Archive - Oct 2012
October 11th
MIDDLEBURY — Director Doug Anderson lifted up a bolt of magic fabric before the packed Town Hall Theater audience at Friday’s performance of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” and let it slowly unspool, delicately unwinding into wave after wave of beautiful music.
In other words, he’s done it again.
Before South Africa became a democracy, the band Johnny Clegg and Savuka created controversy not only because its members were both black and white when apartheid was still the law of the land, but also because it agitated for political change.
One of the group’s most famous and popular songs was “One (Hu)Man, One Vote,” which as well as being highly danceable describes the foundation of democracy as well as anything I’ve heard:
“The west is sleeping in a fragile freedom
Forgotten is the price that was paid
Here’s something scary: My family and I are the victims of some sort of odd home invaders. These weirdos haven’t taken anything, although they have hidden my keys and cell phone once or twice. But they’ve been here. Repeatedly.
It had been happening for quite some time but we’d been so busy all summer we just hadn’t noticed. Then, what with the dismal weather last weekend, I found myself inside all day for the first time in ages. I took a good look around the house, and what I saw horrified me.
For those who think spending tax money on government programs is a waste, witness the consequence of decimating Vermont’s mosquito testing and surveillance efforts.
In the wake of the first presidential debate, rank and file of the Democrats are likely less enamored with President Obama than they have been since his election four years ago. His lackluster performance in that debate, his failure to defend his policies and to point out obvious falsehoods by Mitt Romney have temporarily cost the president the enthusiastic support of his base.
The Middlebury selectboard’s decision to remove language in the town plan that caps retail stores at 50,000 square feet may be treading on a more slippery slope than they think. The board made the decision in a 4-1 vote Tuesday night, maintaining that the town is buying a little room to discuss the issue, which can later be confirmed within its zoning regulations.
ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police, in addition to dealing with a variety of traffic accidents and handing out various citations, are investigating two recent cases of local home burglaries in which stashes of change were reported stolen.
On Oct. 4 at 4:19 p.m. troopers were called to investigate the burglary of a residence on DeLong Road in Cornwall, where items reported stolen included a coffee can of change valued at $50. There were no signs of forced entry. It is estimated that the burglary occurred that Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
