MONDAY EDITION ADDISON COUNTY Vol.INDEPENDENT 31 No. 28 Middlebury, Vermont Monday, November 25, 2019 40 Pages $1.00 Neshobe Loida to Golf Club perform to be put • Talented composer and percussionist will play at on market Brandon Music Nov. 30. See Arts Beat, Page 10. Fund drive fails in face of foreclosure Middlebury By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — An appeal for Money backed pledges from members to keep • Merchants hope to give the Neshobe Golf Club alive in the face of foreclosure has failed. the 11-year-old program a Neshobe Golf Club Board shot in the arm this holiday Chair Jeff Wallin said Tuesday season. See Page 2. morning that the club was only able to raise about half of the $575,000 necessary to eliminate Crackdown on the debt and prevent foreclosure by the National Bank of fast driving Middlebury. The board held a meeting • Ferrisburgh wants the Monday night to count pledges, sheriff’s department to write and will pursue finding a buyer more tickets for speeding on for the club. town roads. See Page 3. “We did not reach our goal on pledges,” he said. “We’re moving (See Neshobe, Page 23) Middlebury FERRISBURGH ASSISTANT CLERK and Treasurer Pam Cousino, top, a veteran of two decades of work in Ferrisburgh’s town office, will soon replace Ferrisburgh Clerk/Treasurer Gloria Warden. Warden recently announced she would retire after six years at that post, a tenure that followed many years working for the town of Charlotte. readies new Independent photo/Steve James traffic plan By JOHN FLOWERS Baton to pass in Ferrisburgh MIDDLEBURY — The scheduled 10-week closure of Town clerk to step down, longtime assistant to take over Middlebury’s Main Street and Merchants Row is still around By ANDY KIRKALDY “It took Pam would fill her shoes. six months away, but town FERRISBURGH — Ferrisburgh “It took Pam about 20 seconds to officials have already mapped Town Clerk and Treasurer Gloria about 20 say yes,” Ebel said. “We were happy out and approved a plan for Next stop UVM Warden is stepping down after almost seconds to to know Pam is very interested.” temporarily rerouting traffic and for OV all-star six years on the job, but the town say yes. We Warden easily won election to reconfiguring parking spaces selectboard did not have to look far were happy her town clerk position in 2014 as a during what will be a tumultuous • A girls’ soccer standout is or wait long to find a replacement. write-in candidate, and then won re- construction period for the the first at the school to earn Board Chairman Rick Ebel said to know election in a landslide in 2017. downtown. last week the board quickly turned Since then Ferrisburgh has an athletic scholarship from Pam is very Closure of the two key roads to Assistant Town Clerk/Treasurer interested.” switched to a system of appointing is currently slated for May 27 to the university. See Page 24. Pam Cousino, who after 21 years in its clerks and treasurers, a change Aug. 5, during which contractors — Rick Ebel that job readily agreed to remove the that also includes making non- will be installing a 360-foot-long word assistant from her title. residents eligible for appointment. concrete tunnel that will supplant Ebel said board members accepted Warden’s Cousino lives in Vergennes, although she grew the Main Street and Merchants resignation “with regret,” but were glad Cousino (See Ferrisburgh, Page 20) Row bridges. That tunnel is the (See Middlebury, Page 21) PAGE 2 — Addison Independent, Monday, November 25, 2019 Businesses promoting Middlebury Money Porky’s feeling that the program had branch of the National Bank redeemed at area businesses. pavilion is Effort under way been “coasting,” according to of Middlebury. Plans call for • In 2017, a total of $21,130 to spark program Malcolm. So with the holiday Middlebury Money to soon be was purchased and $24,360 season approaching and the available at the Bundle pop-up redeemed. in violation By JOHN FLOWERS most challenging segment of a store at 51 Main St., and at • In 2018, a total of $26,935 MIDDLEBURY — downtown rail bridges project Sweet Cecily at 42 Main St. was purchased and $25,580 BY CHRISTOPHER ROSS Middlebury business owners on the horizon, Neighbors • If the shopper doesn’t was redeemed. NEW HAVEN — The New are hoping to bank a lot of Together and the spend the full • Thus far in 2019, a total of Haven Development Review the “green stuff” this holiday BMP believe this amount of their $6,060 in Middlebury Money Board has concluded that season. is the right time Middlebury Money was purchased, and $11,830 a pavilion built by Porky’s And we’re not just talking to re-energize the note in his or her has thus far been redeemed. It Backyard BBQ and Smokehouse, about cash. Middlebury Money transaction, the should be noted that November at 7404 Route 7, is in violation of Local retail boosters are program as a way shopper will get and December are two of the its business permit. encouraging shoppers, diners to support local the remainder back biggest months for Middlebury The board plans to issue a and merchants to put more businesses. as cash back. Money transactions, so the written decision by Dec. 2. “Middlebury Money” in “It’s win-win,” • It can be 2019 numbers should grow In August, New Haven zoning circulation. Malcolm said of the spent at almost appreciably before the books administrator Aaron Brown Launched around a decade program. all businesses in close on the year. issued the restaurant a Notice ago, Middlebury Money is Malcolm and Middlebury, large Sweet Cecily owner of Zoning Violation for using a check that can be used for fellow Neighbors or small, retail Nancie Dunn is a big fan of its outdoor pavilion without a transactions anywhere in Together Co- or service. It can Middlebury Money — so certificate of occupancy, serving Middlebury. It is drawn off chairperson Linda be used to buy much so that she will be alcohol in that pavilion without a bank account at National Horn recently sent NANCY socks, groceries, a purchasing a bunch to make a license, and hosting more Bank of Middlebury that a letter to local MALCOLM restaurant meal, or available to her customers. events per month in the pavilion is owned by the Better businesses urging even as payment She knows those dollars will than are allowed in its permit. Middlebury Partnership. The them to become more invested for one’s Middlebury water stay in the community and The pavilion is to the rear of the BMP is a civic organization in Middlebury Money. They bill. benefit her fellow Middlebury restaurant. dedicated to the economic urged business leaders to • Since Middlebury Money merchants. At a Nov. 18 hearing to appeal vitality of Middlebury’s use Middlebury Money is an actual check, it can be “I think it’s a great program, that violation notice, the DRB downtown and the prosperity for employee recognitions, treated the same way as a and I think there’s a real push upheld the first of those violations of the community as a whole. bonuses, or other gifts. personal check. this Christmas to have it and issued clarifications “It’s an easy way to “This way the recipient The National Bank of used even more,” Dunn said. regarding the other two. keep Middlebury alive and could spend it on anything Middlebury has been carefully “I think the ease of using it Because Porky’s already vibrant,” Nancy Malcolm, co- they want, such as a dinner tracking progress of the makes it fun.” serves liquor in its restaurant, the chairperson of the Neighbors out, groceries, or pay a water Middlebury Money program. More information DRB will allow it to be served Together citizens group, said bill,” the letter states. Statistics provided by the bank about Middlebury in the pavilion from now on, of Middlebury Money. Here are some more details show: Money can be found at DRB Chairwoman Kathy Barrett “This is not a new idea.” about Middlebury Money: • A combined total of experiencemiddlebury.com. said in phone interview with the While Middlebury Money • It can be purchased in $28,240 in Middlebury Money Reporter John Flowers is at Independent. has been around since at denominations of $5, $10, $20, was purchased in 2016, and johnf@addisonindependent. Regarding event hosting, least 2008, there was a and $50 at any Middlebury $27,510 of the “currency” was com. rather than citing Porky’s with (See Porky’s, Page 3) MIDDLEBURY FREE ON-SITE EVALUATIONS Discount Beverage BEER • WINE • CIDER All your HOLIDAY favorites % NOW ALSO OFFERING 20OFF HEAT PUMPS AND WHOLE HOUSE BATTERIES Any wine purchase of $100 or more In-stock bottles only • Bristol Electronics is proud to announce that they are a factory authorized Limit one coupon per customer • Not valid with any other discounts • & trained installer of Fujitsu cold climate heat pumps Offer expires January 1, 2020 and Sonnen whole house batteries. 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