Fran Lynggaard Hansen
A long entrepreneurial journey on a bumpy road
BRATTLEBORO-As described by the Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts club, the automobile "was a rare phenomenon in Vermont in the early 1900s. However, there were a few Vermonters who thought the Automobile was a viable means of transport and they set out to formalize their belief."
One of those men was Andrew Chapin Wright, who lived with his widowed mother, Emily Harriet Wright, and younger brother Sherman on the corner of Greenleaf Street and Abbott Road.
Back from the brink
Re Sheppard returns to work after a grueling journey through a life-saving treatment for lymphoma
BRATTLEBORO-Last February, local musician, circus arts performer, visual artist, and hair stylist Re Sheppard was in the throes of treating an aggressive lymphoma for the second time. Fast-forward to December, and Loretta Palazzo, owner of Boomerang, a clothing store on Main Street, sent out an update: "Re Sheppard is...
Celebrating Christmas, 3,000 miles from home
Sixty-five years ago, two Brattleboro brothers in the service met up for a memorable holiday in Cannes
BRATTLEBORO-Albert Mikuski, now 88 years old, recalls an extraordinary story of how he and his brother, James, in two branches of military service, connected for Christmas across the countryside in France in 1959, at the height of the Cold War. "Think about it," said Mikuski. "How many men or...
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EMS problems, EMS solutions
NEWFANE-As a rural emergency medical services (EMS) nonprofit, Rescue Inc. faces formidable challenges on any number of levels. Case in point: 650 pages of new requirements recently received from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). "These 650 pages of new regulations will affect every aspect of what we do at Rescue Inc.," said Drew Hazelton, chief of operations, as he calmly explains that a plan is already in place. "Meet Corey Miner," said Hazelton. "Her new position at...
A lifelong bond
BRATTLEBORO-The three remaining members of the class of 1944 didn't spend a lot of time together in high school, but these women have remained lifelong friends. Now, at their recent 80th high school reunion visit, Sylvia Smith Morse, of Guilford, Janice Pratt Martin, of West Brattleboro, and Alice Anderson Stockwell, of Vernon, reminisce about their teenage years. The last of almost 100 students graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1944, they were all children of the Great Depression. Their freshman...
A seasonal Danish treat
-Christmas in Denmark is a seasonal delight that lasts a little more than a month. With age-old traditions like decorating the tree with traditional lit candles on Christmas Eve while family members sing and dance around it, the festive holiday season features traditional song, food, decorations, and spring flowers. It begins with the baking of the julekage (pronounced yule kaya), meaning "Christmas Cake," in late November. In Denmark, it is a well-followed tradition to enjoy a cup of coffee around...
Fond memories remain in the ashes and rubble of a long-vacant neighborhood bar
BRATTLEBORO-"I always thought that the Sportsman's Lounge on Canal Street in Brattleboro was our own version of the television show Cheers," says Gordon Bristol, a regular customer for many years. The vacant structure burned in a spectacular explosion of flame early in the morning of Nov. 7, days before it was scheduled to be demolished. The last chapter for the 104-year-old building at 45 Canal St. began in 1963, when Dessaint's Food Center, a small, neighborhood grocery store, took on...
‘She was 4-foot-6, but she left her mark on this town’
BRATTLEBORO-Much of southern Vermont is remembering the impact of the life of Ann (Annie) Richards, who died unexpectedly on Oct. 11 at the age of 45. A proud Vermonter whose family roots dated back to the mid-1700s, Richards, who had a private practice as a family psychiatric nurse practitioner in child and adolescent mental health, created a life of service to others. Friends say she leveraged her desire to consistently build community and made a walloping impact that will leave...