GOOD MORNING, UPPER VALLEY!
Just a reminder: Daybreak will be taking a break from publishing for the next two weeks. I know you'll square your shoulders and get through just fine. Back with CoffeeBreak on Monday, Aug. 8.Did something happen yesterday? Because today's all: Weather? What weather? It'll be a brilliantly sunny day, highs in the upper 80s, and with somewhat drier air might actually just feel like the 80s. Winds from the west, lower 60s tonight. It'll be hotter tomorrow and Sunday, but a new round of storms Sunday night ought to bring us a much-needed break.And speaking of storms... In the early hours yesterday a solar "tsunami" sent a coronal mass ejection hurtling our way. It's expected to hit late tonight. Spaceweather.com writes that "the timing favors sky watchers in western Europe and North America. In the most optimistic case of a G3-category storm, auroras could descend as far south as Illinois and Oregon." (Checking map: Yep, that would include us.) (Thanks, JF!)More than a quarter million white-tailed deer roam New Hampshire and Vermont. And two of them, a doe and her fawn, showed up recently on Erin Donahue's trail cam in E. Thetford. "In the absence of predators," writes naturalist Ted Levin, "deer populations have grown exponentially and exceeded the fluted hills' carrying capacity. Too many deer have dire consequences on native plants and gardens and provide a moveable feast for blacklegged ticks. Does birth one to three adorably spotted fawns each spring... come November, there's a lot of venison around to feed our food-insecure neighbors."Yeah, I'd have come to a quick stop, too. Chip Hobson was out riding about 9 the other evening on Route 132 near Gove Hill in Thetford when suddenly, a family of skunks showed up in his head light. They're a little distant in the video, but hey, you'd give them a wide berth, too. "I’ve also encountered a wayward beaver, climbing the riprap face of the Union Village Dam," Chip writes, "a few barred owls following the light mounted upon my helmet, and assorted foxes and plenty of raccoons. But of course, nothing is more alarming than the sight of Pepe the Skunk.""Rain's okay, as long as it's not too wet." It's raining in Lost Woods, at least, and Auk and Eddy have found a fine tree to shelter under, joined eventually by Henry. As he does every week here, Lebanon writer and illustrator DB Johnson chronicles the doings in Lost Woods—and on his blog this week he describes a guided tour he took around Walden Pond recently. And don't worry, Lost Woods buffs... you'll get a full chance to catch up on the next couple of weeks when Daybreak returns.Dartmouth names Sian Leah Beilock, currently president of Barnard, as its 19th president. A noted cognitive scientist, known especially for her research into the brain science behind "choking under pressure" in business, education, and sports, Beilock will be the first woman to lead the college. She assumes the presidency next July 1. The committee "wholeheartedly agreed that she has all the strengths and experience needed to create an even more inclusive, vibrant student experience, and embed an innovative, agile mindset across Dartmouth," says search committee co-chair Susan Huang in the college's press release.
SPONSORED: Sure, it's wicked hot, but what are we doing about it... and what can YOU do about it? The growth of renewable energy gets ever more top of mind as the dial on the world's oven seems to spin ever higher. The maroon link takes you to the latest charts showing rising seasonal temperature projections—and, fortunately, the growth of renewable energy. With the solar tax credit expiring at the end of 2023, now's the perfect time to explore solar. Sponsored by Solaflect Energy.A Greensboro Road heads up for next week. On Tuesday, NHDOT is going to be replacing a culvert on Greensboro Road in Hanover about a half-mile west of Etna Road. Greensboro will be closed at that point from 7 am to 4 pm "due to restricted space, equipment, and material needs," they write, and recommend Route 120, Great Hollow Road, and Etna Road as detours.On Thetford roads, a to-do about bike signs. If you've been on Academy Road or Tucker Hill Road or Route 132, you may have noticed signs telling you that bicycles can use the full lane. Turns out, Nick Clark writes in Sidenote, there's a back-story. The town got a $5,000 state grant to make life easier for people using alternative transportation, and signage was part of the deal. The selectboard almost returned the money as a result, and residents have kicked up a fuss—"Hoping the signs are wrong and they are NOT allowed the whole lane. That's ridiculous!" one wrote on the listserv. Clark tells the story.Dartmouth tweaks Lyme Road community sessions schedule. Pardon, it's now officially the "North End student housing project" sessions. The college is frontloading discussion of green spaces and transportation, in part because of neighbors' feedback and in part "to ensure that Dartmouth consultants are able to participate and facilitate the sessions," the Office of Communications says in its press release. Green and public spaces on Monday, transportation Aug. 1, programming and student experience Aug. 8, and building design Aug. 15. The meetings will begin at 6 each evening and will be both in-person and online.Norwich Selectboard expected to decide Wednesday on new member. Two people had applied by the deadline yesterday, reports Darren Marcy in the Valley News. The board will meet Wednesday to interview them, and is expected to decide on a replacement for Claudette Brochu, who stepped down July 11, that evening. The decision comes amid disquiet about the direction of the town. “I’m concerned about how worried people are,” board vice-chair Mary Layton said last week. “People are feeling as though their town is falling apart.”“Why would you want to do that?” That was the question from Alf Wight, better known as James Herriott, when Tom Stuwe—then studying to be a veterinarian—told him he intended to focus on pets. Herriott, of course, was by then world-famous as a large-animal vet, and his question led Stuwe to think bigger. Now, after decades as a large-animal vet in central Vermont, he's retiring. And so is his colleague, Will Barry. In the Herald, Randolph Center farmer Margaret Osha affectionately profiles the two men who "have stood by so many in the farming community, through thick and thin."Been paying attention this week? The News Quiz has some questions for you. Like, what caught fire in Wells River? And just what is causing damage to some homes in VT? And what's the Lebanon landfill planning to stop doing? You'll find those and others at the maroon link.Hiking Close to Home: Lake Trails Group at Eastman. This week's suggestion from the Upper Valley Trails Alliance brings you to another trail network at Eastman in Grantham, NH. This 5.5-mile trail system features a full array of easy, moderate, and difficult hikes around the lake at Eastman, all with beautiful scenery, bountiful swimming options, and plenty of native plants and wildlife. You'll need to get a free parking pass: Directions are at the "Directions" tab at the link. Once you've got a pass, park at the South Cove Activity Center or any of the other trailheads. Or maybe you're looking for a sunrise or sunset hike. None of the trails in Erica Housekeeper's new Happy Vermont post is especially nearby, but they're all enticing enough to make you want to get up early or, in at least one case, do an overnight. There's the hike to Puffer Shelter in Bolton, the hike up to Skyline Lodge and Skylight Pond in Ripton, the easy Sunrise Trail at Fort Dummer State Park in Brattleboro, Owl's Head in Groton State Forest, the short hike to Sunset Ledge near Lincoln Gap, and Charlotte's easy hike up Mt. Philo. Be sure to scroll down to the safety tips section.Gunstock management team resigns; guv sends letter of support. It's been a tumultuous two days for the popular county-owned ski and outdoor rec resort in Gilford, NH. At the Wednesday night meeting of the commission of state legislators who oversee it, the management team resigned en masse; the move's been a long time coming, but the trigger was their relegation by the commissioners to seats in the audience, reports NHPR. Yesterday, Gov. Chris Sununu offered the resignees jobs with the state and blasted three GOP commission members. The resort's closed indefinitely.NH to repay feds millions after audit finds problems in opioid treatment programs for Medicaid patients. In all, reports NHPR's Alli Fam, the state will repay the federal government $7.9 million after an audit of 100 randomly sampled service claims found the state's opioid treatment programs "fell short" on proper documentation, drug testing frequency, counseling hours, and personnel to enforce the state and federal opioid treatment standards.Slate Ridge owner faces fines, jail time after failing to pull down unpermitted structures. You'll remember that back in 2021, Daniel Banyai, who owns the controversial Pawlet VT firearms training facility, was ordered to pay a heavy fine for violating town zoning bylaws and to tear down the offending buildings. He's paid the fine but the deadline on the buildings passed on Monday with no action. So, reports Emma Cotton in VTDigger, Pawlet is asking a court to order them demolished, that Banyai be jailed until that happens, and that he be fined $200 per day back to March, 2021.Out of tragedy, a bid to revive civic ties in one Vermont town. Performer Rose Friedman, Rumblestrip producer Erica Heilman, and community organizer Tara Reese forged deep friendships after the death by suicide of Reese's son in Hardwick brought them together. All had felt the loss of civic connection—and the stirring potential when people in Hardwick were just able to gather and talk. Now, they've launched an effort called the Civic Standard, taking over the old Hardwick Gazette building as a site for everything from cooking parties to impromptu get-togethers, writes Rachel Hellman in Seven Days.Still trying to make up your mind as primary day approaches in Vermont? The election itself is August 9, but of course, plenty of people are voting early. Daybreak won't be around for the next couple of weeks as things heat up, but there are plenty of articles and resources already out there that can help you sort through the options; the link takes you to a page of links to help you find your bearings. NH's primary isn't until Sept. 13, so there's plenty of time on that side of the river. (Thanks for the nudge, LB!)Well, of course, there's "I'm melting..." And who could forget Gollum's plunge into Mount Doom? A funny thing happens as you read through Dan Kois' list of "The 50 Greatest Fictional Deaths of All Time" in Slate: It becomes life-affirming. All that human creativity in all sorts of media, sometimes horrific—Medea killing her sons in Euripides' play—sometimes soapy, sometimes desperate (Conan Doyle really wanted out of the Sherlock Holmes stories), sometimes pathbreaking (people dying of AIDS weren't part of mainstream culture when Garry Trudeau drew Andy Lipincott's death in Doonesbury)."A genuine disgrace in the history of the Pulitzer." Back in 1965, the prizes' music jury recommended that the award go to Duke Ellington for the totality of his work as a jazz pioneer. The Pulitzer board flat-out rejected the idea, opting to hand out no music award at all. It was big news, and Ellington was gracious: “Fate doesn’t want me to be famous too young," he said, though he was 66 at the time. Now, music historian Ted Gioia, taking a page from the IOC's reinstatement of Jim Thorpe's medals, has launched a petition asking the Pulitzers to give Ellington his prize posthumously. Big names have signed on.Hey, we've all been there. Though probably we haven't been able to express it quite as eloquently as this dog. (Thanks, AFG!)The Friday Vordle. One last chance! If you're a fervent Vordler and haven't yet signed up for the vacation version: We'll keep the Vordle going using a word that's in the local news, and you can sign up to get a reminder and link in your inbox each day. Do that here.
Daybreak doesn't get to exist without your support. Help it keep going by hitting the maroon button:
This morning at 10, the three-day Junction Dance Festival gets under way in WRJ with an intermediate ballet class taught by veteran dancer Ruth Mayer. There'll be more classes, including one for beginners, this afternoon and evening. Tomorrow and Sunday: workshops—club dance, contemplative dance, musical theater—and performances by luminaries of the Upper Valley dance scene, including Elizabeth Kurylo, Hanna Satterlee, Neva Cockrell, Erin McNulty, Lucia Gagliardone, and plenty of others, all around town. Detailed calendar here.
Today from 5-7 pm, AVA Gallery in Lebanon holds an opening reception for solo exhibitions by three Vermont artists who all work in sculpture through collage or assembled art. Amy Morel's MASH UP explores collage that "willfully takes apart what is or is supposed to be and rearranges it in ways that suggest what it could be”; Matt Neckers' "Fool’s Paradise: Eden in the Age of Chaos - A Tragedy. Reflections on the End of Time" uses hundreds, if not thousands, of moveable magnetic pieces attached to painted steel that viewers can, at least in some cases, rearrange; and John F. Parker's "New Work in Assemblage" brings together objects he's collected while searching through old barns and houses, flea markets and country auctions.
And this evening at 7:30, the brand new West Windsor Music Festival kicks off a weekend of performances at town hall in Brownsville/W. Windsor, just around the corner from Brownsville Butcher & Pantry. The weekend of chamber music is the brainchild of pianist Sakiko Ohashi, who lives in W. Woodstock and Miami and has appeared as a soloist around the country, including at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Weill Recital Hall in NYC. She'll be joined by violinist Helen Kim, who's been a soloist with the Boston Pops and the Milwaukee and Atlanta symphonies; NYC-based pianist Anna Stoytcheva; and Venezuelan cellist German Marcano.
Tomorrow starting at 10 am it's the Incredible Insect Festival at VINS. Sound familiar? Yeah, that's because I got all over-eager and jumped the gun last week. Sessions on beekeeping, dragonflies, caterpillars, bugs of the Canopy Walk, and more.
Also at 10 am tomorrow, the Montshire starts up Summer Science Day. There'll be engineering programs throughout the day, but the big event is at 11, when former Vermont Edition and current But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids host Jane Lindholm speaks, takes part in a Q&A, and signs books that have come out of the podcast. The VinDogs and Moon & Stars arepas food trucks will be around from 11-3, and the Co-op's donated free ice cream cups.
And also at 10 am tomorrow, Artistree in S. Pomfret brings in Matthew Witten and John Hadden, who together perform as the Swing Peepers. It's a family concert—bring a blanket or chairs—by a duo of "lively, improvisational, and endearingly goofy" veteran performers. Their instruments, whether strummed or swung or tapped, include guitar, mandolin, violin, harmonica, banjo, ukulele, and accordion. "Most songs and stories are participatory, and body movement is part of the action," Artistree writes.
Tomorrow at 6:30 pm, Billings Farm presents Ballet Vermont's "Farm to Ballet Project," which it's safest to let them describe: "An original ballet about a farm through the seasons. Dancing vegetables, familiar animals, and even the seasons themselves come to life through dance in a joyful and entertaining show. The ballet explores the relationship between farmers and land, natural food cycles, and the human role in ecosystems."
Tomorrow at 8 pm, the Main Street Museum kicks off the late-July version of Pride Week (scheduled so as not to interfere with the mainstream June version). Tomorrow night it's a Let Your Pride Glow dance party (plenty of glow sticks on hand) with DJ Sauvé Sweat Stain, followed by events all week—including a virtual panel discussion among four authors Wednesday: WRJ-based cartoonist Jarad Greene, Maine-based essayist and nonfiction writer Gretchen Legler, Brooklyn novelist Elijah Kinch Spector, and NYC speculative fiction writer (and immigration and civil rights lawyer) Victor Manibo.
Sunday afternoon at 2, you get the first of three chances to see Afropop superstar Dobet Gnahoré when she gives an outdoor concert as part of the St. Gaudens National Park's summer concert series. A singer, percussionist, dancer, and electric performer, Gnahoré grew up in Côte d'Ivoire, moved to France to escape civil war, and returned with a supremely pan-African approach to her music. She sings in seven African languages from various families (Bete, Fon, Baoule, Lingala, Malinke, Bambara, and Mina) as well as French and English, often within the same song, and she ranges the continent stylistically, from Ghanaian highlife to the choral music of South Africa. If you miss her Sunday, she'll be giving a free concert Tuesday at Broad Street Park in Claremont, then will be at Feast and Field on Thursday.
Finally, you're mostly on your own for next week, but there's one event that might not cross your radar: Wednesday the 27th at 5 pm, the Sharon Historical Society hosts Neil Goodwin, a filmmaker and history writer (We Go As Captives: The Royalton Raid and the Shadow War on the Revolutionary Frontier). He'll be showing and talking about his documentary on the life and times of E. Barnard's Floyd Van Alstyne—WWII vet, farmer, logger, maple syrup producer, sawmill operator, the oldest licensed commercial truck driver in the country until a few years ago and, at 102, still living on the Van Alstyne Farm. If he can make it, Van Alstyne will be there, too.
Well, yeah, I mean, there's not much choice, is there? Dobet Gnahoré
has
to take us into the break, right? Upbeat, lyrical, and impossible to sit still to:
So you'll take care of yourselves, right? We'll just meet right here around 9:45 am on August 8. Stay cool until then.
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.
Want to catch up on Daybreak music?
Want to catch up on Daybreak itself (or find that item you trashed by mistake the other day)? You can find everything on the Daybreak Facebook page
, or if you're a committed non-FB user,
.
Written and published by Rob Gurwitt Writer/editor: Tom Haushalter Poetry editor: Michael Lipson About Rob About Tom About Michael
And if you think one or more of your friends would like Daybreak, too, please forward this newsletter and tell them to hit the blue "Subscribe" button below. And thanks! And hey, if you're that friend? So nice to see you! You can subscribe at:
Thank you!