This week’s Seven Days has something new attached to it: augmented reality! Now you can interact with the old-fashioned print edition with the help of a smartphone or tablet. All you have to do is download the Layar app and scan whenever you see the little symbol, and the page will come to life. In the screenshots below, you’ll see what happens to the cover…
With Layar, dancers start to dance across the paper! Whoa! We are living in the Harry Potter universe, people.
Once you’re done with that, there’s lots of good news and politics content for your consideration, too.
- What has Champlain Valley parents peeved? A proposal to shorten summer vacation and redistribute those days to “intersession” periods during the school year.
- The South Burlington City Council election held earlier this year was unusually contentious, and it may have included a campaign-finance violation by the council’s chair.
- In Fair Game, Gov. Peter Shumlin wined and dined fellow Democratic governors and big-money donors in Manchester last weekend — but our own Paul Heintz got thrown out. (See the post below on this blog for more on that.)
- The long-dormant, waiting-for-redevelopment Moran Plant on Burlington’s waterfront isn’t good for much these days, but at least it makes a good muse for these artists.
- In this week’s WTF column, we try to find the Indiana Jones-worthy story behind a “sacred” space that threatens to turn Norwich cadets to dust.



I hope Paul continues to report on Scummy’s crookedness and shady doings.
This story would be a good one to re-run around election time along with some of Shumlins other greatest hits like the Dodge Debacle.
What has Champlain Valley parents peeved? A proposal to shorten summer vacation and redistribute those days to “intersession” periods during the school year.
Nobody wants this except except a few top managers. Those types aren’t used to being told “no”, so this will probably have to get ugly.
Actually, I am a Chittenden County parent and I think it may be a good idea. Summer learning loss has a greater impact on vulnerable learners and this rescheduling could reduce the effects. Might even make child care provision a little easier for working families too. It is worth listening to the discussion on the issue, there will be meetings across the area during October:
October 2 @ 6:30 p.m. @ Essex High School
October 3 @ 6:30 p.m. @ BFA St. Albans
October 9 @ 6:30 p.m. @ BHS
October 10 @ 6:30 p.m. @ Champlain Valley Union High School
And I realise that makes me sound like a school district stooge but I am not, really. Just a parent that wants to be informed.