Archive - 2011
January 20th
MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury College women’s hockey team on Tuesday defeated visiting Holy Cross, 4-1, a result that followed a split of a crucial weekend NESCAC series at Amherst that allowed the Panthers to hold onto first place in the league.
The Panthers are 9-3-1 overall, 7-1-1 in NESCAC, while Amherst is 7-4-2, 6-1-1 NESCAC.
What a coincidence!
I was in Maine visiting family last Saturday when the Middlebury basketball teams just happened to be in Lewiston to play against Bates College. So I decided to take in the men’s and women’s games (I actually watched Bates play Williams the night before, too).
Bates plays their basketball games in Alumni Gymnasium. Constructed in 1928, it’s the oldest New England college gym still hosting varsity basketball, and indeed one of the oldest such arenas in the country.
School testing seems to be in the news constantly, partly thanks to the “No Child Left Behind” act — NCLB, pronounced as nickel-bee by anyone who works in or covers schools, or works on laws that affect them.
There are a few things the general public should, but may not in all cases, know about tests. First, most probably know they measure students’ knowledge in the core subjects of language, math and science.
Something many may not know is that tests do OK at evaluating students’ grasp of core content.
What do towns need to thrive in today’s global economy? How do we counter the loss of manufacturing jobs? How do we lay a solid economic foundation for tomorrow’s economy?
How do we prepare for things that we cannot yet know?
Here’s a suggestion: Let’s be part of communities that move forward.
Forget the details for a moment; embrace the concept.
MIDDLEBURY — After more than two decades of working for various florists in Addison County, Carolee Ploof has arrived at a point in her life where she is able to take the reins of her own business.
Ploof, a Salisbury resident, officially opened “Middlebury Floral & Gifts” on Monday in what many locals recognize as the Little Red Schoolhouse at 1663 Route 7 South.
The new store offers fresh flowers, floral arrangements and live plants available for delivery within Addison County and beyond, thanks to its affiliation with FTD wire service.
Last week, the Legislature’s consulting economist, Tom Kavet, presented his semi-annual revenue forecast and analysis of the Vermont economy to Gov. Shumlin and legislative leaders. Kavet’s reports are important events in Montpelier, because they identify issues that are likely to be on the Legislature’s agenda in the next session.
Pity the poor liberals. They spent decades convincing Americans that it was a good thing for women to be strong, high-profile leaders. So who comes along and grabs the mantle of the high-profile political woman? Not a liberal, but the dreaded Sarah Palin.
Then after years of creating space for men to be more in touch with their feelings, liberals have to watch new Speaker of the House John Boehner — he of the tough-guy politics and country club demeanor — become the most emotive man in public life.
It’s enough to make progressives want to go out and burn a bra.
January 19th
Last Sunday finally gave me what I was looking for – blue skies, blue wax conditions (for those of you on waxable cross-country skis) and great snow cover – perfect for the first ski posting of the season.
