Wolcott School
Bond Petition
by Amy Kolb Noyes
WOLCOTT – A group of Wolcott residents has begun circulating
a petition to reconsider the Wolcott School construction
bond that was defeated by 14 votes earlier this month. The
$2 million bond would have allowed the school board to
complete a $3 million construction and renovation project at
the school and community library. The November 8 vote was
the third Wolcott school construction bond proposal in a
year.
In Wolcott, about 50 signatures would equal the five
percent of the registered voters needed to force a
reconsideration vote. Parent Amy Davidson, who began
circulating the petition, said she has about 30 signatures.
However, she said, other people are also circulating copies
of the petition. In addition, there are petitions located at
the Wolcott Elementary School, the School Street Center and
the Town Clerk’s Office. Davidson said the petitions will be
in circulation until Tuesday, December 6.
Davidson was among the community members on the
school’s building committee that met throughout the summer
and fall to come up with a new school addition proposal. She
said she believes this latest proposal is the minimum needed
to address the school’s urgent space needs.
Vermont law allows for a vote to be brought up
for reconsideration in two instances. The legislative body
that initiated the vote, in this case the school board,
could bring a proposal back for reconsideration. A
reconsideration can also be initiated by petition signed by
at least five percent of the legal voters. Such a petition
must be filed with the Town Clerk within 30 days of the
original vote. In that case, a reconsideration vote must be
scheduled within 60 days of the time the petition was filed.
The Wolcott School Board will meet in open session
Wednesday evening, November 30, for the first time since the
November 8 vote. If those circulating the petition waited
until that meeting to see how the school board would
proceed, there would only be eight days to gather the needed
signatures before the 30 day petition time frame expired.
The News & Citizen spoke to several Wolcott school
directors, each of whom said they are hoping for a good
public turnout at Wednesday’s meeting to help guide the
decision how to proceed. School directors also commented
they are anxious to learn how the petition has been received
by community members. Davidson said the petition has been
well received by all but one person she has spoken with. She
said she spoke with several community members who do not
have children at the Wolcott School who were either unaware
of the vote or did not remember to get out to the polls. |
Johnson State Honors Local Alumni
Three area residents have received awards from Johnson State
College. Every year the college’s alumni association honors
graduates who have made remarkable contributions to the
college and its students, the community and their
profession.
Gertrude Lepine (’49), of Morristown, received the
Distinguished Alumni Award; Lillian Hoyt (’26), of Wolcott,
received a Special Recognition Award; and Sara Chesbrough
(’03), of Morrisville, received a Rising Stars/Young Alumni
Award.
Gert worked most of her life on the farm her
family owned since 1943. An outstanding farmer and
conservationist, she and her mother and sisters were hailed
as “the first family of Vermont farm women” in Peter
Miller’s book, Vermont Farm Women. She retired from dairy
farming in 1996, after four and a half decades.
Lillian is the eldest alumna known to JSC. She had a
long and distinguished career in teaching and went on to be
principal of Johnson Elementary School. She has also spent
much of her time serving the community through the Methodist
Church, and today remains busy with the church and with
senior citizen activities.
Sara graduated from JSC just two years ago and, until
recently, was the volunteer program coordinator for the
Clarina Howard Nichols Center in Morrisville. During her
time at the college, she was a tireless volunteer in the
SERVE office, leading service trips, organizing homelessness
and hunger events, and giving a hand with countless other
causes. She recently moved to California to experience life
on the West Coast.
“It is always such a thrill to present the alumni
awards,” says JSC President Barbara Murphy. “Our award
recipients truly embody the values of Johnson State
College.”
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Vermont Electric Co-op
by Alicia Morissette
JOHNSON – The Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc. (VEC) held
the last of its power outage informational meetings on
November 17 at its Johnson headquarters to address the
issues that developed after a recent heavy, wet snowstorm
caused multiple outages for almost all of its customers.
Despite scheduling the meeting to allow consumers to
express their frustrations and help brainstorm ideas for
better service in future natural disasters, only two
consumers took advantage of the opportunity. David Hallquist,
VEC’s new executive manager, said approximately 20 people
showed for the Newport meeting, and 25 people attended the
meeting in Hinesburg. Other meetings were held in Caanan and
Wilmington.
Hallquist opened the meeting by discussing the
intensity of the storm to the two members and various board
members. VEC watches the weather, so it knew a “Level 3”
storm, which Hallquist described as being the “most
intense,” was on its way.
When the storm finally hit Vermont on a Tuesday,
“We didn’t really know how bad it was going to be,” said
Hallquist. With people manning the dispatch center 24 hours
a day and seven days a week, VEC was quickly aware of the
storm’s severity.
At this point in the meeting, Hallquist led everyone to
VEC’s dispatch center, where he explained much of the
equipment found therein. One of three strategically placed
antennas is located on the roof of the building and aids in
providing a lightning detection system. Hallquist added that
the antenna and consequent service is free, because VEC
allowed the antenna to be placed on its roof.
Other screens in the dispatch room monitor all of VEC’s
networks, and if there are any equipment problems, the
location of the problem will be shown on the screen. Another
screen monitors snow and yet another screen monitors the
number of calls VEC receives from consumers. Hallquist
explained that all of this equipment helps VEC address any
problems consumers might report.
On the first day the storm hit, Hallquist said 142,000 calls
came in, and on the second day, 80,000 calls were made to
VEC. With a total of only 38,000 members, people were
calling repeatedly to find out when their power would come
on. Hallquist also pointed out that 43,000 member outages
were reported – because a number of people lost their power
several times.
Armed with a GPS system, VEC crews were sent out at
approximately 6 p.m. the first evening to repair the downed
lines. Unfortunately, many roads had become “impassable,”
and VEC crews were helping road crews just to get to
locations, explained Hallquist. As a result, by 10 p.m., VEC
had made “no progress.”
Still trying to handle the problem alone, VEC managed
to get substation transmission lines up. Hallquist explained
that this was crucial, because the transmission lines bring
electricity from Canada, New Hampshire and southern parts of
Vermont.
Then, when VEC crews went into the woods to
repair lines, they found that many lines were down and many
poles were actually broken. By Wednesday evening, VEC called
for help. That night, the Department of Public Service
supplemented VEC’s 13 crews with an additional 22 crews, to
bring the number of crews to 35, the “maximum help we could
handle,” said Hallquist.
Bill Bosh, the operations superintendent at VEC,
outlined all the factors that led to this devastating power
outage. The trees were still full of leaves, the previous
rain had loosened up the soil and the heavy snow made the
trees fall. All of these factors led to a power outage many
of us will never forget.
When the storm was over and everything had been done, 355
locations received repairs, which cost close to $1 million,
said Hallquist. However, VEC is “hoping for $600,000 from
FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency].”
Board director Jack Slagle, commented, “We were better
prepared, but the storm was worse.” Sue Deuso, an Eden VEC
director, said she would like to be called and informed as
things develop in outages so she can inform VEC members.
Hallquist said updates can be put on the VEC
website, which will be low cost, and VEC can, “Give them the
worst case [scenario].” Unfortunately, as Deuso pointed out,
if a member is without power, he or she can’t access the
website from home.
Robin Bryce, a parent and library assistant at
the Cambridge Elementary School, suggested that VEC make an
agreement with radio stations to broadcast the progress of
outages. Hallquist and board members agreed this was an idea
they could look into.
Zona Bryce, Robin Bryce’s mother-in-law and farmer with 180
cows in Cambridge’s Pleasant Valley, said she lost a lot of
money due to the power outage. Zona also described how she
could hear her cows mooing in pain because they hadn’t been
milked.
Unfortunately for Zona, she and her farm are located on a
dead end road, and VEC’s policy is to go first to the
locations serving the highest number of members. “We left
the individual outages until last,” responded Hallquist. He
also recommended that people with businesses and health
issues get generators.
Robin said, “The power outage affects farmers more due
to advanced technology,” and many farmers, such as Zona,
can’t afford the generator and other equipment involved in
running a farm the size of Bryce Farms, Inc. Robin added
that she wants VEC to “be sensitive to the family farm.”
Hallquist stressed, “We are a member-owned
cooperative,” and Slagle added that he wants to “discuss
setting up a program to set up generators for people in
need.” Deuso said, “We have discussed this before...because
we are supportive of the family farm.”
Another issue that came up during this recent
outage was that some VEC crews “inaccurately told members
power would be on soon if they saw a crew...gave false
expectations,” said Hallquist. This is what Zona assumed
when she saw a crew working nearby late at night; she
believed they would be back the next morning and she would
have power. Hallquist reiterated VEC’s current priority
policy of reaching the highest member volume areas first.
With these prioritization issues brought to light,
Hallquist said the board will discuss a different way to
prioritize, and the board will also look into implementing a
system that would provide generators for members in need.
Unfortunately, the group of people at the meeting “don’t
have legal authority to make decisions tonight...Dave
doesn’t have the authority to make decisions,” said VEC’s
general counsel, attorney Bennett Greene.
Dan Poulin, operations manager for VEC, said “I
feel bad for all these people,” who have sustained medical
or business losses and even people who have lost all of
their frozen food due to the recent outage.
However, VEC did help people with medical conditions, said
Bosh, who explained, “They are on a list...We can’t help
everybody.”
At one point, Robin told the board she had to send her
children to a friend’s home to keep them warm. Newport
Director Bert Lague responded by telling everyone about a
farmer in his region who set up a generator for an elder
care home. “Neighbors have to help neighbors in times like
these.”
Poulin added that VEC linemen couldn’t help their own
families, but were out working on others lines before their
own; Poulin described the actions of the linemen as
“admirable.”
After discussing some other options for future
preparedness, Bosh said, “We were very close to a
catastrophic event.” He explained that if we had received
another six to eight hours of snow, power would have been
out for a month. |
Elmore Denied Broadband Grant
by Amy Kolb Noyes
Elmore Broadband Committee member Peter Wright confirmed,
this week, his group did not receive a state grant to help
pay for bringing broadband to Elmore. However, Wright said
the committee is now investigating two other options to help
bring high speed internet services to that community.
Wright explained the committee is currently
pursuing another state funding source. Meanwhile, the group
is also working directly with Stowe-based internet service
provider Power Shift Online to pursue other options. |
Clarification
Morristown Head Lister Charles McArthur called the News &
Citizen this week to clarify some items addressed in the
front page article “Morristown Plans Reappraisal” printed in
the November 17 edition of the N&C.
The N&C incorrectly identified Ted Nelson as
Morristown’s head lister. Nelson, McArthur explained, is an
appraiser hired by the town to assist McArthur, who is head
lister.
McArthur also sought to clarify Nelson’s statement to the
selectboard that reappraisal would cost the town $75 to $85
per parcel. McArthur explained that is the amount the town
would pay if it hired an outside firm, such as Nelson’s
firm, to privately conduct the reappraisal.
McArthur said Morristown will be conducting an in-house
appraisal at a far lower rate. As printed in the N&C
article, much of the cost will be covered by a state fund
set aside to help towns pay for reappraisals. |
First Food &
Fuel Walk a Success
by Amy Kolb Noyes
Several weeks ago, a group of women from various local
churches decided to get together and start a drive to help
neighbors in need this winter. They solicited the help of
area businesses and schools to serve as collection points
for what they called the Food & Fuel Walk. The response was
overwhelming.
Volunteers began picking up collection boxes at local
schools on Friday, November 18. Additional volunteers joined
in for the walk, collecting from drop boxes at businesses
around Morristown on Saturday, November 18. A horse-drawn
wagon, driven by Chris Chauvin, carried the goods and the
youngest volunteers.
Organizer Amy Walker said she was glad they broke the
collection into two days, as they were overwhelmed by food
donations. On Friday, two pickup truckloads were collected
at Lamoille Union High School. Peoples Academy filled a
minivan with boxes of food and fed volunteers with homemade
cookies! PA also held a friendly competition to raise money
for the fuel assistance mission of the walk, plus donated
the proceeds of a recent school dance.
Walker thanked all the businesses and volunteers who helped
in the effort. She credited Hanaford as the “star business.”
On Saturday, volunteers loaded three grocery carts full of
donated food, topped off by a $25 gift certificate from the
supermarket.
Food donations from the Food & Fuel Walk were given to
Lamoille Community Food Share. Cash donations for fuel were
passed on to the Lamoille Warmth Program at Central Vermont
Community Action Council. Walker noted 100% of those
donations will be distributed to local residents to purchase
fuel this winter.
“I think it’s a great bridge being built between those
programs, the faith community and the community in general,”
Walker commented.
CVCAC’s Doug Hemmings said he is thrilled the walk raised
$4,547.60 for the Lamoille Warmth Program.
“This will go a long way toward helping many, many of
our neighbors,” said Hemmings. He added, “This year of all
years this is a wonderful help because fuel prices are so
horrible.”
Lamoille Community Food Share manager Debbie Krempecke
called the walk incredible saying, “It was very impressive.”
“I was glad we had so many volunteers on Saturday,”
Krempecke commented. She said her volunteers stayed busy
boxing food and handing out turkeys. She estimated the walk
brought in about 60-65 boxes of food. She said the point of
the walk was clear: people shouldn’t have to choose between
paying for heat and buying food. She added, “This was able
to help on both ends.” |
There She Is!
Over There!
by Alicia Morissette
JOHNSON – Dorothy Malone-Rising, referred to by patients and
friends as “Dodie,” is making a tremendous effort to get
Lamoille County outside and healthy. For anyone who hasn’t
read her articles, if you spot Dodie, you could win one of
several prizes!
Running the Diabetes Center & Johnson Health Clinic,
along Main Street in the Village of Johnson, Dodie admitted
she isn’t a regular exerciser, but running the contest has
helped her get out and exercise. She walks slowly and with a
cane due to a birth defect and several hip surgeries, but
“If I can do this, anybody can.” Dodie reported that less
than 30 percent of adults in Lamoille County work out the
prescribed 30 minutes, three days each week.
With her red hat and matching red gloves, Dodie can be
easily spotted walking on one of 15 trails marked on maps
made as a result of collaboration between Dodie and Blue
Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). After receiving a grant from BCBS
one year ago, 4,000 maps with the walking routes were
printed, and Dodie began fulfilling her two goals, which she
said were, “get maps out there” and “get people moving.”
Soliciting prizes from community businesses, Dodie collected
15 generous donations, which she wants to distribute – one
each week. A $50 savings bond from Union Bank, a gift
certificate from Forget-Me-Not, a $50 orange vest from
Beagle Outdoor Wear and a grand prize of a year’s pass to
Johnson State College’s SHAPE facility are a few of the
available prizes.
At first, Dodie wasn’t giving any information about her
whereabouts, but since she hadn’t received responses, Dodie
decided to reveal her location each week. She laughed as she
recalled the calls she received from concerned friends and
patients asking if she was lost when she began this walking
mission. Wonder no more! Now all you have to do is either
call or send a postcard telling her when you saw her!
Last week, Dodie was walking on Lendway Lane, and this
week, she will be walking route number nine: Katy -Win
Trailer Park. However, you have to read her column each
week, because she changes her route every Monday. So get on
your walking gear and try to spot Dodie! Maps are available
at the Diabetes Center & Johnson Health Clinic, Johnson Town
Clerk, Johnson Post Office, Vermont Studio Center, Ryan
Books, Johnson Pharmacy, Johnson Farm & Garden. |
Johnson
Broadband
by Alicia Morissette
Over 200 surveys have been received regarding bringing
broadband internet to Johnson, and “That’s a great return,”
said Mark Woodward, the chair of the Johnson Economic
Development Committee (JEDC).
Approximately eight months ago the Johnson
Telecommunication Committee (JTC) formed to bring broadband
internet outside of the Adelphia area, said John Lawrence,
head of JTC.
Together, JEDC and JTC applied for a broadband internet
grant provided by the state. Unfortunately, since broadband
service is already an option in parts of Johnson, the town
was ineligible for this grant.
Both Woodward and Lawrence wanted to express
their appreciation to all of the people who responded to the
survey that was sent out in August. “All were in favor...and
[we received] more than we expected,” said Lawrence.
Now that they know Johnson is ineligible for the
state grant, both Woodward and Lawrence are looking at other
alternatives. Woodward said JTC and JEDC have two options –
go directly to a service provider, show the town’s interest
and brainstorm options, or “We try and find the money to set
up an infrastructure,” and Johnson puts the plan out to bid
for providers.
The Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc. has
offered to allow Johnson the use of its fiber optic cables
that are currently in place to connect residents to
broadband internet.
Lawrence said one idea he has come up with is to
create “hot spots,” which are wireless internet access. He
described it as a way for “nomadic users” to connect in the
“downtown area.” It wouldn’t cost the community, because it
would be paid for by village businesses, and the businesses
would benefit by drawing in more customers as well as giving
them a “heads up” on the business websites.
Woodward discussed wireless in a different way.
By placing two or three antennas on existing telephone
poles, wireless internet access may be obtained. Woodward
believes, “The best way to get high speed internet is
through wireless...That is the most feasible.”
Karen Lynch, an advocate of broadband internet at the
Lamoille Economic Development Corporation, was mentioned by
Woodward as being a huge help in the brainstorming and
planning processes. Woodward said Lynch allowed Johnson to
utilize special software that creates a map pinpointing
where the survey respondents are located.
Of course, all names and responses are confidential,
said Woodward, but he did say, “I’ve been amazed at the
number of people in town who use the internet for their
supplemental income...and primary income.” Lawrence said,
“People want to run businesses out of their homes and
can’t.”
With brainstorming in the works and a possibility for a
municipal internet service, Woodward said he is “cautiously
optimistic we can move forward with this next year.” “This
[high speed internet] is the electricity of this century.”
Anyone still interested in filling out a survey
to show more support for high speed internet or to express
any opinions, go to the Town of Johnson website at
townofjohnson.com and fill out a survey! |
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