Deal Connects Morristown Bog with Joe’s Pond

On Tuesday this week the Vermont chapter of The Nature Conservancy and Stowe Land Trust (SLT) closed on a deal to conserve nearly 30 acres of bog, wetland and agricultural land. Located in Morristown this project connects the state of Vermont’s Morristown Bog Natural Area with Joe’s Pond, and is the first direct partnership between the two conservation organizations.  Linking these two important natural areas provides contiguous habitat for wildlife and a much needed buffer to this unique bog community. The property which is owned by Andre and Marthe Valcour will be protected by conservation easement, a legal agreement that protects the land from development.
Stowe Land Trust will co-hold the conservation easement with the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) and will take on responsibility for stewardship of the area which adjoins Joe’s Pond, an existing SLT project. The Conservancy and SLT approached VHCB together for funding and received a grant of $164,000 towards this project. VHCB is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary and this latest project adds to the more than 368,500 acres of agricultural land and natural areas conserved throughout Vermont.
This newly conserved wetland community has been correctly dubbed “Joe’s Bog.” Names of bogs and fens around Vermont can often be misleading. A bog in name is not always a bog as it may in fact be a fen, and at any one site areas exhibiting the characteristics of a fen and a bog can be found adjacent to each other. True bogs do not have a source of nutrient-rich ground water and the plant life found there has evolved to survive in a harsh, nutrient-poor environment. These plants, like the carnivorous pitcher plants, cranberries, sphagnum moss and an array of delicate orchids, provide good clues to identify if a wetland is a bog or a fen. Providing buffers of conserved land to filter run-off is essential for the long-term health of a bog. This sensitive natural community could be adversely affected if there were a sudden upswing in nutrients from adjacent corn fields or septic systems.
Don Avery, a long-time resident of Morristown and owner of Cady’s Falls Nursery, has actively supported this project from the beginning. “I am totally tickled that so many nice people cared enough about this project to make it happen. This bog is an amazing secret world and a joy to discover.”
Steve Rae, co-chair of the Morristown Conservation Commission remarked, "It is wonderful to have The Nature Conservancy, Stowe Land Trust, the Morristown Conservation Commission and town working together with a local landowner to preserve an important natural area in Morristown."
This property, home to a variety of rare avian and plant life, ranks highly in the state’s inventory of natural areas. This inventory, managed by the Non-game and Natural Heritage Program in the Department of Fish and Wildlife, provides essential information to help catalog and conserve Vermont’s natural assets. Beneath the stunted canopy of black spruce and tamarack grows southern twayblade, a rare orchid only found in two other locations in the state. Other orchids growing in the wetter open areas include the rare white fringed orchid, and the uncommon grass pink and rose pogonia. The Tennessee Warbler, a rare breeder in Vermont, has been seen nesting here on the sphagnum moss. A shrub layer of cranberries, blueberries and dwarf rhododendrons completes the characteristic plant life of a bog.  
Stowe Land Trust and the Conservancy’s Vermont chapter are pleased to have landowners Andre and Marthe Valcour as partners in conservation.  It is a momentous occasion for Stowe Land Trust as it, too, celebrates its 20th anniversary and is now reaching out to help neighboring towns that do not have land trusts.  “I am pleased that we’ve been able to partner with The Nature Conservancy, the Morristown Conservation Commission and Vermont Housing and Conservation Board on a project that will improve the quality of life for all of us,” said Heather Furman, executive director for Stowe Land Trust.

Fit & Healthy $25,000 Grant

by Amy Kolb Noyes

MORRISVILLE – How fit and healthy are the residents of the Lamoille Valley, and what can be done to improve the community’s overall health and fitness levels and prevent obesity? Those are questions the Fit & Healthy Council of Lamoille Valley has set out to answer.

As a first step, the council has been awarded a grant from the Center for Disease Control and the State of Vermont to conduct a nutrition and fitness assessment in Morristown. An assessment coordinator will be hired using the $25,000 grant. Copley Hospital will serve as the fiscal agent for the grant.

The council hopes to develop a model assessment that can be used in other Lamoille Valley communities. Council members estimate the assessment will take about a year, after which the council can apply for an implementation grant, of up to $50,000, to help improve any community health and fitness deficiencies identified in the study.

The Fit & Healthy Council of the Lamoille Valley is comprised of local professionals working in the public and private healthcare and human services sectors. The council’s mission is “Making healthy choices easy choices.”

Once the community assessment is complete, the results will be used to determine priorities and set community goals, according to council member Linda North, of the Vermont Department of Health. The next step is to implement an intervention plan to achieve those nutrition and physical activity goals.

Although the Council aims to eventually conduct assessments for the entire region, it was decided Morristown would be the pilot community for the project. North said the assessment will help to determine the target population for the plan implementation, within the targeted geographical area. However, she suggested younger folks would be a likely audience.

“This is a prevention grant, so we have to target people before they get set in their bad habits,” North explained.

At a minimum, the plan must address one nutrition goal and one exercise goal, such as reducing soft drink consumption and television time, or increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity.

Capacity building, by engaging community partners, is another of the Council’s aims. With organizations such as Copley Hospital, the Vermont Department of Health, the Lamoille Valley Tobacco Taskforce, UVM School of Nursing, the Volunteer Center of Lamoille Valley/RSVP and the Vermont Agency of Human Services already onboard, it seems the council is well on its way to achieving that goal!

Lamoille Union Graduation

by Mickey Smith

HYDE PARK – Sunny skies and the occasional very welcome cool breeze greeted graduates as they marched across the outfield of the softball field in front of throngs of happy family and friends.

A magical graduation opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Senior Class President Brittany Raymond and Amanda Duffy’s stirring rendition of the National Anthem.

Lamoille Union Student Council President Justice Gudorf welcomed those in attendance and introduced Principal Sharon Fortune, who is retiring this year. Justice introduced Fortune as someone “who is graduating with us.”

Fortune’s speech was one about words… because words are one of the primary tools of communication and words have been such a vital ingredient through their high school career.

Fortune spoke highly of the class of 2007, saying it was “hard to say good bye because individually, and collectively as a class, you have meant so much to this school.”

Next to speak was Salutatorian Alison Wells, who is heading to Middlebury College next fall. Alison took time out during her speech to honor three classmates who left the following day to join the military.

In her speech, Alison recounted how much about life she has learned from sledding down her favorite hill at her grandparents’ house. First and foremost, she said, “It’s important who you know.” In the case of sledding she said that would be Walt Tobin, road commissioner in Waterville – who can close the road for safe sledding’s sake.

Her next point was “it’s not effortless.” She said it’s hard work climbing to the top, and you need to avoid the temptation of only climbing halfway and coasting down the hill.

Plus she noted, once you work your way to the top you can begin the ride of your life. But be careful, if you lose concentration, you can veer off your desired path, and in the case of her grandparents hill wind up heading down the ditch towards the brook.

But she noted, when you are on the right path, enjoy the ride because it’s something you want to do again and again. This is where life differs from sledding, she cautioned, you only get one chance, and can’t keep climbing up the hill again and again.

Dr. Terry Bailey, superintendent of Lamoille North, offered to adhere to Franklin Roosevelt’s advice and “be sincere, be brief, and be seated.” He said George Bernard Shaw told people to “ask why” – he suggested they go one step further and “ask why not.”

Bailey closed by using a magic change bag to create a little sunshine in everyone’s life.

Valedictorian Sierra Hopper, who will be attending Roger Williams University, opened her speech by likening her classmates to a bonsai tree that has been carefully nurtured and guided to grow.

She thanked her teachers and the staff who have “done us a service we may not fully appreciate for years to come.” Sierra noted they have played a part in molding each of their lives, and on graduation day she and her classmates were doing something of which they can be proud.

She closed her address, with a literary quote from a source near and dear to this generation, “And now Harry let us step out into the night and pursue the flighty temptress – adventure.”

Lamoille Union history teacher Jeffrey Barber offered the graduation address to the out-going students. Barber talked of the conveyer belt the students have been on, passing through classes alongside interesting people, and through extracurricular activities. Now, in the spring of their senior year, he said they are stepping off the conveyor belt and able to look at what they have accomplished.

While graduation is a commencement, he talked of it being the beginning and compared it to stepping into the ring for the first Rocky movie. He said some of the graduates are “Apollo Creeds” and some are “Rocky Balboas,” but they all will give the fight of their life.

He closed with three pieces of advice… “live life fully, laugh a lot, and love completely” and since, as he has long told his classes, he repeated, “you learn through the miracle of repetition.”

Speeches weren’t the only entertainment offered, Amanda Lopez, accompanied on the guitar by Justice Gudorf performed “Do What You Have to Do” by Sarah McLaughlin and Kathleen Buckley, with accompaniment by Justice, sang “Swing Life Away” by Rise Against.

Still under near perfect skies, the graduates mingled with family and friends on the athletic fields following the ceremony before each beginning their future along a variety of paths.

Luke Allen, Monica Allen, Kayla Atwood, Elizabeth Audet, Devin Barcomb, Lindley Barrett, Michael Barrows, Gina Bedell, Derek Bell, Stephen Bishop, Jessica Blades, Connie Bobar, Eli Brown, Kristina Brown, Kathleen Buckley, Tyler Bullard, Kristina Burnham, Katelyn Button, Aaron Chase, Jared Chaves, Brittany Chilson, Philip Clark, Lindsey Cochran, Melissa Cohen, Schuyler Conover, Allan Cross, Christopher Davis, Ruth Davis, Marion Destoop, Joshua Dillon, Dustin Dolan-Curtis, Daryl Domina, Chadwick Donze, Shea Douglas, Amanda Duffy, Grainne Dunne, Kali Emerson, Tayler Engel, Margo Fifield, Brittany Flood, Hannah Freedner, Kristen Frehse, Joshua Gadue, Ashley Gagne, Ashley Gale, Eliza Giroux, Sergio Giuliano, William Glover, Hunter Gomez, Kristy Goodell, Anthony Graves, Joey Griswold, Cara Grogan, Justice Gudorf, Bruce Hathaway Jr., Bobbie Hedley, Jessica Henderson, Lucy Higgins, Richard Hogan, Sierra Hopper, Dana Howard, Adam Hubbard, Shane Hughes, Lydia Johnson, William Johnson, Erin Jones, Elizabeth Jost, Amber Judd, David Kennedy, Ashley Kennison, Emily Kulik, Elysa Lackey, Kristin Laflin, Aaron Lafountain, Jessica Lafountain, Brittany Lamb, Casey Lambert, James Landry, Lance Langlois, Kane LaRose, Emily Lavalette, Cody LeClair, Amanda Lopez, Amanda Machia, Breanne Machia, Chasidie Manosh, Ashley Maring, Justin Marsh, Kaley Martin, James Maytas, Danielle McAllister, Tyler McGrath, Patrick McKinney, Brad McKnight, Cameron McLean, Erin McSherry, Daphne Mead, Kacie Miller, Miranda Miller, Cameron Moody, Michelle Moreau, Dylan Morrill, Dana Morse, James Mossey, Katie Mossey, Anna Mudrenko, Andrea Myers, Amanda Narwid, Jared O’Hear, Jeremy O’Neil, Derek Osgood, Heather Palmer, Justin Parent, Andrew Parker, Brandie Ploof, Erica Poulin, Mackenzie Pratt, David Pray, Brittany Raymond, Matthew Raymond, Derick Reeves, Katelin Richardson, Alicia Riendeau, Samuel Roberts, David Ryan, Zarah Savoie, Dominic Scarpinato, Aryn Schultz, Anthony Sicely, Thomas Sicely, Erin Simpson, Shane Smith, Anthony Snell, Candy Tallman, Makayla Tallman, Isaac Tilton, Brandie Tinker, Rebecca Tisbert, Meagan Towle, Joseph Tricou, John Ulrich, Frederic Venner, Alison Wells, Autumn Wells, Brock Wells, Chelsea Whittemore, Kassie Whittemore, Lacey Williams, Kaysi Woltner, and Sonya Wood.

Peoples Academy Class of 2007

by Amy Kolb Noyes

MORRISVILLE – The Peoples Academy Class of 2007 has witnessed great joys and deep sorrow. Thursday evening, June 14, at Peoples Academy’s 159^th Commencement Exercises, memories were shared from across the spectrum. Yet the jubilant atmosphere befitting a high school graduation was not tempered.

Each of the 110 graduating seniors wore pink ribbons with yellow polka dots, in memory of their beloved classmate Sigrid Bronner, who died in a tragic car accident halfway through her junior year. Sigrid was remembered in both Phoebe Green’s salutatorian speech and Hannah Zukswert’s valedictorian address.

Phoebe’s speech was preceded by a disclaimer from Principal Otho Thompson, who acknowledged Phoebe’s deeply held beliefs, but said her expressions were hers alone and not a reflection of school philosophy. Phoebe shared lessons she learned from the life and death of her friend, Sigrid. She encouraged her classmates to live every day as if it was their last, share their joys and let go of petty grievances. She advised her friends not to put things off until tomorrow and told them to love each other. Phoebe spoke of the many kinds of love and concluded by speaking of the love of Jesus Christ, which she called “love eternal.”

Valedictorian Hannah Zukswert encouraged her classmates to remember small kindnesses and to pay attention to life’s details. She noted people don’t remember days, they remember moments.

“All of these memories and moments make up who we are,” said Hannah. Of small kindnesses she commented, “Sometimes you sweat the small stuff because it does matter.”

Hannah also acknowledged life’s challenges advising, “Some times life just sucks and you just have to make the best of it and suck it up.”

Hannah also remembered Sigrid, saying she is still a member of the Class of 2007.

“She accomplished more and touched more people than most people will do in a lifetime,” Hannah reflected.

The sentimentality of the Class of 2007 was reflected in their choice of commencement speaker. The class unanimously chose to ask former math teacher Morgan Chase to deliver their commencement address. Mr. Chase’s advice was both entertaining and direct.

“Envision your future success and then take the next step,” he instructed. Mr. Chase also advised, “You don’t have to save the world. I mean no one’s done it yet, so why should it be up to you?”

PA’s 159^th Commencement had added nostalgia for three retiring school officials. This was the final graduation at the podium for Principal Otho Thompson and Superintendent Alice Angney. Departing assistant superintendent Bob Stanton was also in attendance. Morristown School Board Chair Judy Geer recognized the three administrators.

Before 110 caps were tossed into darkening skies, the twilight was filled with a celebratory rendition of “Dear Old P.A.”

A sea of green gowns and caps with gold tassels ebbed and flowed to the chorus, “Dear Old P.A. we love thee/Bright be the stars above thee/ True to thy spirit we will be/Where e’re we roam on land or seas.” The following are the Peoples Academy Class of 2007 Graduates:

Forrest W. Angelillo

Elias James Audy

Sydney Hannah Bard

Jordan Benson

Lydia S. Bickford

Matthew James Rene Binginot

Ashley P. Bishop

Lindsay Marie Blake

Maxine Lauda Bleau

Kassie Louise Bolio

Kellie Sue Bolio

Joshua R. Boomhower

Kelsey E. Bourne

Christina Anne Brailey

William Brennan

Cody James Brgant

Brittany Rae Burns

Peter J. Burt, Jr.

Kayleigh A. Butler

Sierra Ann Calabresi

Maya Carter

Jessica Lynn Chase

David Chiaravalle

John Patrick Churchill

Christopher Owen Clement

Kasey Elizabeth Cochran

David E. Coffey, Jr.

Amanda Coffin

Ariana Gabriele Louise Cole

Angela R. Cook

Kristen Leigh Cosgrove

Keith D. Cote

James O. Coultas

Dominique Couture

Adam A. Doherty

Michael P. Dolan

Rosalee Sylvia Dorfman

Emily H. Dreissigacker

Emma Louise Duda

Samuel Yates Eckert

Bretton Kyle Eisenhardt

Cheyenne Farrand

Frank Nicholas Ferrante

Alexander Patrick Fitzgerald

Travis A. Fitzgerald

Amy Katherine Flanders

Robyn Flanders

Nathan R. Foltz

Jayne M. Fradette

Hannah Grace Freda

Maya Corinne Gailmor

Melissa A. George

Shawn M. George

Kyle R. Godfrey

Phoebe Lee Green

Benjamin Liam Michael Guihan

Noah Hartley-Shepherd

Alison Marie Hemphill

Jonathan M. Heyliger

Morgan Hickory

Jacob C. Houston

Elizabeth Ann Immich

Joshua F. Jarvis

Bradley R. Jones

Christina Jones

Paul Kapusta

Collin P. Kennedy

Henry Whitman Kiely

Kellyn Elizabeth Kirch

Evelyn Alison Kirk

Davis Koier

Adam Joseph LaBranche

Jacob Holden Lane

Brittany Marie Lanphear

Melinda Lockamy

John Thomas Lukens, Jr.

Jayson Paul Markert

Maegan H. May

Meranda Rose McCullock

Todd Michael McNaulty, Jr.

Kelly Elizabeth Mercado

Christopher J. Moran II

Joshua A. Newton

Shauna Quinn Nichols

Ashley M. Percy

Danielle K. Plante

Kane R. Plante

Scott Preavy

Jonathan Putvain

Jeremy J. Randall

Floral M. Reynolds

Nicholas C. Richardson

Taylor Leigh Rousselle

Benjamin Raj Sampson

Sandi Cay Schlosser

Leah Kristine Sherman

Lia Kay Sparks

Dakota James Stancliff

Deanna Jean Sylvester

Julian Paul Tempesta

Zachary Thompson

Jared B. Tomlinson

Jazanne Valerie Trombley

Joel Walker

Desiree VanDerWerf

Emily Marie West

Elisabeth Grace Wilhjelm

Megan A.Williams

James Tyler Wills

Hannah Moriah Zukswert

Copley Nurse

by Mickey Smith

MORRISVILLE – A “traveling nurse,” assigned to Copley Hospital, was charged Monday, June 18, in Vermont District Court in Hyde Park with “diverting” a syringe containing Fentanyl from an operating room cart and replacing it with one containing water.

Copley Hospital spokesman Peter Wright said James Erwin, 59, of Barre, was working at Copley Hospital as a traveling nurse in June of 2006 when the incident occurred. Wright said others immediately became aware of the situation, corrected it and reported the incident through the chain of command.

“At no time was any patient at risk,” said Wright.

He added Copley Hospital’s experience with traveling nurses has been very positive on the whole, and many traveling nurses have become full-time employees of the hospital.

Wright said once the hospital became aware of the situation, the contracted agency he was employed through was contacted and the nurse was terminated. Next, a report was filed with the state Board of Nursing, that in turn contacted the Attorney General’s office through which the case was investigated and subsequently charged.

Erwin was arraigned on one count of Obtaining a Regulated Drug by Deceit, a felony. According to Attorney General William Sorell’s press release, he was released on standard conditions plus the conditions that he not leave the state; have no contact with the witnesses identified on the Affidavit of Probable Cause; and that he post a $1,000 release bond.

Things Look This Way to Me

Editorial by J. B. McKinley

Continuing Beauty

If you have listened to Roland Lajoie and I Tuesday mornings, or read this paper for the past month or so you have probably noticed several mentions of tree planting and beautification efforts being undertaken in and around Morrisville Village. Well, is that going to be it for the foreseeable future, or will beautification continue and expand? If so, where – and when. We’ve got an idea or two for the future.

Of course, more remains to be accomplished with Morrisville’s treescape. Then there is the Oxbow Park which could benefit from strategic plantings, if for no other reason that erosion control. But, our idea here at the paper, is what about Clark Park?

For those not in the know, Clark Park was/is a 12-14 acre parcel of land donated to Morrisville in 1902. The town finally noticed the donation 10 years later. By the mid-1920s, this paper (briefly known as the Morrisville Messenger) called for improvements at Clark Park. By the time these were being considered much of Clark Park was washed away in the 1927 Flood. A photo of part of the park in the aftermath of the flood can be viewed under the table glass at Deb’s Place, as you grab a bagel some morning.

Clark Park is a stone strewn, potholed parcel of land situated between the back of the Bourne’s Inc. offices, the hydroelectric plant and the sewage plant. It has possibilities as a recreation spot. It’s just a suggestion, but a wooded getaway that will be a stone’s throw from the bypass and a two minute stroll from Main Street ought to be at least within the area under the spotlight as we all consider Morrisville’s continuing beautification. And, there’s a big plus, we don’t have to buy trees to plant there!

Traveling Nurse Charged With Diverting Narcotics

According to court paperwork, Erwin removed a syringe of Fentanyl, a Schedule II, regulated drug, from the anesthesia cart in the operating room in which he worked and replaced it with a syringe of tap water, taking the Fentanyl for his own use.

Erwin pleaded innocent to the charges. If convicted of all charges, he faces potential penalties totaling two years and one day imprisonment and $5,000.00 in fines.

Fentanyl is an analgesic (pain reliever) described by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as being a “powerful synthetic opiate analgesic similar to but more potent then morphine.”

The US Drug Enforcement Administration says its potency is about 80 times that of morphine, and the biological effects are indistinguishable from those of heroin. It is most commonly administered intravenously in the illicit drug world, but can smoked or snorted.