Around Town – August 22, 2018

Congratulations to Courtney McDermott whose poem “Dublin” appeared in the Young Writers Project of the Burlington Free Press on August 10. In it the author wonders whether coming abroad was the right thing to do. She says she has never before felt lonely as she is sitting by herself in a café. She wonders whether she made a mistake but at the end of the poem makes her decision. Read it to see what she decides. 

Congratulations to Sarah Whiteside of Charlotte who earned a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Utah. Her research was featured on the cover of the Journal of Immunology and was discussed on NBC’s “The Today Show.” This fall she will pursue post-doctoral work in England at the prestigious Babraham Institute in partnership with Cambridge University. She will be studying the mechanisms of T-cell immunotherapy and immunosuppression during cancer.

Congratulations to Susan Ohanian whose letter to the editor of the New York Times was published in the August 13 issue under the heading of “Learning Math: The Value of Practice and Passion.” Referring to an op-ed titled “Make Your Daughter Practice Math” written by Barbara Oakley, Susan, a long-time teacher, disagreed with the message to parents that their children should practice math. Rather, she says they use its processes to whet their appetite for it by seeing it in action. After being sent to 26 states to see how primary grade teachers were transforming their approach to math instruction, Susan found the journey to math competence in the title of the resulting book: Garbage Pizza, Patchwork Quilts and Math Magic. She closes by saying, “If the whole family is involved, it is exciting. Math opportunities can start in the kitchen.”

Sympathy is extended to family and friends of Nancy Jane Pearson Ansley of Charlotte who passed away August 10 at the age of 89. A native of Burlington, she spent many summers on Thompson’s Point. As a youngster she spent days with a friend who owned Thompson’s Point property. She returned with her family in the late 1960s, renting different cottages every summer for 25 years. In 1996 she and her husband, Norman Ansley, bought their own cottage. A gathering in her memory was held at the Thompson’s Point Club House on August 16. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory be made to The Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation, 8740 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268.

Sympathy is extended to family and friends of Elizabeth Hatch of Charlotte who passed away August 15 at the age of 86. A 52-year resident of the town, she was married to Paul Hatch. Her surviving family includes David Hatch, and Rose and Brad Aubin of Charlotte. The family asks that those wishing to make contributions in her memory consider doing so to the VNA/Hospice, 1110 Prim Road, Colchester, VT 05446.

Sympathy is extended to family and friends of Mark W. Bolles, who passed away on August 12 in Machias, Maine, at the age of 66. Mark was a former pastor of the Charlotte Congregational Church. He served in that capacity for ten years, beginning in1989.

Immersing himself in the Charlotte community, he was a school bus driver for the Charlotte Central School and a columnist for The Charlotte News. Leaving the Church in 1999 he became owner/operator of Bristol Bus Tours.  His surviving family who resided with him in Charlotte includes his three children: Daniel, Tyler and Ariel.

A celebration of his life will be held in Maine at the Whitneyville Congregational Church on September 1 at 2:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Mark W. Bolles Community Fund for aid to those in need in the Washington County, Maine area. Make checks payable to the Whitneyville Congregational Church, 19 South Main Street, Whitneyville, Maine 04654.