Around Town – March 7, 2019

Congratulations to the CCS finalists in the Scripps Spelling Bee held recently. Emma Metzler (5th grade) emerged as the School Champion after 26 rounds. We also congratulate the other 17 finalists: Leigh Cullen, Julia Lollis, Kenneth Santor, Ryder Jones, JP Novak, Oliver Smith, Jenny Blanshine, Deidre Higgins, Matthew Lollis, Elizabeth Nostrand, Abbey Pitcavage, Nik Blasius, William Lollis, Luke Sampson, Harry Evans, Grace McNally and Hadley Stockwell.

Congratulations to the CCS students who competed in the regional Math Counts competition at UVM and qualified for the state competition at Vermont Technical College in Randolph this coming weekend. All eighth graders, they are: Emma Jemley, Joe Jacobs, Grace McNally and Jadin Brown.

Congratulations to Jonas Powell, formerly of Charlotte, now a graduate student at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, who has been recognized by the college for his photographic talents even though his master’s will be in astronomy/physics. The sports department discovered his photographic talents when he was a freshman, and Jonas became the department’s official photographer. Amanda Herzberger, who owns Orchard Cove Photography in Charlotte, sparked Jonas’ desire to produce visual art while he was still in middle school, and she guided him through his 8th-grade project. His design talents have been on display in downtown Burlington via a large stencil portrait of Bob Marley on St. Paul Street. So, between photography, graffiti and stencil art plus astro-physics, Jonas appears to have developed a view of the world through a variety of media. He is the son of Tom Powell and Wendy Bratt of Charlotte.

Congratulations to the Clemmons’ family of Charlotte (husband and wife, Jackson and Lydia, and daughter Lydia) who since Jackson’s retirement from the UVM Medical School faculty have devoted a good deal of time, energy and money to creating a visual restoration of their farm in Charlotte and making an educational setting for Black culture, linked to the National African American Museum. The February 20 Seven Days did a piece on the Clemmons’ barn restoration, noting that pieces of their art work collected during work trips to Africa are on display at the Amy Tarrant Gallery in Burlington.

Congratulations to two companies with Charlotte roots that have made it a point to hire immigrant workers. The companies, Lake Champlain Chocolates and Rhino Foods, were cited in Seven Days in February as two among a number of companies that have discovered that the business could grow in proportion to how well they attract immigrant workers. Rhino owner Ted Castle was quoted in the article as saying that the company’s ability to hire 30 new people in the past few months probably would not have been possible “if we were not the employer of choice for new Americans.” Ted’s work force of 210 employees is now more than one-third foreign born.

Congratulations to Ella Beerworth, 14 years old, of Charlotte, whose poem “Dreaming” appeared in the March 1 issue of the Burlington Free Press as part of the Young Writers Project. Responding to a general theme, Ella tells her charge that while she is stuck in the stars, her charge’s soul is planted on Mars. She urges each other to use stars as stepping-stones to the moon.

Congratulations to UVM grad from Charlotte, Addison Zinner, now a member of the university’s Department of Student Life, who received 1st place award in the Association of Colleges’ Union International (ACUI) design competition. ACUI is a non-profit organization that brings together college union professionals and student activities directors from hundreds of schools in seven countries. Addison’s award fell into the category of “Steal This Idea.”

Congratulations to Dr. Ronda Moore of Charlotte who was named to the “Intellectual Property Trailblazers” for 2019 by the National Law Journal. A partner in the law firm Burns & Levinson with offices in Boston, Providence and throughout the region, Dr. Moore has focused on patent law, particularly in medical diagnostics, interventional medical devices and therapeutics. She has been listed annually among the “Best Lawyers in America – Biotechnology Law & Patent Law” since 2014.

Sympathy is extended to family and friends of Janett A. Bothwell of Charlotte who died February 25 at the age of 80. She was born in Charlotte to Alice and Howard McDurfee. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Loraine Moureau, and her son James Bothwell III. Her surviving family includes son Kevin Bothwell and his wife, Sheila, sons Dillion, Damien and Keagan Bothwell as well as a daughter Kayla Bothwell, all of Charlotte. Her grandson Philip lives in Charlotte and has been her caregiver. Her daughter Loralyn lives with her fiancé John McCaffrey in Monkton. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the McClure Miller Respite House, 1331 Roosevelt Highway, Colchester, VT 05446.

Sympathy is extended to family and friends of Lorraine Tupper Pecor of Burlington who died February 26 at the age of 100. Her surviving family includes her son Raymond C. Pecor, Jr. and his wife, Jean, and her grandsonTrey Pecor and The family asks that those wishing to make donations in her memory consider the JKV (John Knox Village) Employee Gift Fund or the Employee Scholarship Fund of JKV, 651 Village Drive, Pompano Beach, FL 33060, or to a charity of the giver’s choice.