GOOD MORNING, UPPER VALLEY!
Storm? What storm? Things are clearing out south to north, and any morning clouds will give way to mostly clear skies this afternoon and tonight. The air's cooler behind yesterday's cold front, with highs today in the mid or upper 70s, down into the upper 50s overnight. It'll be breezy today, with winds from the west and gusts getting into the 30 or 40 mph range.It's green out there, but there's no green like a luna moth.
One in Lyme, looking remarkably like a leaf, from Peg Ackerson;
And another in its full splendor in the Norwich woods, from Cynthia Crawford, who writes, "Full grown Luna Moths only live about five days. They don't eat (have no mouth parts). They just reproduce and die."
If not, you missed a great trio of stories: Jacob Chalif's (with video) about a double-dipping bear at his chicken coop; Carolyn Murray Cravero's lovely tale of the summer her daughter headed off to college—with a near unbelievable coincidence that tied Hanover and Maine together; and Whit Mitchell's joy—and perfect quotations—in watching children at play. Got a good story or anecdote about life in these parts? Dear Daybreak can use them!
There's utility crossing work going on between The Summit at Jupiter and Marek South between 7 am and 5 pm. The city writes: "Access to The Summit at Jupiter will be maintained via the roundabout on Lahaye Drive; all properties to the south, including Timberwood Commons and Marek South, must enter and exit via Heater Road. Thru traffic will not be permitted during work hours."
VT Supreme Court gives go-ahead to big Hartland farm outlet. The 9,000-square-foot store proposed for just off I-91 by the Florida-based owners of Sunnymede Farm has been agitating the town for the last several years and stirring contention between the planning commission and the selectboard over how to approach it. On Friday, reports Tom Ayres in the VT Standard, the state Supreme Court ruled 3-2 on a last-ditch appeal by the planning commission, which had argued the project violates Act 250 licensing regs. The court said it does not. Sunnymede's attorney says there's no firm timeline for construction.
In an email to Ayres after the decision, Sunnymede's lawyer wrote, "my client also stated that he hopes that the Town’s experience in this case will result in some meaningful changes to the membership of the Hartland Planning Commission.” Which is exactly what happened Tuesday night, Ayres reports, when HPC chair David Dukeshire resigned. Dukeshire tells Ayres, "I guess I have never gotten over why it is that the selectboard never took a position on supporting the town plan against a developer abusing the system." The town spent $28,000 fighting the Act 250 permit.
SPONSORED: Opera North Summerfest 2025 opens June 27-29 with The Little Prince! Enjoy Rachel Portman's telling of the enchanting family story of a prince from another planet and his friends, Fox and Snake, saving The Pilot and The Rose. With a children’s chorus of stars (Upper Valley Music Center Treble Ensemble). Fri Jun 27 at 7:30 pm, Sat Jun 28 at 5:30 pm and Sun Jun 29 at 5:30 pm. Under the tent at Blow-Me-Down Farm in Cornish. Bring a picnic! Food trucks each night. Tickets at the burgundy link or here. Sponsored by Opera North.“We just have to get our profile a little higher, and then I'm sure Dolly Parton will want to come on the show.” Parton and accomplished baker Jennifer Garner are the celebrity guests most coveted by the hosts of King Arthur Baking's podcast, “Things Bakers Know.” The second season arrives in September, following a first that racked up more than 24,000 subscribers and 156,000 episode downloads. Seven Days’ Mary Ann Lickteig spoke with co-hosts Jessica Battilana and David Tamarkin about their rapport, the show’s line-up, and getting people to “experience the joy of baking.”In downtown Strafford, the Occasional Rooster café is "modest by appearance but vast in warmth." So writes Dave Celone on his Upper Valley VT/NH Musings blog about Phoebe Mix's new spot, which is now open for breakfast and lunch. For the last few years, Mix—a member of what was then the VT Law School's fourth graduating class—has been "working to develop a space where people can come together to share the community vibe that she’s long known to be Strafford’s true pulse," Celone writes, and it's fair to say he's a fan both of the food and of the friendly, conversational vibe.SPONSORED: The fourth annual West Windsor, VT Music Festival starts next week! Everyone is welcome to these lovely chamber music concerts with Sakiko Ohashi and friends—concerts are in the Town Hall at 22 Brownsville-Hartland Road. Friday, June 27 at 7:00 pm; Saturday, June 28 at 11:00 am (free children’s concert); Saturday, June 28 at 7:00 pm; and Sunday, June 29 at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $15 for ages 13 +, $12 for Seniors 65+, and free for children 12 and under. Tickets at the door. Sponsored by the West Windsor Music Festival.Windsor County sheriff's deputy on leave after assault allegation. The news actually broke a couple of days ago, but the Valley News's John Lippman gives it both coverage and helpful context. Kristinnah Adams, who'd previously worked for the Hartford PD, was charged last week with domestic assault involving a juvenile and interference with access to emergency services; she pleaded not guilty, and her lawyer tells Lippman she "is absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing in this case." Lippman delves into Adams' past in law enforcement, and talks to Sheriff Ryan Palmer about her time as deputy.WRJ fox bite victim: "Honestly, I think that my mom mode kicked in." Jenifer Lamoureux tells NBC5's James Maloney that she was in her driveway on Latham Works Lane last weekend when she was attacked by the fox, which later proved rabid. With her 7-year-old daughter nearby, she says, "I wasn't certain what I was going to do, but I wasn't letting go of the fox until I knew that it wouldn't get her." As she held it down, the fox bit her arm, and when her husband came out to help he came in contact with Lamoureux's blood. Both are being treated for rabies. Maloney also talks to Hartford's health officer.
What female striped maples and snapping turtles have in common. Interestingly, it's a higher mortality rate than their male counterparts, writes Northern Woodlands' Jack Saul in this week's "This Week in the Woods". Female striped maples put energy into creating both flowers and seeds; males stick to flowers. And female snappers travel to find ideal egg-laying sites, which often means crossing roads, which means cars. Also out there this third week of June: small pussytoes, mountain wood sorrel (use in place of lemon if you'd like), and downy rattlesnake plantain, which looks a bit like Japanese Kintsugi.Hiking in the Shade Not Too Far From Home: Mill Brook Trail, Waitsfield, VT. This is a 3.9-mile trail that follows Mill Brook through many types of forests with connections to other trail systems, the Upper Valley Trails Alliance says. It's part of the Mad River Valley Trails Collaborative—a rugged trail with rocks, roots, and bridges that takes you through mixed forest alongside the brook. Perfect for beating the heat while exploring different forest ecosystems, plus you can connect to the larger Mad River Valley trail network if you want to extend your adventure.Been paying attention to Daybreak? Because this week's Upper Valley News Quiz has some questions. Like, which local farmers market is moving (slowly) toward securing a permanent home? And which Upper Valley newspaper had to stop printing at least temporarily after three of its staff resigned? Those and more at the link.But wait! How closely were you following VT and NH?
Because Seven Days wants to know if you know how many free meals were provided to Vermont kids through summer programs last year?
And NHPR's got a whole set of questions about doings around the Granite State—like, what was the outcome of the trial for the political operative who created fake Biden robocalls during the 2024 NH primary?
NH lawmakers go with strict "bell-to-bell" cellphone ban in schools. It was a clear win for Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who in the last few days pressed House and Senate negotiators in Concord to side with the strict ban passed by the House, rather than a Senate version that would have left the details to school districts. Late Wednesday, reports Ethan DeWitt in NH Bulletin, the legislators agreed to add the House version to the must-pass policy bill that accompanies the state budget. “The governor’s going very heavy-handed into this,” a Keene Democrat says—but a majority of conferees went along.On the other hand, there's now a faceoff over the budget. Ayotte was also forceful this week in pushing legislators to restore fully the pensions of 1,500 police officers and firefighters whose benefits were altered by a 2011 law—but budget conferees balked. They did make other changes designed to garner support: repealing car inspection requirements starting next year, reversing rate cuts to Medicaid service providers, restoring the Office of the Child Advocate. Still, Ayotte objects to health care and education funding cuts, and has vowed to veto the budget in its current form. Legislators' bind, explains NH Bulletin's Ethan DeWitt: It's too late to make changes. A final vote is next week.In the mood for new food? Here's a look at seven new VT restaurants and bars. One's even close by: Oak & Iron in Randolph, which, Seven Days contributor Corin Hirsch writes, "conjures all of the indulgences of a steak house with none of the bluster and a lot more heart." In the old Black Krim space, its "warm, hands-on owners" offer up "an eclectic oeuvre that combines classic steak house fare, French techniques and Korean flavors." Writers also look at new spots in Rutland (the bar Mad Rose), Waitsfield (Peace Burger), St. J (Sam's Listening Bar, which offers up vinyl, dinner, and cocktails), and more.Photos to counter "the Jaws effect." Mike Coots is an unlikely champion of sharks—one bit his leg off when he was 18. But Coots and a handful of other underwater photographers, writes the BBC's Josh Sims, hope to counter the “mouth open, teeth bared” image of sharks that the media has been haunting us with since Jaws came out 50 years ago. Instead, their photos aim to show great white sharks' natural behaviors and to tell a positive story about the elegant creatures, in an effort to boost interest in shark preservation. “We're less willing to save what we fear," says one photographer.At 12,000 feet, a highline between two Mont Blanc peaks. Sadly, there's no video of the 800-meter walks that a group of 14 highliners traversed between the Dent du Géant and Mont Mallet, both part of the Mont Blanc massif near Chamonix. But there are some remarkable photos. What looks like a speck of dust on your screen high in the mountain air in that fourth pic down? A person. Explorers Web's Kris Annapurna gives the details.The Friday Wordbreak. With a word from yesterday's Daybreak. And if you find yourself missing Wordbreak over the weekend, you just have to hit this link and you'll find brand new words tomorrow and Sunday—though not necessarily from Daybreak.
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Three days of live music, food, crafts vendors, e-bike tours, juggling and other entertainment... oh, and lots of hot air balloons. Gates open today at 3 pm at the village green, runs through Sunday.
Free live music on the deck, with food and drinks available to buy. 5-8 pm.
About to retire after a career as a tech exec, Kevin Ryan set out with his wife to bike across America. The result is both a travel memoir and a book about resilience and reinvention. 7 pm.
North Country Community Theater's production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels premieres at the Lebanon Opera House.
Two con men meet on a train, form an alliance, fall out of their alliance, and jazz up the French Riviera. 7:30 pm tonight and tomorrow, 3 pm Sunday, same times next weekend.
The NYC-based pair of Miss Maybell and Charlie Judkins "source their tunes from dusty old 78 records and antique sheet music"—and tonight kick off a new MSM roots-music series. Player piano at 6, show at 8.
Saturday
There
's free music all around town starting at 9 am at the Randolph farmers market, with musicians like Ali T, Krishna Guthrie, the Sleepy Weasels, Beth Telford, and the Randolph Singers. It all culminates in the Chandler at 7:30 with the Villalobos Brothers. No charge, but you'll need to reserve a ticket for 7:30 concert.
It celebrates the dog-lovers' pilgrimage site founders Stephen and Gwen Huneck with music, food, dog contests and a walk of fame, and more. You're welcome with or without canine companionship. Noon to 4 pm.
It'll run from 2 to 4 pm in Lyman Point Park in WRJ tomorrow, with free food, music, kids’ activities, VT Sens. Kesha Ram-Hinsdale and Joe Major, NH Exec Council member Karen Liot Hill, and other speakers.
She'll be talking about mushrooms themselves, the animals that depend on them, and leading a mushroom scavenger hunt in the fields behind the library. 3 pm.
The Boston-based salsa group spearheaded by Puerto Rican
cuatro
player Juan Nieves returns to Artistree at 7 pm tomorrow (with a free
casino rueda
dance lesson from 5:45-6:30 pm).
Sunday
Cows, a pasture walk, cheeses from a whole bunch of VT cheesemakers, a mobile dairy bar, hands-on butter and ice cream making, music from Ali T, and more. Runs 'til 5 pm.
Nature and pollinator walks, hikes, Mac's Maple, and more, all starting at 2 pm.
Pianist Daniel Weiser, violinist Veronika Sveshnikova (originally from Siberia), and cellist Jacques-Pierre Malan (from South Africa) will alternate takes on Vivaldi's original by Max Richter and Astor Piazzolla. 2 pm Sunday at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon, 7 pm Monday at the home of Andrew Bauman in Norwich/WRJ.
It runs from 2 to 4 pm at Orange Town Hall, 8 Town House Rd. (on the way to Mt. Cardigan State Park).
With renowned caller David Millstone at the mic, music by Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki and Sue Hunt. 2-5 pm, 45 Washburn Road.
With ice cream from Kiss the Cow, music by Spring Chickens ("hard-driving traditional Appalachian tunes and songs that'll make you want to hop up and dance"). 4-7 pm, RSVPs help them plan but aren't required.
By the Post Pond waterfront, buffet-style dinner by Fresco Catering. You'll need to make reservations. 5:30-7 pm with different bands each Sunday through Aug. 31.
And for today...
Giovanni Allevi isn't the only living composer to have an asteroid named after him (Brian Eno's got Eno; Brian May's got 52665 Brianmay; Allevi's is giovanniallevi111561), but he's probably the only one in those august circles who's got a top-tier soccer league (Italy's Serie A) using his music as a theme song. Starting in 2022, he underwent a years-long fight against multiple myeloma, disappearing from public. Now he's back, with a new concerto for cello and orchestra.
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, 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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