Milestones
Milestones
Jodi D. Clark and Jenny V. Karstad were joined in civil union on August 19, 2000. The ceremony and reception took place at the home of Geraldine and Luis Batlle in Marlboro, VT. The Union was officiated by JET Thomas and Doe West. Standing with the couple were Jenny’s sister, Naomi Karstad, and Stephen Laput, Cassandra Phoenix-Haas, and Astra Valters. After a brief honeymoon in Sullivan, NH, the couple will continue to reside at their home in Brookline, VT. Jodi and Jenny would like to thank their family and friends for their generous support in making this day so wonderful.
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On Sunday August 27, after many months of weekend commutes, Tina Giangrande received a Master of Science degree in Internet Strategy Management from The Graduate Center of Marlboro College, Marlboro, VT. The commencement was attended by partner Barbara Dozetos, daughter Courtney Dozetos, and cousin Steve Kaeser; friends, family and cats in Newfoundland, NYC, and Toronto attended virtually via a Webcast. A celebratory dinner, in honor of Barb’s birthday as well as the graduation, was held at Woody’s in Middlebury. Tina plans to begin work as a Web producer and strategist this fall.
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Suzanne Biggin of Burlington, Vermont will be temporarily moving to Asbury Park, New Jersey, to assist a friend in caring for a newborn infant. Although she regrets leaving her home and community of dearly beloved friends, she looks forward to a mild winter and long walks on the beach. She will be sorely missed as wonderful, caring and fun friend. Her return in May, 2001, will be anxiously awaited all who love her!
Suzanne invites everyone to celebrate her departure as well as Jenny’s birthday at the “Funky, Formal, Superhero Goodbye & Birthday Party” held on September 18, 9 pm at Club Metronome. The evenings events will include performances by the Human Canoe Review and a potential cameo appearance by James Kochalka Superstar.
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Rosalie Ann Barnes and Betty June Farkas were united as partners in civil union July 7, 2000, in Stowe, VT. They were honored to have Justice Joy A. Fagan officiate, as she and her husband, Dr. William Fagan, have been friends with Rose and Bety June for over 20 years. Rose was born in Montpelier, lived in Waterbury and is the daughter of Converse and Mary Barnes. Converse Barnes retired as bookkeeper at the Vermont State Hospital in 1971. Mary retired as news reporter for the Times-Argus, Burlington Free Press, and Stowe Reporter in 1979. Betty June was born in Los Angeles, CA, and is the daughter of Bill and Jean Farkas.
Surrounded by sisters Jane Green of Montpelier and Joanne Salvino of Washington State, nieces, great nieces, and friends, Rose and Betty June had the opportunity to have their relationship recognized by Vermont, to celebrate their 25 years of love, and to unit in civil union. They exchanged vows and rings, accepting all the rights, benefits, responsibilities, and obligations inherent in civil union.
Rose and Betty June met in the United States Army in 1975, lived in Richmond, VT, and are now living in Germantown, MD. They both work at the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration & Naturalization Service, in Washington, DC. Marshall
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Brewer and John Calvi of Putney, Vermont, registered their civil union with the help of Town Clerk Anita Coomes and Justice of the Peace Alan Blood on Saturday, August 26, 2000. Brewer and Calvi chose this date for their civil union since it was just 11 years ago that they were married by the Putney Quaker Meeting with 200 guests. “It’s a relief to have the great state of Vermont catch up with the rest of our lives. Our commitment to each other has been recognized by our families, friends, neighbors, and employers for the 14 years we have been together. This is a great step forward,” said Brewer. Brewer is employed by World Learning in Brattleboro, where he has worked in international education for nearly 20 years. Calvi works with people healing from trauma and has been teaching throughout North America since 1982.
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Euan Bear and Mary Schwartz, partners for 20 years (so far), celebrated their Civil Union August 26, 2000, in accordance with the groundbreaking Vermont Law recognizing the legal status of gay and lesbian partners. Keith Goslant, Justice of the Peace, certified the union.
The Celebration was held at “Cattails,” the couple’s Bakersfield home. Euan wore a navy rayon Hawaiian shirt with vertical rows of white flowers over a white cotton tee-shirt with a lacey neckline and white twill trousers. Mary wore a blue print rayon blouse over contrasting but complementary blue print rayon pants.
Members of both families of origin and several dozen friends and family of choice witnessed the ceremony and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and other light fare (catered by Cloud 9) afterward.
The couple is planning a brief trip to Niagara Falls in the near future, but swears it has nothing to do with a “honeymoon.”
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