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Senior Housing Project Honors Betty Bristol and Martin Casey

photo provided Senior housing was only an idea until devoted people like Martin Casey and Betty Bristol joined forces with others to make it happen.

Tuesday June 25, 2013

By Cookie Steponaitis

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes was looking in 2000 for a new site and approached the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging (CVVA) and Vergennes Area Senior Association to see if there was any interest in creating a new shared space in town. A committee was formed to explore the idea under the group PACT and a planning grant was awarded to them to access the need and feasibility of senior housing or a shared space in the area. While time constraints and the finding of a permanent space resulted in the Boys and Girls Club leaving the process, new partnerships developed and an original plan to create twenty five units of Senior Housing was organized.

Mary West, the Health Promotion and Assistant Nutrition Director of the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging shared that both Martin Casey and Betty Bristol were members of the original group who continued in the second phase of the idea when it became the Vergennes Community Group chaired by then Town Manager Renny Perry. “In addition to representation from Housing Vermont, Mary Johnson Child Care, the Recreation Department, Habitat for Humanity, Planning Commission, CVAA and other senior reps,” remarked Mary West, “Martin Casey and Betty Bristol attended the monthly meetings which crept along over twelve years before the ground breaking for the senior housing and community space would occur. While the City Council did not zone or approve the development of single family dwellings or the daycare affordable housing for seniors was approved.”

Perseverance is the verb that best describes the role of both Martin Casey and Betty Bristol when dealing with numerous agencies and steps in a lengthy process. And, in addition to offering guidance and support the pair testified before numerous boards promoting the need for more affordable housing in Vergennes. Their heartfelt testimony was very effective and resulted in receiving funding. While the general public was on hand to witness the opening of the twenty five units in 2012 there is still a long waiting list and need for more senior housing in the Little City.  Both Martin and Betty have extensive roles in the community and over the years have played key parts in the creation of several civic organizations and events that are considered simply part of life in Addison County. Never ones to seek the limelight the award and creation of the plaque for the Great Room at the Senior Center caught them both off guard. The group assembled on Wednesday, June 19th at the Parish Hall with warm hearts and a great sense of accomplishment to read the inscription aloud and proceeded to enjoy a meal together celebrating not only the senior housing but the diligence and determination of the generation that has once again shown a town and a county how to get things done. The plaque will be hung in the Great Room and reads, “Placed by Vergennes Senior Associations, Inc, In Honor of, and with Boundless Gratitude to Martin Casey & Betty Bristol Whose Perseverance, Will, Patience and Skill Made This Senior Housing at 50

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