The terminal
Chefs compete
The Logger ponders life during a layover at Dulles airport in Washington, D.C.
Who will be the Top Chef of the Champlain Valley this August?
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Serving Addison and Chittenden Counties
June 18, 2011
Docs stress over health care reform
Maple syrup production sets record in 2011
Vermont tops states, exceeds 1 million gallons
See MAPLE, page 14
By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com
JOHN DEERE COMES HOME — TeacherJulie Schondube's kindergarten students of Mary Hogan Elementary School were guests of the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center’s Agriculture Academy last week. Students sat on a John Deere tractor and received promotional caps courtesy of Hendy Brothers Inc. of Middlebury. Students also saw chicks being raised by Hannaford agribusiness technology students. Inventor John Deere operated a blacksmith shop in downtown Middlebury during the 1800s. Photo by Kelley Mills
MONTPELIER — V ermont doctors ar e feeling left out of the health-car e r eform process, accor ding to a new r eport published by the Vermont Medical Society Education and Research Foundation. Doctors are facing rising time and financial pressures, according to the report. Titled “The 2011 Physician Needs Assessment,” the r eport concludes that the pr oblems faced by doctors may eventually threaten health-car e quality in the Gr een Mountain State. “The study was conducted by the foundation in order to gain actionable insight about the concerns of V ermont’s physicians and their patients,” said John Br umsted, M.D., chief medical of ficer at Fletcher Allen Health Care and the foundation’s president. “The timing and findings of the assessment are particularly important as the state embarks on an ambitious health care reform effort. See HEALTH CARE, page 11
Vergennes chef honored, will cook at Trapp Family Lodge By Rachel Carter
newmarketpress@denpubs.com VERGENNES — Matt Birong, chef and owner of 3 Squares Café in V ergennes, has been named one of the Stowe W ine and Food Classic’s Grand Tasting Chefs. Birong’s hearty cr eations will be featur ed on Sunday , June 26, at the Grand T asting Event at the Stowe W ine and Food Classic being held at the Trapp Family Lodge. An impressive collection of Vermont restaurants, chefs, and purveyors will join select guest chefs and food writers for a tasting event of grandiose proportions. Tickets and more information ar e at www.stowewine.com. Birong serves up Vermont’s best cuisine samples alongside Steve and Lara Atkins, Kitchen Table Bistr o, Michael Clauss, Bluebir d Tavern; Jack
Pickett and Josh Bar d, Frida’s Taqueria & Grill, Jason Gulisano, the Gr een Cup, Michael Kloeti, Michael's on the Hill; Scott, Matt and W es, Three Penny T aproom; Eric Warnstedt, Hen of the W ood, and Brian T omlinson, T rapp Family Lodge at the Stowe Wine and Food Classic. Later in the summer, Birong rubs elbows with mor e renowned V ermont chefs at Vermont’s pr emier Ir on Chef Competition – the Top Chef of the Champlain Valley to benefit the Champlain V alley Agency on Aging. At the Aug. 8 event, Bir ong goes head-to-head with Shawn Calley of the Essex Resort and Spa and reigning Top Chef attempting to defend her title, Donnell Collins of Leunig’s Bistr o and Café, one of Chef Bir ong’s former colleagues.
Vergennes chef Matt Birong
Just in Time for Father’s Day!
Here’s a sample…
Route 7, Ferrisburgh • 425-3971 Dorset Street, South Burlington • 658-9560 Offers expire 7/15/11 (valid in stores only)
The Best Ribs & Barbecue ON SALE!
Reg.
Sale
Our Famous Baby Back Ribs . . . . . $18.95 ...... ......$14.95 . Cob Smoked Bacon (Think BLT). ...$6.95 . . . . . . . .$5.49 ........ Smoked Pepperoni . . . . . . . . . . . .$5.69 . . . . ...............$4.49 . SummerSausage (5 flavors). ..........$4.59 . . . . . . . .$3.35 ........ 1 lb. VT Cheddar (2 yr. old, Sharp!). $9.95 . . . . . . . .$7.69 ........ 1 qt. Maple Syrup (all grades). ......$19.95 . . . . . . .$16.95 ....... 82249
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. maple syr up pr oduction in 2011 was up 43 percent with V ermont leading the nation, followed by New York, according to a r eport r eleased June 9 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service. The 201 1 maple syr up production was 2.79 million gallons, up 43 per cent fr om the r evised 2010 total and surpassing the r ecord of about 2.4 million gallons set two years ago. The number of taps was estimated at 9.58 million, 3 per cent above the 2 010 r evised t otal o f 9.26 million. The yield per tap is estimated to be 0.29 gallons, up 38 per cent from 2010. All states showed an increase in pr oduction from the pr evious year . Vermont led all states in production, with New York and Maine second and third, respectively. The r eport detailed production over the past three years for 10 states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshir e, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Here ar e the top thr ee maple syr up pr oducing states: Vermont: 2011, 1,140,000 gallons; 2010, 890,000; 2009, 920,000. New York: 2011, 564,000 gallons; 2010, 312,000; 2009, 439,000. Maine: 2011, 360,000 gallons; 2010, 315,000; 2009, 395,000.
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