March 19, 2009

By Mal Boright

Observer correspondent

Coach Sarah Strack and her Champlain Valley Union High Nordic ski team, some 65 strong, can look back on a successful winter campaign.

“We had a great season,” Strack said early this week in assessing the season that wrapped up a couple of weeks ago with state meet events at Stowe and The Mountain Top Resort just north of Rutland.

Senior John Dixon’s third place in the 5-kilometer freestyle race at Stowe led the Redhawks to a fourth place finish. The boys also took fourth in the classic event at The Mountain Top, with Dixon in eighth place among individuals.

Strack said there was additional drama in the four-person, 2-kilometer relay competitions both days.

In the freestyle, Strack said sophomore Jake Marston, sophomore Ben Epstein and senior Sam Hughes had good runs in the first three legs. Dixon, in the anchor position, was about to make a pass into second place when he was accidentally tripped by another skier.

A few days later, the same relay team, with the team in overall fifth place after the individual classic competition, pulled out a strong performance that lifted the Redhawks into fourth in the final team standings.

The girls took overall third place in freestyle and fourth in classic.

Senior Danika Frisbie was 10th in individual freestyle and 13th in classic, pacing the Redhawks in both events.

Senior Molly Hebert was 13th in freestyle and junior Annie Jackson took 18th. Sophomore Sierra Frisbie garnered 18th in classic while senior Virginia Farley was 19th.

Each of the individual events for both boys and girls had as many as 80 athletes at the starting gates.

Jackson, Hebert, Farley and Danika Frisbie comprised the girls relay teams and got credit from Strack for “two solid thirds.”

According to Strack, Danika Frisbie hopes to continue in Nordic competition next winter as a University of Vermont student and is also considering biathlon participation.

Farley is bound for St. Lawrence University and possibly more distance skiing.

Dixon, whom Strack called a dominant force in his fourth winter of competition, just missed a slot on the U.S. Junior Olympic team. The coach said he finished 37th in Junior Nationals among 50 top competitors. The top 30 moved on.

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March 19, 2009

By Tim Simard

Observer staff

Now that area voters have approved funding for Champlain Valley Union High School’s auditorium upgrades, the work begins on finding a contractor for the first phase of the two-year project.

Chittenden South Supervisory Union Chief Operations Officer Bob Mason said on Monday that CSSU is in the pre-qualification phase for contractors before the bidding process begins. Mason explained that builders send resumes, examples of past work and references to the supervisory union to be considered as potential contractors.

“Basically, they send in packets that are kind of like marketing brochures,” Mason said, adding he’s accepting applications from in-state and out-of-state contractors.

Mason said he and his staff are reviewing materials and looking for builders with experience in timely construction and school projects. He said the auditorium renovation project was advertised on appropriate Web sites and in area newspapers.

CVU School Board Chairwoman Jeanne Jensen said the bidding process will likely begin in mid-April. By law, bidding cannot begin until 30 days after the Town Meeting vote passed. Jensen said the time allows citizens to petition the vote.

Voters in Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne and Williston, by a tally of 2,217-1,329, approved the use of $537,000 in leftover construction funds for the auditorium. Voters also approved, 2,546-999, to allow the School Board to take $140,000 from its current fund balance to offset taxes in next year’s budget and to put additional funds toward the auditorium. Private donations and sponsors are also helping to raise money. Currently, there is just more than $1 million available for the first phase of the renovation.

Once the 30 days have passed, contractors will bid on the project, according to Mason. The School Board will then have a chance to review all bids before making a decision.

“We’re hoping the bids will be very competitive,” Jensen said, citing the poor construction climate and current recession.

The School Board is also compiling a list of add-on projects for the auditorium if bids come in well under budget. In a proposed renovation plan, new catwalks and an improved electrical system would be installed, among other major changes. Jensen said the plan is to begin the renovations this summer and have the first phase completed no later than September.

A second renovation phase will likely occur the summer of 2010. Mason said law requires the bidding process for the rest of the project to begin again next spring.

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District schools also planning new designs

March 19, 2009

By Tim Simard

Observer staff

Quietly and without fanfare, the Chittenden South Supervisory Union unveiled its new Web site design earlier this month. The changes will make the site more accessible for the communities served by the supervisory union, said Mike Kanfer, CSSU’s director of network services.

Most notable are the changes to the site’s homepage, www.cssu.org. A large picture of a Champlain Valley Union High School play is on display, along with the high school’s basketball jersey and a pastoral picture of Camel’s Hump.

Every part of the site has been redesigned, including its “Operations,” “Superintendent” and “Contact Us” pages. Using drop-down menus on the homepage allows access to all of these pages. There are also links to all schools in CSSU, as well as links to supervisory union programs such as Connecting Youth.

Kanfer said his staff has been working on creating and developing a design for more than a year. He had help from technology directors in all the school systems, he said.

The Web site officially launched on March 1, Kanfer said. Since then, he’s fielded mostly positive comments from visitors.

“We’ve gotten a lot of good feedback from the school communities,” Kanfer said, though he hasn’t received many public comments since the Web site redesign was never formally announced.

The new CSSU Web site design will be the first in a series of design overhauls, Kanfer said. All school systems in CSSU — Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne and Williston schools as well as CVU — will see big changes in Web designs sometime this summer. Kanfer said all school sites will resemble CSSU’s in an effort to keep everything uniform.

Each school’s Web needs are different, however, with each site designed accordingly. For instance, Williston School District’s house system will require a different Web design than Charlotte Central School’s.

Despite any differences, “there will be a resemblance to CSSU’s homepage in all the pages,” Kanfer said.

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March 19, 2009

Cocaine bust

Following a drug investigation, Robert N. Merchant, 26, of Winooski was arrested on March 7, according to police reports. Merchant was cited on charges of sale of cocaine and possession of cocaine, according to the report. He was lodged at Chittenden County Correctional Center on $25,000 bail, the report notes.

Counterfeit bills

Counterfeit bills were “being passed” at Taft Corners Mobil on Essex Road on March 12, according to police reports. Another incident of counterfeit money being used was reported on the same day, but no other information was released by police. The case is under investigation.

Weapons offense at school

On March 13, a “weapons offense” involving a juvenile occurred at Williston Central School, according to police reports. No further information was released.

Controlled substance problem

Following a motor vehicle stop on March 13, Eric P. Jacobs, 33, of Burlington was cited on a charge of possession of an illegal substance, according to police reports. Two grams of marijuana were taken from Jacobs and he was cited to appear in court, the report notes.

Turkey in the road

Police investigating a reported “traffic hazard” on March 10 discovered a “large, dead turkey” in the middle of Oak Hill Road, according to police reports. Police removed the turkey, the report notes.

Driving with license suspended

• Amy Joyal, 31, of Cambridge was cited on a charge of “criminal” driving with a suspended license on March 1, according to police reports. She was cited to appear in court.

• Charissa N. Hatch, 25, of Essex was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license on March 9, according to police reports. Hatch was also taken to court on an arrest warrant for driving under the influence, with bail set at $2,500, according to the report. The car Hatch was driving was uninsured and was towed from the scene, the report notes.

• Gabriel Brunelle, 34, of Brownington was cited on a charge of “criminal” driving with a suspended license on March 9, according to police reports. Brunelle was also “issued numerous vehicle violations” and is scheduled to appear in court on April 6, according to the report.

• Bonnie Whitehouse, 37, of Swanton was cited on a charge of “criminal” driving with a suspended license on March 15, according to police reports. She was cited to appear in court on May 4.

Disorderly conduct

Francis Ducharme, 20, of Plattsburgh, N.Y. was cited on a charge of disorderly conduct at Wal-Mart on Feb. 27, according to police reports. No further information was released.

[Read more...]

Maple breads

March 19, 2009

By Ginger Isham

Growing up we had baked beans on Saturday nights and also had brown bread with raisins. The brown bread was baked in 1-pound coffee cans. I do not remember any other details, but the bread was delicious warm and spread with butter. For a breakfast treat, slice and toast, then spread with cream cheese. Serve with a fruit salad plate for lunch.

Maple brown bread

1 cup corn meal

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour

dash of salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup dark maple syrup

2 cups buttermilk

1 cup raisins, light or dark (optional: try dates and nuts also)

Combine dry ingredients. Mix liquids and stir into dry ingredients. Stir in raisins. Pour into three 4-by-8-by-2-inch greased loaf pans and bake at 325 degrees for about 40 minutes. Cool slightly and turn out on rack.

My favorite maple soda bread (for the Irish)

4 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

dash of salt

2 tablespoons dark maple syrup

1 1/2 tablespoons caraway seeds

1 cup raisins

1 3/4 cups buttermilk

2 tablespoons oil

Mix dry ingredients. Add oil, maple syrup and buttermilk and stir in raisins. Stir just until all ingredients are evenly moistened, but lumpy. On a well-floured surface, gently knead this mixture about 8 times to form a smooth ball. Cut in half and shape into two balls. Place each ball on an oiled and floured baking sheet and pat into a domed 6-inch round shape. With a sharp knife, cut an X 1/2-inch deep on top of each and brush tops with softened butter. Bake in 375-degree oven for about 35 minutes, until golden brown and bottoms sound hollow.

Maple eggs and toast

Here’s a quick and easy recipe from grandmother’s days:

For each serving, heat to boiling 1/3 to 1/2 cup maple syrup in a skillet. Drop in two eggs, reduce heat and let simmer until eggs are preferred doneness. Remove from heat and pour over a slice of toast. Use a good white bread. If you like sweetness, try Challah bread. Serve with a couple slices of bacon or sausage patties or links.

Ginger Isham was the co-owner of Maple Grove Farm Bed & Breakfast in Williston, a fifth generation family farm on Oak Hill Road where she still lives.

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