White House Honors MHS Teacher Susan Abrams
MONTPELIER — On July 1, the White House named Susan Abrams, a teacher at Montpelier High School, as one recipient of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The Presidential Award is the nation’s highest honor for teachers of mathematics and science (including computer science).
With this award, Abrams will receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation. During the annual recognition event, Abrams will participate with fellow awardees in professional development activities, network with fellow science, technology, engineering and math educators from across the nation, and receive a certificate signed by the president of the United States.
Sue Abrams has taught mathematics at Montpelier High School for the past 15 years, at Main Street Middle School for three years, and previously at West Linn High School, Oregon, for nine years.
As the Montpelier High School Mathematics Professional Learning Community leader, Sue co-developed an enduring mathematics intervention program, and she successfully initiated the creation of heterogeneously grouped geometry classes.
Sue has a bachelor of arts in Romance languages from Bowdoin College, a bachelor of arts in mathematics from the University of Oregon and an M.A.T in mathematics from Portland State University. She is certified in secondary school mathematics, French and Spanish education.
Callan Named Exec. Director for T.W. Wood Gallery
MONTPELIER — The board of trustees of the T.W. Wood Gallery announced Ginny Callan is the gallery’s new executive director. Callan brings a broad knowledge of organizational management, community organizing, fundraising and volunteer development in the nonprofit sector. She has been an active member of the community for many years. Callan is also well known as the owner and operator of the former Horn of the Moon Cafe. She is also a widely praised cookbook author.
The gallery recently moved to its permanent home at 46 Barre Street and is a founding member of the Center for Arts and Learning. The center is a consortium of several nonprofit organizations devoted to maintaining a thriving art, music and art education community in central Vermont.
Founded in 1895, the gallery houses one of the largest permanent collections in the state. It is also the repository for Vermont’s portion of the federal Works Progress Administration collection.
Route 14 Bridge Project Update
EAST MONTPELIER — The Vermont Agency of Transportation has selected PCL Construction, a company experienced in slide-in bridge construction, to be the construction manager/general contractor for the East Montpelier VT 14 Bridge Project. Currently PCL is constructing two I-91 highway bridges in White River Junction where this method will be used for the first time in Vermont (www.i91wrj.vtransprojects.vermont.gov).
PCL will work with VTrans for at least one year to develop the bridge design, construction methods and staging. The project will be complex due to the constraints of working next to and over the Winooski River and the need to build a new substructure under the existing Route 14 bridge while maintaining traffic through all but 40 days of construction.
At the same time that bridge design is under development, VTrans will continue to work on obtaining temporary and permanent rights-of-way easements from property owners in the vicinity of the bridge project. Appraisals have been completed on 15 properties that will require rights of way agreements. VTrans is planning to start construction in fall 2017, with a 40-day bridge closure occurring in late summer/early fall 2018.
To learn more about the East Montpelier Bridge Project, see the project website: www.vt14emontpelier.vtransprojects.vermont.gov
From a Front Porch Forum Post submitted by East Montpelier Town and Zoning Administrator Bruce Johnson
One More Time to Stay Open: Taking Clothes for Cash
MONTPELIER — Leslie Rabins, owner of One More Time, a secondhand clothing shop on Main Street, is having second thoughts about leaving town. Earlier this summer she said she was going to sell off her inventory and head for California, but the success of her going out of business sale has changed her mind.
“I have gotten such a big response. People want it, people need it, it is important,” she said, explaining that she is seeking people to bring in items for her to resell. “We are looking for regular stuff and vintage for cash. I am going to give it a try through the winter. It just depends if people come out.” She said the sale was a smash, but in recent weeks business has slowed down a bit.
When asked to characterize a typical customer, Rabins said, “somebody who is interested in recycling and saving the planet, saving some money and getting cool stuff. We have people of all ages.”
