Ways of Seeing: Community living is a blessing

My husband and I step out for a brisk winter stroll and immediately get drawn into a snowball fight — five energetic kids against three adults, but we three are up to the challenge.

Some years ago a gentleman named Jim could be spotted around Addison County with a young capuchin monkey named Cassie perched on his shoulder.

Placing merger decisions in the hands of a 13-member board across nine schools and eight towns is not in the best interest of students or taxpayers.

Let’s imagine a house catches on fire one dry summer day, and fortunately, someone gets hold of the fire department.

Starksboro’s unanimous decision was based on what is seen as best for Starksboro’s children, including those with special needs. I am moved by the unity of the town on this issue.

The allure of bridges dates back to my childhood. In 1959 construction began on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge connecting Staten Island to Brooklyn.

It takes both good luck and good care to survive cancer. After my breast cancer diagnosis in 1999 I had both. 

For the past two years, grocery shopping has become my weekly event. During the expanded time between these excursions, I ponder the joys of childhood shopping trips.

The other night I was listening to the radio while washing dinner dishes. The Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville was in the news again.

One recent summer evening, a group of friends gathered on our front porch. As we caught up with each other’s lives, one of us posed the question, “Given the present global challenges, how do you maintain hope?”I immediately knew my answer: I switch dimens … (read more)

Several friends and I quietly admitted to each other that the pandemic has been an affirming personal experience. The spaciousness of this past year was a gift.There was time to act, time to ponder, time to gaze.Technology became a tool for connection. I … (read more)

Yesterday I had my second Pfizer vaccine. Visions of traveling again bubble up, and I think back to my last adventure… I meet up with my old friend Jane in Manhattan on my way home from a trip to Oxfordshire, England. After breakfast at a bakery cafe, she … (read more)

We are in agreement with organizers from Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight Action, who observed, “We are seeing the worst voter suppression since Reconstruction,” and who termed the current extreme GOP voter suppression efforts, “Jim Crow 2.0.” We are also aware … (read more)

In 1989 I was hired to teach a multiage 4th-6th grade class at Lincoln Community School. Though I live in Bristol, Lincoln became my community for the next twenty-five years. A number of us were new to LCS when I came on board. Over time, our evolving sta … (read more)

I met Ruby Bridges fourteen years ago when she visited the school where I taught. Readers may recall my previous article about her visit and its lasting impact. It was an honor to host Ms. Bridges, the first Black student to integrate the William Franz Pu … (read more)