Adopt See ECRWSS Donate Page 9B PRSRT STD a Pet US Postage at a Blood Drive PAID Permit #2 Celebrate North Haverhill, NH See Page 4A Cinco de Mayo POSTAL CUSTOMER FREE Your Local Community Newspaper THE MAY 01,Vermont 2019 | WWW.VERMONTJOURNAL.COM JournaVOLUME 19, ISSUEl 18 Apple Blossom Cotillion Contestants & Future Cotillionaires on Pages 8A - 10A Lisai history event at Rockingham Library BY BILL LOCKWOOD area, and many of those at- sound of wolves howling in Photo of Tony Lisai being projected at the presentation. Ellen Howard presenting on the right. The Vermont Journal & The Shopper tended Saturday. The family- Russia and, “There were too PHOTO BY BILL LOCKWOOD run Lisai’s Market is still going many churches for the Czar BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – An strong. The family also runs a and too few schools for the overflow crowd turned out for deli in the original store loca- children.” She also remem- Ellen Howard’s presentation tion and a grocery in Chester. bered “Grandpa’s” fondness for of “Where we come from, the Howard made an excel- Buicks and fast driving. Lisais of Russia” at the Rock- lent and detailed presentation Lena and Tony were appar- ingham Free Public Library of her family research. She ently the only immigrants in in Bellows Falls, Saturday, used immigration and cen- Bellows Falls from Belarus at April 27. Bellows Falls native sus records and “Aunt Clara” the time they came here. There and well-known 36-year town who had written down all the were Russian populations in employee Ellen Howard is the names of the family she could Springfield, Vt. and Clare- granddaughter of Lena and remember, as well as a great mont, N.H., and they were Anthony “Tony” Lisai who collection of old photographs both living in Claremont when both came to the U.S. as immi- both from here and from the they met and married in 1919. grants and opened the Lisai’s “old country.” She projected Belarus has been independent Cash Market Grocery store in many of those images on a since the break up of the old Bellows Falls in 1926. Today, screen during her talk. How- Soviet Union in the early ‘90s, Howard is one of almost 30 de- ard also told personal sto- but it was part of Poland and scendants in Vermont, ries from her memories like Russia as borders changed Lena was one of eight chil- They opened the original store, they were glad Tony’s love of many of them in “Granny” saying she through both World Wars. dren of more wealthy family where the deli is now located things that explode was passed the Bellows remembered the Howard said “Grandpa near Moladechna. In 1911, she on Atkinson Street, and lived down saying, “What would Falls Tony” was from a poor fam- came to aid a pregnant sister in the house behind. Through Old Home Days be without ily, and one of seven children who also had a 1-year-old and the years the business built up, him?” in Mosty, in western Belarus. was supposed to go back. She remained family-owned, and Howard ended her presenta- At age 18 or 19, he arrived in stayed working in a mill in the now is one of the most known tion naming some of the other Philadelphia in 1907 with $10. Saxtons River area, and when businesses in town. groceries that were in Bellows Prior contacts got him a job the sister she had come to help The Lisai family, especially Falls at the time Tony opened on a potato farm in Maynard, died sometime after 1914 Lena Tony’s son Lolic and his son his. And she said she is sure he Mass., where there was a Rus- went to live with relatives in Brent, are closely associated would be proud to know that sian immigrant population. He Claremont. with fireworks. Howard re- his Lisai’s in the only grocery ended up in Claremont after Despite the fact that there members Tony’s attachment still in town. traveling around and work- were eight other groceries in to his adopted country and the The event was co-sponsored ing various jobs including in a Bellows Falls in 1926, Tony Fourth of July when he set off by the library and the Rock- The original Lisai’s Cash Market on Atkinson Street in Bellows Falls. shoe factory and as a part-time thought it would be a good fireworks in a lot near the mar- ingham Historic Preservation PHOTO PROVIDED grocer. place to open such a business. ket. One of the audience said Commission. CTES principal contract Easter egg hunt draws crowd approved amid controversy BY SHARON HUNTLEY meeting unfolded. The petition outlined the proper “Chain The Vermont Journal stemmed largely from an alleged of Command.” Although incident where Beaupre was re- Powden mentioned that this CAVENDISH, Vt. – The Green ported to have driven around discussion was a result of in- Mountain Union School District and in front of a bus to stop it, vestigating an issue concern- meeting began Thursday, April and then boarded the bus to ing reports of a “Gag Order” 25 in front of a standing-room address students’ behavior con- that had been reported sur- only crowd of about 70 people. cerns. rounding the CAES renova- Families gather to begin the Easter Egg Hunt. This was a highly anticipated The board adopted the agenda tion back in the fall, this issue PHOTO BY OTIS NELSON meeting with an agenda item that had placed public com- would resonate throughout that would put Cavendish Town ment occurring after the action this meeting as well. LUDLOW, Vt. – An coming together more Elementary School Principal item of voting on Deb Beaupre’s Powden’s recommended amazing event took place often to help support Deb Beaupre’s contract in front contract. However, the board official chain of command at the Ludlow Community the children at the local of the board for approval. agreed to table voting on Beau- would be to first go to a teach- Center over Easter week- schools. This meeting followed weeks pre’s one-year contract renewal er with whom there is an is- end. For the first time in Supporting both educa- of both social media and tra- with a 2.75% increase until the sue, then to principal, then many years, the Ludlow tion and recreation oppor- ditional media’s scrutiny over end of the meeting. Board mem- to superintendent, before it Parent Teacher Group tunities for the community Beaupre’s contract renewal after ber Doug McBride said, “I feel would go to the board. “We and the Mount Holly Par- is a priority for all the col- an online petition had been filed it would be inappropriate to act have that expectation for our ent Teacher Student Asso- laborating partners. The by parents and other commu- upon that motion until we’ve parents.” ciation put on a pancake organizers want to send nity members in early April ask- heard from the people in the McBride countered the breakfast in collaboration out a special thank you ing for Beaupre’s contract not to audience.” Confirming he didn’t recommendation citing, “I’m with the recreation depart- to our sponsors: Rite Aid, be renewed, questioning safety have an opinion himself, he con- worried that adhering to a ment’s annual Easter Egg Cafe At Delight, Coun- and other nonspecified concerns tinued, “I feel if we acted on that chain of command is send- Hunt. try Girl Diner, and Green they had with her leadership. motion, we would be telling the ing a message to our students, The breakfast featured Mountain Sugar House. What followed was support for people in the audience that we’re parents, teachers and princi- pancakes, coffee, tea and Their generous donations both sides of the issue coming not going to listen.” pals…it’s putting a damper juice and was followed by ensured the success of this forward amongst community The meeting otherwise pro- on what they want to say.” an outdoor easter egg hunt event along with the hard members as this meeting neared. gressed as listed on the agenda, In the end, the board asked at the school’s playground. work of many parent and At the beginning of the meet- and Superintendent Meg Pow- that examples for the next In a historic and wonder- student volunteers from ing, GMUSD board chair Joe den ended administrative re- meeting that would look at ful collaboration, the event both communities. This Fromberger was determined ports to discuss appropriate steps both open door policies as found great success. The will be an annual event, so to encourage respectful com- for conflict resolution in the event organizers look for- Easter Bunny visit. mark your calendars for mentary from everyone as the form of adopting a policy that See PRINCIPAL on Page 2A ward to the communities PHOTO BY OTIS NELSON next year! INDEX CONTACT US ATTENTION! Opinion....................................... 6A DEADLINES OFFICE ADDRESS: The Vermont Journal & The Obituaries .................................... 7A 8฀High฀Street฀•฀PO฀Box฀228฀•฀Ludlow,฀VT฀05149 Shopper acquired The Message of the Week in April of 2018. Sports News ................................. 1B BILLING ADDRESS: The deadline for all content is Friday at 12 p.m. for Arts & Entertainment .............. 2B - 3B PO฀Box฀116฀•฀Rutland,฀VT฀05702 Due to the similar coverage areas, all of the content goes the following Wednesday publication. 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