GOOD MORNING, UPPER VALLEY!
Today, a possible foretaste of week's end. Low pressure's skipping across MA, bringing a weak front along. There's a slight chance of stuff coming out of the sky later in the morning and the afternoon, possibly starting as snow and sleet, then turning to rain just for good measure. Temps rising above freezing later in the morning, reaching toward 40 before dropping again. If you notice a large police presence in downtown Leb today and tomorrow, don't fret. The city's police department is conducting an "active shooter training" at City Hall from 3-9 pm. "Officers will be moving inside the building with simulated weapons and protective head gear," the department says. Oh, and they add, "Please do not interfere with the training."Board & Basket to close. The four-decade-old gourmet kitchen supply store in the Powerhouse Plaza in West Leb (you may know it as Shaw's Plaza), wasn't able to secure a new, lower-cost lease, owner Mike Beauregard tells the VN. They aim to close in a couple of weeks. The Beauregards also own a kitchen-supply store in Concord, which is unaffected. (VN)The ins and outs of Norwich's "fair and impartial policing" proposal. Norwich Observer blogger Chris Katucki notes that, like Hanover, Hartford, and Lebanon, the town's voters will be considering a move to "limit collaboration" with federal immigration officials. The proposed article, however, asks voters to approve the policy without actually laying out what it says. "How will voters know the terms of the policy they are voting on?" Katucki asks. "It seems unfair to ask voters to dig through a Selectboard packet to find the enhanced FIPP."Leb officials and advisory groups recommend 94-unit apartment building at edge of downtown. The site, on Spencer Street about midway between CCBA and Geokon, is where the city's old public works facility was before it closed in 2012. Stowe-based Braverman Co., which is also proposing 202 units on Mt. Support Road, wants to build a “warehouse-style” red brick apartment building, as well as create a brewpub or restaurant in a vacant neighboring freight house. The city council takes up the proposal tomorrow. (VN)Train ridership up, Manchester Airport numbers down. On his Granite Geek blog, David Brooks notes that the Downeaster, which runs between Boston and Bangor, posted record passenger traffic last year, while the passenger count at MHT dropped for the 14th year in a row, due mostly to airlines steering passengers to larger airports. "Flight-shaming climate activists shouldn’t get too excited, however," Brooks writes. "Manchester airport still had 1.73 million passenger trips; the Downeaster had 574,000."Montshire to experiment with "sensory-friendly" sessions. The idea, communications director Trish Palao tells the VN, is "to offer the opportunity for people to experience the museum in a quieter way for some people who might have sensory processing differences” — especially kids on the autism spectrum. For an hour on Feb. 8 and 90 minutes April 2, the museum will allow in only 70 visitors (up to 1500 a day pass through the doors), turn down sounds, and set up a quiet space. If it works, there may be more.$2.31 million. That's how much NH's new online sports betting program raked in from Super Bowl bets. That's a big chunk of change, but the Monitor's Ethan DeWitt notes that RI, with a smaller population but a slightly older wagering program, took in $5.5 million. Even so, says lottery director Charlie McIntyre, “Clearly, it has not taken long for sports fans to embrace the excitement of sports betting here in the Granite State.” Not to be outdone, Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement: "Next up: March Madness!"NH education funding commission moves forward. Officially, it's the Commission to Study School Funding, the state's third effort to determine the cost of an adequate education and find the most equitable formula for distributing state education aid. Yesterday, it voted unanimously to move ahead with a $500,000 contract with UNH's Carsey School of Public Policy to oversee research and, ultimately, development of that new formula.VT businesses ambivalent about state economy — but that's an improvement. The survey of 140 mostly small and medium-sized businesses for the state Chamber of Commerce found that a quarter of those business owners think the state's economy is declining. But that's down from 54 percent in 2016. The top three issues facing their businesses haven't changed in nine years: finding qualified employees; health insurance costs; and state taxes.Turns out there'll be a Democratic primary for VT state auditor. Veteran incumbent Doug Hoffer drew a challenger yesterday, state Rep. Linda Joy Sullivan of Dorset. She's a moderate; Hoffer's roots are in the Progressive Party. Sullivan, who runs a public audit firm, says it's just time for a change. "In the auditing profession everybody knows that the auditor should not stay in place on accounts for more than five years," she tells VTDigger. Sometimes, the sky forces you to look. Nice pic of Cannon Mountain in olive-gold light filtering through dark clouds, taken from Bethlehem, NH by Reddit user BrianCav.No lectures, just news that connects you. If you like Daybreak and want to help it keep going, here's how:
TONIGHT'S A GOOD NIGHT TO LEARN SOME STUFF
West Leb Feed & Supply is doing a free intro session covering basic supplies, how to tap, and pretty much everything else you need to know to get started. Starts at 6:15, space is limited, register at the link.
I know, right? Harpoon Riverbend Taps & Beer Garden has the Pop-Up Oyster Bar Co. in tonight to talk shucking, sustainable aquaculture, how to prep and serve oysters... and which beers go with what. This one's not free — because after all, you get oysters, beer, and all that education. Oh, and a house-made pretzel. Starts at 6:30, tix at the link.
This is the VT Center for Ecostudies' monthly gathering that gives you a chance to hobnob with VCE biologist Jason Hill and the expert he's invited in to spill all. Tonight, Brett Amy Thelen, who's the science director at the Harris Center for Conservation Education over by Mt. Monadnock, talks about community-based conservation of migratory amphibians. Starts at 7.
Have a fine day out there. See you tomorrow.
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