December 16, 2020–January 19, 2021 the Bridge
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City, School Budgets Christmas Tree Farms Special Restaurant Take Shape / p.6 Bring Joy / p.12 Guide / p.16 Holidays & Traditions F r e e , DecemberIndependent 16, 2020– January 19,and 2021 Local Struggling Restaurants Heart of Pin Hopes the Village on Takeout A visit to Roxbury By Phil Dodd Village School ontpelier’s restaurants, like those nationally, have been hit Mhard by the coronavirus pan- demic. At various times in 2020, Ver- mont’s restaurants have been ordered to close or to only operate at a fraction of capacity, and even when the businesses have been open, customers have been wary about eating out. As Three Penny Taproom co-owner Wes Hamilton put it: “Running a busi- ness based on people getting together at a time when people shouldn’t be getting together is problematic. It has been a real challenge.” At this point, only a small number local restaurants remain open for indoor dining — including J. Morgan’s, Positive Pie, Wayside, Langdon Street Tavern, and Indian-Nepali Kitchen — and the restau- rant industry’s prospects for the next few months appear bleak, both because of the recent surge of COVID-19 numbers in Central Vermont and the fact that winter Adeline J. Keys, grade 1, of Roxbury, gazes into a “glitter jar” she is normally the slowest time of year for made at Roxbury Village School. Glitter jars are part of the social and these businesses. emotional learning program led by school counselor Sheryl Kurland Most Montpelier restaurants and many Platt, who teaches students to be in touch with their feelings and to see Restaurants, page 18 stay calm during the school day. Photo by Carla Occaso. By Mary Cole Mello oxbury Village isn’t too far from Montpelier as the We don’t know what Samuel Richardson would have said crow flies, but it’s about 20 miles for the rest of us. about the merger of the Roxbury School District with Montpe- ECRWSS PRSRT STD Montpelier, VT Montpelier, Permit NO. 123 U.S. Postage PAID RTraveling south on Route 12A, the road seems to flat- lier after the passage of Act 46 in 2015. This piece of legislation, ten as you enter the town and the mountains loom above. It in addition to requiring smaller districts to merge into larger was in these mountains that the first residents of the village units and inspiring lively town meetings, also brought atten- tended to settle. The valley was marshy and perhaps the hills tion once again to Vermont’s demographics. felt safer. On the other hand, some of these early settlers may Young Vermonters have always been tempted to explore the not have been the most sociable individuals. One Samuel wider world, and for many reasons. In the 1800s, the new Richardson, who arrived in 1790, declared that he wanted to keep his large family free from “entangling alliances.” see Roxbury, page 15 Free, Independent and Local since 1993 / montpelierbridge.org PAGE 2 • DECEMBER 16, 2020–JANUARY 19, 2021 THE BRIDGE Cross Vermont Trail Builds Bridges Outdoors by J. Gregory Gerdel New 50-foot bridge across railbed washout. Photo by J. Gregory Gerdel. he Cross Vermont Trail Associa- be able to pour concrete soon. “But if the and more scenic route that will follow On the river side of Power Plant Road, tion has made significant prog- pieces don’t fall into place before winter the historic railbed of the Montpelier & the 2020–2022 project plan includes the Tress on two bridge projects that sets in, we’ll certainly see it open in the Wells River Railroad. “Penstock & Portage Trails” to provide are critical to opening sections of the Spring,” he said. new public footpaths along the banks trail going east from Gallison Hill Road The structure of the span itself is being The U-32 Connection – and More of the river. The paths also will serve as in Montpelier. The smaller of the two fabricated by a company in Arizona, one Along with the installation of this portages for river paddlers. The trail- bridges, a modest 50 footer, was com- of a handful of businesses that specialize major span, 2021 will see construction head improvements will include a park- pleted this fall, said Greg Western, Cen- in this type of bridge. Again, the Agency of a side trail that will climb through a ing area. tral Vermont Trail Association director. of Transportation is monitoring construc- series of traverses to connect with the ex- The larger project, which has been the tion and will inspect the bridge compo- isting trail network in the U-32 Woods. Onward Toward East focus of grant writing and fund-raising nents before it is shipped to Vermont. The trail association website explains: Montpelier and Plainfield for years, is a 200-foot span that will Currently, the through route of the “The ultimate goal of this project is to Once the new bridge is in place, the cross the Winooski River at the location Cross Vermont Trail uses the wide shoul- connect the school, nearby conserved trail will run along the bank of the of a former railroad bridge. Pilings for der of Route 2 from the intersection with natural areas, and local neighborhoods river below Route 2. Near a “hidden new bridge abutments were driven in Gallison Hill Road to the junction with with a safe off-road inviting path — dam” about a quarter-mile above the new November and passed a technical inspec- Route 14 in East Montpelier. “Although the trail will link directly to numerous bridge, plans call for a new trailhead with tion by the Vermont Agency of Trans- the shoulder is wide for much of the neighborhoods, including many families parking, an access trail to the river shore, portation on Dec. 4. Western expects way, the traffic is heavy and fast,” said with school-age children who will be able a universally accessible fishing platform, the contractor, CSS Construction, may Western, explaining the need for a safer to bike to school.” and portages. The trail will continue along the river- bank before crossing Route 2 just below the Country Camper property. Ease- ments have been obtained to connect the trail with Old Railbed Lane into East Montpelier where it will cross Route 14 and continue toward Plainfield. On the section east of Route 14, the recently completed installation of a mere 50 foot bridge circumvents a major washout that occurred during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. Largely constructed by volun- teers, including students from Norwich University, the cost of this bridge was a modest $15,000, said Western. CLASSIFIED AD First Class Office Space near Capitol at 149 State Street, Montpelier, VT. Perfect location within a 3-minute walk to Capitol. Beautiful Greek Revival building renovated throughout. Handicap accessible, foyer, waiting room and restroom. Includes off-street parking, office cleaning weekly, heat, AC, hot water, snow removal, landscaping and full maintenance. Suites and single offices starting at $345.00 per month. Call 508-259-7941. THE BRIDGE DECEMBER 16, 2020–JANUARY 19, 2021 • PAGE 3 HEARD ON THE STREET Fisher Road in Berlin Still Closed The Berlin Selectboard has authorized designs on a replacement for the collapsed cul- vert near the intersection of Fisher Road and Paine Turnpike, according to Assistant Then & Now Town Manager Tom Badowski. “Field work has been completed and the Selectboard should have a final design and replacement cost estimate soon,” he noted. The culvert Historic photos courtesy of Vermont Historical Society; failed in the spring. An early fix failed at the end of September, and Fisher Road, modern photo and caption by Paul Carnahan. which provides access from Paine Turnpike to the state psychiatric hospital, the Army National Guard armory, the Berlin Mall, and Central Vermont Medical Center, was When Montpelier’s Heaton Hospital was founded in 1896, it closed. Replacing the culvert with a permanent solution means the road could stay was only the third hospital in Vermont. The original quaint shut until summer. Fisher Road remains open from Route 62 to CVMC, the mall, structure has been altered numerous times. The last large reno- the psychiatric hospital, and the armory. vation was in 1952, when a large, blocky wing was added to the south (right) side. The old, central structure can still be seen on Montpelier Chief Selected for Crisis Intervention Team the north side of the current complex. The hospital was replaced by the Central Vermont Medical Center in 1968; it became Hea- Montpelier Police Chief Brian Peete was selected to serve on the Board of Directors ton Woods Residential Care in 1995. for Crisis Intervention Team International. The organization is a nonprofit member- ship organization whose primary purpose is to facilitate understanding, development, and implementation of Crisis Intervention Team programs throughout the U.S. and worldwide in order to promote and support collaborative efforts to create and sustain more effective interactions among law enforcement, mental health care providers, individuals with mental illnesses, and their families and communities and to reduce the stigma of mental illness. Mental Health Support and Food Access The state shared some resources to assist folks in seeking help for any mental distress or in need of mental health care. Resources can be accessed through calling 2-1-1 or via the state’s website for COVID-19 support. If you need help accessing food, there are also many resources on the state and local levels. Please call 2-1-1 or access WIC, Hunger Free Vermont, 3SquaresVT, or other resources outlined via Hunger Free Ver- mont COVID-19 response. There are also local agencies hosting food access programs such as the Vermont Foodbank, Everyone Eats, and the Montpelier Food Pantry.