In the fall of 2017, Janet moved to Maple Corner and immediately became a regular at the store, Whammy Bar and post office. After getting through that first winter with the help of the community, Janet decided to make this her permanent home. Janet has over 25 years of experience in finance and accounting, currently working in software as the CFO of ClearCompany. She is excited to be part of the Finance committee and serve on the board of the MCCS.

John drove his ‘62 VW van to Vermont in 1976 vowing to leave society forever, but eventually co-founded and was CEO of Green Mountain Logic, a Vermont life-science software company, which was ultimately acquired by Oracle. He co-founded and chaired the Clinical Pharmacology Community at Drug Informatics Association, served on the board of the Association of Clinical Pharmacology Units, on a VT legislative study committee as the governor’s representative, and on UVM’s SPARK Technology Commercialization Panel. He has advised several VT medical technology startups. John moved to Maple Corner in 2001, where he’s served as treasurer and president of Maple Corner Community Center. These days, he’s mainly focused on swimming in Curtis Pond, writing a novel, and spending time with his wonderful grandchildren.

Cristin is a recent transplant to the Maple Corner community after growing up in Montpelier, living outside of Vermont for 10 years, and returning back to the State in 2005. She and her husband, Patrick initially settled in East Montpelier, before their move to Calais in 2018.

Their family will have three children at U-32 in the fall, and they have loved the transition to the Maple Corner community, enjoying the many aspects of being a part of the community from Blue Barn Camp, Barnstock, live music at the Whammy Bar, year-round activities on the pond, to becoming stockholders in the Community Store. You’ll find them kayaking, walking the dogs, hiking the trails, running the loops, and shopping at the store while picking up mail at the post office.

Nick worked on the early planning phase of purchasing the store as a member of the initial exploratory committee. Currently he serves on the building committee. After moving to Calais from Maine in 1990 to attend the stone trades program in Barre, he thankfully got his foot stuck in the door and never left. He worked for Vermont’s community mental health system of service delivery for 23 years, most recently as Mental Health Services Director for the Vermont Council. Along with MCCS, most of his current interests pull him into the woods.

Mike grew up in Baltimore. He moved to Philadelphia and went to college there for a few years. He also spent some time in Wyoming where he discovered a real enjoyment for the outdoors hiking and cross-country skiing. He moved to Vermont in 1976 to complete his B.A. degree at Goddard College in the Social Ecology program. From the start, Central Vermont seemed like a great fit. After Goddard, he worked in a small natural food store in Montpelier and later bought the store which led to opening State Street Market in 1985. In 2004 he closed the market and purchased First in Fitness in Montpelier and Berlin. He sold that business in early 2021. He has two daughters, Heather lives Brooklyn and Mila, who attended Calais elementary and U-32, lives in Saratoga Springs. He and his partner, Betty Copeland, live in Calais, where Mike has lived since 1992.

Jim Ventresca joined the MCCS Board in 2024. As a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, he has dedicated the last 30 years to teaching acupuncture, living a good life and playing music. In addition to his work as an acupuncture practitioner, teacher, and school administrator, Jim has served on the boards and committees of a number of non-profit and public organizations.

Originally from New York, Jim spent his formative years in Massachusetts before moving to Albuquerque, NM, at forty. There, he met the love of his life, Claudia Welch. They relocated to Calais, Claudia’s hometown, where they’ve been since 2012.

In his free time, Jim is a regular performer at the Whammy Bar’s open mic nights, where he enjoys singing and playing his guitar. He is also an avid e-bike rider, often seen exploring the dirt roads and trails in the greater Calais area.

Philip's young childhood was spent in Vermont and New Hampshire before graduating high school in Falmouth Massachusetts. After high school Philip Attended college at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in upstate New York and transferred to the University of Idaho in Moscow Idaho to complete his Computer Science degree. Returning back to New England from the west Philip lived in the Boston area working as a software engineer. In 2009 Philip met his future wife Anna at a wedding in Boston and moved to Philadelphia where after many trips, concerts and kickball teams they welcomed their two daughters Hazel and Charlotte.

In 2021 Philip returned with his family to New England looking to set down roots in Vermont. Philip enjoys skiing, hiking and anything to do in nature when not working in his home office as an engineering manager for a Philadelphia based software company.

I moved to Maple Corner in 1980, seeking a quieter life than the relative madhouse of New Hampshire where I received a BA in biochemistry and followed my love of woodworking in my spare time. I was fortunate to find the land I am still stewarding today and build a passive solar, earth-bermed home. After a couple of years I began Maple Corner Woodworks, wanting to develop my skills at fine woodworking. Soon after I met my lifetime love and partner, Annie Wattles, and we raised our two sons together. We are grandparents four times over now.

For the past 44 years I have been so grateful to live in this warm community and uniquely special place on earth. I’ve been fortunate to grow and develop fine furniture with numerous talented and resourceful people working together. I wake everyday grateful for my place here and yearning to give back to this community. I recently joined the Maple Corner Community Store in 2023.

Janet Ancel

Rodney Buck

Marialisa Calta

Reed Cherington

Dirk Van Susteren

Leslie Ward