Chamber music as it’s meant to be heard

Vermont Mozart Festival

Charlotte’s own impresario, Mel Kaplan, has proven to be just as indefatigable as ever. Once again he has put together a series of music jewels for the summer. It was almost 45 years ago when he founded the original Vermont Mozart Festival, and, after it ceased eight years ago, he formulated a new way of providing high-quality musical events every summer. This summer is no different, as he has assembled three chamber concerts presenting works spanning Mozart’s creative years of 1756-1791.    

Selectboard Profiles: Community service runs deep in Tenney’s life

Selectboard Profiles: Community service runs deep in Tenney’s life

Morgan Magoon

Frank Tenney is a member of the Charlotte Selectboard as well as the chairman of the Zoning Board of Adjustments. He has been on the Zoning Board for 12 years, and the Selectboard since March of 2017. Tenney has enjoyed being part of the Selectboard because it gives him the opportunity to know what’s going on in the town and to understand how the town is run. Tenney has this to say about why he became a member of the Selectboard:

Vermont House of Representatives presents Clemmons family with A Sense of Place resolution

Vermont House of Representatives presents Clemmons family with A Sense of Place resolution

Clemens Family Farm

Vermont state representatives Kiah Morris, D-Bennington, and Mike Yantachka, D-Charlotte, presented House Concurrent Resolution H.C.R. 364 to Dr. Jackson Clemmons and Mrs. Lydia Clemmons on Wednesday, May 2, in recognition of the Clemmons Family Farm’s A Sense of Place project,

Life’s inherent beauty

Life’s inherent beauty

Carrie Fenn

When I told my husband my idea for my latest Charlotte News effort, he said, “Just don’t write anything that will make me throw up.” I’m not offended; I totally get it. A column that searches for the meaning of life has serious potential for barfdom. So, before I send anything to Melissa, it first goes to Pete. He doesn’t hold back.

What is the Charlotte Grange and what do they do?

What is the Charlotte Grange and what do they do?

Dorthy Hill, Heather Manning, Trina Bianchi - The Charlotte Grange #398

The Grange was slow in coming to New England, and Vermont’s first grange was the Green Mountain Grange #1 in St. Johnsbury, formed in 1871.  Vermont, however, became the first state in New England and only the seventh state in the U.S. to form a State Grange, which happened in July of 1872.  Several granges were formed during that time throughout Vermont although not in Chittenden County.  

Discovering Cuba: Part II

Discovering Cuba: Part II

Susan Crockenberg, Contributor

A goal I had in visiting Cuba was to discover, as best one can in 11 days, how the Cuban people feel about Fidel and Raul Castro, whose socialist government has ruled Cuba for nearly 60 years. Much like Americans today, Cubans are deeply divided in their views and in whether and how they would like their government to change.

The irreplaceable impact of summer camp

The irreplaceable impact of summer camp

Hannah Bogard

Why is summer camp such an important and irreplaceable experience for today’s kids? At Camp Hochelaga we believe the magic and lasting positive impact of the summer camp experience takes place because of a unique combination of people, place and values. At camp we combine an inspiring outdoor, screen-free environment with positive, patient, enthusiastic camp counselors, programs that support campers in trying new things and building new skills, and a set of core values focused on growing diverse friendships in a socially, emotionally and physically safe place.
Why is summer camp such an important and irreplaceable experience for today’s kids? At Camp Hochelaga we believe the magic and lasting positive impact of the summer camp experience takes place because of a unique combination of people, place and values. At camp we combine an inspiring outdoor, screen-free environment with positive, patient, enthusiastic camp counselors, programs that support campers in trying new things and building new skills, and a set of core values focused on growing diverse friendships in a socially, emotionally and physically safe place.

Clemmons Family Farm awarded 2018 Barn Preservation Grant

Clemmons Family Farm

The Clemmons Family Farm was recently selected as one of 17 recipients, from a pool of 45 applicants, for the 2018 Barn Preservation Grant to support the preservation of the farm’s “Big Barn.” The Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation awarded the $15,000 matching grant that is administered through the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. The grants support the “rehabilitation of historic agricultural buildings that are a symbol of Vermont’s rural landscape.” 

Discovering Cuba: Part I

Discovering Cuba: Part I

Susan Crockenberg, Contributor

A month ago I boarded a Delta Airlines flight to Havana from Miami, excited to learn more about Cuba’s past, present and what we might expect to happen there in the near future. What I discovered in the 10 days I traveled with husband Vince, Charlotters Jim and Susan Hyde and 12 others on an Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) expedition in Cuba expanded my understanding of Cuba’s strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, sources of satisfaction and of frustration, as well as the Cuban people’s hopes and fears about the future. It was a remarkable adventure. 

Jim Hyde Voted Mentor of the Year

Jim Hyde Voted Mentor of the Year

Edd Merritt, Contributing Editor

Charlotter Jim Hyde was recently was voted Comcast Vermont Mentor of the year for 2018. A retired college professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, Jim decided that he did not want to give up working with students and helping them learn, so he looked for a program in which he could put skills that he had used over the years to younger students’ benefit. Four years ago he discovered Charlotte Central School’s “Connecting Youth” mentoring program through its director, Wendy Bratt. 

Volunteer Vermont reunion and celebration of the life of John Mack

Volunteer Vermont reunion and celebration of the life of John Mack

David Watts, contributor

Volunteer Vermont will hold a potluck reunion on Dec 27, from 3 to 7 p.m., in the vestry of the Charlotte Congregational Church. In addition to sharing memories of Summerton and the Prayer House Mission, the gathering will celebrate the extraordinary life of John Mack, the leader of Volunteer Vermont from its founding until his death on August 12, 2017. 

Charlotte Girl Scouts off to a busy beginning

Charlotte Girl Scouts off to a busy beginning

Cindy Bradley

Last year the girls started working on a 12 patch program called “A Year in the Life of Juliette Gordon Low.” Juliette was the founder of the Girl Scouts when it began in the year 1912, and these patches are all designed around activities that she found to be of importance to her. Having already earned four of those 12, the girls came back this fall ready to begin working on the next one, Promote Our Promise, which requires them to learn about how to design and deliver a public service announcement.