Montpelier Matters

Bailey Ave Bridge Logjam Problem

2012-01-01T11:10:00.000-05:00

*Updated* (view *Update* below, near bottom of post)

What remains of the logjams wedged against the abutments underneath the Bailey Avenue Bridge in Montpelier is among the leftover debris from what the flooding brought down the Winooski River and its tributaries back when Tropical Storm Irene hit the region in late August of 2011 (video taken on Thursday, December 8, 2011).

[via YouTube, here]

Over the months since Tropical Storm Irene hit and caused flooding as well as severe damage across the state, a couple of Montpelier residents kept bringing the debris underneath the Bailey Avenue Bridge over the Winooski River to my attention and, eventually, I took several walks by there on different occasions to view the problem for myself (below photos were both taken on the morning of Monday, December 26, 2011; click onto below images in order to view enlargements).

Independent of each other, these same persons had also contacted officials with the City of Montpelier as well as area newspapers. Sometime after these citizens had done so, there had been crews from private contractors working to try to remove some of the worse of the logs and debris. What is viewed within the above video as well as these more recent photos is what remains.

*Update*: The following information was included within the City Manager's Weekly Report (dated: Friday, January 6, 2012):

[...]

Bailey Avenue Bridge Debris

We have hired a contractor with an extended boom to attempt to remove the debris from the
Bailey Ave bridge abutments. As you will recall, we hired another contractor earlier in the year
to remove some of the debris, but it appears that the southern most abutment has accumulate additional wood and debris. We will update you on the results of this work in next weeks report.

[...]

*Note*: posted an informational update; last updated on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 12:18 PM (EST).

Pedestrian Bicycle Bridge Closed: Currently Unsafe for Pedestrian Use

2011-12-27T17:56:00.000-05:00

Just happened to take this photo on Monday, December 26, 2011 while out for a morning walk and taking photos around town:

Today I came across a notice via the City of Montpelier Website concerning the bike path, which included the following mention of the bicycle/pedestrian bridge in question (here):

The pedestrian bicycle bridge (located near Taylor Street) on the Montpelier bike path will remain closed until it can be repaired - it is currently unsafe for pedestrian use.

Eat More Kale at Bagitos Café

2011-12-11T11:27:00.000-05:00

Had only found out late Thursday afternoon that an eatery in downtown Montpelier has been serving kale on its menu since it first opened roughly six months ago and has recently been cooking up even more, freshly, each day.

This was brought to my attention while walking by Bagitos Café, located at 28 Main Street (here) and spotting the sign within their window that reads:

Eat More Kale
at
Bagitos
Made Fresh Daily!

View a video of mine on the subject:

Find more information about Bo Muller-Moore -- the "Eat More Kale guy" and how he makes his now world renown tee-shirts, here, as well as about Team Kale, here.

(photos of my order: before being eaten and afterwards; click onto photos in order to view enlargements)

Read a recent article by Forbes that provides a good run down concerning the trademark battle between Chick-fil-A and Bo Muller-Moore, which includes lots of links to various news coverage as well as related posts and information, here.

Second Montpelier Taser Committee Public Hearing Video (9/20/2011)

2011-10-18T09:29:00.000-04:00

View the committee's first public hearing, here.

Additional information, here.

First Montpelier Taser Committee Public Hearing Video (9/8/2011)

2011-09-09T08:57:00.000-04:00

View the committee's second public hearing, here.

Additional information, here.

Montpelier Taser Committee Public Hearing Input of Mine

2011-09-08T21:01:00.000-04:00

What follows are my comments as submitted by e-mail to the Montpelier Taser Committee and read during the public hearing this evening as I viewed the proceedings from the comfort of home:

My opinion in two parts, simply as well as briefly put:

No to Tasers.

Yes to supporting our Montpelier police officers by providing them with the critical tool and skill set they most need: i.e., a Vermont version of cross-disability Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training.

This is what, how and where we should be investing our funds, resources and time, not yet another potentially deadly weapon of first resort, nor instilling fear of such within our community.

Thank you.

Morgan W. Brown
Montpelier

The public hearing started around 6:40 PM or so and lasted until just prior to 8:00 PM (+/-).

Montpelier Taser Committee Public Hearing: Thursday, 9/8th at 6:30pm

2011-08-31T14:30:00.000-04:00

What: Taser Committee Public Hearing

When: Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 6:30 PM (EDT)

Where: City Council Chambers, Montpelier City Hall

The public hearing will be televised on local cable channel 17 as well as streamed live online, here.

Additional information, here.

Committee members: Jeff Dworkin, Chair; Zack Hughes, Co-chair; Vicki Lane, Polly Ellerbe, Nick Marro and Marilyn Mode.

View an informational slideshow of mine on Montpelier, Vermont and Tasers, here.

New Design & Look for Montpelier Matters blog

2011-08-14T17:04:00.004-04:00

Have finally gotten around to setting up a new design and look for the Montpelier Matters blog, using Blogger's new user-friendly, dynamic and feature-rich template designer blog tool (more information, here):

Screenshot
(click onto above image in order to view enlargement)

Among other offerings, this new template will allow the background to better showcased versus what the previous template allowed.

The background photo is Claude Stone's excellent photograph of an overlook of a portion of Montpelier (additional information, here), which after he posted it within a blog post a good while back, I received his permission to use it initially for a banner and, then later had adopted it for the background of the blog.

Update on Montpelier Taser Committee

2011-08-13T19:34:00.036-04:00

Montpelier City Hall
(taken by Morgan W. Brown; 2005)
click upon above image
in order to view enlargement

Montpelier Taser Committee meeting on Tuesday, August 16th, at 6:30pm, City Manager’s Conference Room.

Lineup: Attorney Jack McCullough of Mental Health Law Project of Vermont Legal Aid and attorney David Sleigh of the law firm that has litigated most if not all of the Taser cases brought against police departments across the state thus far.

The committee is now considering holding the public hearing on Thursday, September 8th, however they will be revisiting the conversation about when to do so during their meeting this coming Tuesday as well.

On Tuesday, August 23rd they are hoping to have at least one of the other police chiefs before them, either Burlington or South Burlington, since it did not work out for them to do so next week. Also on the agenda for that week is for them to listen to, as I understand it, an audio tape of one of the incidents that occurred within Montpelier they have been continually informed about by Chief Facos as why Tasers are sorely needed.

Montpelier Taser Committee members:

Jeff Dworkin, Chair
Zachary (Zack) Hughes, Co-chair
Vicki Lane
Polly Ellerbe
Nick Marro
Marilyn Mode

The main contact for the Montpelier Taser Committee is Jeff Dworkin.

By the way, in case you are interested, if you would desire to do a public records request in order to obtain the e-mails between committee members as well as any e-mails either received by or sent by committee members in communications with others relating to the business of the committee, co-chair Zachary (Zack) Hughes is the person assigned to handle such requests (it might be best to consider requesting to receive the e-mail and related public records by e-mail, unless one also requires hard copies, which could end up resulting in a fee to cover the cost of printing, copying and mailing, etc.; if one is also inquiring about other documents the committee might possess and are relying upon during their work and deliberations, one should inquire and take it up with Zack).

Vermont Public Records Law (PDF version)

As I understand it, the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus (local, major daily newspaper) as well as the bimonthly Montpelier Bridge have both made public record requests for the committee e-mails, however I am not certain they also requested the e-mails to and from others, as I have done.

fyi: Informational presentation on Montpelier Vermont and Tasers online slideshow of mine (via Google Docs; recently updated), here;

In addition, if you are on Facebook, check out and, if so inclined, "like" the Montpelier, Vermont and Tasers informational and community discussion page, here.

On the Montpelier City Council agenda for its October 12th meeting is the Taser Committee Report (view bottom of page of City Manager's weekly report of August 12th under 'Upcoming Council Meetings'; PDF version), here.

Taser Committee Meeting: Monday, May 23rd, 6:15pm

2011-05-21T00:24:00.003-04:00

Montpelier City Hall
(taken by Morgan W. Brown; 2005)
click upon above image
in order to view enlargement

What: Taser Committee Meeting
When: Monday, May 23rd at 6:15 PM
Where: City Managers Conference
Room, Montpelier City Hall

View archived video clip of May 11th Montpelier City Council proceedings concerning the appointment of the Taser Committee, here.

View related documents, here.

Excerpted recruitment notice:

"The City Council would like the committee to specifically consider and make recommendations about the following: assessment of need, appropriate policy and standards, training requirements and public accountability for use or display. Additionally, the Council would like the committee to recommend a public engagement process for both the committee and for the City Council after receiving the committee's report. The Council is interested in all perspectives but would like to hear, particularly, from the mental health community, law enforcement, schools, the medical community and the legal community." The City Council expects to receive the committee's report by Friday, September 30th for discussion at the October 12th City Council Meeting. Volunteers should understand that this committee will meet during the summer in order to meet the deadline. ...

Any city resident who shows up to the initial Taser committee meeting on Monday, May 23rd and, wants to serve on committee, has an opportunity to do so (however anyone serving on the committee will need to be around during the Summer in order to do so).

The Taser committee meetings will be open to the public, including non-residents of course.

View an updated Informational Presentation on Montpelier, Vermont and Tasers, here.

VT Department of Labor Closes Samosaman Cafe

2011-04-23T19:56:00.008-04:00

*Update 1*: Ken Picard of 7Days blogged an update to Blurt concerning these matters, here.

*Update 2*: Given that Samosaman Cafe has reopened, it appears they have satisfied the Vermont Department of Labor, at least in terms of obtaining workers compensation insurance for its employees.

This afternoon someone brought to my attention how it appears the Vermont Department of Labor had posted official Stop Work Order notices up on the storefront windows of Samosaman Cafe located on Main Street within downtown Montpelier.

Later the same person took and sent me these two photos using their text-enabled cell phone. The first photo is of storefront and bottom photo is a cropped version of a closeup photo of the poster in question (click upon each photo in order to view enlargements; photo credits: anonymous citizen; posted with direct permission).

No other information or details are available or known to me concerning these notices at this time.

Background, fyi:

21 V.S.A. Section 687. Security for compensation;
21 V.S.A. Section 692. Penalties; failure to insure; stop work orders;
Why Four Peruvian "Workers" Couldn't Wait to Leave Vermont (via 7Days; 2/2/2011), here;
Barre City Mayor Proposes New Occupancy Standards in Response to Seven Days Story (via Blurt, 7Days Staff blog; 2/15/2011), here;
Montpelier’s migrant abuse (opinion column, by Stefanie Doucette; via Vermont Cynic), here.

*Note*: posted an update; last updated on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 9:08 PM (EDT).

District 3 City Council Race Vote Totals

2011-03-02T16:22:00.002-05:00

Montpelier City Hall
(photo by Morgan W. Brown;
November 2005)

Late this afternoon I called the Montpelier City Clerk's office and they provided the following vote totals:

Angela MacDonald-Timpone: 278
James Merriam: 188

Difference between the two: 90

Total district 3 voters: 583

District 3 voters not voting
for either candidate: 117

City Council Candidates Forum: Thursday, February 24th, 7:00pm - 8:30pm

2011-02-18T10:17:00.000-05:00

There will be a candidates forum sponsored by the Montpelier Bridge for those running for the city council, including each of the incumbents running unopposed for districts one and two. It will be held in city council chambers at city hall from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM on Thursday, February 24th.

The candidates forum will also be broadcast live on local cable access channel 17 via ORCA Media (on Comcast in the Montpelier area). It will also be streamed online as well, here. In addition, it will later be available as an archived video on the same above linked page as well as replayed on the local cable access channel.

Angela MacDonald-Timpone: Candidate, Montpelier City Council, District 3

2011-02-14T03:05:00.002-05:00

Angela MacDonald-Timpone

In what is her first run for political office, Angela MacDonald-Timpone is seeking to represent the residents of district three (3) on the Montpelier City Council, which has been the seat held by City Councilor Jim Sheridan for the last twelve (12) years (*Update*: Jim Sheridan is not running for re-election).

Not a complete stranger to the world of Vermont politics as is often played out at the local level however, Mrs. Timpone had previously worked on the campaign and also on the staff of Bernie Sanders when he was serving as the state's lone Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives. In addition, she reports having been a frequent visitor to his house and listening in on many political discussions while she was growing up due to living on the same street as him and his family back during the time he was Mayor of the City of Burlington.

To learn even more about the candidate, read both a brief profile as well as her responses to a variety of questions posed by yours truly to each of the two candidates vying for the open district three city council seat, here.

Contact information is also provided on the page linked above in case anyone has additional questions for the candidate.

James Merriam: Candidate, Montpelier City Council, District 3

2011-02-14T01:51:00.005-05:00

James Merriam
(click onto above photo
in order to view enlargement)

In what will be his second run for political office within less than a year's time, the first being for one of the two seats the capital city has within the Vermont House of Representatives, James Merriam has now focused his efforts on seeking to represent the residents of district three (3) on the Montpelier City Council, which has been the seat held by City Councilor Jim Sheridan for the last twelve (12) years (*Update*: Jim Sheridan is not running for re-election).

Mr. Merriam had previously served as the student representative on the Montpelier school board from 2005 through 2007.

To learn even more about the candidate, read both a brief profile as well as his responses to a variety of questions posed by yours truly to each of the two candidates vying for the open district three city council seat, here.

Contact information is also provided on the page linked above in case anyone has additional questions for the candidate.

Montpelier Taser Community Discussion Committee to be Formed

2011-01-22T14:31:00.003-05:00

Montpelier City Hall
(photo by Morgan W. Brown;
November 2005)

(cross-posted to Green Mountain Daily, here)

The following excerpt was found within Montpelier City Manager Bill Fraser's January 21, 2011 report to members of the city council concerning how they had decided to proceed regarding the request to purchase Tasers (here; via PDF version, Adobe Acrobat Reader required):

[...]

Tasers:

I will draft a proposed charge for a committee based on your comments and on the e-mail that the Mayor sent out. I assume we could discuss the charge at the next meeting and seek to appoint the committee right after town meeting.

[...]

Thus, anyone wanting to consider participating with any Taser community discussion committee that could potentially be formed, for if and when the city council decides the parameters for doing so, should let one's city councilors, the Mayor and the city manager know as soon as possible.

The more interest expressed by members of the community for making this happen, the sooner things can begin to proceed.

View archived video of the Montpelier City Council's Thursday, January 20, 2011 Taser policy discussion continuation (agenda item 5, actual discussion begins at 3:53 mark and ends at 1:13:51 mark; includes agenda; then later, during discussion on the proposed 2012 budget - agenda item 6, funding for the Tasers was brought up and discussed beginning at the 2:50:48 mark), here. Archived meeting agenda, here.

Read a brief report shared by Zack Hughes, here, as well as a longer one of mine, here.

View archived video of the Wednesday, January 12, 2011 Taser Policy Discussion (actual discussion begins at 5:32 mark and lasts for nearly 3 hours; includes agenda and attached related documents), here. Archived meeting agenda with attached related documents (agenda item 8), here.

Montpelier City Council Taser Discussions Report

2011-01-21T02:13:00.010-05:00

Montpelier City Hall
(photo by Morgan W. Brown;
November 2005)

*Updated* (with the usual edits)

Read a brief report by Zack Hughes concerning action taken by the city council on Tasers, here.

At the outset of the Montpelier City Council discussion on Tasers that occurred earlier Thursday evening, Police Chief Facos both answered questions as well as provided an additional presentation, which ran roughly thirty minutes and then members of the public were allowed to speak, with about five or six doing so.

During their deliberations on the subject, the council voted to separate the Taser discussion from the 2012 budget discussions, not separating Tasers from the budget itself as of yet, since the funding was a different matter.

Afterwards, while having to go out for something else, I went downtown to shop at the supermarket and, then purely on a whim when walking on the way home, stopped by city hall to listen in to the rest of the city council meeting.

Oddly enough, my timing could not have been better, since they had just brought up the Taser funding portion of the 2012 budget when I got in the door.

The discussion ended up basically being about whether to keep the general amount in the budget that would have, as originally proposed, half-funded police video equipment as well as funded the Tasers -- if and when the city council were to agree to their purchase -- or otherwise, if not approving of the city purchase the Tasers, then fully funding the camera equipment.

There were a couple of motions and votes, however I got completely lost about what was being discussed and voted upon or what resulted.

Later on I learned, as Zack Hughes reported, it appears the city council decided to transfer the Taser funding amount to fully fund the video equipment.

The decisions made by the city council last night should be understood as the beginning of community discussion on these and related matters, not the end of such.

The reasons for the police force wanting the Tasers has not gone away and they still believe they need them.

Rather than merely waiting for the next time these exact same matters are brought up and Tasers are requested once again, it will prove to be crucial for a full and complete community discussion concerning all the issues relating to these matters be engaged and conducted, including about whether Tasers should or should not be among the options made available.

That said and, so there is no confusion whatsoever, my opposition to Tasers stands as well as is unwavering and shall remain so.

As a concerned citizen as well as a member of this community, it is my hope that the community committee proposal will still move forward and it seemed to me the city council expects for this to indeed happen.

In fact, earlier when discussing the motion of separating the Taser discussion from the budget discussion -- a different matter than the budget line item of course -- they spoke of wanting this to occur and that they would at some point in time will be discussing the parameters for the forming of a community committee to discuss the Taser issue and potential policies as well as, I hope, related matters.

After the 2012 budget portion was finished and, prior to the end of the meeting, Police Chief Anthony Facos spoke with me and we had a lengthy discussion out in the hallway, including with him stating his understanding of how they removed the funding for the Tasers from the budget.

While talking to Chief Facos, he asked me if I would be interested as well as willing to participate in such a committee and I agreed. Had actually been hoping to do so and was glad to be asked.

By the way, the informational slideshow presentation of mine concerning Montpelier, Vermont and Tasers will continue to be updated and edited when additional information becomes available, here.

*Update*: It came to mind to mention about how anyone wanting to consider participating with any Taser community discussion committee that could potentially be formed, for if and when the city council decides the parameters for doing so, should let one's city councilors, the Mayor and the city manager as well as Chief Facos know as soon as possible.

The more interest expressed by members of the community for making this happen, the sooner things can begin to proceed.

*Note*: posted an update and also made several edits for the purposes of clarification and readability; last updated on Friday, January 21, 2011 at 5:37 AM (EST).

Action taken by Montpelier City Council on Tasers

2011-01-21T00:57:00.001-05:00

Report from Zack Hughes concerning Thursday evening's city council meeting and the discussion on Tasers (posted with his permission to do so):

... the following happened in action on tasers at the council

1. Council voted to form a committee on tasers with a broader community discussion
2. In addition monies for the tasers $11,400 was transferred to a police video system.

In English
No tasers in Montpelier until this discussion takes place
No money for tasers authorized

It was an informative meeting!

Zack-H

Zachary Hughes

Montpelier Bridge on Tasers

2011-01-20T14:47:00.001-05:00

*Updated*

The January 20th edition of the Montpelier Bridge is no[w]~~t yet~~ available online, ~~at the time of this posting anyway,~~ however anyone in the area who is able to pick up and read a print version available on the street is urged to do so asap.

The newspaper includes a lengthy article on pages 22 and 23 reporting on the Taser hearing before the city council last week. In addition is an editorial on page 26 written by Nat Frothingham within which is voiced strongly worded opposition to the purchase of Tasers by the city.

*Note*: last updated on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 12:19 PM (EST).

Montpelier, Vermont and Tasers

2011-01-11T23:42:00.001-05:00

Montpelier, Vermont and Tasers: An Informational Presentation
(slideshow format)

Open Letter to the Montpelier Council

2011-01-11T23:23:00.000-05:00

Below is an open letter to members of the Montpelier City Council, written by Aaron M. Kromash of Greensboro VT, regarding the upcoming Taser policy discussion to be held on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 during the city council meeting (posted with direct permission of author).

January 11, 2011

An open letter to:

The Honorable Mary Hooper
Councilors
Tom Golonka
T. Andrew Hooper
Sarah Jarvis
Jim Sheridan
Nancy Sherman
Alan H. Weiss

By e-mail

Dear Mayor Hooper and Council Members:

I hope the new year begins well for you. In advance of your Jan 12 meeting, I am writing to you to address the subject of "Electronic Control Devices" (i.e., Tasers), which I know is on the next meeting agenda.

Because Montpelier is my capitol and a city I enjoy and visit, and because I will therefore be affected by your decisions on this issue, I am writing to brief you on relevant facts I have learned in the course of preparing two public information programs on Tasers for the towns of Greensboro and Hardwick last November. I have reviewed the documents provided in your packet by Chief Facos, and I find that they do need supplementation with substantial facts of concern to the public.

In the first instance, you should know that Tasers more resemble firearms than any other weapon in police arsenals, despite the fact that the VLCT "Response to Resistance" explicitly equates Tasers with chemical sprays. The only reason that this latter comparison is even credible is that Taser probes are fired by compressed nitrogen, not gunpowder, and this design was deliberate, being an attempt to completely circumvent any federal ATF regulation.

Nonetheless, Tasers are in fact lethal weapons, and though none of the documents in your packet mentions Taser-related deaths explicitly, the most comprehensive online registry of these statistics (reference below) lists 530 individuals who have died to date after tasering by police in the US and Canada alone. The most recent of these fatalities is Kelly Wayne Sinclair, age 41, a mentally ill man tasered by police in Amarillo, Texas on January 5, 2011. Statistics from other countries are not readily available but would surely add to this total.

Likewise, please do not be confused by the IACP printout in your packet ("What Every Police Chief Should Know…") stating that the injury rate from tasering is lower than 1%. These statistics are not collected through mandated reporting and are often prepared by the manufacturer of the weapon, Taser International. They exclude primary injuries caused by the Taser itself (i.e., puncture wounds, bleeding, and burns), and they often exclude "non-serious" secondary injuries that individuals incur when they fall to the ground after tasering, as all individuals do. The Attorney General's report and other references below indicate that roughly 20-30% of people shot with Tasers require medical treatment for injuries such as punctures, contusions, lacerations, burns, fractures, and broken teeth. To some extent, this phenomenon is a shifting of policing costs from the public sector to hospitals, private insurers, and the public.

Locally, even during the presentation I made in Hardwick, a man named James Anair came forth to speak publicly about how, during an adverse drug reaction, he had been tasered multiple times by Morrisville police in an incident two years prior and suffered several secondary injuries and intense, lasting psychological trauma as a result (a DVD is available). According to the statistics you have been given, Mr. Anair should have been a rarity, but he was not, and my sense is that there are many more Vermonters who could tell similar stories if the issue were brought to a larger forum.

Were officers to have inflicted the aforementioned injuries through "hands-on" methods rather than high technology, I think the perception of police conduct would be rather different; yet, the end result is the same. Tasers are serious weapons with the potential to injure or kill people.

For all this death and injury, you might expect to hear about more Taser-related litigation, again only lightly mentioned in your documents, and there has been much litigation, but until very recently Taser International had successfully settled every claim in secret or prevailed in litigation by virtue of its vast legal and financial resources. These cases includes at least several claims by police officers themselves who were permanently injured in training under optimal training conditions.

Only in 2008 did Taser International lose its first product liability lawsuit, with a jury awarding $6.2 million to the estate of Robert Heston, a California man killed by multiple tasering in 2005. And since that landmark case, the company has finally relented and begun to settle product liability suits for its defective products, the very first of which was paid just last August, when the company ceded $2.85 million to Steven Butler of California, who suffered debilitating brain damage and permanent immobility after he was shocked with a Taser.

You, who have all felt the obloquy over the city's missing $400,000, should perhaps take these multimillion figures into account before you commit the city to a potential liability that could make $400,000 look small. And to be rigorous, you should also consider these numbers against the $6,000 that Chief Facos cites offhandedly as the approximate recent annual cost to Montpelier for officer injuries from "combative action." A cost-benefit analysis is needed.

Amid the most recent lawsuits and reaction, Taser International has admitted to the need for redesign to make its weapons "safer", bowing, for example, to pressure from none other than the Police Executive Research Forum to build in a stop control that limits the duration of electroshock that a shooter can deliver. This new feature is supposed to be available in 2011, and I am not aware of whether Chief Facos proposes to purchase the current, now legally defective, model of Tasers, or a newer generation, but you would be advised to ask this question as well.

You should also ask the Chief many questions bearing on accountability for Taser use, where the VLCT document displays substantial weakness. Why, for example, is "passive resistance" nowhere defined in that policy? Does "active resistance" include techniques of civil disobedience, such as those employed in the infamous Brattleboro case reviewed by the AG report in your packet? Does the MPD request include Taser-mounted video cameras? Will the MPD commit to archiving and public access to Taser firing data and video footage? Will the MPD publicly report each and every Taser deployment, including purely deterrent uses? Satisfactory answers to all of these questions would go a long way to ensuring good community perceptions.

Despite all else I've written, I would not minimize the problem of officer injuries and the right of police to as safe a working environment as possible. This is the context of Chief Facos' request, and likewise, Sergeant Cochran's survey, and Burlington Chief Schirling's memorandum. But these documents are largely anecdotal, and they contain few statistics, little interpretation of the numbers they present, and a narrow argument that is not by itself a compelling case for Tasers in Montpelier. Though the concern for officer safety is legitimate, what you as civilian policy makers need to understand is, as the VLCT document correctly states, that use of force policy must, "serve all citizens while at the same time respecting the rights of suspects and balancing the need for officer safety."

But it is not the institutional mission of police to consider this balance; it is, rather, yours. And the problem of Tasers in achieving this balance is that they seem to make of safety, civil liberties, and public finance a zero-sum game, giving to law enforcement only to the extent that they take away from others.

In considering Chief Facos' request, it is then your job to balance all of these factorsofficer versus public safety, large-scale litigation versus occupational claims, and humane and just treatment versus cruel and unusual punishment. In the process, you cannot rely unduly on the police perspective or privilege their concerns above all others; for, to do so would be to make the police, quite puzzlingly, a reason unto themselves, when they are only empowered in the first place to serve the public. Simply put, you must make the MPD prove a case that seems conspicuously weak in the documents I've reviewed, and in the larger context of what is known about the risks and benefits of Tasers. Yours is not a simple decision, and you should approach it with a wide perspective of knowledge, which is why I hope you will review the sources I list below.

But finally, regardless of your decisions this week, you should understand that the issue is not settled so simply. Though this is indeed a major policy juncture for you and the city, others will follow, because the engineers at Taser International get up every day and return to work. Next year you may be asked to fund a purchase of the Taser X3 triple-shot Taser gun, or the XREP Taser shotgun shell, or the vision-disrupting "Dazer Laser", and the requests for ever more advanced weaponry will not end. If there is, then, something enduring in the values that underlie your policy decisions, I urge you to focus on that instinct as much as what the current technology promises.

Sincerely Yours,
Aaron M. Kromash
Greensboro VT

References

Truth Not Tasers blog

Report of the Maryland Attorney General’s Task Force on Electronic Weapons

"One-third of people shot by Taser need medical attention: probe"

'Less than lethal'? The use of stun weapons in US law enforcement

The city council meeting begins at 7:00 PM (EST) and the Taser policy discussion is now scheduled to be held prior to item 5. The meeting agenda is available online, here and, an agenda change notice, here.

View city council meeting via streaming video online, here.

Additional resources:

ACLU-VT Issues page on Tasers, here.

Montpelier Soup Kitchens & Community Meals

2010-09-18T13:06:00.005-04:00

*Updated and Republished*

By request, from someone who wanted me to e-mail them a list of the weekly soup kitchens and community meals serving Montpelier, I drew up the following list to the best of my knowledge and figured I would blog it up as well:

Mondays: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Stone Soup, Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street (white church across Main Street from Kellogg-Hubbard Library), access via side door on School Street, put on by WCMHS Green Mountain Workforce; served cafeteria style.
Tuesdays: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Bethany Bowl, Bethany Church, 115 Main Street (across School Street from Kellogg-Hubbard Library and next to City Center); served cafeteria style.
Wednesdays: 11:00 - 12:30 PM
Full Ladle, Christ Episcopal Church, 64 State Street (across from Post Office); served cafeteria style.
Thursdays: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Community Meal, Trinity United Methodist Church, 137 Main Street (red brick church next to Kellogg-Hubbard Library); served cafeteria style.
Fridays: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
St. Augustine Church, 16 Barre Street, side entrance, downstairs; sit down, wait service (i.e., be seated and they will serve).
Fridays: 5:00 PM (sharp)
Another Way Drop-In Center weekly community dinner, 125 Barre Street; served cafeteria style, self-service.

*Updated again*: Here is a listing of two community meals each of which are held on a monthly basis only:

Second Saturday of the month:
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Community Meal: lunch held by Lutheran Church, but hosted at Trinity United Methodist Church, 137 Main Street (red brick church next to Kellogg-Hubbard Library); served cafeteria style.
Last Sunday of the month: 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Community Meal: held by local Synagogue, but hosted at Bethany Church, 115 Main Street (across School Street from Kellogg-Hubbard Library and next to City Center); downstairs; sit down, wait service (i.e., be seated and they will serve)

*Note*: posted an update and since updated; originally posted on December 10, 2007 and republished to promote it to top of main page once again; updated links; last updated on Saturday, 18, 2010 at 1:32 PM (ET).

This week at the Kellogg Hubbard Library!

2010-05-15T22:06:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, May 18th, at 7pm

Everyone's Child is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children around the globe, particularly those who live in impoverished circumstances. Ruth Young, Ed.D. and Carol Vassar, MD will be presenting this program. Young and Vassar traveled to Kenya in December 2009 to conduct medical clinics for Everyone's Child.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 7pm

Discussion of The Day of the Pelican with scholar Francette Cerulli.

The Day of the Pelican is the 2010 Vermont Reads book by Katherine Paterson, Library of Congress's 2010 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. The library has several copies of this book and the discussion is free and open to the public.

Thursday, May 20, 2010 6-8pm

Harvesting the Rain

Rainwater catchment is a water stewardship approach to handling this often abundant but oh-so-essential natural resource. Join permaculture designer Mark Krawczyk from Keyline Vermont to learn how to treat this critical resource as the gift it truly is. Presented by Transition Town Montpelier.

May 18, 19, and 21 at 10:30am
Special Storytime Guest Musician Robert Morgan

Robert will show off his many strange instruments including bouzouki, pennywhistle, shuttle pipes, digeridoo, concertina and even the human beat box! Come ready to dance!

Volunteers needed to set up for our June book sale.

Volunteers need to touch base with Roberta or Carol for a quick explanation of duties. Folks can then form their own schedule for the actual set up work. If you haven't already, we'll ask you to please fill out the volunteer application form. Call 223-3338 or drop by the adult circulation desk.

MAY/JUNE RAFFLE- a kayak!

You can win a yellow Heritage Featherlite 12 Kayak from our good friends at Clearwater Sports of Waitsfield. Tickets are $2 apiece, 6 tickets for $10 or 15 tickets for $20. Come see the kayak in the library lobby!

"Ilene's" Home

2010-05-12T14:28:00.000-04:00

"Ilene's" Home
Come and visit with Ilene.

"The Cow" arrives at Morse Farm

2010-05-06T08:23:00.002-04:00

"The Cow" arrives at Morse Farm, it's new home. Come up for a visit and enjoy: www.morsefarm.com

Spring Snow April 2010

2010-04-29T09:31:00.001-04:00

Mark Johnson Show

2010-04-21T22:59:00.000-04:00

Phayvanh Luekhamhan, Art Walk Coordinator and Montpelier Alive co-coordinator of POETRY Alive!, Ryan Deery, Vista Volunteer at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library and Rachel Senechal, Program and Development Coordinator at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library will be on the Mark Johnson Show on WDEV this Friday morning. at 10:40am. Tune in to hear about POETRY Alive! and Art Walk (which is Friday, April 23 from 4-8pm).

Katy, from Onion River Sports paints a poem by Michiko Oishi on the window in celebration of POETRY Alive!

Earth Day Program at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library

2010-04-21T22:38:00.001-04:00

Witnessing the Melting of the Big Ice

Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 7pm at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library

Three central Vermonters - Jane English, Jeremy Seeger, and Tina Bielenberg- spent several weeks above the Arctic Circle in Greenland in July 2009. They provided logistical support for Elders gathered from around the world for the Fire and Ice Ceremony convened by Angaangaq Lyberth, and were camped about a mile from the face of the Russell Glacier at the edge of the Greenland ice cap and witnessed first-hand the melting of the "Big Ice." Each person will give their perspective of what they did, saw and experienced in Greenland accompanied by a power point presentation.

POETRY Alive! event at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library

2010-04-20T21:11:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow night at 7pm (April 21) the Kellogg-Hubbard Library will host a poetry reading.
Vermont Poet Tim Mayo and former New Hampshire Poet Laureate Patricia Fargnoli will read from their recently published collections: The Kingdom of Possibilities (Mayapple Press) and Then, Something (Tupelo Press). Among the awards Ms. Fargnoli's books have garnered are the May Swenson Award chosen by Mary Oliver and the Jane Kenyon Literary Award. There will be a book signing after the reading.

Be there!

Special Program at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library

2010-03-26T22:55:00.000-04:00

"Kyoto and Environs: Steeped in Ancient Wildness" with artist Jim Kelso

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 7pm at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library

Jim Kelso will present a slide lecture on his autumn 2008 ramblings in and around Kyoto, where he sought inspiration from wild nature and the sensitivity of the Japanese toward their connection to nature.

Jim's statement: "I am striving for my work to be an expression of Nature; just as a frog, a tree, or flake of gold, without exertion, express Nature. By Nature, I mean not just the physical world or man's mental processes, but the unseen force that enlivens all creation."

Jim was fortunate to receive two fellowships to study metalwork in Japan, in 1988 and 1997. At the time of the first visit, he was immersed in the world of Japanese sword fittings and was able to meet many of the top contemporary makers of these objects. He also met a collector who commissioned a collaborative sword from Jim and Yoshindo Yoshihara, a foremost maker of Japanese swords. At the time, Jim was also active making netsuke, or Japanese toggles.

Jim will have some of his exquisite jewelry on display and for sale at this program. Part of the proceeds will benefit the library.

POETRY Alive! Coming to Montpelier

2010-03-20T22:53:00.000-04:00

During the month of April Montpelier will be bursting with poetry. Instead of phantom hearts posted on store windows poems will be hanging in windows, painted on windows and scrolls, blooming from gardens and combined with art. The Kellogg-Hubbard Library and Montpelier Alive have joined forces to bring this celebration of National Poetry Month to our community. Read more about this at Phayvanh Leukhamhan's website, Phayvanh.com. She is one of the coordinators of this project representing Montpelier Alive.

Montpelier Matters' own Morgan Brown will have his poetry on display!

Google Fiber for Communities: Why Not Montpelier & Area Communities?

2010-02-28T13:37:00.001-05:00

Having read about how Burlington, Vermont is looking at a potential partnership with Internet search giant Google to become a test site for a new super-high-speed fiber optic communications network (here; via Times Argus; This Just In news section; 2/28/2010), the question came to mind of why not Montpelier and area communities whom may be willing to do so in a partnership?

Find out more information: Google Fiber for Communities:

Google's experimental fiber network

[via YouTube, here]

Nominate your community, here.

In addition, read the following essay segment of my nomination submission on behalf of Montpelier and area communities submitted as a citizen:

Although the minimum population Google has set for this project is at least 50,000 residents, since Montpelier's daytime population swells to 20,000 or more with state, other office workers and the like, which should also be factored in, the fact remains that the city could do this as a regional partnership (e.g., Barre City, Barre Town, Berlin, Middlesex, etc.), which is how many different other projects are done given the rural nature of our region.

Montpelier is a vibrant capital city with an engaged citizenry and business community that has been looking to further expand on many different fronts and having a super-high-speed fiber optic communications network would allow us to do so.

It is my understanding that Montpelier and other area communities have been working on attempting to bring various improvements such as digital communications, including bringing more affordable and reliable Internet access to the area and also has been working on using the Internet to bring government workings to people online.

While it is true Montpelier has a small night time population and is nestled within a rural region, having such a super-high-speed fiber optic communications network would definitely help bring major improvements that are sorely needed and not just to the business community and the economic vitality of the city and region.

Montpelier's local library as well as libraries of other local communities and those use use such for their Internet access would also benefit greatly. In addition, so would our local public schools and colleges too.

We are a city and region of highly skilled, talented, gifted and energetic persons of all ages and abilities who work in all sorts of fields who would greatly benefit from a super-high-speed fiber optic communications network such a project would afford if Google were to select Montpelier and area communities as one of its test sites.

Nominate your community, here.

'Valentine Phantom' strikes again

2010-02-15T08:23:00.000-05:00

Valentines Day in Montpelier Vermont, 2010 - The Valentine Phantom(s) strikes again!

[via YouTube, here; posted by Odum (February 14, 2010); length: 3:13 minutes/seconds]

Read a news article concerning the Valentine Phantom, here, as well as the 2010 Valentine Phantom poem, here (via Times Argus; 2/15/2010).

Check out the Montpelier Valentine Phantom Facebook page, here.

Business is Blooming at Petals & Things

2010-02-13T22:36:00.004-05:00

The Enraptured Heart Arrangement
Petals and Things
Montpelier, VT

*Updated* (with the usual edits)

Business is definitely blooming at Petals and Things, located on Main Street in downtown Montpelier, which has kept owner Amber Megrath quite busy through the week leading up to Valentines Day and especially this weekend as well.

In fact the word is the florist will be open for a certain portion of the day tomorrow (Sunday, February 14th) for those who have not yet managed to buy flowers or pick up their orders for their Valentine.

In addition, Amber will also have deliveries going out the door Sunday starting in the morning, including the arrangement to the left.

Below are two photos taken within the walk-in cooler inside the back room of Petals and Things.

Make sure to check out the Petals and Things blog.

Two views inside the walk-in cooler in the back room of Petals and Things, Montpelier, VT.

All three photos by way of Amber Megrath, owner of Petals and Things located on Main Street in downtown Montpelier.

*Note*: made minor edits to paragraph two and three for the purposes of clarification and readability; last updated Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 11:34 PM (ET).

Montpelier Candidates Forum (2/11/10)

2010-02-12T23:48:00.001-05:00

[via ORCA Media, here (via Ustream)]

Commentary: Moving On Takes More Than Empty Promises

2009-10-27T03:34:00.004-04:00

*Updated*

Opinion

Moving On Takes More Than Empty Promises

The Montpelier water budget overpayment mess as well as the lack of much earlier full and open public disclosure by political leaders smells rather fishy. However it is also too bad that fish as a species end up getting such a stinky rap due to what is actually the stench of Vermont politics at among its worse[worst], particularly at the local level.

Although it is most likely that citizens would have been angry with city officials concerning the initial error(s) that led to as well as followed the overpayment and the matter not being found for two years or so after the original error had been made, if it was properly disclosed to the public as well as pursued differently than was the case and, if political ambitions had not been a potential factor as it would appear it could have been, people would have eventually understood and forgiven those involved at the city level.

Except for merely more of the same old tired empty promises to do better next time around and that are not of a good enough standard, it is the apparent lack of trust, honesty and transparency when as well as how it mattered most, repeated breaches of which not easily forgotten or forgiven -- especially when not fully admitted and truly owned up to, which appear to be irking certain concerned citizens and voters the most.

Thus, as a concerned resident of the city of Montpelier, it is my opinion that Mayor Mary Hooper as well as each and every city councilor who at any point supported nondisclosure of this matter to the public should resign asap or otherwise be voted out of office when their next term comes up for re-election.

Morgan W. Brown
Montpelier

*Update*: Vermont Public Radio (VPR) Vermont Edition show for Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at Noon and 7:00 PM regarding Government Transparency, here.

(cross-posted to Green Mountain Daily blog, here)

*Note*: made spelling correction within first paragraph; last updated on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 5:42 AM (ET).

Montpelier Matters Now on Twitter

2009-10-14T22:32:00.000-04:00

Follow Montpelier Matters on Twitter, here.

6th Annual Onion River Century Ride

2009-07-23T16:00:00.009-04:00

The Onion River Century Ride is this weekend!

Once again, the Kellogg-Hubbard Library has teamed up with Onion River Sports to offer one of the most beautiful century rides in the Northeast! The Onion River Century Ride hits the roads of Central Vermont and the Northeast Kingdom this Saturday, July 25^th. This is a spectacular ride through the heart of rural Vermont with food stops, support vehicles, and many wonderful volunteers for your riding pleasure and an end-of-ride BBQ.

Our goal is to raise $7,500 for the Kellogg-Hubbard Library!

Choose from three rides: the 111 mile full century, 110k (68 mile) metric century or NEW 24 mile loop. Registration begins at 7:30 am on the day of ride. Enjoy clear streets with a police escort through Montpelier that leaves at 8:30 am from the Montpelier Rec Field. There are six food stops approximately every 20 miles (for full century, less for metric and short loop), support truck for mechanical and emotional support along the ride and a delicious end-of-ride BBQ. The food stop for the new shorter loop is at the Adamant Coop!

Entry fee is $65 and includes a ticket for the BBQ.

New entry fee option: You can pay $30 if you bring in $50 in pledges. The pledge money is due the day of the race – July 25^th.

We have registration and pledge forms at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library and at Onion River Sports on Langdon Street or online at : www.onionriver.com/century. There is a fee of $7.50 to register online.

Any questions? Call Carrie at Onion River Sports at 802-229-9409 or

Rachel at Kellogg-Hubbard Library at 802-223-3338.

Special City Ballot Vote: Tuesday, July 14th

2009-07-13T11:46:00.000-04:00

The legal voters of the City of Montpelier, in City Meeting in Montpelier, in the County of Washington and the State of Vermont, are hereby warned to meet in the City Hall Council Chamber/Memorial Room, in said Montpelier, on the second Tuesday in July, July 14, 2009, at seven o'clock in the forenoon, and there and then to cast their ballot for matters that by law must be determined by ballot, and other matters as directed by the Council. The polls will be opened at 7:00 A.M. and shall be closed at 7:00 P.M.

ARTICLE I. Shall bonds or notes of the City of Montpelier in an amount not to exceed Seven Hundred Six Thousand Dollars ($706,000), contingent upon and subject to reduction from available state and federal grants-in-aid and other financial assistance, be issued for the purpose of completing sewer system improvements authorized at the 2009 annual City meeting, and for the purchase of a rodder/vacuum truck?

[...]

Read the entire notice, here [via official City of Montpelier Website].

Additional information available via Times Argus, here.

Washington County Human Services Outreach Teams Concept Presentation

2009-06-10T05:40:00.002-04:00

New life

2009-05-18T10:11:00.001-04:00

New life clinging to the shingle at Morse Farm; a beautiful time of year but you often have to look close to find these small beautiful flowers.

Morse Farm Wagon Rides

2009-05-14T15:52:00.001-04:00

These beauties are coming to Morse Farm come for a ride and enjoy a Maple Creeme.

Lost Nation Theater: Small Theater Set-Up

2009-04-22T20:34:00.000-04:00

A rag-tag bunch of loyal volunteers and technicians transform City Hall Arts Center in Montpelier, Vermont from an open, former-gymnasium to an intimate small theater space.

[via YouTube, here; posted by LostNationTheater (April 21, 2009); length: 2:46 minutes/seconds]

fyi: Lost Nation Theater

Spring

2009-04-18T17:26:00.000-04:00

Spring at Morse Farm, just up the road....

Videos of Train Going Thru Montpelier Recently

2009-04-16T04:46:00.005-04:00

Found these videos posted online of a train that had been running in the local area recently:

Departing Montpelier on WACR 804

Here we are in Montpelier, Vermont, which is the state capital of Vermont. Here, we are in the cab of WACR 804, which is an excursion train that was chartered by the Mass Bay RRE club. Today's consist is Green Mountain GP9R 804 (hence the symbol name WACR 804), and 2 old Green Mountain coaches; 1312 (right behind the engine), and 1323 bringing up the markers. We are at MP 0.0, and we are now heading south towards Barre, which is about six and a half miles away. In this video, we start at MP 0.0 and proceed into the heart of Montpelier. Some of the things we see are the sign for the State House, the State House (capitol building) itself with its beautiful gold dome, crossing the Winooski River, as well as most of downtown Montpelier. The video ends at one of the main crossings, due to the fact that somebody left their car parked in front of a store semi fouling the right of way. We found the owner, and got under way shortly thereafter. Enjoy the sound of the old cast K5LA and the slight rev of the 567C. Unfortunately, track speed is 10 MPH, so we couldn't rev it up too much. As a side note, the 804 was built in 1955 as N&W 13, and was then rebuilt in 1978 into a GP9R, where it had its high hood lowered on the short hood, and was converted into a short hood forward engine. However, the control stand is still set up on the long hood forward side of the cab. [...] The video was taken on April 4th, 2009.

[via YouTube, here; posted by FL92002; length: 8:15 minutes/seconds]

WACR 804 finally gets back underway

After a few moments of the conductor trying to find the owner of the white pick up truck, things get underway again. Here, we are in the cab of WACR 804, which is an excursion train that was chartered by the Mass Bay RRE club. Today's consist is Green Mountain GP9R 804 (hence the symbol name WACR 804), and 2 old Green Mountain coaches; 1312 (right behind the engine), and 1323 bringing up the markers. We are at MP 0.0, and we are now heading south towards Barre, which is about six and a half miles away. In this video, we start at MP 1.2 and proceed out of the heart of Montpelier towards Barre and skirt the Winooski River. The video ends at one of the main crossings just outside of the downtown area. Enjoy the sound of the old cast K5LA and the slight rev of the 567C. Unfortunately, track speed is 10 MPH, so we couldn't rev it up too much. As a side note, the 804 was built in 1955 as N&W 13, and was then rebuilt in 1978 into a GP9R, where it had its high hood lowered on the short hood, and was converted into a short hood forward engine. However, the control stand is still set up on the long hood forward side of the cab. [...] The video was taken on April 4th, 2009.

[via YouTube, here; posted by FL92002; length: 4:15 minutes/seconds]

WACR 804 blows for crossings outside of Montpelier

Just outside of Montpelier, at Milepost 1.8, we come upon a small industrial area with a few grade crossings. Here, we are in the cab of WACR 804, which is an excursion train that was chartered by the Mass Bay RRE club. Today's consist is Green Mountain GP9R 804 (hence the symbol name WACR 804), and 2 old Green Mountain coaches; 1312 (right behind the engine), and 1323 bringing up the markers. We are at MP 0.0, and we are now heading south towards Barre, which is about six and a half miles away. In this video, we start at MP 1.7 and proceed through the industrial area and towards Barre. The video ends with us hitting a straightaway, just outside of the industrial area . Enjoy the sound of the old cast K5LA and the slight rev of the 567C. Unfortunately, track speed is 10 MPH, so we couldn't rev it up too much. As a side note, the 804 was built in 1955 as N&W 13, and was then rebuilt in 1978 into a GP9R, where it had its high hood lowered on the short hood, and was converted into a short hood forward engine. However, the control stand is still set up on the long hood forward side of the cab. [...] The video was taken on April 4th, 2009.

[via YouTube, here; posted by FL92002; length: 3:00 minutes/seconds]

WACR 804 crosses rivers and highways in Montpelier

As odd as it may seem, even at Milepost 3.5, we are still in Montpelier. The two waterways we cross are the North River and the Winooski River. The big grade crossing with all the photographers is Federal Route 302. Here, we are in the cab of WACR 804, which is an excursion train that was chartered by the Mass Bay RRE club. Today's consist is Green Mountain GP9R 804 (hence the symbol name WACR 804), and 2 old Green Mountain coaches; 1312 (right behind the engine), and 1323 bringing up the markers. We are at MP 3.5, and are heading south towards Barre, which is about another 3 miles away. In this video, we start at MP 3.2, which is just before the bridge over the North River. We then cross Federal Route 302 and proceed through a field and across the Winooski River and towards Barre. The video ends with us hitting a curve just past the Winooski. Enjoy the sound of the old cast K5LA and the slight rev of the 567C. Unfortunately, track speed is 10 MPH, so we couldn't rev it up too much. As a side note, the 804 was built in 1955 as N&W 13, and was then rebuilt in 1978 into a GP9R, where it had its high hood lowered on the short hood, and was converted into a short hood forward engine. However, the control stand is still set up on the long hood forward side of the cab. [...] The video was taken on April 4th, 2009.

[via YouTube, here; posted by FL92002; length: 4:50 minutes/seconds]

Contest: Write Tagline For New City of Montpelier Website: Deadline: April 24th

2009-04-11T17:14:00.001-04:00

Write a tagline for the new City of Montpelier Web site!
The City of Montpelier will soon launch a brand new website!

The City is sponsoring a web site tagline contest for the new web site. The City is looking for a short phrase or sentence that captures the spirit of Montpelier to be featured in the website’s banner. Example: “A Small State capital with a Big Vision.”

The contest will be judged by the enVision Montpelier Steering Committee. The contest winner will have the honor of seeing their tagline on the City of Montpelier web site and will have the opportunity to eat a brown-bag lunch with Mayor Mary Hooper!

Contest rules: Limit 6-10 words. The tagline should capture the spirit of Montpelier.

Please send submissions to the Planning Dept. (39 Main Street, City Hall), or e-mail [...]. Submissions should be received no later than April 24th.

The winner will be announced in the April 30th edition of The Bridge.

[excerpted text via Official City of Montpelier Website, Notices page, here]

Photo: City Hall, Montpelier, Vermont (taken by Morgan W. Brown; November 2005)

How to Grow Small Fruits and Berries

2009-03-18T16:49:00.005-04:00

Thanks to Loring Starr, master gardener, the Kellogg-Hubbard Library will be hosting David Fried, founder of Elmore Roots Nursery tomorrow evening, Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 6:30pm . Fried will talk about Growing Small Fruits and Berries. As the folks at Elmore Roots say, "If it grows in Elmore, it will grow where you are."

There are lots of fruit trees, berries and nuts that can grow in the cold Vermont climate if you start with the right stock and planting methods. It’s not difficult and the results can be so delicious! You can grow pears, plums, apricots, apples, cherries, peaches, kiwis, grapes, blueberries, strawberries, currents, raspberries, gooseberries, elderberries and so much more! Visiting Elmore Roots is also a great road trip after mud season is over. Join us for this great Master Gardener program sponsored by the Washington/Orange Chapter.

Unveiling of the Dick Hathaway Memorial Sculpture

2008-11-16T10:16:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, September 25th 2008 the sculpture of Professor Richard Hathaway was installed and then unveiled in Montpelier, Vermont on the Vermont College of Fine Arts Campus outside of the TW Wood Gallery.

The Dick Hathaway sculpture along with an angel traveled 1,948 miles from the artist Bridgette Mongeons Houston, Texas sculpture studio to Montpelier, Vermont. The exit of the sculpture from Texas was not without travail as Hurricane Ike barreled down on the Gulf Coast causing great devastation. This video documents the travels of the sculptures, along with the delivery, unveiling and emotion surrounding the love of Professor Richard Hathaway and angel Baby Jenna Mangini.

The video is part three in the documentation of the creation of the Richard Hathaway memorial.

[...]

[via YouTube, here; posted by sculptorandwriter (October 10, 2008); length: 7:12 minutes/seconds]

fyi:

A Sculpture Created In Loving Memory of Dick Hathaway
Dick Hathaway page; via T. W. Wood Gallery & Arts Center

for the BIBLE tells me so

2008-11-12T21:52:00.005-05:00

On Wednesday November 19, 2008 at 7pm join us at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library to view the film, For the BIBLE tells me so, followed by a discussion moderated by Stan Baker.

Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate? Director/co-writer Daniel Karslake's provocative and entertaining documentary brilliantly reconciles homosexuality and Biblical scripture, and in the process reveals that Church-sanctioned anti-gay bias is based almost solely upon a significant (and often malicious) misinterpretation of the Bible. Through the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very American families—including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child.

Moderator Stan Baker was a plaintiff in the VT civil union action suit and is almost a deacon with the Episcopal Church. The movie won 9 awards in festivals nationwide and was screened at the Green Mountain Film Festival this past year.

VTblogosphereTV 5a

2008-11-01T14:57:00.001-04:00

Program Tonight at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library

2008-10-16T13:39:00.010-04:00

The Kellogg-Hubbard Library and Community Groundwater Study Group present: Water as a Commodity or Human Right? A Community Conversation” Three Thursdays, October 16, 23, 30 at 7pm

Tonight! The film, Thirst followed by a discussion moderated by Jon Groveman Water Program Director and General Counsel of the Vermont Natural Resources Council. Prior to the film, Tim Jennings and Leanne Ponder will entertain us with at folktale.

Second week: A Panel Discussion: water as a global commodity, Vermont common resource, as a human right and local experiences. Senator Ginny Lyons, Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee, Sister Laurian Seeber, member of Vermont Interfaith Power & Light
Moderator: Johanna Miller Outreach Director and Energy Program Coordinator of Vermont Natural Resources Council.

Third week: Celebrating water through art, music and storytelling with Marjorie Ryerson, author of Water Music, Andy Christiansen, musician/dowser Dorothy Tod, filmmaker, Carolyn Shapiro, artist/educator.

This coming Saturday!
Beginning Meditation
Saturdays, October 18, 25; November 1, 8, 15
10:30 a.m. to noonHayes Room
This multi-week series offers participants an introduction to meditation as a tool for self-realization and service to others. Drawing from both ancient and modern yoga traditions, we will practice simple movement, relaxation techniques and mantra chanting to prepare the body and mind for meditation. We will practice sitting meditation, and also explore ways of bringing physical vitality, mental balance and spiritual consciousness more fully into our daily lives.
This class is free and open to all interested individuals. Space is limited so registration is required.
To register, please contact the instructor, Barb Asen, at 279-4644 or basen@juno.com.

Poetry Reading:
Dreams of the Presidents with Poet Charles Barasch
Monday, October 20th at 7pm
Dreams of the Presidents with Poet Charles Barasch has written dream sequences in the voices of all 43 U.S. presidents.
Published during an election year, this book offers a well-timed look at politicians, some much-needed laughs at leaders who take themselves too seriously, and a fun platform from which readers can start to explore the lives of those who, for better or worse, have led America.

Charles Barasch’s poems have been published in many literary and general-interest magazines, as well as in the anthology Baseball, I Gave You All the Best Years of My Life. He has created crossword puzzles for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and other major publications. A linguistics instructor at the University of Vermont and a speech pathologist working with children, he lives in Plainfield, VT.

Another Found Note

2008-09-23T16:56:00.004-04:00

*Updated*

After going up to the counter for a refill of a large iced coffee during my online session at Capitol Ground Cafe in Montpelier, I noticed the following note taped to the customer side of the cash register:

Handsome guy w/ a
dog named
"Freddy"?
"Friday"?
The woman
outside whom
you paid a
compliment
would love to
hear from you!
(ask counter staff
for my
info)

*Update*: By the way, Julia's quiche is excellent! Great big pieces too! In addition, I am told that it was only her very first time making it too. Wow! Look for more awesome dishes to come along. And this comes from someone whom is not a big quiche eater, so it is both a statement as well as a compliment.

Found Note

2008-09-20T11:09:00.007-04:00

(with minor edits)

When I began using my laptop computer at the Kellogg Hubbard Library earlier this week, I had taken to grabbing a particular book to slowly read while waiting whenever the laptop is taking time to either boot up or perform some other function where I am not able to use it during such operations or in just taking a pause from using it.

Since my favorite subjects include history as well as biographies and the like, the book I pulled off the nearby shelves a few days ago and every day since is one of the two available copies of 1776 written by David McCullough.

This morning when I did so, for the very first time since initially starting to read the book, I came across a brief note written from one person to another that someone had stuck toward the back pages of it.

The note written on white lined paper includes the first name of the person it was addressed to as well as the first name of the individual it had been from and read as follows (with initials provided only; dated: 7 April 2008):

D_____,

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Don't Panic.

Embrace Change.

Have Fun.

J______

The note is basically back near the same region of the book within which where it had originally been found, however seemed worth noting as well as quoting as an example of what other unexpected finds or surprises one can sometimes find when picking up a book to read, since one never knows what someone else may have tucked inside and accidentally left behind.

*Note*: made a few, mostly minor, edits for the purposes of clarification and readability; last updated on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 11:34 AM (ET).

New Minister (blogger) in Town: Becca Clark

2008-09-19T15:35:00.008-04:00

(with minor edits)

With apologies for the lack of blogging on my part for a while, but besides the usual low energy as well as never having enough time and also having limited online access most times up until just recently, it has been hard to do much else but the usual online work and surviving of course.

Speaking of blogging, after creating a blog concerning local and statewide politics and media/journalism within Vermont -- which for now and until after the general election is mostly focused on the gubernatorial race (i.e., 2008 Vermont Gubernatorial Race Watch blog aka Vermont Watch blog), the new blog has been about the only one I have blogging upon since then.

Yesterday (Thursday, September 18, 2008), after finishing up a session working on the blog, I walked over to the community meal (read: soup kitchen) for lunch and either quiet or active fellowship, which is held at the Trinity United Methodist Church on Main Street in Montpelier on Thursdays usually each and every week.

As I was eating lunch I noticed a relatively new face of someone wearing a pastoral collar who was making the rounds to say hello to people, something I overheard them doing at a neighboring table.

Noticing they were winding up, I attempted to make eye contact and once we did so, in a non-verbal manner had gestured in order to invite her take a seat and visit with me at my table.

To my knowledge, this was my first time personally meeting this particular minister, as I did not recall being previously aware that the church had brought on board a new one and whom had begun serving in their new ministry here about two weeks ago.

During our long and rather wide ranging conversation at times, I learned quite a bit about them, including that the 29-year-old Rev. Rebecca Clark is also an avid blogger herself.

In addition, my beginning take on her is that she is mature beyond her years in the ways that count most, yet appears to be open to listening attentively as well as willing to learn new things from either others or life experiences as they flow, including about subjects she may already know well in one regard or another or are otherwise matters of deep concerned to her.

If you have not already done so, read Becca's blog post from Wednesday (September 17, 2008; via We Your People, Ours the Journey, here; reprinted in full with permission):

Wake up Call
Posted on September 17, 2008 by Becca Clark

“Pastor, can I talk to you just a minute?”

The fellow asking has a laugh-lined face and a voice gravelly from cigarette smoking. I stop mid-stride, and give him my full attention.

He tells me that he’s homeless, and that he sometimes sleeps on our handicap access ramp, because it’s a gentle slope, and wood rather than cold stone, and has a roof to keep off the rain. He wants to make sure I’m okay with this, and that I’d know who he is, should someone call or the police ask me about the man on our back porch. He assures me that he comes late at night and leaves early in the morning, and will not be in anyone’s way.

“But,” I sputter, because I’m a Vermonter and it’s the first thing into my head, “the snow, the cold?”

“My bag is good down to zero,” he says, “and just the shelter from the roof and the side of the building is usually enough.”

I furrow my brow at the ‘usually.’

Now I don’t know that it’s my place to give out sleeping spots on my church’s stoop, and I’m simultaneously torn between sorrow that I really can’t just give him a key to the front door and shame/horror that one even needs to ask if the church, the building that houses the people who represent a wandering, oft-homeless rabbi and his work in the world, is a safe place to sleep. So I say the only thing I can think of, which is to call him by name, and tell him that I’ll recognize him should I see him there or should somebody give his description, and that I am okay with him seeking shelter on our ramp.

He goes downstairs to the food pantry, and I go inside to my office to wonder what in the world it means to be in ministry in a place where three or four people call or stop in a day looking for money, where a night on the street in certain times in January can in fact be fatal, and where the institutional body we call church can sometimes be so anxious about the survival of its ministry that we sometimes forget to do the ministry of survival. I’m not saying that we have the wrong response, but I wish we could have more.

Go ahead. Ask me if I embodied the presence of Christ today. I shudder at the answer, because he was present in that conversation, but I think he had a gravelly voice and some laugh lines.

If you liked that post of hers and want more, make sure to read the post she posted just after midnight today (Friday, September 19, 2008), here.

By the way, for those in the area who have not already done so -- although she is a native Vermonter (one of the Vermont youths who had went out of state to attend college and then work for a time, yet eventually came back with a young family in tow when called to do so by a higher power), please welcome her to her new ministry, her first having been a four year stint prior to being called to serve two congregations within Central Vermont: i.e., Trinity UMC in Montpelier 3/4 time and Grace UMC in Plainfield 1/4 time (as I understand it).

Welcome Becca!

*Note*: made several, mostly minor, edits for the purposes of clarification and readability; last updated on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 8:53 AM (ET).

September programs at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library

2008-08-25T14:25:00.002-04:00

Join us for the following programs at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in the Hayes Room. The programs are free and open to the public. The elevator is located at the School Street entrance. Call us at 223-3338 if you have questions.

HEALTHIER LIVING WORKSHOP
Thursday Series: September 4th thru October 9th, 2008
1:30-4pm PM
This free workshop teaches you how to: deal with frustration, fatigue, and pain, improve strength, flexibility, and endurance, manage medications, learn healthy eating habits… and much more. Enrollment is limited. To register contact: Central Vermont Medical Center 802-371-4198 or email galena.magee@hitchcock.org.

DARKNESS FALLS (Movie and Discussion)
Preparing for Champlain: The Material & Political World
of the Far Northeast in 1609
Thursday, September 4, 2008 7 p.m.

Johnson State College Professor Frederick Wiseman discusses the Champlain Baseline Project's archaeological, material culture and documentary research for the recreation of the "best guess" 1609 period clothing, arms, armour, transportation, and ceremonial regalia for Samuel de Champlain and his first Nation guides. The video is meant to consider the discovery of Lake Champlain from a native perspective.

WHY I LOVE WHAT I LOVE – a monthly series
Wednesday, September 10 7pm
Jim Schley on “WHY I (STILL) LOVE ROBERT FROST”

Schley, of South Strafford, is a poet, essayist, editor par excellence, and director of the Frost Place, in Franconia, NH, which supports the writing and reading of poetry Frosty and otherwise. He will talk of how this complicated poet (and difficult, cantankerous man) continues to engage his and other modern sensibilities and imaginations.

There are many more programs to come. Stop by for a list of all of the September programs.

AP: "Ben & Jerry's closing Montpelier scoop shop"

2008-08-15T15:58:00.003-04:00

*Updated*

Get the scoop about the downtown Montpelier ice cream shop closing, here [via Associated Press (AP), local Vermont News wire, Boston Globe Website].

*Update*: Read a longer article on the subject, here [via Times Argus; Saturday, August 16, 2008].

*Note*: last updated on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 10:09 AM [EDT)].

Unveiling of Dick Hathaway Memorial Sculpture

2008-08-02T22:20:00.000-04:00

*Updated & Republished Post*

New Video:

The Foundry Process of the Dick Hathaway Memorial Sculpture

Artist Bridgette Mongeon had documented the sculpting of the Dick Hathaway memorial sculpture in a previous video. In this video she takes you through the process of bronze casting as she prepares for the unveiling of the sculpture scheduled for September 25, 2008 at the TW Wood Gallery in Montpelier, Vermont. [...]

[via YouTube, here; posted by sculptorandwriter (July 31, 2008); length: 9:59 minutes/seconds]

Original post:

The unveiling of the Dick Hathaway memorial sculpture, which was created by sculptor and writer Bridgette Mongeon, is scheduled to be held at the TW Wood Gallery and Arts Center on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 5:30 PM (via A Sculpture Created In Loving Memory of Dick Hathaway blog, here).

Sculpting of the Dick Hathaway Memorial

Artist Bridgette Mongeon who specializes in posthumous sculpture, creates a life-size bronze of professor Richard Hathaway from Vermont College Union Institute. It is for the friends, family, and loved ones of Vermont. The Sculpture has become a part of her book "Bringing to Life the Spirit of the Deceased- A Sculptor's Journey."

[...]

[via YouTube, here; posted by sculptorandwriter (December 22, 2007); length: 6:46 minutes/seconds]

Professor Richard Hathaway speaks on progressive education

In loving memory of Richard Hathaway a beloved professor who believed in progressive education and history. The video is from Vermont College graduation ceremony. It was used by artist Bridgette Mongeon to assist as inspiration and reference for the Dick Hathaway memorial sculpture. [...]

[via YouTube, here; posted by sculptorandwriter (December 14, 2007); length: 9:13 minutes/seconds]

*Note*: Updated post with most recent video and republished post to reposition it to the top of main page for the moment; post originally posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

WPTZ - Ch. 5 News Clip re: Supplies Fall Short Of Demand For Pellet Stoves

2008-08-02T20:44:00.000-04:00

Thinking about a pellet stove to cut next winter's heating oil bill? You'd better act fast, as dealers are running into supply problems.

[via YouTube, here; posted by WPTZ (July 29, 2008); length: 1:20 minutes/seconds]

Montpelier Street Band

2008-07-28T13:18:00.002-04:00

[via YouTube, here; posted by kevincrader (July 22, 2008); length: 2:01 minutes/seconds]

Project Harmony looking for host families

2008-07-25T12:04:00.005-04:00

Project Harmony DESPERATELY needs some host families for a group we have arriving from Belarus at the end of next week. If anybody can take a visitor into their home for part of this program, we would be eternally grateful. July 31 - August 9 or 10 are critical at this point in terms of finding places for people. If you can help out please call Project Harmony in Waitsfield at 802-496-4545.

Onion River Sports Century Ride

2008-07-21T22:11:00.011-04:00

The 5th Annual ORS Century Ride is this Saturday, July 26th. Cyclists have a choice of two loops: 100k (62 miles) or 110 miles. Both races start at the Montpelier Recreation area on Elm Street and have a police escort through Montpelier to RT 2 near Walker Motors. All cyclists head out to Hardwick for the first food & drink stop. Tom Beardsley of WDEV will be there to greet the riders. He'll be looking for a few people to talk to him live on radio. The 62 milers will head to Morrisville then to Elmore for their second food stop. The 110 milers will head to Barton, S. Albany, North Wolcott and then to Elmore. Both routes end at the Montpelier Recreation area where cyclists can enjoy an end-of-the-ride BBQ. Kellogg-Hubbard Library.To register for the ride you can go Onion River Sports on Langdon Street or register online. Registration is $65 and includes the BBQ and beverages, including Rock Art Beer! The good folks at ORS also organize a raffle with this ride. Tickets are $5 apiece or 5 tickets for $20. Tickets are on sale at Onion River Sports and Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Volunteers are needed to bake cookies for the food stops or make potato, pasta or green salads for the BBQ. Anyone interested in helping out at the event is encouraged to call Rachel at the library, 223-3338.

Librarian stands up for civil liberties

2008-07-20T08:03:00.002-04:00

We have seen repeatedly that times of crisis or great fear make us vulnerable to threats to our civil liberties. We can be glad that here in Vermont we are served by librarians who will support our civil liberties, even in the face of police raids.

The Vermont state police have once again decided that warrants were an unnecessary part of their process. Unfortunately for them, they were no match for mild mannered, 4' 10", 56-year old, librarian by day, civil rights defender by... okay, also by day... Judith Flint.

The short version: the state police showed up at Kimball Public Library to seize the library's computers because they had a tip that Brooke Bennett may have used them at some point and she asked them for a warrant.

As reported in, of all places, The Fresno Bee (used to avoid linking to an AP article; otherwise I'd use the Herald):

Children's librarian Judith Flint was getting ready for the monthly book discussion group for 8- and 9-year-olds on "Love That Dog" when police showed up.

They weren't kidding around: Five state police detectives wanted to seize Kimball Public Library's public access computers as they frantically searched for a 12-year-old girl, acting on a tip that she sometimes used the terminals.

Flint demanded a search warrant, touching off a confrontation that pitted the privacy rights of library patrons against the rights of police on official business.
[...]
"What I observed when I came in were a bunch of very tall men encircling a very small woman," said the library's director, Amy Grasmick, who held fast to the need for a warrant after coming to the rescue of the 4-foot-10 Flint.

ORCA Media: Overexposed in Vermont

2008-07-17T15:57:00.009-04:00

*Warning*: Nudity is shown at certain segments within the below embedded video and, as such, may not be appropriate for all viewers.

Montpelier Naked Bike Ride 2008

[via YouTube, here; posted by orcamedia (July 16, 2008); length: 7:31 minutes/seconds]

fyi: Montpelier Naked Bike Ride
*Warning*: the above linked Website contains photos as well as links to various video clips posted online where nudity is present and, as such, may not be appropriate for all persons.

Stuck in Vermont 88: Leahy & Batman

2008-07-16T10:41:00.001-04:00

7/12/08: "The Dark Knight" premiered in Montpelier Saturday, days before it's general release.

We have Vermont's own Dark Knight to thank for this rare event - US Senator Patrick Leahy who has a small cameo in the film.

Patrick Leahy grew up in Montpelier Vermont. Blind in one eye, he spent much of his free time reading comics at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

Years later, he is the library's favorite Superhero, donating proceeds from his Batman film appearances and raising money from this recent screening of The Dark Knight.

Leahy sits down with the library's Comics Clubs to talk about Batman, "The Dark Knight," and why he loves reading.

[...]

[via YouTube, here; posted by StuckinVermont (July 16, 2008); length: 5:08 minutes/seconds]

For additional information concerning these and other library matters, make sure to check out the Kellogg Hubbard Library blog.

'Montpelier miracle'

2008-07-15T13:56:00.002-04:00

Novelist and Worcester native Thomas Greene creates a new college, here [via Worcester Telegram & Gazette; Worcester, MA.; Tuesday, July 15, 2008]

A Celebration of Vermont College of Fine Arts

Celebrating the Vermont College of Fine Arts, the first new college in Vermont in 23 years and the only fine arts graduate school of its kind.

[via YouTube, here; posted by rjoconnor21 (June 23, 2008)] length: 3:12 minutes/seconds]

fyi: Vermont College of Fine Arts

VTblogosphereTV Debuts on ORCA Media

2008-07-08T15:12:00.003-04:00

[...]

[T]he inaugural preeemiere debut episode of VTblogosphereTV! It will be showing on Onion River Community Access (ORCA) Media Monday, July 7 at 9 PM, Tuesday July 8 at 2AM and noon, and Saturday, July 12 at 1PM. ORCA is central VT's Public access television station. I got real lucky and landed John Odum as the first guest. You may have heard of him. Guy's a natural. Right here is a sneak preview of first ten minutes of the show.

[...]

[via Green Mountain Daily blog, here; Sunday, July 6, 2008]

fyi: ORCA Media

Council on the Future of Vermont, Washington County Forum: Thursday, July 10th @ 6PM, Old Labor Hall, Barre

2008-07-08T11:03:00.001-04:00

Subscribe Free Add to my Page

CFV is coming to WASHINGTON County! Join us for a public discussion on Thursday, July 10 at the Old Labor Hall, 46 Granite St, Barre. Free refreshments at 6:00pm, discussion starts at 6:30. Tell us what you envison for Vermont's future!

[via Council on the Future of Vermont Website]

For more information concerning the Council on the Future of Vermont, read Chris Graff's commentary, here [via Barre - Montpelier Times Argus; Tuesday, July 8, 2008].

Videos: Montpelier, VT July 3rd Festivities in Celebration of July 4th

2008-07-05T16:40:00.001-04:00

Montpelier Parade

The 501NEG and the Amazing Cardboard AT-AT make an appearance at the 3rd of July Parade in Montpelier VT

[via YouTube, here; posted by wolfboy2027 (July 4, 2008); length: 4:40 minutes/seconds]

amazing fireworks in Montpelier Vermont

... fantastic fireworks in Montpelier Vermont at National Life ...

[via YouTube, here; posted by hotdog4lunch (July 4, 2008); length: 9:53 minutes/seconds]

The grand finale

Fireworks

[via YouTube, here; posted by CliXiNiXa (July 5, 2008); length: 1:01 minutes/seconds]

Homeless Vermonters deserve respect

2008-06-25T13:41:00.003-04:00

Commentary by yours truly concerning people living homeless published within today's edition of the Times Argus, here.

Kellogg-Hubbard page recognized for her writing

2008-06-23T07:21:00.002-04:00

From today's Times Argus:
MONTPELIER – If she were a football player, everyone would know her name. But Emma Russo-Savage is a writer – and a rider (of horses), she adds, playing with words.

The Montpelier High School student has won not only recognition for her writing, she has won money. This year she took top place among juniors from all over the state in the Vermont Honors Competition for Excellence in Writing at the University of Vermont. The prize was $4,000. It's the first time in the history of the 25-year-old contest that Montpelier has had a state winner.

I think it's great to see young people being recognized for their academic accomplishments, for their brains.

My favorite line in the whole story: "Then in second grade, I got it and haven't stopped reading since," That's something I can relate to.

Congratulations, Emma!

Taylor Street Bridge, Montpelier

2008-06-20T10:11:00.001-04:00

A look under the bridge in Montpelier and a commentary on the status of Vermont's steel truss bridges now about 80 years-old.

[via YouTube, here; posted by ncf109 (June 19, 2008)]

Read an article within this morning's (Friday, June 20, 2008) Times Argus on the subject: Montpelier, state both defend 'scary' bridge.

LiveBlogging: Homeless in Montpelier, VT

2008-06-18T16:00:00.004-04:00

*Updated*

Homelessness in Montpelier, Vermont? You bet!

When: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 beginning at 11:00 AM until whenever liveblogging event ends.
What: LiveBlogging event re: homelessness in Montpelier, Vermont.
Where: Online via Montpelier Matters (montpelier-vt.blogspot.com) blog.
Why: Because it matters!
Who: Morgan W. Brown, host and writer.
How to participate: Get online via any online access computer, go to the Montpelier Matters blog to read and post comments live using the liveblogging tool.

Who are those who are homeless within the city limits of Montpelier, VT? What is it like? Where do people stay or sleep? Is anyone doing anything real and meaningful about it? If so, who, what, how and when? What can be done about it? What resources are there?

These as well as many other questions, myths as well as information will be the focus of discussion for those who choose to join in online for a LiveBlogging session I am hosting on the day I become homeless once again after moving out of temporary Winter housing for the fourth season in a row.

Please note that if in the case that my circumstances end up changing or otherwise limiting my liveblogging, I may have to either change, delay or reschedule the time or day of the liveblogging session and will attempt to do in advance. If such happens, check this post for information.

*Update*: Found out Tuesday (6/17th) evening that I now have another day before I need to move out, which will be on Thursday morning (6/19th); yet Wednesday's (6/18th) liveblogging session is still on of course (end of update).

Please help spread the word far and wide. Thank you in advance.

(this post has been advanced dated in order to keep it on top of the
blog until sometime after the liveblogging event is held)

Photo Credit (i.e., liveblogging tool embedded banner photo source): Claude Stone

*Note*: last updated on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 12:20 AM [EDT].

Montpelier negotiating wireless takeover

2008-06-01T08:16:00.000-04:00

From today's Times Argus:
June 1, 2008

By Sarah Hinckley Staff Writer

MONTPELIER – In an attempt to recoup the costs of the floundering Internet cooperative MontpelierNet, City Council members could as early as this week begin to negotiate a takeover of the co-op's assets and create a city utility.

Primary race for Montpelier House seat

2008-05-22T08:22:00.001-04:00

The Times Argus has this preview of the coming Democratic primary for House of Representatives.

Hooper eyes House race
She's expected to battle Anderson for position
May 22, 2008

By Daniel Barlow Vermont Press Bureau

Cross posted from Green Mountain Daily:

MONTPELIER – There will be at least three Democrats running in this year's primary for Montpelier's two House seats.

Incumbents Rep. Warren Kitzmiller and Rep. Jon Anderson, who was appointed to fill the remainder of a term last year, face a challenge from Montpelier Mayor Mary Hooper for the city's two at-large district seats for the Vermont House.

What the story in the Times Argus fails to add is that Anderson is considered potentially vulnerable not only because of Hooper's popularity as mayor, a position to which she has won reelection without opposition, but also because in his first important vote after being appointed to the seat by Governor Douglas, Anderson voted to sustain Douglas's veto of the FY 2007 Budget Adjustment Act.

Even with the expected absence of any Republican candidate for the seat, this shapes up to be an interesting election season in Montpelier.

Montpelier, VT TimeTube

2008-05-10T15:22:00.001-04:00

via TimeTube, an excellent video search tool, which searches YouTube videos for a given search term(s) (e.g., montpelier vermont). Read about it, here [via LifeHacker].

Life in the big city

2008-05-04T08:35:00.003-04:00

Here's a sampling of some of the police blotter entries from the Times Argus this week:

Police received a call on Wednesday about a Main Street resident's donkeys being loose. Another call was placed on Thursday about the resident's dogs barking.

A woman on Main Street called to report chickens loose in her yard, again, according to the police report.

Two dogs ended up at a North Street residence around 8:30 p.m. A short time after the occupant of the house called police, a man on Main Street called police to report his dogs missing. He told police he could contact the North Street resident and retrieve the dogs, according to the police report.

Gee, and I remember when the top items on the list were all about kids playing bongos!

Law could close book on library records

2008-04-30T07:10:00.004-04:00

UPDATE--BILL PASSED BY HOUSE AND SENATE

The news now is that the bill has passed both bodies, and there is no talk of a veto.

The bill still violates the rights to freedom of information and equal access to patrons younger than 16, but still provides legal protection to library patrons where it did not exist before.

If you're a regular library user you are probably assuming that the library's records of your circulation and other activities are confidential.

If you assumed that, you'd be wrong. Although library ethics do protect the confidentiality of patrons' records, they are not legally protected. Now, if a bill under consideration by the Vermont Legislature is adopted, library records will have legal protection.

Lawmakers in Montpelier took action this week on the confidentiality of library records. A bill passed by the Vermont House this week – a measure that has already passed the Senate – would make it clear in state law that only a court order from a judge could force the release of a library patron's records.

As noted, there are limits to this confidentiality. First, the bill would allow parental access to the records of patrons under the age of sixteen. Second, as noted, courts would continue to have authority to order disclosure of records. Finally, the state legislation would not protect borrowers against disclosure required or authorized by the so-called Patriot Act.

Things are tricky during the last few days of the legislative session, so it's always hard to predict what's going to happen. Still, since the bill has already passed both the House and the Senate in different forms, the likelihood that they will reach agreement and pass it seems pretty strong.

enVision Montpelier Survey

2008-04-28T20:16:00.004-04:00

*Updated*

While eating at the Trinity Church weekly community meal (read: soup kitchen) a couple of months ago one Thursday, I was asked to fill out a brief survey by one of two Americorps VISTA volunteers present that day who work with the City of Montpelier Planning and Development department.

They were there asking people if they would fill out surveys as part of the process enVision Montpelier has employed to seek public input.

The City of Montpelier has initiated a long-term, visionary planning project called envisionMontpelier, which is designed to lay the groundwork for strategies and activities that will contribute to our progress becoming the country’s first sustainable state capital. The project has City Council endorsement - they have included it in their goals for 2007-2008, and has recruited a core group of stakeholders from business, government, the schools, non-profit organizations, artists, senior citizens, youth, minority populations, and ordinary citizens to carry out the planning and action project.

We welcome people from all over the city and Central Vermont to participate in the program. [...]

Those enVision Montpelier survey questions as well as my responses to them were as follows:

1) What part of the city do you care about that you want future generations who live in Montpelier to enjoy?

OPEN SPACES & wooded areas, parks, the rivers and shorelines, etc.

2) What do you want to change?

Do away with parking meters and paid public parking areas and make parking free, since tax payers already pay for it.

3) What ideas do you have for the future?

Creating more and better affordable housing opportunities, especially for those most in need.

4) What is it like for you to live/work/play in Montpelier?

Hard! Without permanent, safe, decent, affordable housing.

5) What are you willing to do to help?

Already do what I can.

Today I received an e-mail from one of the VISTA volunteers indicating that they:

[...] are doing a last push to get people to fill out the enVision survey we have been circulating for the past few months and are working on compiling "celebrity surveys" for an article to be printed in The Bridge and hopefully the Times Argus. [...]

If you have not already filled out the survey and want to do so, make sure to either fill out the online version of the survey or get in touch with those involved via the project contact information listed on the survey page, here.

*Update*: The May 8, 2008 edition of the Montpelier Bridge includes a sampling of survey responses on page 15, here.

*Note*: last updated on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 1:57 AM [EDT].

Celebrate Life and Art

2008-04-25T12:05:00.002-04:00

Studio Place Arts is sending out a call for artists who are cancer survivors.
Artists and poets will have the opportunity to participate in an art exhibit and poetry reading at the upcoming “Celebrate Life and Art” as part of National Cancer Survivor Day on Sunday, June 1, 2008 from 5-7pm at Studio Place Arts in Barre. Phoenix Rising will continue the art showing of “Celebrate Life and Art” in Montpelier throughout June with a reception on June 6 for ArtWalk.
If you are interested in showing your work please contact Sue Chiappetta at decssc@gmavt.net or call Sue at 496-6660.

VT ACLU Discussion: WhoseSpace? Privacy in the Wired Age: Thursday, April 17th from 6PM to 7:30PM at Langdon Street Cafe, Montpelier

2008-04-10T21:36:00.000-04:00

Whosespace? The Changing Law And Culture Of Privacy In The Wired Age

As wired culture becomes the norm, views of privacy are changing -- for better or worse.

Traditional views of privacy stress being left alone. Social networking sites and other aspects of internet culture stress getting connected and revealing personal information.

Who can access and control the information we willingly provide? Who knows what? What are the implications of these changes for us as individuals, and for our society?

The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont (ACLU VT) is sponsoring a discussion Thursday, April 17, 2008 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Langdon Street Cafe in Montpelier that features a panel of people in the front lines of high-tech and privacy concerns:
Fred Lane, a First Amendment legal expert, specialist in emerging technology, and author of The Decency Wars: The Campaign to Cleanse American Culture
Thomas Streeter, a UVM sociology professor and specialist in media, technology, law, and culture
Matt Shagam, a UVM graduate student specializing in Internet media and social trends
Allen Gilbert, Executive Director, ACLU VT
Join the conversation. It's free and open to all.

[above photo: Langdon Street Cafe, taken by Morgan W. Brown (11/5/2005); from 2005 Vermont Blogger Gathering set, via Flickr]

How Montpelier compares

2008-04-10T14:33:00.002-04:00

Keith Edwards, a reporter for the Kennebec [Maine] Journal, is writing an interesting series comparing Maine's capital, Augusta, to Montpelier and Concord, NH. Includes some wonderful photos of the statehouse. (See link to slideshow.)

Capitol City Farmers' Market - Montpelier, VT

2008-04-09T20:24:00.001-04:00

Feast in the Making host Sean Buchanan visits the Capitol City Farmers' Market in Montpelier, Vt., where a program called Shop With the Chef turns a trip to the farmers' market into a culinary adventure.

[via YouTube, here]

Kellogg-Hubbard Library, LWATW

2008-04-09T19:53:00.002-04:00

Video footage of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library located in Montpelier, VT. Visit Libraries Worth a Thousand Words. lwatw.dyndns.org

[via YouTube, here]

True story--Home Depot backs out of Central Vermont

2008-04-01T20:25:00.000-04:00

Home Depot drops plans for Berlin store
3:40 p.m.
April 1, 2008

By David Delcore
Times Argus Staff

BERLIN - Home Depot won’t be coming to central Vermont any time soon.

In a bizarre development involving the controversial project, the company, which bills itself as “the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer,” formally scrapped its plans to redevelop a partially abandoned /Barre-Montpelier Road strip mall.

The April Fools Day revelation came during an Environmental Court hearing concerning the project this afternoon, but Montpelier lawyer Paul Gillies assured Judge Thomas Durkin that his client wasn’t kidding.

Tops in Vermont? Green Mountain Daily!

2008-03-30T22:53:00.000-04:00

Here's a cross-post from the other blog I write for: Green Mountain Daily. We've just been ranked on the top of the list for best political blogs in Vermont b the Washington Post!

Naturally, we feel pretty good about this, and it makes me want to keep working harder to bring high-quality political and policy news and analysis both to GMD and Rational Resistance.

Kayaking the North Branch of the Winooski

2008-03-25T22:00:00.000-04:00

Kayaking the North Branch of the Winooski Close to Montpelier, capital city of Vermont.

[via BrightCove, here]

THIS WEEK IN THE LIBRARY

2008-03-25T18:48:00.000-04:00

The Kellogg-Hubbard Library has programs for all ages! Check us out!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26
10:30 am STORYTIME WITH Ben t. Matchstick

7:30pm The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle A Celebration with Justine and Robert O’Keefe The Pain Body: Recognizing our cumulative pain and how it is triggered by and feeds on our thought patterns.
Hayes Room

THURSDAY, MARCH 27
7:00pm CCV Lecture Series: Computer Information Security for the Everyday User with Kris Rowley
Cyber security breaches resulting in identity theft and stolen credit card information have brought the world of information security home to the everyday person. Topics will also include password protection, the ethical use of computers and home security.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28
10:30am STORYTIME WITH BEN
Every Friday 3:00 to 5:00pm GAMES AT THE LIBRARY!
Children’s library. For adults and children

SATURDAY, MARCH 29
10:00AM PRUNING TREES with David Wilcox
Registration required. Master Gardener Program E.Mont Room

LANGUAGE LUNCHES
DAILY Noon-1 pm
• Monday : (NEW!) Chinese & Russian Thursday: French
• Tuesday: Italian Friday: German
• Wednesday: Spanish

Stop the Big Box Swindle

2008-03-09T18:29:00.001-04:00

Here in Montpelier we're lucky to have two hardware stores, right next to each other, where you can get great service, good selection, and competitive pricing, and, if you live in town, you don't even need to burn any gas to get there. I'm talking, of course, about our local Aubuchon and Somers Hardware, right on Main Street. Barre also has a great local hardware store, Nelson Brothers True Value. If your needs are a little more extensive you can get all your lumber and remodeling needs at Allen Lumber, and they deliver right to your house.

So what do we need with another Home Depot?

A local group, Citizens for Community and Local Prosperity is asking that very question.

On Monday, March 10, you can hear Stacy Mitchell, theauthor of Big Box Sindle, speak at the Labor Hall in Barre. The event is at 6:00, it's free, and the author will be siging copies of the book.

For more information call 272-8543 or email CCLP AT vtlink.net

Heard any good books lately?

2008-03-09T10:21:00.001-04:00

Like to read? Wish you could read more, but you don't have enough time fitting it in with your drive time to and from work, time at the gym or running errands, or other time when you can't sit in the old easy chair for some quality literary time? If so, the new service from a network of Vermont libraries might be just what you're looking for.

As the Times Argus reports today, your library card is all it takes to download a one-week site license to listen to a collection of audio books (280 now with a plan to expand to 500 by the end of the year) from the comfort of your own home. Now, not only can you read while driving, you don't have to go to the library or spend any money on your next audio book.

I ride the GMTA bus to and from Waterbury at least twice a week, and I always see people listening to their MP3 players on the ride. I don't know what they're listening to, but the chance of getting an extra half-hour, hour, or even a couple of hours if I were going to Burlington, for reading seems pretty attractive to me.

This is another example of the great services available from your local library. You can spend fifteen dollars or so a month to subscribe to an audio book service like Audible, or ten or fifteen dollars a month for Netflix, or you can get movies, and now audio books, free at your local library.

Hard to beat that deal, isn't it?

Library Funding Passes in Montpelier

2008-03-04T23:13:00.002-05:00

I just got home from counting ballots a little while ago and I can report that the appropriation of $72,668 for the Kellogg-Hubbard Library passed in Montpelier by a margin of 2323-872, or almost three to one.

I think this is great news. Kellogg-Hubbard is a treasure, and this shows how much Montpelierites value our library.

The library appropriation appears to be on the way to passing in all the towns in the Kellogg-Hubbard service area. Here's what the Times Argus says about the library discussion in Calais:

Kellogg-Hubbard's ever-increasing requests for support from the five U-32 member towns around Montpelier once again proved a topic for debate. But despite a recommendation from a town panel that the library request be cut by roughly $3,000 – the library's funding requests have "gone up exponentially" (746 percent since 2001), according to panel member Wilson Hughes – voters backed the full $23,547 request.

Resident Marialisa Calta, who serves on the library board, said Calais' support remains considerably less than what other towns around the state pay per capita and she said the library is second in usage only to Burlington. She noted 800 of the town's residents use the library – about half the population – and said "we do appreciate that it's tough times and we're asking for a lot."

Several residents pointed out the library's essential role for children, Internet access and use of audio books and other materials. Said Matt Myers, the cost of illiteracy is also very high, and in that light the budget is worthwhile.

"I think it's worth supporting," he said.

Melanie Menaugh added that an economic downturn is the wrong time to cut back on support for a library.

"When times are tough is when we need a library most," she said.

Calta said the library board has a "multi-pronged attack to get itself on sound financial footing" and would not ask for anything over cost-of-living increases in the future.

The Times Argus reports that all Australian ballot items passed in Berlin, and that Worcester passed all articles, so that would presumably include library funding. Middlesex approved the full appropriation of $24,000, in contrast to the budget cut they voted last year.

I haven't heard the totals from East Montpelier, but I hope that anyone who has this information will post it here.

Congratulations to the Library staff, board, and supporters!

Basho - On the Poet's Trail

2008-02-25T16:51:00.001-05:00

In the February 2008 edition of the National Geographic magazine there is an article about Vermont author Howard Norman and his expedition on the Basho Trail in northern Japan, the path of the 17th century Japanese Haiku master, Matsuo Basho. Howard Norman will talk about his trip to Japan at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 7pm as part of the Why I Love What I Love series organized by local author Dave Dobbs. Mark your calendars now for this great lecture.

On the Poet’s Trail
Footsteps fall softly
Following the path
Of Japan’s haiku master.

by Howard Norman

Council on the Future of Vermont

2008-02-25T11:54:00.002-05:00

The Vermont Council on Rural Development
is pleased to announce a new website for its statewide project:

Council on the Future of Vermont

www.futureofvermont.org

The Council on the Future of Vermont is seeking to learn about Vermont from Vermonters. For one year, CFV will take public input on the values, concerns and aspirations of people throughout the state, and, in 2009, will present a comprehensive assessment of its findings.

The website is one way for Vermonters to contribute their ideas and to learn what others think via an online survey, discussion questions, forum notes, and a calendar of events.

Calling all school-aged children

2008-02-20T16:01:00.000-05:00

Want to know what to do on school vacation? Ben T. Matchstick of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library has a few things up his sleeve. For a list of the activities click here.

Kellogg-Hubbard Library closed on Monday

2008-02-15T18:07:00.000-05:00

The Kellogg-Hubbard Library will be closed on Monday, February 18, 2008 in celebration of the President's Day holiday. The library will be open on Saturday from 10am to 5:30pm. Swing by the library tomorrow if you need extra reading material for Monday.

The Restore loses its warehouse

2008-02-15T17:59:00.000-05:00

This week the heavy snow collapsed The Restore's warehouse roof. General Manager Kristi Smith says that the Restore, a non-profit organization, welcomes donations to help them out. Donations can be sent to: The Restore, P.O. Box 885, Montpelier, VT 05601. Many organizations use The Restore for various activities and projects. First Night hat-making is always popular. The Restore is still open for business.

Pesticides in food

2008-02-15T17:08:00.000-05:00

Who knew that peaches have the highest pesticide residues even after being washed? If you care about eating food that's good for you and for your children, you might want to buy the following fruits and vegetables in the organic food aisle. The following information was taken from a website called, Healthy Living.

....And thankfully, the Environmental Working Group has compiled a list of the fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticide residues, even after washing. The list is based on results of 43,000 tests on produce by the U.S.Department of Agriculture between 2000 and 2004. Here it is, in order from worst(those with the highest pesticide residues, from worst to best):
1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Pears
9. Grapes
10.Spinach
Here are the ten best (those with the least pesticide residues, fromleast to most):
1. Onions
2. Avocados
3. Sweet Corn -- Frozen
4. Pineapples
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet Peas -- Frozen
8. Kiwi
9. Bananas
10.Cabbage

We are really lucky in Montpelier to have sources to buy organic food: Hunger Mountain Coop, Shaw's, Winter Farmer's Market (first saturday of the month at Vermont College), Montpelier Commonshare Local Food. In addition to local organic fruits and vegetables Vermont has great organic beef, pork, chicken, bison.

Why I Love Slate Postponed until Feb 21 at 7pm

2008-02-13T15:00:00.000-05:00

The Kellogg-Hubbard Library's program, Why I Love Slate by local author/poet Jody Gladding, has been cancelled tonight due to the snow storm. The new date is Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 7pm.

This Week at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library

2008-02-10T12:45:00.000-05:00

Are looking for an antidote to the cold and snow? Look no further than the Kellogg-Hubbard Library! We have something for people of all ages.

Join Francette Cerulli for a discussion of The Maltese Falcon, tomorrow, Monday, February 11, 2008 at 7pm in the Hayes Room. This is the last KHL program of The Big Read. Pick up a copy of The Maltese Falcon for your winter reading!

Brush up on your foreign language skills by coming to the Kellogg-Hubbard Library with a bag lunch and a dictionary. We’ll open the Hayes Room to a different language group each day, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Tell your friends!
Monday : Chinese and Russian
Tuesday: Italian
Wednesday: Spanish
Thursday: French
Friday: German

Dark Night Comics Club for young adults!
The club now meets every Tuesday from 3:00-4:30pm. Artist Brian Zeigler who uses scribbles to inspire his weirdo characters will be on the scene on February 18th, so don’t miss it!

Why I Love What I Love
Writers discuss their passions -- from the prosaic to the profound.
February 13, 2008 at 7pm “Why I Love Slate,” by Jody Gladding. Distinguished poet and translator Jody Gladding ponders the stone found in countless Vermont basements, walkways, hillsides -- and at least one heart. This library series is organized by David Dobbs, videotaped by ORCA Media, with interviews each month in The Bridge.

STORYTIME is a real blast with Ben!
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday join Ben Matchstick at 10:30am for stories, fingerplays, puppets, activities and crafts with your pre-schooler, toddler, or baby! It’s free. It’s fun. It’s the place to be! Storytime on Friday, February 15 will include special guest Sandra Cathey who will demonstrate Kindermusik Village class for babies, newborns to 17 months at 11am. Ben will start Storytime as usual at 10:30am in the Hayes Room then bring older kids upstairs in the children’s library for a craft while Kindermusik is in session!

Kindermusik Village incorporates the most current research on early childhood development and provides families a special place for learning and connecting with other parents and babies through music and movement. Through a unique blend of multi-level activities that includes creative movement, vocal play, object and instrument exploration, and a colorful literature component, your baby's growth and development are stimulated and all of his senses engaged.

See you at the library!

Parkside Property Management

2008-01-31T13:21:00.001-05:00

From Gwendolyn Hallsmith, Director of Montpelier's Department of Planning and Community Development:

The meeting at Montpelier City Hall to discuss the situation with Parkside Property Management will be held at 11:45 on Friday, February 1st. It will be held in the Memorial Room of City Hall on the first floor. We have tried to identify people who represent organizations that might be able to provide tenants with assistance if they are facing problems with heating fuel, relocation costs, or other issues. I am hoping that if you know someone who would be able to do this, you would alert them to the meeting...I can't say I've had complete success in this area, since it's such short notice. We're hoping that resource people might try to arrive a little early, especially if you have brochures or flyers that might provide helpful information.

Thanks for anything you can do to help out in this situation. At times like this we need to pull together as a community, so people who have been victimized by the crime won't feel as if they need to face a very difficult situation alone. There are a lot of victims in our area, and all indications are that a huge amount of money is involved. Please let me know if you will be attending, and if you need some table space for materials for people.

Phillip Baruth on state funding for libraries

2008-01-30T23:00:00.000-05:00

Since we're privileged to have the best public library in the state right here in Montpelier, you might be interested in seeing what Philip Baruth has to say about state funding of libraries.

I applaud the Legislature’s attempts to wire up the state of Vermont, and it’s going to be a beautiful thing when the job is done.

For God’s sake, though, don’t skimp on the State’s libraries as you do so, because they are already set-up institutionally to fill the digital gap; they’re in place, they’ve rethought their mission, and they’re performing the job admirably as we speak.

But unless we support them financially in that role, this vast string of fiber-optic Christmas lights we’re working on isn’t going anywhere, not really, not in any ethical or moral sense. In that sense, the system will remain dark until everyone has access to the light.

And let’s not kid ourselves. Bringing the light to those without it costs money: 1.6 million dollars is the line item the VLA is requesting, and an absolutely spectacular bargain at that price.