Another jewel-like day... Up above, the table's getting set for a change: It'll be getting hotter and more humid as the week goes on. For today, though, listen to what the weather service says: "Monday will be the epitome of a beautiful summer day...with deep layer ridging across the region." That's gushing for a weather forecaster. Any fog this morning burning off quickly, highs in the low 80s, clear skies tonight with lows in the mid-50s. Thank you, deep layer ridging.New cocktail lounge coming to WRJ. Max Overstrom-Coleman, who used to be bartender at Carpenter & Main in Norwich, is going to be opening Wolf Tree, a cocktail bar in space cut out from the Rio Blanco Salon in WRJ, reports the VN's John Lippman. He hopes to open Oct. 1. Meanwhile, the first two tenants for the old Kibby Equipment building are set: tattoo artist Brian Barthelmes and kettle bell/Indian club strength-conditioning coach Emile Smith. (VN, sub reqd)Lippman's been busy: He also pulls all the strands together in one place on the Woodstock short-term rental issue. There are people who've bought property who want to recoup their investments. There are people who live in town who want regular neighbors. There are people who worry that housing's being pulled out of both the ownership and rental markets. There are differences between what's allowed in the village and the town. And the SB and village trustees are trying to juggle it all. (VN, you know the drill)Here's a quick hit of the 2019 Prouty. If you've been reading Daybreak for a while, you know that William Daugherty's made a specialty of posting drone videos of the region to Facebook. He's up with a way-too-short video of the Prouty this weekend, including some sculling footage that'll make you appreciate just how stunning the Connecticut can be.The Hartford PD says it's been getting reports of car windows being smashed and stuff being stolen from cars. "We urge everyone to keep their car doors locked and valuable items hidden from view," they say, and ask if anyone's seen a maroon sedan around Watson Dog Park or near the West Hartford Bridge."I don’t think it should cost money to be able to vote.” That's Maggie Flaherty, a Dartmouth student in the ACLU suit against NH over GOP-passed voting restrictions. The Washington Post sets the debate in national context, as Dems and activists worry about efforts they see as aimed at keeping younger voters from the polls. “Do you know how much it costs to go to Dartmouth? It’s $50,000 a year. So don’t tell me it’s a hardship to register your car here," responds the GOP rep behind the NH measure. Thanks for the tip, JD!Oh what the heck, let's give Lippman the trifecta: The NH Supreme Court has ruled against the Skinny Pancake in its suit against Jim and Susan Rubens. Skinny P owners Jonny and Benjy Adler had tried to exercise an option to buy Hanover Park, where the chain's Hanover restaurant is located, from Crotix, the Rubens' legal entity, which owns most of the building. The Rubenses turned it down, the Adlers sued -- and the court last week said that because the Adlers wanted the right to terminate the offer, it was not an "unconditional" offer as the option required. It's been three years, everyone's tired. (VN)And while we're in the courts, a longtime secretary at Woodstock Union Middle and High School is suing for age discrimination and retaliation. Jill Lambert, who worked there from 2000 to 2018, was laid off during the schools' restructuring. She claims it's because of age and a 3-month leave she took in 2016 after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The supervisory union contends Lambert's position was eliminated after the schools consolidated to save money.So what's this Daybreak thingie anyway? I do not like to draw attention to myself, but I also don't like to let generosity go un-thanked. Chris Katucki, who writes the Norwich Observer blog on The Site Formerly Known as DailyUV (from now on we'll just go with TSFKaDUV, or maybe HereCast) just went up with a Q&A about Daybreak: what it's about, how I put it together, why I'm asking for support.... Thank you, Chris!Time's out with a "snapshot" of what things look like in NH seven months out from primary day. "Most activists, regardless of their candidate, say that Sen. Elizabeth Warren has the largest and most formidable political footprint in New Hampshire." But also, in time-honored political journalism fashion: "It is still anyone’s game in New Hampshire." Biden leads in the polls, Bernie's in solid second place, Kamala Harris still has the record for most attendees at an event, O'Rourke and Booker are ramping up...In case you insist on having your fries done only in beef tallow.... Bear with me here. Friday was National Beef Tallow Day, a marketing gambit led by the Coast Packing Company, a California-based provider of animal-based shortenings; it coincided with National French Fry Day (who knew, right?). Some fries aficionados, including Malcolm Gladwell, still haven't gotten over McDonald's switch to vegetable oils in 1990. Coast has a map of places across the country you can get fries done in tallow, and three local venues have made it: Worthy Burger, Worthy Kitchen, and Harpoon's beer garden. After that it's a desert until Durham, NH and Portland, ME. GOT PLANS TONIGHT?You could head to Claremont to hear Bassel and the Supernaturals. This Chicago-based funk/soul band is on tour to promote its upcoming album -- and to raise awareness of the Syria crisis. Led by Ohio-born Bassel Almadani, a Syrian-American, it's got a sound and a tight, serious horn section that'll remind you a little of another Chicago band a generation ago. Starts at 6:30 at Broad Street Park.Meanwhile, Lebanon's got Gerry Grimo and the East Bay Jazz Ensemble in Colburn Park. That would be the "east bay" as in Narragansett Bay, where the band got its start, before reconstituting in the '90s as a VT/NH-based band. they do big band, swing, R&B. Starts at 7 pm. Or you could help the HOP launch its 2019-20 season with a season preview and after-party. They'll be doing video excerpts and talking about the creative connections among this season's performers. Starts at 6 in Spaulding, moves to the Courtyard Café Patio around 7. Have a fantastic start to your week. Daybreak poetry tomorrow. See you then.
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