Congratulations & Sympathy
Compiled by Edd Merritt,
May 20, 2010, page 23.....

CONGRATULATIONS

to Terry Silva who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Community College of Vermont. She received it at the college’s commencement on Saturday, May 15.
to the following Charlotte students who earned degrees from Champlain College, receiving them May 8 at the school’s 132nd commencement in Memorial Auditorium, Burlington:
Elizabeth Aube, Bachelor of Science
William Fisher, Bachelor of Science
Patrick Keenan, Bachelor of Science
Jasmine Silver, Bachelor of Science
Steven Shepard, Bachelor of Science
David McFadden, Master of Business Administration
Juliann Phelps, Master of Business Administration

to Nathaniel (Than) Volk who graduated from Pomona College, Claremont, California, on May 16. Than earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in media studies. He is the son of Mary and Tim Volk of Charlotte.

to Tara Hetz who was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and who received the Beta Beta Beta award for outstanding senior biology majors at St. Lawrence University on Moving-Up Day ceremonies held recently. Hetz majored in conservation biology and participated in Amnesty International, “Lettuce Turnip the Beet,” and varsity crew while at St. Lawrence. The Beta Beta Beta award goes to the graduating biology major who has achieved highly in “academics, research, and departmental service.”
to Piper Oren, one of eight students at Mater Christi School in Burlington who participated in the Vermont State Science and Math Fair–2010. Piper was one of five from her school who were awarded certificates.

to Ted and Anne Castle, owners of Rhino Foods which was one of three Chittenden County organizations to receive “LIVE UNITED” awards from the County’s United Way. Ted has served on the United Way Board of Directors for a number of years and will retire from it this year. Dwight Asset Management was also recognized as one of the “Top Ten” combined campaigns (measuring their total employee and corporate gifts) that collectively raised over $1.6 million for the 2009 Community Campaign. Charlotte resident and author Stephen Kiernan spoke to the group about his new book, Authentic Patriotism: Restoring America’s Founding Ideals Through Selfless Action.

to Edward Fisher, a sophomore at Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut, who was selected to serve as lead electrician for the Theater Department’s production of A Doll’s House, May 6 through 9. He is the son of Mary and Edward Fisher of Charlotte and a graduate of the Lake Champlain Waldorf School.

to Pete Sutherland, a musician with Charlotte connections who was selected to receive the “Older Folks Doing Stuff for Younger Folks Award” for 2010. Born and raised in Shelburne, Pete has been actively involved with his music in the Charlotte Congregational Church. He and his wife Karen play throughout the state and the country. Pete received the award at the reception during the annual “Young Tradition Weekend” May 15 at Union Station, Burlington.

to Tom Oliver who appeared as “Volunteer of the Week” in the May 17 Burlington Free Press. As retail operations director for Sodexho, the company that operates UVM’s dining halls, Tom was noted for his volunteer work with the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging. He organized the Top Chef event that serves as a major fundraiser for the Meals on Wheels effort in the area. The article also noted that Tom trained a Vermont Therapy Dog named Molly. He and his son Andrew take Molly to various senior housing centers to befriend the residents. Tom runs a nonprofit musical organization called No Strings Attached that refurbishes stringed instruments to give to people who cannot afford to buy their own.

to the following students from Charlotte who earned degrees from Vermont Technical College this year. They received their awards at commencement ceremonies May 8 held in the Shapiro Field House at Norwich University:
Thomas J. Couillard
Nicholas N. Lambert
Katie Elizabeth Smith
Jennifer Ann Synnott

to Grace Smith who was one of 38 high school seniors to graduate from the Vermont Academy of Science and Technology with both a diploma and a year’s worth of college credits. The Academy (VAST) is affiliated with Vermont Technical College, and it allows high school seniors to complete their requirements for a diploma as well as their first year of college, in most cases tuition free.

to James Vogler who has been invited to open the second season of weekend art exhibits at Towle Hill Studio in Corinth, Vermont. Jay will be on hand at the studio May 22 and 23 to describe his oil/wax work. He will share the studio with Kit Donnelly who will display acrylic paintings.
to Kiri Terese Patnaude, daughter of Wesley and Sylvia Patnaude of Charlotte, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Civilization, from Saint Michael’s College on May 13.

to Jack Barnes, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of People’s United Financial Inc., a diversified financial services company, who has been named interim President and Chief Executive Officer. Barnes has served in his current position since 2008 when United Financial acquired Chittenden Corporation. In that position he has managed information technology, operations, real estate and business services.

SYMPATHY

is extended to family and friends of Almira Jones Garen of Ty Ty, Georgia, who passed away April 10 at the age of 92. Almira was a member of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Charlotte for many years. The family asks that those wishing to make donations in her honor do so to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

is extended to family and friends of Carol June Luebke of Essex who passed away May 4 at the age of 71. Her surviving family includes her daughter Tracy Harris and Tracy’s partner Gina D’Ambrosio of Charlotte. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations in Carol’s name be made to the Hospice of Champlain Valley-VNA, or the American Cancer Society, or the Vermont Foster and Adoptive Family Association.

is extended to family and friends of Albert F. Moraska, DVM, of Charlotte who passed away at home on May 2 at the age of 70. Al was a Charlotte resident for many years while he practiced farm-focused veterinary care for large and small animals. He served this community as a member of the Charlotte Planning Commission for 22 years, four of them as chairman. He received numerous awards, including the David M. Brown Wildlife Conservation Award, the Outstanding Citizen Planner of the Year Award from Governor Douglas, the Vermont Public Service Award, Charlotte Fire Department Award and the Charlotte Community Citizen Award. Al was a regular participant in the annual East Charlotte Tractor Parade, often driving his rig with a sign stating the age of the tractor above the age of the driver. The family asks that those wishing to remember him with contributions consider the Charlotte Land Trust, P.O. Box 43, Charlotte, Vermont 05445, the Lewis Creek Association, 442 Lewis Creek Road, Charlotte, Vermont 05445 or a conservation group of the giver’s choice.

is extended to family and friends of Marjorie Mansfield of Waterbury Center, Vermont, who passed away May 8 at the age of 71. Marjorie was the daughter of John and Ramona Collette of Charlotte, and she lived in Charlotte and Stowe with her former husband Andy Mansfield. Her surviving family includes their daughter Lynn Mansfield and Lynn’s partner Ruth Farmer of Charlotte. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her memory to the Duxbury Food Shelf, P.O. Box 23, Waterbury, Vermont 05676.

is extended to family and friends of David Trueman of Shelburne who passed away May 5 at the age of 67. David was a regular volunteer for the Charlotte Rescue. His family asks that in lieu of flowers, people consider donations to the Ferrisburg Fire Department, Vermont Respite House or Caringbridge.org.

is extended to family and friends of Raymond F. Boettcher of Shelburne who passed away May 6 at the age of 95. Shortly after moving to Wake Robin retirement community in 1993, he joined the Charlotte Congregational Church. The family asks that those wishing to remember him through monetary contributions do so with a memorial gift to the Wake Robin Aquatic Center Fund or to the Wake Robin Memorial Tree Fund.

is extended to family and friends of Richard Henry Frink of Charlotte who passed away at home on May 15 at the age of 95. Dick was born in Charlotte at the family farm on the corner of Ferry and Lake Roads. His parents were Elliot and Gertrude (Whalley) Frink. After serving in the Army during World War II, Dick returned to Charlotte and was self-employed as a plumber, electrician, carpenter, a jack-of-all-trades. He later opened B & F Auto Body on the Charlotte/Hinesburg Road. He and his wife Eleanora had one son, Brian. Brian and his daughter Heather are Charlotte letter carriers recognized in this issue of The Charlotte News for their help with the food drive.