Mountain Times- Volume 48, Number 51: Dec. 18-24, 2019

MOU NTA I N TI M E S
Volume 48, Number 51 Fat FREE. Sugar FREE. Gluten FREE. Every page is FREE. Dec. 18-24, 2019
Submitted
TALES OF AN
ACCIDENTAL BIRDER
Brandon resident Sue
Wetmore was recognized
for her birding
expertise.
Page 6
VERMONT IS THE
HEALTHIEST STATE
Vermont is once again
the healthiest state in
the nation, according
to the America’s Heath
Rankings annual report,
which measures
35 key indicators. For
nearly two decades,
Vermont has ranked
among the top five
healthiest states.
Page 9
GIFT OF LIVE MARA-
THON BLOOD DRIVE
UNDERWAY
The annual Gift of Life
Marathon continues
Wednesday, Dec.
18- Friday, Dec. 20 in
Rutland. Please help
provide life-saving
blood for those in need.
Page 25
Barnard to merge
with WCSU
By Curt Peterson
Barnard voters decided 119-85 to merge with Windsor
Central Supervisory Union on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
Residents had long debated joining Windsor Central
prior to the vote. Some in Barnard wanted to turn Barnard
Academy into an independent school to avoid the
school’s potential closure in the future.
The merger will require voters in six other towns in the
district accepting Barnard participation, and amendments
to the original 2017 WCUSD articles of agreement
covering issues of sustainability, grade reconfiguration
and school closure. Barnard School Board chair Carin
Park said the amendments replaced arbitrary policies
surrounding configuration and closure with meaningful
criteria and processes. These two issues were major
reasons Barnard originally rejected joining WCUSD.
Pamela Fraser, Barnard representative on the WCUSD
Board, said the amendments are not for Barnard – they
provide important criteria that protect every school in the
district. Park, Fraser and others invested effort into resisting
a “forced merger” under Act 46, then working with
the district to find the path to a successful merger vote.
About 29% of the 715 registered voters turned out to vote.
Tim Johnson, Select Board, chair said given the amount
of time people spent talking and posting on the listserv
about the vote, he was disappointed with the low turnout.
He senses those opposing the merger feared losing control
over “their school.”
Originally an advocate for Barnard Academy independence,
Johnson told the Mountain Times the article
amendments resolve the issues that bothered him.
“My objections are satisfied in the amendments,”
Merger > 4
Killington skier Jim Ryan helps bring
Warren Miller film crew home
Killington to be featured in next year’s Warren Miller film
By Katy Savage
Rutland local and Killington
Ski Club alum Jim
Ryan and Olympian Kaylin
Richardson rang cowbells.
They jumped and oohed
and aahed collectively with
a crowd of about 20,000
people while women skied
down Killington Resort’s
Superstar trail during the
World Cup this Thanksgiving
weekend. Their eyes
were on the skiers while the
cameras were on them.
Ryan and Richardson
were filming Warren Miller’s
next film, which will
be released in 2020. Much
of the yet-to-be-named
movie will feature the
people in and surrounding
Killington.
“This came about with a
partnership with Kililngton
and an ongoing partnership
we’ve had with the
By Katy Savage
Jim Ryan and Olympian Kaylin Richardson rang cowbells
at the Killington Cup race while being filmed.
U.S. Ski Team,” said Chris
Patterson, the director of
photography, who’s been
part of Warren Miller films
for 29 years. “There is
nowhere that embraces
ski racing like the East,”
Patterson continued. “It’s a
perfect fit.”
Patterson said he wants
to tell the story behind the
World Cup event, which
has become a favorite stop
on the World Cup tour for
the past four years, attracting
a crowd of about 40,000
Warren Miller > 2
By Bruce Longley
While the reindeer rest...
Woodstock was transformed into a holiday wonderland, Dec. 13-15, as locals and visitors
donned costumes, rode horses and sang carols to celebrate the 36th annual Wassail Weekend.
The festivities included a two-mile horse parade, a meet-and-greet with Santa at the
Little Theater, a Wassail feast hosted by the Woodstock Inn and Resort and more.
Okemo upgrades
focus on base areas,
uphill capacity
By Karen D. Lorentz
Okemo to set receive upgrades as part of Vail Resorts,
Inc.’s $215 million investment for 2020 across its resorts. This
investment builds on the approximately $190-$195 million
that Vail Resorts had planned to spend on capital improvement
projects in calendar year 2019.
The majority of the new investment at Okemo will be in
lift, lodge and dining updates.
Changes will increase uphill capacity, improve circulation
across the resort, enhance dining options, and make it easier
for guests and families to access services, further enhancing
the resort’s emphasis on providing superior customer
service.
Major changes to the existing Okemo base lodge (at the
Clock Tower base area) will expand the cafeteria into the existing
resort services area (which will move down to the Clock
Tower) for a larger food court. Plans also call for an extension
to the base lodge with a 4,000 square foot addition and new
plaza area. In addition the base lodge will get an elevator and
there will be new landscaping and walkways.
The current second-floor administrative offices (above
the children’s Snow Stars Center) will become ski school
space. The addition of children’s rentals and an elevator in
that building will make it easier on families and make the
entire experience “that much better,” said Vice President and
Okemo upgrades > 5

2 • LOCAL NEWS
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
Governor highlights success of local general store
Gov. Phil Scott joined the community of West Windsor to
celebrate the success of the Brownsville Butcher & Pantry,
located at 871 Rte. 44, which opened in November 2018,
during his weekly press conference Friday, Dec. 13.
Through individual, local and state support, the Friends
of the Brownsville General Store purchased and redeveloped
the vacant building, recreating an economic and
community hub in the village.
“Creating vibrant, welcoming villages is critical to keeping
young Vermonters here and drawing new families and
businesses to Vermont,” said Scott. “Together, this community
has proven that solutions start from the ground up — at
the local level — and has shown how that vision can and
should be reinforced with help from the state.”
The revitalization in West Windsor extends beyond the
new store, including the newly launched Ascutney Outdoors,
an organization that’s creating a diverse base of activities
with a focus on biking and hiking, affordable winter
activities, educational programs and community events.
The Agency of Commerce and Community Development
(ACCD) granted the Friends of the Brownsville Store
with over $50,000 in village center tax credits to rehabilitate
the building and reopen the store.
“Village stores are important community gathering
places where the relationships necessary to make a
community a great place to live, work and visit are built,”
General store > 5
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Submitted
Jim Ryan, a local skier featured in past and future Warren Miller movies, emerges through a powdery cloud in the woods.
Warren Miller: Killington Restor will be featured in the enxt Warren miller film
>
from page 1
fans every year over two
days.
“It’s the story behind
the scenes,” Patterson
said. “It’s more about the
opportunity to be skiing
in front of a hometown
crowd.”
The movie digs into
the nuances of Killington
locals and the passionate
skiers who call Killington
home.
“Having the World Cup
as a pace setter for the
whole thing will help us
tell a story in Killington,”
Patterson said.
Richardson, a former alpine
ski racer and Olympic
competitor, first started
appearing in Warren Miller
movies 10 years ago, while
Ryan has been in Warren
Miller movies for the past
two years.
Ryan was a natural pick.
Ryan, 28, grew up in a
skiing family. His father,
now a lawyer in Rutland,
competed for the Olympic
team and U.S. Ski team.
Ryan, who graduated
from Killington Mountain
School in 2009, starting
skiing Killington by
himself by the time he was
about 8.
“I feel like Killington
was almost like a third
parent,” he said. “It was
the first place I felt like an
individual.”
Ryan raced at Colby
College before moving to
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
where he was quickly
signed to the Voelkl pro
team. Voelkl connected
him to the Warren Miller
producers.
Ryan was on tour promoting
this year’s Warren
Miller movie, “Timeless,”
when he got the call that
he’d be filming in Killington
over Thanksgiving
weekend for next year’s
movie.
“I had to have my
friends expedite me all
my stuff,” he said. “I got a
FedEx box with all my ski
gear in it.”
Killington Resort was
last featured in a Warren
Miller movie about 10
years ago, with Olympic
gold medalist and
Killington local Donna
Weinbrecht.
“Something that’s
cool about Killngton is
there’s a lot of heritage to
it,” Patterson said. “Ski
areas like Killington have
a certain way of crafting
and creating those great
characters.”
The filmmakers will be
back in Killington in January
to spend 10 days on
the mountain. They’re also
planning to film parts of
the movie in Switzerland,
Idaho, Montana, British
Columbia and Alaska.
Like all Warren Miller
movies, the 71st annual
movie next year will
capture the excitement of
skiing and outdoor sports.
The energy at the World
Cup will be the starting
point.
“It’s electrifying—you
really feel this pulse because
you see the intensity
of the racers and you know
how hard they’ve worked,”
Patterson said. “You know
they have a minute at most
to make a difference with
all they gained.”

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 LOCAL NEWS • 3
Vermont
Adaptive names
2019 volunteers
of the year
More than 400 highly-trained volunteer instructors
make Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports’ mission of empowering
individuals with disabilities possible. Out of that
dedicated pool of volunteers, Vermont Adaptive program
coordinators recognized this year’s four Volunteers of the
Year at off-snow trainings this fall, according to a Dec. 16
news realease.
Liz Mead of North Chittenden Andrew Kimpton of Winchester,
Massachussetts and Greg and Carol Lothrop of
Milton, were named 2019 Volunteers of the Year, a tribute
in honor of Jim Hutchinson, a Vermont Adaptive volunteer
who left a legacy of empowerment to people of all abilities
and commitment towards supporting the organization.
“Each year, there are a few individuals that shine,” said
Tom Alcorn, senior program coordinator at Vermont
Adaptive. “These folks are involved year-round with
Vermont Adaptive in exemplary ways. They each represent
the organization as a whole. We’ve had years where a dozen
individuals were recognized and years where one single
person stood out the most. Jim Hutchinson was the most
dedicated volunteer
Vermont Adaptive
or any organization
could hope for. I
know he would be so
proud of our accomplishments
in what
we have built over
the past years.”
Mead was nominated
for her love
“These folks
are involved
year-round with
Vermont Adaptive
in exemplary
ways,” said Alcorn.
and commitment to the Vermont Adaptive family and the
success of all of her students. “She brings her vast experience
with her children on the slopes and outdoors to our
programs every day and is a supportive and caring mentor
to everyone she works with,” said Alcorn. “Her support at
our special events year-round has been invaluable and
you would be hard pressed to find her not helping her fellow
volunteers and staff members. The commitment she
gives to our Special Olympics athletes and school groups
has made for some amazing successes and plenty of fun
times on the bike path, water and snow.”
The power couple of Greg and Carol Lothrop have been
volunteering with Vermont Adaptive for a combined 16
years. As a veteran and veteran spouse, they have made
a lasting impact with the organization’s Veteran Ventures
program. They also coach on Sundays with the Vermont
Adaptive Race Team at Bolton Valley. “If you are ever in
need of some great and wonderful crockpot food and
cookies you can find this couple at Bolton Valley with the
veteran crew every Thursday,” said Alcorn.
Kimpton’s patience, consistency and determination
set the bar high as he volunteers his time throughout the
year with a commute from Boston to the Mad River Valley
to teach at Sugarbush Resort. “He has taken the initiative
to bring his skiing to greater levels and increase his
knowledge for equipment-based lessons,” said Alcorn.
“He is very willing and highly able to lead lessons in almost
all areas of our winter programming. His willingness and
flexibility to help with any lesson contributes to his ability
to lead lessons with ease while making the participant feel
comfortable, safe and able to enjoy the time on the slopes.”
To volunteer at Vermont Adaptive, candidates must
participate in off-snow and on-snow training each year
and commit to a number of days on and off snow. For more
information, visit vermontadaptive.org/get-involved.

4 • LOCAL NEWS
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
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Proctor land sale hinges on
public access, vote scheduled
By Lee J. Kahrs, The Reporter
PROCTOR — If there is a public vote on the potential sale of prized town-owned
watershed land in Proctor, it will happen at town meeting in March.
Voters also will decide whether any sale should hinge on keeping the land open to
public use and protect the town’s resources.
As the selectboard weighs the investment potential of a proposed $1.5 million sale
offered by Rutland resident John Gerlach for the 1,600-acre Chittenden watershed parcel,
word of the offer has spread beyond Proctor to multiple outdoor recreation organizations,
individuals and nature conservation groups in Addison County and beyond.
A number of people representing those interests attended the board’s regular meeting
this past Monday, Dec. 9, where language related to proposed voting articles was
discussed following the public comment period.
Proctor’s drinking water ran through the watershed until 2014, when the town discontinued
using the Chittenden water treatment plant. The land is also rich in hardwood
timber, which has provided a steady source of income for the town. The timber
harvested from the land in accordance with the town’s forestry management plan nets
roughly $250,000 every 10 years in timber sales.
Gerlach’s attorney William Meub has said his client recently bought 50 acres of land
adjacent to the watershed parcel. Meub has also stated that Gerlach has no plans to
develop the land.
Public access in jeopardy
Despite that assurance, should the parcel be sold, it is possible that public access
will be revoked and that is what most concerns those opposed to the potential deal.
The parcel sits adjacent to the Green Mountain National Forest. The Green Mountain
Club currently has a right-of-way through the land for hikers, as the parcel is near
the Long Trail. The club also has right of first refusal on 50 acres of the watershed land,
which is not part of the parcel in question.
The Chittenden Dammers, a VAST snowmobile club, also has a right-of-way permit
to cross the land. The Catamount Trail, a cross-country ski trail from Massachusetts to
Canada, also runs through the parcel.
The Green Mountain Club has expressed interest in buying the land through the
Trust for Public Land. The national forest service and its public partners are also interested
in buying the land and keeping the trails accessible to the public.
Public comment
A dozen people signed up to comment on the proposed land deal Monday night. All
were either staunchly against the idea, or at least skeptical and urging caution.
Justin Lindholm of Mendon said that he believes there is much more value to the
land than the board either realizes or will acknowledge. The land is assessed at $1.5
million, but he said that is just the value of the real estate.
“Something just doesn’t seem right here,” he said, “that you’re trying to dismiss what
you have. $1.5 million is not the value. It does not include the timber value, or the value
of the water rights.”
Matt Trombley said the thought of the public being denied access was troubling.
Proctor land> 51
Merger: School dilemma has a resolution
>
from page 1
Johnson said, “and moving the sixth
grade to a bigger school with more educational
opportunities is a good thing,
but I’m still skeptical – if things start to
go the wrong way I’ll be the first to advocate
pulling out and going private.”
Barnard invested about $15,000
in legal fees fighting to keep Barnard
Academy independent.WCUSD superintendent
Mary Beth Banios described
the relationship between the Barnard
School Board and the district as cordial
and productive.“I believe that this
merger will be mutually beneficial and
look forward to the enhanced partnership
that will be possible as a result of
our communities coming together,”
Banios wrote in an email.“While giving
up autonomous control of our school
budget is … a leap of faith, Barnard
will enter into a full merger relationship
with the [WCUSD] with the same
good will that the … Board reflected
when they refused to force us to join last
winter. I look forward to a wider community
getting to know what a special
place Barnard Academy is!” Park said in
an email.
District board member Jim Haff said
he is “really glad” for the Barnard vote
results.
“The FY2021 budget is really challenging,”
Haff said, “and Barnard’s 70-
plus students will be a big positive.”
Woodstock Union High School has
the district’s highest cost per/student,
and Barnard’s per student figure is low
– the district budget will be helped by
the larger number of students and Barnard’s
lower operating costs, Haff said.
Barnard Academy Principal Hannah
Thein wrote, “I am confident that we
will continue to collaboratively work together
to realize the Portrait of a Graduate
and the district strategic plan. I am
sure that Barnard Academy will retain
its ‘small school feel’ and its academic
rigor. I think that this merger is an opportunity
to grow, and at the same time
retain our uniqueness and vibrancy.”

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 LOCAL NEWS • 5
Solution > 48
>
Okemo upgrades: Resort-wide upgrades aim for peak experience
from page 1
General Manager Bruce Schmidt.
Other lodge renovations and
upgrades for this season include the
Summit Lodge, which looks the same
on the outside but with knee walls
removed, the main floor feels larger
with an open floor plan and new décor,
Schmidt said. The lower level has
a new Robin’s Roost venue featuring a
bar and wait service.
The mid-mountain Sugar House
Lodge has also been spruced up and
features a children’s area called the
Mudroom on the lower level with a
kid-focused menu.
On the third level, an area with
TVs was created to allow parents to
watch races on War Dance from inside
the lodge. The Epic restaurant at the
Solitude Day Lodge also received new
décor and is now known as 43° North.
Snowmaking
When Okemo opened for the
season on Friday, Nov. 22 with 28 trails
and seven lifts operating, it was the
biggest opening day in the resort’s
history, based on both terrain and lifts
open.
This feat was largely the result of
>
a five-year snowmaking project that
saw completion in 2019 with replacement
of all the main snowmaking
water feed lines that originate through
the Clock Tower base area.
In a presentation to media this
past weekend, Schmidt noted that
these were 10-, 12- and even 16-inch
diameter pipes, adding they “make a
difference these days.”
While skiers and riders don’t actually
see the pipes, the installation of
5,000 feet of pipe in 2019 — along with
the associated underground communication
lines and power work —
mean these feeds supply all the water
to Okemo’s entire snowmaking system
and under optimal conditions, allow
the pumping of 7,000 to 9,000 gallons
of water per minute.
This allows Okemo to open for
the season with top-to-bottom terrain
and recover quickly following a
weather event. And that’s something
skiers and riders can notice and do
appreciate.
EpicMix App
Epic Mix, a free app that can be
downloaded for iPhone or Android
General store: Tax credits revitalize Brownsville
from page 2
said Housing and Community Development Commissioner
Josh Hanford. “Brownsville residents show
us that with hard work, any community can leverage
state programs and funding to support local businesses,
spur investment in housing, and enhance their
vibrancy.”
The Agency of Natural Resources worked with
ACCD and the town of West Windsor to deliver $2.4
million in wastewater infrastructure grants and
loans to update and extend the existing sewer system
throughout the village.
“In Vermont, more than 200 of our downtowns and
village centers lack community wastewater disposal
mobile phone is expected to come online
mid-winter. The company plans
to completely revamp its EpicMix
mobile application. It will offer new
functionality and an improved user
experience, including new interactive
trail maps and account features, while
retaining key features like vertical feet
tracking, photo sharing, and transparent
lift line wait times.
Lift upgrades
The changes for Okemo include
replacing the Quantum Four Express
lift at Jackson Gore with an express
six-seat lift. The Quantum Four quad
will replace the Green Ridge Triple on
the main mountain, and a new trail
will be cut to allow direct access to that
lift from Jackson Gore (without having
to take the Solitude route) to get there,
Schmidt said.
“As our company grows, we are
determined to grow thoughtfully and
with our mission always in mind: to
create an “Experience of a Lifetime”
for our guests,” said Rob Katz, Vail
Resorts chairman and chief executive
officer in a news release about the
upgrades released last week.
systems, creating a barrier to infill development and
revitalization,” said Natural Resources Secretary
Julie Moore. “Wastewater infrastructure tends to be
both out of sight and out of mind but investing in this
infrastructure is essential to supporting the growth of
existing businesses and community centers, as well as
opportunities for new businesses and organizations
to sustainably take shape. As a state, we are providing
communities with technical assistance and help
accessing grants and low-interest loans for these sorts
of core infrastructure investments which, in turn, supports
exciting revitalization projects, like the Brownsville
Butcher & Pantry.”
Table of contents
Local News ................................................................ 3
State News ................................................................. 9
Opinion ................................................................... 10
News Briefs ............................................................. 13
Calendar .................................................................. 17
Music Scene ............................................................ 21
Rockin’ the Region .................................................. 23
Living ADE .............................................................. 24
Puzzles..................................................................... 30
Food Matters ........................................................... 32
Ski Shop Showcase ................................................. 42
Pets .......................................................................... 44
Mother of the Skye .................................................. 45
Columns .................................................................. 46
Classifieds ............................................................... 48
Service Directory ................................................... 50
Real Estate ............................................................... 52
MOU NTA I N TI M E S
is a community newspaper covering Central
Vermont that aims to engage and inform as well as
empower community members to have a voice.
Polly Lynn-Mikula
Jason Mikula
Lindsey Rogers
Katy Savage
Krista Johnston
Curtis Harrington
Brooke Geery
Julia Purdy
Curt Peterson
Cal Garrison
Dom Cioffi
Editor & Co-Publisher
Sales Manager & Co-Publisher
Sales Representative
Assistant Editor/Reporter
Graphic Designer
Distribution Manager
Front Office Manager
Mary Ellen Shaw
Paul Holmes
Kevin Theissen
Merisa Sherman
Flag photo by Richard Podlesney
©The Mountain Times 2019
The Mountain Times • P.O. Box 183
Killington, VT 05751 • (802) 422-2399
Email: editor@mountaintimes.info
mountaintimes.info
Dave Hoffenberg
Robin Alberti
Gary Salmon
Ed Larson

6 • LOCAL NEWS
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
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Br andon birder earns statewide recognition
By Lee J. Kahrs/ Brandon Reporter
BRANDON — Brandon’s favorite
birder has received a high honor
from one of Vermont’s premier natural
science organizations.
Sue Wetmore has been named
the 2019 Julie Nicholson Citizen
Scientist by The Vermont Center
for Ecostudies. The Norwich-based
wildlife conservation organization
works across North and South
America conducting research and
monitoring wildlife while also encouraging
and relying upon citizen
engagement.
The group is heavily involved in
a number of conservation projects,
including protection efforts for the
common loon, Bicknell’s thrush
and bobolink, as well as maintaining
an online biodiversity resource
called the Vermont Atlas of Life and
participating in public bird counts
and surveys.
Reached by phone Monday,
Wetmore, 75, said the award was a
high honor for her and a first in her
35 years of citizen birding.
“It’s kind of like the culmination
of all my volunteer work and picking
ticks off me and thrashing through
brush, just things you do and you’re
having fun because you’re looking
for birds,” she said. “It’s like getting a
Grammy. It’s just such an honor.”
The award was named for Julie
Nicholson, a citizen scientist who
was noted by the Center for her passion
and commitment to birds and
wildlife conservation.
The accidental birder
Many readers may only know
Wetmore through her occasional
bird photos that appear in The Reporter,
thinking she is an ornithologist
with multiple degrees. The first
part is true. Wetmore loves to document
her birding adventures and
share her knowledge with adults and
children alike, having been a longtime
volunteer with the Four Winds
Nature Institute in local schools.
But Wetmore’s fascination
with birds did not begin in a
classroom. Thirty-five years
ago, she was stay-at-home
mom with two young boys.
Wetmore put up a bird feeder
in her backyard to entertain the
kids.
“This is a hobby that got out of
control,” she joked. “I just put up a
bird feeder and it got out of hand.”
Wetmore was always an outdoors
person, having spent a lot of time
hunting, fishing and hiking with her
father as a child. Once her interest in
birding began to grow, she decided
to attend a 7 a.m. bird walk with Rutland
County Audubon’s Roy Pilcher.
She was the only person to show up.
“I assumed we weren’t going to
Submitted
Bird expert and Brandon resident Sue Wetmore has been named the recipient
of the 2019 Julie Nicholson Citizen Scientist award by the Vermont Center for
Ecostudies. She is shown here in with a Florida scrub jay during a trip south.
go, and Roy said, ‘Oh yes we will,’”
Wetmore said. “That was it. I was
hooked.”
Since then, Wetmore is responsible
for two state birding records,
having documented a summer tanager
and a Say’s phoebe. She spent
a night on the top of Mount Mansfield
with the Center for Ecostudies
participating in the monitoring of
the Bicknell’s thrush, which lives at
higher altitudes and is endangered.
“This is a hobby that got out
of control. I just put up a
bird feeder and it got out of
hand,” said Sue Wetmore.
She and her husband George now
travel to warmer climates in the winter
months, heading to Florida and
Arizona, where Wetmore continues
birding for regional species.
In fact, Wetmore will miss the
Center’s award ceremony, as she
and her husband will be leaving for
Arizona on Dec. 6.
In good company
Wetmore is the fourth member
of the Rutland County Audubon
Society to earn the Julie Nicholson
Citizen Scientist Award. Pilcher, now
90, won it in 2007. Sue and Marv Elliott
won in 2014, and now Wetmore.
“Rutland County Audubon is very
well represented,” Wetmore said.
Brandon resident, author and
retired biologist Gary Meffe is on
the Center for Ecostudies Advisory
Board. He said he couldn’t think of a
more deserving person for the citizen
scientist award than Wetmore.
“She’s just one of the premier
birders in the state, if not the
Northeast,” he said. “What’s most
impressive is that she just took it
up as a hobby and ran with it to
the point where she knows the
details and the biologies of the
birds, what they’re doing, what
they’re thinking,” he said. “It’s just
very impressive, what she’s done
on her own. She maintains intense
interest and focus.”
For her part, Wetmore plans to
continue the work she loves for as
long as she can, a plan aided by the
fact that birding is never boring for
her.
“Birds are just fascinating, they
make for fascinating study,” she
said. “The more you read about
them and observe them, you realize
how smart they are. So if someone
calls you a birdbrain, say, ‘thank
you.’”

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 LOCAL NEWS • 7
CU receives
$200K grant
for president’s
residence
Will also house Early Childhood Lab
Castleton University
has received a $200,000
grant from the Alma Gibbs
Donchian Foundation to
support the revitalization
of Granger House, which
will be the new home of the
president.
“I am grateful for the
generous support of the
Alma Gibbs Donchian
Foundation,” said Castleton
University President
Karen M. Scolforo. “The
Granger House is an important
historic landmark
and this grant is a key piece
for the University to move
forward with this project.”
Following the renovations,
Granger House will
become a focal point for the
campus and village community,
serving as the new
residence of the university
president and the setting
for campus, community
and philanthropic events.
The old president’s office
will become an early childhood
education center.
The revitalization
project aims to protect and
preserve Granger House as
a cultural heritage resource
and prepare it for use as a
‘Newly’wed Game announces 2020 local cast
Eight fun and funny couples are
lined up, and tickets are on sale for
February’s Pack The Paramount
“Newly”wed Game to benefit the
Rutland Community Cupboard,
BROC’s Community Food Shelf and
the Salvation Army.
The fourth-annual event presented
by WJJR and Green Mountain
Power, Feb. 8, will feature couples
Chrispin and Renee White, Drew
and Kelsey Smith, Rich and Christina
Sweet, John Wallace and Rose
Kennedy, Will and Allison Gormly,
Mark and Becky Stockton, Philip and
Marleen Allen, and Lisa Boerner and
Lisa Frankel-Boerner. They’ll compete
in a live version of the popular
TV show, with host Ed Kelly posing
questions guaranteed to make for a
raucous and entertaining night.
“We’re thrilled to have a diverse
and fun group of contestants willing
to put themselves out there to help
the food shelves,” said GMP Vice
President Steve Costello, one of the
organizers. “From true newlyweds
modern residence.
Granger House was
designed and built by
Noadiah Granger around
1800, and serves as an
important example of
Federal-style architecture
from the early history of
Vermont. It was entered
into the National Register
of Historic Places in 1979
as part of the Castleton Village
Historic District and is
one of the oldest homes in
Castleton.
The home, acquired by
the university in 2012, features
one of the outstanding
spiral staircases by the
noted Vermont architect
and craftsman Thomas R.
Dake.
The university is conducting
these renovations
as part of its plan to create
the early childhood lab,
which will be housed in
the current home of the
university president. The
lab, launching in July 2020,
pairs Castleton’s new bachelor
of arts and dual major
in early childhood education
and special education
with a public childcare
center and learning lab.
to couples who have been married
for decades, we have eight community-spirited
couples ready to play!”
The Pack the Paramount
“Newly”wed Game is a rebranding
of the long-running Pack The
Paramount Food Drive. Instead of
collecting food items, the goal is to
pack The Paramount’s seats with
patrons, with sponsorship and ticket
sales benefiting the food shelves.
Organizers hope to raise $25,000.
Terry Jaye, operations manager at
Catamount Radio, said the show has
quickly become a must-see event
for anyone who loves comedy. “I’ve
seen a lot of things on the Paramount
stage over the years, but I
have never laughed as hard as I have
at the ‘Newly’wed Game,” Jaye said.
“It’s an incredible night of fun, and
raises critically needed funds to help
our neighbors in need.”
Kelly, who competed with his
wife Fran the first year and has been
hosting ever since, said it’s his favorite
night of the year. “I look out at the
How Vermont’s DMV makes millions of
dollars selling personal information
By Xander Landen/VTDigger
The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles has been
quietly selling the personal data of Vermonters to private
companies since at least 2004.
The state agency has made more than $15 million on
sales of the data over the past four years, and the practice
has raised privacy concerns.
State records show the DMV has given approval to
700 companies and government agencies to purchase or
receive personal data about drivers.
In 2015, the DMV made $3.4 million
selling the information. From 2016 to
2018, the department brought in $4 million
each year. Information about data
sales in previous years was unavailable.
DMV officials say the vast majority
of the revenue comes from insurance
companies and businesses who buy
information about their employees’
driving histories.
However, the department has also allowed law firms,
private investigators and out-of-state corporations to buy
or access personal information about Vermont drivers,
including where they live, the cars they drive, their driving
records and their criminal histories.
In the past 15 years, the state has allowed 50 private
investigation firms to buy driver data, according to a list
of the companies the state authorized to purchase the
information.
The list also includes a handful of out-of-state companies
like Deloitte, an accounting giant, and “the world’s
largest consulting firm,” Choicepoint Service Inc., a data
aggregator that was bought by risk management and
corporate research firm LexisNexis. Another firm, Aristotle
Inc., specializes in “identity and age verification solutions”
for the government and private sector.
The personal data the state sells includes information
on licenses and vehicle registrations.
The database shows where people live, what cars are
registered to them, whether they have criminal records,
and their driving histories.
The only information it won’t provide on any condition
audience, and it’s just a sea of smiles
and laughs,” Kelly said. “You never
know what a contestant will say,
which guarantees surprises all night
long. It’s a blast!”
In addition to WJJR and GMP,
sponsors include Heritage Family
Credit Union, Jane and Steve
Costello, Rutland General Electric
Employees Activity Association, Rutland
Regional Medical Center Heart
Center, and Same Sun of Vermont.
Paramount Programming Director
Eric Mallette said the event was
especially important this time of
year. “Donations to food shelves
tend to balloon around the holidays,
but the long, cold winter leaves a lot
of people in need come February
and March,” he said. “This is timed
to provide a shot of funding and
goodwill to the food shelves in the
heart of winter.”
Tickets are on sale at The Paramount
Theatre, online at www.
paramountvt.org or by calling (802)
775-0903.
The state has
allowed 50 private
investigation firms
to buy driver data.
is driver medical information and Social Security numbers,
according to DMV officials. Photographs are also not for
sale.
Vermont isn’t the only state whose DMV sells driver
information — the practice is reportedly common across
the country.
Federal law requires DMVs to provide driver information
to government agencies, and sell it to certain
businesses including trucking firms,
insurance agencies, and vehicle manufacturers.
It also gives states discretion to sell
the information to other companies.
The Vermont DMV’s operations
director, Michael Smith, said the department
follows federal regulations and
reviews each request for personal information
on an individual basis.
“We collect, and residents of Vermont entrust us with
their personal identification and information and we take
that very, very seriously,” Smith said.
“We don’t just let anybody have it. We let those that are
deemed to have a permissible use have access to the information
that is permissible for them to use.”
VTDigger analyzed a list of the roughly 700 companies
authorized to purchase data from the Vermont Department
of Motor Vehicles since 2004.
The majority of the names on the list obtained by VT-
Digger include government agencies, local businesses, and
private law firms.
While the DMV will sell personal information to some
private entities, it refuses to sell to others.

8 • LOCAL NEWS
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
School board discusses
budget increases
By Curt Peterson
Windsor Central Modified
Unified Union School
District Superintendent
Mary Beth Banios and the
finance committee gave
board members a taste of
challenges faced in creating
the FY2021 budget at
the Monday night School
Board meeting, on Dec. 9.
The current budget,
ending June 30, 2020,
is about $20.1 million,
which, based on enrollment
of 909 equalized
pupils, is $17,994 per pupil—just
below the state
mandated maximum cost
per pupil.
Exceeding the state
mandate incurs a $1 penalty
for every $1 in excess
spending.
The state allowed the
district to average the
lower per pupil cost of the
elementary schools and
the higher middle/high
school cost, thus avoiding
the penalty.
Vermont’s statewide
benchmark per pupil
cost won’t be available
until January, but Banios
expects it will reflect the
increases incurred at the
state level.
Paige Hiller, board
co-chair from Woodstock,
said the budget process
will be broken down into
smaller segments this
year, as working on the
entire package is “overwhelming.”
Board co-chair Jennifer
Iannantuoni from Killington
said, “contractual
expenses,” such as health
benefits, negotiated on
a state-wide basis, have
risen significantly.
Statewide, the health
insurance premium increase
is 12.9% — the district’s
projected increase
is 14.2%.
Salary increases, negotiated
between the state
and the teachers’ union,
IT’S YOUR CHOICE...
are expected to be 3.5%,
although bringing salaries
in line across the district
will mean a bigger local
net increase.
Finance and Operations
Director Mike
Concessi said substitute
teachers are a big expense.
Kelly Services currently
provides substitutes—
Banios said staff find
arranging subs is difficult
and time-consuming.
Banios and Concessi
are analyzing whether
having two full-time substitutes
would be more
cost-effective.
Banios outlined desired
“additional educational
investments,” including
curriculum training for
department chairs, summer
training for educational
coaches, a transportation
director, costs
associated with increased
professional development
day substitutes and
School budget> 15
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Where the living is easy
Arbitrator sides with
union in school health care
bargaining
Decision will increase costs for school boards, taxpayers
By Lola Duffort/VTDigger
Last week, an independent arbitrator
has sided with the union in negotiations
for Vermont’s first-ever statewide health
care contract for all school employees.
The binding decision brings an end
to a contentious bargaining process that
first started in April. The deal will cover
about 40,000 people — teachers, administrators,
support staff, and their families.
It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2021, and lasts
through Dec. 31, 2022.
“The arbitrator very clearly thought
our proposal was more equitable and
accessible,” said Darren Allen, a spokesperson
for the Vermont-NEA.
Proposed double-digit health insurance
rate increases mean
that both sides – school
districts and school
employees – will likely see
costs increase under the
contract. Rates will be finalized
by the state in January.
Prior to the deal, the tax
commissioner released
a forecast of a 6% hike in
education taxes next year.
Nearly 40% of the projected
rise in school spending is tied to healthcare.
The Agency of Education used the cost
estimates tied to the union’s bargaining
proposal when it provided the commissioner
with spending projections,
according to agency finance manager
Brad James.
“Obviously we’re disappointed in that
result,” said Joseph McNeil, an attorney
for the school boards’ bargaining team.
“We’re concerned that rather than containing
costs, the decision will actually
increase costs, contrary to the desires of
the Legislature and state administration.”
Allan McCausland, the New Hampshire-based
arbitrator who made the
final call, said he based his decision
largely on the factors that Vermont statute
dictated he consider in weighing the
proposals.
“I thought both parties did an excellent
job. Very thorough, very professional,”
McCausland said.
And he noted that the union and
school board bargaining teams, who
went before a mediator before coming
to him, had already come to agreement
on the bulk of the issues. Notably, both
sides, in their final proposals, had put
forward a 80/20 employer/employee
premium split for teachers on Gold and
Silver plans.
But the union and school board teams
had differed significantly in their approach
to out-of-pocket costs. Under the
contract proposed by the union, teachers
and other licensed employees will have
to pay maximum medical and pharmacy
out-of-pocket costs of $400 for single coverage
and $800 for all other tiers. Support
staff employees will pay $300 for single
coverage and $600 for all other tiers.
Licensed educators and support
professionals working 17.5 hours or more
a week are eligible for coverage. And
the union’s proposal mostly sticks with
health reimbursement accounts — instead
of health savings accounts — which
largely mirrors the status quo.
“All employees are going to have access
to all tiers of coverage,” said Will Adams,
a teacher at Hardwick Elementary who
served as the spokesperson for the union
bargaining team. That means that support
staff, who, under local bargaining contracts,
frequently only had access to health
insurance for themselves,
will now be able to get
coverage for their spouses
and children as well.
Legislators in 2018 created
a 10-member
commission tasked with
negotiating a statewide
health care contract. The
commission included five
representatives from the
union side – four from the
Vermont-NEA, and one from the American
Federation of State, County, and
Municipal Employees – and five representatives
from school boards.
Traditional bargaining typically tasks
a mediator or an arbitrator with crafting
a compromise plan if the two sides
can’t agree. But as an incentive for the
two sides to come together on their own,
the law that created the commission
required an arbitrator to choose either
the union or school board’s final offer, in
its entirety. The arbitrator could not craft
an alternate compromise plan.
A single health care plan for all public
schools was a key priority for Republican
Gov. Phil Scott, who believed a statewide
benefit could save taxpayers millions.
Teachers unions for a long time resisted
the idea, but the Vermont-NEA ultimately
reversed course in exchange for equal
representation on the nonprofit board of
the Vermont Education Health Initiative,
which provides health insurance plans
for Vermont schools.
The administration opposed giving
unions equal representation on the VEHI
board, and the governor ultimately let the
omnibus bill that created the statewide
bargaining commission pass into law
without signing it.
In a statement, Scott spokesperson Rebecca
Kelley said the governor “remains
committed to the fiscal fundamental of
growing spending no faster than the rate
of growth in Vermonters’ paychecks.”
“This decision will make that more
difficult to achieve and he hopes the
Legislature will take another hard look at
how we get these costs, and others, under
control,” she added.
Nearly 40% of
the projected
rise in school
spending
is tied to
healthcare.

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 STATE NEWS • 9
Vermont again ranked nation’s healthiest state
Vermont is once again the healthiest state in the nation,
according to the United Health Foundation’s newly
released America’s Heath Rankings annual
report. The state moved up three
steps to reclaim the top spot in the
Foundation’s 30th year documenting
the nation’s health trends, challenges
and opportunities.
For nearly two decades, Vermont
has ranked among the top five healthiest
states, as gauged by the Foundation’s
review of 35 core measures,
including health behaviors and
outcomes, clinical care, policy impacts, as well as community,
environmental and socio-economic factors. Vermont
was number 4 last year.
“Vermont’s place at the top of this list reflects our
commitment to health in all 251 communities and across
provider networks from hospitals to home and community
based providers,” said Governor Phil Scott. “While
there is always room for improvement, our position as
the healthiest in the nation speaks to the high quality of
life we offer in Vermont. As we continue to work to grow
the economy and our workforce, make Vermont more
affordable and protect the most vulnerable, our health
outcomes are a tool we can use to market Vermont as a
great place to live, work and raise a family,” Scott added.
Vermont’s data reflects a significant drop in health
disparities — an improvement of 44 places among state
rankings. Health disparities are an
important indicator of differences that
may occur by gender, race or ethnicity,
education, income, disability, geographic
location and sexual orientation
among others. The state also had
one of the lowest rates of violent crime.
“All of us can take great pride in
where we stand today,” said Health
Commissioner Mark Levine, MD. “I’m
particularly pleased with the steady
progress we have made in reducing the rate of adult obesity
and smoking, increases in childhood immunization
rates and physical activity, and in our significant gains in
reducing health disparities among Vermonters.”
The report also focuses on the health challenges Vermont
faces.
Deaths related to drug and other substance misuse
continue to rise, and the state continues to wrestle with
higher rates of chronic conditions like diabetes, and risk
for vaccine-preventable diseases, such as pertussis.
Dr. Levine said the data is also important in showing
where more work is needed. “We are number one overall,
but in some measures, relative to other states, we may
only be doing less badly,” said Dr. Levine. “Bending the
Key takeaways
Strengths:
* Low incidence of chlamydia
* Low violent crime rates
* Low % of uninsured population
Challenges
* High incident of pertussis
* High occupational fatality rate
* High cancer death rate
curve on unhealthy behaviors and outcomes is difficult,
and we have a great deal more work to do.” Levine cited
the rapid rise of vaping among young people as a threat to
decades of progress against tobacco use, and the need to
further impact increases in chronic diseases and cancerrelated
deaths.
“We will look deeply into this data, to continue our
strategic plans and programmatic efforts to build on our
successes and to reverse the trends that negatively impact
the health and well-being of all Vermonters,” Levine
added.
For more info visit americashealthrankings.org.
Ranking trend:
Vermont
CourtesyAmerica’s Health Rankings 2019 Annual Report
Over $500,000 in housing vouchers unused since 2017
By Grace Elletson/VTDigger
Vermont is returning hundreds of
thousands of dollars in unused housing
vouchers to the federal government
each year.
A new report shows that the federal
housing voucher programs have
been underutilized because of a lack
of case management support, inadequate
affordable housing stock and
an unwillingness by some landlords
to rent to tenants with a history of
homelessness.
In 2017, the Burlington Housing
Authority had not used 27 Shelter
plus Care vouchers, totaling $206,707.
Last year, the Vermont State
Housing Authority underutilized
about 43 Shelter
plus Care vouchers totaling
$336,648. In 2019, VSHA has
again struggled to use all of
its Rapid Rehousing vouchers
— 28 out of 78 had not been used,
according to the report.
Shelter plus Care vouchers are specifically
for people who are disabled
and chronically homeless. Rapid
Rehousing vouchers are temporary
subsidies that aim to help people who
are homeless.
Lawmakers last year set up the
Specialized Housing Vouchers Working
Group to recommend ways the
state can fully utilize housing voucher
funds.
According to the report, about 55%
of eligible households cannot use
available Shelter plus Care or Rapid
Rehousing vouchers, largely because
of a lack of affordable housing that
has caused a back up in the system.
On average, it took providers 92 days
to find people housing through Shelter
plus Care vouchers and 58 days
through Rapid Rehousing vouchers
in 2018.
Both voucher programs require
case management or housing retention
services for people using the
services. These workers help guide
people through the voucher process
and find employment in order to
keep them from becoming homeless
again, said Renee Weeks, director of
shelter and clinical services for Upper
Valley Haven.
But these positions are not always
funded by the federal government or
“People are living in the streets and
the woods because we failed to act,”
Donnelly said.
the state budget. And a lack of direct
support is part of the reason vouchers
to go unused, Weeks said.
Chris Donnelly, director of community
relations for the Champlain
Housing Trust, said he’s had to turn
away people from the apartments
because people didn’t have case
manager support for their specific
vouchers.
“We’re losing resources because
we’re not providing the right support,”
Donnelly said. “We’re keeping
people homeless.”
He said he wants to see lawmakers
fund case manager positions for
voucher providers across the state.
“People are living in the streets
and the woods because we failed to
act,” Donnelly said. “This is a solvable
problem.”
Funding case managers is a solution
the report put forward — one
recommendation calls for using
funding from the Department for
Children and Families and the
Housing Opportunity Program for
case management support. Another
recommendation was to find funding
in Medicaid or bolster case management
support from partnerships with
OneCare Vermont.
Sen. Ginny Lyons, D-Chittenden,
who will be reviewing the report as
chair of the Health and Welfare Committee,
was not sure which solutions
she plans to endorse. She
said she would support an
increase of case manager
funding.
“We want to sit back
and look at the broader
picture,” Lyons said. “But
yes, this is urgent.”
Rep. Tom Stevens, D-Waterbury,
who chairs the General, Housing, and
Military Affairs Committee, said the
underutilization of housing vouchers
is a “great disappointment.” For
this legislative session, Stevens said
he wants to continue supporting the
Vermont Housing and Conservation
Fund and increase support services
to allow more vouchers to be used.
“We understand the difficulties
that come along with budgeting to
the dollar and not the need. It is one
of the hardest things to do given our
economic climate,” Stevens wrote in
an email. “But it has to change if we’re
going to have any hope of fulfilling
the goals we set to help Vermonters
live a life of stability and dignity by
providing four walls and a roof.”
$94 million still available
in Vermont unclaimed
property
The Vermont Treasurer’s
Office has a
record $94.5 million in
unclaimed property and
Vermont Treasurer Beth
Pearce wants to return
it to Vermonters. In the
one-month span Nov.
10-Dec. 10, 2019, the Treasurer’s
Office returned
$413,455.60 to 1,966
claimants, according to
a Dec. 11 news release.
With the holiday season
underway, Vermonters
can easily search the
state unclaimed property
database to claim their
funds for holiday shopping,
charitable giving,
or to save for goals in the
new year.
“Last year, we returned
$6 million of unclaimed
funds to citizens, businesses,
and nonprofits,”
said state Treasurer Beth
Pearce. “In the last month,
we’ve paid out more
than $400,000 in claims,
putting money in many
Vermonters pockets as
we enter the holiday and
charitable giving season.
We want to make sure you
double check our databases
to see if you have
unclaimed property.”
The Treasurer’s Office’s
unclaimed property
program is a consumer
protection initiative to
benefit all citizens. No
commissions or fees are
charged through this free
service. Vermonters can
easily search the state
unclaimed property database
by visiting Missing-
Money.Vermont.gov or by
calling 1-800-642-3191.
“Unclaimed property”
describes assets
like uncashed checks,
lost valuables, forgotten
security deposits, misplaced
insurance policies,
investments or estates.
The contents of abandoned
safe deposit boxes
are also held in the Treasurer’s
Office unclaimed
property vault. There
are 530,000 individual
properties waiting to be
claimed.
With over $94 million
waiting to be claimed,
Vermonters should be
aware of for-profit enterprises
that claim they will
locate and recover lost
property for a fee.
Treasurer Pearce
encourages all Vermonters
to check the state’s
unclaimed property
database, which is free,
before accepting services
from other entities.

Opinion
10 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
OP-ED
We need blood
By Steve Costello
As a former journalist who has seen a lot over the years,
I’m not one to be easily impressed or inspired. But as Gordon
Dritschilo wrote (Gift of Life kicks off, Dec. 11) Stefanie
Schaffer has recently done both.
Read on, and I hope you’ll be inspired by Stefanie as
well – enough to sign up for the last day of the Gift-of-Life
Marathon. The need for blood is real, and we have 175
openings for the final day of the drive, Dec. 20, at the U.S.
Army Reserve in Rutland Town.
If you haven’t heard Stefanie’s story, here’s a synopsis:
Stefanie was a typical 22-year-old college student. She was
She wouldn’t
be alive to tell
it if not for
countless people
who donated
the blood she
received.
somewhat shy, and
found public speaking
difficult. But she was
enjoying life and doing
what was expected
of her, though in her
own words, she rarely
challenged herself to be
more than average.
She is anything but
average today.
In June 2018, a
boat explosion left the
22-year-old Rutland woman with a head injury, spinal cord
damage and paralysis, numerous broken bones, failing
kidneys, and the loss of both legs. Her injuries required so
much blood that her medical records don’t quantify the volume;
they simply refer to a “massive transfusion protocol.”
She spent a month in a coma, and awoke to be told she
would probably never walk again. Due to her injuries, she
could barely speak. At first, she recoiled, pulling the covers
over her head, crying uncontrollably, and understandably
Giving life > 11
The case for
impeachment is a case
for our democracy
By Angelo Lynn
In recent impeachment hearings, during which House
Democrats called on three judicial scholars for their constitutional
interpretation of what acts would be grounds
for impeachment, the evidence was overwhelming that
President Trump’s attempted bribery of Ukraine’s president
met the standard of “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
According to numerous reporters present, the testimony
was blunt. Here’s a partial account by NBC News correspondent
Adam Edelman:
“One after another, and at times using blistering language,
the trio of professors sitting side by side — who were
called to testify by Democrats — told the committee that,
according to evidence against Trump that has been made
public, Trump was guilty of ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’
and other impeachable actions.
“Pamela Karlan, a professor at Stanford Law School and
a former Justice Department official in the Obama administration,
said ‘the very idea that a president might seek the
aid of a foreign government in his re-election campaign
would have horrified’ America’s Founding Fathers...
“Karlan said Trump’s ‘demand’ that Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskiy launch investigations into Burisma —
the Ukrainian gas company that former Vice President Joe
Biden’s son Hunter Biden joined as a board member — and
a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine interfered in
the 2016 election ,‘constituted an abuse of power.’
“‘Drawing a foreign government into our election
process is an especially serious abuse of power because it
Democracy? > 15
LETTERS
Now is the time, Congressman Welch
Dear Editor,
On March 9, 1954,
Republican Vermont Sen.
Ralph Flanders stood on the
floor of the U.S. Senate to
condemn fellow Republican
Sen. Joseph McCarthy
on his claims that there
were communists in the
state department. The
Flanders speech was an
immediate sensation, as
Flanders’ courage to speak
up against a member of his
own party electrified the
nation. Two months later,
Flanders introduced a bill
to censure Sen. McCarthy.
It passed with bi-partisan
support.
Congressman Peter
Welch has taken up the
mantle of Sen. Flanders.
Welch stated in a VTDigger
interview: “[Flanders] stood
up and said no, this has got
to end. The role I have to
play is what Vermonters
have always played. And
that is to resist the encroachment
of a single civil
liberty of a single person at
any moment at any time.”
Now is that moment in
time, Congressman Welch.
Congressman Adam Schiff
deserves condemnation in
the well of the House and a
bill of censure.
If Congressman Adam
Schiff, as a member of the
House intelligence committee,
had access at least
two years ago to the information
about FISA abuses
outlined in Horowitz’s
report. Despite that, Schiff,
on March 24, 2018, publicly
released a memo which
gave an utterly false picture
of the classified material to
which he and IG Horowitz
had access.
The purpose of Schiff’s
memo was to counter then
Intelligence Committee
chair Rep. Devin Nunes’
report on FISA abuses. Sc
If Congressman Welch
claims to take up the
mantle of Sen. Flanders,
then he must stand in the
well of the House, and
condemn his Democrat
colleague, Rep. Schiff,
for Schiff’s repeated false
statements about the FISA
process, Carter Page, and
Republican Devin Nunes.
It will take the courage
of Flanders to stand up
against a member of his
own party. We shall see if
Rep. Welch lives up to the
Flanders standard.
Deborah Bucknam,
Walden
By Thomasina Magoon
Guests Justin and Ally Brown dress up for the fundraiser.
Homeless Prevention Center
fundraiser raises a record $20,000
Dear Editor,
On behalf of the Homeless
Prevention Center,
we would like to thank
the many community
members who made our
dinner, dance, silent auction
and 20th Anniversary
Celebration on Nov. 2 at
the Franklin Conference
Center in Rutland, such a
great success. With the help
of 15 sponsors, 70 individuals
and businesses that
donated auction items,
By Kevin Siers, Charlotte Observer
and a fantastic effort by our
board, staff and volunteers,
we raised a record $20,000
in support of our mission
of preventing and ending
homelessness in Rutland
County. Thank you!
We were moved by
both the generosity and
diversity of supporters
this year: Banks and credit
unions; local businesses
(old and new); families
and individuals; hospitals
HPC > 11

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 CAPITOL QUOTES• 11
CAPITOL QUOTES
“Greta Thunberg, don’t let anyone dim
your light. Like the girls I’ve met in
Vietnam and all over the world, you
have so much to offer us all. Ignore the
doubters and know that millions of
people are cheering you on,”
Said Michelle Obama.
“Time leaves out the Hong Kong
protesters fighting for their lives and
freedoms to push a teen being used as a
marketing gimmick. How dare you?
Said Donald Trump, Jr.
On Greta Thunberg being named Time
Magazine’s 2019 person of the year…
“So ridiculous. Greta must work on
her Anger Management [sic] problem
then go to a good old fashioned movie
with a friend! Chill, Greta, Chill!”
Said President Donald Trump on Twitter.
“A teenager working on her anger
management problem. Currently
chilling and watching a good old
fashioned movie with a friend,”
Said Greta Thunberg in her updated
Twitter bio.
COMMENTARY
Why WUHS needs a new high school
Editor’s note: This was submitted by the
Windsor Central Supervisory Union and
may not represent the opinion of all school
board members.
After two years of studying the best
and highest value means of addressing
the facility deficiencies of the 60 plus
year-old middle and high school facility,
the WCSU (Windsor Central Supervisory
Union) board voted unanimously in June
2019 to pursue
developing a financing
strategy
for a new middle
and high school
building.
The expert
master planning
team working
with the district
(including
architectural,
structural, civil, landscape, code, food
service experts along with one of the
best education planners in the country)
reviewed the technical and cost feasibility
of three options:
1. a renovation
2. a renovation with select additions
3. a new build
The analysis and evaluation concluded
definitively that a new building would
Giving life: Stephanie Schaffer is a model of determination
>
from page 10
wanting to give up.
But she didn’t. She chose to overcome her challenges. She chose to learn to speak all
over again. She chose the power of positivity. She chose to prove her doctors wrong, and
walk. And she began an arduous recovery that now revels in successes like swimming without
legs and biking with her hands.
And here’s the most inspiring part — she chose to overcome her shyness and give up her
privacy to share her story to help others, revealing the scariest moments of her life and the
triumphs and love that surrounds her, and that she now fosters.
Key to her story: She wouldn’t be alive to tell it if not for countless people who donated
the blood she received. Without blood, she wouldn’t have lived to commit much of the past
few months to raise awareness of blood donation. She wouldn’t be alive to overcome her
shyness to speak to thousands of people in speeches, radio programs, social media posts,
and interviews. She wouldn’t be alive to demonstrate her grit, resilience, and grace.
I’ve had the pleasure to work closely with Stefanie, and see how she chooses, daily,
to find the good in life. I’ve seen hundreds of people visibly moved by her attitude and
perspective as she shares her story. And I’ve found myself giving thanks for having met
her, because she makes me want to be the best person I can be as well. Stefanie has given
me and so many others a new perspective on life, just as you’ll give life to some unknown
person if you donate blood Dec. 20.
Steve Costello is a Green Mountain Power vice president, and with Terry Jaye, co-organizer
of the Gift-of-Life Marathon.
>
HPC: Homeless prevention raises record donations
from page 10
that weaves this community
together.
I also want to thank the
staff here that continue to
work small miracles every
day. This year they helped
over 500 Vermonters in
crisis — people who were
homeless, or facing it head
on, or leaving an institution
uncertain about what
would happen next on the
and correctional facilities;
Vermonters we’ve helped
in the past who wanted to
give back; DJ Dave Hoffenberg
who donated his time
and services, even local
musicians who donated
their gig money.
This generosity from all
corners makes our work
possible and illustrates
how colorful the quilt is
New build construction
also costs substantially
less than full renovation
due to the fact that it takes
less time and requires little
disruption to students.
be the best value and most beneficial
solution to the facility’s shortcomings.
Given the combination of inefficient
layout of the MS/HS building on the site,
the structural and building envelope
(wall and roof) issues and need to bring
up to current seismic codes; the need for
all new systems (sewer, heating, ventilation,
cooling, fire suppression); lack of
ADA compliance and the cinder block
wall construction
making moving
walls to alter space
configurations
not possible;
renovation is both
impractical and
economically
infeasible.
New build construction
also costs
substantially less
than full renovation due to the fact that it
takes less time and requires little disruption
to students in the current building.
When a building is renovated, it
requires that students are put in temporary
classrooms, which is disruptive,
lengthens the building timeline and costs
substantially more. Although school
buildings are renovated at times, each is
unique, and the practicality of a renova-
New build > 13
outside. Whether you’re a
client of our organization,
a staff or board member,
a landlord or community
partner, sponsor or donor,
thank you for believing that
even when it’s a hard day
or a cold night, doing the
tough work is worth it.
Sincerely,
Angus Chaney, HPC
executive director

12 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
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The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 NEWS BRIEFS • 13
Gingerbread houses reimagine holiday sweets
‘Tis the season for gingerbread creations! Chaffee Art Center in Rutland held a gingerbread contest on Dec. 12.
Creators of Chaffee Art Center’s winning house, titled “Good Tidings Farm,” Jill Talbot, Brandy Ellison, Alexandria
Perone and Phoebe Forman said, “[Our] display embodies the spirit of giving exemplified by the seasonal bounties
of the farm. Our local farms are vital to our community and we benefit from the effort of farmers. Their work
sustains our bodies, our community and the landscape we hold so dear. Our barn is surrounded by the four seasons
of giving...winter, spring, summer and fall.
Below, a much larger gingerbread house was erected inside the Woodstock Inn & Resort.
Courtesy of Chaffee Art Center
First place in the Chaffee contest went to “Good Tidings
Farm” from creators Jill Talbot, Brandy Ellison, Alexandria
Perone and Phoebe Forman.
The gingerbread house at the Woodstock Inn is Dr. Seuss inspired this year.
Courtesy of Chaffee Art Center
Second place in the Chaffee contest went to “Fun Times”
created by the Watelet family.
Courtesy of Woodstock Inn & Resort
>
New build: Pros of a new high school
from page 11
tion and technical feasibility depends on the “bones” of
the building.
In the case of the Woodstock Union Middle and High
School, the unique features of the current building make
it more cost effective to build new.
Leigh Sherwood, a leading school designer from
Lavallee Brensinger Architects, noted after meeting with
and presenting to multiple committees that represented
parents, faculty and residents from all seven towns in
the WCSU that “it was determined that a renovation/
addition option would be a poor value proposition for a
school that could not be modified to meet the needs of a
modern educational facility. A new school is less expensive
than a renovation/addition option, both in first cost
and future operating costs. A new school is easier and
less disruptive to build, allows for efficient, flexible spaces
for today’s learners, consists of high performance,
durable construction with lower energy costs—all which
would benefit WCSU far into the future.”
In addition to costing less to achieve district goals, a
new middle and high school building will have a number
of immediate short and long-term benefits:
• Lowest total project cost and highest long-term
value.
• High performance (green building) results in
immediate operating cost savings and reduced
maintenance.
• Ideal building and classroom configuration to
maximize efficiency and learning and teaching
spaces.
• Better utilizes the acreage of the site and improves
organization, accessibility, safety of
pedestrians and vehicles, parking and orientation
on site.
• Allows for a new multi-purpose sports field with
track that is capable of hosting meets and events
and extending the practice season for spring
sports.
• Design and layout of new building improves
security of building occupants.
• Design and layout of a new building maximizes
school and community use allowing for collaborations
and partnerships with community-wide
organizations.
• Creates ideal academic spaces necessary for
delivery of 21st Century education.
• Creates a place where all students in the district
can be together for district wide events (such a
space currently does not exist).
• Becomes a source of school and community
identity and pride and communicates Vermont
values.
This would not be the first time that the school
district will have built a new modern facility and razed
an old school to reinvest in the future of the district’s
children and communities. The circa 1854 Woodstock
High School at the base of Linden Hill in the village of
Woodstock was razed with students moving to a newly
built “modern” high school in 1957. That 1957 facility
has served our community well for over 60 years but has
now outlived its useful life and it is time to once again
reinvest in a new facility to house our middle and high
schools.
The class of 2019 provided the first gift toward making
this new building a reality, “They hope their gift will
plant a seed that will grow with the support of many
others in our communities so that someday in the nottoo-distant
future, they can come back to visit a modern,
energy-efficient building that connects to this beautiful
landscape with an abundance of natural light and flexible
spaces to support and enhance the learning of the
future,” said Michelle Fountain in her 2019 graduation
speech.
For more information contact building committee
chairs Ben Ford (bford@wcsu.net) or Bob Coates
(bcoates@wcsu.net).

14 • NEWS BRIEFS
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
Pawlet Library receives CLIF grant to
collaborate with Mettawee School
PAWLET—Staff from the Pawlet
Public Library and the Mettawee
Community School recently met to
solidify their partnership to promote
reading through a grant from
the Children’s Literacy Foundation
(CLIF). The grant program encourages
libraries in Vermont and New
Hampshire towns of 5,000 residents
or fewer to partner with schools and
childcare centers to encourage a
community-wide commitment to
literacy.
The grant, awarded to the Pawlet
Public Library, provides $2,000 in
new children’s books for the library
and $500 in new children’s books for
the Mettawee Community School.
Additionally, the award includes two
Claremont McDonald’s restaurant manager Roy Thomas
won the distinguished Ray Kroc Award for the third time.
The awards are an annual performance-based honor
that recognize the top performing McDonald’s restaurant
managers globally. The announcement was made at the
Coughlin Inc. office in Rutland Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Roy Thomas was one of 365 McDonald’s Restaurant
Managers around the world, from 60 markets, representing
the top one percent of restaurant managers, to receive
the honor, which includes a cash prize and a trophy. He has
worked at McDonald’s for 34 years and will be awarded his
prize on April 22, 2020 at the Ray Kroc Gala Awards Gala in
Orlando, Florida.
“To be awarded the Ray Kroc twice was exciting, to receive
it for a third time is a feeling that I can’t describe,” said
Roy Thomas.“I wouldn’t be able to support my team the
way I do if it wasn’t for McDonald’s providing the resources I
as a manager need to succeed. This honor is for me and my
team – thank you, McDonald’s.”
McDonald’s independent franchisees and regional
management nominate restaurant managers for the Ray
Kroc Awards — named after the company’s founder — to
recognize their hard work, dedication, and commitment to
professional storytelling presentations
for all students in grades K-6 in
the school, and two presentations
for local childcare provider Meadow
Wee Day Care. At the spring storytelling
presentations, each child
will have the opportunity to select
two free books to take home. Pawlet
Library’s CLIF grant is sponsored by
Pawlet resident Meg Sullivan.
The Pawlet Library and Mettawee
School literacy partnership continues
with the initiation of level reader
book bins at the library along with
assistance in packing book bags
for children to check out and take
home, and a book reading program
for Pre-K students to encourage
them to read as many books as they
can before kindergarten.
Pawlet Library child literacy
coach, Catherine Hunter, offers
free one-on-one and small group
coaching for children and parents to
engage in interactive book conversations
and to select just right books
for children.
Through an additional grant from
CLIF, the Pawlet Library plans a free
family dinner/story hour in the
spring to highlight its new collection
of children’s books.
For more information about the
Pawlet Public Library’s children’s
programs, contact the library at
802-325-3123 or stop in. The library
is located at 141 School Street in
Pawlet.
Submitted
Children’s Literacy Foundation Executive Director Duncan McDougall offers a storytelling presentation to Mettawee
Community School students K-6 to introduce new books for the Pawlet Public Library the school library.
McDonald’s and its customers.
“Roy is a great employee and an even better guy; I am
lucky to have him on the team for more than 30 years.
He was nominated for his commitment to his team and
challenging them to be the best they can be,” said Charles
Coughlin, Claremont McDonald’s owner/operator. “We’re
delighted to recognize again Roy for dedicating so much
of himself to both his position and the wonderful team he
inspires each and every day.”
McDonalds is committed to creating employment opportunities
for people of all ages and from all backgrounds,
as well as boosting employability to help people gain the
skills and experience they need to progress in their careers.
They provide opportunities for progression and promoting
from within; around 90% of restaurant management began
their careers as crew members. McDonald’s also supports
current crewmembers with Archways to Opportunities,
which offers eligible employees access to educational program.
Sherrie Harvey of McDonald’s announced that owner
Charles Coughlin received the People’s Award, which was
awarded to only two franchise owners in 2019. Coughlin
Inc. employs between 350-500 workers and provided over
$75,000 to employees under the Archways program.
Pawlet Library hires
community connector to
lead initiatives
PAWLET—The Pawlet Public Library has recently hired
Sara Young, Middletown Springs, as community connector
to lead community initiatives outlined in the library’s fouryear
strategic plan. The new position has been funded for
one year by grants from
the Windham Foundation,
and the Vermont
Community Foundation,
including the
Lyman Orton Fund and
the Spark! Connecting
Community Program.
The library’s community
initiatives will
provide a place for
people to gather for
social activities and
community discussions
and offer programs
and activities that
bring people together.
Specifically, Community
Connector Sara Young will facilitate Town and community
organizations in working together to share information
and resources with each other and the community.
Young has worked for over 15 years with non-profit
organizations on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, with a focus
on enriching the quality of life for its citizens, enhancing
the economic environment, and positioning Cape Ann as a
center for arts and culture by bridging its maritime heritage
with its changing future. She has worked as a fundraiser,
event planner and advocate to build relationships and
connect people and organizations to enrich the community.
She is currently a member of the Middletown Springs
Planning Commission and the Rutland Regional Planning
Commission.
“Having engaged the community in an organized and
thoughtful planning process, the library is confident that
its initiatives are rooted in the needs and aspirations of our
community,” said Library Director Mary Lou Willits. “Sara’s
community development expertise will certainly further
the mission of the Pawlet Public Library and at the same
time help build a stronger community.”
For more information visit pawletpubliclibrary.wordpress.com.
Local McDonald’s manager receives national award
Sara Young
By Ed Larson
Charles Coughlin recieved the McDonald’s People’s
Choice Award, which was given to only two franchise
owners in 2019.

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 NEWS BRIEFS • 15
>
“‘Drawing a foreign government into our
election process is an especially serious
abuse of power because it undermines
democracy itself,’ Karlan said.
Democracy?: Hangs in the balance
from page 10
undermines democracy itself,’ Karlan said.
“Michael Gerhardt, a professor at the
University of North Carolina School of Law,
added that ‘the record compiled thus far
shows that the president has committed
several impeachable offenses, including
bribery, abuse of power in soliciting
a personal favor from a foreign leader to
benefit his political campaign, obstructing
Congress and obstructing justice.’
“‘I cannot help but conclude that this
president has attacked each of the Constitution’s
safeguards against establishing a
monarchy in this country. Both the context
and gravity of the president’s misconduct
are clear… If what we are talking about is
not impeachable, nothing is impeachable,’”
Gerhardt said.
Interestingly, neither Republicans
in Congress nor the White House have
attempted to deny the facts surrounding
Trump’s actions. They have admitted
he bribed the president of Ukraine with
an action that could have benefited his
campaign for president and put an ally in
jeopardy as if it were no big deal. And what
they are attempting to argue, bizarrely, is
that such a violation of the public trust falls
short of “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
House Democrats are right to also
incorporate obstruction charges against
Trump, as he has purposely obstructed
the investigation of his administration’s
actions on several fronts, including looking
into the possible collusion with Russian
interference in the 2016
election, which was
the basis of the Mueller
Report. Trump has
consistently ordered
those who worked in his
administration not to
provide testimony or information
that might help either Mueller’s
investigation or the impeachment inquiry
determine the truth.
Any impartial observer would know
that a president trying to hide facts from
discovery and who goes to great ends to
distract, promote debunked conspiracy
theories and work tirelessly to create misinformation
knows the truth would reveal
damning information (from his actions as
a candidate, as president and to whatever
financial information may be compromising
in his tax returns) And yet, Trump
supporters cast that commonsense aside at
the nation’s peril. It should be apparent to
all that if we are to be a nation governed by a
strongman who rules through misinformation
(propaganda), like the autocrats he so
admires, and not by laws, we will have lost
our democracy.
Angelo Lynn is the editor and publisher
of the Addison County Independent, a sister
publication to the Mountain Times.
School budget: Board discovers innacuracies
>
from page 8
a theater tech associate, at a total cost of
$234,000.
Costs of mitigating moisture issues
at The Prosper Valley School, which
has been closed for a year, will also be
considered.
Bob Crean, a resident spectator
at the meeting, suggested spending
$6,000 to test results from recent
drainage work, and $35,000 for a “deep
clean” to remove any mold before committing
to $100,000 for a new HVAC
system.
Killington board member Jim Haff,
who serves on the finance committee
that will be primarily responsible for
the budget, said the budget increases
discussed will impact the district’s education
tax significantly, possibly raising
Killington’s education tax from $1.62
this year to over $2 next year.
“It would increase our cost per pupil
$500 just to operate TPVS,” he told the
Mountain Times after Monday’s meeting,
“without increasing the number
of credited pupils in the district – just
moving them from Woodstock to
Pomfret.”
Haff cited Town Manager Chet
Hagenbarth’s recent report to the
district board that Killington real
estate prices have risen 20%, possibly
increasing the town’s common level of
appraisal penalty by 15% or more. (CLA
adjusts for the difference between a
town’s property assessments and actual
market values).
On Dec. 9, Concessi alluded to
significant efforts invested to bring the
district’s books in order. According to
Haff, actual revenue received was never
accurately recorded and only fiscal year
2018 has been updated so far.
“An outside firm has been brought in
to enter revenue figures,” Haff said. “We
may find out revenue is actually way off
from what the FY2019 budget and the
current budget anticipated.”
“We ran out of tax anticipation note
funds [money often borrowed against
anticipated tax revenues and state
disbursements by towns and school
districts] in October — the earliest yet,”
he said. “The district put payments
other than payroll on hold until they
had more accurate information.”
The board also unanimously approved
raising student and adult meal
prices starting in September for the
first time in three years.
A vigorous discussion about required
capital reserves for campus
buildings revealed while there are very
modest reserve funds attached to some
schools, the district has been significantly
under funding maintenance and
replacement funding for years.
“The draft budget includes $50,000
for capital reserves,” Haff said, “but
industry standards would suggest
putting away between $1.2 million and
$1.4 million every year. If we don’t address
this now, we’ll be having the same
conversation next year.”
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16 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
THE
LIFE
YOU
WERE
MEANT
FOR
© 2019. Real Rutland.
MOVE TO RUTLAND COUNTY VERMONT.
Year-Round Activities
Affordable Living
Job Opportunities
Family-Friendly Community
Quality Education
We’re interested in helping you.
Come and be apart of a community that is growing
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Visit RealRutland.com or call (802) 773-2747
@RealRutland
#RealRutland
Funding for this marketing initiative was made possible in part with a Rural Business Development Grant from USDA Rural Development and by financial support provided by local area businesses, towns and cities.

GIFT-OF-LIFE MARATHON
BLOOD DRIVE
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18 AT 12 P.M.
THURSDAY, DEC. 19 AT 9 A.M.
FRIDAY, DEC. 20 AT 10 A.M.
Submitted
Calendar
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 • 17
WEDNESDAY, DEC.18
Bikram Yoga
6 a.m.
True Yoga classes: 6 a.m. IHP; 9 a.m. 60 min. 26+ yoga; 4 p.m. bikram
60; 5 p.m. IHP; 6:15 p.m. Baptiste Flow. 22 Wales St., Rutland. trueyogavermont.com.
Story Time with Jill
9:30 a.m.
The Brandon Public Library’s story time led by Jill is on Wednesday
mornings. Join in for songs, stories, and crafts every Wednesday at
9:30am. 4 Franklin St. in Brandon.
Ski Bum Race
10 a.m.
Teams of skiers, snowboarders and telemark skiers race down Highline
in pursuit of Ski Bum Glory and bragging rights. Each competition
is followed by a party sponsored by Michelob Ultra as well as local
restaurants and shops. Cost is $250 per team - $60 per individual;
Must be 21 plus.
Brandon Sits! Community Meditation
12:30 p.m.
New to meditation? Welcome! Please plan to arrive the first time at
12:30 and you’ll receive an orientation to and guidance in mindfulness
meditation to help you get started. Sit for 10 minutes, 20 minutes or
more. Come when you can, leave when you wish. 4 Franklin St. in
Brandon. Questions? Call the Library or AnnMarie Roth at Nourish Your
Purpose (247-5300)
Gift-of-Life Marathon Blood Drive
12 p.m.
Annual blood drive at Rutland Regional Medical Center. Make an appointment
by calling 800-RED-CROSS or visiting redcrossblood.org.
Domestic Violence Support Group
12 p.m.
A support group for survivors of domestic violence. 12-1 p.m. at the
Rutland Free Library, 10 Court St. in Rutland.
Heartfulness Meditation
4:45 p.m.
Free group meditation. Free instruction available. Wednesdays, 4:45
pm, Mountain Yoga in Rutland, VT For more information call or email
Margery 802-775-1795 or margery.anderson@heartfulness.org.
Heart of Ukulele
5 p.m.
Chaffee Art Center holds informal ukulele group Wednesday, 5-7 p.m.
Donations appreciated. 16 S. Main St., Rutland.
Local Yokel Party
5 p.m.
Stop in and pick up your Local Yokel card for all sorts of goodies this
winter at Charity’s 1887 Saloon, 2194 Killington Road in Killington.
Adult Open Studio
6 p.m.
Get muddy on Monday nights with our drop-in clay at the art
studio. Rutland Recreation Courcelle Facility at 16 North
Street Extension. $5 per visit OR $20/$31 Punchcard.
For more info call 802-773-1822
THURSDAY,
DEC. 19
Bikram Yoga
6 a.m.
True Yoga classes: 6 a.m. Bikram 60; 9
a.m. IHP; 5 p.m. Bikram 60; 6:15 p.m.
IHP. 22 Wales St., Rutland. trueyogavermont.com.
Meditation Circle
8 a.m.
Maclure Library offers meditation circle
Thursdays, 8 a.m. 802-483-2792. 840
Arch St., Pittsford.
Gift-of-Life Marathon Blood
Drive
9 a.m.
Annual blood drive at Rutland Regional Medical
Center. Make an appointment by calling 800-RED-
CROSS or visiting redcrossblood.org.
CAAP Lifesteps Book Group
10 a.m.
A book group for adults with developmental disabilities,
offered via Rutland Mental Health’s Community Care Network at the
Rutland Free Library. 10 Court St., Rutland.
Playgroup
10 a.m.
Maclure Library offers playgroup, Thursdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Birth to 5
years old. Stories, crafts, snacks, singing, dancing. 802-483-2792. 840
Arch St., Pittsford.
Story Time
10 a.m.
Story time at West Rutland Public Library. Thursdays,10 a.m. Bring
young children to enjoy stories, crafts, and playtime. 802-438-2964.
“Slow Flow” Hatha yoga class
11:30 a.m.
Join Cassie Reed, 200 hour RYT, for a 60 minute “Slow Flow” Hatha
yoga class every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30am -12:30pm at the
Killington Welcome Center conference room.
Cello and Piano recital
2 p.m.
Cellist, Marina Smakhtina, will offer a recital of seasonal favorites in the
beautifully decorated Grace Church Sanctuary. 8 Court St in Rutland
Read with Sailor
3 p.m.
Sailor and his friend Arlene visit once Fletcher Memorial Library a
month. Reading to a dog is known to strengthen the readers confidence
while providing an opportunity to practice literacy skills. 88 Main
Street in Ludlow.
Vinyasa Yoga
5 p.m.
Vinyasa Yoga, 5 p.m. at Killington Yoga with Karen. 3744 River Rd, Killington.
killingtonyoga.com, 802-770-4101.
Moonlight Madness
4 p.m.
Brandon’s wildly popular shopping, dining and socializing Moonlight
Madness from 4-9 p.m. Shops are open late into the evening with big
discounts, treats and door prize drawings.
Holiday Dinner and Yankee Swap
6 p.m.
Greater Killington Women’s club’s holiday dinner the Foundry at Summit
Pond (in the second floor private dining room) located at 63 Summit
Path in Killington.
Bridge Club
6 p.m.
Rutland Duplicate Bridge Club meets Thursday, 6-10 p.m. Godnick
Adult Center, 1 Deer St., Rutland. 802-773-9412.
All Levels Yoga
6:30 p.m.
Chaffee Art Center offers all level yoga class with Stefanie DeSimone,
50 minute practice. $5/ class, drop-ins welcome. 16 South Main St.,
Rutland. Bring a mat.
International Folk Dancing
6:30 p.m.
Rutland Jewish Center teaches dances with Judy. Experience/partner
not needed; bring dry shoes. Ring bell if door is locked. 96 Grove St.,
Rutland. rutlandjewishcenter.org.
Meditation Group
7:15 p.m.
Chaffee Art Center holds meditation group Tuesday, Thursday, Friday,
7:15-7:45 a.m. Donations appreciated. 16 S. Main St., Rutland.
FRIDAY, DEC. 20
Bikram Yoga
6 a.m.
True Yoga classes: 6 a.m. IHP; 9 a.m. bikram 90; 12 p.m. IHP; 5 p.m.
Baptiste Flow. 22 Wales St., Rutland. trueyogavermont.com.
Level 1 Yoga
8:15 a.m.
Basic Yoga at Killington Yoga with Karen Dalury, RYT 500. 3744 River
Rd, Killington. killingtonyoga.com, 802-770-4101.
Playgroup
9:30 a.m.
Rutland Free Library hosts the Parent-Child Center Playgroup each
Friday from 9:30-11 a.m. 10 Court St., Rutland.
Creative Space
10 a.m.
Chaffee Art Center holds creative space Friday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Bring
tools/supplies to create works of art with other inspiring artists. Open to
all. Donations appreciated. 16 S. Main St., Rutland.
Gift-of-Life Marathon Blood Drive
10 a.m.
Annual blood drive at the U.S. Army Reserve on Post Road in Rutland
Town. Make an appointment by calling 800-RED-CROSS or visiting
redcrossblood.org.
Story Time
11 a.m.
Sherburne Memorial Library holds story time Fridays, 10:30-11 a.m.
Stories, songs, activities. All ages welcome! 2998 River Road, Killington.
802-422-9765.
Noon Group
12 p.m.
AA Noon Group meets every Friday at noon in the Fox Room All meetings
are “No smoking” in District 6. For more info call the District 6
Hotline number (24 hour): 802-775-0402
Friday Movies on the Big Screen
1:30 p.m.
Bring a friend and enjoy a free movie screening on the big screen
upstairs. Call the Library for titles. (802) 247-8230 Popcorn provided! 4
Franklin St. in Brandon.
Knitting Group
2 p.m.
Maclure Library offers knitting group, Fridays, 12-2 p.m. 802-483-2792.
840 Arch St., Pittsford.
Paint and Sip
3 p.m.
A paint and sip outing with Maurie Harrington at Killington Sports from
3- 4:30 p.m. The nights painting will be “The Cardinal” $35 per person
which will include lite bites, all painting supplies and a souvenir Killington
wine or pint glass. This is a 21+ and BYOB event. Space is limited
to 15. Sign-up in store or by calling (02-422-6800.
Candlelight Vigil
5 p.m.
Homeless Prevention Center hosts Rutland County’s 20th annual
Candlelight Vigil in Depot Park. For more information on this event and
homelessness in Rutland County visit hpcvt.org.
Santa at Casey’s Caboose
5 p.m.
See the big man at Casey’s Caboose from 5-7 p.m. and enjoy cookies
and hot chocolate. 1930 Killington Rd in Killington.
Open Gym
6 p.m.
Friday night open gym at Head Over Heels, 152 North Main St.,
Rutland. 6-8 p.m. Ages 6+. Practice current skills, create gymnastic
routines, learn new tricks, socialize with friends! $5/ hour members; $8/
hour non-members. Discount punch cards available. 802-773-1404.
“Polar Express” Screening
6 p.m.
FOLA hosts this free movie, but donations for the effort are appreciated
and help Lisa Marks and her efforts for the Dana-Farber Cancer
Research Marathon Challenge. In the Heald Auditorium, 37 S Depot St
in Ludlow.
Calendar >18

18 • CALENDAR
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
Calendar
from page 17
>
Twelve Twenty-Four
7 p.m.
Twelve Twenty-Four presents a high energy, full-scale, holiday rock orchestra
concert featuring everyone’s favorite rock-edge holiday music
as well as their own holiday creations at the Paramount Theatre. $39.
30 Center St. in Rutland.
SATURDAY, DEC. 21
Bikram Yoga
7:30 a.m.
True Yoga classes: 7:30 a.m. Bikram 90; 9:30 a.m. IHP; 11 a.m. Baptiste
Power Flow 75. 22 Wales St., Rutland. trueyogavermont.com.
Vermont Farmers’ Market (Rutland)
9 a.m.
The indoor winter market is held every Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at
Vermont Farmers’ Food Center, 251 West St., Rutland. vtfarmersmarket.org
Christmas at the Farm
10 a.m.
Weekends in December, discover the traditions of 19th century Vermont
at Billings Farm. Dec. 21-24 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. For information:
802-457-2355 or billingsfarm.org.
Open Gym
11 a.m.
Saturday morning open gym at Head Over Heels, 152 North Main St.,
Rutland. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. All ages welcome. Practice current skills, create
gymnastic routines, learn new tricks, socialize with friends. $5/ hour
members; $8/ hour non-members. Discount punch cards available.
802-773-1404.
Kids’ Saturday Classes
11 a.m.
Chaffee Art Center offers different activity for kids each week - painting,
cooking, craft making and more. $10, pre-register at 802-775-
0036; $15 drop in. 16 S. Main St., Rutland. chaffeeartcenter.org.
Elf Kids Makerspace
12:30 p.m.
Happening in the Chandler Upper Gallery at the Chandler Center for
the Arts, located at 71 N Main St, in Randolph. Crafts, cookie decorating,
and holiday fun for everyone ages 2-12!
International Folk Dancing
10:30 a.m.
Dust of your dancing shoes and come to Black River Academy Museum
on Friday mornings from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Santa Visits Killington Sports
12 p.m.
Santa will be making one final appearance at Killington Sports at Rt. 4
from 12-6 p.m.
Vermont
Home Grown
Hemp
Tuba to Cuba
3 p.m.
The 10th Annual Woodstock Vermont Film Series at Billings Farm &
Museum will feature the documentary, A Tuba to Cuba 3 p.m. and
5:30 p.m. Tickets are $11. For more info visit billingsfarm.org/filmfest or
802-457-5303.
An Evening with Gypsy Reel
7 p.m.
FOLA and The Book Nook will co-host an evening with Jon Clinch Camille
Parker and Graham Parker of Gypsy Reel in the Held Auditorium,
37 S Depot St in Ludlow.
Swing Noire
7:30 p.m.
Gypsy jazz style concert at Brandon Music. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.
A pre-concert dinner is available for $25. Reservations are required for
dinner and recommended for the show. Venue is BYOB.
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
Bikram Yoga
6 a.m.
True Yoga classes: 6 a.m. IHP; 9 a.m. 60 min. Bikram; 4 p.m. IHP; 5
p.m. Baptiste Flow; 6:15 p.m. Bikram Beats. 22 Wales St., Rutland.
trueyogavermont.com.
VFW Breakfast
8 a.m.
Monthly community breakfast from 8-10 a.m. $7.50. VFW, 15 Wales St,
Rutland, VT, 775-6892
Heartfulness Meditation
8:45 a.m.
Free group meditation. Free instruction available. Sundays, 8:45 am,
Town Office in Rochester. For more information Call Dane at 802-767-
6010 or email Kathryn at kms@penstrokepress.com.
Lessons and Carols
10 a.m.
A service of Lessons and Carols during Sunday morning worship at
Grace Congregational Church. 8 Court St. in Rutland.
Vinyasa Yoga
12 p.m.
Vinyasa Yoga at Killington Yoga with Christy. 3744 River Rd, Killington.
killingtonyoga.com, 802-770-4101.
Klezmer Practice
4 p.m.
Every Sunday at the Rutland Jewish Center. Anyone playing an instrument
is welcome. 96 Grove Street.
Chanukah Celebration
4:30 p.m.
Congregation Shir Shalom welcomes all for lighting the candles,
Chanukah songs, dreidel games, latkes, and potluck dinner.
For more information call 802-457-4840 or visit
shirshalomvt.org. 1680 West Woodstock Ave in
Rutland.
MONDAY,
DEC. 23
Better Breathers Club
11 a.m.
An American Lung association
program. Learn better ways to
cope with lung conditions such
as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis,
and asthma while getting the
support of others in similar situations.
First Monday of every
month 11-12:00 at Godnicks
Adult Center 1 Deer St Rutland
VT. 802-776-5508
Monday Meals
12 p.m.
Every Monday meals at Chittenden Town Hall, 12 noon. Open to
public, RSVP by Friday prior, 802-4773-6308. Marilyn Case. Bring your
own place settings. Seniors $3.50 for 60+. Under 60, $5. No holidays.
337 Holden Rd., Chittenden.
Rutland Rotary
12 p.m.
Rotary Club of Rutland meets Mondays for lunch at The Palms Restaurant.
Learn more or become a member, journal@sover.net.
Playgroup
1 p.m.
Maclure Library offers playgroup, Mondays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Birth to 5
years old. Stories, crafts, snacks, singing, dancing. 802-483-2792. 840
Arch St., Pittsford.
Kids Movie Matinee
1 p.m.
A showing of a 2018 remake of an animated holiday classic about a
grumpy green fellow and his loyal dog Max who wish to steal Christmas
from the residents of a tiny town at Fletcher Memorial Library.
Rated PG. Snacks will be provided. 88 Main St. in Ludlow.
Bridge Club
4 p.m.
Rutland Duplicate Bridge Club meets Monday, 12-4 p.m. in Engel Hall,
Christ the King Church, 12 Main St., Rutland. 802-773-9412.
*Tobacco Cessation
4:30 p.m.
Quit smoking, e-cigs, and JUUL - free help! Want to quit smoking/
vaping, but nothing seems to help? Join a group and get free nicotine
patches, gum or lozenges. Group/replacement therapy doubles your
chances of staying quit for good! Free. 802-747-3768. Mondays, 4:30-
5:30 p.m., RRMC CVPS Leahy Center, 160 Allen St., Rutland.
Visit with Santa at Okemo
4 p.m.
Santa Claus makes his grand entrance at 4 p.m. at Okemo for a pre-
Christmas visit with children, before the jolly old elf makes his way to
the North Pole for final holiday preparations.
Walking Group
5:15 p.m.
Chaffee Arts Center holds walking group Monday, 5:15 P.M. Open to
all. Donations appreciated. 16 S. Main St., Rutland.
Gentle Yoga
5:30 p.m.
Gentle Yoga at Roger Clark Memorial Library, Pittsfield. Mondays. Call
746-4067 or email pittsfieldvtlibrary@gmail.com to reserve a space.
Free.
10TH ANNUAL
WoodstockVermont
Film Series 2019-2020
Billings Farm & Museum • Rte12N, Woodstock, VT
HD projection, Dolby® surround-sound, and complimentary refreshments
A Tuba to Cuba
Sat., Dec. 21 • 3 & 5:30pm
— TICKETS —
billingsfarm.org /filmfest
802-457-5303
Killington Bone Builders
11 a.m.
Bone Builders meets at Sherburne
Memorial Library, 2998 River Rd.,
Killington, 10-11 a.m. Mondays and
Thursdays. Free, weights supplied.
802-422-3368.
Vinyasa Yoga
8:15 a.m.
Vinyasa Yoga, 12-1 p.m. at Killington Yoga
with Karen. 3744 River Rd, Killington. killingtonyoga.com,
802-770-4101.
TUBA TO CUBA
AT BILLINGS FARM
SATURDAY, DEC. 21 AT 3 P.M.
Photo courtesy of Blue Fox

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 CALENDAR • 19
Yoga Basics
5:30 p.m.
Yoga Basics at Killington Yoga with Karen
Dalury, RYT 500. 3744 River Rd, Killington.
killingtonyoga.com, 802-770-4101.
Working Families Playgroup
5:30 p.m.
This free weekly group meets
in the evening combining
food, fun, and family! Parents
and children play together,
learn from each other, and
enjoy a healthy meal in the
museum while networking
and making new
friends. $5 donation to
Wonderfeet accepted.
wonderfeetkidsmuseum.
org
CHANUKAH SING ALONG AT
RUTLAND FREE LIBRARY
TUESDAY, DEC. 24 AT 11 A.M.
Citizenship classes
Vermont Adult Learning will offers free citizenship classes. Call Marcy
Green, 802-775-0617, and learn if you may qualify for citizenship at no
cost. 16 Evelyn St., Rutland. Also, free classes in reading, writing, and
speaking for English speakers of other languages. Ongoing.
TUESDAY, DEC. 24
Bikram Yoga
6 a.m.
True Yoga classes: 6 a.m. Bikram 60 beats; 9 a.m. IHP 12 p.m. Baptiste
Flow; 5 p.m. Bikram 60; 6:15 p.m. IHP. 22 Wales St., Rutland. trueyogavermont.com.
Mendon Bone Builders
10 a.m.
Mendon Bone Builders meets Tuesdays at Roadside Chapel, 1680
Town Line Road, Rutland Town. 802-773-2694.
Submitted
Christmas Eve
Services
6 p.m.
Grace Congregational
Church offers two
services on Christmas
Eve. At 6 p.m. a family
service will be held and
at 10:30 p.m. join in for a
candlelight service. 8 Court
St. in Rutland.
Bridge Club
6 p.m.
Rutland Duplicate Bridge Club
meets Tuesday, 6-10 p.m. in Engel
Hall, Christ the King Church, 12 Main
St., Rutland. 802-773-9412.
Legion Bingo
6:15 p.m.
Brandon American Legion, Tuesdays. Warm ups 6:15 p.m.,
regular games 7 p.m. Open to the public. Bring a friend! Franklin
St., Brandon.
Chess Club
7 p.m.
Rutland Rec Dept. holds chess club at Godnick Adult Center, providing
a mind-enhancing skill for youth and adults. All ages are welcome;
open to the public. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. 1 Deer St., Rutland.
Christmas Eve Service
7 p.m.
A Traditional Service of Carols, Lessons and Candlelight with special
music by the church choir, Gene Childers, Director, Jean Childers,
Organist and Josh Collier, operatic tenor. Brandon Congregational
Church. 1 Carver St. in Brandon.
Story Hour
10 a.m.
Fair Haven Free Library offers story hours Tuesday mornings at Fair
Haven Free Library, North Main St., Fair Haven. All welcome. Stories,
activities, games, crafts.
Tobacco Cessation
11 a.m.
Quit smoking, e-cigs, and JUUL - free help! Want to quit smoking/
vaping, but nothing seems to help? Join a group and get free nicotine
patches, gum or lozenges. Group/replacement therapy doubles your
chances of staying quit for good! Free. 802-747-3768. Tuesdays, 11
a.m.-12 p.m. at Heart Center, 12 Commons St., Rutland.
Chanukah Sing Along
11 a.m.
Rutland Jewish Center will host a Chanukah sing-along in the Fox
Room atRutland Library 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., with Rabbi Ellie Shemtov.
“Slow Flow” Hatha yoga class
11:30 a.m.
Join Cassie Reed, 200 hour RYT, for a 60 minute “Slow Flow” Hatha
yoga class every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30am -12:30pm at the
Killington Welcome Center conference room.
Christmas Mass
4 p.m.
The Rutland Wallingford Catholic community invites all to Christmas
Mass. 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary, with a carol
prelude at 7:30 p.m. at 18 Lincoln Ave in Rutland. Or visit St. Patrick’s
Parish at 4 p.m. and Christ The King at 6 p.m. located at 66 S Main St.
in Rutland.
SNOWSHOE
VERMONT
SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020
3k or 5k Walk
Grafton Trails and Outdoor Center
Grafton, Vermont
Register at KomenNewEngland.org/Snowshoe
BINGO
Every Thursday
Doors open 5pm
Games start 7pm
American Legion - Post
87 871 Pleasant Street
West Rutland, Vt 05777
FOLLOW US ON
@themountaintimes

20 • JUMP
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
Photos by Bruce Longley
Wassail
Parade
showcases
holiday spirit
Locals and visitors
donned costumes, rode
horses and sung carols
to celebrate Wassail
Weekend, Dec. 13-15 in
Woodstock. Despite rainy
weather, the holiday spirit
was not dampened.
Judges gave awards for
costumes. Best individual
horse and rider went to
Sue Miller of Bradford. Best
group award went to Cathy
Mercurio of Pepperell,
Massachusetts with her
Mrs. Claus costume and
mini horse. Best horsedrawn
vehicles went to
Tracy Johnson Draft Ponies
of Barnard. Best junior entry
winner was Lunar Hill
Icelandics from Bridgewater,
and most historical was
awarded to Chip Kendall
and Antoinette Matlins.
The judges choice award
was given to Lynn Bradley
from Caanan, New Hampshire,
who rode her horse
side-saddle.

6:30 p.m. Charity’s 1887
Saloon
– Brad Morgan on Piano
7 p.m. O’Dwyer’s Public
House at the Summit
Lodge
– Daniel Brown
7:30 p.m. McGrath’s
Irish Pub
– Bank of Ireland
8 p.m. Pickle Barrel
Nightclub
– Good Noise
9 p.m. Jax Food and
Games
– Jamie’s Junk Show
9 p.m. Moguls Sports
Pub
– Make your Own Ugly Sweater
Party with DJ Dave
9 p.m. Nite Spot
– Super Stash Bros
LUDLOW
2 p.m. Okemo’s Sitting
Bull Lounge
– Sammy B
7 p.m. Du Jour VT
– Sammy B
7 p.m. The Killarney
– Silas and the Witch
8 p.m. Mangiamo’s
Ristorante
– Aaron Audet
PAWLET
7 p.m. The Barn Restaurant
and Tavern
– Steve Tombstone
POULTNEY
7 p.m. Taps Tavern
– Kowalski Brothers
QUECHEE
7 p.m. Public House
– Jim Yeager and Friends
RUTLAND
[MUSIC Scene] By DJ Dave Hoffenberg
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 • 21
WED.
DEC. 18
KILLINGTON
2 p.m. K1 Base Lodge
– Daniel Brown
4 p.m. Hops on the Hill
– Michelob Ultra Ski Bum Party
6 p.m. Liquid Art
– Open Mic with Tee Boneicusjones
PAWLET
7 p.m. The Barn Restaurant
and Tavern
– “Pickin’ in Pawlet”
POULTNEY
7 p.m. Taps Tavern
– Wood & Wires
QUECHEE
6 p.m. Public House
– Blues Night with Arthur James
RANDOLPH
6:30 p.m. One Main Tap
and Grill
– Open Mic with Silas McPrior
RUTLAND
9 p.m. Center Street
Alley
– Open Mic with Zach Zepson of
Hamjob
WOODSTOCK
6:30 p.m. 506 Bistro and Bar
– Live Jazz Pianist
THURS.
DEC. 19
KILLINGTON
2 p.m. Snowshed Base
Lodge
– Duane Carleton
6 p.m. Hops on the Hill
– Nikki Adams
8 p.m. Moguls Sports
Pub
– Duane Carleton
8 p.m. Pickle Barrel
Nightclub
– Swimmer with special guest
King Margo
POULTNEY
7 p.m. Taps Tavern
– Morgan Denehy
PROCTORSVILLE
7 p.m. Neal’s Restaurant
– Open Jam Night with Sammy B
and King Arthur Junior
QUECHEE
7 p.m. Public House
– Trivia Night
RUTLAND
2 p.m. Grace Church
Sanctuary
– Christmas Concert featuring
Marina Smakhtina on cello and
Alastair Stout on piano
SOUTH POMFRET
7 p.m. The Hay Loft at
Artistree
– Open Mic with Jim Yeager
STOCKBRIDGE
7 p.m. The Wild Fern
– Rick Redington
FRI.
DEC. 20
BOMOSEEN
6 p.m. Iron Lantern
– Charlie Woods
KILLINGTON
2 p.m. K1 Base Lodge
– Daniel Brown
4 p.m. The Foundry
– Jamie’s Junk Show
9 p.m. Center Street
Alley
– DJ Mega
9:30 p.m. The Venue
– Karaoke with Jess
STOCKBRIDGE
7 p.m. The Wild Fern
– Christmas Show with Jennings
& McComber
SAT.
DEC. 21
BOMOSEEN
6 p.m. Iron Lantern
– Nancy Johnson
KILLINGTON
1 p.m. Bear Mountain
Base Lodge
– Daniel Brown
4 p.m. Killington Beer
Company
– Josh Jakob
4 p.m. Nite Spot
– Apres Ski with Duane Carleton
4 p.m. Pickle Barrel
Nightclub
– Happy Hour with Jamie’s Junk
Show and Special Guest Jenny
Porter
4 p.m. The Foundry
– Ryan Fuller
4:30 p.m. Charity’s 1887
Saloon
– Brad Morgan on Piano
6 p.m. Liquid Art
– Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
for Charity with DJ Dave
6 p.m. Wobbly Barn
– Krishna Guthrie Band
7 p.m. The Foundry
– King Margo
Music Scene, cont. > 23
Come see the talented Krishna Guthrie
Saturday, Dec 21 st at 6 p.m. for Happy Hour
No cover until 9:30 p.m.
Hailing
from a long line
2229 Killington Road, Killington
of musicans, Krishna
started playing drums at
the age of two, and could keep a
beat before he was three years old.
He was fifteeen when he started playing
guitar.
KRISHNA GUTHRIE

22 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
RACE WORLD
Pico Mountain welcomes the return of our weekly Thursday
fun race series— put a team together or sign up to race on your
own. Visit the Pico Sports Retail Shop to register and challenge
yourself and your friends on the hill.
January 9 th
January 16 th
January 30 th
February 6 th
February 13 th
February 27 th
March 12 th
March 19 st
Time: 1:00p.m - 3:00p.m.
Cost: $ 35 per individual, $150 per team of five
(866) 667 PICO picomountain.com

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 ROCKIN’ THE REGION / MUSIC SCENE • 23
[MUSIC Scene, cont.]
SAT. (CONT.)
7:30 p.m. McGrath’s
Irish Pub
– Bank of Ireland
8 p.m. Pickle Barrel
Nightclub
– Good Noise
9 p.m. Jax Food and
Games
– Joey Leone Duo
9 p.m. Moguls Sports
Pub
– Super Stash Bros
QUECHEE
7 p.m. Public House
– Fiddle Witch
RUTLAND
9 p.m. Center Street
Alley
– DJ Dirty D
9:30 p.m. The Hide-A-
Way Tavern
– Christmas Party/20th Anniversary
of No Mercy
SUN.
DEC. 22
KILLINGTON
1 p.m. Pico’s Last Run
Lounge
– Duane Carleton
2 p.m. Snowshed Base
Lodge
– Pallutto and Prior
4 p.m. Killington Beer
Company
– Rick Redington and The Luv
4:30 p.m. Nite Spot
– Julia Rose
5 p.m. The Foundry
– Jazz Night with the Summit
Pond Quartet
8 p.m. Nite Spot
– Local’s Night with Duane
Carleton
9 p.m. Jax Food and
Games
– The Idiots
LONDONDERRY
4 p.m. New American
Grill
– Sammy B
LUDLOW
6 p.m. Du Jour VT
– Silas McPrior
8 p.m. Mangiamo’s
Ristorante
– Open Mic with Mando Bob and
the Bubsies
QUECHEE
4 p.m. Public House
– Soulful Sounds of Kevin
Atkinson
RUTLAND
7 p.m. The Hide-A-Way
Tavern
– Erin Powers
9:30 p.m. The Venue
– Open Mic
STOCKBRIDGE
12 p.m. Wild Fern
– Cigar Box Brunch w/ Rick
Redington
1 p.m. Wild Fern
– The People’s Jam
MON.
DEC. 23
KILLINGTON
2 p.m. K1 Base Lodge
– Duane Carleton
LUDLOW
5 p.m. Main and Mountain
Bar & Grill
– Sammy B
8 p.m. The Killarney
– Open Mic with Silas McPrior
WOODSTOCK
6:30 p.m. 506 Bistro and Bar
– Jim Yeager
Submitted
Hamjob is made up of Zack Jepson on bass and vocals, Alex Abraham on drums and Connor McGinnis on guitar.
A lot has happened with Hamjob since my first article
four years ago. They’re playing monthly this winter at the
Nite Spot in Killington on Dec. 27, Jan. 11, Feb. 22 and
March 21. Plus, there’s a bonus Moguls appearance March
14. They’re also playing this Friday at Center Street Alley in
Rutland. All shows start at 9 p.m.
This time I got to talk to Zack Jepson (bass, vocals) and
Alex Abraham (drums). Connor McGinnis (guitar) rounds
out this super trio.
Alex Abraham said you really
need to see a full show to be able
to grasp all their music. They get
asked a lot to describe it and Abraham
said, “I could give 100 different
answers to 100 different people.”
The music they play is a wide
variety. Abraham added, “There’s a
Rockin’ the
Region
By DJ Dave
Hoffenberg
Rockin the Region with Hamjob
lot of funk, a lot of reggae and a lot
of blues. Then some jazzy soul, hip
hop, rock ‘n’ roll, bluegrass and a
little metal and even some polka.
We try and cover every end of the
spectrum and make music that’s
not so much a genre but a feeling. If it feels good, it sounds
good and you dig it, there’s a little something for everybody
in there. There’s parts of our songs where the metalheads
will love this and then the jazz crowd, the funky people and
the jam band kind of folk will get into stuff and it’s all part of
the same song. That’s the fun part about this.”
Jepsen said, “We really feed off the crowd and the energy
of the room. If we walk in and it’s crazy, it will stay crazy. Our
genres may change and the music too but the energy of
the music is always in your face. We could be playing a slow
song but it’s going to come around and hit you with something
to make you dance, jump around or scream.”
The band’s major influence is Primus and that’s who
they’ve been compared to. They share many similarities like
being a three piece with the bass player as the lead singer.
They’ve played whole Primus sets before.
The band started in 2013, split up a couple years ago and
now is back and making more music together. They have
a digital album out on all the online platforms and been
shooting some music videos that you can find on YouTube.
They’re back in the studio working on their second album,
which will come out in 2020. Abraham said, “We’re more
excited about that than playing shows.”
They played their first gig at the Nite Spot two weeks ago
and it was a great show. Abraham said, “We were all pleasantly
surprised by the turnout. It was fantastic. It was a great
combo of the locals and the out-of-towners.”
Jepsen added, “We only had a week to advertise so didn’t
know who could make it out but it was a great Saturday night
in Killington. We’ve cultivated a strong local following that
should keep coming once a month. It’s a great spot, too.”
Jepsen runs the Open Mic at the Alley, which happens
this Wednesday, Dec. 18, and then the last Wednesday of the
month (Jan 29 and Feb 26.) He took it over after Steve Audsley
passed away. Jepsen said, “It means a lot to me to keep
the tradition going. Open Mic was the first place we played
as a band so it’s cool for me to be able to host that and pass it
along and provide that opportunity for others in the area.”
Hamjob owes a lot to Audsley. He was the one in the
owner’s ear, pushing her to hire them.
I asked Abraham what he likes most about Hamjob and
he said, “everything.” It’s in your best interest to see their
show. You won’t be disappointed.
Abraham added, “If I wasn’t doing this, I would probably
have to explain why I have so many face tattoos.” He has
a tattoo that says “Party” right across his cheek. Not many
people can get away with the face tattoo... but he can.
What Abraham really likes is the social aspect of things.
He said, “Making friends along the way is my favorite part.
People in different towns and states, it’s fun.” He also said
playing with Jepsen and McGinnis is the best/worst thing
in the world. He added, “They’re my best friends, 100% and
we’ve been through a lot of stuff together. Sometimes it’s so
great and sometimes it’s a mess. Sometimes we argue but
don’t let it go further. Accept it for what it is. These guys are
the best time I’ve ever had working with people.”
Jepsen also really likes working with the guys. “There’s
such an original aspect of the three of us working together,
getting in a room and making music together. The process
of that is what keeps me going back. I’ll write a song whether
we’re going to perform it or not. The writing process is
what’s important.”
I asked him for a favorite he’s written and he said laughing,
“No they all suck.” He loves the effect their music has
on people and added, “You play a song and everyone’s
smiling and dancing. They have a surprised look on their
faces because they weren’t expecting to have such a good
time. It’s hard not to feel good about what you’re doing after
experiencing that.”

LivingADE
24 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
This week’s living Arts, Dining and Entertainment!
Alastair Stout brings harmonies and much more
to Grace Congregational Church
By Brooke Geery
At Grace Congregational Church in Rutland, music
is an important part of the program, but it’s not just
church hymns that echo through the tabernacle.
The music ministry includes jazz, gospel, folk, music
theatre and classical, and at the helm of it all is Alastair
Stout. Born and bred in Scotland’s Shetland Islands,
the organist, director and composer joined the church
in 2017, ably filling the boisterous shoes of long-time
music minister Rip Jackson.
Stout’s interest in music began at a young age. His
paternal grandmother was the local church organist
on Fair Isle (a tiny island 25 miles south of Shetland.)
His cousin is a very accomplished folk musician. He
was also inspired by his environment.
“Shetland is very wild and rugged (a bit like Vermont),
and a very exciting place for a young boy to
grow up! The sea, landscapes and turbulent weather all
inspired me to write music,” Stout said.
“I think music is a wonderful way
to bring the community together;
a piece of music is open to endless
individual interpretation. Not
everything you hear at Grace will be
sacred. But everything you hear will
be offered with spirit! You take from
it what you want,” said Stout.
At age 10, his talent was recognized and he was
chosen to be a chorister at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire,
UK. At age 15, he published his first solo
organ composition.
Stout graduated from the Royal College of Music
with First Class Honors in 1997. He was awarded an
MMus in composition from the Guildhall School of
Music and Drama in 1998, and a PhD in composition
from Royal Holloway, University of London, in 2002.
With no more degrees to earn, Stout visited the U.S. at
the urging of a friend who was working in Ohio. From
there, he found a job at the Coraopolis United Methodist
Church in southwest Pennsylvania, where he
spent 15 years as the director of music, and also served
as the director of the Pittsburgh Compline Choir. His
music has been performed by ensembles and soloists
throughout Europe, Australasia, North America and
Mexico, broadcast on BBC radio, and is available on
CD and iTunes.
After all his world travels, Stout was excited to move
to Vermont with his partner, Krista Johnston. (Full
disclosure: Krista is the lead graphic designer at the
Mountain Times.)
“I often vacationed through New England, and
jumped at the opportunity to work up here when the
job became available at Grace Church.”
At Grace Church, Stout is involved all elements of
the music program from leading the 80-plus Rutland
Area Chorus to working with the children’s choir program,
to running the inaugural composition competition,
in which Michael Sitton’s “O Emmanuel” won top
honors. On Dec. 19 at 2 p.m., Stout will accompany cellist
Marina Smakhtina on piano, as the duo performs
holiday favorites in the beautifully decorated Grace
Church Sanctuary. On Dec. 22, he will lead the choir in
a service of “Lessons and Carols” during Sunday morning
worship at 10 a.m.
After the holidays, the music will continue.
“Some upcoming highlights are the Folk Weekend
(Feb 22-23) where we celebrate not just music, but
food and dance. In May (May 2-3) the Rutland Area
Chorus will collaborate with Castleton University in a
performance of Carl Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana!’” Stout
said.
Stout encourages everyone to come and enjoy the
music, no matter their faith. “A really important aspect
of Grace Church is its inclusivity. That’s what attracted
me to the job. Everyone is welcome at Grace, whatever
you believe. I think music is a wonderful way to bring
the community together; a piece of music is open to
endless individual interpretation. Not everything you
hear at Grace will be sacred. But everything you hear
will be offered with spirit! You take from it what you
want. Grace Church is also a wonderful venue in which
to hear music. It has great acoustics, a very colorful
pipe organ, and is, of course, a beautiful space!”
Submitted
Alastair Stout sits at the organ in St. Paul’s Cathedral, Pittsburgh. Stout is the minister of music at Grace Congregational.

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 • 25
Give at the Gift-of-Life
Marathon blood drive
Wednesday-Saturday,
Dec. 18-20—RUTLAND—
The Gift-of-Life Marathon
Blood Drive is coming
soon — and they need
your help! Blood supplies
typically fall to critically
low levels around the
holidays, and all blood
types are needed.
The Gift-of-Life blood
drive has taken place every
year since 2003, and in
2013 set the national oneday
blood drive record of
2,350 pints!
Unfortunately, thus
far in this year’s drive
numbers are not nearly
as large as hoped for,
with the opening day in
Castleton collecting only
128 pints, short of the 150
pint goal.
The remaining days to
donate are:
• Dec. 18 from 12-5
p.m. at Rutland
Regional Medical
Center.
• Dec. 19 from 9
a.m- 3 p.m. at
RRMC.
• Dec. 20 from 10
a.m.-6 p.m. at the
U.S. Army Reserve
on Post Road in
Rutland Town.
Donors are especially
needed Dec. 20, when the
Submitted
Life-saving blood will be collected Dec. 18-20 in Rutland.
Rutland’s 20th annual
candlelight vigil held in
Depot Park
Vigil to prevent homelessness
Friday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m.—RUT-
LAND—The Homeless Prevention Center
is hosting Rutland County’s 20th annual
candlelight vigil in Depot Park. This event
brings attention to the tragedy of homelessness
many Vermont families and individuals
endure. It’s also an opportunity
to hear about successes and learn what’s
being done in our community to reduce
the incidence of homelessness.
Come listen to the stories of people
who are homeless, or were formerly
homeless, and light a candle as a symbol
of your commitment to help end this
heartbreak in our community.
This event is open to the public and
should last about a half hour. Candles are
provided as well as hot cider and cocoa.
More information on this event and
homelessness in Rutland County is available
at hpcvt.org.
goal is 300 pints and as of
Tuesday, Dec. 17, only 139
appointments had been
made.
Make an appointment
by calling
800-RED-CROSS or
visiting redcrossblood.
org. More information is
available on Facebook.
Dec.
18
“Polar Express” screened in
Ludlow, part of benefit
Holiday programs continue at FOLA
Friday, December 20 at 6 p.m.—LUDLOW— This holiday
season, Friends of Ludlow Association will take advantage
of the opportunity to showcase a great local writer and
musicians while supporting a good cause, the Dana-
Farber Cancer Marathon Challenge.
Things kick off on Friday Dec. 20 with a screening
of “The Polar Express” at 6 p.m. The movie is free, but
donations for the effort are appreciated and help Lisa
Marks and her efforts for the Dana-Farber Cancer Research
Marathon Challenge. The movie is rated G and it
runs 1 hour and 40 minutes.
There are rumors that Santa Claus might be making an
appearance after the show.
On Dec. 21 at 7 p.m., FOLA and The Book Nook will co-host an evening with Jon
Clinch, Camille Parker and Graham Parker of Gypsy Reel. Clinch will read excerpts
from his recent novel, “Marley,” which recounts the life of one Jacob Marley, former
partner of one Ebenezer Scrooge. Ron Charles of the Washington Post called it a “a
clever riff on ‘A Christmas Carol.’” Clinch and the Parkers will perform festive holiday
music as well. Copies of “Marley” will be on sale and can be signed by Clinch after the
performance.
FOLA hopes to see you in the Heald Auditorium, 37 S. Depot St. in Ludlow, to help
celebrate the Christmas season in Ludlow.
Dec.
20
Submitted
“Polar Express” will be screened for free at the Heald Auditorium in Ludlow, Friday.

26 • LIVING ADE
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
Twelve Twenty-Four
Nov.
30
Submitted
Twelve Twenty-Four
rocks the Paramount for
the holiday
Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.—
RUTLAND—Twelve
Twenty-Four presents a
high energy, full-scale,
holiday rock orchestra
concert featuring
everyone’s favorite
rock-edge holiday music
as well as their own
holiday creations at the
Paramount Theatre.
Established in 2002, Twelve
Twenty-Four includes a six-piece rock band,
multi-piece string section, and a variety of vocalists.
This dedicated group of performers works yearround
to deliver a theatrical and memorable Christmas
concert experience suitable for fans of all ages.
Tickets are $39. The Paramount is located at 30
Center St. in Rutland.
For more information visit paramountvt.org.
Celebrate Christmas at the Billings Farm
Saturday, Dec. 21- Tuesday, Dec.
24 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.—WOOD-
STOCK— Discover the traditions of
a late 19th-century Vermont Christmas
with a visit to the Billings Farm
and Museum this holiday season.
Christmas at the Farm will be
featured December weekends and
Dec. 21 – Jan. 1, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
(excluding Christmas Day.) Tour the
authentically decorated farmhouse,
visit the dairy farm, and meet our
Jersey cows, draft horses, oxen,
chickens, and sheep.
Learn about 1890’s holiday
traditions, make historic Christmas
ornaments and crafts, try candle
dipping, and view the Academy
Award® nominated film, “A Place in
the Land.” Artist-in-Residence and
author Kristina Rodanas will be on
hand for readings and book signings
of “Huck’s Way Home,” and the
Learning Kitchen will feature cooking
demonstrations and tastings.
In 1890, Christmas celebrations
were much simpler than they would
become in the 20th century. Families
enjoyed the holiday, but still had
cows to milk, ice to cut, and wood to
saw. A few gifts, a special meal, and
the gathering of friends were noteworthy
in an otherwise typical day.
In Woodstock, turn-of-thecentury
businesses advertised their
wares for Christmas gifts. Most gifts
were useful domestic items: fabric,
clothing, umbrellas, linens, crockery,
some of which can be found
today in our museum shop (open
Children learn historical techniques to create Christmas ornaments and gifts.
whenever the museum is open).
Most common gifts were homemade,
handcrafted items such
as fancy mittens, satin bows, and
stockings filled with candies, nuts,
and raisins.
Billings Farm is an operating
Jersey dairy farm that continues a
nearly 150-year tradition of agricultural
excellence and offers farm
programs and historical exhibits
exploring Vermont’s rural heritage.
Admission is adults: $16; 62 &
over: $14; children 5-15: $8; 3-4: $4;
2 and under: free.
The Farm is located 1/2 mile
north of the Woodstock village
green on Vermont Route 12.
For more information call 802-
457-2355 or visit billingsfarm.org.
Courtesy of Billings Farm & Museum
at the Billings Farm
Dec. 21 - Jan. 1 • 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
{excluding Christmas Day)
Discover the traditions and simplicity
of a late 19th century Christmas in Vermont.
1890 Farm House • Dairy Farm
Holiday Crafts and Programs
Horse-drawn sleigh rides included:
December 26th- January 1st
Rte. 12 & Old River Road, Woodstock, VT
802-457-2355 billingsfarm.org

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 LIVING ADE • 27
Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m.—KILLINGTON— The
Greater Killington Women’s Club (GKWC) will be
celebrating its annual holiday dinner and Yankee
swap this Thursday, Dec. 19 beginning at 6 p.m. at the
Foundry at Summit Pond (in the second floor private
dining room) located at 63 Summit Path in Killington.
Members, members-to-be and their guests are
all invited to join them for this annual club tradition
kicking off the holiday season with this festive meal
and
Women’s Club
celebrates annual
holiday dinner
Dec.
19
spirited gift swap. This is also a
great opportunity to re-gift a
“white elephant!”
In the spirit of the
season, attendees are
also asked to bring a
non-perishable food
item for the Killington
Food Shelf.
Guests are welcome
to bring a spouse or
friend. Many husbands attend
this annual event!
The cost is $30 per person for members and $35 for
members-to-be and guests.
Entry includes salad, choice of four entrees and
dessert. RSVPs are requested as soon as possible with
a menu selection of either salmon, chicken, pork or
vegetarian risotto. To reserve your space please visit
evite.me/BeNwaAmTg2, on the club’s Facebook
event page or on the club’s website: swcvt.com/
events.htm.
The GKWC (formerly known as the Sherburne
Women’s Club) is a civic organization founded in Killington
over 50 years ago.
In more than a half century of service to the Killington
community, the club has given away over
$100,000 to local organizations, schools and nonprofits.
The club invites members (current, former
and potential) to join and consider supporting this
very worthwhile organization that does so much for
the community.
Membership applications can be found on the
GKWC website at swcvt.com/membershipapplication.htm.
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61 Central Street, Woodstock Vermont | 802.332.4005 | www.thedailycatch.com

28 • LIVING ADE
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
World Cup Wednesday ski bum series gets underway
Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 10
a.m.—KILLINGTON—Every nonholiday
Wednesday throughout the
2018/19 ski season, local teams of
skiers, snowboarders and Telemark
skiers will race down Killington’s
Highline trail in pursuit of ski bum
glory and bragging rights.
Races run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
conditions permitting.
New for this year, a training
course section on Upper Highline
will be offered from 10 a.m. - 1
p.m. to help racers get warmed up
and dialed in before racing.
Also, to spice things up a bit
more on race day, additional
weekly contests such as “Time of
the Day.”
Cost is $250 per team or $60 per
individual and participants must
be 21 years of age or older. Included
in your registration fees are 11
races, along with a duals format for
the finals for qualifying racers.
Each competition is followed by
an after party, sponsored by Michelob
Ultra, as well as local restaurants
and shops, and a 2019 League
T-shirt. Racers will have access to a
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Brandon Music celebrates ten years of
live music with holiday-style concert
Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m.—BRANDON— The
very popular local group Swing Noire, a firm favorite with
Brandon Music audiences, will close the year with their
inimitable gypsy jazz style. Over the last decade, Swing
Noire has become Vermont’s premier gypsy jazz ensemble.
Some call it gypsy jazz, some hot swing; in either
case it is acoustic jazz in the spirit of Django Reinhardt
and Stephane Grappelli. Swing Noire invokes the energy
of a swingin’ jazz club, transporting audiences back to
the early days of jazz with their unique take on Hot Swing,
making music that “will
entrance and surprise you.”
Great energy, soul, sophistication,
and improvisation
are the hallmarks of a Swing
Noire performance.
Violinist David Gusakov
(Last Train to Zinkov,
Vermont Symphony
Orchestra, Pine Island), guitarist
Rob McCuen (Bloodroot
Gap, The Good Parts),
and Jim McCuen (Bloodroot
free food buffet along with drink
specials, weekly raffles and prizing.
A video of everybody’s run is played
at each party and later posted on
the Facebook page.
The race and after party are
open to registered competitors
only. Racers may bring guests for a
$5 fee (cash only). On Dec. 18, the
after party will be held at Hops on
the Hill.
Interested racers can register
at the Killington Ski Club
or online. For more information
email events@killington.com.
Saturday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. and 5
p.m.—WOODSTOCK—The 10th Annual
Woodstock Vermont Film Series
at Billings Farm and Museum will
feature the documentary, “A Tuba
to Cuba” in HD projection and Surround
Sound, with complimentary
refreshments. Reservations are
strongly recommended.
“A Tuba to Cuba” zeroes in on
the leader of New Orleans’ famed
Preservation Hall Jazz Band as he
seeks to fulfill his late father’s dream
of retracing their musical roots
to the shores of Cuba in search of
the indigenous music that gave
birth to New Orleans jazz. The New
York Times called the film, “High
on music and hot with the thrill of
discovery.”
Tickets are $11 for adults (16 and
up); and $6 for children (under 16).
BF&M members receive discounted
prices. For a complete list of
screenings and to purchase tickets
By Jerry LeBlond
Kyle Finneron (left) and Andrew Whyte (right) race down Highline.
Courtesy of Brandon Music
Swing Noire is Vermont’s premier gypsy jazz ensemble.
visit billingsfarm.org/filmfest or call
802-457-5303.
Billings Farm and Museum
is located 1/2 mile north of the
Gap, Bessette Quartet) on
double bass, make up Vermont’s
hottest hot club-style ensemble. Swing Noire has
performed at the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, Burlington’s
First Night Celebration, The Town Hall Theater
in Middlebury, Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph,
and countless other venues throughout Vermont and New
England.
“In a time when good jazz groups are hard to find, Swing
Noire rises to the top as one of the best jazz groups playing
around Burlington. … Swing Noire brings you into those
smoky clubs of days past, makes you feel jazz the way it
was meant to be felt, full of
emotion and energy,” said
Jennifer Crowell of First
Night Burlington.
Brandon Music is
already booking performers
for 2020 and promises
another very high energy
year. Concerts begin at 7:30
p.m., tickets are $20. A preconcert
dinner is available
for $25. Reservations are
required for dinner and
recommended for the show.
Venue is BYOB.
Woodstock Film Series Presents ‘A Tuba to Cuba’
Courtesy of Blue Fox
New Orleans’ famed Preservation Hall jazz band entertains in the streets.
Woodstock village green on Vermont
Route 12. It is owned and operated
by The Woodstock Foundation, Inc.,
a charitable non-profit institution.

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 LIVING ADE • 29
Chanukah Celebration held at
Congregation Shir Shalom
All are welcome to potluck dinner and festivities
Dec.
22
Sunday, Dec. 22 at 4:30 p.m.—RUTLAND— All are welcome to join Congregation Shir
Shalom for lighting the candles, Chanukah songs, dreidel games, latkes, and potluck
dinner. Bring your chanukiot and an entrée, vegetable, salad, latkes with accompanying
garnish, or dessert to share for 10 people.
Also bring a contribution for the Woodstock and Reading food shelves.
Congregation Shir Shalom is located at 1680 West Woodstock Ave in Rutland. For
more information call 802-457-4840 or visit shirshalomvt.org.
Mountain Times
Submitted
Miss Lorraine’s Performs
‘The Nutcracker’ at the
Paramount
Sunday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.—RUTLAND—Miss
Lorraine’s School of Dance presents “The Nutcracker.” Experience
the magic as dozens of area dance students come
together to create this holiday favorite – the most-performed
ballet in the world. Lavish costumes, soaring scores
and imaginative choreography is sure to put the entire family
into the spirit of the season. Don’t miss the enchanting
tale of a girl’s first love, a magician, a rat king, a nutcracker,
and a prince…all set to Tchaikovsky’s classic score.Tickets
are $25 and $35, and are available at paramountvt.org. The
theatre is located at 30 Center St. in Rutland.
Children participate in a Chaunukah sing along at the Rutland Free Library.
Submitted
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Saturday, Dec. 14 • 9 am - 4 pm
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See more crafts at one of the largest and
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Every Saturday 10am-2pm Vermont Farmers Food Center
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ALWAYS FREE ADMISSION
www.vtfarmersmarket.org
Always FREE admission
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KEEP OUR
MOUNTAINS
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RECYCLE ME!

30 • LIVING ADE
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
WORDPLAY
Solutions > 48
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Solutions > 48
The Counterpoint Chorus
Submitted
Counterpoint Chorus and VSO Brass Quartet join
to bring holiday cheer across Vermont
Wednesday, Dec.18—POMFRET—The VSO Brass Quintet joins Counterpoint, this year guest-conducted by
Kevin Quigley, to ring in the holidays in style.
It’s a perfect blend of brass, voices, and good cheer!
Selections range from a brass arrangement of a Bach chorale and majestic Poulenc motets, to popular tunes
like “Sleigh Ride,” “Let It Snow,” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The program also includes a carol singalong,
a brand-new student composition, and traditional favorites by Robert De Cormier.
Mark your calendars so you don’t miss out on this seasonal treat, all around the state:
• Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Artistree’s Grange Theater, 65 Stage Rd. in South Pomfret.
• Friday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at United Church, 63 3rd St. in Newport.
• Saturday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. at The White Church, 55 Main St. in Grafton.
• Sunday, Dec. 22 at 4 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 3624 Main St. in Manchester.
Admission prices vary. For more information visit vso.org/events or counterpointchorus.org.
SUDOKU
Solutions > 48
How to Play
Each block is divided by its own matrix
of nine cells. The rule for solving Sudoku
puzzles are very simple. Each row,
column and block, must contain one of
the numbers from “1” to “9”. No number
may appear more than once in any row,
column, or block. When you’ve filled the
entire grid the puzzle is solved.
made you look.
imagine what space
can do for you.
CLUES ACROSS
1. No longer on the
market
5. W. African
language
9. A way to open
11. A type of pigeon
13. Japanese warrior
15. Pelvic areas
16. No seats available
17. Not working
19. In a way, soaks
21. Growing outward
22. Ritzy local __ Air
23. Telegraphic
signals
25. Metric units
26. Large wine cask
27. Fiber from the
husk of a coconut
29. Gets up
31. French river
33. Witnesses
34. They make great
neighbors
36. The sun does it
38. Used to store
ashes
39. First Chinese
dynasty
41. Network of nerves
43. Word element
meaning ear
44. Metric unit of
length (Brit.)
46. Tributary of the
Danube
48. Off-limits
52. Appeal earnestly
53. It’s good to have
them
54. Commercial flying
company
56. Acted out in
protest
57. Took to the sea
58. Cuckoos
59. Drove fast
CLUES DOWN
1. Trapped
2. About osmosis
3. Romanian monetary
unit
4. Form of Persian
5. Cold wind
6. Leave out
7. Small vehicle
8. A little off
9. Soviet Union
10. A narrow path
or road
11. Contrary beliefs
12. One who speaks
Gaelic
14. Private school in
New York
15. Jackson and
Townshend are two
18. Soldier in an
airborne unit
20. Taken illegally
24. Capital of Valais
26. Male reproductive
organs
28. State capital
30. One with supernatural
insight
32. Starts all over
again
34. Jai alai arena
35. Star Wars
antagonist
37. Freestanding
structure
38. The ideal place
40. The extended
location of something
42. Made level
43. Distinctive smell
45. Greek goddess of
discord
47. Got older
49. Type of monkey
50. Travels to
51. Geological times
55. Edge
Mounta in Times
802.422.2399 • mountaintimes.info

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 LIVING ADE • 31
BarnArts welcomes community for 9th annual Winter Carols
Friday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m.—BARNARD—The First Universalist
Church and Society of Barnard will host BarnArts’
9th annual Winter Carols at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20. Admission
is free for this 75-minute performance under the
direction of conductor Michael Zsoldos. Choral performances
by the BarnArts Youth and BarnArts Chorale are
mixed with musical performances by local musicians, and
the evening includes audience sing-alongs with candle
lighting to celebrate the Solstice.
Winter Carols is BarnArts’ original event and is provided
to the community as a gift, to encourage all to come
together and celebrate the season with song.
The year’s celebration includes performances of “In
Dulci Jubilo” with roots back to the 1400s, and the harmonically
challenging “Lux Aurumque” by contemporary
composer Eric Whitacre. Older BarnArts youth will sing
the Peter, Paul & Mary song “A Soulin” with folk string support
by Trifolium, and the all ages youth will sing a “Sound
of Music” medley — all this and other seasonal favorites,
McGrath’s
too!
Michael Zsoldso will pick up his sax and join with jazz
guitarist Jason Ennis for an interlude of energized holiday
music. Mark van Gulden and Kathleen Dolan on piano,
drum and flute provide a duo of thoughtful holiday songs
and the local string group Trifolium, Andy Mueller, Justin
Park & Chloe Powell, will play a medley of toe-tapping
traditional music, swapping harmonies as smoothly as
they swap instruments!
Singing in this year’s BarnArts Chorale are sopranos:
Nancy Conte, Bitsy Harley, Jill Leavitt, Suzy Malerich,
Sarah Mills, Sara Norcross, Lisa Robar, Etta Warren.
Alto: Barbara Abraham, Nicole Conte, Linda Grant, Jane
Metcalf, Carin Park, Deborah Rice, Linda Treash; Tenors:
Kathleen Dolan, Oliver Goodenough, James Mills, Anne
Shafmaster, Tambrey Vutech; Basses: Dave Clark, Dan
Deneen, William B. Hoyt, Bill McCollom, Jim Reiman,
Mark van Gulden.
BarnArts Youth include Ben Rumelt, Sierra Bystrak,
Irish Pub
Inn at
L ng Trail
R osemary’s
Restaurant
Casual Fine Dining
Fri. - Sun. 6-9 pm
Accepting Christmas
& NYE Reservations now
Courtesy of BarnArts
Marlena Farinas, Asa Crowley, Ella Davis, Zella Little,
Harriet Crowley, Annabelle Park, Caylen Piper, Prudence
Crowley, and Charlie Park.
Based in Woodstock, conductor Michael Zsoldos is a
graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Michigan
State University where he studied with Branford Marsalis.
His current performances projects are “Music for Loving:
A Tribute to Ben Webster,” the Miro Sprague Quintet
and The Convergence Project. Zsoldos composed and
performed the music for the 2017 documentary “Seeing
Through The Wall: Meeting Ourselves in Palestine and Israel.”
He is a lecturer in classical saxophone at Dartmouth,
the instrumental arranger of the Dartmouth Gospel Choir,
and a faculty member of Interplay Jazz and Arts and the
Vermont Jazz Center’s Summer Jazz Workshop, where he
teaches jazz improvisation and leads jazz combos.
Winter Carols is a free event, but donations to Barn-
Arts are accepted at the door. For more information visit
barnarts.org.
rath
Deer Leap
2.2 mi. from
start to
cGrath’s
cGrath’s
Rte. 4 between Killington & Pico
802-775-7181
innatlongtrail.com
Rooms & Suites available
McGrath’s
Irish Pub
Delicious pub menu with
an Irish flavor
Mon. - Fri. open at 3pm daily
Sat. & Sun. 11:30am
LIVE MUSIC 7:30PM
December 20 th & 21 st -
BANK
of IRELAND
McGraths
Inn at
L ng T
McGrat
McGrath
Irish
Irish P

Food Matters
32 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
Back Country Café
The Back Country Café is a hot spot
for delicious breakfast foods. Choose
from farm fresh eggs, multiple kinds of
pancakes and waffles, omelet’s or daily
specials to make your breakfast one of a kind. Just the right heat Bloody
Marys, Mimosas, Bellini, VT Craft Brews, Coffee and hot chocolate drinks.
Maple Syrup and VT products for sale. Check Facebook for daily specials.
(802) 422-4411.
Birch Ridge
Serving locals and visitors alike since 1998, dinner
at the Birch Ridge Inn is a delicious way to
complete your day in Killington. Featuring Vermont
inspired New American cuisine in the Inn’s dining
room and Great Room Lounge, you will also find
a nicely stocked bar, hand crafted cocktails, fine
wines, seafood and vegetarian options, and wonderful house made desserts.
birchridge.com, 802-422-4293.
Casey’s Caboose
Come for fun, amazing food, great drinks, and
wonderful people. A full bar fantastic wines and
the largest selection of craft beers with 21 on tap.
Our chefs create fresh, healthy and interesting
cuisine. Try our steaks or our gourmet burgers
made with 100% Vermont ground beef, U.S. lamb or home-grown pork— we
have 17 burgers on our menu! Try our famous mac n’ cheese with or without
lobster. Yes! the train is still running... 802-422-3795
Charity’s
A saloon inspired eatery boasting over
a century of history! Home to Charity’s
world-famous French onion soup, craft
beer and cocktails, and gourmet hot dogs,
tacos and burgers. It’s no wonder all trails lead to Charity’s. charitystavern.com
802-422-3800
Choices Restaurant
& Rotisserie
Chef-owned, Choices Restaurant and
Rotisserie was named 2012 “Ski” magazines”
favorite restaurant. Choices may
be the name of the restaurant but it is also what you get. Soup of the day,
shrimp cockatil, steak, hamburgers, pan seared chicken, a variety of salads
and pastas, scallops, sole, lamb and more await you. An extensive wine
list and in house made desserts are also available. choices-restaurant.com
(802) 422-4030.
Clear River Tavern
Headed north from Killington on Route
100? Stop in at the Clear River Tavern
to sample chef Tim Galvin’s handcrafted
tavern menu featuring burgers, pizza, salads,
steak and more. We’re in Pittsfield, 8 miles from Killington. Our live music
schedule featuring regional acts will keep you entertained, and our friendly
service will leave you with a smile. We’re sure you’ll agree that “When You’re
Here, You’re in the Clear.” clearrivertavern.com (802) 746-8999.
Ski House Cookin’
By Karen D. Lorentz
There’s nothing like enjoying a good meal after a day of skiing or riding. When gathered round a table with family or
friends, there’s a sense of cordiality that comes from sharing stories and an elevation of spirits that mirrors the good
times experienced on the slopes.
Sharing a meal together can also make for special memories. One of my favorite après-ski “eats” occurred at a Snowmass
condo, where my brother served his freshly made chocolate chip cookies with our wine!
When visiting him in Vail, we invariably ended up eating in most nights. Lasagna is ordinarily my favorite après-ski
dinner as I can make it ahead of time and take it to a condo when traveling here in the East — or serve to guests at home.
(My dad used to make a pan of lasagna, freeze it, and take it on the plane for his stay at the Vail condo. Wonder if that is
even allowed today?!)
Lasagna was too much work in his small kitchen so I gravitated to chicken parmigiana for Italian night.
For the chicken parmigiana, I brown flour-dusted chicken breasts in olive oil in a large frying pan, top it with a jar of
good sauce and slices of mozzarella, and put a lid on it. It simmers while I cook the spaghetti, make the salad, and warm
the store-bought artisan bread. Quick, easy and delicious.
Diane Mueller, former Okemo co-owner, gave me this tasty twist on a traditional comfort food dish. “Carrots, peas,
corn or other vegetables can be added to pie mixture, if desired,” she noted, adding that other meats could be used, too.
Chicken Pot Pie with Sage Pastry
FILLING
CRUST
½ cup butter
½ cup flour
½ cup flour
½ cup cornmeal
¼ tsp sage, ground
½ tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
½ tsp sage, ground
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/3 cup butter
1 tsp lemon juice
3 tbsp water
1½ cups chicken broth
1 cup milk
3 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
1. Melt butter in saucepan and blend in
flour and seasonings. Add next three ingredients
and cook, stirring, until thickened. Add
chicken and pour into 1½ quart deep-dish pie
pan.
2. To make crust, mix flour, cornmeal, salt
and sage together in bowl. Cut in butter. Add 3
tablespoons water or enough to hold mixture
together, mixing lightly with fork.
3, Roll pastry to fit top of pie pan. Arrange on
dish, trim, and flute edges. Cut slits in top for
steam vents and bake in preheated 425-degree
oven about 20 minutes, until crust is lightly
browned. Makes 6 servings.
Recipes > 36
Celebrate the holidays
at the Birch Ridge Inn
Dinner served from 6:00 PM
Tuesday thru Saturday
Enjoy a beverage under
the inn's 15 foot
Christmas tree
21 Years Serving Guests
At the Covered Carriageway
37 Butler Road, Killington
birchridge.com • 802.422.4293
Reserve now for dinner
on Christmas Eve and
Christmas night

Food Matters
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 • 33
Cru
Cru offers a chef prepared menu with a fresh take
on farm to table. Start with a cheese fondue, crispy
brussels sprouts or house special Bell and Evan wings. Entrees include pasta
bolognese, beef, salmon, chicken and vegetarian options. 2384 Killington Road
(802) 422-2284, cruvt.com
The Daily Catch
Serving New England’s Finest Sicilian-Style Seafood
and Pasta, in the Heart of Vermont. Come
Join Us For Fresh Seafood, Pasta and an Ice Cold
Beverage. (802) 332-4005, thedailycatch.com
Dream Maker Bakers
Dream Maker Bakers is an all-butter, fromscratch
bakery making breads, bagels, croissants,
cakes and more daily. It serves soups,
salads and sandwiches and offers seating
with free Wifi and air-conditioning. At 5501 US
Route 4, Killington, VT. Open Thurs.- Mon. 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m. No
time to wait? Call ahead. dreammakerbakers.com 802-422-5950
dreammakerbakers.com
JAX Food & Games
Killington’s hometown bar offering weekly
live entertainment, incredible food and an
extensive selection of locally crafted beers.
Locals favorite menu items include homemade
soups of the day, burgers, nachos, salads and daily specials. #seeyouatjax
www.jaxfoodandgames.com (802) 422-5334
Jones’ Donuts
Offering donuts and a bakery, with a
community reputation as being the best!
Closed Monday and Tuesday. 23 West
Street, Rutland. See what’s on special at
Facebook.com/JonesDonuts/. Call (802)
773-7810
Killington Market
Take breakfast, lunch or dinner on the go
at Killington Market, Killington’s on-mountain
grocery store for the last 30 years.
Choose from breakfast sandwiches, hand
carved dinners, pizza, daily fresh hot panini, roast chicken, salad and specialty
sandwiches. Vermont products, maple syrup, fresh meat and produce along
with wine and beer are also for sale. killingtonmarket.com (802) 422-7736
or (802) 422-7594.
74 US Rt. 4 Mendon, VT
Book Your Holiday Parties
Local Food
Craft Beer
Artisan Spirits
Mon:
2 for 1
Burgers
Wed:
Taco &
Margaritas
Specials
Culinary
Institute of
America
Alum
Flannels Bar & Grill
Flannels Locally chef owned & operated
Flannel’s Bar & Grill focuses on local
foods, craft beers and artisan spirits made with fresh local ingredients.
With an awesome 150 year old bar, extensive menu, warm interior, and plenty
of indoor and outdoor seating, Flannels Bar & Grill certainly
has something for everybody. Come join us!
The Foundry
at Summit Pond
The Foundry, Killington’s premier dining
destination, offers fine cuisine in a stunning
scenic setting. Waterside seating
welcomes you to relax and enjoy craft beer and wines selected by the house
sommelier. Impeccable, chef-driven cuisine features locally sourced meats
and cheeses, the freshest seafood, homemade pastas and so much more.
foundrykillington.com 802-422-5335
Lake Bomoseen Lodge
The Taproom at Lake Bomoseen Lodge,
Vermont’s newest lakeside resort & restaurant.
Delicious Chef prepared, family
friendly, pub fare; appetizers, salads,
burgers, pizzas, entrees, kid’s menu, a great craft brew selection & more.
Newly renovated restaurant, lodge & condos. lakebomoseenlodge.com, 802-
468-5251.
Liquid Art
Forget about the polar vortex for a while
and relax in the warm atmosphere at Liquid
Art. Look for artfully served lattes from
their La Marzocco espresso machine, or if
you want something stronger, try their signature cocktails. Serving breakfast,
lunch and dinner, they focus on healthy fare and provide you with a delicious
meal different than anything else on the mountain.
Now taking
New Year’s Eve
Reservations
McGrath’s
Irish Pub
Inn at Long Trial
Looking for something a little different? Hit up
McGrath’s Irish Pub for a perfectly poured pint of
Guinness, Inn live music at on the weekends and delicious
food. Guinness not your favorite? They also
L ng Trail
have Vermont’s largest Irish Whiskey selection.
Rosemary’s Restaurant is now open, serving dinner.
Reservations appreciated. Visit innatlongtrail.
com, 802-775-7181.
Open
Thurs. - Mon. 6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Check out our NEW dining area!
All butter from scratch bakery making
breads, bagels, croissants, cakes and more.
Now serving soup, salad and sandwiches....
seating with Wifi and AC.
Lookout Tavern
Celebrating 20 years of fun, friends and good
times here in Killington! Everything from soup
to nuts for lunch and dinner; juicy burgers, fresh
salads, delicious sandwiches and K-Town’s best
wings. Your first stop after a full day on the Mountain
for a cold beer or specialty drink and a great
meal! lookoutvt.com 802-422-5665
5501 US Route 4 • Killington, VT 05751
802.422.5950
Breakfast • Pastries • Coffee • Lunch • Cakes • Special Occasions
Stop by for our
“Service Industry” discount card.
• A Farm to Table Restaurant
• Handcut Steaks, Filets & Fish
• All Baking Done on Premises
• Over 20 wines by the glass
• Great Bar Dining
• Freshly made pasta
Sundays half price wines by the glass
WED, THURS & SUN - 5:00 - 9:00
FRI & SAT - 5:00 - 10:30
Sunday Brunch 11:00-2:30
“
“The locally favored spot for consistently
good, unpretentious fare.”
-N.Y. Times
422-4030 • 2820 KILLINGTON RD.
WWW.CHOICES-RESTAURANT.COM

Food Matters
34 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
RUTLAND
CO-OP
grocery
I
household goods
77 Wales St
BE
HEARD.
FARM TO
NIGHTCLUB
For 55 years this Killington icon
has served up more fresh food and
good times than we can count. From
local ingredients to craft beer and
cocktails, the Wobbly serves up the
best of Killington and MORE.
killington.com/wobbly
produce
health and beauty
MOUNTA IN TIMES
mountaintimes.info
Mountain Merchant
Killington’s new deli, grocery and beer
cave. Serving breakfast and a full deli
menu daily. Mountain Merchant also offers
the area’s largest beer cave with over 500+ choices, a variety of everyday
grocery items and the only gas on the Access Road. (802) 422-CAVE
Mountain Top Inn
Whether staying overnight or visiting for
the day, Mountain Top’s Dining Room &
Tavern serve delicious cuisine amidst one
of Vermont’s best views. A mix of locally
inspired and International cuisine – including salads, seafood, poultry and a
new steakhouse menu - your taste buds are sure to be satisfied. Choose from
12 Vermont craft brews on tap.Warm up by the terrace fire pit after dinner! A
short drive from Killington. mountaintopinn.com, 802-483-2311.
Moguls
Voted the best ribs and burger in Killington,
Moguls is a great place for the whole
family. Soups, onion rings, mozzarella
sticks, chicken fingers, buckets of chicken
wings, salads, subs and pasta are just some of the food that’s on the menu.
Free shuttle and take away and delivery options are available. (802) 422-4777
Nite Spot Pizza
Outrageously good pizza. Join us for wood fired
pizza, salads, kids menu, family arcade and live
music! (802) 332-4005
Peppino’s
Chef-owned since 1992, Peppino’s offers
Neapolitan cuisine at its finest:
pasta, veal, chicken, seafood, steak,
and flatbreads. If you want it, Peppino’s
has it! Aprés-hour daily features half price appetizers and flatbreads.
For reservations, call 802-422-3293. peppinosvt.com.
Pickle Barrel
The house that rocks Killington is the largest
and most exciting venue in town. With
4 bars, 3 levels and 2 stages, The Pickle Barrel offers 1 legendary party featuring
live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Dining options include
pizza, chicken wings, chicken tenders and French fries.
Red Clover Inn
Farm to Table Vermont Food and Drinks.
Thursday night Live Jazz. Monday
night Chef Specials. Open Thursday to
Monday, 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. 7 Woodward
Road, Mendon, VT. 802-775-2290,
redcloverinn.com
Rosemary’s
Rosemary’s will be open Thursday 5-8
pm and Friday-Saturday 6-9 p.m. during
World Cup weekend serving a delightful
menu of fresh and superbly seasoned selections. Built around an indoor
boulder, we also feature an illuminated boulder garden view, and photographs
capturing the Inn’s history. Chef Reggie Serafin , blends the flavors of Ireland
with those of countryside New England created with a host of fresh local Vermont
and New England seafood products. We take pride in serving you only
the best quality, and supporting the local farmers. Reservations Appreciated.
(802) 775-7181
GROCERY
MEATS AND SEAFOOD
beer and wine
DELICATESSEN
BAKERY PIZZA CATERING
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner To Go
Hours: Open 7 days a week
Sun. - Thurs. 6:30 am - 10 pm
Fri. & Sat. 6:30 am - 11 pm
Special Holiday Hours:
12/23 & 12/24
6:30am - 9:30pm
12/25 10am -10pm
HEADY
TOPPER
DELIVERED
THURS.
2023 KILLINGTON ROADAFTERNOON
802-422-7736 • Deli 422-7594 • ATM
www.killingtonmarket.com

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 • 35

Food Matters
36 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
Great Breakfast Menu
Mimosas ~ Bellinis ~ Bloody Marys
EGGS • OMELETTES • PANCAKES • WAFFLES
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK.
923 KILLINGTON RD. 802-422-4411
follow us on Facebook and Instagram @back_country_cafe
MOUNTA IN TIMEST
mountaintimes.infomes.info
BESEEN.
BC
Sugar and Spice
Stop on by to Sugar and Spice for a home style
breakfast or lunch served up right. Try six differ-
BCent kinds BACKCOUNTRY of pancakes and/or waffles CAFE or order up
BACKCOUNTRY CAFEsome eggs KILLINGTON and home fries. VERMONT
For lunch they offer
KILLINGTON VERMONTa Filmore salad, grilled roast beef, burgers and
sandwiches. Take away and deck dining available.
www.vtsugarandspice.com (802) 773-7832.
Seward’s Dairy
If you’re looking for something truly
unique and Vermont, check out Seward
Dairy Bar. Serving classic homemade
food including hamburgers, steaks, chicken, sandwiches and seafood. Craving
something a little sweeter? Check out their own homemade 39 flavors of
ice cream. Vermont products also sold. (802) 773-2738.
Sushi Yoshi
Sushi Yoshi is Killington’s true culinary adventure.
With Hibachi, Sushi, Chinese and Japanese, we
have something for every age and palate. Private
Tatame rooms and large party seating available.
We boast a full bar with 20 craft beers on
draft. Lunch and dinner available seven days a week. We are chef-owned
and operated. Delivery or take away option available. Now open year round.
www.vermontsushi.com (802) 422-4241
Wobbly Barn
Well-known, distinguished dining is the trademark
of the Wobbly Barn - featuring the finest beef, enhanced
by a tempting variety of chops, seafood
and our renowned soup, salad and fresh bread bar. Plus, our celebrated nightclub
boosts the best live entertainment, parties and dancing on the mountain.
The Wobbly Barn is truly Killington’s home for Good Time Dining & High Altitude
Entertainment! (802) 422-6171, 2229 Killington Rd., Killington VT
GET ‘EM
LOOKOUT
GIFT CARDS!
>
Recipes: Ski house cooking starts with roast pork loin for the main course
from page 32
Sarah Pinneo and her friend Tina Anderson were enjoying a glass of wine when Sarah commented that there was
“no such thing as a ski house cookbook.” So the friends came up with one, “The Ski House Cookbook: Warm Winter
Dishes for Cold Weather Fun,” which makes clever use of trail ratings. Green circles indicate the easiest recipes, etc.
Sarah suggests this “green-circle” dish, noting it is a “surprisingly fast way to put a roast on the table.” (You could
substitute pork tenderloin for the meat cut.)
Roasted Pork Loin with Cherry Balsamic Sauce
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
salt and freshly ground pepper
2 ½ to 3-pound pork loin roast, tied
1 large shallot, minced or 2 Tbsp minced onion
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
¾ cup jarred pitted sour cherries, sliced in half, plus 2 tbsp reserved syrup from the jar
Open Daily for
Lunch & Dinner
BURGERS
BURRITOS
SEAFOOD
CRAFT BEER
BEST WINGS
PASTA
SANDWICHES
BBQ RIBS
NACHOS
DAILY SPECIALS
KIDS MENU
GAME ROOM
happy hour 3-6p.m.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS IN KILLINGTON
YOUR FIRST STOP OFF THE MOUNTAIN
2910 KILLINGTON ROAD, KILLINGTON VT
802-422-LOOK
LOOKOUTVT.COM
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet or roasting pan over high heat. Generously salt and pepper the roast.
When pan is hot, add the roast and brown on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
3. Transfer pan to the oven. Roast the pork until an instant-read thermometer reads 140 degrees when inserted
into thickest part of the roast, 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Remove the roast to a platter and let rest for 5 minutes while you prepare the sauce. While it rests, the temperature
of the roast should rise to 145 or 150 degrees. Return the pan to medium-high heat and add the shallot.
Cook for 2 minutes, add the vinegar, and scrape the pan with a wooden spoon. When the vinegar is reduced to a
glaze, about 5 minutes, add the broth and reduce again by half, about 7 minutes. Add the cherries and syrup and
simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
5. Slice the roast thinly, drizzle the sauce over the meat, and serve immediately.
Recipes > 37
JONES
DONUTS
“Jones Donuts and Bakery is a
must stop if you reside or simply
come to visit Rutland. They have
been an institution in the community
and are simply the best.”
open wed. - sun. 5 to 12
closed mon. + tues.
23 West St, Rutland
802-773-7810
(Call for hours)

Food Matters
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 • 37
Give holiday cheer with eco-friendly gift options
The saying “the more the merrier”
certainly applies during the holiday
season. But during a season of big
gifts, extra food and travel, “more”
can exact a heavy toll on the environment.
According to Stanford University,
Americans generate 25% more trash
between Thanksgiving and New
Year’s Eve than during the rest of the
year. While no one wants to take anything
away from the spirit of holiday
season, everyone can take steps to
make the holidays more eco-friendly.
Purchase experiential gifts
When making holiday shopping
lists, think of gifts that offer experiences
rather than material goods.
Gifts that involve experiences, such
as going to a sporting event or attending
a play or musical, reduces
>
clutter and conserves the resources
otherwise used to manufacture
alternative items. Experiential gifts
that also tap into environmental pursuits,
such as touring with an animal
rescue group, or accommodations
at a carbon-neutral hotel can be an
added bonus.
Opt for locally-made gifts
Select gifts made by local artisans
or companies that operate domestically.
This cuts down on the carbon
emissions from having to ship products
from long distances.
Climate-friendly stocking stuffers
Companies like Cool Effect offer
gifts for those looking to offset
carbon emissions through clever
funding. People can buy and offer
gifts that correlate to packages like
Costa Rican wind power or the “poo
Recipes: Ski house cooking ends with macaroons. No meal is complete without dessert.
from page 36
Getting a tad fancier with dessert, Sarah says this (blue square) cookie recipe is fun and will let you, or your kids,
literally dig in!
Snowy Peaks Macaroons
4 large egg whites
¼ cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1 (14 ounce) package shredded sweetened coconut (about 5 1/3 cups)
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate bar, chopped (about 1 cup)
package,” which funds biogas digesters
for family farms in India that
capture methane emissions from
cattle dung.
Get crafty
Gifts from the kitchen or ones
made by the giver can be crafted
from sustainable materials. They
also show how you care by taking the
time to customize a gift.
Wrap in reusable materials
Fancy wrapping paper certainly
looks nice, but choose other materials
that can be reused. Look for
decorative tins, boxes, fancy gift bags,
and other items that can be reused
for years to come.
Sustainability is possible during
a season of excess when gift givers
shop and wrap gifts with the environment
in mind.
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites until frothy. Add the sugar, vanilla, and salt. Stir to combine. Add the
coconut and mix well, completely combining the ingredients.
3. Dampen your hands with cold water. Form a rounded tablespoon of the mixture into a haystack shape and
place on a nonstick baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining mixture, spacing the stacks about 1 inch apart.
4. Bake until golden brown, about 18 minutes, rotating the sheet halfway through baking. Remove the cookies
from the pan while still hot to cool completely on racks.
5. Fill a small saucepan with water to a depth of 1 inch and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and place a
medium heatproof bowl on top so the bottom is resting on the pan just above the water. Add the chocolate and
stir until completely melted.
6. Turn off the heat and dip each macaroon bottom into the melted chocolate. Place on wax paper to cool and
harden. The macaroons can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days.
Classic Italian Cuisine
Old World Tradition
~ Since 1992 ~
fresh. simple.
delicious!
1/2 price appetizers
& flaTbreads
from 4-5 p.m.
Happy Holidays!
Open
Everyday @ 4 p.m.
Come to our sugarhouse fot the
best breakfast around!
After breakfast, check out
our gift shop for all your
souvenier, gift, and maple
syrup needs. We look forward
to your visit!
Serving Breakfast & Lunch
7a.m. - 2p.m. daily
Breakfast all day!
Sugar & Spice Restaurant & Gift Shop
Rt. 4 Mendon, VT
802-773-7832 | www.vtsugarandspice.com
pasta | veal
Chicken | seafood
steak | flatbreads
For reservations
802-422-3293
First on the Killington Road

Worship Guide
38 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
Our Lady of the Mountains
Catholic Parish
Killington, Vermont • The little white church on Rt. 4 Killington
CHRISTMAS EVE:
Mass of the Christmas Vigil
7:00 p.m.
Church of Our Saviour
Episcopal
Please join us for Sunday and Holiday Services
All are welcome!
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Festive Family Service
4:00 PM
Festive Holy Communion 10:00 PM
Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25
Holy Communion
10:00 AM
All Sunday Mornings
Holy Communion
9:30 AM
Rutland WallingfoRd
CatholiC Community
Christmas Mass Schedule
Immaculate Heart of Mary 18 Lincoln Ave, Rutland, VT
St. Patrick 218 N. Main Street, Wallingford VT
Christ the King 66 S. Main Street, Rutland VT
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
6 Church Hill Road, Rutland, VT 05701
(802) 773-9659 - The Reverend John M. Longworth
Christmas Eve Worship Service: 5:00 p.m.
Family Christmas Service for Children with Special Music
@GraceChurchVT
Find us on Mission Farm Road, Killington
Off Route 4 across from the Killington Skyeship
Grace Congregational UCC • 8 Court St., Rutland • 802.775.4301 • gracechurchvt.org
FORTNIGHTLY CHRISTMAS CONCERT -
DECEMBER 19 AT 2 PM
Alastair Stout will accompany local cellist, Marina
Smakhtina, in a selection of seasonal favorites,
including well-loved carols and other sacred and
secular works. Free admission - all are welcome.
6:00 PM: Christmas Eve Family Service & Pageant
with music from Grace Church children, youth choirs and
instrumentalists
10:30 PM: Christmas Prelude Music
CHRISTMAS EVE, DECEMBER 24
SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS -
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 10 AM
10 AM: A service of the story of the promise of the
Messiah and the birth of Jesus, interspersed with the
singing of anthems, spirituals, and familiar carols.
4:00 PM: Service of Light in the Midst of Darkness
Some Celebrate - Some Grieve - All Remember
11:00 PM: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
with the Sanctuary Choir, instrumentalists and soloists;
Rev. John Sanborn, preaching
SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, DECEMBER 29
9:00 AM: Potluck Christmas Breakfast 10 AM: Worship Service (no 8:30 service today.)
Litany and prayers for snow
and winter enthusiasts
By the Reverend Canon Lee Crawford
If you choose not to find joy in the snow,
you will have less joy,
but still the same amount of snow.
A Winter Litany
Let us pray to God, Saint Ditimar, Saint Bernard and all the saints…
From long lift lines and cranky people,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From stopped lifts and smoky cabins,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From sleet, graupel and freezing rain,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From sub-zero weather and negative wind chills,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From frozen fingers, toes and noses,
Spare us, Good Lord.
From broken bindings and bent poles,
Spare us, Good Lord.
From snow-cat ice and boiler plate,
Spare us, Good Lord.
From caught edges and death cookies,
Spare us, Good Lord.
For sunny days and long ski runs,
We pray to you, O God.
For warm toes, fingers and cores,
We pray to you, O God.
For hot chocolate and warm coffee,
We pray to you, O God.
For great uphill skinning, and safe and fun telemarking and riding,
We pray to you, O God.
For well-maintained trails,
We pray to you, O God.
For outdoor rides on VAST and happy walks with dogs,
We pray to you, O God.
For a safe season, that we all end up in one piece,
We pray to you, O God.
That you may protect all who work on the mountains—the “Guys in Black,” lift
operators, ski patrollers, the Killington Rescue Squad, and EMTs
We pray to you, O God.
For all these things and those we do not know to ask,
We pray to you, O God.
(Saint Ditimar is the patron saint of winter, cold and snow. After 26 October, his feast
day, expect the heavens to open with snow.)
A skier’s and rider’s prayer
Our Father who art in Blue Heaven,
hallowed be your Name.
Thy snowfalls come,
thy slopes be fun,
at Pico as they are at the Beast.
Give us this day our daily passes,
and forgive us our off-trail trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass in lift lines.
Lead us not into temptation without Rime or Reason,
but deliver us from rainstorms and Helter Skelter.
For thine is the powder and the Glades, forever and ever.
Amen
The Rev’d Canon Lee Alison Crawford, Vicar, is from the Church of Our Saviour the
Episcopal Church on Mission Farm Road, in Killington.
Killington’s Little White Church
JOIN US
4:30 pm Christmas Eve Worship
All are welcome.
Wishing you the blessings of the season.
Sherburne United Church of Christ ♦ White Church, Route 4, Killington ♦ 802.422.9440

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 • 39
THE
LIFE
YOU
WERE
MEANT
FOR
© 2019. Real Rutland.
MOVE TO RUTLAND COUNTY VERMONT.
Year-Round Activities
Affordable Living
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Come and be apart of a community that is growing
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Visit RealRutland.com or call (802) 773-2747
@RealRutland
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Funding for this marketing initiative was made possible in part with a Rural Business Development Grant from USDA Rural Development and by financial support provided by local area businesses, towns and cities.

40 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
Holiday gifts for the snowsports enthusiast
By Tony Crespi
Ironically, although ski writers
(and adventure travel writers) are often
asked questions about mountain
gear –“What’s a great ski for carving?
What’s a great glove? Is there a boot
bag that is truly better than the one
at the mall?” etc. — we really aren’t
all gear geeks! Still, having been a
ski instructor, race coach, weekend
warrior, and airport-traveler it’s clear
good gear can maximize warmth,
amplify skiing skills, and help make
a winter adventure more enjoyable.
Good gear also makes a good gift!
Visiting ski shows and mountain
shops it’s evident the outdoor ski and
travel industry continues to
refine, enhance, and introduce
new products. Last year
my wife gifted me with a new
ski helmet. Last year a friend
gifted me with a new h eated
boot bag from Transpack! This
year? I’m hoping for a new
pair of front side skis and a
new down sweater. Sure, I need new
gloves and mittens, as both now have
more duct tape then leather, but I
may look for those at close out bins
as I travel.
Here’s a tech alert! Fun mountain
gifts such as a Suunto Watch which
counts vertical feet skied, bootwarmers
with onboard batteries to heat
cold toes, heated boot bags, and
electric ski tuning tools such as the
Swix Evo Pro EdgeTune Pro II all are
interesting choices. None necessarily
make winter travel easier but they
do add interest (and comfort) to a
mountain adventure.
When it comes to skiing and riding
the choices are diverse! And as
the holidays loom closer your favorite
skiers may be dreaming of a gift to
enhance their mountain adventure.
Fortunately, whether shopping
near Killington or Okemo, or shopping
at outdoor outfitters at points
South, East or West, the options are
as diverse as choosing a trail on the
mountain. Looking for ideas? To help
we have put together a gift list. We’re
no different than our readers. We
ski. We ride. We know what’s fun, we
know what’s naughty (financially),
and we know what’s nice. But this
is clearly a biased list nonetheless,
based on personal preferences only.
How could it be otherwise? So take
from it what you will. Welcome to our
holiday gift guide.
Jackets
In the Northeast warm jackets
are a staple! No one retreats to the
summit or mid-mountain lodges in
January because they are too warm!
Insulated jackets, from down to
Thinsulate, remain popular. While
some may prefer layering heavy
fleece sweaters under shells, the biting
chill of a cold Vermont day makes
an insulated jacket a great choice on
a midwinter adventure. In my case
my Patagonia jacket contains a removable
down sweater which means
I have a down sweater in a shell, or
either a down sweater or shell able
to be worn separately! Honestly, this
multi-function jacket is perfect.
For cold weather, down remains a
warm option. Thinsulate or similar
thinner insulations also are options.
Truly, from companies such
as Spyder, Bogner, The North Face,
Helly Hansen, Arcteryx, or Columbia,
Good gear can maximize
warmth, amplify skiing skills,
and help make a winter
adventure more enjoyable.
insulated jackets vary in price. And
style. Because these can range from
a few hundred dollars to $800-$900,
consider more classic colors and
styles so the styles will remain trendy.
I used my Patagonia year round,
recently enjoying the down sweater
on a cold beach walk in Maine.
Hard shells, as they are known,
remain very popular. Shells are also
fabulous for winter hikes.
Like jackets, shells can come with
or without hoods and many offer
powder skirts and pit zips to allow
excess heat to escape.
Last year, I worn mine on a work
trip at Mount Snow, then days later
walking the dock on Nantucket
during a holiday stroll. I found my
hard shell a perfect fit against the
cold and wet sea breezes. Truly, these
are multi-function garments. The
Arcteryx and Helly Hansen shells are
expensive but appealing. Fortunately,
price points vary, but so does
quality.
Most offer some waterproof
technology. If you lack a shell in
your wardrobe or are interested in a
winter layering system a hard shell is
critical in creating that outer defense
against the elements.
Ski pants
Forget jeans! In the East likely
forget stretch pants, too, which are
reemerging believe it or not! Today,
most mountain pants combine waterproof,
windproof, and breathable
technologies. Some offer insulation.
Some resemble shells. Some use a
soft shell technology. Some use a
tough hard shell technology. No one
uses jeans. No one should use jeans.
Today, there are complex pants
boasting variable “stretchable” material
inserts to enhance flexibility and
mobility. Most have taped seams to
minimize complaints against water
entering from melting snow or ice.
Remember that cold chairlift? Modern
pants can virtually eliminate wet,
damp access.
Truly, ski pants are a great gift.
From approximately $150 for entry
pants (boasting a waterproof technology
with a soft shell knee panel)
to higher end (expensive) offerings,
ski pants offer style, warmth, and
comfort. I found an insulated pair of
pants from the North Face in August
on sale and they’ve been a great
choice!
Fleece and soft shells
Most mountain warriors
own at least one fleece jacket.
My wife Cheryl? She has four
that I can recall! But she also
has a soft shell which is more
wind resistant.
Today fleeces can vary.
Some are heavy. Some are light and
resemble a sweater. Some are soft.
Some blend fleece and soft shell
technologies. Styles vary. Warmth
can vary! Yes, prices vary. Pull-over?
Pit-zips? Whatever your choice,
fleece comes in an array of colors
and styles.
Most are machine washable.
Some use recycled plastic to help our
environment!
My wife wears her fleece year
round.
Style? Compare manufacturers.
Traditional mountaineering companies
such as The North Face or
Patagonia sell an array of fleece and
soft shells but large retailers classically
carry a vast array.
Thermal base layers
These are a perfect stocking
stuffer. Modern thermal base layers
no longer resemble the thermals
of yesteryear. While once prone to
damp cold, modern thermals add
warmth without wetness. Today
most “wick” moisture away from the
skin, drying quickly if damp. But, it’s
more than for legs. Turtlenecks to
V-necks are also a key base layer, but
no longer is cotton desirable as it can
become wet and cold.
Gloves or mittens?
These are expensive if you want
quality, and you do! We, obviously,
cannot ski or ride without mittens
or gloves, and cold fingers can make
any trip miserable. Fortunately,
mountain shops offer an array of
choices. From Outdoor Research—
with gloves with Gore-Tex inserts
— to Marker. Fit and finish vary.
Some showcase padded knuckles for
racers, some offer fleece inner liners,
and many boast waterproof coatings.
Gift review > 42
Submitted
The sixth volume of the ever-popular “Vermont Wild”
books series is now available at local shops.
New “Vermont Wild”
volume released
Fans of “Vermont Wild,” Adventures of Fish & Game Warden
series are welcoming a new volume this holiday season,
with the release of Volume 6, featuring an teenager on a sky
blue ATV trying to outrun a game warden. The new book
contains a wild chase down Brandon streets.
Volume six contains more than a dozen new, true game
warden adventures as told to author Megan Price. A former
Rutland Herald reporter and Rutland County native, Price
began gathering the true adventures of woodsmen more
than a decade ago at the urging of retired warden Eric Nuse
of Johnson. His inventive use of dynamite to solve a problem
has become legend around the state. “Vermont Wild’s”
focus is always on action and humor. Each volume contains
more than a dozen zany adventures with the photos of the
wardens interviewed.
The new book shares a wild night chase into downtown
Brandon involving the late Dave Rowden as told by retired
warden Don Isabelle of Pittsford, and a tracking story from
the late Denny Gaiotti of Whiting in which a poacher made
an expensive mistake trying to cover up his crime. There’s
also a spooky find in an abandoned house deep in the
woods and the tale of a warden and moose poacher struggling
for a hidden weapon and many more. From funny to
harrowing, the new stories will once again have readers on
the edge of their seats wondering what comes next.
Whether attempting to gather up wild raccoons, transport
an angry moose, train reluctant hunting dogs or
outsmart an endless array of clever poachers, readers aged
9 to 99 have made the series a Green Mountain bestseller
since its inception a decade ago. “Vermont Wild” is in
schools from Maine to Texas, taken to hunting camp, and
read worldwide. Most recently, Price’s work was optioned
for a TV series by a Hollywood producer. The books all contain
family-friendly language and no gratuitous violence,
prompting some parents to use them as bedtime stories.
Price has been called a modern “folklore artist.” The
books are available in most local book stores or online at
VermontWild.com.

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 • 41
Great Opportunities
Rewarding Careers
Join our nationally-recognized team. View
open positions at www.RRMCcareers.org

42 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
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MOUNTAIN GREEN BUILDING 3 • EAST MOUNTAIN RD
Show your style...
On and off the slopes
All I want for Christmas is…
A small toddler, with mousy brown hair and huge
oval eyes looks up at her mom while they wait in their
line. There are many children here, waiting for there
time to sit upon the knee of the
man who will hopefully bring
him their greatest treasure, if
only they were good enough this
year. But this little girl has only
one thing on her mind and as it
comes to be her turn she takes a
deep breath as Santa lifts her up
into his lap.
Livin’ the
Dream
By Merisa
Sherman
>
Gift review: Tony’s annual shopping tips
from page 40
I like mittens as years of frostbite
has decreased my cold capacity. Truly,
these are important! Also, be sure you
have a backup pair.
Tech gifts: Tuning
Honestly, maintaining a tuned ski
or board is worthwhile. Whether a ski
racer or weekend warrior, we can all
benefit from sharp edges and waxed
bases. Still, tuning can be expensive
and not all tunes are equal. This year
the Swix Evo Pro Edge Tuner at approximately
$550 or the EdgeTune
Pro II at $150 offer two innovative
options for those interested in a home
“And how old are you, little
girl?” the jolly man asks with his
big, full belly laugh.
One tiny finger is raised slowly
for him to see. Reassuringly, he
smiles and asks if she’s been a
good girl this year, to which her
bowl cut hair bounces up and down.
“So, what would you like Santa to bring you for Christmas
this year?”
Slowly lifting her head, she looks Santa straight in
the eye and in a low, hopeful voice, she whispers: “Skis,
please, Santa.”
The man pauses for a moment, taking a deep breathe
as he shakes his head. “Perhaps in a few years, when you
are older,” Santa replies. “But what can I bring you this
year?”
The little girl’s eyes start to fill with tears and she slides
off Santa’s lap and slowly makes her way back to her
mother. Putting her little hand in her mom’s big one, she
leads her mom away from the Santa and away from the
Christmas elves taking photos of happy little children.
Again and again, this happened.
Each time they saw Santa, she was told she was too
little to have her own skis and to ask again when she was
bigger. She couldn’t understand. Mommy had skis. Daddy
had skis. She should have skis. She WAS a big girl. She
wanted to go to the Big Mountain and go up on the Big
Chair to the Tippy Tippy Top. Maybe if she asked again,
Santa would finally understand how important this was
to her little 18-month-old self. She hugged her teddy
tight. Would Santa bring her the one thing she wanted
most in the whole wide world?
Sure enough, under the tree on Christmas morning
was a pair of teeny, tiny skis and boots, just right for the
teeny, tiny little girl. Dolls and teddies were paid no attention
as the little girl tried, all by herself, to put on her
brand new red boots with the shiny white buckles. Her
mommy helped her put on her snowsuit while daddy
grabbed the camera: today was going to be the day! She
was officially going to be a Big Girl and go skiing on the
Big Mountain!
powered edge tune.
While periodic shop tunes may
suffice for occasional escapes, those
who ski frequently know that one
day of hard skiing can dull even the
sharpest edge. These tools use small
machined powered stone grinding
technology to maintain side edges.
I haven’t tested the Swix to date but
certainly Swix brings great expertise
to the design.
Not everyone wants a stone
grinder. Fortunately, companies such
as FK-SKS and Sun Valley Ski Tools
offer multiple file guides for hand
As the young family headed out onto their snow
covered lawn, the little girl’s eyes got bigger and bigger.
Mommy put her down on the slippery snow and she
skied all the way to her daddy, who engulfed her in the
biggest, bestest ski huggie ever, swinging her around in
a big circle with her skis flying everywhere. There were
giggles from the little girl and big whoops from Daddy
while Mommy clapped her mittens in delight. Looking
over their happy little ski baby, the parents shared a most
wonderful smile full of love and Christmas cheer.
And then, after all that begging, I was done. I didn’t
want to ski anymore. Apparently, in my enthusiasm for
skiing, my parents had neglected to check the thermometer
before taking their toddler out for the first time. It
was 3 degrees below zero.
Courtesy of Merisa Sherman
When 18-month-old Merisa Sherman sat on Santa’s lap
all she asked for was skis — and the jolly old man delivered!
These are some of the skis the young Merisa learned
on at Vernon Valley.
tuning and polishing. Friends have
routinely been impressed by the SKS
Racing Combi I’ve used for years!
With it’s built-in side edge remover
and carbide steel blade housed with a
small versatile tool with rollers, this is
a fine tool.
Fortunately, from approximately
$30 for a basic plastic file guide to
more than a $100 for a sophisticated
guide with rollers, file guides are
capable of functioning for years. Most
such as the SKS and Sun Valley guides
nicely accommodate a diamond
insert for polishing .
Gift review > 43

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 • 43
Uber Ski arrives in Vermont
Starting Tuesday, Dec. 17, U.S. riders in 23 cities and
states will see a new ride feature: Uber Ski. Vermont,
New Hampshire and northern New York are all part of
the new, premium service.
This option lets you order an Uber trip with confirmed
extra vehicle space or a ski/snowboard rack for
those moments when you want to hit the slopes or head
to a snowy getaway, according to the news release, Dec.
11. Riders pay an additional surcharge for the selection
(on top of their standard trip fare). Riders will be able
to view the Uber Ski surcharge on their receipt, and the
surcharge will be added to their upfront price when that
Vermont Community Foundation
receives $245K from Vail CEO
Last week, Vail Resorts Chief Executive
Officer Rob Katz and his wife,
Elana Amsterdam, New York Times
bestselling author and founder of Elana’s
Pantry, announced significant
contributions totaling more than $2.8
million to further strengthen emotional
wellness programs in more than
ten mountain communities where Vail
Resorts operates. The Vermont Community
Foundation received just over
$245,000. Vail owns Okemo, Mount
Snow and Stowe Mountain resorts in
Vermont.
The second annual distribution
of behavioral health grants issued by
the Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust
(KACT) benefits over 40 non-profit
organizations to reduce the stigma
of mental illness, improve access to
mental and behavioral health services
and support collaboration within and
among mountain communities.
Over this past year, the Katz Amsterdam
Foundation has focused on
connecting mountain communities
on the topic of mental and behavioral
health.
In May, the Foundation hosted a
convening of 60 mental health professionals
from these communities, facilitating
a conversation about similar
challenges each community faces
such as substance abuse, feelings of
isolation, availability of providers and
mental health outcomes. Following
Gift review: Tony’s gift suggestions, cont.
from page 42
>
Wax tools
Waxed skis glide faster and turn
more easily. Still, an old iron can pose
risk as a traditional iron can create
sufficient heat to promote edge
separation on the bases. Either buy
a specific tuning iron or consider
an alternative such as the SKIMD
Pro-Glide, a hand waxing tool using a
round cylinder with a cloth covering
which uses the principle of line pressure
– contact on a round cylinder
– to create sufficient pressure to melt
rubbed wax on the ski base. Tested
for more than a decade the Pro-Glide
the meeting, community stakeholders
agreed to align on to a set of shared
measures to support collective learning
– focusing on progress in the following
areas: social dynamics; mental
health attitudes and knowledge;
provider capacity; and affordability
and accessibility of care.
“It has been inspiring to see the
shared desire that exists across each
of our mountain communities to
make a difference, to help others and
to ignite a passion for creating truly
healthy communities,” said Katz. “We
are thrilled to be able to help unite
so many incredible organizations
and support their collective efforts
to improve access to much-needed
health services and reduce the stigma
and misunderstanding around these
issues.”
The grants, announced Dec. 10,
further enable collaboration and innovation
across mountain communities
in British Columbia, Washington,
California, Utah, Colorado, Vermont
option is selected in-app.
Uber Ski falso clearly aligns expectations so drivers
know when riders need additional space or their ski rack
is required, the release continued.
Uber Ski will be available in Anchorage, Boise, Boston,
Colorado Springs, Denver, Eastern Washington,
Flagstaff, Fort Collins, Grand Rapids, Green Bay, Lehigh
Valley, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New Hampshire, Portland
(Oregon), Portland (Maine), the Rockies (Colorado), Salt
Lake City, Seattle, Upstate New York, Vermont, Wilkes-
Barre and Scranton, Pennsylvania, Worcester, Massachusetts,
and Wyoming.
and New Hampshire.
“The Vermont Community Foundation
is proud to collaborate with
the Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust
again this year. The Trust’s previous
grantees are making a notable impact
in their communities—and in the lives
of so many of our friends, families, and
neighbors,” said Vermont Community
Foundation president and CEO, Dan
“We are thrilled to be able to help unite so
many incredible organizations and support their
collective efforts to improve access to muchneeded
health services and reduce the stigma and
misunderstanding around these issues,” said Katz.
Smith. “This partnership ensures that
Rob and Elana’s leadership and generosity
continue to support mental and
behavioral health organizations that
are promoting community well-being
in mountain towns across Vermont
and among our neighbors in New
Hampshire.”
The KACT grants are in addition to
the annual EpicPromise grants from
Vail Resorts, which support more than
350 non-profits across the company’s
mountain communities. EpicPromise
grants for 2019/20 are being announced
by Vail Resorts in December
2019 and January 2020.
simply has the skier rub wax onto
a ski or board followed by approximately
two minutes of polishing.
Used following a shop hot wax, the
Pro-Glide has maintained my skis –
without freezer burn on the base – for
an entire season!
Boot heaters
Forget gender, are your feet often
cold? Years of frost bite have left my
feet with poor circulation. Fortunately
boot heaters help. The Hotronic
Footwarmer or Therm-ic heaters are
both easily installed in virtually any
boot and feature multiple temperature
settings.
Last minute ideas
Helmets, skis, ski watch, face
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toe warmer packets, ski wax, boot
dryer, weather radio, hand warmers,
snow shoes, helmet liner, ski poles,
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glass anti-fog, goggles, ski DVDs.
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44 • PETS
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
Rutland County Humane Society
ELIZA
My name is Eliza and I have been at the shelter since
March! I have asked Santa for a home for the holidays
and he said that my person is reading this ad right now,
could that be you! I am an independent girl, and being
black I am always being overlooked. I do fine with mellow
cats, enjoy attention and LOVE food! To help make
Eliza’s holiday wish come true we have reduced her
adoption fee.
CASPER - 7-year-old
spayed female. Domestic
Short Hair. Black and white.
I am enjoying myself and all
of the cats I have met in my
cat room.
NALA - 1-year-old spayed
female. Domestic Short
Hair. Black and white. I am
a playful and loving cat and
I love being the center of attention.
ELSA - 12-year-old spayed
female. Domestic Short
Hair. Black. I think nice quiet
home where I could get
spoiled is the perfect match
for me!
OLIVIA - 2-year-old.
Spayed female. Domestic
Short Hair. Brown tiger. I
take a bit of time to warm
up to you but I have so
much love to give.
This pet is available for adoption at
Springfield Humane Society
401 Skitchewaug Trail, Springfield, VT• (802) 885-3997
Wed. - Sat. 12-4p.m. Closed Sun. Mon. Tues •spfldhumane.org
TAHITI
I’m a 5-year-old spayed female. I came to Lucy Mackenzie
because my previous home didn’t quite prove the
perfect fit for me. So, now I’m on the lookout for a new
home and a new family! I’m kind of an adventurous gal,
to be honest. I’m really fun, but I also really like my own
space when life gets too overwhelming... which can happen
when you are small and as adorable as me! As such,
I think I’d like to find a home where I was the only cat, so
everything could then be as calm as it could be. If you
think you might be the perfect match for me, then why
not come by the shelter and pay me a visit?
This pet is available for adoption at
Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society
4832 VT-44, Windsor, VT • (802) 484-5829
Tues. - Sat. 12-4p.m. Closed Sun. & Mon. • lucymac.org
CHLOE - 7-year-old
spayed female. Domestic
Short Hair. Black. I am currently
making friends with
the visitors who have been
coming in to see me.
URSULA - 4-year-old
spayed female. Domestic
Short Hair. Tortoiseshell. I
am a lovely girl and I do like
to talk, so if you would like
to come have a conversation
I am ready to chat with
you.
MIKEY
15-year-old spayed female. Domestic Short
Hair. Gray. I may be an older girl, but I still have a
lot of spring in my step.
All of these pets are available for adoption at
Rutland County Humane Society
765 Stevens Road, Pittsford, VT • (802) 483-6700
Tues. - Sat. 12-5p.m. Closed Sun. & Mon. • www.rchsvt.org
MAYA - 2-year-old spayed
female. Domestic Short
Hair. Brown tiger and
white. I arrived here in
June 2019 with my kittens
who are now on their own.
It’s time for me to find my
forever home now, too.
SID - 2-year-old neutered
male. Domestic Short Hair.
Brown tiger. I am a little bit
of a quiet guy when you
first get to know me.
CARMEN - I love treats and
have a very gentle mouth
when taking them. I know
sit, shake and lay down.
WALLE - 7-year-old. Pit
mix. Neutered male. Black
and white. I really like to
play with dog toys but I do
have to say that tennis balls
are my favorite.
MAMA - 4-year-old spayed
female. Domestic Short
Hair. Brown tiger. I am just
a very curious cat. I hope
that you will stop by soon
and meet me.
BO - 5-year-old neutered
male. Domestic Short
Hair. Brown tiger. I am a
very laid-back guy. I enjoy
spending my days relaxing
by myself.

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 MOTHER OF THE SKYE • 45
Copyright - Cal Garrison: 2019: ©
Aries
March 21 - April 20
You have more going for you than you
realize. Between what happened way
back when, and the beliefs that have filled
your head with ideas that keep you stuck on
the notion that you have to play by the rules,
youʼre like a superman/woman who never
left the phone booth. Itʼs time to suit up,
my friend. I see enormous gifts and a huge
amount of power and authority that needs
to be directed toward that which you love.
Nothing else matters; itʼs now or never. Getting
out of your rut, getting out of the box
and/or getting away from whatʼs known and
familiar is where itʼs at right now.
Taurus
April 21 - May 20
If you are wondering about other people
and their integrity think twice about
extending them the benefit of the doubt.
Youʼd be wise to run them through a few
more tests before you sign on or cement
any type of connection. This is one of those
situations where your ability to read people
and their motives canʼt be colored by sentiment,
or whatever it is that wants them to
be what you need. Itʼs a good thing thereʼs
no rush here. Keep your feet on the ground,
and the discernment switch on. The time
it takes to make sure youʼre betting on the
right horse will be well spent.
Leo
July 21 - August 20
You have it made on so many levels.
Itʼs great to be able to raise your hand
and say, my life works. Part of me envies
you, because personally, I could never
get my reality to shape up the way yours
does. At the same time, I know better. The
bright and shiny, always tip-top exterior is
rarely what it appears to be. This is not sour
grapes; it comes from what I have learned
about living in duality. Wherever there is
great light there is great darkness. Be grateful
for the beauty you have created, but be
mindful of the other half. You will miss it
all if you overlook the dark stuff.
Virgo
August 21 - September 20
If going deeper scares you, itʼs because
you are afraid to see what you donʼt want
to see. You could keep skating around on
the surface, but it will keep you from being
all that you can be. I see huge needs to
eliminate useless people and activities. If
you can bring yourself to do this, you will
notice that itʼs time to tell the truth, no matter
what it costs you. A lot of people and
things are bound to slip away, only because
they have nothing to do with you. Whateverʼs
left in the wake of all of this will allow
you to connect with who you really are and
what you really want.
Sagittarius
November 21 - December 20
Youʼve come out of some intense lessons
in one piece. Everything about
you has been altered by whatever the story
involves. Who you are now and who you
were then is not the same person. Of late
the idea that itʼs time to broaden your horizons
simmers in the back of your mind.
If a sense of duty, and the weight of feeling
like practically everything is up to you
hems you in, remember this: sometimes we
have to “get out of Dodge” for a while. Itʼs
not irresponsible and itʼs not an escape. A
hiatus is often just what we need to keep
ourselves and everything else afloat.
Capricorn
December 21 - January 20
Too many things have converged simultaneously.
For some of you this feels
like life is finally coming together; for others
it feels more like a ten car pileup. When
things get this nuts thereʼs not much to do
but wait; so what can you do while youʼre
waiting? Meditating on the situation would
be a good place to start. You need space and
time to look at whatʼs going on. Once you
get the picture, youʼll know more about
what needs to be done. Unraveling this
knot will take a while; itʼs all tangled up.
Settle in, settle down, and do whatever you
can to get to the bottom of it.
Soulmates aren’t
what we think
This week’s horoscopes are coming out under the
light of a Leo Moon. Undoubtedly there’s a lot going on
right now. The way things look, Lucifer and the Archangel
Michael are arm wrestling over humanity’s fate and
no one knows how it will all pan out. I wouldn’t touch the
astrological end of things with a 10 foot pole – so instead
of getting in over my head, let me talk about relationship
charts, comparison charts, and the business of doing
charts for new born babies.
All of us are fools for love. We are born and bred to be
that way. Everyone is hung up on the idea that there is
one true love and that finding the perfect person is the
answer to everything. Because of this, I get approached
all the time by happy couples, young and old, who want
to find out if the stars confirm the idea that they are
made for each other.
Back in the old days, when I was first starting out and
didn’t know any better, I would actually sit down and do
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Gemini
May 21 - June 20
This is a defining moment for many of
you. What happens next is in the hands
of fate and entirely dependent on how you
have handled yourself up until now. Others
who are directly involved with your situation
have a lot to say about how things unfold.
Some of them are trustworthy, some
of them are not. As the next few weeks
play out you will find out who your friends
are. Anyone else would have a hard time
handling all of this. You shine in situations
where the odds are stacked against you.
Things will get ironed out in your favor
before the seasons change.
Cancer
June 21 - July 20
You donʼt know which way to turn. It
seems as if something is preventing
you from making this decision, even though
youʼre 100% clear about how you feel.
Taking action becomes difficult when what
we want goes against everything weʼve
been taught – but times have changed and
the old rules donʼt apply anymore. All you
can do is trust your gut, and if you canʼt do
that, itʼs easy enough to ask for three clear
signs. Youʼd be surprised how the universe
responds when we ask it to tell us what to
do. When the choice isnʼt obvious the Spirits
always know which way to go.
Libra
September 21 - October 20
Congratulations! Youʼve just pulled
yourself out of the hole. Either that or
the light at the end of the tunnel is reminding
you that every time we enter the Dark
Night of the Soul, we are smack dab in the
middle of a big growth spurt. The sense that
the monkey on your back is gone for good
is very real. So is the idea that youʼre lucky
to be back on track, where you belong.
With so much garbage out of the way the
future is wide open. Spread your wings, my
friend. What lies up on the road ahead will
turn out to be your reward for knowing why
itʼs time to transcend all of this.
Scorpio
October 21 - November 20
Between reunions and celebrations that
have given you a chance to connect
with friends and family, you have settled
down enough to take a good long look at
where you want to go from here. It looks
like a decision needs to be made. And what
youʼre thinking is that youʼd like to get
out from under some of this pressure and
start living according to a simpler plan. If
youʼve taken on too much you could be
sweating bullets over what itʼs costing you
to maintain it. Lightening up will make it
easier to either move in a new direction, or
devise a way to rearrange the old one.
Aquarius
January 21 - February 20
For the next few weeks it would be great
if you could get into things that invigorate
your heart and soul. It might even be
time to forget about the mountain of obligations
in the background and dive head
first into what you absolutely love. All of us
need to do this in regular cycles. Life loses
its meaning if we donʼt. Others are bound
to put the pressure on. What they expect
from you could make harder to let yourself
off the hook. Itʼs totally OK to stand firm
and say “No” if these expectations donʼt
work for you. Kindly let them know that
obliging them isnʼt on the menu right now.
Pisces
February 21 - March 20
It seems like things have been in limbo
forever. At this point youʼre thinking
somethingʼs got to give. Levels of impatience
with the “stuck-ness” of too many
things have you wishing you had a little
more control. I hate to say it but a little
more control wonʼt work here. In most situations
the lesson is about surrendering to
larger forces. Efforts to “manifest” whatever
your ego has in mind only interfere with
what is ultimately a karmic process. Relax.
Let go and give in to the fact that beyond a
certain point we have to know enough to let
life open the way.
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Karen Dalury, E-RYT 500• killingtonyoga.com
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Columns
46 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
Tucked behind a stonewall on the edge of a hardwood
forest, my 6-year-old students and I spy on an Eastern gray
squirrel as it climbs out of a tree cavity and scurries down
to the ground. There is a dusting of snow. My students,
bundled in vibrant snowsuits, are the only flash of color on
this cold winter day. They are astoundingly quiet as they
watch the scampering squirrel.
We see it slide to a halt, stand on its
hind legs, flick its tail, and then it’s
off again until it stops to dig into
the cold winter ground. As it pulls
out a nut-brown acorn, I hear a
buzz of excitement travel through
The Outside
Story
By Susie Spikol
Looking Back
By Mary Ellen Shaw
Achieving success
Oftentimes we look at others’ success and see some
circumstance that may have contributed to said success.
While circumstances may make it easier or more
difficult to achieve success, they do not create success
on their own. Researchers have
found that mental toughness and
perseverance predicts our level
of success more than any other
factor.
Whether you want to be the
best accountant, salesperson,
professional athlete, doctor,
Money
Matters
By Kevin Theissen
Children’s Christmas gifts from the 1950s
It’s fun to take a look back at Christmas
in the ’50s when we lived in simpler
times.
I don’t think
the world was as
materialistic back
then. Christmas
lists that were
compiled by me
and my friends
didn’t have many
items on them
and those that
made the list
didn’t cost a lot of
money. Of course, digital devices didn’t
exist back then and games were not
electronic for the most part. When those
became popular the items became more
costly.
In Rutland if you wanted to ask Santa
Nuts for corns
my fellow squirrel professionals.
Gray squirrels are so common
that many of us forget to notice
them unless we are 6. But as my
students would tell you, there’s a
fascinating story here. How the
squirrel spends all fall collecting
acorns and can tell by a sniff and a shake if the acorn is a
keeper. If the acorn has a weevil in it, the squirrel won’t bury
it for winter. Instead, it will often eat it right then, consuming
the nut and the added protein of the larva. This is a
good plan, since an
acorn with a weevil in it won’t
keep for winter, rotting
after the weevil has
consumed most
of the nut.
Another
intriguing element of the story involves the squirrel’s use of
deception to thwart competition. They carry acorns, bury
them, unbury them, and then rebury them in a different
location, all as a means of confusing cache raiders.
Gray squirrels are master scatter Hoarders. Each fall they
bury hundreds upon hundreds of nuts in different locations
around their territory. Studies have shown that they
are pros at remembering the location of each nut, with a
95% retrieval rate. Recent research has shown that it is a
squirrel’s precise spatial memory that helps it reclaim its
buried bounty more than smell.
As we watched that day, it was natural to assume that the
squirrel was taking advantage of the oak. But what if it was
really the oak that was shaping the squirrel and its life style?
These trees have their own tricks up their sleeves. Think of
the acorn itself – that luscious protein that’s an irresistible
invitation to a seed eater like a gray squirrel. But the prize
is wrapped in a hard shell. It is an endeavor to eat an acorn,
one that requires time to crack the shell and get to the meat.
Because of this, squirrels can’t consume large quantities at
once. The handling time is too long and would make them
vulnerable to predators. And so they evolved to tuck the
acorns away for leaner times. How convenient for the oak
tree to have a bushy-tailed helper who buries its seed. The
squirrel not only hides it away from other seed predators,
it gives the acorn a place filled with soil and protection to
sprout in the spring.
And then there is the way that in years like this one, all
the red oak trees synchronize their acorn production across
entire regions. When the forest floor is littered with acorns,
squirrels up their scatter Hoarding behavior, stashing away
more than they could ever eat. The more acorns there are,
the farther away the squirrel buries the nuts from
where it found them. These outlying seeds, hoarded
far from the shade of their mother tree, often go
unclaimed and become the next generation of
oak trees.
As the first graders watched the squirrel
gnawing away the shell and finally nibbling
on the nut, I was watching the oak tree. I let my mammal
gaze wander up its broad branches and saw another living
being, not simply a passive producer providing for a
consumer.
Susie Spikol is community program director for the Harris
Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, N.H. The
illustration for this column was drawn by Adelaide Tyrol.
The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands
magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology
Fund of N.H. Charitable Foundation.
personally for the items on your list, the
place to do that was at the Economy
Store on Merchants Row. Santa was ready
and waiting for you during the month
of December. There were not a
lot of local stores with elevators.
But the one at the Economy had
an elevator operator who took
you to the top floor to see Santa.
That experience was a thrill in
itself. After telling him what you
wanted for Christmas you were
given a candy cane.
A popular board game that children
had on their list was “Candy Land. “The
board looks like a colored race track and
when you removed the top card from
the deck it told you where to place your
marker. The goal was to reach the Candy
Castle first. This popular game from my
childhood became modern with a VCR
version in the 80s and a DVD format
around 2005.
Other items that might have been on
the wish list were Play-doh or a Slinky.
In Rutland if you wanted to ask Santa
personally for the items on your
list, the place to do that was at the
Economy Store on Merchants Row.
These would have kept a kid busy for a
good part of the day. Play-doh is described
as a “modeling compound” used
for arts and crafts projects. It came in
bright yellow containers with tops that
matched the color inside. The smell of the
product is distinctive enough to produce
its own memory. It smelled like wheatbased
dough along with a vanilla and
parent, etc…, there is a simple
a simple formula for success.
That formula is to do what other
people aren’t willing to do and
do it a lot. This can be applied to
studying, working out, getting
more experience or learning to
be more patient.
Success isn’t a secret formula. Often the greatest difference
between someone who is average and someone
is successful comes down to “doing it.” Doing the daily
habits will compound over time to success. It’s not easy
– and that is why there are many average and few successful.
But it is something we can each improve upon
day by day.
The media often refers to “smart money.” I don’t know
why. The “smart money” make some pretty stupid decisions.
Its identification of “smart” is misleading. Intelligence
has very little to do with investment success. In
fact, Warren Buffett said that once you have an average
IQ, what sets apart successful investors is their ability to
control the urges that influence us to make bad financial
decisions.
These urges are natural, and they are hard to fight off.
It takes a lot of mental toughness to ignore the media
or the hot investment of the month. It takes mental
toughness to ignore what your co-worker is bragging
about. It takes perseverance to stick with your financial
plan and exercise patience – especially when your plan
doesn’t appear to be “working.” After all, no strategy will
outperform all of the time.
Being patient and disciplined is not easy! It goes
against what may feel right. But that is why financial advisors
exist. They are there to help and guide you along
your financial journey. Just like with a personal trainer,
sometimes it is easier to exhibit mental toughness when
you have someone cheering you on.
cherry scent.
In case you have never seen one a
Slinky. it is a coiled spring, a very simple
toy! Children can make it walk, bounce
or even go down a set of stairs. It
was discovered by an engineer
who was working on a project
involving coils. As the engineer
worked one coil fell from his
desk and bounced. What it did
after it landed amused him so
much that he decided to bring
it home for his son to play with. The boy
put it at the top of the stairs and down it
went…one stair after another, all on its
own. Thus, the Slinky was born!
And what little girl didn’t have a doll
on her Santa list? Most of them didn’t do
anything special back in the day. They
were pretty basic. Enjoyment came from
dressing them, combing their hair and
Looking Back > 47

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 COLUMNS • 47
The Movie
Diary
By Dom Cioffi
Upping the competition
Ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll tell you
I have a highly competitive streak. I don’t deny it.
In fact, I point to it as a contributing factor in the
many successes I’ve had in life.
When I was very young, I had a hard time
losing at anything. It wasn’t uncommon for me
things didn’t go my way while play-
a game or sport. I remember
the emotional toll that
losing took on me, like
it was a direct slight to
my worth as a person.
I even reached a point
where I stopped
playing board games
to cry if
ing
because the thought
of losing was too
much to handle.
Later, during high
school and college,
my competitiveness
jumped up a notch. At that stage, I had to
win. I wouldn’t go so far that I’d cheat, but
I’d look for every competitive advantage
I could find. The difference during this
period and my youth was that the sadness
from losing turned into anger.
This usually manifested in sports, which
I was heavily involved in. I played with a
profound intensity, demanding that everyone
I competed with also play at this level.
And if things didn’t go my way, it took
everything in my power not to explode at
myself or those around me.
Luckily, I usually held it in check. It was
afterwards when no one was around that
I usually lost control. I had several losing
moments when I nearly broke my hand by punching the
steering wheel or shower wall.
I’ve now calmed down to a point where I’ve learned
to lose. Don’t get me wrong… I still like to win and try my
hardest to win every time I engage in any competitive situation;
I just don’t let it define me in any way.
This holiday season was a perfect example.
I decided sometime in October that I was going to
knock out all my Christmas chores ahead of time. My plan
was to decorate the inside and outside of my house, get
my tree up, do all my Christmas shopping, mail all of my
holiday cards, and make plans for a holiday party all before
Dec. 1.
I approached things the same way last year and was
pleased with the results. By getting everything done ahead
of time, I left myself with a very relaxed holiday.
In fact, it was so relaxed that my wife
and I made a couple trips to the mall just to
walk around and watch the madness. It was
weirdly exhilarating not to be part of the
chaos, but merely a curious spectator.
So, as soon as our Thanksgiving meal
ended, I put my plan into action. By the
end of Black Friday, I had ordered almost
all of my Christmas gifts online, taking
advantage of numerous sales. I had also
decorated the entire outside of my house, complete with
wreaths and garland strung across several windows and
doors, with accompanying white lights for holiday bling.
Red bows added a final splash of color to make things pop.
During the following weekend, I attacked the inside of
my house, spicing it up from top to bottom with the boxes
of decorations that we’ve collocated over 30 years. I then
put up our tree (yes, it’s fake) and reset several hundred
blown out lights. Fake trees are supposed to be easier, but
I can say after owning one for a couple years, it’s not that
much easier. And when you buy one as expensive as ours,
it’s definitely not saving you any money.
Eventually, my
wife had to pull
me aside to
gently tell me
to calm down.
In the following days, I got all of my Christmas cards in
the mail and secured everything for a holiday party. When
Dec. 1 hit, I was officially done. Or so I thought.
This is when my competitive juices started kicking in.
While out jogging, I started to see other people decorating
their houses with much more flare. It seemed like
everywhere I looked, there was a house that looked more
Christmassy than mine. Before I knew it, I was back in the
stores looking for more lights and decorations.
I then started to question the validity of my indoor
decorating, feeling like I had neglected some rooms over
others and contemplating whether I needed to upgrade
older decorations. Again, I hit the stores for more ornamentation
in my quest to have the perfect
holiday environment.
Eventually, my wife had to pull me aside
to gently tell me to calm down. She explained
very nicely that I was in danger of
going full Clark Griswold if I didn’t reign in
the over-decorating. I begrudgingly agreed
and then tried really hard not to punch the
shower wall.
This week’s film, “Jumanji: The Next
Level,” also has its share of competitive
frustrations. In the fourth installment of the popular franchise
(originally created by writer Chris Van Allsburg), the
same cast of characters are back to play the game again,
this time with an interesting twist to their personalities.
At its heart, this a big budget children’s movie that will
get a chuckle or two out of adults, but ultimately leave
them feeling listless. However, given the magic of the
holiday season, just seeing little ones entertained is reason
enough to go.
A “C” for “Jumanji: The Next Level.”
Got a question or comment for Dom? You can email
him at moviediary@att.net.
Looking Back: Simple gifts are memorable
>
from page 46
playing “mother” to them. One of mine had long blonde
hair that must have been acceptable to me in the dead of
winter but I thought she would be cooler in the summer
with short hair. So I cut off most of it. The scissors that
children were allowed to use probably played a role in
the look of a haircut “gone bad”! I loved the doll anyway
which goes to show that
children are not judgmental
when it comes to
appearance.
I asked my husband,
Peter, what he liked to find
under his family’s Christmas
tree. Model airplanes
were always a welcome
present and a train set was
probably his favorite. Peter’s fascination with trains
probably came from spending a lot of time at the train
station in Plainfield, New Jersey as he went there with
his mother when she dropped off and picked up his dad
who worked in New York City. The train set was permanently
placed in their basement and was enjoyed by him
and his friends year round.
For me, getting a record player was probably one of
my most fun gifts. The turntable held one vinyl record
at a time. There was an arm with a needle at the end. You
placed the needle on the record and the music began.
By the end of Christmas Day my parents had heard “Old
McDonald Had a Farm” about 100 more times than they
cared to. Kids love repetition and that gift allowed for
plenty of that!
As they say, “You can never go back.” Maybe not in
time but you can go back in your memories and that’s a
fun thing to do.
Merry Christmas and keep your “wish list” simple…
just like in the 50s!
Full Service Vape Shop
Humidified Premium Cigars • Hand Blown Glass Pipes
Hookahs & Shisha Roll Your Own Tobacco & Supplies
CBD Products • Smoking Accessories
131 Strongs Avenue Rutland, VT
(802) 775-2552
Call For Shuttle Schedule
Keep your
“wish list”
simple…just
like in the
50s!
Like us on
Facebook!
Please call or
check us out
online for this
week’s movie
offerings.
Movie Hotline: 877-789-6684
WWW.FLAGSHIPCINEMAS.COM

Classifieds
48 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
CARS
CAR FOR SALE - 2017
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
for sale. Great condition!
$30,000 or best offer. Call
Brooke 971-801-5788
RENTALS
SHARE HOME SWEET
HOME - Nicely furnished
home on Route 4, Killington.
Private bedroom and bath
on 2nd floor. Near grocery,
good restaurants, transportation.
Female only. Minimum
rent. Owner in Rhode
Island temporarily. Call Alice:
401-464-7200
COMPLETELY RENOVAT-
ED 4-bedroom, 3-bath home
with fireplace. Five minutes
from the Killington access
road. Ideal for families. no
pets, no smoking $10,500
for the season.- Jack 860-
944-1180
HELP
WANTED
SKI SHARES/Full rooms
available. Prime location in
the heart of Killington. 2B
per room/singles. Lots of
amenities. 917-796-4289,
outdoordiva7@yahoo.com.
REAL ESTATE
ERA MOUNTAIN Real Estate,
1913 US Rt. 4, Killington—killingtonvermontrealestate.com
or call one
of our real estate experts for
all of your real estate needs
including Short Term & Long
Term Rentals & Sales. 802-
775-0340.
KILLINGTON PICO RE-
ALTY Our Realtors have
special training in buyer
representation to ensure a
positive buying experience.
Looking to sell? Our unique
marketing plan features your
very own website. 802-422-
3600, KillingtonPicoRealty.
com 2814 Killington Rd., Killington.
(next to Choices
Restaurant).
Killington • VT
Flexible hours.
Hiring For All Positions
Bartender • Waitstaff • Dishwashers
• Prep Cooks • Hostesses
Contact: Admin@tacoexperiment.com
KILLINGTON VALLEY
REAL ESTATE Specializing
in the Killington region
for Sales and Listings for
Homes, Condos & Land
as well as Winter seasonal
rentals. Call, email or stop
in. We are the red farm
house located next to the
Wobbly Barn. PO Box 236,
2281 Killington Rd., Killington.
802-422-3610, bret@
killingtonvalleyrealestate.
com.
PEAK PROPERTY GROUP
at KW Vermont. VTproperties.net.
802-353-1604. Marni@peakpropertyrealestate.
com. Specializing in homes/
condos/land/commercial/
investments. Representing
sellers & buyers all over
Central Vt.
THE PERFORMANCE
GROUP real estate 1810
Killington Rd., Killington.
802-422-3244 or 800-338-
3735, vthomes.com, email
info@vthomes.com. As the
name implies “We perform
for you!”
PRESTIGE REAL ESTATE
of Killington, 2922 Killington
Rd., Killington. Specializing
in the listing & sales of Killington
Condos, Homes, &
Land. Call 802-422-3923.
prestigekillington.com.
SKI COUNTRY REAL ES-
TATE, 335 Killington Rd., Killington.
802-775-5111. Ski-
CountryRealEstate.com – 8
agents servicing: Killington,
Bridgewater, Mendon, Pittsfield,
Plymouth, Stockbridge,
Woodstock areas.Sales &
Winter Seasonal Rentals.
Open Monday-Saturday: 10
am – 4 pm. Sunday by appointment.
KILLINGTON VALLEY- 44.7
ACRES - $229,900.00, high
above the bustle of daily
life, peaceful views of the
farm valley below, views of
city lights, pico, & killington.
year round stream, room
to roam, plenty of trails for
hiking, mountain biking,
ready to build on with state
approved septic design, utilities
at road. close to skiing,
rutland’s downtown & excellent
hospital. Call Owner for
details 802-236-1314
WHITE CAP REALTY Sole
proprietor serving buyers
and sellers throughout the
Killington Valley. Contact
Jake Pluta at 802-345-5187
or jake@realwhitecap.com
FOR SALE - 3 unit apartment
house. 25 Royce St,
Rutland. Needs updating,
close to skiing and lakes,
rental income. Spend your
vacation in one. $95,000
OBO. 802-353-1170
RARE KILLINGTON IN-
VESTMENT For Sale- 256
Acres with Triple Chair ski
lift terminal located on the
property. Utilities on-site,
zoned PUD, which includes
condos, hotels & multi single
family homes. Call 802-236-
0151
COMMERCIAL
SPACE
MOUNTAIN GREEN Condominiums
in Killington has
commercial space available
from 300 to 4,000 sq feet for
retail, food-service, office or
other commercial ventures.
Call us to discuss what might
work for you. 802-779-9144
FOR SALE
FIREWOOD for sale, we
stack. Rudi, 802-672-3719.
BEAUTIFUL MAHOGANY
FURNITURE. Matching
4-piece bedroom set. Full/
Queen sleigh bed with mattresses.
A 7-foot long chest
of drawers w/ full length
mirrors. High boy chest of
six-drawers and also night
stand. Beautiful condition,
must see. $1400 or best offer.
802-417-2774.
NORDICA SKIS with Marker
bindings. 144 cm. Used approximately
8 times, Banner
Elk, NC 828-898-2301 $300
FREE
FREE ACOUSTIC GUITAR
magazines, most issues
from the past 20 years.
Leave message at 802-
775-7306.
FREE REMOVAL of scrap
metal & car batteries. Matty,
802-353-5617.
GOLDEN RETRIEVER
PUPPIES! FREE TO FOR-
EVER HOMES! 1 Male and
1 Female. Excellent temperament!
Raised around
children, cats, dogs, chooks,
horses, etc,. Housetrained
with very good trainable
natures & perfect for families
with children. I will be
very selective with their
new home. These pups are
truly a joy to own, and I will
not rehome to just anyone.
Please email me at: Jessica.
rmccallum56@yahoo.com
FREE SIBERIAN HUS-
KY PUPS- Giving away,
with papers V’cked, M/
chip,vaccinated. Please
email with interest to Catherine.hendersonl63@gmail.
com. Would suit any family
or couple.
SERVICES
CHIMNEYS CLEANED,
lined, built, repaired. 802-
349-0339.
BEAUREGARD PAINTING,
30 years experience, 802-
436-1337.
SNOW SHOVELING roofs,
walkways, etc. 802-558-
6172
EXPERIENCED CLEAN-
ING PERSON has opening
for your home, business or
rental cleaning needs. Call
Nancy 802-683-4700
WANTED
HIGHEST PRICES PAID
- Back home in Vermont
and hope to see new and
returning customers for the
purchase, sale and qualified
appraisal of coins, currency,
stamps, precious metals in
any form, old and high quality
watches and time pieces,
sports and historical items.
Free estimates. No obligation.
Member ANA, APS,
NAWCC, New England Appraisers
Association. Royal
Barnard 802-775-0085.
>
PUZZLES on page 30
CROSSWORD PUZZLE SUDOKU other SOLUTIONS
GUESS WHO (page 5): Alyssa Milano
WORD SCRAMBLE (page 30): support
CRYTOFUN (page 30):
A. 3 12 24 23 25 14 2
Clue: Nonprofit
B. 16 18 15 24 14 25 18 15
Clue: Contribution
C. 10 25 6 25 15 10
Clue: Generous
D. 12 26 21 8
Clue: Assistance
Answers: A. charity B. donation C. giving D. help

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 CLASSIFIEDS • 49
EMPLOYMENT
HELP WANTED- Hospitality
Manager for historic five
star Guest House. Individual
who is familiar to Airbnb and
other short term rental environment
coordinating with
other vacation industries.
Requires independently
working for planning, organizing,
and communication.
ensemblesatjourneysend@
gmail.com
ASSISTANT INNKEEPER-
The Birch Ridge Inn at Killington
seeks an Assistant
Innkeeper to help with inn
operations. Full time, variable
hours. For an interview
call 802-422-4293.
PART TIME RESERVA-
TIONIST/Office Assistant
- The Killington Group is
seeking an individual with
excellent written/verbal communication
skills, computer
skills, and a strong focus on
customer service. Responsibilities
include preparing
arrival packets, responding
to lodging requests,
booking rentals, greeting
guests, handling phone
calls, and clerical tasks.
Part-time, seasonal, weekends
required Email resume
to gail@killingtongroup.com
802-422-2300
BARTENDER NEEDED, PT
Evenings for Pinnacle Spa
Bar in Killington. $12/hr+tips.
If interested email pinnaclevtpropmgmt@outlook.com
or
call 802-345-1918 for details
MOUNTAIN GREEN
HEALTH club in Killington
has immediate openings
for attendants. Part time/
full time seasonal. Flexible
hours. Great job for happy
people. Call Mike 802-779-
9144. Mike@mountaingreenresort.com.attendants.
Call Mike @ 802-779-9144.
HOUSE CLEANER WANT-
ED to clean at various times
at condo in Killington on
Bear Mountain. Must be flexible.
$25 per hour. Please
e-mail me at moeaddin@
verizon.net.
KILLINGTON SKI PATROL-
NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
Killington is looking for individuals
interested in keeping
our mountain and guests
safe. Visit www.killington.
com/jobs to view all open
positions or our Welcome
Center at 4763 Killington Rd.
(800)300-9095 EOE
KILLINGTON RESORT
COOKS- Killington Resort,
all skill levels, multiple locations.
Uniforms, free meal
and other perks provided.
Visit www.killington.com/
jobs o view all open positions
or our Welcome Center
at 4763 Killington Rd.
(800)300-9095 EOE
KILLINGTON RESORT
HOUSEKEEPING- Killington
Resort is looking for
energetic people to become
a part of our housekeeping
team. Condo’s and Killington
Grand now hiring. Visit
www.killington.com/jobs to
view all open positions or
our Welcome Center at 4763
Killington Rd. (800)300-9095
EOE
KILLINGTON RESORT
TICKET SELLERS & Specialists-
We are seeking
a few outgoing people to
be our front line of ticket
sales and information. Visit
killington.com/jobs to view
the complete job description
or our Welcome Center
at 4763 Killington Rd.
(800)300-9095 EOE
EQUAL
HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
All real estate and rentals
advertising in this newspaper
is subject to the Federal
Fair Housing Act of 1968
as amended which makes
it illegal to advertise “any
preference, limitation or discrimination
based on race,
color, religion, sex, handicap,
family status, national
origin, sexual orientation,
or persons receiving public
assistance, or an intention
to make such preferences,
limitation or discrimination.”
This newspaper will not
knowingly accept any advertisement
which is in violation
of the law. Our readers are
hereby informed that all
dwellings advertised in this
newspaper are available
on an equal opportunity basis.
If you feel you’ve been
discrimination against, call
HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-
9777.
Want to
submit a
classifi ed?
Email classifieds@mountaintimes.info
or call 802-
422-2399. Rates are 50
cents per word, per week;
free ads are free.
The 12 Days
of Fitness
It’s that time of year again! That time when everyone
puts off their health and fitness goals until the New Year,
sigh. We understand that allure of starting fresh in a new
year. But, we want to challenge you now, to get a kickstart
your journey to a healthier life.
That is why this year we challenge
everyone to the “12 Days
of Fitness. Start on Thursday,
Dec. 19 and proceed until Dec.
31. Follow along and each day,
and as you progress, you will add
another fitness challenge to your
routine. Just like the song, as you
progress you will also complete
Healthy
Habits
By Kyle Finneron
the previous day’s challenges.
For example, on day 4 you will
complete the challenges for days
4, 3, 2 and 1—just like the “12 Days
of Christmas” song: “Four calling
birds, three French hens, two
turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.”
So keep this paper handy and somewhere you can see
it daily.
The challenges consist of both exercises and overall
healthy habits that everyone knows we love. Most
of these challenges have been discussed in previous
articles.
Day 1: Plank for 1 minute
Simple and straight forward. This can be either a high
(hands and feet) or low (elbows and feet) plank. If you are
just starting out and you need to break this into two sets
of 30 seconds that can be a great place to start. Work your
way up and try to get to a full minute before the end of
2019.
Day 2: Compliment 2 people
Spread a little holiday cheer. Find two people a day
and give them a compliment. Be careful complimenting
an ugly Christmas sweater unless you’re at an ugly
Christmas sweater party.
Day 3: Do 3 burpees
The exercise everyone loves as much as holiday traffic...
Day 4: Write down 4 things that make you happy
Take some time and think about what makes you
happy. It can be something simple like a cup of coffee in
the morning or being able to spend time with your family.
Try to write down four different things every day.
Day 5: Do 5 minutes of meditation
Find a quiet place, set the timer, focus on your breathing
and allow yourself to decompress this holiday season.
Day 6: Eat6 servings of fruits and veggies
It’s time to listen to your mother and make sure some
fruits and veggies make their way onto your holiday dinner
plate each day.
Day 7: Get 7 hours of sleep a night (at least)
ZZZZZZ…. I really shouldn’t have to elaborate on this
one. Let your batteries recharge so you can get the most
out of the holidays.
Day 8: Drink 8 glasses of water a day
This may be difficult at first, but it’ll help set up a truly
great habit for all your health goals. A glass of water is 8
ounces.
Day 9: Do 9 pushups
Again, breaks are ok, as needed. It will get easier.
Day 10: Complete 10 minutes of stretching
Make sure your muscles are at least a bit warm before
starting and go slowly.
Day 11: Take 11 deep breaths every hour
(There is an app for that!)
Day 12: Do as many jumping jacks as you can
(You only have to do this one once, so make the most
of it!)
Kyle Finneron is the owner of Studio Fitness in Rutland,
studiofitnessvt.com.
PLANNING COMMISSION
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO
KILLINGTON
ZONING BYLAWS
The Killington Planning Commission
will reconvene a public hearing on the
proposed Town of Killington Zoning Bylaw
Amendments on Wednesday, January
8, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Offices at
2706 River Road in Killington. This public
notice is given pursuant to 24 V.S.A. Section
4444.
The principal purpose of the proposed
zoning bylaw amendments is to require
a permit for short-term rental of a dwelling
unit, to allow accessory dwelling
units within accessory buildings, and to
require a driveway access permit before a
certificate of occupancy is granted. These
amendments will affect every geographical
area of Killington. The section headings
affected by the proposed zoning bylaw
amendments are: Definitions, Section
407 – Short-Term Rental of Dwelling Unit,
Section 417 – Accessory Dwelling Unit, and
Section 640 – Certificate of Occupancy or
Use.
The full text of the proposed Town of
Killington Zoning Bylaw Amendments
may be found at the Town Clerk’s office
and on the Planning Commission page of
the Town’s website at https://Killington-
Town.com.
DATED at Killington, Vermont this 13th
day of December 2019.
Preston Bristow
Town Planner,
Town of Killington, Vermont
BE
HEARD.
Mounta in Times
mountaintimes.info

SERVICE DIRECTORY
Service Directory
50 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
candido electric
residential & light commercial • licensed & insured
GIVE A CALL OR RENT YOUR STORAGE
UNIT ONLINE TODAY!
1723 KILLINGTON ROAD, KILLINGTON, VT
office: 802.772.7221
cell: 802.353.8177
frank candido rutland/killington
candidoelectric@yahoo.com
we help you see the light!
WATER WELLS
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parkerwaterwells.com
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Carpet
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125 Valley View Drive, Mendon, Vermont
kndesigns125@gmail.com
WASHBURN & WILSON
AGENCY, INC.
144 Main St. • P.O. Box 77 • Bethel, VT 05032
Providing Insurance for your Home, Auto or Business
Short Term Rentals • High Value Homes
Free Insurance Quotes
Call Mel or Matt 802-234-5188
www.washburnandwilson.com
Vermont’s largest cleaning service, with over 400 clients & counting.
802.355.6500
vtbestcleaners@gmail.com
michellenolanscleaning.com
Green Mountain Water Treatment Co.
Iron & Sulphur Removal • Water Well Pumps • Water Softeners
UV Light Systems • Arsenic & Radon Removal
FREE ESTIMATES
Jeffery L. Leonard, Propietor
Professional Service Since 1983
Professional Solutions to your
Water Quality Problems
Licensed State of Vermont Water Treatment Specialist • Rutland, VT
(802) 236-0426
ISLAND SHADING SYSTEMS
SHADES ~ BLINDS
WINDOW TINTING
Since 1998
BLOCK ISLAND
KILLINGTON • STRATTON
islandshading.com
islandshade@hughes.net
802-747-8248
Susan Malone Hunnewell
SNOW
SHOVELING
N E W !
Give the gift of Laughter
this Holiday Season!
VERMONT WILD
Game Warden Adventures
Shop locally at: Yankee Books, Phoenix
Books, Bookmobile, Hermit Hill Books,
Kinney Drugs, Otto’s Cone Point General
Store, Castleton Village Store, West Addison
General Store, Buxton’s Store in Orwell,
Kamuda’s Market and more!
OR
visit VermontWild.com to
order your books online!
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Vision
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FREE ESTIMATES • FULLY INSURED
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JOSHUA WEBSTER

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 SERVICE DIRECTORY / CLASSIFIEDS • 51
>
Proctor land: Controversial land deal to be put to voters.
from page 4
long and hard about this offer.”
Josh Hardt, an outdoor educator
who runs the Moosalamoo program
at Otter Valley Union High School
in Brandon and who grew up in the
area and now lives in Hubbardton,
remembered his first visit to the
Chittenden watershed was as a
boy when his father took him on a
coming-of-age wilderness trip.
“In Vermont, much of our fiscal
security comes from outdoor
recreation and is required for a
sustainable future,” he said. “In this
case, the transition to a conservation-based
organization would
seem appropriate in lieu of private
enterprise.
Gerlach’s attorney Bill Meub was
on hand and commented on the
proposed deal.
“This shouldn’t be a burden on
the people of Proctor,” he said. “They
>
from page 45
whatever it took to answer that question. Nowadays,
whenever I get that kind of request I just say no. Why?
There are a million reasons why.
First of all, you can take the birth charts of two
people, compare their natal planets and see all kinds of
connections that indicate that they are perfectly suited
to each other – or not. As a novice astrologer, this comparison
process is what I used to go by, and it is what
most astrologers who do this type of work go by.
If you go deeper into the subject you soon realize
that any horoscope you look at is not a static entity.
The birth horoscope is a freeze-frame of a moment in
time. It is full of moving parts that from Day 1, are all
progressing and changing at different rates of motion.
The levels of compatibility that exist between two birth
charts at the outset do not hold steady forever. Over
time the original angles form different configurations.
To complicate things, transits to both the natal and
progressed charts trigger a
multitude of situations that
challenge or support the
concept of compatibility.
What in the beginning
appears to be a match made
in Heaven often evolves into
something else altogether. All
relationships go through this.
The only thing that keeps two people together is the
depth of the love that they share – and there is no way
to measure that piece, astrologically. At the end of the
day it comes down to the fact that people change, and
whether or not each individual is evolved enough to
love their partner through their changes.
It also depends on what each individual’s karma is,
in the relationship arena. The commonly held assumption
is that all of us incarnated on this planet to experience
love, in a relationship with another person. This
belief is ironclad. We don’t even question it. The truth
is, for many different reasons, falling in love and living
together forever with a soulmate is not on the menu for
everyone.
The reason I refrain from doing relationship and
comparison charts is because the people who request
this type of work have a hard time hearing the truth.
The expectation is always that I will tell them exactly
what they want to hear. A lot of astrologers are willing
to do this, but not me. And since people have such high
hopes when they ask for this particular service, it is easier
for me to just say no than it is to have to be the one to
should look at what the opportunity
is and what was offered, and that
was the only way Mr. Gerlach was
thinking, that perhaps it was a winwin
for everybody.
Meub also pressed for a contract,
saying that would be the only way to
get to a public vote. Meub went on to
say that there has been some misinformation
circulating about Gerlach
and his intentions.
Article language
The selectboard can legally sell town
property without voter approval
unless voters submit a petition with
at least 5 percent of the town’s voter
signatures within 30 days of posted
notice objecting and calling for a
public vote.
But the selectboard can also opt
to let the voters decide whether or
not to sell the property instead of
requiring a petition, which is what
Horoscope: Birth charts can contain unpleasant, as well as pleasant surprises.
What in the beginning appears
to be a match made in Heaven
often evolves into something
else altogether.
the Proctor selectboard is planning
should it decide to move forward
with the proposed offer.
On Monday night, the board
reviewed the proposed article
language for a vote, which reads as
follows:
“Article 1: Shall the Town vote to
authorize the Selectboard to sell all
or less than all of the interests the
Town holds in its watershed lands in
Chittenden, Vermont for a price of
not less than $1.5 million?
“If Article 1 is approved, shall the
Town vote to approve the sale of the
watershed lands in Chittenden, Vermont
for a price of not less than $1.5
million to an entity or person that
will keep the land open for public
use or permit the Town to preserve
its resources?”
The vote will take place on Town
Meeting Day.
tell them that their fairytale will last about as long as an
ice cube in Hell. Let me qualify this by saying that once
in a blue moon I come across a relationship that looks
exactly the way it is supposed to. In 50 years, only three
or four examples of this have come to my attention.
When it comes to doing charts for babies and young
children, I make it a policy to avoid that type of work
as well. Why? When a child comes into this world their
karma is completely intertwined with their parents
karma until they are about 14 years old. Everything that
happens to them, along with their ideas, their beliefs,
their material situation, and their interests are determined
by what’s going on with mommy and daddy.
It is always mommy and daddy or some wellmeaning
friend or relative who asks to have the child’s
chart drawn up. The reason I say no to these requests
is because you can see too much about the parents’
relationship when you do the child’s chart. When what
shows up is that mom and
dad will split up before the
baby turns 2, that becomes
a problem; believe me when
I tell you – nobody wants to
hear it. It is also always more
than clear that the incoming
soul will have intense
mother or father issues and
it’s no fun to be the bearer of bad tidings, who is put
in the position of being the one to tell either parent
that they will wind up being the source of all the kid’s
problems. People have a tendency to want to kill the
messenger who delivers this type of news. This is why
I pass the newborn baby work on to others – because
some astrologers are better at putting a happy face on
things than I am.
Love is not what we think it is, and neither is life.
The things that bring us to this planet are complex,
varied, and related to the karma that each of us has
accumulated over many, many lifetimes. The idea that
there is a one-size-fits-all fairytale that gets doled out to
everyone just because they happened to wind up here
is a total misconception. Each one of us has our own
set of conditions, our own lessons, and our own way of
living and being in this world. Why we get conditioned
to believe that it is only one way is a total mystery to me.
Let me leave you with that, remind you to refrain from
ever asking me to do charts for your relationships, your
babies, or your grandchildren, and invite you to take
what you can from this week’s ‘scopes.
#1 RENTAL AND MANAGEMENT OFFICE
IN KILLINGTON FOR 45+ YEARS
- INCREASED RENTAL REVENUE
- PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES
PRIVATE HOMES AND CONDOS, ASSOCIATIONS
- CONCIERGE SERVICES
FOR OWNERS WHO RENT THEMSELVES
- STEAM CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANING
KILLINGTONGROUP.COM
KILLINGTON ROAD - (802) 422-2300
RED DUCK
REFUSE RECYCLE
Weekly • Bi-Weekly • Seasonal • Year-Round
802-422-2230
Reliable Service Since 1980
For All Your Home and
Commercial Petroleum Needs
746-8018 • 1-800-281-8018
Route 100, Pittsfield, VT 05762 • cvoil.com
Follow Us!
The Mountain Times
@themountaintimes
@MtTimes

52 • REAL ESTATE
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
www.74GinaDrive.com
Killington — Two-family post & beam chalet by
American Timber Homes. First time to market, this
up/down duplex was custom built for the current
owner in 1972 using Escabana white cedar framing,
renowned for its durability and classic mountain
look, and has been meticulously maintained ever
since. Upstairs 3BR/1BA features vaulted ceilings,
exposed beams, fireplace, updated kitchen and
large private deck off the living room. Lower level
3BR/1BA features decorative beams, fireplace and
walkout deck w/hot tub. This well-appointed home is
offered with the high quality furnishings - $335,000
www.289HoldenRoad.com
See videos of all our listings on
YouTube!
Killington — In the heart of Killington, spectacular
contemporary home, built in 2016, in 100% new
condition. Custom kitchen w/soapstone countertops,
upgraded stainless appliances, hickory cabinets. Open
floor plan includes cathedral ceilings w/curved fir
trusses, granite fireplace and rustic hand-scraped
hardwood floors. The master suite is on the main level,
the upper level offers a reading room and two guest
bedroom suites. Heated two-car garage, mudroom
with locker style cubbies w/built-in ski boot dryers.
The walkout level also comprises a family room w/
built-in bar, exercise studio, full bathroom, laundry
room and utility room housing high-tech mechanicals.
The outdoor elements are equally impressive w/crafted
stone walls & walkway, stream fed pond, outdoor hot
tub and Colorado Custom gas firepit w/sculpted metal
logs on a heated bluestone patio - $965,000
www.432RusticDrive.com
Chittenden — Log cabin in the woods,
on 3 + acres, amidst hundreds of acres
of undeveloped land, offering the utmost
in privacy. The 3BR/2BAs, including the
master suite, are isolated from the living
spaces in a separate wing off the back
of the house. A convenient mudroom
entrance leads to the kitchen on the main
level and a full, dry basement below,
where one area has been partially
finished for additional living space.
Located in the renowned Barstow School
District - $228,500
2814 Killington Rd.
802-422-3600
www.KillingtonPicoRealty.com
802.775.5111 • 335 Killington Rd. • Killington, VT 05751
WEST PARK ROAD
• 4BR/3BA, 4,200 Sq.ft.
• Hot Tub Rm+bar area
• Stainless appliances
• Laundry rm, sauna
• Large deck
• Easy access $599K
SKI OR BIKE HOME - SHUTTLE
HIGHRIDGE
• 2BR/2BA: $219,900
• 2BR/2BA: $240K
• woodburning fireplace
• Indoor pool/outdoor whirlpool
* furnished & equipped
MTN GREEN – MAIN BLDG (#3)
• Shuttle service
• 2BR/2BA w/Lock-off BR:
$162K; 2BR/2BA completely
renovated: $209K;
1BR Building 3! $129K
• Onsite: Indoor & Outdoor Pools,
Whirlpl, Restaurant, Ski & Gift
Shops, Pilate Studio, Racquetball/basketball
court
KILLINGTON GATEWAY- TOP/END UNIT
• 2BR/1BA, 974 sf, on one level
• gas heat & fplc, tiled kitch &BA flrs
• Cath ceiling w/ sky lt, open flr plan
• Cherry kitchen cabinets, AC
• Covered deck, private ski locker
• furnished & equipped $125,000
LOCATION & TRAIL VIEWS
5BR, 3.5BA, Landscaped 3AC, Pond
• Flat paved driveway, hot tub-gazebo
• heated o/sized 2-car garage
• fieldstone fireplace,
• Viking appliances
• walk-out unfinished basemt
$1,150,000
Celebrating
30 years!
THE LODGES - SKI IN & OUT
• 1-LVL 3BR/3BA, Furnished &
equipped, Wash/Dryer, patio
• Gas fplc, gas range, gas heat
• Mud-entry w/ cubbies+bench
• Double vanity, jet tub,
• Common: Indr pool $449K
KILLINGTON CTR INN & SUITES
• Completely Renovated 2BR/3BA
w/one LOCK-OFF unit
• Stone-faced gas f/plc, W/Dryer
• Tiled floor to ceiling shower
• Outdr Pool. Short walk to shuttle &
to restaurant. Furnished $222K
PITTSFIELD – JUST LIKE NEW!
• 3BR/4BA, 2-car garage w/loft
• Southern exposure, yr-rd views
• Recreation rm + home office rm
• Exercise room + laundry room
• Furnished & equipped $459K
MOUNTAINSIDE DEVELOPMT HOME
• 3 en-suite bedrooms + two ½-baths
• Living Rm floor to ceiling stone fplace
• Family gameroom w/ fireplace
• Chef’s kitchen,sauna, whirlpl tub
• 3 extra separately deeded lots incl.
• www.109mountainsidedrive.org
• $1,295,000
WINTER VIEWS OF SUPERSTAR!
• On cul-de-sac, great LOCATION!
• 3BR, 2.5 3,470 sf, a/conditioning
• Ctl vac, chef’s kitch, butler’s pantry
• Cedar closet, office, master suite
• 3 car garage, storage, screened porch
• Deck, unfinished basemt,++
$789,500
REALTOR ®
Daniel Pol
Associate Broker
Kyle Kershner
Broker/Owner
Jessica Posch
Realtor
Lenore
Bianchi
‘tricia
Carter
Meghan
Charlebois
Merisa
Sherman
Pat
Linnemayr
Chris
Bianchi
Over 140 Years Experience in the Killington Region REALTOR
Katie
McFadden
Michelle
Lord
MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE
MLS
®
PEAK
PROPERTY
G R O U P
AT
802.353.1604
VTPROPERTIES.NET
IDEAL PROPERTIES CLOSE TO
KILLINGTON, OKEMO OR WOODSTOCK!
HOMES | CONDOS | LAND
COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT
Marni Rieger
802.353.1604
Tucker A. Lange
303.818.8068
Marni@PeakPropertyRealEstate.com
59 Central Street, Woodstock VT
505 Killington Road, Killington VT
ATTN KILLINGTON INVESTORS!
PRIME LOCATION-COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITY-BASE OF THE
KILLINGTON RD! ONE OF THE BEST SPOTS IN KILLINGTON! Retail Property
2 acres consists of a main building w/11,440 sq. ft. on 3 levels w/elevator. Direct
access to superb cross country/snowshoe trails. Immediate access to 15 miles of
mountain bike trails on the Base Camp and Sherburne Trails! $999,000
STRONG RENTAL
INVESTMENT &
BUSINESS OPP CLOSE
TO KILLINGTON,
SUGARBUSH &
MIDDLEBURY
SNOWBOWL! 7 unit
property located in the
center of the village in
Rochester. Building is 7,216 sq ft. Main level is a local
landmark & home to the Rochester Café (45 person
licensed restaurant) & Country Store. 3 rental apts
onsite, one which is used as Airbnb. 2 rentable open
studio units. Last unit is rented cold storage space. All
the real estate & business $549,900
ONE OF A KIND PROPERTY MINUTES TO PICO
OR KILLINGTON. Post & Beam home 4bed/ 4 bath
w/ 2 car garage. 2 bed/1 bath apt to rent out for extra
income. 3 level barn, outbuilding w/ heat. Inground
pool & cabana to enjoy in summer months. So close
to skiing & Rutland. Come see. $389,900
RARE OPPORTUNITY! ULTIMATE RETREAT! Ideal Short Term Rental
Property! 27+ acres w/amazing views abutting National Forest Land,
2 spring fed swimming ponds, gazebo w/power & end of road location.
Special property has a main farmhouse, 3 level barn, guest house, an
enchanting seasonal cottage, 3 car detached garage & so much more!
$699K
MINUTES TO KILLINGTON! Open concept
3 bed/ 1.5 bath log home, 2+ acres across
from the White River. New kitchen & refinished
pine floors. Includes large warehouse w/lots of
storage. Ideal property for builder/contractor or
onsite business. $179K

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 REAL ESTATE • 53
Grow Your Life in Killington
KILLINGTON VALLEY REAL ESTATE
Bret Williamson, Broker, Owner
72 Windrift Ridge Road, Killington $ 575,000
This unique, 3 bdrm , 3 bath, modern home, situated
on a wooded lot overlooking nearby Pico Mountain
Ski area, offers unexpected privacy and stunning
mountain views.
Mountain 298 Prior Drive, Green, Killington $ 1,2000,000 $149,500
2-bedroom, This 4934 square 2-bath foot, corner exquisitely unit Mtn Green detailed building Tudor 1. Sold style furnished,
home updated is in a class appliances, by itself. outdoor A five pool bedroom views, shuttle home, route &
wood surrounded burning by fireplace. the grandeur Cable, internet, of the plowing, green mountains. refuse removal
and shuttle service included in quarterly fee.
BRIDGEWATER, VERMONT
Light-filled 4Bdrm / 4Ba Post & beam contemporary on
8+ acres mid-way between Woodstock & Killington. A
finished bonus room over the garage provides extra space
for friends & family. Sit and relax on the wraparound
porch and take in the long range views in all directions.
A special place to call home in Vermont. $649,000
Williamson-Group.com
802.457.2000
Successfully Selling Real Estate For Over 40 Years
24 Elm • Woodstock VT
Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated
4552 VT Route 107, Stockbridge $129,000
Many opportunities for this home located minutes to I-89
and 20 min drive to Killington. Excellent rental history,
recently renovated improvements including a new
standing seam metal roof, windows, doors, and more.
2500 Killington Road, Killington $799,000
Formerly operated as a ski lodge,
Cricket Hill, Killington $
then as a college dormitory,
this commercial property has incredible
555,000
potential. The 11,043sf
This 4-bedroom, 4-bath home with inground pool is a
building on 1.6 acres with 551ft of Killington Road frontage is
ten minute drive from Killington Resort with stunning
on the town sewer system and includes 16 sewer units. It boasts
views of Pico Mountain. The competitively priced home,
20 private lodging rooms with baths on two floors, a completed
is being sold furnished.
basement space and multiple common areas.
View all properties @killingtonvalleyrealestate.com
Office 802-422-3610 ext 206 Cell 802-236-1092 bret@killingtonvalleyrealestate.com

54 • NEWS BRIEFS
The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
For your next
adventure
LUXURY MOUNTAIN HOME IN KILLINGTON
Simply majestic views of Killington peak and Snowden
peak are waiting for you at 40 Mountainside Drive, one
of Killington Resorts premiere ski home communities.
KILLINGTON, VT | $3,100,000 | MLS#4781455
NATHAN MASTROENI | 802.417.3605
MOUNTAIN TOP SANCTUARY
Private sanctuary with world class views on 69 acres.
Creative and masterfully crafted home in the charming
Town of Rochester, VT.
ROCHESTER, VT | $1,200,000 | MLS#4782055
SUE BISHOP | 802.558.2180
CUSTOM CONTEMPORARY-MAGICAL VIEWS-ACRES
BELLA VISTA is a home thoughtfully designed to take in the
serenity of our beautiful natural resources; mountains &
meadows. Stunning Contemporary style.
KILLINGTON, VT | $1,190,000 | MLS#4776875
FREDDIE ANN BOHLIG | 802.353.1804
UPDATED MOUNTAIN RETREAT
This beautifully updated and well maintained mountain
home is complete with eight ensuite bedrooms, sitting
room, living room with wet bar and five fireplaces.
KILLINGTON, VT | $910,000 | MLS#4735609
NATHAN MASTROENI | 802.417.3605
CUSTOM BUILT HOME WITH PANORAMIC VIEWS
Four bedroom first floor living custom designed by architect
Robert Carl Williams, on 20 acres. Panoramic views of
the Green Mountains and beyond.
WALLINGFORD, VT | $775,000 | MLS#4708496
SANDI REIBER | 802.417.3609
PARADISE-GREAT HOME-90 ACRES-POND-TRAILS
Travel through a covered bridge and you will find a 90-acre
paradise. Acorn designed Post and Beam with passive solar
gain. Western views-12 foot spring fed pond-Barns-trails!
SHREWSBURY, VT | $659,000 | MLS#4732708
FREDDIE ANN BOHLIG | 802.353.1804
CHITTENDEN BRAESIDE FARM
Custom built Post and Beam Farmhouse with views to the
south on 8 acres with horse barn and riding ring. This three
bedroom, three bath home is VT country living at its best.
CHITTENDEN, VT | $475,000 | MLS#4694179
SANDI REIBER | 802.417.3609
IMPRESSIVE SOLID BRICK-VIEWS-DOUBLE LOT
Stunning one level home custom built in 1988 with exceptional
building materials; from the solid brick and stucco
façade, to the massive copper roof. Double lot and VIEWS!
PITTSFORD, VT | $419,500 | MLS#4787091
FREDDIE ANN BOHLIG | 802.353.1804
SKI HOUSE IN KILLINGTON
After a long day on the slopes of one of the largest resorts
on the East Coast turn on the fireplace and put your feet
up. This house is built for relaxing. Take a look today!
KILLINGTON, VT | $419,000 | MLS#4779100
NATHAN MASTROENI | 802.417.3605
VILLAGE CUSTOM BUILT HOME WITH POND
Four bedroom custom built home nestled in Chittenden village
with a pond and barn on seven acres. Multi-level with
open floor plan, a solarium, porch, patio and master suite.
CHITTENDEN, VT | $385,000 | MLS#4778171
SANDI REIBER | 802.417.3609
WORK FROM HOME
Amazing home on 3/4 of an acre with distant mountain
views. Incredible value and space to accommodate all and
a lengthy list of improvements over the years
RUTLAND CITY, VT | $204,900 | MLS#4770838
SUE BISHOP | 802.558.2180
LARGE CORNER CONDO WITH TWO MASTERS
Generous living and entertaining space with picturesque
views. Abundant storage, built in shelving, attached
garage, spacious laundry and mudroom. A must see!
RUTLAND CITY, VT | $195,000 | MLS#4770258
SUE BISHOP | 802.558.2180
85 NORTH MAIN STREET | RUTLAND | 802.774.7007 | FourSeasonsSIR.com
Each office is Independently Owned and Operated.

The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019 NEWS BRIEFS • 55
Airbnb announces new policies, party house ban
Airbnb has announced three forward steps in protecting
hosts, guests and communities, including a new party
house ban, guest standards and dedicated line of communication
for town officials to reach Airbnb in 2020.
Between August 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019, Airbnb
reported .05% of trips on Airbnb had a safety-related issue
reported by a host or guest and .03% of trips on Airbnb
had a significant claim paid out under the host guarantee.
Airbnb is dedicating $150 million to new trust and safety
innovations.
Airbnb’s existing community standards have long
requested guests to follow hosts’ house rules, which often
address issues such as respect for neighbors, maximum
occupancy, pets and more.
In recent months, Airbnb
solicited feedback from hosts
around the world. The company’s
new guest standards
cover five scenarios: excessive
noise, unauthorized
guests, unauthorized parking,
unauthorized smoking and major cleanliness concerns
requiring excessive cleaning after checkout.
These new guest standards create a clear and actionable
enforcement framework for these scenarios and if it
is determined that a guest has violated the new standards,
the first violation will result in a warning and required
education on Airbnb rules. Further violations may result
in account suspension or removal. Airbnb will accept
information directly from hosts as well as from neighbors
via the Airbnb Neighbor Tool or the forthcoming Airbnb
Neighbor Hotline.
Airbnb’s new guest standards will take effect in early
2020 and will be a living set of standards that will be updated
over time to cover additional scenarios that occur
regularly.
Moving forward, all “open-invite”
parties and events are banned in
Airbnb accommodations.
As always, serious misconduct by guests in violation of
other existing policies, including unauthorized parties,
will be reviewed and may lead to immediate suspension
or removal.
There will also be a ban on party houses and parties
that are not authorized.
Many guests work with hosts to book listings for
gatherings that bring people together in a manner that
respects the home, the host’s house rules, and the surrounding
neighborhood. This new policy does not impact
parties that are authorized by hosts and convened
respectfully by guests. Instead, the goal with this new
policy is to address the small number of guests who act
irresponsibly and those rare
hosts whose homes become
persistent neighborhood
nuisances.
Moving forward, all “openinvite”
parties and events are
banned in Airbnb accommodations.
This covers any
event that the organizer opens up to anyone who wants
to attend, such as gatherings advertised on social media.
Hosts who attempt to circumvent this ban and allow
guests to throw large parties will be subject to consequences.
The only exception for this rule is for traditional
hospitality listings that list with Airbnb – boutique hotels
and professional event venues – that may set their own
rules on open-invite parties. Even for these listings,
Airbnb will monitor for any complaints and follow up
with venues as necessary.
Additionally, large parties and events are now banned
in Airbnb listings in multi-family residences—such as
apartment buildings and condos. Again, hosts who allow
guests to throw open-invite parties in multi-family
residences will be subject to consequences.
For “single family home” listings, Airbnb will continue
to trust our hosts to set House Rules that are appropriate
for their community. Any type of unauthorized
party—meaning a party thrown by guests without the
knowledge or consent of the host—remains prohibited
in all listings.
This policy was developed carefully and with outside
input, including retired police commissioner and cochair
of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century
Policing, Charles Ramsey and former director of the U.S.
Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented
Policing’s Services, Ronald Davis.
Airbnb is also launching a dedicated line where
mayors and city officials can connect with appropriate
Airbnb representatives. Details on this new feature will
be rolled out in 2020.
“It’s All About Performance”
1810 Killington Road • Killington, VT 05751 • www.vthomes.com
email: info@vthomes.com • P: 802-422-3244 • F: 802-422-3320
Foreclosure: 3BR Ranch Home
2.8± Acres
Thurs., Jan. 9 @ 11AM (Register from 10AM)
22 Powerhouse Rd., Chittenden, VT
OPEN HOUSE: Thur., Dec. 19 from 1-3PM
3BR/1BA ranch home with brook frontage, formal dining,
wrap around deck, walkout basement. Easy access to VAST
Trail. 2.8± acre parcel, on site water and septic.
Thomas Hirchak Co. • THCAuction.com • 800-634-7653
1
PRICE REDUCED!! This renovated 3 bd, 3 ba home is centrally
located to Killington, Okemo, and Woodstock. Extensive
renovations and additions have been completed, totaling more
than $ 200,000, making this property a great value. Open floor
plan, a beautiful country kitchen/dining area, vaulted ceilings,
hand carved beams; living room, stone hearth, wood burning
stove. First floor master bedroom with many updates. On-site
pond! Experience country living at its best. This is a unique
Vermont property that is definitely worthy of your attention and
viewing. MLS #4746605 / $299,000
Our Professional Staff
2
Charming, spacious, 3 level 4 bedroom, 3 bath contemporary
colonial home with balcony overlooking massive floor to
ceiling stone fireplace, beautiful vaulted wood ceilings, and
elegant tile baths. Wonderful, easy flow floor plan with colorful
decor, high quality open kitchen design with stainless steel
appliances, black granite tile counter tops, and rich wood
cabinets. Large multi-level back deck with hot tub. Many
possibilities for the unfinished ground floor space. Ten minutes
to skiing at Killington, with the Green Mountain National Golf
Course across the street. MLS #4748204 / $429,000
4
3
This 4 acre parcel of land is zoned commercial. It has wonderful
views of Pico Ski Resort. It is located directly across from Pico
ski area and is on Route 4. The access would be on Route 4 and
is a very desirable property. Sewer ERUs are available for sale.
Great views, Great Location and great Price.
MLS #4447476 / $199,500
Wonderful level building lot in the highly desirable Robinwood development,
across the street from Pico Ski Resort. Nice winter seasonal views of Pico
Mountain and the surrounding mountains. Lot includes one share in the
Robinwood sewer pipeline for a 3 bedroom home. An Alpine sewer pipeline share
would need to be purchased by the buyer. Just minutes to Killington Ski Resort.
MLS #4739754 / $63,000
Augie Stuart
Principal Broker
Gary Thompson
Associate Broker
Cathy Quaglia
Associate Broker

56 • The Mountain Times • Dec. 18 - 24, 2019
MORE mountain.
MORE trails.
MORE nightlife.
MORE winter.
MORE snow.
MORE Beast.
Learn more at killington.com