In this, our Outdoor Issue of The Bridge, we celebrate Vermont.

What, after all, is Vermont? Vermont is many things. At one extreme, Vermont is a state with boundaries, coun-

ties, cities, towns and other official jurisdictions. At another extreme Vermont is almost an abstraction—a state

of mind that inhabits our memories and fills up our dreams.Yet it’s this abstraction, this idea of Vermont that is so pow-

erful that it’s not hard to imagine that any of us would rathergive up our lives in her defense than lose what we love aboutthis mountain fastness.

In the half-dozen profiles and statements featured on pages6–8, we asked a handful of local women and men who knowthe outdoors from different vantage points to tell us somethingof what they know and how they feel about what they know.

Their theme throughout was passion.—N.F.

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Mailed by subscription

June 32010

PublishedTwiceMonthly

Clockwise from top left: canoeists on a Vemont lake; Community Connections campers atop a mountain at Steeps and Deeps Camp; experiencing the outoors through a lens; and ayoung EarthWalk camper “fox-walks” through the forest. Community Connections and EarthWalk photos courtesy of those organizations; other photos by Annie Tiberio Cameron.

the OUTDOOR

issue

We’ll feature articles about farms and farmers, agriculturaleducation and the business angle of farming. We’ll look atdifferent types of farming, including dairy, meat, vegetables,maple, flowers, logging and more.

To advertise in this special issue, contact Carolyn or Peteat 223-5112, ext. 11 or 12.

The Business of Farming IssueComing July 15!

PAGE 2 • JUNE 3, 2010 THE BRIDGE

HEARD ON THESTREET

Nona Estrin’s Nature WatchWe were in Maine the week of May 25, but Loring Starr reported thatas evening fell, lightning bugs were in the air at the same time springpeepers were still going strong—events usually separated by at leasta few weeks. And hiking up to White Rocks was another seasontwister. Underfoot were the dried leaves killed and fallen after the re-cent hard frost. From the summit it looked like fall: a band of dark or-ange under the spine of the Green Mountains just below thespruce/fir zone. Dried leaves from that same freeze! Weird!

THE BR I DGE ~ Connecting Our CommunityP.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601

Phone: 802-223-5112 Fax: 802-223-7852 www.montpelierbridge.com

Editor & Publisher: Nat FrothinghamManaging Editor: Marsha Barber

Sales Representatives: Peter DuBois, Carolyn Grodinsky, Rick McMahanGraphic Design & Layout: Dana Dwinell-Yardley

Calendar Editor: Dana Dwinell-YardleyProofreader: Jim Wallace

Distribution: Kevin Fair, Karen Hanron, Bob Lincoln, Daniel RenfroWeb Master: Michael Berry

Advertising: For further information about advertising, deadlines, and rates:

Phone: 223-5112, ext.11 (Carolyn) or ext. 12 (Peter)

E-mail: carolynatthebridge@yahoo.com or peterdubois8@gmail.com Fax: 802-223-7852

Editorial e-mail: mbarber@montpelierbridge.com Phone: 223-5112, ext. 10 (Nat)

The Bridge office is located at Vermont College, on the lower level of Schulmaier Hall.

The Bridge is published twice a month and is available free of charge at many locations around central Vermont. You can receive The Bridge by mail

for $50 a year. Bridge Connection memberships are available for an amount of your choice from $50 per year. Make out your check to

The Bridge, and mail to The Bridge, P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier VT 05601.

Copyright 2010 by The Montpelier Bridge

Subscribe to The Bridge! If you appreciate The Bridge’s coverage of issues, ideas and personalities in cen-tral Vermont, why not subscribe?

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Synagogue Launches Major Renovation Project

Montpelier’s Beth Jacob Synagogue re-cently held a groundbreaking cere-

mony to mark major renovations to thebuilding, owned by the congregation since1914. Beth Jacob is Central Vermont’s onlysynagogue, with a membership of 85 fami-lies. More than 120 community membershave contributed $350,000 toward the firstphase of the renovation project, consistingof a complete reconstruction of the fronthalf of the synagogue—which houses thesanctuary—making it more stable, attractiveand energy-efficient. (A routine inspection afew years ago had revealed serious struc-tural problems with the building.)

According to a press release from syna-gogue president Eve Jacobs-Carnahan, thecongregation went through a year-longprocess to select possible new sites to re-build before reaching a strong consensus toreconstruct the building at its current loca-tion on Harrison Avenue, using the “foot-print” of the current synagogue. Jacobs-

Carnahan cites a sentimental attachmentto the location as one of the reasons for re-maining there: “After nearly one hundredyears, we want to honor our history by stay-ing put.”

For more information about the renovation project, visit www.bethjacobvt.org.

7th Annual Onion River Century Ride

It’s time once again for cyclists to gear up for the Onion River Century Ride. For the sev-enth year, Onion River Sports will sponsor this benefit for Montpelier’s Kellogg-Hubbard

Library—a gorgeous ride through the heart of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.Participants may choose to pedal the full 111-mile century ride, the 110-kilometer (68-mile

metric century ride or the 24-mile loop. The ride leaves the Montpelier Rec Fields at Pool-side Drive at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 31. The 24-mile ride is a beautiful tour to theAdamant Coop on both dirt and paved roads. The 110-kilometer ride is a loop through EastMontpelier, Hardwick and Lake Elmore. The full century ride loops through Hardwick, Bar-ton, Albany, Morrisville and Lake Elmore, returning to Montpelier on Rt. 12.

Riders will end up back at the beginning: the Montpelier Rec Fields for a day-long bar-beque celebrating the different times the cyclists arrive back, depending on which route cho-sen. The barbeque ends at 6 p.m.

Registration is $50 before July 20 or $60 July 20 to 28 online or the day of the race. Pledgeregistration is $30 with at least $50 in pledges brought to the day of the ride. To register andfor more information, go to www.onionriver.com/century_registration.asp. or call OnionRiver Sports at 229-9409.

Host Family Needed

Laura, a 16-year-old exchange student from Germany, is looking for a host family in theMontpelier area. Jake Feldman, community coordinator of the Program of Academic Ex-

change (PAX), says, “We’re looking for families who are interested in the world and in help-ing an exchange student experience life in America.” Laura speaks English fluently, isfriendly and reliable, and has a passion for horseback riding. She will be attending a localhigh school this fall; her favorite subjects are science courses.

PAX has girls and boys from more than 30 countries that are looking for host families, andFeldman can select students to match any family’s interests. Young couples, single parentsand retirees are encouraged to apply. Families interested in learning more should contactJake Feldman at (802) 279-6020 or e-mail jaken104@yahoo.com. PAX is a nonprofit organi-zation dedicated to increasing mutual respect among the people of the world. Visitwww.pax.org for more information.

LACE/Farm Fresh Market Turns 4

Barre’s own Farm Fresh Market, LACE, turns 4 on June 10. When Ariel Zevon’s storeopened four years ago, the community turned out to paint, clean and plaster the old

Homer Fitts department store and visitors from 30-odd states showed up to welcome thenew local-foods market and café. Jackson Browne even turned up to perform a benefit con-cert for the market at the Barre Opera House. These days, the fanfare about LACE has dieddown and it has quietly become a part of Barre’s Main Street where folks stop in for freshproduce or Sunday brunch.

To thank the community for its support, LACE will offer 10 percent discounts on anythingpurchased in the café or market for the entire month of June . . . so long as you say “Happybirthday LACE!” before you make your purchase.

—all items by Marsha Barber

Connect with your community at www.montpelierbridge.com

GET ROOTED HERE.

Correction

In the Heard on the Street section of our May 20 issue under “A New Home For At HomeDesigns,” we printed the wrong phone number for Montpelier Emporium. The correct

phone number is 229-5006. We regret this error.

Members of Beth Jacob Synagogue breakground for rebuilding. From left, RabbiTobi Weisman, Rabbi Shana Margolin, vicepresident Barney Bloom, president Eve Ja-cobs-Carnahan and building committeemember Jonathan Herz. Photo courtesyBeth Jacob Synagogue.

by Nat Frothingham

Aproject at Montpelier High School(MHS) to construct an outdoor court-yard (really an extension of the MHS

library, an outdoor space for quiet study,group meetings, even performance) hastaken some giant steps forward.

The courtyard project will honor the lateSteve Metcalf who served as Montpelier’sschool superintendent until his death in thespring of 2009.

“We got to a stuck place this past Aprilduring mud season.”

That’s how Matt McLane, coordinator ofcommunity-based learning at the high schooldescribed the situation facing the courtyardproject as winter turned to spring.

There had been twice-a-month student-faculty-community planning meetings butthe project needed a push.

McLane sought out the advice of MHS bi-ology teacher Tom Sabo. Said McLane toSabo: “We’re stuck. I need some ideas ofpeople we should contact to move the pro-ject forward.”

Sabo said, “Why don’t you contact analumnus?”

“So I called Terry,” McLane said. That“Terry” was MHS alumnus Terry Solomonwho runs a design-build landscaping busi-ness with his business partner Cynthia Silveywho is also an MHS graduate. Their business,LiveScape, has offices in the old clothespinfactory building on Granite Street.

Solomon and Silvey offered to manage thecourtyard project as their own contributionto their alma mater.

Since Solomon and Silvey and LiveSpacecame aboard to manage the project, a num-ber of positive things have happened.

“We recently received a $5,000 donationfrom an anonymous foundation,” McLane re-ported. The five Prentice brothers, all ofwhom graduated from Montpelier HighSchool have pledged $5,000. The MontpelierVeterans of Foreign Wars are ready to help.The Vermont Land Trust is serving as theproject’s fiscal agent. The overall project

dollar goal is $34,000 with $15,200 raised todate.

And MHS students are putting their shoul-der to the wheel as well. Woodworking stu-dents are building all of the courtyard’scedar benches. The Algebra One class didscaled drawings for the project. MHS artclasses are doing concrete mosaic edgingblocks. The Vermont Youth ConservationCorps at Barre Tech is helping with the in-stallation of the garden in the courtyard.MHS students in life-skill classes will bemaintaining the garden. And the list goes on.

Talking about the entire effort, McLanesaid, “There’s a sense of community here.People want to invest in today’s youth.

In a follow-up message, McLane shared alist of more than 20 people—students,teachers, community members, conserva-tion corps member—who are contributingtheir time and labor. He made special men-tion of Gwen Lyons Baker and Theresa Mur-ray-Clausen, both representing Central Ver-mont Solid Waste Management District.These women, McLane said, as if to typifythe project, “have been committing a greatdeal of time and talent to the courtyard ef-forts.”

THE BRIDGE JUNE 3, 2010 • PAGE 3

High School Courtyard Project Advances

On Thursday, May 27, Montpelier High School was alive withart.

The muse at Montpelier High School for visual art is BarbaraAustin Hutchins. In the long wing that is her domain, she sharedher ideas around this exhibition.

“Our focus has been about process, not end product. The workis the result of amazing effort and creative exploration. This is ourcoming-out party; these kids sent out invitations to their familyand friends. It’s not only to create, but to exhibit, an offering ofvisual nourishment. I like the saying, ‘Life is short, art is long.’”

The next evening, all the work was exhibited most creatively:on the walls, hanging from the rafters, and in stations on the gymfloor that could be circled. Their theme: Pop-T Art (viz. PopTarts): a lot of Andy Warhol influence, collage found-object work,studies of relevant artists and Paris craft sculpture. I mention two

of these sculptures to flesh out the scene: the large heronlikeKevin’s Bird by Sienna Facciolo, hanging at eye level, brilliantlycolored and enhanced; and the message of FIND YOUR PASSIONcreated by two freshmen, spelled out in three rows of hands,painted in acrylic gold, signing the letters of that thought.

Into the middle of this feast, after considerable musical and in-troductory fanfare, entered Lady Gaga, black-gloved and spike-heeled, dancing across the floor in a white wedding dress, head-dress collaged with red telephone and such, face-fanning andotherwise provocative: the art teacher as performance art.

With the collegian choir director unable to be there, MirandaScott, a junior, stepped in at the last minute to give lively direc-tion to the choir while performing herself. The band and ensem-ble enlivened the rest of the evening.

—Tara Gita (gita@vtlink.net)

Artist’s rendering of the Metcalf Memorial Courtyard planned for Montpelier High School.Image by LiveScape; courtesy of Montpelier High School.

“Ask the Master Gardener Table”Answers to your gardening questions

Sponsored by the Orange/Washington County Chapter of the UVM Master Gardener Program

Perennials, annuals, hostas, herbs, grasses, daylilies, primroses, house plants, gardening books, and lots more!

PLANT SALE at Shaws in BerlinSaturday f June 5 f 8 –10 am

Plants from the Gardens of Master Gardeners

Pop-T Arts: A Coming-Out Party

PAGE 4 • JUNE 3, 2010 THE BRIDGE

Let’s Talk About Moneywith Peggy Munro

Ilook at the world through the same eyesI used when I was 15, 25, 35 and 50; it’smy body that’s changed. At 35, I felt too

young to be a mother. Now, I’ve finally mademy peace with the motherhood gig, but I’mhaving difficulties dealing with the indigni-ties of middle age. In my mind, I’m ageless—too young for arthritis, too young to havecholesterol issues, too young to have todrink decaf, and too young to have “seniormoments.”

Agelessness is a fantasy, if an optimisticone, that doesn’t allow for anyone aroundme to grow old, or diminish in any way. So ithit me hard last week to learn that the hus-band of a close friend had suffered a seriousstroke. After all, if I’m ageless, he should be,too. And yet, his reality shifted, in a way thatonly reality can, sudden and seismic.

I belong to the Baby Boom generation, andwe are demographically approaching the agewhen stroke is most prevalent. We may ex-ercise more, eat better, and live longer thanpreceding generations, but we will not beable to hold off the infirmities and indignitiesthat often march in lock-step with age for-ever. And we are, I think, ill-equipped to dealwith any changes, whether small or pro-found, in our general health. This reality ishitting very close to home, as I watch myown husband ail and age with acute andchronic ill health.

These changes, sadly, carry with themhuge financial consequences. My friend,who has two school-aged children, nowmust factor additional health-care costs intoher budget. She and her husband may nowbe forced to make choices previously offtheir radar. Will they be able to continue liv-ing in a house with stairs, for example, ormust they now begin looking at single-levelliving? And in their two-income life, whatwill the loss of even a portion of his incomemean for the future? What does this do totheir retirement planning, or their commit-ment to their children’s educations?

My friend and I—and so many others inour circle that I am losing count—are nowpaired with spouses quite changed fromthose we married. The full implication of ourwedding vows, in sickness and in health, forricher and for poorer, to love and to cherish,are only becoming apparent now. We don’tget to choose what happens. Charmed livescan descend into nightmare territory in theblink of an eye. No one is immune from the possibility, regardless of age, or circum-stance. The only insurance any of us canhave is in our level of preparedness. We musthave crisis planning as much in life as we re-quire emergency exits in our homes, schoolsand offices.

It is impossible to plan for every eventual-

ity, but the following list, which is in no par-ticular order, is a good place to start:

• Preventive care rules! Have regular phys-icals. They won’t make your aches andpains go away, but it’s better to knowwhat ails you than not, and the excusethat you don’t trust, or like, doctors is abubble just waiting to be burst.

• Make sure you and your spouse have anup-to-date estate plan, including alterna-tive guardians for any minor children,health-care proxies, living wills and pow-ers of attorney. An estate plan covers farmore than just your Last Will and Testa-ment—it also controls what happens ifyou are incapacitated.

• Share finances and financial decisions. Itis not OK for one partner to handle allthe money if the other partner has noidea of what is happening. Incapacitycan strike at any time, and a partner whois in the dark financially will not be ableto unravel the strings immediately. Fi-nancial disasters (unfiled tax returns, forexample, or bank accounts that mysteri-ously disappear) don’t happen over-night, but a partner who abdicates all re-sponsibility for the family’s finances maynot find out until a foreclosure notice isslapped on the door or a tax lien on thebank account.

• Pay attention to your partner’s health.Normal aging causes many changes, butnot all are benign. Take note of thingslike memory lapses, changes in sleeppatterns, loss of appetite, weight gain orloss, or any other physical or mental signthat things are not right. You are the per-son who knows your partner best. Takethat responsibility seriously.

My intent is not to alarm, but to alert. In-capacitating events can happen to anyone, atany time, suddenly or gradually, whetherthrough illness or accident. They are not a re-specter of age, intelligence, general fitness,=or wealth. We Boomers are not going gentlyinto that good night, but we are going re-gardless. Our generation’s final descriptionshould not be that we all believed we werePeter Pan, but rather, that we were preparedto meet our realities head on, that we tookcontrol, and that we did so with grace andcourage.

Margaret Atkins Munro, E.A., is a licensedtax professional living in Essex Junction.She is the author of 529 & Other CollegeSavings Plans for Dummies, and coauthor ofTaxes 2009 for Dummies, and her newbook, Estate & Trust Administration for Dum-mies (coauthored with Kathryn A. Murphy,Esq.), all of which are now available atyour local bookstore.

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