Recent Posts

Senior Citizen meal Tues., April 17th at the Fairfax Fire Station will be Shepard's Pie with salad, rolls and desert. We eat at noon - so come on down and join your neighbors. All seniors welcome.

Tuesday, April 17, 9:30-10:30am: Preschool Story Hour with Firefighter Dave
Join us for themed stories, songs, and activities for ages 0-6. No registration necessary for Story Hour. 

Wednesday, April 18, 3-4pm: STEM Club: Science Fair Working/Prep. Day
Children who have been participating in STEM Club this year will put on a Science Fair on May 30th. In this month’s session, children will choose a project to present about for our final meeting and show off all the cool things they have learned this year.  Must register.

Thursday, April 19, 3:15-4:15pm: READ to a DOG
Kids ages 5-10 can read a book of their choice to a fuzzy, friendly dog. Call to reserve a 15-minute slot.

Thursday, April 19, 6:30-7:30pm:  Family STEAM Night: Join us for this great family program, where each month parents and children visit stations with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and/or Math (STEAM) activities. This month our theme is “Owls” and we will be dissecting owl pellets together. (Gloves provided for squeamish folks.) Please register.

Tuesday, April 24, 10-11am: Paint! Paint! Paint! Special for School Break Week!
Kids ages 0-8 will have fun visiting different painting stations around the library. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little messy! Must register.

Thursday, April 26, 6-7:30pm: Camp-Out in the Library
Bring your sleeping bags for a camp out in the library (but only for part of the evening). We’ll tell campfire stories, eat s’mores, and make shadow puppets. Ages 3-9. Must register.

The season of Conference Committees has begun. H. 562, an act relating to parentage proceedings was recommended to be moved to committee of conference rather than accept the Senate proposal of amendment. One of the Senate proposals of amendment echoed one that failed in the House on a roll call vote of 70 to 74. The language would guarantee that any genetic sample taken pursuant to this section of law would be destroyed after final determination of the case.

 S.29, an act relating to decedents’ estates was presented with amendments by House Judiciary. The bill updates probate law from outdated language regarding gender but also makes some substantive changes including reducing from three to one year the time frame for filing creditor’s claims against the estate.  S. 101, an act relating to the conduct of forestry operation passed on a roll call vote of 127 to 4. The bill is similar to “right to farm” language in statute and protects forestry operations from nuisance lawsuits.

The Transportation committee has spent the week working on amending S. 272, an act relating to miscellaneous changes to laws related to motor vehicles or in brief the DMV bill. Substantial testimony and debate surrounded the language that supported the changes being made to the Vehicle Inspection Manual. DMV has spent the last six months compiling a major overhaul with the input of many stakeholders and has now begun the process to formally change the rules. The check engine light is a component that is required for air quality and is under EPA oversight. Staff from the Department of Environmental Conservation presented concerns for the conditional passes that are being granted and shared information on assistance that can be granted for the required repairs as well as Federal conditional pass opportunities.

HR 23 a resolution that addresses video game violence was passed on a vote of 107 to 12.
It makes a request to the Executive Branch to examine the connection between the exposure to excessive media and video game violence and the propensity to engage in gun violence and to consider submitting a legislative proposal on restricting the sale of violent video games to persons below a designated age. This request ties in with the Violence Protection Task Force the Governor spoke to creating by Executive Order in his speech at the signing of the three gun bills Wednesday.

People continue to contact me with thoughts and concerns regarding bills and resolutions they have seen introduced. I appreciate the information on what concerns fellow Fairfax residents.  Please contact me at bmurphy@leg.state.vt.us, 802-849-6545, or by mail at 7 Lily Rd. The Sergeant at Arms office in the State House, (802) 828-2228, will see messages reach me as well.

ESSEX JUNCTION - Eugene "Gene" J. Collette, 3rd, 88, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at the VNA Respite House in Colchester, VT.

He was born March 28, 1930 in Burlington, VT the son of Eugene J. Collette, Jr. and Frances (Dubie) Collette. Gene graduated from Shelburne High School in 1948. He married Helen Muir on June 6, 1959 in Burlington, VT. Gene was in the US Navy during the Korean War. He worked at the Shelburne Shipyard building LCVP's. He was one of the original 100 employees at the new IBM plant in Essex Junction, VT retiring in 1992 after 35 years. He was an avid New York Yankees and Giants fan.

He is survived by his wife Helen (Muir) Collette of Essex Junction, VT, son Eugene Collette, IV of Colchester, VT, son David Collette of Essex Junction,VT, daughter Pamela and her husband Daniel Overton of Sheridan, WY, 3 grandchildren Danielle (Chris) Bean of Colchester, VT, Matthew (Marissa) Overton of Gilbert, AZ, Kathryn "Katie" Overton of Hillsboro, OR, 3 great-grandchildren; Madison and Cameron Bean of Colchester, VT, Brooklynn Overton of Gilbert, AZ, 2 sisters Marie Boisvert of Burlington, VT, Lorraine Roberge of Winooski, VT, and several nieces and nephews.

Gene was predeceased by his brothers Francis Collette and Marvin Collette.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 10 a.m. at the Holy Family Catholic Church, 4 Prospect Street, Essex Junction, VT. Interment will be at a later date at Holy Family Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Essex Rescue,

1 Educational Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452 or to the Essex Junction Little League, c/o Essex Junction Recreation Department, 75 Maple Street, Essex Junction,VT 05452.

Corbin & Palmer, 9 Pleasant St., Essex Junction, VT is assisting with arrangements.
Published in The Burlington Free Press on Apr. 12, 2018

Essex Junction,  Our amazing father Walter E. Senn passed from this life on Sunday April 8th with family and friends seeing him on his journey.   Walter lived a storybook life of 92 plus years.  At 81 he got his first Kayak and found every opportunity to use it.   He kayaked with many people and truly loved to go, even into his late 80’s his youthful vigor astounded people that paddled with him.  He found a second love with Arlene Yankowski in his early 80’s. Together they explored many of the back roads of Vermont until her passing.  He had a great fondness for Arlenes’ children that continues even today.

Dad had many passions in life;  Kayaking, Hiking, Hunting, Poetry,  Scrabble, Beekeeping, Singing, Jokes, going to Holland Pond and of course all his family and the two newest loves of his life, his Great Granddaughters.  He was especially fond of Sugaring and always had to know the latest number of gallons made.  He remained young and able to do activities almost until his passing, recently tapping trees in the yard with his HomeShare friend Therese.  Though their time was short as house mates, she greatly enriched his life and helped turn back the hands of time.

He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Dorothy White.   Unbelievably his older sister Marion Lajoie joined him at the Respite House in their final Chapter.   He is survived by his Daughter Linda Cox and husband Bill and their children; Bryan, Nick, Kate, Joshua, and Griffin.  His daughter Laurie and husband Dick Wilcox and their children Christopher and Benjamin and wife Marie Michelle two Great Granddaughters; Bailey and Madelyn.  His son Eric and his wife Susan (Canty) of Essex and their children Erika and Alex.  His youngest daughter Jennifer and husband Gary Villeneuve of Jericho and their children Derek, Kyle and Andrew.  Many additional Nieces, Nephews and dear friends.

Thanks to his special HomeShare guests; Sherwood, Maki, Val and Therese.

Special thanks to all the friends and family support over the past Month.  The wonderful caring support of Dr. Rippa and staff, VNA and Palliative care team at UVM Med Ctr.  Exemplary care from the staff at the Vermont Respite House who provided comfort, dignity, guidance and understanding for us all.  In lieu of flowers please make donations in Walters’ name to Respite House or VNA.

Visiting Hours will be held on Friday, April 13, 2018 from 5 to 8 pm in the Minor Funeral Home, Route 7 in Milton.  A funeral service will held on Saturday, April 14th at 10 am in the Jericho Center Congregational Church with Pastor David Coons officiating.

Essex Junction - Joyce A. Harris, 86, of Whitcomb Woods passed away peacefully Sunday April 8, 2018 in the University of VT Medical Center in Burlington.

Joyce was born June 16, 1931 in Ticonderoga, NY, the daughter of the late Clifton and Eva Quebec Sousie. She graduated from Burlington High School with the Class of 1950 and on December 9, 1950 she married Sam Harris in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Burlington. Sam predeceased her on April 21, 2002.

While living in Essex she served her community as a Selectperson from 1980 to 1983. She and Sam lived for a while in Fairfax where she enjoyed being a parishioner of St. Luke Catholic Church and singing in the church choir. A very caring and giving person, Joyce enjoyed volunteering at the Northwest Medical Center. Her hobbies included ceramics and painting by number and playing Bingo at her senior apartment complex where she especially loved winning and enjoying the food prepared for her.

Joyce is survived by her children, Kathleen Benoit and her husband Gary of Jericho and Samuel Wayne Harris and his wife Betty of Fremont, NH; Several grandchildren, great grandchildren and one great great grandson, her sister Anne Fagga and her husband Frank of Burlington and her sisters-in-law; Blanche Zeno and Lorette Sousie. . Several nieces, nephews and many good friends.She was predeceased by her son, Mark and her daughter in law Kathleen Harris; Her brothers, Clifton, Robert and Richard Sousie.

Visiting Hours will be held on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 from 4 to 7 pm in the Minor Funeral Home, Route 7 in Milton.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 12th at 10 am in St. Lawrence Catholic Church on West Street in Essex Junction.Memorial Contributions may be made to either the American Kidney Foundation, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852-9813 or to the Franklin County Animal Rescue Association, 30 Sunset Meadows, St. Albans, VT 05478

Fairfax Community Library
Trustees’ Meeting
March 5 2018
Fairfax Room, 6 PM

The meeting was called to order at 5:55. Present were Ellen Holmes-Henry, Christina Fearon, Liz Griffin, Pat Gallant, chair, and  Eric Foreman.
Executive session commenced at 6: 05
 The trustees came out of executive session at 8:10 .

The trustees accepted the resignation of Library Assistant, Joy Choquette with appreciation for her work here.
The trustees will work on a library personnel document in regard to safety concerns and the library.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15.

Respectfully submitted,

Elizabeth Griffin, secretary. 

Fairfax Community Library
BFA Fairfax School Board
Joint Board Meeting
Thursday, April 12, 2018
BFA Fairfax Conference Room
6:30 PM

AGENDA

Call to Order 

Public Input

Review Agenda

Election of Officers
•   Chair
•   Secretary

Correspondence

Approval of minutes of October 12, 2017 Joint Board meeting

Highlights of Quarterly Reports - Librarians

Unfinished Business
•   Recently updated policies?
•   Status of new Facilities Committe
•   Other

New Business
•   School and Community Safety and our Library
•   Set date for Joint Board Meetings (Oct. 2018 and April, 2019)
•   Update distribution list for meeting notices
•   Other

Adjourn

Norman James Faunce, 89 formerly of Essex Jct., passed away March 4, 2018 in Castle Rock, CO. Norman was born to Ruth T. and Norman P. Faunce on March 7, 1928 in Mechanic Falls, Maine. He graduated from Mechanic Falls High School and went on to earn an engineering degree from Wentworth Institute. Norman served in the Army Air Corps and had a 37 year career with IBM.

On June 17, 1950Norman married Marjorie P. MacLeod in Auburn, Maine. During their 65 of years of marriage, he was the loving father of two daughters, Nancy and Betsy. Living in Essex Jct. for 57 years, Norman was an active member of First Congregational Church and the Rotary Club of Essex.

As a volunteer, Norman rang the bells for the Salvation Army, delivered Meals on Wheels and served on the Essex School Board and EJHS Athletic Boosters. He enjoyed spending summers on Lake Champlain and was an avid tennis player, hunter, skier, and cribbage player.

A loving son, father, uncle and grandfather, Norman is preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Norman Faunce and his wife Marjorie.

Norman is survived by his daughters Nancy M. Faunce and Elizabeth Faunce Andrews and her husband Charles W.H. Andrews and his grandsons CPT C.W. Hunter Andrews, Jr. and his wife Adrienne G., and Benjamin J. Andrews. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Brownell Library Foundation, http://www.brownelllibrary.org/about/Foundation_contribution_form.pdf or the Rotary Club of Essex Scholarship Fund, www.rotaryclubofessex.org.

Visiting hours will be held at AW Rich Funeral Home at 57 Main Street, Essex Jct., Vermont on June 1, 2018, at 5:00 – 8:00. A memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church at 39 Main Street, Essex Jct., Vermont on June 2, 2018 at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery at Old Colchester Road, Essex Jct., Vermont. The family invites you to share your memories and condolences by visiting www.awrfh.com.

Twelfth grade BFA students visited the State House on Thursday and Friday to observe committee meetings, floor sessions and interview individual legislators regarding bills they have been tracking in their Senior Social Studies classes this semester. These students are wonderful ambassadors for our community. Other Fairfax residents were present this week giving testimony on legislation before committees, offering coffee and information in the cafeteria and as a member of the final group of Pages, a program that provides a wonderful opportunity for eighth graders to participate in our State Government first hand for six weeks.
Members of the Transportation committee started the week at a press conference to recognize the Traveling Memorial of Workzone Fatalities.  The goal of the organization is to reach zero deaths within workzones through increasing public awareness of the need to be alert and reduce speed as the season of road construction gears back up, “Slow down to get around”. Later the committee took testimony from the Chief Financial Officer of the Agency of Transportation on the FFY2018 Federal Transportation Appropriations Act. The good news he shared is that the core highway and transit programs that account for over 90% of our federal transportation funding are increased by approximately 2.2% increase as compared to last year.
The VTrans Training Center Manager spoke to the challenges and goals for workforce recruitment, development and retention.  A program was highlighted that is proving an effective recruitment tool. The VTrans/Vermont Tech pathway has multiple points of entry. From juniors in high school to career changers to veterans looking to translate their service experience into a career, the pathway offers flexibility that suits individual needs.
The Branch manager for Vermont Local Roads came with the other two staff members to present the 2018 legislative report to the Transportation committee. Vermont Local Roads is a resource that provides workshops (one was held in Fairfax in June of 2017), as well as technical assistance to Vermont municipalities.
J.H.R. 15, Joint resolution requesting the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and Congress to adopt more effective measures to enforce the federal Do Not Call list and to police illegal robocalls was taken up and adopted on the part of the House. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance for further action.
People continue to contact me with thoughts and concerns regarding bills and resolutions they have seen introduced. I appreciate the information on what concerns fellow Fairfax residents.  Please contact me at bmurphy@leg.state.vt.us, 802-849-6545, or by mail at 7 Lily Rd. The Sergeant at Arms office in the State House will pass on queries as well.