GOOD MORNING, UPPER VALLEY!
Heads up: No Daybreak Monday. Back with CoffeeBreak on Tuesday morning.Let's definitely appreciate this while it lasts. High pressure's still in place and, after the usual morning fog (which might or might not clear out at a decent hour this morning), we get mostly clear skies for a good bit of the day and temps getting up to either side of 70. Lows tonight in the upper 40s, and we'll see more clouds move in as a low pressure system heads up from the South.It's skunk week at Daybreak. Though this one's not doing handstands on Erin Donahue's trail cam. Writes Ted Levin, "Mammalian stripes evolved for many reasons, including concealment, notification, and to thwart biting flies. Dark vertical lines hide tigers in plain sight in the marshes of India. Disease-carrying horseflies dislike landing on zebras. A badger's facial stripes direct you toward a competent set of teeth, and, of course, the skunk's stripes lead you toward a pair of perianal glands, which deliver an oily, revolting mist up to 15 feet. One in a thousand humans can't smell skunk ... I'm not one of them."From black and white to full-on color. And in particular, the still-bright sunflowers and striking band of pink in the sky above Jean Forsberg's garden in Post Mills, in this photo from Troy Thomas.In Pomfret, it was public pressure to close roads. In Royalton, they want one reopened. Ever since the July floods caused a slide and cracks on Broad Brook Rd., it's been barred to traffic, including emergency vehicles. Last week, Bea Cole presented the selectboard with a petition signed by 50 people asking that one lane be reopened. The road connects Sharon, Royalton, Barnard, and part of Pomfret, Jo Levasseur explains in the Herald, and the detour is a 20-30 minute hassle. Town officials say the road isn't safe; impatient townspeople have carved out a detour over a knoll on the selectboard chair's hayfield.Melted Thompson Arena ice turns Hanover brook white. A neighborhood girl playing hide-and-seek Wednesday discovered water in Girl Brook running white; her mom promptly reported it to the fire department, writes Frances Mize in the Valley News. Firefighters determined that it came from ice that had been removed from the Dartmouth arena and, rather than being allowed to melt into a sewage drain leading to Hanover's wastewater treatment plant, had been dumped on the lawn, where it made its way to a storm drain and then the brook. Workers cleaned it up yesterday. Says the head of the college's environmental hazard team, "It obviously didn’t look good in the brook."In Strafford, laid-off art teacher finds a way to keep teaching. Aurora Berger, who drew an outpouring of support from Newton School parents this summer after she was removed from her position, has launched Ms. Aurora’s Art Studio in her home, with a studio space that recalls her classroom and where, she says on her website, "experimentation and mistakes are not just allowed, but encouraged." In the Herald, Darren Marcy reports that the first session is already under way, and Berger meets students at the school at 3 pm to walk them to her studio.SPONSORED: Do you have your tickets to UVCC Fall Fest yet?! Enjoy a fun-filled and relaxing day of circus workshops, art & crafts, a reading area for kids, delicious local food, music, dancing, and a live circus show by Cirque Us! This event is fun for the whole family and all proceeds will go directly to funding UVCC's school programs for the 2023-24 school year. Ages 5 and under are FREE! Saturday, Sept. 30 beginning at 2pm behind the CCBA in Lebanon. All fun! No experience required. Sponsored by Upper Valley Circus Collective.Hey, did you know that Woodstock just banned leaf-peepers? You know you've hit the big time when "reporters" get your story dead wrong. Ursel Irwin spotted this story on the site WanderWisdom, headlined "Vermont Locals Are So Fed Up with Influencers They Want to Ban Them From Visiting." It's based on coverage of road closures in Pomfret, of course, but it's overheated and about the wrong town. As Susi Richardson, Ursel's daughter, writes, "Pretty comical, honestly, to imagine Woodstockers gathering...on Route 4 with our pitchforks and Clydesdales to keep out pesky tourists!"And, in fact, Woodstock's preparing for tourists. And it's not easy. In the Standard, Tom Ayres reports on deliberations by village trustees, town officials, the chamber, and others: how to make sure there are enough portable toilets in town at least for the three busiest days, over the Columbus/Indigenous People's Day weekend; how to improve signage giving tourists directions; calling more attention to the crosswalks off the village green; keeping shutterbugs from blocking traffic as they photograph Middle Bridge; improving food options on Sundays and Mondays, when many restaurants close.Oh, also. It took a tad more than a nanosecond, but... The Pomfret road closure has now made:
The Independent in the UK;
The Courrier International and Le Soir in France;
Interia Wydarzenia in Poland;
Roadster in Hungary;
CNN Indonesia (for the closure of Claudland Road)...
SPONSORED: The Rev. Jim Antal will preach at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College Sunday on the climate crisis. Join us for Sunday worship at 10 am (40 College St.) to hear one of the most important voices in describing how communities of faith can respond to the climate emergency. Rev. Antal serves as Special Advisor on Climate Justice to the President and General Minister of the United Church of Christ. He has preached on climate change since 1988. His sermon Sunday is titled, "Defiant Hope—Our Faithful Response to the Climate Crisis". All are welcome! Sponsored by CCDCUCC.In a workshop in Taftsville, the tools to engrave the official seal and signature of the President of the United States. And the First Lady and secretary of state, as well. That's because, for reasons Andrew Pearce doesn't quite get, his wooden bowls have become popular with the White House to give as gifts. On the Food 52 blog, Paul Hagopian talks to Pearce about how he came to wooden bowls (the idea first struck him when he was working at his dad's glassware company) and, intriguingly, the process his company uses to turn wood into much sought-after bowls and cutting boards. (Thanks, MS!)If things look a little crowded in Hanover this afternoon... That's because the official pageantry inaugurating Sian Beilock as the college's 19th president is set to begin on the Green at 3 pm. Speakers will include Gov. Chris Sununu, Brown University President Christina Paxson, Mohegan Tribe vice chairwoman Sarah Harris, and others. The Dartmouth gives the details.Hiking Close to Home: Wright’s Mountain, Bradford, VT. As we enter foliage season, the UVTA suggests Wright’s Mountain, which is the highest point in Bradford and offers a huge variety of trail experiences. The quickest route to the summit is from the Wright’s Mountain Road trailhead, and the summit offers unparalleled views of the Waits River Valley. If you're feeling adventurous, extend your hike to visit Devil’s Den, a rocky ravine with a cave. From the intersection of Routes 5 & 25, head west on 25 for 5.2 miles. Turn right on Wrights Mtn Rd, go 2.4 miles to the parking area on the right.Okay, so how much do you know about what's been going on in the Upper Valley? Because Daybreak's News Quiz has some questions for you. Like... oh, what got in the way of firefighters when they tried to get to a blaze in Norwich early this week? And which Upper Valley body of water is about to get a lot smaller? Those and other questions at the link.But wait! How closely were you following VT and NH?
Because Seven Days wants to know if you know why some guy broke into the Burlington bar Esox this week?
And NHPR's got a whole set of questionsabout doings around the Granite State—like, which former NH guv is now CEO of Planet Fitness?
In NH, the McDonald's model for retail cannabis? That's pretty much the idea put forward this week by state Liquor Commission chair Joseph Mollica, reports Ethan DeWitt in NH Bulletin. Under a plan Mollica has proposed to legislators, the commission would oversee the products, marketing, and store layout; individual franchisees would own and run the stores and be responsible for their profitability. In all, Mollica's plan would allow for 65 retailers across the state. DeWitt lays out the details.Hey NH! VT will see your $25 mil home and raise you. Remember that Rye, NH mansion that's the most expensive home on the market in the Granite State? Well, the Robb Report, the mag for the ultra-wealth-curious, is out with a listing of the most expensive homes in each state, and VT's got this 345-acre estate on Lake Champlain—with its own 9-hole golf course—going for $26.2 million. Of course, there's also that $195 million home on CA's Pacific Coast Highway, or Aspen's $105 mil offering, or those oceanfront digs on Maui "with an eye-catching water and fire feature" going for a mere $41.9 million.He's got a building named for him at Middlebury and a portrait in the VT statehouse. But Alexander Twilight's story is complicated. For one thing, notes Mary Ann Lickteig in Seven Days, it's unclear whether anyone outside Twilight's family knew that the man now hailed as the first black graduate of an American college and the country's first black state legislator had a black grandparent—maybe two. Though the Bradford-born, Corinth-raised Twilight was an influential educator, it wasn't until 1974 that his legacy began taking the course it's on today. Lickteig digs deep into what's known and why it matters.In a Montpelier neighborhood, four generations of one family have delivered the mail. At the start of September, Craig Montgomery retired from his route north of Elm Street—and handed it to his son, Angus. For her latest Stuck in Vermont video, Eva Sollberger was there to capture not just Craig's last day with Angus walking alongside, but to tell the story of Craig's father, Dave, who had the route for years, and his father, Harold, who plied it in the 1950s. "You know everybody, they all become family to you," Dave tells her. Charming plus deeply informative about mail routes and carriers.Over the deep blue sea. Sutton Lynch is photographing an astonishing change—for the better—happening on the east end of Long Island. He grew up there, Ellie Duke writes in the NYT (gift link), and with a drone as his medium, is “documenting a dramatic turning point... a renewal of sea life after decades of depletion.” You might be tempted to scroll from one fantastic shot of sharks, menhaden, dolphins, whales, and the world just under the ocean’s surface to the next, but read the story and you’ll know why one young man is admired by environmentalists, artists, and fishermen alike.The Friday Vordle. If you're new to Vordle, you should know that fresh ones appear on weekends using words from the Friday Daybreak, and you can get a reminder email each weekend morning. If you'd like that, sign up here.
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Remember the work and fundraising that went into creating a new public pavilion in Vershire? Well, from 5 to 8 this evening they're celebrating with wood-fired pizza, live music by Reckless Breakfast, and a formal (or at least, as formal as Vershire ever gets) dedication at 7.
At 6 this evening, the Main Street Museum in WRJ joins a national trend by holding its first-ever Mrs. Roper Romp, celebrating Helen Roper, the "effortlessly confident, life-of-the-party landlady" (as the NYT no less puts it) played by Audra Lindley on the sitcom Three's Company. Caftan's, red wigs, '70s music, food and drink—and an after-party at Putnam's Vine/yard at 8, with discounts for anyone dressed like Helen Roper.
At 7:30 this evening, Classicopia kicks off a weekend of Gershwin, "By George." Pianist and artistic director Daniel Weiser will explore Gershwin's life, influences, and impact as he performs Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, and other solo pieces, and will be joined by mezzo-soprano Laura Compton for a tour through Gershwin's songs, including "I Got Rhythm" and "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off." You're humming already, aren't you? Tonight at Old South Church in Windsor, two house concerts tomorrow that are sold out (but you can try calling Weiser at 802-369-0856 to see if tix have become available), and Sunday at 2 pm at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon.
At 9 tonight, Sawtooth Kitchen in Hanover brings in the hard-rocking John Lackard Blues Band. Vermont roots, Chicago and Memphis sound.
Saturday
It's here... the second TedX Hartland Hill takes over part of Billings Farm from 9 am to 6 pm tomorrow with a panoply of speakers talking about "The Art of Living." Locals—videographer and Hartford selectboard member Rocket, Woodstock "town smiler" Adrian Tans; semi-locals—artist and author Shanta Lee, Bernie's Mittens maker Jen Ellis; and speakers from kind of away, like Arctic beatboxer Snow Raven and Maine-based educator Jermaine Moore. Also, Friday night (ie, tonight) there's an opening fundraiser featuring a talk by Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, "Finding an Interstellar Meteor in the Depth of the Pacific Ocean."
From 11 am to 4 pm tomorrow, the Saint-Gaudens National HIstorical Park in Cornish hosts a fall sculpture festival, with visiting local artists demonstrating sculpture techniques including clay modeling, wood and stone carving, metal and wire working, and mixed media. There'll be hands-on activities, bronze-pouring demonstrations at 1 and 3, and maybe best of all: Entry to the park is free in honor of National Public Lands Day. Then, at 7:30, the park throws its annual Star Party, in tandem with the Springfield Telescope Makers of the Stellafane Observatory in Springfield, VT. An astronomy presentation, hands-on demonstrations, and star/planet viewing—if the skies cooperate.
At 2 pm tomorrow, the Howe Library in Hanover hosts three poets, both in-person and online, for "The Poetry of Everyday Wonder." The event—funded in honor of Rick Wesson, a founding member of the 4th Friday Poets—will bring in James Crews, Laura Foley, and Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer for readings, discussion, and a Q&A.
And at 3 tomorrow afternoon, the Norwich Bookstore hosts Maine author Gail Donovan, in conversation with journalist and author Sherry Boschert about Donovan's new middle-grade book, Sparrow Being Sparrow. In which Sparrow, after moving to a new town, befriends a neighbor with a lot of cats who suddenly has to be moved into assisted living. Where cats aren't allowed. Attendees will get a chance to make their own cat-related bookmarks.
At 4 pm tomorrow, the Grafton Public Library hosts Rick Fienberg for a presentation on the solar eclipse that that will be visible from the US Oct. 14 (though he'll no doubt talk about next April's, too). Fienberg, who retired to town after a career spent writing about, teaching, and finally, explaining astronomy (as the American Astronomical Society’s press officer), will talk about what eclipses are, why they happen, what you can expect to see next month, and answer lots of questions. He'll also be giving out free eclipse-viewing glasses. In Grafton Town Hall.
After 24 hours of madcap writing, scheming, rehearsals, and tech work, Parish Players' One Night Only!, its 24-hour play festival, opens to the public at 7 pm tomorrow. “It’s kind of like a relay race, is how I think about it,” organizer Rachael Thomeer tells Alex Hanson in the VN. You'll need to order your tickets in advance—no sales at the door.
Also at 7, the upper gallery of the Chandler in Randolph hosts Noah Hahn and his band, Atom & the Orbits for a rockabilly dance party. "Live," they write, "the Orbits blast off from the early rock & roll universe, expanding and exploring the outer reaches of what it means when they say 'Let’s Rock!'"
At 7:30 tomorrow evening, the Roots & Wings coffeehouse at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley on Route 5 in Norwich presents singer-songwriter Lucy Chapin, back from a decade's hiatus—before which she opened locally for both Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin, and, among other things, played at writer David Halberstam's funeral; she'll share the stage with singer-songwriter and frequent collaborator Lowell Thompson.
Sunday
Sunday at 2 pm, Seven Stars Arts in Sharon presents the fiddle and cello duo of Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira, who are on tour these days behind their 2022 album, All It Brings. Original tunes, songs, and repertoire from Scotland, Ireland, North America, and Scandinavia, step-dancing, and French-Canadian foot percussion.
Also at 2 and again at 7 on Sunday, keystone folk singer and raconteur Tom Rush will be at the Flying Goose Pub in New London. As they write, "His distinctive guitar style, wry humour and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world." This is the closest he's going to get to us as he tours the East this year and next, though he'll be in Concord in November. Singer-songwriter Seth Glier will open.
And as we head into the weekend...
There's a long tradition in Jewish practice of reinventing and reinvigorating the music to which ancient prayers are set. Orthodox singer and songwriter Aryeh Kunstler has just done that with the "Mareh Kohen," a portion of the Yom Kippur service that recalls—and celebrates—the ceremony in the Temple in Jerusalem (before it was destroyed in 70 CE) when the high priest would enter the sanctuary's most sacred space, the only time of the year it was permitted. His appearance on emerging, the prayer goes, was "like the image of a rainbow in the middle of a cloud... like the morning star greeting the rising sun at its entry from the east."
See you Tuesday 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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