September 15, 2011 - Posted by bernie.paquette - Comments Off
Sharing Summer Vacation.
A One Act Play
The CHARACTERS are SARAH, JOEY, & PATRICK, each members of the same grade school class, and their TEACHER.
The SETTING is along a sidewalk on route to a local school in Vermont in early September as classes are about to resume after a summer long hiatus.
SCENE: Sarah has spent the summer at her Uncle’s farm in St Albans, Vermont. Joey spent the summer with his Aunt in North Carolina. Patrick spent the summer in South Burlington, Vt. with his mom and dad. The trio- lifelong friends, separated all summer are now walking to school together after the final day of summer vacation.
SARAH: [Reaching as high as she can with her hand in the air] Wild patches of blackberry plants grew twice as tall as I am. We picked and ate blackberries until we looked like goblins our face and hands colored purple. Uncle Tom said we might come out scratched a bit by the thorns but the best treasures usually required some sacrifice to obtain. I wondered how the birds managed to eat berries unharmed by the thorns or turned all purple like us.
JOEY: [Barely waiting for Sarah to finish]
The beaches in North Carolina go on and on and on farther than from here to
school. Aunt Danielle and I saw wild dolphins swimming so close we could almost reach out and touch them as we swam in the ocean. We helped a sea turtle that was trying to dig a hole in the sand for her eggs. She had a piece of plastic tangled around her, binding one leg-we cut and removed the plastic. There were giant birds; I think Aunt Danielle said they
were albatross or pelicans, sailing just inches above the waves. We picked up
litter off the beach so birds and fish wouldn’t die from eating the trash. Oh
and I almost forgot, there was a harbor seal and a sea otter and-
PATRICK:[Feeling somewhat left out, Patrick steps out and in front of Joey cutting him
off in mid sentence.] Ok you guys, just cause you got to go to faraway
places doesn’t mean you are the only ones who had fun this summer. Mom and I
planted a raised bed garden and grew asparagus as big as trees. We planted
trees too, a McIntosh apple tree, and an Evans Bali Cherry tree, and a chestnut
and an elm tree. Twice a week we walked all over and picked up trash wherever
we found it. Mom says if we all plant a few trees and pick up a piece of litter
every day everyone’s walks will be better than ever. Even the birds helped pick
up littered trash. We saw a robin’s nest in our cedar tree made of grass,
leaves, string, and blue threads from a shredded tarp and other pieces of
plastic too.
TEACHER: [After all three friends and other students reach school and settle into the classroom, their teacher begins the first day back to school] Students will you each share with us something you did and something you learned this summer?
Yes, Joey you can start for us.
JOEY:[ Stands up and addresses the class] I walked miles of beaches and swam with dolphins and turtles in the ocean. [Pausing to think] I learned there are miles and miles of walking places with trees and animals and birds right here at home that need our help.
TEACHER: Thank You Joey. Now Sarah you may begin.
SARAH: [In her lovely summer dress turns brightly to address the class] I wore bib overalls, got up every day before the sun, and fed chickens and geese and calves. [Looking at Joey] I learned that littered trash could end up in the ocean and harm turtles and other sea
animals.
TEACHER: Thank You Sarah. Patrick, what would you like to share with us?
PATRICK:
[Begins quietly but confidently] Summer carried me for miles and miles and
miles, but I never left home for more than a day. Mom and I and sometimes dad
and sis walked beaches, and sidewalks, and dirt roads past farms. I learned we
live in a Green and Clean city and state but no matter where you live, getting
dirty is a small price to pay to keep our world green and clean.
TEACHER: [Smiling] Joey, Patrick and Sarah, you all three seem to share a common thread even though you each spent the summer far apart. When exactly did you learn the lessons that you shared with us?
JOEY, PATRICK, SARAH: [call out in unison] Today! [All three friends look at each other and laugh.]
Curtain
Personal note: I ache for all the individuals who lost so much from the storm Irene. One cannot take in all the pain and anguish of so many, yet our heart feels for the overwhelming agony washing in to our regions. Support fellow Vermonters, Buy Vermont.
August 11, 2011 - Posted by bernie.paquette - Comments Off
Why did the turtle cross the road? One common whimsical answer is, “to get to shell-ter”. Near my home in South Burlington, Vermont, one turtle about the size of a small hubcap crossed the road and the sidewalk in nearly a snap, but found the rest of the journey littered with obstacles.
At first mistaken for a discarded knapsack, the olive green to brown bony-shelled creature lifted its powerful jaws and agile neck garnering the first spectator. Five clawed toes on each foot seemed as fit for a badger as for this aggressive species though the long tail was most turtle like. Though not displayed as of yet, the sharp horny beak would later confirm any doubters that this was a snapping turtle. Snapping turtles cannot withdraw their large heads into their shell. With no place to hide, the large aberration continued to attract onlookers and bystanders.
The near record temperature that mid-day in June had already approached ninety degrees making even slow moving turtles question why they were out walking about. No one walking down the sidewalk could look any less happy than this snapping turtle.
How to help; from the children to the adults lining the sidewalk, discussion ranged from “do nothing” to “where to transport the creature to safety?” With little ado, our neighbor, standing behind the now aggravated visitor, reached down, grabbed the turtle by the shell as far back as possible, attempting to move the snapper into a dog crate we had positioned directly in front of the snapper. In a flash “Snappy” extended her thick neck back over half the length of her body. With beaked jaws opened wide enough to capture a wrist, she fell just short of clamping onto her predator’s fingers.
Even now long after the successful carriage of the snapping turtle to a nearby stream in the woods I still have visions of that large gaping beaked jaw arching across the turtle’s back and locking onto one of the handler’s appendages.
Edward Hoagland in his essay, The Courage of Turtles, wrote, “Turtles cough, burp, whistle, grunt and hiss, and produce social judgments.” Before leaving us, our visitor declared, “Don’t trash my environment or I will snap at you”.
Trash on our sidewalks, roadsides, and other public areas as well as on business properties are obstacles to our health and feeling of well being. When asked why YOU crossed the road, make the answer “to pick up a piece of littered trash to improve the next person’s journey.”
Save your fingers. Pick up littered trash wherever you see it; allow snapping turtles to cross the road on their own.
August 11, 2011 - Posted by bernie.paquette - Comments Off
The Beatles first connected me to the question; tell me why, on their album A Hard Day’s Night. Blink 182, Taylor Swift, the Backstreet Boys, and Neil Young all sing a song of the same title. However, my current favorite that asks “Tell me Why is titled “Hey World (Don’t Give Up)” sung by Michael Franti. Franti asks, “Tell me why on this hill all the birds they used to come to fly here, come to die here.” He asks, “Tell me why there’s child soldiers, tell me how to fight diseases, tell me now, won’t you please”. Amidst many heart wrenching questions, he sings, I try, try, try, and don’t give up on me I won’t give up on you; Hey world, what you say?
On a scale closer to my ability, my very young nephew would, each time his family visited ours, ask why. “Why are the jets so loud?” Because Christopher, they use jet propulsion to become airborne (driving airflow over the wings creating lift). “But why Uncle Bernie, do they need to become airborne?” The pilots need to practice flying. “Why Uncle Bernie, do they need to practice?” They need to be prepared to fight for our freedom. “But why?” On and on he would ask why until another subject came up to ask why about or I just ran out of answers, real or made up.
I admired the curiosity, the non-linear analysis, and the persistence of Christopher who looked at the world the way many children do, with eager interest in learning why things happen, and why others behave the way they do. Christopher was often unwilling to give up asking why until reaching the true root answer showing me, the adult, that I had accepted for myself many shallow answers that were not really answers at all. “Hey Uncle Bernie, what you say?” often left me with the same indignation, Tell me Why.
Now that Christopher is grown up, I carry on asking why. Not tell me why questions like Michael Franti poses; those are bigger than I can get my head around. Mine are more mundane everyday life questions, like why don’t neighbors each cut their grass at the same time to eliminate the cacophony of Briggs and Stratton’s throughout the weekend. Moreover, tell me why so many folks haul away nature’s own fertilizer –lawn clippings instead of mulching or leaving them on the lawn. Lawn clippings are full of nutrients and organic matter.
Tell me why asphalt is ‘planted’ and maintained while environment-softening trees that provide shade and beauty are an afterthought and often neglected in urban parking lots.
Tell me why anyone living in Vermont would ever complain about hot weather when it takes most of June and July to thaw out from winter and a snow-ridden spring. I try, try, try, not to complain about the long winters, and I never give up on Vermont with its’ beautiful luscious green that amazingly comes back every year even if it takes a bit longer than I would prefer.
You might ask tougher questions like Michael Franti or dig deeper into the initial answers like my nephew Christopher. The key is not to give up. Don’t give up on asking, seeing what might be made better in the world and what you can do about it.
Like Michael Franti sings, “Don’t give up on me and I won’t give up on you”.
Just tell me why we can’t eradicate litter in our communities year round. Hey world, what you say?
August 11, 2011 - Posted by bernie.paquette - Comments Off
A few years back shortly after my dad died I found I needed to walk and think or maybe more to not think. I walked along the ocean beach in San Diego, barefoot. Not intending to go very far, I walked, and walked and walked. I began to wonder what city I was in, so headed up the cliffs to a park to find out. I than noticed my feet – naked feet were blistering and decided to start hobbling back on a narrow trail atop the cliffs overlooking the ocean. My shoe-less feet were really hurting, when I came upon a pair of tattered Gilligan Island type of canvas sneakers-just my size. Sometimes picking up litter pays dividends in ways not expected. Maybe they were a gift from Dad, him knowing how I would have my eye out for litter!
Happy Fathers Day Dad.
Bernie
June 17, 2011 - Posted by bernie.paquette - Comments Off
A recent trip to California presented me with an opportunity to join the local Audubon society representatives on a bird walk through Tecolote Canyon Natural Park in San Diego. The canyon has about 6.5 miles of trails. After short introductions of about 15 birders, we started our walk onto dry dirt packed trails lined with tall yellow flowers resembling daisies. Green shrubs, tall grasses, palm trees and various deciduous trees, provide a green and clean safe haven for birds and other wildlife.
Quickly the varying degrees of birding skills becomes apparent as individual birders spot and identify birds while others ID birds by ear, and novices like myself ask questions about the birds we see and listen and learn from those more practiced and knowledgeable. Birders I have met enjoy sharing their bird sightings and identification information with others. No particular skill is required to spot and enjoy birds other than maybe patience and observation. Thus, no matter the skill of each birder, everyone can have the opportunity to feel the excitement and shared pleasure of spotting and identifying a different bird.
Stardom fever helped us in our quest, not our brashness but that of some of the less frequently sighted birds. Blessed are those birds that though rarely seen out in the open, proclaim their tantalizing beauty by perching in open view atop a high branch singing to a captivated audience while turning occasionally to be sure we accurately identify them by their unique body, wings, tail, bill and overall shape, and size. In addition, allowing us to have a few minutes to observe their behavior.
Over thirty different bird species presented themselves to us that day. Some such as the California Thrasher (with a long decurved bill), Orange Crowned Warbler, and Black-headed Grosbeak were not rare sightings for those residing in California, but new and exciting birds for me to see. Other sightings were admirable, not so much the bird species but what the bird was doing. Like the Western Kingbird snatching a butterfly out of the sky, landing on a branch and eating its captured meal.
Learning the bird’s stories is just part of the adventure of birding with others. The naturally occurring camaraderie that develops from a shared cooperative venture also promotes new friendships. This along with the peace and contentment nature offers us if only we take the time to visit with her.
One member of our group spotted maybe the day’s most prominent bird, a Black- chinned Hummingbird. A fever of excitement arose as a second member of the group locked in on the sighting. Now both members tried to steer our remaining eyes to the unusual but thankfully patient small bird, resting on a limb in heavy brush not twenty feet away. Finally, in what seemed an eternity only one member had not yet found the cause for our excitement. We would not let him give up and continued to provide directions; follow that crooked large limb than look right by the clump of dead leaves…finally a cry of wow and the group was in unison in spotting the male Black-chinned Hummingbird.
About 50 million people enjoy bird watching every year. Bird watching is the fastest growing recreational activity in the world. Birders can observe upwards of 296 bird species regularly seen in Vermont.
What do birding and eradicating litter have in common? Year round opportunity for walking at a leisurely pace, living in the moment, learning to observe our surroundings, sharing with others what we see and find. Both activities encourage stewardship-maintenance and protection of our environment.
For more information on birding in Vermont, see the Green Mountain Audubon Society’s website at, http://greenmountainaudubon.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=3
May 23, 2011 - Posted by bernie.paquette - Comments Off
Walk and see dirty, disgusting, degrading affronts to our city’s image.
Walk to work or walk around the block in your community neighborhood and challenge yourself to count the number of pieces of litter in a square block or even within one hundred feet. Look at the community’s highly shopped and respected storefronts and ask yourself why there is trash in front of some of these businesses.
Why are we tolerant of trash on our sidewalks, streets, parking lots, yards- our city? Much of the litter on the streets ends up in our waterways. This non-phosphorus pollution is polluting our cherished waterways and overall landscape. Our discarded plastic is killing birds, marine and other wildlife.
Everyone can easily participate in this cause. Everyone can pick up a piece every day. Consider carrying an empty grocery bag with you on neighborhood walks. Notify business owners of the opportunity to improve their business facade by removing trash from the parking lot. Businesses can create litter patrols whereby their crews periodically remove litter along the street where the business is located.
We can grow an attitude of intolerance for litter just as we can grow pride and activism for attributes like Lake Champlain.
If enough people join in on a regular basis, well to quote Arlo Guthrie in Alice’s Restaurant song, “And friends they may think it’s a movement.”
Everyone can make a direct impact on litter prevention and clean up.
How will you help?
May 23, 2011 - Posted by bernie.paquette - Comments Off
Main Street, the artery. A roadway used by pedestrians and cars, residents and visitors. Across her skin are tracks of rubber from tires and sneakers. Caressing her sides is a band of grass or mounds of snow depending on the season. Overreaching her expanse, bowing tree limbs throwing shadows upon the placid route.
Ah, what activity she sees! Oh, what iniquity she suffers. If she could curse, surely her asphalt would spew with disdain. She endures the effect of sourly actions of carelessness, and the purposeful act of degradation. If she could speak, what words would she choose to utter to those who make use of her passageway?
At six A.M., Joe throws a cigarette out his car window – a toxic deposit soon to enter the waterways. Her first ever utterance is guttural but succinct; “The world is not an ashtray”. Joe nearly slams into the car ahead in shock, and then ponders upon his poor roadside manners. Another commuter, Susan, consumes her latte and spots a candy wrapper on the car floor. She silently curses her teenage son for his sloppiness as she tosses her empty coffee cup toward the curb. Susan fails to hear the street call out with firmness “Litter-it’s in the bag-carry one in your car”.
Now at seven A.M. students are heading to school. A small group stops for a fast food breakfast to eat along the way. Knapsacks and pockets apparently are full as wrappers sail like kite tails behind the students and across the sidewalk and roadway. “Rubbish” the main street artery cries out. “What a load of rubbish- now give a hoot and don’t pollute” she admonishes the startled students.
Later around ten A.M. Mary and Shawn traverse to market. They note the plastic bags, store flyers, and other trash on the ground in front of the store. Yet they show a surprising apathy toward the unsightly problem. Main Street cannot keep silent and speaks up. “Tell the storeowner the welcome mat is diminished by a trashy facade”. Mary and Joe are startled into an attitude of intolerance of litter. They decide they will alert the store manager of the opportunity to make the store more inviting by maintaining a litter- free parking lot and entrance. Somehow, the ride home seems more pleasant to both Mary and Shawn.
Evening comes, supper wraps up. A pleasant walk is welcome relief from a long day. John, Francis, and their dog Snoopy head out the door with poop scoop bags and two empty grocery bags. John and Francis have come to think of themselves as neat people. Not because they have, a dog named Snoopy, but because they pick up trash off the sidewalk and street as they walk. Their neighborhood is clean year round because John and Francis pick up after themselves and others. John and Francis attribute the sound to wind as a gentle voice expresses pride, “These are neat people-they must care about how their neighborhood looks”.
Yes, a good many people of all kinds and persuasions pass by our town every day. Some may even hear a mysterious voice decrying, “Be part of the solution-carry your trash with you!”
Lend a hand picking up found trash throughout the year to help keep Vermont a special place-Green and Clean.
April 5, 2011 - Posted by bernie.paquette - Comments Off
Vermont’s Green Up Day, first launched in 1970 by Governor Deane Davis, is a special day when thousands of volunteers come out in their communities statewide to clean up litter from roadsides and public places, for the community of Vermont. Always the first Saturday in May, Green Up Day is May 7th 2011. Everyone is welcome to take part in this tradition unique to Vermont. For more information call Green Up Vermont, the non-profit organization responsible for Green Up Day, at 802-229-4586 or visit www.greenupvermont.org.
Green Up Day T-shirts Feature Vermont Woodland Back Road 
Montpelier: Green Up Vermont announces availability of 2011 Green Up Day T-shirts featuring student art work of a serene Vermont woodland back road with a batch of white Birch beckoning. Each year Green Up Vermont hosts a student poster design project for artwork for the Green Up Day promotional poster distributed statewide. Willis Page, 9th grader from Blue Mountain Union School created this year’s design. To order T-shirts call 877-388-8250 or visit Green Up’s website at www.greenupvermont.org.
Deadline for ordering is April 8th.
Contact person: Melinda Vieux, President Green Up Vermont 802-229-4586 greenup@greenupvermont.org
March 11, 2011 - Posted by bernie.paquette - Comments Off
Vermont is hoping to warm the hearts and bodies of winter weary residents.
The Green Mountains State known for its skiing, snowboarding and long winters as well as maple syrup, filed a prospectus for an initial public offering on Friday, becoming the first state in the Northeast to seek a public listing for an early spring.
Driven by a growing restlessness, and yearning for spring and all things green including a green budget VS a budget in the red, the state is seeking to go public with an early spring to raise spirits and have bragging rights over New York. New York State, stole much of the wintery headlines this season with snow, snow and more snow. Vermont aims to retain its cold hearty resident’s status while capturing a flower loving following in early April.
The climate is ripe. Those suspicious of global warming predictions might re-think their views upon seeing yellow daffodils blooming on lawns from Southern to Central to Northern Vermont on April 1.
Now the handling of the IPO is a delicate process requiring the utmost care. Introducing spring too abruptly will have a devastating impact on maple sugaring, as the sap flow will end too quickly. A sudden spring without the usual March thawing and freezing and sixty degree temperatures followed by two feet of wet snow could be shocking. Imagine going from picturesque white snow covered streets and sidewalks to clear roads and pathways in less than two months.
Ok that might not be so bad, except that without some time for transition, the “yuck” factor might have us wanting the snow back. Abruptly we will see the accumulated litter- previously covered by snow. With Green Up Day months away- What would Vermonters do?
The filing does show increasing numbers of residents concerned with keeping Vermont clean year round. Along with continuing strong participation in Green Up Day on the first Saturday in May, Vermonters are taking up the call to “Pick up a piece every day”. While walking, paddling, even bicycle riding more people are carrying a small grocery bag to capture found trash along the streets, sidewalks and waterways in their communities.
The Vermont prospectus shows a fast growing pride in what people feel about their clean and green towns, cities, and state. This is not New York. Vermonters do not need headlines to decry a few feet of snow, nor days on end of below zero temperatures. Yet who would mind waking up with “The Burlington Free Press” and reading headlines stating: “Spring has Sprung Early- “The IPO was a Success!”? Who would mind? Time for Vermont to capture bragging rights in the headlines again.
At the same time, why not captivate our audience with activism that drives headlines declaring, “Vermonters Eradicate Litter Year-Round”, “Vermont Investors Rally for a Clean Venture”. Now that is an IPO worth investing in.
(*An IPO is the first sale of shares in a company to the public. Once an IPO occurs, a company will be listed on a major stock exchange, and shares will begin to trade immediately.)
March 7, 2011 - Posted by bernie.paquette - Comments Off
· March 2011 Vermont Snowstorm buries trash/litter and cars, and houses, and just about everything! For once little to no trash, litter in view.
· Shoveling for hours…hit something hard…might be the car roof..or maybe only the house roof.
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Last snowstorm I shoveled three feet off the roof and threw it down to the ground. This snowstorm I may have to shovel the roof and throw the snow UP to the snow banks.
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Still snowing…. snowshoes needed an extension…. attached a stepladder to the bottom of the snowshoes…am only sinking in up to my neck now…but it is sloooow walking. Send straws … if it keeps snowing Im going to need them
· Still snowing…. send yardsticks…running out…..can’t reach ground……
· First the hardware stores run out of roof rakes, now they are running out of yardsticks.
· Holy snow blizzard are you getting this? Hey man its the National Guard. How’d they get here so quick?
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Your house is the third snow mountain on the right. Lift tickets are $1.
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Sorry my mistake. Your house is the third mountain on the left. The one on the right is the tree top ridgeline. By the way the birds here are baffled-where did the trees go?
GREAT DAY TO SEE HOW EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL VERMONT COULD BE WITHOUT ANY TRASH-LITTER!
See Burlington Free press for storm information, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110307/NEWS02/110307003/Monster-snowstorm-wreaks-havoc-in-Vermont
