Archive - Sep 2010 - Page

Canada geese are unfailingly punctual. As I began to put my garden to bed this weekend, the honking from high above pulled my gaze to a cloud white sky. Those skeins of geese in long wispy V’s never fail to reassure: an ancient rhythm still pulses, something actually feels right with the world.

This weekend marked the end of my tomato season, the middle of apple season, and the beginning of planning for next year. For me, this is already a season of thanksgiving.

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The planet probably needs the United Nations’ International Day of Peace for the same reasons we need Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

In the latter case, as any parent will tell you, all the other days are children’s days.

In the case of the International Day of Peace — which occurs every year on Sept. 21 — it sure seems like the people of Earth devote the other 364 days to violence and war.

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MIDDLEBURY — Five of the Addison Central Supervisory Union’s (ACSU) seven elementary schools have agreed to participate on an ad hoc committee to explore the feasibility of merging their educational resources and governance in the future.

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ADDISON COUNTY — In the kitchen at Monkton Central School last Thursday, Anne Coolidge and Deb Preston set out pans of Champlain Orchards applesauce cake to cool on the counter, accompanied by the sounds of dodge ball from the gym next door.

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MIDDLEBURY — On Sunday, Oct. 10, Bill McKibben is hosting a party, and everyone is invited.

But don’t expect to find finger foods or karaoke at this shindig — party games will include building a solar panel out of soda cans, planting a community garden or even converting cars to run on vegetable oil.

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BRISTOL — Bristol police shouldn’t start measuring their future office space in Howden Hall just yet.

Bristol selectboard members at a Monday meeting said they are hopeful that offices for the Bristol Police Department can remain in their current location at 6 South St. rather than move to Howden Hall. But selectmen cautioned that they are still negotiating a lease with the owners of the property.

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VERGENNES — The Vergennes Police Department has joined a small, but growing, list of state law enforcement agencies to add Taser stun guns to their equipment lists.

Chief George Merkel said the department now owns two $1,000 Tasers, which he believes are a safer tool for subduing suspects than other options at police officers’ disposal — physical restraint, pepper spray or batons.

Merkel said enough people are now familiar with Tasers that even their potential use can defuse situations.

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FERRISBURGH — Ferrisburgh artists Denis and Judith Rey Versweyveld have shared a home for 48 years, and a passion for art for even longer.

But until two years ago, they had never directly collaborated on their art. Now, their latest show of their joint work — called “Shelter:Dwelling:House:Home,” sculptures of homes by Denis painted on by Judith, plus Judith’s paintings of homes — is on display in the Vermont Arts Council’s Spotlight Gallery in Montpelier through Oct. 29.

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