Natalie Kinsey Warnock Author Visit at Ripton Elementary

Vermont author Natalie Kinsey Warnock will be visiting Ripton Elementary School on February 16th. Her visit is part of the activities that are being planned for our February literacy celebration. Ms. Kinsey Warnock will be doing a whole school presentation from 9am-10am. The public is invited. Later, she will lead the 3rd-6th graders in a writing workshop. All of her books depict Vermont life and traditional values of family, hard work, and friendship. Many thanks to Friends of Ripton School (FORS) for sponsoring this event, and thanks to Linda Kautzman, media specialist at Ripton Elementary, for arranging this exciting opportunity for our community.

Riptonite in Franklin County

One Riptonite is working on growing Vermont's economy. In his new role as the state's Commerce Secretary, Lawrence Miller is touring the state with our new governor, looking for ways to build more jobs. That link leads to a description of a visit to Franklin County.

Poll calls about Vermont Yankee?

Has anyone received a poll call about Vermont Yankee this week?

One Burlington Free Press writer reports getting a "push poll" call:

The person who received the call said the question included asking the recipient how he/she felt about Vermont Yankee losing 650 jobs and how reliable and safe nuclear energy is, and would a review by the Public Service Board be better than a decision by the Legislature.

I haven't.

One Ripton home lost to fire

One Riptonite's home was destroyed by fire this week. According to the Burlington Free Press,

The blaze broke out at about 1:30 p.m. in the mobile home of Robert A. Bergedick, 65, of 1740 Goshen Road, police said. He escaped. Firefighters arrived to find the home fully engulfed, police said.

Authorities said the fire was accidental.

The mobile home was owned by James and Kay Doolan, police said.

Ripton's volunteer firefighting team were on the scene.

Tal Birdsey to speak in Middlebury

A Ripton resident is giving a reading at the Ilsley public library, down in Middlebury, the week after Sunday:

Tal Birdsey, author and educator
Living School, Living Words
Sunday, January 16, 2 p.m.

Tal will read from the manuscript of his
"in-progress" second book tentatively entitled Living School. His first book, A
Room for Learning - The Making of a School in Vermont, recounted the formation
of North Branch School in Ripton. What does a living school look like? Hear the
ideas of a dynamic, vibrant educator.