Losing the Winter Dew Tour was a big blow to Mount Snow and its staff. To their credit, they wasted no time finding an event to replace it.
It won't be snowboarding, and it won't be a winter event.
Instead, the Tough Mudder, described as “the toughest one day endurance race on the planet,” will be stopping in West Dover on May 7 and 8, 2011.
Mount Snow officials say Tough Mudder is expected to draw 5,000 participants each day during one of the slowest times of the year for tourism in the Deerfield Valley.
The good news: Vermont will be be getting nearly $60 million in federal stimulus money for education and health care programs. The bad news: Congress is cutting the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, by $12 billion to help pay for the education and...
New Leland & Gray Union High School Principal Dorinne - pronounced “door in” - Dorfman chooses her words both easily and carefully, even when they are among the ubiquitous terms (like “multiple pathways”) favored by school departments. At 40, and looking something like a self-assured high school student herself,
While the five-way race for governor has gotten all the attention in the Aug. 24 Democratic primary, perhaps the most complex race is the three-way contest for the two State Senate seats from Windham County. With the decision by current Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin of Putney to run for governor, his seat became open and created a lively scramble with three well-qualified candidates for the two seats. There's the incumbent, Jeanette White of Putney, the current chair of...
The majority of Vermont voters has elected a moderate-Republican nice guy to be governor four times in a row. They are about to do it again. Brian Dubie is a moderate-Republican nice guy, with lots of family connections and party support across the state. We don't see much of him here in the southland, but he is well-known and -liked in Vermont. Unless there is a really good reason not to, the majority of voters will elect him governor. The...
“We're in the 21st century. We're one of the wealthiest nations in the world. Why isn't [health care reform] happening?” That question, asked by Vermont Workers Center organizer Kate Kanelstein at a health care forum last month in Bellows Falls, is one that has been asked by Vermonters for years. Health care is an issue near and dear to uninsured Vermonters, whose access to coverage is better than most other states with Catamount Health and Dr. Dynasaur. Intense grassroots interest...
The decision to release 200 nonviolent offenders from prison as a cost-saving measure has a lot of people concerned. I'm not one of them. I've been in two of Vermont's prisons, where I've taught writing and literature, and I serve on a reparative board at Brattleboro's Community Justice Center, working with nonviolent offenders. From what I've witnessed, it's a no-brainer: putting nonviolent offenders in jail is expensive and ineffective; while restorative justice costs little - and works. The decision to...
Keeping up a blog, or even a private diary, is not always an easy task. Some people feel they have nothing worth writing about, others can't commit to a daily routine of writing. Suzanne Kingsbury, local author and founder of the writing workshop “Where the Wild Things Are,” does not have either of these difficulties with her own blog at suzannekingsbury.net. Neither did her maternal grandmother, Maggie, who lived a glamorous and extremely social life in Manhattan in the 1930s.
We have two outstanding candidates for the Vermont Senate we can choose in the Democratic primary this Aug. 24. One stellar candidate is our incumbent senator, Jeanette White. She has been confirmed as a Senate legislative leader by her appointment as chairwoman of the Government Operations Committee. She is the former Selectboard chair in Putney, confirming her role as a local leader. She brings an exceptional amount of knowledge to her work in Windham County and the Vermont Legislature. She...
Hiring a new principal at Leland & Gray took months and required a complex filtration system made up of at least half a dozen committees through which information was refined. Committee members represented every nook and cranny of the school: teachers of nearly every discipline, administrators, school board representatives, support staff (so-called non-licensed professionals), parents and students. “We began last spring with a resume review committee,” said Steven B. John, superintendent of the Windham Central Supervisory Union, which serves 10...
Obituaries Editor's note: The Commons will publish brief biographical information for citizens of Windham County and others, on request, as community news, free of charge. •Alice Stowell Bliss, 99, of Chester, Vt. and Zephyrhills, Fla. Died Aug. 10 in Zephyrhills. Wife of the late Willis Bill Bliss for 56 years. Born in Windham, one of 16 children born to Elias and Minnie Robinson Stowell. Was proud of her family and especially proud to be a great-great grandmother. Was involved with...
Sam Maskell didn't plan to become a librarian. But when her daughter entered preschool, they began to come to the Rockingham Free Public Library to find books to read together. Maskell was disappointed by what she found. “They had some kids' books, but the collection was as big as that corner, upstairs and stuck in the back,” Maskell said, indicating a small three stack area of the library in one corner. The Youth Department now has its own space and...
More grass, less pavement - find a way to reduce the bus turnaround. Covered pavilion (like Kiwanis shelter at Living Memorial) for picnics/concerts. Ensure access/amenities for all strata of townspeople. Incorporate paved space for skaters/bladers/BMXers, either within the park or just make it legal to skate the park. * * * A riverfront walkway that spans several miles: this will make it an ideal recreational venue for walking, bicycle riding, running, in-line skating, etc. In addition, please include picnic areas...
I am writing to endorse Peter Galbraith's bid to become one of Windham County's two Democratic candidates for the Vermont Senate. I first met Peter when he worked as a teenage volunteer on Phil Hoff's successful 1966 gubernatorial campaign, and I was struck then by his formidable organizational and political abilities. Several years later, I had the pleasure of teaching political science and international relations with him at Windham College and was again impressed by his “people skills.” Over the...
Please vote in person or early-vote in the Tuesday, Aug. 24, Primary Election. If you live in the Windham 4 House district, I would appreciate your vote to continue as your state representative. I seek the opportunity to work hard for you using my experience to your advantage. If re-elected I will continue to strive to secure access to affordable health care for all Vermonters; to ensure the fiscal integrity and stability of the state; to reduce the property tax...
With such a strong field of richly experienced Democratic candidates running for governor in the Aug. 24 primary, all affirming many of the same strong values, how does one choose? For me, the choice comes down to how they prioritize those values, their track record in working for them, and how they work with others. Doug Racine, senator and former lieutenant governor (under former Governor Howard Dean), is my candidate. One of Doug's key priorities is the well-being of Vermont's...
The Ben and Jerry's Foundation recently awarded $500 to the Dummerston Energy Committee to pay for the costs of educational materials and creating signage to promote Dummerston's recently-enacted anti-idling resolution. Anti-idling signs, which will be placed at various locations, including the Dummerston town offices, the Dummerston Elementary School, the Dummerston covered bridge and other locales. According to Idle-Free VT, (www.idlefreevt.org), idling vehicles adversely affect human health, particularly of children, the elderly and those with asthma. The air polluting effects of...
The Bellows Falls Trustees' Town Manager Committee concluded last week that hiring a new employee was not in their best interests, and that if an assistant manager position was approved by the voters, someone from within the pool of existing employees would be considered. Earlier this year, the Rockingham Selectboard decided to eliminate two full-time positions that served both Town and Village without consulting Village Trustees. In June, the Selectboard refused to use funds allocated to preserve those positions that...
Raw milk. To supporters, the phrase conjures images of a life-enhancing whole food good for the body and good for farmers' economic sustainability. To opponents, the phrase denotes a pathogen-carrying demon worthy of big warning labels and prohibition-style government raids. The Northeast Organic Farmers Association hosted a raw milk symposium as part of its annual conference last Friday where more than 100 farmers, activists, consumers and interested participants discussed raw milk's benefits and challenges. Raw milk - or “real milk,”
In the Democratic primary on Aug. 24, there will be only one contested race for the House in the county - in Windham District 3-1 in Brattleboro. Lorie Cartwright, a local attorney and a member of the Brattleboro Town School Board, and Valerie Stuart, who runs a public relations firm, are competing for the seat held by Rep. Virginia “Gini” Milkey, D-Brattleboro, who is stepping down after 20 years in the Legislature. The winner faces Republican Richard Morton of Brattleboro...
While the four other Democratic candidates for governor cite their Statehouse experience, Deborah L. “Deb” Markowitz said she offers something different. “Of all the candidates, I'm the only one who is not a Statehouse insider,” said Markowitz, 48, of Montpelier, who is running what she describes as “a strong statewide campaign” - complete with a campaign field office in Brattleboro - on the premise that her experience in running a high-profile state agency makes her better suited to become the...
In a three-hour presentation that would give Don Draper and Roger Sterling focus-group envy, members of the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM) presented research on the Vermont brand. The Aug. 12 stop by Vermont Chief Marketing Officer Christine Werneke and Tourism Commissioner Bruce Hyde at the Mount Snow Ski Area was the fourth in a series of five presentations around the state. The 50-plus audience represented a cross-section of Windham County business owners and chamber employees interested in...
Revenues for the 60th Grace Cottage Hospital fair, held on Aug. 7, came in at a little over $75,000. According to fair accountant Mike Adrian, that's a slight dip from the all-time record last year of nearly $80,000, which was a 23 percent raise over revenue in 2008. “It was less than last year because the auction did not do as well this year,” said Townshend's Stan Holt, who runs just about everything that's fair-related. “When all the receipts are...
Are the 1970s finally making a comeback? If you're thinking of disco balls and sequins, probably not. But solar panels? Absolutely. Awareness of peak oil, climate change and dependence on foreign oil have spiked in the last few years. And Integrated Solar, founded in 1975, has watched enthusiasm for solar power come full circle. To celebrate its success and say thanks to the community, Integrated Solar will host a 35th anniversary celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday,
I love basil. I find its fragrance exotic and complicated, pungent with spice, yet at the same time clean and sweet. Whenever I buy a bunch or better yet, pick some fresh from the garden, I hold it up against my face and slowly inhale its tangled aroma. Last summer my basil rotted in its rows, just one more victim of the weather. Ever hopeful, I planted a lot of it this year, and although I thought I would never...
I am writing in support of Jeanette White and her candidacy to represent Windham County in the Vermont Senate. Jeanette has proven herself to be a strong voice at the State House. Her seniority has placed her on key committees, her thoughtful approach to issues and her willingness to ask difficult questions has earned her the respect of her colleagues and proven a source of strength for Windham County. With next year's budget discussion looming as difficult as this past...
Basil Syrup Let's start with basil syrup: sweet yet aromatic and intriguingly mysterious. 1 cup of sugar ½ cup water or red/white wine if that appeals to you 1 cup basil leaves, loosely packed Mix liquid and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add basil, stirring to submerge the leaves. Cover and leave until cool. Strain the syrup. It will keep for two weeks in an...
The Vernon Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a proposed Inundation/Flood Hazard Area Bylaw Thursday, Aug. 19, at 6:30 p.m., at the Vernon Town Offices on Governor Hunt Road. Members of the public can read a copy of the proposed plan and review a map of the affected areas on the Selectboard's website at www.vernonvt.org. According to the Planning Commission's Inundation/Flood Hazard Area Bylaw report, the purpose of the bylaw is to “avoid and minimize the loss of...