Deerfield Valley News THE

January 12, 2023 • The Deerfield Valley News • A

$1.00 Vol. 33 Issue 2 USPS #009987 • www.dvalnews.com

Serving Southern Vermont • January 12-18, 2023

Trial in Wardsboro shooting underway

In THE NEWS:

Popular folk singer returns A7

Hard week on the hardwood for Wildcats B2

Justin Maturo prepares pizzas at Valley Craft Ales in Wilmington.

Photos courtesy of Brian Holt

Old mill a natural fit for brewpub

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Deerfield Valley News • PO Box 310 • West Dover, VT 05356

Pajama party at the library B1

“Everything just feels right,” says Valley Craft Ales owner 

By Lauren Harkawik WILMINGTON - Valley Craft Ales partners Justin Maturo and Brian Holt say the enthusiasm shown toward their business in the first weeks of its existence has exceeded their expectations. The pair, who are joined in owning the brewpub and pizzeria by Chrystal Holt and Travis Charlow, say they’re scaling up pizza dough production to keep up with demand.  Valley Craft Ales, which opened in November, is located in the former Old Red Mill building on Wilmington’s North Main Street. Brian Holt noted in an interview with The Deerfield Valley News this week that he’d had his eye on the building for a while. At a time, he thought about situating his other business, 1A Coffee Roasters, there. He and Maturo said the space has been a natural fit for their latest endeavor, Valley Craft Ales.  “The place just has the bones and energy for a community gathering space,” said Holt. “It has such a good warm en-

ergy and everything just feels right.”  Right now, the fireplace — which is 360 degrees and is situated in the part of the restaurant the team calls the lounge — is a visual centerpiece. Come spring, a deck will be open outside, a space formerly occupied by Jerry’s Deck. In fact, it’ll most likely still be called Jerry’s Deck. The team wants to pay homage to Jerry Osler, who previously owned the inn with his wife, Sheila Osler. Holt says he’s developed a relationship with Osler and more than wanting to replace what was happening in the building when it was under his ownership, he wants to carry it on.  “We’re trying to do everything with an approach of continuing on the energy of the building,” he said. Maturo says the warm feeling of the space is opposite to what he experiences in a lot of taprooms, which is partially why he’s drawn to it.  “A lot of the breweries, the rooms are super cold,” he said. “They’re cement, they’re metal buildings, they have heavy hard tables, they’re loud. We’ve kind of See BREW on page A6

By Lauren Harkawik BRATTLEBORO - A jury trial in the case of State v. Kevin Parker began on Wednesday. Parker has been charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Kirby Staib, Parker’s then neighbor in Wardsboro.  The shooting occurred on the afternoon of October 18, 2016, on Gilfeather Road, where Parker and Staib both lived. Parker has said that he shot Staib in self-defense.  In opening statements on Wednesday, State’s Attorney Tracy Shriver told the jury that in the coming days, they will hear about the tense relationship that had developed between the men. Although Parker and Staib had once had a cordial relationship, that changed in the years leading up to the shooting. “You will hear after the relationship Kevin and Kirby turned sour, police were called to Gilfeather Road multiple times,” said Shriver. “You will hear that Kevin Parker is a man prone to sudden bursts of vengeful anger. A man so angry that he would tell police he was doing things intention“Kevin reacted ally to irritate his neighbors, the Staibs. A man so angry he quickly, wildly, and would tell the police he was in a war with his neighbors. A he fired as fast man so angry he would tell the as he could until police he was going to shoot Kirby Staib.”  Kirby went down.” Shriver said the state will make the case that the shooting death was the result of one of those sudden bursts of anger. She described the afternoon of October 18, 2016, as one in which Staib encountered Parker on another property on Gilfeather Road, property belonging to the Epstein family. Staib was on the property cleaning up manure left by his horse, Pete, who often got loose on the road. Parker was out for his afternoon routine — walking his dogs with his rifle in hand.  It was shortly after the two encountered one another, Shriver said, that Staib was found dead by his girlfriend, Laurie Gallagher. “Around him, his hat off his head, tools for picking up [horse] manure, and a pistol,” said Shriver. “The war was over.”  In his opening statements, defense attorney Christopher J. Montgomery acknowledged the longtime dispute between the neighbors. He said that on the afternoon in question, Parker encountered Staib, who, in Montgomery’s words, had “snapped.”  “And as soon as [Staib] saw Kevin, he dropped his shovel, pulled out his gun, and said, ‘I have had enough of your shit,’” said Montgomery. He said Parker believed Staib was going to shoot him. “Kevin reacted quickly, wildly, and he fired as fast as he could until Kirby went down.” Parker then ran to his house and called 911, telling dispatchers he had shot his neighbor.  The state’s first witness was Tyson Kinney, a former Wilmington police officer who, as a state police detective, was the investigator assigned to the case involving Staib and Parker. Kinney’s testimony established the geography of Gilfeather Road, showing where Staib and Parker’s properties were in relationship to each other and to the Epstein property where the shooting occurred.  Following relatively brief geographical testimony from Kinney, the state called Gallagher, who gave testimony that was at times emotional. She detailed the tension that had existed between Parker and the Staib family.  She said that on the afternoon of the shooting, she saw Staib after he got home from work but didn’t realize he had gone up to the Epstein property; she thought he had gone to run other errands.  While preparing dinner with Staib’s mother, Joan Staib, Gallagher heard gunshots. She told the jury that she knew immediately that something was wrong. Parker often shot his rifles for practice, but the shots were usually spaced evenly. That day, the sound was erratic. Then, after hearing See TRIAL on page A2

Longtime school leader named to state education board

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Second Section Community............... B1 Sports........................ B2 Classifieds................. B5 Obituaries.................. B7 Real Estate................ B7

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perspective to the board, including his familiarity with rural schools and the work that has been done in Windham Central Supervisory Union by way of diversity and inclusion.  “I think we’ve done a lot at Windham Central and at River Valleys,” he said. “I really have always felt we should be the model for the state. So now I get to share that experience with the state.” At his first State Board of Education meeting, Werner watched a presentation about diversity and inclusion and thought the approaches Windham Central has taken in both might benefit other districts in the state.  “I’m going to try to see if we can get the people from Windham Central to do a presentation so [the state board] can see what we’re doing down south,” he said. “That may not have happened if I wasn’t there.”  Werner said there are a few topics in particular that he’s excited to be a part of the conversation about at the state level, such as how education finance might shift and how resources are going to be managed with regard to recovering from the COVID pandemic.  “There are still a lot of schools that are not where they were when we started shutting schools down,” he said.  “At Windham Central we’ve come up with some really good strategies so we can preserve the money and not spend it all in one shot, but have a plan over the next few years that we can adjust as we see where the needs are. There’s a lot of stuff going on with staff and students. It’s been really stressful for everybody.” With regard to how education financing will evolve, he said he’s interested it in it as a multi-pronged, broad topic that affects just about everything.  “We keep hearing about the declining population and the increases in the budgets, but when you have almost double-digit inflation and you are trying to play catch up, there’s a lot of stressors on the budget,” he said.  The focus of the state board, he notes, is on all students in the state. That’s different than running a school-specific, or even a supervisory-union-specific board. It requires looking at the nuances of different schools, geographies, and communities. Just because something works in Dover, he notes, doesn’t mean it would work in Burlington.  “Locally, we think what’s best for our students in Dover and Wardsboro and at Windham Central, we think what’s Rich Werner gives a presentation on tax rates during a River Valleys school board meeting best for our entire SU,” he said. “At the state level, we’re at Dover School in December 2018. Werner was recently appointed to the Vermont State there to advocate for all students, parents, and staff, and Board of Education by Gov. Phil Scott. File photo taxpayers. We’re all in it together.”

By Lauren Harkawik  DOVER - Longtime school board chair Rich Werner has added a new board to his portfolio: the Vermont State Board of Education. Werner was appointed to the board by Gov. Phil Scott. The appointment was announced in late December. Since, Werner has had the opportunity to attend his first meeting, which was held virtually.  As residents of Dover likely know, Werner is not new to the school board scene. In an interview with The Deerfield Valley News this week, he couldn’t recall exact numbers, but said it was “at least two decades ago” that he joined the Dover School Board. That board became the River Valleys Unified

Union School District Board following an Act-46-inspired merger with Wardsboro in 2017. In addition, Werner serves as one of RVUSD’s representatives on the Windham Central Supervisory Union Board, of which he is also the chair. The State Board of Education is something Werner has long had an interest in serving on. He applied once in the past, but at the time there were enough representatives from the southern part of the state. When Oliver Olsen, of Jamaica, recently resigned, Werner saw it as a good time to express interest again, since he’d be replacing someone from the same region.  Werner said he’s excited to bring his

A • The Deerfield Valley News • January 12, 2023

Residents ask for permit to grow cannabis indoors after hearing By Mike Eldred Breaking: On Thursday morning the Wilmington Selectboard, acting as the local cannabis control commission, denied the Katzes’ license for mixed cultivation in a 5-0 vote. The Katzes may reapply for a license through the state cannabis commission. WILMINGTON- Adam and Arnold Katz said they’ll focus on an indoor cannabis cultivation operation after meeting resistance from neighbors regarding their proposal for outdoor cannabis cultivation at a development review board meeting Tuesday evening. A group of abutting property owners and other residents living near the proposed cannabis farm said they were concerned that the odor of marijuana would be detectable off the property, perhaps even as far away as the village center. Other concerns included the character of the neighborhood and a negative impact on property values. In written testimony, two members of the group, Roland and Patrice Schneider, said they had personal health concerns, after experiencing asthma symptoms following a one- to two-hour exposure to a hemp field adjacent to Brattleboro Union High School soccer field. “I don’t want to imagine what would happen were we to live with the smell 24 hours.” The Schneiders also raised concerns about property values, referring to statistics indicating the value of properties near cannabisgrowing facilities in Colorado fell in value. “I suspect that every property owner within a mile of the proposed growing site would be grieving their taxes once they learn that the market value for their property is less than expected due to the stench and less than desirable location caused by the fields.” Arnold Katz said he and his son, Adam Katz, who owns the Lisle Hill Road house and land where the farming operation was proposed, initially sought to withdraw their application altogether. “We both walked out of the meeting feeling uncomfortable being the center of our our neighbors’ dis-

comfort,” Arnold Katz said. “We both felt confident that the meeting did not go well for us, and that’s why we agreed to pull our application.” But after conferring with the Vermont Cannabis Control Board Wednesday, morning, the pair decided to pursue their planned indoor cultivation operation. In testimony at the Tuesday evening DRB hearing, Adam Katz said that their indoor growing plan, to be conducted in an accessory building on the property, would include a ventilation and air filtration system that would prevent odors from reaching other properties in the neighborhood. “They make a pretty nice ventilation system that has inline carbon filters that take the smell out of the air going from the inside to the outside,” he said. “It won’t be detectable.” Katz also testified that they had selected a strain of cannabis for the outdoor grow that’s considered a low-odor variety. The Katzes have already received state approval for a mixed cultivation, seeking to grow an outdoor crop on an acre of land next to their Lisle Hill Road second home, and an indoor crop in a garage loft space. At a recent local cannabis control commission hearing, however, commissioners tabled their approval after Wilmington Zoning Administrator Jessica Roberts advised that the proposed operation would require a zoning permit. The proposed outdoor growing area that the Katzes have now scrapped would have been in an 8,000-square-foot area on an adjacent one-acre lot, according to Adam Katz’s testimony Tuesday evening. The plants would be surrounded by a fence and monitored by a security camera, precautions Katz said weren’t required by the state.

Katz said the plants wouldn’t be visible by casual passers-by on the road thanks to the fencing and dense vegetation growing in a 50-foot strip of unplanted land between the fence and the side of Lisle Hill Road. “It’s going to be very difficult to see anything in the yard,” he said. The outdoor cultivation operation would include about 125 plants, Katz said, which would be started indoors and planted outside around Memorial Day. The plants would begin to mature sometime in late summer, he said, and during that time the flowers would have to be trimmed to remove light-blocking leaves. Arnold Katz said the state doesn’t allow chemical pesticides to be used on cannabis and tests licensed cannabis products to ensure no harmful chemicals have been used. There are safe and natural mixtures approved by the state, he said, but if any insect pests were detected on their plants, their plan was to use ladybugs and praying mantises to keep them under control. Development Review Board Chair Cheryl LaFlamme asked if the operation would utilize any water drawn from municipal sources. “This past year we planted two plants in our yard,” Katz said. “We didn’t use any water, just fertilized them and they grew very nicely, so we don’t plan to add any additional water. For the future, we’ve discussed the potential for a well. We don’t want to take anything off the grid or the municipality for this.” LaFlamme said the Katzes would need

a certificate from the town that there is sufficient potable water and wastewater for their proposed operation. The plants would be harvested when they flower, sometime in the fall, Katz said, and hung upside down in the garage to dry. The drying time would be a week to two weeks, after which the cannabis flowers would be removed and undergo a process of curing for two to three months. “Then they’re put into vacuum-sealed jars,” he said. “Once that’s done, the state requires they go to a lab to be checked for pesticides, bacteria, and they do an analysis of the actual flower THC flavonoids.” Throughout the process, Katz said, the plants are inventoried and the number of plants are reported to the state. “To make sure nothing has grown legs and walked off,” he said. After harvesting and processing of the plant, waste byproducts of the plant, including leaves and stems, would be composted and the compost used to replenish soil nutrients in the growing field. The indoor space the Katzes still plan to use is smaller, about 60 square feet. Although the processing is similar, the size and life cycle of the plants is significantly different, Adam Katz told DRB members. While the outdoor grow would result in one annual harvest of large cannabis plants, the indoor grow would yield several harvests of smaller plants in a year. Katz said the indoor site would hold about 96 plants growing on a three- to four-month life cycle. Tuesday evening’s hearing was closed. The Katzes were scheduled to meet with the Wilmington Selectboard, acting as the local cannabis commission, on Thursday morning.

Witness near tears during testimony TRIAL continued from page A1 on a scanner that a man had been shot, she rushed up the road’s hill herself, thinking perhaps Parker was involved in a gun accident and was hurt.  “I went to check if Kevin was OK,” said Gallagher. But instead of finding Parker, she found Staib on the ground.  She ran to the house of another neighbor, Carol Backus, who went back with her to check Staib, determined he did not have a pulse, and told Gallagher to call 911. 

Gallagher, who held back tears at several times throughout her testimony, described Staib as “a big goofball.” “He never got into a fight in his life,” she said. “Never hit anybody. Never yelled at anybody.”  The trial is scheduled to continue at Windham Superior Court Criminal Division throughout this week and into next week, with an expected end date of Friday, January 20.

January 12, 2023 • The Deerfield Valley News • A

Whitingham reviews budget, concerned about fuel costs By Tyler Lederer WHITINGHAM - At the selectboard’s regular meeting Wednesday, December 28, the board reviewed a draft fiscal year 2024 budget and discussed a book collection box at the town transfer station. Town treasurer Almira Aekus estimated they would have to raise less money than they had to for fiscal year 2023. As of a draft budget summary dated Wednesday, January 11, the general fund budget would be $742,737. Tax collections would account for $325,442 of the revenue, a decrease from the $392,583 budgeted for in fiscal year 2023. For the fire department, board member Craig Hammer expressed concern that the $600 budgeted for gasoline and diesel fuel was not high enough. “I still think I make more money sitting at home,” he said, referring to gas price increases from last year. “It’s not coming down as fast as it went up,” board chair Scott Reed added. The board estimated that the department may have spent $430 in fiscal year 2023, compared to the $282.25 spent in fiscal year 2022. Ultimately, the gasoline and diesel budget was not increased. In fiscal year 2023 the highway department budgeted for $1,195,474 to be raised in taxes. This fiscal year it’s been budgeted to raise $1,162,380. As well, its prior year fund balance will increase from $92,200 to $267,038. The fund balance increase comes from a paving grant and a facet of employee’s medical insurance. “They don’t usually use the deductible,” Aekus said. “So that actually adds to the fund balance as well.” Parks Committee member Seth Boyd wanted to know if the board would place a separate article on the Town Meeting warning asking for extra money to improve a picnic shelter at Town Hill. The plan is for an open pavilion where people can sit facing the playground. Board member Greg Brown and Reed believed it should be separate but written to approve funding up to a certain amount. “That’s almost better because then we can control what gets done,” Reed said. “If it’s a certain dollar amount, we can say ‘Too bad that’s too big. Make it smaller.’” No changes were made to the contract law enforcement budget. According to the draft budget summary, $14,000 is budgeted for patrol coverage and $150 for hearings. In other business, Discover Books, a company that sells, donates or recycles old books, proposed having a book collection box at the town transfer station. The closest book collection box for the company is located in Williamstown, MA. “We thought maybe they should find a spot out here,” said Reed. Aekus suggested it should probably be at the library. The Whitingham Selectboard meets every other Wednesday at 6:30 pm at the Whitingham Municipal Center. Their next meeting will be on Wednesday, January 25.

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Field repair plans for Twin Valley Elementary School, as proposed by Valley Youth Sports.

School budget to include money for field repairs By Mike Eldred WHITINGHAM- Twin Valley School Board members considered a draft warning for the 2023 annual school district meeting in February. According to the draft, the inperson meeting, essentially a public informational session, will be held in Wilmington on Tuesday, February 8, at 6 pm. The draft anticipates adjourning the in-person meeting until Town Meeting day on Tuesday, March 7, when voting on all articles by Australian ballot will occur. Early mail-in ballots would also be available by request from town clerks in the two towns. But the dates, times, and manner of voting on some articles could change. Board member Therese Lounsbury said it wasn’t clear yet whether temporary legislation allowing towns and school districts to choose alternative Town Meeting dates or voting methods, set to expire this week, would be extended. Lounsbury noted that the House Committee on Government Operations is considering legislation that would extend them temporarily once again this year. Although the Twin Valley School District budget hasn’t been finalized, a

recent draft budget suggests the 2024 budget may fall below the $10.1 million 2023 budget by about $237,000, or 2.33%. The figures are subject to change, however, as the budget figures come into more focus. Board members also discussed the allocation of $100,000 for the district’s maintenance reserve account to be used “for the purpose of drainage repairs of the TVES school field.” Board members said the allocation was part of a collaboration with Valley Youth Sports. Currently water gathers on the field during damp or rainy weather, creating pools that remain on the field for days. Earlier this year, Valley Youth Sports proposed a $150,000 field renovation at Twin Valley Elementary School. The project was designed to fix the field’s existing drains, remove topsoil on the field, and replace it with a graded and crowned surface on top of a well-drained subsurface. Valley Youth Sports began fundraising for the project and has raised about $60,000 toward their goal. Shortly after VYS began their fundraising drive, the school district explored a tax-payer-funded, barebones repair of the existing field drain-

age only. Board members said the proposed $100,000 article on the draft warning was part of a collaborative effort between the school and VYS to repair and improve the field. The district would fund a more substantial drainage repair project through the article, and VYS would use their private funds to make the improvements in the field surface. The draft budget also calls for $2,959.54 of the $265,267.81 surplus fund balance from the 2022 fiscal year budget to be allocated to the district’s tax stabilization reserve fund. The move would bring the balance of the fund up to $800,000. A separate article would apply $400,000 of the tax stabilization account to the 2024 budget as revenue, reducing the district’s tax liability. The allocation would leave $400,000 in the stabilization fund to be applied in the future. Another proposed article would authorize the board to allocate an asyet-to-be-determined amount from the $265,267.81 fiscal year 2022 surplus fund balance to the maintenance reserve fund “for the purpose of maintaining the facilities and/or emergency repairs.”

Valley Views

A • The Deerfield Valley News • January 12, 2023

• Opinion • Letters • Commentary

Quote Of The Week “At the state level, we’re there to advocate for all students, parents, and staff, and taxpayers. We’re all in it together.” Rich Werner

What will “closing the gap” really take?

“It also becomes very clear that the distance between Burlington and Rutland, Manchester and Readsboro, Middlebury and Craftsbury, St. Albans and Richford, can be measured in more than just miles.” When Gov. Phil Scott spoke the above words as part of his inaugural address last week, folks in small towns across Vermont took notice. Scott dedicated a significant portion of his address to urging the Legislature to consider the differences and disparities between Vermont’s more prosperous and populated regions and its rural areas, many of which are in decline. That is something that Scott should be lauded for. It is also long overdue. We’ve often observed how Vermont’s political leaders are quick to make pronouncements in, and send tax dollars to, communities in Vermont’s “golden triangle” of the northwest corner of the state. Often left behind have been rural communities in the “Northeast Kingdom” and the south-central spine of the Green Mountains, sometimes called the “Forgotten Kingdom.” In his speech Scott went into more detail about the differences between the haves and the have-nots: “Consider the data. Whether it’s housing burden, income, property value, poverty levels, labor force, or access to broadband – it’s clear some places are consistently doing better than others. And when you are driving 500 miles in one day, you see this data reflects real communities. “In an instant, the view goes from vibrant downtowns, healthy neighborhoods, and bustling offices to tarped roofs, abandoned homes, The next few weeks of the and shuttered busilegislative session should nesses. “My friends, it be watched closely to see if is up to us to close any concrete proposals come this gap. “ N o w, i t ’s not about turnout of the corner office. ing Canaan into Burlington. And no offense to Burlington, but I’m not sure anyone in Canaan wants that. What towns like Canaan or Dover or Montgomery need from us are more tools, and the flexibility to be more vibrant and dynamic. The work done in this building is felt differently across counties and communities because they all have different assets and attributes – and sometimes not enough of either. “That’s why ‘one-size’ rarely fits all. This session, if we pay more attention to the individual needs of each community, we can close the gap between regions to give all our towns and villages a brighter future.” Of course, the devil is in the details. If Scott truly expects to close those gaps he and his staff will have to convince members of the Legislature to put aside the direct interest of their constituents and craft legislation that works for all Vermonters. That, as history repeatedly bears out, is easier said than done. One only needs to look back to a year ago and the gargantuan effort by rural legislators to push through a change in how Vermont distributes tax revenues to school districts. That effort, which used a 2019 “weighting study” to prove there were disparities in how districts were compensated, was a heavy lift for those who supported it. Many valley locals were involved in that effort and have told tale after tale about how difficult it was to explain to legislators from more affluent districts why the per-pupil weighting formulas were flawed and needed to change. Looking back a little more, Scott’s immediate predecessors also called for statewide efforts to pull rural Vermont out of the backwater. Both Jim Douglas and Peter Shumlin used inaugural addresses to taut high-speed internet delivery to every corner of Vermont. They also spent hundreds of millions of state and federal tax dollars in those efforts. But today, more than 15 years after Douglas called for all of Vermont to be connected, there are vast swaths of rural Vermont still unserved or underserved. So much for bold inaugural pronouncements. Also of interest is what Scott didn’t talk about in his speech. He said nothing of initiatives he would introduce to “close the gap” he said exists. The next few weeks of the legislative session should be watched closely to see if any concrete proposals come out of the corner office or if it was all just lip service meant to make small town residents and their legislators feel good. If serious, Scott also needs to be prepared to spend much of the political capital he has built up as the most popular elected official in the state. If he truly wants “a brighter future” for all the hill towns and gores of the state, he better gird himself and his staff for some overtime, some good old-fashioned arm twisting, and the willingness to sacrifice some political sacred cows along the way. THE

Deerfield Valley News Volume 33, Issue 2 • January 12, 2023 Published by Vermont Media Publishing Co. LTD (802) 464-3388 • FAX (802) 464-7255 Web address: http://www.dvalnews.com Office hours: Mon.-Wed. 9am-5pm, Thurs. & Fri. 9am-4pm Award-winning member of the Vermont, New England, and National Newspaper press associations. Published weekly on Thursday afternoon. Periodical Class Permit at West Dover, VT 05356. U.S.P.S. #009987. Subscriptions: $20 - three months, $25 - six months, $40 - one year. Send subscription orders, change of address, or undeliverable copies to: The Deerfield Valley News, PO Box 310, West Dover, VT 05356. Opinions in Letters to the Editor and columns are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Deerfield Valley News. News Staff Publisher: Randy Capitani . [email protected] News Editor: Mike [email protected] Reporter: Lauren Harkawik ......... [email protected] Copy Editor: Ruth Hedberg . ........ [email protected] Editorial Asst.: Tyler [email protected] Contributors: Tony Crespi, Claudette Hollenbeck, Amelia Nick, Raquel Smith, Laura Stevenson, Jessica Stilling For news items please use the following addresses: General news [email protected] Releases, announcements... [email protected] Events, concerts, [email protected] Letters to the Editor............................ [email protected] Marketing and Advertising Staff and Services GM: Victoria Capitani...................... [email protected] Account Manager: Jessica Floyd.. [email protected] Account Manager: Zach [email protected] Classified advertising................... [email protected] Support Staff and Services Graphics: Raquel Smith............. [email protected] Delivery: Larry Lynch.......................... [email protected]

Reflections on two decades serving Windham County To the Editor, January 4 was a bittersweet day for me. I saw our new Windham County senators sworn in - WC will be well served by Sen. Harrison and Sen. Hashim - and for the first time in 20 years I will not be serving in seat 16. Although it always sounds a bit trite, it has truly been an honor and a humbling experience to have had the faith of Windham County for 20 years. Thank you. When I first decided not to run, my friend Sen. Tim Ashe suggested I look over the past years to review the issues that I worked hard on, those that might not have happened without me or might have happened in a very different way. I did that and as I was doing it, what struck me most was that each of these issues required working with others, often those with whom I disagreed, to come to the best solutions. It reaffirmed my belief that there is a huge difference between being an advocate/activist and a policy maker. As an advocate/activist you know you are right; your position is the one that should be adopted. As a policy maker you need to realize that there are advocates on each side of any issue who know they are right and that your job is to listen to all those perspectives and do the best/ right thing for Vermont and Vermonters. This means compromise - not a dirty word - respecting others, and admitting you don’t know everything. The other important thing to remember is that everything is always changing. There are very few issues that are ever “completed.” Mostly they are addressed, readdressed, and readdressed. Although this sounds like “kicking the can down the road,” it is actually because incremental change is almost always better than dramatic change or no change. And with each change we make we become aware of unintended consequences and new challenges and as a result need to modify; after all nothing is static. So in the spirit of nostalgia here are a few of the things on my list: Election reform, including election day registration, online registration, and mail-out ballots; municipal government reform acknowledging they are the real seats of democracy; patient choice at end of life; establishing the Office of Racial Equity; putting light on the issue of burn pits in the military; establishing emergency measures to keep government working during COVID-19; setting up medical marijuana dispensaries; the decriminalization and ultimate legalization of cannabis; campaign finance regulations; gender issues in the National Guard; establishing the Ethics Commission; working with law enforcement for positive changes including changes to the Criminal Justice Council; more support and changes to our EMS system; making changes to save our teachers and state employees pension system. And then of course there are all the issues we addressed that I was not intimately involved in but supported. Will not even begin to go there. As I end this chapter I again want to say what an honor it has been. Simply being in the Statehouse and the Senate chamber is exciting; it’s almost as if you can feel the ghosts of those who have served before swirling around the chamber. Over those 20 years I was blessed to serve with great people from Windham County and across the state. I learned from each of them. Upon leaving the Senate I gave these four pieces of advice to all the new senators. Don’t take yourself too seriously, you are never as smart as you think you are; everyone in this chamber is special, you are no more special than anyone else; build relationships, especially with those with whom you disagree; respect the institution itself, it is the embodiment of our democracy. Thank you, Windham County, and on to the next chapter. Jeanette White Putney

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Congratulations to Mrs. Hanley’s class To the Editor, An idea for a December food drive for the Deerfield Valley Food Pantry came from the student leadership team at the Twin Valley Elementary School. A schoolwide contest was held to see which class could collect the most food with the winning class getting $40 to use for a classroom party. Our local Twin Valley Elementary School has pre-K through fifth grade classes and both students and teachers were very generous in their contributions to the food pantry during this contest. The winning class was Mrs. Hanley’s third grade class, which collected 142 items. In total, the students and staff at TVES collected 692 items to be donated. The board of directors of the food pantry and needy recipients wish to express their appreciation for these efforts by our local schoolchildren. Evon Mack, on behalf of the board of directors Deerfield Valley Food Pantry Wilmington

Committees do get things done, Butterfield Commons is an example To the Editor, In Claudette Hollenback’s recent column “Don’t let the bloviators hold up progress,” she mentions my donation of land in Dover that became Butterfield Common. Although I thank her very much for the compliment, I was hardly a sole actor here as she implies. Hardly an Elon Musk, et al. It was very much a joint effort. And yes, Claudette, we worked in a committee to get it all together. And it took a long time and yes, patience. It involved primarily all the talent and knowledge of the Windham Windsor Housing Trust, bringing together engineers, architects, lawyers, funders, etc; town support in many ways, particularly having appropriate zoning and sewer lines, showing up at hearings and getting support letters; mostly supportive neighbors; and many others. And yes, land that wasn’t going to get sold in a hurry. And it also took time and patience to build a community at Butterfield. It is mixed housing, with a “big building” with studio and single-bedroom apartments for seniors and disabled folks, separate family rental units, and condos. Although the separate store and community center never got built, it has become a center of sorts, thanks to SASH and others like Vermont Food Bank. It is known locally and finally has its regular MOOver stop. More affordable and senior housing is needed in the area for sure but it can be done when there are many hands. Edie Mas West Marlboro

Thank you, Rotary Club, for your generous support To the Editor, We would like to take this occasion to thank Rotary Club of Deerfield Valley for their generous support of Deerfield Valley Rescue. Deerfield Valley Rescue was presented with a check to cover the cost of one drug security device. DVR serves 270 square miles; we are appreciative of the support. This contribution to this ongoing process makes a difference in what we can accomplish. Thank you very much for helping us with this donation. Heidi S. Taylor Deerfield Valley Rescue Inc. Wilmington

Letter submission policies Letters to the editor are among the most widely read features of The Deerfield Valley News. We encourage our readers to express a range of opinions on the issues that are important to the community. • Letters must be submitted by Tuesday at 5 pm. • Letters are limited to 650 words, except “thank you” letters, which are limited to 250 words. • No more than three letters in any two-month period may be submitted by any writer. • We have the right to hold, edit, or reject letters. • Poetry is not accepted. • Letters must be signed and include a daytime phone number and town of residence. For info. call (802) 464-3388 or e-mail [email protected].

January 12, 2023 • The Deerfield Valley News • A

This Week in History

The challenging trail “Free Fall” was opened on Mount Snow 40 years ago. It is nearly a straight shot down the mountain’s North Face. Randy Capitani

10 years ago: Wilmington residents and business owners rejected a selectboard proposal to use as much as $100,000 of the town’s new 1% local option tax revenue to reduce the municipal tax rate for the upcoming 2014 fiscal year budget. At the time, Wilmington had not yet adopted guidelines for using the local option tax. Those opposed to the proposal said the money should be used for revitalization and improvement projects that would not ordinarily be part of the general fund budget. Those at the meeting suggested creating a reserve account for the local option tax funds.

State rep: The buck has a new place to stop I am pleased to report that the Vermont House of Repre- relating to the Vermont Department of Corrections. As of sentatives and Senate met as planned on Wednesday, January today, there are 1,355 inmates in Vermont, plus another 435 4, to open the 77th General Assembly. detained. According to rough figures, this costs taxpayers In the House, we elected Speaker Jill Krowinski of about $60,000 per person per year. Burlington, and then it was our turn to take the oath of Our committee has already begun discussing ways in office. which we are not serving our prison population or the state’s Fun fact about our Vermont Constitution! When tak- interests very well. Even our newest 20-year-old facility ing the oath, you have the option of swearing in Springfield is outdated. Basic procedures to God (“so help me God”) or affirming one’s around transitioning inmates into the working word “under the pains and penalties of perjury.” population, such as issuing IDs, are lacking. I chose the latter, but not for reasons you might However, I was not picked for this commitexpect. tee based on my expertise in corrections. Since filing to run for office in May I’ve With 20-plus years of experience in the learned a lot about what kind of leadership I architecture, design, construction, and building want to offer Vermont and the United States, products industry, I know a lot about buildings, the constitutions of which I swore to uphold how they are designed, how they are built, how on January 4. What I heard from voters last they can contribute to our health. And, due to year was that you want to be represented by the toxic chemicals and other problems with people who show up, speak up, and take retoday’s industry, how they can harm us. This sponsibility. Taking the oath on my own word and a Magic 8 Ball could have factored into Legislative felt like the vow to tell you that in this earthly my selection. Update paradise we call Vermont, the buck has a new Our committee also covers the capital place to stop. budget for state lands and property. That will Tristan Roberts The big news of the day for many of us be taking most of my time now, as we work on was receiving our long-awaited committee the two-year capital budget. assignments. I am excited to report that I have joined the You can read more about the Corrections & Institutions Corrections and Institutions Committee. I’m proud to be Committee, check agendas, and watch the livestream on our joining a committee chaired by Rep. Alice Emmons who, page on the legislative website, https://legislature.vermont. with over 40 years of service, is the longest-serving member, gov/committee/detail/2024/17. or dean of the House. If you have questions or thoughts, please let me know. With Rep. Emmons and vice chair Chip Troiano, our 11- You can reach me at my legislative email, troberts@state. strong committee is responsible for legislation and budgeting leg.vt.us.

15 years ago: Following a rash of catamount sightings in the area, a Marlboro resident reported seeing one of the mountain lions on family property on Hamilton Road. “It was buffcolored, with rounded ears, and cat eyes,” the witness said, “but it was the long tail that caught my eye.” A Windham District Court judge dropped the second degree murder charge against Brian Gilbert, of Charlemont, MA, who shot and killed Jacksonville resident Douglas Bartlett, who had been picking blackberries in a remote part of Whitingham. Gilbert, a hunter, said he mistook Bartlett for a bear. The judge said the facts presented by the state failed to show that Gilbert knew he was likely to kill a person when he fired the shot.

20 years ago: Wilmington formed a committee to research the pros and cons of adopting a town charter. The concept had been brought to the attention of the public after a public meeting with Paul Gillies, a Montpelier attorney. Gillies said that most “enlightened” communities had a town charter. Wilmington, however, declined to pursue enlightenment after the committee’s work was concluded. For the first time, Wilmington tax payers were facing a tax rate over $3, thanks to a projected 79 cent increase in their school tax rate. Several factors were responsible for the huge increase, but board members placed most of the blame on Act 60, the statewide education funding system.

25 years ago: Deerfield Valley businesses were reporting an economic boom, thanks to great winter weather and recordbreaking crowds over the holiday weekends. Mount Snow planners were back at the “drawing board” after they found that a proposed pipeline from Somerset Reservoir wouldn’t meet their need for 350 million additional gallons per season. The resort’s hydrogeologist said that, based on New England Power’s license restrictions, there wasn’t a lot of “extra” water that could be drawn from the reservoir. He suggested withdrawing water from Harriman Reservoir, which had fewer license restrictions.

30 years ago: The “wacky” Jose Cuervo Games of Winter were held at Mount Snow. “Shenanigans” included snow volleyball, snow tug-of-war, the margarita lime toss, and the Great Cardboard Box Race, in which contestants slid down a 200-foot downhill course in a box. Extra points were awarded for creativity in designing the box. Wilmington faced a shortage of paraprofessionals for students with special needs. One parent said her child with special needs had been without full-time assistance since the beginning of the school year.

40 years ago: Mount Snow opened the Free Fall expert trail on the North Face. The first two skiers down the trail were Mount Snow lifts manager Scott Pierpont and David Grygiel of Mount Snow’s skiing services department. Dover resident Rep. Stephen Morse was reelected Speaker of the House. A New York man pleaded guilty to puncturing the tire of a Wilmington police cruiser and was ordered to pay restitution. He was also ordered to write a letter to the town apologizing for his actions.

45 years ago: Heavy rains pelted the valley, flooding streets and dashing the hopes of skiers and those who depend on them. “Rain runs down the window panes at a ski area like a solitary tear running down a beautiful woman’s face,” wrote a Deerfield Valley News reporter, apparently too choked up to maintain journalistic neutrality. “It brings sadness and despair.” Gary Wax was sworn in as Wilmington’s newest full-time police officer. Wax had moved to the area from Queens, NY, about eight months earlier. Joining Wax was Mark Rosso, a 19-year-old Wilmington High School graduate who was sworn in as a part-time officer. Officer Dave Donley was scheduled to leave the department at the end of the month. West Dover resident Bernard Hastings, with the help of local skier and New York patent attorney Arnold Sprung, patented “Ski Wheels.” The “wheels” were tiny hardened steel discs, several of which were mounted on the inside edge of each ski, directly below the boots. The edges of the “wheels” extended about 1/10 of an inch below the bottom of the ski, providing skiers with a second edge to bite into ice for more control under less than ideal conditions.

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Board seeks budget input from public at meeting By Raquel Smith HALIFAX - During their regular meeting, which was delayed until Thursday, January 5, the Halifax Selectboard discussed final budget preparations. The board is preparing to finalize their budget during a meeting on Tuesday, January 24, at 6 pm. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. Two considerations regarding the highway budget will be discussed at the meeting, the first of which concerns highway worker wages. “We felt we were middle-low, generally speaking, with our (highway department wage) package,” said board member Pete Silverberg. Board members Patrick McAllister and Tristan Roberts did extensive research on the matter and on how to adjust the budget accordingly. They will present their findings and suggestions on January 24. Blake Janovsky, a member of the highway department, received his CDL Class B permit and will be attending CDL training for two weeks beginning April 10. The selectboard had agreed to reimburse $4,000 to cover the training, but Janovsky discovered the actual price of the training is $5,000. “I was wondering if the selectboard would agree to pay the full $5,000,” he said. “It’s something we’ll have to put in the budget,” said Silverberg. The board passed a motion to cover the current cost of training, and will adjust the budget accordingly during their meeting on January 24.

In other news, the board signed a certificate of highway mileage, which they do annually, and a salvage yard permit for Paul Crozier, which is done every five years. The Halifax Selectboard meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Their next meeting is scheduled for January 17 at 6 pm, and can be accessed in person or via Zoom.

A • The Deerfield Valley News • January 12, 2023

Physician assistant joins Express Care BENNINGTON - Southwestern Vermont Medical Center welcomes physician assistant Samantha Kaftan, PA-C, to SVMC ExpressCare and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians.  Most recently Kaftan has worked as a physician assistant in the emergency department at DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. She also worked as a physician assistant in hospital medicine at CHI Health Clinic in Omaha, NE, and Council Bluffs, IA. ExpressCare is located at 120 Hospital Drive. For more information call (802) 440-4077.

Owners looking beyond traditional “tips” model BREW from page A1 gone with this vibe where we don’t have to blast the music, more people are there conversing, there’s wood, the rug, it’s a super chill environment. We’re digging that and we’re going with that whole vibe.” Also part of the vibe — it’s a family-friendly space. Holt says that when he and Chrystal Holt lived in Europe, they took note that most eateries and breweries had a space dedicated for kids.  “Chrystal was really intentional in building out a section of the room for kids,” said Holt. “And we do see kids play. We’re really trying to be inclusive to families in the community.”  As for the food and drinks, they’ve been well-received. The pizzas, which are crafted by Holt and Maturo, are made using carefullysourced ingredients. “We want people to realize that everything on that pizza they’re getting has been thought about,” said Maturo. Holt says Maturo has been tireless in sourcing “the best products for pizzas out there.” Even with a high level of thoughtfulness and preparation, the team has been surprised by how consistent business has been. During the holiday week leading up to the New Year, they sold out of pizzas in under three hours one day. “We have

Chrystal Holt and Justin Maturo, right, prepare pizzas, while Brian Holt, left, talks with staff members on opening night at Valley Craft Ales in November. been constantly upping our dough production,” said Maturo. The group is brewing its own beer off site, currently, at a brewery owned by a friend of Maturo’s in Connecticut. They have a diverse list of offerings, including an IPA; a double IPA; an Italian pilsner; a light lager; a coffee porter; a coconut cacao almond milk stout; a strawberry rhubarb sour; a Belgian whit beer; and a margarita style sour that has key lime, blood orange, and Sicilian sea salt.  Eventually, production will be moved to the valley.

Maturo said a brewhouse is “in production.”  Holt notes that the team is learning as they go, and that as managers, they’re working to imbue a hefty focus on customer service. He also notes that staff compensation is important to the team. Wages for servers start at $16.50 plus tips. According to the Vermont Department of Labor, the minimum hourly wage for tipped employees is $6.55, or 50% of the overall minimum wage, which is $13.18 as of January 1. “As part of doing our part as an employer to ad-

dress housing and wages, we are not paying our servers under the traditional ‘tipped employee’ model,” said Holt, calling the model of paying tipped servers 50% of full minimum wage “unacceptable.” “We are paying our servers as regular employees well above the minimum wage plus tips,” he said. Valley Craft Ales is open Thursday through Sunday, opening at noon and closing at 8 pm Thursday and Monday and 10 pm Friday and Saturday. It is located at 18 N. Main Street in Wilmington. 

Local music, dining, arts, and things to do in Wilmington, Dover, and around southern Vermont

Valley Vibe

January 12, 2023 • The Deerfield Valley News • A

Watch Met operas live

Sarasa Ensemble returns BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Music Center’s Season Guest Concert Series celebrates the return of the Sarasa Ensemble with “Music of the Madonna” on Friday, January 13, at 7 pm. No doubt the life of the Virgin Mary, the Madonna, has been a focal point of sacred music in Western classical music, especially in the baroque era. This concert will feature two beautiful Marian Cantatas, as well as glowing works for strings and continuo by Händel, Corelli, Rosenmüller, and Leonarda. Performers will include Meg Bragle, mezzo soprano; Elizabeth Blumenstock, Christina Day Martinson, and Jesse Irons, violins; Jenny Stirling, viola; Jennifer Morsches and Timothy Merton, cellos; and Michael Beattie, organ. Advance tickets are $20 for general admission and $25 at the door. For tickets or more information contact the BMC at (802) 257-4523, email info@ bmcvt.org or visit bmcvt.org. Note that BMC concert attendance requires masking for all attendees.

Antje Duvekot

Contemporary folk music PUTNEY - Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music will present an evening of contemporary folk music with Antje Duvekot and The Sea The Sea on Saturday, January 14, at 7:30 pm at Next Stage, 15 Kimball Hill. Tickets are $20 in advance and $24 at the door. Next Stage will provide a beer, wine, and cocktail cash bar. Advance tickets are available at nextstagearts.org. For more information call (802) 387-0102 or visit nextstagearts.org.

Exhibit-related events throughout January BRATTLEBORO - The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center will present several events in connection with “The Space Between Memory and Expectation,” an exhibit of large format photographs by Renate Aller of mountains, glaciers, trees, the ocean, and other natural landscapes, paired with a site-specific installation of a moss-covered stone from the West Brattleboro home of the late artists Wolf Kahn and Emily Mason. On Friday, January 13, at 7 pm, Aller will have a conversation about her exhibit with Makeda Djata Best, the Richard L. Menschel curator of photography and the interim head of the division of modern and contemporary art at the Harvard Art Museums. Register for this free, in-person event

Renate Aller stands with one of her photographs.

at brattleboromuseum.org or call (802) 257-0124, ext. 101. Walk-ins are also welcome, subject to available seating. On Friday, January 27, and Saturday, January 28, at 6 pm, Megan Buchanan and a team of artistic collaborators will present two performances of “REGENERATIONS: Reckoning with Radioactivity,” an interdisciplinary project that draws inspiration from “The Space Between Memory and Expectation.” The project focuses on the spent radioactive fuel, radioactive water, and soil left behind by Vermont Yankee in Vernon. It explores some of the impacts of nuclear energy throughout the world and includes expressions of grief and love for the earth. Buchanan’s collaborators include Susan Barba, Meg Bathory-Peeler, Grainne Buchanan, Liza Cassidy, Margie Ferry, Hannah Mohan, Nellie Prior, and others to be announced. Admission to each performance, which will include poetry, dance, projection, and live music, is $10 for general admission, $5 for BMAC members, and free for students and youth 18 and under. A series of creative development sessions for “REGENERATIONS: Reckoning with Radioactivity” will take place at BMAC on the following Sundays from 1 to 3 pm: January 8, January 15, and January 22. Admission to these sessions is free. Born in Germany, Aller lives and works in New York. “The Space Between Memory and Expectation” and “side walk 6’? apart in NYC” are her most recent projects. Her works are in the collections of corporate institutions, private collectors, and museums, including the Lannan Foundation, National Gallery of Art, Yale University Art Gallery, Parrish Art Museum, and Musée des Beaux-Arts in Le Locle, Switzerland. “The Space Between Memory and Expectation” is on view at BMAC through Sunday, February 12.

BRATTLEBORO - The Latchis has completed the installation of the new equipment and is now able to resume offering The Met: Live in HD programs. And just in time, the Latchis Theatre will present The Met’s production of Umberto Giordano’s exhilarating drama “Fedora” on Saturday, January 14, at 1 pm. Soprano Sonya Yoncheva sings the title role of the 19th-century Russian princess who falls in love with her fiancé’s murderer Count Loris, sung by tenor Piotr Beczała. Soprano Rosa Feola is the Countess Olga, Fedora’s confidante, and baritone Lucas Meachem is the diplomat De Siriex, with Met maestro Marco Armili-

ato conducting. General admission is $22, $20 for MET CLUB FOREVER members, and $10 for students. For questions, advance credit card purchases, MET CLUB FOREVER membership or season tickets contact Jon Potter at (802) 254-1109, ext. 3, or [email protected].

Umberto Giordano’s “Fedora”

A • The Deerfield Valley News • January 12, 2023

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Community

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January 12, 2023 • The Deerfield Valley News • B Section

Sacred dance, exercise, and nonviolence

Left to right: SVHC’s president and CEO Thomas A. Dee, FACHE; Michael McKenna, financial advisor with DB McKenna, secretary of the SVHC Foundation board of directors and a member of the corporate committee for “Vision 2020”; M&T senior vice president Remus Preda; and M&T senior vice president John A. Conlon, CFA, CFP.

M&T donates to SVHC Vision 2020 Project BENNINGTON - The Southwestern Vermont Health Care Foundation gratefully accepted a $25,000 donation from the M&T Bank Charitable Foundation last week. The contribution will help fund “Vision 2020, A Decade of Transformation Capital Campaign,” the hospital’s largest project in more than 30 years. The funds will help enhance the emergency and cancer care services available to residents regionwide. The Vision 2020 Project includes the renovation and expansion of the health system’s emergency department and the construction of an all new regional cancer center. The new Kendall Emergency Department and Hoyt-Hunter Regional Cancer Center will impact care for residents of southern Vermont; northern Berkshire County, MA; and eastern New York. The newly expanded Kendall Emer-

gency Department will nearly double the size of the current emergency department, which was designed to accommodate 14,000 patient visits a year but currently sees nearly 25,000 annually. The project will further enhance patient safety, infection prevention, and patient privacy. Vertical treatment areas will allow for highly efficient treatment of low-acuity conditions. The project also includes an expansion to the emergency crisis area for those experiencing mental health distress and increased telehealth connectivity with Dartmouth-Hitchcock. The new Hoyt-Hunter Regional Cancer Center will have double the number of exam and infusion rooms. The design focuses on patient comfort in addition to clinical excellence. Those interested in learning more about the project should visit svhealthcare. org/vision2020.

Pa j a m a p a r t y s t o r y t i m e WILMINGTON - Join the Pettee Memorial Library for a pajama party storytime on Friday, January 20, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. Come in pajamas. Stuffies are welcome. There will be stories, songs, and yummy bedtime snacks. Call the library at (802) 4648557 by Wednesday, January 18, to sign up.

Find us on the web at dvalnews.com

Baked ham senior meal HALIFAX - The next Halifax senior meal will be Friday, January 20, held at the Halifax Community Hall, 20 Brook Road, serving at noon. The menu will be baked ham, potatoes, vegetables, and dessert. A free-will fee of $3 is asked. All seniors are welcome. A call to Joan is appreciated (802) 368-7733.

BRATTLEBORO - The Beloved Community at 18 Town Crier Drive is offering free workshops on sacred dance, gentle exercise, and active nonviolence each Saturday, starting January 14. The exercise class will run from 11 to 11:20 am, followed by sacred dance until noon. A simple, free lunch will be provided. From 1 to 3 pm, active nonviolence will be presented in an interactive format. Pastor Suzanne Andrews will teach both gentle exercise and sacred dance. The exercise class is an all-levels group and can be done sitting in a chair or standing. Stretch and strengthen the body and well-being. Discover a closeknit group of people where friends are made easily. Pastor Andrews is skilled in adapting the practice of gentle exercise for those of all backgrounds. Each exercise class will last approximately 20 minutes and those who attend will be encouraged to participate within their

own individual limits. Each class incudes cardiovascular, strength training, balance, and flexibility maneuvers. Some deep breathing and meditation exercises will also be incorporated in the sessions. Sacred dance classes will follow the exercise routines, and last approximately 20 minutes. Again, these classes are prepared for all levels. Praise dancers can be old or young, experienced or novice, and any gender. Anyone who feels spiritual joy and wants to express it through dance can join in. That said, there will be some choreographed dance routines as well as “free expression” dance moments. Sacred dance is an expression of devotion and love. Whatever anxieties and discomforts about the body and others’ bodies might be, it is time to let go and enjoy the freedom of movement. Don’t lose out on the ability to offer one’s whole self to God and to feel God’s

presence within the heart by the joyful sharing of love through these gentle dance movements. The active nonviolence workshop will last two hours and use small group exercises to explore and develop a deeper understanding of how the dynamics of violence work as well as how the dynamic of nonviolence can be cultivated. This will be developed in the context of gender issues, reverence for the earth, social systems, and work for social justice, leading to work on how to create and enhance communities of nonviolence and transformation. This will be taught by Rev. Ralph Howe. For additional information on the morning programs contact Pastor Andrews at [email protected] or call (413) 648-3112 to reserve a place. For more information on the active nonviolence workshop contact Rev. Howe at howerwiii@ gmail.com or call (802) 2492947.

Library hosts talks with representatives, students BRATTLEBORO - The Brooks Memorial Library will host several talks this coming week. On Saturday, January 14, from 10:30 to 11:30 am, there will be a community conversation with state representatives Emilie Kornheiser, Mollie Burke, and Tristan Toleno along with state senators Wendy Harrison and Nader Hashim, who will discuss legislative opportunities and community priorities. All are welcome to come join the conversation. A l s o o n S a t u r d a y, from 12:30 to 2 pm, the library will host “Revolutionary MLK and Unsung Heroes of the Civil Rights Movements,” a presentation by the Brattleboro Union High School student

group AWARE. As MLK Day approaches, learn more about his life and how to carry on his mission. Attendees will learn about historical figures that have fought for liberation and how to interrupt racism. Last, on Tuesday, January 17, at 7 pm, wildlife rehabilitator Fred Homer and veterinarian Ron Svec will present a slide show and talk about their work, their experiences, and their friendship over the years as a team to provide care to many species of injured or orphaned birds, most especially the many species of birds of prey they have helped. They will discuss their work together and individually for providing the necessary care, treatments, and surgery needed

Brattleboro Union High School student group AWARE will give a presentation on Martin Luther King Jr. and other anti-racist heroes. to release these awesome birds back into the wild. A question and answer period will follow. For more information visit https://brookslibraryvt. org/events.

Sports

B • The Deerfield Valley News • January 12, 2023

• High school results • Outdoors news • Ski resort updates

Twin Valley’s Brian Sullivan forces Arlington’s Hunter Hill-McDermott out of bounds, creating a turnover during Tuesday’s game. Randy Capitani

Third-quarter run dooms Wildcats By Randy Capitani WHITINGHAM- The Twin Valley boys’ varsity had their first home game of the season Tuesday evening. They hosted the rival Arlington Eagles and while the squads played pretty evenly through the first half, the visitors used a big third-quarter run to pull away for the 56-34 win. The Wildcats struck first when Carson McHale dropped in a three from the wing. But Arlington came out pressing and forced a couple of Twin Valley turnovers. The Wildcats hung close but trailed 11-19 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Eagles rolled out to an 11-point lead, 24-13. Noah Dornburgh dropped in a pair of threes, Brian Sullivan put in a rebound, and Cody Magnant finished off a steal with a layup to bring the Wildcats close, 23-26. Arlington righted

their ship with a three and a layup to lead 31-23 at halftime. Twin Valley had a chance to keep it close but missed six free throws in the quarter. “We were right there. We got it to 2326.” said Twin Valley coach Chris Brown. He added that execution and confidence have been problems for the young Wildcats, who started three ninth graders. “As soon as they (Arlington) made that run,” said Brown, “I could tell with the body language. They didn’t think they had it.” Thirty seconds into the third quarter Twin Valley’s Steven Oyer cut the Eagle’s lead to six, 31-25. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, that would be the only basket they would score in the quarter. The Eagles went on a 14-0 run to put the game away. They See RUN on page B6

Top: Twin Valley’s Makayla Williams works for a shot in the paint against Mill River. Bottom: Wildcat Kayla Mauroyenis takes a jumper over the Minutemen. R. Capitani

Wildcats hold Mill River to season low By Randy Capitani WHITINGHAM- The Twin Valley girls’ varsity clashed with Mill River Monday evening. The Wildcats were strong on the defensive end, holding the Minutemen to the lowest point total of any opponent so far this season. But Twin Valley wasn’t able to generate enough offense and fell to the visitors 30-6. Mill River’s Molly Hier opened the game’s scoring. She and guard Cheyenne

PRO RACING THIS WEEK Racing News, Stats & Trivia

All-Time Top Driver’s Bio

This Week’s Racing News

2023 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series schedule Now more than a decade into its history, the eNASCAR CocaCola iRacing Series heads into 2023 looking ahead to one of its most unique schedules yet. The 18-race campaign mixes stops at many of NASCAR’s most iconic venues with a handful of outof-the-box selections that follow in the real-world sport’s footsteps of expanding its horizons with new tracks on the calendar. As in years past, the season kicks off with the Clash exhibition race on January 31, returning to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as it did last year, before heading to Daytona International Speedway. From there, a new twist is added to the schedule, with the historic Milwaukee Mile on the schedule two weeks later. Milwaukee joins the legendary Monza circuit in Italy as two non-NASCAR Cup Series circuits to be added to this year’s campaign, with the latter representing the first time eNCiS will leave the United States.

Racing Trivia Where did Jeff Gordon get his first Cup Series victory?

a) Dover b) Charlotte

?

c) Bristol d) Michigan

Answer : b) Jeff Gordon got his first Cup Series victory on May 29, 1994, at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Racing History

January 21, 1973 - Penske driving ace Mark Donohue took a surprising victory in the season opening 500 miler at Riverside. Donohue’s first career Cup win came in only his 5th start, driving a Matador. That race was Penske’s first NASCAR win in a long history of NASCAR participation and remains to this day, the last non-regular (non-full schedule) driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series road race.

Jeff Gordon Born: Aug. 4, 1971 Cup wins: 93 Cup top-tens: 477 Cup championships: 4 Jeff Gordon was five years old when he first performed laps on a makeshift racetrack. After his childhood and teen years, Gordon moved on to NASCAR and won Rookie of the Year in 1991. The next year he signed with Hendrick Motorsports and has gained 93 wins during his career, third on the all-time Cup wins list and the most wins in NASCAR’s modern era (1972–present). Gordon’s 81 pole positions lead all active drivers, and is third all-time. He has won at least one pole in 23 consecutive seasons, a NASCAR record. He is also the active iron man leader for consecutive races participated in with 797 through the 2015 season. In 2009, Gordon became the first NASCAR driver to reach $100 million in career winnings. Gordon, along with Rick Hendrick, co-own the No. 48 Chevrolet driven by Jimmie Johnson, who won six Cup championships from 2006 to 2010, and 2013.

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Hoyle did most of the damage as the Minutemen built a 12-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Wildcats tightened up their defensive efforts, holding Mill River to six points in the second quarter. Alanna Bevilacqua had a layup and Makayla Williams scored an inside jump shot right before halftime, and the Wildcats trailed 4-18 at halftime. In the third quarter and again in the fourth quarter

the Wildcats played solid defense and rebounded well. Hali Howe had a bucket in the third quarter for Twin Valley. The Minutemen led 24-6 after three. Six was the magic number as the Wildcats held the Minutemen to six points in each quarter of the second half. Hier, the Minutemen’s 6’ 5” center, led all scorers with 12 points and Hoyle followed with nine. Bevilacqua had a pair of blocks and led the Wildcats in rebounding. The win snapped a 34game losing streak for the Minutemen. Twin Valley dropped to 0-4 on the season. Twin Valley hosts Arlington (2-5) tonight at 6 pm. On Saturday they travel to Rivendell for a 2:30 matinée matchup with the Raptors. On Tuesday, January 17, they are back on the road with a trip up Route 7 to Proctor. Tipoff is at 6 pm with the Phantoms.

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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) An old adversary wants to make amends now that a new year has commenced. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) As news of your work gets around, expect to receive a special “gift” from influential contacts who could help you launch your upcoming projects for this year. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Instead of fussing over what you didn’t get to do during the holidays, relax and enjoy kudos for a job truly well done. A happy surprise awaits you soon. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) The best way to shake off lingering holiday blues is to reach out to some loved ones or close friends. LEO (July 23 to August 22) Special emotional rewards mark this time for those who are able to open up to new relationships and the possibilities they offer. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your efforts to make time together memorable for some people in your life will be rewarded in some unexpected but very welcome ways this year. LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Be assured that your efforts to make this new year special for everyone won’t go unnoticed by those who could make some important changes within your life. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Lots of folks want you to light up their days with your presence but try to take some quiet time ‘twixt the fun and entertainment to spend time with some very special people. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) While the round of holiday revels had your social life on the fast track these past few weeks, someone special might want to keep pace with you this year as well. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Even though you should be enjoying all the fun you deserve during Capricorn season, don’t lose sight of the need to make some changes now that the new year has begun. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) What happens during this time can help clear up some of the confusion jeopardizing a once stable relationship. Follow your instincts on what to do next. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your days are brightened by new friends eager to become part of your life but don’t forget to spend time with that one special person. BORN THIS WEEK: You have the ability to encourage people to reach their potential by setting an example with your own efforts.

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STRANGE BUT TRUE Martin Van Buren was the first US president to be born an American. After the terrorist attacks that destroyed New York City’s Twin Towers, thousands of radio stations across the country received memos from media companies with a list of songs they considered “lyrically questionable” for a grieving nation. The list included The Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and perhaps unsurprisingly, “Jump,” by Van Halen. Bacteria can live longer than four weeks in carpets, as well as other types of flooring, and can instantly transfer those germs to any food that touches them. In 2017, 70 students drank so much alcohol at a fraternity house party in Maryland that the air inside the house registered .01 on a breathalyzer. Woodpeckers are the only animals to make sounds with something other than a part of their bodies. They will drum on a variety of objects to mark their territory, attract mates, locate food, or maybe just exercise or play. There’s a town named Hospital in County Limerick, Ireland, that has no hospital. Not that most of us will ever get a chance to consume polar bear liver, but in case someone does offer it, you’re best off refusing. The meal might, and quite unpleasantly so, cost you your life. It contains too much vitamin A for humans to handle. Thought for the Day: “A bad attitude is like a flat tire; if you don’t change it, you won’t go anywhere.” - Joyce Meyer

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January 12, 2023

Help wanted

451 US Route 5, Dummerston, VT 05304 or give us a call at (802) 254-4333. 1/12

McCluskey and Company is seeking part-time or full-time help for the right person. Experience in accounting is a plus but LEGALS not necessary. Please send resume to PO Box 188, West Dover, VT NOTICE OF TAX SALE 05356 or by email taxes@sover. net. No phone calls please. 1/26 The resident and non-resident owners, lienholders, and mortHousekeeper/groundskeeper gagees of property in the Town team; couple preferred. Housing of Readsboro, in the County of available for spring 2023. Salary/ Bennington and State of Vermont, dollars per hour TBD. Interested are hereby notified that the taxes parties, call Meiling Kravarik, assessed by such Town for the at the Inn at Quail Run, at (732) 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 20212022 tax years remain, either in 877-8009. 1/19 whole or in part, unpaid on the Immediate opening for a house- following described property in keeper. Part time, includes Satur- such Town, to wit: days. Good pay and paid vacation It being all and the same lands and after one year. Great job for high premises conveyed to James M. school students looking to make Borovsky, George O. Breault, Jr. some money. Reliability a must; and Ellen K. Breault by Warranty need your own transportation. Deed of Patten Corporation, dated Call (802) 464-2344 for an inter- December 14, 1985 and recorded view or stop in at The Crafts Inn at on December 20, 1985 in Book 38 10 West Main Street, Wilmington, at Page 67 of the Readsboro Land Records. (E911: 0 Lebensdorf and ask for Karen. CB Lane; Alpenwald Lot 15; Parcel We have openings for front desk #ALPS10-015.) clerk Friday evening and Satur- And pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § day morning. Must have a great 5254, such property will be sold attitude and reliable transporta- at public auction at St. Joachim’s tion. Stop by The Crafts Inn at 10 Parish Hall, a public place located West Main Street, Wilmington or at 336 Tunnel Street in the Town call us at (802) 464-2344, ask for of Readsboro, on the 1st day of February, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. as Alice. CB shall be requisite to discharge Student transport drivers need- such taxes with costs, unless previed. Starting pay: $15 per hour plus ously paid. Dated at Readsboro, mileage reimbursement. Are you Vermont as of this 27th day of available to earn extra money December, 2022. at the beginning and end of the TEDDY W. HOPKINS, Collector school day? WSWSU is seeking of Delinquent Taxes responsible adults with a reliable vehicle to drive students daily 1/12 or on an as-needed basis. Please contact us for additional informa- NOTICE OF TAX SALE tion. Windham Southwest Supervisory Union, 1 School Street, The resident and non-resident Wilmington, VT 05363; (802) owners, lienholders, and mortgagees of property in the Town 464-1300, ext. 116. 3/23 of Readsboro, in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont, Are you unhappy with your are hereby notified that the taxes current roofing job? assessed by such Town for the We enjoy what we do and we 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020want you to as well. 2021, and 2021-2022 tax years Come join our team. remain, either in whole or in part, Full-time roofer/laborer.

unpaid on the following described property in such Town, to wit: It being all and the same lands and premises conveyed to Joseph Champney and Krista Chilson by Warranty Deed of Brian Wert and Christina Smith, dated June 17, 2015 and recorded on July 9, 2012 in Book 77 at Page 364 of the Readsboro Land Records. (E911: 0 Heartwellville View Drive; Alpenwald Lots 59, 60 & 61; Parcel #ALPS080-059.) And pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 5254, such property will be sold at public auction at St. Joachim’s Parish Hall, a public place located at 336 Tunnel Street in the Town of Readsboro, on the 1st day of February, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. as shall be requisite to discharge such taxes with costs, unless previously paid. Dated at Readsboro, Vermont as of this 27th day of December, 2022. TEDDY W. HOPKINS, Collector of Delinquent Taxes 1/12 NOTICE OF TAX SALE

The resident and non-resident owners, lienholders, and mortgagees of property in the Town of Readsboro, in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont, are hereby notified that the taxes assessed by such Town for the 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 20192020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 tax years remain, either in whole or in part, unpaid on the following described property in such Town, to wit: It being all and the same lands and premises conveyed to Forrest R. Clark and Margaret A. Clark by Warranty Deed of American Land and Development Co., Inc., dated January 7, 1974 and recorded on January 18, 1974 in Book 33 at Page 5 of the Readsboro Land Records. (E911: 0 Bergrucken Lane; Alpenwald Lot 116; Parcel #ALPS020-116.) And pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 5254, such property will be sold at public auction at St. Joachim’s Parish Hall, a public place located at 336 Tunnel Street in the Town of Readsboro, on the 1st day of February, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. as shall be requisite to discharge such taxes with costs, unless previously paid. Dated at Readsboro,

Vermont as of this 27th day of December, 2022. TEDDY W. HOPKINS, Collector of Delinquent Taxes 1/12 NOTICE OF TAX SALE

The resident and non-resident owners, lienholders, and mortgagees of property in the Town of Readsboro, in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont, are hereby notified that the taxes assessed by such Town for the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 20202021, and 2021-2022 tax years remain, either in whole or in part, unpaid on the following described property in such Town, to wit: It being all and the same lands and premises conveyed to Helen F. Gladyszak by Warranty Deed of American Land and Development Co., Inc., dated May 30, 1978 and recorded on July 18, 1978 in Book 34 at Page 385 of the Readsboro Land Records. (E911: 0 Vermont Route 100; Alpenwald Lot 52; Parcel #ALPS070-052.) And pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 5254, such property will be sold at public auction at St. Joachim’s Parish Hall, a public place located at 336 Tunnel Street in the Town of Readsboro, on the 1st day of February, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. as shall be requisite to discharge such taxes with costs, unless previously paid. Dated at Readsboro, Vermont as of this 27th day of December, 2022. TEDDY W. HOPKINS, Collector of Delinquent Taxes 1/12 NOTICE OF TAX SALE The resident and non-resident owners, lienholders, and mortgagees of property in the Town of Readsboro, in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont, are hereby notified that the taxes assessed by such Town for the 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 tax years remain, either in whole or in part, unpaid on the following described property in such Town, to wit: It being all and the same lands and premises conveyed to Gerald N. Koblin and Ruth Koblin by Warranty Deed of Cersosimo

SkiCountry, Inc., dated July 7, 1972 and recorded in Book 32 at Page 242 of the Readsboro Land Records. (E911: 0 Rue Madeline; Dutch Hill Development Lot 6; Parcel #DH0X006.) And pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 5254, such property will be sold at public auction at St. Joachim’s Parish Hall, a public place located at 336 Tunnel Street in the Town of Readsboro, on the 1st day of February, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. as shall be requisite to discharge such taxes with costs, unless previously paid. Dated at Readsboro, Vermont as of this 27th day of December, 2022. TEDDY W. HOPKINS, Collector of Delinquent Taxes 1/12 NOTICE OF TAX SALE The resident and non-resident owners, lienholders, and mortgagees of property in the Town of Readsboro, in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont, are hereby notified that the taxes assessed by such Town for the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 20212022 tax years remain, either in whole or in part, unpaid on the following described property in such Town, to wit: It being all and the same lands and premises conveyed to Linda LeTourneau by Warranty Deed of John W. Cox, dated January 5, 1993 and recorded in Book 48 at Page 475 of the Readsboro Land Records. (E911: 0 Alpendorf Avenue (Alpenwald Lots 89, 90 & 91); Parcel #ALPS06A-091.) And pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 5254, such property will be sold at public auction at St. Joachim’s Parish Hall, a public place located at 336 Tunnel Street in the Town of Readsboro, on the 1st day of February, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. as shall be requisite to discharge such taxes with costs, unless previously paid. Dated at Readsboro, Vermont as of this 27th day of December, 2022. TEDDY W. HOPKINS, Collector of Delinquent Taxes

owners, lienholders, and mortgagees of property in the Town of Readsboro, in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont, are hereby notified that the taxes assessed by such Town for the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 20212022 tax years remain, either in whole or in part, unpaid on the following described property in such Town, to wit: It being all and the same lands and premises conveyed to Ronald L. Straub by Warranty Deed of Vincent Baluch and Frankie M. Baluch, dated November 19, 1973 and recorded on July 12, 1974 in Book 33 at Page 130 of the Readsboro Land Records. (E911: 0 Valley View Drive (Alpenwald Lot 262); Parcel #ALPS06A-091.) And pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 5254, such property will be sold at public auction at St. Joachim’s Parish Hall, a public place located at 336 Tunnel Street in the Town of Readsboro, on the 1st day of February, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. as shall be requisite to discharge such taxes with costs, unless previously paid. Dated at Readsboro, Vermont as of this 27th day of December, 2022. TEDDY W. HOPKINS, Collector of Delinquent Taxes 1/12 NOTICE OF TAX SALE

The resident and non-resident owners, lienholders, and mortgagees of property in the Town of Readsboro, in the County of Bennington and State of Vermont, are hereby notified that the taxes assessed by such Town for the 2011, 2012,2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 20202021, and 2021-2022 tax years remain, either in whole or in part, unpaid on the following described property in such Town, to wit: It being all and the same lands and premises conveyed to Whitney L. Suters and Monique L. Suters by Warranty Deed of Virginia Brock and Barry D. Brock, dated July16, 2010 and recorded on July 19, 2010 in Book 71 at Page 322 of the Readsboro Land Records. 1/12 (E911: 154 Jarvis Hill Road; Parcel #VJRV914.) NOTICE OF TAX SALE And pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § The resident and non-resident 5254, such property will be sold at public auction at St. Joachim’s Parish Hall, a public place located at 336 Tunnel Street in the Town of Readsboro, on the 1st day of February, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. as shall be requisite to discharge such taxes with costs, unless previously paid. Dated at Readsboro, Vermont as of this 27th day of December, 2022. TEDDY W. HOPKINS, Collector of Delinquent Taxes 1/12

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January 12, 2023 • The Deerfield Valley News • B

B • The Deerfield Valley News • January 12, 2023

Twin Valley’s Streven Oyer pops a jumper over a pair of Arlington defenders.

RC

Eagles soar in road win over Wildcats RUN continued from page B2 led 45-25 heading into the fourth quarter and outscored the Wildcats 11-9 in the fourth. “We had a pretty good game plan coming in, but we didn’t execute early,” said a frustrated Brown. “We had their guys shooting early that we wanted shooting, some of their role players. They hit their first three shots. A more veteran team would be like, whatever, that kid’s not going to hit that shot the whole game. There was a lack of commitment to defense.” Dornburgh and Magnant led Twin Valley with 10 points each. McHale finished with six points. The Wildcats had a cold-shooting night, going 4-20 from behind the arc and 6-18 at the free-throw line. “We’re off tomorrow, then back to prac-

tice on Thursday,” said Brown. “Hopefully we keep heading in the right direction.” Twin Valley (1-6) is back in action Friday evening when they host Bellows Falls. On Wednesday, January 18, they host Poultney. Tipoff for both games is at 7 pm. LT 63, TV 31 DORSET- On Friday, January 6, the Twin Valley Wildcats battled the Long Trail Mountain Lions at their lair. The Lions mauled the ‘Cats early on, blanking them 24-0 in the first quarter on their way to a 63-31 win. Noah Dornburgh led Twin Valley with 12 points. Steven Oyer had six points, while Carson McHale chipped in with three.

Local doctor takes lead role at world games BENNINGTON - Ivette Guttmann, MD, a sports medicine physician with SVMC Orthopedics, part of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center and Southwestern Vermont Health Care, has something in common with the best athletes in the world: she has a dream to make it to the Olympic Games. Her hope is to serve the athletes as a volunteer physician. As a first step, Dr. Guttmann will serve as a lead physician at the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games in New York taking place through Sunday, January 22. The 11-day winter

multisport and educational festival will bring more than 2,500 athletes and delegates from 600 universities and 50-plus nations to compete in 12 sports and 86 medal events. From Lake Placid, NY, she will go on to the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, from Sunday, January 22, to Saturday, February 4. After this month-long training with elite athletes in Lake Placid, NY, and Colorado, she may be chosen to serve as a team physician during an upcoming Olympic Games. For more about Dr.

Ivette Guttmann Guttmann’s journey to the Olympics follow Southwestern Vermont Health Care at facebook.com/svmedicalcenter and/or instagram. com/svmedicalcenter.

Museum features snowboard artist in new exhibit VERMONT - Scott Lenhardt is the artist behind the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum’s new exhibit “Scott Lenhardt; Artistic Contributions to Burton Snowboards 1994 to Present.” Lenhardt, a fine artist from West Rupert, will be talking about his work on the virtual Red Bench Thursday, January 19, at 7 pm. Lenhardt’s artistic diversity includes over 55 snowboard graphics that he’s created for Burton over the last three decades. He’ll share interesting stories about his work and collaborations with riders like Ross Powers and Danny Davis. Lenhardt has done work for Phish, Nike, Adidas, Mountain Dew, and more. He’s known for his pet portraits and a humorous series called “Twenty Four Hour Woman” but he’s best known for his work with Burton.

Lenhardt grew up snowboarding in southern Vermont and was part of the notorious Glebelands crew, who could be found shredding Bromley in the early to mid-1990s. The colorful Chris Copley will be joining Lenhardt on the Red Bench asking probing questions about his artwork and more. Copley is a 20-year Burton veteran as the pro team manager and announcer for the US Open at Stratton. He has a history of witnessing, commenting, and heckling the best riders in the world. Those who are Lenhardt fans, artists, people who are trying to break into the snowboard world or just love art should not miss this event. Have questions ready; the evening will end with an audience Q&A. RSVP at www.vtssm.org.

January 12, 2023 • The Deerfield Valley News • B

Anne Andrus HARTFORD, CT – Anne Elizabeth Andrus, 68, of Garfield Drive, a former resident of Ledgewood Heights and longtime resident of southern Vermont, died the afternoon of Saturday, December 31, 2022 at Hartford Hospital following a brief period of declining health. Anne was born in Bennington, VT, on July 29, 1954, the daughter of Leon M. and Marjorie C. (Ware) Andrus. She was raised and educated in Vernon, VT, and was a graduate of Brattleboro, VT, Union High School, class of 1973. Anne worked for several years at Mary Meyer Toy Company in Townshend, VT, and previously had been employed at a car dealership in Greenfield, MA. Anne enjoyed shopping, crafts, and taking day trips in the tri-state area and had a deep interest in genealogy.

Obituary

With her mother, she visited area cemeteries and town clerks’ offices, tracing her family’s history. Anne was known for her pleasant and friendly personality and after becoming disabled, committed several years of her life in helping to take care of her elderly mother with whom she made her home. Survivors include a step-

brother, Roland Andrus; and three stepsisters, Mary Rock, Janet Fleming, and Alberta Wenzel. Additionally, she leaves several nieces, nephews, cousins, and second cousins. A memorial service in celebration of her life will be conducted Saturday, January 14, starting at 11 am at West Brattleboro Baptist Church on Western Avenue with Pastor Steve McClelland officiating. A reception will follow the services. Burial in the Ware family lot in Riverview Cemetery in Wilmington, VT, will take place in the springtime, where Anne will be laid to rest next to her mother. Memorial contributions in Anne’s name may be made to Rescue Inc., PO Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To share a memory or send condolences to the family visit www.atamaniuk. com.

Tai chi classes will resume at hall WILLIAMSVILLE - “Fall Prevention: Tai Chi, Level I,” sponsored by Senior Solutions and taught by certified instructor Jane Douglas, will resume on Thursdays at 11 am. Previous and new attendees are welcome. The class is free with donations accepted to help support the hall. Class size is limited to 12 people. Vaccinations and masks are appreciated. To enroll in either class show up on Thursday or RSVP to Steve Levine at slevine761@ gmail.com. The hall, located at 35 Dover Road, is fully ADA compliant.

B • The Deerfield Valley News • January 12, 2023