Vermont
Obituary: Kaleb Bates-Wolcott, 1982-2024
This
obituary is written in honor of Kaleb’s life and memory.
Kaleb
Asher Bates-Wolcott was born at home in Elmore, Vt., on June 17.
1982. He died peacefully in the early morning on April 18, 2024, at
Central Vermont Medical Center in Barre, Vt., at the age of 41. He
had bravely, as the warrior he was, coped with muscular dystrophy
throughout his lifetime. Kaleb was an amazing human being. He was
strong-willed, intelligent, kind and generous, with a great sense of
humor — a good listener who patiently listened to the worried well
at his bedside.
Kaleb
lost his ability to walk at age 12 and creatively and fiercely
adapted to his life in an electric wheelchair. His top priority was
his social life. In Wauwatosa, Wis., he learned early that to meet
people he had to reach out to them, first by ignoring their fears and
biases of the disabled, and then disarming them with his wit and
humor. He quickly got a paper route with a friend who rode on the
back of his chair at top speed, while pitching papers onto lawns. In
high school, he began to watch cooking shows with a friend after
school, which developed into 15-20 teens regularly testing new
recipes in the kitchen into the early hours of the morning. Kaleb
prided himself on directing and inspiring his friends on how to
appreciate and cook good food. (His mother bought the groceries.
“Really, you NEED Chilean sea bass?”) Kaleb also had an eclectic
taste in music, ranging from Frank Sinatra to Wu-Tang Clan, obscure
local hip-hop to Coldplay and classical to jazz. While attending
Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin, he began, on
his own, to investigate the music scene in Milwaukee. Security guards
at each venue soon realized he wasn’t safe in the raucous crowds,
so he watched from backstage and met many famous musicians along the
way.
He
took in the world through conversations, food, art, music and film.
These hours of study resulted in critical and categorical knowledge
of just about everything, including the existence of bigfoot and
ancient aliens. He entertained all ages at his bedside by figuring
out what people’s tastes were and introducing them all to new
movies or the latest series or video game. Kaleb was supported, loved
and cared for by a large group of extended family, friends and
caregivers whom he cared for deeply.
Kaleb’s
immediate family members include his parents, James G. Wolcott, of
Jeffersonville, Vt., and Barbara A. Bates, of Westmoreland, N.H.; his
siblings, Eliza Bates-Wolcott, of Fayston, Vt., and Ezra Bates
-Wolcott, of Traverse City, Mich.; his nephews, Elijah Wolcott, of
Descanso, Calif., and Jackson Craig, of Fayston, Vt.; his niece,
Lilliana Hoy, of Sandy, Utah, and his maternal grandmother, Janet
Mckallor Beck, of Westmoreland, N.H.
A
Viking celebration of life will be held at a later date, with close
friends and family.
In
memory of Kaleb, consider donating to the charity of your choice.
“Pay it forward!”
He
would like that.
Vermont
Curious cat awarded ‘doctor of litter-ature’ degree by Vermont State University — after becoming adorable campus fixture
More like cat and gown.
A four-legged fixture on the campus of a New England knowledge factory has been awarded an honorary degree — for adorable service to the academic community.
Max, a friendly tabby living adjacent to Vermont State University’s main entrance in Castleton was named a “doctor of litter-ature” — after spending a string of semesters wandering the halls of the institution of higher learning, charming students and staff with his positive energy.
“Max the Cat has been an affectionate member of the Castleton family for years,” the school said in a Facebook post.
The curious kitty first wandered down the street in search of a social life roughly half a decade ago — and the rest was history 101.
“So he decided that he would go up on campus, and he just started hanging out with the college students, and they love him,” owner Ashley Dow told the Associated Press.
Everybody knows Max, who laps up the attention he’s given, allowing himself to be picked up and played with, and even posed for selfies.
The social creature also loves to join campus tours, designed to show prospective students the ropes, running across the street to the meeting point at the right time.
“I don’t even know how he knows to go, but he does,” Dow said. “And then he’ll follow them on their tour.”
Dow, known as “Max’s mom” around Castleton, said that she’s spoken to graduates who return to town and want to know how Max is doing.
The friendly feline won’t be seen walking on stage at the upcoming graduation ceremony, but the school has promised to deliver Max’s degree soon.
Vermont
The legislative session may be over, but Vermont’s political season is just starting to heat up
MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – One week after adjourning, Vermont lawmakers are reflecting on the whirlwind session, and strategizing on how to counter Governor Phil Scott’s expected vetoes in the coming days.
The marathon legislative session that ended last week was defined by education spending, property taxes, and ongoing flood recovery efforts. “Lots of tough issues to tackle. Usually, we have two or three. This was five or six,” said House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington.
Lawmakers are sending a flurry of bills to the governor, including measures on flood safety and resiliency, Act 250 reform, and preventing the sale of Vermonters’ sensitive data online.
Senate Majority Leader Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor County, says despite challenges facing a citizen’s legislature getting bigger and more expensive, it was a productive session. “We only have four-and-a-half months to do our work. We got a lot done in four-and-a-half months,” she said.
Lawmakers are also advancing the biggest issue of the session — a bill setting the statewide average property tax rate at 13.8 percent. “Our bill really strikes a balance in ensuring we can do everything we can to have the strongest education system for our kids while also protecting property taxpayers,” Krowinski said.
Governor Scott has pledged to veto it. “They can dig in and whip votes and as they’ve shown us in the past. They don’t need us, they can override vetoes pretty handily,” he said. But he says there could also be room for compromise over the next month.
Meanwhile, Scott has telegraphed possible vetoes for about half a dozen bills including the Renewable Energy Standard; Act 250 reforms; data privacy; and safe injection sites. Lawmakers will return to the Statehouse on June 17th for their veto session
The end of the session has been marked by the retirement of key lawmakers and political announcements preceding the campaign season. In a surprise announcement Friday, Senator Jane Kitchel, D-Caledonia County, was the latest in a string of veteran lawmakers who announced she will be retiring.
Attention is also turning to the governor’s race. Former Gov. Howard Dean on Monday is expected to announce whether he will challenge Phil Scott.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.
The 2024 Vermont high school spring season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from baseball, softball, lacrosse, track and field, tennis and Ultimate.
To report scores: Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.
►Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @aabrami5
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FRIDAY’S H.S. GAMES
Girls lacrosse
Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted
Mount Mansfield at South Burlington
Burlington at U-32
Harwood at Rice
Mount Abraham/Vergennes at Colchester
Middlebury at Champlain Valley
BFA-St. Albans at Essex, 7 p.m.
Boys lacrosse
Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted
Rice at Stowe
Essex at BFA-St. Albans
South Burlington at Mount Mansfield
Champlain Valley at Middlebury
Softball
Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted
Harwood at Lamoille
Enosburg at Rice
Harwood at Milton
Oxbow at Bellows Falls
U-32 at Spaulding
Baseball
Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted
Hazen at BFA-Fairfax
Richford at Blue Mountain
Mount Mansfield at Burlington
Harwood at Milton
Girls tennis
Matches at 3:30 p.m. unless noted
North Country at U-32
Stowe at Essex
South Burlington at Burlington
Stowe at Essex
Harwood at Middlebury
Rice at Mount Mansfield
Colchester at Champlain Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Boys tennis
Matches at 3:30 p.m. unless noted
St. Johnsbury at U-32
South Burlington at Burlington
Mount Mansfield at Rice
Champlain Valley at Colchester
Boys Ultimate
Games at 4 p.m. unless noted
Rice at Milton
Essex at St. Johnsbury
Colchester at Burlington, 4:30 p.m.
SATURDAY’S H.S. GAMES
Girls lacrosse
Games at 11 a.m. unless noted
BFA-St. Albans at Middlebury
Milton at Spaulding
Lamoille at Stowe
Brattleboro at St. Johnsbury
Stratton Mountain at Green Mountain Valley
Boys lacrosse
Colchester at Mount Abraham/Vergennes, 10 a.m.
Montpelier at Burlington, 11 a.m.
Brattleboro at St. Johnsbury, 12:30 p.m.
Green Mountain Valley at Stratton Mountain, 2 p.m.
Spaulding at Milton, 6 p.m.
Softball
Games at 11 a.m. unless noted
Mount Abraham at Vergennes, 10:30 a.m.
Richford at Twinfield/Danville/Cabot, 10:30 a.m.
Paine Mountain at Burlington/Winooski
Randolph at Lake Region
Missisquoi at St. Johnsbury
Middlebury at Milton
South Burlington at BFA-St. Albans
Essex at Champlain Valley
Burr and Burton at Harwood
Mount Mansfield at Rutland
Lyndon at North Country
Baseball
Games at 11 a.m. unless noted
Mount Abraham at Vergennes, 10 a.m.
Rice at St. Johnsbury
U-32 at Spaulding
Montpelier at Harwood
MIddlebury at Milton
South Burlington at BFA-St. Albans
Burlington at Colchester
Randolph at Lake Region
Essex at Champlain Valley
Hazen at Lamoille
Mount Mansfield at Rutland
Lyndon at North Country
Girls tennis
Matches at 11 a.m. unless noted
Stowe at Champlain Valley
Montpelier at Mount Mansfield
Boys tennis
South Burlington at Stowe, 10 a.m.
Boys Ultimate
Games at 11 a.m. unless noted
Track and field
BFA/South Burlington Relays
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