After a decade of closure and ongoing restoration work, on August 28th, 2021, the Root Schoolhouse reopened as a community space for events.

“It’s an exciting time!” exclaimed Courtney Dobyns, President, Root District Game Club (the schoolhouse Board of Directors). “The needs and visions of our supporters are so important to us as we get ready to move into this wonderful historic building and make this community venue come alive. The future of the schoolhouse will evolve as people come forward with their energies and special interests. We look forward to the collaboration.”

The project began in the summer of 2019 when the historic schoolhouse was jacked up from its crumbling foundation, the site was excavated, concrete was poured, the drainage issues were addressed, and the schoolhouse was placed back down on a new solid base. The finishing touches were wrapped up in the fall. But little did anyone know what lay ahead during 2020 while planning for the next phase in the building’s restoration. 

“We had just applied for several grants, only to be turned down for three in the spring and one more in the fall due to the immediate pandemic needs and stiff competition for grant funding,” Dobyns said. “It felt like the world had been turned upside down socially and economically. The Board saw that we needed to take a deep breath and evaluate our plan.”

Fast forward to the spring of 2020, when contractors moved forward on the occupancy permit requirements with a complete rewiring of the building, widening the back door for ADA access, building the ADA access ramp, and excavating for the special parking space near the ramp. Although all jobs were not completed, a year’s extension on the state occupancy permit was granted.

With deep determination to move forward despite the challenges, and with an anonymous donation of $30,000, the dedicated Root Schoolhouse board gave a big push to get the code requirements funded so the schoolhouse could open this summer. Forty-eight supporters generously raised $10,000. 

The Root Schoolhouse has gained significant recognition within the community, and Dobyns expressed her gratitude to all the volunteers who have stepped up to help. Some highlights of the evolution of the schoolhouse have included the first annual pie sale in October, holiday candles in the newly painted windows facing Union Village Road and receiving a special sign recognizing the schoolhouse’s inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. 

Still left to do in 2021, is to erect the historical designation sign; hang and wire refurbished globe lights and kitchen lights; build ADA ramp, gutters, path, parking, and ADA portable toilet pad; install front step railings; repair the roof, finish basement insulation; mitigate poison ivy on property; and plant along the fence line.

Future projects to complete within three years include repairing the inside stairwell and main room ceiling; replacing the kitchen counter; finishing the backdoor to match other trim; repointing the chimney; cleaning and oiling the woodwork; painting the walls; tuning the piano; and repairing the slate blackboard ceiling.

“Beyond its historic preservation, our goal is to open the schoolhouse as a community space hosting educational and cultural events such as readings, musical gatherings, and maybe even collaborative events with neighboring farms for children and families,” said Dobyns. “There are limitless possibilities within our collective imagination. The enthusiasm expressed by our volunteers and townspeople makes the future look bright for this wonderful gem.”  

The celebration was held from 3-6 p.m, Saturday, August 28th; inside and outside the schoolhouse at 987 Union Village in Norwich. All were welcome. There were games, music, appreciations and refreshments. For more information about the Schoolhouse, contact vtrootschoolhouse@gmail.com or Courtney Dobyns at cdobyns1@myfairpoint.com.

For Norwich resident Deborah McLane Carter, the mission and ensuing work of one of the oldest family- serving non-profits in New Hampshire actually began over a 100 years ago with her grandfather, John McLane, who was instrumental in founding the NH Children’s Aid Society that later merged into the Child and Family Services of NH, now rebranded as Waypoint.

“I’m involved in Waypoint because of family history,” said Carter who is one of its nine board members. “There has always been a McLane on the board, and, when it became my turn, I gladly joined. My beliefs and values – as a part of our enthusiastic, cohesive, hard-working board – echo those of the founders, serving with the ‘shared vision of guarding children’s rights, serving children’s needs, and strengthening the life of the family.’”

Indeed, Waypoint is a significant provider of vital services in the Upper Valley and serves all its residents, according to the center’s director, Jeannette Birge. “We’ve been an active service provider for over 20 years in Lebanon,” Birge said.

The name, Waypoint, signifies a point along a journey at which the course can be changed. “That’s what we do,” said Birge. “We help people and communities to change course.”

As a private, non-profit agency, the services Waypoint offers include adoption, prenatal support, parent/education/family empowerment, services for children with developmental concerns or chronic health conditions, childcare, mental health counseling, family preservation, supervised visitation, foster care, homeless youth continuum, home healthcare for older Americans and adults with disabilities, and advocacy. “Our mission is to empower people of all ages through an array of these services,” said Birge.

According to board member Nina McCampbell of Norwich, Waypoint embodies the ideal of spreading kindness, one of the many reasons why she joined the board. “Whether it’s trauma counseling, foster care, aiding children with disabilities or helping to find the services most needed, this is why Waypoint is so important”, said McCampbell. “Any of us can face difficulties along the way in life.”

Waypoint’s brand is built on four pillars: staff, community, solutions, and impact. The staff is known for its compassion, professionalism, and ingenuity. “We work collaboratively in the community, creating a social safety net for all who live here,” said Birge. “We find solutions to problems through our dual roles as practitioners and advocates – a truly holistic approach to our practice.”

A case in point, for instance, involved a young couple’s very young daughter (under a year old) who was placed into foster care. “In order to be able to maintain a connection between parents and baby, we were able to provide them with supervised visits three to four times a week,” said Birge. “They were able to watch her achieve milestones and, because of the frequency of visits, they were able to be present when she took her first steps.”

There are 14 sites across the state and over 24 programs, serving an average of 8,000 individuals a year.

Funding comes from a variety of sources including state contracts, charitable giving involving individuals and foundations, and insurance payments, Birge related. “Every year we do a variety of little events around the area as well,” said Birge. “Those include the Campout for the Cause at Storr’s Pond, a Father’s Day pancake breakfast at the Norwich Grange, and an Easter egg hunt on the Norwich Green, for example.”

In the coming year, Waypoint is establishing a Family Resource Center of Quality that will be open to all Upper Valley residents with no acceptance criteria and will provide a plethora of family services, focusing on parenting and grandparent groups, play groups, and home visiting, Birge explained. “In essence, we are and will continue to work to resolve immediate and long-term safety concerns, stabilize families, and empower them with tools to optimize their success,” said Birge.

Recently-joined board member and Norwich resident Dan Fraser agrees. “Children must have the essential components to start life successfully,” said Fraser, owner of Dan and Whit’s Country Store in Norwich. “I look forward to working with an amazing team of people at Waypoint to help advance the well-being of children and families throughout our communities.”

Birge expressed her delight with Fraser’s recent membership. “We are so honored to have Dan join an already stellar group of individuals on our Upper Valley board”, she said. “A great advocate for the cause of kids and families, he is fearless in fundraising and tireless in community building. He’s a true change-maker in the Upper Valley.”

Norwich Volunteers Take Active Role in Orchard Work

Some dozen volunteers from the town’s Willing Hands will once again be offering their time and labor this year at the Whitman Brook Orchard in Quechee. The Norwich-based non-profit serves people in need of all ages throughout the Upper Valley, having developed an efficient system for food recovery and distribution.

“We arrange for regular pick-ups with over 40 food donors and deliver to at least 58 organizations every week, all year long,” said Executive Director Gabe Zoerheide. “Together we provide one small but effective solution to a very big challenge.”

Many families and individuals in the Upper Valley struggle to make ends meet. And now, with the onset of Covid-19, those facing food insecurity in the region have jumped by 33 percent, according to research by the University of Vermont and John Hopkins University.

For the last ten years, Willing Hands has been sending gleaning crews to Whitman Brook Orchard in order to collect spare apples not collected by owner Terry Dorman’s crew. “We have a great relationship with Willing Hands,” said Dorman. “Because we emphasize picking your own, the once a week gleaning of our apple drops ensures the floor is as clean as possible. What distinguishes us is that our program is weekly as opposed to the end of the season which provides Willing Hands a diversity of fruit.”

Dorman said that the apple drops are collected in three purposes: composting, processing, and first quality for fresh eating. “Willing Hands collects tons of apples each year, about 1,500 pounds in an hour and a half gleaning session each week as long as the season lasts,” said Carolyn Frye, the Gleaning Program volunteer lead. “The apples are then distributed to neighbors in need throughout the Upper Valley.”

As volunteers pick up the drops and cull out the bruised or blemished fruit, they tidy up the floor of the orchard. “Terry benefits not only from the pleasure of donating the apples to Willing Hands but also from having a well-groomed orchard,” Frye said. “The drops from the apple trees could become quite hazardous for people as they wander among the trees picking for themselves.”

This year, abiding by all Covid-19 precautions, Willing Hands volunteers will be gleaning at Dorman’s orchard beginning mid-September, usually on Thursdays, said Jim McCracken, Gleaning and Gardening Coordinator. The apples are then delivered to all of their 70+ recipient sites. “We often have had groups as large as 20 to help with picking the drops,” said McCracken. “King Arthur Flour and some school groups have also helped the volunteers.”

Last year, Willing Hands had 114 volunteers participate, some of whom were repeats. They gathered 12,051 pounds of apples. Since 2017, it has recovered 28,674 pounds of apples and has had 188 volunteers, again with many repeat gatherers, he related.

Norwich volunteer Charles Lindner has gleaned at Dorman’s orchard on several occasions. “It’s a spectacular setting with a view of Quechee and beyond,” said Lindner. “The orchards are obviously meticulously cared for and have a number of varieties of apples. It’s a pleasure to work with a crew of good-natured volunteers and gather large numbers of beautiful apples that get distributed to food shelves throughout the Upper Valley. The gleans are always well organized, friendly, and offer a hands-on opportunity to make a contribution.”

Gleaning Program Coordinator Sara Cavin agreed. “The team that Terry has is friendly and hard-working and extremely knowledgeable about all the varieties of apples they have,” said Cavin.

Frye said that the apple harvest coincides perfectly with the foliage season which is a bonus for the volunteers who come to glean. And, she “loves” introducing Dorman to the volunteers before they start gleaning.

“Terry is a treasure trove of apple lore and facts, and volunteers are fascinated by new tidbits each time he tells the story of his orchard,” Frye said. “With over 100 varieties of heirloom apples, we have a lot to learn from him.”

Global pandemics are nothing new. From prehistoric times to today, man has faced devastating diseases that have changed the course of history or, worse, ended civilizations altogether. What is novel, however, as local resident and historian Sarah Rooker discovered recently, is the telltale stories that accompany them. “Hanover High School rising senior Lauren Pidgeon and I had been researching the 1918 influenza epidemic in Norwich and realized there was very little information,” said Rooker, director of the Norwich Historical Society (NHS). “All we really had were newspaper clippings. Diaries and letters from the time casually mentioned it, but there weren’t enough to really gain insights into the community’s experiences.”

So, Rooker put together an online reflection form with some basic questions and the opportunity to upload images or other materials about Covid-19. The response was remarkable and now are reflected in a digital Community Diary. “Each time we reached out to the community, we received reflections,” said Rooker.

When the coronavirus began last March, one local resident who wished to remain anonymous, for example, said there were “all kinds of strangers walking in my neighborhood.” “We usually see zero to two people when out walking but when the lockdown came, the streets were almost crowded,” said the individual.

For Claudia Marieb, the lifestyle transition warranted by the pandemic was “easy,” she noted. “I was enjoying hanging out in my house instead of working. “I went on long walks and practiced exquisite gentleness and self-care. But then I volunteered for two assignments in the Vermont Department of Health where I was employed and, suddenly, I became super busy.”

Early on in the pandemic, Marieb heard a concept that she liked: We’re all in the same storm, but not in the same boat. She said she’s been in several different boats since Covid-19 started and expects to be in more before it’s over.

“Boat #1 has been the calm of working from home,” said Marieb. “Boat #2 has been Covid-19 testing; Boat #3 is kindness to neighbors; Boat #4 COVIS-19 follow-up calls; Boat #5. Public popup testing; Boat #6 fearing I’ve exposed my parents to Covid-19; Boat #7 pretending there is no Covid-19; Boat #8, the spa opens again; and Boat #9, contrasts from a massage to Covid-19 in prison.”

Amidst the pandemic, the Norwich anonymous person has noticed “strange things missing from the grocery store” such as graham crackers, flour, tofu, and cleaning supplies. “Where did all the organic flour go and when will it ever come back?” the individual thought at the time.

About two weeks into the pandemic, local resident and Left Bank Books former owner Nancy Cressman began making watercolor thumbnail paintings. She is still at it some 150 days later.

“I wanted to keep a visual record of Covid-19 memories,” said Cressman. “That included changes in household life, family moments and spring’s unfolding. The practice of making these paintings has made looking back through the Covid-19 months an easy way to remember what happened during this time. By capturing the most salient, prominent memory of each day, I have a pretty comprehensive record of my and my family’s experience.”

The month of March, for example, reflects new daily pastimes including a crossword puzzle, a Vermont state puzzle, and a card game. April 6 shows the records she and her family listened to nightly. May 2 indicates the creation of a virtual music experience, and June 12 displays the town parade for the Hanover High School graduating class of 2020. Finally, July 19 signifies the Cressman family’s yearly cleaning out of cobwebs in the cellar on a hot day, and August 6-8 is a three-panel spread of a view from a bike ride the Cressman family took in Danville, VT on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.

This spring, Rooker also worked with the 4th graders at the Marion Cross Elementary School to put together a virtual time capsule after the students were given question prompts and asked to share photographs and reflections about how they were negotiating learning from home. “The children were quite motivated, knowing that their writing would be archived for the future,” said Rooker.

Marion Cross student Gideon related, for instance, that his iPad has been “very important” during the pandemic. “I use it to communicate with my friends and for online learning,” he said. “I can use it to play Magic the Gathering with my friends.”

Dorian liked using Zoom and Google Classroom to hang out with his friends to learn “in this new strange way.” “I think Google Classroom is harder than learning in real life, but I like that I get to do my work without a timer,” he said.

The 4th graders were also keenly aware of the precautions they needed to use to deal with Covid-19 as well. “My mom and dad wore these (masks) when we went out so you wouldn’t breathe in the germs, and it also protected you from getting sick,” said Ryan.

Passing the time while at home during the pandemic found most 4th graders outside, creating important projects while sheltering-in-place.

Zander and his brother and father built a tree platform; Collin with his four friends started a crayfish business; Olivia invented a game called rocketship; and Sara made a rock garden passageway with her neighbors. Lila made bracelets for her friends, and Lidia, Grayson and Aydan became deeply involved in book reading.

But gathering these kinds of autobiographical materials wasn’t all Rooker and Pidgeon undertook. They also worked with a group of volunteers in Norwich to gather photographs of signs, notices from the listserv, and information from the local schools about the pandemic. They asked local resident Demo Sofronas to document curbside pickup at Dan & Whit’s and King Arthur Flour. “We’ve been saving many of his blog posts and photographs when they directly connect to Covid-19,” said Rooker. “This has all been gathered via Google Drive. This summer, NHS intern Elizabeth Rooker, a student at Mount Allison University has been downloading and printing the materials so they will be physically in the archive.”

So, what have community members gleaned so far from the pandemic? “I believe it has shown us many clear lessons about kindness, taking better care of our planet, supporting local community and, finally, eradicating racism,” said Norwich resident Amy Lems. “I hope we are all paying attention.”

Once resident expressed appreciation for living in an area where most people seem to respect the request to wear masks and physical distancing. “I’m also extremely grateful to people like Dan Fraser who has made those of us at high risk feel safer by offering delivery and curbside pick-up,” said this Norwich resident. “Our local stores like the Upper Valley Food Co-op and the Hanover Co-op have made it easier on all of us.”

Other local residents also indicated a deeper appreciation for the importance of friends and family. “I think we need to be respectful of others and not to be resentful of what restrictions are placed on us,” said one blogger. “We need to find joy in acceptance and satisfaction in everyday activities as we are living through this unprecedented situation.”

And, for Rooker, the Norwich community has revealed itself as being resilient.  “There are circles of neighbors and friends watching out for each other,” she said. “In some ways, the restriction of staying at home opened up new creativity among the kids. And, as always, the beauty of this place has walking trails and vistas for a little escape and good soil for victory gardens.

Nine years ago, one of the most damaging storms in Vermont’s history came roaring in, bringing the state to its knees, as some said, with more than 500 miles of state roads destroyed, 60,000 homes and businesses without power, and 200 bridges damaged or ripped off foundations.

One of those was the Norwich’s Kids Bridge over Blood Brook connecting Beaver Meadow Road and neighboring families to Huntley Meadow. Kids used the bridge to cross the brook on foot and bike to use the fields, playground, and continue on their way to school and town.

The wooden bridge, built by Eagle Scouts, was never replaced, despite an approved bridge design, necessary state and town permits, and approved site. The last remaining obstacle was expense – until now.

Thanks to private donations recently received from residents and friends of Norwich, the town has set up a special fund called the Kids Bridge at Huntley Meadow. To date, over $10,000 has been raised to replace the bridge. The estimated cost for the project with riverbank abutments and slope suitable for bike and foot approaches, in addition to the assembly and placement of the bridge, is $12,000. The total cost, however, is projected to be $20,000.

The steel prefabricated walking/biking bridge will be delivered to Huntley Meadow. The grading and footings and the installation of the bridge across Blood Brook will be done entirely by volunteers from the Trails committee, local contractors, and residents.

“We are currently past the halfway point in donations from friends of Norwich,” said Norwich resident and project overseer Don McCabe. “If friends continue to make tax deductible donations at our current pace, we hope to have the bridge in place this summer.”

McCabe’s family has lived in Norwich for 36 years. He and his wife, Lisa, built their house there, raised their children and brought them to Huntley Meadow over many years, crossing the old suspension bridge, catching crayfish under the bridge and going for an occasional swim.

“Our kids came to Huntley for sports practice, family picnics, kite flying with friends, and biking over the years,” said McCabe. “When it became clear recently that there was not enough support for taxpayer dollars to replace the bridge, the old-fashioned ‘let’s do it ourselves’ spirit took hold. I reached out to personal friends first, then to Norwich residents through the Norwich List.”

The response has been overwhelming, McCabe related, but there are still more generous friends needed to make the Kids Bridge a reality this summer. He met with Norwich town manager Herb Durfee, Recreation Council director Brie Swenson, and members of the Norwich Trails Committee in March to find out if there was collective interest and support to proceed.

“All supported the concept of private funding and volunteer person power for this community project,” said McCabe. “The town manager agreed to set up a designated fund to be used solely for the Kids Bridge. The Recreation director agreed to manage the project and secure permits from the state. Local contractors agreed to donate their time and equipment to prepare the bridge site. The Trails Committee volunteered its members to assemble and place the prefabricated bridge.”

That need for funding and the warm memories that many families have had over the years using the bridge with their children prompted McCabe to begin the fundraising project using only private donations to bring the bridge back to Huntley Meadow.

McCabe believes that when Norwich families donate to the Kids Bridge project, it underscores the commitment to ‘think globally, act locally.’ “We’re aware of what is happening in our country and the world,” said McCabe. By putting resources into rebuilding the Kids Bridge, past and future generations of Norwich residents, alike, can talk about the simple pleasures of life like “…hiking and biking across the little bridge that spans the brook.”

Publisher’ Note: I don’t typically publish profiles of people after they’ve passed for a number of reasons: that we’re only quarterly; that I like to ‘introduce’ people to the community in hopes of facilitating real-time connections; that we try to capture a person’s heart and soul in the moment.

I am making an exception for Ruth.

Ruth Sylvester, herself, was exceptional in every way. I can safely say that the Norwich Times would not be the time-honored publication it continues to be were it not for the articles she wrote for just about every issue since the very first one in September 1997. Although Ruth and I rarely saw each other over those 20+ years, and didn’t have much in common superficially, I felt a deep love for and connection to her that I couldn’t explain. She truly und erstood my mission for the Norwich Times and was able to capture and translate the essence of Norwich and its people, places and events like no other.

And, why, you might ask, did I not feature her when she was living among us? Because, true to who she was, she did not want the focus to be about her. She wanted to shine her light on others.

While Ruth has passed on, her spirit is alive and well in everyone else’s stories she so magically shared through her written word.

Ruth Ellen Sylvester lived an extraordinary life – one filled with adventure, song, dance, books, writing/editing, athleticism, travel, gardening and a myriad of friends. But there was more. This was a woman who was joyful, generous and compassionate, one who took risks and was not fearful of being alone. Her strength of character was reflected in her philosophical optimism and her encouragement of others to share in kind.

Ruth was born in the spring of 1952 and passed away in the winter of this year after a courageous battle with cancer. The host of family and friends who surrounded her mirrored the admiration they had for her.

“Her gift for being fully involved in the present moment made her wonderful company,” said Ruth’s spouse, Edith Forbes. “She was quick to notice other people’s needs and liked helping in ways large and small. Thanks to her generosity, joyfulness and multiplicity of interests, she had a wide and warm circle of friends.”

With a degree in classical Greek and Latin from Bryn Mawr College in her academic pocket, Ruth headed north in the early 1970s to Franconia, New Hampshire where she had lived and worked on a vegetable farm during summers while in school.

“This was a reflection of her style,” said Forbes. “It wasn’t political or philosophical as was the sign of the times back then when people were getting college degrees and then moving back to the land. Ruth was just enthusiastic about life and lived in the moment. She got fully absorbed in whatever she was doing. She loved being at the farm but I think eventually she outgrew it.”

As such, Ruth relocated to Norwich where her parents and grandparents had previously retired. The move gave her the continuation of a lifelong connection with the Vermont town. At first, Ruth tried a variety of work including the Kiewit Computation Center, Peter Christian’s Tavern, Countryman Press, and substitute teaching. Eventually, she became a freelance writer and editor. She edited books by local authors and wrote regularly for the Norwich Times, Quechee Times and Lebanon Times.

She had a vast storehouse of memorized poetry, Forbes noted, that she could recall to suit the moment. Close friend Marcia Cassidy agreed. “I think because Ruth majored in classic Greek and Latin, it gave her an understanding of words and vocabulary that were deep in their roots. She was an incredible writer and a keen listener. It was never about her, but always about others.”

As longtime and dear friend Steve Maker noted, Ruth spent decades helping others in a variety of ways. “She was serious and consistent about helping others have fun,” said Maker. “She held annual parties, one of which was called GBC for garlic, butter, and chocolate – the major food groups – and people had to bring a dish that had one of those ingredients in it. Can you see what fun that would be?”

Good friend Tracey Sherry recalled Ruth’s annual strawberry and lobster parties, among others, the purpose of which were to assemble friends and neighbors. “They were really excuses to bring people together and to share good, fresh food,” said Sherry. “She was so generous of heart and spirit.”

“Ruth wrote profiles of people in the area with
her eye on a particular topic. She loved words.
She had an acute ear for the exactness of
language. In fact, one could have called her ‘a
birdwatcher for language.’” -Edith Forbes, spouse

In 2001, Ruth began attending a local reading group where she met her future spouse, Edith (Elfie) Forbes. The couple celebrated their civil union in 2004 and a legal marriage five years later. They moved to Forbes’ farm in Thetford where Ruth dove into gardening and tending to the farm animals.

As a local resident and passionate cello musician, Ruth also joined the Upper Valley Music Center in which she played with several ensembles, including a string quartet, a folk dance jam group, the Bach study group and the Upper Valley Chamber orchestra. She also served on the organization’s board.

“We were delighted to have her as a colleague at the Music Center,” said Louis Cornell, president and board member, and one of the founders of the organization. “She had played the cello as a girl but gave it up until she joined us.”

Ruth also came on board as a student of chamber music which is how she initially became involved in the center, Cornell related. “She was enthusiastic and funny,” Cornell said. “She had a wonderful sense of humor which made working with her a joy.”

Cornell met Ruth through her parents with whom he was friends, and the two musicians played string quartets together for years. She was a chamber music player and was also in the chamber orchestra. “Ruth was intelligent and enterprising,” said Cornell. “She was an independent soul who was willing to take risks. She leaves a big hole where she touched many lives in all kinds of circumstances and considerations. She was a delightful person to know, and she will be very sorely missed.”

Ruth was deeply involved with a variety of dance styles including English country, contra, Morris, folk, and ballroom. She also became a lifelong dance caller. The adventurous and independent sides of Ruth were reflected in her world travels – solo. While at Bryn Mawr, she traveled around the western United States and, after graduation, through Europe and Africa by herself.

“She loved life,” said Forbes. “She loved being alive. She trusted fate and, in general, that served her well.”

The road to becoming a Vermont gubernatorial candidate began a long time ago for Norwich resident Rebecca Holcombe whose childhood in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Fiji Islands, and Sudan had a direct impact not only on how she has perceived the world but how she has navigated through it. Even though her family “had the bad fortune of arriving in ountries just as political trouble was beginning,” Holcombe learned quickly from her mother that, in comparison with many global native inhabitants, she had a privileged upbringing. “In my own family, particularly on my mother’s side, access to public schooling gave her many opportunities,” said Holcombe. “She was always acutely aware that she was lucky and that those who weren’t, should have a chance.”

Opportunity. Education. Equality. Those are the words that encompassed Holcombe’s core values as a child and then as a teenager when she arrived in the United States. And those are the philosophies that are still ingrained in her as an adult, spouse, parent and politician.

Prior to that, Holcombe lived in Afghanistan from 4th to 7th grade, attending a government subsidized public school, until the Soviet invasion in 1979 forced her family out of the country. From there, they traveled to Pakistan where Holcombe attended the International School of Islamabad until anti-American unrest scared away nearly all the English-speaking students and teachers. Because Holcombe’s family stayed, however, she was home schooled.

“The power of living abroad is you have to look at yourself from the outside,” said Holcombe. “When you’re in one of those international schools, you’re going to school with children from so many different countries. That challenges you to think about things you take for granted. You realize quickly how important language facility is to doing well. It’s an incredibly privileged way to grow up.”

From the Mideast, Holcombe returned to the United States to attend the Boston preparatory Milton Academy. During vacations, she regularly joined her parents overseas including Fiji and Sudan. And, while at Milton, she spent a year in Spain, resulting in her speaking fluent Spanish to this day.

Holcombe went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Brown University, an MBA from Simmons School of Management, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Policy and Practice from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. She completed coursework for her principal certification at Lyndon State College.

Rebecca Holcombe with her husband James Bandler and children Daniel and Johanna

She and her husband, James Bandler, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, moved to Norwich 11 years ago. “Living in Vermont is a values issue,” said Holcombe. “One of the things on this side of the river is a sense of community. We all celebrate the walkable downtown area while maintaining the land around us. And, frankly, the high-speed internet allowed James to telecommute to New York City where he was based as a journalist. So, it’s a nice mix of nearby family, community ties, and the internet.”

Holcombe spent the next several years as a teacher, principal and Vermont secretary of education, continuing to focus her life’s work on creating equal opportunities for every child and every individual in the state of Vermont.

As secretary, she worked to address the inequalities between those with wealth and those without in Vermont communities, keeping in mind what she had witnessed as a child growing up in an international community.  “Public schools are where we achieve equality,” said Holcombe. “It’s where we bring each other together and become a civil society. It’s the means for making sure every child has a chance.”

As Governor, Holcombe said she wants to take advantage of her life experience “to push the democratic project of making sure the state is working to create opportunities so people can go out and live well. I’m going to win by showing everyday working Vermonters that it’s not enough to talk,” said Holcombe. “I think Vermonters want a governor who’s going to roll up their sleeves and engage.”

Whether focusing on health care, affordable housing or education, Holcombe emphasized that people can’t live if these issues are not addressed. “People are struggling to pay their bills,” she said. “They need good jobs that pay them living wages. We need to make sure people that work hard are able to cover their bills and pay for their rent and not worry about health care.”

The first job of governor, she continued, is to improve the lives of the people. “That means putting our resources where they make it better and where they make our communities stronger so that people can live well and prosper and be happy in our Vermont communities,” Holcombe said.

Holcombe is deeply committed to her own community of Norwich where she has raised her two children, Daniel and Johanna, both of whom attended local public schools. “I’m so proud of them. It’s tough for young people growing up right now. Many whom I’ve met are full of hope and ideals, but they’re not sitting on the sidelines. I appreciate their hard work and their realism and clarity. It’s incredibly inspiring, and I see it in my own kids. They give me hope.”

It is exactly that aspiration, Holcombe indicated, that propelled her into public service, understanding her own privileged inheritance and wanting to pass that on “to make sure everyone has the chance to learn, and to grow up healthy and strong.”

“Where I grew up, there was no opportunity or certainty,” Holcombe said. “I saw first-hand the desperation people had and the direct consequences of having no education or nutrition. When children have the opportunity to get a good education, they will always take with them the ability to make good things happen even in the face of challenge.”

Diverse communities, such as those found in public schools, are brought together by how to build an institution that prepares children for the future, Holcombe noted. And schools are the most democratic institution because “we come together to figure out how to work together,” she added. It is these institutions that reflect individual core values that, according to Holcombe, “will keep you on a straight course in a world that can get confusing fast.”

Holcombe and David Zuckerman are running in the Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont on August 11, 2020.

The Essential Guide to Rebecca Holcombe

What is one person, place or thing you love about living in Norwich? 

I love living near our neighbors, and that feeling of having good neighbors with all that means. When our kids were young, they were like another set of grandparents.  We can just show up at their house, or them at our house, for a last minute, casual shared dinner of leftovers or cup of tea.  We help them with sugar, and they keep us grounded. My kids love the candy in the cupboard, and I like the comfort of old, gold relationships.

What did/do you want to be when you grew/grow up?

Just about everything at one point or another, except a politician.

Which bedtime story you read to your kids is your favorite and why?   

Good Night, Gorilla and Ten Minutes Till Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann. Both perfectly capture the yearning and absurdity of bedtime.  

If you had your own talk show, who would be your first three guests?

Today? Eleanor Roosevelt, Claudette Colvin, and Ruha Benjamin.

What is your favorite quote?

Changes by the week. This week it’s by Wendell Berry: “All we can do to prepare rightly for tomorrow is to do the right thing today.”

If you could be invisible for one day, where would you be?

I wouldn’t be invisible. I think it’s past time for us to be more direct and transparent about the challenges we face, and what it will take to work together to overcome them. This is a time for courage, not invisibility.

Wine, beer, martini, green tea or Lou’s milkshake?

Blues Sparrow hot chocolate. I love buying Vermont products!

What is your biggest fear or phobia?

I was once served a bowl of snakes in broth in China. That was pretty much where my adventurous spirit hit a wall.

What is your most energizing dream/vision for your future?

I want to be able to look my children and their friends in the eye and know I did everything I could to make this a state and nation where we work together with our neighbors and give everyone a fair chance. I want them to know that when we live in ways that protect the environment and institutions for the future, we are all better off.

Print or digital?

For pleasure, there is nothing like print.

What do you love most about living in Vermont?

The people and the place.