It’s back-to-school time, and, as it turns out, kids in Norwich have a lot to look forward to at the Marion Cross School. You may recall that the Norwich Times just featured the much-loved Mayfest on the cover of the Summer issue. Among many things, we learned about the different rituals performed by each grade and about how current students, staff and parents treasure this time-honored school tradition. Just for fun, we decided to go back in time and see what some members of the MCS Class of 2006 have to say about their MCS elementary school days… 20 years later!

Cyrus Rothwell-Ferraris

Cyrus (left) in 3rd grade, and (right) in Hawaii with family: sister Chiara (center),
parents Steve and Karin, and partner Olivia

1. Massachusetts
2. Hospitality/Education
3. Kindergarten
4. Fondest memory is the feeling of continuous community that began at MCS and expanded across Norwich to all the spaces where community gathered – Tracy Hall, DnW, Huntley, the grange, Norwich Inn, the trails.
5. LEEP was so fun and I loved all our field trips to different bodies of water, such discovery.
6. Mr Girard, the way he was involved with us as students, athletes, as growing young people with connections into being young adults. He was such a legendary icon in so many ways, and I’ll never forget when a simple algebraic equation ‘clicked’ for me as he stood at the head of the room with a scale, representing the variable’s ‘weight’ on the equation.
7. May Day… it was such a celebration of the end of winter, spring beginning, school coming to an end soon, and summer in sight.
8. Love of natural science and the outdoors. Commitment to community. A love of “folky” events in community centers.
9. Yes, I’d love for them to go to MCS!
10. The pillars of leadership in the sciences, in the arts, in the school wide programming and the graduated curriculum that spanned multiple grade levels. The willingness to allow students freedom and creativity and trust. But primarily I think the total buy-in from the teachers as a team seems to create an interwoven community and learning program that was both so deliberate yet so open. I think this is not something easily replicated.

Henry Butler

Henry then and now

1. New York, NY
2. News Production/Politics
3. First
4. I think all of the random things we did – whether it was learning how to mime, Oregon trail day in 3rd grade, the May Day pole weaving. We just had so much fun learning about so many different things, I really appreciated the variety of activities we did.
5. Social Studies
6. Mrs. Moore in 1st and 2nd grade! She made coming to school so fun, I remember always being excited to spend time with her in her class. There was a warmth about her that made everyone feel welcome, and I was lucky to have her for the first two years at MCS.
7. May Day – hands down – lol
8. I’m not sure if this is a Norwich value or an MCS value – but the emphasis on civics is something that I live with every day. Growing up, I remember going to town meetings in addition to attending the weekly “reps” we had at Marion Cross, seeing the entire community show up physically and care about their neighbors is something that I think most of the country could benefit from. So yes, kindness, compassion and being community minded. It’s been great going to our reunions and seeing us all as 30-year-old adults living in the values we were raised with – it’s been a treat to see!
9. Besides the emphasis on civics, I think the freedom to be multi-faceted is something that served us well. At MCS I was able to sing, and play sports, and have fun at school. We didn’t need to pick one thing and to be pigeonholed into that, we were free to be who we were. It also helps that we had phenomenal teachers and resources, both of which were used creatively to best educate all of us.

Hayden Young

Left: Hayden and Ms. Dustin (Kindergarten). Right: Hayden with his partner, Brianna McCarty and daughters Hazel and Louise Young.

1. Quechee, VT
2. Dreamer
3. Kindergarten
4. May Day in the meadow and the Oregon Trail day in 3rd grade. Two great days.
5. Greek Mythology with Ms. Hall and Ms. Haney
6. The entire MCS staff was incredible. Hard to pick just one. Ms. Thompson & Mr. Girard were very special teachers to me. They both went above and beyond always. Ms. Dustin, Mrs. O’Connor and Ms. Smith were amazing, too.
7. Kite Day Popsicles
8. Be creative. Have fun. Sing songs. Be kind.
9. I have two daughters that we homeschool, my oldest entering 1st grade. I try to instill all of the values I learned at MCS in them as much as I can in their education and day to day living.
10. It wouldn’t be a secret if I told you, right?

Galen Richardson

Galen then and now

1. Ottawa, Ontario
2. Research Scientist
3. 1st
4. Kite day at Huntley Meadows.
5. Going to Blood Brook and looking at wildlife
6. Mr Girard was a very captivating teacher and always knew how to hold my attention.
7. Kite Day
8. Respect for the environment. Being kind to others. Learning can be fun.
9. The classroom environment was very flexible and felt like a friendly space. Additionally, the respect for nature through lots of outdoor activities helped students have fun while learning.

Giulia Alexander

Guilia (11) sixth grade, and with husband Mike and son, Stokely, in 2025

1. Los Angeles, CA until a few months ago and now back in Norwich!
2. Film and Commercial Producer
3. Kindergarten
4. Rep every Thursday afternoon was a big hit for me. I loved watching other students perform, and of course singing songs like ‘This Pretty Planet’ or the apple-picking song in parts with the whole school. Rep was also one of the few times we were all together. When I was in fourth grade, I had a brother in sixth and a sister in kindergarten, so I felt like I had a real finger on the pulse of the school that year. I remember looking around one day during Rep and realizing I could name every single teacher and student in the room. I loved that feeling of knowing and being known at MCS. Also, it has been nearly 20 years since I sat through Rep, and yet when I see old MCS friends we can still sing all of the songs, in three parts, just like it’s 2004 again.
5. Social Studies
6. It feels impossible to choose just one!
   Mr. Girard and Ms. Ames were both standout teachers whose classrooms I remember with such fondness. But if I had to choose, Ms. Thompson in third grade was truly remarkable. She brought such tenderness and attunement to our class that school felt both warm and fun. She had a way of making each of us feel like her favorite student because she connected so deeply. Her creativity as a teacher was unforgettable – she constantly took us out into the community and encouraged us to draw, sculpt, build, and experience the worlds we were learning about. I still think often about our Oregon Trail unit, when we trekked to the apple orchard behind MCS and spent the day living as if we were migrating west in the 1840s.
7. Kite Day!
8. Curiosity! I carry with me the values of staying curious about the world and being a lifelong learner.
9. I had my first baby three months ago and moved back to Norwich this spring. While I’m not sure yet what the next few years will hold –or if we’ll stay in Norwich – I do know that MCS set the blueprint for the kind of childhood and early school experience I’d love for my own kids. If we do stay, I’ll feel so lucky for my son to experience May Day and to wander through the MCS woods, learning about vernal pools in the springtime.
10. I think the “secret sauce” is a combination of having a well-funded school that can attract truly fabulous teachers, a close-knit small-town setting where people feel connected and known, and the resources and traditions that nurture creativity and curiosity. I do believe aspects of the MCS magic can be replicated in other communities, though I recognize that resources and local context can present true barriers.

Rita Stephenson

Rita then and now

1. Saint Paul, MN
2. Nutrition
3. Kindergarten
4. Getting to play outside a lot and use our creativity to make up games is a very fond memory. Also looking forward to all the traditions and projects that each grade would do was always exciting, especially at the beginning of each school year.
5. I enjoyed studying Greek mythology in both 1st grade and 5th grade
6. Ms. Dustin & Ms. O’Connor both had a big influence on me. Both teachers made me feel comfortable and welcome in their classroom by allowing us to be ourselves while emphasizing being good to the people around us.
7. Kite Day and getting to spend the day outside (and getting popsicles!)

Ellen Miller

Left: Ellen (3rd grade) and her sister, Marion
(kindergarten), on the first day of school in 2003. Right: Ellen with her husband, Jacob, in Scotland (2025)

1. Sunapee, NH
2. Attorney
3. Kindergarten
4. No one memory is my favorite. I loved my classmates and all the wonderful experiences the school gave us.
5. Art and science classes. I also loved the library.
6. Mr. G in 5th grade! He opened my eyes. He taught us eye opening things about our world through hands on experiments. I remember feeling like I was making big leaps and connections when he taught.
7. The birthday calendar was a great one!
8. Loyalty, curiosity, creativity, community, love and appreciation for nature.
9. I moved back to the Upper ºValley because I loved growing up in Norwich so much. My time at MCS was one of the best in my life, and it has absolutely impacted the decisions I’ve made in my adult life. It would be incredible if my own kids could go there when the time comes.
10. MCS stands out for the unique hands-on experiences it provides to its students, and for the trust it puts in kids to test their boundaries. The orienteering classes, Oregon trail, and countless class projects stand out in this regard.

Katrina Menard

Left: Dewey, Rita, Katrina and Jack Higgins. Right: Katrina and her sister, Mikayla, in Greensboro.

1. Strafford, Vermont
2. Public Policy
3. Kindergarten
4. I loved kite day. Even when there was no wind, it was still fun to walk to Huntley Meadow, spend the day outside, and eat some popsicles. The only downside was occasionally getting my kite stuck in a tree!
5. Rep
6. Ms O’Connor, Mrs. T, and Mr. Girard were all highly influential. It felt like they tailored the educational materials to each specific class and student. They were also very patient and understanding.
7. Kite Day and May Day
8. Love of learning
9. My MCS experience underscored the importance of having teachers who genuinely care about each student’s experience and growth.
10. Valuing high-quality teachers, whether it’s through culturally valuing them or (hopefully!) paying them what they deserve.

Jack Higgins

Jack then and now

1. Brooklyn, New York
2. Actor
3. Kindergarten
4. I remember one early fall day, Mrs. Thompson found some wild concord grapes growing behind the school. We ate them together by hand in the afternoon light. They were sour and delicious. That and learning the Greek Myths by candle light in fifth grade, to emphasize the importance of oral storytelling.
5. Music. I remember vividly Mrs. Keck introducing us to Porgy & Bess. It was magical and rewired my little brain.
6. Wendy Thompson. She was my third grade teacher and instilled in me a still active love of poetry. I’m lucky to call her my friend today. I cared for her dog Tobin often during the pandemic years. He’s my favorite dog in the world.
7. May Day! I think our class was one of the last to be lucky enough to celebrate May Day in the meadow included in the Frye walking trails.
8. Respect and adoration for the natural world, reading and memorizing poetry, love for the town of Norwich and singing!
   I sing everyday.
9. When (if?) I have a child, matching my elementary school experience will be a tall order. I have no idea where my artistic career is going to take me but when (if?) I have a child I know I’ll be on the lookout for a school where teachers are breaking out guitars on the regular.
10. I think the secret sauce is MCS’s commitment to community ritual. Modern humans are starved for rituals that ask us to slow down and remember what a miracle it is to be alive, to watch the seasons change, to laugh really hard with your friends, to fly a kite. I’m deeply grateful MCS gave me this mode of thinking.

Optional Question: What was your least favorite MCS annual tradition?

I wouldn’t say I have a least favorite. Although, the fourth graders had this odd tradition for a while where, after flower garland weaving during May Day the boys were given a rose and asked to present it to one girl in their class. This made me uncomfortable as a young queer child, so I just gave mine to my teacher Mrs. Stathiem (sp?). I hope they forgo that one nowadays for many reasons.

Dewey MacMillen

Left: Katrina Menard and Dewey first day of 2nd grade. Right: Dewey MacMillen with husband AJ

1. Jericho, VT
2. Current: Marketing.
   Intended: Still figuring that out!
3. 2nd
4. Honestly it’s hard to pick one. I loved the field trips and the quirky traditions we had at MCS – REP, field day, May Day, etc. Of course, developing deep friendships – many of which I’m lucky enough to still have – has to be my fondest memory.
5. Social Studies. I loved doing the 6th grade Shakespeare play, too.
6. Truly, I lucked out and had the best teachers year after year. My favorites were Mrs. T (3rd grade) and Mrs. Ames (6th grade). Class with Mrs. T just felt warm and cozy – she made us all feel so loved! Mrs. Ames pushed me and helped me recognize my own potential. Honorable mention: the late Mr. Girard. The kindest man who just made everyone feel so special.
7. May Day or Oregon Trail day
8. MCS encouraged us to live in community with one another. To treat those in your community with kindness. I learned to be curious and driven to succeed, but have fun and not take everything too seriously. All of these are values I try to live by today.
9. Yes, absolutely. I want my future kids to have a small school community where they are seen as a whole person whose well-being is looked after versus just their academic success and that has largely impacted where my husband and I have chosen to put down roots.
10. I think keeping the school small, rooted in an ethos that nurtures children’s whole being versus just their academic prowess, and maintaining the traditions that make MCS so special all are part of the “special sauce” that make it such a desirable school!

The holidays are just around the corner, and that joyous spirit is about to overflow as the Norwich community comes together to celebrate another year of cherished traditions, creating new memories along the way. Even a small community such as Norwich packs a punch when it comes to festive traditions, and there’s something for everyone to keep busy and stay connected with neighbors and friends this holiday season. Mark your calendars and get excited for the lineup of Norwich holiday happenings, and spread the word!

The Spirit of Giving

19 DAYS OF NORWICH

Hartford-Norwich Holiday Basket Helpers: An opportunity to give back to the community during the holiday season by supporting area seniors and households in-need. Since 1983, this organization has grown by the generosity of volunteers and community members. The Holiday Basket Helpers committee anonymously shares the needs and wish-lists of clothing items and toys from households across Norwich and Hartford, and sponsors are able to fulfill those requests.

To learn more, volunteer, or give, visit holidaybasketsvt.org.

19 Days of the Valley: This holiday season, 19 Days of Norwich/the Valley is back to support local businesses and fundraise for the Upper Valley Haven during the first 19 days of December. A tradition originally started in 2013 by Dan Fraser of Dan and Whit’s, 19 Days of the Valley is a way for businesses and community members to come together to give back in an impactful way, by donating, shopping local, and having fun while doing it. Participating local businesses donate a percentage of their sales directly to support the Upper Valley Haven, and the Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation offers a generous match on up to $200,000 of money raised.

Community members can get involved by shopping at participating businesses during the first 19 days of December, donating online, and participating in the annual Pet Contest and Bonding of the Beauticians. For a list of participating businesses, event descriptions, and to donate, visit ​​uppervalleyhaven.org/events/19days.

19 DAYS OF NORWICH

Norwich Lions Club Memory Tree: Another year, another Memory Tree! The Norwich Lions Club is all ready to cut, deliver, and decorate this year’s tree in the gazebo on the Norwich Green. Starting December 1, the Memory Tree will be lit and ready “for all the people of Norwich driving by every day to enjoy,” says Lions Club president, Cheryl Brush. “It’s a wonderful way of remembering.”

In addition to being a treasured community tradition and a way to honor Norwich’s past, it’s also a fundraiser to benefit the Upper Valley Haven through 19 Days of the Valley. Donations can be made online at norwichlionsclub.org. To participate in the Memory Tree, you can mail your remembrance to: Norwich Lions Club Memory Tree, P.O. Box 854 Norwich, Vermont 05055-0854 or drop it off at the box on the front door of Tracy Hall, 300 Main Street.

The Memory Tree tradition offers a way to memorialize “folks that have lived and participated in the life of Norwich,” Brush says, and it helps boost the holiday spirit around town. “If you have someone that was particularly dear to you, it’s a way of remembering them.”

Book Angels: The Norwich Bookstore is hosting their “Book Angels” program again this year (starting now), collecting donations and book sponsorships for children in need around the Upper Valley during the holiday season.

The Norwich Bookstore works with local organizations and agencies to complete book requests from children. Support the Book Angels this holiday season by: Visiting the bookstore and picking an angel or more from the Book Angels wreath to donate a book to; Choosing a pre-selected book from the Book Angels display to purchase and donate; Or making a donation to the program in-store or online at www.norwichbookstore.com/community/book-angels. Your donations will be used to purchase books for kids here in our community!

NORWICH PUBLIC LIBRARY

Norwich Public Library: Collections for the Haven: until 11/23. Toiletries, including full-sized shampoo, conditioner, body wash; tooth brushes and full-sized toothpaste; menstrual items; diapers and pull-ups (all sizes); razors and shaving supplies.

Festive Fun

Ice Skating: The ice rink on the Norwich Green will start going up again this year, “as soon as the ground freezes,” says Recreation Department director, Brie Swenson. Likely between mid to late December, the brackets will be installed, and the rink will be filled with the help of the Fire Department and volunteers (more “Hosers” are needed to help maintain the rink throughout the season!). Plans for winter skating parties are in the works, and at night, the rink glows blue due to fun underlighting!

Norwich Public Library: Join the library for a lineup of seasonal community fun throughout November and December, including:

• Board Game Bonanza: Games and gaming for all ages. Last year’s popular game event returns! Visit with local game vendors and gaming places, see demos, and play new games. Pizza at noon. Saturday, November 23, 11am-1:30pm.
• Holiday Cheer Gathering: Let’s celebrate the last day of classes and kick off the holidays! We’ll provide tea, cocoa and snacks, music appropriate to the season, and, of course, the virtual yule-log. All are welcome (adults, families, kids) to relax and de-stress with staff, friends, and neighbors in the Library’s Community Room. Friday, December 20, 3:30-5pm.
• Noon Year’s Eve: Want to celebrate the New Year as a family but don’t want to stay up until midnight? Celebrate the ‘Noon Year’ with the Norwich Public Library! Join us for crafts, songs, confetti, stories, and a countdown to noon. You’ll be home in time for lunch! Tuesday, December 31, 11am-12pm.

The library is closing at 4pm on Thanksgiving day, closed the day after Thanksgiving, and closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, closing at 3pm on New Year’s Eve, closed January 1.

OF SCIENCE Continued on

Ho-LED-day Studio at the Montshire Museum of Science: A drop-in studio event for children to craft their own holiday ornament and bring it to life with the science of electricity (LED lights). Geared towards ages 5 and up, $3 (in addition to regular museum admission). December 14, 11am-1pm. 1 Montshire Road, Norwich.

Marion Cross School: Grades K-2 Holiday concert, Wednesday, December 11 from 5-6pm; grades 3-6 Holiday concert, Thursday, December 12 from 6-7pm. 22 Church Street, Norwich.

Holiday Shopping

Winter Farmers’ Market: The Norwich Farmers’ Market continues as colder weather sets in! Head over to Tracy Hall for the Thanksgiving Market on November 23, 9am-1pm, and the Holiday Market on December 7 and 8, 9am-1pm.

“It’s definitely a very food-forward market,” says market manager, Nica Mieloch-Blinn. “We’ve got a lot of amazing treats for holiday entertaining…It’s a really good way to shop locally and support small businesses and get a lot of what you need going into the holiday season.”

Along with vegetable vendors, meat and dairy vendors, and artisan craftmakers, there will also be holiday items like handcrafted wreaths. “A lot of vendors take custom and special orders coming into the holiday season,” Mieloch-Blinn reminds.

Winter Farmers’ Markets will continue at Tracy Hall on the first and third Saturdays from January through April, switching to a 10am-1pm schedule. Farmers’ market customers can look forward to new food vendors and a spot to stay and eat their snacks while shopping the market this winter season.

Winter Holiday Market

Winter Craft Market: Stop by the Norwich Public Library on Tuesday, December 10, 5-7:30pm to see what our creative kids and teens have made to sell and pick up some holiday gifts. Participating craftmakers can sign up for a space at the market up until 11/30 at bit.ly/40DWa5I. Sellers in 4th grade and below will need an adult to accompany them.

Pods for the Pulpit

Holiday Market, 28th Annual Pods for the Pulpit Crafts Fair: A fundraising event for charity put on by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley in Norwich. November 29 and 30 at Tracy Hall, 10am-4pm Friday and 10am-3pm Saturday.

In the early days of the fair, members of the congregation made milkweed pod Christmas ornaments to sell at the fair, which is how it got its name. Around thirty local vendors will offer handmade goods and high-quality crafts, such as stained glass, children’s clothing, botanical alphabet creations, luxury mittens, hand-painted floorcloths, photography, woodblock prints, felted crafts, pottery, painted gourd ornaments, elf slippers, jewelry, gemstones, quilts, wool rugs, colored etchings, handcrafted soaps and personal care items, Ukrainian eggs, educational art notecards and calendars, paintings, and printmaking. Lyme artist, Matt Brown, will be there and will again be donating one of his woodblock prints for a raffle.

Christmas Worship Services

Universalist Unitarian Congregation of the Upper Valley in Norwich: Christmas Eve candlelight service on Tuesday, December 24 at 5pm. 320 Route 5 South, Norwich.

St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church: Worship service “When Christmas Hurts” focused around grief and loss of loved ones around the holidays, 6pm off-location at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in White River Junction, 749 Hartford Avenue.

4pm Christmas Eve service on Tuesday, December 24 at St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church, 262 Main Street, Norwich; 7pm Christmas Eve service to follow at St. Paul’s. Family-friendly, all are welcome. Christmas Day service, 10am at St. Barnabas’.

The lighting of the Norwich menorah for Hanukkah this year will take place in the front of St Barnabas’ Church at dusk on Wednesday, December 25, around 5:30pm. All are welcome.

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church: Advent-wreath making Sunday, December 1 (first Sunday of Advent) after regular service, 75 Beaver Meadow Road. Children’s Christmas pageant during worship service on Sunday, December 15 at 9am. Christmas Eve service begins at 5pm on Tuesday, December 24. Christmas Day service, 9am Wednesday, December 25.

NORWICH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Norwich Congregational Church: Join the Norwich Congregational Church on the morning of Sunday, December 8 beginning at 9am in the Parish Hall for an “Advent Workshop” including festive activities like ornament making and decorating with garlands outside, followed by a 10am worship service and decorating the sanctuary and Christmas tree inside. 15 Church Street, Norwich.

Christmas Eve candlelight services at 5pm and 8pm on Tuesday, December 24. “It’s traditional lessons and carols, so there’s lots of music,” says Rev. Jonathan Hauze. “It’s just a special time because we get to light the candles and be in darkness singing “Silent Night” together.”

Seasonal Events

63rd Annual Norwich Christmas Pageant: Thursday, December 19th, 2024, beginning at 7pm.

Everyone is invited to this walking, carol-singing pilgrimage re-enacting Mary and Joseph’s journey to the manger, according to the Nativity story. The Pageant will begin in front of Norwich Town Hall (Tracy Hall) on Main Street. “The fact that our community still treasures this tradition is very special,” says Ann-Marie Smith, one of the Pageant organizers. “It is definitely something that generations talk about and remember and treasure in their families…I’ve had family from all over the world (literally) come to enjoy it; it’s that special.”

Hanover High School seniors play the roles of Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, and Wise Men. High school juniors act as “marshalls”, pulling a rope separating the procession from the crowd of spectators. This year, the pageant will conclude at the Parker’s barn on Main Street as it did in past years!

Gifts of non-perishable food for the Upper Valley Haven are welcome and can be brought to the Pageant (presented at the manger) or left in a collection box in Tracy Hall. This event is free and open to everyone. Dan & Whit’s will be selling Pageant holiday cards, painted by local artists, and the book The Norwich VT Christmas Pageant by local author, Marty James. This year’s Pageant will be in honor of Suzy Wallis, who was instrumental with organizing and running the Pageant for many years.

63RD ANNUAL NORWICH CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

“If the holidays and Christmas or the Christmas story are something you appreciate, it’s definitely something not to be missed,” Smith says.

After the Pageant, enjoy carols, cocoa, and cookies at the Norwich Inn, hosted by the Recreation Department!

The Family Place’s 22nd Annual Gingerbread Festival: At Tracy Hall on December 14, joining The Family Place for their annual Gingerbread Festival, featuring a Gingerbread House gallery and auction, cookie decorating, lunch, baked goods, gifts, and a Giving Tree donation program to help families in need in the community.

To volunteer, craft a gingerbread house for the event, and stay up to date on event details, visit familyplacevt.org.

Gather Together

Community Potlucks: Rec Dept potlucks continue through the holidays, with a special Thanksgiving Potluck on November 24 from 5-7pm at Tracy Hall. The kids’ culinary camp will contribute seasonal foods to the feast. Children in grades 5-8 can sign up on the Rec’s website to participate, norwichvt.myrec.com. (Capacity: 12 kids, so sign up now!). “They’ll get a lot of cool recipes to share with their families,” adds Rec director, Brie Swenson, and they’ll enjoy “meeting with their friends and neighbors to show them what they’ve made.”

Holiday potluck on December 1 from 5-7pm at Tracy Hall, honoring Norwich resident Demo Sofronas, who is retiring from his post as a crossing guard in town. The kids’ culinary camp will be creating a special cake for Demo, and there will be board games and music.

Turkey Trot: The 16th annual tradition is scheduled for Thanksgiving morning at 9am on November 28. Meet at the Norwich Green gazebo dressed for the weather, ready to run and have fun! No registration required.

The trot is a 2-mile / 4.4-mile walk or run around Norwich, and also serves as a community fundraiser and kickoff event to 19 Days of Norwich, collecting donations for the UV Haven. Get your “Turkey Trot” hat on the morning of, after you donate in-person or online, www.norwichvtturkeytrot.com.

Nordic at Night: The Recreation Department hopes to bring back this community winter tradition of lantern-lit cross country skiing in Norwich. “We’re hoping to have them again this year, but it’s really up to Mother Nature, not us,” says Rec director, Brie Swenson. Stay tuned!

In our Winter/Spring 2022 issue, the Norwich Times took a look at local rock music school, Tuck’s Rock Dojo, run by Norwich resident husband and wife team Tuck and Kata Stocking. We caught up with the Dojo this summer as we ran into their students performing some radical rock at the 2023 Norwich Fair hosted by the Norwich Lion’s Club in August.

The Norwich Lion’s Club first invited the Dojo to perform about 13 years ago when a former student’s parents, Laurie and Rob Sabatelle, introduced the school to the club. Now, in their 10th or so performance at the fair, Tuck can’t say enough good things about the opportunity the Norwich Fair creates for the students to perform the craft they spend hours honing, live in front of an audience: “Norwich fair feels like home. It’s a real festive time for our bands. There is a magic to playing under the fair lights that never gets old.  The kids get to shine on stage then go and ride the Hurricane – it’s an adventure that is hard to beat.” 

Kata, who runs the administrative side of the business and was busy introducing acts and taking phenomenal photos of the students rocking out on the day of the performances, agrees. She notes how, while the students get to perform in a variety in venues, taking the stage in front of their own friends, family, and community members is something special: “For us the Norwich Fair is one of the biggest highlights of the year. We are performing with the bands in many different venues and the Norwich fair definitely is the cherry on top. The kids absolutely love it.”

Juliette Gemignani, 10, a Norwich student who performs vocals in the band Black Iris, agrees: “It was a great experience! I really enjoyed performing for my family and friends and with the other kids in the band.”

Juliette’s parents, Liz and Tony, were excited for the memories their daughter would make performing live at the Norwich Fair: “Of course we were super proud of her but we also felt so lucky that she was given such a great opportunity. Performing for her friends, family and community is something that will stick with her for a long time.” They reiterate that these platforms that Tuck and Kata and the Norwich community provide to express and experience music helps them build confidence. “It’s really incredible.” 

Katie Bucci of Norwich, mom of performer Lila, values the opportunity to watch her daughter perform: “Seeing Lila up there on stage, singing her heart out, being such a cool rock star, it’s almost unreal. It fills me with so much joy.” Norwich parents Katherine and Enrico Riley of drummer and guitarist Alex, 16, and guitarist and vocalist Etienne, 10, feel the same: “There is no joy quite like watching your kid embodying music.” 

Both Alex and Etienne name the fair as one of the highlight of their summer and one of the favorite things they’ve ever done. “It feels great to be able to show off the music you worked hard to perfect,” Alex says.  Etienne loves the chance to make music with her friends: “I think when you’re having fun on the stage and the audience is having fun watching the performance, it’s one of the best things you can do.”

The audience jammed to the young musicians tunes amid rowdy rides and just a stone’s throw from the Lion’s Club dunk tank. Jaden, Tuck and Kata’s ten-year-old son who is talented on multiple instruments including drums and bass, recalls being one of those audience members before taking the stage himself: “I grew up seeing kids rock out – it’s awesome to finally be up there too and rock out. I love the Norwich Fair. It has such a great energy.” 

Kata says creating that great energy and putting together these shows “always takes a village,” noting that another community member Neil Odell, a musician himself, was helping with the sound.

This was the first year for Lila, 14, to sing at the Fair and her first chance to sing in a band by herself without a co-lead singer. “Performing at the Norwich Fair for the first time this year was a very exciting opportunity for me. Tuck, my friends, and my band (Rockology) did a great job of cheering me on and encouraging me. Tuck always makes the performance of it so fun, even when I am super nervous.” 

Fellow vocalist Juliette similarly say that while she also was nervous at first, “after it was over, I just wanted to do it again.” And luckily, with a community like Norwich that provides the town with events such as the Norwich Fair, she can!

To check out photos of a variety of young musicians – past and present – visit tucksrockdojo.com/gallery. You can see video of the musicians featured in this article on Tuck’s homepage.

The Norwich Times covers for the partial years of 1997 and 2022 can be found on the cover of this current issue, and the 96 issues in between are highlighted here.

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

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2020

2021

Working with the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, Vermont will study the social impact it has on the community and assist in refining a social impact tool for the museum field.

Thanks to a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS), the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, in partnership with Thanksgiving Point, had the opportunity to select museums across the country for the Measurement of Museum Social Impact (MOMSI) project. After a competitive application and review process, the Montshire was one of 38 museums selected for the study.

This study will measure social impact through strengthened relationships, health and well-being, continued education and engagement, and intercultural competency.

Working with the MOMSI team in Utah, the Museum will recruit and survey visitors from the local community. The data collected will inform Montshire on its social impact and will provide validated data about the museum field generally.

“We are deeply honored to be selected to participate in this national study,” says Jennifer Rickards, Montshire’s Acting Executive Director. “Although we’re confident in the value that the Montshire offers the community, this study of social impact will help us define, measure, and articulate that value more clearly and provide insights that will allow us to enhance the programs and experiences we offer.”

The Measurement of Museum Social Impact (MOMSI) offered the following information on the type of information they are collecting and how they measure impact:

Health and Wellbeing

This outcome is measured through statements regarding physical health, such as diet and exercise habits, along with mental and emotional health. It recognizes that museums are restorative spaces and are places of community activities.

Intercultural Competence

Visiting museums expands awareness of cultures and ways of life. This outcome is measured by understanding empathy, connection to community, personal strengths and limitations, and perspective of self and others.

Continued Education and Engagement

Learning occurs across various spaces and time, including in museums and through the programs they offer. This outcome is measured by understanding in what ways wonder, curiosity, and interest are stimulated in museum visitors.

Strengthened Relationships

This outcome strives to understand the positive interactions people have with others. It is measured through statements about social and family relationships, the bond between people, and the ways in which relationships are nurtured.

From Norwich to Washington, DC: Working in a US Senate Office

It’s clear from the pages of the Norwich Times that Norwich youth have covered the world through trips, jobs, and adventures of all sorts. This coverage includes Washington, DC, where Norwich is well represented in many government offices. Consider three recent Hanover High School graduates who currently work or recently held an internship in the office of one of our Vermont congressional members, Senator Bernie Sanders. What inspired these recent graduates to work in the Senate and move from Vermont to Washington DC, and what have their experiences been working as civil servants in DC?

Olivia Hinch with Senator Bernie Sanders while interning for his office last summer

Three Marion Cross School Graduates

The most senior of the three Hanover High graduates, Ethan Hinch, had the opportunity to intern in Senator Sanders’ office in Burlington during the summer of his junior year at UVM. When Ethan graduated from UVM in 2015, he took a permanent position in the Burlington office, and two years later moved to a position in Senator Sanders’ Washington DC office, where he currently works as a Legislative Aide, helping draft legislation among other duties. All Senate aides have focus areas for which they are responsible; Ethan’s main focus is on Energy and the Environment. Katrina Menard graduated from UVM in 2016 with a degree in Community and International Development. She also worked in Senator Sanders’ Burlington office before moving to the DC office.

Katrina is currently a Legislative Correspondent, helping Vermonters who make inquiries of the DC office for support and information. Her focus areas include Energy and Environment, Agriculture, Food and Nutrition, Housing, Transportation, Community Development, and Science and Technology. She also conducts legislative research, as well as hires, trains, and coordinates the interns in the DC office.

Olivia Hinch, Ethan’s sister, graduated from Hanover High in 2016 and is a senior at Brown University, majoring in International Relations. She worked last summer as an intern in Senator Sanders’ DC office, where she conducted policy research, drafted correspondence, worked the front desk, and gave tours of the Capitol.

It should be noted that there have been many others of this same Norwich generation that worked in Senator Sanders’ office, including Libby Chamberlin (Legislative Correspondent), as well as Myra Parsonnet and Sam Alexander (Interns).

Working for Vermonters

The motivation to become civil servants and work in Senator Sanders’ DC office is similar for all three: A desire to help Vermonters, to have an even bigger impact by working in the DC office, to experience city life, and to learn as much as possible along the way.

Katrina sums up her feelings by remembering her experiences in the Burlington office. “When I started working for Senator Sanders, I spent a year answering phones in the Burlington office, where staff help Vermonters solve problems related to federal services or agencies. Speaking with Vermonters every day about their difficulties really opened my eyes to the many hardships our state faces, hardships I find are often brushed under the rug in favor of the “idyllic” Vermont marketed toward tourists. Although my time in the Burlington office was the most emotionally taxing year of my life, in the DC office I think back to my experiences in Burlington every single day to remind myself why I am working for Senator Sanders, who consistently advocates for improving and expanding social programs in Vermont and across the nation.”

Olivia is also a supporter of the Senator’s policies. “Senator Sanders has put collective action at the head of his political platform. Policies like single-payer healthcare and the reduction of student debt aim to support every American.” Olivia wanted to intern in the DC office so as to both serve constituents from her home state, and to better understand the legislative branch of the federal government. “I really enjoyed the sense of working for a cause greater than myself,” she said. “Though often dysfunctional, the US Congress is a machine that runs largely thanks to the work of interns and staff assistants who do the grunt work.” Olivia also sought to engage on topics relevant to her international relations major, including conducting research on human rights issues in the Middle East.

“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are not within reach for many Americans, and I believe Senator Sanders’ proposals and ideas can help rectify that injustice,” says Ethan. “I recognize that my own life might look very different if I had not grown up in a community like Norwich, and I want to do everything I can to help every American have the same opportunities.”

Ethan and Olivia Hinch on the Capitol Building Speaker’s Balcony

Working in the US Senate

Ethan, Katrina, and Olivia all say there are many things to like about working in the Senate. One aspect they all comment on is the huge opportunity to learn on the job. “The aspect I enjoy most about working in the Senate is that every day is an opportunity to learn,” says Katrina. “There are always classes, events, hearings, and briefings on the Hill, and I’m constantly blown away by the people who I am able to meet with and learn from. Some of my personal favorites: attending a housing briefing with “Evicted” author Matthew Desmond, and meeting with my personal hero, Chef Jose Andres, to discuss emergency relief efforts.” Ethan comments, “No two days are the same, and we are constantly learning new things about a variety of subjects. It’s also very interesting to see the nitty-gritty details of federal policy making and learn more about how to influence that process for the benefit of Vermonters.”

Highlights of Olivia’s summer in the DC office include the opportunity to discuss politics with not only Sanders’ staffers, but with interns outside of Sanders’ office as well. Olivia worked with her supervisor to organize lunches with interns from the offices of Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Kamala Harris, and Senator Pat Toomey. Olivia remained in contact with many of these interns throughout her summer internship. She learned how the internship experience in Senator Sanders’ office differs from that of other senators. “The environment in the office tends to be pretty casual. Interns in Senator Sanders’ office are given freedom to start their own projects, which was surprising given stories other interns told me about their schedules marked to the minute.”

The biggest misconception related to working in Sanders’ Senate office can be summed up by the most common question the three have received about their jobs: “Isn’t it exciting to work on such an active and highly visible campaign?” In reality any Senate staffer,
whether in DC or Vermont, must remain separate from the campaign due to strict ethics rules reinforced by hours of ethics training. Campaign-related phone calls to the Senate office are simply rerouted to the campaign phone number.

Benefits associated with working in the Senate range from meeting politicians (Olivia highlights the opportunity to meet civil rights leader Representative John Lewis), to front row seats at a rocket launch delivering supplies to the space station, to petting a baby kangaroo at a zoo fundraiser. An unexpected quirk of working in the Senate is that while business formal is the standard dress code, the office environment is much more casual when the Senate is out of session and most Senators have returned to their home states. Jeans and even sneakers are not unusual for many staffers during this period. The contrast can be especially noticeable when new-hires come dressed in their new business suits only to find Senate is not in session.

Katrina Menard (right) with Jane Fonda

Life in DC

All three had to adapt to life in DC Housing for younger congressional staffers usually means sharing a house or apartment with several other young professionals. Instead of having a car, they use public transportation (mainly the metro), walk to work when possible, or use a ride-sharing service like Uber. And now Jump, Bird, and Lime are becoming more popular.

All have taken advantage of the benefits that living in DC offers. Katrina says “I really enjoy the food scene in DC and the free events held by the city. For example, the National Gallery of Art (NGA) will occasionally stay open after-hours with live music, food vendors, and special exhibits. They also have free concerts in the NGA Sculpture Garden, and free yoga in the Botanical Gardens.” As might be expected, easy access to a variety of museums has been popular. This past spring, Ethan and Katrina, along with many other staffers,
took part in the annual Cherry Blossom 10 mile run, which winds though the blossoming cherry trees and along the Potomac river.

Not all of the adaptions to DC were easy, as culture on “The Hill” can be quite impersonal. “I’ve found that in DC I know three times as many people as I did living in Vermont and going to UVM,” comments Ethan, “but I know each of them about a third as well.” He continues, “Many social interactions boil down to your business card and the name of your boss, and it’s easy to wonder whether the other person is just trying to figure out what they can get from you.” Katrina offers the same observation: “What they say about Hill culture is very much true. People are more likely to ask who you work for than to ask for your name. The only thing you can really do is try not to normalize
this behavior.” And part of the modus operandi for any staffer is networking. “At first, the idea of networking really intimidated me”, says Olivia, “but I have now become accustomed to reaching out to others for career advice. That does tend to be the culture in DC, for better or worse. Happy hours and other networking events are very prominent.”

What do the Norwichians miss the most about Norwich? It’s not called the Green Mountain State for nothing – they all miss the Vermont countryside after living in such a dense urban setting. “The trees! A more manageable level of humidity! Dan & Whits soft serve!” reports Olivia. Ethan shared a more community based observation: “The tight-knit community, shared values, and the rural setting. Most of all, I realized Norwich feels like a place that you can call home, which does not happen for a lot of the people who have lived in DC for many years.” “The best thing about growing up in Norwich,” says Katrina, “is that you get to carry that community with you, no matter where you go. The people who I’m closest with in DC are mostly from Norwich and Vermont, and we frequently talk about how the town shaped our values, our goals, and our shared experiences.”

The Real Story

So what is it really like living in DC, working for the federal government? There is a saying in DC that goes something like this: “People inside the beltway think working in government is as portrayed in The West Wing. People outside of the beltway think it’s like House of Cards. And in reality, it’s like Veep.” Asking the three Norwich natives about these possibilities, I could not get them to relate to any of these choices. However, they did share that in their experience everyone working in the Senate office is very committed to helping Vermonters.

Vermont is home to nine species of bats. Six of these species are year round residents and three migrate south in the winter. Our six year-long residents live in caves and mines during the winter and during summer months can often be found roosting in barns and other buildings. Of the 6 resident species all but one are either state or federally endangered.

Little brown and long-eared bats are the ones we are most likely to see in Norwich during the summer months from mid-April to October. They have been a part of our summer landscape as long as we can remember, swooping over fields and ponds tirelessly hunting the night flying insects that make up their diet. We sometimes wonder what part these nocturnal mammals with their impressive echolocation play in our lives, but because many of us rarely see a bat, we are unaware of the services they provide.

The bat holds an important place in a healthy ecosystem. Like insects, bats play a role in pollinating the fruits and flowers we enjoy. They are a critical player in insect control, hunting down the flying insects like mosquitoes that spread disease as well as various moths that turn into the caterpillars that eat our fruits and vegetables. According to the Bat Conservation International Website “a single little brown bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in 1 hour.”

Beginning in 2006 a disease known as White Nose syndrome was discovered in a cave in upstate New York and spread rapidly east into Vermont. The syndrome gets its name from a white fungus that attacks the bat’s nose, ears and wings during their winter hibernation. The hibernating bats in attempting to fight off the effects of the disease exhaust their fat supplies and they weaken and die. All 6 of Vermont’s hibernating species have been affected and their populations have declined by over 90 percent.

There is some good news. According to Vermont wildlife officials, this situation seems to have stabilized somewhat for certain bat species. The Northern Long Eared bat has lost 98 percent of its population and does not appear to be recovering. However the Little Brown Bat seems to be holding on , doing better in the Champlain Valley. The Big Brown Bat is actually doing pretty well, maybe because they have two pups a year instead of the usual one.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is very interested in monitoring the population of Little Brown bats and is working to determine if we still have a population in Norwich. Alyssa Bennett (Alyssa.bennett@vermont.gov) is collecting information and answering questions about them and is collecting samples of bat guano to analyze for species identification.

There are some things we can do to help our struggling bat populations.
• We can reduce our use of pesticides which poison bats as well as the insects they eat.
• We can plant flowers that attract night pollinators
• We can participate in citizen science programs sponsored by the Vermont Wildlife Department that monitor summer bat activity.
• We can install bat boxes in our yards to make our land more bat friendly.

As much as we appreciate these amazing creatures, we do not want them in our houses. If you are find a bat in your home, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife web page gives instructions on removing it.

Editor’s Note: For a few years now, the Norwich Times has been featuring our young people thinking, doing, and living outside the box. Rather than follow the traditional four-years-of-high-school on to four-years-of-college route, these adventurous souls are recognizing that there are many paths, and that some may lead to a whole new world to explore. Read about Abby Dole, Maisie MacMillen, and Cleo Roback as they tell us about their exciting and humbling travels to distant lands.

Abby enjoying the sights in Paris

Abby Dole

I began the fall of 2017 in Boulder, Colorado, working to save up for my travels, hiking, and living with my sister. After 4 months in Boulder, I went to Tamarindo, Costa Rica for three months in order to learn Spanish and surfing. There, I went to an International language school called EF (Education First) and stayed with a host family, taking Spanish lessons in the morning and surfing in the afternoons. I spent my weekends going on road trips with friends driving to different beaches and mountains around Costa Rica. While on these excursions, I came face to face with a sloth, a whale, and many monkeys, but the most exciting meeting was when Maisie MacMillen came to visit me in Tamarindo!

From there, I also travelled to Nicaragua to climb the Cerro Negro volcano and see the capital city of Managua. After my three months in Latin America, I went to Paris, France for two months, where I took French classes at the same language school (EF), staying with a host family again. While in Paris, I took a side trip and visited Frankfurt, Germany.

I returned to the USA at the end of May, and will start school at UVM in September. This year I tasted some amazing food, met incredible people, and got to do so many unforgettable things. After a big year, I’m excited to be back home in Norwich!

Cleo Roback

I had known I wanted to take a gap year ever since I became familiar with the term at the beginning of my high school career. And once the summer after my high school graduation started to fade away, I became more and more excited to finally make my own adventure and learn my own way.

When I first arrived in Rincón, Puerto Rico I had a mission in mind and a whole lot of excited energy. My travel partner, Liam Gurman, and I became interns for ARF, a local Puerto Rican animal rescue foundation. In our 3 months on the island we rescued, vetted and sent out over 200 dogs to their forever homes both on the island and to the states.

We also participated in three mass sterilization and vaccination clinics which is a vital step in ending the street dog problem in Puerto Rico.

We got to work alongside some amazing individuals during these projects such as Miriam Perez, the ARF president who stops at nothing to protect her morals and her animals. Dr. Cruz, the only licensed mass sterilization veterinarian on the island along with his mobile clinic able to arrive at all sides of the island for animals in need and the students and staff at the Jorge Seda Crespa Middle school where we hosted our monthly dog club. I felt so lucky to be surrounded with such an intelligent and passionate team. It made the monumental task we chose to take on that much more possible.

When I first set out I thought I was going to come back with a tan, hopefully a puppy (or two), and a great experience. But I gained so much more. Life lessons learned the hard way. Responsibility to myself and others, honesty, and resilience. More than anything I am now feeling more inspired, re-energized and motivated than ever to tackle my freshman year  at Hampshire College.

Maisie MacMillen

I first knew I wanted to take a gap year after I was fortunate enough to attend The Island School the fall of my junior year. I attended The Island School for a transformative 100 days and it was after I returned home that I knew traveling abroad and stepping outside my comfort zone was where I shined and grew the most. With my parents on board, I put the college process aside, something not many teenagers and parents feel is an option, and focused on how to make this next year equally as transformative.

It was hard for me to sit back and live day to day, and not plan weeks in advance. In order to make money for my travels, the first thing on the agenda was to find a summer job. I moved to Little Compton, Rhode Island to become a nanny to four kids aged 3-7. This was a good introduction to “being on my own.”

During the fall, I lived at home and continued to earn money to fund the travel I hoped to do later in the year. I researched volunteer programs of interest such as childcare, environmental work, and nursing. I decided I wanted to travel to Central America as it has a warm climate and is more affordable than some other parts of the world.

I found a national volunteer program called IVHQ that connects people with Non Government Organizations (NGOs) in the country of choice. My first assignment was at a childcare center in San José, Costa Rica. While there, I stayed with a host family who spoke little English. The center in which I volunteered was located in the second poorest village in the city. Attending the center everyday allowed these children to experience the fun, laughter, and love that they deserve.

After two weeks, I moved on to a turtle conservation project to gain experience in a broader range of volunteer work. After riding in two extremely crowded, hot buses for a total of 6 hours to the Nicoya Peninsula, I ended up in a town called Junquillal, population 400. Dirt roads, beautiful beaches, The Verdiazul turtle camp, two hotels, a corner store and a larger grocery store was about it in the town. Verdiazul is an all-volunteer organization aiming to protect endangered sea turtles. Our days consisted of doing beach cleanups, nursery tree work, hatchery work, or general maintenance on camp. At night we walked the entire stretch of Playa Junquillal (about 5 miles) in two-hour shifts. Our goal was to find turtles laying their eggs or to find current nests and collect those eggs and bring them back to the hatchery. Bringing the eggs back to the hatchery and digging a man-made nest for them increases the hatch rate tremendously. In the hatchery, they are protected from poachers, dogs, birds, the sun, and tourists. I spent 3 weeks at Verdiazul and it was here that I met other like-minded people and found a cause I care deeply about. I was able to be fully present and believe I was making a positive difference.

My next structured plan was to participate in a program in Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic, for 2 weeks through a company called Gap Medics. Gap Medics creates intern opportunities in the medical field. During my time in the DR, I had the privilege of shadowing a nurse in one of the local hospitals. The hospital was very underdeveloped and vastly different than what I was used to. Each day we were in a different wing of the hospital shadowing Nurse Carla as she did procedures, took vitals and helped out in operating rooms. She always took the time to explain what she was doing and how the health care systems worked in the DR. This was an eye-opening experience and convinced me to study nursing at UVM this coming fall.

I am looking forward to doing my final gap year travels with my sister this summer, and am extremely grateful for my solo travels and for all of the people I met and the places I experienced. To all of you future high school graduates, I highly recommend taking a gap year!

Correction: We made an error on Dave’s information last time and wanted to fix it. Enjoy getting to know him!

What brought you to Norwich?
I grew up in Hanover. In 2007, my wife Kate and I relocated back to the area, in part to raise kids, get away from city living, and be close to family.

What’s your favorite hang-out in Norwich?
Norwich Racquet Club… paddle/platform tennis

Favorite way to spend a snowy day in Norwich?
Nothing’s better than enjoying a few hours of snowshoeing or sledding, and snowball fights with Kate, the twins, and our two black labs Carlo and Coco

What fictional place would you like to visit?
Asgard. That’d be cool. I’m still a big Marvel fan.

What skill would you like to master?
Typing. I’m still using the two-finger method.

What would be your first question after waking up from a 100-year sleep?
Did the Patriots win?

What is your ideal way to spend a weekend in Norwich?
Huntley Meadows is a great venue… tennis, soccer, baseball… being outside.

What is the best way to start the day?
Coffee is the best, perhaps essential these days.

What weird food combinations do you really enjoy?
As a kid, peanut butter and salami sandwiches. What was cool when you were younger, but not now?
8-tracks, Spam, hacky sack

What is your favorite movie from childhood?
Hard to say… this goes back to early eighties. I’d have to go with Caddyshack. It’s still a classic today.

What is your motto in life?
Work hard, play hard, be positive.

Does your life have a theme song? If so, what is it?
Cats in the Cradle always reminds me to make time for my family.

If you could save or protect one animal, plant or part of our earth, which would it be?
The Great Barrier Reef; that’s where I met my wife.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Something in medicine like my father, but to be honest, it took me 30 years to figure that out, before I went back to school for physical therapy.

What is your favorite quote?
“When I liberate others, I liberate myself… Nobody is free ‘til everybody is free.” Fanny Lou Hamer (c.1964)

Wine, beer, martini or tea?
Green Earl Grey tea, River Roost IPAs

If you could erase one day in history which would it be?
The day Goodman, Cheney and Schwerner were assassinated in Mississippi, summer 1964.

What song most describes your life right now?
Ella’s Song: Sweet Honey in the Rock. “We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes….”

What do you love most about living in Vermont?
The people, the seasons, the topography, and the accessibility of people here.

If you had to give away 50% of your assets today, how/where would you distribute them?
To take care of my family, and Vermont Progressive Party, Rural Vermont, Highlander Center, Center for Constitutional Rights, Healthcare for All, Migrant Justice.

What advice would you give the next generation?
Stay alert, study history to understand the present, and work for peace and freedom for all. Keep a sense of humor. Sing.

In general, do you follow, break or create the rules?
Depends on the rules.

Where in Norwich do you spend most of your time?
All over town, biking in the warm weather, or gardening in my backyard

Where would you prefer to spend most of your time?
In Vermont, but I like to travel when I can.

Describe Norwich in one word or phrase.
Norwich is a mostly white, beautiful, upper-middle class town with interesting, talented, opinionated people, a lively culture, and a fantastic public library.

To which local business are you loyal to and why?
The Hanover Co-op and Upper Valley Food Co-op. I believe in cooperative businesses, Zuzu, USPS, King Arthur, Norwich Bookstore, Dan and Whit’s.

Which superpowers would you choose and what good would you do with them?
The power to eliminate Lyme ticks and bring universal health care to the world.

Name one thing you want to add to Norwich.
More people of color