by Emily Kaminsky
Organizers of Returning to the Community, an interactive event which simulates the experience of formerly incarcerated individuals returning to the community, are still looking for participants. The event will be held Thursday, October 16, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Barre’s Alumni Hall (next to the Barre Auditorium), and is free of charge. By “walking in the shoes” of a returning prisoner, each participant will experience the stressors and conflicting priorities one must negotiate to avoid violating conditions of release, and to re-establish oneself as a full member of the community. The event, for citizens of the greater Barre area, is sponsored by the Greater Barre Community Justice Center, the Barre Partnership, and the city of Barre.
The Barre Partnership, Barre’s downtown association, is saying goodbye to Dan Jones. During Jones’s four years as the Partnership’s executive director, much has changed in our city. “Dan’s zeal and hard work over the last four years is evident throughout downtown Barre, as reflected by more than a dozen new businesses in the last year alone; a successful “Dig Barre” campaign to promote the downtown while its Main Street was rebuilt; the launch of a volunteer program, the Barre Community Ambassadors; hosting the Vermont Downtown Action Team, which has culminated in a comprehensive plan for branding, visioning and leading downtown Barre through its next phase of growth; and the support and praise from community members, organizations and new members in central Vermont,” Hillary Montgomery, president of the Partnership, stated in an email.
Jones is leaving the Barre Partnership to become a teacher-community coordinator at Central Vermont Adult Basic Education. In an email to friends and colleagues, Jones wrote, “Change can be a positive, powerful force, and after four years as executive director I sincerely believe that it is time for someone new to step in who will bring a renewed enthusiasm, energy and outlook.” Jones, who is also co-owner, with his partner, of the Maplecroft Bed and Breakfast, looks forward to his new job: His walk to work will literally be just a hop, skip and a jump!
The Barre Partnership is thus looking for a new executive director to usher it into the next phase of its development—and beyond. As the sole staff member and public face of the organization, the executive director is responsible for coordinating the goals and objectives of the Main Street program by working with businesses, volunteers, vendors and community members to promote one of Vermont’s beloved downtowns. For more information and a detailed job description, contact Hillary Montgomery at hillaryinbarre@gmail.com.
Please send your story ideas for the Barre Beat to The Bridge at 223-5112 or editorial@montpelierbridge.com. Follow @BarreBeatVT and @TheBridgeVT on Twitter for regular updates on Barre and additional information. And if you’re coming to Barre, remember: Barre’s downtown rocks!
