Letters
August 25, 2011, page 3.....
Life and Death in Barber Cemetery and Thanks to all from the Fire Department

Life and Death in Barber Cemetery
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Trees that have survived the majority of trees around them in the forest or landscape are known as “veterans.” It is always sad to see one of them die or need to be removed. So it is with one of the large sugar maples that for perhaps 120 years has graced Charlotte’s Barber Cemetery on Greenbush Road. The Cemetery Commissioners have asked that a large sugar maple on the east fenceline be removed as a threat to the tombstones. The Tree Warden agrees that this is indeed a “hazard tree” due to interior decay, and has authorized its removal.
However, since shade and ornamental trees well fit these final resting places of our forebearers, it is an excellent time to plant one or two new young trees (sugar maples, of course), to benefit the future environment of this special place.
The Tree Warden and Cemetery Commissioners view this as an opportunity for one or two members of the community to fund a new tree, and dedicate it to a loved one. The person(s) so honored need not be interred in the Barber Cemetery.
The cemetery is an excellent and very appropriate place for a memorial tree, since it will be under long-term town care. A gift of $200, supplemented by the Town’s Rutter Tree Fund, is sufficient to purchase a balled-in-burlap tree (at least two inches diameter) and have it delivered and planted professionally. These gifts are tax deductable. If you are interested in making such a gift, and bringing new life to Barber Cemetery, please contact me at 425-6509. Thank you.

Larry Hamilton
Charlotte Tree Warden
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Thanks to all from the Fire Department

The Second Annual Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department Pig Roast was held on Sunday, August 14, at the Old Lantern on Greenbush Road. It was a great day, with over 200 people partaking of the plentiful good food, enjoying the music, admiring the fire apparatus and communing with friends and neighbors. The weather even cooperated, with the threatened rain holding off, allowing the party goers to enjoy the beautiful grounds and view the progress of the two roasting pigs.
CVFD owes a huge thank you to Roland and Lisa Gaujac for their special event magic. Their cheerful and professional handling of the planning, set-up and clean-up of the festivities are key to the success of the day.
We would like to thank our silent auction donors for their wonderful donations: Champlain Lanes, Vermont Roads & Fields, The Old Lantern, Bora’s Welding & Repair, Trono Fuels, Nitty Gritty Grain Company, The Mack Farm, Abel & Lovely, Rise 'N Shine, Dylan Preston, Brit-Sue’s Green House, Dick Stowe, Champlain Valley Compost Company, Nichols Fodder Farm and Spear’s Corner Store.
Thanks to Misty Knoll Farms, The Little Garden Market, The Old Lantern, Charlotte Fire Department Auxiliary, pig roaster Eric Preston and cake baker Jennifer Bora for their contributions to the culinary selections. Thanks also to Mary Provencher, Robin Reid and Dave Ryally for the entertaining music.
Many hands helped to make the day successful and our thanks go out to all the CVFD volunteers, who showed up and helped out, especially Chris Mack for his coordinating efforts.
All in all, it was a successful event and we hope to see you next year at the Third Annual Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department Pig Roast.

Kay Gault
Charlotte Volunteer Fire & Rescue Services, Inc.