RISE AND SHINE, UPPER VALLEY!
High pressure building in, dry air headed our way... You definitely want to make the most of these next two days. It might be cloudy or foggy where you are this morning, but that'll all go away, leaving us with plenty of sun for the day. Temps are headed toward 80. Given clear skies tonight, it'll probably be the coldest night of the week, high 40s or low 50s.Dead body pulled from Mascoma River in Lebanon. It was spotted yesterday morning in the section of the river between the old mill now known as the Whitman Building on one bank and the former Kleen Laundry plant on the other. Police have identified the dead man as a 49-year-old Lebanon resident, but have not yet released his name. Eric Francis was on the scene with his camera as firefighters and police officers went about their work.Leb considering new rules to boost walkability and improve street feel. Working with a Boston-based urban design firm, city planners want to make it possible for shops and businesses to set up in smaller spaces, move parking to the sides or back of buildings, and make sure more storefronts have windows on the street. "There’s a real emphasis on the first story and how it works with the sidewalk and the street edge,” says Ben Carlson, one of the consultants. The city will discuss the regs at a forum tomorrow at 6 in City Hall. (VN)And before we leave Lebanon: Parks & Rec wants your feedback. If you live in Leb or West Leb, they've got a survey gauging how much residents use their various facilities (rinks, pool, Storrs Hill), parks, and conservation areas. They also want to know what recreation needs (especially outdoors) are going unmet. Baker's Crossing, Mill Parcel, Goodwin, Two Rivers... Who knew Leb had so many conservation areas? State will close, reroute Hartford Village bridge. Not until 2023, so you've got a little time to plan. But the 96-year-old structure's hit the end of its shelf life, and the crossing will be closed for a year while it's dismantled and a new bridge is built. This one'll make a lot more sense: from VA Cutoff Road to Christian Street, which will get a new four-way intersection. (VN)Anti-ICE rallies to continue with protest at Hartford Town Hall this afternoon. This follows on the heels of a march last month that drew 750 protesters to the Department of Homeland Security’s Law Enforcement Support Center in Williston VT, at which 19 people were arrested. This afternoon's rally, which starts at 4:30, was called to protest the recent detentions by ICE officials of immigrants in Hartford -- moves that have immigration activists outraged but that ICE will neither confirm nor deny.It's going to be a busy few weeks in NH. Presidential candidates, including the prez himself, are going to be descending on the state in droves. But other than John Delaney, we're not going to see any of them. President Trump will be in Manchester tomorrow, and Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and others will be wandering around to the east of us. Delaney will be in Leb and Sunapee this weekend.Meanwhile, VT's Republican chair has roiled GOP waters. Last week, in a message to party members, Deb Billado excoriated Pres. Trump's critics as “left-wing hatemongers” and a “mob of hate-crazed, fear-driven people who have become deranged.” And yes, she used the words “crooked Hillary Clinton.” Prominent elected VT Republicans are putting some distance between themselves and her. “This is not the tone or example we should be setting in Vermont and is an example of the divisiveness that's hurting the country,” says Rebecca Kelley, Gov. Phil Scott’s spokesperson.Okay, time for a quick break from all this. Here's a pic. It's from up on Lake Champlain. But if you've ever been by a lake in VT or NH during the summer as the water stills around dusk and out in the reddening light you see the silhouette of a lone canoeist with the barest of ripples trailing behind, this'll carry you back.Ever heard of the winged swede midge? Me neither. But the tiny pest has been ravaging organically grown brassicas (kale, broccoli, cauliflower) in the region. Now, a UVM prof is closing in on "midge-disorienting cocktails" designed to distract males or disrupt females' search for the right spot to lay their eggs... all while letting the vegetables keep their organic label. The midge was first discovered in northern VT in 2006 and has been expanding its turf.Oh, and hey, if you're looking for stuff to do on Friday, VT's state-owned historic sites will be free. In honor of Bennington Battle Day (that's the state holiday commemorating the victory over the Brits on Aug. 16, 1777), a variety of sites in addition to Bennington's monument will be free to visit: the Morrill Homestead in Strafford, Calvin Coolidge's birthplace in Plymouth, and two other Revolutionary War sites: Mount Independence, a fortification built by American troops in 1776 and 1777, in Orwell; and the Hubbardton Battlefield. OKAY, BUT WHAT'S THERE TO DO TONIGHT?You might want to go learn all about "The Secret Lives of Bats" in Canaan. National Park Service biologist Adam Kozlowski, a bat expert who's done this kind of thing before, goes into bats' evolution (50 million years' worth; we're a blip), the health of various species (as you know: for too many of them, not good), their physiology and talents (have you ever managed to echolocate a mosquito 15 feet away?). At the Canaan Meetinghouse, starts at 7.Or if you're in the mood for a little Et Toi! you could head to Proctorsville. Yeah, it's not quite within easy range, but Yankee Chank, the popular Vermont-based traditional Cajun dance band, will be there. They'll be on the Svec Memorial Green, it's going to be a lovely night, and be honest, how long's it been since you got to two-step? Starts at 6, bring your own red beans and rice.Now, go blaze through this day. See you tomorrow.
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