The Charlotte News | Sept. 25, 2014

Charlotte News Volume lVII Number 04 The VoIce of The TowN Thursday, sepTember 25, 2014

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Jim Morse is a former Vermont Supreme Court Justice living in Charlotte. Find more of his Doodles & Jots in his book, available at the Flying Pig Bookstore or online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Red Barn Books.

Germs don’t have opinions, and that gives them an edge.

Morse's Doodles & Jots

The Charlotte News Volume lVII Number 04 The VoIce of The TowN Thursday, sepTember 25, 2014

VELCO

continued on page 8

Charlotte one of five towns power company underpaid for property taxes over five-year period

Brett SigurdsonThe charloTTe News

A recent audit by Vermont Electric Power Com-pany has revealed Charlotte was underpaid roughly $28,000 in taxes over the course of five years. The company, better known as VELCO, has agreed to pay Charlotte and four other nearby towns over $220,000 for the error, which it attributes to a “mis-calculation” in the way it assessed the value of prop-erty its lines run through.

According to VELCO, the accounting error, which happened between 2009 and 2013, occurred

due to an “inadvertent underreporting” of transmis-sion poles in six towns: New Haven, Vergennes, Ferrisburgh, Charlotte and South Burlington. In total, VELCO undervalued its properties in these towns by $14.6 million. As a result, New Haven was underpaid nearly $46,000 in municipal taxes over the course of five years. Vergennes was underpaid $11,000, Ferrisburgh $64,000 and South Burlington $71,000.

The same miscalculation caused the company to overvalue its assets in Shelburne at $14.6 million. According to Shelburne Town Manager Joe Col-angelo, a spreadsheet error caused the company to mistakenly report it has 408 utility lines in the town when it actually has 74. This will result in nearly $50,000 in lost property tax revenue per year for the town beginning in 2015.

Emails between VELCO representatives and the

Town of Ferrisburgh obtained by the News show the company discovered the error in October 2013, yet did not reach out to any of the towns to correct it. According to an email sent by VELCO’s Rutland plant accountant Sharon Tucker to Justus J. DeVries Jr, the Town of Ferrisburgh’s appraiser, the com-pany wasn’t aware it was obligated to share the error with the town or that there was time to pay the cor-rect appraised amount by the deadline of December 31, 2013.

“We were not aware that we were under any legal obligation to notify the Town of the error since the grievance period had closed, and we were not aware the Town could amend the grand list after [the] grievance period elapsed,” Tucker wrote.

Emma SlaterThe charloTTe News

Author and Charlotte resident Nick Mon-sarrat has always been fascinated by the phrase “What if?” He speaks with a spark of excitement about the fundamental question that has driven both his career as an edito-rial writer and journalist, and now his novel, united states. The dystopian political thriller, set in New York City in the year 2038, is the perfect platform to explore the question, “What if the corporations got everything they wanted?”

“It’s 2038. Do you know where your coun-try went?” is Monsarrat’s call to action for the characters of this time period, in which corruption is reaching an all-time high. Con-trol of the United States government has been wrestled from the hands of its citizens by corporate powers, and Brooklyn has become a holding area for immigrants, drawing together

a disparate group of people to define their rights and responsibilities in the face of toxic violence.

Monsarrat’s inspiration for united states comes from a variety of personal experiences. He draws on time spent as a journalist, report-ing from locations ranging from the Vermont Statehouse to an Air Force base in the Philip-pines during the Vietnam War.

He was also influenced by growing up near New York City, becoming familiar with its rhythms and imagining the stories it held. He said that, based on these experiences, “I’m greatly concerned about the swing of power in America to the corporations.”

In fact, the day Monsarrat discovered a vision for the novel, he was pondering a simi-lar issue while attempting to pay a cable com-pany through an electronic customer service

The Selectboard has spent most of this year deep in the process of developing a new salary policy for employees.

Brett SigurdosnThe charloTTe News

At Town Meeting in March, a few hun-dred Charlotters were, for a time, caught in the middle of a confrontation between the Selectboard and Town Clerk/Treasurer Mary Mead. At issue was Mead’s request for a pay raise for FY 2014-15.

Mead had asked for a $15,000 raise for herself and an $8,000 raise for Assistant Clerk Sharron Balaban. However, because the pay increases were not seen by the Selectboard as attached to an increase in job responsibilities Mead’s request was denied. She would later reduce her request to $10,000. This was also denied.

Anticipating a debate over its decision on Town Meeting Day, the Selectboard pre-pared and distributed a spreadsheet showing the salaries of other area town clerks and

treasurers. Mead, however, responded that her salary requests were based on her own research into area town clerks and treasur-ers. The conflicting numbers left many in attendance confused.

The episode illustrated what then-Chair Charles Russell told the Town Meeting crowd: Charlotte has not had a consistent pay policy for its employees, so salaries for town positions were, in some ways, set arbitrarily. However, Selectboard member Ellie Russell told the crowd the Board would make changes this year.

Last Thursday, current Selectboard Chair Lane Morrison and Ellie Russell sat down to offer an update on what it has termed Charlotte’s “wage classification study.” It has been, they said, an in-depth, multifac-eted effort—in turns fascinating and frus-trating—to develop a salary structure that is fair to both town employees and tax payers.

Measuring jobs, not people

Since early April, the Selectboard has met 14 times in special work sessions, mostly in the

VELCO to Pay Town $28,000 for Tax Error

Monsarrat’s New Novel Aims to Address Big Questions

Making the (Pay) Grade

Charlotte author Nick Monsarrat recently published his first novel, united states.

Monsarrat

continued on page 9

Wage Scale

continued on page 6

Final Town Plan

Workshop to Focus on

Town Economy

The Planning Commission will host the last of its planned pub-lic workshops on the draft of its 2015 Town Plan on Thursday, Sept. 25, at Town Hall beginning at 7 p.m.

The workshop will center on housing and economic develop-ment in Charlotte. While several of the Planning Commission’s proposed policies for housing are covered throughout the first draft of the plan, the commission has yet to release its chapter on economic development.

According to Planning and Zoning Administrator Jeannine McCrumb, the delay is due to work a group of Charlotters has undertaken to provide research that augments what the Planning Commission has already done.

“The previous plan dedicated roughly three-quarters of a page to economic development,” said McCrumb in an email. “We had a few interested citizens who wanted to look into opportunities for larger scale types of development in terms of creating a job base. We currently focus on our agriculture-related businesses, but this group wants to explore other types that might be needed or might want to locate here.”

The final draft of the economic development chapter, when

Town Plan

continued on page 9

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Letters

Accusations against Selectboard members are groundless

I was shocked to read the commentary by Brady Toensing in the September 11 issue of the News. He accuses Selectboard members Charles Russell and Ellie Russell of using their positions for personal gain.

While it is fair game to criticize a board member’s record on budget votes, it is way over the top to attack a member’s integrity in the absence of clear evidence of self dealing or dishonesty. As the letter from Bonnie Christie in the same issue indicates, the accusation against Ellie Russell is totally groundless. So, too, is the accusation against Charles Russell.

It is simply not a “textbook example of conflict of interest” on the part of Charles Russell that his broth-er was paid for an easement where the VELCO line right of way crossed his brother’s property. More importantly, the Selectboard’s involvement in the Public Service Board proceeding ten years or so ago was in response to substantial town opposition to the VELCO upgrade. When it became clear that the upgrade was going to happen due to the threat of summer brownouts in northwest Vermont, the Select-board was under public pressure to at least mitigate the perceived damage. Thus, money was spent to get the Public Service Board to order undergrounding of the line next to the former Waldorf School and at the Ferry Road crossing (the latter because of view issues).

Toensing’s commentary is the sort of nasty stuff that seems to surface every so often, making service on the Selectboard unattractive. Whether you agree or disagree with a particular Selectboard decision during their tenure, Ellie Russell and Charles Russell should be thanked by this community for their long and unselfish service to town government.

Ed Amidon

Popple Dungeon Road

Thank you for help with library roof project

The trustees of the Charlotte Library offer our sincere thanks to the many people who have put time and effort into the library roof project. Selectboard member Fritz Tegatz spent months assessing the scope of the project, thoroughly researching the best design and price. Town Administrator Dean Bloch spent many hours processing information, soliciting and reviewing bids, and keeping everyone in the information loop.

The technical expertise of the Energy Committee, especially those who are engineers and architects, has been invaluable. Not to mention that we undoubtedly would have proceeded without insulating the roof at all had the Energy Committee not brought it to our attention when we first started planning almost two years ago.

Finally, the substantial public input has made this a true community project. We look forward to construc-tion beginning in the spring.

Again, sincere thanks to all for your hard work. What a great example of how the diverse talents in our com-munity can come together for a good product.

Charlotte Library Board of Trustees

Bonnie Christie, Vince Crockenberg, Emily Ferris,

Dorrice Hammer and Jonathan Silverman

Criticism of goose hunt mistakes imagination for fact

After consulting with several respected community members, I feel it is important to respond to the com-ments made by Hans Ohanian in his “Letters” commen-tary in the Sept 11 issue of The Charlotte News.

When one hunts one accepts that the outcome may involve death, but if the hunter has any self-respect, there is a measure of remorse mixed with the joy of harvesting an animal for one’s own nurture. In reading Mr. Ohanian’s letter, I felt that my spirituality had been attacked, and I was hurt by his comments and visualiza-tion of what happens after a goose hunt. Mr. Ohanian admits to “imagining” what happens after the shot. For clarification, particularly for those who do not hunt, here is the truth.

Goose hunters use shotguns, limited to three shots by a plug that does not allow the hunter to shoot more than those three shells; hence, at the very most a single hunter may shoot three birds at a time, with a daily bag limit of five, which rarely happens. Typically it is one or two birds, certainly not as Mr. Ohanian imagines “each shot kill(ing) or maim(ing) several geese.” His vision of “in less than a minute most of a flock (of 100) is wiped out” is inaccurate to say the least. Typically, three to five geese may be harvested from a flock with four shooters.

His image of “dead and dying birds, feathers, body parts, blood and gore in the water…” is also quite an imaginative stretch. To begin with, any hunter who knows ballistics knows that from 30 yards, BB-sized shot will not decapitate a goose. I’ve never seen a “body part” left behind. Furthermore, we do not hunt geese over the water. Mr. Ohanian’s imagery that “perhaps a few dozen wounded geese take off …to die slowly of their festering wounds” is another gross exaggeration. In my 34 years of hunting I have seen only two geese fly off out of a flock, crippled. Typically, they are retrieved by a well-trained dog and brought back. To leave them is against the law. It’s called “wanton waste.”

To address the opinion that my hunt is not “sacred” is just that, a matter of opinion. Our organization, Sacred Hunter, took the name with the blessing of one of our directors, Randall Eaton, Ph.D., author of The Sacred Hunt–Hunting as a Sacred Path. We practice seeking the meaning behind the hunt—a sacred connection to nature and the animals that support us. We choose to worship nature and participate directly in the circle of life that sustains us.

During this time of the year approximately 50 percent of the food we ingest in my household is hunted, har-vested or foraged. I prefer to take responsibility for the animal flesh that nurtures our bodies rather than have someone else do our killing for us. We bless the animals we harvest and pray for their spirits in much the same way as our native ancestors did.

Finally, to use the term “extermination campaign” is egregious. When we harvest geese we are taking only the scientifically regulated bag limits based on the VT Fish and Wildlife’s assessment of a reasonable harvest given the over-population of birds, and even then, we rarely shoot daily bag limits.

I am very supportive of free speech and applaud Mr. Ohanian’s colorful imagination, but the truth should be known: If Mr. Ohanian were really a hunter he would not misrepresent his sport by employing his “imaginings” but would instead seek the truth.

Bradley Carleton

Spear Street


After almost six years under the lov-ing management of Carrie Fenn, the Old Brick Store seeks a new steward.

It’s hard to believe so much time has passed since that January day in 2009 when my mom told me that she’d be the new owner of our town’s iconic store. She said her goal was to transform it and hold onto it for five years. This past win-ter, as the fifth anniversary approached, I asked about her plans.

“Honestly,” she said, “this has been so much fun it’s hard to let go.”

It’s true. With a loyal staff and an even more loyal customer base, “The Brick” is a major social epicenter of the town. Everyone who’s been in knows Carrie’s face, and she has been a ded-icated owner since the day she was handed the keys.

The Brick has seen an incredible num-ber of chang-es under her care. With the help of Justin Wygmans of Classic Home and countless volunteers, she took two months before re-opening the doors to give the store a fresh new look. All of the equipment has been replaced since taking it over, with the most recent addition being a new ener-gy-efficient walk-in cooler installed in September. And let’s not forget the cree-mee stand, which churns out the most delicious shakes around.

From the layout to the menu to the mission (“convenience with a cause”), my mom’s vision for the store has been realized. And while she of course deserves the bulk of the credit (how many times has she been asked, “Do you ever take a day off?”), it’s true that the store would not be what it is today without such steadfast support from you, Charlotters.

Every person who has worked behind that counter knows the satisfaction of watching a hungry landscaper devour a turkey-bacon special and hearing “that was the best sandwich I’ve ever had.” Or greeting the dad each morning on his way to work who gets the same peach smoothie with his double latte every single day. Or seeing the Thompson’s Point vacationer each morning of her summer-long stay, eager to retrieve the New York Times reserved with her name on it.

Just as my mom has poured everything she’s got into making this place what it is, this community has turned around and done the same in return. The financial model of the CSE (community supported enterprise) helped make possible the changes and upgrades we’ve witnessed since 2009, but the store is “community supported” in so many more ways. The customers really do bring the love. For that, my mom is forever grateful.

While The Brick has changed signifi-cantly in the time that Carrie has been its maître d’, so has her life. In 2012, she won a NPR writing contest with her story “Rainy Wedding,” drawing national

attention to her skills with a keyboard. She has become a grandmother (twice) and is ever present in my two boys’ lives. And in August she married her partner of five and half years and The Old Brick Store’s very first CSE member, Peter

Fenn.My mom is excited to spend more time

with her two grandsons, four daughters, one son and, of course, her husband when the OBS finds a new owner.

“Pete and I started Charlotte Real Estate last year, and I’d like to devote a lot of my time to that. I also look forward to writing more. Owning the store has been an amazing experience. It is very gratifying to take something and make it better, and really, I believe this is the best the Old Brick Store has ever been. It is truly one of Charlotte’s community centers. Folks have loved this store for generations, and I think what we have done here ensures it will remain an important part of the Charlotte experience.”

My mom insists she will be very par-ticular about who takes on the role of OBS steward. “The person who buys this store should love hard work, good food and most importantly, the town of Charlotte. You can’t fake it here.” It’s clear no one at the Old Brick Store is faking it now.

Tony Blake at V/T Commercial has the listing. Interested parties can contact him at 864-2000, ext 13.

Cayenne MacHarg

With Old Brick Store on the Market, Fenn’s Daughter Looks Back

CorreCtion

Due to an editing error in the story “Low Voter Turnout Marks Sept. 26 Pri-mary” that appeared in our Sept. 11 issue, we noted that the majority of voters who turned out were “registered Democrats.” This is not the case, as Vermont does not require voters to declare party membership to cast ballots during elec-tions. Rather, voters are given ballots for every party and asked to make their selections in secret. We apologize for the error.

This is in response to comments by Brady Toensing and Walter Judge regarding Town of Charlotte spending, the VELCO project and conflicts of interest.

In summer 2003, Vermont Electric Power Co. (VELCO) submitted its Northwest Vermont Reliability Project (NRP) to the Public Service Board (PSB). The project included the construction of a 345 kV transmission line between West Rutland and New Haven, a 115 kV line from New Haven to South Burlington, new substations and other modifications. Needless to say, municipalities along the route were concerned about potential impacts in their communities.

Some Charlotte citizens supported the project, and others donated to efforts to challenge the need for it. The Town of Charlotte focused on assuring that the plan was consistent with values and goals stated in the Charlotte Town Plan and protecting the investment of the town and others in land conservation and scenic preservation. Areas of concern were:��7RZQ�/LQH�5RDG�DUHD²YLHZ�WR�WKH�

west from Greenbush Road across con-served land;��7KRUS�%URRN²HFRORJLFDO�LPSDFW��7KRPSVRQ¶V�3RLQW�5RDG²YLHZ�IURP�

the road, proximity to a private resi-dence; �� )HUU\� 5RDG� DQG� QHZ� VXEVWDWLRQ²

proximity to existing residences, busi-nesses and school, compatibility with future village expansion envisioned in the Town Plan, investment in conservation of the Knowles Farm to the west ($10,000 from the Charlotte Conservation Fund and a $220,000 scenic easement grant from the State of Vermont), impact on Pringle Brook and nearby wetland;�� 1RUWK�*UHHQEXVK�5RDG�DQG�7RZQ�

owned Charlotte Park and Wildlife 5HIXJH²LQYHVWPHQW� LQ� ODQG� FRQVHU-vation, scenic preservation and public access. The town supported placement of the transmission corridor on the western edge of the park to distance it from resi-dences on the west side of the railroad tracks.

Supported by language in the Town Plan, the town’s early testimony in the PSB process investigated the feasibility and cost of underground transmission and advocated for longer sections of underground line. There was little sup-port by VELCO or the State of Vermont for underground transmission. The town continued to see it as a solution for the Ferry Road area, where costs for rights-of-way, overhead line construction and mitigation were high. Except for Thorp Brook where wider spans minimized the impact on the wetland, the town asked for shorter poles to make the line less visible on the landscape.

Early attempts by the Selectboard to work with VELCO yielded unsatis-factory results and little cooperation. It was clear that participation in the PSB process was necessary. Before that board issued a Certificate of Public Good (CPG) for the project in early 2005, the town had spent over $141,000 on legal fees and consultants.

The CPG anticipated a project design

phase that required further negotiation of unresolved issues. This was difficult and time consuming. When VELCO submitted its preliminary line design in February 2006, pole heights were much higher than anticipated. The follow-ing is from a June 2006 letter from the Charlotte Selectboard to the PSB:

“When the Town of Charlotte received VELCO’s preliminary 115 kV Line Design and Aesthetic Mitigation Plans in February of 2006, it was surprised and dismayed to find the line design shown on the plans very different in its details from what the Town had anticipated based on information received during the three years since VELCO first sub-mitted its petition for a CPG, and on the language of the Board’s January 2005 Order. The Town had assumed that VELCO’s preliminary plan would be consistent with the information pro-vided by VELCO during the technical hearings, and that mitigation measures discussed in testimony, and commit-ments made during technical hearings, would be incorporated into the design…Unfortunately, even after more than four months of meetings, site visits and plan review, the design shown in the final plans still falls short of expectations developed on the basis of the CPG pro-cess. In many instances, VELCO has only offered minor modifications to the project design, which do not substan-tively address the Town’s concerns.”

A July 2006 article in the Burlington Free Press stated that the Public Service Board received dozens of letters from communities, government agencies, organizations and individuals rais-ing concerns and asking the board to reject the VELCO plans. Later, the PSB required VELCO to compensate Charlotte $2,212.50 for attorney’s fees required to revisit the pole height issue.

It was three more years before the project was completed and almost all issues resolved. (This included final decision on the Ferry Road line design: in 2007 the PSB ordered burial of the transmission line from the new substa-tion to south of the Waldorf School.) There was serious effort to keep legal costs down. Much work was done by town staff and Selectboard members, but the lawyer working for our town (and surrounding towns as well) was an important team member and key to our success.

Speaking directly to Brady Toensing’s claims of conflict of interest, VELCO’s plan from the start used a corridor where Green Mountain Power main-tained 46 and 35 kV lines. This corri-dor crossed Michael Russell’s property. The Selectboard was not involved with right-of-way compensation negotiations between VELCO and individual prop-erty owners. It should also be mentioned that Walter Judge, most critical of the town’s actions, was a lawyer at the firm representing VELCO.

Jenny Cole

Lake Road

Jenny Cole was a Charlotte Selectboard member from 2002-2011.

History of VELCO Project Shows Conflict of Interest Claims Untrue

Commentaries

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��6HSWHPEHU��The Charlotte News

The staff and board of the Charlotte News are excited to welcome two new faces—well, kind of new—to our team.

We’re thrilled to welcome Emma Slater to our staff as a contributing editor. A recent CVU grad, Emma has been an intern with the News for over a year, working with us first for school credit and then because she simply likes writing and photography (and she’s quite good at both). Emma will con-tinue to do these things and more for the News as she spends a gap year in Charlotte before moving west to attend Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore.

We’re also delighted to welcome Monica Marshall back to our staff as advertising manager. Monica took the News to new levels of success in the same position from 2009 to 2011, when she left to start the busi-ness Wholesome Cravings. We’re so excited to have her drive, energy and expertise back behind the scenes.

She takes over for Linda William-son, who will continue in her role as production editor. And on behalf of the staff and board of the News we’d like to give Linda a big Thank You for leading the paper’s advertising opera-tions for over two years. She came into the job with no experience or training, yet kept the paper going strong despite a tough economy and a number of changes at the paper. She did this through hard work and dedication, but also through her

affable personality, which helped cement so many friendly relationships with the local businesses that support us through advertising.

It’s fair to say that without Linda’s hard work and dedication these last few years, you likely wouldn’t be reading this paper right now. In light of this, we at the News applaud Linda’s accomplishments and offer our deepest thanks for all she’s done.

Brett SigurdsonEditor-in-Chief

News from The News

Getting by With a Little Help from Our ‘Friends’

With a new nonprofit board, the Charlotte News is primed for growth

Just as the sap flows every spring and the geese fly south every fall, Charlotters have come to expect the Charlotte News to be delivered to their homes twice a month. For 56 years, the News has been “The Voice of the Town” in large part because the bulk of its articles are written by Charlotters for Charlotters, many of them volunteers with a desire to share information that matters with their neighbors.

What many don’t realize, however, is the News is a 501(c)4 nonprofit enterprise—its aim isn’t to make money, only to provide a forum for Charlotte’s news and opinions. While the News’s oper-ating expenses have always come from a combination of advertis-ing revenue and donations, given the limits of the paper’s current tax status, the paper’s board of directors hasn’t been able to apply for grants or qualify its donors for tax deductions. That is, until now.

A group of resident volunteers has come together to ensure that the News continues to educate the public on subjects useful to the indi-vidual and beneficial to the Charlotte community. Much like other valued town institutions, such as the Library and Senior Center, the Charlotte News now has a new nonprofit partner—in this case, the Friends of the Charlotte News, a newly formed and recognized 501(c)3 organizatio that will enable the paper to open up its revenue stream like never before. Lynne Jaunich chairs the Friends board, and its members include Carrie (MacKillop) Fenn, Susan Sim, Leslie Botjer and Suzanne Davis.

“The News has long been supported by advertis-ers and generous donations of townsfolk who rec-ognize the value of high quality local journalism,” Jaunich said. “But times change and financial support of nonprofit community print newspapers nationwide has declined. The Charlotte News has not been immune from this trend. Knowing that the News is such a valued town asset, we decided to form an organization that would support the News and allow it to adapt, grow and thrive in changing times.”

With its newly designated 501(c)(3) status, The Friends of the Charlotte News can continue to pursue local charitable donations through the News’s annual pledge drive while also qualifying for other funding opportunities such as grants.

In turn, the Friends group can assist the News in pursuing its nonprofit mission of “inform-ing townspeople of current events and issues. It serves as a forum for the free exchange of views of town residents and celebrates the people, places and happenings that make the Town of Charlotte unique.”

“The Friends group matters now more than ever,” said Vince Crockenberg, co-president of the Charlotte News Board of Directors. “Mainstream media has moved significantly online, taking with it large amounts of advertising revenue that community newspapers relied upon for the majority of their revenue stream,” Crockenberg explained. “According to the Pew Research Center, local community newspapers need to

be supported by an increasingly diverse revenue stream in order to remain viable. The Friends group will help the News do just that.”

“I’m thrilled the News has gained the support of the Friends,” said Brett Sigurdson, editor in chief of the News. “With this new nonprofit partnership and the access to grants and other funding sources it opens up, we’ll have the

power to cultivate the resources to reach even further into the community. This is huge for the paper, and even bigger for Charlotte.”

Sigurdson explained that the News’s greatest need right now is for more writers to cover com-munity events, and that one area the new Friends group could help is in providing funding for more writers to help tell Charlotte’s stories.

“Charlotte is a small town,” said Sigurdson, “but the number of stories to tell here is incred-ible. Between the new Town Plan, the upcoming town and school budget talks and the fascinating tales about Charlotters, there are more stories than we can possibly tell right now. This is an important time in the town’s history—with the access to more grants and tax-deductible dona-tions, we hope to be able to cover so much more.”

“Beyond this,” he added, “access to more funding means we could accomplish our goals of providing more digital news coverage, audio and video coverage of town happenings, and com-munity workshops or events. The Friends group opens up a whole new world for the News.”

The first order of business for the Friends is to ensure that the News reaches its two-year fun-draising goal of $55,000, which it has called its “Thrive @55 Campaign,” its biggest fundraiser ever. Reaching that goal will address the paper’s funding needs as it develops a plan to solidify and expand its operations to better and more fully serve the people of Charlotte with high-integrity

local journalism. The kind of journalism we’re pro-

viding,” said Crockenberg, “comes at a cost—specifically the printing of 24 issues a year, which are deliv-ered free of charge to the 1,773 resi-dential mailboxes in Charlotte and to more than 50 drop-off locations in Charlotte, Shelburne, Hinesburg and Vergennes. The News’s budget also supports stipends for its five-member staff and paid contributors who put the paper together through-out the year.”

Looking back on the success so far of the Thrive @55 campaign, Crockenberg is pleased. Looking forward to its successful conclusion, he’s even more excited.

“If you belong to one of the 232 households and individuals who have already contributed to the News this year, thank you,” he said. “If you haven’t yet done so, or if you would like to increase your giving, please make your contributions by way of the Friends. Your donation will make a difference to this com-munity now and into the future.”

“This is huge for the paper, and even bigger for Charlotte.”

The Charlotte News ��6HSWHPEHU��

John HammerThe CharloTTe News

The last two regularly-scheduled Select-board meetings will be reported in this article. In the last 42 days the Selectboard has met ten times with only two meetings at the normally scheduled time on Monday nights. Every other meeting has been held during a weekday.

During much of this time, board mem-bers wrestled with developing a wage classification plan and policy. However, they also removed the weight limit on the Carpenter Road Bridge, received a report on money the town would receive in back taxes from VELCO and decided on the wage rate to be offered the new assistant town clerk/treasurer. The chair, Lane Mor-rison, stated that he expects the wage clas-sification plan will be complete in another few sessions. The draft and approved min-utes for all meetings may be found on the town web page at charlottevt.org by click-ing on the Selectboard line.

At both meetings, the Charlotte Volun-teer Fire and Rescue Services (CVFRS) came under fire for the three-month sus-pension of its paramedic operating license. During the Sept. 15 meeting Robert Mack asked the Selectboard about the status of the CVFRS license to operate. Selectper-son Ellie Russell replied that the license had been extended a further three months and that CVFRS is anticipating full restitu-tion in the near future.

Chair Morrison asked John Snow, presi-dent of the CVFRS corporate board, wheth-er there should be financial consequences arising from the service’s inability to pro-vide paramedic services—which the town has paid for—during the three-month peri-od of license suspension. Snow responded that the services were provided, albeit from other rescue services under a shared service agreement. What was not said until later was that the nearest shared service provid-ers are in Colchester and Essex.

Morrison’s question precipitated a lengthy exchange in which the Selectboard sought answers as to whether CVFRS felt the need to recompense the town for the services not provided per the Memoran-dum of Agreement (MOA). After a long interchange, Snow finally agreed to a joint

meeting of the boards to discuss the matter within the scope of the MOA. Mack and others in the audience also raised questions as whether disciplinary actions were antic-ipated. To this the Selectboard replied that these matters had to be left in the hands of the CVFRS, as potential personnel actions were outside the control of the town.

At the board’s meeting on Sept. 22, Snow began his preliminary budget report by saying that it was CVFRS’s intention to keep the budget as close as possible to a flat line. He did note that the CVFRS budget was very much affected by potential inflationary pressures, particularly with fuel expenses. He went on to say that they have begun to consider building maintenance issues that are becoming more obvious with their aging building. Finally he discussed briefly the need for staff changes.

The first position described, that of a Rescue director of operations, is under active consideration. While this person would be paid around $30,000, savings are anticipated by the reduction in overtime and from other staff efficiencies.

The CVFRS board is also beginning to consider hiring an executive director who would take over most of the executive management functions now performed by volunteers. The growing complexities of modern fire and rescue services and atten-dant reporting requirements almost demand this position. Finally, Snow pointed out that he would be coming forward later in the fall with a capital budget to cover future replacement of vehicles and high-cost equipment (e.g., defibrillators and self-contained breathing apparatuses). During the discussion Snow was told a few times from the floor of the public’s appreciation for the valuable services provided by the CVFRS.

Town MeeTing SoluTionS

The Town Meeting Solutions Commit-tee presented a brief review of its progress on the issue voted at the last Town Meet-ing calling for a plan to increase voters’ participation in voting the town budget. After consultation with the director of elections at the office of the Vermont Secretary of State, it was determined that the previously approved approach was not statutorily permitted.

Therefore, the committee briefed a new approach that would bring two articles to

the 2015 Town Meeting. The first would call for a change in voting for the town budget to Australian balloting on Town Meeting Day 2016. The second would require the Selectboard to call a Special Town Meeting in January 2016 at which the board would warn a budget num-ber. This number could be discussed and amended on the floor of that meeting. The Selectboard would then further be directed to warn the amended budget figure for vote by Australian ballot on Town Meeting Day in March.

This proposal precipitated a great deal of discussion, and it was agreed that there was a need to discuss the complexities of the proposal more fully. Particularly, the Secretary of State and Vermont League of Cities and Towns need to weigh in more completely on the issues. To expedite these discussions, particularly with Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT), the board appointed Charles Russell as its rep-resentative and liaison to the committee.

TraSh conSolidaTionThe Selectboard held an open dis-

cussion prior to its regular meeting on September 22nd that covered the on-going issue of consolidated trash hauling by the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD). After presentations by Tom Moreau, CSWD Executive Director; Abby Faulk, Charlotte Representative to the CSWD Commission; and haulers, the public weighed in on the pros and cons of consolidation. Most comments were in support of maintaining independent contracts. The issue, which has dominated recent Front Porch Forum boards, will result in an anticipated vote before the commis-sion to pause the conversion at least a year to allow for continued public dialogue. Faulk went on record saying that she would vote in favor of the pause.

oTher buSineSSThe ongoing question regarding re-roof-

ing the library took time at both meetings. The discussions resulted in the selection of Ellis, Inc. to install a standing seam, all-metal roof in the spring of next year. The signing of a contract with a bid of $91,420, including contingencies, was deferred pending further review of contract details.

Charlotte will soon host Chittenden County’s first disc golf course. The pro-posed course will generally follow the

boundaries of the baseball field and tennis court areas at the Town Beach. The sport, which is played with Frisbee-like discs, has “holes” that are poles on which are draped chains. These chains snare discs thrown at them. The issue before the Selectboard concerned clearing the undergrowth from the woods along the proposed 14 fairways. The plan was approved contingent upon approval by the tree warden and with consideration for state laws concerning lakeside vegetation clearance.

Wally Gates and Carl Herzog, members of the Senior Center board, presented a preliminary budget estimate at the Septem-ber 15 meeting. Worthy of note is that this year’s Senior Center salary expenditures will be two percent over budget because of unpaid holiday wages owed to Mary Recchia. The budget for next year might be as much as five percent higher based on overages caused by this year’s weather extremes plus other anticipated expenses. The board of the Senior Center plans to present a capital expenditure budget for five and ten years out in order to be pre-pared for potential repairs to the current 13-year-old building.

This year’s East Charlotte Tractor Parade will be held Oct. 12 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Baptist Corners area, starting at Dave Nichols’s barn on Spear Street South. Carrie Spear, the Charlotte tractor doyenne, received approval for her parade committee made up of herself, Debbie Christie, June Bean, Margaret Roddy, Cindy Bradley and Dave Denton. The traffic control plan will be the same as last year, with road closures on Hinesburg Road between Guinea Road and Dorset Street and along Spear Street between Prindle and Carpenter Roads.

Administrative matters covered on Sep-tember 22 included amending the Com-munity Safety Committee’s mission state-ment to include research into options for traffic calming and appointing four mem-bers: Bonnie Christie, Ed Cafferty, Carrie Spear and Greg Smith. The members were tasked to recruit three additional members and present them to the Selectboard for appointment. In a related issue, $7,200 was approved for purchase of a radar speed sign trailer with solar panel and battery.

The next regularly scheduled Select-board meeting will be on Oct. 13.

Selectboard, CVFRS Talk Suspension, Personnel, BudgetBoard also hears updates on Town Meeting Solutions Committee work

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morning, to discuss the wage classifica-tion study. Each work session, as reflected in the minutes, provided an opportunity for Selectboard members to apprise each other of the work they’d done individually and to work as a team to move step by step toward a final employee pay grade policy.

Soon after its first special meeting, Selectboard members began to study the town’s personnel policies relating to sick and holiday compensation, which had not been updated in ten years, said Ellie Rus-sell, who led the effort.

At the same time, the Selectboard began to research inconsistencies on paper time sheets relating to sick time and holiday pay. Charles Russell went through employee time cards going back ten years to analyze any pay discrepancies. He found the town owed several employees a combined $13,000 for unpaid leave, which the Selectboard has since reimbursed.

With the issue of back pay settled, the Selectboard then turned to the task of developing comprehensive job descrip-tions for all town employees. Board mem-bers went to all 19 town employees and their supervisors to seek input for job descriptions, which also had not been updated in some time.

But in order to have some way to quan-tify the value of the work detailed in the job descriptions—“We’re looking at jobs, not people,” said Morrison—the Select-board needed a new system. It turned to Richmond, a town that has undertaken a similar wage study.

On Richmond’s recommendation, the Selectboard began to use a job evaluation manual created by Burlington’s Palmer & Associates. The manual uses a point system that enables the Selectboard to quantify and rank the expectations it holds for its employees.

For example, on the grid the Selectboard has created with this information, the Charlotte Town Administrator received a score of 115 under the category “Quali-fications” as, based on the position’s job description, it requires a master’s degree with at least two years of experience with significant supervisory and management experience. Conversely, the town’s beach attendant position received a score of 20 in the same category, since the position

requires only a basic education and no previous supervisory experience.

With this kind of system, said Mor-rison, “It’s not about working hard or the length of someone’s job description. It’s a way to measure the job.”

Or as Russell put it, “It’s the value of the job.”

Translating numbers to dollarsWith job descriptions in place and a

matrix for quantifying the expectations on paper, the Selectboard entered the final phase of the study, where it currently stands: developing a graduated pay scale based on the job skills the board has quan-tified, years on the job and market data.

Building on the research the Select-board undertook for Town Meeting, board members visited six nearby towns of a similar size—Bristol, Ferrisburgh, Hines-burg, Fairfax, Underhill and Cambridge—with a questionnaire that sought to find out what each town expected of its employees and how it compensated them. Members also expanded their search for market data to towns in Vermont with populations between 3,000 and 5,000. And because the town draws most of its employees from Chittenden County, the Selectboard researched market data for all the towns within the county.

The board now has a draft spreadsheet with salary pay grades that take into account the full spectrum of market pay data for all 19 town positions. The draft also incorporates a five percent pay dif-ference between grades and provides a two-and-a-half percent increase for each year employed.

“Having this system gives incentive, and also something concrete to meet,” said Morrison of the steps, adding that it’s a system used by towns like Richmond and Colchester as well as governments elsewhere. “The bottom line is it offers a reason for how we pay people,” added Russell.

To help implement the plan, the town has hired Frank Sadowski, a human resources consultant with Burlington auditing firm Gallagher, Flynn & Compa-ny, at a cost of over $200 an hour, with a total amount not to exceed $5,000. So far, Sadowski has been “very impressed” with the town’s work, he told the Selectboard at a recent meeting.

The Selectboard is now preparing to finalize the wage classification chart and to develop policies regarding how the sys-tem will be put into practice and managed.

Further, its members are researching what to do about employees who will end up being paid too little or too much based on what pay grade they are deemed to be at, though both Morrison and Russell noted that no one would receive a pay cut.

When everything is finalized—Mor-rison and Russell hope by the end of the year—they will present the wage classi-fication guide to employees for feedback before fine tuning it for final implementa-tion.

“It’s been a fun process,” said Mor-rison, adding the project has given mem-bers unique and valuable insight into the human resources aspect of leading the town.

Yet, Morrison and Russell noted that some employees have expressed some leeriness toward the wage classification study, for—as seen at Town Meeting in March—salaries are always a sensitive issue.

They received a reminder of this at a recent morning work session, which cen-

tered on how much the town would pay the new assistant town clerk, which Mead, by statute, is required to hire. In discussing the salary to pay the candidate—this is the Selectboard’s authority, said Morrison—Mead and a group of a dozen supporters accused the board of interfering with the hiring process as it sought information on the candidate’s background and qualifica-tions in order to establish a salary.

When it came time to set the salary, this time, there was little question what the future town employee should be paid. With the draft wage classification study at hand, Ellie Russell told the group the median salary for the position within the county as a whole is $19.59 an hour and the median for towns with populations between 3,000 and 5,000 people is $17.44. On the town’s current draft of the wage classification policy, the position ranks at $17.44.

Ultimately, the Selectboard hired the candidate, Charlotter Christina Booher, at $16.67 an hour.

Wage Scale continued from page 1

Burhans to Perform Intimate Concert at Staige Hill Farm Oct. 3

Charlotter Will Burhans, backed by singer Dominique Dodge, will bring his original acoustic folk music to Staige Hill Farm on Friday, Oct. 3, begin-ning at 7 p.m. Folding chairs will be provided, though guests are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets, as well as food and drink, to the venue, located at 121 Garen Hill Road in Charlotte. All are welcome, with a suggested donation of $5-10.

birdseyebuilding


A new design at Scott Pond Dam on the Lewis Creek in East Charlotte will allow salmon to access new spawning grounds.

Lewis Creek has been recognized by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a high conservation priority stream and a potential salmonid fishery. Salmon have been stocked in the cool headwater reaches, and pre-liminary results indicate that these fish are successfully smolting and leaving the system. However, late-fall spawn-ing fish could not access prime nursery locations.

A self-sustaining salmonid fishery in Lewis Creek has not currently been

possible because of the Scott Pond bar-rier design that was developed to limit sea lamprey access to upstream reach-es. A fish by-pass had been developed at this structure in 1990 for steelhead runs. However, the lower fall flows did not allow for steelie or land-locked salmon to get over the dam.

According to LCA President Marty Illick, the project consisted of drilling into the bedrock below the falls to cre-ate a less turbulent, longer, wider and deeper “jump pool,” which will make it easier for fish to ride the water up and over the dam instead of getting pushed around by turbulent water flowing over rocky topography. The new stream-bed plunge pool and attraction waters

will provide passage for fall spawning runs of landlocked Atlantic salmon.

Funding for this project came from Trout Unlimited, Vermont’s Agency of Natu-ral Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Contracting and construction support came from Milone and McB-room Inc. and Champlain Construc-tion. Landowner support came from Terry Dinnan and Marty Illick.

Lewis Creek Association has fol-lowed this project, which began quite a number of years ago, and shared stream conditions data and hosted meetings along the way.

Scott Pond Dam Project Improves Salmon

Passage in Lewis Creek Watershed

Seth ZimmermanContributor

Boy Scout Troop 615, based in Charlotte, will hold a recruit-ment evening on Monday, Sept. 29, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Friendship Lodge on Church Hill Road.

Boy Scouts have been active in Charlotte for 95 years. The focus of the program is to prepare youth for service to their families, com-munities and themselves. You may ask, How can young boys have the skills to serve their community? Training! The merit badges aren’t exclusive to camping and outdoor skills. The badges cover a wide range of subjects, including outdoor skills, first aid, orienteering, family life, cooking, personal management (how banking accounts and budget-ing work) and communications.

The path to Eagle Scout is worth exploring. If a boy reaches the rank of Eagle, it’s the only record of achievement that follows him throughout his adult life. And by the way, it’s a whole lot of fun. When Troop 615 went to Yellowstone National Park, its members earned many badges, including environ-mental science, archery, nature and geology. We earn these badges by learning through written material and experience in the field. This

past spring we went to Florida Sea Base in the Florida Keys. We learned snorkeling and ocean fishing, as well as how to sail and navigate a sloop. Last year we earned our scuba certification.

Why is all this train-ing important? Well, scouting is centered on helping others and being a service to the community. As a young man grows, his self-worth isn’t measured by anything other than his charac-ter, his reliability and his willingness to be able, at any time, to help. One out of a 100 scouts will save a life. We also do a great deal of community projects, which the town has ben-efited and will continue to benefit from.

When we work with things that are normally considered danger-ous—fire, knives and the like—leaders teach the boys how to handle these things safely. Knowledge is power.

We are truly lucky to be living in Vermont. For a young man to learn how to fly fish, camp and

navigate by the stars is what being a Vermonter is partially about.

The best way for the scouting program to work is to have a troop consisting of groups based on age range. We need five to ten boys from each of the fifth, sixth and seventh, grades.

Yes, we do work around the sports schedule. Matter of fact, we have many boys who are on mul-tiple teams.

Be prepared and do a good turn daily. For more information email me at [email protected].

Charlotte Scout Troop to Hold Recruitment Event

Troop 615 Scoutmaster Seth Zimmerman (left)

presents the records of Charlotte Boy Scout leader

Fredrick Horsford from 1921 and 1927 to Dan

Cole of Charlotte’s Museum and Historical Society.

He lists his troop as the second in Vermont. They

were donated by Patty Horsford.

Workers

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pool,”

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allow salm-

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easily pass

over the

falls at Scott

Pond dam

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Hands to Honduras-Tela to Hold Volunteer Meeting Oct. 5

Learn more about Vermont’s Hands to Honduras-Tela program and its 2015 service projects during an informational meeting on Oct. 5 beginning at 5 p.m. at the Shelburne Town Office.

The session will include a short picture presentation as well as details about the organization’s main project this coming February, the construction of a neonatal intensive care unit (the foundation is nearly complete). Other working projects include school construction and painting, women’s health clinics, fluoride clinics, soccer/basketball park renovation and more.

Travel information will also be provided. This year’s trip is from Feb. 7 to Feb. 21. Volunteers are welcome for all of the trip or one week of it.

Please RSVP to Linda Gilbert at 363-6064 or [email protected] to attend this informational meeting or if you would like to find out more about Hands to Honduras-Tela’s efforts.

Digging the foundation (by hand) for the neonatal intensive care unit in Tela,

Honduras, is currently underway, thanks to Hands to Honduras-Tela. Volunteers

will begin actual building construction in February.

Further, VELCO’s legal team noted the towns had reached a three-year stat-ute of limitations to appeal property tax issues related to filing their grand lists. Its representatives noted state officials advised the company to correct the issue for 2014 only. (The company did pay its state taxes over the years it shorted the municipalities.)

On Aug. 7, listers from nearly all the towns involved met in Ferrisburgh to discuss legal action against VELCO. There, Montpelier attorney Charles Mer-riman told the group it had a good case to pursue unpaid municipal taxes plus additional interest from the company.

However, days later, a VELCO rep-resentative reached out to the towns to let them know the company will pay the full underreported amounts plus five percent interest. The note also came with an apology.

“We received some incorrect advice

on what and when we should noti-fy the towns,” wrote Mark Sciarrotta, VELCO’s counsel. He added, “We also sincerely hope that this will put team VELCO back in good standing in your town as we highly value those rela-tionships and we realize that our error impacted not only town finances but was a distraction from the towns’ core work.”

The company has agreed to pay Char-lotte’s legal fees pertaining to this issue. This amount has yet to be billed to the town.

Records show that VELCO’s trans-mission line in Charlotte was assessed at $3.6 million each year between 2009 and 2013. With a tax rate that fluctu-ated between $0.1129 and $0.1829, the town missed out on between $4,000 and $6,000 in each of these five years.

With the unexpected influx of a total of $28,436, the Selectboard will use the money to partially offset the estimated $91,420 cost of the library roof project, said Town Administrator Dean Bloch.

VELCO continued from page 1

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Emma Slater

The CharloTTe News

The Charlotte School Board met for a brief public meeting on Sept. 16 to discuss several impending issues. These included the fourth-quarter bud-get, building repairs, parking lot safety and approving a new hire.

According to the latest figures, the fourth quarter budget is running in a favorable position of $147,267 due to unexpected decreases in expenditures. This can be attributed to the food ser-vice finishing better than budget and to decreases in special education, instruc-tional and electrical expenses.

However, there is increased concern that repairs will need to be made to the roof over the 5th- grade classrooms, which leak during rainstorms, resulting in the use of buckets in classrooms.

Members of the board also voiced

concerns about traffic safety on the east side of the school during pickup time. Fortunately, this is the second year of the kindergarten practice bus ride, which, combined with specific advoca-cy of bus benefits, seems to be reducing the number of parents choosing to pick up students.

The board concluded this discussion with a plan to make specific observa-tions about the safety conditions in this area and to look into the possibility of adjusting signage on the Charlotte-Hinesburg Road to help reduce speed.

Last, the board approved a request to hire a new math coordinator to fill the position left after Pam Piper’s retire-ment. This is a hybrid position that includes coordinating curriculum, offer-ing teacher support and serving as a liaison to the board, among other tasks.

The next Charlotte School Board meeting will take place Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at CVU.

School Board Talks Budget,

Roof Repairs

menu. After hours of waiting on hold he remembers saying, “Give me a person. Give me a human.”

“It was impossible to get anyone to talk to me,” he said. Monsarrat sees this as an expression of a larger issue already at play in America. “If you can’t complain to the corporations and get a human being, they’re insulated,” he said. “They’re not accountable any-more.”

However, just months after conceiv-ing united states, tragedy struck New York City and the country with the September 11 attacks. Monsarrat had already finished writing half of the book, but he decided to stop writing for three months as he watched the aftermath and recovery unfold. He was particularly affected by the backlash he witnessed against Muslims.

“I read the Koran,” he said. “It doesn’t say, ‘kill people.’ It doesn’t say, ‘get revenge.’” Monsarrat felt deep sympa-thy for Muslims who were branded with a negative stereotype, and he decided that his book would also explore a sec-ond question, “How do people respond to a situation [like 9/11] in a way that is good?”

In many ways, united states itself is Monsarrat’s personal answer to that question. As a student of Dietrich Bon-hoeffer’s work, he has faith in the power of individual reformation. As a journalist, he has faith in the power of writing to direct public attention to social injustices. With regard to the novel, he said, “You can’t do every-thing as an individual, but you can do something, and this is my something.”

More information is available at nickmonsarrat.com. Copies of united

states can be purchased at the Fly-ing Pig Bookstore in Shelburne and at Amazon.com.

Charlotte Grange Fall Rummage Sale

October 2 & 4

An annual autumn tradition, the Charlotte Grange’s fall rummage sale is set for Thursday, Oct. 2, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 4, from 8 a.m. to noon. There will be no Friday sale.

In advance of the sale, the Grange is looking for donations of gently used clothing, small household items, shoes and boots, books and games, puzzles and toys. Items can be dropped off at the Grange on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Monday, Sept. 29, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Funds from the rummage sale support the Grange’s community projects and the upkeep of its building in East Charlotte.

For more information, contact Grange president Dorothy Hill at 425-4140.

Monsarrat continued from page 1

finished, will be a product of both efforts, McCrumb added.

At the meeting Thursday, the Planning Commission, along with Brandy Saxton, a land-use planning consultant, will host a discussion with attendees regarding what Charlotte could do to support and encourage more local business growth and development. In particular, the commission wants to receive feedback on what aspects of the town Charlotters feel are most conducive to attracting and sustaining new businesses.

Charlotters will also have the oppor-tunity to provide input on what kinds of housing—beyond single-family, detached housing—should be encour-aged in Charlotte.

The Planning Commission will take the feedback it receives at this and other meetings as it prepares a final draft of the Town Plan for the Selectboard later this year.

For those who cannot attend the meet-ing, comments can be submitted any time by email to townplancoments@gmail. com, by mail to Charlotte Planning & Zoning, Attn: Town Plan Comments,

Town Plan continued from page 1

Country Cedars

Farm to Hold

Fall Farm Day

Charlotte’s Country Cedars Farm will host its first annual Fall Farm Day & Open House Saturday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at its location in East Charlotte.

The event will include horse-drawn wagon rides, barn tours, games, cider and donuts, door prizes, a raffle for horseback riding lessons and more. Visitors will also meet Ivy, a Belgian draft horse, the newest addition to the farm. Take a barn tour and watch horseback riders in the arena. Check out the fall decorations, and pumpkins will be throughout the farm on display and for purchase.

Situated on over 150 acres off Prindle Road, Country Cedars Farm is a family owned and operated equine facility and farm that makes its own maple syrup, cuts its own hay, and provides full-care boarding as well as riding lessons in its state-of-the-art indoor arena and outdoor ring and on plenty of beautiful trails.

The event is free and open to all. For more information contact Jess Quinn at [email protected] or visit countryce-darsfarm.com.

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Food

&Field

Humane Meat Production:

What Vermont can Learn

From Sweden

Vera Simon-NobesContributor

Earlier this month, Charlotter and Shelburne Farms staff member Vera Simon-Nobes traveled to Scandinavia on a learning journey with Megan Camp and Alec Webb of Shelburne Farms and John Ryan of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund. As farm-based education network coordinator at Shelburne Farms, Vera works one on one with Vermont farmers to share best practices in agritourism and farm-based education. She collaborates with several organizations to ensure that Vermont’s agritourism industry is built on authentic, educational farm experiences. She also explores how agritourism can be an economically viable option for farms. Her learning journey was an opportunity to build her library of best practices, complementing her experience producing pastured chicken and lamb along with wool blankets in Charlotte with her partner, Michael Haulenbeek. 7KH� IROORZLQJ� SLHFH� LV� D� UHÀHFWLRQ�on parts of her trip. To read a longer version, visit farmbasededucation.org/forum.

Megan, Alec, John and I deplaned from our red-eye on August 29, hopped into our host’s Land Rover and set off for the Swedish countryside. 2XU� ¿UVW� VWRS� ZDV�Ängavallen, where owner Rolf Axel Nordström raises native breeds for meat and operates a bed and breakfast, wedding and event facility, restaurant, farm cafe and store, and slaughterhouse. All of the food raised and sold on the property is organic, and the animals are harvested WKHUH�LQ�D�³GLJQL¿HG�PDQQHU��entirely stress-free.” Rolf was born into a working-class urban family that owned a paint factory. His father envisioned him as a partner in the family business, but at the age of

¿YH� 5ROI�witnessed a horse being shot on the street. Seeing this death haunted him and caused him to deeply consider animal welfare and the ethics of eating meat. After attending agricultural university, Rolf began farming in Noerre Hasloev, UDLVLQJ� SLJV��:KHQ� KLV� ¿UVW� VRZ� GLHG�after delivering a litter, he called a company to take away her carcass. The company told him to put her in the shade and they would come in a IHZ� GD\V�� 'LVVDWLV¿HG�� 5ROI� WRRN� WKH�carcass to the plant himself, where he learned it would be turned into pig feed. He assumed the worker was playing a MRNH�RQ�KLP��EXW�FRQ¿UPHG�WKLV�GHVWLQ\�

with a manager and resolved to change the way agriculture was practiced in his region. Rolf set out to create a farm where the animals were treated with the utmost care. His commitment to humane agriculture and ethnology existed before there was a clear GH¿QLWLRQ� RI� ³RUJDQLF´�Swedish agriculture, and he was considered “alternative.” This drove him to create his own systems for breeding, milking, and slaughtering animals. He didn’t want to rely on others for things he could do himself and wanted control of the whole supply chain. From day one, Rolf bred his animals for

an important trait: their health. He raises beef, lamb and pork, and produces cheese and veal. He further GLYHUVL¿HG�WKH�IDUP�E\�VHOOLQJ�RUJDQLF�SURGXFWV�LQ�WKH�farm store (pasta, espresso, cake, honey, etc.), and through hosting events, including concerts, lectures and weddings, each weekend from April through November. His 220-hectare farm employs 17 people. The on-farm slaughtering facility at Ängavallen was developed with support from Dr. Temple Grandin, designer of livestock handling facilities and a professor of animal science at Colorado State University. Our group had experience with slaughter, from Alec and Megan’s sending animals to be processed for the Inn, John Ryan’s consulting, and my choice to slaughter our animals with a roving butcher who comes to us. At Ängavallen, the practice of slaughtering starts well

In the farm store Rolf speaks to our group about Ängavallen.

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before slaughter day. Several times throughout their lives, the cows are ushered through a concrete room in the slaughterhouse. When the cow’s day comes, she walks the now-familiar loop from the paddock through the room; while the rest of the herd continues outside, the farmer shuts the door and shoots the animal. A veterinarian inspects her before and after harvest, tests the liver and sometimes, at the farmers’ request, tests cortisol levels, which indicate if the animal was under stress. The farmers are proud that test results have shown that their animals are relaxed at the time of death. For the pork slaughter, the pigs are invited to meander through a chute that leads into the slaughter area. They are enticed to follow a light, so each time they arrive in a new chute, the farmer turns on a light farther down the hallway. $W�WKH�HQG�RI�WKH�KDOO��WKH�FXULRXV�SLJ�¿QGV�D�ERZO�of feed. As she drops her head to feed, the farmer who raised her shoots her. As we toured this farm, questions about the EXVLQHVV�DERXQGHG��+RZ�ZDV�WKLV�¿QDQFHG"��,V�KLV�YHUWLFDOO\� LQWHJUDWHG� EXVLQHVV�PRGHO� SUR¿WDEOH"�,V� LW� UHSOLFDEOH"� :KDW� LV� WKH� HQYLURQPHQWDO�impact of customers driving from their towns to purchase meat from his farm instead of driving WR� D� FHQWUDO� VWRUH"� � ,V� KLV� YDOXH� V\VWHP� VKDUHG�E\� KLV� HPSOR\HHV"� �:LOO� KLV� FKLOGUHQ� LQKHULW� D�VXVWDLQDEOH�EXVLQHVV"�� Rolf ended his three-hour tour with an offhand comment that he still doesn’t know if he should be eating meat. With the weight of ethics on our shoulders, we took a table in the candlelit restaurant and ate dry-aged brisket with colorful vegetables.

We then traveled to Denmark to meet with several farmers and small-business owners, and a pattern emerged. Many of them started their stories the same way Rolf did: “I didn’t start out as a farmer. I grew up in the city.” Farmers often attributed their success to their naiveté and suggested that their limited understanding of farming enabled them to take on more than they would have had they come from a farm family. This was an interesting discovery in light of the agricultural picture in Vermont where, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, between 2007 and 2012 Vermont saw a 31-percent increase of farmers 25-34 years old. Whether young farmers are coming from farm families or not and are naïve like some of our hosts claimed to be, today’s surge of interest in farming lends promise to the future of Vermont’s working landscape. While in Denmark we also observed and participated in Harvest Feast, a national weekend when organic farms open their doors to the public. As we were shepherded from farm to farm, we FRQVLVWHQWO\� IRXQG� D� FRQÀXHQFH�of values connecting one Danish farmer to another and often one Danish farmer to one Vermont farmer. While we were 3,500 miles away, the world felt very small.

The author and cow outside a farm stand on the island of Samsø.


Sera AndersonContributor

I love books. I love the smell of books and the feel of them. I love turning the pages. In fact, I have started a program to help collect children’s books for those who need them the most. 6R��ZKDW¶V�RQ�\RXU�ERRN�VKHOI"�:HOO��

let’s see, on ours we have Outliers, The Pillars of the Earth, Beautiful Boy, Buddhism for Dummies, some travel books, Good to Great, Lord of the Flies, the Twilight series (I almost deleted this mention) and, Oh, look here! Spooning snug and cush right next to Lord of the Flies are nine books dedicated to parenting and infant rearing. Right on topic! The Emotional Life of a Child, What to Expect the First Years, The Happiest Baby on the Block, The Baby Sleep Solution, The Fussy Baby Book, Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child, Baby Wise, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer; the list goes on and on and on. And thank goodness because Karp’s Happiest Baby book saved our lives with the 5-S’s for the colicky baby.

We have mastered some parenting skills, let me tell you. In these books and more, you will find topics from breastfeeding, ferberizing, scheduling, going back to work after birth, motionless naps and intestinal gas to managing hindmilk.

During my days of limited time, fog and baby brain, I read these books. I skimmed paragraphs in some and read cover to cover in others. Here are a few that may help if you are in need of something specific. For those in dire need of some sleep training, there’s Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth. For those who want an infant management plan and need a schedule, there is BabyWise by Robert Ezzo and Gary Bucknam. For those with the more gentle approach to sleep training (or whatever you like to call it) there is The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth

Pantley. For those who believe there is no such thing as colic (Liars, I tell you!), there is Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp. For those who want to define their child’s personality, there is Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg. For those blessed with the spirited or high-need infant, there is The Fussy Baby Book by William

Sears, which, may I add, was our bible. Last, for those who are not interested in the parenting books, well, there is always Command and Control by Eric Schlosser, about the accidents and near misses in the management of America’s

nuclear arsenal. Surely a much more riveting and engrossing read but probably no more controversial.

Now, I know many of you purposely dodged and fended off the parenting books. Feel the flow, go with your gut, don’t get caught up, you got this, totally, I understand that. Some of you took to just a couple of books, I get that

too. I, on the other hand, was determined and desperate for answers and convinced I could find them in books. I think I reached out to every printed or online resource I could read, purchase or peruse. I wanted to know everything there was to know about the different ways to get a handle on “sleep,” which I was not getting—on anything that would give me some sort of perception into my sleep-challenged little soul. I desperately searched for that one book that would decode everything, and it was always that one book that I didn’t have. All in all, I think with the help of some good tips we had read, the wisdom that came from trusting our gut and the sweet, sweet essence of time, we finally came to a place of peace.

So whatever your style is, do what works for you. Read books or don’t read them.

Skim them. Mock them. I took what worked for our family and threw out the rest. But that has kind of been my mantra in life anyway—throw out what doesn’t work, use what does. Don’t judge others. Just do.

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Women of Wisdom

The Humbled ParentFor the Love of….Books

Part I


The Café Menu

MONDAY, SEPT 29: Chef's choice

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1: Bratwurst, sweet & sour red cabbage, spaetzle, birthday cake & ice cream

MONDAY, OCT. 6: Chef's choice

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8: Zucchini mushroom bake, home-made dessert Senior LunCheonS are held every Wednesday at noon. Reservations are necessary in advance and can be made by calling the Senior Center at 425-6345. A $4 dona-tion is requested. Reservations are not required for the Monday Munch.

Charlotte Senior Centerby Mary Recchia,

Activities Coordinator

Please note changes to a few of the fall activities at the Center.

The Genealogy Group will meet one more time on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 1 p.m. to share ideas, trade information and tell stories of their journey through history before taking a break until spring. No fee.

The meeting time for the Strength Maintenance class has been changed from 12:30–1:30 p.m. to 11 a.m.–noon.

––––The viewing time for The

30 Greatest Orchestral Works from The Great Courses Collection has changed from 1:45–3:15 p.m. to 12:30–2 p.m., still on Tuesday afternoons. Dates: Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 and Nov. 4, and 11, noting that each lecture is able to stand on its own. Professor Robert Greenberg of San Francisco Performances takes you on a sumptuous grand tour of the symphonic pieces he counts as being among the very greatest ever written—inviting you to an in-depth contemplation of what makes these works so memorable and why they live at the center of our musical culture. These 30 masterworks form an essential foundation for any music collection and a focal point for understanding the orchestral medium and deepening your insight into the communicative power of music. Details of each lecture are available at the host desk. Registration required. No fee.

Join Lynn Cummings for a class of Watercolor Exploration, Fall-Themed Painting on Tuesday mornings from 9:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Dates: Sept. 30, and Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 and Nov. 4.

Want to learn to produce loose, colorful, IDOO�WKHPHG�ZDWHUFRORU�SDLQWLQJV"��:DQW�to try something different and learn

QHZ�ZD\V�RI�GHVLJQLQJ�\RXU�SDLQWLQJV"��Get ready to have fun and try some techniques and ways of looking at your subject that you may not have explored before. Please get a materials list at the host desk prior to class, as some new items have been added. Beginners and intermediates welcome. Registration

required. Fee: First four classes, $96; all six, $144.

––––Fall is in the air, and Marty Morrissey

again takes us out for Fall Hikes in the Champlain Valley. A full description of each trip and the degree of difficulty is available at the host desk. Please bring water, food and good hiking or walking shoes for departure from the Senior Center at 9 a.m. Registration required. No fee.

––––Trip #2: Tuesday, Sept. 30 – Chandler

Ridge Trail, Forest DaleThis hike follows the ridge north from

the Minnie Baker Trail and ends on the

Silver Lake Trail. Ascent is 800 feet and total distance of all three trails is approximately seven miles, although the last mile and a half is downhill. There are nice views of the Green Mountains and Adirondacks.

––––Trip #3: Tuesday, Oct. 7 – Wright

Park, Middlebury on TAM

This hike starts at parking area at end of Belden Road. We take the Circle Trail south along Otter Creek to the end of Seymour Street. Then we walk into M i d d l e b u r y for a snack or early lunch and then retrace our steps, taking the Triangle Trail north to our cars.

––––Jim Lovejoy

will lead another Poetry Reading on Monday, Oct. 6 from 1–3 p.m.

Building on the fun and excitement that has developed with our Poem in Your Pocket readings over the years, this after-lunch poetry bonanza provides a regular time for listening, reading, writing and sharing a love of language. Whether it’s a poem you’ve written or one you’ve found in a book or on Poets.org, pack a poem in your pocket and join Jim as he guides a wonderful afternoon of word wonder. No fee.

––––Join us Wednesday afternoons at

1 p.m. for a collection of lectures, performances and special events that showcase our diverse community interests. No registration or fee.

Oct. 1: Love the Skin You’re In, with Melissa Grealis

Shed layers of makeup and show some great skin this fall. Join Melissa in learning how to achieve that glow. We will cover ingredients to look for in your skin-care products to maximize results, discuss the importance of incorporating sunblock into your daily routine, and look at some skin-care tools to help increase the effectiveness of your product. This will be a fun informational session with product demonstrations and samples.

Oct. 8: Bee Myths with Norm Silcox Honey bees, apis mellaflora, are social

insects that have benefitted mankind for millennia with their simple act of pollination. Norm will describe the hive and its inhabitants, including bees, queens and the diseases and mites that affect bees. He will conclude with a short video to illustrate the many interesting characteristics of the honeybee. Save room for “a small smackerel of honey!”

A group of hikers on a recent Senior Center-led hike enjoy the late summer weather.

2YHU��\HDUV�RI�KLVWRU\�DV�WKH�7RZQ¶V�À�DJVKLS business, with many more years to come!��7KLQN�\RX�FDQ�¿�OO�&DUULH¶V�VKRHV"��&RQWDFW�7RQ\�%ODNH�DW�9�7�&RPPHUFLDO��IRU�GHWDLOV��[��, WRQ\�EODNH#YWFRPPHUFLDO�FRP

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Rec News

by Kristin Hartley

SPORTS by Edd Merritt

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE SUBTLESIGNS OF SICKNESS?

1. Inappropriate elimination 2. Unexplained weight loss or gain 3. Changes in grooming habits 4. Changes in interaction 5. Changes in activity 6. Changes in

sleeping habits 7. Changes in food or

water consumption 8. Signs of stress 9. Changes in

vocalization 10. Bad breath

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Feline Veterinary Hospital and Boarding SuitesAffectionately Cats

CVU Girls Volleyball Looks to Defend State Title

Seeking to defend its state championship, the 2014 CVU girls volleyball team started off its season with a win over Randolph Union High School on Sept. 16. The six girls returning from last year’s team are joined by 14 new players. Pictured are (front, from left) Gabby Booth, Elise Osbahr, (middle row) Chiara Antonolli, Emilie Bernier, Hadley Erdman, Olivia Brissette, Anna Johnson, Aliza Anderson, Tori Bergstein, (back) Lauren Johnson, Cassandra Stearns, Alexis Meyers, Zoe Louchheim, Lisa Schold, Katja Walter, Meghan Eustace, Shannan Loiseau, Jessie Johnson and Hadley Menk. The team is coached by Gino Johnson. It's next game is Friday, Sept. 26, against Mid Vermont Christian at CVU.

School has begun and fall is in the air!

CurrenTLy

The Town Beach dock will be in for just a few more weeks as the summer winds down. If you are heading to the beach this may be the best time of year to play tennis or pickle ball.

Our town tennis courts have just

been resurfaced, and we have new nets and a freshly painted backboard. Pickle ball lines have now been put down, so if you are a pickle ball player Charlotte beach is the place to be.

I would like to thank Greg Smith for organizing our 2014 Wednesday evening adult tennis play. It looks like organized tennis is coming to an end for the season, but pickle ball will continue to meet on Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

faLL prograMMing

Fall soccer has begun! Charlotte chil-dren from preschool to 6th grade are outside enjoying rec soccer—it’s a beau-tiful thing! Practice and games are in full swing, and the soccer fields are full every Saturday from now until Oct. 11.

On Saturday, Oct. 4, we will host eight other towns for a day of soccer at

our annual Charlotte Soccer Jambo-ree. There will be food available; pro-ceeds go to the Charlotte 8th grade class and the Recreation Department.

There is a soccer cleat exchange here at Town Hall. If your child has outgrown their cleats or you are in need of a larger size, come share in the cleat exchange.

Fall programming is now posted on the Charlotte town website. If your child is interested in music, try our after-school piano class taught by experi-enced instructors Mary Beth Bowman and Lauren Dabkowski. There is also an after-school percussion class taught by the talented Andrew Gagnon.

We have added afterschool horse-back riding to our programming. Les-sons are now being taught at Cedar Springs Farm, which has a beautiful heated indoor arena and a great staff.

Celtic dance classes begin at Char-

lotte Central School Oct. 11. Heather Morris is an experienced instructor and a great mentor to these students.

If you are looking to find a job as a babysitter we are hosting a Red Cross Babysitting Certification Class Satur-day, Oct. 11, here at the town offices.

The fall driver’s education class, which begins Oct. 13, has only a few open slots left. Please check before you register to see if there is still an opening.

aduLT prograMMing

Adult Early Morning Boot Camp is the place to be 6 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday mornings outdoors at CCS. It is so much fun! We have such a great community—come out and join us and make a commitment to fitness. Class began Sept. 9. There are eight class ses-sions, but you can join at any point.

Registration forms for all programs and more information can be found on our town website charlottevt.org or here at the Charlotte Town Hall.

As always there are full and par-tial scholarships available for all Rec-reation programs. If you have any questions about any of our programs contact me at [email protected] or 425-6129 Ext. 204.

CSSU Buccaneers Win Big Against Burlington

Members of the CSSU Buccaneers football team, which consists of play-ers from Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne and Williston, rush onto the field for a game against Burlington—the team’s best game of the year so far, noted head coach Kris Rosner. The team “beat Burlington in every phase of the game,” said Rosner, winning 32-14. It was the second victory of the week, Rosner added, as the junior varsity club won an 8–6 game over a tough Chittenden East squad.

Photo by Nan Boffa


iMpaCT SurveyWe need your feedback! Please don’t

forget to fill out an Impact Survey, either online or on paper. You can visit our website, Charlottepubliclibrary.org, to click in, or stop by the library for a hard copy.

Library CLoSedThe library will be closed Thursday,

Oct. 2, for a staff in-service day.

upCoMing aT The Library

Kids & family programs. Registra-tion is required for all of the follow-ing programs; please call or email the library to sign up: 425-3864 or youth@[email protected].

Maker Club Great Pumpkin Chal-lenge, Monday, Oct. 6, 3:15–4:30 p.m. Turn ordinary pumpkins into high-tech “hack-o-lanterns” using electronic gear like Scratch, Squishy Circuits, Little Bits, Arduino and your imagination. For ages 10 & up.

Lunch Bunch Storytime, Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m., beginning Oct. 7. Pack your lunch and join us to discover the world of stories through books, songs, play—and dessert! For children ages 3 to 5 who are comfortable in a storytime setting.

Explore Time, Tuesdays, 3:15 to 4:15 p.m., beginning Oct. 7. Explore the world around us through stories, puzzles and creative projects of all kinds. For kindergarten and first grade students.

Polymer Clay Creations Afterschool Program. Wednesday, Oct. 8, 3:15–4:15 p.m. Use Fimo clay and your imagination to make charms and other trinkets. For second grade and up.

Be a Maker: Accessorize with LEDs! Wednesday, Oct. 22, 3:15–4:30 p.m. Style your own “electrifying” cuff or bracelet using conductive thread, lights and other embellishments. For ages 10 and up.

aduLT prograMS

Heat Pumps in a Cold Climate. Thursday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Hear about cold climate heat pumps, a new technol-ogy that can save you money on your heating and cooling bills and reduce your dependence on fossil fuels. Bill Kal-lock of the Charlotte Energy Committee will share a homeowner’s perspective of living with an air-source heat pump, showing heat performance data from his house over the past two winters.

Living with Alzheimer’s: Plainly & Simply. Saturday, Sept. 27, 10:30 a.m.

Local author Mary Ann Fuller Young shares her struggles and challenges car-ing for a loved one with this debilitating disease. Her memoir, Plainly and Simply, is an enlightening experience for all. It serves as a reminder to caregivers that they are not alone in their perplexing situations. Co-sponsored with the Pier-son Library, this event takes place at the Pierson Library in Shelburne.

Charlotte Seed Library Seed-Saving Workshop. Saturday, Oct. 4, 11:30 a.m. Learn how to save seeds from your favorite harvests with Master Gardener Joan Weed and help build our Seed Library at the same time. Bring your own or share ours from the Transition Town Garden. All seed-saving materials provided.

The Goldfinch Book Discussion. Wednesday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m. Donna Tartt’s blockbuster novel has taken the reading world by storm. Join us for a discussion led by Florence McCloud, who shares her research in the history and background of this amazing tale. Refreshments served and conversation encouraged.

Mystery Book Group: Queens of Crime, Last Chapter. Monday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m. Ngaio Marsh’s classic A Surfeit of Lampreys rounds out our tour of the mys-tery’s Golden Age. Copies of the book are available at the library and on the library’s Kindle & Nook devices. Coffee, muffins and conversation provided!

on diSpLay aT The Library

Intimate Flower Portraits: Pho-tography Exhibit by Anne Prescott, Sept. 2–Nov. 2. For as long as she can remember, Anne has been inspired by the special beauty of flowers and had a desire to capture them on film—to give them permanence. After living many places across the country, she recently settled in Vermont to be near her fam-ily and has had a chance to pursue this project. These “flower portraits,” taken using a macro lens, show the extraordi-nary design in these “miracles of nature,” as she calls them. This is Anne’s first exhibit at the Charlotte Library, although she has had informal showings in various locations over the years.

Library boardMeeting: Oct. 16 at 5:30 p.m. Board members: Bonnie Christie,

chair; Vince Crockenberg, treasurer; Emily Ferris, vice chair; Dorrice Ham-mer, secretary; Jonathan Silverman, member-at-large.

Library Contact Information

Director Margaret Woodruff

Youth Services LibrarianCheryl Sloan

HoursMon, Wed: 10 a.m.-–7 p.m.

Tues, Thurs, Fri: 10 a.m.-–5 p.m.Sat: 9 a.m.-–2 p.m.

Phone 425-3864

Email [email protected]

Website charlottepubliclibrary.org

Pap Smears and HPV and Vaccines!

Oh My!Sharon Mount

CONTRIBUTOR

It used to be simple. Women received a Pap smear when they became sexually active and annually thereafter. Pap smears were diagnosed as positive or negative. Women with positive Pap smears were referred for biopsy. Women with negative Pap smears returned in a year. Dorothy (and Toto) lived safely in Kansas, protected by the annual Pap smear. But we’re not in Kansas anymore! Even the very name “Pap smear” has changed.

pap SMearS are now pap TeSTSThis name change reflects a new

methodology that replaces the old direct “smear” of cells collected from the cervix and smeared onto a microscopic slide. Cells are now collected and placed into a liquid fixative, which allows better visualization of the cells. This process also allows use of computer-assisted preliminary screening. Although computers have not replaced the human eye (and brain) at Fletcher Allen Health Care (FAHC), computer screening helps find rare atypical cells that in the past may have been missed. Hence the computer screen serves as a reliable safety net. The technology is quite amazing, truly seeming like the Land of Oz (before Dorothy discovers the wizard is a fake, because this is real).

Over 35,000 Pap tests per year are reviewed at FAHC using this advanced technology. The new methodology also allows the sample to be processed for human papilloma virus (HPV). The good news for women is that both the Pap test (microscopic slide) and the HPV testing can be accomplished with one sample…hence one gynecologic visit, not two.

hpv CauSeS CerviCaL CanCerIn 1977, Zur Hausen discovered

the link between HPV and cervical cancer (and received a Nobel prize for this work in 2007), which is far stronger than the relationship between smoking and lung cancer. Although there are approximately 100 different types of HPV, types 16 and 18 are responsible for 70 percent of all cervical cancers. Other subtypes, such as 6 and 11, cause genital warts. The molecular tests for HPV include a dozen or so of the high-risk types of HPV responsible for cancer (such as 16 and 18) and not the low risk types (6 and 11).

There are two types of HPV vaccines. One is bivalent and targets HPV 16 and 18; the other is quadravalent and targets HPV 16, 18, 6 and 11. Hence, it is possible that 70 percent of cervical cancer could be eliminated due to the vaccine (maybe in the Land of Oz where vaccination is universal). With the quadravalent vaccine, the incidence of genital warts would also be reduced.

There is more good news. Other HPV-related cancers are also expected to decrease in incidence due to the vaccine, and this includes penile, anal and oropharyngeal cancers, which obviously are not restricted to females. In fact, the incidence of oropharyngeal cancers in young (as in 30- and 40-year-old) men has increased significantly. The HPV vaccination campaign should include boys and already does so in many countries. Talk to your pediatrician!

The recommendations for cervical screening are rather complex and have changed significantly in the past few years. Fortunately there are published algorithms from national organizations that include the woman’s age as well as the Pap test diagnosis combined with the HPV molecular test to guide clinicians and patients. Some of the major changes include no Pap test before age 21 or after age 65 (but only if the woman has a history of negative Pap tests and HPV testing). For many women, a three- or even five- year interval is now suggested between Pap tests, again depending on the woman’s Pap test/HPV history and other risk factors. It is important to understand that these algorithms are recommendations only and that decisions regarding cervical screening are best left to the patient and her clinician.

Be aware of yet another huge change that affects cervical cancer screening. In March of 2014, the FDA approved HPV molecular testing to be used as primary screening for cervical cancer, in essence replacing the Pap test. Whether HPV testing will eventually make the Pap test obsolete remains to be determined.

With all these changes, a woman can truly feel like Dorothy and want to click her heels three times and return to Kansas. But these changes are all incredible advances that will improve the health of women, certainly in this country where these advances are available to most of us. Unfortunately, Pap tests, HPV testing and vaccines are not readily available in most resource-poor countries where cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death.

In summary, some suggestions: Discuss the new Pap test screening recommendations with your primary care provider. Ask about the HPV vaccine for both boys and girls. Take advantage of the opportunities our country has to offer in the prevention of lethal cervical cancer. Many in the world are not so fortunate.

Sharon Mount is a professor of pathology at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and an attending physician in pathology at Fletcher Allen Health Care. She lives in Charlotte.

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11:00 p.m.

The Shelburne-Charlotte Garden Club has a wonderful group of pro-grams planned for the 2014-2015 sea-son. Meetings are held the first Thurs-day of each month at 9:30 a.m., unless otherwise noted.

On Thursday, Oct. 2, attendees will find Charlotte Albers, a local landscape designer, speaking on Planting Bulbs for a Beautiful Spring. Discussion will follow about future directions for the garden club. The meeting will be held at the Shelburne Town Offices.

Shelburne’s Chris Engstrom, owner of In Full Bloom, will speak about Christmas arrangements on Thursday, Nov. 6, at a location to be announced.

Ben Waterman of UVM Extension Service will speak on Thriving Cross- Cultural Gardens on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m., at the Shelburne Methodist Church. A potluck luncheon will fol-low the programl. Please bring a small

donation for Toys for Tots and a food shelf donation.

Future programs include Fibonacci numbers as they pertain to botany and Deedle Kiley speaking about his father Dan Kiley’s exceptional career as an influential landscape architect. A few of his notable projects include the Gate-way Arch in St. Louis, the Ford Foun-dation headquarters and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Other upcoming programs include: Inside the Wholesale Florist Industry, a tour; To Bee or Not to Bee, regarding hives and honey; and the Intervale, a pivotal place in our community.

More details will follow about the 2015 programs. Please watch the Char-lotte News.

We welcome new members and guests. For more information, please call Ann Mead at 985-2657.

Upcoming Programs at the Shelburne-Charlotte Garden Club New to the

Area?Newcomers Club is for you.

Organized day trips, lunches and dinners are a proven way of making friends and getting acquainted with the community. The club meets on Wednesdays twice monthly from September to June. For more information please call Dana Engel at 864-0766 or Orchard Corl at 985-3870.

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ÀRRULQJ��SDQHO�SLQH�GRRUV��H[SRVHG�FHLOLQJ�EHDPV��ZDLQVFRWLQJ��EXLOW�LQV��SULYDWH�DFUHV��)HUULVEXUJK�$469,000 | MLS# 4352926

Charlotte Contemporary2Q��SULYDWH�DFUHV��WKLV��EHG�&RQWHPSRUDU\�KDV�EHHQ�XSGDWHG�LQFOXGLQJ��EDWKV��

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Summer Lessons in the Alaskan Outdoors

Once upon a time, in the 18th century, Russians nearly wiped out their sables making warm fur coats. Peter the Great dispatched Captain Vitus Bering and his crew to the New World with its seemingly endless resources. They foundered but not before crashing on an Alaskan island and claiming it for Russia. Bering never made the return trip, however, because he refused his doctor’s recommendation to eat spruce bark and berries. Bering died of scurvy.

As Native Alaskans had done before them, the Russians hunted sea otters. At the time, a single pelt in today’s dollars fetched $9,000. Once they had depleted the otters, the Russians saw no further use for Alaska and sold it to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million. The final $200,000 was attributed to a lake the Russians had dug near Sitka, 57°N latitude, in order to sell ice to San Francisco. (For comparison, Charlotte is at about 44°N.) Southeast Alaska, bathed by ocean currents, has a mild climate, and many years the lake did not freeze. What the Americans lost in ice revenue they more than reclaimed in gold. Within a few short years prospectors were mining $20 million of the precious metal

each year in Alaska. I digress. Other cool nature facts about

Southeast Alaska:Sea otters, on the brink of extinction,

were protected in 1911 when only 1,500 remained. Reintroduced to Southeast Alaska in the 1960s, they have recovered to a robust population of 27,000 today. Adult males can grow to 90 pounds and eat one quarter of their body weight each day. This is bad news for crabbers and abalone fishers whose catches are sharply reduced. The good news is that enormous kelp for-ests, no longer devoured by sea urchins, can absorb large quantities of carbon diox-ide, mitigating global warming. Amidst the algal or kelp fronds sea otters sleep, feed, mate and give birth. They spend most of their lives on their backs, using their chests as a dining tray.

Southeast Alaska is wet, most locations doused by 100 inches or more of rain each year. Sitka sees sun only 75 days a year.

Southeast contains greater densities of eagles—with a population of 33,000—and brown bears than any place on earth. This includes grizzlies.

Despite latitudes in the 50s, temperate rainforests in Southeast Alaska host many plants found in Vermont. Because of abun-dant moisture and long summer hours of daylight (if not sunlight), the plants grow bigger, among them bunchberries, high bush cranberries, both bog and high bush blueberries, false Solomon’s seal, shooting stars, wild lily of the valley, Clintonia or blue bead lily, and bog plants such as bear-berries, cotton grass and, of course, sphag-num moss. Chanterelles, too. Astounding facts: In response to the frequency of the beating wings of a bumblebee (the note C), shooting stars explode a puff of pollen to assure pollination. If you have perfect pitch or a tuning fork, you can prove this!

Temperate rainforests contain more biomass per acre than tropical rain-forests, in large part because of the size of the trees.

Humpback whales are social animals that engage in cooperative behaviors. Specialists, which blow bubbles and communicate, evolve within a group or pod of whales. Together the whales ‘bubble-net feed,’ swimming in circles exhal-ing through their blowholes to cre-ate a cylindrical curtain of bubbles. Schools of herring, avoiding the bubbles, swim into the center. The communicator lets out a high-pitched shriek, and the whales rise as one to the surface, open mouths gulp-ing down thousands of gallons of herring-rich seawater. A naturalist on our boat lowered a hydrophone into the water. As the microphone picked up the whale’s cry, flocks of sea birds flew low over the water, looking for a meal of herring. Moments later 15 to 20 humpbacks exploded above the surface. For several minutes the whales dived and surfaced, flukes upraised, before disap-pearing to repeat the bubble-net cycle. Researchers recognize individual whales, which can live to be 100 years old, by the pattern of white patches on the underside of their flukes.

Glaciers worldwide are receding as a result of global climate change. From a distance many coastal glaciers look dirty, like the plowed snow in our driveways by late March. It is the glaciers that are melt-ing most quickly that have faces of bright turquoise ice. Up close, glaciers chill the air even on sunny summer days—to 38° on one late August morning. Percussive cracks echo across the valleys or fjords.

Our small boat bobbed and weaved among huge chunks of floating ice, many hosting a harbor seal or two. When glaciers calve, large chunks of ice sluice into the water sending out roller waves. We kept our dis-tance from the glacier as well as floating chunks of ice large and small. Salt water continually melts 90 percent of the ice that rests below the surface, so a floater can flip at any moment, creating enough suction to pull a small boat under.

Did I ever dream I would spend an afternoon 100 feet from two bears (and QRW� EH� DIUDLG�"�1HDU� WKH� HQG� RI� VXPPHU��when salmon return to their native streams to spawn and die, bears congregate at falls where salmon leap upstream. For hours and hours the bears catch fish and chow down, quite oblivious to humans.

Out-Doors

by Elizabeth Bassett

A bear on an Alaskan shoreline. Grizzlies congregate near the water to catch salmon.


THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Town Plan Workshop: Housing and Economic Development, 7 p.m., Town Hall. For more info, see story on front page.

Presentation: Cold Climate Heat Pumps, 7–8:30 p.m., Charlotte Library. Come hear about cold cli-mate heat pumps, a new technology, that can save you money on your heating and cooling bills and reduce your dependence on fossil fuels. Bill Kallock, Charlotte Energy Committee, will share a home-owner’s perspective of living with an air-source heat pump. He’ll be showing heating performance data from his house over the past two winters, showing that the technology does work at subzero tempera-tures. Organized by Charlotte’s Energy Committee and Charlotte Library. Free.

Design Review Committee Meeting, 5 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda and more info at charlottevt.org.

Wine and Cheese Party to Benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes, 6–8 p.m., Vergennes Opera House. More info: bgcver-gennes.org.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Vermont Made Roundup, 5–7:30 p.m., ArtsRiot, Burlington. Ten Vermont finalists for Martha Stewart Made in America award will provide sam-ples of their products for at least 250 people, mingle with attendees and also be selling their products at event. Includes Fortuna Sausage, Tonewood Maple, Nutty Steph’s, Vermont Farmstead and more. Free. More info: yelp.com/events/Burlington.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Creating a Temporary “Buzz” for a Lifetime of Love - Mrs. Vermont America, 2 p.m., Arrowhead Golf Course, Milton. Join Charlotte’s Sera Anderson (Mrs Vermont America 2014) for this charitable event to benefit the Vermont Cancer Center at the UVM College of Medicine. Join her for a relaxed and fun atmosphere suitable for the whole family and friends. There will be food, live music for children, a bouncy house and other games. There is a 100 ticket limit for this event. Adults: $52.50, Kids 5 and over: $10, 5 and under: free. More info: yelp.com/events/Burlington.

Free Feldenkrais Demo, 2–3 p.m., Yoga Roots, Shelburne. Trouble With Your Hips? Come see if Feldenkrais is what you need! Yoga Roots in Shelburne will be hosting a free Feldenkrais, “Oiling the Hip Joints” demo with Uwe Mester this Saturday. Six week series starts Thursday, Oct. 2, from 9–10

a.m. More info: yogarootsvt.com.

17th Annual Walk or Run for JUMP, 9 a.m., Burlington. Begins at North Beach. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The family-friendly, fun event includes a 5K run, 1K run for kids and 1K walk along the scenic Burlington Bike Path. Great prizes and raffle drawings will be awarded, along with team awards. Individuals are welcome and teams are encouraged! More info: jumpvt.org or email, [email protected].

Pedals for Progress Used Bike and Sewing Machine Collection for Developing Countries, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Location TBD. The Green Mountain Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and Ripple Youth will be collecting used bikes and sewing machines for self-help programs in the developing world. For more information, please contact Joanne Heidkamp, Pedals for Progress volunteer, 238-5414 or face-book.com/p4pVermont.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2

Planning Commission Meeting, 7 p.m., Town Hall. More info and agenda at charlottevt.org.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

Coil Pots for kids, 10–11 a.m., Shelburne Craft School. Introduce your child to the joy of mak-ing coil pots on Saturdays at the Shelburne Craft School. Arrive at 10am for a 60-minute session where your child will complete a project. Activities are appropriate for ages 5 to 15 and are guided by an instructor. Children must be accompanied by an adult who may choose to participate or not. No pre-registration is necessary. More info: the shelburne-craftschool.org. Cost: $10 per child.

Dead Creek Wildlife Day, 7 a.m.–4 p.m., Dead Creek Wild Life Management Area, Addison. Dead Creek Wildlife Day has been listed as one of Vermont’s “Top 10 Fall Events.” This free event is an opportunity for Vermonters to learn more about the state’s incredible wildlife, including nature walks, wildlife photography, and hunting dog demonstra-tions along with activities for the kids such as soap and decoy carving, bluebird box building, shooting sports, and live animal demonstrations. More info: vermontfishandwildlife.com.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7

Jim Douglas Discussion and Book Launch, 7 p.m., Town Hall Theatre, Middlebury. Former governor Jim Douglas will join Middlebury College political sci-ence professor Eric Davis to discuss Douglas’s new

memoir, “The Vermont Way: A Republican Governor Leads America’s Most Liberal State,” chronicling his early life and his political career. Includes audience Q & A, and book signing. Books will be available for purchase at the event. Cost: free. More info: town-halltheatre.org.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8

Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda and more info at charlottevt.org.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, 7:30 p.m., FlynnSpace. This winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play is one of the most sought-after shows in America today. Written by Christopher Durang, the play is directed by Vermont Stage Artistic Director Cristina Alicea. Performances run through Oct. 26, Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. First Saturday matinee only at 2 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

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Community Alliance Church, Hinesburg, Gathering Place, 9 a.m., Sunday School, 9 a.m., Worship, 10:15 a.m. Information: 482-2132.

Charlotte Congregational Church, Worship, 10 a.m., Sunday School, 10 a.m. Information: 425-3176.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mass, 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Information: 425-2637.

St. Jude, Mass, Hinesburg, 9:30 a.m. Information: 482-2290.

North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church, Hollow Road, Worship, 10 a.m., Sunday School, 9:45 a.m. Information: 425-2770.

Cross Roads Chapel, Relocated to the Brown Church on Route 7, Ferrisburgh. Worship, 11 a.m. Information: 425-3625.

Assembly of God Christian Center, Rtes. 7 and 22A, Ferrisburgh, Sunday worship, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sunday School, 9 a.m. Information: 877-3903.

All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farm Road, Shelburne. Sunday Service 9 a.m., Evensong Service 5 p.m. 985-3819

Trinity Episcopal Church, 5171 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne, 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. “Space for Grace” (educa-tional hour), 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist (with child care and Sunday School). 985-2269.

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to Jenna Baginski a sophomore at CVU and a fifth-time participant and now sole designer/seamstress for the South End Art Hop’s 2014 Strut Fashion Show. Jenna’s black and white collection is featured here on her models from left to right Annie Bedell, Hannah Tiballi, Carly Labrie, Jenna Baginski, Hadley Crow, Katie Sammut, Johana Vigoreaux.

to Liz Anderson, who was hired by TruexCullins, an architecture and interior design firm based in Burlington. She will work for the company’s Interiors Studio team providing design services for TruexCullins residential clients.

to Ric Flood, founder of Flood Financial Services in South Burlington, who received the prestigious distinction of Elite Premier Partner at the Elite Escape Annual Meeting in Snowmass, Colo. last month. He has received this designation every year since 2001 when Lincoln Financial Securities began recognizing producers for their outstanding achievements.

to Susan and Craig Sim of Charlotte, whose daughter, Stephanie Sim Allison, gave birth to a son, Theodore Benjamin Allison, on Sept. 12. Stephanie and her husband, Charles (Chip) Allison, reside in Charlotte, N.C.

to Lisa and John Hauenstein, of Charlotte, and Dr. Mark Socinski, of Presto, Penn., who are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Audra Socinski, to Bryan Dix, son of Lois and Raymond Grossi, of Elmwood Park, N.J., and of Herbert Dix of Yonkers, N.Y. Audra is a licensed associates counselor at the Asperger’s Skill Building Network in Wayne, N.J. She graduated from Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology with her master’s degree in counseling in 2011. She is a 2003 graduate of CVU. Bryan is a studio manager at Ogilvy CommonHealth in Parsippany, N.J. He

graduated from Bergen Community College with an associate’s degree in graphic design. A June wedding is planned at the Barn at Lang Farm in Essex Junction.

is extended to the family and friends of Elizabeth “Betsy” Clark Clewley, of Burlington, who passed away at Fletcher Allen Health Care on Sept. 17 at the age of 82. An avid swimmer and advocate for teaching children to swim, Betsy loved the waters off Cedar Beach, where she had a camp and spent nearly every summer of her life. Memorial donations in her name may be made to Camp Thorpe, 680 Capen Hill Road, Goshen, VT 05733.

is extended to the family and friends of Sean P. Francalangia of Eden, who passed away Sept. 7 at the age of 24. Francalangia is survived by his parents and four siblings, including Matt Therien, lives in Charlotte.

to the family and friends of Frances Hall of Shelburne, who passed away Sept. 15 at the age of 89. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Robert Hall of Shelburne and children, including Robbie Hall and wife, Susan, of Charlotte. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the American Lung Association of Vermont, 372 Hurricane Lane, Suite 101, Williston, VT 05495 or to the Visiting Nurse Association, 1110 Prim Road, Colchester, VT 05446.

Want more 1HZV"��3LFWXUHV"��8SGDWHV"

Around Town

RENEWABLE ENERGY. Hear your home with a Maxim Outdoor Wood Pellet Furnace by Central Boiler and gain energy indepen-dence. Boivin Farm Supply 802-475-4007. (-05)

NEW AT THE MT. PHILO INN: Overnight accommodations, spacious 2-3 bedroom suites available by the day, week or month. Adjacent to Mt. Philo State Park, with pan-oramic views of Lake Champlain. Each "wing" in the historic inn has a private

entrance, full kitchen, laundry and porch. MtPhiloInn.com 425-3335.

AFTER SCHOOL GUITAR AND MUSIC LESSONS. Give your child or yourself the gift of music! Professional guitarist/singer/songwriter, Sallie Mack, teaches a unique style of learning. Bass, Ukelele and songwrit-ing also offered. Limited space. Call 425-6212 or 377-9506 or [email protected] (-06)

INTERIOR PAINTING can be hassle free, when you hire Lafayette Painting. Allow our experts to complete your proj-ect with ease. Call 863-5397 and see our work, references and much more at LafayettePaintingInc.com. (57-04)

FOR SALE: 1 gallon propane hand-held sprayer with 3 gallons of spray, $35. Two chain saws, McCulloch Mac 10 - $25 for both. One three seat, old time, ironwood bench - holds 4 people, $100. Please call Marvin at 425-3529. (-04)

The Charlotte News Classifieds: Reach your friends and neighbors for only $7 per issue (payment must be sent before issue date). Please limit your ad to 35 words or fewer. Send to The Charlotte News Classifieds, P.O. Box 251, Charlotte, VT 05445 or email your ad to [email protected].

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Hinesburg 4-H Club Enjoys Busy Fair Season

Hinesburg 4-H Club members (left to right) Cyrus Tyler, Corinna Hobbs, sheep competition judge Jeff Jordan, Caroline Hobbs and Charlotter Hannah Cleveland after the Open Wool Breeds show on “Mak-ing Strides Against Breast Cancer Day” at the Champlain Valley Fair. The Hinesburg 4-H Club members had fun practicing sheep showmanship and showing their sheep in the Fitting & Showmanship and Open Wool Breed shows, earning many colorful ribbons in the competitions.

Members met with Fiber Loft superinten-dent Tony Carrier to learn about wool card-ing during one of the days at the fair. Several members also submitted photos and tabletop exhibits and were rewarded with ribbons and

helpful evaluations. Everyone had an exciting time at the coun-

ty fairs this summer, and they all look for-ward to the show season next year. Attended but not pictured: member Claire Rocheleau.

Article by Hannah Cleveland, club reporter.

Charlotte News Volume lVII Number 04 The VoIce of The TowN Thursday, sepTember 25, 2014

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Jim Morse is a former Vermont Supreme Court Justice living in Charlotte. Find more of his Doodles & Jots in his book, available at the Flying Pig Bookstore or online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Red Barn Books.

Germs don’t have opinions, and that gives them an edge.

Morse's Doodles & Jots

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The Charlotte News | Sept. 25, 2014