‘Culture’ Keeper: Stonyfield’s Gary Hirshberg discusses the nature of his Danone deal
It would be hard to find a more appropriate keynote speaker than Gary Hirshberg for a conference whose theme is “Not Business as Usual.” The CEO of Stonyfield yogurt recently cut a deal that has no precedent in the business world: He sold a minority share — 40 percent — of his company to one…
Coin Op: A quick-change artist cashes in on a virtual opportunity
I got fired from my first job at a cash register because I apparently couldn’t make change. The math wasn’t hard, but I had no understanding of one of the basic tenets of economics: You don’t give away money. I was an exceptionally zealous cashier, and every day at the end of my shift I’d…
Cents and Sensibility: A cash counselor puts your money where your mouth is
he Bible warns that “love of money is the root of all evil,” but playwright George Bernard Shaw suggested the lack of it is responsible for the world’s woes. As a woman wary of most extremes, Christine Moriarty disagrees with both ideas. The Lincoln-based financial planning consultant sees no significant rich- man-poor-man dichotomy when it…
Odd Jobs: Finding spare change in unexpected places
Revenues running low? Wealthy uncle hitting 100 and still blowing out his own candles? Looking for work, but can’t quite face the prospect of showing up at a job every day? Greenbacks may not grow on trees, but moneymaking opportunities can be found in strange places. Whether you’re waiting for your goose to lay its…
We All Scream For… Ice cream flavors that milk the music industry
Jerry Garcia, Phish and now Dave Matthews have inspired Ben & Jerry’s sugar highs, suggesting that music not only goes ’round and ’round but also freezes well. In fact, music-related ice cream flavors are so good for business, we suspect Vermont’s favorite treat-makers won’t stop at this tasty trio. We do hope they’ll look beyond…
Peddling Poetry: A band of roving rhymers takes it on the road
I’m not exactly sure how I got to this point in my career as a poet. Twenty-three years ago I stood on stage and read a poem about pussy willows. I was 4. I was cute. I wore a red, white and blue dress. The audience clapped. Now I lead a group of writers who…
Campaign Shake-up
Seven Days has learned that the Jim Douglas for Governor Campaign has undergone an unpleasant shake-up resulting in the departure of two top aides: the campaign’s chief fundraiser and the treasurer. Longtime Republican fundraiser Darcie Johnston told Seven Days the Douglas for Governor campaign suddenly dumped her last month after a year on the team.…
One in a Million
This is one beautiful state,” my passenger said, gazing through the window at a passing meadow. To the east, the Killington mountain peaks still glistened with snow against the blue sky. “I have a buddy back in Baltimore who used to come up here to ski when he was a kid.” We were passing through…
Back Talk
The city of Burlington dissolved its first civil union last week, creating a couple of “gay divorcés” who may be the subject of an upcoming play. Forty-seven-year-old architect Arthur Tremblay parted ways with 27-year-old Harsh Shah three months after they were married last March in the Queen City. The divorce was finalized last week. “It’s…
Flick Chick
In the aftermath of September 11, what could be more timely than a cinematic tale about the impact of Islamic revolution? In Maryam, which is screening this week at the Hopkins Center, the members of an affluent Iranian-born New Jersey family try to fathom the political events of 1979 in their faraway native land. These…
