852 montpelierbridge.com; facebook.com/montpelierbridge

Published every first and third Thursday

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Copyright 2013 by The Montpelier Bridge

The first rain should now start the big Jefferson salamanders moving. How can they go to the pond when the woods are still full of snow and their mating pools are

only melted around the edges? All I know is that when the ice melts, those golf-ball-sized egg masses are already on submerged twigs, with the white, underwater, lentil-sized spermatozoa scattered about nearby. These yellow-spotted salamanders seem to wait for a rainy night when the ice is gone to make their move. Listen! I think I just heard a fox sparrow through the open window. Yes! Chicken scratching in the brush at the edge of the lawn. And what a voice! I’ve been waiting for them to come through.

—Nona Estrin

Nature Watch

Food & Farming IssueCOMING UP APRIL 18! Don’t miss your chance to advertise in one of our most popular issues of the year. Color ads available. Contact Carolyn or Ivan, 223-5112, ext. 11, [email protected] or ivan@montpelier bridge.com.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Read something you want to respond to? We welcome your letters and opinion pieces. Letters must be 300 words or fewer; opinions, 600 words or fewer. Send your piece to [email protected].

Deadline for the April 18 issue is Monday, April 15, at 5 p.m.


by Max Shenk

History is not a static thing, fixed in the past without any relevance to the here and now. History, ideally,

connects us to who we are and where we live today and, if we understand it correctly, points us to the future.

Vermont author Howard Coffin under-stands this and, through his writing about Vermont’s Civil War history, has made it his life’s work. Coffin’s upcoming book, Some-thing Abides: Discovering the Civil War in Today’s Vermont, is both a readable narrative of Vermont’s Civil War history and a guide-book to the state’s many Civil War–related sites and heroes.

Vermont has only one actual Civil War bat-tle site (in St. Albans), but Coffin found over 2,500 sites that, in some way, link Vermont to the war. Often these are familiar places where the Civil War connections are just beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered.

“There are soldiers’ homes, drill fields, hos-pitals, cemeteries,” Coffin said. ”There are churches where soldiers’ funerals were held, town halls where Vermonters met to deal with the war issues, places where abolitionists spoke, some underground railroad sites where fugitive slaves were harbored and major en-campments where the regiments gathered be-fore they went to war.”

Coffin places familiar landmarks in the light of the Civil War narrative. In Montpe-lier, for instance, the building on the south-eastern corner of State and Main is now a popular dining spot. But 150 years ago, said Coffin, “that building was the office of a newspaper called the Green Mountain Free-man. They employed a soldier named Wilbur Fisk as their correspondent. He was in the First Vermont brigade, and for most of the

war, they published his letters, many of them on the front page. His letters are magnifi-cent and have been made into a book [Hard Marching Every Day]. That was a very im-portant newspaper office, and Fisk would’ve come there occasionally to meet with them.”

Nearby, the Blanchard Block at 67 Main Street tells another story, this one about William Noyes, a Montpelier soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. During that battle, said Coffin, “the two armies were separated only by an earthworks, and they fought almost nose to nose for 24 hours in the pouring rain.

“At one point, after Noyes saw one of his best friends shot, he jumped up on top of those earthworks and fired down into the Confederates for quite some time. The men handed him up loaded rifle muskets. Finally, they pulled him down, and he was unscathed. It was,” Coffin said, “either great bravery or temporary insanity. But for this, he won a Medal of Honor.”

After the war, Noyes returned to Montpelier, living in a small home, which still stands at 9 First Avenue. Several decades later, while he was working as a carpenter on the Blanchard Block, he fell to the sidewalk from the unfin-ished building and died of his injuries, a bit-terly ironic death for a former soldier who had survived such intense fire in combat.

Coffin’s book not only reveals hidden his-tories but connects what seem like disparate sites. On a brief tour through Berlin, Coffin pointed out the site of a cellar hole and a non-descript snow-covered woodlot on Brookfield Road. Two aged trees, one fallen, were “his and her” maples planted in front of the fam-ily home of Richard Crandall, who fought in numerous battles before getting killed by a sharpshooter at Cold Harbor in 1864.

The summer before his death, Crandall was home on leave, and he and a friend hiked to the top of Mount Ascutney in Windsor County. While they lay on the summit beneath the sky, Crandall told the friend of his army life and the “gallant charge at Fredericksburg.”

“Oh, Mount Ascutney,” Crandall said, “to have lived a minute then were worth a thou-sand years.”

Crandall’s funeral was held at the Congre-gational Church in Berlin, and of the Civil War veterans whose gravesites can be found there, according to Coffin, Crandall’s “al-ways has a clean flag and occasionally flowers on it. I don’t know who maintains it.”

Through these stories of familiar places, Something Abides accomplishes what Coffin hoped: to bring the Civil War to life for cur-rent and future Vermonters and to show how even a “homefront” state like Vermont was deeply affected by battles that took place over 500 miles to the south.

“I was amazed myself by the impacts of the war,” said Coffin. “How the war touched all of Vermont in so many different ways.” Those impacts weren’t just felt by families that sent soldiers off to war. “Even if you didn’t send a fellow off, maybe, it’s going to hit you in some way because maybe you lose your hired man. Maybe you lose your em-ployee in the store. Perhaps families lose their income, and they’re not spending money at the local store. Or the local doctor’s gone: he’s gone off to fight, and now the town doesn’t have a doctor. The ramifications are endless. It really was more of a total war than I ever thought of it being.”

The war had a particular impact on women at the homefront. “They were pretty busy anyway,” said Coffin. “They’re homemakers, they’re raising the family, cooking the meals, sewing and all that, and then suddenly the

able-bodied men are gone, and so they’re doing the farming. Factories lost their help, so some daughters might go to work in a factory. And then these women would get together on weekends and at night to make things to send to the front for the war effort. It was remarkable.”

As a former educator, Coffin also wants Something Abides to serve as a teaching tool.

“I’ve found that interesting young people in history isn’t easy. [One of] the best ways to do it is the Civil War. It’s an intriguing story, and it’s one that most kids have heard some-thing about, so you touch a chord there,” said Coffin. “Teachers around Vermont have told me that if you can associate something local with the Civil War, that makes it even more intriguing to the kids. So this book will give them a weapon.”

Finally, Coffin hopes that Americans will learn from their history and, specifically, from the lessons that the Civil War has to teach us about our role in the world and our duties as citizens.

“Americans are so dreadfully ignorant of history,” said Coffin, “and if you don’t know history, you can’t be a responsible citizen, and we’re not very responsible citizens. We make a lot of bad mistakes, although we seem to make less of them in Vermont than elsewhere.”

As both a narrative and a guide, Something Abides fulfills its author’s hope of creating an engaging and engrossing book that will give new insights to anyone who wishes to explore the history hidden beneath the surfaces of familiar things.

Something Abides is scheduled for publica-tion in late April by The Countryman Press (countrymanpress.com).

Coffin’s New Book Connects Civil War History to Present-Day Vermont

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ART WALKFriday, April 5

Words & Picturespastels by Joyce Kahn

new work & poems by Kate Mueller

Reception during Art Walk Friday, April 5, 4–8 pm

K Mueller studio & gallery15 state street, room 301, Montpelier


best of all Civil War paintings and is sort of our unofficial state Civil War memorial.” Cedar Creek was chosen as the painting’s subject because, according to Coffin, “more Ver-mont units were involved [there] than in any other battle.” Scott “incorporated many portraits of Vermont soldiers into the painting” and “visited the battlefield and accurately de-picted the terrain. General Sheridan [who commanded the Union troops during the battle] said it showed the Vermont-ers as they looked ‘going in.’” Two other Scott Civil War paintings are displayed in the room: The Vermont Brigade at White Oak Swamp and the miniature Mounted Sentry, which stands in stunning contrast to the Cedar Creek painting in both its color and scale. The room also features portraits of Vermont military heroes from throughout history.

Another notable artistic treasure in the State House is a bust of Abraham Lincoln, which, according to Coffin, “is the work of a Vermonter from Brattleboro named Larkin Mead, who was later commissioned to do all of the statuary for Lincoln’s tomb. It’s a magnificent statue.” Rumor has it that actor Daniel Day-Lewis went out of his way to stop and see the statue for inspiration while preparing for his recent film role as Lincoln, a rumor that Coffin could not confirm.

General Sheridan visited the State House on several oc-casions, including an 1866 visit when he was “greeted by a throng of ten thousand people.” Following a speech, he was honored with a parade. “I found the route of that parade,” Coffin said. The parade started at the State House and went down State Street to Main Street, then left to the library, right on School Street and then left on Loomis Street before making its way back to the State House.

Next door to the State House, the Vermont Historical Society has a Civil War exhibit. Included in the display is a sword that Vermonter Stephen Brown took from a Confeder-ate officer at Gettysburg, notable because Brown was armed

only with a hatchet.The Vermont College campus green, formerly the site

of the Montpelier fairground, was, during the war, the site of Sloan Hospital, which, writes Coffin, was a complex of “twelve ward buildings more than a hundred feet long, ex-tending from a central point like the spokes of a wheel.” Ac-cording to the website Vermontcivilwar.org, only eight of the 12 ward buildings were ever fully in operation, but by the end of 1862, the complex housed over 420 patients. When Sloan Hospital was closed after the war, the 12 ward buildings were cut up into smaller sections and sold as houses, many of which still stand in the surrounding neighborhood. The front sections of the houses at 64, 80, and 84 College Street are built from pieces of the old hospital, and according to Coffin, if you “search the residential areas around the campus . . . soon you will begin to see other examples.”

The home of Reverend Charles Wright is at 159 State Street. Wright harbored fugitive slaves there before and during the war.

Redstone, a home on Terrace Street on the edge of the city, was the summer home of political scientist John W. Bur-gess. Although the house was not built until 1891, in 1899 one of Burgess’s houseguests was Varina Davis, former first lady of the Confederacy, who accompanied Burgess on buggy rides through the country.

Green Mount Cemetery, across from the Winooski River on Route 2 west of Montpelier, is the burial site of numerous Civil War veterans, including five Vermont Medal of Honor recipients who are commemorated on a monument near the chapel.

A fitting final stop on any tour of Montpelier Civil War-related sites is the octagonal monument in front of City Hall, two faces of which list 51 Civil War dead from the city. Many of these soldiers are interred in cemeteries in the area, although some are buried in military cemeteries elsewhere.

CIVIL WAR, from page 1

Bust of Abraham Lincoln at the State House. Photo by Max Shenk.


Summer Camps 2013

by Max Shenk

PoemCity 2013, Montpelier’s April-long, citywide celebration of National Po-etry Month, kicked off officially at the

State House on Monday night with a reading by Vermont poet Ellen Bryant Voigt.

Voigt, who was Vermont’s poet laureate from 1999 through 2003, read new, unpub-lished work to an attentive audience in the House chamber. Her reading, and the recep-tion that followed, was the first in a calendar full of activities designed to promote poetry to readers, writers, listeners and, most im-portantly, those who may not have enough poetry in their lives otherwise.

In his introduc-tion of Voigt, fellow poet Geof Hewitt quoted a work by M. H. Abrams in which Abrams outlined four dimensions of poetry. Voigt told The Bridge that these dimensions are great starting points for anyone who wants to enjoy poetry on any level.

“The first dimension,” said Voigt, “is the sense that a poem announces itself as an art object. It does that because it’s in lines, it’s brief, it’s condensed, but it’s not a piece of prose. It’s crafted. The second dimension is about the music of poetry: the arrange-ment of the sounds within a poem. The third dimension is the meaning of the words themselves. And the fourth dimension is the particularity of the voice.” Or, as Abrams put it, “the activity of enunciating”: the act of reading itself.

A poem, like any written work, has mean-ing, but, as Voigt told The Bridge, “The thing about a poem that, I think, is its great glory is

that it has those other three dimensions, and other literary work does not have those to the same extent.”

One of the most visible aspects of Poem-City is the storefront displays of poems: downtown businesses that post poetry in their street-facing windows so that passersby can read them. Voigt said that this is one of her favorite elements of PoemCity.

“For that person walking down the street who doesn’t write poems and thinks that he or she would not like to read poems, or maybe remembers poems from the eighth grade or something and is put off by them, or assumes

that they would be difficult,” said Voigt, “to go down the street and [see] a poem in the window and read three lines and think ‘Oh, that’s a person speaking. I’m actu-ally listening to a

person speaking,’ I think that that’s pretty fabulous.”

Further, says Voigt, the storefront poetry has “been made into a visually beautiful object. So that first dimension—that a poem announces itself in a way with its shapeliness and its form—you can just start there [and] respond to that.”

One of the blocks people encounter with poetry is a concern that they might not “get” or understand a poem, and that, Voigt says, points to an emphasis on meaning above all other dimensions. This block is understand-able, since it’s the way poetry was taught in most schools until recently.

“It was kind of clue hunting,” said Voigt. “You were taught poetry as intellectual his-tory. All of it was about the meaning or the idea. And so you’d look at a poem, and you

were not invited to respond to the music, or you were not invited to respond to the voice that you’re hearing.”

“Then,” Voigt continued, “you were sup-posed to take the test: ‘What was the poet really saying?’ And so that made you feel dumb. If you didn’t get it, you’d think that you hated poetry.”

Responding to the dimensions other than meaning makes poetry more accessible to a reader, said Voigt. A poem, she said, “is ulti-mately completed by the reader.”

“One of the things that poetry readers come to love is that sometimes you can re-spond to one of the other dimensions long before you can figure out what the meaning is. There are some great poems that I’ve read for 40 years. I couldn’t paraphrase them for you. I couldn’t tell you what they mean or what idea [the poet] was getting across. But I’m perfectly confident about responding to a complex field of feeling that is then given form and given shape, and I respond to that and I love that,” said Voigt. “They’re acces-sible in a different way. They’re accessible through their music, accessible through the voice. You can respond to any one of those four dimensions and that’s just fine.”

As for those who want to write and even publish poetry, Voigt says that “first you have to do the work. You have to put some words on the page. That’s a blunt way of putting it, but there’s nothing the least bit abstract about [writing] a poem. It’s sort of like mak-ing a chair. You might sit around coming up with all of these abstract ideas for a chair, but finally you’ve got to go out there and get a piece of wood and make the chair. You have to get past whatever this fanciful thing is or could be, but is still incipient. But none of this happens until you put the words on the page. Auden said that a poem is words talk-

ing to one another. So you have to get some words talking to one another on the page.”

In Voigt’s new work, from a soon-to-be-published book entitled Headwaters, she de-liberately excluded punctuation. Her reading of those poems followed Hewitt’s explanation of the four dimensions of poetry, and as she read, the audience was tuned into the poem beyond the meaning: the sound of the words, their deliberate construction, their music, and the ways those elements interacted to create an altogether new work beyond what might appear on the printed page. It was all of the things that Voigt spoke of later: not only “words talking to one another,” but a work that was started by a brilliant writer and then completed, upon listening, by the audience.

On Reading and Enjoying Poetry: A Conversation with Ellen Bryant Voigt

(802) 446-6100

Half day and full day available Multicamps discount Family discount Gymnastics, tumbling, swimming, games, crafts

Exhibition at the end of every week of the camp Spring floor, foam pit, in-ground trampoline, rock-climbing wall Fully air-conditioned

654 Granger Road, suite 2, Barre, VT 05641 223-0517 [email protected] SunriseGym.com

June 17–Aug. 16

ArtsEllen Bryant Voigt reads at the State House on April 1. Photo courtesy of Rachel Senechal.


Summer Camps2013

River Rock Summer Campsfor ages 6–13 • 46 Barre Street, Montpelier VT June 17–21 River Rock Summer CampJune 24–28 Lego Camp I with RoboticsJuly 1–5 Lego Camp II with RoboticsJuly 8–12 Superhero CampJuly 29–Aug 2 Gamer Camp

For more information, please call Elisabeth or Becky at 802-223-4700 or e-mail us at [email protected] • RiverRockSchool.org

Musical Theater

Summer ProgramJuly 15–26, 2013

Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.with a Final Performance

on Saturday, July 27Sing, dance, act, and have fun on the stage and behind the scenes

this summer! For ages 9–13. $500.

NEW ENGLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVALAugust 11–24, 2013Andrew Eng & Angelia Cho, Artistic Directors

A two-week intensive cham-ber music program for string students. Each participant will receive individual les-sons, chamber music coachings, perfor-mance opportuni-ties, and master classes by world-renowned artists.

Montpelier, VT • 802-229-9000 [email protected]

MONTPELIER RECREATION DEPARTMENT

April Vacation Day CampLicensed Child Care Program

Licensed childcare programs state subsidy is available upon request.

Monday–Friday, April 22–267:45 am drop off; 4:45 pm pickupGrades K–6thMontpelier Main Street Middle SchoolSpecial Trip: Thursday, April 25, UVAC

Resident Fees:$32.00 per day first child$25.00 per day additional children$120.00 for the week/first child$105.00 for the week/additional childrenNon-Resident Fees:$46.00 per day first child$35.00 per day additional children$160.00 for the week/first child$140.00 for the week/additional children

Upcoming Programs & EventsEgg Hunt in Hubbard Park: March 30Open House/discount pool passes: May 8Hip-Hop Dance K–5

Ready, Set, Run! YouthGirls on the RunGirls on TrackLittle League, Farm League, Tee-BallStart Smart BaseballSummer day camp, tennis, swim lessons and specialty camps

For prices and more information on our programs and events, please call us or visit us online:

1-802-225-8699 www.montpelierrec.org

by Bob Nuner

Jessica Edgerly Walsh says her priorities and interests haven’t changed since being elected to City Council, but, she laughs,

“I think maybe my time lines have altered a little bit.” Her priorities had included the im-provement of access to downtown Montpelier for residents of her District 3, across the river from State and Main.

In her campaign statement, which she pro-vided to The Bridge, she mentioned improved sidewalks, the bike path, reviews of current zoning and the circulator bus as factors af-fecting safe access to downtown. Now, it appears that the bike path, “a huge step for-ward” to helping folks who live in the vicinity of Berlin Street, for example, get into town easily, will have to wait.

“Something I was hoping would take something like eight months is not going to be done for two or three years . . . on the short end,” she says. Even so, she says she hopes to keep the path moving along as much as possible.

Edgerly Walsh’s campaign also noted an-other primary interest: Affordable housing in Montpelier, especially for young families and for retirees. She notes, “We’ve lost about 500 residents in the last 10 years” and sug-gests that if those losses could be made up, the burden on everyone else would diminish a little.

Of Montpelier, she notes, “We’re in an odd space, because we have the infrastructure we need already. We won’t add significantly to the infrastructure cost to add housing capac-ity.” She notes that Montpelier has an expen-sive water treatment plant, a sewer plant, and schools. None are stretched to capacity, so

further development wouldn’t necessarily add undue expense to the city, she points out.

She observes that “we want to make Mont-pelier a place where people can buy their first house and raise their kids versus having to contribute to sprawl and move out to Berlin or East Montpelier and be more dependent on cars.” Part of that problem, she notes, is that “there just are not enough” homes avail-able in Montpelier for people at that stage in life.

Edgerly Walsh then goes on to make a distinction about affordable housing. There is, she notes, a “donut hole,” similar to the one in health care. There may be a market for builders for high-end houses in the $400,000 range, and there are subsidies from the gov-ernment to build affordable housing for folks of modest or no income, but the middle range—$200,000 for a three-bedroom, two-bath house—provides less opportunity and incentive for builders.

Consistent with her interest in bikeable and walkable access to a viable downtown, the District 3 councilor has plenty of green credits, having worked in both the nonprofit and the for-profit side. Edgerly Walsh gradu-ated from Bates College with a degree in biol-ogy and moved to Montpelier, where she was state director for the Toxics Action Center, a New England organization that works with communities and municipalities to clean up and prevent pollution. Now she leads education and outreach for the solar power company SunCommon, a 50-employee firm based in Waterbury Center that was spun off from VPIRG. They facilitate installation of solar power systems using a business model that involves little or no up-front cost.

Edgerly Walsh Talks About Downtown Accessibility,

Affordable Housing


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On the last Town Meeting Day, March 5, 2013, Montpelier vot-ers approved two measures for the

Montpelier City School District, which col-lectively raised property taxes by 10 percent, more than doubling last year’s increase of 4.7 percent. In the years prior, the tax increases were in the 1.5 percent range.

The proposed 2013 school budget had been the subject of a Bridge article in the February 21, 2013, issue, which examined the reasons for the school district’s unprec-edented 10 percent budget request. In the early fall, before negotiating a new contract with teachers and staff, the school board had originally asked the superintendent to bring in a budget in the 4 percent range. The three-year teacher contract the board negotiated, while the superintendent drafted his budget, called for pay increases of 4 percent in the first year and 3 percent in the following two years. This broke the district tradition of 1.5 percent pay increases, made their 4 percent budget increase request to the superintendent impossible to meet and set the groundwork for the 10 percent increase that later appeared on the ballot.

Since the pay increases in the teacher con-tract the board negotiated were far greater than neighboring school districts, public questions arose as to whether cost consider-ations were at all factored into Montpelier school-board decision making.

On February 19, 2013, two weeks before the election, at a joint public meeting present-

ing the city and school budgets, a voter at-tending the meeting questioned the number of sick leave days teachers had negotiated in their 10-month contracts. Board President Sue Aldrich struggled to come up with the exact number of sick days. When prompted by an audience member with the number 50 per year, Aldrich agreed that this was exces-sive, calling the number “ridiculous” and say-ing “We’ve wrestled with that in the past. We are trying to address that with the union.”

Her response was followed by audience discord. When that subsided, the question-and-answer shifted to other subjects. The Bridge’s deadline for new articles had passed, and the final edition of The Bridge before Town Meeting Day contained no mention of sick leave days, though it might have shed light on the school board’s management of the school’s finances.

The contract the school board negotiated does offer 50 sick leave days in a 10-month contract to beginning teachers in an upward scale based on seniority. Teachers with 25 years or more of experience with the dis-

trict receive up to 100 days of sick leave in their 10-month contracts. On top of their sick leave days, the contract allows five paid personal leave days in the same 10-month period. Were a teacher with 25 or more years of experience to cluster his or her sick leave along with personal leave days at the begin-ning of the school year, he or she would be fully paid and begin teaching on February 11—three weeks before Town Meeting Day.

The district’s potential liability risk in-volved in paid sick leave days is immense and uncovered in the budget they proposed to voters. The sick leave provision was not newly negotiated in the current contract; it is present in prior contracts. The school board negotiating team was aware of the provision and had asked the superintendent in the fall about the present impact of sick leave taken instead of focusing on the district’s potential financial liability.

The school board had the chance to engage the union on the issue in the last contract negotiation but chose not to open the issue for readjustment. The board used the bar-gaining leverage they gained from more than

doubling teacher salary increases for a three-year period to negotiate marginal changes in teacher evaluations—rather than bring sick leave into the realm of other public sector entities in Vermont.

The district’s teacher contract provisions on sick leave actually exceed the contracts of the Barre City and Washington Central school districts by a factor of 10. They also exceed the sick leave provisions of the city of Montpelier, the Kellogg-Hubbard Library and the state of Vermont by a factor of 10. Each of these public entities offers one sick day per month. In Burlington, full-time teachers begin the year with 155 school hours of sick leave, which translates into 20 days. In Williston, teachers are entitled to 20 paid leave days per year, accumulating up to 80 days.

The school board may have good reason to renegotiate sick leave provisions since Mont-pelier Public School’s policies on sick leave for teachers are far from the norm in public sector contracts and perhaps by far the most generous in the state.

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$15–$40 per session79 Main Street, above Coffee Corner Monday and Wednesday: 2 p.m.–7 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

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802.37l.4080 montpeliercommunityacupuncture.comTrish Mitchell,

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Sick Leave for Montpelier Teachers Exceeds Most Other Schools

Employment in Years

Sick Leave Days with Pay

0–5 50

6–10 60

11–15 70

16–20 80

21–25 90

26-plus 100

School Staff Sick Leave Days Taken in 2011

Union Elementary School 48 196

Main Street Middle School 35 164

Montpelier High School 45 182


Upcoming EventsFRIDAY, APRIL 5Reiki Clinic. With Lynne Ihlstrom. Noon–4 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre Street. 522-0045.Montpelier Art Walk. Local art in more than 25 downtown venues, including bentwood boxes at Artisans Hand, experimental drawings at Storefront Studio Gallery and poems and pastels at K Mueller Studio, plus poetry readings at Montpelier Senior Activ-ity Center and Bagitos. 4–8 p.m. Downtown Montpelier. montpelier alive.org.Coffeehouse: Elvis Gospel with Mark Shelton. Enjoy live music and share your own. Fellowship, potluck snacks and beverages. 7–9 p.m. Trinity United Methodist Church, 137 Main Street, Montpelier (park and enter at rear). Free. Dick, 244-5191, 472-8297 or [email protected]. Event happens every first Friday.Poetry Reading and Talk with Eamon Grennan. Irish-born poet Eamon Grennan reads from his book Out of Sight: New & Selected Poems. Discussion follows. 7 p.m. River Arts Center, Morrisville. $10 suggested donation. 888-1261 or riverartsvt.org. Solar Hot Water Made Simple. With Ben Griffin, Co-op Solar coordinator. Find out how solar hot water systems work in Vermont and how home and business owners can save money and energy. 5:30–6:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop commu-nity room, Montpelier. Free. Register at 223-8000, ext. 202, or [email protected]: Poetry Slam with Geof Hewitt. Join Vermont’s slam master in an all-ages poetry slam. Come prepared to perform three poems up to 3 minutes in length. Prizes for all slammers. 7 p.m. Hayes Room, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. poemcity.wordpress.com.Night Sky Viewing Party. Get a close-up view of Jupiter and the Crab Nebula with the library’s telescope. 7 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 223-4665 or kellogghubbard.org. Game Night. Drag the board games and cards out of your closet and come on down for a night of gaming. 7 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School Street, Marshfield. Free. 426-3581 or [email protected] Blue Boys. Dan and Willy Lindner have revived the tradi-tion of brother duets with a large repertoire of old ballads, parlor songs, heart songs and sacred numbers. 7:30 p.m. Chandler’s Upper Gallery, 71–73 Main Street, Randolph. $16 in advance, $19 day of show. Tickets at 728-6464.Laugh Local: Vermont Comedy Open Mic Night. See live stand-up as comics try 5–7 minutes (depending on number of comics) of new material in front of a live audience. 8 p.m.; sign up at 7:30 p.m. American Legion Post #3, 21 Main Street, Montpelier. Free; donations welcome. Bob, 793-3884.Contra Dance with the Irregulars. Dance to the young Vermont band. All dances taught and called by Peter Johnson. No partner necessary. 8–11 p.m. Haybarn Theatre, Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Road, Plainfield. $10 adults, $5 youth under 18. 238-2827 or [email protected] by the MA in Psychology & Counseling program as part of their spring residency.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6Women’s Moon Group. With Mary Anna Abuzahra.Mazahra Arts, 34 Elm Street, Montpelier. $10–$20 sliding scale. Contact Mary Anna for time and to register: 272-0827 or [email protected]. Group continues May 4.

Indoor Farmers’ Market. Live music by Lewis Franco. 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; demos 10 a.m–1 p.m. Gym, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier. Carolyn, 223-2958 or manager@montpelierfarmers market.com. Indoor market continues April 27; markets move down-town and outdoors May 4.Author Reading and Signing: Linda Urban. Vermont au-thor Urban celebrates her new novel, The Center of Everything, with a reading and homemade doughnuts. 11 a.m. Children’s room, Bear Pond Books, 77 Main Street, Montpelier. free. 229-0774.PoemCity: Poetry and Collage Playshop. Young poets and poets young at heart create a unique blend of words, colors, textures. Voila! It’s a poem. It’s a collage. 1 p.m. Children’s library, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 223-4665 or poemcity.wordpress.com.PoemCity: Poetry on the Spot. Join Gary Miller and Deb Fleishman of Write Mondays for a fast-moving, friendly, frantic, and fun poetry-writing workshop for ages 12 and up, followed by an evening reading. Bring a laptop or a pen and paper. 3–5 p.m. workshop; 7–8:30 p.m. reading. Local 64, 5 State Street, Montpelier. Free. poemcity.wordpress.com or writemondays.wordpress.com.Shape-Note Sing. Ian Smiley leads tunes from The Sacred Harp. All welcome; no experience necessary. Event happens by RSVP only: please call or e-mail to confirm. 6:30–8 p.m. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm Street, Montpelier. By donation. Ian, 882-8274 or [email protected]. Event happens every first and third Saturday.Film Screening: I Am in Here. Documentary on Mark Utter and his life-changing experience with supported typing. 7 p.m. Plainfield Community Center. Free. 655-4606 or [email protected]. Counterpoint Concert: There Alway Something Sings. The 12-voice ensemble performs new choral music by Vermont composers Dennis Báthory-Kitsz, David Feurzeig, Peter Hamlin, Patricia Julien, Jorge Martín and Thomas L. Read. 7:30 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. $20 adults, $15 seniors, $5 students and low income. Tickets at 863-5966, flynntix.org or at the door. 540-1784 or counterpointchorus.org.April Blues Day with Dave Keller Band. Benefits Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice. 7:30 p.m. Barre Elks Club. $15 cover charge. Tom Rush. Rush brings his distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice to a show of storytelling, ballads and blues. 7:30 p.m. Chandler Music Hall, 71–73 Main Street, Randolph. $32 in advance, $35 day of show. Tickets at 728-6464 or chandler-arts.org.Contra Dance. All dances taught; no partner necessary. All ages welcome. Bring shoes not worn outdoors. 8–11 p.m. Capital City Grange, 6612 Route 12 (Northfield Street), Berlin. $8. 744-6163 or capitalcitygrange.org. Event happens every first, third and fifth Saturday.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7Northfield Farmers’ Market. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Plumley Ar-mory, Norwich University.PoemCity: Poems for Puddles: Story Time with Amy. Join outdoor enthusiast Amy Trafford for poems that reflect and inspire puddle jumping, forest frolicking and rock skipping. Perfect for preschoolers; children of all ages are welcome. 10:30 a.m. Onion River Kids, 7 Langdon Street, Montpelier. Free. poemcity.wordpress.com.Bingo with the Waterbury American Legion Auxiliary. Lunch available. Doors open at 11 a.m.; quickies at noon; 1 p.m. regular bingo. American Legion Post 59, Stowe Sstreet, Waterbury. Therapy Dogs of Vermont Test and Precertification Clinic. Bring your dog to prepare to join nearly 300 certified therapy dog teams in Vermont and beyond. Noon–1 p.m. test; 1:30–4 p.m. clinic. Stowe. $85 per dog, $60 human only. Preregis-tration required. [email protected] or therapydogs.org.

Herbal Workshop: Bitter Spring Plants to Nourish the Liver. Create, sample and take home recipes for spring tonics to nourish the liver with Angie Barger, clinical herbalist. 1:30–3:30 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School Street, Marshfield. $3–$5 suggested donation. 426-3581 or [email protected] Circus Sunday. A monthly gathering of folks interested in unicycle riding, juggling and slack-lining. For all ages; beginners invited. Equipment provided; bring your bike helmet. 4:30–6 p.m. Montpelier Recreation Gym, 55 Barre Street. $2 individual, $5 fam-ily. 223-3456. Event happens every first Sunday.Capital Orchestra Spring Concert. Dan Liptak leads the community orchestra in a performance of Sibelius’s Finlandia, suites from Carmen and An American in Paris and pieces by Leroy Anderson and Morton Gould. 7 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. Free; donations welcome.

MONDAY, APRIL 8Kids Creating Music. Kids age 18 months–4 years sing, dance and play instruments with Bob Brookens. 10 a.m. Waterbury Pub-lic Library. Free. 244-7036.American Red Cross Blood Drive. 11:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Gym, Main Street Middle School, Montpelier. Make an appointment at redcrossblood.org or call 800-RED CROSS; walk-ins welcome. Sponsored by Vermont’s Enhanced 9-1-1 Board.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9Medicare and You. New to Medicare? Have questions? We have answers. 3–4:30 p.m. Central Vermont Council on Aging, 59 North Main Street, Suite 200, Barre. Free. Register at 479-0531. Event happens every second and fourth Tuesday.Mindful Eating. With Lisa Masé of Harmonized Cookery. Learn ways to prepare and consume food in accordance with your personal needs, choose foods that help you stay healthy and harmo-nize with spring, and create an meal affirmation that helps you eat without judgment. 5:30–6:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop com-munity room, Montpelier. $6 co-op member-owners, $8 nonmembers. Register at 223-8000, ext. 202, or [email protected] Tuesdays. Get help with any computer or Internet ques-tions, or learn about the library’s new circulation software and how to use ListenUp to download audiobooks and more. Bring your iPod, tablet, phone, laptop or other device. 5:30–7 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 223-3338 or kellogghubbard.org. Event happens every second and fourth Tuesday.Vermont Atlas of Life. With the launch of an ambitious program to document life in Vermont, amateur naturalists can play an important role in mapping the state’s biodiversity. Join this training to learn how you can help. 6:30 p.m. North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm Street, Montpelier. Free. 229-6206.PoemCity: Three Vermont Poets. Reading with Pamela Harrison, Cleopatra Mathis and Neil Shepard. 7 p.m. Bear Pond Books, 77 Main Street. Free. 229-0774 or poemcity.wordpress.com.Jewish Historians of the Middle Ages. Avocational histo-rian Lars Nielsen talks about how Jewish historians shaped both a history of medieval society and a unique perspective that revealed their role in 20th-century society. Final program in series. 7–8:30 p.m. Beth Jacob Synagogue, 10 Harrison Avenue, Montpelier. Free. 279-7518 or bethjacobvt.org.Extempo. Tell a 5- to 7.5-minute, first-person, true story from your own life. Sign up in advance, and come with your story al-ready practiced to deliver it smoothly without the use of notes. No theme. 8 p.m. Kismet, 52 State Street, Montpelier. Free to partici-pants; $5 otherwise. 223-8646 or extempovt.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10Preschool Discovery Program: Spring Peepers Are Peeping Out! Nature-based activities, crafts and guided outdoor explorations with nature center naturalists for children age 3–5 and their families. 10–11:30 a.m. North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm Street, Montpelier. $5 members, $8 nonmembers. 229-6206.

TheaterOLIVER!Musical performed by Cabot Community Theater. April 5–13. Saturdays and Sundays, 7 p.m. Cabot School Performing Arts Center, 25 Common Road. $10 adults, $8 children under 12. Reservations recommended: 563-3338.

OKLAHOMARodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, presented by Northfield high- and middle-school students. April 11–13. Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Northfield Middle and High School. $7. Tickets at the school office and the auditorium lobby. 485-4500.

MULAN JR.Rumney School’s theater program presents the Disney adven-ture. Friday, April 12, 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 13, 2 and 7 p.m. Rumney School, Middlesex. $5 adults, $2 children. Tickets at the door.

Live MusicBAGITOS28 Main Street, Montpelier. All shows 6–8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 229-9212 or bagitos.com.Every WednesdayBlues jam with the Usual Suspects and friendsEvery SaturdayIrish/Celtic session, 2–5 p.m.

BIG PICTURE THEATER48 Carroll Road (off Route 100), Waits-field. 496-8994 or bigpicturetheater.info.Saturday, April 13Mud Boot Shuffle: dancing double bill with Starline Rhythm Boys (honky-tonk/rockabilly) and Red Hot Juba (swing/blues), 8 p.m., $12

CHARLIE O’S70 Main Street, Montpelier. All shows 10 p.m. unless otherwsie noted. 223-6820. Every MondayTriviaEvery TuesdayKaraoke

Every SaturdayAll-request dance party with Blue Moon

FRESH TRACKS FARM 4373 Route 12, Berlin. 223-1151 or [email protected], April 12Big Hat, No Cattle, 6–9 p.m.

NUTTY STEPH’S CHOCOLATERIERoute 2, Middlesex. 229-2090 or nuttystephs.com.Every ThursdayBacon Thursday, live music and hot conversation, 6 p.m.–midnight

POSITIVE PIE 222 State Street, Montpelier. 229-0453 or positivepie.com.Saturday, April 6Cats Under The Stars (Jerry Garcia cover band), 10:30 p.m., $5, 21+Friday, April 12The Stereofidelics (indie rock), 10:30 p.m., $5, 21+

RED HEN BAKERY & CAFÉRoute 2, Middlesex. redhenbaking.com.Saturday, April 6Susannah Blachly, 1–3 p.m.

SKINNY PANCAKE89 Main Street, Montpelier. All shows 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 262-2253 or skinnypancake.com.Every SundayOld-time sessions with Katie Trautz and friends, 4–6 p.m. (intermediate to advanced players welcome to sit in)Sunday, April 7Caleb Caudle (Americana)Sunday, April 14Rebecca Padula (folk)

THE WHAMMY BARMaple Corner Café, 31 West County Road, Calais. All events free unless otherwise noted. 229-4329.Every WednesdayOpen mic, 6:30 p.m.Friday, April 5Lewis Franco and the Brown Eyed Girls, with Dono Schabner (gypsy/swing/jazz), 7 p.m. Friday, April 12Dan Boomhower (piano/vocals), 7 p.m. Saturday, April 13Lizzy Mandel (singer-songwriter), 7 p.m.

see UPCOMING EVENTS, page 10


Free Nutrition Evaluation. With Alicia Feltus. Learn how Nutrition Response Testing can detect food sensitivities, immune challenges, and chemical and metal toxicity that may be interfering with optimal nutrition and health. 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm Street (upstairs), Montpelier. Free. Cedar Wood Natural Health Center, 863-5828. Event repeats Wednesday, April 17.Lunch & Learn: The Vermont Civil War Songbook. Linda Radtke performs songs popular in Vermont during the Civil War, dressed in period costume. Light lunch served. Noon–1 p.m. Sullivan Museum & History Center, Norwich University, Northfield. Free. 485-2183 or norwich.edu/museum.Mother and Daughter: Lindbergh Family Memoirs. Presented by writer Reeve Lindbergh. Part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. 1:30 p.m.; doors open at 12:30 for brown-bag lunch. Aldrich Public Library, Barre. $5 suggested donation. 223-1736 or [email protected]. Series continues every Wednesday through May 8.PoemCity: You Come, Too: Robert Frost. Vermont Hu-manities Council executive director Peter Gilbert leads a discussion of five beloved Frost poems: “The Gift Outright,” “Meeting and Passing,” “To Earthward,” “The Need of Being Versed in Country Things” and “Birches.” Read the poems in advance or upon arriv-ing. 5:30 p.m. Vermont Humanities Council, 11 Loomis Street, Mont-pelier. Free. RSVP encouraged but not required: 262-2626, ext. 307.Quilting Group. Working meeting of the Dog River Quilters. Let’s quilt together. 5:30 p.m. Community room, Brown Public Library, Northfield. Jean, 585-5078 or [email protected]. Event happens every second Wednesday.Introduction to Square Foot Gardening. With Peter Burke. Workshop covers planning, raised beds, permanent paths, soil, grid planting, watering, trellis, succession plantings and maintenance. 6–7 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Montpelier. $10 co-op member-owners, $12 nonmembers. Register at 223-8000, ext. 202, or [email protected] Building Blocks: Property/Casualty Insur-ance 101. With Tammy Lawrey of Denis, Ricker & Brown. Learn about risk management strategies and understand your cov-erage. 6–8:30 p.m. Central Vermont Community Action, 195 Route 302, Berlin. Free, but registration required: sign up with Margaret, 477-5214, 800-843-8397 or [email protected]. Series continues every Wednesday through April 24.Community Cinema Film Series: The Island President. Documentary on Mohamed Nasheed, president of the Maldives, who is trying to prevent his nation from drowning as sea levels rise due to global warming. Followed by a panel discussion. 7 p.m. Kel-logg-Hubbard Library,135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 223-3338 or kellogghubbard.org. Sponsored by Vermont Public Television.

A New Beginning: Education in a Sustainable Future. David Maynard, Waldorf teacher and environmentalist, looks at the dynamics of energy and resource use and how our choices affect our children’s lives. 7 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School Street, Marshfield. Free. 426-3581 or [email protected].

THURSDAY, APRIL 11Pacem School Open House. Learn about the philosophy and curriculum of the school, an intellectually inspiring, joyful learn-ing community for age 10–18. 4:30–6:30 p.m. 29 College Street, Montpelier. 223-1010 or pacemschool.org.Sourdough No-Knead-Bread Workshop. With Fred Cheyette. No need to knead! Includes dough-making demo and a finished loaf. Everyone will bring home sourdough starter. 5:30–7 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Montpelier. $5 co-op member-owners, $7 nonmembers. Register at 223-8000, ext. 202, or [email protected] Bridge Community Dinner. Montpelier’s free, indepen-dent and local newspaper says thank you to the local community. Meet writers, editors and other Bridge staffers, offer feedback about the paper, enjoy local food and live music and socialize with friends and neighbors. 6 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre Street. Free. RSVP to 223-5112, ext. 13. montpelierbridge.com.Community Dinner on High School Innovation. Educa-tors, students, business leaders and community members discuss ways to develop and promote innovative educational practices at the high-school level. 6–8 p.m. National Life, Montpelier. Meg, 828-0262 or [email protected], or education.vermont.gov/ community-dinners.Medicare: Ready or Not. Hear from Scott McKee, Acadia Benefits health insurance specialist, on Medicare, its parts, eligibil-ity and resources. 6–7 p.m. Conference center, Gifford Medical Center, 44 South Main Street, Randolph. Free. Register at 728-2248.PoemCity: Entanglements. UVM professor Tony Magistrale reads from his new collection, Entanglements. The tones of Ma-gistrale’s poems vary from moodiness to playfulness, but constant throughout are intellectual alertness, satisfying structure and vivid description. 7 p.m. Hayes Room, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. poemcity.wordpress.com.Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives. Showing of documentary on genetic engineering. Discussion follows. 7 p.m. Band room, U-32 High and Middle School, Gallison Hill Road, Montpelier. Free. 229-5676. Ecumenical Group. Songs of praise, Bible teaching, fellowship. 7–9 p.m. Jabbok Center for Christian Living, 8 Daniel Drive, Barre. Free. 479-0302. Event happens every second and fourth Thursday.

FRIDAY, APRIL 12Foot Clinic. Nurses from Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice clip nails, clean nail beds, file the nails and lotion the feet. Bring basin for soaking, towel, nail clippers, foot-soak powder and lotion. 9 a.m.–noon. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre Street. $15. Call 223-2518 to schedule a 15-minute appointment.Spring into Happiness. Kick off a three-day happiness festival with meditation, book discussion, yoga, a relationships workshop, a ukelele concert, a film screening and a happiness walk slideshow.Most events at 43 State Street, Montpelier. Full schedule at gnhusa.org. Festival continues Saturday, April 13.PoemCity: Brown Bag Lunch. Share your favorite poems in a small-group setting with other local poets. Noon. Hayes Room, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. poemcity.wordpress.com.Premiere of Northern Borders. Jay Craven’s latest Howard Frank Mosher adaptation, made in collaboration with local film students and recent grads. 7 p.m. Lost Nation Theater, 39 Main Street, Montpelier. $25. Tickets at kingdomcounty.org.Spur of the Moment Film Series Presents. Film directed by Benh Zeitlin and starring Levy Easterly, Dwight Henry and Quvenzhane Wallis, the amazing 6-year-old Academy Award nominee. 7 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School Street, Marsh-field. Free. 426-3581 or [email protected].

SATURDAY, APRIL 13Spring into Happiness: Pursuit of Happiness Day. The three-day happiness festival continues with a reading of the governor’s proclamation of Pursuit of Happiness day, a happiness walk, meditation, family fun and fitness, book discussion, democ-racy workshop and a Moth-style story event. Most events at 43 State Street, Montpelier. Full schedule at gnhusa.org. Festival continues Sunday, April 14.Craft Workshop. Learn how to create your own charm bracelet with Sue Premore. Chain and charms will be provided; bring your own if desired. For teens and adults only. 9–11 a.m. Waterbury Public Library. Free, but registration required: 244-7036.Tree Pruning Workshop. With Geoff Beyer, city tree warden. Learn the basics of tree pruning. All skill levels welcome. Bring questions and any basic tools you’d like to practice with. Workshop held outdoors; dress for the weather. 10 a.m.–noon. Meet outside Hunger Mountain Coop, Montpelier. Free. Register at 223-8000, ext. 202, or [email protected] Beginnings Baby and Child Expo Extravaganza. Performances, crafts, workshops, singing, photo booth, face paint-ing, vendors, food and more. Door prizes every 15 minutes. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Montpelier High School. goodbeginningscentralvt.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS, from page 9

Art & ExhibitsBLINKING LIGHT GALLERYNew Work: Landscapes and Heads, paintings by Janet Wormser. 16 Main Street, Plainfield. Through May 2. Reception Sunday, April 7, 3–5 p.m. Hours: Thursdays, 2–6 p.m.; Friday–Sun-day, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. blinkinglightgallery.com.

CHANDLER GALLERYGive Us Your Best!, group show by area artists. 71–73 Main Street, Randolph. April 13–May 19. Hours: Friday, 3–5 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, noon–2 p.m. 431-0204 or [email protected].

CHESHIRE CATJewelry by Sylvia Gaboriault, blending metal, lava, agate and beads. 28 Elm Street, Montpelier. Through April 30. Reception Friday, April 5, 4–8 p.m. 223-1981 or cheshirecatclothing.com.

CITY CENTERPhotos and watercolors by sisters Cherie Staples and Marilyn Wingersky. 89 Main Street, Montpelier. Through April 6. artresourceassociation.com.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE & FITNESS STUDIOCaptured Mind Wanderings, photography by Montpelier High School students Zivah Solo-mon and Nathan Burton. 18 Langdon Street (third floor), Montpelier. Through May 27. 229-4676 or cdandfs.com.

GIFFORD GALLERYX-pressions, graphite, pastel and colored pencil works by Jan Rogers. Above, Morning Solitude. 44 South Main Street, Randolph. Through May 29. 728-2324.

GODDARD ART GALLERYThe Nature of Things, installation by seven artists: Thea Alvin, Khara Ledonne, For-rest White, Robyn Alvin, Gowri Savoor and Bruce Hathaway. 54 Main Street, Montpelier. Through May 11. 322-1685 or goddard.edu.

GOVERNOR’S GALLERYHard Line, Soft Color, scultpture by Robert Hitzig emphasizing grain patterns in wood and other inherent qualities of the material. 109 State Street (fifth floor), Montpelier. Photo ID re-quired for admission. Through June 28. Reception Wednesday, April 17, 3–5 p.m. 828-0749.

GREEN BEAN ART GALLERYTwirl, digitally altered photography by Gary Seaton. Capitol Grounds, 27 State Street, Mont-pelier. Through April. [email protected].

KELLOGG-HUBBARD LIBRARYAnimals Are Figures, Too, mixed media by Wendy Hackett-Morgan. 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Through April 26. 223-3338.

MONTPELIER SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTERStill Learning to See, photographs by Montpelier resident and senior center member John Snell. 58 Barre Street, Montpelier. Through April. Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. 223-2518.

RIVER ARTS CENTERLooking at Landscape, an exhibit of paintings and drawings by Peter Fried, plus new sumi-e paintings by Alex Angio. 74 Pleasant Street, Morrisville. Through May 13. Hours: Monday–

Friday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. 888-1261 or riverartsvt.org.

STATE HOUSE CAFETERIA GALLERYParallels, photo-documentary exhibit by Libby Hillhouse of Ryegate. State House, 115 State Street (second floor), Montpelier. Through April 26. Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. 828-0749.

STOREFRONT STUDIO GALLERYTalking Portraits and Two-Part Inventions, an evolving show of experimental drawings, paintings and the occasional sculpture by Glen Coburn Hutcheson. 6 Barre Street, Montpelier. Reception during Art Walk, Friday, April 5, 3–6 p.m. Hours: Monday–Friday, 3–6 p.m. 839-5349 or gchfineart.com.

STUDIO PLACE ARTSMold Makers, group show of artwork made from and related to the mold-making process; 5 Years of Lo-fi, works by Norwich University students; and Hidden, paintings and sculpture by Theo-dore Ceraldi. 201 North Main Street, Barre. Through April 6. Closing reception Saturday, April 6, 2:30–4 p.m. 479-7069 or studioplacearts.com.

SULLIVAN MUSEUM & HISTORY CENTERThese Honored Dead: Private and National Com-memoration, stories of Norwich alumni from both sides of the Civil War conflict in 1863. Norwich University, Northfield. April 8–Decem-ber 20. 485-2183 or norwich.edu/museum.

VERMONT HISTORY MUSEUMFreedom & Unity: One Ideal, Many Stories, expe-rience a full-size Abenaki wigwam, a re-creation of the Catamount Tavern, a railroad station complete with working telegraph, a World War II living room and more. 109 State Street, Mont-pelier. $5 adults, $12 families. 828-2291.

VERMONT SUPREME COURTUnderwater, oil paintings by Strafford art-ist Micki Colbeck. 111 State Street (first-floor lobby), Montpelier. Through April 30. Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 828-0749.

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PoemCity: Poetry-Themed Story Time. Carrie Fitz shares fingerplays, songs and an eclectic assortment of her favorite poetry for young children. 10 a.m. Bear Pond Books, 77 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 229-0774 or poemcity.wordpress.com.Story Maps. Wander your way across a magical land of your own creation. For age 3 and up. 1 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 223-4665 or kellogghubbard.org. PoemCity: George Lisi Reading. Local naturalist and educator Lisi shares his nature-centered poetry, celebrating beauty, depth and immediacy of connection with all life. 2–3 p.m. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm Street, Montpelier. Free. poemcity.wordpress.com.Monthly Film Series: Of Gods and Men. Based on a true story. Bring a cushion. 6:30 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre Street. $3 suggested donation. 223-2518.Vermont Fiddle Orchestra’s 10th Anniversary Re-union Concert. Eleven all-star soloists from around the state join the orchestra for a night of toe-tapping tunes. Clogging, re-freshments, raffle and more. 7 p.m. Chandler Music Hall, Randolph. $15 adults, $12 seniors/students, free for 12 and under. Tickets at 877-343-3531, [email protected] or vtfiddleorchestra.org.A Polka, A Forgotten Waltz; A Recital of Ecstasy and Delirium. Pianist Diane Huling plays music from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including music of Busoni, Debussy, Beach, Bridge, Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Liszt. 7:30 p.m. Bethany Church, 115 Main Street, Montpelier. By donation. Concert repeats Friday, April 19. Student Choreography Showcase. Advanced dancers of Contemporary Dance & Fitness Studio present original works, plus a bake sale. 8 p.m.; doors open at 7:30 p.m. Contemporary Dance & Fitness Studio, 18 Langdon Street (third floor), Montpelier. $10 suggested donation. 229-4676 or cdandfs.com.Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues. Montana Repertory Theatre offers its production of the Tony Award winner. Part of the TD Bank Celebration Series. 8 p.m. Barre Opera House. $10–$32. Tickets at 476-8188 or barreoperahouse.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14Spring into Happiness: Pursuit of Happiness Day. The three-day happiness festival wraps up with meditation, discussions, a community cafe and a happiness TEDx film screening. Most events at 43 State Street, Montpelier. Full schedule at gnhusa.org.Road Walk with the Montpelier Section of the Green Mountain Club. Moderate 7.5-mile loop out of Warren village with great views; could be muddy. Dress for weather; bring lunch and water. Meet at Montpelier High School. Contact leaders Reidun and Andrew Nuquist, 223-3550, for meeting time.Family Walk with Young Adventurers Club. Easy to moderate outing at Millstone Trails in Barre. Pass or trail fee required. YAC is a group of the Montpelier section of the Green Mountain Club helping parents and kids get outdoors to hike, play, learn and make friends. Contact Mike Wetherell, 223-8493, for meeting time and place.Second Sunday Concert. Muffins, parfaits and coffee, fol-lowed by a performance by Carolyn’s Angel Band hospice choir. 9:30 a.m.; breakfast at 9 a.m. Bethany United Church of Christ, 115 Main Street, Montpelier. Concert free, breakfast $5 or less.Friends of the Waterbury Library Annual Spring Tea. Vince Feeney, adjunct professor of history at the University of

Vermont, talks about Ethan and Ira Allen’s role as early Vermont real-estate developers. Refreshments provided. 2 p.m. American Legion Post 59, Stowe Street, Waterbury. Free. 244-7036. A Vermont Humanities Council event.Shape-Note/Sacred Harp Sing. No experience needed. All welcome. 3–5 p.m. Plainfield Community Center (above the co-op). By donation. Scottie, 595 9951 or [email protected]. Event happens every second Sunday. Monteverdi Student Recital. 4 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 229-9000 ordirector@monteverdi music.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 15PoemCity: Recitation Workshop. Led by actor and poetry performer Morgan Irons. Share your favorite poem from the podi-um, or simply listen as others do. Recitations should be 5 minutes or less. Please choose work of other poets to share, not your own. 2 p.m. Westview Meadows, 171 Westview Meadows Road, Montpelier. Free. poemcity.wordpress.com.Springtime Tincture Making: Dandelion, Burdock, Plantain and Nettle. With Rebecca Dalgin, graduate of Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism. Learn how to make herbal tincture with some of our local, abundant springtime plants. Participants will take home tinctures prepared in workshop. 6–8 p.m. Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main Street, Montpelier. $15 VCIH members, $17 nonmembers. Preregistration required: 244-7100 or [email protected]. Plainfield Book Club. 6:30 p.m. Cutler Memorial Library, Route 2, Plainfield. Free. 454-8504 or cutlerlibrary.org. Event happens every third Monday.

TUESDAY, APRIL 16Successful Life Changes: Downsizing/ Organizing. Deborah Fleischer, professional organizer, and Fran Krusenick, MSAC member and downsizer, talk about what to keep and what to heave. 6–7:30 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre Street. Free. 223-2518.Inner Disarmament: Acceptance, Forgiveness and Awakening in Challenging Times. Amy Miller, Buddhist nun and director of the Milarepa Center, helps participants reflect on inner challenges while offering practical antidotes of mindful-ness and meditation. 6–8 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 223-3338 or kellogghubbard.org. Series continues April 23 and 30.Introduction to Meditation for Stress Management, Improved Health and Inner Peace. With Sherry Rhynard. Whether you’ve never meditated or tried but found it difficult to continue, this course is for you. Learn the theory of meditation and effective techniques and get some practice time. Handouts provided. 6–7:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Montpelier. $10 co-op member-owners, $12 nonmembers. Register at 223-8000, ext. 202, or [email protected] Undergraduate Research Forum. Presentations by undergraduates from Vermont colleges and universities on their original research into various topics in Vermont history. 6 p.m. Community Room, Vermont History Center, 60 Washington Street, Barre. Amanda, 828-2180 or [email protected].

Life in a Jar: The Irene Sendler Project. Author Jack Mayer shares his research on Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker who organized a rescue network of social workers to save Jewish children from the Warsaw ghetto in World War II. 6:30– 8 p.m. Beth Jacob Synagogue, 10 Harrison Avenue, Montpelier. Free. 279-7518 or bethjacobvt.org.From Our Homelands to the Tar Sands: Perspectives from Alberta and Vermont. Melina Laboucan-Massimo, a member of the indigenous Cree community in Northern Alberta, speaks about the social, health and environmental impacts that tar sands extraction has on her community. 7–8:30 p.m. Unitar-ian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. 444-0350 or facebook.com/350Vermont.Washington County Stamp Club Meeting. Semi-annual club auction, plus casual time to buy, sell, swap and converse with other local philatelists. 7 p.m. First Baptist Church, corner of School Street and St. Paul Streets, Montpelier. Free. 223-2953.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17Preschool Discovery Program: Slippery Salamanders. Nature-based activities, crafts and guided outdoor explorations with nature center naturalists for children age 3–5 and their fami-lies. 10–11:30 a.m. North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm Street, Montpelier. $5 members, $8 nonmembers. 229-6206.Free Nutrition Evaluation. See Wednesday, April 10, for description and information. George Houghton’s Civil War: Images from the Front. Presented by historian Donald Wickman. Part of the Osher Life-long Learning Institute. 1:30 p.m.; doors open at 12:30 for brown-bag lunch. Aldrich Public Library, Barre. $5 suggested donation. 223-1736 or [email protected]. Series continues every Wednesday through May 8.Apples and Honey Family Program: Lag B’Omer Pic-nic. Families with children of all ages experience the joys of being Jewish. 5–6:30 p.m. Montpelier. Suggested donation $22 per family. To register or for more information, contact Tobie, 223-0583.Food Sensitivities, Digestive Ailments and Hormonal Imbalances. With Alicia Feltus, nutritionist at Cedarwood Natural Health Center. Learn about food sensitivities and how they interfere with digestion and lead to common ailments, what foods to avoid to improve hormonal balance and how proper nu-tritional support can restore hormones and health. 5:30–6:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Montpelier. Free. Register at 223-8000, ext. 202, or [email protected] Sharing Info Meeting. Find out what home sharing is all about. Refreshments served. 5:30–6 p.m. Home Share Now, 115 Main Street, Barre. RSVP at 479-8544 to ensure ample refreshments. Event happens every third Wednesday.Business Building Blocks: Pricing for Profit. Learn what to charge for your product or service. See Wednesday, April 10, for description and information.Song Circle: Community Sing-Along. With Rich and Laura Atkinson. All ages and abilities welcome; no experience necessary. Song books provided. 6:45 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School Street, Marshfield. Free. 426-3581 or jaquithpublic [email protected].

see UPCOMING EVENTS, page 12

Support GroupsBEREAVEMENTBereavement/Grief Support Group. For anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one. Every other Monday, 6–8 p.m., through April 15. Every other Wednesday, 10–11:30 a.m., through April 10. Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre. Ginny or Jean, 223-1878.Bereaved Parents Support Group. Facilitated by Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice (CVHHH). Second Wednesdays, 6–8 p.m. CVHHH, 600 Granger Road, Berlin. Jeneane Lunn, 793-2376.

CANCERKindred Connections. For anyone affected by cancer. Get help from Kindred Connections members who have been in your shoes. A pro-gram of the Vermont Cancer Survivor Network. Call Sherry, 479-3223, for more information. vcsn.net.Living with Advanced or Metastatic Cancer. Second Tuesdays, noon to 1 p.m. Cancer Center resource room, Central Vermont Medical Center. Lunch provided. 225-5449.Writing to Enrich Your Life. For anyone affected by cancer. Third Tuesdays, noon– 1 p.m. Cancer Center resource room, Central Vermont Medical Center. 225-5449.

Cancer Support Group. First Wednesdays, 6 p.m. Potluck. For location, call Carole Mac-Intyre, 229-5931.Man-to-Man Prostate Cancer Support Group. Third Wednesdays, 6–8 p.m. Conference room 2, Central Vermont Medical Center. 872-6308 or 866-466-0626 (press 3).

DISASTERHurricane Irene Support Group for Re-covery Workers. Get peer support and help processing emotions, strengthen relationships and learn coping skills. Every other Monday, 3:30 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. 279-4670.Hurricane Irene Support Group. Share your story, listen to others, learn coping skills, build community and support your neighbors. Refreshments provided. Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. Berlin Elementary School. 279-8246.

KIDSGrandparents Raising Their Children’s Children. First Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–noon, Barre Presbyterian Church, Summer Street. Second Tuesdays, 6–8 p.m., Wesley Method-ist Church, Main Street, Waterbury. Third Thursdays, 6–8 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 137 Main Street. Child care provided in Montpelier and Waterbury. Evelyn, 476-1480.

HEALTHBrain Injury Support Groups. Open to all survivors, caregivers and adult family members.

Evening group facilitated by Marsha Bancroft; day group facilitated by Kathy Grange and Jane Hulstrunk. Evening group meets first Mondays, 5:30–7:30 p.m., DisAbility Rights of Vermont, 141 Main Street, Suite 7, Montpelier, 800-834-7890, ext. 106. Day group meets first and third Thursdays, 1:30–2:30 p.m., Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier, 244-6850.NAMI Vermont Family Support Group. Support group for families and friends of indi-viduals living with mental illness. Fourth Mon-days, 7 p.m. Central Vermont Medical Center, room 3, Berlin. 800-639-6480 or namivt.org.Celiac and Food Allergy Support Group. With Lisa Masé of Harmonized Cook-ery. Second Wednesdays, 4:30–6 p.m. Confer-ence room 3, Central Vermont Medical Center. [email protected] Discussion Group. Focus on self-management. Open to anyone with diabetes and their families. Third Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. The Health Center, Plainfield. Free. Don, 322-6600 or [email protected]. Diabetes Support Group. First Thursdays, 7–8 p.m. Conference room 3, Central Vermont Medical Center. 371-4152.

RECOVERYTurning Point Center. Safe, supportive place for individuals and their families in or seeking recovery.• Alchoholics Anonymous, Sundays, 8:30 a.m.• Making Recovery Easier workshops, Tuesdays,

6–7:30 p.m.

• Wit’s End Parent Support Group, Wednes-days, 6 p.m.

• Narcotics Anonymous, Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.Open daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 489 North Main Street, Barre. 479-7373.Overeaters Anonymous. Twelve-step pro-gram for physically, emotionally and spiritually overcoming overeating. Fridays, noon–1 p.m. Bethany Church, 115 Main Street, Montpelier. 223-3079.

SOLIDARITY/IDENTITYWomen’s Group. Women age 40 and older explore important issues and challenges in their lives in a warm and supportive environment. Faciliatated by Amy Emler-Shaffer and Julia W. Gresser. Wednesday evenings. 41 Elm Street, Montpelier. Call Julia, 262-6110, for more information.Men’s Group. Men discuss challenges of and insights about being male. Wednesdays, 6:15–8:15 p.m. 174 Elm Street, Montpelier. Interview required: contact Neil, 223-3753.National Federation of the Blind, Montpelier Chapter. First Saturdays. Lane Shops community room, 1 Mechanic Street, Mont-pelier. 229-0093.Families of Color. Open to all. Play, eat and discuss issues of adoption, race and multicultur-alism. Bring snacks and games to share; dress for the weather. Third Sundays, 3–5 p.m. Unitar-ian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. Alyson, 439-6096 or [email protected].


Weekly EventsBICYCLINGOpen Shop Nights. Have a bike to donate or need help with a bike repair? Visit the volunteer-run community bike shop. Tuesdays, 6–8 p.m.; Wednesdays, 5–7 p.m. Freeride Montpelier, 89 Barre Street, Montpelier. By donation. 552-3521 or freeridemontpelier.org.

BOOKSOngoing Reading Group. Improve your reading and share some good books. Books chosen by group. Thursdays, 9–10 a.m. Central Vermont Adult Basic Education, Montpelier Learn-ing Center, 100 State Street. 223-3403.★ Book Discussion Group. Group focuses on The Thoughtful Dresser: The Art of Adornment, the Pleasures of Shopping, and Why Clothes Matter, by Linda Grant. Facilitated by Peggy Ramel, AmeriCorps member at Central Vermont Council on Aging. Fridays, 10–1:15 a.m., April 5–June 14. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre Street. Free; books available for $13. Sign up at 223-2518.

COMPUTERSTech Help at the Library. Get help with any computer or Internet questions, or learn about the library’s new circulation software and how to use ListenUp to download audiobooks and more. Bring your iPod, tablet, phone, laptop or other device. Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., through mid-April. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 223-3338 or kellogg hubbard.org. Additional help on second and fourth Tuesdays: see Upcoming Events.

CRAFTSBeaders’ Group. All levels of beading experi-ence welcome. Free instruction available. Come with a project for creativity and community. Sat-urdays, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. The Bead Hive, Plainfield. 454-1615.

DANCEEcstatic Dance. Dance your heart awake. No experience necessary. Sundays, 6–8 p.m., Christ Church, State Street, Montpelier. Wednesdays, 7–9 p.m.; first and third Wednesdays: Worcester Town Hall, corner of Elmore Road and Calais Road; second and fourth Wednesdays: Plainfield Community Center (above the co-op). $10. Fearn, 505-8011 or [email protected]. Ballroom Dance Class. With instructor Samir Elabd. For beginning to intermediate dancers. Tuesdays, through April 30. Foxtrot 6–7 p.m.; Latin line dancing 7–8 p.m. $14 per class; walk-ins welcome. Register at 225-8699; informa-tion at 223-2921 or [email protected].

FOODFree Community Meals in Montpelier. All welcome.Mondays: Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.Tuesdays: Bethany Church, 115 Main Street, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.Wednesdays: Christ Church, 64 State Street, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.Thursdays: Trinity Church, 137 Main Street, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.Fridays: St. Augustine Church, 18 Barre Street, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Sundays: Last Sundays only, Bethany Church, 115 Main Street (hosted by Beth Jacob Syna-gogue), 4:30–5:30 p.m.Noon Cafe. Soup, fresh bread, good company and lively conversation. Wednesdays, noon. Old Meeting House, East Montpelier. By donation. oldmeetinghouse.org.

GAMES Apollo Duplicate Bridge Club. All wel-come. Partners sometimes available. Fridays, 6:45 p.m. Bethany Church, 115 Main Street, Montpelier. $3. 485-8990 or 223-3922.

HEALTHPowerful Tools for Caregivers. Learn tools to help reduce stress, communicate effectively, take care of yourself, reduce guilt, anger and depression, make tough decisions, set goals and problem-solve. Wednesdays, through April 24, 5–7 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre Street, Montpelier. $20 suggested donation to help defray cost of The Caregiver Helpbook. Register with Jeanne, 476-2671. Presented by the Central Vermont Council on Aging.Free HIV Testing. Vermont CARES offers fast oral testing. Thursdays, 2–5 p.m. 58 East State Street, suite 3 (entrance at the back), Montpelier. 371-6222 or vtcares.org. Affordable Acupuncture. Full acupuncture sessions with Chris Hollis and Trish Mitchell. Mondays and Wednesdays, 2–7 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. 79 Main Street, suite 8 (above Coffee Corner), Montpelier. $15–$40 sliding scale. Walk in or schedule an appointment at montpelier communityacupuncture.com.

KIDSStory Time at the Waterbury Public Library. Mondays, babies and toddlers. Fridays, preschoolers. 10 a.m. Waterbury Public Library. Free. 244-7036.Story Time at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 223-4665.Story Hour at the Aldrich. For babies, tod-dlers and kindergarteners. Mondays and Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., through mid-May. Aldrich Public Library, Washington Street, Barre. Adrianne, 476-7550.Story Time with Bill and His Critters. Story and craft. Wednesdays, 10 a.m., through April 17. Ainsworth Public Library, Main Street, Williamstown. 433-5887, [email protected] or ainsworthpubliclibrary.wordpress.com.Story Time and Playgroup. For children age 0–6. Story with Sylvia Smith, followed by play-time with Melissa Seifert. Wednesdays, 10–11:30 a.m.; program follows the Twinfield calendar and is not held on weeks when the school is closed. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School Street, Marshfield. 426-3581 or [email protected] Play Playgroup. For children birth to age 3 and their adults. Thursdays, 9:30–11 a.m., through June 13. St. Augustine’s Church, Barre Street, Montpelier. Christopher, 262-3292, ext. 115. fcwcvt.org.Dads’ and Kids’ Playgroup. For children birth to age 5 and their male grown-ups. Free dinner provided before playtime. Thursdays, 6–7:30 p.m., through June 13. Family Center of Washington County, 383 Sherwood Drive, Montpe-lier. Christopher, 262-3292, ext. 115. fcwcvt.org.Cub Capers Story Time. Story and song for children age 3–5 and their families. Led by Car-rie Fitz. Saturdays, 10 a.m. Children’s room, Bear Pond Books, 77 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 229-0774 or [email protected].

LANGUAGEEnglish Conversation Practice Group. For students learning English for the first time. Tuesdays, 4–5 p.m. Central Vermont Adult Basic Education, Montpelier Learning Center, 100 State Street. Sarah, 223-3403.Lunch in a Foreign Language. Bring lunch and practice your language skills with neighbors. Noon–1 p.m. Mondays, Hebrew. Tuesdays, Italian. Wednesdays, Spanish. Thursdays, French. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. 223-3338.

MUSICSing with the Barre Tones. Women’s a cappella chorus. Mondays, 6:30 p.m. Alumni Hall (second floor), near Barre Auditorium. 223-2039 or [email protected] Young Singers Chorus Rehearsal. New chorus members welcome. Wednesdays, 4–5 p.m. Montpelier. Call 229-9000 for location and more information. Friday Night Community Drum Circle. Open drumming hosted by the Unitarian Uni-versalists of Barre. Everyone welcome. Fridays, 7–9 p.m. Parish house, Barre Universalist Church, Main and Church streets, Barre. Follow your ears or follow the signs. Accessible venue possible with advance notice: 503-724-7301.

PARENTINGMamas’ Circle. Meet and connect with oth-ers experiencing the joys and challenges of new motherhood. For infants up to 1 year old and their mothers (toddler siblings welcome). Snacks, drinks and parent education materials provided. Thursdays, 10 a.m.–noon, through April 19. Good Beginnings of Central Vermont, 174 River Street, Montpelier. centralvt.goodbeginnings.net.

RECYCLINGFree Food Scrap Collection. Compost your food waste along with your regular trash and recycling. Wednesdays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturdays 6 a.m.–1 p.m. DJ’s Convenience Store, 56 River Street, Montpelier. cvswmd.org.Dollar Days. Bring in odd and sundry items for reuse, upcycling and recycling, including toothbrushes, bottle caps, cassette tapes, books, textiles, batteries and more. Mondays and Fridays, 12:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Additional Recyclables Col-lection Center, 3 Williams Lane, Barre. $1 per car load. Complete list of accepted items at 229-9383, ext. 106, [email protected] or cvswmd.org.

SPIRITUALITYChristian Science. God’s love meeting hu-man needs. Reading room: Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.; Tuesdays, 5–8 p.m.; and Wednes-days, 5–7:15 p.m. Testimony meeting: Wednesdays, 7:30–8:30 p.m., nursery available. Worship service: Sundays, 10:30–11:30 a.m., Sunday school and nursery available. 145 State Street, Montpelier. 223-2477.Deepening Our Jewish Roots. Fun, engag-ing text study and discussion on Jewish spiritu-ality. Sundays, 4:45–6:15 p.m. Yearning for Learn-ing Center, Montpelier. Rabbi Tobie Weisman, 223-0583 or [email protected] Meditation Group. People of all faiths welcome. Mondays, noon–1 p.m. Christ Church, Montpelier. Regis, 223-6043.Shambhala Buddhist Meditation. Instruc-tion available. All welcome. Sundays, 10 a.m.–noon, and Wednesdays, 6–7 p.m. Program and discussion follow Wednesday meditation. Shambhala Center, 64 Main Street, Montpelier.

Free. 223-5137.Zen Meditation. Wednesdays, 6:30–7:30 p.m. 174 River Street, Montpelier. Free. Call Tom for orientation, 229-0164. With Zen Affiliate of Vermont.

SPORTSRoller Derby Open Recruitment and Recreational Practice. Central Vermont’s Wrecking Doll Society invites quad skaters age 18 and up to try out the action. No experience necessary. Equipment provided: first come, first served. Saturdays, 5–6:30 p.m. Montpelier Recre-ation Center, Barre Street. First skate free. centralvermontrollerderby.com.Coed Adult Floor Hockey League. Adult women and men welcome. Equipment provided. Sundays, 3–5 p.m., through April 21. Montpelier Recreation Center, Barre Street. $52 for 13 weeks or $5 per week. [email protected] or vermontfloorhockey.com.

TAXESTax Return Preparation Help for Se-niors. Volunteers from AARP assist with the preparation and filing of 2012 federal and Ver-mont income tax returns. Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m.–3:15 p.m., through April 12. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre Street, Montpelier. Free. Call for a 45-minute appointment: 223-2518.

TEENSThe Basement Teen Center. Cable TV, PlayStation 3, pool table, free eats and fun events for teenagers. Monday–Thursday, 3–6 p.m.; Friday, 3–11 p.m. Basement Teen Center, 39 Main Street, Montpelier. 229-9151.Homework Help for Teens. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 3–5 p.m. Aldrich Public Library, Washington Street, Barre. 476-7550.Youth Group. Games, movies, snacks and music. Mondays, 7–9 p.m. Church of the Crucified One, Route 100, Moretown. 496-4516.LGBTQQ Youth Group. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning youth age 13–22 enjoy free pizza, soft drinks and con-versation. Facilitated by adult volunteers trained by Outright VT. Fridays, 6:30–8 p.m. Unitar-ian Church, 130 Mian Street, Montpelier. Free. outrightvt.org.

YOGAYoga with Lydia. Build strength and flexibility as you learn safe alignment in a nourishing, supportive and inspiring environment. Drop-ins welcome. Mondays, 5:30 p.m., River House Yoga, Plainfield (sliding scale). Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m., Green Mountain Girls Farm, Northfield (sliding scale). Tuesdays, noon; Thursdays, 6 p.m.; Fridays, noon, Yoga Mountain Center, Montpelier. Rates and directions at 229-6300 or saprema-yoga.com.★ Yoga and Wine. With Lori Flower from Sattva Yoga. Bring your own mat. Thursdays, 5–6:15 p.m.; wine bar open after class. Fresh Tracks Farm, Route 12, Berlin. $8 yoga; wine available for purchase. freshtracksfarm.com.Community Yoga. All levels welcome to this community-focused practice. Fridays, 5:30–6:30 p.m. Yoga Mountain Center, 7 Main Street (second floor), Montpelier. By donation. 223-5302 or yoga mountaincenter.com.

★ indicates new or revised listing for this issue

PoemCity: Clangings. Reading with Steven Cramer. Cramer imagines schizophrenic riffs into a poetic narrative that exults in both aural richness and words’ power to evoke an interior land-scape whose strangeness is intimate, unsteady and stirring. 7 p.m. Hayes Room, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. poemcity.wordpress.com.Foresters for the Birds. Learn more about a new partnership between Audubon Vermont and the Vermont Department of For-ests, Parks, and Recreation to make a positive difference for birds as well as forest health and productivity. 7–8 p.m. North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm Street, Montpelier. Free. 229-6206.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18How Nutrition and Lifestyle Changes Can Help Con-trol Diabetes. With Akshata Nayak. Learn about hormonal changes in the body, the link between diet and type 2 diabetes and healthy changes you can make. 5:30–7 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Montpelier. Free. Register at 223-8000, ext. 202, or [email protected] Thursdays at the Vermont Food Venture Cen-ter. Free tour of the center, followed by retailer/producer match-making event. 6:30 p.m. 140 Junction Road, Hardwick. Heidi, 472-5362 or [email protected]’s Our Children’s Climate. Amy Butler, director of educa-tion at North Branch Nature Center, talks about what five area

public schools are doing to connect students with their natural environment. 6–7:45 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 223-3338 or kellogghubbard.org. A Transi-tion Town Montpelier program.Windows on Waldorf. Explore the grade school and take a walk through Waldorf education. Faculty will lead a guided tour describing the core curriculum and showcasing student work. 6:30–8 p.m. Grades building, Orchard Valley Waldorf School main campus, East Montpelier. Registration recommended: 456-7400 or [email protected]’ Meeting. Meeting of the Northern VT/NH chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Bring copies of your work. 6:45 p.m. Catamount Arts, St. Johnsbury. John, 633-2204. Event happens every third Thursday.

UPCOMING EVENTS, from page 11


ClassesARTSPRING CLASSES!Digital Photography II for adults, Tuesdays, April 30–May 28, 9:30 a.m.–noon. Monday and Thursday after-school classes start April 22 and 25, $110 for five weeks. Wednesday pre-K class starts April 24, $95 for 5 weeks. Member discounts and scholarships available. 90 Pond Street, Stowe. 253-2358 or helenday.com.

DANCEARGENTINE TANGO FOR BEGINNERSCreative, passionate, playful! Learn Argentine tango at Contemporary Dance and Fitness Cen-ter, 18 Langdon Street, Montpelier. No partner or experience required. Sundays, 5–6 p.m. Ses-sion 1: March 3, 17, 24, April 7. Session 2: April 21, 28, May 5, 19. $48 per session. Preregistra-tion required at tangowise.com/community- classes or contact instructor Elizabeth Seyler: [email protected] or 658-5225.

TAI CHITAI CHI CHUAN IN MONTPELIERBeginners class. Cheng Man-ching simplifed yang-style. Taught by Patrick Cavanaugh of the Long River Tai Chi Circle. Begins Tuesday, April 9. 7–8 p.m., Bethany United Church, 115 Main Street, Montpelier. For more information, contact Patrick, 490-6405 or [email protected]. Registration open through May 7.

LEADERSHIPTHE MIRROR OF NATURE: LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONS April 19–21. The natural world can teach us about ourselves as leaders, the qualities of

leadership and the dynamics of organizations. Collaborative coaching and nature experiences help participants identify new possibilities for personal leadership and organizational situations encountered each day. 249-7377 or vermont wildernessrites.com.

WRITINGSPRING WRITING CLASSESIntroduction to Memoir, Crafting the Story Within: 10 Mondays, April 8–June 17, noon– 2 p.m., $200. Guided Writers’ Group: fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction: 10 Fridays, April 5–June 7, 10 a.m.–noon, $200. Classes meet at Christ Church, 64 State Street, Montpelier. Maggie Thompson, MFA, instructor. To register or for more information, call 454-4635.

ClassifiedsEMPLOYMENTPARK CARETAKERThe City of Montpelier is looking for a part-time Park Caretaker who will be required to rent and live in a park house, 15 to 20 hours per week. Pay will be close to rent charged. Educating park users about rules and policy; assistance to park visitors, maintaining a safe and clean park after hours; and projects. Ability to communicate effectively, oper-ate tractor, maintain trails and lead a wide variety of volunteers. See city website for more informa-tion. Resume, letter of interest and references to: Montpelier Parks, 39 Main Street, 05602.

HOUSINGRENTAL/HOME SWAP WANTEDProfessional family from Vancouver, B.C., Canada seeking furnished rental in Montpe-lier for three weeks in July 2013. Looking for

at least two bedrooms, close to downtown a plus. No shared accommodation, please. Want to visit Vancouver? We are open to a tem-porary home swap during that time as well. [email protected] or 213-479-3498.

CHEBEAGUE ISLAND, MAINEBeautiful, private location, 150-foot frontage on Casco Bay, lovely interior, all amenities, four bedrooms, sleeps eight to 10. Nearby golf course, dining, fishing, biking. June, Septem-ber, October, $2,500/week. July and August, $3,000/week. Call 476-6176 or e-mail Prudence, [email protected].

SERVICESHOUSE PAINTERSince 1986. Small interior jobs ideal. Neat, prompt, friendly. Local references. Pitz Quat-trone, 229-4952.

PERSONAL CARE PROVIDERReliable, 10-plus years experience as nurse’s aid/personal care provider. I have worked with a variety of clients, including Alzheimer’s. Among my responsibilities: providing transportation, accompanying clients to the doctor, assisting with daily personal chores, preparing meals and maintaining household. References on request. Ed Norstrand: [email protected] or cell 718-864-0073.

PRUNINGEarly spring pruning of apple, crabapple, pear; selective pruning and thinning of deciduous stock, including lilac, burning bush, viburnum, most others. Andy Plante, 223-5409.

STUFF TO SELL?Wish you could have a yard sale, but it’s too cold to hold one outside? Call us at T&T Repeats Thrift Store. We just may be able to help you out. 224-1360.

THRIFT STOREST&T REPEATSBikes, name-brand clothes, small household furniture and more. At least two free parking

spaces for T&T customers. 116 Main Street, Montpelier, or call 224-1360.

TRINITY COMMUNITY THRIFT STORETuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Trinity United Methodist Church, 137 Main Street (use rear entrance), Montpelier. Donations accepted during normal business hours. 229-9155 or [email protected].

Class listings and classifieds are 50 words for $25; discounts available. To place an ad, call Carolyn or Ivan, 223-5112, ext. 11 or 12.


by Tom Greene

A few weeks ago, I was in my kitchen cooking dinner. Those of you who know me know that I love to cook.

It’s an art form, but one that is so different from writing novels. There is a physicality to it for one—the chopping and slicing and the movement of the pan across the stove—but there is also an immediacy to it: the idea that in less than an hour you can create something beautiful for others to enjoy. This couldn’t be more different than a novel, which can take five years in the case of my last one and is a far more public process, if you are lucky. Strangers are seldom willing to tell you your cooking sucks.

At any rate, while I was in my kitchen cooking dinner, my six-year-old daughter, Sarah, unbeknownst to me took my wife’s iPhone, turned it to video and propped it on the counter where I couldn’t see it, but where it had a perfect view of me at the cutting board and then at the stove. The result may have been the most boring 10-minute film in the history of film, save for two minutes when a song I like came on the radio and I was caught on video doing some terrifically bad dad dancing to the music. (Some of you know what I am talking about, all awkward limbs and a slight overbite.) Those two min-utes brought my daughter much delight.

Later that night, I had the pleasure of watching the chair of our new film program, Laura Colella, premiere her new feature, Breakfast with Curtis, at the Green Mountain Film Festival. Watching the movie, I kept thinking of my daughter’s guerrilla filmmak-ing from earlier in the day, and I thought this must have been what six-year-old Laura Colella was like.

Picasso once famously said that all chil-dren are born artists, the problem is how to remain an artist when we grow up. I was re-minded of this watching Laura’s remarkable film and thinking of how my daughter’s ap-

proach to life is essentially through the prism of art. She understands the world through drawing and painting, through the telling and writing of stories and now, thanks to the new technology that children seem to understand so much easier than we adults, through film.

Perhaps this explains the happiness of our students when they come to a residency. There is a childlike quality to creation, and it is one of the great pleasures of my work to see people from around the world come to our campus in Vermont and rediscover that part of themselves. For when you are at Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA), for a brief period of time you are no longer a mom or a dad or a dentist or a lawyer or a waiter or whatever you might be when you are at home and living the rest of your life. Instead, you become simply and completely a writer, an artist, a designer, a composer and, next fall, a filmmaker.

If you were one of the people lucky enough to have seen Breakfast with Curtis at the Green Mountain Film Festival, you may have had a feeling similar to what our students feel when they are in a residency. Shot for only $5,000 (which funded, essentially, the cam-era), the film is populated by nonprofessional actors, a set of characters who happen to live in Laura’s apartment building in Providence. Somehow, with no budget, very little crew and equipment, and a cast without any acting training, Laura has managed to craft a com-pletely charming film, one filled with joy and that nostalgic truth that sometimes adults can create for themselves the space to experi-ence life with the innocence of children.

The film was also a shining example of the democratization of the technology that is happening now. Our argument is that this shift positions VCFA perfectly to start a film school not dependent on $500-million state-of-the-art buildings but rather on the vision of individual artists. If you have a camera, as my young daughter has shown, you can make a film. The technology itself is no lon-ger a barrier to entry. More than ever, film is simply a medium.

But just because you can make a film does not mean you can tell a beautiful story. That takes time and work and lots of practice. Laura Colella has learned to let the camera disappear and create magic. My daughter isn’t there yet, but she is off to a good start. After all, she is a child and an artist. Now if she can just remember that truth as she grows older.

Thomas C. Greene is a novelist and the founding president of the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Illustration by Barbara Carter

Of Picasso and Film

Notes from the Hill

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by Jay Craven

My new film, Northern Borders, marks the completion of my quin-tet of films based on fiction by

Northeast Kingdom writer Howard Frank Mosher. I live in the Kingdom and began this journey 26 years ago, when I tried to option the rights for Disappearances, which were tied up. So, I set my sights on Where the Rivers Flow North, which I shot in 1992—and toured across the country for more than a year.

Our production of Northern Borders aims to advance Kingdom County Productions’ mission for a sustainable re-gional cinema. This is not an easy task in the hyper-commercialized Hollywood-based film industry, where the idea of a regional and cultural cinema fights uphill for a posi-tion on the margins. What I call cultural films do occasionally surface in Hollywood: I’m thinking of pictures like There Will be Blood and Moonrise Kingdom that are rich in character and place. These films require pow-erful producers and signature directors to get made. And they are developed from secure positions within the film industry.

As a Vermont independent, I lack the clout to generate the revenue we need to recoup production expenses. My 2007 film Disap-pearances managed what I consider pretty respectable numbers, selling more than

100,000 DVDs, logging $300,000 in pay-per-view, selling rights in 28 countries and playing for three years each on U.S. cable networks Showtime and Starz. But it only returned $272,000 toward a $1.8 million production cost.

I was prepared to stop making feature films. The numbers simply didn’t work. But when Marlboro College’s president, Ellen McCulloch-Lovell asked faculty members to suggest ideas for innovative learning projects,

I proposed to make Northern Borders as a film-intensive semes-ter I’d organize for students we’d recruit from Marlboro and other colleges. In-stead of working on my usual budgets of

around $2 million, we’d squeeze the budget to less than $500,000. President McCulloch-Lovell surprised me by agreeing to give this idea a chance.

We’re about to show the results of this new Movies from Marlboro project, which offers our best chance for a sustainable regional cinema, while providing students with what education pioneer John Dewey calls “inten-sive learning that enlarges meaning through the shared experience of joint action.”

The educational part of this equation worked. Thirty-four students from 15 col-leges joined 20 professionals to make North-ern Borders. In their evaluations, they talked about transformative learning, where they played a substantial role creating something

much larger than any of us. Several students called the Northern Borders film intensive the best experience of their lives. I call it the best experience I’ve had in either film production or education.

Now the next question needs to be an-swered, as we premiere the film in April and launch our 100-town tour of small north country towns this summer: How about the film itself? Does it measure up as the kind of Vermont independent film making that will

satisfy audiences and generate support for our next steps? Join us at an upcoming screening and let us know what you think.

Northern Borders premieres Friday, April 12, 7 p.m., at the Lost Nation Theater at Montpelier City Hall. Tickets and informa-tion are available at 748-2600 or online at kingdomcounty.org. For information on plans for Movies from Marlboro 2014, go to movies.marlboro.edu.

Toward a Sustainable Regional Cinema

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ArtsCamera crew filming Northern Borders. Photo courtesy Jay Craven.


Growing Your Businessby Lindel James

Far be it from me to proclaim myself a basketball expert, but I can proclaim that I am a business growth expert.

Because so many of us are entrenched at some level in the NCAA basketball games of the past few weeks, I would like to draw an analogy between the strategies of top basket-ball teams and business owners who want to grow their businesses.

For a basketball team to evolve into a winning team, players must come to the court with great attitudes. In business, the attitude of the leader and his or her team is paramount. No one can achieve lofty success without embracing a great attitude. Some may get ahead for a short period of time on sheer will; however, that success will be short lived without sustaining a positive attitude.

A great basketball team studies its compe-tition before the big game. A good business owner clearly understands his or her compe-tition and what skills and/or weakness that competitive businesses possess. The business owner also clearly understands his or her own business’s strengths and weaknesses.

The basketball team, with its coach, con-tinually develops and modifies its strategies. Team members utilize these strategies and plays and continually practice to perfect the ones that work best for their skills to create a winning team. The team practices, practices and practices some more. A successful busi-ness must be committed to continually prac-tice its skills and strategies. Business owners practice their plays over and over, working to create a perfection that never comes. How-ever, during this continuous practicing, the business owner becomes better skilled and more proficient at what he or she offers.

The basketball team gets out in public and struts its stuff. Team members play the game to win. It is then that they show what they are made of and who they are. Their performance is open and transparent. It’s at this point that they develop their fan base (or not). Businesses are much the same; when they open themselves up to their custom-ers and competitors, they are taking their

“court” onto the stage of business and com-merce. Their goal is to provide value, to give their customers a sample of what they are capable of providing and to create a familiar-ity with what they offer.

As the basketball team is building a fol-lowing and fan base, business owners are de-veloping a basis of trust and value from po-tential prospects (hopefully, their fan base). When they accomplish this basis of trust and value, they will never have to sell. Business owners will attract prospects to them; those opportunities will come to them because potential clients trust, value and appreciate what they have to offer. The stress of selling, promoting and marketing will disappear, and business owners will operate and effec-tively share with authenticity and expertise.

The basketball team keeps score! You, the business owner, need to keep score too. If you don’t, you will continually repeat the same mistakes over and over. Your score-card is your system of metrics that allows you to regularly track what is working and not working. It identifies where you need to change strategies or make modifications. You need to measure metrics on everything, from your sales activities to your business dashboard that hosts your revenue, profit and cash-flow models. You need to get be-hind your numbers—just like that basketball team gets behind its.

So, look to basketball teams—or most sports teams, for that matter. Take the time to develop an effective team, with the right attitude. Take the time to develop strong and powerful strategies. Be willing to play hard to win on your “court.” Practice, practice and practice some more. And by all means, keep score to track all of your numbers. When you do so, you will be exchanging high fives and chest bumps, because you’ll be a winner!

Lindel James is an executive coach, leader-ship development and business growth strate-gist, certified sales trainer and speaker. She is a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach and Trainer. Visit her website at centerforleadershipskills.com or call 778-0626.

What Do Basketball and Business Growth Have in Common?

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Grappling with Glut

First, I feel the need to establish my sustainability cred. I’ve long been a dropout from the system. As a teenager I was inspired and enamored by Walt Whitman, Thoreau and Helen

and Scott Nearing. At 15, living in the Northeast Kingdom, my personal utopian vision was to build a house in the middle of 100 acres and live a self-sufficient, nearly consumer-free and low-energy life. I remember writing up a set of guidelines for myself to simplify, worthy of the Amish (no or few rugs thus obviating the need for a vacuum cleaner—use only a broom). At age 16, I became a vegetarian and tried to grow a garden in the hard-packed rocky clay behind my parents’ motel (oh, Vermont). At age 17, I stopped watching television, and at 18, I dropped out of high school—truly a dropout in every way.

Living in New York City in the late 70s, I composted food scraps in a trash barrel behind my apartment and carried my bottles and cans eight blocks uptown to a place that was val-iantly trying to recycle: In those days you had to rip the labels off cans and soak them off bottles then flatten the cans and smash your own bottles in a barrel. Only the truly dedicated would go to all that trouble.

I did not own a car until I was 31, which I got rid of a year later when my then-husband and I went to live in Japan for three years. It took me to age 37 to finally live anything resembling a standard middle-class life. My husband and I bought a house in Montpelier, moved in our three pieces of used furniture and for the first time bought some new furnishings. I knew I’d arrived (or fallen from my standards) the first time I went out, at age 39, and bought a new dress for $60 in a store downtown—something I’d never dream of doing earlier. (My couture was strictly second hand.)

I partly designed but never built that house in the middle of 100 acres. First, I began to realize the Nearings’ vision and way of living, which inspired many of my generation, was itself unsustainable and impractical. We can’t all live on 10 acres and grow our own food, nor should we. If you want a fast track to sprawl, that’s it.

The vision many of us may have, but few of us can afford, of some lovely home on a hill with mountain views, an organic garden and some domesticated animals is not the way to go. Nearly all of us should be clustered in towns. If Vermont wants to be self-sufficient in food production, it seems to me only the few and the agriculturally talented should be out in acres of country growing food for themselves and for the community. Several hundred thousand individual kitchen gardens—each with its own set of tools, seeds and fertilizers—isn’t ef-ficient or practical and therefore sustainable.

What helped me to this conclusion was the realization that I didn’t have the time, talent, inclination or space (unless I wanted to get in my car and drive to a community garden) to grow even some of my own food. Who was I kidding? Besides my personal experience, what of all the many people who live in apartments or trailer parks? What of cities? Vermont’s cities and cities elsewhere? Most of the world’s population is urban. How do all those people get fed efficiently, sustainably?

I am all for reducing consumption of goods. I’ve long found this consumer culture abhor-rent—soul-less, bizarre. We’ve been programmed to get our identity and status through the goods we consume—whether it’s a bike, a beer, a car or a shirt. Through the stuff we buy, we magically gain youth and success. Depending on which product we purchase, we can become upstanding citizens, reckless adventurers, intellectuals, sensitive souls—even ecologi-cally conscious individuals. (And as much as I recoil from this weird condition capitalism has worked us into, at the same time I inevitably and guiltily participate in it.)

Yes, indeed, I’m all for zero waste and make a game of minimizing my own garbage. But I can’t ignore the ramifications of following this creed, as it were, to its inevitable conclusion. If, indeed, we all reduced consumption and therefore reduced waste; if we all conscientiously reused and recycled and eschewed any frivolous purchases; if we all found our joys and solace in community instead of consumption; if we all, for example, decided the best giving to hap-pen at Christmas was the gift of ourselves and not gift giving—do we truly understand the outcome, grasp the ramifications, of all that?

The entire economy, including Vermont, including Montpelier, relies on consumption: our lovely downtown with all its wonderful stores and restaurants. Christmas can make or break a business. If we all go Amish, as it were, what would happen to the downtown?

Consider, too, that however laudable it may be to buy second hand, second hand only ex-ists because someone bought that good first hand. Someone bought fully into the system (the $200 dress, the $30,000 car)—and the manufacturer behind it and the jobs the manufac-turer provides. This country is so rich, so awash with stuff, that it’s easy to live on the edges, to seemingly consume less and feel noble, when mostly you’re sheltering in the rich shadow of the first world and all its petroleum-fueled excess. (And actually the Amish themselves, who hold themselves apart from the wired, consumer-crazed culture around them, rely on doing business with that culture.)

Understand, I’m not opposed in the least to rethinking the way we live our lives. (What, indeed, do we really need? What is it, even, to be human? Are we just machines of production and consumption? Manipulators of stuff?) We North Americans are energy gluttons, and it must stop. But I don’t think we’ve connected all the dots. We talk about reducing consump-tion and waste, but I wonder if we fully grasp the economic ramifications—that what may be at stake are the livelihoods of friends and neighbors who own or work in local businesses or work for bigger employers, who are fully wired into the national economy.

As for creating a moneyless economy, the trend is, actually, toward cashless exchanges, with people increasingly paying for goods and services with mobile hand-held electronic devices. The concept of money remains but the actual bills and coins are gone. It’s a natural evolution (increasing efficiency and reducing infrastructure costs), while returning to barter takes us back over two millennia, before the first coins were minted. There’s a reason we use money: it’s efficient. Barter, an exchange of time or using local currency does build community but can only work in very limited and very local contexts. And Vermont is not an island. Whether we like it or not, we’re tied in not only nationally, but internationally, in more ways than we may realize.

—guest editorial by Kate Mueller

LettersThanks for Keeping the Circulator Circulating

To the Editor:As a longtime public transportation ser-

vice provider for the residents of Montpelier, Green Mountain Transit Agency (GMTA) has been the recipient of various forms of thanks throughout the years. From phone calls and letters, to cookies and cards, each one is a genuine expression of appreciation for our services and an example of community support.

There are certain moments when this ex-tension of community appreciation goes be-yond simple thanks and becomes a positive movement. This year, a group of dedicated residents within Montpelier came together to complete the required petition needed to list GMTA’s annual request for local funding to support the Montpelier Circulator. This effort was substantial, with over 800 signa-tures obtained and hours of outreach work performed. The return on their efforts was an impressive margin of approval and a continu-ation of service for their city.

For GMTA, the appreciation we felt went beyond the ability to still provide this es-sential service. We came to understand that we do not just serve, but have become a part of the community. Each signature secured, every vote of approval and words spoken in our favor was an action created from the be-lief that one person, one ride and one agency can make things better.

We offer this letter of thanks to those who assisted in securing the local funding with our most sincere gratitude and hope that you realize just what your generosity has done for your community. On behalf of the GMTA family and all those we serve, thank you!

—Tawnya Kristen, GMTA Community Relations Manager, Montpelier

Keep Health Care Exchange Rates Affordable

To the Editor:As the Vermont legislature works down to

the wire on its budget, I want to congratu-late our Democratic and Progressive House members who, working together, have put out a budget that should make all Vermont-ers proud. I am proud of Governor Shumlin’s efforts to work toward a single-payer health care system for all those who are not cov-ered by either Medicare and veterans’ health benefits.

However, it seems questionable whether the money will be there to pay for the projected exchange rates, which seem at this point to be much higher than both Catamount and VHAP have been in the past few years. It is a complicated mix, and I look forward to hear-ing good news when the rates are finally an-nounced next week. We do not need or want to have MORE people uninsured during this critical interim period prior to 2017, when we have been promised the opportunity to make a truly drastic change in how health care is delivered and paid for in Vermont.

I am a strong supporter of universal, single-payer health care and, like most low- and moderate-income Vermonters, would like to see health care for all as a basic human right, regardless of income. This is why it is impera-tive to get it right the first time. My hope is that the state Senate does not let us down and that Governor Shumlin will back his Demo-cratic cohorts in the lower chamber.

Yes, upper-income Vermonters need to pay their fair share as well as low-income Ver-monters who are hit by some of the proposed raised sales and gas tax. We all must share the burden as we work toward a more perfect state union.

—Mary Alice Bisbee, Montpelier

Help Families at Risk Care for Their Children

To the Editor:April is Child Abuse Prevention Month in

Vermont. Healthy, safe, nurturing and stable families and schools require our support.

While Vermont policy makers are chal-lenged to balance the state budget, we know that community organizations must have the resources to help families at risk care for their children. Healthy secure relationships begin at home, and home visitors, playgroups, men-tors and parenting programs can strengthen parent-child bonds. Let your senators and representatives know you support funding for proven effective community programs.

If you are not already one of the thousands of Vermonters giving from your heart, hand or checkbook to a local nonprofit or school based effort, get involved. You are an essen-tial part of success for a child living near you. Please pick up the phone, go online and help build Vermont’s future. What we do together now will be felt for generations.

For information about ways to get involved, call 1-800-CHILDREN or 229-5724.

—Linda E. Johnson, Executive Director, Prevent Child Abuse Vermont

Support End-of-Life BillTo the Editor:The bill passed out of the Senate last

month, S.77, is now in the House awaiting action. I support a bill that would offer Ver-monters choice at the end of life and hope our legislators will consider such a bill carefully and also include its many original protective features.

I believe that we all have a right to choose for ourselves the path that we feel best for us at the close of life. Personal decisions such as this should not be made by other family members, friends, pastors, and so on. This is too important a time to allow anyone but the patient to decide on his or her options. However, the bill as amended by the Senate indemnifies medical providers and family members, nothing else. The safety and well-being of patients are not addressed. Any bill concerning end-of-life choice must include standards and safeguards for everyone. It must also offer real choice to patients. It is time for our lawmakers to listen to the people of Vermont who have waited much too long for this legislation to become reality.

—Denise Connally, Berlin

Stop Wasteful Efforts to Shut Down VT Yankee

To the Editor:The Vermont Supreme Court has sent a

clear message to those trying to shut down Vermont Yankee with legal action: There is already a process underway to determine whether the plant will continue to operate via the state Public Service Board and the court will not interfere in that process. This is yet another independent judicial process for determining whether Vermont Yankee meets the rigorous criteria to continue to operate. In addition, the U.S. Nuclear Regu-latory Commission, following an exhaustive process, determined Vermont Yankee is safe and reliable and gave the plant the green light to keep running for another 20 years. The continuing efforts to close Vermont Yankee are an expensive distraction for the state of Vermont at a time when we face pressing challenges demanding our finite human and financial resources, in energy and other areas. It’s time to move on.

—Guy Page, Communications Director, Vermont Energy Partnership, Montpelier

Editorial


by Tom McKone

Saving money is OK, of course, but if you were born with thrifty Yankee genes or have developed a modern en-

vironmental sensibility, saving resources is right up there in the same category. It doesn’t make any practical or environmental sense to create things we don’t need or to waste things that have already been created. Like many Vermonters, reduce, reuse, recycle has been one of my mantras for as long as I can remember.

That is why redis-covering the A–Z Guide and discovering the Additional Recyclables Collection Center (ARCC) have helped me to reduce my impact on the planet. I was already a serious recycler and a home composter, but thanks to these two great resources, I have found new homes for or ways to recycle many items that I used to send to the landfill. The A–Z Guide and ARCC are both efforts by the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District

(CVSWMD) to lead us to zero waste, “a no-waste, sustainable approach to managing the production and life cycle of goods.”

The A–Z Guide provides a comprehensive list of how to reuse, recycle or properly dis-pose of about 120 different items and materi-als. Appliances, books, batteries, cell phones, eyeglasses, shoes, fluorescent bulbs and yoga mats are just a sampling from this impressive

list. The guide, which is on the district’s website (cvswmd.org) under the “Trash & Recycling” tab, goes far beyond what we can bring to our local recycling depot, and

there is plenty of valuable information there for all of us.

ARCC, which CVSWMD started last summer, takes dozens of offbeat items that regular recycling centers can’t, from tooth-brushes and plastic jar lids to CDs, DVDs, digital cameras, credit cards (expired, pre-sumably) and all sorts of things that don’t fit the usual recycling categories. No longer do you have to throw away those empty pill

containers, old VHS tapes you can no longer play or your kids’ drink pouches. You can even recycle lipstick cases, mascara tubes and dozens of other beauty product packages. After all, it isn’t just ourselves that we want to keep looking good.

I already had a place in my garage for storing items that I knew I would be able recycle, donate or dispose of later on, from used clothing to household hazardous waste products. After discovering ARCC, I added a box for the many additional items I can bring there. My empty toothpaste tubes and cereal bags no longer go to the landfill, where they were destined to outlast all of us.

Located at 3 Williams Lane in downtown Barre, ARCC is open Monday and Friday afternoons from 12:30 to 5:30. It costs $1 per carload to drop things off—no matter how little or much you bring. I coordinate my drop-offs with trips I already make to Barre. The guide is on the CVSWMD website under the “Collections” tab.

There are so many reasons to consult the CVSWMD website that I added it to my fa-vorites. In addition to everything you need to know about these two great resources, there

is a wealth of other information, including general recycling information, schedules for household hazardous waste collections and how to get started with composting. Plus, there is info about zero waste, progressive waste reduction initiatives at central Vermont businesses and innovative school programs.

I haven’t noticed any Ben Franklin quotes on the website, but Franklin sometimes took thrift to a level that would drive most modern people crazy. Two hundred years before zero waste entered our vocabulary, when summa-rizing his views on frugality, he said it suc-cinctly: “Waste nothing.” What a different world this would be today if our founding fathers had included those two words in the Constitution.

Tom McKone has been recycling since “the early days,” when Vermont had few recycling opportunities and no solid waste management districts. A one-time president of the Association of Vermont Recyclers, he was one of the founders of recycling programs in the town of Worcester and at U-32, which had one of the state’s first comprehensive school recycling programs. He lives in Montpelier.

Ben Franklin Was Right: Waste Nothing

Opinion

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Read something you want to respond to? We welcome your letters and opinion pieces.

Letters must be 300 words or fewer; opinions, 600 words or fewer. Send your piece to [email protected].

Deadline for the April 18 issue is Monday, April 15, at 5 p.m.

by Cassandra Hemenway Brush

If ever there was a time to get serious about zero waste, this is it. The state of Vermont has officially decided to shut

down the Moretown landfill, run by Ad-vanced Disposal. While that company has promised to appeal, the move impacts central Vermont and the whole state on a variety of levels, ranging from how Moretown will fund its town budget to where our trash will go.

A potential question here is: What if we opted to use this opportunity to live without landfills altogether? What if we invested in in-frastructure that supported zero waste, rather than unlimited waste? What if there were more places such as the Additional Recy-clables Collection Center (ARCC) in Barre, enabling people to divert unwanted items out of the landfill and into recycling and reuse streams?

Landfills create problems—be it from odor, lack of space, capacity reached or, perhaps most important, the environmental impact of methane (a greenhouse gas 72 times more potent than carbon dioxide). Landfills re-lease methane from disposed organic matter, which comprises 21 to 40 percent of waste. As we look to greener energy and ways to

reduce our carbon footprint, let us not forget our methane footprint (something we can significantly reduce simply by composting).

The online journal EcoSeed reports that “for more than two decades, the number of landfills in the U.S. has steadily dropped, from 7,924 in 1988 to 1,654 in 2005, accord-ing to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) . . . [which also finds that] Americans produce over 250 million tons of municipal solid waste. That is roughly 4.43 pounds of trash per person per day.”

But does that have to be so? What if we created no waste? San Francisco recently opted to go from 80 to 100 percent zero waste by 2020. Coincidentally, mandatory recycling and organics diversion goes fully into effect in Vermont that same year.

Every day, new institutions achieve or com-mit to zero waste, often with phased-in goals much like Vermont’s Act 148 (which phases in the diversion mentioned above). The U.S. Army has created five net zero waste pilot in-stallations, including Fort Hood. The money saved funds programs that enhance the lives of soldiers and their families. Many universi-ties are committing to eliminating waste, in-cluding Ohio State, Arizona State, American and North Carolina. Corporations such as

Honda, GM, Tom’s of Maine, Walmart, Uni-lever and DuPont, among hundreds more, have gone zero waste, saving millions of dol-lars in the process.

“CVSWMD [Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District] has been call-ing for zero waste for over a decade,” says its general manager Leesa Stewart. “Perhaps the time has come to consider that, maybe, in the long run, we don’t need landfills. Maybe we need to change the infra-structure.”

By changing in-frastructure, Stewart refers to encourag-ing the growth of composting businesses, which is needed to continue diverting the thousands of tons of organic matter dumped into landfills yearly. She also points to the need for CVSWMD’s ARCC at 3 Williams Lane, Barre, and sup-port for reuse businesses.

The ARCC provides a place for people who want to go beyond regular recycling and drop off various items to be reused or recycled. Residents can bring CDs, DVDs, VHS and audio cassettes, books, textiles, bat-teries, small electronics, liquid latex paint and much more to the ARCC. Go to cvswmd.org for the complete list.

The ARCC provides the beginning of an infrastructure based around zero waste, rather than one that presumes unlimited disposal. We know from experience that our current model does not provide a long-term solution that sustains our health and environment. Perhaps it’s time to consider a new one.

Corporations, universities, cities and na-tions have committed to zero waste because

the practice makes sense; it is both envi-ronmentally responsi-ble and cost effective. This particularly hits home now that costs may rise to ship gar-bage all the way to our only remaining

landfill, in Coventry or out of state alto-gether. The closing of the Moretown landfill provides us with a clear choice: Keep generat-ing levels of waste we can no longer handle or start opting out of the waste culture and instead choose to be more mindful about our consumption—to use less and reuse more.

Although our waste disposal problems are great, we have tools to deal with them. We can take advantage of the many reuse busi-nesses in Vermont; we can divert what we can to recycling and places like the ARCC, which responsibly take care of items at the end of their life cycle; and we can make the easy switch from tossing food scraps into the trash to tossing them into the compost.

For more information about zero waste, or details about the ARCC, go to cvswmd.org.

Cassandra Hemenway Brush is the Zero Waste Outreach coordinator at Central Ver-mont Solid Waste Management District, an award-winning writer and the host of Zero Waste Central, a cable access show that airs on ORCA Media, HCTV and CVTV.

Do We Still Need Landfills?

Portraits at the State House

Photo from the current show, Parallels, by Libby Hillhouse of Ryegate, up throughout April at the State House Cafeteria. Photo by Libby Hillhouse.

Corrections: In the March 21 Bridge, our article on Martin Pincus incorrectly named a drug Arocet. It should have been spelled Aricept. Also in that issue, The Bridge gave the incorrect date for a PoemCity event at Bear Pond Books. The Open Poetry Reading will occur April 30 at 7 p.m. The Bridge regrets the confusion.

Opinion


by Deb Markowitz

Looking out my window at a fresh pile of snow gets me thinking about next summer’s vacation. As a family, we

like nothing better than to relax next to one of Vermont’s beautiful lakes where we can swim, canoe and fish. But it’s getting trickier to decide where to go.

Last year we rented a camp on Lake Cham-plain. The photos showed it was right on the water, with a lovely dock and a beautiful view. We were disappointed to find that, although we had a beautiful view of the lake, we could not swim or fish from the dock or shore be-cause the water was too choked with weeds. As you can imagine, the owners of the camp felt bad about this. They had been thinking of selling, but worried that, because of the

water-quality problems, they would not get a reasonable price for their property.

Our experience on Lake Champlain is not unique. Vermont has over 800 lakes and ponds, and many of these are stressed by excess phosphorus, invasive species and acid rain. According to the 2007 National Lake Assessment Study, Vermont lakes rate in worse condition than others in the region and the nation in terms of the extent we disturb our immediate lakeshores with structures, lawns and seawalls.

The cumulative impact from individual property development is the most widespread stressor to Vermont lakes. Vermont is the only state in New England with no required lakeshore development review or standard. Consequently, many lakeshore residents clear their shore and remove most of the vegeta-

tion. Lawns are planted instead, impacting lake-water quality and damaging aquatic habitat.

Weeds grow out of control, and there are algae blooms in our lakes and ponds when there is too much pol-lution from erosion, sediment and runoff from the watershed and lakefront. There is a consensus among scientists that natu-rally vegetated shore-lines do a good job protecting water quality and aquatic habitat. Native trees and shrubs stabilize banks and filter dirty water, keeping Vermont lakeshores resilient to flooding and erosion and protected from polluted runoff. In fact, no man-made engineered design can compete with the effectiveness or cost of nature’s design for stabilizing lakeshores.

But, native lakeshore vegetation can only do its job if we leave it in place. That is why one of my top priorities this year is working with the legislature to pass H.223, a bill to protect the water quality in our lakes and ponds. H.223 balances landowners’ interest in developing their property with the need to protect the natural vegetation along the shorelines of Vermont’s lakes and ponds. It focuses on new development and provides flexibility that will allow landowners to put in paths and picnic areas and to establish views, while at the same time leaving suffi-cient vegetation in place to protect the water quality.

Over the past 40 years, Vermont’s lakeshore management approach relied on education, outreach, citizen monitoring and technical assistance programs, but we have seen that education alone is not enough. In addition,

while a number of municipalities have shoreline regulations, only six have regula-tions that meet the standard known to protect water quality and aquatic habitat.

This tells us that H.223 is long overdue.We need to act quickly to protect our lakes

and ponds—not only to ensure our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy these precious resources, but because it is impor-tant for Vermont’s economic security. Ver-mont lakes bring in tourism dollars—almost a half billion annually. Businesses move to and stay in Vermont because of the quality of life here, which includes easy access to swimming, fishing and boating. And, as my camp owner knows, healthy lakes are needed to maintain property values.

I invite you to learn more about this im-portant issue and to get involved. Vermont has no more important natural asset than clean water for swimming, fishing, boating and drinking. Working together we can keep it that way for future generations.

Deb Markowitz is secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources.

Opinion

Protecting Vermont’s Shorelines Is Good for the Economy and the Environment

by Michael O’Connor

Vermont’s patients aren’t “one size fits all,” and their choices in prescription medicine shouldn’t be either. A single

prescription drug formulary structure has been proposed for Vermont, but it just doesn’t make sense for patients and the state. Inefficient for patients, financially ineffectual and adminis-tratively burdensome—a single formulary sys-tem makes it harder for patients to receive the care they deserve at a cost that makes sense.

As background explanation, a prescription benefit management (PBM) plan makes con-tracts to lower the price of drugs purchased for the state, but they can also limit a patient’s options for treatment, especially when there are several kinds of medications available to treat the same condition. Those limita-tions, or formularies, can make it harder for patients to receive the right medication at the right time, or remove the best available medi-cation from the management plan.

If cost savings are the premise for such dire

risks to patient health, then let’s take a hard look at the facts. Spending on innovative medicines makes up only about 3.5 percent of all federal spending in Medicaid. Professional services, hospital care, administration, home health, nursing facilities and residential care make up the remainder.

Patients may have a trial-and-error process when they fill a prescription, which may lead to nonadherence with a prescribed treatment plan. For instance, under a single formulary, a patient takes his or her prescription to be filled by a pharmacist, only to be told that the medication is not covered. Leaving the pharmacy without the medication can derail a therapeutic plan and in the end cost the patient and the state more.

We understand the state’s need to try to reduce costs associated with health care, but there are other ways to achieve those ends. Adding another layer of bureaucracy could make it harder for physicians to do their jobs and ultimately could have a negative effect on patient care.

Medicines aren’t always interchangeable, and the limitations of a single formulary and substitutions that would be required can have a dire effect not just on patient choice, but on a patient’s over-all health. As a 2009 Health Affairs article cited, in addition to projected cost savings due to a single for-mulary being murky (at best), limitation on a patient’s drug formulary can have clearly negative thera-peutic effects.

The treatment of Parkinson’s disease and its side effects requires a delicate balance of prescription medications. Substituting less expensive or generic drugs, or not being able to obtain the correct combination, can often undermine progress made over a long period of time, which makes having the right choice of prescription drug plans absolutely critical for these individuals.

Vermonters who have prescription drug plan options available through Medicare Part D are able to make educated, informed choices about which plan provides them with

the best, most afford-able coverage. But a single formulary will eliminate this choice and would impact low-income Medi-care beneficiaries the most.

Shutting out pa-tients from a physician’s primary treatment decision isn’t the right answer for Vermont. Let’s rethink our approach. It’s not just about how we approach costs; a single formulary is also relevant in thinking about how we pay for value and care for our patients.

Michael O’Connor is president of the Ver-mont Chapter American Parkinson’s Disease Association and a resident of Williston.

Opinion

Rx Important for All, Critical for Chronically Ill Patients

Annual Campaign Update

As we go to press, recent contributions have taken our annual campaign to $13,548. Our campaign goal is $15,000. This means that $1,452 separate us from completing

the campaign successfully.To everyone who contributes to The Bridge—and people contribute to The Bridge in

many ways—please accept our sincere thanks for your generosity.If you would like to make a financial contribution and help us complete our current

campaign, please send us a check made payable to: “The Bridge.” Our mailing address is: The Bridge, P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, Vermont 05601.

Please feel free to stop by our office with an envelope. We are located on the lower level of Schulmaier Hall on the campus of the Vermont College of Fine Arts. To find us, drive up East State Street to where it stops at College Street. At that point, you will look across the college green toward College Hall with its twin towers. Schulmaier Hall is one of two brick buildings immediately behind College Hall and to the left College Hall. There is a large parking lot behind Schulmaier Hall. We are the only entrance from that side of the building. And there’s a sign on the door that says, “The Bridge.” Or phone us at 223-5112 for more detailed information about how to find us.

food for your

feedback!The Bridge COMMUNITY DINNERThursday evening, April 11, at 6 p.m.Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre Street

LIVE MUSIC . TOUCHING FAREWELLS SPIRITED GIVE & TAKE . AWESOME FOOD

Please join us at The Bridge community dinner. Call 223-5112, ext. 13, to let us know you’re coming.

the bridge, april 4, 2013

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