Jul 1-7, 2009
Lake Champlain’s 400th: Livelihoods on the Watershed; A NY Fortress Falls to Ruin; Going Native with an Abenaki Garden
The “Cheese Nun”
Sent by Seven Days freelancer Sally Johnson If science and religion are often at odds, Mother Noella Marcellino either hasn’t noticed or doesn’t care. A Benedictine nun turned doctor of microbiology, Mother Noella has married the two in a successful cheese-making enterprise and says she sees God in the remarkably complex world of the microorganisms…
Best Bites: Drunken Noodle House
9 Park Street, Essex Junction 288-9499 One of my favorite culinary triangles is right in Essex’sFive Corners. My fondness for Barney Crnalic’s creations at Café Mediterano iswell documented. I had a superb meal at the Belted Cow last week. Now I have togive props to the little Thai spot that could, Drunken Noodle House. First opened…
Illadelph on the Waterfront
I imagine Jay Craven is breathing a very heavy sigh of relief today. Last night, the first show of the Queen City Concert Series — Philadelphia’s proud hip-hop purveyors The Roots — went off with nary a hitch. The weather cooperated, the talent put on a great show, and most concert-goers managed to keep it…
Flying Blind
It’s a good thing Samuel de Champlain didn’t “discover” Burlington by plane. The map-making explorer would have been sorely disappointed — like I am, every time I fly — to find today’s pilots have totally abandoned the tradition of identifying the nation’s most distinctive geographical features. On a recent Delta flight from Atlanta to Burlington,…
It’s Tour Group Season
Summertime means the local college campuses are pretty quiet. There are a few summer students around and maybe a conference or two, but apart from that, campuses are oddly still. Except, of course, that summer is prime season for college tours. This is the time of year when hopelessly out-of-touch parents and apathetic high schoolers…
Is Gov. Douglas Green or Greenwashed?
A national green directory has named Gov. Jim Douglas one of the top 10 “greenest” governors, an honor some in Vermont claim verges on “greenwashing.” Greenopia recently ranked all 50 governors. Topping thelist is Gov. Bill Ritter of Colorado, followed closely by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California. The entire ranking results are available at 50…
Wonks of the World: Unite!
Just in time for Independence Day and the spate of Tea Parties around Vermont, two public policy groups joined forces to create a website that gives citizens an inside look at how and where their tax dollars are spent. It was more than a year in the works, but the left-leaning Public Assets Institute and…
Adventures in Queuing — the Lift Opening
Disclaimer: For my entire life, I have refused to wait in line to get into a club or bar, no matter how hot the venue. I don’t care if Jesus himself was cutting a rug inside; I ain’t waiting outside. I would rather swallow a jar full of bees than wait in a line outside…
Another Celebrity Death!
After a short illness, Uma Thurman has passed away. I should clarify that this Uma was a resident of our office aquarium — a white Angel Fish. She was very outgoing and friendly, and quite beautiful. I wish I had a photo of her to share, but alas, that is not the case. Instead, here…
Summer Vacation Guide: Manchester & Bennington
You may know Manchester as the land of shop-till-you-drop, but its charms extend beyond the destination outlet mall. Yes, you can do J. Crew and Ralph Lauren, but you can also take in Hildene. The summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln – son of Abraham – is a lovely spot to spend a day. The…
Mazza Fields…Forever?
Last Thursday was close to unbearable as far as the officelife goes, with unbelievable clear blue skies making an appearance and air of 80-plus degrees Fahrenheit. A true Vermont summer day. Needless to say, the Seven Days intern squad reacted with glee when tasked with undertaking a strawberry-picking adventure at Mazza Farms. We jumped into…
Bulldog vs. The Flyboy?
State Sen. Ed Flanagan (D-Chittenden) dispensed with the rumors and made it official Wednesday: He’s running for lieutenant governor. Flanagan, now in his fourth term as senator, served four terms as state auditor where he earned the nickname “bulldog” for his ability to hold accountable the administration of fellow Democrat Gov. Howard Dean. Rumors of…
A Pay Phone, You Say? Why, Whatever is That?
Today, I saw the most extraordinary sight. I wish I had my camera with me so I could have taken a picture. Surely, no one will believe what I’m about to write. In the middle of the afternoon, as I drove along Main Street in Burlington, I saw someone feeding quarters into a pay phone.…
Fletcher Allen Nurses, Hospital to Sign Union Contract
The Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (VFNHP) and Fletcher Allen Heath Care administrators are expected to sign a new, three-year contract this week. The deal comes after months of bargaining between the two sides, and after a successful union drive by tech workers. That group of employees voted 160-87 last Thursday night to…
The Gray Lady Notices South Burlington’s Field of Dreams
The New York Times’ business section ran a nice piece on South Village, a 22-acre housing development in South Burlington that’s preserving prime Vermont farmland by keeping it in food production. One interesting aspect about the Times article: Its lead borrows a theme from Aimee Picchi’s feature on South Village, which ran in the May 13…
News Quirks
Curses, Foiled Again When a man ordered a teller at a bank in Winslow Township, N.J., to hand over the money, she locked her cash drawer and walked away. The Philadelphia Daily News reported that the frustrated thief yelled at her, but she ignored him and alerted a coworker, who activated the silent alarm. The…
Free Will Astrology
Here’s the weekly astrological forecast for July 1 – 8, 2009. What’s your sign, baby? They’re all here… ARIES (March 21-April 19): Time to diversify your energy sources, Aries. It’s as if you’ve grown too dependent on oil — metaphorically speaking — and have neglected to develop relationships with wind turbines, solar panels, natural gas…
Ring Mastery
Art Review: “Circus!” an all-media group exhibition. Studio Place Arts, Barre. Through July 25.
What Goes Up…
Work: Joyce “Jay” Lockerby , Drawbridge operator, Grand Isle/North Hero
Quadrophenia
With so many Quad-related musical options to choose from, Seven Days asks, “What would Sammy D. do?”
A Noble Spirit Embiggens the Smallest Man
Soundbites: A Noble Spirit Embiggens the Smallest Man, Freedom Isn’t Free, I Scream, You Scream, Bite Torrent, Precious Friend
Letters to the Editor
DEAN’S DIFFERENT TUNE When Dr. Dean was Governor Dean, wasn’t the legislature prepared to pass a Vermont single-payer plan, and didn’t he threaten to veto it if they did [“Health Insurance Rx,” June 17]? Senator Cheryl Rivers then withdrew the bill, and retired into some other vaguely described health-care advocacy job. My take is that…
![Wiffle Fest [SIV135]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sevendaysvt.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/episode135.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
Wiffle Fest [SIV135]
6/27/09: For twelve years now, CJ Spirito has been gathering hisfriends and family for Wiffle Fest. But unlike previous years, thisWorld Series has an unlikely outcome. Location: Rock Point School, Burlington Vermont
Court Says No to Barre’s Sex-Offender Residency Restrictions
A Washington Superior Court judge has ordered the city of Barre not to enforce an ordinance that limits where sex offenders may live, WPTZ is reporting. A preliminary injunction was issued this morning by Judge Helen Toor, which stopped the city from forcing a 29-year-old convicted sex offender from vacating his current residence. The offender,…
Best Bites: Duke’s Creemees
160 River Street, Route 7, Milton, 309-3179160 River Street, Route 7, Milton, 309-3179 I eat out a lot, and I also happen to live with a man who wants to go out for ice cream every night. That combination leads to a certain amount of malaise. Chocolate and vanilla creemees just don’t cut it anymore.…
