Walking the llama trail - The North Star Monthly

2 NOVEMBER 2009 THE NORTH STAR MONTHLYTableofContents4 opinionEDITORIAL OFFICES:P.O. Box 319 ~ 29 Hill StreetDanville,VT 05828-0319(802) 684-1056PUBLISHERS/OWNERS:Justin LavelyGinni LavelyEDITOR:Justin Lavely4 Opportunity is knockingby Isobel P. Swartz5 An amazing boyby John Downs6 features6 A man can lose everything...by Justin Lavely8 Across the pondby Michelle Arnosky Sherburne18 in pictures18 Autmumn on the Greenby Jim Ashley17 Colors Aboundby Jim AshleyCONTRIBUTING EDITOR:ADVERTISING /CIRCULATION:ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION:PROOFREADERS:SUBSCRIPTIONS:OFFICE MASCOT:ADVISORY BOARD:Lyn BixbyVicki MooreAngie KnostTina KeachWoody StarkweatherGinni LavelyJudy LavelyVanessa BeanLynsey LavelyJohn HallSharon LakeySue CoppenrathAlan BoyeJane BrownThe North Star Monthly is produced and publishedmonthly by Northstar Publishing, LLC located at 29 Hill Street,Danville,VT. Subscription Rates are $16 per year. Printed in USA.Copyright 2008 by NorthStar Publishing LLC.All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproducedwithout expressed permission from NorthStar PublishingLLC. Publisher is not responsible for errors resulting from typographicalerrors.Acceptance of advertising is subject to publisher’sapproval and agreement by the advertiser to indemnify the publisherfrom loss or expense on claims based upon contents of theadvertising. Publisher does not assume liability for errors in any advertisingbeyond the cost of the space occupied by the individualitem in which the error appeared.Postmaster: Send address changes to The North StarMonthly, P.O. Box 319, Danville,VT 05828-0319. Periodical postagepaid at Danville,VT.ContributingWritersJim Douglas gets itFrom the EditorIsobel SwartzLorna QuimbyVan ParkerNathaniel TrippRachel SiegelLynn BonfieldJeff GoldEllen GoldVanna GuldenschuhPeter DannenbergVan ParkerJim AshleyJane WoodhouseBets Parker AlbrightVirginia DownsJohn DownsDee PalmerMichelle SherburneHaving worked in media for thelast five years, long enough towitness the approaches ofthree governors in two states, I feelqualified to say Gov. Jim Douglas hasthe right idea.I imagine the feedbackhe gets directly from hisconstituents differsslightly from what hehears at the State House.While the nature of politics ensuresdisagreement with some of his policies,it’s hard to find fault with his approach togovernance over the last seven years. Hemakes a point of traveling around thestate to attend both large and smallevents. It’s not uncommon to see himspeaking at local clubs, putting in facetime at open houses for small businessesor just grabbing lunch at Marty’s.When we look back at his tenure in office,it’s easy to say these simple gesturesdon’t mean as much as his actions inMontpelier, but they mean a great deal inregards to how he is received around thestate and how he will be remembered. Mylasting memory of him will be how wellhe fit in with everyday Vermonters andhow at ease he seemed to be when communicating.The small size of the state he representsis undoubtedly a factor in his abilityto travel so effectively. On the other hand,there have been others in states of similarsize who found it more difficult to traverse.While I was working across theborder, I often heard this gripe, “I don’tknow why we can’t get the Governor uphere, and we have an interstate that runshere right from Concord. Vermont’s governoris always in the Northeast Kingdomand he has to deal with Route 2.”Now, there have certainly been plentyof Vermont governors who found it difficultto travel to the state’s far corners, butDouglas genuinely enjoys it. What’smore, he seems to regard personal contactas an integral part of his job. I imaginethe feedback he gets directly from hisconstituents differs slightly from what hehears in the State House.I have also always enjoyed his approachat the podium. He never seems tobe giving a speech, rather holding a conversation.His responses to difficult questionsare always informative andsupported by some measure of fact andpersonal experience. I’ve heard him speakin person a handful of times and I can’trecall him giving an answer that left mewondering where he stood on the issue.After four terms in office, Douglas recentlyannounced that he will not run foroffice in 2010, ending a 30 year run inservice to this state. Some suspect he hasaspirations of a higher office, perhaps inWashington D.C.One thing is for sure, we’ll miss seeinghim around here.e-mail: info@northstarmonthly.comwww.northstarmonthly.comWritetoUsPlease Let Us KnowIfYou MoveThe USPS is not willing, or not able, toremember where you have gone or whereyou once were. In the best ofcircumstances, the wrong address willsignificantly delay the arrival of yourNorth Star.LETTERS: Write to The North Star, and let usknow what’s on your mind.Your point of viewor observation is important to us. Letters mustbe signed.ARTICLES: We don’t have a big staff of writers.So we look forward to you sending yourwriting. 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