<p>It’s wonderful to see that “can do” spirit.</p>
<p>Lefthand…Town Meeting Day is traditionally on the first Tuesday in March. However, I think some towns (not ours) have elected in recent years to hold Town Meeting on Monday night when more people who work can be present. </p>
<p>I know the way I expressed it in an earlier post sounded like it was one day in one town and one in another and realized the double meaning but kept it as I truly meant “it” meaning Town Meeting Day. And yes, Town Meeting Day is something very different that we have here in VT. Townsfolk come together to discuss the issues on the table and anyone can be heard.</p>
<p>I did figure it out, soozie, it’s just my initial reading and the early hour led me to another interpretation. And to pushing the “post reply” button when I maybe shouldn’t have.</p>
<p>What about a column on Ann Coulter? She’s back in the news, more evil and crazy than ever.</p>
<p>bethie, if you do an article on school consolidation, please pm me the text. It’s an issue that I am very interested in, as my state has far too many districts. I wonder how others are approaching the subject.</p>
<p>Media sensationalizing stories has had me interested lately. Case in point, the dismembered mom in MI. I live in that area, and the coverage has been nonstop for weeks (and even worse since the body was discovered). I wonder why that is so. The Brittney Spears rehab saga, the Anna Nicole saga, etc., etc. — what the heck is going on? Is the overcoverage attributed to a real desire among the masses … and if so, why do people need to see this stuff 24/7? If not, then why does such sensationalism continue? Food for thought.</p>
<p>Does Vermont accept newcomers to the state? Should passports be issued?</p>
<p>I recall an obituary I read in a Vermont paper for a 90-year-old man. After describing a LONG list of civic accomplishments in his Vermont town and statewide, the obit ended, “He moved to Vermont at age 5. Although not a native, he contributed signficantly to Vermont life.”</p>
<p>Or, bethie, here’s another idea: Is it true that the weather in Vermont is superior to New Hampshire weather? </p>
<p>The reason for that one is that I saw an interview on TV with a man who lived on a little island on the river between the two states, following resolution of a state border dispute over which state governed the island. They asked the lone resident, “How do you feel, now that you’re a Vermonter?”
He said, wryly of course, “Fine. I was getting mighty tired of those cold New Hampshire winters.”</p>
<p>Or, what we ALL want to know, bethievt-- HOW did you get that snowplow out of your driveway???</p>
<p>There was an article in National Geographic a few months ago (Nov.?) written by a man in Vermont who was advocating eating only locally-grown products as a way of reducing one’s carbon footprint (creating less demand for shiiping agricultural products cross-country, etc.). Very interesting and somewhat controversial. I have to admit I’d never thought of that way of reducing pollution!</p>
<p>I’m back in the same spot again. I have to write a column TODAY!!! I was so busy getting my kid into college, I totally forgot. I think I’ll do the local foods idea because I have resource material for that, but I’d love any other suggestions!</p>
<p>A bigger plow pulled the stuck plow out.</p>
<p>The weather is just as miserable in VT as it is in NH. Keeps the population down.</p>
<p>And no, I’ll never be a Vermonter and I’m not sure my son, who was born here and has lived here all of his 18 years, will be considered one either…“Just because a cat has kittens in the oven, doesn’t make them muffins!”</p>
<p>Bethie, do all your columns have to be serious, or at least semi-political/current events related?
How about the foreclosure crisis? It may not be as big an issue in Vermont.</p>
<p>At some point, why don’t you write about the frustrating, marathon college application process? You’ve lived the source material!</p>
<p>Hi Bethie from another Vermonter.</p>
<p>One issue that the state legislature is working on that I find extremely interesting is whether ground water can be privately owned or if it is a public trust. I think there is currently a task force of some sort studying the issue. I went to a talk this summer that the Vermont Natural Resources Council held where author, Maude Barlow, talked about corporate ownership of global water resources - really scarey stuff.</p>
<p>And in checking out the Vermont Natural Resources Council website to check on the name of the speaker I heard, I also noticed that they are having a symposium on April 19th that ties in with the local food topic: A Going Local Colloquium - “The Challenges and Opportunities in Promoting Local Food and Local Food Systems” Here’s the VNRC website: <a href=“http://www.vnrc.org%5B/url%5D”>http://www.vnrc.org</a></p>
<p>What paper do you write for?</p>
<p>How about a followup on the ozone hole? How much we spent, how much the hole has shrunk…</p>
<p>Hindoo</p>
<p>I did write one on the college admissions process or, more generally, about post-high school plans.</p>
<p>zip100</p>
<p>I write for our little local paper. The ownership of water is an issue I’m really interested in. I heard Maude Barlow speak at the World Social Forum in Porto Allegre, Brazil, 3 years ago. It is very scary stuff.</p>
<p>I’ve been on the board of VNRC, couldn’t make it to the Barlow thing here–I think we were doing college visits. I just wrote my last column on buying local and used the VNRC publication for a lot of my source material.</p>