I am writing to share my excitement about Emmett Dunbar, who is running for Vermont State Representative from the mountain area.
I have known Emmett and his family well for the last three years and casually for six. I got to know him first by visiting the Anjali Farm stand at the Londonderry Farmers' Market and, later, when my daughter attended the West River Montessori School with his daughter.
Emmett is deep listener, a smart thinker, and passionate about his community. He is a man who is close to the earth and knows the regular, everyday people who live here. He is also a man devoted to serving others and bettering the world we live in.
I will be voting for him to represent me in the Statehouse. I hope you will do the same.
Hornworms have eaten all my tomato plants. They are fat and green, and their “horns” look like little thorns that protrude from the end of their bodies. They are the same color as the plants, and I did not notice them until they had managed to decimate entire branches,
The past summer was possibly the most remarkable summer of my life, and even though I am only 20 years old, I feel very confident in saying that. I have spent seven weeks on the road in Vermont this summer. Not in a car, but on a bicycle. Not...
The Putney Community Orchestra will hold its first rehearsal of the season on Wednesday, Sept. 12, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., in the Michael S. Currier Center at The Putney School. James Wallace, music director for The Putney School, will conduct the ensemble, and violinist Phil Bloch will serve as string coach. The orchestra is sponsored by The Putney School; there are no dues or other costs to participants. Instrumentalists of all ages who are at the intermediate level or higher are...
Obituaries • Lynn Hummel Corum, 62, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 29 after a nine-year battle with cancer. Wife of Jesse M. Corum IV for 40 years. Mother of Jesse M. Corum V and his wife, Rachelle, of Irondequoit, N.Y., and Scott W. Corum of Squaw Valley, Calif. Sister of Jane and Craig Nishiyama, of Warrington, Pa., Marcia and Robert Strock of Bangor, Pa., and the late Louise Hummel. Daughter of Jean Livingston and William H. Hummel of Easton, Pa., she...
Lately, I've been preoccupied with two things: researching the literature regarding the relationship between creativity and psychological disorders like attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder and wondering, as I watch the current political campaign, why so much of our national political discourse seems tinged with madness. My interest isn't random. I teach courses in creative writing for bright college students with diagnosed learning disorders, and I also teach journalism and try to help my students make sense of the news.
For September, Next Stage Arts Project offers a lineup of four films curated and hosted by local educators with discussion after each film, plus a live performance on Friday, Sept. 21, by world-renown slam poet, educator, and performance artist Taylor Mali. The film series, titled Teacher! Teacher!, will run on Thursdays in September and features the films Dead Poet's Society (Sept. 6), Akeelah and the Bee (Sept. 13), To Sir With Love (Sept. 20), and Educating Rita (Sept. 27). All...
As opening games go, the Twin Valley boys' soccer team had more drama off the field than on it in its 3-0 victory over Bellows Falls last Thursday night. It was the first game back at Baker Field since flooding from Tropical Storm Irene last August left the field unplayable and forced the Wildcats to play nearly every game on the road last season. The field was in good shape for the opener against the Terriers, but the Wildcats had...
Headlining the Nuala Kennedy Band is an Irish singer and flute/whistle player whose music springs from the traditional music of Ireland and Scotland. Nuala Kennedy, a consummate performer and buoyant personality, will be singing and playing with her two cohorts, fiddler Dana Lyn and guitarist Kyle Sanna, on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the New England Youth Theatre on Flat Street. Kennedy, who grew up in Dundalk, County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, discovered traditional music...
After 32 years in the Statehouse, State Sen. Vincent Illuzzi, R-Essex-Orleans is leaving the golden dome and making a run for State Auditor. Campaigning in Brattleboro last month, he addressed a crowd, saying his colleagues told him to save his gas money for the trip to southeast Vermont. “I lot of people have told me not to bother coming down here because I'm an Republican,” said Illuzzi. “I'm hoping to prove them wrong.” “Senator,” answered Daryl Pillsbury, a former state...
When the farmers' market offers so much variety and we've run through all the typical combinations of ingredients and preservation methods, the most unexpected things can seem to go together perfectly. Take basil, for instance. After the endless batches of pesto are made and stored away, after more leaves have been frozen inside olive-oily ice cubes, after the experiments with basil jelly have produced a shelf full of potential holiday gifts, one might be hard-pressed to come up with yet...
Putting a few final touches on the play Camping with Henry and Tom by Mark St. Germain, Sam Pilo admits he is a little exhausted. He himself has not only directed two of the three fully staged productions this year but, as the artistic director at Actors Theater Playhouse (ATP), he also has had to oversee the technical and artistic aspects of all other productions, including the staged readings that have become such a vital part of the company. However,
The localvore movement is finally starting to take hold. Popolo, which opened recently on the Square in Bellows Falls, is using local food - “local” defined as “within 60 miles.” The Gleanery, which will open in the fall in Putney, will feature food prepared from fruits, vegetables, and meats produced by local growers and farmers. Those restaurants are two examples of new businesses spawning along the Connecticut River Valley, including several restaurants, an old-fashioned village grocer and sundries market, and...
The Verizon Foundation recently presented the Brattleboro Retreat with $15,000 in grant money to fund a Mobile Aftercare Pilot Project. The purpose of this project is to help alumni of the Brattleboro Retreat's Uniformed Service Program (USP) access ongoing therapeutic supports and maintain peer connections following their discharge from treatment. “The Brattleboro Retreat runs a great program that provides much needed mental health treatment and aftercare support for men and women of the various uniformed services. This program caught our...
RE: “After hours” [Aug. 8]: I would just like to clarify that Meeting Waters YMCA's many state-licensed school age child care programs do not receive federal funding. It is imperative that readers understand that your region's largest provider of state-licensed school-age child care depends on local support as part of its sustainable revenue mix. These programs include Y-ASPIRE at Brattleboro's Academy, Green Street and Oak Grove schools, Guilford Central School, Dummerston School, Rockingham Central and Saxtons River School; Kindergarten ASPIRE...
Friends of Music at Guilford is seeking voices (especially tenors and basses) for the Guilford Chamber Singers, to rehearse for the organization's 40th annual “Christmas at Christ Church” program on Dec. 7 and 8. This year, the singers are performing selections from the a cappella Alfred Burt Carols (1942-1954), which were set to texts by Burt's father, Bates G. Burt, and Wihla Hutson as “musical Christmas cards” for friends and family. When the complete collection of 15 carols was published...
If you've gotten this far in life, you've undoubtedly heard of Limburger cheese - likely from an old cartoon, where someone had used it as a dairy-related form of biological warfare. In the world of animation, Limburger is identified by wavy green lines emanating from it, cartoon shorthand for “this smells terrible.” Its odor makes everyone run away, people and animals alike. So what's the deal with Limburger? Is it a real cheese? Why does it smell so bad? Does...
On Sept. 15 at 7 p.m., the Jamaica Town Hall 2012 Summer Music Series concludes with a performance by renowned blues guitarist and historian Scott Ainslie. According to Ainslie, things haven't been the same since he saw Virginia bluesman John Jackson playing in the middle of a Mike Seeger concert at Groveton High School in 1967. He took up the guitar a month later and has never put it down. From community concert series and local schools to the Kennedy...
We are pleased to announce that the Putney Foodshelf has received an Agnes M. Lindsay Grant for two new refrigerators. Cocoplum Appliances in Brattleboro gave us a wonderful discount, keeping it cost-effective. These energy-efficiency fridges should help on the electric bill as well, pleasing our landlord, the Community Center, who graciously allows us rent-free space. The Foodshelf continues to see a rise in numbers of recipients needing supplemental food each week. Where does our food come from? About 300 pounds...
I want to offer my sincere and humble thanks to the voters of the Windham-3 district, including the towns of Athens, Brookline, Grafton, North Westminster, Rockingham, and Windham, for voting for me in the primary election. I am truly honored to receive one of the Democratic nominations to run in the general election on Nov. 6. I especially want to thank all of the people who supported my candidacy by writing letters to the editor, making phone calls, placing my...
On Aug. 28, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene tore through Vermont, putting the Latchis Theatre out of commission for nearly seven weeks and affecting hundreds of businesses and households in Windham County. One intense year later, on Aug. 28, 2012, the Latchis Theatre was packed for a fun-filled screening of Singin' in the Rain, a communal commemoration of the one-year milestone. Not surprisingly, our community didn't just celebrate but also remembered those who are still burdened with the aftereffects of the...
I'm writing to set the record straight on early voting. All ballots voted prior to Election Day are received by the town clerk and staff, already sealed in individual envelopes by the voter. There is an extensive paper trail for all early balloting, tracking such records as the date requested, the date we processed the ballot, the method of delivery to the voter (if the voter picked up the ballot in person, had it mailed, or had two justices of...
Cantaloupe, Corn, and Tomato Salad This sweet-savory salad is open to variation depending on what fresh produce appeals to you at the farmers' market - such as tiny, deep purple Thai pepper, a spontaneous addition based on its visual appeal and mild heat. Be generous when it comes to seasoning with the lime and salt: the lime provides a tart contrast to the sweetness of the fruit, and the salt brings all the ingredients together and makes their flavors pop.
In this election season, “religious liberty” is a hot topic. Rumors of its demise are all around, as are politicians who want to make sure that you know they will never do anything to intrude upon it. I'm a religious person with a lifelong passion for civil rights, so this topic is of great interest to me - so much so, that I believe we all need to determine whether our religious liberties are indeed at risk. So, as a...
RE: “Anatomy of an eviction” [Aug. 25]: Does anyone really believe that the landlords, who have at least two homes for themselves, couldn't make the mortgage and afford repairs just because they allegedly weren't receiving rent for a few months from a single apartment? If they had a typical mortgage and were receiving typical rents for this area, they had a highly profitable situation. We need severe legal and financial consequences for landlords like this.
Among the list of things many take for granted in this country, basic health care products and information are so far down the list that it is hard to picture life without them. But for Lauren Rose Herlocker, a nurse in the Emergency Department of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, this imagining is as easy as breathing. This is because of the service work Herlocker has done and plans to do in Ghana and Rwanda. In October, Herlocker plans to return to...
This year's election is more than a political event of vast consequence. It is a collective decision on the future of morality in the world's leading democracy, a democracy founded on principles that rejected the oppression of ordinary citizens by an aristocracy run amok. Grounded in vital human rights and guided by compassionate intelligence, the documents that have been the cornerstones of our country were written with such care and insight that they continue to be a model for other...
Noah Levinson of Marlboro, who attended Marlboro College, was inspired to provide desperately needed health care to mothers and young children in the slums of Calcutta, India, after spending two summers working with Mother Teresa. In 2002, Levinson founded Calcutta Kids which, since that time, has had dramatic effects in reducing infant and maternal mortality, improving pregnancy outcomes and reducing malnutrition. Levinson and his group of community health workers from these slum areas, have been recognized by United Nations agencies...
A flotilla of watercraft, ranging from kayaks to motorboats, was to converge on the Connecticut River near the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon on Saturday, Sept. 8, until high winds and thunderstorms forced the event to be postponed. The Safe and Green Campaign and the SAGE Alliance, the sponsors of the protest to call attention to what they say is excessive discharges of heated water into the river, rescheduled the event to Saturday, Sept. 15. Protesters will gather...
The Brattleboro Housing Authority celebrated two milestones on Aug 29. The organization commemorated 50 years since its founding in 1962, and it marked one year since Tropical Storm Irene severely flooded its Melrose Terrace property. “Let's focus on the positive,” said Executive Director Chris Hart, as residents gathered for a cookout, complete with a birthday cake. Hart joked that in three years, Melrose Terrace, a public housing complex with 80 apartments for seniors and disabled adults, will be eligible for...
This weekend, Whetstone Studio will the mark anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene with open studios and music, celebrating survival and the turning around of what could have been a tragedy. The three-story building of artists' galleries is better than ever. But amidst all the hubbub and happenings there will be a quieter, more contemplative draw: The gathering of a lifetime of art of Stacy Morse, a longtime resident of Brattleboro and Guilford who died on New Year's Day. An exhibit...
September is National Hunger Action Month, and one way Vermonters can help fight hunger is the Pick for Your Neighbor program. During apple harvest season, Vermonters are encouraged to visit a participating orchard to pick and purchase extra apples for donation to the Vermont Foodbank. This program benefits the Foodbank by increasing the amount of fresh, healthy produce available for distribution to their network partner food shelves and meal sites throughout Vermont, while also helping to increase business for local...
I promised news of the Brattleboro Brewers Festival further on down the road, and the news is that the festival itself is now further on down the road - cancelled for this year but on schedule for next May. The first two festivals in 2010 and 2011 were held quite successfully in the spring, but this year's date was pushed back to Sept. 22 and then scuttled when a variety of conflicts arose with the new date. Plus, said Brattleboro...
Windham County nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences generated nearly $11 million for the local economy, according to a study from a national organization, Americans for the Arts (AFTA). The Arts Council of Windham County (ACWC) collaborated with AFTA to collect county data. “The main point made with this study is that the arts are not an economic black hole,” said Zon Eastes, who administered the Windham County portion of the study. “The money the community invests and spends in...
Just over one year from the day that the raging waters of the Whetstone Brook almost destroyed the Whetstone Studio for the Arts, a three-day celebration will honor the restoration and reopening of the building that was almost destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene. The artist studio space at 28 Williams St. will feature studio tours, artists' demonstrations, music, meditation, massage, and refreshments that take place on Friday through Sunday, Sept. 7, 8, and 9. Arts and demos Whetstone artists will...
The Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) has announced an award of $1,347,840 to VTel Wireless to expand broadband services in 19 Vermont communities, including Brattleboro, Dover, Dummerston, Putney, Westminister, Whitingham, and Wilmington. According to the VTA, residents in these towns will have access to fourth-generation (4G) wireless broadband at speeds of at least 5 megabits per second (Mbps) because of the project, meeting the grant's requirement to offer a combined upload and download speed of 5 Mbps, with a minimum upload...
I'd like to publicly thank my family, friends, neighbors, and fellow townspeople for their support in my recent campaign to represent Brattleboro's District 3 as state representative. I spent the summer knocking on doors and talking with hundreds of residents. I learned that while we might differ on specific opinions, we share a mutual desire to make our town a great place to live.
A article in VTDigger.org by Anne Galloway on July 31 noted that going forward, Vermont will experience a greater-than-30-percent gap between the power needed to supply the state's needs and the amount that has been guaranteed to be supplied to the state's businesses and residential customers. The article quotes a report prepared by the Vermont Energy Partnership. The article quotes the report as noting that due to this gap there is a strong potential for electricity prices to increase as...