May 20-26, 2009
Four and a Half Years After His Near Fatal Car Crash, is Senator Ed Flanagan Still Up to the Job? Critics Confront the Vermont Arts Council; The Samosaman Savors Success
Summer Vacation Guide: Champlain Islands/Northwest
There’s nothing tropical about Vermont’s islands, but they’ve got plenty of other enticements to lure visitors northwest. The windswept causeway at the southern end is one of several public engineering marvels between South Hero and Alburgh, including the fully functioning North Hero drawbridge. And the Missisquoi bridge, at the northern end of the island chain,…
Summer Vacation Guide: Mad River Valley/Waterbury
In winter, the road between Stowe and Sugarbush sees a lot of slope-seeking Saabs and Subarus. The summer crowd tends to be driven by ice cream: The Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury is one of the top tourist destinations in Vermont. If your visitors have heard of one thing in the Green Mountain State,…
Summer Vacation Guide: Stowe/Smuggs Area
Stowe rhymes with snow, and for good reason. It’s a classic ski town, with all the requisite restaurants, shops and hotels. That said, the general ambiance is more Zermatt than Park City. The downtown is charming and walkable – there’s a covered bridge right in the middle of it. And happily, a bike path has…
Summer Vacation Guide: Barre/Montpelier
You can’t miss the gold dome of the Vermont Statehouse. Montpelier’s “bling,” as a couple of local teen rappers once described the building, doubles as the seat of the Vermont General Assembly. The building is open to the public all summer, with weekday tours every half hour from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. On Saturday,…
Rolling in the Rain
In years past, I’ve chosen to spectate the Vermont City Marathon from the safety of my bike saddle. I wouldride along side of runners we knew and shout things at them like “Looking good!” and “You’ve got puke on your running shorts!” I’m pretty sure they really appreciated my support. This past Sunday, I decided…
Summer Vacation Guide: Middlebury Area
The museums keep on coming as you roll down Route 7: In Ferrisburgh the Rokeby Museum, once an official stop on the Underground Railroad, preserves the history of four generations of remarkable Robinsons. Ahead of its time in every way, the family was made up of Quakers, abolitionists and artists. They were also successful farmers.…
Summer Vacation Guide: Chittenden County
Vermont’s most populous county is also its most “destination-diverse.” The state’s highest peak is here; so, many would argue, is its greatest cultural treasure. Electra Havemeyer Webb’s vast collection of fine and folk art at the Shelburne Museum is one of the best in the world. But the “gallery” experience could not be less intimidating.…
Fran in France: Sam Learns to Sail, Wind Turbines and the City of Pirates
Journalist Fran Stoddard is in France this week on a “Quadricentennial Journey” hosted by Burlington City Arts. Here’s her latest report from across the pond. I’m told that her videos will be available soon… Saturday, May 23 Today was a travel day. We are heading to the coast of Brittany, in the Northwest France to…
Fran in France: Brouage
Journalist Fran Stoddard is in France this week with a group from Burlington City Arts, to celebrate the Lake Champlain Quadricentennial. She sent this report earlier today. Her fellow traveler, John Canning (CEO of Physician’s Computer Company in Winooski), sent this photo of Brouage. Friday, May 22 Jet lag and interfacing with international technology don’t…
Newest Intern
This is Jessica DiNapoli, Champlain College student and Seven Days’ newest intern. There will be one more intern joining Mike, Will, and I in June, making us a team of four, a “quad’ effect as it has been referred to around the Seven Days office, which helps celebrate this summer’s Lake Champlain Quadricentennial theme. My…
“Bonjour” from Fran in France
It’s been 400 years since Samuel de Champlain sailed from France to the “New World,” and on Wednesday, a group of Vermonters embarked on a trip that retraces his route. The delegation — including Burlington City Arts director Doreen Kraft, Marcelle Leahy, wife of Senator Patrick, and former St. Mike’s prez Marc vanderHeyden and his…
Disc Golf in Burlington — Like Gitmo or Gay Marriage?
This week, the Burlington Parks & Recreation Commission unanimously voted down a proposal to build an 18-hole disc golf course at Leddy Park in the city’s New North End. As with any hotly debated topic, it takes more than a single vote to keep a good controversy down. As readers of “Fair Game” know, this…
Look, But Don’t Skin
A group of PETA activists — including one nearly-naked woman covered in snakeskin body paint — descended on Burlington today to protest exotic animal skinning. Camouflaged against a jungle background that read “Exotic Skins Belong in the Jungle — Not on Your Feet” this “naked PETA beauty” hoped to embody the snakes and other species…
Burlington Guide at Design Sponge
Some readers might have made the acquaintance of Paige Russell when she lived in Burlington–for about 5 years–and worked at The Lamp Shop on Pine Street. She’s back in her hometown of Kelowna, British Columbia and apparently yearns to return here–which, her former boss Liz Segal hopes, might be possible with something called an “exceptional…
Ferry Convenient
Richmond’s Bridge St. bridge is still closed for construction, but thanks to nonprofit Local Motion, residents are now crossing the Winooski river by boat. Local Motion’s Bike Ferry II made its maiden voyage across the Winooski River last Friday giving area residents access to the grocery store, the dentist’s office, and even wedding ceremonies. Construction…
VT’s Chief Information Security Officer Reporting for Duty
Came across this interview this morning with Vermont’s Chief Information Security Officer Kris Rowley. It’s interesting — not that Vermont has a chief information security officer, but that she’s only been on the job for seven months. According to Rowley, “[Information] security in the state of Vermont is very young right now.” Really? That’s surprising, considering…
Vermont Senators Split on Gitmo Closure *UPDATED*
By a 90-6 vote yesterday, the US Senate denied Pres. Barack Obama’s $80 million request to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba (“Gitmo”) and move its roughly 240 occupants to other secure facilities. Vermont’s two-seat senate delegation split on the issue: Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) voted to approve the funding, while Sen. Bernie…
Seven Days Hires Lauren Ober as New Staff Writer
From our latest Seven Days press release: Seven Days, Vermont’s only alternative print and online weekly, has hired a new staff writer — reporter Lauren Ober, formerly of the Burlington Free Press. Ober received her master’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University in 2003, and worked as a reporter for The Citizen in Auburn, New…
Neighbors, Cars and Oprah
There were smiles aplenty in the Alumni Auditorium at Champlain College yesterday as volunteers and friends of local non-profits Good News Garage and Neighborkeepers watched founder Hal Colston on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Attendants whooped and cheered when Colston appeared on the jumbo screen, courtesy of Champlain. He explained his social service garage and its mission…
News Quirks
Curses, Foiled Again Police arrested forgery suspect Alfonso Rizzuto, 47, after he entered a post office in Kingston, Pa., and a postal worker recognized him from a wanted poster posted in the office. The Times Leader reported that when police stopped Rizzuto outside the post office, he identified himself using a New York driver’s license…
Letters to the Editor
NOT YOUR PARENTS’ GODDARD It is a testament to Goddard’s storied history that so many myths and so much misinformation about the college persist. We feel compelled to correct some assertions made by Jernigan Pontiac in his “Hackie” column [“Road Tripping with Sleepy Linda,” May 6]. Most egregious of his errors is the statement that…
Continuing Ed
Three and a half years after his near-fatal car crash is Sen. Ed Flanagan still up to the job?
Hula Boola
This episode of “Stuck in Vermont” is so stinkin’ cute I can’t stand it. Preschoolers hula hooping! Nicely done, Eva.
Painters at Play
Art Review: Vinicio Ayala & Greg Mamczak, “Old and New Paintings.” Flynndog, Burlington. Through June.
Free Will Astrology
Here’s the weekly astrological forecast for May 20 – 27, 2009. What’s your sign, baby? They’re all here… ARIES (March 21-April 19): The fleas infesting dogs’ skin have greater leaping power than the fleas on cats. Why do you think that is, Aries? Maybe you should use your waxing brainpower to get to the bottom…
A Samosaman for All Seasons
The farmers market fixture is expanding — across the country
![Hula Hooping Extravaganza [SIV129]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sevendaysvt.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/episode129.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
Hula Hooping Extravaganza [SIV129]
5/7/09: Watch out Cirque du Soleil, the 3-5 year olds at Trinity Children’s Center are in the midst of a hula hoop revival. Music: Pretty & Nice, Pink & Blue, “Stop/Start”
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
Soundbites: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, Bite Torrent
Same-Sex Marriage Gathering at the Statehouse Friday a.m.
Gay marriage advocacy group Vermont Freedom to Marry is planning a gathering at the Statehouse tomorrow morning, in response to Governor Douglas’ announcement yesterday that he plans to veto the same-sex marriage bill if and when it crosses his desk. Details here. Supporters are being asked to assemble at 8:45 a.m. at the Statehouse. Columnist…
Talking Points TV
The New York Times steps up with a major piece of investigative reporting that does for television what the Judith Miller affair did for, well, the New York Times. Reporter David Barstow mined 8,000 pages of emails and internal documents to explain how the Bush administration has tried to “shape terrorism coverage from inside the…
Texting: What’s Good
Cellphones aren’t just for talking anymore. Like it or not, they’ve become mobile data devices. If you’re still getting used to having a cellphone, this might be tough for you to absorb, but it’s actually a pretty cool shift, and it took a major step forward in the past few weeks as the Obama campaign…
Video: A Porchetta Is Born
The trickle was slow, but it had an impact. I received a call, then an email, then advice from coworkers. They all had the same message: Try Costello’s Market. Last week, Bite Club TV videographer Elizabeth Rossano and I finally drove to Middlebury to taste the market’s famous porchetta sandwich. Watch as chef and co-owner…
Video: Free Cone Day
This August will start my 13th year living in Vermont, but I have to admit, last week was my first Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day. On Tuesday, April 11, I skipped out on work early to pay homage to Messrs. Cohen and Greenfield. By the time I got in the line, it had stretched…
Best Bites: Naru Asian Cuisine
202 Cornerstone Drive, Williston 878-8868 Whenever I need a lunch of utter comfort, I head to Naru in Williston and ask for a lunchbox. Why? I don’t have to choose; I can have lots of favorites all at once. Sometimes I go for the sweet sesame-flavored chicken bulgogi, other times the spicier red pork. With a…
Admissions Counselor Trashes Papers, First Amendment
Ed. Note: Mike DiBiasio interned at Seven Days last summer, and is back in our office again as of this week. He just completed his junior year at Ohio Wesleyan University, where he’s Editor-In-Chief of the campus newspaper. We asked him to share this story from his eventful year on our blog. That’s him in…
