Vermont Blog Roundup

Items of note in the Vermont blogosphere this week:

• The Vermont International Film Fest is coming up soon, and its blog is back online.
• Economist Art Woolf takes issue with Sky Barsch's article about going solar in last Sunday's Burlington Free Press. There's some interesting debate happening over at Vermont Tiger. Here's another post from the site by Curtis Hier, objecting to the high-tech, interactive whiteboards in Vermont classrooms.
• Welcome to Vermont, Andrew Burkhardt! Andrew is the new Emerging Technologies Librarian at Champlain College. He came to my panel at the Burlington Book Festival and blogged about it, so I'm giving him some link love.
• Vermont cartoonist Alison Bechdel was on NPR a couple weeks ago. I caught the end of the segment in my car, and just found it linked on her blog. The report was about how rare it is that television series live up to the "Bechdel rule." It's so cool that Alison has a rule named after her.
• The internet gave Jessamyn West a bicycle. Don't ask. Just check it out. Never heard of Jessamyn West? She's Vermont's own internet folk hero.
• Candleblogger Bill Simmon posts a eulogy for writer David Foster Wallace.
• A yummy recipe for "Lemon Meringue Cupids" from Walter Jeffries at Sugar Mountain Farm.
• I went to dinner with Undead Molly last week, and the topic of winter burials came up. We wondered if people are buried in Vermont in the winter? Or do they have to wait until the ground thaws in spring? I messaged ChaCha to ask. Here's ChaCha's reply: "Yes many cemetaries hav a 'frost remover' fueled by a propane heater that thaws and dried frozen ground for digging." Molly wasn't satisfied with this answer, and wrote a blog post about it.

100+ Rally for Bike Safety at Burlington City Hall

At 12:15 p.m. today, more than 100 people gathered in Burlington's City Hall Park to rally for "Safe Streets." The event was organized by the local nonprofit Local Motion in response to two recent hit-and-run incidents in which bicyclists were injured.

"This is fabulous," Judy Bond, the newly elected president of the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition, said after assessing the size of the crowd. But it's "really unfortunate," she added, that the event had been precipitated by two tragedies.

The first hit-and-run victim, according to the Burlington Free Press, was Rose Long, a 20-year-old University of Vermont student. Long was struck by a red Jeep last Monday while riding down Pearl Street in Burlington. After being transported to Fletcher Allen Health Care, she was treated for "multiple fractures, severe facial lacerations and a collapsed lung." The second bicyclist was hit last Tuesday while riding down Patchen Road in South Burlington and suffered minor injuries, the Free Press reported last week.

Today in City Hall Park, after Mayor Bob Kiss pledged to "do all I can to move forward" on bike-safety issues, Burlington Police Department Chief Michael Schirling said he will work with Local Motion, the Burlington Bicycle Council and the Burlington Walking Work Group to "craft meaningful and new strategies to keep our streets safe" through "engineering, education and enforcement."

During his speech, Local Motion Executive Director Chapin Spencer outlined a Five Point Platform for Safe Streets. The platform calls for "bike/pedestrian safety education," "reporting aggressive driving," lowering speed limits, "targeted" traffic enforcement, and "personal responsibility" on the part of both bikers and motorists.

According to a rep from the UVM Cycling Club who spoke at today's event, Rose Long, the student who was injured last Monday on Pearl Street, is now walking. But, since Long's insurance plan doesn't cover oral surgery, her family and friends are soliciting donations at a website they created.

Cinderfella

Are you in need of a man? Or perhaps just in need of some man power? Well, according to the organizers of this week's Cinderfella event at Higher Ground, you can buy him! Here's the description:

"Cinderfella is an original Burlington experience where men will step-up to auction off their skills and services to help eradicate cervical cancer. Bidders will win services ranging from professional art lessons to a private meal cooked in their kitchen by a world-renowned chef. This one-of-a-kind event will feature local bands and DJs, huge raffle prizes and tons of other giveaways. Cinderfella is guaranteed to be the "don't miss" fundraising event of the fall for men and women, ladies nights, date nights."

The best part is that all the proceeds go to benefit The Hicks Foundation whose mission is to eradicate cervical cancer in the state of Vermont. You may have heard of Free Pap Day, and that's one of the many programs you'll be helping to support if you bid on dudes at Cinderfella this Wednesday, September 17 at Higher Ground. Doors open at 6pm.

Captain Vermont

I'm not exactly sure what this is, but I think I like it.

Captain Vermont's friends on MySpace include the Vermont ACLU and the Vermont Historical Society.

Baby Yak

I was surfing around on YouTube and found this video from the Vermont Yak Company. Apparently, one of their "royals" gave birth this morning. Here's a video of the little baby yak, courtesy of Rob Williams.

Seven Days Food Editor Suzanne Podhaizer profiled the company in April.

Vermont’s iconic cow has got competition — if Rob, a Champlain College professor and the editor of Vermont Commons, has anything to say about it. “I sort of see yaks as the quintessential Vermont bovine,” he suggests. “They’re really adaptable, very surefooted, fierce and protective, and they love the cold. It’s a perfect fit.”

Welcome to the world, baby yak.

Election Day Rock Show

I'm all a tizzy because I'm in James Kochalka's American Elf this week! That's me wanting to incite riots.

Speaking of... the Dirty Blondes are hosting their quadrennial election night throw-down, Exit Poll, at Metronome on November 4 (startin' early and goin' late). A cavalcade of stars are scheduled to appear: James Kochalka, Cccome?, Hot Neon Magic and Alice Austin to name a few. Of course there'll be a tap dance number or two and plenty of hijinx, so save the date. You really shouldn't be alone.

South End Art Hop on Stuck in Vermont

I just watched Eva's Art Hop episode of "Stuck in Vermont" and felt compelled to post it here. I know I'm biased, because I'm Eva's editor, but I love her work. She really has an eye for what makes this such a vibrant and quirky community.

And no, I'm not just posting this video because my son Graham and I make a cameo appearance.

Vermont Blog Roundup

Here's a roundup of interesting stuff I found on Vermont blogs this afternoon. I used to do this every week on 802 Online.

Wondering where I find all these fabulous Vermont blogs? Here's my Vermont Blog Directory. It's linked in the Blurt blogroll. I just updated it to include a bunch of new blogs. And I moved some of the older, inactive sites to the "retired" category. Got a blog I should add? Email me at cathy (at) sevendaysvt.com.

• If you like Sarah Palin, you'll love Jeff Soyer, Vermont's Gay Gun Nut. His blog, Alphecca, is about to celebrate its 6th anniversary. Here's him, reflecting on that milestone, and warning all you liberal shits to leave him alone.
• They're freezing peaches and selling a bull calf on the Bosky Dell Farm.
• Clever freelance movie reviewer Clamzilla hates the movie "College":

  It’s hard to even know what to say or where to begin with this hot mess. The first shocker is that this poor excuse for adolescent boys to come to the movies just to see a lot of topless women, and guys drinking and puking, is directed by a woman. Then again, that woman is Deb Hagen, and she has only one other credit to her name, a 2004 (!) short called Pee Shy. I guess it totally makes sense then that the focus on urine throughout this picture must have been right up her alley, but for me, it was just one more reason to be pissed off at the whole sloppy movie.

• Elaine Young is sick. Hope you feel better soon! I actually already knew my favorite Champlain College prof was under the weather because I saw it on Facebook. What would we do without social media?
• The South End Art Hop: Loved it. Hated it.
• My Cat Goma inspired the new Burton "Chicklet" snowboard. No kidding. He really did. Here's a video of Goma. Goma is taking over the world!

Steve Benen on the Rachel Maddow Show -- UPDATED

If you tune in for Rachel Maddow's new show on MSNBC tonight, you may see Essex Junction resident — and Washington Monthly blogger — Steve Benen.

A little birdie told me to watch for Steve. Thanks for the tip, Bill.

Next weekend you can see Steve — and me, and Ann De Marle from Champlain College — at the Burlington Book Festival. The three of us will be on a panel, moderated by Champlain dean Jeff Rutenbeck, about "Writing in the 22nd Century." Whatever that means. We'll be in the Pickering Room at the Fletcher Free Library from 1-2 p.m.

UPDATE: Here's the video clip, via Candleblog. And here are Bill's comments, including a critique of the WCAX studios...

Last Pursuit Gallery Opening TONIGHT!

Sad news regarding the local art scene — Pursuit Gallery is shutting down.

It especially bummed me out because I wrote a little spotlight about them for the What's Good Gallery Guide. Here's the write-up, which appeared on pg. 82:

Looking for skater and graffiti art? Find it at Pursuit. This wedge-shaped gallery on the Burlington Bike Path is home to Driven Studios, a multimedia design agency that specializes in youth culture. Designer Seth Neary and photographer Skye Chalmers have worked with Burton Snowboards, Gravis, Red Bull and Analog. They showcase work by urban artists you wouldn’t expect to see in the Green Mountain State. And their art openings are just an excuse to host a party.

Their last opening is tonight — 5-10 p.m. in the Wing Building on the Burlington Bike Path (Art Hop site 41). Just go. The exhibit's up until September 25. Photo by Jordan Silverman.