GOOD MORNING, UPPER VALLEY!
Okay, one more. Full day of sun, that is. Several high-temp records for the date fell yesterday, and the same could happen again today, though there's moisture creeping in from the south which may bring clouds and slightly lower temps. Still, we're expected to get into the mid-80s—and on an interesting note, a thin layer of smoke from the NM wildfires is drifting into the region high overhead, which may produce some colorful sunsets. Tonight, the high pressure that produced this week heads out. Lows in the mid or upper 50s."Mom? Where are we going, mom?" In Norwich on Wednesday, Steve Voigt happened to catch video of a fisher relocating her kits. Fisher moms do this if there's been a disturbance at the den or they're looking to expand their hunting territory, explains naturalist Ted Levin. "High-metabolism mammals require lots of calories," he writes. "As the kits grow, mother fisher tracks farther from the natal den, eventually moving the kits when they're ambulatory. She's got mouths to feed . . . no easy task."And another mom, this one sitting very still. Also in Norwich, Josh Lewis and his family have a kestrel nesting box on their property—one of 79 around the region set up and monitored by staff at VINS, says field research coordinator Jim Armbruster. And it's being used. "Generally they lay eggs every other day with a total of 4 or 5. We assume she is probably done laying at this point," Jim writes of this particular kestrel. "Incubation is about 30 days. Once eggs hatch we will wait about two weeks before we band the nestlings." Photo by VINS's Emily Blaikie.Fishing without a hook. That's how Henry prefers to do it, which sets Lydia to wondering, "Does it make any sense to go fishing if you never catch anything?" As he does every week here, Lebanon writer and illustrator DB Johnson chronicles the doings in Lost Woods—and this week on his blog he writes about putting together a strip when he has no idea where it will lead: "the best punchline, the one that gives me the most pleasure, is the unexpected one," he says. Also, if you scroll down you'll find last week's strip, which I inadvertently left out last Friday. Apologies to all of you who missed it.Coburn's General Store in S. Strafford for sale. Owned and run for the past 45 years by brothers Melvin and Philip Coburn and their wives, Susan and Shelby, it "serves as the heart of the community," writes John Freitag in The Herald, where people find goods, often provided by other locals, as well as news and town talk. Putting it on the market, Melvin Coburn tells Freitag, was "a bittersweet decision, as it has been a dream come true job for me. I cannot think of one day during all those years that I didn’t look forward to going to work." (Thanks to The Herald for making this available to Daybreak readers.)Active shooter alarm at Hypertherm proves to be false. NH State Police and officers from towns around the Upper Valley descended on the Hanover company in response to the alarm late yesterday afternoon, reports the Valley News. They cleared about 100 employees from the building on Great Hollow Road, but then determined the alarm had been false. “It appears someone activated the Alertus button and then ran off,” Hypertherm spokesperson Michelle Avila tells the paper. “There was never an active shooter,”
SPONSORED: Seeking adults from Sullivan County NH & Windsor County VT to participate in a research study. Join Dartmouth Cancer Center’s online study about health and cancer. During the study, you’ll be asked to read health information, watch a video, and answer survey questions. Receive a gift card. Learn more at the maroon link or https://tinyurl.com/ms7syzp4. Sponsored by the Dartmouth Cancer Center.Chelsea Green loses one in court. You may remember that last year, the WRJ-based publisher sued Sen. Elizabeth Warren in federal court after she called on Amazon to limit the visibility of books like Chelsea Green's The Truth About COVID-19, its bestseller claiming the pandemic was planned by global elites. The publisher also sought an injunction ordering Warren to retract her letter to Amazon. Earlier this week, reports Chelsea Edgar in Seven Days, a US District judge in Seattle refused, saying that Warren is "far removed from the power to legally punish booksellers for continuing to sell" the book.Fairlee lands $100K grant for Main Street sidewalk, crosswalks. The money from VT's Downtown Transportation Fund will pay for the sidewalk to run from the Fairlee Railroad Station and Park and Ride to the bridge across to Orford, reports Nick Clark in Sidenote. It's part of the larger "Main Street to Morey" effort to improve infrastructure throughout Fairlee's downtown and access under I-91 to Lake Morey. “We need a pedestrian-friendly Main Street to allow residents to leave the vehicle at home and to encourage visitors to park and roam on foot," the town wrote in its grant application.Hanover High mascot has a new logo. You remember that they're the Bears now, right? Students, staff, and coaches over the last few weeks chose from among 10 designs and settled on one by Ani Menkov, a 2021 Hanover grad who is now at the Rhode Island School of Design, reports the VN's Benjamin Rosenberg. The logo depicts a furry, growling bear whose teeth are shaped like the outlines of VT and NH, "symbolizing Hanover’s status as the first interstate public high school in the United States."Hiking close to home: Unity Mountain Trail. This week, the Upper Valley Trails Alliance highlights this 8-mile out-and-back hike in Unity, NH. The trail climbs steadily through woods and past a small pond before crossing the 2nd NH Turnpike, then slowly climbs the mountain (for about 600’ of elevation gain) before heading down to follow the shore of Marshall Pond. With relatively little effort, you get a lovely combination of flora, fauna, and stone walls. Two other trailheads provide shorter treks to Marshall Pond and the view point. The main parking area is behind the Sullivan County complex on County Farm Road.Been paying attention this week? The News Quiz has some questions for you. Like, what happened on that father-son turkey-hunting expedition in Hartford? Why's northbound I-89 over the Connecticut closing at night several times over the next few wees? And what's VT decided to do with its Covid dashboard? You'll find those and others at the maroon link.When a rescue doesn't work out: How do wilderness EMTs cope? In April 2019, a skier carving turns down a Mt. Washington drainage known as Raymond Cataract triggered an avalanche that buried him. He was still alive when rescuer Frank Carus found him and, with the help of colleagues, dug him out, began CPR, and transported him down the mountain. Even so, the skier died of hypothermia on the way to the hospital. NHPR's Outside/In reconstructs the rescue, explaining the decisions and medical issues...then turns to how the rescuers have responded and reflected on the experience since. Audio only.NH Supremes say they'll impose congressional map if lawmakers don't enact one by June 1. That move came in a ruling siding with Democrats who'd filed suit arguing that the state's two current districts are now unconstitutional, thanks to population shifts. The justices, reports NHPR's Josh Rogers, rejected a GOP argument that the legislature has sole authority over congressional redistricting, and said that if they must impose a plan, it will make "the least change necessary." In the wake of the decision, GOP legislative leaders said they'll convene a conference committee to hammer out a new plan.Under the hood of the NH House's new parking garage: zoning reform and so much more. Okay, it's not strictly the garage: It's the bill funding a new garage for House lawmakers. And as NH Bulletin's Ethan DeWitt explains, it's become a vehicle for all sorts of measures championed by GOP state senators that they want their counterparts in the House to agree to. It's part of a frantic horse-trading rush as the legislative session draws to a close. DeWitt sketches out what's at stake, including health care reforms and aid to public schools.NH provisional ballot bill heads to guv's desk. The measure would require new voters in the state who register without proper identification to use a marked provisional ballot—and their votes to be invalidated if they don't provide proper ID to the secy of state's office within 7 days of an election. Gov. Chris Sununu had originally said he opposed the bill, but, reports NHPR's Josh Rogers, now says he's "comfortable" with it since it's been changed to apply only to people registering to vote in NH for the first time. There's a decent chance of a legal challenge if it's signed into law.7.21. That's how many electric vehicles there are in VT for every charging station. According to financial site Forbes Advisor, which crunched US DOE data, that makes the state the ninth most accessible for charging in the country, with 2,230 electric cars registered and 313 electric charging stations. Tops is North Dakota, with 3.18 EVs per station, but that's because it's only got 220 EVs registered. Maine ranks fourth and New Hampshire 35th, with 17.69 cars per charging station.VT legislators agree to use education fund surplus on PCBs, lower school taxes. It's been an ongoing drama of the session: What to do with a $95 million surplus in the fund. Lawmakers have slurped off more than half of it for school meals, career/tech education, and part of the public pension bailout. Now, reports VTDigger's Peter D'Auria, they've agreed to spend $22 million on PCB cleanup in schools and another $20 million to "buy down" school taxes. That will reduce taxes on average 14 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Gov. Phil Scott, who wanted more tax reduction, hasn't yet said what he'll do.And that's a wrap. The VT Legislature adjourned last night, after a last-minute maneuver to salvage housing incentives by shifting them from an Act 250 reform bill—which Gov. Scott had already said he planned to veto—into a different housing bill. The transplanted measures are designed to make housing development easier, especially in downtowns, reports Seven Days' Kevin McCallum. Lawmakers also passed the state's $8.3 billion budget. House Speaker Jill Krowinski said on Wednesday that her chamber would not reconvene to try to override any vetoes.Really, how hard can it be to grow a half-ton pumpkin? That’s something close to the inner monologue of VT Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts, who came away from the VT Giant Pumpkin Growers’ Association’s big weigh-off last fall with enough gumption to try his own hand at it. Seven Days’ Mary Ann Lickteig talked to a few of the pumpkin pros about Tebbetts’ newfound hobby, and they’re cautiously optimistic about his chances of turning out even a 200-pounder. “There’s a lot of tricks to learn,” says last year’s pumpkin champ. Each gourd needs 150 gallons of water a day to gain 50 pounds overnight.Lose your way in the world’s largest maze—and how it was made. For Michelle Boggess-Nunley, it took a pandemic—and lots of downtime—to turn something of a side hustle into a record-breaking pursuit. She’d been making mazes since she was a kid, and had even published a couple of books of mazes. But when she set out to make a “really big maze” for an arts org fundraiser, well, it took on a life of its own. All 1,500 feet of it. Boggess-Nunley talked to Atlas Obscura about the months-long process—every second under scrutiny of the Guinness folks—and her strategies for stumping the solver.And speaking of solving: The Friday Vordle. And remember: Vordletender Kevin McCurdy will create new ones both tomorrow and Sunday, with words related to today's Daybreak. Just hit the same link you use to get to today's and you'll find them.
And the numbers...
The CDC now says that community Covid levels in Grafton and Sullivan counties are high (most NH counties are rated medium). Covid levels in both Windsor and Orange counties remain at high as well.
On Tuesday, Dartmouth reported there had been 196 active cases during the previous 7 days, a slight drop from the 208 reported a week ago. There are now more faculty/staff cases than all students combined: The college said 63 undergrads (-3), 32 grad and professional students (-6), and 101 faculty/staff (-3) had active cases over the previous week.
NH cases are holding roughly steady (though rising in the Upper Valley), with a 7-day average now of 513 new cases per day versus 516 Monday. The state reported 384 new cases Tuesday, 608 Wednesday, and 708 yesterday, bringing it to 316,127 in all. There were 11 deaths reported during that time; the total stands at 2,499. Under the state's rubric of counting only people actively being treated for Covid in hospitals, it reports 27 hospitalizations (+7 since Monday). The NH State Hospital Association reports 128 inpatients with confirmed or suspected cases (+21 since Monday) and another 33 Covid-recovering patients. Meanwhile, the state reports 314 active cases in Grafton County (+31 since Monday), 145 in Sullivan (+24), and 435 (+71) in Merrimack. In town-by-town numbers, it says Hanover has 90 (+20); Lebanon 73 (+6); Claremont 47 (+11); Charlestown 37 (+6); Enfield 19 (+5); Newport 17 (no change); Haverhill 16 (+1); Grantham 11 (+4); Sunapee 11 (+6); New London 10 (+3); Wilmot 8 (+at least 4); Canaan 8 (-1); Orford 6 (+at least 2); Newbury 6 (no change); Cornish 5 (+at leasst 1); and Piermont, Warren, Wentworth, Rumney, Lyme, Orange, Grafton, Grantham, Plainfield, Springfield, and Croydon 1-4 each.
VT's case numbers have dropped a bit overall, despite a surge reported yesterday. The state notched 261 cases Tuesday, 265 Wednesday, and 587 yesterday, bringing it to 128,058 total and a 7-day daily average of 334, compared to 343 on Monday. There were 4 deaths during that time; they stand at 648 all told. Hospitalizations have fallen: As of yesterday, 52 people with confirmed cases were hospitalized (-22 since Monday), with 7 in the ICU (-4). Windsor County added 88 cases since Monday and 369 over the past two weeks, for 9,619 overall, while Orange County gained 40 since Monday and 170 in the past two weeks and stands at 4,410 overall. Here's a link to the state's new weekly "Surveillance Report," which it unveiled Wednesday ahead of pulling the plug on its dashboard next week.
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Today, starting at 9:30 am, Dartmouth kicks off its Innovation and Technology Festival, aimed at celebrating all the new buildings on the west end of campus. It starts with a livestreamed conversation between college president Phil Hanlon and US Senator Rob Portman (OH), a Dartmouth grad, about the future of US innovation. After that, there's a whole collection of both in-person and livestreamed events on everything from the future of EVs and cryptocurrencies to AI, equitable health, space ice, wearable tech, and more, with prominent Dartmouth-connected engineers, politicians, entrepreneurs, scientists, and others. All free and open to the public, but you'll need to register.
The Experimental Balloon and Airship Association Meet returns to the Post Mills Airport this weekend, starting today. It's the first balloon festival since the death last summer of founder and presiding spirit Brian Boland. In addition to a pile of experimental balloons (and balloonists) from all over, the Caring Community Preschool is offering Dinner Under the Balloons today at 5 pm and tomorrow at 4 pm. Balloons will launch, conditions permitting, around 6 pm today and tomorrow, as well as around 6 am tomorrow and Sunday.
At 5 pm, online, the Brattleboro Literary Festival returns with its monthly Literary Cocktail Hour. Today they bring on New Yorker writer Ben McGrath to talk about his book, Riverman. It profiles charismatic, adventurous, and mentally troubled solo river paddler Dick Conant—whom McGrath met by chance along the Hudson in 2014, profiled in The New Yorker, then set out to find the people whose lives Conant had touched after his canoe was found, with no sign of Conant.
At 7:30 this evening, the Lebanon Opera House brings in popular Maine-based standup comedian Bob Marley. In addition to his accomplishment once completing the entire late-night circuit (Letterman, Leno, O'Brien, Kilborn), he's also in the Guinness records for “the longest stand-up comedy show by an individual” at 40 hours. Tonight will be shorter.
Also at 7:30, JAGfest 6.0 kicks off its weekend of staged readings at the Briggs Opera House in WRJ. Tonight: travis tate's Your Maximum Potential, in which a group of young gays sign up with a high-profile Instagram influencer’s lifestyle coaching sessions; tomorrow at 7:30 pm, Elizabeth Addison's Chasing Grace, her musical exploring addiction, trauma, recovery, and more, inspired by her own experiences; and Sunday at 2 pm, Kevin Renn's Padiddle, following the ups and downs of two best friends from ages 15-30.
Starting at 10 am tomorrow, VINS is holding its first-ever Community Science Fair, a sort of into to field science via a day-long "bio-blitz" attempting to catalog as many species as possible on its grounds—birds, bugs, trees, dragonflies, whatever. Training on iNaturalist, bug and tree identification, and a nighttime canopy walk to look for moths and other fliers of the night.
At 2 pm tomorrow, Classicopia presents the first of two weekend performances of "Jewish Broadway"—pianist Daniel Weiser and violinist Tim Schwarz performing new arrangements of classic Broadway tunes by Jewish composers from the '20s-'40s: Gershwin, Kern, Berlin, Arlen. Tomorrow's performance is at Windsor's Old South Church. Sunday at 1 pm they'll be at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon.
Tomorrow at 7:30, the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra presents its spring concert at Spaulding (with a pre-show talk at the Top of the Hop at 6:30 pm). Under conductor Filippo Ciabatti's baton, DSO concertmaster Kimberly Tan will lead the orchestra with the violin solo in the Sibelius Violin Concerto to start, then the orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, the Pathétique, about which Ciabatti told The Dartmouth, "The piece is charged with the same discomfort of the chaos of the world now. I think the symphony is really able to portray this continuous conflict that happens within us human beings..."
Sunday at 10 am, Bradford Parks & Rec unveils a new monthly event: Dayhike and Dine, "a series for landscape lovers and foodies." The idea's simple: You gather at the Bradford Park & Ride and carpool or caravan to the trailhead for a moderate hike, then head off to eat and talk about the adventure at a nearby restaurant. Sunday's excursion is to Spruce Mountain in Plainfield, VT (4.4-mile round trip; 1,180 feet of elevation gain). Afterward it's on to Positive Pie on Main Street in Plainfield. Participants will also get a coupon for 10 percent off at Out of the Whey Cheese Shop in Bradford.
Well, it's finally here: Sunday at noon and again at 4:30 pm, it's the premiere of If I Could Ride at the Lebanon Opera House. You'll remember that it was filmed around the Upper Valley last year. Based on the book of the same name by local writer Don Miller, it follows two horse-obsessed girls from very different backgrounds and circumstances whose paths cross. There are just a few seats left for each showing.
On Sunday from 1-3, the Root Schoolhouse in Norwich will hold a springtime opening celebration with a seedling exchange, music by Red Clover, an art exhibit with works by Nancy Cressman, Patty Piatrowski, and Leah Wolk-Derksen, and a fundraising raffle for a custom raised garden bed.
And finally, Sunday at 5 pm the running Sunday Music Series at East Coast Van Builds in Bradford brings in Phish tribute band Multibeast.
As always on Friday, let's just cut to the chase: Because, really, who better to get you ready for the weekend than Mavis Staples and Jon Batiste,
?
(Thanks, KrH!)
Seriously? 150 gallons of water
per day??!!
Have a very fine weekend. 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 and writers who want you to 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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