Congratulations:

to Jonathan Manchester and Colleen Flaherty who were married in Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 7. The groom’s brother, Tom Manchester M.D., served as best man. Jon and Tom are sons of Kathy and Jim Manchester of Charlotte.

to Ila Lewis who won the Harvard University Graduate School of Education Singer Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching. She was one of several hundred candidates worldwide nominated by former students. Ila accepted the prize at a dinner ceremony May 3. She also received a financial award of $2,500 for Seneca schools, to be used for professional development. Ila is the daughter of Arline and “Cowboy” Lewis of Charlotte.

to Brooke Dennee-Sommers who graduated from Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, on May 27 at the school’s 141st commencement exercises. A 2003 graduate of High Mowing School, Dennee-Sommers earned her Bates degree with a major in psychology. She was named to the dean’s list three times and spent the fall semester of 2005 in Siena, Italy. Brooke is the daughter JoAnne Dennee and Larry Sommers of Charlotte.

 to Erik W. Ohlson, a rising sophomore at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who was selected to participate in this summer’s Hackman Scholars Program. He is working with earth and environment Professor Robert Walter on a project titled “A 137Cs Inventory of a Small Watershed in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Implications for Sediment and Nutrient Loads to the Chesapeake Bay.” Erik is the son of Jean and Kevin Ohlson of Charlotte and a 2006 graduate of Champlain Valley Union High School.

 to Stephen Mann, a rising sophomore at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island, who earned placement of the dean’s list for the spring semester 2007. The son of Channing and Kim Mann, Stephen plans to major in business.

to Tai Dinnan, a student at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, who earned placement on the dean’s list for the spring 2007 semester. Tai is majoring in Community Health and Child Development. She is the daughter of Marty Illick and Terry Dinnan of Charlotte.

to Sarah Barker who achieved placement on the Faculty Honors list for both semesters of her junior year at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut. Majoring in International Studies and Hispanic Studies, Sarah spent fall semester in Santiago, Chile. She also received an Urban-Global Grant from the Mellon Foundation that will be used to support her upcoming trip to Honduras, where she will research human rights issues in the capital city of Tegucigalpa. Sarah is the daughter of Susan Hong and James Barker. to Marian Guild, who recently turned 90 years old, and fulfilled her birthday wish by flying in a hot air balloon early Monday morning. She was aided by Kathleen Hurley who arranged the flight. Guild joined friends for a surprise celebration of her achievements at the Charlotte Senior Center the following day—birthday cake, balloon pictures and all.

 to Lindsay Brush who graduated from Middlebury College in May. An economics major, Lindsay earned placement on the dean’s list for spring semester 2007 and was named to the All-East Alpine Ski team in each of her four years at Middlebury. She is the daughter of Mary and Charlie Brush of Charlotte.

to Erik Gundel, a recent graduate of Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, who earned highest honors for spring semester of his senior year, 2007. Erik is the son of Linda and Walter Gundel of Charlotte.

to Sam E. Titus, a rising senior at St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York, who is one of 29 students to receive an internship fellowship this summer. An economics major, Sam is participating in an internship with USB Financial in South Burlington. Such fellowships encourage students to pursue career opportunities in a field of their choosing. to the following University of Vermont students from Charlotte who achieved placement on the dean’s list for the spring semester 2007: James Allen, Anthropology; Ethan Bond-Watts, Environmental Studies; Ariel Cunha, Studio Art; Michael Michaud, Political Science; Alice Neiley, English; Laurel Radimer, English; Vera Simon-Nobes, Sociology; Timothy Snow, Business Administration; Sarah Sullivan, Biochemistry.

to Duncan Findlay Davis, a rising senior at Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, Massachusetts, who was named to the spring-term honor roll for 2007.

to Jake Callery and Sadie Stone who were nominated by United Way of Chittenden County for this year’s “Hometown Hero” award. Callery was nominated for his work as a volunteer with the Visiting Nurse Association’s Adult Day Program. Stone received a nomination for her support of the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program. The winners will be selected and announced at a celebration breakfast in September.

to Catherine Feree who was promoted to vice president in the Fiduciary Tax Department of TD Banknorth Wealth Management Group in Williston. After having joined the bank 12 years ago, Feree has earned membership as an Enrolled Agent and a Certified Trust Financial Advisor and is a member of the Institute of Certified Bankers. A resident of Charlotte, she sings in the South County Chorus and will participate in the 2007 Dragonheart Vermont Boat Festival. She is a graduate of UVM and an active supporter of the Humane Society of Chittenden County.

 to Sharon Beal, who was inducted into the Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary Club July 11. Sharon owns Vermont Business Brokers with her husband John, who sponsored her membership in Rotary. She says that moving to Vermont (and Charlotte) was “the best decision we ever made.”

to Graham Destakasi who joined Fletcher Allen Health Care as director of provider relations. He has 14 years of experience in public administration, most recently with the city of Burlington.

to Jack Pilla who finished third in the Vermont 100 Endurance Run on July 21 with a personal-best time of 16 hours, 30 minutes, and 20 seconds. Jack wants to thank Joe Carrara who paced him for the last 30 miles, helping him to better his time.

to Ken LeRoy, Charlotte veterinarian who traveled to the state of Washington to scale 12,276 foot Mt. Adams as part of the “Climb to Fight Breast Cancer.” He pledged to raise $3,000 for breast cancer research being conducted by the Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He is on the mountain as we write.

to Josie Leavitt and Elizabeth Bluemle, owners of the Flying Pig Bookstore, who found their ways on to National Public Radio. The wily Josie appeared on Car Talk with a question about stiff steering. After joshing her about the pronunciation of our town name, the “Tappit Brothers” suggested she leave her car in the bookstore parking lot overnight and see what happens in the morning when it’s colder. In other words, “Cool it, Josie.” Elizabeth was on North Country Public Radio, commenting on the new Harry Potter book released last week. She said that she is a Harry Potter fan who feels that the author, J.K. Rowling, has created a wonderful world of wizardry through the series.

Sympathy:

is extended to family and friends of Clara E. Butler of Cambridge who died in St. Albans July 15 at the age of 79. Surviving family includes her sister Lucille Garvey and Lucille’s husband, Dale, of Charlotte. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her name be made to The Alzheimer’s Association of Vermont and New Hampshire, 172 North Main Street, Barre, Vermont 05641.

is extended to family and friends of Kim Tun Lee of Essex who died July 14 in Fletcher Allen Health Care at the age of 66. Surviving family includes his son Scott Lee and wife, Pam, of Charlotte. The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations in his name be made to the American Diabetes Association, 77 Hegeman Drive, Colchester, Vermont 05446 or to the Vermont Respite House, 99 Allen Brook Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495.

is extended to family and friends of Eula R. Thomas of Shelburne who passed away July 15 at the age of 87. Her surviving family includes her daughter Linda Hoyt and Linda’s husband, Brian, of Charlotte as well as her granddaughter, Katie, Carleton and her husband, Bradley. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Birchwood Nursing Home, Alzheimer’s Unit, 43 Starr Farm Road, Burlington, Vermont 05401.

is extended to family and friends of Barbara Peugeot Kittredge of Charlotte who died July 15 in Fletcher Allen Health Care at the age of 78. She and her husband, David, moved to Charlotte in 1983. They owned and operated Woodbury’s of Shelburne until her husband died in 1989.She was an active volunteer at the Charlotte Senior Center and delivered Meals on Wheels as well as “wearing a number of helpful hats” at the Charlotte Congregational Church. The family asks that those wishing to make memorial gifts in her name do so to The Charlotte Land Trust, P.O. Box 43, Charlotte, Vermont 05445 or to Fletcher Allen Health Care, c/o Development Office, 111 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05401.

is extended to family and friends of Harriet Colgate Abbe Lack Sawabini of Shelburne who passed away July 16 in Fletcher Allen Health Care at the age of 84.Her surviving family includes her son Wadi Sawabini, Jr. and his wife, Mary, of Charlotte. The family asks that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to the Vermont Mozart Festival, 125 College Street, Burlington, Vermont 05401, www.vtmozart.com  or to the American Cancer Society, Northern New England Region, 121 Connor Way, Suite 240, Williston, Vermont 05495, www.cancer.org.

is extended to family and friends of John R. Nola of Stony Brook, New York, who died July 24 at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook at the age of 89. His surviving family includes his son Thomas Nola and Tom’s wife Virginia of Charlotte. The family asks that those wishing to make donations do so to the charity of their choice.

is extended to family and friends of Alex Chirelstein of Burlington who died July 12 at the age of 48. An art director and teacher, Alex was scheduled to join the faculty at Charlotte Central Middle School next month. He will be missed. The family asks that donations in his name be given to the Barak Obama campaign.