Around Town
compiled by Edd Merritt

Congratulations...

to Jill (Howard) and Justin Cozzens of Charlotte whose daughter Celine Ghislaine Cozzens was born February 22 at Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington.
to Darif Krasnow who graduated from Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, in December with a degree in music. While there, Darif served on the Bard Rescue Squad as a licensed EMT. His essay, “Narcorridos: Construction of Gender in the U.S. Mexican Borderlands,” was selected for publication in the fall/winter issue of the Bard Journal of Social Research. Darif is currently working with a sustainable agriculture project on Isla de Omotepe, a large island in Lake Nicaragua. He plans to return to the United State next year to pursue a career in medicine.
to Ming Fen Congdon, a seventh-grade student at Charlotte Central School whose essay, “The Waiting Room,” was selected for publication in the Burlington Free Press’ “Young Writers Project,” March 24. Ming strikes home for many of us who have waited in the dentist’s office well beyond the acceptable leeway of a scheduled appointment. Only a dream, Ming? Please let us know how the real thing went the next day. Was it truly a “NOOOOOOOO!”?
to Maddy Howe, a senior at Champlain Valley Union High School who was named an Academic All-Star in the March 24 Burlington Free Press. The daughter of Mary Lou Kete and John Howe, Maddy is a High Honors student who has won a series of awards for her academic achievements. She tutors others, is a member of the National Honor Society and spends much of her spare time riding her horse Rocky. She hopes to follow that interest into a medical or veterinary career.
to Patrick Reilly and his colleagues on the Rice Memorial Scholars Bowl team who defeated South Burlington High School in the quarterfinals on Saturday at Champlain College. Rice bested the Rebels by a score of 315 – 245, avenging a loss during the regular season. A mathematics and science specialist, Patrick’s quick answers led the way in those areas for the Green Knights. Rice is now ranked the top team heading into the semi-final round.
to Abigail Postlewaite, a student at Charlotte Central School who represented her school in the recent state spelling bee held in Colchester. Abigail was one of a handful of contestants who went most of the distance in the competition. The winner, 12-year-old Timothy Webb of Newbury, won by spelling “binoculars” correctly.
to Howard Seaver who is returning to membership in the Shelburne/Charlotte Rotary. Howard was active in the club during the 1970s and 1980s, serving as president for a year during that time. An attorney in Burlington whose practice focuses on business, real estate, environmental permitting and estate planning law, Seaver has been active in the Chamber of Commerce and the Yuroslavl Sister City project.
to Mark Pfaff who was recently elected Executive vice president of New York Life Insurance by its board of directors. Mark is currently responsible for U.S. Life Insurance and Agency, which includes the company’s career agency distribution and its life insurance manufacturing and marketing. He joined New York Life as an agent in 1985 and in 1994 was appointed managing partner of the Vermont General Office. In 1999, he became the zone vice president of Northeastern Agencies, then senior vice president in 2004 and senior vice president of U.S. Life Insurance and Agency in 2008. He, his wife Claudia and their family live in Charlotte.
to Jeffrey Hollender, CEO of Seventh Generation, a green cleaning products company, who was among several green merchants featured in the New York Times Sunday Business Section on March 22. Pictured along with Michelle Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senator Tom Harkins, Hollender is mentioned as saying that some of the green movement’s messages may present a tough sell now that many consumers’ budgets are stretched thin.
to Darcy Pasco of Williston and Donald Gill, Jr. of Charlotte who announced their engagement. Don is the son of Barbara and Donald M. Gill of Charlotte. They plan to marry August 8.
to Olivia Powers and Brooks Weathers who announced their engagement to be married this coming August. Brooks is the son of former Charlotter Wade Weathers, who now lives in Essex, New York.

Sympathy...
is extended to family and friends of Rosemary Bennett Brady of West Ferrisburgh who passed away March 24 in Fletcher Allen Health Care at the age of 84. Her surviving family includes daughter Gayle Brady Finkelstein and her grandchildren, Philip and Josh, all of Charlotte. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Rosemary’s memory to The National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, Virginia 20190-5362.
is extended to family and friends of Karlene M. Potvin of Grand Isle, Vermont, who passed away at her home March 25 at the age of 53. Her surviving family includes her daughter Geina of Charlotte. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to either the American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge, 237 East Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05401 or to the Eleanor B. Daniels Fund, Development Office, Division of Gynecological Oncology, 111 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05401.