Montpelier, Vermont Facts & Trivia: ... aka Montpeculiar. ... smallest state capital in the U.S., with a population of less than 9,000 people. ... only U.S. state capital without a McDonald's. ... Home of the 2006 & 2007 New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) Champion Vermont Mountaineers!

Friday, August 15, 2008

AP: "Ben & Jerry's closing Montpelier scoop shop"

*Updated*

Get the scoop about the downtown Montpelier ice cream shop closing, here [via Associated Press (AP), local Vermont News wire, Boston Globe Website].

*Update*: Read a longer article on the subject, here [via Times Argus; Saturday, August 16, 2008].


*Note*: last updated on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 10:09 AM [EDT)].

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Unveiling of Dick Hathaway Memorial Sculpture

*Updated & Republished Post*

New Video:


The Foundry Process of the Dick Hathaway Memorial Sculpture

Artist Bridgette Mongeon had documented the sculpting of the Dick Hathaway memorial sculpture in a previous video. In this video she takes you through the process of bronze casting as she prepares for the unveiling of the sculpture scheduled for September 25, 2008 at the TW Wood Gallery in Montpelier, Vermont. [...]
[via YouTube, here; posted by sculptorandwriter (July 31, 2008); length: 9:59 minutes/seconds]

Original post:

The unveiling of the Dick Hathaway memorial sculpture, which was created by sculptor and writer Bridgette Mongeon, is scheduled to be held at the TW Wood Gallery and Arts Center on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 5:30 PM (via A Sculpture Created In Loving Memory of Dick Hathaway blog, here).

Sculpting of the Dick Hathaway Memorial


Artist Bridgette Mongeon who specializes in posthumous sculpture, creates a life-size bronze of professor Richard Hathaway from Vermont College Union Institute. It is for the friends, family, and loved ones of Vermont. The Sculpture has become a part of her book "Bringing to Life the Spirit of the Deceased- A Sculptor's Journey."

[...]
[via YouTube, here; posted by sculptorandwriter (December 22, 2007); length: 6:46 minutes/seconds]


Professor Richard Hathaway speaks on progressive education


In loving memory of Richard Hathaway a beloved professor who believed in progressive education and history. The video is from Vermont College graduation ceremony. It was used by artist Bridgette Mongeon to assist as inspiration and reference for the Dick Hathaway memorial sculpture. [...]
[via YouTube, here; posted by sculptorandwriter (December 14, 2007); length: 9:13 minutes/seconds]


*Note*: Updated post with most recent video and republished post to reposition it to the top of main page for the moment; post originally posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

WPTZ - Ch. 5 News Clip re: Supplies Fall Short Of Demand For Pellet Stoves

Thinking about a pellet stove to cut next winter's heating oil bill? You'd better act fast, as dealers are running into supply problems.
[via YouTube, here; posted by WPTZ (July 29, 2008); length: 1:20 minutes/seconds]

Monday, July 28, 2008

Montpelier Street Band


[via YouTube, here; posted by kevincrader (July 22, 2008); length: 2:01 minutes/seconds]

Friday, July 25, 2008

Project Harmony looking for host families

Project Harmony DESPERATELY needs some host families for a group we have arriving from Belarus at the end of next week. If anybody can take a visitor into their home for part of this program, we would be eternally grateful. July 31 - August 9 or 10 are critical at this point in terms of finding places for people. If you can help out please call Project Harmony in Waitsfield at 802-496-4545.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Onion River Sports Century Ride


The 5th Annual ORS Century Ride is this Saturday, July 26th. Cyclists have a choice of two loops: 100k (62 miles) or 110 miles. Both races start at the Montpelier Recreation area on Elm Street and have a police escort through Montpelier to RT 2 near Walker Motors. All cyclists head out to Hardwick for the first food & drink stop. Tom Beardsley of WDEV will be there to greet the riders. He'll be looking for a few people to talk to him live on radio. The 62 milers will head to Morrisville then to Elmore for their second food stop. The 110 milers will head to Barton, S. Albany, North Wolcott and then to Elmore. Both routes end at the Montpelier Recreation area where cyclists can enjoy an end-of-the-ride BBQ. Kellogg-Hubbard Library.To register for the ride you can go Onion River Sports on Langdon Street or register online. Registration is $65 and includes the BBQ and beverages, including Rock Art Beer! The good folks at ORS also organize a raffle with this ride. Tickets are $5 apiece or 5 tickets for $20. Tickets are on sale at Onion River Sports and Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Volunteers are needed to bake cookies for the food stops or make potato, pasta or green salads for the BBQ. Anyone interested in helping out at the event is encouraged to call Rachel at the library, 223-3338.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Librarian stands up for civil liberties

We have seen repeatedly that times of crisis or great fear make us vulnerable to threats to our civil liberties. We can be glad that here in Vermont we are served by librarians who will support our civil liberties, even in the face of police raids.

The Vermont state police have once again decided that warrants were an unnecessary part of their process. Unfortunately for them, they were no match for mild mannered, 4' 10", 56-year old, librarian by day, civil rights defender by... okay, also by day... Judith Flint.

The short version: the state police showed up at Kimball Public Library to seize the library's computers because they had a tip that Brooke Bennett may have used them at some point and she asked them for a warrant.

As reported in, of all places, The Fresno Bee (used to avoid linking to an AP article; otherwise I'd use the Herald):


Children's librarian Judith Flint was getting ready for the monthly book discussion group for 8- and 9-year-olds on "Love That Dog" when police showed up.

They weren't kidding around: Five state police detectives wanted to seize Kimball Public Library's public access computers as they frantically searched for a 12-year-old girl, acting on a tip that she sometimes used the terminals.

Flint demanded a search warrant, touching off a confrontation that pitted the privacy rights of library patrons against the rights of police on official business.
[...]
"What I observed when I came in were a bunch of very tall men encircling a very small woman," said the library's director, Amy Grasmick, who held fast to the need for a warrant after coming to the rescue of the 4-foot-10 Flint.


Thursday, July 17, 2008

ORCA Media: Overexposed in Vermont

*Warning*: Nudity is shown at certain segments within the below embedded video and, as such, may not be appropriate for all viewers.

Montpelier Naked Bike Ride 2008
[via YouTube, here; posted by orcamedia (July 16, 2008); length: 7:31 minutes/seconds]

fyi: Montpelier Naked Bike Ride
*Warning*: the above linked Website contains photos as well as links to various video clips posted online where nudity is present and, as such, may not be appropriate for all persons.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Stuck in Vermont 88: Leahy & Batman

7/12/08: "The Dark Knight" premiered in Montpelier Saturday, days before it's general release.

We have Vermont's own Dark Knight to thank for this rare event - US Senator Patrick Leahy who has a small cameo in the film.

Patrick Leahy grew up in Montpelier Vermont. Blind in one eye, he spent much of his free time reading comics at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

Years later, he is the library's favorite Superhero, donating proceeds from his Batman film appearances and raising money from this recent screening of The Dark Knight.

Leahy sits down with the library's Comics Clubs to talk about Batman, "The Dark Knight," and why he loves reading.

[...]
[via YouTube, here; posted by StuckinVermont (July 16, 2008); length: 5:08 minutes/seconds]

For additional information concerning these and other library matters, make sure to check out the Kellogg Hubbard Library blog.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

'Montpelier miracle'

Novelist and Worcester native Thomas Greene creates a new college, here [via Worcester Telegram & Gazette; Worcester, MA.; Tuesday, July 15, 2008]

A Celebration of Vermont College of Fine Arts

Celebrating the Vermont College of Fine Arts, the first new college in Vermont in 23 years and the only fine arts graduate school of its kind.
[via YouTube, here; posted by rjoconnor21 (June 23, 2008)] length: 3:12 minutes/seconds]

fyi: Vermont College of Fine Arts