Archive - Apr 2010 - Page
April 15th
Editor’s Note: This is the sixth in a series of essays about politics and the moral life. The essays develop themes from a work by the philosopher Plato titled “Laws,” which he wrote shortly before his death in 347 BCE. “Laws” is written as a dialogue involving three old men with long experience in politics: Cleinias, from the Cretan city of Cnossos, Megillus, from Sparta, and an Athenian stranger who is not named, but who may be Plato himself. The theme of this essay is education and the educative role of dance, music, poetry and wine.
You know, it’s not always easy being the “baseball guy” at one of the nation’s top institutions of learning.
But it’s easier now than it used to be. Cultural Studies are acknowledged as an important part of higher education. Popular culture, sports, movies and the like are now in liberal arts curricula.
The phrase, “A Gentle Trinitarian Mysticism,” comes from an essay on baseball by the Catholic philosopher and prolific writer, Michael Novak, in his book, “The Joy of Sports.”
VERGENNES — After hearing almost an hour of at times emotional and contradictory testimony, Vergennes aldermen voted, 4-0, to grant The Antidote a liquor license that includes the right to serve alcohol on its small rear patio until 11 p.m.
Two neighbors of The Antidote, a city restaurant, have attended the past two council meetings to say they are upset by allegedly persistent noise from the patio at the back of the building, which lies at the intersection of School and Green streets and borders a residential neighborhood.
April 12th
MONTPELIER — The Vermont Senate this week is expected to take its turn considering “Challenges for Change” legislation aimed at achieving $38 million in savings in the fiscal year 2011 state budget.
It was in February that the Douglas administration and legislative leaders agreed to undertake “Challenges for Change” — an effort they intended to go beyond one-time cost cutting and build long-term savings into state spending through changes in the way some state services are delivered.
MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury voters will meet Wednesday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mary Hogan Elementary School gym to decide a proposed 2010-2011 ID-4 school district spending plan of $5,771,990, representing a 1.52-percent increase compared to this year.
Also at the annual meeting, voters will decide whether to spend up to $191,100 (in already available funds) to finance a major pavement and drainage project on school grounds.
VERGENNES — Vergennes and Addison residents will decide on Tuesday, May 11, whether to change their minds on supporting unification of the Addison Northwest Supervisory Union under one-board governance.
Both towns joined Ferrisburgh, Panton and Waltham in voting by wide margins on March 2 to back the switch, but Vergennes and Addison petitioners successfully requested second votes.
BRISTOL — Residents and passersby in Bristol can expect some delays heading through downtown this spring and summer as construction ramps up on a $1.38 million project to replace a section of the town’s aging stormwater system and upgrade the downtown water main.
MIDDLEBURY — In a Saturday game between the two boys’ lacrosse programs that between them won every state championship between 1993 and 2003, visiting Woodstock posted what has been a rare win in recent years over Middlebury, 8-2, at Middlebury College’s Alumni Stadium.
Play bore little resemblance to some of the duels of a decade ago between the Tigers and Wasps — balls hit the ground or rolled out of bounds far more often than planned as turnovers plagued both teams.
