Around Town
Compiled by Edd Merritt

Congratulations
to the following graduates of the University of Vermont who received their diplomas at commencement exercises:
Bachelor of Arts – Kendra Appe, Fletcher Bach, Craig Bunton, Michael Michaud, Brandon Mossman, Claudia Mucklow, Vera Simon-Nobes, Timothy Snow, Caitlin Stroupe, Kristen Thayer
Bachelor of Science – Ethan Bond-Watts, Cayenne MacKillop, Sarah Minkler
Master of Business Administration – Alanna Shanley
Master of Science – Elizabeth Allen, Katherine Cormier, Celina Fuller
Doctor of Medicine – Charles Parsons
Doctor of Philosophy – John Barlow

to Trevor Greene, a graduating senior at Lyndon State College, Lyndonville, Vermont, who earned placement on the Deans List for the spring semester 2009. Trevor majored in TV studies and broadcast news.
to Deva Cats-Baril, who graduated summa cum laude with honors in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin. She carried minors in Spanish and social entrepreneurship and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. The research for her honors thesis, entitled “Race-Ethnic and Nativity Differences in Contraceptive Choice: A Focus on Mexican American Women,” received the Alpha Kappa Delta Award. She is currently working at the Population Research Center in Austin and plans to move to New York City to continue work on women’s reproductive health care policy and begin graduate school. Deva is the daughter of JoAnna Easton and Willy Cats-Baril of Charlotte.
to Ethan Bond-Watts who, in addition to receiving a Bachelors of Science degree in environmental studies from UVM, also graduated magna cum laude and earned program honors for his thesis. Ethan has recently been awarded a commission from the Firehouse Gallery in Burlington, which he will use to create original sculpture for a show beginning August 14. His show’s title is “Human Landscape.”
to Josh Flore, Charlotte Town Constable, who bicycled 300 miles from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. on the Police Unity Tour. He was one of approximately 1,300 riders who made the trip to raise money for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. They were able to donate $1.3 million, thanks in large measure to groups such as the Vermont Police Association, and local associations from South Burlington and Shelburne as well as Vermont Road Dawgs and Titus Insurance. Josh’s account of his trip is on The Charlotte News website (thecharlottenews.org).
to John Martenis and Thomas Couillard who received Associate of Science degrees from Vermont Technical College at commencement exercises on May 16 held in Shapiro Field House on the Norwich University campus.
to Pamela Sisk who earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Johnson State College, Johnson, Vermont. She received her diploma at commencement ceremonies on May 16.
to Ben Barker, a senior at Vermont Commons School who was named an Academic All-Star by the Burlington Free Press in its May 22 issue. Ben was also featured for a project in which he shadows Dr. Michael Sheeser, an emergency physician in Fletcher Allen Health Care, learning elements of care that supplement his work on the Charlotte Rescue squad. He is the son of Susan Hong and James Barker of Charlotte.
to Robert Curler who graduated from Unity College, Unity, Maine. Majoring in forestry, he earned a Bachelors degree with honors. Robert is the son of Laurie and Peter Curler of Charlotte.
to Taylor Thibault and Madison Hartley, juniors at Rice memorial High School who were among 42 students inducted into the Reverend Raymond A. Adams chapter of the National Honor Society.
to Gretchen Morse, Executive Director of United Way of Chittenden County, who was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Vermont at commencement ceremonies this year. She is a UVM graduate, class of 1975, who has held many positions in public service over the past 30 years. As United Way Director for 18 years and prior to that Secretary of Vermont Agency on Human Services and state representative for 8 years, she advocated for equal rights and opportunities, often for those who could not do so themselves. During her terms in the Legislature, she chaired the house education as well as the health and welfare committees. She helped create “Dr. Dinosaur.” She and her family have lived in Charlotte since 1971.
to Susan Ohanian, whose article entitled “On Assessment, Accountability, and Other Things that Go Bump in the Night” appears in the May issue of the national education journal, Language Arts. Ohanian challenges the current demand for warehousing student information and, according to her press release, “pokes holes in a medical model for education.”
to Ted Fisher, CEO of Kilowatt Technologies, who was invited to talk to the Department of Defense Pentagon’s Sustainability Group in Washington, D.C. The Pentagon people were particularly interested in learning about the company’s software EnterSuite. The technology focuses on operational efficiency and optimizes equipment performance in order to achieve between fifteen and twenty-five percent reductions in annual energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
to Nancy Sabin who was featured in an article in the May 18 Burlington Free Press for her work on behalf of immigrant workers. Sabin’s fluency in Spanish is a valuable asset in helping local farms find willing labor from Mexico and Central America. A 22-year-old worker was quoted as saying, “She is an angel of God. She looks out for us, she worries about us, she speaks for us.” Despite her lawyer’s advice to lay low, Nancy’s manner doesn’t allow it. She would rather test the limits. “I think this whole thing is funny,” she says.
to Annemie Curlin, Charlotte artist whose work has been selected along with work of other Vermont artists to be shown in various venues around the state this summer. Annemie’s painting triptych, done in 2007, is part of the “Art of Vermont: The State Collection.”
to Enzo DiMaio, whose production of “Unforgettable Vermont,” Willem Lange’s interviews with Vermonters, will be broadcast on Vermont Public Television June 4 at 7:30 p.m., June 6 at 6:30 a.m., June 12 at 4:30 p.m. and June 13 at 1:30 p.m. In addition, Di Maio and independent filmmaker Caro Thompson won a Boston/New England Emmy for their documentary Champlain: The Lake Between.
to Guinea Road resident Nancy Martin whose unfortunately unsuccessful attempt to save a drowning woman was reported in the Sarasota Herald. Nancy and her three golfing partners responded to calls for help from the husband of an 83-year-old woman who had fallen into a nearby swimming pool.
is extended to family and friends of Maurice Phillip Boissoneault of Johnson, Vermont, who passed away May 15 at the age of 73. Maurice spent his childhood in the Addison County/Charlotte area before moving to Fairfax in 1950. The family asks that contributions in his memory be made to Lamoille Home Health and Hospice, 54 Farr Avenue, Morrisville, Vermont 05661 or to Lamoille Area Cancer Network, P.O. Box 38, Lake Elmore, Vermont 05657.
is extended to family and friends of Hugh LaGrow of Hernando, Florida, who passed away May at the age of 88. His surviving family includes his daughter Gayle and grandchildren Gary and Virginia Lane of Charlotte. The family asks those wishing to make memorial contributions do so to Hernando-Pasco Hospice, 12107 Majestic Boulevard, Hudson, Florida 34667. Online condolences may be sent to the family at HooperFuneralHome.com.
is extended to family and friends of Anna Sturgeon Place of Hinesburg who passed away May 22 in Vermont Respite House, Williston, at the age of 90. She was born in Charlotte to Frank and Edith Poirier Sturgeon who lived on Mutton Hill. Anna and her family moved to Hinesburg in 1952. The family asks that those wishing to make donations in her name do so to Vermont Respite House, 99 Allen Brook Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495.
is extended to family and friends of Willmer (Bill) Benson Hall of Williston who passed away May 24 in Fletcher Allen Health Care at the age of 82. A Charlotte resident for 45 years, Bill lived on Hills Point Road. He served as town auditor and was Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 15. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to either the First Baptist Church of Burlington or to the Green Mountain Club.
is extended to family and friends of Charles Sharbonneau of South Burlington, formerly of Milton, who passed away May 29 at the age of 76. Charles was born in Charlotte, the son of Marvin and Lucy (Lussier) Sharbonneau. He served in the army both Korea and Vietnam before returning to Vermont in 1974.