Around Town: Jan. 25

Congratulations to the Charlotte Central School second graders who have maintained the 55 gallon water tank in the school lobby planted with Brook Trout eggs. The students noticed that the eggs are starting to hatch (granted only three of the 99 as of January 18, but it’s a beginning). The students have been monitoring them, maintaining the water temperature at a cool 44 degrees Fahrenheit, and testing them on a daily basis to see whether there are changes in pH, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels.

Congratulations to Annie and Marc Richter on the birth of their daughter, Pearl, on November 4.

Congratulations to mother and daughter team, Cheryl and Mia Sloan of Charlotte who were named Volunteers of the Week emeritus for their work at the Shelburne Museum. An article describing their volunteerism appeared in the January 23 Burlington Free Press. Mia started as a junior in high school, helping her mother with the museum gardens. They later moved from earthwork to development where they helped set up opening receptions, planned holiday parties and generated fundraising ventures. Cheryl says she enjoys the variety of the work. . . “It’s never the same thing twice.”

Sympathy is extended to family and friends of Martha Wade of Phillipston, MA who passed away January 19 at the age of 86. Her surviving family includes her son Chris Wade and Chris’ wife Ginny of Charlotte. The family asks that those wishing to offer memorial donations in her name do so to Athol YMCA, 545 Main Street, Athol, MA 01331.

Town Bite

Wall Street, Charlotte
The spot off Route 7 caters to both meanings of Wall Street – economic potential and a barrier to development. When you hit the midpoint between East and West Charlotte, where Ferry and Churchill Roads intersect at the highway, you realize that businesses closed there a number of years ago and have not re-opened. The January 18 issue of Seven Days wonders why. There is plenty of traffic on Route 7. Over 11,000 cars pass the intersection daily. The property contains the former Spears’ and Steve’s garage and Uncle Sam’s Dairy Bar. The owner of the entire corner, Bid Spear, is quoted as saying he is too old to maintain the businesses any longer and would like to sell the property. The problem is getting land-usage rules through the town’s governing bodies, according to his son-in-law Gary Farnsworth.

A number of years ago, Charlotte resident, Tony Cairns, had first refusal rights on the property, with the rumored assumption that he wanted to make it the sight of one of his Jiffy Mart stores. It created concern that such use would create a commercial district in Charlotte which many felt was not good or safe use of the property. Of the various sights for park-and-ride spaces, it ranked number one on the state’s matrix according to VTRANS, but the Charlotte Selectboard felt the potential for high cost, easy availability, scenic views and crime ruled it out, even though it would provide room for nearly 100 parking spaces. Current Selectboard member, Matt Krasnow, is quoted as saying its gathering as a crème stand after little league baseball games was a ritual in his youth for both winners and losers. It also provided summer jobs for local high school students – opportunities that are often hard to find in Charlotte’s limited business market. Matt hopes someone will pick up on the opportunity to purchase the property. Meanwhile, Front Page Forum contributors are debating the virtues of stoplights or a roundabout at the intersection. Neither option seems to be a major preference at this point, and the increase in large truck traffic may determine the choice.

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