The Bridge, February 16, 2012

7/31/2019 The Bridge, February 16, 2012

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THEHEALTH&WELLNESS

ISSUE

by Bob Nuner

In this issue, we profile two local healthcenters, one in Montpelier and one inPlainfield, that are taking a group ap-

proach to care, including many types of

services under one roof.

Sharing Knowledge:Plainfield Health Center

Take a tour of the Health Center in Plain-field with it s founder, Dr. John Matthew, andfrom the beginning, its clear that hes wellliked, and that his vision for a team-orientedprimary-care facility is popular and lasting.Numerous center staff have decades-longexperience working there, and small-townfriendliness permeates the place.

The Health Center is grounded in the con-

cept of primary care and early intervention inan environment of shared knowledge. Doc-tors, nurses, physicians assistants and sup-port staff spend the time needed to teach pa-tients and share knowledge with each other.Matthew says of the centers team approach,

If I know something, thats one thing. But ifI know it and share it with seven other prac-titioners, they will know it, too. I teach them.They teach me. We teach each other . . . twoheads can be better than one, and three betterthan two when it comes to doctors problem-solving cases and noticing details.

For groups to work well, teamwork is es-sential. Staff share knowledge and expertise.In weekly meetings, they report on con-ferences and information learned, so thatone individuals knowledge extends to col-leagues. Team practices allow individuals to

cover for one another. Knowledgetransfer allows delegation, so highly

trained individuals neednt necessar-ily provide services if the necessary

knowledge and experience for taskshas been shared and can be handled ap-

propriately by those with lesser training.Further, when doctors share information

about their patients with colleagues, taskslike hospital rounds can be rotated, ensur-

ing that patients get proper care and that staffgain f lexibility.

Teaching takes time, but Matthew is con-vinced that its worth it. Respect for thepatient and early intervention has, he pointsout, tremendous potential to improve out-comes. He argues that $2 billion spent onfederally qualified health centers returns $16billion in avoided costs for ER visits, hospitalstays and chronic disease outcomes. Timeinvested early saves social and economic cost

later. As an example, he noted that if atten-tion deficit disorder (ADD) is caught earlyenough, someone leaving high school, treatedfor ADD, may be able to earn $10,000 moreper year than if the problem were never ad-dressed (and that $10,000 might improveodds of avoiding social costs like jail time). Acolon cancer caught in time can save not onlya life but end-of-life costs.

As for time spent les s fruitfu lly, Matthewindicated that the time he and staff must

IN THIS ISSUEBE YOURSELF,BE HEALTHY

Starksboro camp helps kids

express themselves

18

CANDIDATES Q&ATalking to Sherman,

Guerlain and Hollar

68

BAD WI-FIRay Pealer fights for

wired schools

10

PINS & NEEDLESCommunity acupuncture

comes to Montpelier

11

PRSRTSTD

CAR-R

TSORT

U.S.

Postage

PAID

Montpelier,VT

PermitNO.

123

TheBridge

P.O.

Box1143

Montpelier,VT05601

Photo courtesy Jeff Mandell

see TEAM HEALTH, page 4

Team

Health:Group PracticesWork for Affordable,Efficient, Quality Care

Connecting Montpelier and nearby communities since 1993 | FEBRUARY1629, 2012

A s many of you know, this past November, The Bridge launched itsannual campaign for readership support with a goala very muchneeded amountof $12,000.

I remember the first letter I wrote in November. It was person-

ally addressed to longtime friends of The Bridge who had helped us

financially in previous years. Later in November, I wrote a general

letter to all of our readers that appeared on the editorial page of our

second issue in November. Finally, in mid-December, I wrote again and

a couple of further updates have followed.

When the campaign was launched, I had trepidations. Its been a very

tough year in Vermont. Its also hardly possible to read a paper or listen

to a news broadcast or talk with friends without some sort of financial

issue being raised: ta xes, college tuition, health-care costs, investment

lossesthe list goes on and on.

And yet as I write this letter, The Bridge has received $9,192 toward

our campaign goal of $12,000.

Given the realities of the present moment, how can I express in

telling words all that I feel about the consistently generous support

this paper has now and in the past received from this communities

and surrounding towns?

The arithmetic is pretty clear. Having crossed the $9,000 line, we

are more than 75 percent of our way to our goal and within sight of

completing the current campaign. Please help us do this. We are en-

closing a self-addressed envelope with this issue.

This year, we are seeing more total gifts, but fewer gifts in very large

amounts. Many people are converting their support for the paper into

a subscription, and a years subscription to The Bridge is $50.

Again, heartfelt thanks.

Nat Frot hingham, publisher

Help Us Reach Our Final Fundraising Goal!


2/32

PAGE 2 FEBRUARY 1629, 2012 THE BRIDGE

A community-based nonprofit organization serving

Montpelier adults and teens for over 40 years with FREE,individualized programs in basic reading, writing, math,

and computer operation, as well as English as anotherlanguage, high school completion, work readiness, and

preparing for college.

Central VermontAdult Basic

Education STT ST., MONTPLI- WWW..OG


3/32

THE BRIDGE FEBRUARY 1629, 2012 PAGE 3

ADVERTISEin Our Upcoming Issues!

March 1 (last issue before Town Meeting Day!)advertising deadline: Friday, February 24

March 15advertising deadline: Friday, March 9

April 5advertising deadline: Friday, March 30

April 19: Food Issue!advertising deadline: Friday, April 13

Call Carl or Carolynat 223-5112, ext. 11

Subscribe to The Bridge!For a one-year subscription, send this form and a check to The Bridge, P.O. Box

1143, Montpelier, VT 05601.

Name___________________________________________________________

Address_________________________________________________________

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I have enclosed a check, payable to The Bridge, for:

$50 for a one-year subscription An extra $____ to support The Bridge.

(Contributions are not tax-deductible.)

HEARD ON THE

STREETWith Valentines Day and a good bottle of wine just behind us, Im commiting towine with real corks only from now on. Why? I just read at 100percentcork.org

that literally millions of migrating birdscranes, hawks, wood pigeons and numerous

songbird speciesdepend on the practice of sustainable harvest of vast cork oak for-ests around the Mediterranean for nesting habitat. Not to mention the generations ofsilviculturists tending these ancient ecosystems, and their cultures. Finally, somethingI can change to make a real difference!

Now what was that I just heardnot a red-winged blackbird so early?Nona Estrin

Nature WatchOccupy Conference

Goddard Colleges March 10 academic conference on the Occupy Wall Street move-ment, is shaping up to be a big deal. Les Leopold, author ofThe Looting of America, isscheduled to be the keynote speaker, and an Occupy-style general assembly will be facilitatedby Amin Husain, facilitator of the first general assembly in Zuccotti Park, New York City,and Sandy Nurse, organizer of the now-historic Occupy march on the Brooklyn Bridge inwhich 700 protesters were arrested.

But despite the national cred brought by these occupy celebrities, Goddard is reportedlygetting some flak behind the scenes for not reaching out to the local Vermont Occupy orga-nizers in planning for the conference (as well as for charging $10 a head).

Occupy groups in Vermont have been gathering weekly for general assemblies since Octo-ber, and, as far as I can tell, the conversation we are having in our small towns are prett y muchexactly what other Occupy groups across the country are talking about in terms of the futureof the movement, the meaning of direct democracy and ways to take action, said HeatherPipino of Barre, a local Occupy organizer. Its a shame that Goddard did not think to includeany members of local Occupies within their program, because I think we would add value andit would better connect the local, national and international movement.

Communications for the event have been handled by KSE Partners of Montpelier.

A Plug for Montpelier

Green Mountain Power (GMP) has partnered with the city to open Montpeliers firstpublic electric-vehicle charging station. Located behind City Hall, the service will befree of charge for the first year of its operation. This is the GMPs third public EV chargingstation in the state.

According to City Manager Bill Fraser, This is an excel lent partnership that I hope to seegrow as the market for electric cars expands.

According to a press release, This new Coulomb Technologies CT2100 Chargepointelectric vehicle charging station is compatible with all electric vehicles on the market today.It includes customer-oriented features such as online and smart phone directions and reserva-tions, driver notification of charge status, and effortless charging session initiation.

The project is as much about looking ahead as providing a service for the here and now.GMP chief Mary Powell notes that the use of electric vehicles is expected to grow quickly,with more that 100 plug-in or hybrid models on the road by the end of next yea r.

The other Vermont charging stations sponsored by GMP are at Saint Michaels College, inColchester, and Healthy Living Market, in South Burlington. The stations are each equippedwith a solar array to off set the demands of vehicles.

Congratulations . . .

The Montpelier architectural firm Gossens Bachman Architects (along with HousingVermont and the Rockingham Community Area Land Trust) has been awarded theJohn M. Clancy Award for Social ly Responsible Housing in in recognit ion of their work intransforming the historical NAMCO Block in Windsor.

Submissions were received from across the country for work done to plan, design and buildsocially responsible urban housing. According to the award jury, The rental structure waschanged from low income to mixed income and represents a small towns theological choiceto fix up a very large historical site and make it appealing to a wide range and percentage of itspopulation. The space feels very accessible, not just mechanically, but socially, incorporatingvery sensitive distribution of light and views. Its rare to find a full block of buildings withoutsome pronounced misstep, but this work is calm and handsome. The client, who could have

done so much less, should be applauded.The John M. Clancy Award for Socially Responsible Housing was established in 2004, is

funded by Goody Clancy and is administered by the Boston Society of Architects.

And More Congratulations

Speaking of Montpelier businesses getting noticed, national environmental consulting andlobbying firm the Clark Group has been awarded a $34 million contract to provide theEnvironmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC, technical, analytical and outreachassistance to the national Energy Star program in the commercial, institutional and industrial(CI&I) sectors.

Clarks partners are the the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC, the admin-istrators of the nationally recognized Efficiency Vermont utility) and the Institute for Energyand the Environment (IEE), located at the Vermont Law School in South Royalton.

This team brings together unparalleled energy efficiency and national environmental ex-pertise, the Clark Groups Lisa Mahoney was quoted as saying in the press release. We arepleased to be supporting the Energy Star program and look forward to the good work well

be producing in partnership with VEIC and IEE.

One More Time with the Congratulations

Kudos to Montpelier bluesman Dave Keller for winning the best self-produced CDof the year award at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Fiverecord labels were represented on the jury, which chose Kellers recent CD, Where Im Com-ing From, over 73 others from around the country. (Chip Wilson reviewed the CD in theSeptember 1, 2012, issue ofThe Bridge.)

Keller reports on his website, davekeller.com: Not only did I get to accept the award onstage at the historic Orpheum Theater on Beale St., but I performed live on Brett FlemingsSoul Stew show on WEVL-FM, and at the Rum Boogie Cafes all-star jam, hosted by SteadyRollin Bob Margolin and Rosie Rosenblatt. And the award includes prize money plus airplayon Sirius/XM Bluesville, cable TVs Music Choice and House of Blues radio. Im still oncloud nine.

all items by John Odum

P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601

Phone: 802-223-5112 | Fax: 802-223-7852

montpelierbridge.com; facebook.com/montpelierbridge

Published every f irst and third Thursday

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Copyright 2012 by The Montpelier Bridge


4/32


spend arguing with pharmacy benefit man-agement firms is lost time and, worse, an un-productive intrusion into the doctor-patientrelationship. It generates low value and highcost for the health-care system and provideslittle benefit. Time spent with patients isfundamental. It requires an older-style re-lationship between patient and health-care

provider, one spent listening, teaching, prob-lem solving and planning. While medicaltreatment may be necessary, before one canenjoy full benefit of that treatment, onemust perceive and surmount obstacles likeilliteracy, lack of transportation, child care,self-confidence and poor diet. Matthew callsit the stuff that surrounds the clinical stuff.If a patient cant get a ride to the centeror cant read the instructions, treatment iscompromised, and, ultimately, social or eco-nomic costs incurred.

The center addresses underlying healthissues with its patients, spending time teach-ing not only about problems, but what causesthose problems: poor dietary choices, inac-tivity, obesity, smoking, sugar, salt, fat. Big

people can get big medical problems, henotes. Further, A 10 percent cut in nationaldietary salt use could cut out $30 billion inhealth-care costs annually.

The Health Center, one of eight healthcenters in Vermont, has 78 employees, dou-bled its building size in the last few years andis expanding further this year. It operates60 hours a week, including evening hoursand urgent care hours six days a week, hasfour physicians, four physicians assistants,two dentists, five dental hygienists, threeextended function dental practitioners, apart-time oral surgeon, social workers, physi-cal therapists, a nutritionist and dietician,nurses, a pharmacy assistant, psychologists,support staff for patients as well as for the

center, a variety of laboratories, emergencyfacilities, patient transportation vans, a trav-elling dentistry van that supports other cen-ters as far afield as Eden and Alburgh, andan auxiliary clinic operating three days aweek in Cabot.

About four years ago, because of an in-creasingly complex caseload, the formerrural health center became a federally quali-fied health center, so their caps on reim-bursement have become higher. The centergets a grant from the Health Resources andServices Administration, of which it spendsapproximately half on sliding-scale fees. The

grant also funds case management and plan-ning positions that are instrumental in mak-ing sure patients cases are managed proac-tively. The grant also allowed the center toabsorb operational costs in the first year ofthe dental vans travels as service developed.

As an example of the centers innovativeapproach to care delivery, Matthew showedoff the pharmacy, explaining that, by main-taining a vending machine-style dispensary

with precounted, prepackaged prescriptions,the machine enables the centers pharmacyassistant, through athree-step checkingprocess, to fill urgent,immediate-need pre-scriptions. The phar-macy also helps patientspurchase longer-termdrug needs through amail-order buying con-sortium with partnercenters, saving time and money for both pa-tients and the center. The center has, in somecases, achieved drug savings he characterizedas jaw-dropping in magnitude, and savingsthat enable patients to successfully navigate

the doughnut hole problem of Medicareprescription-drug insurance.

Innovations like these are symptomatic ofan organization readying to again increaseits services while planning for more facili-ties, disciplines and staffing. Matthew saidits operation model is the most cost-effectiveof common health-care models. The mostcostly is a multispecialty practice; the nextmost costly, internal medicine; the next leastexpensive, the family medicine model; andthe least expensive model, group practiceslike the Health Center in Plainfield.

Montpelier Health CenterFocuses on People

Asked about medica l t rends and develop-

ments, Susan Kruthers, vice president ofcommunity relations and development atCentral Vermont Medical Center (CVMC),stressed the developing importance of a com-prehensive, 360-degree, multidisciplinary ap-proach to treating the whole person, lookingat all aspects of a patients experience. Shesuggested Dr. Jeremiah Eckhaus as someonewho might be able to speak to that approach.Eckhaus has an American Board of HolisticMedicine certification and is medical direc-tor at Montpelier Integrative Family HealthCenter (MIFHC), by the roundabout onMain Street in Montpelier. Eckhauss online

biography says his . . . patient-centered ap-proach to medicine focuses on all aspects ofthe human experience, taking into accountthe biological, psychospiritual, relational,and cultural health of individuals. He usesa combination of Western medicine, nutri-tional counseling, herbs, vitamins, supple-ments, guided imagery, acupuncture, andmindfulness-based therapies to optimize thehealth of his patients.

Visiting with Eckhaus, visual clues to hisaffinity for multiple approaches in treat-ing the whole personare evident. A dream-catcher hangs in thewindow, a collection oflittle blue bottles oneassociates with herbaltinctures sits below, asubstantial-looking lap-top sits on a computerstand before the win-

dow and a small humidifier on the sill emitsa slight, pleasing scent as afternoon sunlightpours into his office.

When asked about the core values andmission of the five-year-old MIFHC (a

CVMC group practice), the quiet-spokenEckhaus opened the conversation with twocentral ideas: integrative and holistic.By holistic, he referred to the approach ofincorporating all possible modalities of treat-ment that could effectively assist someone:Mental, physical and spiritual. In a broadsense, this inherently patient-centered ap-proach involves building nurturing rela-tionships between practitioner and patientand helping patients build on their ownstrengths to enhance the mind-body con-nection, about which, Eckhaus says, therehas been substantial and promising research.He emphasized that any means that enablespatients to enhance their awareness of whatsgoing on with and inside themselves can pro-

vide a platform for improvements in health,wellness and hea ling.

Reflecting Eckhauss approach, MIFHCsstaff, in addition to its six primary-care clini-cians, includes two Chinese medicine prac-titioners, medical hypnotists, a nutrition-ist and dietician, massage therapy, physicaltherapy and a cognitive-behavior therapist.Emphasizing that the treatments are evi-dence-based, Eckhaus noted that practitio-ners arent limited exclusively to approachesone might expect to encounter in more tra-ditional (Western) medical settings and thatthe flexibility of this approach can facilitate

the enlistment of patients awareness to helpthemselves.

Eckhaus emphasized that while the prac-tice might use the avenues of herbal treat-ment, nutrition, mind-body work, or dietarysupplements as well as traditional medicaldrugs, the unifying factor in any treatmentis the truth that all of us want to be healthy.The desire to be healthy transcends resis-tance to entertain new ideas. MIFHC prac-

titioners pay attention to what people needand build on their patients core strengths.The approach involves the practitionersperception of the clues and cues a patientpresents in the encounter between them;hearing, seeing, listening and experiencingthe patient. Every patient, he noted, hasdifferent experiences on which the relation-ship between practitioner and patient will bebuilt, and its important for the practitionerto start where the patient is, to understandwhat they can bring to the hea ling relat ion-ship. The practice, he said, is focused onfostering relationships, understanding whatpeople are ready for and never losing sight ofthe underlying, fundamental issue: How dowe nurture the relationship? that, in turn,

nurtures the patient.Eckhaus particu larly noted the importance

of nurturing relationships as the practice ofmedicine changes; stressing the point that nomatter how medical practice may evolve, nomatter how medical technology and researchextends and enlarges medical knowledge, nomatter how the medical services payment/insurance model may change, the funda-mental relationship that must be built andsustained between practitioners and theirpatients is central. With a strong relation-ship of trust and confidence established, apartnership grows between practitioner andpatient, and practitioners, understanding pa-tients uniqueness, can work with them ina variety of ways to achieve the results they

both desire.In MIFHCs case, in addition to any medi-

cal treatment one might expect at conven-tional practitioners offices, the center of-fers a variety of tools to achieve health andwellness: Cooking classes, Thursday night$10 acupuncture clinics, medical hypnosis,stress management, weight management andtherapeutic interventions are all part of themenu. The underlying approach, Eckhausindicated, lies in using the strength of therelationship, to inform as much as prescribe,enabling patients to enhance their ownstrengths.

TEAM HEALTH, from page 1


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Capitol NotebookSTATE HOUSE NEWS & COMMENTARY

by John Odum

Power in a legislature like Vermontsisnt about who can contribute towhose reelection, or who can block

contributions to whose reelection. Power be-comes about the perception of powerandhow that perception becomes reality, simplyby a sort of implicit consent from ones col-leagues.

And that makes it tenuous. If you pushtoo hard in the wrong direction, that illusionshatters. If you try to assert too much power,your bluff may well be called.

Case in point: H.97 and the Vermontarm of the American Federation of Teachers

(AFT).H.97 passed out of the House in the last

legislative session. As originally introduced,H.97 would have allowed home-based andcenter-based child-care workers to organizeas a union, allowing them to collectively bar-gain with the state over matters of concernto them professionally, such as subsidy rates,training requirements, etc. Its unusual, butits a model thatto varying degreeshasbeen enacted for this industry in severalother states.

In the sausage-making factory that isthe House of Representatives, the bill wentthrough a lot of changes. First, center-basedstaff were removed from the bill at the behestof some politically powerful center owners.

Then, the list of issues that would be allowedto be collectively bargained with the statewas limited.

What was left over was far from revolution-ary but relatively noncontroversial. The billhad the support of Governor Peter Shumlin,had passed the House and had moved tothe Senate, where it received a less-than-welcoming reception by Senate PresidentPro-Tem John Campbell (D-Windsor), whoshelved it until the 2012 session.

Last week the bill probably self-destructedor rather, its primary backers (Vermont AFT)blew it up.

AFT has been organizing child-care pro-fessionals for years, and if these professionalsdo win collective bargaining rightseven

modest onesit is the AFT that will repre-sent them.

The implications to this within labor cir-cles should not be underestimated. Across thenation, unions have been under attack. Herein Vermont, H.97 offered the chance for sig-nificant union expansion. In Vermontas inevery other statethere is more than a littleinterunion rivalry and jockeying for posi-tion. In this case, the Vermont NEA (whichrepresents teachers) was very leery of a billthat would launch AFT to new prominence,and even worked against the bill behind thescenes when it was first introduced.

The AFT weathered the squabbling. It gota bill (albeit a scaled-down one) through theHouse. With each victory came a little more

of that perception of power, and all thatremained to be done was to get the bill pastCampbell.

And then, reportedly, they overplayedtheir hand.

Campbelland many other legislatorshad been increasingly frust rated by what theysaw as needlessly heavy-handed tactics by theAFT in support of the bill. Finally, accordingto Campbell, AFT (and Vermont AFL/CIO)head Ben Johnson slid a piece of paper acrossthe table that showed the amount of unionspending on the campaigns of Campbell andDemocrats in what he felt to be an implicitthreat, or quid pro quo demand.

This was too much for Campbell, who

pulled the plug on H.97 last week, ratherthan reward bad behavior.

Make no mistakeCampbell wanted tokill this bill. Johnson merely gave him theexcuse he was looking for.

Word emerged after the kerfuf fle thatCampbell may have softened his stance a bit,and the bill could still get hearings. It maybe a change of heart on his part, or it may bethat he considered the ramifications of thou-sands of voters receiving union endorsementmailings (endorsements that will largely goto Democrats).

Whatever the case, the AFT has had theirpower diminished by this affair, making thepoint that power in the State House is mer-curial and only exists insofar as you dont try

to overextend it.

Power, Weakness andUnintended Consequences

Speaking of the perception of State Housepower, Shumlin may have been seen by someopponents as ceding too much too quicklyon his signature issue.

In response to pressure from large busi-nesses, the governor relented on the require-ment in his original health-care reform planthat would require them to participate ina state-managed insurance exchange topurchase coverage. Businesses are concernedabout the potential for extra costs and lack ofcontrol over coverage options, while reformproponents see large-scale participation in

the exchange as a necessary step towards asingle-payer state insurance system.

But now lobbyists representing smallerbusiness are saying, If they can do it, whynot us?

What was meant as a concession to firmup support for the bill may well end upbeing seen as a crack in Shumlins commit-ment that looks like weakness. Expect moreinterest groups in the State House to try toexpand that crack as far as they can, now thatthey smell the policy blood in the water.

John Odum is the news editor ofThe Bridgeand a longtime political blogger and online

journalist. He lives in Montpelier.

Unions, Senators and State House Clout

Culinary Course ServSafe: Saturday,February 11, 2012, 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.;4:00 5: 00 p.m., test; 8 hours; instructor:Wendy Clark; Cost: $175, book included pay early and pick up book early.

Licensed Nursing Assistant

(LNA) Courses:LNA 4: Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:00 8:00 p.m. (classroom) and 5:00 9:00p.m. (clinical); March 5 June 20, 2012;100 hours; Instructors: Lynda Volz, LoriKnowlton, and Sherry Barnard; Interviewsrequired and scheduled for February 21,2012; Cost: $950 for tuition & text, $20 forLicensing, and $115 for testing.LNA Summer Intensive: Daily, June 11

July 11, 2012; 100 hours; Inst ructors: Ly ndaVolz, Lori Knowlton, and Sherry Barnard;Interviews required and scheduled for May 21 23, 2012; Cost: $950 for tuition & text, $20for Licensing, and $115 for testing.

Personal Care Attendant (PCA)

Course: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00 6:30 p.m.; March 6 April 26, 2012; 40hours; Instructor Karen Martin; Cost: $450

materials included.Child Development Associate

Credential (CDA) Course: Tuesdays,5:30 8:00 p.m. and additional days asneeded; February 7 June 26, 2012; 60 class-room hours required; Interviews required andscheduled for February 1, 2012; Instructor:Kathi Fuller; Cost: $950 for tuition and twotexts.

Child Development Recertification

Course: Days and times: TBA; March 1 May 30, 2012; 45 online hours for 4.5 CUs;Instructor: Lori Hebert. Cost: TBA.

American Red Cross Classes: Allclasses are scheduled on Wednesday eve-nings from 5:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. except forRecertification which meets from 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Registration and payment is

required at least three (3) business days priorto class. Instructor: Sheila Cleary. Pick fromthe following dates:First Aid: 1st Wed of the month: March 7,April 4, May 2, June 6, 2012; Cost: $60.00Infant/Child CPR/AED: 2nd Wed. of themonth: Feb 8, Mar 14, April 11, May 9, June13, July 11, 2012; Cost: $70.00Adult CPR/AED: 3rd Wed of the month:Feb 15, Mar 21, April 18, May 16, June 20,

July 18, 2012 ; Cost: $70. 00Recertification: 4th Wed of the month: Feb22, Mar 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, July25, 2012; Cost: $50.00Baby-Sitting: Designed for youth who wantto learn or improve their baby-sitting skills.Saturday: Feb 25 or April 28, 2012 Pick

one. 9:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m.; 6 hours; Cost: $85

Accounting I Class: Mondays andWednesdays, 6:00 8:00 p.m.; April 2 April 30, 2012; 18 hours; Instructor: DottyeRicks; Cost: $185 or $365 for Acctng 1 & 2;materials included.

Accounting 2 Class: Mondays andWednesdays, 6:00 8:00 p.m.; May 2 June4, 2012; 18 hours; Instructor: Dottye Ricks;Cost: $185 or $365 for Acctng 1 & 2; materi-als included.

QuickBooks 1 Class: Tuesdays andThursdays, 6:00 8:00 p.m.; April 24 May17, 2012; 16 hours; Instructor: Lorri Otis;Cost: $185 or QuickBooks 1 & 2 for $350.

QuickBooks 2 Class: Tuesdays andThursdays, 6:00 8:00 p.m.; May 22 June14, 2012; 16 hours; Instructor: Lorri Otis;Cost: $185 materials included or QuickBooks1 & 2 for $350.

Microsoft Excel: Thursdays, 5:30 8 :00p.m.; March 8 April 19, 2012; 17.5 hours;Instructor: Scott Griggs; Cost: $175, bookadditional.

Microsoft Word 1: Wednesdays, Times:TBA; April 4 May 23, 2012; 16 hours;Instructor: TBA; Cost: $185 materialsincluded.

Basic Computer: Mondays, 4:00 5:30p.m.; Arpil 2 May 21, 2012; 12 hours;Instructor: TBA; Cost: $135 materialsincluded.

Home Improvement and

Handyperson Courses:

Handy Electrical: Wednesdays, 6:00 8:30

p.m.; March 14 April 11, 2012; 10 hours;Instructor: Jan Ruta; Cost: $125 plus addi-tional $5.00 material fee due first night.Handy Home Repair: Tuesdays, 6:00 8:30p.m.; March 6 April 13, 2012; 10 hours;Instructor Patti Garbeck; Cost $140, materi-als included.Tooling-U and Ed-2-Go Classes: Phone forinformation.

Spring Adult Education Classesat the Barre Technical Center

Custom Classes for Local Businesses!

For more information on any classes, contact Dottye Ricks at476-1487 or [email protected], or visit barretechncialcenter.org.

Enjoy Life-Long Learning at the Barre Tech Center

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Stress ReductionSherry Rhynard, RWC, CBS

Wellness Consultant & Stress Management Coach

Located in Barre and Montpelier

www.easeofflow.com 479-3223

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In this years city elections, two

races are drawing Montpeliers

attention. John Hollar (far right)

is running unopposed for the

mayorship, as current mayorMary Hooper is stepping down. In

District 2, Thierry Guerlain (right)

is challenging incumbent Nancy

Sherman (center right).

The Bridge asked all three candi-

dates about themselves and their

views on Montpeliers current

issues.

Why are you running forcouncilor/mayor?

Nancy Sherman: Im running for city

council because I think it is important andchallenging work. I think Im highly quali-fied based on my experience, knowledge,optimism and perspective on issues facingthe city.

Thierry Guerlain: I believe its time forchange and a fresh perspective. Montpelier isa wonderful place to live and a terrific placeto raise a family. I want Montpelier to be thebest possible, and I have the energy and desi reto make a contribution.

John Holla r: I love Montpelier. I believein community service, and I feel like I havesomething to offer. We have a communitythat is engaged in a great many ways aboutthe issues that face our city, and I enjoy beingpart of those discussions and working to im-

prove the quality of life in our community.

Relate your life experience andbackground to your candidacy.

NS: We came to Montpelier in 1986. Thisis where we raised our family, and its wherewe work. I have worked for the past 10 years

as program director for Neighbor to Neigh-bor AmeriCorps, which is sponsored by Cen-tral Vermont Council on Aging. Prior to thatI was at Central Vermont Adult Basic Educa-tion. Prior to that I was at the department ofpublic service, in the planning department.Ive also worked for National Life and theMontpelier school system. My experience innonprofits as well as working for the stateis relevant to my work on the city council.Theres one other part of my life experience,and thats education. I have a BA and MBAfrom the University of Chicago and an MAin education from Roosevelt University.

TG: My career as a businessperson willserve me well. I know its not all about dol-lars and cents, but rather dollars and sense.

Financial acumen is important in business,but its more important to have good service,quality, timeliness, value and, most impor-tant, working well with others. People must

work together, with a common sense of pur-pose. I equate these with the teamwork andvision that the city council must possess to

provide quality leadership and direction tocity government. These are critical to thecouncils pursuing initiatives that preserveand enhance Montpeliers excellent qualities.

JH: Ive been involved in politics in variousways through all my adult life: professiona lly,in my career, and through volunteer work. Itssomething Im comfortable with. Ive workedin Washington, DC, where I was the legisla-tive director for a congressman from Okla-homa, which is where I am from. In VermontIve represented clients at the legislature forthe last 20 years or so.

What do you see as the most im-portant city issues that need tobe addressed by a new city coun-

cil?NS: Whats coming up and on the horizon

is working on the big projects that are now inprogress: the district heating project, which

will switch the cit y to a loca l, renewable en-ergy source and enable downtown businessesto share the savings on heating-fuel costs.

Second is the development of a multimodaltransit center. It will be hub for interstate, in-tercity and regional public transportation andenable the city to fill a gap in the bike/pe-destrian path. Infrastructure improvementsare high on the list of priority issuesstreetrehabilitation, retaining-wall reconstructionand rebuilding culverts.

We need more affordable housing units,including infill, and to rehabilitate existingproperties that are in need of renovation. Weneed to pursue new revenues through localoption taxes and regionalization of services.We need to pursue the option of selling waterto Berlin. We also need to find new grants tosupport economic development and growth.

TG: Safe sidewalks are important. Decent

streets are needed for emergency vehicles toquickly reach everyone, and to prevent thedamage caused by terrible roads. So it is im-portant to make needed repairs and establish

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procedures so that all city infrastructure ismaintained on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Another top issue: increasing the viabilityof Montpeliers economy, so that existing busi-nesses thrive and new businesses see Montpe-lier as an attractive place to do business.

Most important: keeping Montpelier at-tractive and affordable for all. We have aunique, human-scale little town. I want tohelp strengthen Montpelier as a vibrant, suc-

cessful community.JH: Were seeing a very healthy and con-structive debate about municipal prioritiesright now. I hope to provide some leadershipand support to facilitate that discussion. Inmy view, we need to focus on our core in-frastructure needs. Most people believe ourroads and sidewalks need attention, and Iagree with that. At the same time, we havevery high taxes, so we dont have excess reve-nue to pay for those needs. We need to thinkabout where our priorities are. Its going torequire a broader discussion of where wespend our money. Our tax rate imposes limi-tations on our ability to spend more on ourinfrastructure without trade-offs in otherareas. There are many other issues that I am

going to have to become familiar with: thelocal option taxes, the biomass plant, zoningbylaws and many others.

Are municipal property taxes ap-propriate, or too high? Does thecity have a spending problem, arevenue problem? Both? Do weneed fresh approaches to theseissues?

NS: In this election, taxes are a majorissue. No one likes to pay taxes, but its whatwe get for our tax doll ars that really counts.The key question for me is, Is the Cityof Montpelier making responsible decisionsabout investment of resources and tax dollarsin order to meet the current and long-term

needs of all city residents? City councilhas gone through a careful and meticulousprocess in preparing the FY13 budget. Weveexamined every department budget and put

questions to every department head and toour finance director as well as city manager.We have listened to input from the public. Itis my belief that city government functionswell in its support for the essential servicesthat residents expect from city government.

Property taxes are what we need to runthe city. Theres nothing wasted. Were sup-porting the essential services: safety, publicworks, finance, planning, parks and com-

munity amenities. This budget also has anincreased commitment to catching up withdelayed infrastructure and equipment needs.The FY13 municipal general-fund budget isa 1 percent increase, and thats a responsibleinvestment for the services that the residentsneed.

If all the outside agency funding requestsare approved, the general-fund budget willgo up 2.3 percent. That includes the library,the housing trust fund, and all the 42 peti-tioned items. This increase of 2.3 percent isless than the increase in the consumer priceindex, which is over 3 percent.

I dont think we have a revenue problem. Idont think we have atax problem. I think

we need to have abudget that supportsthe core services.Weve come throughthat process with aproposed budget thatincludes the essential services, and we are ex-ploring opportunities for additional revenueand cost savings.

TG: Are property taxes too high? Perhapsnot, if municipal services are of equallyhigh quality. But with highest-in-the-stateproperty-tax bills and crumbling streets andsidewalks, with a water distribution systemthat is ageing and not being systematicallymaintained, its not going to work.

Is it a revenue or a spending problem? It

sure seems like a spending problem to me.Comparisons can be made of our city de-

partments and budgets with those of similarcommunities in New England. The $40,000

Matrix Report commissioned by the city wasa start. There are many questions related tomunicipal costs and services. I am reluctantto increase city revenue before answeringthese questions.

JH: A city like Montpelier can alwaysbenefit from a fresh approach. Our taxes arealways going to be high, because were thecenter of commerce in this region. However,we have the highest median residential tax

burden in the state. That suggests to me thattheres room to become more efficient.

Do you support the two pro-posed local option taxes?

NS: Concerning local option taxes, Im infavor of putting them in front of city votersso they can decide. Over the past 25 years,weve seen a shift in the local property-taxburden to residential property owners. Theynow pay 66 percent of the property-tax bur-den. We know that during day the city popu-lation increases by a factor of three. Localoption taxes are a way to reduce the tax shiftonto residential property owners, and a way

for those who benefitfrom working and

visiting Montpelierto share the cost. Iunderstand down-town businesses haveserious concerns. Iminterested in Mont-

pelier Alives forum on this topic on Febru-ary 23 at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.

TG: I am strongly against the local salestax. If you purchases an appliance in Barreand have it delivered here, the 1 percent taxapplies. For businesses, the 1 percent taxapplies to everything purchased, includingheat and electricity. Businesses must alsocharge 1 percent on taxable items that theysell. So Montpelier businesses will be hitdoubly hard and must raise prices by more

than 1 percent, simply to break even. Thelocal option sales tax is bad for Montpelierresidents and terrible for Montpelier-basedbusinesses.

I have mixed feelings about the rooms andmeals tax. I am mildly in favor, as it will taxvisitors to Montpelier, thereby generatingrevenue from beyond city limits. But it isinefficient, as the state keeps 30 percent ofrevenues collected.

I urge Montpelierites to vote no on boththese ballot items.

JH: I dont support the local option taxesas proposed for two reasons. First, my can-

didacy is based on my belief in promotingthe health and vibrancy of our downtown.Our downtown is what defines Montpelierand makes our city unique. I dont believethat the local option taxes are consistentwith that priority. Many of our downtownmerchants survive on very thin margins.Some likely would be able to pass on the taxto consumers. For others, it would provide acost to their bottom line. Given the strongopposition from our downtown merchantsto the proposed taxes, I dont believe thatadopting them would be consistent with adesire to promote a thriving downtown.

Second, given our relatively high tax rate,I believe we should be able to pay for ourinfrastructure needs out of our existing

property-tax revenues rather than increasingrevenues through a local option tax.

That said, I dont necessarily oppose alocal option tax in the future if it wasdedicated to a specific purpose that wouldenhance our downtown. For example, therehave been discussions for a long time aboutthe need for additional parking in downtownMontpelier. That might be a project thatwould be appropriate to finance through alocal option tax.

Do you support the proposed$870,000 bond to pay foramongother thingsa new fire truckand sidewalk and street andretaining-wall improvements?

NS: I support this bond. I think its a wayto catch up with infrastructure improve-

Community forumon local options taxesursday, February 23, 2012, 78:30 pmCapitol Plaza, 100 State Street, Montpelier

Moderated by Todd Bailey

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8/32


VERMON

PROEIONAL TAX &

FINANCIAL SERICE

GERARD M. GALVIN, JD CPA

802-839-6929MAX@VTPROTA X.COM

TAX PREPARATION

SMALL BUSINESS

CONSULTING

ments. I think the items supported by thisbond have at least a 20-year life span so itsappropriate to pay for them through bond-ing. Without the bond we will continue todelay essential maintenance, and the prob-lems will get worse.

TG: In your question you mention a firetruck and st reet improvements yet dont men-tion the single largest component: $285,000for building improvements.

It is difficult for voters to know the detailsof every bond. Voters must rely on councilmembers, who place bonds onto the ballotin the first place. Interest rates are currentlylow, so borrowing now for items that last 20years or more may be wise.

But $188,000 for street and sidewalk im-provements? Will they indeed last 20 years?At the start of this budgeting process, our citymanager placed high importance on budget-ing $500,000 per year for the next nineyears (per the councils capital-improvementssubcommittees recommendation), to makeinfrastructure repairs. But were now to voteon a budget that does not have $500,000

set aside for year ones repairs and on a 20-year bond with $188,000 for street improve-ments.

The worrisome point: Were not follow-ing the recommendation to fund systematicrepairs; weve not budgeted $500,000 peryear for next nine years for our infrastruc-ture. But we propose to raise $188,000 witha 20-year note. This scheme guarantees thatwell have the exactly same budget problembefore us at this time next year, with streetsand sidewalks that have further deteriorated.This is emblematic of why I believe changeis needed on our city council.

JH: I support it. Its appropriate to financelong-term capital projects and purchasesthrough bonding.

Some people are calling for alevel-funded (no-growth), ora reduced municipal budget.Would you be willing to go on re-cord supporting such a budget?

NS: I am on record with the majority of

the council voting in favor of the proposedcity budget with a 1.1 percent increase. If welevel fund or reduce the budget, we will cutservices and create maintenance problemsthat will inevitably cost more later. I thinkits the responsibility of city council membersto make the complex decisions about pro-viding core services for current and futureresidents. Nothing is free. One way or an-other we have to pay for safety, maintenanceof streets and sidewalks, recreational andcultural resources, and all the other factorsthat make Montpelier a desirable place tolive and work.

Property taxes are the way we accomplishthis, combined with a budget that reflectssound financial decisions about how to pro-

vide these services and resources. We areinvesting in efficiency and cost-saving pro-grams. We are bending the cost curve. Wecannot responsibly cut the citys budget andfulfill the long-term needs of all residents.

TG: Two-hundred-plus people signed aletter presented to the city council raisinglegitimate questions about the direction andsustainability of municipal spending. Theletters purpose was to initiate public dis-cussion about spending, and its long-termimpact on property taxes and the citys eco-nomic and residential vitality.

The letter did not call for across-the-board

cuts. Municipal spending is too complex tobe addressed such a fashion. Rather, the let-ter suggested a 3 percent budget reduction,so that citizens could evaluate the impactof reductions on services. The mayor, inresponse to the letter, promised to show abudget with a 5 percent reduction.

The promise was well-intentioned but, un-fortunately, not fulfilled. Reduced budgetswere never presented. This was a truncated

response to a public conversation that needsto be continued.These past five years have been economi-

cally difficult. Its good that Montpelieritesquestion how municipal tax dollars are spentand whether better choices can be made.

This is responsible citizen involvement, aswas demonstrated by the publics recent in-volvement in the Taser discussion. Citizenparticipation is what built Montpelier intothe great little city that it is today; its whatis going to keep Montpelier strong.

JH: Im sympathetic to the growing con-cerns about the burden Montpeliers prop-erty-tax rate has on many residents in thecity. My goal as mayor will be to look closely

at the municipal budget to find ways that wecan make our municipal operations more ef-ficient. Im not under any illusion that thatsgoing to be an easy challenge. But its clearthat our tax rate has some adverse conse-quences on our community.

CANDIDATES, from page 7

Montpelier Candidate Forumon Monday, February 20

The Bridge, in partnership with ORCA Media (local cable channel 17) is sponsoringa Montpelier candidate forum. The forum is set for Monday evening, February 20,in the City Hall council chambers, at 7 p.m.

The two-part event should includealthough we are still trying to confirm atten-dancea chance to introduce and listen to Montpeliers two candidates for city clerk.

A candidates forum will follow at 8 p.m. This forum features all current candidates forMontpelier City Council, including two candidates in the contested race for a District2 seat on the council, a single candidate for mayor and two additional candidates whoseraces are not contested. There will be a moderator.

The Bridge and ORCA welcome anyone who wants to sit in the audience. We willnot be taking questions from the floor, but we welcome questions submitted by e-mailno later than Sunday evening, February 19, to [email protected] [email protected].

The forum will be broadcast on cable channel 17 and will also stream live on the Webat orcamedia.net. The forum will be rebroadcast on Wednesday, February 22 at 4 p.m.,Thursday, February 23 at 1 p.m., Saturday, February 25 at 8 p.m., Monday, February27 at 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 29 at 4 p.m., Thursday, March 1 at 1 p.m., Saturday,March 3 at 8 p.m. and Monday, March 5 at 4 p.m. The forum will also be available ondemand at orcamedia.net.

Tell them you saw it in The Bridge!(Local advertising works. Call Carl or Carolyn, 223-5112 to place your ad today.)


9/32


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by Bob Nuner

Ray Pealer says a book in a shop window called to himwhen he was young: The Body Electric, by RobertO. Becker. Its theme: electromagnetic waves effect

on bodies. He was struck by Beckers

description of amphibians regrowing ap-pendages after application of electricity.

Now Pealer campaigns about electro-magnetic radiation, invisible and perva-sive, that streams from cellphones, cord-less phones, wireless Internet routers,laptops and countless other devices ofmodern technology. He has held meet-ings at the elementary school in Calais,where he lives, advocating against theschools new wireless setup. Pealer cites studies that suggestthat children are especially susceptible to electromagneticradiation. He has done studies measuring the radiation levels

in the classrooms, and says that standing in f ront of the routerin the classroom is equivalent to being in close proximity toa cell tower.

Pealer himself, by his own definition, is electrosensitive.Im one of the canaries, and I think one of my kids is too,

he says. Thats what makes the protec-

tive mechanism kick in. He feels aburning sensation when he holds a cellphone to the side of his face, and he isnauseated near cell towers. Dependingon the data source, hes part of from 3to 13 percent of the population that iselectrosensitive. Pealer points to studiesdone around the world that have foundan increased level of electrosensitivityin recent years.

Pealers primary concern is radiation from new homedevices, and radiations effect on the vulnerable, especiallychildren. For example, he says that while cellphones may emita volt per square meter of our skin, newer digital enhancedcordless telecommunications (DECT) phones emit half againthat energy constantly, not just when theyre used. Pealer hasmeasured radio-frequency energy in his neighbors homes and

found DECT phones a primary culprit in elevated levels.According to Pealer, effects of electromagnetic radiation

include an increased likelihood of developing tumors (bothbenign and cancerous), leukemia, damage to neurons andDNA strands (affecting genetic blueprints, mutations, im-mune function and metabolic changes), changes to white-blood-cell counts and sperm counts, as well as disturbancesto sleep, working memory, mood, cognition, behavior andperformance.

The issues Pealer fights resemble another, more widelyfollowed controversyclimate change. Radio-frequency en-ergy pollution or electrosmog worries are inconvenient.Industry groups maintain that wireless technologies are safe,as they have been designed to emit less radiation than safetybenchmarks established decades ago (see sidebar). Activistsargue, however, that radio-frequency pollution should beviewed as a public health issue and that policy makers shouldinvoke the precautionary principle rather than deferring ac-tion until every test is replicated and theory proven.

For now, Pealer hopes to see wired connectivity deployedin elementary schools and wants householders to knowthat DECT-style cordless phones emit, on a constant basis,more radio-frequency energy than cellphones. In an e-mail,he wrote, I see DECT phones and kids being exposed toWi-Fi as the most serious issues with electromagnetic radia-tion. Smart meters will be worse, but [they are] not here yet.DECT phones emit from 15,000 to 50,000 mV/m [millivoltsper meter], whereas the previous cordless phones emit 2,000.[DECT phones] also emit radiation even when [they are] notbeing used. It ends up being the same amount of radiationas a cellphone tower in your living room. . . . Wi-Fi laptopsemit around 2,000 mV/m, but they are used for long periodsof time. Cel lphones are on average about 1,000 mV/m, so thisamounts to quite a risk were taking with the kids . . .

Risks, especially to the young, Pealer argues, warrant pre-ventative action now to avoid possible epidemic effects later.He has launched a website on the issues, wifiinschools.com,and is surprisingly optimistic, acknowledging the issue hastaught me a lot about how hard change can be. He jokes, Itcomes down to who you dont like, as more battles loom, in-

cluding the introduction of wireless smart meters by investor-owned utilities. Pealers compatriots are engaged in an ongo-ing response to the Vermont Public Service Boards handling

of wireless smart meters. That discussion is heating up, asVermonts investor-owned utilities prepare to install wirelesstransmitters to convey information about electricity use, andopponents urge that wired technologies (such as those chosenby Washington Electric Co-op) be adopted instead.

Requests for information from Vermonts Health Depart-ment and Public Service Board were unsuccessful.

Calais Man Campaigns Against Wireless Radiation

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An Ambiguous Standard

Determining safe radio-frequency exposure level is

controversial because safety thresholds, according

to activists, are inadequately assessed. The safety stan-

dard, or specific absorption rate (SAR), is an averaged

amount of radio-frequency energyin the US, two

watts of radiation energy per square meter falling at right

angles. The original SAR was determined by subjecting a

220-pound adult male to sufficient short-term (pulsed)

radiation to measurably raise his body temperature. This

SAR then was reduced by a factor of 10 to establish a

safety threshold. While wireless device emissions may

be lower than SAR standards, opponents note that now

radio-frequency emissions are constant, not pulsed, that

there is an accumulation of new radiation sources, and

that nonthermal forms of damage are possible and have

been demonstrated at below SAR-levels.

Cautions in the back pages of a current cellphone user

guide put that phones SAR at 1.18 watts per kilogram at

the ear, but admonish, To comply with FCC [radio-fre-

quency] exposure requirements, a minimum separation

distance of 0.79 inches (2.0 cm) must be maintained

between the users body and the back of the phone. . .

. Body-worn (phone) accessories that cannot maintain

0.79 inches (2.0 cm) separation distance between the

users body and the back of the phone, and have not

been tested for typical body-worn operations may not

comply with FCC [radio-frequency] exposure limits and

should be avoided.

Agreement about acceptable dosage is not interna-

tional. European standards vary. Eastern European stan-

dards are much more restrictive: the Ukraine adopted

a level of 2.5 millionths of a watt per square centimeter,

and the Russian National Committee on Non-IonizingRadiation Protection issued a resolution in April 2011,

urging that people under 18 not use cellphones, citing

significant increases in incidents of childhood nervous

system, blood and immune system disorders in the past

decade.

Cellphones transmit and receive informtaion via antenna tow-ers like this one in Berlin. Photo by Bob Nuner.


11/32

THE BRIDGE FEBR UARY 1629, 2012 PAGE 11

by Chris Hollis

Over the last few years the UnitedStates has seen an explosion of acu-puncture clinics that embrace a

novel approach to health care. Vermont has

adopted this trend with the opening of com-munity acupuncture clinics in Randolph,Montpelier, Burlington, Thetford Center,and Chester.

The model is based on what normally oc-curs in China. Many patients are treated eachhour by one acupuncturist instead of onlyone or two patients per hour, as is usually thecase in the U.S. This helps keep costs downfor each patient whilemaintaining a livablewage for the practitio-ner. Its estimated thatover 50 million Ameri-cans either have nohealth insurance or havehigh-deductible plans

that essentially preventthem from seeking care.Most insurance compa-nies, as well as Medicaid and Medicare,do not cover acupuncture. Community acu-puncture clinics focus on delivering effectivetreatment while decreasing health-care costsand increasing accessibility.

Community acupuncture clinics oftenhave different setups but share some com-mon features, such as a sliding scale from$15 to $50 per treatmentpatients decide

what they can afford to pay. Some clinicsoffer treatments in a group setting, either inreclining chairs or on massage tables, wherepatients remain comfortably clothed. Otherclinics have private rooms, although this isnot as common. Some clinics see hundreds

of patients each week and have multiple acu-puncturists working together.

The first clinic to adopt this affordablecommunity acupuncture model in the U.S.was Working Class Acupuncture in Portland,Oregon. Since its opening in 2005, hundredsof such clinics have opened throughout thecountry.

A patients initial visit provides time for theacupuncturist to evalu-ate a persons treatmentneeds. Then, sterile,disposable needles areplaced in the arms, legsand/or ears. At the endof the treatment, theacupuncturist will rec-

ommend a frequencyfor follow-up treat-ments. Many patients

enjoy the group or community setting.Affordable acupuncture can offer individu-

als an effective alternative treatment to surgeryand pharmaceutical medications for variousailments, thus reducing national health-carecosts. Fibromyalgia, back and joint pain, de-pression/anxiety, migraine, indigestion andinsomnia are commonly recognized condi-tions, even by conventional medicine, that

respond well to acupuncture. Many studieshave demonstrated acupuncture as an effec-tive health-care option.

Acupuncture often works best if done fre-

quently and, with community acupuncture,more patients can afford to be seen, if neces-sary, several times a week. In China, patientsare seen every day for 10 days, followed by afive-day rest, then treated again daily for 10days. A patient at a community acupunctureclinic can receive three treatments for lessthan the price of one private session, a win-win situation for patient and practitioner.

Acupuncture is one of the oldest healingpractices in the world, with many studiesshowing benefit. With increasing health-care

costs and a shrinking middle class, its nowonder that the demand for a ffordable acu-puncture throughout the United States is onthe rise. To find such clinics visit pocacoop

.com/clinics or do a Google search for com-munity acupuncture in your area.

Chris Hollis is a naturopathic physicianand licensed acupuncturist with a primary-care practice in Randolph and is the ownerof Montpelier Community Acupuncture. Hehas studied medicine in India and China andhas been practicing community acupuncture

for four years in Randolph. He is committed tomaking health care affordable and accessible tothe general public.

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PAGE 12 FEBR UARY 162 9, 2012 THE BRIDGE

Tiny BitesT

his winter isnt the best for skiing and outdoor sports, so why not take advantage of theindoor time to learn some new culinary skills? In Brookfield, join chefLee Duber-

man for Sunday classes that run from noon to 3:30 p.m. and include a full lunch andbeverage pairings: New Orleans and Cajun country on Feb. 19; sunny cuisine of southernFrance on March 4; and bacon and eggs on March 18. Each class is $85 and limited to sixparticipants; call 276-3939 to reserve a space, or check out arielsrestaurant.com.

At Sa lt Caf on Barre Street, join proprietor Suzanne Podhaizer for a cooking classcustomized just for you. Gather five friends, and Podhaizer will work with you to design aclass; past topics have included fresh pasta , soup, appetizers and desserts. Classes run about twohours for $40 per person; call 229-6678 or e-mail [email protected] to get planning.

Which is the better beverage, beer or wine? Ponder the question and contribute to theNECI scholarship fund at a unique dinner on Monday evening, February 20, atNECI on Main. Each of the dishes at this seven-course dinner will be paired with a beerchosen by Scott Kerner, co-owner of the Three Penny Taproom, and a wine chosenby Montpelier author and NECI faculty member Jeff Roberts. In addition to enjoying a greatmeal, diners will also have the opportunity to vote on their favorite pairing. Only 50 seats are

available; tickets to this fundraising meal cost $65 and must be purchased in advance at theThree Penny Taproom. Contact 223-8277 or [email protected].

Between 1,200 and 1,500 migrant workers labor on Vermont dairy farms, and approxi-mately half of Vermonts milk comes from the labor of undocumented workers. Learnmore about their lives and the policies behind them in a film series entitled MigrantWorkers in Vermont, Immigration, and Globalization. Films are shown at 3p.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of the month at the Unitarian Church of Montpe-lier. Upcoming screenings include Warning: Border Under Construction on February 26 and9500 Libertyon March 11. Each film will be followed by a facilitated discussion. For moreinformation, contact Madeline at [email protected].

ServSafe is an industry-wide, nationally recognized food-safety training program. AServSafe certification makes job applicants more attractive to employers who serve foodto the public. The Green Mountain Technology and Career center is offeringa ServSafe class at its Hyde Park location on March 9 and 10. After the two-day, 13-hourcourse, participants will take the certification exam; if a passing score is received, a five-year

certificate from the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation will be awarded.The course costs $140 plus text; possible partial scholarships may be available. Call 888-4447 for details or visit gmtcc.info/adult_ed_courses.html.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a hot topic in agriculture and organic circlesas more consumers demand to know whats in what they eat. The Vermont legislatureis considering the topic this session, with two bills addressing the threat to organic farmersby the spread of genetically modified plants. Find more information about bills H.733 andH.722, and how Vermonters can weigh in on the issue of GMOs, at the website of advocacyorganization Rural Vermont: ruralvermont.org.

For many gardeners, winter mail brings seed catalogs and promise of a bountiful summergarden. For those who prefer community supported agriculture (CSA), manylocal farms are beginning to enroll members for summer shares. CSA provides farmers withworking capital when they most need itnow, for seed purchases and preseason equipmentneeds. Members receive a weekly, biweekly or monthly share throughout the growing season.Check out nofavt.org/find-organic-food/csa-listing for a list of Vermont CSAs.

compiled by Sylvia Fagin; send food news to [email protected]

Central Vermont Food News

Tell them you saw it in The Bridge!


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THE BRIDGE FEBR UARY 1629, 2012 PAGE 13

by Sylvia Fagin

With everyone from the family doctor to MichelleObama encouraging parents to improve theirkids eating habits, the message of good nutrition

for a healthy childhood is ringing loud and clear. What isnt

always so clear is how. Whether deserved or not, kids have areputation as picky eaters. The Bridgecontacted Montpeliersnack providers and parents to find out how local folks aregetting children to eat healthy at snack time.

Every day, Nicole Clark, the kitchen manager at the FamilyCenter of Washington County, feeds breakfast, lunch and asnack to 40 to 50 children age 5 and under.

Getting healthy food into so many different kids can bea challenge, Clark says. Every kid is different, she notes.What they will eat depends on the day, depends on the kid.The family center strives to serve a lot of fresh fruits and veg-etables, whole grains, lean meats and vegetarian alternativesto meats, according to Clark.

Whole-wheat pizza crust i s one easy way to increase kidsintake of whole grains, along with whole-wheat crackers andwheat-berry bread. With all these whole grains, theres not alot of empty carbs, Clark says.

As for new foods , Its all in the sell, Clark explains. Themore we talk about it, they more theyll try it, and the morethey try it, the more they like it. Clark will sometimes tella hesitant child which other children tried, and liked, a newfood such as guacamole or hummus.

Talk it up positively, she suggests to parents. Make it agame. Have a shape day where you only serve round food, ora color day and only serve orange food. And when it comesto trying new things, Just keep trying, Clark says.

At Union Elementary School (UES), Denise R icker coor-dinates the snack program. Now in its sixth year, the UESsnack program offers minimally processed and locally grownand made snack items.

Prior to the programs inception in 2006, much of whatwas offered at snack time was processed food, according toRicker, who joined the program threeyears ago. In 2006, Montpelier residentTheresa Murray-Clasen spearheaded aneffort to replace the processed food withhealthier choices.

Now, UES students can choose fromwhole-wheat rolls made by the Mang-his Bread or whole-wheat bagels fromKCs in Waterbury; Cabot cheddarcheese; yogurt from Butterworks Farmin northern Vermont; apples and apple-sauce from Vermont and New York farms; Maine blueberries;carrots from a farm in Cabot; and granola and muffins madeat Montpelier High School.

Ricker estimates that half the UES students, or just over200 kids, participate in the healthy snack program each day.The snack program holds fundraisers each year to ensurethat all students are able to get a healthy snack regardless ofability to pay.

Were trying to give kids an alternative to packaged foods

that are not so healthy, Ricker says. We try to get themaware that they dont have to eat something out of a bagor something that contains ingredients their parents cantpronounce.

Along the way, Ricker has encountered some surprises. Aveggie cup with carrot sticks used to be served with dip.The kids didnt like the dip, and it was messy. We only sold

10 a week, she recalls. The dip wasremoved from the veggie cup, and now

the program sells 30 a weekprovingthat kids will eat vegetables even iftheyre plain!

Several parents in Montpelier andbeyond (via Facebook) offered tips andtricks they use to get healthy food intotheir kids.

My kids get excited with any foodwhen its presented in a fun way, says

Brian Murphy of Montpelier, whose children are 8 and 10.Ill slice bananas into circles with the skin still on, or build ateepee out of carrot sticks. Anything that makes it seem likefun, makes it better to them.

Murphy also offered a fun meal-time idea his kids love:Theyll poke uncooked linguine or spaghetti through coin-shaped hot dog slices before cooking. After cooking, the pastastays stuck through the hot dog. [My 8-year-old] loves thisdish, Murphy says.

Tara Fickle Bennett, weighing in via Facebook, secondedMurphys thoughts about the benefits of fun with food. Inour house broccoli is trees, so it is fun to eat the trees, shesays. A long apple snake [peel] when Im using the applepeeler/corer/slicer for cooking is a big treat.

Bennetts kids, 6, 10 and 10, like anything they can dip,she says, so she offers options like low-fat ranch, honeyedyogurt, cream cheese with a little brown sugar stirred in tomake caramel sauce, and peanut butter.

Kelly McCracken of Montpelier, whose children are 5 and8, makes snack time healthier by adding carrots, pumpkin,blueberries and oatmeal to muffin recipes. And Carrie BakerStahler, also of Montpelier, makes fruits and vegetables entic-ing by freezing them. She will always eat frozen blueberriesor frozen peas, Stahler says of her 3-year-old daughter.They seem to have some kind of undeniable appeal if theyrefrozen.

Just about everyone interviewed shared one importantsentiment: If at first you dont succeed, try, try again. Kidstastes change over time, and repeated exposure to new flavorsis essential, according to Clark, who says, Dont give up!

Sylvia Fagin writes about local food and agriculture fromher home in Montpelier. Contact her via her blog Aar, Naam~ Come, Eat, at sylviafagin.wordpress.com, or via email at

[email protected].

Healthy Snacks for Healthy Kids

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Montpelier 8-year-ol d Caroline Murphys favorite fun meal , before and after. Photo by Brian Murphy.


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PAGE 14 FEBR UARY 1629, 2012 THE BRIDGE

Hands-On Gardenerby Miriam Hansen

If you like roller coasters, th is months upsand downs have certainly given us a wildride. The driveways in our neighborhood

could double as skating rinks, and Februarysweather could double as capricious spring.But even with nights below zero that climbto 50 during the day, the plants in our green-house continue to slowly add leaves. Onething I have noticed is that the leaves areuncommonly thick. This thickening, calledlignification, is a hardening of the cell wall.The lignin incrustation protects against frostby causing water to freeze between the cellsinstead of inside them. It doesnt change thetaste any, and, thick or thin, those succulent

leaves added to salads have been a wintertreat.

If you prefer to start your onions from seedas I do, February is the month for plantingall the onion family, including shallots, scal-lions and leeks. Last year I grew Ailsa Craigs,Prisma shallots, two kinds of braising onionsand Copra for storage. Ive raved about thehuge, sweet, caramelizing Ailsa Craigs andam pleased to report that though not recom-mended for storage, ours kept perfectly untilmid-January, when we finished them up. Westill have lots of rock hard Copra, cippolinisand shallots. If youre under the impressionthat shallots are just another kind of onion,think again. Shallots grow in clusters withseparate bulbs attached at the base under a

loose encircling skin. Far more costly thanonions, they are prized by chefs for theirsweet, slightly garlicky taste as well as theirintense depth of flavor.

This year were growing Ailsa Craigs,Prisma shallots, Varsity onions instead ofCopra for storage and the red onion RossaLunga di Tropea, if only for the pleasure ofsaying its name!

Having learned from experience that onlyabout 20 percent of last years onion andshallot seeds will germinate, I sowed the2010 seeds on moist paper towels tuckedinto plastic bags and will start checking forgermination in four or five days. Even at a di-minished rate, every one of those hard blackspecks that germinates represents a treat for

somebodys dinner!Ill sow the rest of the onion-family crops

in large flats next week, and Im also goingto plant some perennial, hardy annual andbiennial flowers. But this year Im going totry a winter gardening technique Ive readabout and have been anxious to try.

All year Ive been saving clear two-litermilk and soda containers, which Ill rinsewith a 10-to-1 water-to-bleach solution be-fore thoroughly rinsing them with water.Then Ill make a line with permanent markeraround the jug from one side of the handleto the other. Using a utility knife and theline as a guide, Ill cut the jug open leaving itconnected at the handle so the top is hinged.

After ma king three or four X-shaped slits onthe bottom for drainage, Ill use permanentmarker on duct tape to mark the date ofplanting and variety on the bottom of eachjug. This is a critical step. Putt ing the labelon the bottom prevents the marker frombeing bleached out by the sun.

Ill fill the jug with about 4 inches ofpremoistened growing mix. I always moistenpotting mixture before putting it in a con-tainer. After sowing the seeds, Ill press downwith the flat of my hand and water themlightly to be sure the seeds have made goodcontact with the medium. Then Ill hingethe top back on, tape the upper and lowersides of the containers to each other withclear tape and put the jugs out on the west

porch where the cat doesnt get to explore.The only side of the house that isnt recom-mended is the north, the side that receivesthe least sun.

What were doing is simulating naturesway of breaking seed dormancy. When theseeds fall off a plant outdoors, the seeds liedormant until temperatures start to fluctuatein the spring. Even with this wildly fluctuat-ing winter, these seeds will not germinateuntil conditions assure their survival. Thatswhat breaking dormancy is a ll about.

Most perennials, half-hardy annuals, ten-der perennials and biennials require this typeof treatment. If youre unsure whether youhave the right sort of seed for winter sowing,look for the following terms on the back of

the seed packetneeds prechilling (freezeseeds, refrigerate seeds, stratify for X amountof days or weeks), needs stratification, selfsows, sow outdoors in early autumn, sowoutdoors in early spring while nights are stillcool or frosts may still occur.

Over the years Ive stored perennial seedsin the freezer and/or refrigerator, soakedseeds in various solutions, scarified them(scored their seed coat) or even slid wholeflats into the refrigerator for weeks on end.Ive had varying results. This year Im goingto try starting delphinium, pyrethrum, col-umbine, baptisia, cimicifuga, cleome, nico-tiana and foxgloves in my soda bottles. I maysuccumb to the temptation and take a look atmy Parks seed catalog and see what else my

alter ego thinks I cant do without!These minicloches really appeal to me

because they save precious space in the re-frigerator, the shelves and particularly underlights. Ill let you know how it pans out.

Meanwhile watch out for the ice slides! Becareful out there and enjoy winter garden-ing!

Miriam and her husband, David, live inEast Montpelier, where they grow most of their own vegetables, berries and meat on lessthan 1/4 of an acre. Your questions and com-ments are welcome. You can reach Miriam at

freshair460@gmail .com.

Februarys Roller Coaster

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The MindfulCarnivore

Local Author Examines HisRelationship to the Edible

by Marisa Keller

In his new book, The Mindful Carnivore, Marshfield resi-dent Tovar Cerulli relates his search for the path of leastharm to the planet and its living beings. The search has ledhim from a boyhood love of fishing to veganism and backagain, then beyond fishing and out into the woods with bowand gun to hunt deer and hare.

What he hunts, though, is not just meat but a deeper senseof connection with the rest of the living world. Human be-ings have been part of the earths eco-systems for hundreds of thousands ofyears, he writes. Why, then, do weconsider our predation unnatural?How far have we gone in acceptingthe dangerous illusion that we areseparate from the rest of life?

In a notable echo of the intercon-nectedness he seeks, Cerulli combines in his book storiesof many kinds. He reflects on his relationships with dearfriends and relatives as well as those with four-footed crea-tures, insects, fish and plants, and draws wisdom from thelives and deaths of all of them.

The book alternates between compelling personal ac-counts and thoughtfully presented research on the issues heraises. He discusses the history of vegetarianism, the roots ofcultural stereotypes of hunting, the origins of the conserva-tion movement (originally spearheaded by hunters) and theAmerican relationsh ip with wi ldlife.

One the one hand, he writes, we imagine [the morecharismatic mammals] as adorably cute. Think Bambi andThumper, or Wilbur in Charlottes Web. . . . On the otherhand, we consume animal flesh at an astonishing rate, onlydistantly aware of the millions of incarcerated creatures who

feed us, or of the conditions in which they live and die.In veganism, Cerulli finds not true mindfulness but just

another kind of disconnect, this time from all of the livesendedtrees cut down, deer shot to protect crops, smallbirds and mammals shredded by harvesting combinesinthe production of his vegan food. Even the vegetableshe picks up at a small organic farm nearby, Cerulli real-izes, come with a casualty list. The question now wasntwhether my eating infl icted harm, but what k ind of harm,he writes.

After a gradual return to dairy, eggs and chicken (all

local), Cerulli continues his quest for mindfulness, going insearch of perhaps the most intimate connection of all: that ofpredator to prey, tracking and killing his own meat.

The long patient episodes of hunting included in thebook are sparse on actual kills, as Cerulli hunts for severalyears before taking a deer. He is loving in his descriptions ofhunting companions, longtime woodsmen who share a deepand respectful connection to the forest and its creatures; heis disquieted by encounters with less ethical hunters. Thedescriptions of his time in the woods are rich in reflection

and observation, both of the land and its flora and fauna andof his own, human naturefrustration, impatience, awe anduncertainty.

Hunting, however, would not put me on a new high roadto moral certainty, Cerulli writes. If this first experienceof killing a deer was any indication, it would bring me face-to-face with ambiguity every time. Perhaps that was how itought to be.

Throughout The Mindful Carnivore, Cerulli presents andconsiders the arguments of philosophers and historians, vege-

Documents

The Bridge, February 16, 2012