Staff Report

In the early 1990s, Al Gore created the Internet. Three weeks ago, the town of Bridgewater finally created its own website.

Bridgewater joined the digital age at the end of April, thanks to a $2,400 state grant and some extra work from Town Clerk Nancy Robinson, who set up and loaded information to the site: bridgewater.vt.gov.

Residents have asked Robinson for a source of online town information over the years.

“After Irene, I think the town sort realized we needed better means of communication,” Robinson said.

The site includes the 2012 Town Report, a community calendar and Selectboard minutes. There are also policies and ordinances and town contact information.

Staff Report

An 84-year-old Bridgewater woman has died and another Bridgewater woman was injured in an accident on Route 4 in West Woodstock Thursday morning.

Norma Sawyer, 84, was killed when the Dodge Neon she was driving collided with a box truck near Liberty Farm Road in West Woodstock around 6 a.m., according to Woodstock Police Chief Robbie Blish. Sawyer died on the scene, Blish said. The passenger in Sawyer’s car, Laura Robinson, 75, was taken to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with unknown injuries. The driver of the box truck, 46-year-old Timothy Farewell of Enfield Center, N.H., did not suffer major injuries.

The cause of the accident is unknown. Preliminary investigation indicates that one of the vehicles involved crossed the center line, Blish said. Both vehicles ended up over the embankment which runs down toward the Ottauquechee River.

The Woodstock Police Department is investigating the crash along with the Department of Motor Vehicles Enforcement, a state medical examiner, and a Vermont State Police crash reconstruction team.

Anyone with any information regarding this crash is asked to contact Officer Mark Donka at 457-1420.

It’s the third fatal accident on Route 4 in less than three months and the second in a week.

Bridgewater held their “Official Bridgewater Holiday”, the annual raft race. Racers build man-made rafts and oars and paddle or float down the river.
(Take a look at the video of the race)

A portion of these photo first appeared in the May 2, 2013 print edition of the Vermont Standard.

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Bridgewater held their “Official Bridgewater Holiday”, the annual raft race. Racers build man-made rafts and oars and paddle or float down the river.
Rick Russell Video

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If you have video you would like to share with the Standard, send your link or video to webmaster@thevermontstandard.com

Bridgewater Raft Race features homemade boat/float and oars. Come out to watch or participate.
All proceeds benefit the Bridgewater Fast Squad.
Saturday, April 27th at 12 noon! Starting in Bridgewater at the residence of Rob and Marianna Capossela, just west of the Long Trail Brewery.
Awards Ceremony to follow with LIVE MUSIC!

Take a look at the event from last year.

So much happening this weekend…
Check out other events happening in the area.


A quick look at area happenings: Events, Meetings, Activities.

View the Calendar

Authorities are now reporting at least 134 injured and two dead in this afternoon’s two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. One of those dead was an eight-year-old child, according to CNN.
Race organizers issued the following statement this evening:
“The Boston Athletic Association extends its deepest sympathies to all those who were affected in any way by todays events.
Today is a sad day for the City of Boston, for the running community, and for all those who were here to enjoy the 117th running of the Boston Marathon. What was intended to be a day of joy …and celebration quickly became a day in which running a marathon was of little importance.
We can confirm that all of the remaining runners who were out on the course when the tragic events unfolded have been returned to a community meeting area….we would like to thank the countless people from around the world who have reached out to support us today.”

Follow The White Rabbit Bridgewater Village School students rehearsed and entertained with their production of “Alice in Wonderland” on Tuesday.
Rick Russell Photos

A portion of these photo first appeared in the April 11, 2013 print edition of the Vermont Standard.

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More than a year out from the devastation of Tropical Storm Irene, the lessons learned continue to play out across Vermont. One such lesson involves community sheltering capacity and the desire of the American Red Cross to increased local preparedness.

On April 10, Bridgewater will join the growing number of communities across Vermont working with the Red Cross to take the next step in emergency planning through a Red Cross Local Disaster Shelter Initiative.

More than 200 towns across Vermont were impacted by Tropical Storm Irene. Not even the American Red Cross, with its 12 Disaster Action Teams across our region, could be in that many communities at once. To enhance preparedness throughout Vermont and the Upper Valley of New Hampshire, the American Red Cross created the Local Disaster Shelter Initiative.

Bridgewater has decided to participate in this initiative and on April 10 at 6 p.m. the town will host the American Red Cross, which will provide a three-hour training session. It is at this training that interested residents will become familiar with the equipment being provided by the Red Cross to stock the local shelter (cots, blankets, emergency radios, emergency lighting, signage, vests and water) and will receive the training necessary to open and manage the shelter until additional outside assistance can arrive.

Those interested in volunteering for this initiative and participating in the April 10 training from 6 to 8:30 p.m. should contact Lisa Olmstead at 672-5118 or lolmstead@vermontel.net.

BRIDGEWATER — Funeral services for Violene Ida Parker, 93, who died on March 20 in Georgetown, Ky, will be held at Oak Chapel in Bridgewater Center on Saturday, April 6 at 10 a.m. Visitation hours will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, April 5 at the Cabot Funeral Home. A private interment will be held at a later date in the Baker Hill Cemetery in Bridgewater Center.
“Aunt Vi”, as she was known to hundreds, was born on Sept. 9, 1919, daughter of Milo Emerson Woods and Esther Rhoda Rice in Bridgewater Corners.
Vi married Herbert Parker on Oct. 8, 1950.
She lived much of her life in the Town of Bridgewater, and most of it in Bridgewater Corners.
She worked at the former Station House Restaurant in Woodstock, at Holiday Farm in Bridgewater Corners and at the Coolidge Cheese Factory in Plymouth.
A devout Christian, she attended Oak Chapel in Bridgewater Center where she dedicated her life to Christ in 1954. She was also devoted to her three daughters and her grandchildren.
She was an avid trout fisherman and along with a lifelong friend, Della Knowles, kept the trout population in the Ottauquechee River in check for years. In the last years of her life, she moved to Georgetown, Ky. to be cared for by her daughter, Tamara. She was loved by many and will be missed by all.
She is survived by daughters Terry Ann Bixler of Bridgewater and Tamara Lynne McGonagle of Georgetown, Ky; a son-in-law, Douglas Geno of Bridgewater, a brother, Percival Woods of Manchester, N.H.; as well as six grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased in death by Naomi Esther Geno, her oldest daughter, as well as both parents, and brothers, Erland, Allen, and Leo; and four half-brothers.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock, VT. Condolences may be offered by visiting cabotfh.com

The Woodstock Union High School-Middle School’s $11.3 million budget was approved by voters in six sending towns, according to unofficial results.

Bridgewater was the only town to vote the budget down.

Results

Bridgewater: Yes: 35, No: 42

Pomfret: Yes: 59, No: 28

Barnard: Yes: 105, No:41,

Killington: Yes: 327, No: 113

Woodstock: Yes: 414, No: 195

Reading: Yes: 45, No: 28.

BRIDGEWATER — There will be a celebration of life on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 3-6 p.m. at Shari’s Place in Bridgewater for Webster Evans Withington, 69, who died at his home on Feb. 11.
Webster was born Feb. 8, 1944 in Manchester, the son of Wilfred E. and Ola Sumner Withington.
Webster worked for many years in the construction business and for the Red Rob Inn.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and working on cars and mechanical things.
Webster is survived by his wife Shari of Bridgewater; six children, Christina Page of Bridgewater Center, and Stephanie Smallwood of Bridgewater Corners, Heather Goudreau of South Korea, Christopher of Ludlow, Patrick and Alex Goudreau of Bridgewater; two grandchildren Natasha and Ashley Smallwood of Bridgewater Corners; four brothers, Wayne, Eugene, Harry and Eddie, and three sisters, Evola, Jean, and Mary.
Memorial donations may be made to the Bridgewater Fire Department.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock.
This obituary first appeared in the Feb. 14, 2013 print edition of the Vermont Standard.

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Holiday Farm Rd, Next to Bridgewater Center Rd.
(Greg Jenne Video)

(Tony Marquis and Wendy Jenne Video)

Staff Report
Huge chunks of ice cascaded down the Ottauquechee River in Woodstock as warm temperatures and rain caused an ice jam to break in Bridgewater.
A Bridgewater resident called Woodstock Police around 8:30 a.m. to alert the village that a massive ice floe was heading into town. By 8:45 a.m., the floe had broken up into large chunks which traveled quickly down the river and past the iron bridge.
By 9 a.m., the river near the iron bridge was jammed with ice again.
The Woodstock area is under a flood watch until Friday morning and a wind advisory Thursday. The rain is predicted to stop around 11 a.m. according to the National Weather Service.
In Bridgewater, another ice jam backed up above the Bridgewater Mill Mall, despite a heavy ice and water flow above.

Artist, John Tidd
John Tidd, West Bridgewater sculpture demonstrates his craft.
Rick Russell Photos

A portion of these photo first appeared in the January 31, 2013 print edition of the Vermont Standard.

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Vermont State Police were notified about a hit and run accident in the parking lot of Long Trail Brewery Thursday at 5:11 p.m. A witness reported that a vehicle had hit and destroyed large wooden sign in the parking lot of the brewery and then fled the scene. The witness reported that the car may have been a silver Honda CRV with two men inside, who earlier had given Vermont identification inside the brewery.Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Vermont State Police Royalton at (802)234-9933.

BRIDGEWATER — A memorial service for Terry W. Copley, who died Dec. 26, will be held Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. in the Woodstock Unitarian Church.
Terry Copley was born June 9, 1939 and raised in Salem, Oregon.
He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Oregon State University and was recruited by Bell Laboratories, New Jersey. Mr. Copley worked in research and development on wireless technology, many government systems such as Safeguard, and was awarded a patent in 1988.
Terry and his wife, Carol, retired to Bridgewater from their home in N.J. They met skiing as members of the Short Hills Ski Club, N.J., which renovated a farmhouse on Route 100 in Granville, later hiked the Vermont Mountains on summer vacations with their daughters, and then made countless trips to Vermont when their daughters attended Middlebury College. So making their second home in Vermont was inevitable.
Terry supported the Woodstock Senior Center by volunteering for Meals on Wheels, initiating the language tables, fund raising, and serving on the investment committee before his Parkinson’s disease worsened. He was devoted to his family and loved skiing, field hockey, the stock market, and world traveling.
Terry leaves his mother, 96 years old; his wife; two daughters, Amy and Sarah and their husbands; five granddaughters; and two sisters,
Arrangements are under the direction of the Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock.
This obituary first appeared in the January 17, 2013 print edition of the Vermont Standard.

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BRIDGEWATER CORNERS — A funeral discourse is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m. from the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Rutland for Linda D. Delnegro, 71, who died peacefully Sunday Jan. 13 at the Rutland Regional Medical Center following a long illness.
She was born May 13, 1941 in Los Angeles, CA, the daughter of Alvin and Bernice (Lazare) Gunn, both deceased.
She is survived by her husband, Carl Delnegro, whom she married on Dec. 5, 1981; her sister Margie Shubin; and seven children; 11 grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
Linda was an active member of the local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses regularly sharing in telling others about the good news of God’s Kingdom. She was known for her quick wit and love for people. She will be remembered for her compassion and concern for others. She loved gardening, painting, and sharing her Bible-based hope for the future with all who would listen.
This obituary first appeared in the January 17, 2013 print edition of the Vermont Standard.

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Bridgewater Village School shared their Holiday concert with the community.
Rick Russell Photos

A portion of these photo first appeared in the January 4, 2013 print edition of the Vermont Standard.

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Stars, Staffs and Stage
The Bethany Mennonite Church in Bridgewater held their annual Christmas Pageant featuring many children from the community.
Rick Russell Photos

A portion of these photo first appeared in the December 28, 2012 print edition of the Vermont Standard.

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BRIDGEWATER — There will be a graveside service at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Bridgewater in the spring for Catherine Leota Adams who died Dec. 18 at Mt. Ascutney Hospital in Windsor.

Catherine lived in Windsor at Davis House (Assisted Living).

She was born August 27, 1924 in Corinth, the daughter of Fred and Lillian (Knight) McKinsty.

She married Carroll Adams on April 14, 1946.

She is survived by four daughters, Dale Lynds, Hilder Allen, Iona Thomas and Jan Bagley, 13 Grandchildren, 15 Great Grandchildren, two Great Great Grandchildren.

Her husband, Carroll predeceased her in 1990, and her daughter, Avis in 1977.

This obituary first appeared in the December 28, 2012 print edition of the Vermont Standard.

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Bridgewater Christmas Tree Sale
Rick Russell Photos

A portion of these photo first appeared in the December 6, 2012 print edition of the Vermont Standard.

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