To build a (tiny) home

Begun as a social and architectural experiment in downsizing, the tiny-house movement has taken hold during the last decade, in part as a response to the fact that the average size of new single-family homes in the United States has increased disproportionately to the average size of the families inhabiting them.

A Patagonian adventure

I make bold to take this opportunity to pen a short piece because a recent trip to mythic Patagonia was the dream of a lifetime—one in which I crossed off three items on my bucket list

Rec News

Summer Job Opening Charlotte Beach Attendant
A part-time, seasonal position that begins Memorial Day weekend. The beach attendant will be responsible for the maintenance of the beach area and the facilities located near the beach (e.g. tennis court, playground, volleyball court and picnic area).

Around Town

Congratulations

to long time Charlotte residents, Peter and Meg Walker, who will celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary (50 years) on April 30, 2016. Party on!

Quietly making noise

I classify a microadventure as anything that is out of the house, out of the yard (unless you’re having a family slumber party there) and outside for an hour or more. Adventure is more attitude than anything else.

Sports

Game, set, spring matches
The women’s tennis team, defending state champions led by senior Kathy Joseph, continued its unbeaten streak with a 6-1 match victory over Rice. The win puts the Redhawks at 3-0 so far this spring.

Tree migrants

Trees and other plants lack this kind of mobility and so must remain fixed in the place where they were born, facing all the stresses that nature and humans trigger. Their offspring are able to migrate away from adverse conditions through the dispersal of their seed or their root suckering alone, and that movement is a slow one.

From the Archives

History in the making
We are happy to report that The Charlotte News Archive Project is moving right along. Between production cycles, Kali and I have done our best to organize and document every hard-copy issue of The Charlotte News from 1958 to present.

Grad Challenge panelists needed

Graduation Challenge gives seniors an opportunity to design their own learning experience in any topic area they choose. Students create a project, find someone in the community to guide them in their learning, and spend between 20-45 hours learning something.

Out-Doors

“It’s been an odd winter, and we need exercise,” says Dave Hardy, GMC’s director of trail programs. “If a trail is so muddy that you need to walk around it, please turn around and seek an alternate hike or another outdoor activity, like biking or road walking.”

Pickles and Speck

Kristen and Tim Neilson and their daughters, Audrey, 7, and Livi, 6, welcomed the first wave of baby goats to their homestead at Yellowwood Farm on Bean Road. Pickles and Speck (named because of the tiny tuft of white hair on his underside on an otherwise tawny brown coat) cuddle up and get some much needed rest. Two of the Neilsons’ other goats, Licorice and Snickers, are due with their own kids any day. Photo: Tim Neilson

Camp Hoopla! Let’s put on a Show!

Two playful people in Charlotte share the belief that music is the universal language, while laughter is the shortest distance between two people. When these two get together, anything can (and usually does) happen, and creative sparks fly!

Andy Smith, long-time music teacher at Charlotte Central School, and Woody Keppel, Charlotte resident of 21 years and internationally acclaimed physical comedian, are teaming up again from June 20 to June 24 for more fun at Camp Hoopla! with kids ages 8-14 looking to recharge their creative batteries.

Summer interns wanted!

The Charlotte News is looking for a motivated, news-savvy summer intern with strong writing skills and a natural curiosity about the local area. Candidates should be creative, outgoing, dependable and comfortable in a fast-paced environment. A driver’s license and access to a car are highly desirable.
This is a 15 hour per week position that will start at the end of May and run through the end of August. Interns who finish their working commitments will be paid a modest stipend on a per issue basis. The position can be extended for suitable candidates. The position will be open until filled.

Commentary: Clearing the air around the charter

In my position as election official I will carry out every part of the Charter to the best of my ability, which I have stated previously, “supporting the majority of the voters.” However, also as election official it is my responsibility to point out what may be flaws in this new election process.

Commentary: Town clerk/treasurer’s office—Is it time for a change?

In the February 25, 2016 issue of The Charlotte News, the town clerk/treasurer raised issues related to the proposed town charter and told us, “It’s important to listen to the majority – what does the Town want? […] Do you want one local election day in March to vote and decide all of our budgets or would you rather vote in March and April, splitting up the town and school budgets? This vote is important for everyone, think about what you want. I will be supporting the majority vote.”

Editorial: Fool me once…

This gentlemen claimed to own a military jacket that once belonged to Rigapoulos and was interested in “returning” it to the family. A noble deed, I thought. To boot, he seemed to know everything about the jacket and Rigapoulos—what the battle flag meant on the shoulder of the jacket, the plane Rigapoulos jumped from on D-Day, what time he jumped, who jumped with him, what he was doing on the beaches of Normandy once he landed, and how he was later killed in Operation Market Garden.

Community Events

Events in Charlotte or involving a Charlotter
Monday, April 25
CRAFT: Altoid Tin Art: There are thousands of ways to make use of an Altoid Tin, from travel games to art kits to miniature playhouses. 3:15–4:30 p.m. Charlotte Public Library. Info: 425-3864, charlottepubliclibraryvt.org

From big city to small town: Evan Webster Ink

“Everything you do gets you to where you are, so I can’t complain. I’d do it all again,” muses Evan Webster, owner of Evan Webster Ink, a creative screen-printing company in Shelburne that produces wholesale for groups and businesses. Webster, a Charlotte resident, moved here from Boston with his wife in 2012. After living in cities his entire life, he thought it would be an interesting change.

Food Shelf News

We need your help. Compared to last year at this time, our cash donations are down $3,546—and last year was down 20 percent from the year before. We are a volunteer organization so all donations you make to the Food Shelf go directly for food or assistance to our local neighbors in need.

CCS compost sale

On May 7 from 9 a.m. to noon, community-loving gardeners can buy bulk compost at the 5th annual CCS compost sale in the CCS west Quonset parking lot. Bring your own cans for pick-up and volunteer shovel labor will be provided.

Vote local

A “yes” vote on Act 46 by the Chittenden South Supervisory Union (CSSU), Champlain Valley Union School District and school districts for five towns—Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George and Williston—will form a new consolidated supervisory district, fully operational by July 1, 2017.

How green is your garden?

Although New Jersey has the license plate, Vermont can now claim the title of Gardening State. Analysis by LawnStarter of Google trends from January 2011 to December 2015 found that Vermont led all 50 states in searches for the term “gardening” during the five-year period. What makes Vermonters so enthusiastic about gardening?