Around Town
Compiled by Edd Merritt

Congratulations

to Beth Quackenbush and Michael Tallman, on the birth of their daughter McKenna Evelyn Tallman on November 10 at Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington.

to Amber and Thadeus Sorrell on the birth of their daughter, Kiley Elizabeth Sorrell, on November 25 at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, New York. The Sorrells, Charlotte residents, apparently had to stop briefly in Rochester on their way home from a trip west in order to bring Kiley into the world.

to U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Pablo Smith and Melissa Bernazzani Smith of North Bend, Oregon on the birth of their son Weston Gregory Smith on December 1. Weston is the first grandchild of Fraya and Gregory Smith of Hills Point, Charlotte.

to Erin Hall of Hamilton, New Jersey and Adam Bates of Charlotte, who were married October 2 in Philadelphia. Adam is the son of Tom and Lorna Bates of Charlotte. Both newlyweds are physicians completing their residencies at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

to Zach Manchester of Charlotte, who joined the Board of Directors of HomeShare Vermont in October. An accountant with Davis and Hodgdon Associates of Williston, Zach earned a degree from Champlain College, majoring in graphic design and accounting. HomeShare Vermont is a non-profit agency that helps elders and persons with disabilities to live independently.

to Marie Luhr of Charlotte, who was recognized at the recent National Alliance on Mental Illness – Vermont (NAMI) conference for her years of excellent work for the organization. Marie received the Rochford Thibodeau Award that goes annually to an individual who has contributed to NAMI over a long period of time. Marie, the outgoing board secretary, has held that position for six years and for over eight years has been in charge of recruiting new board members. She has agreed to stay on the NAMI Advocacy Committee.

to Jan Blittersdorf, CEO and co-founder of NRG Systems in Hinesburg, who was one of approximately 120 business leaders, heads of non-profit agencies, elected officials and scholars who spoke at President Obama’s economic summit recently in Washington. Jan participated in a sub-group that “focused on energy efficiency and green jobs,” according to a report in the Burlington Free Press. She noted that the recession has slowed the momentum of the turn toward wind energy. However, she felt that targeting 10 percent renewable energy by the year 2012 would “bring back the U.S. market.”

to Jan and David Blittersdorf of NRG Systems, who are attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Jan participated in a panel with other wind energy CEOs on December 13, entitled, “The State of the Global Wind Energy Industry.”

to Alessandra Carreiro and Charlotte Dwight, juniors at St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York, who are completing their study abroad in the school’s International Study Program for the fall 2009 semester. Alessandra is in Spain, Charlotte is in England.

to Lou Muzzy of Vergennes who recently retired from the Charlotte Post Office after serving 23 years in the postal service. We will miss Lou’s cheery countenance and cryptic sense of humor at the front counter. Keep your boat afloat Lou.

to David Raphael of LandWorks, Inc. and a consultant to the Charlotte Planning Commission who facilitated a planning process for East Charlotte Village. David was featured in the December 6 Burlington Free Press in an article he wrote favoring “Green Infrastructure.” He says he sees value in initiating a “systematic, inclusive, and open planning process” that allows people to make informed decisions about what they value in their “geography, their environment and culture.” He pointed to the communities involved in planning the Lewis Creek Watershed (of which Charlotte is one) as good examples. He feels there are economic benefits “associated with coupling infrastructure with conservation planning . . .” Such planning includes clustering development, strengthening a village core and conserving land for its best use.

Our Apologies to Isabella Hackerman, whose name we omitted from our congratulations to Charlotte performers in the Vermont Ballet Theater performance of the Nutcracker on December 19th. Kudos Isabella. We look forward to seeing you as a mini-mouse.

Sympathy

is extended to family and friends of Ellen Duncan Blanchard of Burlington, who passed away November 24 at the age of 81. Her surviving family includes her son Perry Blanchard of Charlotte and his daughters Kate, Daphne and Portia. The family asks that those wishing to make a memorial gift in her honor do so to the Flynn Theatre, c/o Paula Roberts, 153 Main Street, Burlington, Vermont 05401.

is extended to family and friends of Gerald Fuller of Shelburne and a summer resident of Thompson’s Point Charlotte, who passed away December 9 at the age of 78. His surviving family includes his son Jeffrey Fuller and Jeffrey’s wife, Sarah Thurber, of Huntersville, North Carolina. Sarah is the daughter of Nancy Wood and Sky Thurber, both of Charlotte. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory be made to the Shelburne United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 365, Shelburne, Vermont 04582.