Art Comes Alive on Langdon Street Page 8

June 2 June 15, 2016

Sleep, to the homeless thou

art home; the friendless
find in thee a friend.

One of the 30 beds at Good

Samaritan Haven in Barre.
Photo by Carla Occaso

-Ebenezer Elliott

Homelessness Takes Center Stage

IN THIS ISSUE:
Pg. 4 Candidates Vie for
Klein's House Seat
Pg. 6 Support Youth
Journalism
Pg. 7 Lost Nation Theater
Presents "Red"

The Bridge
P.O. Box 1143
Montpelier, VT 05601

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Montpelier, VT
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Pg. 13 A Profile for

Father's Day

MONTPELIER Homelessness is a persistent

and largely hidden problem in Montpelier and
Washington County as a whole. This was
evident during a meeting held on May 16 at
Christ Church hosted by the City of Montpelier
Housing Task Force and the Good Samaritan
Haven of Barre. The goals of the meeting,
billed as a Community Conversation, were
to frame the problem, describe individual
experiences with homelessness, outline efforts
currently underway to assist homeless persons
and brainstorm ways to address the ongoing
challenges.
During the first portion of the meeting which
was preceded by a dinner for all the participants
officials with various local organizations
and government entities described the extent
and character of homelessness as experienced in
their work. According to Liz Genge, co-chair of
the Washington County Continuum of Care,
the annual count of the homeless on January
26 this year found 117 people homeless within
Washington County. Of those, there were 17
children, 18 adults fleeing domestic violence, 25
veterans, 8 unaccompanied minors, 42 people
with mental health issues, and 36 persons
suffering from chronic substance abuse. These
numbers dont include people, often teenagers
and young adults, who were couch-surfing.

by Mhairi Paget

he has health and safety concerns, particularly affordable units in Barre, which will add to the
500 available units in Washington County and
adverse substance abuse reactions.
Next to speak were several people who are the discussed possibility of 18 new units in the
currently or who have been homeless. One French Block to supplement the 150 units in
young woman spoke of being homeless for two Montpelier.
years after she ran from random violence
in her home. Later, once again homeless, she
and her two children camped out for four
months on land belonging to a friend. A man
spoke of being homeless, off and on, for 25
years, mostly in Montpelier. He said that the
homeless deserve honor and respect and a place
to live. Another man described 12 years of
living without stable housing. He said that while
there are resources available, what is needed are
individualized plans using practical, workable
solutions. He added, The only lost causes are
ones given up on.

During the third section of the meeting,

representatives from many groups that serve
the homeless population described programs
in place to support the populations they serve.
The Reverend Auburn Watersong, who serves
as the Associate Priest of Christ Church, is
also an Economic Justice Specialist with the
Vermont Network Against Domestic and
Sexual Violence. She said that people, women
in particular, are making a choice between
being housed or living with violence that
Brooke Jenkins, executive director of the Good 40 percent of domestic violence victims stay
Samaritan Haven in Barre, which is the only because they simply have no other choice.
homeless shelter in Central Vermont, told the Dawn Butterfield from Capstone Community
group that the 30 beds in the shelter are full Action told the audience that in the last
every night, as are the 14 seasonal overflow nine months her organization has served 114
beds in winter. Montpelier Mayor John Hollar households comprising 224 people, including 78
outlined issues specific to Montpelier, including children. A representative from the Washington
transients, couch-surfers and folks who camp in County Youth Service Bureau, which works
the area behind Agway and in Hubbard Park. with youth aged 16 to 21 who are either at risk
Montpelier Police Chief Anthony Facos said of homelessness or actually homeless, described
that his major concern is the safety of kids services including two new emergency housing
living on the edge those who have run units (for up to 90 days); a transitional apartment
away or have been kicked out of their homes. that can be used for up to 18 months; and rental
Tom McKone, executive director of the Kellogg assistance vouchers, but added that they only
Hubbard Library, noted that there are homeless have funding for 19 percent of the youth on the
guests in the library every day and that, while waiting list. Eileen Peltier, executive director of
the staff very rarely experience behavioral issues, Downstreet Housing, mentioned the 27 new

Other programs include RISE Mens Supported

Living Program serving men in recovery from
substance abuse; Another Way, a daytime
drop-in location on Barre Street in Montpelier
which has resources such as computers, a
community kitchen, art and exercise spaces,
and garden beds; Washington County Mental
Health, 50 percent of whose clients are either
homeless or have experienced homelessness; and
the weekday lunchtime soup kitchens sponsored
by Montpelier churches that serve 75 to 150
people a day.
Many of these groups offer overlapping services
and support overlapping populations. In an
effort to streamline the process, the Central
Vermont Continuum of Care has created a
Permission and Release of Information form
through which a client gives permission to have
his or her case discussed by the Continuum of
Care team to determine which services are most
needed and which organization can best provide
those services.
Finally, according to a representative from
Vermont Interfaith Action, a solution to housing
the homeless requires a three-pronged approach:
create more housing; provide subsidies to make
existing units affordable; and provide support
once a person is housed. Vermont Interfaith
Action is sponsoring a Housing First 101
workshop June 4 at the Old Labor Hall in Barre
to describe the Housing First model, which has
been successful in other parts of the country,
and to outline ways in which interested people
can become engaged in solving the problem.
The Law Office of Amy K. Butler,
Esquire, PLLC
Bankruptcy Family Law
Estate Planning
64 Main St., Ste. 26, Montpelier
802-371-0077
akbutler@amykbutlerlaw.com

w w w.montpelierbridge.com

PAG E 2 J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016

The Bridge publishes every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month,
except in July when we publish only on the 3rd Thursday.
Our next issue comes out June 16.

THE BRIDGE

J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016 PAG E 3

T H E B R I D G E

HEARD ON
THE STRE ET
Elementary Students Evacuated for Bomb Threat
MONTPELIER School officials evacuated Union Elementary School students at 9:15
a.m., Wednesday, May 25, following a bomb threat that was called into the school, according to Brian Ricca, superintendent of the Montpelier Public School System, in an e-mail that
was sent to families of the students who were involved. Montpelier Police Department was
immediately notified.
"After all students were evacuated, the entire building was swept by the MPD and the all
clear was given. As of right now, all UES students are back in their classrooms, except for the
fourth graders who are on their field trip. We are telling the Union Elementary School students that this was just an evacuation drill," Ricca stated, adding that he had been forewarned
by the Vermont School Crisis Planning Team that there were "similar hoaxes" at other schools
around the country, including one in Rutland, recently.
According to the Montpelier Police Department website, officers responded to provide security outside and to assist with the evacuation inside the building. Once all students and
staff were safely outside, officers and administrative staff conducted a sweep of the building
as a precaution.

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resume to Nat Frothingham at
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Montpelier, VT 05601
Call 223-5112 with questions.

Once the building was given the "all clear" officers assisted at several intersections with the
return of the students to school. Students and staff did a great job executing their safety
plan, the posting states.
The call is believed to be part of a nationwide hoax called "swatting" which results in a large
emergency response to a false report.

$11,000 Raised by Concerts To Help Syrian Refugees

About 60,000 Syrian refugees who are camped at a temporary location just across the Syrian
border in Turkey will be helped with proceeds from two recent concerts. Also to be helped are
some 100 Syrian refugees who will be resettling in Rutland this coming October.
According to concert organizer and noted pianist Michael Arnowitt who spoke to The Bridge by
phone, about 300 people turned out for the Syrian benefit concert at the First Congregational
Church in Burlington on May 21. Then another 500 people supported the Syrian relief effort
at a second concert at Smilie Auditorium (Montpelier High School) on May 22. All-told the
proceeds from both concerts raised about $11,000.
Arnowitt said that half the money from the two benefit concerts will go to the Karam Foundation based in Chicago. According to its website the overall mission of the Karam Foundation
is to build a better future for Syria by developing innovative education programs for Syrian
refugee youth, by distributing what Karam calls smart aid to Syrian families and by providing
money to support sustainable development projects initiated by Syrians for Syrians. The other
half of the $11,000 from the two benefit concerts will help some 100 Syrians who are slated to
be settled in Rutland during October. That money will help pay for a support center in Rutland
that helps new Vermonters.
According to Arnowitt the two benefit concerts featured 30 performers who presented Syrian
music, poetry, short stories and drama with special Syrian-born guests from Chicago, Albany,
New Haven (Connecticut) and Vermont.
Arnowitt is inviting anyone who wants to make a donation to help Syrian refugees to send a
check made payable to Vermont Fund for Syrian Refugees, P.O. Box 94, Montpelier, VT
05601. Contributions are also being accepted through the website www.mapiano.com

"Housing 101" workshop sponsored

by Vermont Interfaith Action.
June 4, 9 a.m.noon at the Old
Labor Hall, 46 Granite St., Barre.
Call 651-8889 or email
melissa@viavt.org for more info.

Nature Watch
Its Wild Orchid Time

Thief (Thieves) Steals Inspection Stickers

WATERBURY If you get a sweet deal on an inspection sticker, it might just be time to
call Trooper Darryl Cremo of the Vermont State Police. Trooper Cremo issued a press release
stating that, between the hours of 4 p.m. May 21 and 7:30 a.m. May 23, an unknown subject
or subjects broke into the Snow Fire Auto at 100 U.S. Route 2. They entered the building by
smashing a side window. After entering the building, cash and inspection stickers to vehicles
were taken.
Anybody with information is asked to contact Trooper Darryl Cremo at 229-9191 or Central
Vermont Crime Stoppers at 1-800-529-9998.

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by Nona Estrin

Yellow lady slipper orchids

Photo by Jason Hollinger

ast of the spring tree colors. Goodbye grey-green

new leaves of largetoothed aspen and hello June
bugs banging on screens after
dark. The end of a glorious,
long, slow May. And yes, if
you have a special place you
go to see early wild orchids,
either the lime-loving yellow
lady-slipper or the more acid
tolerant moccasin flower, now
is your time!

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PAG E 4 J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016

House Seat Up for Grabs

EAST MONTPELIER/MIDDLESEX Six
people have thrown their hats in the ring to
succeed Vermont House Representative Tony
Klein, D-Washington 5, of East Montpelier.
Klein announced this past term would be his
last during the legislative session. Klein has
served for 14 years, according to his website
tonyklein.com. He was known for his work
as chair of the House Committee on Natural
Resources and Energy. He also worked on
marriage equality and support for the effort to
legalize marijuana for recreational use.
Six are vying for Kleins former House seat.
Of those, three submitted press releases to The
Bridge:

Ginny Burley education candidate

Ginny Burley of East Montpelier announced
April 21 that she is a candidate to represent
East Montpelier and Middlesex in the House
of Representatives. The Democratic primary is
scheduled for August 9.
Burley hopes her years of experience on local
school boards and her work with local nonprofits supporting youth have prepared her well
for the job. She represented East Montpelier on
the U-32 school board for 18 years, including
10 years as chair. She helped create the Four
Corners Schoolhouse Association, was the
founding director of the Central Vermont
New Directions Coalition, a substance abuse
prevention organization and the founding
Director of Community Connections, which
provides expanded learning opportunities for
youth in Central Vermont. She has a masters
degree in English, is a graduate of the Snelling
Centers Vermont Leadership Institute, and
has a certificate in non-profit management
from Marlboro College.
Burley said, My time on the U-32 board
taught me to listen to the community, to work
collaboratively, and to find consensus. I helped
see the building project through to fruition,
and got the capital fund established to sustain
that work. Founding both New Directions
and Community Connections taught me to
understand community needs, have a vision,
think about systems, and find the right
partners. These skills will be invaluable in
the legislature. I have also spent quite a bit
of time in the State House for the past few
years, working on issues involving substance
abuse and expanded learning opportunities,
including serving on three summer legislative
study committees under the Pre-K through 16
Council. I am ready and willing to serve our
communities.

THE BRIDGE

by Carla Occaso

Carl Etnier fusion candidate

Matt Swenson a new vision

Carl Etnier of East Montpelier announced candidate
he is running to represent Middlesex and
East Montpelier in the Vermont House of
Representatives. He turned in his petitions by
the deadline to be placed on the ballot for the
Democratic primary. He has been active in
both the Democratic and Progressive parties,
and he hopes to run in November as a fusion
candidate.

Matt Swenson, a veteran of the environmental

field, is running for State Representative East
Montpelier/Middlesex with a bold new vision
for Vermonters. In announcing his candidacy,
Swenson said, I wanted a way to serve, to help
address the issues facing Vermonters and to
bring a new vision of what Vermont can be.
And that vision begins with addressing head on
Etnier cited strengthened local food, energy the economic, educational and environmental
and purchases as areas he'd like the legislature issues facing the people of Vermont.
to continue to help the state develop. "We have The economy: simply put there are not
a statewide food strategy, and we've added over enough well paying jobs in Vermont due to
5,000 jobs to the food and agriculture sector hundreds of layoffs and closures of businesses.
since that was adopted in 2011. We have a state As a result, young people are leaving the
energy strategy, and Vermont has more than state; many people are working two or three
17,000 workers in the growing clean energy jobs to make ends meet. Swenson envisions
sector. That's a good start and we can do creating a thriving economic environment
much more."
that encourages, supports and attracts small
It's also important for Vermont to push the businesses and start-ups, especially high tech
envelope to rein in the influence of money in companies that will attract young people.
politics, Etnier said. "With new membership Education: Swenson backs an innovative
ahead on the U.S. Supreme Court, the door approach to improving schools which incudes
is open to challenging Citizens United and focusing on better training in the skills
related rulings that have thwarted Vermont's students need for high tech jobs and a strong
campaign finance laws in the past. And under emphasis on service learning similar to that
current law, we need to use the best practices provided by Americorps.
for campaign financing and legislative ethics."
The environment: developers threaten
A member of the Hunger Mountain Coop Vermonts open land and farm land. In his
Council and the East Montpelier Select Board, years of experience working for government
Etnier brings experience in governing bodies. and private sectors, Swenson has seen that
He is a graduate of the Snelling Centers the right approach to environmental issues
Vermont Leadership Institute. He has covered achieves success. He calls for a long range plan
state and local news for Goddard College to protect the small farms and open spaces
Community
Radio
(WGDR-WGDH), that are among Vermonts greatest strengths.
WDEV radio, Vermont Digger, the Times The present government is failing to address
Argus, The Bridge, The World and other these issues. Through his work covering the
publications, and broadcast outlets.
political scene for Public Access TV, Swenson
Etnier works at Goddard College at the has seen the need for a fresh approach that
radio station. Before he got into media, his will get government back to its primary goal
previous career was in sustainable water and of facilitating opportunities for all people
wastewater treatment, which included five in the state. His strategy? Swenson hopes to
years at Stone Environmental in Montpelier. start an independent movement that will get
There he consulted for municipalities and people engaged in a real political campaign.
brought ground-breaking ideas to the This, he believes, will bring people together
national conversation in the field through to build on the great strengths of Vermont
EPA-funded research projects. He has lived and create a strong and prosperous future for
in Japan, Sweden and Norway, where he did all Vermonters.
Ph.D. studies at the Agricultural University Also running for Washington-5 are Kimberly
of Norway. His M.A. is in liberal education Jessup, Democrat, Middlesex; Bradford Dexter
from St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Lefavour, Republican, Middlesex, and Kim
Mexico, and his Bachelor's of Science is in Swasey, Democrat, East Montpelier.
sustainable agriculture (botany and crop
ecology) from Cornell University.

Ginny Burley

Carl Etnier

Matt Swenson

Got a news tip?

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Send it to us at:
editorial@
montpelierbridge.com

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More events in more locations are now listed!
Submit your calendar listing to calendar@montpelierbridge.com
or use the event submission form at our website.

Shady Rill Crash Puts

Quebec Couple in Hospital
MIDDLESEX A Montpelier man was involved in a vehicle crash that sent two
Canadian people to the hospital with multiple injuries.
May 22 at 1:31 p.m., the 2010 Honda motorcycle driven by Jacque Turcotte, 61, of
Potton, Quebec was struck by the 2003 Volvo driven by Scott Skinner, 73, of Montpelier,
according to a report issued by the Vermont State Police. The accident occurred at the
intersection of Route 12 and Shady Rill Road in Middlesex. Skinner sustained a minor
hand injury while Turcotte and his passenger, Nicole Dumont, 68, of Potton Quebec
sustained multiple injuries.
According to the report, Initial investigation showed that Vehicle#1 (Skinners Volvo)
was making a left hand turn onto Route 12 from Shady Rill Road when it struck Vehicle
#2 (Turcottes Honda motorcycle) which was traveling southbound on Vermont Route
12. Turcotte and Dumont, sustained multiple injuries and were airlifted to Fletcher Allen
Hospital after being transported to Central Vermont Hospital. Route 12 was shut down
for a short time while troopers and rescue personnel dealt with the scene. The crash is still
under investigation.

J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016 PAG E 5

T H E B R I D G E

A Tale of City and Town Manager Employment Contracts

by Carla Occaso

ur Montpelier city manager, William

Fraser, made the news for a subject
most of us would prefer remain
nobodys business: his employment contract.
Problem is, because his salary is paid for with
tax dollars, it is everybodys business. Even
mine.

2018. The contract says he may be terminated

without cause at any time. If termination
occurs before June 20, 2018, Dorn will get
nine months worth of salary to be paid within
30 days of termination. In addition, the City
will purchase and maintain in effect during
your term as Manager a five hundred thousand
Though it was not specifically cited as cause dollar ($500,000) life insurance policy
at Nelsons termination, Nelson was abruptly And if that isnt enough, the city will provide
dismissed in the wake of a big municipal a vehicle plus reimburse Dorn for any travel
he incurs using his personal vehicle. The city
renovation deal.
This brings us to a more recent, but similar case will also provide and pay for a cell phone.
of former Norwich Town Manager Neil Fulton, By comparison, Montpeliers Fraser specifically
who resigned effective February 2016 without provides his own vehicle and cell phone.

he leaves the job he is under a gag order from

the town. Forever. In addition, Employer shall
have the option to terminate the Agreement if
Employee becomes permanently disabled and is
no longer able to perform the essential functions
of the position...

Editorial

So. That about covers some odd and interesting

examples of town manager contracts and the
absence thereof. I would say Bills falls right in
line and is comparatively reasonable.

Court ruled against Nelsons reinstatement as

town manager because he holds office at the
will of selectmen. But the Vermont Supreme
Court held that in keeping with the last part
of that section, selectmen, who by majority
can remove him at any time for cause had to
show cause.

Recent public scrutiny both at city council

meetings where Montpelier resident Ken
Jones spoke out against secret negotiating
proceedings and a letter by Richard Sheir in
the May 19 issue of The Bridge (followed by an
appearance by Sheir at a city council meeting
May 25), led me to look into how ordinary or
extraordinary Frasers contract is.
much explanation. Norwich has a population of
Not looking for specific contract terms, I around 3,400. In reading multiple documents
randomly sampled different contracts from and meeting minutes, it is clear that at least
northern, southern, eastern and western towns two selectboard members called into question
to compare norms and oddities of municipal how he was handling
a large construction
contracts.
Not surprisingly, when I Googled town project, which was still
manager contracts, the controversial or unusual in the bidding stages.
This led to scrutiny
ones appeared first.
of his contract but,
I have a history of working with rather, oops! He had never had
reporting on town managers. I worked a contract. The Norwich selectboard appointed
for a daily newspaper covering St. Johnsbury him to be town manager on April 11, 2012,
(population of around 7,500) during a time when they stated his terms of employment
when there was a fairly non-controversial town ($95,000 per year with the same compensation
manager in the person of amiable Ryegate and benefits now provided as Interim Town
native Mike Welch (from 2000 to 2010). The Manager.) The motion passed.
most controversial thing I recall him doing
was dressing up in a Victorian era-type suit This is according to a memorandum dated
(including a top hat) and selling roasted November 5, 2015, authored by Norwich
chestnuts during the holidays in the center of Selectman Stephen A. Flanders. Flanders memo
town when it was 30-plus below zero. As far as asserts that Fulton is validly town manager, and
I can remember his contract never made waves. is protected by and beholden to Vermont
It seems he got annual budgets out relatively statutes pertaining to town managers. Flanders
smoothly by bringing the department heads to also stated the Norwich board must adhere to
the table with selectmen and talking it all out. the findings of the superior court in Nelsons
case: he may not be stripped of his duties
But peace was not to last.
without cause.
Rocky times lay ahead when Ralph Nelson,
a former Major League Baseball executive, As for terms, Fulton would get the same
took over the reins after being appointed town benefits as other employees at his pay grade.
manager in 2010. Nelson had one controversy But not everyone agreed, as evidenced by
after another splashed in the local news pages, the many written lawyer opinions and five
which culminated in his being dismissed executive sessions to discuss the town manager,
without cause in April 2012. Rather than according to a memo from selectboard Chair
giving specific reasons for terminating Nelson, Christopher Ashley. The executive sessions ran
the selectboard voted no confidence following from October 2014 through February 25, 2015.
an executive session that excluded Nelson. They Fulton resigned soon after without a contract
did not name precise reasons. The selectboard ever being agreed to.
argued that he worked at the will of selectmen However, it is interesting to note a few items on
and naming a cause was unnecessary.
the Town Manager job description. In addition
Nelson disagreed and fought to be reinstated.
This led to a lawsuit that ended in January 2015
with Nelson getting a settlement of $175,000.
from the Town of St. Johnsbury. Meanwhile, the
St. Johnsbury taxpayer also paid for a string of
new town manager(s) that followed in Nelsons
footsteps. And finally, the action ended up
clarifying a state statute that says, in part, the
town manager is subject to the direction and
supervision of the board of selectmen and holds
office at the will of selectmen who by majority
can remove him at any time for cause. Superior

Another eye opening contract is one that was

offered to Peter Elwell upon hiring him to be
Brattleboros Town Manager. His salary isnt
that big a deal comparatively at $95,000. He
gets nine months salary
severance pay if he is
terminated without just
cause (this is the first
year of the contract, so
amount of severance
is a little generous
compared to others). It is also interesting that
he gets a $5,000 per year car allowance plus
moving expenses form Jupiter, Florida, to
Brattleboro.
Those above are the contracts that interested
me because of their comparative opulence.
The following interested me because of the
unusually tight and overreaching constraints.

Back up north to St. Johnsbury ... following

the flap with Nelson, the town had a couple
of town managers before settling on Chad
Whitehead in 2015. You can bet they were
careful with that contract. This contract is
careful to the point of curious. Whitehead
gets $79,500 per year, payable in weekly
installments. However, the salary could be
increased upon successfully completing a sixmonth probationary period. He gets an annual
evaluation and must agree to keep confidential
information confidential. Once Whitehead
signs the contract Confidentiality Survives
Termination of Employee, meaning even after

No mention is made of a car allowance (except

mileage approved ahead of time for attending
pre-approved travel to carry out official duties)
or cell phone for Whitehead, however, the
Town of St. Johnsbury promises to budget and
to pay for registration, travel and subsistence
expenses if they send Whitehead on professional
development excursions. If he is removed due to
a court order to reinstate another person, he will
get two months worth of salary. Otherwise, there
is no mention of severance in any other scenario.
Only if a former town manager is reinstated.

But dont take my word for it. According to

an executive summary put out by the Vermont
Town and City Management Association, the
median salary of a full-time manager is $85,000,
with the average being $86,076. The report
includes data from managers, administrators and
administrative assistants. The highest salary in
that report is the manager of Hartford Town (est.
population 9,812). That person got $133,323
in the year 2014-15. The lowest appears to be
Putneys manager at $59,186. (Putney Town
est. population 2,683). Fraser gets $106,550
(Montpelier est. population 7,755). Twenty-seven
out of the 71 have severance packages ranging
from one month to 10 months pay.
Note the Vermont Town and City
Mangement Association report includes
town managers, administrators and
administrative assistants. Eighty one
percent of all managers and administrators
responded. Of those who responded, only
three managers were women, including
the lowest paid town manager, Cynthia
Stoddard of Putney (est. population 2,683)
mentioned above.

Montpelier Man Dies in Car

Crash

to managing the affairs of the town, including

roads, construction, town personnel, police, fire
department, department of public works, parks
and playgrounds and emergency management.
Physical demands included sitting, standing
and walking, bending, crouching or stooping.

MORETOWN Twenty-six-year-old Justin Weston of Montpelier died on the scene of

a car crash May 30 at 7:53 p.m., according to a release from the Vermont State Police. The
accident occurred on Lynch Hill Road in Moretown.

And as for other less controversial yet

eyebrow raising town manager contracts, Kevin
Dorn of South Burlington (Pop. 18,600) has
a three-year contract that sets his salary of
$122,000 in fiscal year 2016, $124,440 in
fiscal year 2017 and $126,929 fiscal year

According to the 911 caller one subject was unconscious. EMS personnel arrived and
attempted to revive the subject. Despite their efforts, 26-year-old Justin Weston succumbed
to his injuries while on the scene, the release stated. Humphrey was charged with Driving
Under the Influence with Death Resulting and was scheduled to appear in Washington
Superior Court May 31. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Details of the crash have not been released except that Weston was a passenger in the 1986
Toyota Truck being driven by Justin Humphrey of Middlesex. The weather conditions were
clear.

PAG E 6 J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016

Not Not Prepared

THE BRIDGE

by Hannah Eschelbach

hen I started to write this, I did not think What am I even going to write
about? Now, I am not proceeding by just winging it; I had it all figured out
beforehand. For you see, I am a teenager. It's not like I don't even know what
I'm doing tomorrow night: I am completely prepared for my meticulously plotted-out
future.
There is a formula that all high schoolers follow. When you are 14 or 15, you start to
pick classes that will help you get into the college you want to attend, that will help you
get the job you want. The average freshman girl talks about where she sees herself in ten
years and what she's going to do when she graduates from Yale. She does not talk about
clothes or her friends or boys. She is already at the point in her life where she is capable
of planning out her future, easily ignoring the partying and hookups and drama that all
high schoolers are not subject to, and her focus is in doing her homework and finding a
job so that she can pay for the university that she already knows she wants to go to and
get the major that she already knows she wants and won't change her mind about a dozen
times. The clubs she joins or the sports she plays are not just fun activities that she enjoys
participating in, they are ways of padding her college resume.

High schoolers already know exactly who they are and who they want to be. It does not take
them several years through a frustrating process of trial and error to figure out what they
want from life. They do not have any social problems; they are more than mature enough
to easily resolve conflicts with each other. They never fight with their parents. They never
worry about things like social status. Even if there were problems like that, students are able
to deal with them because they have complete control over their hormone-caused emotions.
Yes, every single person around my age is just as well-rounded, intelligent, thoughtful and
considerate as me, especially since cell phones aren't dumbing us down! We love being teenagers! We love all our classmates and teachers and classes, all of which we want to take. We
love our parents and siblings 100 percent of the time, and we have no insecurities! We are
in complete control of how we feel, and we know it. And because of this, all of us, not just
the anomalies, are focused and dedicated to figuring out the rest of our lives all the way up
to retirement! I can't wait to go to the college that I know how to pay for that I have totally
picked out.
Hannah Eschelbach does not want to be a writer; she did very well in high school and is going
to Yale for business or something smart like that.

Support A New Breeze

Journalism For Youth, By Youth

nce again this summer, here at The Bridge we are working with a range of middle school,
high school and college students to create two issues of The Breeze, a for youth, by youth
newsprint publication. One issue will be wrapped around The Bridge in June as the summer
begins and another will come out in our August Back to School issue as the summer ends. Both will
be mailed as part of The Bridge well known in Montpelier as the paper that was founded in 1993
as a free, independent and local community newspaper.
Nathan Grutchfield of Montpelier, writes about the 50th anniversary of a community church in East
Montpelier. Hannah Eschelbach writes about chickens and the chicken controversy in Barre City.

Hannah
Eschelbach

Eschelbach, put it in her own words:

Me at The Bridge, which is one of the few places that will hire some
seventeen-year-old weirdo who just wants to write. Me at The Bridge,
where I got published for the first time. Me at The Bridge, where we
don't have enough money yet for our side project, The Breeze newspaper, where since we don't have enough money I might not have
my article put out. Look, I'm not one for begging for money, but
PLEASE? It doesn't have to be a lot. The Kickstarter Link is below.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/925717352/the-breeze2016-youth-journalism
Each additional 4-page spread costs $1,500 to print, so the total cost
for 2 spreads amounts to $3,000. With mailing and other costs, we
expect it to cost at least $4,500.00.

Nathan Grutchfield

URGENT Please pledge today by going to

Kickstarter.com. Then, in the upper right area
of the home page, there is an image of a spy
glass and text that says Search Projects. Type
in The Breeze 2016. You will see The Breeze
2016 home page. Select the project that says
The Breeze 2016 by Carla Occaso. Here you
can play the videos and look at the project plan.
Then, on the right, a green rectangle says Back
This Project. Select it, and follow instructions.
Payment is by credit card only. Call us if you
need assistance at 223-5112 ext. 14.

Please support youth journalism by making a pledge to

The Breeze on Kickstarter.com today!

J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016 PAG E 7

T H E B R I D G E

Lost Nation Offers Red A Play About

Painter Mark Rothko
by Nat Frothingham

n June 2, actors Kim Bent and Levi

Penley will take to the stage at Lost
Nation Theater for the opening
night performance of Red a two-man
(Tony Award winning) show written by
John Logan that dramatizes the increasingly
intense relationship and conversational
exchanges between celebrated American
painter Mark Rothko and Ken his young
assistant or apprentice.
Rothko was born in Russia (now Latvia) in
1903 and died in New York City in 1970.
As the play opens, his young assistant Ken is
in his 20s and the play takes us through five
scenes spanning a two-year period when
Rothko was at the height of his powers
11 or 12 years before his death. Ken is
clearly the young assistant as the play opens
but as time passes and the play develops
Ken increasingly finds his own voice and
confidence and the two men who began by
talking to each other are increasingly locked
into a relationship that is at once complex,
at odds and intense.
Red causes us to ask, What would
the world be like without the saving
interventions and insights of its pioneering
artists, inventors, writers, thinkers the
adventurous men and women who test
themselves against the world and give us
new realities to supersede our worn-out
dogmas and conventions?

Kim Allen Bent, right, as Mark Rothko and Levi Penley, left, as his assistant
Ken. Courtesy of Robert Eddy, First Light Studios
It was an extraordinary decision to make,
said Bent about Rothkos decision to keep
the murals and return the money. It says a
lot about his commitment and passion for
his art. It makes a very intense story.

tell you, everything is not fine. HOW

ARE YOU? HOW WAS YOUR DAY?
HOW ARE YOU FEELING? Conflicted.
Nuanced. Troubled. Diseased. Doomed. I
am not fine. We are not fine. We are
As the conversations between Rothko and anything but fine.
Ken deepen and unfold, writer John Logan Again, Rothko to Ken: There is only one
takes us beyond the niceties of social artifice thing I fear in life, my friend ... One day the
to expose the bare plaster and lathe.
black will swallow the red.

A few days ago during a rehearsal break,

Kim Bent talked by phone to The Bridge
about Red, which was first performed in
London in December 2009, on Broadway
in March 2010 and since then pretty much Rothko to Ken: When I was your age,
all across the United States.
art was a lonely thing: no galleries, no
Speaking about Reds playwright, John collecting, no critics, no money. We didn't
Logan, Bent said, Well, its a beautifully have mentors. We didn't have parents. We
written script. John Logan is a professional were alone. But it was a great time, because
writer, an Oscar-winning writer, who really we had nothing to lose and a vision to gain.
knows how to tell a good story.
Again, in anger, Rothko to Ken: Beautiful.
Part of that story shows off Rothko as Nice. Fine. Thats our life now.
something of an iconoclast. After laboring Everythings fine. We put on funny noses
for four years to create murals for the upscale and glasses and slip on the banana peel
Four Seasons Restaurant at the Seagrams and the TV makes everything happy and
Building in New York City, Rothko was everyones laughing all the time, its all
paid the largest dollar amount commission so goddamn funny, its our constitutional
of any modern-day artist. Its true that right to be amused all the time, isnt it?
Rothko at this point in his career didnt Were a smirking nation, living under the
need the money. But he returned the money tyranny of fine. How are you? Fine. How
because he was convinced that once the was your day? Fine. How are you feeling?
Four Seasons Restaurant was completed, it Fine. How did you like the painting? Fine.
was not the right environment for his work. Want some dinner? Fine Well, let me

Talking about the task of transforming

himself into Rothko, Bent said, Playing
Mark Rothko is one of the greatest acting
challenges Ive ever undertaken. Physically,
vocally, temperamentally, hes not a
character whos particularly close to me.
But I do feel a strong kinship with him
artistically in the intensity of his devotion
to his art.

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online to lostnationtheater.org

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PAG E 8 J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016

THE BRIDGE

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114 Three Mile Bridge Rd., Middlesex, VT (802) 229-0480
gendronbuilding@aol.com gendronconcrete.com

To advertise in The Bridge

call 223-5112 ext. 11

J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016 PAG E 9

T H E B R I D G E

Artist renderings courtesy of Ward Joyce

Montpeliers Most Charming Street To Get

Swathed In Art
by Jessica Neary

MONTPELIER New York has Broadway, Paris has the Champs-Elysees. Now,
coming soon to our own "Little Paris" as Montpelier is affectionately nicknamed by some
trumpets and drumrolls please is a newly transformed Langdon Street.
OK, this might sound a bit over the top, but Ward Joyce, who created the now
disassembled parklet in front of Capitol Grounds and the pocket park next to Charlie
O's was recently acknowledged by John Hollar with the Mayor's Key to the City. That
key hangs prominently in Joyce's architectural office and brings to mind a medieval
dungeon key. And that dungeon might well hold a range of local ne'er do wells, the double
parkers, the vacant lot loiterers and other local rabble. So it's Joyce who is directing the
Langdon Street summer transformation with a joy that's not unlike a child bursting with
anticipation and enthusiasm for the city he has come to love and shape.
Imagine Langdon Street with a temporary (June 15 to October 1) art and sculpture
installation. That innovation is in the works courtesy of Joyce and his partner Stephen
Frey and it was financed by an 11-member steering committee of local business owners
and public art patrons including Utton's Muffler. Utton's has the distinction of financing
a mural.
The Langdon Street Alive project will have its phase one installation from Wednesday,
June 8 to Sunday, June 12. Fifteen commissions have been awarded to regional artists
but there are still additional sites for artists to fill. Interested artists should contact Ward
Joyce at wardjoyce1@hotmail.com. Artists should also check out the LangdonStreetAlive.
org website for more information. Joyce prefers that proposals from artists be site-specific.
He is encouraging artists to visit the site and prepare an original piece. The Steering
Committee must then approve the project. While there is no deadline per se, artists need
to know that because of the special equipment that's required to install the art pieces,
those pieces will be installed over a few specific dates. And Joyce can provide those dates.

At a March 21 and May 16 Montpelier Design Review Committee meeting, as well as a

Montpelier Development Review Committee meeting, Joyce discussed the project's status.
One issue resolved is respecting the city and state's strict historic preservation bylaws, a
major function of the Montpelier Design Review Committee. Frey's expertise with cables,
special anchors and screws should satisfy history buffs ... and be easy to install the art.
Instead of painting directly on bricks, artists will have their work printed on site-specific
banners, which Frey will then use all his ingenuity to have installed properly.
At the March 21 Montpelier Design Review Committee meeting, there was an interesting
exchange between members Eric Gilbertson and John Rahill (also an architect).
Gilbertson's primary concern was that the art not dominate the historic architecture.
Rahill disagreed, saying, to the effect of, it's only when art overwhelms the senses, can
such a project be appreciated.
I think we know where Joyce stands ... with Rahill, in the middle of Langdon Street,
surrounded by flowers, banners, ducks in the Winooski, the flock of pigeons that always
wheel around the Unitarian Church steeple, and his contributions to the project, a lighted
gateway and floral bridge bookending the street (Joyce plans to fill the bridge with
flowers, which he himself will choose and plant) ... an elfin sprite in the middle of his (and
our own) Midsummer Night's Dream of summer. Many fun events, including a 200-footlong table for an evening party, are planned for this summer so Montpelierites can fully
enjoy the exuberance of Langdon Street, arguably according to Joyce, "Montpelier's most
charming Street."

Thank you for supporting The Bridge!

PAG E 10 J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016

Granite City Groove

THE BRIDGE

Tree House Hardwoods Branches Out To

Barre
by Joshua Jerome

he Granite City has been making investments attracting

young entrepreneurs who have opened up new business on
Main Street over the last several years, but it hasnt been
restricted to just Main Street. Recently, The Tree House Hardwoods
& Millshop expanded out of their South Burlington location into a
10,000 square foot facility in downtown Barre. Owner, Lucas Jenson,
sat down with me recently to talk about his move to Barre and the
role his business plays in the advancement of Vermonts working
landscape.

sources as much local hardwood as possible and currently offers kiln

dried hardwood lumber and live edge slabs in multiple species, including maple, birch, ash, oak, walnut and cherry. In addition, he sells
cabinet grade plywood and other related products that professional
woodworkers, contractors and woodworking hobbyist will be pleased
to have access to in a convenient location thats easy to shop. Utilizing all of the milling equipment to create butcher block countertops,
table tops, custom flooring and molding are all a large part of the
business model. As Jenson said you never know what youre going
Jensons story of opening his own business is a familiar one. He to find here.
moved to Vermont from Boston to take a marketing position at Ben Of course, not everything is from Vermont, but Jenson takes great
& Jerrys. While developing marketing campaigns for the ice cream strides to work with property owners like Shelburne Farms in their
maker, Jenson spent his free time renovating his house and some addi- forest management so that the wood that comes off from the farm is
tional properties. After nine years, Jenson was ready for a change and used in furniture and cabinetry that local residents can purchase. Just
made the jump to one of Vermonts other socially responsible busi- last week the Working Lands Enterprise Board announced a grant
nesses, Seventh Generation. However, after three months it was clear award to Jenson's young company to help them purchase a large truck
to Jenson that he no longer had the desire to sit behind a computer all so more local trees can be brought to market, which means more opday long. He had developed his construction skills and working with portunity for woodworkers to source local materials and means more
wood gave him satisfaction, so he decided to start up a construction local jobs. With the expansion into Barre, Jenson is currently looking
company.
for an experienced retail sales person familiar with wood species and
The construction company focused on renovations, cabinetry and characteristics for their Barre location. He is also looking for an expedecks and was able to use local wood species in his work, which he rienced woodworker to operate machinery in the Millshop.
felt was important for Jenson in terms of environmental sustainability and contributing to the local economy. The shock to Vermonts
economy after the Great Recession was felt by many, but destruction
forces presented opportunities and Jenson was primed to take advantage of them. He opened up The Tree House Hardwoods & Millshop
in December of 2014 with the goal of becoming the largest retailer of
hardwood lumber in northern Vermont.

When not working with a slab of hardwood at one of his facilities you
can find Jenson volunteering on his communitys reparative justice
board and working on projects for Rebuilding Together of greater
Burlington. The father of two high schoolers said that he is pleased
to be in downtown Barre and that the investments the city has made,
along with the private investment, was ultimately the deciding factor
to open up his second location in just a year and a half. As I left, JenHis move to Barre presented a great opportunity to access larger son stated everybody is so friendly here. You must have the friendliest
markets in the Mad River Valley, Central Vermont and the Northeast drivers in Vermont. This author agrees.
Kingdom and the space came equipped with room to grow. Lucas Joshua Jerome is executive director of The Barre Partnership.

Tell them you saw it in

The Bridge!

Lucas Jenson, owner of The Tree House Hardwoods & Millshop,

opens a new branch in Barre.

T H E B R I D G E

J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016 PAG E 11

Home Again!
story and photos by Dot Helling

Graffiti in Downtown Montpelier

his Rocky Mountain snowbird has returned home to Vermont. I stand with one foot
in Vermont, one in Colorado, not wanting to give up either, although my wanderings
do make me yearn to be landed. I've spent a lot of time weighing the pros, cons, similarities and differences of my Durango community versus my Montpelier community, both
of which extol the very unique qualities of our Central Vermont.
Both communities are primarily Anglo, well-to-do, more educated, fitter and healthier than
most. Both are in the mountains, although the altitude differs significantly by many thousands of feet. Both cities are dog friendly and culturally astute. Both are tourist havens filled
with vacation shopping venues and great bars and restaurants. The food choices are ethnic
and diverse. Delicious burgers and homebrews are local favorites. Music venues are numerous,
and the sounds are good from local talent and well-known artists. Both downtowns have a
standard cinema and an alternative theater. Neither has a McDonald's or Burger King in the
downtown, although Durango has them within its city boundaries.
Both cities feature good schools and amazing libraries. The municipal leaders like to install
state-of-the-art features for traffic, pedestrian and cyclist control, whether or not they work.
Many in my view are expensive, frustrating, cutesy obstacles. In Durango there are seemingly endless curbs and medians, not designed for efficient snow removal. In Montpelier we
install parklets to fill up already limited parking spaces and fake cobblestone crosswalks that
are easily damaged by the plows. Both communities have traffic issues, although nothing like
the concerns of downtown or interstate communities such as Los Angeles, Boston and Portland, Oregon. Both communities are beautiful.
What has changed in Montpelier since I left last fall? I immediately noticed that the streets
remain the same, that there are some new curious people hanging around, and that the
crime rate has some residents anxious. I also noticed the new fancy wood fence along the bike
path in front of the Green Mountain Power station, a new workout feature on the National
Life exercise path (a wobble board), and an increased amount of graffiti. Residents like me
are a bit older and grayer. Exciting projects have popped up, such as the new policy at the
Green Mount Cemetery Natural Decorations Only and the Tree Board's lining of St.
Paul Street with trees that will grow into a gorgeous, cathedral-like passage. And there are
those amazing Montpelier experiences that never change the beauty of the Statehouse and
its landscaping, the cherry blossoms, the Coffee Corner music morning on Thursdays. I'm
happy to be home!

Thank You for Reading The Bridge

PAG E 12 J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016

News
Views

THE BRIDGE

Revised Fowl Ordinance Goes Into Effect:

No Ducks Allowed
by Hannah Eschelbach

BARRE CITY "We have no intention of going out and becoming the duck police,"
said Barre City Clerk and Treasurer Carol Dawes by telephone to The Bridge. Dawes was
referring to a part of the completely revised Animals and Fowl section of the Barre City
ordinances, which does not allow the keeping of ducks. She said, basically, that ducks are
no longer welcome, but if nobody complains, then nobody will be hassled.
This comment would not have needed to be said prior to May 20. However, after six months
of the only decision being to postpone making a decision, big changes have been added to
the Animals and Fowl ordinance. Section 3-25 Poultry, details the new specifications
for keeping chickens, turkeys and quail. First, it has to be one of those species of birds only,
which means that ducks are no longer allowed. Also not allowed are roosters, the free ranging of poultry, having more than 15 birds and the unlicensed selling of eggs. The biggest
needed-to-be-resolved issue was the controversy over the proposal that chicken enclosures
should be 30 feet from the house and 10 feet from any property lines. Two council members,
Charlie Dindo and Paul Poirier, argued that each coop should be 40 feet from the house
and 30 feet from the edges of the property. The 10-30 rule was kept instead, adding that no
poultry enclosure should be more than 45 square feet. The rest of the new specifications can
be found online at barrecity.org in chapter three of the ordinances.

According to an article in the Times Argus by David Delcore, Dindo and Poirier were
concerned about the effect of poultry keeping on property values and the quality of life.
From what I've seen err, smelled the quality of life might go down simply because
the animals stink. There's also Section 3-20 of the ordinance, Nuisance Animals, which
defines a nuisance animal as any pet that damages people, property or disturbs the peace,
for example, because of constant whining or howling. This rule makes it easy to see why
roosters wouldn't be permitted, although there is some confusion about why ducks are no
longer allowed. They're quieter than chickens, I've found, and you only need one duck
egg to make an omelet. Maybe it's this confusion that has prompted someone living near
me to keep her ducks, even though the new ordinance eliminated a grandfather clause
allowing ducks.
Despite such confusion, the revisions to the ordinance seemed to make good progress toward contributing to the quality of life in Barre City that is, making sure the neighbors
of chicken owners don't go insane from the noise or mess. And it must be a relief to end
the half-a-year-long poultry discussions in the city council. Personally, I would love to talk
about chickens each night for six months, but that's probably just me.

Duck Soup
M

any folks in Washington seem to have lame on

their brains these days. As in lame duck.

To some people it seems, any president who wins reelection

automatically becomes a lame duck because he or she
cannot run again. Based on that premise, a president gets four years in office and can do things
and then four years in office in which he or she is
not supposed to do anything but host galas at the
White House and play golf. That seems an odd
way to run a country, especially because some of the people talking about lame duckiness
consider themselves to be fiscal conservatives. We pay the person in the White House
$400,000 annually (along with a $50,000 annual expense account, a $100,000 nontaxable travel account, and $19,000 for entertainment). Not to mention the president and
first family get to live in a mansion (albeit aging) rent free. That amounts to more than
$2,276,000 over four years. Sure, thats chump change to a lot of corporate executives, but
were paying someone to do nothing!
Lame duckiness for presidents was established by the 22nd amendment to the Constitution, which limits presidents to two terms. Before that, a president got one term and then
had to win reelection. Oh, wait, they still have to do that. Just ask George H.W. Bush,
Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Herbert Hoover, William Taft, Benjamin Harrison, Grover
Cleveland, Martin Van Buren, John Quincy Adams, and John Adams how easy it is to
win reelection after your first term. None of them did. And, of course, before the passage
of the 22nd amendment, if a president won reelection, he was expected to fulfill the duties
of the president until the next election, because he could run again and it would look bad
to voters if the president just played golf and hosted galas for four years.
Such an approach worked for FDR, who won an election, then another, then another,

by Larry Floersch

then another, presumably because the voters felt he had done a good job. He is the only
president to serve more than three terms, although other presidents, such as Ulysses S.
Grant, tried and failed to get elected to a third term. FDR had the good sense to die before
the people could elect him to a fifth term, but his prowess in winning elections prompted
the passage, in 1947, and the ratification, in 1951, of the 22nd amendment. I guess his
detractors felt that the voters had made the same mistake over and over again, and there
was no other way to protect the will of the people.
Some have suggested we just amend the Constitution to give the president one term of
eight years. Such a change would certainly cut down on those annoying political ads on
TV every four years. And it would make it easier on voters, who would only have to spend
that onerous five minutes in the voting booth once every eight years. But guess what?! If
we did that, for some people the president would become a lame duck as soon as he or she
was elected, and then we would have to pay the president to do nothing for EIGHT years.
The lame-duck commotion at the moment is about the current president nominating
someone to be on the Supreme Court. Detractors of the current president say the job
should be left to the next president, and that allowing the current president to nominate
someone to the court would subvert the will of the people. How they know the will of
the people six months before the election is difficult to fathom. The last time the will
of the people was determined was three and a half years ago, when they put the current
president back in office. And, as we all know from our third grade logic class, such an approach can lead to an argumentum ad infinitum. If the nomination should be left to the
next president, would it not be better to leave it to the president after the next president,
or the president after the president after the next president?
Lets face it. Lame duckiness for a sitting president is that period between the election of a
new president in November and the inauguration of that new president in January. If we
think about it that way we would only have to pay the current president for about two and
a half months of doing nothing, which is a lot more fiscally conservative.
The whole thing is beyond lame. Its Daffy.

J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016 PAG E 13

T H E B R I D G E

Profile

My Father, My Hero

he past six months have been ones of reflection for me, of deep grief and deeper gratitude. My father was diagnosed with cancer about 18 months ago, a Myxofibrosarcoma
in his right leg. That was about the worst news I could imagine and something none
of us were prepared for. He was 64 years old at the time and extremely healthy and active. He
went through six weeks of radiation and then had a major surgery to remove a large portion
of his right thigh. Recovery was grueling but he didnt miss a beat, did his physical therapy
religiously, walked every day and took notice of his many blessings. He was given a clean bill
of health in November.

By May he found another lump in his leg. He called me in a panic on a

Saturday since I am the resident doctor in the family. I asked him all the
usual questions, is it mobile, does it hurt, can you separate it from the surrounding tissues? He failed every question. I tried very hard not to scare
him since I knew it would be two days before he could see a doctor, but
I couldnt disguise the fear in my voice that the inevitable had happened.
Two weeks later after a CT scan, MRI and PET scan, our worst fears were
confirmed. His cancer had returned in that same leg and they found a
metastasis in his left lung. We were all devastated. But this is where I saw
my father start to shine.

make, and that we can shape our experiences in this life simply by how we decide to handle
adversity. I dont know how this is all going to work out in the end, but I can only face it with
hope and the expectation that he will beat this and he will be here for many years to come, to
help instill these values into my children and guide me through my life. I am 35-years-old but
I feel that I have never needed my daddy more than I do now. I am deeply grateful for every
day that I have him and for having such a strong, positive force in my life. He is an inspiration
to me and to the hundreds of people who love him.

I am 35-yearsold but I feel

that I have never
needed my daddy
more than I do
now.

The day we got the confirmation, he cheered me up. He said, Heather, its better to know
what were dealing with than to be waiting for results forever. He made a choice on that day
that he was going to fight this with everything he had. He enrolled in a clinical trial at OHSU
in Portland, Oregon and has been travelling there from his home in Bend, Oregon for his
treatments. He has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments every three weeks for the past
15 weeks and has his last chemo in early October. Then he is in for one or two more surgeries, followed by post-surgical radiation. Through this whole ordeal he could have shut down,
given up, become angry or bitter. Instead, he chose to fight. He is walking daily, started at 4
miles a day and now is down to 1 mile a day, but he still goes out, no matter how he feels. He
is an author and he has spent weeks revising his compilation of childrens stories that he plans
to publish this Spring. He took my six-year-old nephew and his best friend on a two day camping trip this summer, something most healthy 66-year-old men wouldnt even consider doing!
When I think about my dad, all I can think is that I want to be just like him. I hope to have
his courage and strength, his compassion, his calm through all the adversity life has given him,
his love of nature and his devotion to family. He reminds me that life is about the choices we

Featured Upcoming Event

June 1011: U.S. and Them
U.S. and Them is a live multimedia dance documentary "ripe with integrity, compassion, wisdom, deep
expression, honesty, and creative brilliance."
Amia Cervantes, the project's Artistic Director and Choreographer, hopes that viewers will experience the
true and uneasy reality of undocumented immigrants and their loved ones. I have seen excerpts from this
show and recommend it highly.
It is being shown in Montpelier on June 10 and 11, 7:30 p.m. at Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio
(3rd floor, no elevator) 18 Langdon St. (above Onion River Sports). Suggested donation is $10.
This is a must-see for people who care about the travesty of our immigration situation and for people who
care about dance.

The Calendar is now only available online at

www.montpelierbridge.com

More events in more locations are now listed!

Submit your calendar listing to
calendar@montpelierbridge.com
or use the event submission form at our website.

by Heather Connolly

*This was written in late summer 2012. My father, Brian Connolly, lost his
battle with cancer in June 2013 but he remains an inspiration to me and my
daughters. His nature writing also lives on and carries his messages of connectedness and respect for nature and for one another. His books can be found at
www.bconnollybooks.com and on amazon. - Heather Connolly
Heather Connolly is a chiropractor in Montpelier.

Brian and Heather Connolly.

Courtesy photo.

PAG E 14 J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016

THE BRIDGE

Letters

Cemetery Lot Prices To Increase

Editor:

Montpeliers largest cemetery, the Green Mount Cemetery

Volunteer to Spruce Up Nonprofit
on Lower State Street, has cemetery lots both full burial
Organizations
lots and cremation lots on beautiful sites for sale. Prices
for these lots will be going up in August, so if you or Editor:
someone you know is potentially interested in purchasing
a lot, it might make sense to contact the cemetery soon, June 21 is the official day set by the United Way as Day of
Action, a day when volunteers come together and give several
before the price increase takes effect.
hours of their time and energy to assist local nonprofit orgaThe prices of lots include funds dedicated to the perpetual nizations on projects for which they do not have the time or
careof the lots.
personnel. Green Mountain United Way is participating in
If you would like an information packet about this years Day of Action and has outlined two projects in
lots, or a consultation appointment, please contact downtown Barre at OUR (One Unified Response) House and
cemetery director Patrick Healy at 223-5352 or email for the Sexual Assault Crisis Team and one in the Mad River
cemetery@montpelier-vt.org
Valley. In order to make this happen, we need volunteers.
Jake Brown, chair, Montpelier Cemetery Commission

What Do You Think?

Read something that you would like to

respond to? We welcome your letters
and opinion pieces. Letters must be
fewer than 300 words. Opinion pieces
should not exceed 600 words.
The Bridge reserves the right to
edit and cut pieces.
Send your piece to:
editorial@montpelierbridge.com.
Deadline for the next issue is
June 10.

Do What You Do Best.

802.262.6013 evenkeelvt.com

We have also arranged for a second Day of Action in the

Mad River Valley on June 25 to do trail maintenance with
the Mad River Riders on some of their trails. Experienced
trail builders will be on hand to lead volunteers. Wear good
work boots and gloves.
Please consider volunteering on either day and help make a
difference for these local nonprofits. If your employer allows
for time off for volunteering, get a group together and work
as a team at one of these projects.

For full details, visit www.gmunitedway.org/day-of-action

where you can register online, or contact Carrie at GMUW
At 9 a.m. on the 21st, we will be staining the handicap ramps, at 622-8056 or by email at cstahler@gmunitedway.org.
painting exterior doors, sweeping and cleaning the parking
area, lawn and street-facing flowerbed at OUR House. Paint- Carrie B. Stahler, Director of Funding & Program Development, Green Mountain United Way, Barre
ing materials and snacks will be provided.

Poetry

For Tommy

by Reuben Jackson,
host of Friday Night Jazz on
Vermont Public Radio

I.
College was not an option.
It was a where, not an if.

And then there was Tommy

who received a scholarship to a college in
Maine.

IV.
About a week after he returned home,
he entered the barbershop.

The really smart kids began

thinking about it at birth.

We knew it existed where it was

and where it wasnt.

What is the sound of a black boy

felled by the Great White North?

What was the sound of a black child

telling his or her parents they wanted to
take a year off
in order to find themselves?

When he said yes

fear and lower case optimism blossomed.

Even the electric clippers

seemed quieter.

He was our Jackie Robinson

they even prayed for him at church.

When Garrett joked with

Tommy about the blue fortunes of his
beloved Dallas Cowboys-

You dont want to know.

Bookkeeping Payroll Consulting

Then, in the afternoon, work will include power washing

their building, mowing the lawn, sweeping porches and
parking area and trimming bushes and plants outdoors, and
doing general spring cleaning inside. Bring a push broom,
pruners, and garden gloves if you have them.

II.
My hometown was, as my mother liked to
say
a big/small Southern place where
conservative dreams were allowed.

III.
But he fell like maple leaves in September.
No one knew why.
Everyone knew why.
I could smell the pain.

He burst into tears and mutteredI thought you all would make fun of me
You are next Garrett replied.

J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016 PAG E 15

T H E B R I D G E

Opinion

he fact of the 2008 financial collapse into

the great recession and the subsequent
uneven, snail-paced economic recovery
are contemporary concerns. Thomas Pikettys
recent book on the growth of wealth and income
inequality has become a best seller. Foreign
Affairs magazine in recent issues has featured
articles on these aspects of the economy. Bernie
Sanders in his presidential primary campaign
has made much of these concerns. However, in
spite of all this attention, nary a mention is to be
found anywhere of the reason that best explains
why these problems plague our economy, nor
a whisper of the reforms such an explanation
dictate as necessary.
Consider then the following:
The ups and downs in the economys gross
national product over the past centuries and
up until today, have been exactly mirrored by
the ups and downs in the money supply. It is
intuitively obvious that this should be so, as
recognized by Adam Smith and his fellow 18th
century philosopher, David Hume. The logical
consequence of this indisputable fact is that any
particular level of economic activity requires
that a certain money supply be available.
Furthermore, an increase in economic activity
can never occur without a corresponding increase
in the money supply. Properly matching the
money supply required to achieve a desired level
of economic activity is thus the fundamental
technical problem that needs to be addressed.
Too little money, and the economy will fail to
achieve its growth potential. Too much money
will mean the economy is unable to meet the
demand created by the money supply and the
resulting price inflation will adversely affect the
value of the currency.

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A Flawed Economy and Why It Will

Continue
by Wavell Cowan, Montpelier

The technical solution to this problem requires

the scientific analysis that will produce a
statistically strong mathematical connection
between the workings of the economy and the
money supply necessary to sustain it at an
optimum level. Once this model exists, a robust
means to ensure the required money supply is
actually available, needs to be put in place.
However no such well-defined mathematical
modeling is used in the current approach to
managing the economy, and the manner of
creating this money supply is far from robust.
These serious defects guarantee an economy that
will continue to produce the current problems.
An effective modeling procedure requires
a careful scientific review of the quality and
completeness of the economic statistics required
for effective analysis. For instance, data that
identify the extent to which price increases in
the economy (as currently determined by the
consumer price index), are driven by non-market
forces (indicating a need to further expand the
money supply), or by excessive demand in the
economy (indicating a need for a contraction of
the money supply) are badly needed, although
currently ignored by economists.
The fractional reserve system now in place,
by which the private banking sector is largely
responsible for providing the money supply
is not only far from robust, but incapable of
meeting the criteria that any decent scientific
analysis would establish for a workable system of
money creation. No legitimate scientific inquiry
would make the creation of the money supply
solely dependent on increasing the total (public
plus private) debt in the economy. Yet this is
precisely how the money supply is now created.
Text-only class listings and
classifieds are 50 words for $25.
Call 223-5112 ext. 11

HELP WANTED
TWO SUMMER POSITIONS AT
ORCHARD VALLEY WALDORF SCHOOL
Summer Camp Teacher
Puppetry, Theater and Story Telling
Camp
For ages 4-11
8:30am-4pm, Monday-Friday, starting
June 20 for three weeks (40 hours each
week)
Located on our beautiful farm and forest
campus in East Montpelier
Summer Camp Assistant for Summer
Play Days Program at our Childs Garden campus in Montpelier.
June 13- August 12, 2016

P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601

Phone: 802-223-5112
Fax: 802-223-7852
Editor & Publisher: Nat Frothingham
Managing Editor: Carla Occaso
Calendar Editor, Design & Layout:
Marichel Vaught
Copy Editing Consultant:
Larry Floersch
Proofreader: Garrett Heaney
Sales Representatives: Michael Jermyn,
Rick McMahan
Distribution: Tim Johnson, Kevin Fair, Diana
Koliander-Hart, Daniel Renfro
Editorial: 223-5112, ext. 14, or
editorial@montpelierbridge.com.
Location: The Bridge office is located at the
Vermont College of Fine Arts,
on the main level of Stone Science Hall.
Subscriptions: You can receive The Bridge by
mail for $50 a year. Make out your check to
The Bridge, and mail to The Bridge, PO Box 1143,
Montpelier VT 05601.
montpelierbridge.com
facebook.com/thebridgenewspapervt
Twitter: @montpbridge
Copyright 2016 by The Bridge

Contact Linda Weyerts for details:

linda.w@ovws.org; 802-456-7400

HELP WANTED
ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR
FOR THE BRIDGE
The Bridge Newspaper is seeking an
ad salesperson who will be responsible
for prospecting and securing ads for
our print editions and website. This
person will have a leadership role in the
advertising department and will also be
responsible for the management of our
advertising database.
Send letter of interest and resume to
Nat Frothingham at
nat@montpelierbridge.com
or to The Bridge, P.O. Box 1143,
Montpelier, VT 05601

Any such inquiry would further propose a direct

and clear connection between the system of
money creation and the public good, something
currently non-existent.
From this perspective, only a money creation
system controlled by Congress, in accordance
with their currently ignored constitutional
prerogative, can successfully meet the suggested
scientific criteria. This would have a government
agency undertake the scientific modeling
essential to any rational form of money creation.
The increase in the money supply dictated by
this mathematical modeling would be achieved
by government legislation to directly feed
this required new money into the economy
to support infrastructure and other investment
needs based on considerations of the public
good. The new money needed to meet the
demand in the economy would thus be provided
by public sector spending before flowing into
the banking system as the deposits that would
become the funds available for the activities of
the financial system. In effect, the fractional
reserve system would disappear. Banks would

require their cash reserves to cover 100% of their

loan portfolios.
Such a system would free the economy from
the undesirable debt driven fluctuations in the
money supply currently responsible for recurring
recessions and the existence of the so-called
business cycle. It would also eliminate the need
for government deficit spending as the means to
increase the money supply. This would eliminate
the financial burden of ever increasing interest
payments that currently discourage governments
from making sensible investments to help resolve
social and other national and global problems.
Money creation, established for historical reasons
to facilitate distribution, as a service provided by
a private banking sector, ultimately through the
fractional reserve system, has become so accepted
as the norm that it is now immune to rational
scientific investigation. This failure to revisit a
course of action that technological advances have
made obsolete is the flaw which guarantees little
will change at least until a more scientifically
aware electorate comes to the rescue.

PAG E 16 J U N E 2 J U N E 15 , 2 016

THE BRIDGE

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