By Lani Duke
Worldly education
POULTNEY—With the adoption of its Generation Study Abroad Commitment last fall, Castleton set about doubling the number of students taking classes abroad by the year 2020. Doing so took far less time than that. By this fall, the school will have 29 students who have studied or are studying in other countries: Spain, New Zealand, Australia, China, Italy, Costa Rica, and Germany. Students also come from abroad; enrollees come from numerous countries, including Latvia, Sweden, Germany, Canada, France, China, and Peru.
Educational value
POULTNEY—Great Value Colleges recently named Green Mountain College as one of the best higher education institutions for students who love nature. It looked at both the school’s setting and the variety of activities available off campus but also on-campus activities, classes, courses, and degrees. Among the other recipients of the recognition are Prescott College in Arizona and Alaska Pacific University in Alaska, both of them participants in an exchange partnership with GMC.
Three strikes and you’re out?
CASTLETON—Castleton’s Select Board decided that another vote on whether to build a new police station was unnecessary. Castleton voters have already cast their ballots on the issue twice before. Voters had turned down a proposed $300,420 appropriation to build an addition to the recently constructed fire station at the town meeting in March by a vote of 365 to 358. A March 9 recount yielded a slightly more negative result, 356 to 354.
Voters reconsidered the measure in a special election on May 12, approving the appropriation, also by a narrow margin, 362 to 345. But a citizen petition begged for yet another poll of local voters on whether to use the money from selling the district’s excess school buses for the project. Turned in June 9, the petition met legal requirements for voter signatures, bearing 153 names.
However, deciding that half the town would be unhappy regardless of which way a third vote fell, Select Board chair Joe Bruno declined to submit the issue to voters yet again. Vermont statutes stipulate only one re-vote on a given issue within a 12-month period.
The Select Board has authorized the town manager to begin the process of building the police station, including contracting architectural services and filing permits.
Fundraiser: “Going bald for cancer”
CASTLETON—Castleton Volunteer Fire Department members are growing out their hair as part of a fund-raising effort for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a national charity. They will have their heads shaved on July 24, “going bald for cancer,” with the goal of raising $2,000. To donate, give them a call 468-5319 or donate at the event or go online at either the group’s facebook page or website www.castletonfire.org/gobald.
Scholarships benefit local students
TINMOUTH—If you purchased plants at the Tinmouth plant sale or donated to the Tinmouth Community Fund, your contribution benefited eight local students. The Scholarship Committee divided a total of $9,500 among eight students: Theresa Butts, studying at both CCV and the College of Saint Joseph; Katy Czar, in her freshman year at UVM, studying physics; Alex Dixon, in his sophomore year in the St. Michael’s College pharmacy program; Kayla Durant, in Alfred University’s pre-veterinary program; Amelia Fontein, topping off her senior year at UVM in Environmental Studies and Spanish; Izzy Fontein, in her freshman year studying engineering and math at Tufts University; Mark Goyette, a sophomore in mechanical engineering at Clarkson University; and Ellie Hasenohr, a freshman studying biology at UVM.
The Tinmouth Fund is trying to grow to the level of the Pawlet Scholarship Fund, holding nearly half a million dollars in contributions and awarding $30,000 or more each year. To get involved, call Cathy Reynolds, chair, Tinmouth Community Fund, 446-2928.
