Around Town

Congratulations to Curt Alpeter in his capacity as a partner in Runamok Maple Syrup. Runamok was featured in the Food Section of the New York Times of November 15 as a company that specializes in organic Vermont syrup. The piece notes that it is “infused with fresh ginger,” making it applicable for a variety of holiday applications running from cocktails to desserts. It was selected for mention from a vast number of syrups from our neck of the woods.

Congratulations to local musicians, Tyler Bolles of the band Swale and guitarist Lowell Thompson, who joined others in a tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers organized by Kat Wright. The concert raised $4,000 for the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County, a nonprofit organization that helps those with substance-abuse problems.

Congratulations to Ruah Swennerfelt who was featured in an article in Seven Days on November 22 about the formation of Vermont’s first Repair Café. The first café was held on November 11 in the Charlotte Town Hall and was sponsored by the Charlotte Grange, the Charlotte Congregational Church and Transition Town Charlotte. Ms. Swennerfelt, who heads the local transition movement, said the café is designed to help communities move away from a reliance on fossil fuels and models of living that depend on consumption. The Repair Cafes around the world fix and repair, with the help of numerous volunteers, everything from clothing to jewelry and small household appliances. In Charlotte, the local food shelf received cash donations and three bags of groceries.

Congratulations to the following Charlotte Central School musicians who successfully auditioned to play in the District Three Music Festival next February: Innogene Naylor and Ben Fox in the chorus, Heidi Beal, Isabella Hackerman, Neika Haire, Finnegan Mittlestadt and Molly Milne-Gerlaugh in the band, and Jasmine Townsend-Ng who will perform with the orchestra.

Congratulations to James Hawke and Amber Fisher of Charlotte on the birth of their son, Shepard Zane Hawke on October 5.

Sympathy is extended to family and friends of Linda Lee Atherton of Colchester who passed away November 2 at the age of 67. Her surviving family includes her brother Jeff Beaudin of Charlotte. A memorial service was held on November 18.

Sympathy is extended to family and friends of Father Gerald Ragis of Burlington who passed away November 17 at the age of 82. Father Ragis served for number of years as pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Charlotte.

Sympathy is extended to family and friends of Mary-Beth Orben of Englewood, Florida, who passed away November 15 at the age of 83. Although they lived in Florida, she and her family often spent summers at their Lake Champlain cottage in Charlotte. The family asks that those wishing to make a contribution in her memory consider doing so to St. Marks Episcopal Church, 513 South Nassau St., Venice, FL 34285-2816 or to a charity of the giver’s choice.