The Bridge, January 23, 2014

8/15/2019 The Bridge, January 23, 2014

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T h e B r i d g e

P . O .

B o x 1 1 4 3

M o n t p e l i e r , V T 0 5 6 0 1

Connecting Montpelier and nearby communities since 1993 | J AN UARY 23–FEBRUARY 5, 2014

courtesy Anjali Budreski

IN THIS ISSUE

SPINNING THEIR

WHEELS:

Vermont Businesses Seek

New Ways to Improve

Employee Health

5

VERMONT SINGLE

PAYER GETS A

CHECK-UP

6

WHEN PARENTS

SPLIT, COUNSELORS

AND LAWYERS UNITE

9

continued on page 6

P R S R T S T D

C A R - R

T S O R T

U . S .

P o s t a g e

P A I D

M o n t p e l i e r , V T

P e r m i t N O .

1 2 3

Getting a Grip on Health Care Costs

Health& WellnessIssue

An Interview with Vermont Health Access Chief Mark Larson

H &W

H&W

By Nat Frothingham and Jerry Carter

_____

“We have a health caresystem that has gone

from about $4 billion forall Vermonters to $5 bil-

lion in the past four to fiveyears.” _____


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page 2 • Janua ry 23 – Februa ry 5, 2014 THE BRIDGE

She knows what’s going on

because she reads

The Bridge

A CVMC Medical Group Practice / cvmc.org Central Vermont Women’s Health

30 Fisher Road / Medical Office Building A, Suite 1-4Berlin VT 05602 / 802.371.5961

Photo, from left: Colleen Horan, MD, FACOG; Sheila Glaess, MD, FACOG;Julie Vogel, MD, FACOG; Roger Ehret, MD, FACOG;

Rebecca Montgomery, CNM, MSN; Roger Knowlton, DO, FACOG.

The providers at Central Vermont Women’s Healthknow that every step on your path to childbirth

is an important one.We offer personalized attention and support from the early stages of

family planning through the time you are at home with your newborn.

We want you to have the birth experienceyou desire.

We offer natural birthing options in addition to everything you’dexpect from a modern, well-equipped hospital like Central Vermont

Medical Center. And although you or your baby may never needspecialized care you can take comfort in knowing that the

board-certified obstetricians at CVWH are always just a phonecall away and offer the security of comprehensive care.

There is nothing more important to us than yourhealth and the health of your baby.

Please call Nicole, Pam or Emma at 371.5961 to schedule

an appointment.

We look forward to meeting you to talk aboutyour growing family.

Pregnancy is so much more

than just your due date.

Montpelier’s Only Comprehensive Pilates Studio.Now offering reformer classes and private sessions 6 days a week at

81 River Street, on the backside of the building. Call 262-1500 or visit www.essentialptp.com

www.theconfluencevt.org

Berlin, VT 229-4131

($120 Value)

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1 Month Unlimited Classes - $75Includes access to unlimited classes. Does not include CrossFit, CrossFit Express

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The Balance of Being Alexander Technique Studio“Change involves carrying out an activity against the habit of life”

Katie Back, certified Teacher

79 Main St. Montpelier, Vt

www.balanceofbeing.com802-223-7230


3/24

THE BRIDGE Janua ry 23 – Febru ary 5, 2014 • page 3

Subscribe to The Bridge !Fo o- sscitio, sd this fom d chck to The Bridge, p.O. box1143, Motli, VT 05601.

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HEARD ON THE

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p.O. box 1143, Motli, VT 05601

pho: 802-223-5112 | Fx: 802-223-7852

motliid.com; fcook.com/motliid

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edito & plish: nt Fothihm

Mi edito: J Ct

podctio & Cld edito: Kt Mll

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editoil: Cotct J Ct, 223-5112, xt. 14, o [email protected].

Loctio: The Bridge offic is loctd t th Vmot Coll of Fi ats, o th low lvl of

Schlmi Hll.

Sscitios: yo c civ The Bridge mil fo $50 . Mk ot o chck to

The Bridge, d mil to The Bridge, pO box 1143, Motli VT 05601.

Coiht 2014 Th Motli bid

Last week, when it was above zero degrees all day every day, everything seemed pos-sible. he sun was higher and warmer, and on the big snow-covered hayfield werebillions of snow fleas of a sort we had never seen—not as small, longer and slower than

those that have peppered the woodlands for some years. And not the bigger snowmeltvariety we see when puddles of melt water are everywhere. How could we have missedthem all these years? No matter, it’s now a dim memory as we are locked into a dry Arctichigh. We are all, man and beast, challenged by the vast, deep cold, and the house timbersnoisily crack and boom as fibers freeze and twist.

—Nona Estrin

Nature WatchLocal Nonprofit Seeks Applications

from Potential Grant Recipients

he J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation is currently requesting letters of interest frompotential grant recipients for the 2014–2015 school year. he foundation is committed toproviding people with access to workforce and postsecondary education. Organizations thatcater to low-income students, first-generation college students, adult learners and/or veterans will receive priority. Nonprofits are encouraged to apply, and letters of interest should be sub-mitted by February 27, 2014. More information can be found at mcclurevt.org.

Migrant Workers Celebrate New Driving Privileges

o commemorate the enactment of the new Vermont law that makes it possible for undocu-mented workers to receive Vermont drivers licenses, dozens of migrant workers and alliesshowed up at DMVs across the state to exercise their new right on Friday, January 17, in com-memoration of Martin Luther King Day. he new law, which went into effect on January 2,2014, allows undocumented migrant farm workers the opportunity to acquire driver’s privilegecards, making it legal for them to operate a motor vehicle in this state. his newly won rightis hoped to lessen the isolation that many migrant workers have been subject to for years while

spread out on remote farms and unable to communicate with others or receive vital services.

Shiitake Mushrooms in Vermont

he UVM Extension’s Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the Cornell Extension and a teamof farm advisors have concluded a three-year study on growing shi itake mushrooms in NewEngland. he study is available through the UVM Extension, and the study group hopes thatlocal farmers and foresters can use it to diverse their products. Shiitake mushrooms are currentlyselling for $10 to $18 per pound throughout New England.

Vermont Farm and Food Sector Ads 2,200 Food System Jobs

V ermont has seen an increase in 7,654 jobs since 2009. Of these, 2,200 have been in the farmand food sector. he growth in this sector has received support from initiatives such as theFarm to Plate Investment Program that began in 2009 under the Douglas administration andthe Working Lands Enterprise Initiative that began in 2012 under the Shumlin administration.hese numbers mark the completion of a growth that the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan, writ-

ten in 2011, had originally hoped to achieve by 2021. With support from consumers, farmers,businesses, and the state, Vermont has been able to meet this goal in just the first four and ahalf years.

12-Year-Old Justin Murray Sings with the VSO

Justin Murray of Calais, who attends seventh grade at U-32 Middle and High School inMontpelier, will perform in Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” as the boy sopranosoloist. Robert De Cormier is overseeing the production and has cast Murray as the boysoprano soloist. Performances will be held Saturday, January 25, at 8 p.m., at the FlynnCenter for the Performing Arts in Burlington and on Sunday, January 26, at 3 p.m., at theParamount heatre in Rutland.

David Huddle Teaches at Johnson StateCollege this Semester

D

avid Huddle, an award-winning Vermont author who has published 17 books of fiction,poetry and essays, will be teaching and mentoring students in Johnson State College’s

BFA degree program in creative writing this semester. Huddle brings with him 38 years ofteaching experience at the University of Vermont and many years of service on the facultyof Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English. He will teach the class “Form and heory of Writing” and serve as a senior thesis advisor to student fiction writers. He wil l also present apublic reading at the college.

Barre Teacher Receives Award of Excellence

On January 10, Spaulding High School teacher, Katie Sedore, was surprised when Gov-ernor Shumlin and Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of Milken Educator Awards,pronounced her the winner of the $25,000 Milken Educator Award. he award was presentedat a special assembly at Spaulding High School auditorium, Barre, attended by Secretary of Edu-cation Rebecca Holcombe and Mayor hom Lauzon, among others. he award acknowledgesSedore’s achievements and contribution to her community and is designed to serve as an aid infurthering her dedication and commitment to the community that she serves. A ninth-gradelanguage arts teacher, Sedore extends her commitment to education beyond the classroom. Whether it is running the after-school homework club or teaching at the Granite Academy, an

alternative program started by Spaulding High’s special education department, Sedore givesherself completely to her work. he Milken Family Foundation hopes that this award will helpenable Sedore to continue her great work.

350Vermont Urges State Legislature toDivest Pensions from Fossil Fuel Industry

Members of Vermont’s chapter of 350.org are lobbying for Vermont Legislators to supporta bill that would prohibit the state from investing state employee pension fund money with the fossil fuel industry. he group, 350Vermont believes that by divesting from fossilfuel companies they will be able to limit the lobbying power that these companies currentlyhave both in Washington DC and in Vermont. Currently there are two bills that support thisproposal H.271 in the House of Representatives and S.131 in the Senate. 350Vermont will besponsoring a youth day of action at the State House on Friday, February 7. Students and classesfrom around the state are encouraged to attend. Send inquiries to [email protected] or call (802)444-0350 for more information.

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4/24


Tell them you saw it in The Bridge !

Staying Healthy Throughout Life

Wellness Programs for Students and Seniorsby Julia Barstow

Yoga! Strength! Tai Chi! Dance!Balance! Swimming!

(plus art, film, humanities,and tech classes)

$20-$35 for 12 weeks, age 50+ Montpelier Senior Activity Center

58 Barre Street Montpelier, VT

223-2518

www.montpelier-vt.org/msac

Age Gracefully~Be Well~Get Moving!

A ddressing health and wellness is im-portant throughout life. hroughclasses and programs, the Central

Vermont High School Initiative, SterlingCollege and the Montpelier Senior ActivityCenter are focusing on the health and well-ness of the people they serve.

The Central Vermont High

School Initiative

he Central Vermont High School Initia-tive (CVHSI) is a Waldorf school in its firstyear and currently serves 10 ninth-gradestudents and seven 10th-grade students on

the campus of Goddard College. Currentlythe school is working to integrate wellnessinto other subjects. At CVHSI, studentshave been doing yoga as part of their anat-omy studies and have learned self-massage

techniques during music class to warm upand take care of their vocal chords. Stu-dents are also learning swing dance and runtwice a week. In the future, the president ofCVHSI, Marianne Donahue Perchlik, saysin addition to integrated health and well-ness curriculum, topics such as drugs andalcohol will be specifically addressed in ahealth class.

Each hursday, CVHSI hosts a commu-nity lunch, often using ingredients donatedby local food producers. Crystal Madeira,the chef-owner of Kismet in Montpelier,teaches students how to prepare a meal that

takes into account food sensitivities andallergies. Each meal offers gluten-, dairy-and nut-free options, as well as vegetariandishes. A team of students cooks the mealand another cleans up. While the studentslearn the basic elements of nutrition, theyalso learn social health skills. Each week,a guest is invited to the community lunch.Students make conversation and share themeal with their guests around tables theybuilt themselves. Donahue Perchlik saysthat curriculum surrounding “health and wellness wil l grow as our school grows.”

Sterling College

Sterling College is a small liberal arts col-lege located in Craftsbury. It is one of seven

work colleges in the nation where all resi-dential students work at least 80 hours eachsemester. Students have opportunities forexercise through such activities as work-ing on the school farm, running trails andcross-country skiing. Sterling has a Well-ness eam on campus, which “ensures asafe, welcoming, and vibrant communityby providing direct assistance to students,as well as developing programs that improvethe quality of life and learning. ”

Like CVHSI, Sterling College sees mealtimesas important to student’s well-being. Faculty,staff and students eat together at the sametables and talk with each other. In addition tosourcing food locally, the college raises about

20 percent of its own food. his includesvegetables, herbs, rabbits, turkeys and chick-ens. Director of Communications Christian

Feuerstein said of the farm program, “Wefind that f resh, local food not only contributesto our community’s overall health, but alsobeing part of a living system that supports ourentire community enriches our students’ livesimmeasurably.” All students work on the farmduring their time at Sterling, and the collegeis working toward becoming a “self-sufficientinstitution largely feeding itself.”

Montpelier Senior Activity

Center

he mission of the Montpelier Senior Ac-tivity Center (MSAC) is “to enhance the

quality of life for older adults in Montpelierthrough opportunities that develop physi-cal, mental, cultural, social, and economic well-being in a welcoming, flexible environ-ment.” hey accomplish this for their 800members through the classes, presentations,

clinics and meals that are offered at thecenter.

his session, enrollment for movementclasses accounts for a little over half of the653 total class registrations. MSAC also

has partnerships with local fitness facili-ties, which allow members to take part inswimming, water aerobics, tennis, gym and

bowling. MSAC hosts presentations and workshops on a variety of wellness topics,such as fall prevention, diabetes prevention,meditation and nurturing positive relation-ships. he director of the center, Janna Clar,emphasizes that all MSAC “classes and ac-tivities promote wellness because they keeppeople engaged in lifelong learning, stimu-lation and socialization.”

hrough a partnership with Good asteCatering and Just Basics, Inc., MSAC offersthree meal programs. Feast at Home deliv-ers to eligible seniors and disabled peoplein Montpelier and Berlin Monday through

Friday. Feast ogether is served on site everyuesday and Friday at noon. Feast to Gooffers takeout meals for the general publicevery hursday. Chef Justin urcotte pre-pares the meal s, with the help of volunteers.MSAC hopes to expand these health and

wellness programs as membership grows.

hese organizations are taking an integra-tive approach to wellness through the pro-grams they offer on nutrition, exercise and

education. hese efforts demonstrate thegrowing awareness of the importance ofpursuing healthy lifestyles.

Sterling College students and faculty

bring it together before a kickball

game on the sce nic Craftsbur y Green.

Photo courtesy Sterling College.

Yoga at the Montpelier Senior Activity

Center. Photo courtesy MontpelierSenior Activity Center.

Students at the Central Vermont

High School Initiative prepare a

healthy meal. Phot o courtesy Central

Vermont High School Initiative.


5/24


6/24


passed a law that we have to comply with, and it includesthe development of either a state-based insurance market-place, like Vermont Health Connect, or making Vermont-ers use the federal health benefit exchange . . . It [buildinga state exchange] is the right choice for Vermont. And Iappreciate that the expense of building that system so thatVermonters can access its benefits is very high. Our expenseis consistent with the expense of other states that are doingstate-based exchanges. So I don’t think we are [over]spend-ing—I think our expenses are consistent [with other states],but I also appreciate that it is a substantial investment.

Bridge: When do you think Vermont Health Connect will be fully operational?

Larson: here are three very important components forus to accomplish to be more fully functional to the con-

sumer. hat includes the ability to invoice, collect premi-ums and enroll small groups. It includes the ability to allowfor the paychecks of premiums through debit cards, creditcards and electronic checks. And it includes the ability tomake changes to your coverage in an automated fashion onthe website. We have become very careful about not settingspecific dates for the implementation, but those are the toppriorities that we continue to identify to CGI as work that we need to have done for Vermonters to feel like everythingthat they thought they would be able to do today, they willbe able to do.

Bridge: Do you think Vermont will get the [federal] waiver to go forward with single payer?

Larson: I’m very optimistic about our ability to work withthe federal government to get the waiver we need to moveforward with in 2017.

Bridge: Is that a legislative or executive decision?

Larson: No, it’s executive. It requires no action by Con-gress.

Bridge: How do you answer someone who says, if thestate of Vermont can’t handle the rol lout of Vermont HealthConnect, how can they be expected to run a single-payerhealth care system?

Larson: I do appreciate that, and I think that Vermont-ers have a reason to be frustrated with the last three orfour months . . . he largest risk that we always knew was a reality for the implementation of Vermont HealthConnect was the schedule provided for us by the statutory

deadline of the October 4 implementation date. All the waythrough the early months of 2013, we were still waiting onimportant information about the requirement for what we were building because the federal regulations were not inplace. We were still waiting for some decisions at the statelevel. So we built a very complicated system in a very shortperiod of time because we had no flexibility as to when westarted. hat was always a risk, and it was a risk that endedup playing out.

Here’s something else. We now have almost 20,000 Ver-monters who have signed up for coverage and are eitherenrolling in Medicaid or in Blue Cross or in MVP plans. And we have accomplished that without gaps in coverage. And so you can look at the technology component [the

rollout], but I think that it’s important to look at the workthat was done to ensure that despite the technology issues,Vermonters have not experienced gaps in their coverage. We’ve done that by providing different options announcedby the governor, by working with our partners, includingBlue Cross and MVP, and by working with navigators andbrokers that have been working directly with Vermontersin this transition. So fully recognizing that there have beenany number of technica l challenges, Vermonters haven’t ex-perienced gaps in coverage, and people are getting coverage,and some of them are Vermonters who haven’t had coveragein the past.

Bridge: Year by year, how can we afford the dramaticincreases in the cost of health care?

Larson: We would say we can’t. We have a health caresystem that has gone from about $4 bill ion for all Vermont-

ers to $5 billion in the past four to five years. Now, we’requickly moving toward $6 billion. And that is simply anunsustainable growth in the cost of services to Vermonters. And that’s simply to maintain the services that people areable to get today without adding new services. At the sametime, we still have 40,000 Vermonters that are left out eventhough if they have an emergency they can still access careand it still gets paid for. And we don’t get, in many ways,the results that other countries are getting [in health out-comes], even though in other countries they are paying less.I think the change in our system is inevitable. he questionis how we best manage to make sure that all Vermonters arecovered, and we actually control the growth in that cost,and then get better outcomes for the dollars we do spend.

The Vermont OptionFunding Single-Payer Health Care by Jerry Carter

Vermonters are currently spending nearly $5 billion a year on healthcare. hat is estimated to rise to $10 billion by 2019 if the state fails tomake any reforms to the current system, according to the November2011 special legislative report “Cost of Vermont’s Health Care System:Comparison of Baseline and Reformed System.”

his report, compiled by the Vermont Legislative Joint Fiscal Office(LJFO) and the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and

Health Care Administration (DBISHCA), explored the different costs and savings thatproposed single-payer health care reform could create. Estimates were based on the “Ver-mont Option,” a proposal by William C. Hsiao, Steven Kappel and Jonathan Gruber.

he LJFO and DBISHCA report noted, “If action is taken in each area of potential sav-ings discussed in this report, savings will begin in 2014 and rise rapidly for the next severalyears. In 2020, savings are estimated to range from $553 million (5.5%) to $1.8 billion(18.3% of total spending).”

he report clearly stated that these savings would not come without a cost. Just howmuch that cost will be remains unclear. wo studies since then—one conducted by theUniversity of Massachusetts (UMass), at the request of the Shumlin administration, andthe other done by Avalere, at the request of a group of businesses, hospitals and insurance

companies—estimated that health care reform could cost the state anywhere from $1.6billion (UMass) to $2.2 billion (Avalere). Neither the high nor the low estimates are coststhat Vermont can afford to absorb into its budget. State legislators are currently facing adeficit of over $67 million.

Al Gobeille, the chair of the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB), said that it might notbe this bleak, stating that it is more of a shift in spending rather than an increase. Whenasked how the state plans on selling Vermont single payer to Vermonters, many of whomare already feeling the strain of increasing property taxes, Gobeille said, “he question is, what makes something attractive in terms of the specific situation?”

Gobeille describes our current health care as an “octopus, where there are tentacles ofHealth care spending all throughout the geography.” It’s hard to account for all of thatspending and to know what is working and what is not. He says that it is time to “bringthose tentacles back” and give consumers the opportunity to see where the state is alreadyproviding and paying for services efficiently and where it is not.

hrough this process, Gobeille hopes that Vermonters will see that a lot of the initiativesthat single payer would include are already receiving funding, and others would have exist-ing funds redirected to them. He said, “he dollars are there now is the point.”

Gobeille and others hope that through new and improved cost-saving techniques, they willbe able to bring the cost of health care down, making it more affordable and sustainablein the long run. Last year, the administration decided that one such measure, tort reform, which would set new limits on the scope of medical ma lpractice suits, was not in the bestinterest of Vermonters. Gobeille echoed the administration’s concern stating, “hat’s a verydeep and serious issue. It’s not as simple as we should do X or Y. here are key reasons whycaution is needed.”

With the administration and legislators shying away from cost-saving measures, such as tortreform and the revenue-raising payroll tax, there are serious questions about how the state will reel in costs on health care and find a way to f inance its proposed single-payer system.

Gobeille remains optimistic: “Act 48 [the 2011 legislation that established GMCB and setVermont on the path toward Single-Payer] said that we’re to move toward it [single payer] in2017 and work on cost containment until then. It didn’t say that we were going to financeit quickly and in an off year . . . We’re working on trying to build a system of health carethat grows at a reasonable rate. If you can’t do that, then you can’t finance it. o simply

finance it right now [would mean that] you didn’t do the first step, and that’s not the right way to do it.”

Mark Larson, the commissioner of Vermont Health Access, hopes that over the nextthree years the state will be able to implement some of the cost-saving techniques that ithas proposed and move toward making health care in Vermont, “more efficient, fair, andequitable.”

In order to make this a reality, Vermonters will have to maintain the political will, whichenabled the discussion of single payer in the first place. It is not just the political will ofVermonters that single payer is contingent on. he ultimate decision to implement a single-payer system comes down to a waiver from the federal government. his waiver is neededfrom the president, because a single-payer system would redirect federal moneys allotted tothe state under the Affordable Care Act. With a presidential election in 2016, it is unclear whether or not Vermont will be able to reali ze its ambitions for single-payer health care.

Dedicated to teaching and treatment at the deepest level of Life, as Above, so Below. Analchemical tradition, we reach to the source of Life as well as the root causes of illnessin the human body, mind and spirit. We train physicians and artists of all traditions towork with the Light of Creation, to develop skill, capacity and the passions for service.Ancient Songs of Creation (Taoist Alchemical Protocols) treat disease where little elsecan, restoring integrity of Spirit to the individual and the connection of Oneness to theHeart of the World. This Tradition arrives from a time when Humans had not separatedthemselves from the cycles of nature and the imminence of the Divine. These ancientalchemical odes build a structure of resonance between Heaven and Earth in the heart

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practices and training of an ancient and living Tradition of Medicine, working in Maine, Vermont and New York.

Please contact us for more information: www.theunseenhand.org

H&W

Interview with Mark Larson

Continued from page 6


7/24


What Vermonters areDoing to Stay Active andHealthy this Winter


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Your health care partner

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Erin Roya from Williamstown beingassisted on the Pilates Reformer

with instructor Hope Sharp at Es-

sential Physical Therapy & Pilates

in Montpelier. “I love the Reformer,

it clears my head and makes me feel

stronger-- mind, body, the whole

thing,” said Erin about the classes

she has taken at Essential.

Photo courtesy of Rosemary Leach.

A man stretche s his leg s on the

track around Morse Farm.

Photo by Photo by John

Lazenby/lazenbyphoto.com

A man beats the lift li nes.

Snowboarding in Hubbard Park.

Photo by Erin McIntyre

Katy Leadbetter of Fusion Studio

in Montpelier stays loose all winter

long through regular yoga classes.

Photo courtesy Katie Leadbetter.

Sub zero temperatures, freezing rain, harsh wind chills

and let us not forget snow can make living in Vermontdifficult this time of year. Still, many Vermonters find

fun and exciting ways to stay active even in the winter

months. Here

are some of

the ways that

people in Central

Vermont are

staying active

and healthy this

season.


8/24



Vermont Computing offers your busy business remote

IT maintenance and support when it’s convenient for

you-even if that means after business hours.

CALL VERMONT COMPUTING!

Call: 223-6445 or visit vermontcomputing.com

See how we can provide

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For Reservations:

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Capitol Plaza, Montpelier

Special Admission Price

Adults $45 Children $25

Doors Open at 5:30

We’ll be honoring volunteers:

Stephen & Linn Syz and Kathy Leach

Guest Speaker:

Matt Merullo Former MLB Player

vcfa.edu/visual-art-events

VCFA / MFA in Visual Art / Student Exhibitions / / in Alumni Hall and VCFA Gallery / Wednesday, January 29th—Saturday, February 1st, 10am–7pm. // Graduation exhibition opening / in the VCFA Gallery / Tuesday, January 28th, 7:30pm /

Raul Ferrera-Balanquet (Artist-in-Residence)

TALK

Decolonizing the Unconscious:

Re-Surging Ancestral Cultural Alliances

Silvia FedericiTALK

The Unfinished Feminist Revolution

and the Politics of the Commons

Jolene RickardTALK

Tactical Refusal:

Global Indigenous Art

MFA in Visual Art Winter 2014 Residency Symposium:

Join an interdisciplinary presentation and discussion on issues of multiculturalism and tolerance;how struggles for societal expression and political agency factor into the individual artistic practice.

/ Program Symposium / Sunday, January 26th / 9am-Noon, Chapel


9/24


I n this health and wellness issue of TheBridge, Joyce Kahn interviewed JuliaGresser and Richard Witte, mental health

professionals practicing in Montpelier, aboutthe effects of divorce on children and how thecollaborative law process can enhance positiveoutcomes.

Joyce Kahn: What is the collaborativelaw process?

Julia Gresser: It is an innovative andcreative process that allows clients to stayin the driver’s seat as their lawyers andmental health professionals assist them. Inthis dispute resolution process, clients focuson cooperative problem solving and findingcreative solutions while working together asa team. Each client retains a lawyer trainedin collaborative techniques to assist them,and they agree to work together without

going to court.

he clients, lawyers and a specially trainedmental health professional as well as, whenneeded, a financial specialist and/or childspecialist form a team to develop solutionsthat work for everyone.

Kahn: What is your role in the process andin terms of safeguarding children’s interests?

Gresser: We help clients maintain re-spectful communications, even when theydisagree, and to communicate in an ef-fective manner. We also help parents withissues related to their children’s welfare. When we ask parents about their goals, theyoften agree that the welfare of their children

is of the utmost importance. In the col-laborative model, we remind parents of thisand other goals they have identified. hen,by reducing open conflict between parentsand helping them negotiate respectfully, co-operative parenting during and after thesettlement is enhanced to minimize the im-pact on the children.

One of the common denominators in mostdivorces is heightened emotions of grief,disappointment, hurt and loss, which easilycan turn to anger (such as the wish for re-venge or to hurt the other spouse). Attorneysare not always well trained in dealing withfragile and volatile emotions. In the col-laborative model, the emotional landscapeis acknowledged and discussed. We ask,

“What’s worked well for you as a couple,and what are the hot spots? How will youreact in a meeting with your spouse?” hisis an opportunity to assist people in manag-ing difficult emotions and in communicat-ing effectively so that parents feel heard andrespected even when they disagree. If theycan strengthen or learn new skills in thisprocess, it will benefit them long after intheir ongoing coparenting relationship.

Richard Witte: When people are in aheightened emotional state, it is more dif-ficult to think clearly, and often anger and

fear escalate. How do you manage theseemotions so they don’t dominate? herange of possibilities shuts down when oneis angry. We teach people to go from affectto thought. It is our job to make sure thatpeople do not cut off their feelings, but thatthe feelings do not dominate.

Kahn: Why is the stability of the parentsso important to the kids?

Witte: Children with good parenting arecurious. When they feel safe and secure,they are free to explore their world andthemselves with their parents supportingthis process. For example, a toddler whofeels secure will go off perhaps into anotherroom to explore, and then come back tocheck that the parent is still there.

A parent secures the child so he can goabout his life and doesn’t have to thinkabout his personal safety. his is truethroughout parenting—in adolescence as well. When divorcing, parents are oftenpreoccupied and have a lot on their mind.hey are hurting, everybody is hurting,their worlds are rocked. Continuity is nolonger in place. he child may be frightenedand no longer attending to exploration ofhis world and himself; he may be concerned with how mom and dad are doing and thechanges that are taking place in his world.Meanwhile, the parents are going throughthe same thing. he agenda shifts: they are worried about the same security and stabil-

ity needs that the child is. he kids are notheld securely in the same way.

In the collaborative process, parents decideon and agree to work towards certain goalsregarding the children. he lawyers work tohelp the parents negotiate and come up withcreative solutions that will be in their bestinterests as well as addressing the specialneeds of the children. he couple has thesupport of both the lawyers and the mentalhealth professionals. When it works and thefamily regains a feeling of security, then thechildren are free to explore and focus, again,on their own developmental needs.

Gresser: A six-year-old child I once hadin therapy explained it this way: “Your

mom and dad are like your two legs. WhenDaddy leaves, there is only one leg to standon, and Mommy’s crying all the time. Whatif I can’t stand on this one leg?” Both par-ents are a part of the child just like bothlegs. A divorce can be difficult and affecta child’s sense of security. Since the childidentifies with both parents, if the parentsare angry and at odds with each other, it canaffect the child’s sense of self-esteem.

Kahn: What’s new about this? Do youhave any special training?

Gresser: In this model, all the profession-

als have received special training in collabo-ration, working as a team with the parentsto creatively resolve issues rather than to goto litigation.

his is very different than each personmeeting in an office with his or her lawyer,then the lawyers talking among themselvesand sometimes going before a judge, whodetermines what happens.

his is not therapy but coaching, where weuse the therapeutic skills we have to helpand support both parents in a neutral waytoward their common goals. Sometimes itis helpful for parents to discuss their chil-dren’s developmental needs and differencesin crafting a visitation agreement that works

best.In the traditional process, the emotionspeople are coping with are often sidesteppedas lawyers may lack training to deal withthis area. What can happen is that, leftunattended, the anger, fear and disappoint-ment often get played out through substan-tive issues of visitation, custody and prop-erty settlement. In some cases this, maybe heightened by our cultural context thatemphasizes justice and retribution, which well-meaning friends might encourage.his ultimately does not help the coupleachieve their mutual goal of providing sup-port to the children.

In this model, the emotional territory is rec-

ognized and supported as the mental healthprofessional (as well as attorneys) try to helpthe couple navigate and handle their feel-ings and communicate constructively andrespectfully. his process helps to protectchildren from the damaging effects of ahighly contentious divorce, as it fosters andpreserves mutual respect between parents.

In fact, often during the CL process, par-ents learn new skills that will help themgoing forward in their communications andnegotiations with one another. he processhelps parents focus on the future and unitearound doing the best they can as coparents.

Kahn: What is the impact of the pro-cess on children? How is this prevention in

terms of negative future repercussions onchildren?

Gresser: We know that there is a di-rect relationship between how well chil-dren cope during and after a breakup andhow effectively parents are able to coparent.Good coparenting requires parents to com-municate with clarity, respect and courtesy.he most devastating impacts of divorceoccur when: (1) conflict between parentsremains at a high level during and afterthe divorce or break up. (2) A parent goesaway or becomes unavailable emotionally or

physically to a child, and the critical attach-ment between parent and child is damaged.(3) Children become emotional caretakersof one or both parents. he stability of thechild depends on the parents. CL supportsthe parent to find emotional support otherthan the child, to stay engaged and calm,and to work toward a settlement withoutescalating conflict and hurt feelings.

Witte: In the Virginia study [Hethering-ton, E. Mavis, and John Kelly. For Better or for Worse: Divorce Reconsidered . New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2002], kids were found to look pretty good. When par-ents don’t lose sight of the kids and [chil-dren’s] feelings are resecured by the pa rents,kids heal quickly.

Kahn: How can CL be made more avail-able to the less affluent, educated andpsychologically savvy parents in our com-munity, who are divorcing with children?Currently only 25 percent of those divorc-ing avail themselves of the process.

Gresser: By providing educational out-reach, we are getting the word out to thecommunity about the CL alternative. We will be talking to ministers, hairdressers,doctors and other community members who parents may t alk to when they are fac-ing a breakup. We also plan to make presen-tations at libraries and host an open house.

We know that with the CL approach, thereis the additional up-front cost of the men-tal health professional and sometimes thechild specialist and/or financial advisor, butthe design of this method, which helps thecouple maintain positive, constructive com-munication, often avoids litigation and pro-duces a durable, long-lasting agreements, which is frequently much more cost effec-tive in the long run.

Witte: CL is not for everyone. A fairsettlement has to be more important than winning. CL is less expensive than the tra-ditional route of a litigated divorce. It is amore thoughtful approach.

Julia Gresse r, LICSW can be reached at 262-6110 or sulia@fairpoint .net. Richard Witte,Ph.D. can be reached at 223-0180.

Collaborative Law Process: A NewParadigm for Divorcing Parents

By Joyce Kahn

Pamela Brady, MA., L.Ac.licensed acupuncturist

AcupunctureSound HealingQigong

802-229-1800

[email protected] www.pamelabrady.org

250 Main Street, Suite 206, Montpelier, VT 05602

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Live life in balance with nature.

Cheryl PetersonHolistic Health Coach

[email protected]

802-522-3908

Mental Health Pr ofessionals Juli a Gresserand Richard Witte. Photo by Joyce Kahn.


10/24


Two CharterProposals:The March City ballot

will include two separatecharter proposals.

City Charter Amendments:

he City Council appointed a committee toreview our Charter in its entirety forinconsistencies, anachronisms andrecommendations. Five citizens – NancySherman, Paige Guertain, Jonathan Williams,Michael Doyle and Earl Fechter – combedthrough the entire document with assistancefrom Attorneys Paul Gillies and Paul Giuliani,Vermont League of Cities and owns DirectorSteve Jeffrey and city staff.

his group proposed changes to all sectionsof the charter except for those relating tothe schools. hese recommendations werereviewed and approved by the City Councilfor voter consideration. he amendmentsare largely grammatical, practical and non-substantive in nature with very little policychanges.

Regional Public Safety CharterProposal:

he Cities of Montpelier and Barre andowns of Barre and Berlin have been work-ing together for four years on developing a

workable form of regional public safety serviceprovision. Montpelier’s representatives in thiseffort have been City Council Members omGolonka and Alan Weiss. he services beingconsidered are Police, Fire, Ambulance andDispatch.

he proposed charter would legally createsuch an authority but

would not require anyservice changes orincurred costs. Anybinding decisions inthe future will needto be approved byeach local governing

body.

he full text and asummary of bothproposals will bedistributed inadvance of theelection.

Montpelier City Council Goals for 2013:How Did We Do?

by John Hollar, Mayor

A Message from City HallThis page was paid for by the City of Montpelier.

he start of the new year is a good time to look backat how the city fared on its goals for 2013. hecity council established an ambitious set of priori-

ties last spring. I am pleased to report that we have mademajor progress on most of them. Here are some highlights:

Municipal Projectshe city made major strides in 2013 on three projects that

were a priority for the city council:∙ Biomass project

he city completed construction of the biomass distribu-tion system in downtown Montpelier in 2013. he project was completed on budget and la rgely on schedule, althoughit created significant disruption in the downtown area formany months, and it had a major financial impact on anumber of merchants. he city is now operating a small-scale distribution system through the use of City Hall boil-ers, and we plan to connect to the state’s biomass plant thisfall. I am proud to say that our city offices, many of ourlargest downtown buildings and Union Elementary School will be heated with renewable energy beg inning in October.

∙ Carr lot

After a dozen years of discussion and activity, the city ac-quired the Carr lot on January 2, 2014 for $1.4 million. his

was more than we had anticipated paying for the site, but itallowed us to avoid the expensive, time-consuming and uncer-tain process of eminent domain. he acquisition costs wi ll bepaid almost entirely from project funds, which include federalgrants and revenue from private development on the site. hisis an exciting project that will result in the construction ofa new transit center on aylor Street; the completion of thebike path from Main Street to aylor Street; the constructionof a new bike and pedestrian bridge over the North Branch;the creation of new river access; and the development of newpublic green space. Construction is expected to begin this fa lland should be completed in 2015.

∙ Bike path

We have made a great deal of progress this year toward com-pleting the bike path from Granite Street to the Civic Center.he city is expected to finalize rights-of-way, easements and

permitting for the project this spring. Construction work will then be bid, and the path i s expected to be completed inthe fall of 2015. Bikers and walkers will able to use the pathto travel the entire length of Montpelier.

InfrastructureCity Council set an ambitious goal of increasing our invest-ment in city streets, bridges and sidewalk s over five years toensure that they are repaired and maintained in good con-dition. We estimate that this wi ll require us to spend about$800,000 more each year than we have been spending.he 2015 budget calls for an increase of $166,000 in in-frastructure investments, after a similar increase was madein this year’s budget. Residents should notice a significantimprovement in the quality of city streets a nd sidewalks.

Municipal Taxes Working together, City Counci l, the c ity manager and hisstaff have restrained the rate of growth in Montpelier’smunicipal tax rate. While our median tax bills remainhigh, our tax rate increased by only 0.5 percent in 2013.his year’s proposed budget calls for an increase of 1.8percent. he two-year average places us well below the rateof inflation. his is a significant accomplishment giventhe sizeable increase we have made in capital spending, as

well as the progre ss we have made on the range of projec tsdescribed above. Our city staff deser ve a great deal of creditfor proposing budgets that meet the council’s goal of mini-mizing tax increases, while also making more efficient thedelivery of city services.

Other Priorities∙ Address parking pressures

his is an ongoing challenge that has been difficult to solvegiven the limited availability of land in Montpelier and thecost of building a parking garage. Nonetheless, a parkingcommittee has spent a great deal of time, working closely with the s tate, to develop a lternatives. his will be an ongo-ing focus of attention in 2014.

∙ Improve the flow of information to and from thecommunity

he city is developing a new website, which is expected tolaunch in the fall of 2014. his modernized site, along withimproved protocols for communicating about city efforts, will help us present better information to the public and ob-tain feedback about how we are doing. he city did not meetthis goal with respect to the delivery of information aboutconstruction of the biomass plant, so this is an area that willrequire greater attention in the coming year.

∙ Become a nationally known bike- and pedestrian-

friendly city

he Montpelier Bike Advisory Committee, formed in 2011,meets regularly and is developing meaningful plans to makeMontpelier a more bike-friendly community. hanks to the work of Councilor Jessica Edgerly-Walsh, the council ap-proved a plan to devote 5 percent of all parking revenues toward improved infrastructure for alternative transportation. With those funds—about $45,000 per year—we shouldbegin to see more bike lanes and markings, bike racksand other improvements to make Montpelier a more bike-friendly place.

∙ Explore alternative energy initiatives

With the guidance of the Montpelier Energy Advisory Com-mittee, the city issued a request for proposals this fall toinstall photovoltaic arrays on city property for the purposeof generating energy for use by the city through group netmetering. he Energy Committee is currently reviewingresponses from seven vendors and will make a recommenda-tion to the council later this winter.

∙ Support and promote a vibrant downtown

I have met regularly with representatives of the farmers’market during the past year to encourage them not to movefrom downtown Montpelier. he market is now committed

to staying downtown, but it continues to seek a more per-manent location. he council and the voters also approvedthe creation of the Downtown Improvement District, whichhas created a significant new source of funding to makeour downtown more appealing. Finally, the city has workedclosely with Montpelier Alive on a range of other projects,including the creation of new parklets for downtown mer-chants and the periodic closure of State Street for events.Montpelier Alive continues to be an essential partner withthe city in promoting our downtown.

Montpelier is fortunate to have talented and dedicated cityemployees and volunteers. heir hard work—along with the work of my colleagues on City Council—is responsible forthe city’s progress in 2013.

a nnI e T I b e r I O Ca Me r On


11/24


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THE BRIDGE Janua ry 23 – Febru ary 5 , 2014 • page 13

Tell them you saw it in

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The Montpelier School Board is currently making a final decision on the elements of a proposedFY2015 School Budget that will likely to call for a proposed 13.04 % tax increase. This tax increaseonly applies to school spending. Voters at March City Meeting last year approved a school budget

with a 9.9 % increase. If we assume that this year’s proposed 13.04 percent school tax increase isapproved then Montpelier residents will have voted to increase their tax support over the past

two years by 22.94 %.

The pie chart below accounts for the principal elements in this year’s schoolbudget increase of 13.04 %, which amounts to 18.7 cents on the tax rate.

Proposed MontpelierSchool Budget

7.3 cents underthe direct controlof the MontpelierSchool Board asin salaries, basic

school operations,and the like.

7.3 cents8.8 cents man-dated by the State

of Vermont: as in 7.0cents for a state tax

increase. The bal-ance of 1.8 cents isan increase in the

state base paymentto Montpelier (or per

pupil cost.)

8.8 cents

2.6 cents accounts for the state’s “Com-mon Level of Appraisal” (CLA). Propertyvalues in Montpelier have risen in com-parison with property values across the

state. To even out this disparity the stateis assessing Montpelier for 2.6 cents.

2.6 cents


14/24


Hands-On Gardener

January is the month for ordering seeds,and this year is no exception. I’ve beenordering from catalogs as long as I’ve

been gardening—about 35 years. he cata-logs have changed from Gurney’s and Stoke’sto Fedco and Johnny’s, but the basic processhas remained the same. Go through my seedbox and jettison onion seeds over two yearsold and most other seeds more than three orfour years old. Pore over scrumptious photo-graphs of tomatoes and sweet corn, petuniasand zinnias and try to restrain my seed-buying alter ego, Rosalina, the impetuous,insatiable aspect of myself that is difficult to

control when it comes to buying seeds. Apparently Rosalina is not alone. A friend with a ver y small garden who buys her seedsoff the display shelf in garden centers re-cently admitted that even though she can’treally eat radishes—they upset her stom-ach—every year she buys a couple of packets:“I just get to thinking, they come up so fastand look how beautiful they are. Maybe thisyear I’ll be able to tolerate them.” Every yearshe grows them and every year she throwsthem away.

I’ve gotten somewhat better about restrainingRosalina when it comes to vegetables. herehave been years I’ve grown three or fourvarieties of Brussels sprouts, even though I’m

the only one in the family who enjoys them.Seven kinds of onions, four kinds of cab-bages—the list goes on. All right, I have toadmit I ordered three kinds of broccoli thisyear. But some are extra early; some producehuge, domed, ultratight heads; some have somany side shoots I’ll be amazed! You get thepicture.

his is called marketing, and it works. I’mnot sure why it has taken me so long to fig-ure this out. Something about buying seedsmakes gardeners feel so virtuous, so allied with nature and all that is right with the world. Surely the mere fact that we are plant-ing and growing our own food, making gar-dens of flowers, entitles us to splurge a little,go hog wild? Maybe it is time to rethink this.

Johnny’s is selling ‘Cheyenne Spirit,’ 25 seedsof gorgeous coneflowers (Echinacea) in col-ors that range from orange to purple, scarletto cream. Rosalina thinks she has to havethem, but even if only 10 germinate, where isshe going to plant them? After years of mov-ing perennials around, I’ve begun to under-stand why landscapers begin with a designand only start shopping for plants when thedesign is complete and the beds are prepared.

For 35 years Rosalina has had free rein.Maybe it’s time to exercise a little restraint. I won’t buy that packet of Echinacea seeds. In-stead, I might see if my neighbor, who surelyhas her own Rosalina to contend with, mightbe selling a pot or two of the Echinacea she’s

grown from seed. She has some in every hueand shade! hen, too, instead of crammingevery inch of the garden with vegetables andflowers, this year I will leave a third fallow,plant a cover crop and let the soil rest andrenew.

I feel remarkably virtuous. hat said, I’llconfess to ordering two kinds of radishes(‘Cherriettes’ and ‘French Breakfast’), twokinds of pole beans (‘Fortex’ and ‘North-easter’), three kinds of bush beans (‘Provider,’‘Maxibel’ and ‘Montpellier’), four kinds ofbroccoli (‘Arcadia,’ ‘Fiesta’ and ‘Belstar’)—the list goes on.

Rosalina and I are still debating whether tobuy one seed packet of dwarf ‘winny’ snap-dragons or three: if you buy three you get aprice break. As you can see, it is not easy totalk sense to a wild monkey when it comes toordering seeds.

I would suggest the following guidelines.Consider the amount of space you have toplant in. hink about the requirements forthe plants you think you’d like to grow.Fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers andeggplant really do need sun to produce well.Do you have a sunny spot, a dappled yardor full shade? Do you love to garden or doyou just want to grow your own spinachbecause you’re tired of spending four or fivedollars on a bag of greens? Really be honest with yourself about what you are trying toachieve.

hat same friend, who can’t resist a pictureof radishes, told me she grew something shecouldn’t identify when they matured. She fi-nally figured out she had grown beets! She’dforgotten she planted them and by the timethey were full grown realized there were toomany for her to eat. hink about this whenyou plant. Each seed when it germinatesreally will become a plant that you will ei-ther transplant outside or, if started in theground, will grow into a plant you will needto either eat or process in some way.

I am still interested in producing enoughfood for my husband and me and the twenty-somethings who continue to dip into ourlarder. I will continue to grow enough extrato sell and give away, but I think this mightbe the summer and fall to do some traveling.Maybe I don’t really need to be a commercialgrower. At least that’s what I’m telling Rosa-lina this year.

Happy ordering!

Miriam and her husband, David, live in EastMontpelier, where they grow most of theirown vegetables, berries and meat on less thanone-quarter of an acre. Your questions andcomments are welcome. You can reach Mir-iam at [email protected].

Restraining Rosalina by Miriam Hansen

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT PLANTING

AND MANAGING A SUCCESSFUL GARDEN?In the upcoming March 20 (2014) issue of The Bridge our gardening col-

umnist Miriam Hansen from East Montpelier will be answering as manyquestions as she can from gardeners just starting out and gardeners with many

years of experience.

If you have any questions along these lines, please send your questions toMiriam at [email protected] or write Miriam a letter mailed to this ad-dress: Miriam Hansen, 460 Sparrow Farm Road, Montpelier, VT 05602

Please be forthcoming with your questions. And Miriam will answer asmany of your questions as she can.

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15/24

THE BRIDGE Janua ry 23 – Februa ry 5, 2014 • page 15

Sunday, February 23, 7:30 PM

4:30 free pre-performance talkand community potluck dinner

Featuring:Project Director & Banjoist Jayme Stone

Fiddler Bruce MolskySinger-Songwriter Margaret Glaspy

and Guitarist Julian Lage

Main StreetRandolph, VT

Chandler Center for the Arts presents

Discounted advance prices available online at :www.chandler-arts.org or through the Chandler Box Ofce, 802-728-6464

Ruthie Foster & Eric Bibbin Concert TogetherFriday, February 7, 7:30 PM

“Thanks for the Joy”

Performing on their own and together, longtime friends and collaborators join forces to celebrate anight of joyful roots music in Randolph’s intimateChandler Music Hall

Sponsored by Pagoda Pond Gardens,John Westbrook, DDS and Arthur Knippler, DMD

Community Herbalism Workshops All clas ses are at 252 Main Street; pre- registration is required; Contact 224.7100 [email protected]. Class descriptions at vtherbcenter.org.

EVERGREEN MEDICINERebecca Dalgin, Clinical HerbalistSaturday, February 8th 1-3pm $12/$10 for members

SUNRISE TO SUNSET: EVERYDAY AROMATHERAPYLauren Andrews RN, Certified Aromatherapist Wednesday, February 12th 6-8pm $20/$18 for members ($8 materials fee)

THE ENERGETICS OF DEPRESSIONSarah Van Hoy, LAc Wednesday, February 26th 6- 8pm $12/$10 for members

RECIPES FOR HEALING: HERBAL SALVESEmma Merritt, Clinical HerbalistMonday, March 10th 6-8pm $17/$15 for members ($5 materials fee)

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR STRESSShona Richter MacDougall, Clinical Herbalist

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by Jeremy Lesniak

A s I write this, the Consumer Elec-tronics Show (CES) is getting readyto kick off in Las Vegas. As a tech

fan, this is always an exciting time of year,and a busy one for those of us who writeabout technology. However, as a consultantto those who see tech as something theyneed, CES represents almost everything thatis wrong with the industry.Every year, tech companies release a multi-tude of new products. You’ll never hear aboutmost of them, as they’re either insignificant,not stocked on shelves or both. CES was

originally a trade show, where retailers wouldcome together and see the latest productsfrom the manufacturers. hen the Internetcame along,and retailers could do all thatlegwork through e-mail and websites.

With that sh ift, CES slowly became a mar-keting machine, with manufacturers target-ing not the retailers that will carry theirproducts, but the users of these products. While there are over 3,000 companies ex-hibiting at CES this year, there are far, farmore people in attendance. A good percent-age of those people are journalists, which is why for the few weeks before, during andafter CES, there’s little to say about technol-ogy other than to comment on something

that happened at CES.he problem is really one of innovation.CES is not a place where companies demon-strate things they’re merely testing. It’s closerto being a big store, though the shopperscan’t buy anything. For the last few years,CES has been filled to the brim with prod-ucts that already existed. rue, they mayhave been larger or smaller or even a differ-ent color than a previous product. One ofthe most covered products last year was avibrating fork.

he lack of innovation comes from a goodnumber of factors, but mostly because thetech industry has matured so much. Peopleare holding onto their computers longer, be-

cause the changes from year to year are sosmall. We’re starting to see the same thing with cell phones. Most of us keep our carsmore than a couple of years, and not justbecause they’re expensive. Why go throughthe expense of a purchase when you’re notgetting anything for it?

Of course, the technology companies tryto convince us that newer is always better.Lately, I’m hearing from more people whoare finding the opposite to be true. Whetherit was being one of the first to upgrade to Apple’s iOS7 or being disappointed with Windows 8, I of ten hear about the dissatis-faction that many have with supposed im-provements to technology.

he challenge is that companies have tomake more stuff to stay in business. henthey have to convince you to buy that stuff.elling you something is just as good asit has always been won’t suffice, so theymake changes, whether they’re needed ornot. Anyone who has used QuickBooks for

their accounting knows that it’s always beena good product. Yet, year after year, newreleases of QuickBooks change things thatdon’t need changing, such as the location ofmenu items. QuickBooks is certainly not theonly example.

You may be wondering why, in a columndedicated to helping you understand tech-nology and how it impacts your life, I’mrailing against it. My goal is not to speakagainst technology, but rather to caution youon blindly upgrading. Newer is not alwaysbetter, and thus simply purchasing the newerversion of a product may not be the bestcourse of action, even if the old one is failing.I know a number of my customers who spend

considerable sums to support old, sometimes20-year-old, software in their business. heydo this because the new versions of the prod-uct don’t work as well or have some issue thatthey can’t remedy. I know of many organiza-tions that regret costly “upgrades” that they were assured would solve all their problems.

he way to avoid these pains is simple: re-search and plan. I’ve often spoken on theneed for planning the technology purchasesyou make. I rarely discuss the research,though. When considering an upgrade, talkto the people who actually use it. I find thereviews by technology writers to be a poor way to make a decision. If it’s an upgradefor your business, you may want to seek outorganizations that are using the software.

Never take anything the sales team tells youas true, as I’ve seen them outright lie to makea sale. If you want to spea k to someone at thecompany selling the product, the supportteam is usually the place you’ll get the mosthonest answers.

Of course, if shiny new gadgets and gizmosinterest you, as they do me, make sure youcheck out everything that’s come out of CES2014. here are sure to be a few things ofinterest. When it comes time to integratethose gadgets into your lives, though, makesure you do your homework.

Jeremy Lesniak founded Vermont Comput-ing (vermontcomputing.com) in 2001, after graduating from Clark University, and openeda store at 23 Merchants Row, Randolph, in May 2003. He also serves as managing editor for anewdomain.net. He resides in Moretown.

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JAN. 23Navigating the New Vermont Health CareExchange. Learn about Vermont Health CareConnect with Peter Sterling, executive direc-tor of the Vermont Campaign for Health CareSecurity. 2–5 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library,135 Main St, Montpelier. 223-3338. kellogghub-bard.org.

Alexander Technique Workshop. For body- workers and health and healing practitioners.5:30–7 p.m. 79 Main St., Montpelier. Free.Registsration: 223-7300. bala nceofbeing.com/

wp/workshops.

Memories of Montpelier with William Doyle. welve senior Montpelier residents share theirstories as kids during the days of trolley cars andice delivery wagons. 6:30–7:30 p.m. Cospon-sored by the Montpelier Historical Society.Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Mont-pelier. 223-3338. kellogghubbard.org.

Ecumenical Group. Songs of praise, Bibleteaching, fellowship. Second and fourth Turs.,7–9 p.m. Jabbok Center for Christian Living, 8Daniel Dr., Barre. Free. 479-0302.

Green Mountain Dog Club Monthly Meeting. Learn about the club and events. All dog lovers

welcome. Fourth Turs., 7:30 p.m. Commo-dore’s Inn, Stowe. 479-9843 or greenmountain-dogclub.org.

JAN. 24LGBTQQ Youth Group. Lesbian, gay, bisexual,

transgender, queer or questioning youth age13–22 enjoy free pizza, soft drinks and conversa-tion. Facilitated by adult volunteers trained byOutright V. Second and fourth Fri., 6:30–8p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpe-lier. Free. outrightvt.org.

Dark Times for Bats. Wildlife biologis t MollieMatteson, from the Center for Biological Di-versity, talks about why bats are important andthe multiple threats to bat survival, includingdisease, pesticides, climate change and la rge-scale wind energy. 7 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130Main St. Montpelier. $5 suggested donation.

Great Green Mountain Bob Dylan WannabeContest. 7–9 p.m. Montpelier High School.o compete in the Bob Dylan contest, e-mail

[email protected]. Suggested dona-tion: $10 to benefit Vermontivate, a com-munity sustainability game. facebook.com/events/1412552488979105/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming. vermontivate.com.

JAN. 24–25Superbowl of Birding XI. Winter’s premier bird-

ing competition is back. In the past five years,NBNC’s youth and young adult teams havetallied 92 species. North Branch Nature Center,713 Elm St., Montpelier. 229-6206. [email protected].

JAN. 24–26Frostival. Tree days of winter events promotingphysical movement in Montpelier. Most eventsfree and family friendly. Information: [email protected] or 223-9604. For full listof events and descriptions: montpelieralive.org/Frostival-2014.

JAN. 25Snowshoe, Groton. With the Green MountainClub. Moderate. About 5 miles. Snowshoe toPeacham Bog and return. Contact leader SteveLightholder at 479-2304 for meeting time andplace.

Pancake Breakfast. Benefit for the church.Vegetarian and gluten-free options available.8–10:30 a.m. Unitarian Church of Montpelier,130 Main St., Montpelier. ickets available atthe door. $8 adult; $5 child; $25 family up tofive members. 223 -7861.

Mammoth Book Sale. Tousands of books onevery subject, priced $2 and under. All proceedsbenefit the library. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Jaquith Public

Library, Old Schoolhouse Common, School St.,Marshfield. 454-7767.

Everybody Wins! Vermont Ninth AnnualRead-a-Thon. Free, family-friendly event cel-ebrating literacy and mentoring. Attendees readbooks aloud, in pairs and small groups, to breaklast year’s record of books read in an hour. Mar-ko the Magician, snacks, prizes and free booksfor kids.1–3:30 p.m. National Life Building, 1National Life Dr., Montpelier. Free. [email protected].

Creating an Herbal Medicine Chest for Coldand Flu. With Rebecca Dalgin. Learn how touse plants to support immune health along withherbal approaches to cold and flu care. 1:30–3:30p.m. Jaquith Public Library, Old SchoolhouseCommon, 122 School St., Marshfield. 426-3581. [email protected]. marsh-field.lib.vt.us.

Hot Stove Banquet. Meet award-winning movieactor Giancarlo Esposito at fundraiser for theVermont Mountaineers. Dinner, a silent auctionand video presentations. Meet and greet at 5:30p.m. Capitol Plaza, Grand Ballroom, Main St.,Montpelier. $45 adults; $25 children under 12.able of eight $360. ickets: 223-5224 or thev-ermontmountaineers.com.

Snow Ball. Join us for Frostival’s creative black-tie formal. Dance instructor: Samir Elabd.Music by Montpelier Chamber Orchestra StringQuartet. Food and drinks. 7:30 p.m. CityCenter, Montpelier. $10 advance; $15 door; $20couple at the door. ickets: 223-9604 or mont-pelieralive.org.

DANCEFeb. 5: Open Rehearsal/ Outside Installationand Performance of Animal. Hanna Satterleepresents her work in progress. 1:15–2:45 p.m.Haybarn Teatre, Goddard College, 123 PitkinRd., Plainfield. [email protected]. han-nasatt.wordpress.com.

THEATER, STORYTELLING& COMEDY Jan. 25: Vermont Vaudeville. 7 p.m. Hay-barn Teatre, Goddard College, 123 PitkinRd.,Plainfield. $8–$12 advance; $10–$15 door.533-2589. VermontVaudeville@gmai l.com.VermontVaudeville.com

Jan. 31: Vermont Vaudeville . 7 p.m. BigPicture Teater, Waitsfield, Vermont. $8–$15.533-2589. VermontVaudeville@gmai l.com.VermontVaudeville.com.

Jan. 31: Why I Lost the Popularit y Contest. Performative poetry reading by MagdalenaGómez from her new book due out in spring2014. Followed by a Q&A. 7:30 p.m. Hay-

barn Teatre, Goddard College, 123 Pitkin

Rd.,Plainfield. Free. 454-8311. goddard.edu. Jan. 31: Capitol Steps. Political satire troupe.7:30 p.m. Barre Opera House, 6 N. Main St.,Barre. $22–$28. 476-8188.

Feb. 2: Mass Appeal Comedy Showcase. El-lington Wells, Kathleen Kan z, Chris Parker,

Joel Chaves and Ca rmen Laga la. First Sun., 7p.m. Sweet Melissa’s, 4 Langdon St., Montpe-lier. $5.

Feb. 5: Lamb Chop Loves America: Mal-lory Lewis and Lamb Chop. Proceeds supportRhythm of the Rein Terapeutic Riding Pro-gram, Marshfield. 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7:30p.m. Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury Academy, 1000Main St., St. Johsnbury. $15 adult; $5 eighthgrade and younger. ickets and information:748-2600. catamountarts.org.

Feb. 6–9: The Vagina Monologues by Eve

Ensler. Turs.– Sat. 7:30 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m.Lost Nation Teater, Montpelier City Hall ArtsCenter, 39 Main St., Montpelier. $20 adults;$15 students and seniors. 229-0492. [email protected]. lostnationtheater.org.

Feb. 7: Laugh Local VT Open Mic ComedyNight. Montpelier’s monthly comedy open mic,open to the general public. If you are a comicand want mic time, this is the place. Sign up7:30 p.m.; show 8 p.m. American Legion Post3, 21 Main St., Montpelier. Free, but doughnation$ welcome. 793-3884.

Feb. 9: See No Evil and Lunches. Staged read-ings of two new plays: See No Evil by MauraCampbell and Lunches by Roger Strauss. 7 p.m.Chandler’s Upper Gallery, 71-73 Main St.,Randolph. $10 advance, $12 door; $5 students.728-6464.

Performing Arts

Painting by Ken Leslie, on exhibitat the Vermont Supreme Court.

Dancers performing in Hanna Satterlee’s Animal. Photo by Joseph Shelley.


18/24


JAN. 26Ski for Heat Central Vermont. Cross-country

ski and snowshoe fundraiser for heating fuel a s-sistance. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Morse Farm Ski ouringCenter, 1168 County Rd., Montpel ier. 793-7674.

MFA in Visual Art Winter 2014 Residency Sym-posium. Join an interdisc iplinary pres entationand discussion on issues of multiculturalism andtolerance; how struggles for societal expressionand political agency factor into the individualartistic practice. 9 a.m.–noon. VCFA Chapel,Vermont College of Fine Arts, 36 College St.,Montpelier. Free. vcfa.edu/visual-art-events.

History and Meaning of Orthodox Iconog-raphy. Slide show and talk by iconographerDmitri Andreyev. Church tour will be available.12:15–1:15 p.m. St. Jacob’s Orthodox Church,Rte. 12 Northfield Fall. 485-9121.

Ice on Fire. Outdoor winter festival. Parade,storytelling, winter games, theater and more.2–5 p.m. North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm

St., Montpelier. Suggested donation: $3 adult; $1child; $5 family. 229-6206. [email protected].

10,000 Black Men Named George. LaborMovie Night at the Old Labor Hall. Te storyof Phillip Randolph and the struggle to organizethe Sleeping Porter Car Union. 5 p.m. 46 Gran-ite St., Barre. Free, donations accepted. 485-4554. [email protected]. oldlaborhall.com.

Monthly Book Group for Adults. Fourth Mon.,7 p.m. New members always welcome. Janu-ary’s book is Te Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls.February’s book is Brooklyn by Colm oibin.For book copies, please stop by the library. Ja-quith Public Library, 122 School St., Marshfield.426-3581. [email protected].

JAN. 27NAMI Vermont Family Support Group. Supportgroup for families and friends of individuals living

with mental illness. Fourth Mon., 7 p.m. CentralVermont Medical Center, room 3, Berlin. 800-639-6480 or namivt.org.

JAN. 28Medicare and You. Free workshops for those

new to Medicare. Second and fourth ues.,3–4:30 p.m. Central Vermont Council on

Aging , 59 N. Main St., Suite 200, Barre. Free.Registration: 479-0531.

Business Wisdom Circle. Monthly networkingand mentoring opportunity for women in businessor aspiring to be in business. Nominal fee includeslight refreshments. Last ues., 4:30–6:30 p.m.CVCAC Campus, 20 Gable Pl., Barre. Informa-tion and registrat ion: 479-9813, [email protected] vwbc.org.

Food and Mood. With Leah Webb, MPH,holistic health coach. Learn the importance ofeating well to feel more energized and balanceyour emotions. 6–7 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coopcommunity room, Stone Cutters Way, Montpe-lier. Free. Preregister: 223-8000 x202 or [email protected].

JAN. 29Introduction to Scratch. Kids learn how toprogram their own interactive stories and anima-tions using a popular new program called Scratch.Fourth–sixth graders. 3–4 p.m. Waterbury PublicLibrary, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. Registration:244-7036.

Chronic Inflammation Linked to Degenera-tive Disease. With Peter Farber, MS. Loweryour risk for chronic inflammation. 6:30–7:30p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room,Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. Free. Preregister:223-8000 x202 or [email protected].

Lincoln and Vermont. Presented by HowardCoffin. Hosted by the Waterbury HistoricalSociety. 7:30 p.m. American Legion Post 59, 16Stowe St., Waterbury. Free.

JAN. 30Bridges Out of Poverty Workshop. Facilitatedby Prudence Pease, this workshop will providea conceptual overview and specific strategies forimproving outcomes for people in poverty, witha panel of local leaders. 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Capitol

Plaza, Montpelier. $110 includes lunch and workbook. 535-8383. linda@snel lingcenter.org.snellingcenter.org/vln-professional-development-

opportunities.Solar Informational Session. Learn aboutpowering your home with solar energy. Snacksprovided by Te Woods @ Wihakowi. 6:30–7:30p.m. Brown Public Library 93 South Main St.,Northfield. 274-4756. [email protected].

Introduction to Fly-Tying Workshops. Learnhow to tie some classic flys. Age 12 throughadult. ying materials and some equipmentsupplied. 6:30 p.m. Waterbury Public Library,28 N. Main St., Waterbury. Free. Registrationrequired: 244-7036.

Bio-Individuality and Epigenetics Workshop. With Sarah R ichardson, M.Ed, M.S., certifiedholistic health coach. Do you fear aging becauseof illnesses you see running in your family? Findout what current research may mean for yourhealth. 6–7:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coopcommunity room, Stone Cutters Way, Mont-pelier. $2 member-owners; $3 nonmembers.Register: 223-8000 x202 or [email protected].

JAN. 31Enjoy the Wonders of Fungi. With Eric Swan-son of Vermush. Learn how to culture and growyour Mycelium into fungi. 5–7 p.m. HungerMountain Coop community room, Stone Cut-ters Way, Montpelier. $10 member-owners; $12nonmembers. Register: 223-8000 x202 or [email protected].

FEB. 1National Federation of the Blind, MontpelierChapter. First Sat. Lane Shops communityroom, 1 Mechanic St., Montpelier. 229-0093.

Bottle Drive for Vermont Horse-AssistedTherapy. Raising money for lesson scholarshipfund. Meet therapy horses and VHA sta ffmembers and board of directors. 9 a.m.–noon.Pease Farm Stable, 307 Culver Hill Rd., Middle-sex. 223-4828.

Nurturing Positive Relationships. Tree-hour workshop. Providing practica l tools to buildhappier relationships. 9 a.m.–noon. Montpe-

lier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. $25.Reigstration and information: 223-2618.

EarthWalk Winter Community Day. Naturegames and activities, tracking, pizza baking ,fireside songs and more. Potluck. 11 a.m.–3p.m. Hawthorn Meadow, Goddard CollegeCampus, Plainfield. Suggested donation $5–$10.454-8500. earthwalkvermont.org.

Friends of the Aldrich Library Annual WinterBanquet/Auction. Beef tenderloin dinner(vegetarian option available), silent and liveauctions supporting library programs, services.Cocktails 5 p.m.; dinner 6 p.m. Barre Elks Club.$25. Reservations and information: [email protected].

Latin Dinner and Dance. Mexican dinnerserved at 6:30 followed by salsa dance lessonsand live music. U-32, 930 Gallison Hill Rd.,Montpelier. $15 adults; $7 students $7; $35 fam-ily. ickets: 229-0321 x5179 or [email protected].

FEB. 2Cross-country Ski Craftsbury. With GreenMountain Club, Montpelier. All abi lities,various distances. Enjoy a day of skiing on the

well-groomed tra ils of Craft sbury Nordic Cen-ter. rail fee. Meet at Montpelier High School.Contact leaders, Reidun and Andrew Nuquist, at223-3550 for meeting time.

1964: A Watershed Year in Vermont’s Politi-cal (and Cultural) History. Deborah Luskindiscusses the swing of the political pendulumin Vermont using research from her novel Intothe Wilderness. Noon–12:45 p.m. vegetarian/dairy potluck lunch. 12:45–1:45 p.m. talk. Beth

Jacob Synagogue, 10 Harrison Ave., Montpelier.Free. 279-7518. [email protected].

bethjacobvt.org.Tales of the Underground Railroad in Ver-mont: Telling It Like It Was. Presentation by

Jane Willi amson from the Rokeby Museum,Ferrisburgh. Light refreshments. Sponsored by

Waterbury Public Librar y. 2 p.m. WaterburySenior Center, 14 Stowe St., Waterbury. Free.

MusicVENUESBagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. Free. 229-9212. bagitos.com.

Jan. 23 : Montpelier High School jazz band,6–8 p.m. Jan. 24 : Jim Tompson (piano and song)6–8 p.m. Jan. 25: Irish session with Sarah Blair, HilariFarrington Koehler, Benedict Koehler, Ka-trina Vanyne and others, 2¬–5 p.m.; Wavesof Adrenaline with Alana Shaw and Bridget

Ahrens (contempora

Documents

The Bridge, January 23, 2014