Could Immersing Yourself in Cold Water Be for You?
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School Tax Up History of Music Scene on Local Climate Activists 8.3 Percent / p.6 Lightning Ridge / p.15 Face Sentencing / p.25 Health & FitnessF r e e , Jan 20–FebIndependent 16, 2021 and Local City Voters To Decide Could Immersing Yourself in On Marijuana Cold Water be By Tom Brown Good ontpelier residents on Town for You? Meeting Day will vote up or Mdown on whether to allow the sale of recreational marijuana to adults beginning in 2022. The City Council on Wednesday, Jan. 13, unanimously approved a ballot item for Town Meeting Day that reads: “Shall the City of Montpelier permit the opera- tion of cannabis Retailers and Integrated Licensees which are licensed by the State of Vermont pursuant to Act 164 of 2020, subject to such municipal ordinance and regulation as the City Council may law- fully adopt and implement”? Under the law passed in the Legislature last fall, each town must vote to allow the sale of recreational marijuana before any individual licenses can be obtained. The “opt-in” vote, as opposed to an “opt- out” method, was a compromise between House and Senate negotiators that helped pass the long-debated bill. Gov. Phil Scott allowed the bill to become law without his signature. Middlebury was the first community to set a Town Meeting Day vote. Even though retail marijuana sales won’t begin until May 1, 2022 at the ear- see Marijuana, page 17 Lucinda Newman splashes in the icy Mad River on January 2. Photo by Nic Newman. By Phil Dodd ooking for a way to juice up your immune system, im- But a growing number of cold-water enthusiasts believe in ECRWSS prove your mood, and get a jolt of energy? More and staying cold for extended periods and doing it on a regular basis PRSRT STD Montpelier, VT Montpelier, Permit NO. 123 U.S. Postage PAID Lmore people, including many Vermonters, say you can for its health and psychological benefits. There is even a guru accomplish those things by going for a winter swim or taking for the practice, a 61-year-old Dutch man named Wim Hof. a bracing cold shower. Hof, who is nicknamed “The Iceman” and has been known Of course, this is not a new idea. Many of us have seen pho- to swim among icebergs for 30 minutes at a time, has trained tos of Russians jumping into holes cut into ice on the Russian about 600 Wim Hof instructors, according to Outside maga- Orthodox Church’s Epiphany feast day. And polar plunges, zine. Thousands have taken Wim Hof workshops that conclude where people run and jump into lakes or the ocean in winter (and get out just as quickly) are a popular way to raise money. see Cold Water, page 16 Free, Independent and Local since 1993 / montpelierbridge.org PAGE 2 • JANUARY 20, 2021–FEBRUARY 16, 2021 THE BRIDGE Montpelier Police News Arrest and Release in April 2020. Officers and detectives of Title 12, Vermont Statutes Annotated, Community Feedback Wanted Montpelier for Sex Crimes the department arrested Darnell for en- section 2802(a) (2), and disturbing the The Montpelier Police Department is Against a Child gaging in open and gross lewdness and peace by phone, in violation of Title working to implement a trial period of Montpelier Police report that on Dec. lascivious behavior in violation of Title 13, Vermont Statutes Annotated, sec- a community feedback system called 21, 2020, the police department con- 13, Vermont Statutes Annotated, sec- tion 1027(a). Darnell was arraigned at Officer Survey. For approximately one cluded an investigation regarding David tion 2601, Possessing Indecent Material Washington County Court and released month, the MPD will evaluate the Of- C. Darnell, Sr., 40, which started in Disseminated by a Minor, in violation of on conditions. ficer Survey platform, which will allow for community members to provide Vermont Internet Crimes feedback to the department about inter- Against Children Task Force actions with officers. Officers will have The Montpelier Police Department survey cards that can be provided to has become an affiliate agency of the individuals after interactions or calls for Vermont Internet Crimes Against Chil- service. For more information on Of- dren Task Force. The task force works ficer Survey, please visit officersurvey. to prevent the victimization and exploi- com/company. tation of children through the use of computers, technology, or the internet. Then & Now Historic photos courtesy of Vermont Historical Society; modern photo and caption by Paul Carnahan. This little house at 34 Barre Street was replaced by a low, Mod- erne-style brick building with great fanfare in 1947. It was occu- pied by a co-op that processed meat and rented freezer lockers to families for fruit and vegetable storage. The large brick house on the left, built circa 1810 and now painted white, was the home of liveryman C.G. Downing, who developed the street that bears his name between these two properties in 1888. THE BRIDGE JANUARY 20, 2021–FEBRUARY 16, 2021 • PAGE 3 HEARD ON THE STREET Changes Afoot at the Golf Course Alternate Side Parking The Elks club is giving up its lease on Montpelier’s only golf course and will be Getting the Message Out! Public Works has been posting messages on social media vacating the building there as well, according to the owner of the property, Steve and on its web page informing residents of key changes, and directing readers to go Ribolini. However, the nine-hole golf course will continue to operate next summer to the city website to look up specifics for where they typically park, whether that as the Capital City Country Club. Ribolini’s brother Lynn — who had helped man- be during the daytime, evenings, or both. Please feel free to email any questions or age the Montpelier Elks Country Club — is listed as the manager of the new club comments to Jasmine Benson (jbenson@montpelier vt.org). on the state business registration for Capital City Country Club, LLC, which was filed January 5. Vermont Rail Systems According to a recent Facebook post by the new club, it has ordered 14 new golf carts as well as new large mowing equipment. Membership applications will report- Work to Resume This edly be available soon. Nationally, golfing participation had been declining in recent Spring years, but it jumped last summer during the pandemic. Montpelier City officials report that work on the last segment of the Sergeant Pearson Awarded Team Two Mental Health new rail line that parallels the Si- Services Award boinebi (pronounced see-bo-WEE- neh-bee) Recreation Path will not Sgt. Jeff Pearson has won the Frank Silfies Award. The award recognizes a first resume until Spring. The Vermont Rail Systems project will provide a “run around” responder who exemplifies collaborative work in responding to mental health cri- for freight trains to avoid two aging bridges on the original route. ses: creative collaboration that affects a peaceful, safe, and effective outcome. Sgt. Pearson was nominated for two cases: one involving a traffic stop during which the operator was in a mental health crisis, and the other regarding a domestic incident Police Department Lobby Currently Locked with a threatening male subject who refused to be arrested. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Police Department’s front lobby is cur- rently locked. We ask that anyone needing police assistance to please contact MPD Zoning Permits May Need to Be Extended by telephone at 802-223-3445. If you come in person to the Police Department, please press the button on the front intercom and a dispatcher will speak directly to In response to some questions presented to city councilors, the Planning and Com- you. If you need an officer, an officer will come to the front of the Police Depart- munity Development department wants to remind everyone how to renew permits ment to assist you. for projects that may have been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Zon- ing permits are valid for two years and are allowed to receive a single 12-month ex- tension. The permit holder has to request the extension, in writing (email preferred), Social Worker Available to Residents before the original expiration date. There is no fee for the extension, and requests The Montpelier Police Department, the Barre City Police Department, and Wash- should be made to Audra Brown ([email protected]) or Meredith Crandall ington County Mental Health have partnered in providing an onsite social worker to ([email protected]). Building permits are valid for a year and can be help residents in crisis or needing an extra hand during the pandemic. Susan Lemere renewed multiple times. If they are renewed before expiration, there is no fee. If has been a friendly and effective presence in town for the last several months, but renewed after expiration, there is a $10 fee. If you have a building permit for which the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed outreach efforts. If you would like to speak you need an extension, contact Chris Lumbra ([email protected] ). As to Susan Lemere, please contact her through email at [email protected] or always, if you have any questions about projects you are working on or considering, contact the MPD and we can assist with connecting you to Susan. please reach out to the permitting staff cited above and they can guide you through the process. Community Justice Center Seeking Volunteers The Montpelier Community Justice Center, despite seeing fewer referrals for cases resolved in the courts, is receiving a steady flow of pre-charge referrals for a Re- storative Justice Panel process from the Montpelier, Northfield, and Berlin police departments.