Views of Dummerston - 2023#2 - Spring

Point / Counterpoint

Is Town Meeting Best for Dummerston?

The Views Staff

At the time of this year’s town meeting, Bill Holiday and Paul Normandeau submitted an article to the Views, copied to the selectboard, in support of in-person town meetings. Selectboard member Zeke Goodband asked if he could write a response with his personal thoughts about deciding town business and budget matters by a town meeting vote. We generally avoid contentious issues, but this one seems very fundamental to our town identity. We’ve therefore decided

In Favor of In Person Town Meeting

A recent Board of Civil Authority meeting had approved additions and deletions to the voter list and were given the schedule of assignments for the upcoming town meeting day. BCA members and a few approved members of the community were at the town clerk’s office throughout the voting period to oversee activities. This is state law.

As a result of the Covid pandemic, there has been no in-person town meeting recently. At the conclusion of the BCA meeting some members chatted about the lack of a town meeting. Most were in agreement that they would like to see a return to the in-person variety as soon as possible.

Why have a town meeting? The Greeks are credited with the founding of the pure form of democracy—democracy in which the continued on page 16

to print both articles side by side, and invite Dummerstonians to send letters to us with their thoughts on the subject, which we will print in the next issue of the Views. So please read and consider these opposing viewpoints, and send us your thoughts, written as succinctly as possible, to articles@viewsofdummerston.org. Please keep your letters to a maximum of 150 words, about the length of this introduction, and get them to us by June 20th

Another View of Town Meeting

I’m going to start by saying that although I am a member of the selectboard, I am speaking for myself and not the board.

I love almost everything about town meeting; catching up with old friends, meeting new neighbors, thoughtful, respectful discussions, amendments to articles and line items, the beauty of Robert’s Rules of Order, the crafting of the town’s future for the coming year. There’s no better place to tell jokes as far as I know.

I am concerned that if we settle for accepting that our present town meeting system is the height of democracy, we may be less inclined to find ways to improve and make it more accessible to all voters.

There are 1,570 registered voters in Dummerston. For in-person town meetings continued on page 17

“Trees Were Coming Down from Everywhere!”

Linda and I were headed to Florida on March 13th, hoping that we would be able to fly out of Bradley Field before the forecasted snowstorm moved in. Our daughter Liz was coming up from Boston that day to spend a week in our house, so we felt fortunate to have somebody at home during what was projected to be a heavy snow.

Don Mills, operations supervisor for Green Mountain Power, went to his office at 2 a.m. on Tuesday and realized this storm had much heavier snow than the storm we got back in December. GMP was already prepared for a mess; conference calls with other power companies in the northeast, which essentially form a mutual aid society, resulted in an armada of service vehicles assembling in Brattleboro. “We started with crews from Quebec, Riggs-Distler, a contract outfit from Rhode Island, and Alliance crews from the Boston area. Then we had crews come in from Tennessee and New Brunswick. There was also a crew from Oklahoma,” Don told me.

In Dummerston, road foreman Lee Chamberlin had arranged for his crew to come in at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, “But when I got up at 4 there was already four inches of snow on Kipling Road and about five inches in Dummerston Center. We could keep up with it when there were no trees down, but we couldn’t keep up with it up high (way up Stickney Brook, Hill, and Sunset Lake Roads) because the snow countinud on page 10

The Views of Dummerston is a quarterly newsletter published by a group of citizen volunteers since 1990, and has non-profit status through the Dummerston Community Center. Mary Lou McBean had the original vision for and was first editor of the Views, and Gary Blomgren created the original masthead art. The current steering committee includes Roger Turner (editor), Michelle Cherrier (co-articles coordinator and calendar), Fred Lee (layout), Sara Ryan (ad coordinator), Linda Rood (co-articles coordinator), and Lee Ives Tice (mailing). We always welcome new interest in joining the committee.

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

The Views is mailed free of charge to all residents of the town of Dummerston. It is also available online at viewsofdummerston.org. We encourage people to help us save printing and mailing expenses by cancelling their print subscription and accessing the Views online at viewsofdummerston.org; to do so please email Sara Ryan at: subscribe online@viewsofdummerston.org. If you are not a resident of Dummerston and would prefer to receive a paper copy of the Views, you may subscribe for an annual cost of $5. Mail a check made payable to Views of Dummerston, with your name and mailing address to Lee Tice, 230 School House Rd., East Dummerston, VT 05346.

ARTICLES:

We welcome all articles related in any way to the town of Dummerston, including news of town organizations, personalities, history, or activities. Email Microsoft Word documents (preferred) to: articles@viewsof dummerston.org. Typed or hand-written articles can also be sent to: Michelle Cherrier, 72 Miller Rd., East Dummerston, VT 05346.

CALENDAR:

Any (non-commercial) event you would like listed on our Calendar of Events should be emailed to: calendar@ viewsofdummerston.org, or mailed to Michelle Cherrier at the above address.

NEXT ISSUE:

Submissions due: June 20, 2023

Views will be mailed on: August 2, 2023

ADVERTISING:

Rates: All rates are for four issues, however a large or small box ad can be placed for just one issue at an adjusted rate. Payment should be by a check made out to the Views of Dummerston, and mailed to: Sara Ryan, 53 Greenhoe Rd., East Dummerston, VT 05346

Small Box Ad $55

Large Box Ad $85

Information/Inquiries: Contact Sara Ryan at: ads@ viewsofdummerston.org, or at 387-0110.

SPONSORSHIPS:

Sponsorships of $25 for four issues augment our ad revenues to provide us with operating funds. You will be notified when your sponsorship is up and invited to renew. If you wish to become a sponsor or have questions, contact Sara Ryan as above.

Digital Views available

Featuring easy navigation, clickable links, and full color. We’re sure you’ll love it! viewsofdummerston.org

Dummerston Selectboard Meetings

Recorded and televised by BCTV and online at www.brattleborotv.org. (Select “Watch”, select “Watch On Demand”, select “Playlist”, scroll to “Dummerston”, select meeting.)

The Dummerston Garden

Pruning Highbush Blueberries

Blueberries are a popular backyard fruit. Once established, they provide lots of delicious, healthy berries for many decades, if properly cared for. To succeed with blueberries, plant winter-hardy varieties, maintain soil pH between 4.5 and 5.5, mulch every few years with several inches of wood chips or sawdust, apply a nonnitrate source of nitrogen fertilizer in early spring, irrigate as needed, and use netting to exclude birds. Also important, and frequently overlooked, is annual pruning.

Pruning is essential to maintain the vigor and yield of blueberry bushes, and it promotes larger fruit, shapes the bush so it is easier to harvest, and helps avoid insect and disease problems. Pruning may be overlooked because the benefits are in the future--you don’t see them quickly. Another reason is that bushes with lots of leaves and quite a few berries may seem just fine. But without a well-pruned bush for comparison, it’s hard to see the benefits of pruning.

Early in life, blueberries don’t need much pruning. In years one and two, remove all flower buds by rubbing them off or cutting the shoot tips off. This directs the plant’s energy into cane growth.

Starting in year three, remove all twiggy or low-growing canes, and leave only two or three of the strongest, well-spaced new canes that were produced the previous year. In subsequent years continue to remove all but two or three of the newest canes produced, leaving only upright, strong canes with space between them.

Different varieties produce different numbers of canes each year, so they vary in how much pruning they require. When a blueberry bush has reached full size, in about eight years, ideally it

will have 15 to 20 canes, of all different ages. Old bushes should not have a lot of old canes. These reduce yield because thick, older canes need more leaves to support fruit growth than they did when they were young, and they make it difficult for new canes to emerge and thrive, which is needed for sustained production. If you don’t know the age of canes, a rule of thumb is to remove larger canes before they reach one inch in diameter; they’re usually gray with lichen growing on them.

If you’ve fallen behind in pruning, it’s time to remove several “dinosaur” canes per plant, to create space for younger canes. Up to one fifth of all canes can be removed per year, without yield loss. Berry numbers will be reduced, but fruit will be larger on younger canes, and more space and light will benefit new canes that emerge.

Regardless of their age, it’s always good to remove dead, damaged, or diseased canes, along with any that stick out too far sideways, or grow very low to the ground. If two canes are growing very close together, one should be removed, so they don’t compete. Try to open up the plant canopy. If it’s dense in the middle then air and light can’t get in, leading to high humidity. That promotes diseases and also provides comfort for the insect pest called spotted wing drosophila.

Late winter to early spring is a good time to prune. Use bypass pruners to cut canes off as close to the ground as possible. High pruning cuts do not stimulate new canes to emerge from the crown, instead, weaker side shoots will grow. Try not to leave any stubs.

Pruning every year, or every other year, really pays off in the long run. Your blueberry bushes will thank you—with plentiful berries.

The Views of Dummerston Mission Statement

Providing reports of town organizations, and stories of townspeople and their good deeds, in promoting cooperation and understanding toward creating a more “ideal” Dummerston.

“All who read may also contribute!”—Mary Lou McBean, founder, Views of Dummerston

town government

Dummerston Selectboard Board Reorganizes, Seeks Volunteers

The selectboard would like to welcome our new member Alex Wilson to the board, and thank departing member Rebecca Lotka for her service. We have reorganized and Zeke Goodband is chair, Terry Chapman vice-chair, and Maria Glabach is clerk. Over the past couple of months we have received resignations from both the planning commission and the development review board. We are desperately seeking volunteers for these positions and other positions that need to be filled. We need volunteers to function as a town and we greatly appreciate those who have stepped up to volunteer.

The town has recently received the last major payment for FEMA reimbursement from the July 2021 storm. We are currently waiting on the state’s portion of five percent and administrative costs which we hope to receive in the next few months.

The town received $525,647 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. These funds need to be authorized for use by December 30, 2024 and paid out by December 30, 2026 or they will have to be sent back to the U.S. Treasury. We met last summer with various organizations and committees and continue to do so. As of this writing in mid-March we have authorized $201,808.34 and paid out $125,124.84 in warrants. There are projects still being worked on and are awaiting bills.

The following is a breakdown of what the selectboard has used or approved for the use of ARPA funds:

Town Office

• The generator failed late last winter and has been replaced and the propane tank filled (12,306.61).

• Upgrades have been made to the computer/firewall/server setup (5,410.50).

• Two mini-splits have been installed in the

meeting room and upstairs ($8,160.83).

• We’ve installed a new door handle ($103), and authorized the office floors to be stripped and waxed ($1,000).

• There are projects that have not been authorized but are on the list, including replacement of the sewer pipe (spring/ summer 2023), removal of bat guano and insulation in the attic (out to bid spring/ summer 2023), new signage, and digitization of town records.

Highway Department

We have authorized three engineering projects for Leonard Road ($7,000), Johnson’s Curve ($8,500) and Park Laughton Road ($9,200). The outside boiler has recently failed and we are in the process of awarding a bid for replacement. The covered bridge decking is in need of replacement earlier than expected. We are currently in the bidding process for the decking project and expect to put out bids for actual work this fall with work done in summer of 2024. We also have a request of $118,070 to cover any FY23 highway expenses that go over budget due to inflation.

Fire Department

We have authorized and paid out new lighting at the West Station ($16,905), West Station Bay doors ($17,951.43), ten pagers ($4,358) and center station generator ($14,768.80).

Historical Society

We have authorized funds for basement insulation ($7,765) and attic insulation ($3,480). Currently half has been paid out as we are awaiting completion of the work. Further approval has been given for exterior wash/paint ($1,800), mini-splits ($11,410), and a new door ($2,710).

Evening Star Grange

We authorized and expended for repair and

Sponsors

Gordon & Linda Evans

Heather & Gene Rostov

Akara Draper & Linnie Jones

Elizabeth Catlin & Jared Flynn

Cliff Adler & Lynn Levine

replacement of slate roof ($6,163.10), ceiling repair ($2,540) and interior painting ($12,000).

Recreation Board

We have authorized and expended soccer goals ($4,355) and ice-skating rink ($6,919.57). We have authorized but not expended the following: recreation shed electricity ($2,317.50), shelving for the recreation shed ($760), and updated sports equipment ($1,000).

Community Center

We authorized and expended funds to help offset the increase in fuel costs ($3,500). The town owns the building but leases it to the Community Center. We authorized and expended for a full building inspection ($1,350). The water heater and pressure tank were a top priority to be replaced, and we authorized ($5,874.90) for this repair. The Community Center and selectboard will be meeting to discuss funds for other repairs.

We have also gotten requests from Dummerston Cares ($45,000), Green Mountain Camp ($86,563), DV Fiber to assist residents with internet costs, and the energy committee for a proposed West Dummerston village wastewater system. These requests have not been acted on.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact a board member. We are still meeting at the Community Center every other Wednesday at 6 p.m. if you would like to attend.

Compliments of Priscilla Svec, P.T.

Practicing Holistic Physical Therapy

126 Main Street, Putney 387-4799

There

town government

Dummerston Conservation Commission

Forester and Wildlife Rehabilitators Address Commission

The weather this winter was erratic enough to give one’s expectations whiplash. In January and February, temperatures were unusually mild. For most of February, my yard, as well as nearby fields, were mostly snow-free. Then early March brought heavy, wet snows, blustery winds, and power outages! Despite all those annoying weather swings, the Conservation Commission managed to stay active, engaged and productive.

On February 1st, Windham County Forester Sam Schneski gave a talk entitled Reserve Forestland, a New Current Use Category. The change to the Use Value Appraisal program that he outlined allows landowners to opt for managing some select portions of any enrolled property in a way that promotes old growth forest conditions.

Interested qualifying landowners can reach out to Sam.Schneski@Vermont.gov to learn more.

A near capacity crowd packed the meeting room at the Community Center to hear Schneski’s presentation. All were interested in the concepts he expounded on and enthusiastic about the possibilities raised by the old growth management category he outlined.

In late March wildlife rehabilitator Fred Homer and local veterinarian Ron Svec (retired) gave a slide show and talk about their longtime partnership in the rescue, care, and rehabilitation of birds, especially birds of prey. Working both individually and in concert with staff at the vet clinic, this duo has, for decades, provided medical and rehabilitative care to an array of avian species. Their complementary roles, long time collaboration, and friendship have resulted in an interesting, inspiring, and well-documented history which we were privileged to have them share. An enthusiastic group filled to overflowing the meeting room at the Community Center for this talk and the love and respect audience members felt for

Sponsors

this duo was palpable.

Now, having reported I’m going to share a fun (and a bit sensational) picture of a very defensive garter snake.

Garter snakes are by far the most common

hand to manipulate my camera resulting in the above rather out of focus picture. Throughout the photo session the snake continued to strike with approximately the speed and tempo of a sewing machine. When I finally deposited the snake safely out of harm’s way I was unharmed, in fact completely unmarked, and more than a little amused by the gameness of that skinny little scrapper.

I once heard herpetologist Jim Andrews say that he wished everyone would get bitten once by one of our non-venomous snakes. Through that experience he thought that those struck would learn that there is nothing to fear from being thus bitten. I would agree, although I don’t think that all of our fears are totally rational; a snake poised to strike still makes me hesitate.

I have handled garters, milk snakes, brown snakes, ring-necked snakes, red-bellied snakes, green snakes, and I hope someday to handle a Northern water snake. I don’t find any of them terribly threatening. None have inflicted appreciable damage despite, like the garter I rescued, putting up very credible defenses.

Linda

Nick

Martha & Mitch Momaney

Marcy Hermansader

Lou Nelson

of the seven species of snake I might encounter in my rambles. They are prolific breeders and grow to maturity in under two years. Unfortunately they are fond of basking in roads and on trails, a habit which often proves fatal.

Whenever I see a soon-to-be-roadkill snake I move it to safety, and the little garter pictured - 18 inches long, as big around as my little finger - definitely misunderstood my intent. In the time it took me to straighten up after grasping the little reptile it struck perhaps two dozen times. At one point I think it was even contemplating swallowing me whole. After reprimanding the ungrateful cuss I used one

All of the snakes found in Dummerston are harmless and I have often told people that we have no venomous species. However, that is not technically true. Garter snakes do in fact have very mild venom which they deliver with their back teeth exclusively to subdue prey that they are in the act of swallowing. The venom is not powerful enough to harm a human and it would require sticking a finger deep into the snake’s mouth for any to be delivered. And I can attest that a garter snake, having no fangs, can strike you any number of times without inflicting any damage or delivering any venom.

If you see a soon-to-be-roadkill snake on a road or trail the ideal strategy would be to grasp it close behind the head therefore making it impossible for the snake to strike. But, if the options are allowing the snake to be killed or risking being bitten don’t worry, I have never experienced anything worse than a mild pinch during such rescues.

And, while any snake you grab will probably not be grateful, it will be alive. Few creatures the size of the garter pictured would have put up as spirited a defense. I admire that, no matter how ludicrous it seemed in that moment.

For more information on the Conservation Commission go to http://www.dummerston conservation.com

town government

West Dummerston Volunteer Fire Department Tradition Returns with Barbecue Chicken Event

Hello residents of Dummerston, and we would like to start by saying thank you for the overwhelming support for and approval of our new fire truck. This year is shaping up to be a busy year. In January, February, and March we were trending an average of a call a day.

Events: We have many events planned for this year including the return of a sweet, tangy tradition dating back to the 1960s but has been off the agenda for quite a few years. This year on May 20th the WDVFD is teaming up with KOA Journey to bring back the barbecue chicken tradition, with a twist. The event will be hosted by the Vintage Camper Rally and sponsored by KOA Journey. The plan is

Dummerston Treasurer

to have barbeque chicken, pulled pork, and all the fixings from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. For the most up-to-date information please follow our WDFD Facebook page. Other events planned for this year include our free kids’ fishing derby on Sunday June 11 th, with prizes which will be awarded at the East-West Road station, our annual golf tournament at the Brattleboro Country Club which is tentatively scheduled for Saturday August 26th, and last but not least our annual pancake breakfast to be held during the apple pie festival on Sunday, October 8th. Burning Permits: We would like to remind folks that if you plan to burn, please call ahead for a permit. Last year our call volume for brush fires doubled from previous years, a number we’d like to see recede. Folks may call one of the following for a permit: Fire Chief

Charlotte Annis to Leave Treasurer Post

We expect to mail out the 2023 tax bills the second week of July. The first due date will be August 21, 2023.

Direct debit is available for tax payments. Please contact the office if you would like the sign-up sheet emailed or mailed to you. Tax payments are pulled from your account on

the day that taxes are due. There is no need to worry about bad weather or just forgetting. We have eighty property owners enrolled with no complaints!

This will be my last year as treasurer. Working at the town office is wonderful. The hours are flexible and perfect for a person with school-age children. I would love to talk with anyone interested in running in 2024. Email me at treasurer@ dummerston.org or give a call (802-257-1496).

Rick Looman at 802-258-1731, Fire Warden Ted Glabach at 802-384-6994, or Deputy Fire Warden Allen Pike at 802-258-0100. Please do not call these numbers in the event of an emergency - dial 911. Also, please note that a permit does not exclude you from charges for services rendered if a wildfire was caused from negligence or illegal burning. For example, if we issued a permit for a brushfire and the fire was left unattended and got out of control, or an accelerant was used causing it to get out of control, or the permit was used to burn prohibited materials such as trash or painted or pressure-treated wood and the fire department had to be called, the permit holder could face a bill for our services. In other words, we issue a permit based on weather conditions making it unlikely that a reasonable fire of permitted materials will cause a wildland fire.

Thank you for reading, and we look forward to serving the townspeople should you need help. We hope to catch many neighbors at one of our events this year.

Fast Eddie’s Restaurant

Ice Cream Shop

OPEN YEAR ROUND

Catering- Lunch ~Dinner~ Dine-in

Curbside Pick up~ Take-Out

833Putney Road ~ (802)-579-1474

bakerviolinshop@gmail.com

www.bakerviolinshop.com

Primary Care  Emergency Care  PT/OT Just up the road in Townshend 365-7357 www.gracecottage.org

Fast Eddie’s Restaurant

Ice Cream Shop

OPEN YEAR ROUND

Catering- Lunch ~Dinner~ Dine-in

Curbside Pick up~ Take-Out

833Putney Road ~ (802)-579-1474

Fast Eddie’s Restaurant

Ice Cream Shop

OPEN YEAR ROUND

Catering- Lunch ~Dinner~ Dine-in

Evening Star Grange

In-Person Suppers Returning to the Grange

By the time you receive this, our first public supper of the year at the Grange Hall will be over. A successful Sugar on Snow Supper was served to a group of hungry people, who hopefully enjoyed themselves, and we thank each and every one of you who came. Thanks to all of our busy sugar makers who donated syrup as well. We really appreciate it, and we hope to see more of our local folks at future meals. Get your calendar out and mark June 10th on your calendar for our chicken pie supper. Plans for that meal are not finalized, but you can count on our usual chicken pie with homemade biscuits and gravy, mashed potato, a veggie or two, and something yummy for dessert.

As I write this, plans for Memorial Day have not been decided. We do know that Brattleboro and Vernon will be holding Memorial Day gatherings with music, speakers, and appre-

Passings

ciation given to our soldiers, those still with us and those who are not with us in body but remain deep in our hearts in spirit. We hope you will take time from celebrating a day away from work and remember those who have given their lives to allow us this day of celebration, and to thank those who walk the streets and roads of our nation, state, and town, for their courage and for a job well done. We continue to serve an average of 175 persons at each of our two Senior Lunches per month, and have been approached by several area towns who wish to start up a similar program who are seeking information on how we manage it. We like to think it is the good home cooking at a reasonable price, but why don’t you come, try it, and let us know! We publish the menu in the Commons and the Brattleboro Reformer (Thank the editors when you see them), and also post it on the

Community Center

Births

door to the Grange Hall. We are working on getting it on social media but haven’t gotten that accomplished as yet.

We continue to rent space for parties, funerals and receptions, wedding receptions, and the like; if interested contact Carol Lynch at 802-254-2517 or call the Grange at 802-254-1138 and leave a message with your name and telephone number and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. We are also welcoming new members, so if what we do interests you, we’d love to hear from you as well.

Thank you from us at the Grange for the wonderful work of our town road crew, who worked when they were tired, wet, and maybe even hungry, to clear our roads after our last big storm. You guys are the best! Thank you for your patience and your support. We’ve made it to warmer weather!!

New Board Takes the Helm

Spring is finally here—no more snow—no more mud!

And with the spring comes a new and energized Community Center Board. They have hit the ground running! With new ideas, new projects, new activities—so many great, fresh ideas and plans it makes my head spin. Eventually we will have a website, and other online sites for information on upcoming events, and a calendar for easier scheduling. The Center is truly moving into the future! So,

Sponsors

watch us grow!

For scheduling events and reservations call Randy Hickin at 802-257-0784. This will eventually be done online.

We are all very excited about the way this is heading.

Molly Stoner is our new secretary, Rick Davis and Paul Chapman head our building committee. (Do you believe we have a building committee?) We will vote in two more new board members at our April meeting.

As always, remember the Center when planning gatherings, events, workshops—whatever. We are handicapped accessible, have plenty of parking, a great field for outdoor activities, kitchen facilities, and of course, restrooms.

Pets are also welcome to use the field—just remember to be a responsible pet owner and clean up after them.

A special thank you to all of our loyal supporters. Without you we wouldn’t be here. Just to clarify, our address is: Dummerston Community Center, 150 West St., PO Box 468, West Dummerston, VT 05357

Dummerston Cares Salutes Jean Momaney organizations

For all of the voluntary contributions Jean Momaney has made, and continues to make, to the town of Dummerston over many years, the Dummerston Cares Board has enthusiastically named her our Dummerston Cares Volunteer of the Season.

Jean has lived in Vermont all her life so far, in Vernon until 1943 and then Dummerston when she began second grade at the West Dummerston two-room school, now the Community Center. She moved to Dummerston with her parents and four siblings, graduating in 1951. This was the was the same year that the expansion of the West Dummerston school occurred. The expansion included a large classroom and a basement with a kitchen and storage room.

In the early 1950s Jean went to BUHS and was in the first class to receive four years of education at the new high school. In those days there was no bus transportation to BUHS. In her first year her stepfather, who worked in Brattleboro, took her to town and dropped her off at the high school, and then drove her home after he got out of work. For the remaining three years in her late teens, Jean rented a one-room apartment in a rooming house in downtown Brattleboro and walked to the high school from there. After graduation from BUHS, Jean worked as a clerk at the Grants Department Store in downtown Brattleboro and then did childcare for a Vernon family. Her next job was at American Optical as a lens inspector.

She married Francis Momaney in 1955 and with Francis had five children. It seems five was a favorite number for children in her birth family and her own family! Community minded, Jean was a 4-H leader for eighteen years and served for two to three years on the committee that developed plans for an addition to the East Dummerston school.

Following the town’s adoption of a zoning bylaw in 1972 Jean became Dummerston’s first zoning administrator, a position she held for twenty years. This position enabled her to meet newcomers to town, which she liked very much being the people-person she is.

Also in the 1970s, Jean and Cliff Emery

were appointed by the selectboard to serve on the West River Basin Energy Committee. This committee studied the potential for electric

else she has done for the town over the years. Another niche that Jean volunteered time for was that of a radio technician for the town’s emergency management office for several years after the turn of the century. Susan Daigler, who worked with Jean in emergency management at that time, commented that whenever something was needed in the community that Jean could do, she would step up and offer to do it. Susan emphasized that Jean is a do-er who gets things done.

With community service in her blood, Jean joined Shirley Perkins and Mary Tyler in 2005 to create Dummerston Cares. Shirley did the organizational work and Jean and Mary put together programs, luncheons, and started the Cares Helpline. In 2016, when Shirley moved to Middlebury, Jean helped Cares to continue through the formation of a new board and expansion of its programs and services.

power generation at the site of the Jamaica dam. After seven years of meetings, it was decided the project wasn’t feasible.

When the West Dummerston school closed in 1995, Jean stepped up with Ann Davis, Lester Dunklee, Randy Hickin, and Brian Tyler to transform the building into a Community Center. They then formed a board to operate the new Community Center. Jean has served on this board as secretary to the present. Since 1997 she has been the “face” of the Community Center as the go-to person to open the Center for programs and events that have occurred there. Board chair Ann Davis describes Jean as energetic and passionate in all she does, very loyal and committed to following through in all she has taken on at the Community Center as well as in everything

Jean also was with Meals on Wheels as a volunteer driver for ten to twelve years starting around 2010. She delivered fourteen meals on the longest route, fifty miles in all, and was the oldest driver. She ended her Meals on Wheels driving in May 2021 following an accident resulting in a broken wrist, though she finished her route and drove herself to Grace Cottage. She’s a gutsy Vermonter!

Jean can’t stop giving others a hand. Now every Wednesday she takes a neighbor to the Senior Center in Brattleboro for lunch, and sometimes medical appointments. For this person Jean’s a marvelous helpmate and like a sister to her.

Jean’s the community-minded person whose life has helped make Dummerston the kind of town it is. We’re grateful to her for being the neighbor she has been and continues to be.

Lydia Taft Pratt Library

Library Maintains a Heritage with “The Commons” organizations

Did you know that at Lydia Taft Pratt Library we never collect fees for overdue books and materials? Why not? Because research has shown that rather than helping to retrieve books, the only purpose that overdue fees serve is to alienate our communities from participation. And, that is the exact opposite of what any library mission specifies as their function or purpose. People are actually less likely to return late books to a library where they will face fees than one where they won’t. People hate being nickeled and dimed for books they have already returned. So, we don’t do it.

I want to introduce you to the concept of “the commons.” Historically, the idea of the commons “take[s] root in medieval England, as lands where peasants could tend land in common, hold festivals, and govern independently outside of the purview of a

Geranium Festival & Silent Auction Returns!

The Lydia Taft Pratt Library is again holding it’s annual flower and auction fest where: Dummerston Community Center when: May 20, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

For more Information or to participate by donating to the silent auction contact Catherine O’Callaghan, Lydia’s Friends, catherineocallaghan32@gmail.com.

feudal lord.” (Halperin) I tend to think of it as locations that facilitate social relations that are not based on the exchange of money. But, really, it’s more of a concept than a physical site. Everyone is welcome and invited to the commons. Examples include public parks, the seashore, the public library, the sidewalk, the sky. It is all the places that belong to us all.

Librarians are professionals concerned with the free and open dissemination of knowledge, and we view information as a public and common good. The Lydia Taft Pratt vision makes clear that, rather than being a mere supplier of books, we are an institution dedicated to strengthening community through the sharing of knowledge and resources. Let me repeat that: we are an institution dedicated to strengthening community through the sharing of resources. We are not a private club. This is why we do not charge money for any of our programs or services.

A library’s shared resources include books, but equally important in most libraries is the provision of public space. Public space is used in most libraries by community members to read, study, apply for jobs, learn, build, and socialize. And, even though space is in short supply at the Lydia Taft Pratt library, we have wholly embraced the concept of the commons. We are here to build community through the sharing of resources that are freely available to everyone.

This is not to say that we never ask for money. Frankly, it is not possible to operate a public library with only the $15,000 appor-

Sponsors

Meg Murtha

Tom Zopf

Joe & Anne Little

Doug and Ann Kroc

Alvino & Bea Fantini

tionment that we receive annually from the Town of Dummerston. As I’ve written before, we rank toward the bottom compared to other nearby libraries in terms of how many hours we are able to be open, how many paid professional staff hours we can afford, and how much actual square footage we have. It is for this reason that we host occasional fundraising events, and that we send out an annual fundraising appeal each year in November. We recognize and are so grateful to those folks who contribute to it because they love the fact that their small town has a public library. So, while we don’t ask for fees for our services, we are so grateful when our community remembers us in their charitable giving or participates in fundraising events.

Jennie Rose Halperin states in her piece The Library Commons , “The spirit of the commons is the spirit of imagining, of bringing people and resources together, and creating a necessarily positive vision for the world not as it is, but as it could be.” This is a value that we strive towards at Lydia Taft Pratt Library. Happy Spring!

Halperin, J. R. (n.d.). The Library Commons: An Imagination and an Invocation. In the Library with the Lead Pipe. Retrieved April 5, 2023, from https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2020/the-library-commons/.

Friends of the Library Needs Support for Book Adoption

For the third year in a row, the loss of in-person town meeting meant the loss of the opportunity for the Friends of the Library at Dummerston School to host our book adoption event. Once again, we must ask for donations to be mailed, and hope that next year we will be able to gather in the school library and offer the books for your adoption. We should have quite a collection by then!

Please help us again this year to buy new books for the Dummerston School Library and the children of Dummerston. Any amount will be helpful and appreciated. Please mail checks made out to “Friends of the Library,” in care of Linda Rood, 668 Quarry Road, Dummerston, VT 05301.

Dummerston Historical Society Digitized Historical Images Presented to the Society

For the April quarterly meeting we were fortunate to receive a gift and have a program central to the purpose of a historical society. Charlie Marchant, Bob LeBlond, and Lester Dunklee showed a collection of digitized glass plate negatives of Dummerston scenes donated by Barbara Johnson. The audience helped to identify the subjects. The negatives were part of a larger collection including Vernon and Brattleboro whose historical societies, along with Dummerston’s, will receive the digitized images and the negatives for their archives. Dummerston’s significant photo collection was much enriched by this gift. The three presenters have preserved thousands of historic photographs over the years. Our warmest thanks to them and Barbara.

The Dummerston Historical Society wishes once again to thank the selectboard for their continued support in allocating funds from the ARPA monies recently received from the federal government. A contract for two heat pumps has recently been approved. We are grateful to be moving away from fossil fuels and will appreciate the added bonus of air conditioning in the warm summer months.

Photos Sought

Have you taken a special photo somewhere in

Dummerston? Would you be willing to share? The Dummerston Historical Society is seeking pictures for the 2024 “Scenes of Dummerston” calendar. All photos must be horizontal and have no identifiable people. Please send your photographic contenders to Jody Normandeau at jodyvt@gmail.com. If your photo is selected, you will receive a free calendar.

Volunteers needed!

If you have a few hours a month and are interested in using your expertise, skills, and interest in learning more about Dummerston’s history, and documenting current history, we have a place for you! DHS is looking for volunteers to help us continue with several projects, including: documenting our collection; expanding our data base records; helping initiate, plan, and hang upcoming exhibits, and interviewing Dummerston residents for our oral history project

Past exhibits and programs on Art of Dummerston, Authors of Dummerston, Dummerston Craftspersons and Houses of Dummerston, have shone light on the many talents in our town, ones that we would like to document for future generations. Interested? Questions?

Please contact Muriel Taylor, kidssing2772@ gmail.com (802)380-7525 or Gail Sorenson, gailsvt@gmail.com (802)254-9311. We would appreciate your help.

Sharing Housing Has Many Benefits

Community and belonging. This is what we all need.

Why do people assume that when their home becomes an empty nest and their spouse dies that they should adapt to their new circumstances by living alone? Why not choose something different? Living alone is the number one cause of social isolation and its negative emotional and physical health consequences. Then, too, we have a critical housing shortage. When people choose to share housing, it frees up housing for others.

As many in Dummerston know, I’ve been working on encouraging shared housing for quite a while. My passion for this project comes from my own experience that in our modern society it is very difficult to have a spontaneous human connection. Where do you go to “fix” being lonely? We don’t have many commonly accepted places to simply hang out. Few of us drop in on others. Sharing

a roof with others offers the opportunity for spontaneous social interaction. Of course, you have to like and respect one’s housemates and you have to be compatible enough in how you live in a home for everyone to be comfortable.

I founded the nonprofit organization Sharing Housing, Inc. to advocate for shared housing and to show people how to select someone who fits the bill without making mistakes in the process. We now have a program called SHIFT™—Shared Housing Incentives for Taking Action—for Windham and Windsor County homeowners. You can read all about it on our webpage https://sharinghousing.com/ shift/ and register for the program.

When done right there are so many advantages to home share. I made a little online course called 5 Key Benefits of Shared Housing. (https://sharinghousing.com/5-keybenefits-of-shared-housing/) It’s free. It can be watched in a half-hour. Take a look.

A home with others is a community where you belong. Simple. Important.

Donations, Participation and Welcome

The Dummerston Historical Society always welcomes donations of historical interest to Dummerston, and we encourage you to join us in 2023 as a member, a volunteer, a participant in our programs, or as a viewer of our exhibits. Find more information and videos of recent programs at www.dummerstonhistoricalsociety. org. (Please note that you do not need to be a member of the Historical Society to attend any of our functions.) Our Schoolhouse is handicapped accessible. You are always welcome.

A Bit of Nostaligia from the Kitchens of 1940

In April of 1940 the Dummerston Women’s Association published a cookbook, entitled The Cook Book of theDummerston Women’s Association. It was compiled and edited by Mrs. Harold Bousfield and Miss Ruth Knapp. The book includes this introductory poem. “Yes, let us make a cook book!”, said the Women’s Association. “And include old family recipes, And those of our creation. And a score of Quick and Easy ones, And others oft requested, From many sources we’ll collect Each signed by whom it’s tested.” We, here, submit our book to you. We’re good cooks, if not famous, And you, who find here nothing new, You lucky ones won’t blame us.

Below is a sample recipe as submitted by Mrs. A. L. Brown. Let us know if you try it!

Feather Bed Rolls : 1 pt. milk, scalded, 2 tablespoons sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, 10 tablespoons melted shortening. Cool until luke warm. 1 yeast cake, 1 quart bread flour. Sponge at 9 A.M. Stir down at 11 A.M., again at 2 P.M. and at 4 P.M. put in muffin pans and let rise, and bake 25 minutes in hot oven, for 6 o’clock dinner

“Trees Were Coming Down from Everywhere!”

continued from page 1 was coming down so fast. There were fortytwo inches of snow up top, down here in the Center there were 25-28 inches of snow. There must have been 300 trees down on the roads around town.” Lee said, “I contacted the power company, asking for a hand opening up the roads, and they gave us a crew or two. So we were able to get East-West and Middle Roads opened up. People were driving across wires on the Middle Road until Friday.”

Toward the end of the storm on Tuesday and with so many trees down on the East-West Road, Lee left the town garage on foot with his chain saw, and headed west, cutting up trees as he went. The loader came along behind him clearing the trees off the road. Speaking of his full crew, he said, “We didn’t stop all day long. There were no breaks. We ate a sandwich when we could or drank a glass of water. Some snow storms you can plow around once, then take a fifteen-minute break. But not in this storm. We had to get out of the trucks all the time cutting trees. Or you came to a power line and had to go back. A lot of the trees were fifty feet in the woods and fell, taking out the power lines. It wasn’t a tree-trimming issue for the power company. Trees were coming down from everywhere. There were a lot! They ranged from small to huge.” In trying to recall the sequence of events for me, Lee said, “I wasn’t keeping track of everything. I was just trying to keep up. All the days ran together. It’s hard to remember what happened when.”

Lee emphasized how appreciative he was of all the contractors and residents who voluntarily helped to clear trees. “Everybody who had a saw had it with them in their truck, and some even used equipment to help us open things up. This was a really important help to us.”

Stan Franklin, our post office rural route driver, when asked if the mail got delivered during the storm, replied, “I tried!” On Tuesday, he was able to deliver some packages, but his four-wheel-drive truck broke down, so on Wednesday, of all days, he had to use a two-wheel drive. “I was spinning my tires all the way up Beaver Pond Road to Jelly Mill Hill Road” he recalled, but snapped-off trees prevented any further travel. On the way back down, somebody at the intersection with Stickney Brook told him to not even bother trying to get up there. Trees also blocked Rice Farm Road beyond the parking lot at the top of the West River Trail, as well as Black Mountain and Kipling Roads.

Meanwhile, Green Mountain Power had to have another conference call and get more help. “Once we started dispatching crews, we

found there were a lot of trees down on the power lines on major roads, and that was my priority, to get them open,” Don explained. “It took close to thirty-six hours to get the major roads open, and at the same time there were dangers like live wires still down, and wires on top of vehicles, and those were priorities. For the first two days, our primary focus was making things safe.”

A further issue affecting the availability of power in Dummerston was that, “We lost a high voltage 46k line that fed the Dummerston substation from Brattleboro. Then we lost the feed coming out of East Jamaica, which pretty much put the power out for most of Dummerston. We had broken cross arms on poles, and wires on the ground. We actually had crews from VELCO come in and make repairs to those lines. They’re more equipped for working on those transmission lines than we are.”

Back in his four-wheel drive truck on Thursday, Stan could follow a path up Beaver Pond above Jelly Mill Hill, and he was also able to get up Stickney Brook Road by maneuvering around some trees and under some wires, though the wires snagged the light off the top of his truck. “Were the wires live?,” I asked him. “They weren’t sparking,” he replied. Day by day, he kept pushing further into his route, which meant he was going over wires and around trees, to bring us the mail. He went south on Kipling Road, managing to get through at one point by going under a tree whose limbs brushed both side mirrors of his truck. When he finally had to turn back north, he encountered Dan Normandeau, who called him a trailblazer for pushing forward under the tree. Stan responded, “There’s a fine line between brave and foolish and I cross that line a lot of times. But my goal is always to get the mail delivered!”

“I never saw a storm that was that widespread,” Stan said. “It was a spring storm, wet and heavy. It was mostly softwood trees that went down. I saw trucks from Kentucky, Georgia, all over. They were working hard. The power company knew this storm was coming, knew they were going to be in trouble, and they got ready for it. Some people were out of power for four to six hours and some for four to six days. On Rice Farm Road, Peter Doubleday got his power back on Friday, a day ahead of his sister who lives across the

road - hers came back on Saturday afternoon. That was an exhausting week.”

As of the second week after the storm, the road crew was still working on storm cleanup. “We’ve pretty much had three people on cleanup since the storm and only one person grading. We haven’t done any road raking. We have another week or two of everyday tree cleanup. I’m hoping to cut down the trees hanging over the East-West Road before we pave it this summer. There’s so much brush from the storm that it will rot instead of us getting around to chip it.”

I also talked to Lee about how downed power lines should be treated. He was concerned that anybody would try to move them or even cross them in a vehicle. We received a photo for this issue of a power line that had been propped up off the road with a forked branch. If the power line had been live, the electricity from the line would have traveled down the branch and electrocuted the person holding it. So, never do this! While the rubber tires of a car may insulate the passengers were the wires to be live, there is also a possibility that the power line could become entangled in the undercarriage of the car, which would cause the passengers to be electrocuted. So, be safe, and never drive across a power line!

Lynn Barrett on Middle Road wrote in about her storm experience: “The storm began Monday evening, and power on Middle Road in the center finally came back on Saturday afternoon, then was on and off on Sunday. So we had no heat of any kind, and no phone, until mid-week. We spent time sitting in the car to charge the cell phone, but there was no internet and no wifi. Finally I went to the Putney Coop on Friday for free wifi. We were lucky that the weather cooperated after and even during the storm…no issues with radiators freezing up, etc. I had many branches down on the property. Hannaford ran out of bottled water; their parking lot was lined with trucks from all over that had come to help. On Thursday, I had to throw out food, a driveway to repair, trees and branches to clean up, and I had to buy new batteries. We do have an emergency radio, but there was no real news about the storm. We could use twenty-four hour news service.”

Frances Herbert on Hill Road was without power for five days, and remembers vividly the convoy of eleven service trucks at the bottom of Stickney Brook Road at 8 a.m. on Friday morning, “ready to tackle the trees and wires. It was a parade We were still wondering with suspense when we would stop burning candles!”

Cliff Adler and Lynn Levine on Partridge continued on page 17

Thanks to everybody who sent us storm pictures for this issue! Though we couldn’t use them all, it was great for us to have so many to choose from.

Outdoor Education Ranks High in School Priorities

Did you know that kids need core strength to develop the dexterity they need for writing? Or that a child who tinkers with acorns and sticks, making them into fairy homes or other imaginative spaces, may be more likely to impress someone at a high-level job interview than a child who hasn’t? Or that time outside helps kids with impulse control, one of the top indicators of whether a child will be academically successful? And this list goes on-–there are countless benefits to outdoor education, to kids being outside and in nature, playing and imagining, wondering, wandering and pretending, climbing over logs, hiking up trails, testing themselves, and reaping the rewards nature gives us.

Like many schools, outdoor education at Dummerston School took a leap forward during Covid. Not only was the school immediately challenged to find ways for students to be present and safe, the outdoor space itself was in flux, ready for a new chapter. Most of the equipment from the wondrous playground assembled in the 1990s had lived its useful life and been dismantled. A blank slate presented itself to parents and staff as a chance to recreate an environment for children and the community to enjoy. In addition to these pressures and opportunities, the district-wide mergers allowed more capital project funds to flow to Dummerston School and supplement the effort.

It started with the forest. Lance Neeper, father of two children at Dummerston School, found there was not much available on the playground for his kids, and heard from someone that the forest on the hillside was school property. He found an old trail in the woods, trees marked with metal tags, a box that may have contained maps of the trees and he started talking to more people about how the forest could be utilized. He knew if they were going to expand the trail system and open the forest for more use, it would need to be in a sustainable way, designed to prevent erosion and keep important features in place. He reached out to the New England Mountain Biking Association and was connected to trail designer Curtis Franti, who jumped at the opportunity to help design trails for the school. He only charged a nominal fee and marked out trails that worked for the terrain, maximized

the space, helped the forest feel bigger than it is, and were suitable for mountain biking. Then a group of dads got to work. Lance, Dustin Manix, Joe Newton, Lenny Giordano, Jared Clark, and Allen Gallup met up at least once a week to cut out the trails. The trail carving was challenging in many spots–volunteers had to chip into the bed of the trail and pack it in, run a rototiller over parts, down trees, and build in features for mountain biking. Lance said all the dads even got Rogue Hoes for Father’s Day to help with the work. “It was kind of healing during the lockdown, knowing we were doing something to help.” They and others still perform periodic maintenance, clearing fallen logs and raking trails clear.

The forest has continued to transform with use. The upper trail has a classroom and picnic tables, donated by Perkins (now LaValley Building Supplies). The lower trail has a classroom pre-K uses daily, filled with ever-changing structures, logs, and art by the students. Molly Oglesby, the pre-K teacher, uses the forest as one of her primary teaching tools. Every day when the children enter the forest, they stop at “The Welcome Tree” and greet the forest with sign language. Each child is encouraged to create mental maps of the trails and take turns being the leader who guides the rest of the class on their chosen path. She explained to me the benefits detailed at the beginning of the article, and more. Just walking in the forest for twenty minutes helps to get the heartrate up and helps the indicators we associate with good health settle and come into place. Her classes study and mimic animal movements, and learn to identify trees and different kinds of birds. They are encouraged to stop and notice what is happening around them with all of their senses, to take in the forest and their surroundings. And there is time, too, for unguided free-play. She even espouses allowing children to be bored because from that place comes great creativity and imagination.

Beth Mongomery, the first-grade teacher, also uses the outdoors in her curriculum. She has been teaching at Dummerston School for six years and said opening up the forest has been a game changer. During Covid, her class was up there most days, primarily using the classroom on the upper trail. This year, there

is pressure on all educators to “get back to normal.” A good deal of the curriculum is Smart Board-based, which means staying in the classroom. She also needs a support person to assist in the woods, particularly if a child must travel back to the school for a bathroom stop or other need. But her class is still going into the forest at least two times a week, sometimes more. She wants it to be more than just a token, to keep it a priority. Beth also shared the benefits of outdoor and nature time for kids: fresh air and a place where all their senses come into play, a different skill-set than the classroom, an inspiration for social sciences and other science, and a chance to break down attention barriers some kids face inside.

During Covid, Beth and Molly worked with Joan Carey (previously of the Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center [BEEC], now an educator at Academy School), former kindergarten teacher Ali Gregory, and Sara Cassidy from Putney Central School, to comb through the Vermont Learning Standards for pre-K through first grade, and give ideas of how each standard can be met with outdoor education. It became a document they could share with other educators and Molly gave it to the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union board. BEEC’s teacher, Ellen Peters, still comes in to provide outdoor education.

In dovetail with the forest is the evolving playground, a result of efforts from a hardcontinued on page 14

th e S T

snow piles on top of a sap bucket outside the house.

I encountered impasses, including this on east Orchard road, while trying to find my way from Camp Arden road to Dummerston Center.

A tree fell on the utility pole across the road from our house on Bear Hill road and snapped the top third of the pole off, taking the transformer with it.

Damage from the storm was evident after the snow melted.

I think this is the maple that caused us to lose power for five days.

R M

Voters Choose Declaration of Inclusion

Good news spread quickly after the votecounting on the evening of March 7. The Declaration of Inclusion (DOI), a resolution sponsored by Dummerston Cares, passed with 382 votes in favor and only 34 against.

The board of Dummerston Cares thanks all you supporters of equity and inclusion! We ride the state-wide wave that has brought over 60% of Vermont’s population, and over 100 towns, to publicly affirm values that promote equal access to opportunities in Vermont.

Besides the humanitarian benefits, declaring our support for inclusiveness has economic advantages. We’ve heard warnings that our aging population cannot sustain the labor force; that too many young people move out of state. Though, imagine how equity and inclusion can act as a beacon for diligent workers seeking opportunities offered in Vermont; imagine how the DOI can act as an anchor

Sponsors

Paul & Jody Normandeau

Cindy Wilcox

Michelle Cherrier & Philip Goepp

Eleanora Patterson & Gordon Faison

for talented, yet marginalized, young residents who discover they can flourish as productive citizens in Vermont.

Governor Scott, who signed Vermont’s Proclamation of Inclusion in May of 2021, said, “The fact is if we want stronger, more economically secure communities, we need more people and more diversity in Vermont. I hope this effort sends a message to anyone who wants to live and work in a safe, healthy

and welcoming state.”

What’s next? The Vermont League of Cities and Towns states its goals for a town’s adopting and implementing a DOI: “Adopt means formal approval by the municipality’s governing body. Implement means the enactment…of plans…that support…the intent and spirit of the Declaration.”

The voters have approved the DOI. Now, shall we urge the selectboard to adopt the DOI?

Outdoor Education Ranks High in School Priorities

continued from page 11 working playground committee consisting of staff and parents. Jessica Nelson and Gina Stafanelli, parents of Dummerston School students, served with head of facilities Dan Bailey and principal Julianne Eagan on an executive committee in 2020; they worked with other volunteers and with Adam Hubbard of Hubbard Land Design to lay out a two-year plan and budget.

Jessica explained the playground is designed to serve both students and the Dummerston community. Swings went in first, the interstellar climber is complete, and there is a hillbased slide on the way. Also coming is an ADA accessible “Sway Fun” that can be used by folks old and young of varying physical capabilities. The pavement around the school will be expanded, creating a ribbon that surrounds the school, enabling a bike route, delivery access, and even spaces where teachers can set up tables for easy-access to the outside during class. It will also connect to the Sway Fun for an easier approach and use by everyone.

Adam Hubbard emphasized how the committee prioritized equipment and design that encourages collaboration instead of hierarchy. When children come inside from physical exertion, they are more focused and ready to learn. When they have been working together, it increases their sense of community.

Calendar Photographs Needed

Do you have a photo of somewhere in Dummerston?

The Historical Society is seeking photos for the 2024 Scenes of Dummerston Calendar. All photos must be horizontal and have no identifiable people.

Please send photos to Jody Normandeau at: jodydvt@gmail.com. If your photo is selected, you will receive a free calendar.

In addition to the playground equipment, there are school and community features like the Knapp amphitheater, a pavilion for outdoor events, expanded disc golf features, and eventually a half-mile ribbon that goes around the field. There is on-going fundraising to lay Sure-Pak on the ribbon so people can move across a smooth surface. Jessica explained the committee wanted the playground renovation to serve Dummerston as a whole, in addition to the school.

Funds for the playground have come from expanded capital funding from the school district merger, grants, community fundraising, ESSR funds, and even a penny drive wherein the funds had to be wheeled into the bank with a wagon! Volunteers have given over 300 hours of labor so far and the need for community-based funds, and skill and effort needs are on-going. If you want to donate, you can either use this QR code or go to the playground website at: https://sites.google.com/ view/dummerstonplayground/home. If you would like to know about volunteer opportunities, please email: dummerstonplayground@ gmail.com to get on their mailing list.

Thank you to everyone who has already given, and for all those who will continue to step forward to grow these resources. The community investment in our children’s outdoor education has lifelong impacts. In the words of Molly Oglesby: “I believe in joy. I believe in children experiencing joy. I see that on their faces when they are out there playing. They have to have that joy in their heart to keep moving forward. Those skills stay with you forever.”

Sponsors

Bruce & Catie Berg

Gail & Lew Sorenson

David & Nina Hutchison

Kevin & Sara Ryan

John & Sheila Pinkney

Suggestions for Three Good Reads

I read a stunning book recently: The Heart by French author and philosopher Maylis de Kerangal, translated by Sam Taylor (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016). This book was first published in France in 2014 under the title Reparer les Vivants (Heal the Living) and was an instant best seller. It became a one-actor show for theater with the French title in 2015, and a film adaptation, Heal the Living, was released in 2016.

This novel takes place over twenty-four hours and tells the story of the tragic automobile accident that takes the life of young Simon Limbre and the resulting donation of his organs. Although this sounds like a grim tale, it is told with such poetic beauty and precise detail that the result is mesmerizing and moving. Simon is an attractive, athletic young man who goes surfing with his friends one early morning. On their return trip, they have an accident, and Simon suffers an irreparable brain injury.

We meet the emergency room doctors and nurses, Simon’s parents, his girlfriend, the transplant coordinating nurse, the godlike transplant doctors, and the transplant recipient. Writing in beautiful, long and cumulative poetic sentences, the author helps us experience the parents’ grief and confusion as they must decide quickly, before they have been able to accept his death, whether to donate Simon’s organs. We learn how the transplant system works, and we witness the surgeries. We meet the recipient of Simon’s heart, whose life will be saved, but who struggles with the understanding that someone else had to die so that she might live. At first I thought I was reading non-fiction because of the precision of detail, but the depth of characterization soon made me realize otherwise.

In order to write this book, the author consulted with an organ transplant coordinating nurse, and an emergency physician. She learned about Cristal, the software that matches donors and recipients, and she observed a transplant surgery. If you watch TV medical dramas, you will be familiar with some of the details of the transplant process and the urgency that accompanies it. I am fascinated by medical matters, a big fan of the “Diagnosis” column in the New York Times , and so this book had great interest for me to begin with, but the degree to which the book is able to humanize these medical events and their impact on the humans involved is

especially powerful. Bill Gates, in his Gates Notes blog, described it as “poetry disguised as a novel.”

I have also lately enjoyed reading two new novels. The first is Vigil Harbor by Julia Glass (Penguin Random House, 2022), a book that I think may resonate with us Vermonters in several ways. It’s set about ten years in the future in a small town on the New England coast which Glass admits is based on her hometown of Marblehead, Massachusetts. Glass imagines what life might be like, in a future world dealing with the consequences of climate change, pandemics, immigration bans, political division, and eco-terrorism. She includes telling details, like the scarcity of certain foods, the disappearance of songbirds, and new government policies, such as the selection of certain cities for protection and the abandonment of others. (Houston will be saved, but Galveston will not. Gloucestor will not be saved.)

The novel is told from the perspectives of nine first-person narrators, which could be annoying, but in Glass’s capable hands, it works. The stories are interconnected, and each segment contains details and events that move the story along so that the character shifts are not disruptive. My favorite character is Margo, the retired English teacher, no surprise. Vigil Harbor sits on the tall cliffs of a peninsula, so it has been protected from the damages of severe storms and tides, and its isolation has made it seem safe to the “jawdroppingly white” population of liberals who “donate rather than demonstrate.” When a couple of outsiders arrive, the townspeople find that they are not as protected as they thought. Although my description might sound dark, that is not true of this novel. Glass is sharply and entertainingly observant about our society, her characters are likeable, and in the end, they are resilient, even heroic. It’s a good read.

The other book I have enjoyed reading is Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Doubleday, 2022), number five on the

Sponsors

New York Times Bestseller List for fourteen weeks, as I write. Don’t be fooled by the “chick lit” cover design: this is a serious novel about power. Elizabeth Zott, the main character, is a brilliant research chemist and single mother who must battle with the misogyny endemic in the 1950s and 60s. She is assaulted in the workplace and underpaid, ignored for grants; her work is stolen by her male colleagues, and finally she is fired from her lab and must take a job as the TV star of a cooking show for housewives so that she can pay the bills. Refusing to conform to the expectations of her producers, Elizabeth is relentlessly serious, teaching cooking as chemistry and encouraging the self-worth of the women in her audience. Of course, her show is a huge hit, because for once, women find they are being taken seriously. The novel has been reviewed as a revenge comedy, and it is immensely entertaining. Elizabeth is first and foremost a scientist, and her consistent deadpan delivery can be hilarious as she steadfastly refuses to be anything other than herself. An odd but charming (if you like dogs) twist is the character of Six-thirty, Elizabeth’s highly intelligent dog, who is my favorite character. It took me a while to appreciate this book, but trust me, it’s worth it.

That’s it for now. I’m looking forward to reading This is Happiness by Niall Williams, recommended by Carrie Walker, and Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, suggested by Elizabeth Catlin. Happy Spring!

Fiber Cable Availability Likely in Late 2024

By the time you read this article, DVFiber’s contractor, Sertex, will already be installing fiber cable in Stamford and Readsboro. Sertex is providing experienced crews to complete construction at a current rate of thirteen miles per month. Their trucks will proudly display our DVFiber logo for easy identification and public relations. This construction will follow GMP’s make-ready work which prepares their poles for attaching DVFiber’s fiber network. GMP has so far prepared more than 100 miles of our pole application permits and continues making steady progress to meet our construction goals.

Deerfield Valley Communications Union District (DVCUD), operating as DVFiber, is a Vermont communications union district (CUD) established in southeastern Vermont in 2020 to provide affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service that will support economic development and expand educational opportunities within the district. The district operates under the principles of equity, performance, affordability, reliability, and privacy, and currently encompasses a total of 24 towns, including Dummerston.

In May, DVFiber will begin providing phone service to the small pilot group of customers we connected to the internet at the very end of last year. We are eager to see how this works for people who have used traditional telephone connections via copper wire. Our phone service is “voice over internet protocol” (VOIP), connecting to the world via fiber just like the Internet connection.

As part of our continuing progress, DVFiber’s Communications Committee, working with our private partner Great Works Internet (GWI), has

redesigned our website to be more customercentric. Soon you will be able to enter your E-911 address and get an estimate of when DVFiber can connect you to our world-class service. Dummerston will not likely see any build-out until the later phases of the construction plan, perhaps starting towards the end of 2024. (It is impossible to say with any more precision at this point, since so many varied and changing factors are involved.)

Our approved Universal Service Plan is designed to serve all locations within our 24 member towns, but it will take an estimated four to six years to fully complete our network. The volunteer representatives and alternates on our governing board are working with GWI, GMP, and the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) to expedite our construction.

On a final note, several people have inquired about service plans and rates. Right now, we are offering three service levels: 75/75 Mbps ($75/month), 300/300 Mbps ($90/month), and 1000/1000 Mbps ($130/month). VOIP phone

service is being offered at $19.95/month for unlimited local and long-distance calling. Note that these plans and rates will likely be different when the service becomes available here.

Stay tuned! We will continue to keep you posted on our progress!

Learn more and get involved

Intrigued? To get the latest news on progress and projected timelines for construction, sign up for the DVFiber newsletter at DVFiber.net and stay informed. Meeting agendas and minutes are also posted online, and all are welcome to attend meetings.

Want to get involved? This broadband project is staffed almost entirely by volunteers, which is a major undertaking! Fortunately, many volunteers have relevant experience, enabling the development of strong forward momentum. Anyone interested in helping to make a better future for everyone in these communities should contact Eric Lineback (your DVFiber Governing Board representative from Dummerston) at eric. dvfiber@gmail.com

In Favor of In Person Town Meeting

continued from page 1 power is exercised directly by the people rather than through representatives. City-states were formed (Athens, Sparta, . . .) and people showed up to conduct the business of the city-state. Sounds like a Dummerston Town Meeting.

Over time there were too many people to accommodate at these meetings (imagine everyone who was eligible showing up at the Dummerston Town Meeting). The republic was formed. A “republic” is a form of government in which the people hold power, but elect representatives to exercise that power.

With the current complaining and party bickering among elected officials on a national scale, many have become upset with ‘the system’.

In Dummerston and many other communities in Vermont the town meeting represents the last vestige of pure democracy. Residents can stand face to face and hear what is said. They can also watch the facial expressions of their neighbors. The social aspect of being able to

argue, discuss respectfully, and then sit with neighbors at lunch is gone with a virtual town meeting or simply Australian ballot voting.

Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn was a Russian novelist and prominent Soviet dissident. Solzhenitsyn was an outspoken critic of communism and helped to raise global awareness of political repression in the Soviet Union, in particular the Gulag system. His writings (The Gulag Archipelago and A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich) made him persona non grata in the Soviet Union. He decided to leave the USSR, settled in Switzerland for a time, and ultimately found a home as close to the environment he had grown up with in the Soviet Union in Cavendish, Vermont. He fell in love with the pure democracy of town meeting and attended on an annual basis.

Amid popular complaints about elected officials and rising taxes, one wonders, “How can you complain when you have not made your voice known?” What good is freedom if you do not exercise its provisions? Town meeting is the perfect antidote.

If you’re suffering withdrawal—something is missing without town meeting and its opportunity for social and political gathering— contact your selectboard and let them know.

As Thomas Jefferson said in a letter to Joseph C. Cabell in 1816, “Town Meeting is the wisest invention ever devised by the wit of man for the perfect exercise of self-government.”

All of this, of course, is conditional upon the disappearance of the pandemic.

The Snowstorm on Bear Hill Road

We have lived at our residence on Bear Hill Road in West Dummerston for 35-plus years and have never seen anything like this snowstorm. The power went out on Tuesday, 3/14, at 4:30 a.m. and stayed out until Saturday evening, 3/18, at 7:15 p.m. - five full days with no electricity. Thankfully, we have a woodstove and

ran our generator three times a day. It was very surreal having hemlock trees crashing down around us. At some point in the late morning a tree fell on the utility pole across the road from us and snapped the top third of the pole off, taking the transformer with it. There were wires and a trunk line across our front lawn, in the brook, and up and down the road. The wires, including our landline, was ripped from the

“Trees Were Coming Down from Everywhere!”

continued from page 10 Road had three trees across their driveway, “not huge trees, but until we could cut these up by hand with our bow saw, the plowing couldn’t happen. And the plowing couldn’t happen until GMP opened up Partridge Road after three to four days of our nine homes being landlocked by downed trees and wires. We all made it through intact, and it was beautiful and the weather, thankfully, was quite warm post-storm.”

Camp Arden Road was blocked and Debbie Cook was home alone to “survive multiple days without power! It was a struggle with the sheep, snow from the roof, needing help from neighbors to snow blow, and large branches down in the driveway. I was the recipient of three wonderful acts of kindness including from two VELCO workers who helped with shoveling!”

To return to our house on Quarry Road, Liz assured us in our phone calls that though the snow was heavy, it was so wet it was sliding right off the roofs that I would normally clear of snow with my roof rake, and the power was

out for only a few hours. The snow was definitely heavy to clear from the paths, though our snow scoop (which I highly recommend) used a couple of times during the storm made that manageable. And her dog, which is now living in a city house, was delirious with the off-leash pleasure of bounding through and rolling in the depths of delicious, cold snow. It’s always good to try to see the world through a dog’s eyes, but I have to say that our Dummerston neighbors seemed to generally have a sense of adventure and resilience about this most recent of our increasingly common major weather events.

Finally, everyone I spoke with expressed genuine appreciation for the efforts of our road crew, the power companies, both local and from far and wide, and all the able-bodied and appropriately-equipped neighbors who pitched in to clean things up. Thanks also to the mail carriers who tried to live up to their mission. And how lucky are we in Dummerston to have neighbors who check on each other in times like these to make sure we are all safe.

Another View of Town Meeting

continued from page 1 over the last dozen years an average of 150 voters have made the decisions for the town. A simple majority, 76 votes, can make or break a new dump truck, Sheriff’s budget, or capital funding. The last Australian ballot in March had 423 people voting on budgets and fire trucks.

When I looked around at town meeting, voters tended to be a mix of the older residents, along with those that could afford to take a day off work. Our town meeting system disenfranchises those residents that can’t afford to lose a day’s pay or can’t find daycare when all the schools are closed. Just ten percent of our voters end up having the final say on how we raise and spend a million dollars or more.

To get a discussion going I’d propose that we create an in-person opportunity for townspeople to weigh in on articles and budgets before they are finalized and have an Australian ballot for the actual final vote. This could take some of

the best parts of the in-person town meetings and combine them with the increased participation of a ballot voting system. Residents could tell the selectboard in September, October, and November items they would like to see on the Warning, from highway spending to social services, suggestions for anything on the business of the town. By December, the selectboard usually has the budget and articles roughed out. We could then hold an in-person meeting to go over these, item by item if need be, that would function much like town meeting but without a final vote. The selectboard can then take the comments and suggestions into consideration for finalizing the budgets and articles. Then we’d hold an informational meeting to review the ballot and answer questions before a final vote by Australian ballot in March.

I would additionally suggest that ballots be mailed out to every registered voter to help make voting even easier.

house and lay in in the brook next to our house.

As a side note, we were without a phone or internet for two weeks before Consolidated Communications ever got out to us. Cell phone reception was almost non-existent and we discovered later there were problems with the nearby cell tower. We really had no idea what was going on in the world outside of our little area.

We have neighbors that live beyond us and checked on them the following day when it was safe to snowshoe up the road. We had to climb over and under trees to get to them. They had a woodstove but no other alternate means of heat. They did have a gas range so were able to heat food on the burners. They slept in their living room by the woodstove for five days.

At some point I managed to crawl under and over trees to go down Bear Hill Road toward the intersection with Wickopee Hill Road and walk to my mother-in-law’s house on Rice Farm Road to let her know we were okay and tell her what we were dealing with. I used her phone to check in with Green Mountain Power and my family so they knew we were alright. When the power trucks from Quebec came in on day four everything had to be done in shifts. The town plowed to a certain point, the tree people came in to cut the trees, then the power company folks would move lines out of the way so the plow could get in a little further, then the tree people continued to cut and on and on it went until the road was clear. The power company contractors were great once they got going. They had to bring in a new power pole, new transformer, and restring the lines up and down the road. It was quite an experience, that’s for sure, and I am sure glad it’s spring!

Elizabeth & George Wright

John and Lori Brunelle

Debbie & Wayne Carpenter

Dummerston Notable Events

20 WDFD Barbecue

KOA Vintage Car Rally, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

20 LTP Geranium Festival and Silent Auction

Community Center: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. (Information about and silent auction donations arranged through Catherine O’Callaghan, Lydia’s Friends, catherineocallaghan32@gmail.com.

30 Memorial Day Ceremony

Evening Star Grange: Band concert at 6:30 p.m., program at 7 p.m.

10 Chicken Pie Supper

Evening Star Grange: 4:30-7 p.m. All meals served as take-outs, with option to eat in the Grange Hall. Reservations requested 254-1138.

11 West Dummerston Fire Department Kid’s Fishing Derby, Dummerston Center pond: registration at 12 p.m., fishing begins at 1 p.m.

USEFUL STUFF TO KNOW

Senior Lunches Evening Star Grange; Second & fourth Wednesday, noon. For Take out call: 802-254-1138. Leave name, phone number, number of meals desired, whether Eat In or Take Out.

The Front Porch Forum: online at www.frontporchforum.com

Walks and Trails in Dummerston: http://dummerstonconservation.com/trails-and-town-maps

Dummerston Sightings: Nature Tidbits with photos! http://dummerstonconservation.com/blog/

NAMES & TIMES & NUMBERS

Community Center Randy Hickin 802-257-0784

Conservation Commission

Web site: www.dummerstonconservation.com

Dummerston Cares Message line & Fuel Assistance 802-257-5800, email: info@dummerstoncares.org, web site: www.dummerstoncares.org

Dummerston School 802-254-2733

Web site: dummerston.wsesu.org

Fire Chief Rick Looman, 802-258-1731

Fire Warden Ted Glabach, 802-384-6994

Deputy Fire Warden Allen Pike, 802-258-0100

Lydia Taft Pratt Library 802-258-9878

Hours: Tue. 2-6; Wed. 1-5; Thu. 1-5; Sat. 10–1

Web site: library.dummerston.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dummerstonlibrary email: dummerstonvtlibrary@gmail.com

Vermont Theatre Company 802-258-1344

Evening Star Grange Carol Lynch 802-254-2517 or Ruth Barton at mrgjb@sover.net

Meals on Wheels Cynthia Fisher, 802-257-1236 Selectboard selectboard@dummerston.org

Senior Solutions Carol Lynch, 802-254-2517 Springfield Office 800-642-5119

Town Garage Lee Chamberlin, 802-254-2411

Town Office Laurie Frechette, 802-257-1496 email: townclerk@dummerston.org

Veterans Assistance Contact Dummerston Cares message line or email

Views of Dummerston

views@viewsofdummerston.org

WSESU 802-254-3730

Websites: Official Town: www.dummerston.org Calendar: dummerston.org/calendar/index.asp

Local Interest: www.dummerston.com

Dummerston Meetings

Please note that these meetings may not be taking place at their usual locations. Please refer to the town web site, www.Dummerston.org, for updated information.

pm

Monday at the Community Center PTFO 6:00 pm 3rd Thurs. at the Dummerston School Library WSESD 6:00 pm

2nd & 4th Tuesdays, revolving locations Historical Society 7:30 pm 3rd Thursday of Jan./April/July/Oct. at the Dummerston Historical Society