Archive for March, 2009

Chris Bohjalian, Burlington Free Press columnist, March 29, 2009 –  A quarter that gives us our money’s worth

With all the really big money numbers out there — Exhibit A: $1.6 trillion in derivatives in the AIG portfolio — sometimes we don’t focus enough on the small money numbers. No, I don’t mean the $165 million in AIG bonuses or the $50 million in bonus money that AIG executives so far have agreed to return.

I’m talking about the Vermont quarter. As part of the U.S. Mint’s new America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Program, the image on our quarter is going to change. Just for the record, I wish I could say that I made up America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Program, but no one but a seasoned bureaucrat could come up with poetry like that.

In any case, the current profile of a sugarmaker, maple trees and sap buckets is going to be replaced by an image of the Green Mountain’s portion of the Appalachian Trail. And while I certainly appreciate hiking in Vermont, I wish the U.S. Mint had spoken to some of my friends before deciding that the new quarter had to focus on a national park. The following are what some other Vermonters would place on a quarter if it were up to them.

• “I would put a picture of me deep in a cell phone conversation saying, ‘Are you there? Can you hear me? Not again.’” Christina Weakland, education director for the Flynn Center.

• “The Vermont State Insect: The Honeybee.” Scott Wilson, Heavenly Honey Apiary, Monkton.• “The Jeezum Crow.” Jenn Foster, Colchester mom and Official Baby Emma Diaper Changer.

• “With thanks to the pundits who insist that Vermont’s economy is like a three-legged stool — agriculture, industry and tourism — I might suggest a three-legged stool with two of the legs broken off lying in the breakdown lane of the incomplete Bennington Bypass.” Will Sipsey, emeritus Lincoln selectperson.

• “Ben and Jerry.” Tracy Stolese, owner of Arabesque in Shelburne.• “Mountains and a moose.” Nancy Stearns Bercaw, assistant to the dean of libraries at the University of Vermont.

• “Serious response? A pair of open, outstretched hands to represent the generosity, open-mindedness and compassion of Vermonters. Joke answer? A fish with a lamprey stuck to it.” Mark Redmond, executive director, Spectrum Youth and Family Services.

• “A Subaru.” Paul Magoon, autism interventionist, South Burlington School District.• “A catamount.” Vivian Jordan, founder of Call of the Wild Dog Biscuits and an illness imitator for UVM medical students.

• “The uniquely Vermont institution of the opera house or town hall theater. It’s certainly my favorite thing about this state.” Jeffrey Fox, founding director of the Little City Players in Vergennes and a mighty accomplished home pizza baker.

• “How about Isle LaMotte’s ‘Oldest Reef?’” Martha Jo Walton, Isle LaMotte Preservation Trust activist.• “A snowflake, comme Monsieur Bentley.” Denise Fitzgerald Danyow, trustee, Charlotte Town Library.

• “The Richmond Round Church.” Richard Parker, Director of Engineering and IT, Vermont Public Radio• “The Barre granite quarries and sculptures.” Wendy Whaples Scully, administrative assistant, First Congregational Church of Burlington.

• Finally, there were also many suggestions involving woodchucks, including one very eloquent proposal from Michael Boucher, an IT specialist with a subsidiary of Blue Cross/Blue Shield: “‘Woodchuck’ has been used as a pejorative to describe Vermonters, much like the term ‘Red Neck’ is used for Southerners. As a native myself, I’ve come to embrace it. Woodchucks are also ubiquitous in Vermont. I think it should be the state animal. Let’s be honest, when was the last time you saw a Morgan horse?” There were also votes for cows, barns and barn cats. (My wife lobbied with great eloquence for the barn cat.)

• But my absolute favorite might have been Andrea Wolga Freeman’s idea. Wolga Freeman, an engineer with Bio-Rad Laboratories, really put it all together: “Can it be caked in mud? How about a cow ankle deep in mud with a sap bucket around its neck, a Ben and Jerry’s bucket under its udder, a little fall foliage, snowflakes coming down, and a tourist driving SLOWLY taking photos.”

Now there’s an image that gives us our money’s worth.Write to Chris Bohjalian care of the Free Press, P. O. Box 10, Burlington, Vt. 05402, or visit him at

“I’m always going to be there for her even if what we’re doing isn’t very inspirational; she knows I’ll be there.” ~Sally Cook, Spectrum Mentor for over 3 years~

This is from Brian Plisko, he has worked as our weekend drop-in coordinator for the last three years, is now moving to California:

I think by now, most people are aware of the fact that I am transitioning out of this gem of an agency and moving forward in my life to fulfill an exciting new chapter. I wish you all a very blessed spring and summer, with hope that you all feel as thankful and lucky as I have felt working for such a wonderful place with the most incredible people on the planet. Thank you all for this incredible experience.

I am far greater a better man having shared this time and space with you.

In peace,

Brian Plisko

We were on Ch 3 – WCAX several days in a row last week about our Empty Bowl dinner. Below is the transcript from one WCAX piece:

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Empty Bowls to Support Spectrum

Burlington, Vermont – March 12, 2009

Over a hundred people took part, Thursday evening, in the fourth annual Empty Bowl event to benefit Spectrum Youth and Family Services.

For a donation of $35 people got to eat soup from local restaurants, out of bowls made by local potters. At the end of the night they also got to take the bowls home.

Spectrum provides support, job training, and meals for at-risk youth in Vermont.

“I think what we do is very important in Burlington because Burlington is the downtown really for the rest of Vermont, we have kids from all over the state who come into Burlington and need the services we provide,” said Spectrum director, Mark Redmond.

Last year the non-profit provided over 5,000 meals to more than 500 youth. Supporters said it is a worthwhile cause. They called the event “fun and unique.”

“There’s a high need,” said Sonja Laiho. “The food’s good, bowls are great, and it’s a good time so why not.”

Bianca Slota – WCAX News

For full story read more: http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=10005197

Comcast employees delivering boxes of food to drop-in center (506 lbs total). Thank you to everyone that pitched in and made this a successful food drive!!!

Last night, 125 people attended our Fourth Annual Empty Bowl Dinner and silent auction fundraiser. First of all I want to thank Charlie Papillo for emceeing the event and doing a great job. I also want to send a big thank you to all the community members who made this sold-out event a complete success – and to Comcast who was our Presenting Sponsor.  They also used the occasion to announced a $30,000 gift to us to fund our job readiness/training program for homeless youth.   

WCAX-CBS was there to capture the action: CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

I will post photos from the event soon. Stay tuned…

I was on the NewsTalk620 Charlie & Ernie show this morning with Pam Mackenzie, Area VP of Comcast. Charlie Papillo is volunteering to be the emcee of our signature event, our 4th Annual Empty Bowl Dinner and Silent Auction. This event is completely sold-out and will be held at the First Congregational Church tomorrow night in Burlington. Comcast is the Presenting Sponsor and is a Spectrum’s newest community partner.

Comcast has gone above and beyond, they donated 506 lbs of food to our Drop-in Center to help our free meal program. I helped carry in boxes of food this morning with Comcast employees and my staff (watch WCAX-CBS news tonight) to see the full story. Comcast has also generously funded our Job-Skills Training Program for $30,000 over the next three years.

Bob Rachlin of Downs Rachlin Martin is a former board member of ours, and the other day I found out that at an upcoming Continuing Legal Education session for the Chittenden County Bar Association, he agreed to do it for free as long as people considering making a donation to Spectrum. Thanks so much Bob, and it reminds me of what Tony Lamb, another former board member who is a lawyer, does for us every year when he delivers an Ethics seminar for the Bar Association. Great to have friends like this helping us, that is for sure.