Top Stories for Tuesday July 4, 2006

“Mom, I'm Bored, There Is Nothing to Do”
By Brian Bauer
     As the rains continue and school vacations begin to drag, mothers all over Addison County begin to hear the refrain “Mom, I'm Bored, There Is Nothing to Do”. Well, let's drop back a little bit and come at this from a positive angle.
    We often hear about the demise of the multi-generational families living and working together in America. We are very fortunate, here in Vermont, because we still have extended families on our farms. One such family lives in Whiting, on a 330 acre farm. This is the Crawford Farm. As with many Vermont farms, this had been a dairy operation, in the not too distant past. But times change, and the Crawford's became intrigued with producing a “value added” product. While delivering their Ayrshire milk to some cheese makers, they had an opportunity to talk about cheese production with people who had first-hand knowledge.   [ more ]

Vermont History Expo Excites Everyone About The Past
By Ed Barna
Henry Prickett explains a display at the Vermont History Expo recently held in Tunbridge. Mr. Prickett represented the history research center at the Henry Sheldon Museum of Middlebury.  [ more ]

From Where I Lie
By Larry Johnson
    To this day, the pungent odor wafting from a manure lagoon never fails to send me reeling down memory lane. As a farm kid, growing up in Addison County back in the 40s and 50s, I was no stranger to the smell, texture and dispensing of manure; and, of course, humor almost always played no small role in the relationship between a dairy farmer and this inevitable by-product.   For instance, I believe I could write an entire book on manure pile adventures. To a small boy in bib-overalls and green- rubber barn- boots, a manure pile, just outside the barn doors, was an Everest or McKinley. It existed to be climbed.  Almost every farm had a manure pile and every pile grew exponentially during the winter months when it was more difficult to spread it on the fields. I will go into the art and science of spreading manure later on.  [ more ]

Vergennes Union High School Student Named National Finalist For Samsung American Legion Scholarship

   June 22, 2006 a senior at Vergennes Union High School was named as a Samsung American Legion Scholarship National Finalist. Alexandra M. Larrow was selected by the staff of the Green Mountain Girls State Program which was held at Castleton State College from June 18 thru June 22, 2006.   In making the announcement the selection officials said Larrow was named a Samsung American Legion Scholarship National Finalist on the basis of academics, school and community involvement.  As a Samsung American Legion Scholarship National Finalist Alexandra M Larrow will join 99 other National Finalists from around the United States each competing for one of nine scholarships, each worth an expected $20,000.  [ more ]