The pleasure of theater, the power of words

I can't claim to come from a family of thespians - we certainly were not the Barrymores or the Redgraves - but some of us have had our 15 minutes of fame on stage.

My sister, for example, always had the lead in school plays, and when I was 13, I did a comic monologue as compensation for failing to garner a major part in my school's annual production. I also sang in the high school choir, and never was anything more thrilling than participating in a chorus belting out Handel's Messiah.

In his college days, my husband performed notably in Shakespearean tragedies. And our daughter always secured a major role in school musicals, beginning with her acclaimed portrayal of Alice, in Alice in Wonderland, when she was a seventh grader. Recently, she starred in the independent film Mutual Appreciation, a movie that captured several impressive awards internationally.

So I guess you could say that theater is in our blood, as wannabes and as dedicated spectators.  (I should remember that when applications ask that annoying question about hobbies.)  We love nothing better than a live performance, whether it's music, dance, opera, or theater.  Along with travel, the performing arts are our extravagance in life.  We almost never miss a chance to see a good play, and we've been known to blitz New York, catching three performances in two days. We visit the Berkshires every summer, and the Shaw Festival in Canada is one of our favorite venues. ...

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Paging the room: First impressions of the Vermont State House as seen through the eyes of a legislative page

Senator White?” The pristine room becomes completely silent as I enter, and I pause for a second, afraid I've interrupted a life-or-death debate - and then I realize, no, this is what I'm here for. This is what I'm supposed to do. I step fully into the Government Operations...

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Correction

The story in the November issue on the Twelve Tribes, the new owners of the Common Ground Restaurant in Brattleboro, erroneously described the religious community as a tax-exempt organization. “We pay property taxes and school taxes (and then home school our children),” notes Melavav, a member of the community...

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Creating community: Cohousing group sees dream take shape

Life in a village. Who would have thought of it a year ago when we'd lived more than 40 years in our Washington, D.C. suburb? I was sitting in a big rocking chair at the Front Porch Café. It was October 2007, and my husband, Richard Brady, and I were listening to Anne Fines and Joan Benneyan describe Putney Commons, the only cohousing community in Windham County. We were familiar with this new development in American community making and were...

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Emergency medical services nationwide struggle with government reimbursements

The financial challenge facing emergency medical services, says John Vose, vice president of the Vermont Ambulance Association (VAA), lies in the moral, ethical, and legal aspects of treating emergency medical services as businesses. “We're the last line of defense,” Vose says. “In a medical emergency, we're always going to be there whether the patient can pay or not. We're there when you need us, and we figure out the financial part later.” The local provider, Rescue Inc., isn't alone in...

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Editorial misleads, omits info on shelter

We greatly appreciate your fine paper, and are particularly encouraged by the frequent social-justice-related stories. However, the editorial "The cold and the hungry this winter" contained some unfortunate errors and misleading information. First, it is wonderful that you highlighted all the organizations that provide food or meals to the area's poor - we greatly appreciate the excellent work these organizations do, and it is great that you are bringing their important contributions to people's attention. However, the article recounts a...

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Diversity of tactics necessary for activism

In response to Peter Alexander's Nov. 9 letter in the Brattleboro Reformer, “VY protesters went too far,” and to the statement of the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB), I'd like to share my views about a “diversity of tactics,” movement building, and empowering people to take action. I'm outraged that Peter Alexander characterized young protesters as terrorizing the PSB and as those who “might as well be working for Entergy.” I find it very dangerous to condemn young people for...

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Governor’s race represents an untold story

Just weeks ago Obama swept Vermont and the nation to became president-elect.  That was the big story. Meanwhile, the Vermont press chose to largely ignore an interesting and unusual aspect of this year's gubernatorial contest - the fact that an independent candidate, Anthony Pollina, nudged past a high-profile Democratic to place second behind front-runner Republican Jim Douglas. As such races go, this outcome is remarkable.  Consider:  1)  An independent candidate running against candidates from the two major parties.  2)  Pollina...

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Newspaper obituary policy leaves reader cold

When my father passed away on Sept. 11, his obituary was sent to various newspapers, with the understanding that some do charge for publication. I had understood sometime ago that the Reformer resumed offering it free as a local service, so I was surprised to find that it not only charged but that it was the most costly, more than some larger publications. To inquire about doing some basic editing so I could bring down the expense, I assumed a...

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When suicide hits home

The topic of suicide is a sensitive one. Talking about it can be frightening for some, even embarrassing, but since receiving a federal Youth Suicide Prevention grant, the staff at the Center for Health and Learning have discovered a willingness on the part of those personally affected by a completed suicide to talk about their loss and to advocate for prevention and early intervention in an effort to spare others the pain they have experienced. JoEllen Tarallo-Falk, executive director at...

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Hope for change

Between President-elect Barack Obama's campaign promise to end the war in Iraq and that country's desire to have our nation leave its borders, we hold onto hope that we will see progress soon. Most months, we use this space to remind readers of the tragic and very real human cost of this war. Some 4,207 United States military personnel have died in Iraq and 30,634 were wounded there - some maimed for life, physically or psychologically - as of Nov.

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My Medjool Date Pie

Dough for two-crust pie 1 pound pitted and coarsely chopped Medjool dates 1 cup whole milk 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa 1 cup fruity red wine 1 Tbsp. Grand Marnier 3/4 cup chopped pecans toasted in a 350-degree oven for 7-10 minutes until fragrant 1 tsp grated orange zest 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 eggs, lightly beaten Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make your favorite recipe for a two-crust pie and line a 9” pie pan with one round, rolling out...

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