Sasquatch?
Heritage Days
Vermont man in hot pursuit of the elusive ape-like legend.
FREE
Take one
Discover our French heritage in Vergennes this weekend.
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Serving Addison and Chittenden Counties
July 10, 2010
Out of Africa
“Mamma Rungu” Kathleen Colson, founder and executive director of Vermont’s BOMA Fund, joins village women in 2008 in celebrating 20 new native business start ups in Kamboe located in the Great Rift Alley of Kenya, Africa. Donations to the Vermont-based fund helps support African women in small businesses. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Colson
By Lou Varricchio newmarketpress@denpubs.com When Kathleen Colson was a national representative of the National Democratic Socialist Party while attending St. Lawrence University during the radical 1970s, she never dreamed that her future self would be bringing capitalist concepts of financial independence to some of Africa’s poorest women. Following a first trip to Kenya while a student in the waning months of the ‘70s, Colson didn’t realize that the fleeting first visit to Africa would someday grow into both an emotional and humanitarian bond. After living life as an anti-establishment ski bum out West, Colson found herself working in marketing and sales in the corporate world. But after a few return trips to Kenya by Colson, Hollywood’s 1985 tear-jerker motion picture “Out of Africa” burst upon the big screen. The Academy Award-winning film glamorized wildlife and author Karen Blixen’s romantic wanderings on the veldt; the film reignited Colson’s, and others, curiosity about traveling to Africa.
By 1986, Colson and her husband Check It Out: Your $50 to Doug developed a the 501(c)3 nonprofit custom safari busiBOMA Fund helps support ness called African one African woman as Safari Planners. Afpart of a group of five who ter a few years of will work together in a growth, African sasmall business. Visit fari travel dried up www.bomafund.org to after Sept. 11, 2001 learn more about how to terrorist attacks. get involved. Business has gradually returned to pre9/11 levels. “My safari business is still going strong—and actually this year is my best year ever—but it really solidified a deeper commitment to Africa,” she said. In 2005, at the urging of a safari friend and member of the Parliament of the Republic of Kenya, she established the BOMA Fund to help native women establish small businesses that will provide them with incomes. Her husband Doug also got involved behind the scenes.
SWIMMING HOLE — This brave soul is at the end of his rope above a deep pool in the Otter Creek last week. Summer swimming holes abound in Addison County and include favorite locales along the Falls of Bristol, the New Haven River along Route 116, the former site of the Dog Team Tavern, Bittersweet Falls, and Three Mile Bridge Road. Photo by Stephanie Simon
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Festival-on-the-Green returns for year 32 A collaboration of community, arts MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury Festival-on-the-Green kicks off its 32nd anniversary season during the week of July 11-17, commanding the spotlight under a big white tent on the Village Green in Middlebury. An highlight of the summer, the festival has remained faithful to its mission of bringing top-quality, free, familyfriendly entertainment to the residents and guests of Addison County since its debut. The 2010 festival week kicks off at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 11, with a performance by Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa, touted as the new voice of Ugandan music.
Brown Bag Specials, performances designed for families, are offered during the noon hour Monday through Friday. No Strings Marionette Company—the husband-wife team of puppeteers Dan Baginski and Barbara Paulson—present Treasure Hunt at noon on Monday, July 12, the first event of the popular noontime Brown Bag series. Other Brown Bag performers include musician-storyteller Rik Palieri on Tuesday; singer-songwriter-educators Gary Dulabaum and Josh Brooks on Wednesday; magician Tom Verner on Thursday; and the lively-goofy improvisational Swing Peepers on Friday. The festival will feature Middlebury native Jer Coons at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 12. Coons hit the ground running in
2009 with an impressive batch of new songs earning him comparisons to a younger John Mayer, or an older Nick Jonas, and everything in between. His song Legs is currently playing in Hollister stores. The Doughboys, Middlebury’s premier funky faculty rock band, showcases the talents of Steve Abbott, acoustic guitar, keyboard and vocals at 8:30 p.m. Mike and Ruthy, the folk-rock duo formerly of the Mammals, make a festival appearance at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, to play songs from a new album. Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand appear at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, with an ensemble.
See FESTIVAL, page 14
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