Vermont Blog

VERMONT SKI & SNOWBOARD MUSEUM INDUCTS FOUR

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:53:00 -0400

Four of the Green Mountain States best known skiers and resort leaders were honored by the Vermont Ski & Snowboard Museum Oct. 23. The inductees included Karen Huntoon Miller, from Brandon and Rutland. She is a Rutland High graduate who went on to win five freestyle world championships in mogul skiing. Many remember her for her appearance in Warren Millers 1981 film, Ski In The Sun. & Greg McClallen, a graduate of St. Michaels College, coached ski teams at Otter Valley and Rutland High Schools. He was National Ski Coach of the Year in 1987& John Morton was a four year Nordic skier on the Middlebury College ski team. He was the head coach at Dartmouth College and has since been a course developer for major competitions&Preston Leete Smith led Killington to become one of the largest ski resorts in the country with a worldwide reputation. He was in the forefront of snowmaking, grooming, marketing, and instruction during the sports critical years& Vermont.com congratulates them all.

SCHOOLKIDS CONTRIBUTE PERSONAL HURRICANE IRENE STORIES

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:27:00 -0400

Third- and fourth-graders at Thatcher Brook School in Waterbury were given an "assignment" to write down their stories about Hurricane Irene because they are a part of living history. Vermont author Natalie Kinsey-Wearnock tells the kids, "It's happening now. It's what you've been through." The author knows firsthand about what she suggests as she shares her real life stories about her own grandparents who were in the great flood of 1927. Her book, "Nora's Ark," was inspired by that flood. The kids are helping the town recover with a special project that will publish their and other residents' stories. Profits will help the town rebuild. The Children's Literacy Foundation, a nonprofit based in Waterbury Center, helped put the project together, and invited Kinsey-Wearnock to share her book and experiences with the children.

A STITCH OF VERMONT PRIDE SEWN INTO 9/11 FLAG

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:00:00 -0400

Middlebury's Kristen Farrell had a role in the restoration of a flag that flew near the World Trade Center Sept. 11. The flag will be part of a permanent exhibit in the National Sept. 11 Memorial Museum in New York City once the restoration process is completed. Farrell's contribution was but one stitch in the 20-foot-by-30.5 foot piece of fabric, but a much larger contribution of national pride was made as she completed that stitch. The terrorist attack also has a personal connection to Farrell as her cousin was a senior flight attendant about American Airlines Flight 11 which flew into the North Tower of the Trade Center. "I do know she helped a lot of people during those scary moments; she was a hero," Farrell says of her cousin. The flag is scheduled to visit all the states, under the supervision of Fire Department of New York officials and volunteers of the New York Says Thank You Foundation.

COURTING OLD RECORDS REVEALS PUNISHMENTS

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 07:00:00 -0400

The Vermont State Archives and Records Administration is organizing old court records and legal documents into data that can be more easily searched, says the Bennington Banner. Examples of punishments handed out included 100 lashes for burglary, 39 lashes for adultery; two hours "standing in the pillory" for perjury; and thrown into prison for an indefinite term for not paying a debt. The initial process has been funded by a federal grant targeting Caledonia, Orleans, and Lamoille Counties in Northern Vermont from 1794-1945. The long term goal is to catalog records from all 14 of the state's counties. But, that's going to be a real challenge will be to make order out of incomplete, often deteriorating, records that were stored in basements or attics. These records are "essential to the history of our state, as well as to the right of our citizens," says Secretary of State Jim Condos. Condos continued, "This is just the beginning." Better pay your debts.

SHAFTSBURY KIDS TO WATCH THEIR LANGUAGE

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:00:00 -0400

The Shaftsbury Elementary School will be the first Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union school to offer world language this fall, says the Bennington Banner. The school is teaming with language teacher Rosetta Stone so that students in grades three through six can choose from several languages. Rosetta Stone was selected as a cost-cutting staff measure as well as allowing children the option to learn several languages, as opposed to learning from a teacher who might only specialize in one or two. Previous language learning programs have been extremely popular, but have had to be cut because of budget constraints. The program can be accessed during the school day in a lab that would also be open prior to and after school hours. "There's also a home component so not all sessions have to take place here at Shaftsbury school...," says Principal James Harwood. The program will be offered next year to elementary schools throughout the supervisory union if the pilot program proves successful. Watch your language.

BRISTOL'S HELEN WESTON GETS HER LIFE IN TUNE

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:00:00 -0400

Helen Weston of Bristol grew up playing a variety of musical instruments, as did her five siblings, says the Addison County Independent. She majored in concert piano and music theory in college and taught music to children at Starksboro's Robinson Elementary and Lincoln Community Schools. But there was something missing. Weston always had wanted to run her own business. Something during an encounter with a piano tuner at her parent's house clicked and changed her career direction. She spent months of studying how to tune and repair pianos on her own, then enrolling in Boston's North Bennet Street School which specializes in hands-on technical training. It took her two years to finish the course and now she's one of fewer than 2,500 registered technicians with the Piano Technicians Guild. "If I can do it, anybody can. Take two years out of your life to learn something completely new because you want to," she said. Now her life's in tune.

WW II MEDALS FINALLY COME HOME THANKS TO VERMONT GUARDSMAN

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 07:00:00 -0400

Burlington Vermont National Guardsman Capt. Zachariah Fike, who recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, delivered a long overdue Purple Heart medal to the family of deceased recipient Corrado Piccoli, says the Burlington Free Press. Fike's mother bought the medal from an antique store in Watertown, N.Y., because her son collected WW II memorabilia. Piccoli's name was engraved on the back of the medal and, so began Fike's search for the Piccoli family. Fike himself, in a strange twist of fate, was awarded the Purple Heart after he was wounded in Afghanistan. Fike tracked down two of Corrado's sisters, still living in Watertown, who thought another brother had the medal in his possession and were not even aware it was missing. Corrado's Purple Heart, Bronze Star, a Combat Infantryman's Badge and other medals were presented to the family Aug. 7, ironically enough on National Purple Heart Day. A family reunion was held after the ceremony to which Fike was invited as part of their "family."

PASS THE PUCK - PRO HOCKEY COMES TO MORRISVILLE

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 07:00:00 -0400

The Green Mountain Arena in Morrisville will be home to Vermont's first professional hockey team starting this fall, says the News and Citizen. The team will be called the Green Mountain Rock Crushers and is part of the Federal Hockey League. The arena currently holds about 400 people, but there are plans to increase seating capacity to about 1,000 people and update dressing rooms with the announcement of the team's arrival. The team hopes to draw from Vermont's northernmost counties, as well as the southern part of Quebec. The Rock Crushers is one of two teams added to the initial 6-team league this year. The home opener is scheduled Oct.. 29 against the defending league champs, N.Y.'s Akwesasne Warriors. "...so far the response from the community has been really positive," says General Manager Andy Makal.

BRATTLEBORO KIDS GET TO PAINT ON THE WALLS

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:00:00 -0400

Brattleboro's Municipal Center's Hanna Cosman Room recently received a facelift courtesy of some young community artists, says the Brattleboro Reformer. About 12 kids, through a partnership with the Town Arts Committee and Art in the Neighborhood, painted small, brightly colored floral murals on the walls of the meeting room. The flower motif was decided by the group as most appropriate. It was a four-part project that began with sketches on sheets of paper, placement of background colors on walls, then sketching and painting the flowers on the walls. Project organizers hope this helps connect kids with the town's history and government, in addition to prettying up the room. From the mouths of "babes" comes this classic: "My favorite part is painting on the wall, because I'm not allowed to do that at home," said 11-year-old Mackenzie Butts of Brattleboro.

A RAY OF SUNBEAM COMES TO HILDENE

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:00:00 -0400

A restored, 65-foot-long wooden, luxury 1903 Pullman train car, called the Sunbeam, will be making its appearance - appropriately enough-at the restored estate of Hldene, says the Burlington Free Press. Hildene was the summer home of President Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, who was also the president of Chicago's Pullman Place Co., makers of private, luxury rail cars, in the early 1900s. The car features a dining room, parlor, and stained glass windows. The car will be used for research and education about the people who rode and worked on the cars. Stats include a 2-year nationwide search for the car, a 3-year restoration project, a price tag of $1.5 million, and a 1,000 mile journey from the restoration site in Lancaster, S.C. to Hildene. It will be open to the public for touring Aug. 1, 2011.

THEY'RE READY FOR THEIR 'SHEEPSKIN' AT UVM

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:00:00 -0400

It's deju vu all over again, says the Burlington Free Press,, when sheep returned for one day only to graze on the green at the University of Vermont as they did 200 years ago. The flock of sheep were invited to call attention to the university's free, weekly historic Saturday tours which are being conducted through October. Apparently sheep were a common sight on the green in the 1800s; however, students were none too pleased with the bleating or the droppings. They built a fence to keep them out in 1837 which remained until 1874. "We always thought the fence in the old photos was there to keep the sheep in, but now we know it was to keep them out," said Jeff Wakefield, Associate Director of University Communications. The sheep contentedly grazed for about two hours. No word on whether they were invited back.

THELMA, 99, SURVIVES CANCER, CHEERS ON DAUGHTERS IN WALK

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 07:00:00 -0400
Ninety-nine-year-old Thelma Tulloch survived a bout with breast cancer four years ago, says the Stowe Reporter. She participated in the LACiNg Up for Cancer's 12-hour walk by cheering on her daughters as they completed the laps at the Peoples Academy in Morrisville recently. The organization provides grants to help cancer patients with their expenses. The event raised over $100,000 last year. Patients can request a variety of services to help them, including a gas card to help pay for travel, cash for prepared meals, or house cleaning services. Tulloch supports the Lamoille Area Cancer Network because all the money raised goes directly to cancer patients. Her support is driven by her personal experience and also by the loss of her daughter who died from lung cancer. "I appreciate life and what I have more," Tulloch said.

SOMETHING NEW IN SOMETHING OLD IN CHESTER

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:00:00 -0400
One of Chester's historic buildings is finding new life and a new occupant reports The Manchester Journal. The clapboard building on Depot Street has been home to a milliner's shop, hardware store, grange hall and the American Legion Hall during its 100-plus years. Now it will become home to the Vermont Institute of Contemporary Arts with a scheduled fall 2011 opening. The first floor will have 2,000 square feet of exhibition and performance space. "Housing contemporary art in an old building is not a disconnect but rather an innovative use of Vermont's buildings," says project contractor Richard Crocker.

GO HIGH FIVE A FUTURE LEADER

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 07:00:00 -0400
Take your pick: high fives, fist bump, the pound, and everything in between was celebrated at National High Five Day Thursday, says the Brattleboro Reformer. Brattleboro Selectmen even made it official by designating the third Thursday of April an annual event. The event kicked off local support for the High 5 Adventure Learning Center, an educational nonprofit that provides leadership training and a new curriculum, that will be holding its 3-day program this summer for high school students from throughout New England. The program, called The Edge of Leadership, combines practices, strategies, and ideas from over the past 30 years. "We want to help create stronger leadership so that when they return to their schools they can address a broad spectrum of topics," High 5 Executive Director Jim Grout said. "There's a lot of hidden leaders that simply haven't had a chance to do so." Want more information? Go to www.high5adventure.org. Here's a high five to all future leaders.

DERBY BARKING FOR A PARK

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:28:00 -0400
Derby, one of 15 U.S. communities, is in the competition for a $100,000 dog park, says the Burlington Free Press. Pet products company PetSafe is conducting the online contest, called "Bark for Your Park," the winner of which will win the prize money to build a park in their community. Derby's Bob and Ann Kelley submitted their application with a script and a videotape of Derby. "...We're going up against cities like Mobile, Ala.," says Ann Kelley. Derby is the only finalist in New England. You can help Derby get their dog park by going to PetSafe's website, www.barkforyourpark.com or their Facebook page. But, better hurry. Online votes accepted only until Aug. 3.