GOOD MORNING, UPPER VALLEY!
Heads Up: Daybreak break starting next Wednesday. It's time to rest, recover, and prep for 2025. So Daybreak will publish on Monday and Tuesday next week, and then that's it for a couple of weeks—back on Tuesday, Jan. 7.Chance of snow as the day goes on, colder air coming. We start off cloudy and dry this morning, but there's a disturbance moving in from the west and a low off the coast, and they'll bring us a chance of snow showers starting late morning and into the night—though it won't amount to much, maybe an inch, a bit more in the mountains. As snow falls, so will temps as arctic air arrives: upper 20s today, lower 20s tonight, on down into the minuses Sunday night."Night comes early—the conspiracy of darkness—on the eve of the Winter Solstice." So writes Ted Levin about Erin Donahue's latest video. "Three coyotes pass through a tunnel of falling snow. Big flakes floating. On a mission ... but where? In a single file, of a single mind, one foot in front of the other. An orderly social hierarchy that lives in the moment. Who leads? Who lags? Coyotes understand cooperation and the pull of night across a corrugated landscape near a river on a small planet in a dark universe. They proceed with assurance ... onward and upward into the New Year."So, did you check out "Dear Daybreak" yesterday? If not, you missed Wendy Fogg-McIntire on the passage of time in Quechee; Mary Cheyne on "quiet places to linger" at the end of autumn, and a little photo collection as ice extends its domain around the Upper Valley.And hey, speaking of Dear Daybreak: It needs your voice! It's been so much fun to do, but the larder's close to empty, which means it's iffy for next year unless you fill it up. Some chance encounter? A wry observation? A funny moment? A double-take photograph? A poem or reminiscence or heartwarming story? How about some little-known spot in the Upper Valley that you wish others knew about? It's all welcome—and you've got a couple of weeks to come up with things! Just hit the burgundy link or here to submit.Leb City Council approves budget that cuts $1 million from original proposal, hikes taxes 7.8 percent. Though that tax increase is a good bit less than the 11.9 percent forecast in the original budget, reports Clare Shanahan in the Valley News. In the end, the council opted to cut the energy and facilities manager position held by Tad Montgomery, as well as a vacant librarian position; they decided not to eliminate any vacant police patrol positions. They also reduced spending on paving and other infrastructure improvements.A lesson for town officials everywhere in the success of Woodstock's water system votes. Just three words: Over 70 meetings. But not in town hall or at official hearings. Instead, writes Lauren Dorsey in the VT Standard, selectboard members and town officials fanned out all around town (municipal manager Eric Duffy says he got the idea from an episode of The West Wing). They went to Mon Vert Café and the S. Woodstock Store, to farmers markets and other gatherings. They met with one person or a few dozen—for as long as it took to ensure everyone who planned to vote had their questions answered.SPONSORED: Help Twin Pines Housing create homes and strengthen communities! Your support for Twin Pines Housing helps create affordable homes for our neighbors in the Upper Valley and provides resident supportive services, connecting families to food assistance, healthcare, and more. Together, we’re building stability, opportunity, and dignity for those who need it most. And your gift will be matched by the Byrne Foundation, doubling its impact! Donate now at the burgundy link or here to invest in a stronger Upper Valley. Sponsored by Twin Pines Housing."I felt trapped": New Scientific American film takes on the Dartmouth brain sciences sexual harassment scandal. By filmmaker Sharon Shattuck, the 15-minute documentary tells the story of several of the women students who, in 2018, shook both Dartmouth and the scientific world by filing a lawsuit calling out a culture of drinking and what one calls sexual "grooming" foisted on them by three prominent faculty members. It's entirely in their own words—both what happened and the aftermath. "We're not defined by that case, but it transforms who we are to this day," says Kristina Rapuano. (With transcript.)In Chelsea, a pedestrian's death leaves a gaping hole at the heart of town. Robert Hutchinson was 82 when he died Nov. 17, 10 days after being hit by a car as he crossed Route 113 in the dark. He grew up in town, never learned to read or write, supported himself with odd jobs, and, Will's Store proprietor Will Gilman tells Darren Marcy in The Herald, "was one of those characters around town. Absolutely everybody knew him.” Especially at the store, where Hutchinson liked to sit, eat, watch TV, share ideas—binoculars for deer hunters that would make all the trees disappear?—and chat up the clerks. Who tried for years to get him to wear a reflective safety vest. Marcy tells his story.SPONSORED: Last-minute ready-to-wrap gifts at Dutille's Jewelry Design Studio 🎁 Still need the perfect gift? Visit your local jewelry design studio for stunning custom creations and designer favorites from John Hardy, Lika Behar, Shinola, and more! We are open extended hours through Christmas Eve: Friday 12/20: 9am-7pm, Saturday 12/21: 9am-3pm, Sunday 12/22: 10am-2pm, Monday 12/23: 9am-7pm, Tuesday 12/24: 9am-3pm. Hurry in for the perfect holiday sparkle! Hit the maroon link to browse our products online! Sponsored by Dutille's Jewelry Design Studio.Nativity figures stolen from Tunbridge church: "We’re all disappointed that this happened.” The figures are of Mary, Joseph, a single wise man, and the infant Jesus; the first three stand 3 or 4 feet tall and weigh between 25 and 30 pounds—so as Tunbridge Church member Nancy Chapman tells the VN's Christina Dolan, “It was a really brazen act.” The church hasn't yet reported the theft to the police, Dolan reports. “We would like to give whoever did this a grace period to return the items,” says the Rev. John McClintock.Out there in the woods this week: cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches—and a lone Post Pond loon who, hopefully, is gone by now. In "This Week in the Woods" this third week of December, Northern Woodlands' Jackson Saul focuses mostly on birds that stick around: cardinals, whose range has expanded over the years; chickadees, whose brains are twice the size of birds of similar weight—and, Jack writes, "chickadees living in the chilly Northeast may be especially smart"; and nuthatches, who can descend trees head-first. Then there's that loon... If you happen to see one, here's some advice.Hiking and Biking Close to Home: Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail, Hinsdale, Keene, Swanzey, and Winchester, NH. Given its covered bridges, historical aura and abundant wildlife, the Ashuelot Rail Trail has plenty to offer, says the Upper Valley Trails Alliance. The 21.2-mile, multi-use trail follows the corridor of the Ashuelot Railroad with the original granite mile markers, which pop up periodically along the trail. You can start in Keene and wind up in Winchester, passing through an intricate latticework covered bridge, past old mills and along a ridge with riverside views. A trail for all seasons and abilities.Been paying attention to Daybreak? Because Daybreak's Upper Valley News Quiz has some questions. Like, which local ski hill drew national attention this week after it announced skiing and boarding would be free this winter? And which two Upper Valley towns did Travel + Leisure just rank among the "Best Small Towns" in NH? Those and other questions at the link.But wait! How closely were you following VT and NH?
Because Seven Days wants to knowif you know: Housing violations by a Colchester roofing company revealed the role of what in Vermont construction trades?
And NHPR's got a whole set of questions about doings around the Granite State—like, why did Gov. Chris Sununu withdraw his nominee for state librarian?
NH judge rejects effort to strip case against Supreme Court justice from attorney general. The request o replace the prosecution team led by AG John Formella had come from Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi's lawyers; they argued that Formella has a conflict of interest because of his longtime ties to Gov. Chris Sununu, who will be a key witness. "A defendant must do more than speculate about a potential conflict," said a Merrimack County Superior Court judge in turning them down. NHPR's Todd Bookman reports.After turning back proposed landfill siting rules last month, legislative panel reverses course and approves them. Members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules had wanted more time to assess the voluminous public criticism of new regs proposed by the state—but when push came to shove yesterday, voted 9-1 for them. Those in favor argued the legislature will get its turn this session, when bills related to landfills come before it; the Dover Democrat who opposed the regs called them “not protective enough.” InDepthNH's Paula Tracy was there.
"I’m staring at the commissioner and deputy commissioner back there, that both have these ridiculous mustaches." That was an unfettered and slightly giddy Gov. Chris Sununu at Wednesday's NH Exec Council meeting—his 335th and last, after six years on the council and eight as governor. The council's meetings, reports NHPR's Todd Bookman, became "the place where Sununu has developed, performed and perfected his persona as chief executive." At a press conference afterward, Sununu took aim at Bookman himself: “I think that article was complete garbage,” he said of a recent piece.
In NH Bulletin, Ethan DeWitt has a longer retrospective, from Sununu's legislative successes and failures (right-to-work, victim rights) and vetoes to his influence on the state's tone and direction to his use of the spotlight for both electoral and policy wins.
In VT, support builds for hospital pricing reform. In particular, writes Peter D'Auria, it's focused on "reference-based pricing," which would essentially limit how much hospitals can charge private insurers by pegging allowable costs to, say, a multiple of how much Medicare pays. A new study for the Green Mountain Care Board found that between 2018 and 2023, hospitals charged plans covering state and school employees three times what Medicare would have paid; reducing that to twice Medicare's rates would have saved some $400 million. No surprise, though, there are issues; D'Auria explains.VT farmer/filmmaker George Woodard on figuring out how to end his new kids' book: "I just wanted the adventure, not the lesson." Last month, Woodard—the director of last year's The Farm Boy—self-published The Christmas Calf, a story about a 9-year-old boy on a dairy farm who "witnesses some magic while helping a cow give birth on Christmas Eve," writes Hannah Feuer in Seven Days. Told through more than 60 black-and-white illustrations and helpful footnotes about cows, it mirrors Woodard's approach to film. "The pictures actually came pretty easy," he tells Feuer, "because it was sort of like, well, I've already made a couple of movies."What if Daylight Savings lasted all year? Or Standard Time? Whichever, it's a live issue at the federal level. So the helpful data people at the Washington Post (gift link) made a map, where you can look county by county and see what would happen if one or the other took hold year-round. Around here, not much would change in terms of sunrise/sunset extremes. But switch to standard time year-round and northern Maine would get sunrise around 3:39 am in the summer. Daylight savings, on the other hand, would give parts of North Dakota a 9:45 am sunrise in winter. You can see why it gets tricky fast.From a site that likes to run a lot of photos, the year's best. Every year, the arts and culture site My Modern Met looks back at the images that most struck its team—and in this year's crop of 45, you can see why. Some—a Fijian islander chest-deep in water that's now where the shoreline used to be; children playing in Ukraine—are thought-provoking. Others—red sprites; a sunbird bathing in a banana leaf petal; bear cubs asleep beneath the Milky Way—a little shot of awe. But all are stunning.
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Fleece vests, sweatshirts, head-warming beanies... Strong Rabbit has updated the Daybreak page to keep up with the changing weather. Plus, of course, the usual: t-shirts, long-sleeved tees, the Daybreak jigsaw, those perfect hand-fitting coffee/tea mugs, and as always, "We Make Our Own Fun" t-shirts and tote bags for proud Upper Valleyites. Check it all out at the link!
It'll be a half hour of holiday a cappella in the New Books area, starting at 4 pm.
With the 45-member BarnArts Chorale, the BarnArts Youth Chorale, Mark van Gulden and Kathleen Dolan, Trifolium, Michael Zsoldos and Ben Kogan, and a community singalong, all led by Zsoldos. Tonight at 7 at the First Universalist Church and Society of Barnard.
A trio of Vermonters and that Jim Rooney guy from down south: Colin McCaffrey and Rooney, the moving forces behind "McCaffrey and Rooney Present", bring in Montpelier's Danny Coane and E. Craftsbury's Dave Rowell for an evening of fine musicians doing vintage, classic country, bluegrass, rockabilly, and western swing.
Cuban Dance beginner bootcamp and social dance in Hanover. The "bootcamp" starts up at 7, teaching the basic moves of the Cuban social dance known as "casino". At 8:30, the floor opens up to practice what you've learned. No partner needed, wear clean shoes. At Our Savior Lutheran Church (5 Summer St.) No link.
It's David Clark as Billy Joel and Bill Connors as Elton John, channeling the Face to Face tours of the 1990s and 2000s in a tribute concert that brings "I’m Still Standing", "Crocodile Rock", "Piano Man", and more to the LOH stage. 7:30 tonight.
Saturday
The band's shows, LOH writes, "
are a nostalgic journey through the magical world of Disney, infused with rock and pop influences." This particular show goes right for the holidays, with music from
The Nightmare Before Christmas
,
Home Alone
,
The Muppet Christmas Carol
, and more. 2 pm.
Andrea Nevins' 2023 documentary is about just that: the unlikely
alliance between renegade horse trainer Monty Roberts (his approach: gentleness) and Queen Elizabeth II, who helped him overcome widespread skepticism to spread his method to horse trainers around the world. 3 pm tomorrow and Sunday
.
There'll be a brief presentation on how the Shakers celebrated Christmas by Mary Ann Haagen, who will then lead the audience and community instrumentalists in carols. 4 pm tomorrow in the former La Salette Chapel.
It'll be a self-paced hike to the top of Lyme Pinnacle, where you'll find a fire and company, conversation, and hot chocolate.
Meet at the Pinnacle parking lot on Highbridge Road at 4 pm. The descent will be in the dark, so headlamps/flashlights are required—and you might want spikes, depending on conditions.At WRJ's Main Street Museum,
Organized by the What Doth Life collective, with music from Lily Welch, Bull & Prairie, Fool & the World, and Faux in Love. Doors tomorrow at 6, music at 7.
Sunday
It's Upper Valley Music Center's annual event, conducted by Mark Nelson, with solos
performed by UVMC voice students, an orchestra featuring UVMC faculty and community musicians, and the audience taking on the choral parts. They'll supply a score if you need one. 3 pm Sunday at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon.In Claremont, the No Strings Marionette Company with "Quill and Foyle’s Hasty Composure". The West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts presents a collaboration between
puppeteers Dan Baginski and Barbara Paulson, and composer and conductor Paul Perley with four musicians. It's the tale of the tale of twins Quill and Foyle as they set out to find their life’s purpose. Claremont Creative Center, 3 pm Sunday.
Hey! It's almost the weekend!
So... You can look up all about the 1941 fourth-wall-breaking film
Hellzapoppin
' on your own, but it's got a legendary scene that starts with piano and guitar great Slim Gaillard and bassist Slam Stewart, who performed as Slim & Slam and had their own novelty combo for a time that included Rex Stewart on cornet, Elmer Fane on clarinet, Jap Jones on trombone, and CP Jonstone on drums. What makes it really legendary, though, is the dance sequence with Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, the house troupe at the Savoy Ballroom. Though as it happens, once the dancers come on you're hearing a dub-over; the sequence was originally filmed to
Count Basie's "Jumpin' At The Woodside." Whatever, it'll get your blood moving this morning.See you Monday for CoffeeBreak.
The Hiking Close to Home Archives. A list of hikes around the Upper Valley, some easy, some more difficult, compiled by the Upper Valley Trails Alliance. It grows every week.
The Enthusiasms Archives. A list of book recommendations by Daybreak's rotating crew of local booksellers, writers, and librarians who think you should read. this. book. now!
Daybreak Where You Are: The Album. Photos of daybreak around the Upper Valley, Vermont, New Hampshire, and the US, sent in by readers.
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Written and published by Rob Gurwitt Poetry editor: Michael Lipson Associate Editor: Jonea Gurwitt About Rob About Michael
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