GOOD MORNING, UPPER VALLEY!
Snow ending, then maybe some sun. Keep an eye on the roads out there, which could be a little slippery. Lingering showers should wind down by mid-morning and some clouds will disappear as the day goes on, especially given strong winds from the northwest and gusts up above 25 mph. Temps today will get to either side of 30, mid or upper teens tonight. Here's New England 511 for overall road conditions, with highway cams for:
Moon and planet. Jupiter, to be precise, up there to the left of Wednesday evening's impressionistic moon in Jay Davis's photo from the new snowmaking loop at Oak Hill in Hanover.Fatal fire in Strafford. Firefighters arrived at the house on Rogers Road not long after the first report of a fire came in around 8:15 yesterday morning; it was already "fully engulfed," the VT State Police say in their press release. Crews were told that someone was still inside, and firefighters and investigators eventually found a body, which was taken yesterday to the chief medical examiner's office in Burlington. Officials are withholding the victim's name until next of kin can be notified, and say the initial investigation "indicates the fire is not suspicious."Windsor County sheriff pitches another Orange County town. Ryan Palmer was up before Tunbridge's selectboard this week as its members consider what to do about a rising sense of disorder in town. Chelsea's new contract with the Windsor department has already yielded results, Robert Childs, who runs a central VT policing FB group, told board members. “Almost all the dealing has stopped in the village," he said. Palmer suggested the board consider at least 10-12 hours per week of patrols. Which might be easy because one of his deputies lives in Tunbridge. Darren Marcy reports on it all in the Herald.SPONSORED: Writers For Recovery at the Norwich Public Library, 2/23 at Noon: Live or Zoom. This is the first talk in a free series on "Alternatives in Recovery and Incarceration." Writers for Recovery is the creation of Bess O’Brien of Kingdom Productions and Gary Miller. The program uses the power of the written word to process trauma, build self-esteem and support sustained recovery from addiction. Sit with deeply personal stories of struggle and perseverance, doubt and inspiration, and the steady work of renewal and healing. Co-sponsored by Hartford Dismas House and Norwich Public Library.House for sale. 1 BD, 1.5 BA, 300 cars. You may just have missed your chance (it’s tagged as “pending” on Zillow), but if the sale falls through and you’re a car-part hound, you’ll want to jump on this. Nathan Petroelje on Hagerty (the car lovers’ organization) peeks over the hood at a property for sale in Canaan. The house, meh, but the collection of hundreds of classic cars from the 1940s through 1970s? You be the judge. “From the images, we can see a Nash Metropolitan fading into the forest floor,” Petroelje writes. “Our staff has spent the better part of the morning playing ‘Can you I.D. this car?’” Local elections are approaching, and here's a Q&A with selectboard candidates in Woodstock and Reading. The VT Standard's Tom Ayres also reached out to the two candidates facing off in Pomfret, but neither responded. In the meantime, though, incumbent Woodstock board member Laura Powell is facing a challenge from Woodstock Village businessman Scott Smith, while three candidates—farmers Stacy Gallowhur and Dylan Rowlee and town animal control officer Lisa Hern Silvester are running for the seat being vacated by longtime member and current chair Gordon Eastman. Qs and As at the link.Dartmouth students translate NH drivers manual into Portuguese. Their bid to make it easier for US citizens from Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries to get a driver's license springs from a quirk of the DMV, reports NHPR's Gabriela Lozada: People can take the online license exam in one of seven languages, but they can only study for it in English. As Dartmouth prof Carlos Cortez Minchillo says, "It doesn’t make sense." So a group of ten student volunteers stepped in—and DMV director John Marrasco says he's grateful. “I give them a lot of credit," he tells Lozada. "We got to do a better job.”About that NH state bird. As you'll remember from yesterday, it's the purple finch, thanks to a 1957 bill by a Hanover state rep. But Canaan's Tim Josephson adds to the story. Back when he was a state rep, 4th graders at Canaan Elementary School agitated to name a chicken, the New Hampshire Red, the Official State Poultry, due to its intelligence and hardiness. Josephson carried the bill, which passed and was signed by Gov. Chris Sununu in 2018—with chickens named Peachy and Rusty looking on. So the Upper Valley had a hand in two state birds. "We look out for our feathered friends here," Tim writes.“I met people I hadn’t met before and watched connections happen that wouldn’t have otherwise happened, because we don’t all walk down to the store in the morning anymore." Sure, last weekend's Sharon Skills Swap was geared toward teaching skills in everything from small motor repair to fly-casting. But, Ryan Haac tells the Herald's Tim Calabro, it was also aimed at building neighborly connection, just like its inspiration, Bethel University. With the town's diners gone and Midway Station closed (for now), writes Calabro, "The need for people to have an excuse to get together was palpable."Hiking Close to Home: North Hartland Lake Nature Trail, Hartland, VT. This week's suggestion from the Upper Valley Trails Alliance brings you to this short lollipop loop of just under one mile. It is a great trail for birders, with opportunities to spot eagles, hawks, owls, and plenty of other birds. It is perfect for snowshoeing and in summer has a number of amenities for swimmers, boaters, and anglers. From VT-5 in North Hartland, turn west onto Clay Hill Road, just north of the I-91 overpass. Go 1.1 miles, then turn right on North Hartland Dam Road. Go 0.5 miles to the recreation area entrance.So... Think you know what's been going on in the Upper Valley? Because Daybreak's News Quiz has some questions for you. Like... What kind of business has moved into the old general store in North Thetford? And where did Dartmouth employees Tammara Wood and Scott Gerlach, who are getting married on Leap Day, meet? Those questions and more at the link.But wait! How closely were you following VT and NH?
Because Seven Days wants to know if you know where the USPS is considering sending letters mailed in Vermont to be sorted.
And NHPR's got a whole set of questionsabout doings around the Granite State—like, why do over 2,000 people descend on Meredith each February to compete?
In votes yesterday, reports WMUR's Marissa Tamsino, the GOP majority voted down a proposed "red flag" law that would have let relatives or law enforcement petition a court to remove firearms temporarily from someone they worried might harm themselves or others; a bid to expand background checks; and a proposed three-day waiting period for all gun purchases. The votes were all along party lines.
That was Hartford state Sen. Becca White, one of the prime backers of the proposed pay raise as a way to make it easier for young people and people without means to serve in the legislature. But as Kevin McCallum writes in Seven Days, this year's property tax turmoil has made it politically awkward. “What I heard was, 'We’re raising property taxes over 20 percent. How can we then also justify increasing our pay?’” Windsor state Sen. Alison Clarkson says.
It's not just warrant articles and selectboard candidates on the ballot in VT on March 5. There are also presidential candidates. Yep, the Vermont Presidential Primary is that day, and VT Public's got a handy guide to how things work. For one thing, you'll choose which party's ballot you want that day (your choice becomes public record). You can also get a ballot in the mail, but you'll have to request it; otherwise just show up in person at your polling place starting at 7 am. There are six candidates apiece on the Democratic and Republican ballots.For VT's unemployed, looks like it could be a long four years. On Sunday and Monday this week, the state's online portal for filing for benefits seized up. And though it was fixed by Monday afternoon, this was the second time recently that the system went down—and that doesn't even count the notorious pandemic-era crashes. As VTDigger's Habib Sabet reports, it all stems from the Labor Dept's ancient mainframe—but a $30 million fix that's in the works could take four years to complete. The state's developed contingency plans: using another state's system, or turning to paper claims.It's not just you: Mud season ruts are back. And yes, it's early. “Typically, the roads tend to start getting bad slash impassable right around sugar season,” VT state geologist Ben DeJong tells VT Public's Corey Dockser. “So this seems weird. I mean, this is a bit early.” And for some communities with tight gravel budgets, it can be a problem. Duxbury used most of its gravel on repairs after a muddy period in December. "We don't have much material left," road foreman Brian Gibbs says. "People are going to ahve to be patient."In Burlington's high-rise public housing for seniors, homelessness, drug use, chaos—and desperation. Back in January, Seven Days' Derek Brouwer fielded calls from residents of Decker Towers alarmed by just how bad things have gotten in the 11-story building. Brouwer spent seven evenings there, facing some of the same issues residents face daily, and returned to file a hair-raising report—as people who don't live there find ways inside to buy or sell drugs, shelter from the cold, use the stairwells as bedrooms and bathrooms. "No one is winning," Brouwer writes. "But in the drug-sieged corridors of Vermont's tallest housing complex, it's clear the 160 tenants are losing."Selfies: Art world threat. Seriously. People taking selfies are backing into art, damaging paintings, objects, and installations, specialty insurer Hiscox is warning. This isn't new—here's a viral video from a 2017 art installation in LA that's been immortalized as "Selfie Domino" (keep your eye on the young women at the top right), with $200K in damages. But as Jamie Valentino writes on artnet, "a surprisingly large percentage" of what Hiscox is paying out these days in its art underwriting business is due to selfie-takers.A GoPo for the naturalist set. Canada’s Wapusk National Park, in Manitoba, is home to one of the largest maternal polar bear denning areas in the world. Only a couple hundred visitors are allowed in each year, so it’s especially wonderful that researchers at the USGS fitted several bears with GPS-enabled video collars and sent them off to do their thing. In B-roll video posted by USGS, you can ride along as the bears rest, survey the shoreline, eat berries (warning: and seals, birds, and a host of other critters), and swim in Hudson Bay. It’s a slow lumber through beautiful territory with a magnificent tour guide.The Friday Vordle. With a word from yesterday's Daybreak. And are you new to Vordle? Fresh ones appear on weekends, using words from the Friday Daybreak, and you can get a reminder email each weekend morning: Just sign up here.
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There's that Daybreak jigsaw puzzle, perfect for long nights by the fire. Plus, of course, fleece vests, hoodies, sweatshirts, even a throw blanket. And hats, mugs, and—once you work up a puzzle-piece sweat—tees. Check it all out at the link!
From 5-7 today, the newly renovated 19 Central Street in Woodstock inaugurates its new second-floor Pop-Up Gallery with a reception for artist (and teacher) Adrian Tans—whom you probably know better as the "Town Smiler". The exhibit shows work by Tans that spans three decades, as well as selected works he's curated by other artists. And as the Pop-Up notes, the space is "so much warmer than [Tans's] outdoor chalkboard."
If you happened to see the Québecois skate/dance troupe Le Patin Libre last year in Hanover, you know why it would be worth the drive down to Brattleboro for tonight's performances of "Threshold" at 6 and 8 pm. It's grace, creativity, energy, and adrenalin all rolled into one. Presented by Next Stage Arts at the Nelson Withington Skating Facility—and advance ticketing closes at 4 pm today. If you can't make it, don't fret: They'll be in Hanover on Sunday for a HopStop event (see below).
This evening at 7, Hop Film screens Total Trust, filmmaker Jialing Zhang's documentary about China's state surveillance system, its impact on the lives of four Chinese citizens, and what happens when data and technology are in the hands of "unchecked power." Followed by a discussion with Dartmouth China expert Yi Lu and software security prof Christophe Hauser. At the Loew.
Also at 7, Seven Stars Arts presents The Bob & Sarah Amos Band, led by the father-daughter pair. Bob, who's got a dozen albums out, made is name leading the award-winning bluegrass band Front Range; Sarah joined a later Amos project, Catamount Crossing, not long after finishing college. They're joined by regional bluegrass stars Matt Flinner on mandolin, Andy Greene on guitar, and Kirk Lord on bass.
Tonight's 7 pm show of The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival at the Lebanon Opera House is sold out, but there is a waitlist, which you'll find here.
At 7:30 this evening, the Dartmouth Theater Dept. premieres Something Happy for Crying Out Loud, which it describes in full as, "A live full-length cabaret designed to make you happy." Two musicians, lots of performers. Runs this weekend and next at the intimate Theater on Currier, limited tickets left for most shows.
And at 9 tonight, Sawtooth Kitchen in Hanover brings back Americana rockers Mojohand, based in NYC and NJ, made up of childhood friends Elijah Klein and Joe DiNardo, keyboardist Ian D’Arcy, and drummer Jasper Mahncke, who have built a following (and a DIY summer music festival in Toms River, NJ) from countless gigs at bars, clubs, and colleges around the country.
Saturday
From 9:30 - 1:30 tomorrow, VerShare throws its 27th annual Snowshoe-a-thon in Vershire. It's a fundraiser for the organization's free summer camp for local kids, and there'll be three route options (with actual new snow on the ground!): 1/4 mile, 1 mile, and 3 mile loops. Snowshoeing will be followed by ice skating, s'mores-making, and a chili/soup lunch provided by The Mountain School and local community.
And starting at 10 am tomorrow (and running until 4 pm), VINS throws its local version of the Great Backyard Bird Count, with birding tours throughout the day where you can learn how to track and input your data, Pokémon GO birding, tours, and more. Included with general admission.
Also starting at 10, and running daily through next weekend, Billings Farm holds this year's "Magic of Maple", with syrup tasting, sugar on snow demonstrations, stories, crafts, and—tomorrow and several days next week—horse-drawn sleigh rides.
At 2 pm tomorrow, the Norwich Bookstore hosts middle-grade novelist Elly Swartz. She'll be reading and talking about her latest, Hidden Truths, which was a Kirkus Best Book of 2023, about two best friends navigating middle school until Dani makes it onto the otherwise all-boy middle school team and then is injured in a camper explosion—and her friend Eric wonders if he caused it.
Tomorrow at 3 and again on Sunday at the same time, Billings' Woodstock Film Series screens It Ain't Over, a portrait of Yogi Berra produced by his granddaughter, Lindsay, that makes an extremely strong case that Berra was as talented and smart a ballplayer as the greatest of the greats—"A good catcher has to carry the whole equation of the game in his head. The movie’s account of Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, in which Berra caught pitcher Don Larsen’s perfect game...is a thrilling demonstration of Berra’s baseball genius," the NYT wrote in a review last year. Lindsay Berra will be on hand to talk about it for both showings.
At 7 pm tomorrow, the Chandler and Vermont Public team up for a live, on-stage production of the Homegoings podcast. It began as a segment on Brave Little State of interviews with Black artists in Vermont. It's become a nationally syndicated podcast created and produced by Myra Flynn—who, not coincidentally, got her start as a performer on the Chandler stage. This show will feature composer Matthew Evans Taylor, actress and dancer Marissa Herarra, artist and former VT state Rep. Kiah Morris, comedian Ash Diggs, and poet Saidu Tejan Thomas Jr.
Also at 7 tomorrow, Hop Film screens Ghanaian filmmaker Blitz Bazawule's new musical adaptation of The Color Purple: "a bold new take," the Hop writes, that "delivers a movie musical with show-stopping set pieces, forays into fantasy and a powerhouse cast: Broadway alums as well as Colman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson and Halle Bailey." At the Loew.
Also at 7 tomorrow, the Main Street Museum hosts an all-ages show of three bands: Claremont indie-rockers Phrogs, ska/punkers McAsh (which started as My Cat's A Super Hero in 1999 and has been around in various shapes since then), and Littleton-based Gagger, "Three working class punks ready to bring noise and the party to all those who love some raw punk..."
At 7:30 pm tomorrow—then at 3 pm Sunday and 7:30 Monday—Pentangle Arts screens Cord Jefferson's multiple Oscar-nominee dramedy, American Fiction. It's about a Black professor of Ancient Greek literature (Jeffrey Wright) who's appalled by novels that pander to every American stereotype of Black life and decides to write one of his own as a thumb in the eye to the publishing world. Naturally, the book becomes a runaway success.
And at 8 pm tomorrow, the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra will be in Rollins Chapel performing Mendelssohn's 3rd Symphony, the jazz-inspired When the World Changes Around You by Jessica Pavone, and Essay No. 1 by jazz cellist and visiting artist Tomeka Reid, who will be the soloist. It's only the second time the piece has been performed in public—and is a chance, Nicola Smith writes for Dartmouth News, "for audiences to hear firsthand the distinctive sound—pulsating, urgent, and plangent—that has made Reid what the New York Times calls a 'new jazz power source.'"
Sunday
At 11 am Sunday, the phenomenal Québec troupe Le Patin Libre will give a HopStop demonstration and intro to dancing on ice at the rink on the Dartmouth Green (unless the weather's bad, in which case it'll be at 10 am at Union Arena in Woodstock—check the link that morning for any update). They'll show what they can do, teach you a bit about what you can do, and then follow it all up with what will no doubt be a glorious free skate. One thing: Don't forget your skates—there won't be any on hand to borrow or rent.
And at 1 pm on Sunday, there's a very different kind of dancing when Brownsville English Country Dance holds, well, an English country dance. First up, it's time for the people who know what they're doing (ie, if you don't know your hey from your poussette, better just to watch); starting at 1:45 they'll be teaching terms and moves to beginners, and then the general dance starts at 2. Soft-soled shoes and "high level masks" required. In West Windsor/Brownsville Town Hall.
Also Sunday at 1 pm, at the Windsor Visitor Center (3 Railroad Ave.), Vermont Humanities presents a talk by VT-based history, adventure, and outdoors writer Michael Tougias, "400 Miles Down the Connecticut". It'll be a narrated slide presentation that takes attendees "down the entire 410 miles of the river, discussing history from the days of loggers, Indian Wars, steamships, and canals."
And to help us welcome the weekend...
A couple of weeks ago, three contemporary greats—mandolinist Chris Thile, bluegrass guitar prodigy Billy Strings, and jazz and gospel pianist Cory Henry—gave a concert at Lincoln Center. If you dig around some on YouTube, you'll see why you'll wish you'd been there. Anyway,
, a little master class in musicians enjoying each other's company. Volume up: They turned the PA off for it.
Enjoy the snow! 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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