Strikes a chord Talons out Sweet sale A Weybridge man looks back at The Eagle girls forced 34 U-32 Ben and Sarah Wood have sold 40 years making music in his new turnovers in a win on Tuesday, the Otter Creek Bakery to Ned album. See Arts + Leisure. their fourth straight. See Page 1B. Horton. See Page 2A. ADDISON COUNTY INDEPENDENT Vol. 74 No. 2 Middlebury, Vermont Thursday, January 9, 2020 36 Pages $1.00 Midd. group urges school mergers Four ACSD board members extend a lifeline to the smaller Sassin and Frank Swenton. Claims Mary Hogan shortchanged learning centers they contend are “Mary Hogan School is the seeking three more years By JOHN FLOWERS Now ACSD directors are hearing unsustainable due to low student central primary school of our By JOHN FLOWERS all four of the Addison Central MIDDLEBURY — The Addison from a group of Middlebury numbers. district, serving the largest body of MIDDLEBURY — The School District board members Central School District (ACSD) residents who are urging the board “The current situation puts us students (and the largest number ongoing transition to an whose terms are due to expire board has for many months been to do the opposite. They’re arguing in an untenable and unacceptable of high-need students), and the International Baccalaureate (IB) this March. hearing a “don’t close our small limited education tax dollars position in which the taxpayers fact that its available resources curriculum and the potential The ACSD board members schools” message from a coalition are being funneled away from of Middlebury are paying to keep are being used to fund semi- shuttering of one or more local who will seek new three-year of Ripton and Weybridge residents the district’s largest elementary open a number of costly schools,” private satellite schools in more school buildings are among the terms are Victoria Jette and Mary organized under the banner of school — Mary Hogan Elementary reads a letter to the ACSD board affluent surrounding towns is both issues driving re-election bids by (See Board, Page 11A) “Save Our Schools.” in Middlebury — in order to signed by Florence Feiereisen, Erin (See School closures, Page 14A) First baby of the decade New city manager excited about post Hofman ‘fell in love with government’ By ANDY KIRKALDY grew up very fast post-college VERGENNES — It took a graduation, and thought about life few years after earning his 2012 more.” undergraduate sociology degree His parents’ career paths from the University of Albany eventually influenced him. Hofman for new Vergennes City Manager said his father was an entrepreneur, Daniel Hofman to find what he and through him Hofman took an calls his true calling — government interest in the basics of financial work. management. After putting himself through “I grew up learning how he college, Hofman, a Poughkeepsie, operated his businesses,” Hofman N.Y., native, at first was not sure said. of his career path. With jobs for His mother worked in county sociology majors scarce at the government in bookkeeping, tail end of the recession, Hofman Hofman said, “and they really ended up handling paperwork for treated her well.” an Albany trauma center. He decided a blend of those two “The helicopters would fly in and careers made sense. drop off these crazy traumas, and I “The business side of me and would have to be in rooms once in a what my mother experienced made while with them,” he said. “I really (See Vergennes, Page 13A) College raises wages for its lowest-paid employees By CHRISTOPHER ROSS and Administration David Provost MIDDLEBURY — Nearly 80 in an email to the Independent. Middlebury College employees “We are very glad that were able got an automatic wage increase to address this now since it was on Dec. 30, after the college one of the most important issues determined that compensation for Middlebury faced over the last 18 their positions had “fallen behind to 24 months.” the market.” Provost and Vice President for Most of the affected employees Human Resources Karen Miller work in Facilities Services and announced the wage increase Dining Services. in an all-school email Tuesday It’s a boy! “President (Laurie) Patton morning. The Middlebury Campus remains very committed to paying newspaper broke the news on ZELIE AND STEWART Smith of Bristol enjoy a quiet moment with their first child, Spencer Archer Smith, at Porter Hospital this past weekend. Spencer weighed in at 8 and a half pounds and measured 20 inches long when he was born at 2:56 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, our staff a competitive wage for Twitter a couple of hours later. 2020. He was the first baby born at Porter Medical Center not only in the new year, but also in the new decade. the incredible work they do day in Middlebury increased salary- Photo courtesy of Nicole Webb/Porter Medical Center and day out, serving our students,” range minimums for benefits- said Executive VP for Finance (See Wages, Page 11A) Goats go gaga over post-holiday greenery Porter hires Christmas trees make new interim for healthy snacks president By CHRISTOPHER ROSS MIDDLEBURY— The STARKSBORO — Now that UVM Health Network the holidays are over, Addison Porter Medical Center Board By the way County residents are recycling, of Directors has hired a composting or otherwise disposing Wisconsin man with decades of thousands of Christmas trees. of experience running Attention basketball fans: Andrea Craft of Lost Woods hospitals to lead Porter on an A panel discussion featuring Farm in Starksboro would love to interim basis. Jackie MacMullan of ESPN, snag a few of those, if possible. Thomas R. Thompson is Bob Ryan of The Boston Globe, “Our goats would love to help the new interim president/ and longtime Sports Illustrated you take care of your Christmas chief operating officer for writers Jack McCallum tree!” Craft wrote in a Jan. 3 online Middlebury’s PMC, which and Addison County’s own post. encompasses a hospital, (See By the way, Page 13A) Seasonal evergreens, it turns out, nursing facility and physicians’ make a great meal for goats, sheep practices. and other animals — as long as He replaces Dr. Fred Kniffin, tinsel, ornaments and hooks have who took over leadership of Index been removed. Porter in October on a temporary On Monday morning, as poofy Obituaries ........................6A-7A basis after Porter President wet snow fell across the county, and COO Seleem Choudhury Classifieds .......................7B-8B Craft and her 9-year-old daughter, Service Directory ............5B-6B abruptly resigned his position Celia, let their nine goats and six following complaints that Entertainment ..... Arts + Leisure sheep into the back yard. Community Calendar ......8A-9A he plagiarized parts of some There, not far from the house, Porter newsletters. Kniffin at Arts Calendar ..... Arts + Leisure lay a Christmas tree that just days Sports ..............................1B-4B that time agreed to lead Porter earlier had stood decorated in as president for a short period Craft’s mother’s home. GOATS AND SHEEP at Lost Woods Farm in Starksboro nibble on a discarded Christmas tree Monday while a new interim leader The animals jockeyed for could be put into place. position, tearing off sprigs of morning. Holiday greenery makes a great snack for such animals because it contains vitamin C, among other nutrients. Last year Lost Woods Farm went through 10 Christmas trees. This year they’re just Thompson, who currently greens and gnawing at the bark. getting started. (See Porter, Page 2A) (See Goats, Page 14A) Independent photo/Christopher Ross PAGE 2A — Addison Independent, Thursday, January 9, 2020 Legislative breakfasts to kick off on February 3 Otter Creek Bakery sold to a new owner ADDISON COUNTY — The Church parish hall, Vergennes. “It’s been a labor of love,” annual Addison County Legislative • Feb. 10 – Middlebury Woods taking time Sarah said. “You don’t do this Breakfast series will kick off on Regional EMS headquarters at 55 for money; you do it because Monday, Feb. 3, and will convene Collins Drive, Middlebury. off after 3 decades you want to do it, and you love on an almost-weekly basis through • Feb. 24 – Orwell Firehouse. By JOHN FLOWERS to bake and make people happy. April. • March 9 – Platt Memorial MIDDLEBURY — Thir- That’s what it’s all about.” The legislative breakfasts were Library, Shoreham. ty-three years after creating and After helping Horton learn established around 40 years ago • March 16 – Bristol American operating the Otter Creek Bak- the ropes at the Otter Creek and offer a weekly opportunity Legion Post 19. Gov. Phil Scott ery in downtown Middlebury, Bakery, the Woods plan on a for Addison County residents to is scheduled to be the featured Ben and Sarah Wood are ready six-month break before em- network with area lawmakers speaker for this breakfast. to retire their aprons and cook barking on adventures that will about goings-on at the Vermont • Feb. 23 – a special luncheon up some new adventures. undoubtedly include trips to see Statehouse. The Monday on agricultural issues, from noon But worry not, those who their grown children. They’ll breakfasts begin at 7 a.m., then the to 1:45 p.m. at the Community have long been beguiled by the also be attentive to Ben’s mom, discussion starts at 7:30 a.m. and Hall in Bridport. bakery’s intoxicating aromas who’s 92 years old. Ben still lasts until 8:45 a.m. • March 30 – Salisbury and decadent pastries. The busi- has a year left on his term with Breakfast will be available for Congregational Church on Maple ness will continue to do what it the Cornwall selectboard.