The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • 14

Turlington Jfrce Press; Community Covering the communities of Chittenden County E-mail: communityburlingtonfreepress.conj Mail: Community news Burlington Free Press P.O. Box 10, Burlington Vt. 05401 Fax: 660-1802 Friday, May 18, 2012 Community Editor Clover Whitham 660-1849 or (800) 427-3124 Page 2B BMrllngtonFreePress.com Hooping it up Contestants participate In Hoopapalooza on May 5 In City Hall Park In Burlington. The event, sponsored by the Burlington Rotary Club, aimed to raise money for the Edmunds School beautifi-cation project on Main Street. 2-day party to celebrate lake bridge i Tvw1 Courtesy photo Town rejects sidewalk, delays meeting vote "I respect the passion of those who want to keep it traditional," Blanchette said, adding that he thinks other con-siderations outweigh tradition.

"If input is a concern, more of us should attend the budget process meetings." Mary Lou Kete expressed a different view. "We can change the date or hold it in the evening or on Saturday. We should explore ways to keep the tradition," she said. A motion by Valerie Graham to indefinitely postpone the question brought the night's discussion to a close without a vote on daylong balloting. She said people had not had adequate time to ponder the ballot proposal.

"My motion is made to allow the Selectboard to come up with a different time for town meeting and put it on the agenda for next year's town meeting," she said. The vote was 289-116 in favor of postponing the question of voting budgets by daylong balloting. travel there every day," Donovan said. Destinations line Ferry Road, many of them built in the past 20 years, including a post office, fire station, senior center and child care center. The cost of a sidewalk would have been $25 more in taxes for a $300,000 home for one year only, Donovan said.

Resident Barry Finette said he is a father of seven and a pediatrician. He spoke in favor of speed control instead of sidewalks. Referring to studies in the Journal of Pediatrics, he said, "Speed and distraction are the major reason for children being hit by cars. Speed bumps make it safer for children." By paper ballot, voters defeated the sidewalk proposal 303-172. Daylong balloting On the question of voting on town budgets, Joe Blan-chette said he wanted to expand the opportunity to all residents rather than only to those able to attend on Town Meeting Day.

By Dorothy Pellett Free Press Correspondent The traditional annual town meeting got a reprieve Wednesday, and no sidewalks will soon be built in West Charlotte. Voters made the two decisions at a special town meeting held this week in response to petitions submitted after the March town meeting. Town Clerk Mary Mead said the 488 registered voters who attended Wednesday set a record, surpassing 332 at a special meeting in 2004. Charlotte has 2,945 registered voters. Background: When voters approved, by a paper ballot count of 141-124 on Town Meeting Day, a proposal to authorize building the first phase of a larger sidewalk plan for Ferry Road, the action triggered a petition for a revote.

According to state law, the revote needed to occur in the same manner as the original at a town meeting. CHARLOTTE Resident Patrice Macha-vern and others said they believed there would be advantages to voting on town budgets by day-long balloting instead of during town meeting discussion. They circulated a petition to have the question included in this week's meeting. At Wednesday's town meeting, moderator Jerry Schwarz said the residents first must vote on whether to have a revote on the sidewalk. After he deemed a voice vote too close to call, a standing vote of 252-161 gave the go-ahead for discussion of the sidewalk, proposed to connect stores and public buildings on Ferry Road.

Jim Donovan of the sidewalk committee said safety is the primary concern that prompted requests for a sidewalk. "People walk there every day, and they are at risk. An average of 3,000 vehicles By Dan D'Ambrosio Free Press Staff Writer More than six months after it opened in November 2011, the Lake Champlain Bridge will be the host of a two-day celebration this weekend. The festivities will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with an opening ceremony and end at about 10 p.m.

with a street dance. Sunday, a sunrise ecumenical service will resume the celebration at 6 a.m. and the day will end with a fireworks show at dusk. All of the events will take place at or near the Chimney Point State Historic Site in Addison, and the Crown Point State Historic Site in Crown Point, N.Y. The events are free and will take place rain or shine.

"We are looking forward to this celebration as a chance to breathe new life into a community that was shattered over two years ago," said Lorraine Franklin, co-chairperson of the Lake Champlain Bridge Community. "It's taken more than a year of planning and hard Work by hundreds of dedicated people, and we hope to have an event unlike any other seen in this area." Ted Zoli, national director of long-span bridges for HNTB designed the bridge and will be the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony Saturday. There will be two parades as part of the celebration, one over the bridge, and one beneath it on the water. The Old Time Hometown Grand Parade, including pedestrians and cars, will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, traveling from Vermont to New York.

The bridge will be closed to traffic during the 60 to 90 minutes the 120 floats and vehicles entered into the parade will take to pass. There will be many vintage vehicles in the parade, some dating from 1929 when the first Lake Champlain Bridge was opened and dedicated. The original float from that parade some 83 years ago will cross the new bridge Saturday, along with guests who were present at the 1929 opening. Dubbed "the 29ers," organizers expect, more than 25 of those original celebrants to ride across the bridge in cars. The schooner Lois McClure from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum will lead the boat flotilla beneath the bridge starting at 1 p.m.

Saturday. The direction of boat traffic, whether north to south or south to north, will depend on prevailing winds. Saturday will end with a street dance featuring Rick and the Ramblers beginning at 7 p.m. at the Crown Point State Historic Site. Before that, there will be a dance across the bridge starting from Vermont's Chimney Point State Historic Site at 6:30 p.m.

After Sunday's early ecumenical service, which will begin on both sides of the bridge and come together in the center, there will be a 5-kilometer fun run that starts and finishes at the Crowp Point State Historic Site and includes a run over the bridge. A closing ceremony at Chimney Point State Historic Site in Vermont will end with a fireworks show starting at about 8:30 p.m. More than 50 craft-ers, food vendors and nonprofit agencies will have booths both days, along with a steady lineup of performers, musicians and dancers. There will be performances at both state historic sites. A detailed schedule is available in the official event program, published by The Addison Independent and for sale at a cost of $3 before and during the celebration.

For a basic schedule of events, go to www Contact Dan D'Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio burlingtonfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.eombpbiz. Vermont graduates of Lyndon State College Kittredge, Jacqueline Rene Proulx, Ben Everett Sackett Middlebury: Aaron McKay Thorpe Montgomery Center: Whitney Jo-Ann Cota Montpelier: Kristopher Robert Liz-zarl, Rain Anna Nissen-Reilly, Kaitlin Kellie Quaranta Moretown: Kate-Lynn Anne Laskey Morgan: Marian Grace Ogden Morrisville: Julia L. Trombley Newark: Julie Anna Burkholder Newbury: Abigail Chloe Serra Newport: Sarah Lynn Aube, Rebecca Jane Bevington, Corey J. Pronto, Lindsey Ann Warner North Ella Ann Lawyer Northfield Falls: Heather Marie La-Valley Norton: Dencie Mae Vigneault Orleans: Thepdore Jacob Benoit, An-' drew Javin Arunlad Prue Orwell: Jesilyn Ann Amsden Peacham: Lauren Teresa Craig Proctor: Kristen Margaret Kellogg Sharon: Sara Ann Swahn South Burlington: Ohanga Freddie Losambe South Royalton: Ashley Marie Amo-deo South Ryegate: Tamara Janet Hart Springfield: Kriston Douglas Hall, Willis David Stearns III St.

Albans: Rachel Mary Keller, Jake Thomas Toof St. Johnsbury: Natalie Clare Forcier, Monica B. Franz, Kathryn J. Poulos, Marc Marcel Samson, Nathan Elliot Spring Sutton: Mark Larry Hoffman Waterbury: Isaac Paul Tanney Waterford: Chad Tanner Gillander Westminster: Cody Steven Brown Westmore: Sunshine McNabb West Rupert: Jason Paul Gaudreau Windsor: Stephen Gary Farrow Jr. Winooskl: Nicholas Woody Mont-, gomery Woodbury: Stephanie Lynn Barclay Master's degrees: Derby Line: Linda June Perry East Charleston: Laurinda Annette Maxwell Newport: Faye A.

Long, Ashley Elizabeth Lynn Maroot Newport Center: Patti Schneider Farrell Associate's degrees: Killlngton: Richard J. Champine Jr. Lyndonville: Jessica Lee Lefaivre Milton: Drew Charles Abramovich Vershire: Samantha May Wolf Walden: Whitney Davis Richardson West Charleston: Meagan Jung-Lee Yetsko Westmore: Chelsea Lyn Johnson Bachelor's degrees Albany: Megan Lynn Stevens Barre: Caressa Lynn Kreis, Alexander Kenneth Montour, Jeffrey Allen Rouleau, Chelsea M. Smith, Michelle Dawn Wilcox, Michael James Woodward Barton: Sierra Lynn Willenburg Bellows Falls: Nicholas David Clark Bethel: Chelsie Amanda Brown Bradford: Jonathan Andrew Dame, Charles Robert Lockwood Brattleboro: Colleen Marie Shepard Bristol: Jonathan Scott Casey Orvis, Miranda Jane Saunders Brownington: Chad Earl Abbott Burlington: Armin Delic, Yolanda Cecelia Knight, Alen Alem Turajlic Charlotte: Joshua David Cook Colchester: Brittany Michelle Lavery, Brian Gordon Parish Danville: Shari Jill Larocque, Jennifer Ann Pollard, Naomi Theresa White, David Albert Daly, Nicolas William Ledo, Chelsea Lee Murray Derby: Bethany E. Phillips, Emma Jean Shattuck Duxbury: Jesica Kayle Libby East Charleston: William Joseph McMaster II, Mary B.

Sloan East Randolph: Nicholas C. Brien Essex: Casey Elizabeth Spear Essex Center: Adam Nelson Norton Glover: Rene Charles Thlbault Grand Isle: Timothy Daniel Olver, Nicholas Ryan Ploof Groton: Cheryl L. Perry-Boucher Hardwick: Jordan Paul Barnes Highgate: Mary Aurore Gagne Hyde Park: Benjamin Raj Sampson Lyndon: Curtis Jordan Mathewson Lyndonville: Jennifer Leigh Adams, Samantha Jean Davis, Danielle Sue Drown, Elizabeth Anna Fox, Brian Gregory Hopkins, Carolyn Marie Hag-gett, April Ann Kelly, Nicole Marie Commencements PATH: Route is ready for city marathon OUTLET SHOPPES 1 SL ME AAA 1 SAT. MAY 19 MON.MAY 28 10 DAY TENT SALE SAVE UP TO 70 OFF 1 4 Original retail prices ft "We're going to be this year. We couldn't be happier." Peter Delaney, executive director of RunVermont 1 1 "A Burlington College WHEN: 1 1 a.m.

Saturday WHERE: North lawn, Burlington College campus DEGREES AWARDED: BAs, 30; AAs, certificates, 1 1 certificates, 4 AA, and 30 BA. SPEAKER: Beth Robinson, Vermont Supreme Court justice HONORARY DEGREE: Beth Robinson Castleton State College WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Old Chapel Green SPEAKER: Mary Powell, president and chief executive officer of Green Mountain Power HONORARY DEGREES: 2011-12 HIGHLIGHTS: Vermont Law School WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday WHERE: South Royalton town green DEGREES AWARDED: Juris Doctor, 202; Master of Laws In American Legal Studies, Master of Laws In Environmental Law, Master of Environmental Law and Policy, 56 SPEAKER: Paul Reiber, chief justice of Vermont Supreme Court HONORARY DEGREES: Reiber; Mark Tercek, president of Nature Conservancy; Edwin Colodny, former trustee of Vermont Law School and former president and CEO of US Airways University of Vermont WHEN: 9 a.m. Sunday WHERE: University Green DEGREES AWARDED: 2,552 bachelor's, 429 master's, 94 doctoral, and 1 14 M.D.

degree recipients, in addition to 13 post-baccalaureate certificates. SPEAKER: Cyma Zarghaml, president of Nickelodeon television network HONORARY DEGREES: Cyma Zarghaml; Robert De Cormier, former music director of the New York Choral Society; John Hennessey former dean of Dartmouth's Tuck Business School and UVM's first provost; Denise ShekerJIan, author and blogger; Ann Swanson, field ecologist and executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission 2011-12 HIGHLIGHTS: The board of trustees selected E. Thomas Sullivan, J.D. as the UVM's 26th president, succeeding Dan Fogel. The University of Vermont began a new chapter in Its fund-raising history Jan.

1 with the formal start of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College Foundation, Inc. The renovated George D. Aiken Center, home of the Ruben-stein School of Environment and Natural Resources, opened In January after an 18-month, $13 million renovation. The Vermont Cynic won college Journalism's top prize, the Newspaper Pacemaker. Continued from Page IB year's flood damage, Pink-ham said.

That figure could grow, he said, as a result of ongoing assessments of repair costs and the possible shifting of funding formulae. "Those values change every day," Pinkham said. Out of the equation for now is the much larger challenge of upgrading the full, 13-mile length of the path (the Island Line Trail) that extends into Colchester and along a causeway into Lake Champlain, and, via a seasonal ferry service, to South Hero. Portions of the causeway were swept away during the lake flooding, and ferry service will not run this summer. Safety and structural upgrades to the full trail remain in planning and fund-raising stages.

Memorial Day Giveaway ftT Burlington engineers have sought effective short-term improvements that might dovetail into more ambitious and enduring construction, Department of Parks and Recrea-tion Director Marl Stcinbach said. "It's tricky, but we have a great team," Steinbach said. Contact Joel Banner Baird at 660-1843 or Read his blog at http:AH.lyBardsF.ye and follow him on Twitter at www.twitfer.eomvfifoiniip. Text "ESSEX" bo 23000 for your chance bo win a $500 shopping spree and Join our mobile alerbs HI niRt HAW OR PAY Ml-NT Nfl C.VtARV TO PARI IPAI? Up in Iff) VT mttlrnt. ttt I mr ndftrw nlrfrf (tint nf mtrr Hfci wl Riilw www rfmruln iran'ron II jtu rnm tt in mntr, mrfr nd dl rttn mty qyb mnwfr writ Mittriml Mm fHhh on tin muy rHil www rfmruln utmiw Vl wtwtr pttihlWifil fmb WW mi it II PM hMttin ItnW: Omvir Oirnrr, 21 Kshkx Wv (Si hk Ml), KMm JuNrrnm, VT 05452 IrfK atmi At mr inimmmi-kin VT-2W 4 RT-IS W)2-II72-57I4 www.riwrxjiHnrm.rnM.