Review: Four Stars By Max Abrams Apparently it has been decided by our culture that the folks who won World War II are the Greatest Generation. Well, at the risk of sounding presumptuous and ungrateful, I think my generation – Generation X (aged 39 to 54) – is second to none. If this were a contest of who suffered and sacrificed more, the WWII generation wins, of course. But they also perpetuated Jim Crow, marginalized women, and dehumanized Japanese people to the point where putting them all in camps/raining fire on their cities seemed like reasonable decisions. If believing in political causes is a virtue, then Generation X can’t compete. But I argue that it is our quiet, non-judgment…

The Berlin Development Review Board approved zoning applications for 98 units of senior housing—the first project of its kind in Berlin, designed to include both independent and assisted living, as well as memory care, all under one roof. Through a unique relationship, Dousevicz, a developer of over 500 of senior housing throughout Vermont, and Heidenberg Properties Group, the owners of the Berlin Mall and approximately 3,000,000 SF of retail properties, are combining efforts to develop the senior housing at the Berlin Mall. The project will be located adjacent to the existing Mall buildings. “Our vision is to create a vibrant town center where people of all ages live, work and play in a…

On Saturday, April 20 at 11:00 a.m., the Brownsville Community Church Team is organizing an Easter egg hunt open to all children in the community.  Kids will be hunting for 1,500 eggs outside in Tribute Park adjacent to the church. There will be face painting and other surprises for all children who join the fun!  Registration for the Easter Egg Hunt is open at www.brownsvilleumc-vt.org. Admission is free.  On Thursday, April 18th at 6:30 p.m. there will be a Maundy Thursday Service to which all are welcome. On Friday, April 19th, Brownsville Community Church will sponsor the first of a series of free concerts open to the public in 2019.  The first concert will be a Good Friday Concert…

Two hundred and twenty-five Vermont students from eight choruses, including Barre City Middle School and Stowe Elementary sang in the fifth annual student choral concert last week at South Burlington High School with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’ Senate office. The concert was part of a day-long event focusing on art and music education. The eight student choruses, ranging from elementary school to college groups, performed in front of a sprawling  audience. At the conclusion of the concert, all of the students assembled on stage and sang a stirring rendition of Vermont’s state anthem, “These Green Mountains.” Susanne Norwood, the choir director for Lyndon Institute, served as the guest…

Over 270 climate justice activists marched for five days for more than 60 miles from Middlebury to the State House in Montpelier, where they called for rapid action on climate change. Organizers from 350Vermont are calling the event ‘Next Steps: A Climate Solutions Walk’. Walkers have highlighted the climate consequences of the buildout of the Vermont Gas pipeline; celebrated and promoted examples of climate solutions; and brought local and state attention to the climate crisis.  Since the United Nations IPCC report last year, grassroots activists have been building momentum across the country for what they say is essential action to match the scale of the threat. As governments across th…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and Audubon Vermont are encouraging the state’s maple sugar producers to consider managing their sugarbushes in ways that are beneficial to birds and other wildlife. “Maple sugaring is an important part of Vermont’s rural, land-based economy and can help provide an economic incentive for maintaining healthy and intact forests,” said Andrea Shortsleeve, habitat biologist for Vermont Fish & Wildlife.  “A few simple changes to the way a maple forest is managed can have major benefits to wildlife habitat and there are a variety resources available for landowners who want to learn more.” Steve Hagenbuch of Audubon Vermont agrees. “All sugarbush…

The last of Vermont Air National Guard’s F-16 Fleet departed the Burlington International Airport on April 6. The ceremony commemorated 33 years of flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon at the 158th Fighter Wing. The Vermont Air National Guard is celebrating the heritage of the F-16 which arrived in Vermont in spring of 1986, and has been called to support the nation in several instances including 122 consecutive days of combat air patrols over New York City after 9/11.  “This is a bittersweet time for the Vermont Air National Guard as we bid farewell to the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a fighter aircraft that has performed magnificently in defense of our country,” said Col. David Smith, commander…

As of April 1, 2019 Vermont Bicycle Shop will have a new, yet familiar, address at 105 North Main Street, Suite 102, Barre Vermont. Moving just two doors North of the current location while staying in the same building means no downtime and a smooth transition for customers and the business alike. Vermont Bicycle Shop has served downtown Barre and Central Vermont in the current location for the past three years. Owner, Darren Ohl came to Barre with his wife Ginger Cloud five years ago. He brought with him working experience from both the largest single location bicycle store in the country and the largest independent bicycle dealer in the country. Darren, a seasoned cyclist, with internation…