Letter Box

Editor of the Reformer:

Running for public office is unlike any other thing I have ever done and I am grateful to the voters of District 3 for their support of my candidacy in last week’s Democratic Primary.

I was blessed to have the support of a tremendous team of volunteers who displayed signs, made phone calls and walked the district with me. This was a team win, achieved with the help of too many individuals to name here. You know who you are and I know how much you did to make this happen. Thank you.

As I wrote in my Reformer op-ed piece: I seek the Brattleboro District 3 seat in the Vermont House because I believe in Brattleboro and I am committed to improving its future. I remain hopeful that our community can rise to the challenges we face. With your continued help and guidance I commit myself to represent you and work together to build Brattleboro’s future.

I am now preparing for the general election and hope for your vote. I am working on some ideas for keeping in touch with the community should I get elected in November. Please know that I am very much interested in hearing from you about issues, ideas, concerns and with your advice; I can be reached via phone and e-mail: ttoleno@gmail.com; www.tristantoleno.com; 802-579-5511.

Tristan Toleno,

Candidate for State Representative,

Brattleboro District 3,

Brattleboro, Sept. 1

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Editor of the Reformer:

Jamaica Memorial Library concluded its successful summer reading program in August. Participants enjoyed many fun and educational events at the library. We would like to thank everyone who made the programs possible.

Thank you to all of our volunteers: Mrs. Hamilton; Mr. Gragan; Mr. Dorta-Duque; Ms. Louise; Ms. Toni; Ms. Jennifer; Ms. Nancy; and Ms. Darlene. Thank you to our young adult volunteers: Hannah, Alexa and Sabine. Thank you to our presenters: Laura Clark for her excellent music, the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum and their owl visitors, Gail Martin the origami master, Boston Science Museum Starlab for coming all the way to Jamaica and for providing us with a scholarship, Linda Sheehan for a great dream catcher making program, Dawn Petrovsky for lovely flower arrangement workshops, and Ron Krupp for his presentation and author signing.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the current and former Jamaica Memorial Library Trustees and the entire Jamaica community for the opportunity to have been your librarian. The past eight years have been a joy and a privilege to come to work. I am extremely fortunate to have had so much support from trustees and patrons. While I look forward to new adventures in my new reference librarian position, I am sad to be leaving such a wonderful community. Thank you all.

Jessie Casella,

Jamaica Memorial Library,

Jamaica, Aug. 18

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Editor of the Reformer:

I wish to extend thanks to all who made the Rock River Revival Parade a success. It was a joyous day of celebration, renewal and thanksgiving to all who helped us through the tragedy of the flood. The parade was a benefit for the South Newfane/Williamsville Fire Dept., and we especially honored David Moore, the town’s emergency management director, Fire Chief Steve Jones and Asst. Chief Todd Brown, whose heroic acts on Aug. 28, 2011, got many of us out just in time before the river swamped our road. We are thankful for the fire department’s tireless work protecting our homes and families, and thankful to each other for the experience of living in a kind, caring community.

Special thanks to Jon Julian of Top-of-the-Hill-Grill, for his incredible barbeque dishes, veggie wraps and salads; to Ted Colligan, the master-mind behind parking and traffic control; to Carol Ross, the best sign-maker and support gal for anything and everything needed at anytime; to Myra Fassler, Nancy Rysz and Steve Levine for the huge task of organizing the Williamsville Hall food set-up, clean-up and dessert bonanza.

To all who helped with parking cars and directing traffic: Bob Lyons, David and Pricilla Cotton, Bud Pyatak, Greg Urban, Bruce Marshall, Joe DeFelice, Richard Hawes, David Hall, Jake Mann; Corp. Mark Anderson of the Windham County Sheriff’s Department for handling the Dover Road closure; and Walter Phelps for the generous use of his field for parking.

To all who volunteered with lunch serving and clean-up: Sheila Riccardi, Susan and Paul Dedell, Gayle Woodcock, Nissa Petrak, Ayars Hemphill, Jamkar, Ginny Grambowski, Jeryl Julian-Cisse, Myra Fassler, Vince Panella, Deb Feiner, Margaret Wimberger, Kim Friedman, and Ellie Applegate.

To all who baked and served dessert: Pam Mandell, ShelbaJean Hescock, Heather Sperling, Margaret Wimberger, Ann Golob, Darlene Eisenhuth, Kathy Moore, Gayle Woodcock, Sheila Riccardi, Debbie Turner, Nancy Rysz, Kathy Heim, Sandy Starks, Ayars Hemphill, Kim Friedman, Susan Gunther-Mohr, Meredith Perry, Annie Landenberger, and Denise Cassidy.

To our Parade announcer, Deb Luskin, and to Bahman Mahdavi for use of his sound equipment; to Hans Keebler for use of his property. To the parade sign-up volunteers: Carole Anne Fitzgerald, Greg Urban, Carol Ross and Mike Mayer. To Katie Travers and Tara Brown for organizing the kid’s collection in the parking lot. To post-parade road clean-up crew: Howie Peterson, Bud Bergman, Darrel DuPont and Dan Saynor. And to Kathy Moore for decorating our parade route with orange ribbons.

To Luke Stafford for online publicity. In the early days after Irene, Luke established the South Newfane/Williamsville Community Bulletin Board page on Facebook to keep us updated on the flood and our recovery efforts. Luke’s posts have become a mainstay of information and support for our two villages since then.

And to all our marchers, float decorators, music makers, fire departments, businesses, neighborhoods, farmers, artists, civic groups, churches, etc. ... who made our parade a fun, festive, creative event. And special thanks to all the marchers who also made a donation, and the businesses who supported from the sidelines.

Thanks to all the local media who covered our event: Jeff Mastroianni of BCTV, Susan Keese of VPR, Thelma O’Brien and Randy Holhut of the Commons, Steve West of WKVT, Tim Johnson of WTSA, Kevin O’Connor of Rutland Herald, Mike Faher of the Reformer, and Randi Capitani of Deerfield Valley News.

There are others I’m sure whose names I’ve missed. Please know that everyone’s efforts and donations are greatly appreciated. It takes more than a village to put on a parade.

The total amount raised for the South Newfane/Williamsville Fire Dept. from the Parade and barbeque was $3,268. We look forward to next year ... last Sunday in August, 2013 for the Rock River Revival Parade II.

Chris Triebert,

South Newfane, Aug. 29