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What a wonderful weekend on the campaign trail
! This weekend was a combination of traditional campaign
activities combined with visibility at events which help
our Vermont community.I ended the weekend filled with gratitude
for the many community minded Vermonters who help make our
state the special place that it is. Together we will move
forward to preserve what is most special about our state
and we'll keep working to make it even better. .
Relay
for Life
On Friday night I joined the Addison County Democratic Team
in walking in the Middlebury College American Cancer Society
" Relay for Life." Hundreds of people marched
and over $50,000 was raised by a variety of teams. I arrived
in time to watch the survivors walk and to hear the moving
speeches which were an inspiration. Thank you to Susan Bennett
for being the team captain and inspiring us to walk. Special
thanks to those who sponsored me.and donated to this worthy
cause.I walked in memory of my Dad who died of cancer. As
I took my turn walking I was moved by the hundreds of luminaries
lit in honor and remembrance of people who have battled
cancer. I hope this becomes an annual event.
Green Up Day
To me Green Up Day is an important symbol of Vermont
Community, and it brings back fond memory's of my favorite
Republican Governor who was a personal friend. When I was
growing up on the University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm
,Governor Dean Dean Davis would often attend events at the
farm. He was an expert rider, and would sometimes ride UVM
Cantor the senior Morgan stallion at the farm. I had charge
of exercising Cantor at the time, and so it fell to me to
ready the Governor's horse for him. I was about 17 at the
time, and will never forget how kindly Governor Davis treated
me. He cared, as I do , about maintaining the special character
of our state, and in addition to exerting leadership to
control unfettered development in the State( Act 250), Governor
Davis started Green Up Day. It has been a rite of spring
in Vermont ever since. My husband Richard and I joined a
small band of volunteers organized by Mark Heckman and the
White River Partnership to Gree Up in our small town of
Stockbridge.
We all noted the proliferation of broken glass
and discarded bottles over previous years . Vermont's bottle
deposit law has become far less effective over the years
as lobbying efforts by special interests have succeeded
in preventing updates to keep the law effective.The 5 cent
deposit's effectiveness has been eviscerated by inflation.
While we celebrated community and the special character
of our state, Richard and I worried that the Vermont
value of respecting our environment is not universally shared
as evidenced by the quantity and variety of debris we collected.
We spoke of Dean Davis and were grateful for the tradition
he started.
Rutland
Boys and Girls Club Silent Auction
Rick and I attended a fundraiser for this worthy cause and
ended up with the winning bid for tickets to Irish Dance
at the Paramount.
Loyalty
Day Parade in Rutland
Richard and I were joined by Cheryl Hooker. Mary Mellow,
Tim Abraham, Thelma Perkins, and Patty McIntosh and her
two wonderful boys, Preston and Warren.When asked by Rutland
Herald reporter why I had come to the parade, I said. "
Today we are all together.All segments of the political
spectrum are here. We all love our country, and we all love
our state. I'm please to be here to share this day with
folks in Rutland." Our contigent carried flags
and proudly wore the red white and blue. I have always believed
that we should never let the right wing own displays of
patriotism. To disent can be patriotic. I marched because
I know the freedoms we enjoy as Americans are precious.
We should never take them for granted.
Bethel Democrats Reception for Rivers
A fitting end to an exhiliarating weekend was the reception
held by the Bethel Democrats in support of my candidacy..
Thanks to longtime friend Ola Odell for hosting the event
at her wonderful Victorian Home. The event was attended
by longtime supporters-and new friends as well. One person
said it was the first political fundraiser she ever attended!
I finish the weekend grateful for the support and the help
of new friends and longtime supporters. It was wonderful
to see longtime friend Mary Russell who has been a supporter
and a friend since 1990 when I first ran for the State Senate.
Thanks to all who attended or donated for
helping to power the campaign with your donations, offers
of volunteer help and support! |
