The logger
Christmas miracle
Check out Rusty’s take on this season’s yule tide cheer.
Westport student receives kidney transplant in Burlington.
Middlebury Lions support local benefit tractor pull
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December 18, 2010
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Performers gather for church concert
Community, Lions Club raise funds to support local families in need By Alice Dubenetsky denpubs@denpubs.com MIDDLEBURY — When Ken VanDeWeert was suffering from ALS, a fatal neurological disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, members of his community came together to help ease some the family’s struggles. In addition, they were also able to help realize a life-long dream of Ken’s. The anonymous gifts enabled Ken and his family to embark on a cross-country excursion. Ken lost his battle with ALS in August 2003 at the age of 47. Those memories, and the gratitude his family felt for the assistance in their time of need led them to seek a way to give back to the community in much the same way. Ken’s son Jason, and his brother Tim decided to focus on a part of Ken’s life that he and his family most enjoyed – tractor pulling – to raise money for people in need of a little extra help to get through a trying time. Ken was an avid tractor puller and well known to participants and fans of the event. “It’s amazing what people are able to do and will do for others”, says committee member Danielle Dragon. “This is a fun way to give back and touch other people like Ken and his family were
See BENEFIT, page 13
E-Corp English Chooses Middlebury for Global Headquarters MIDDLEBURY — The multi-national company ECorp English announced last week that it will locate its global headquarters and IT development center in Middlebury. A number of factors played into the company’s decision to choose Vermont, including the state’s technical infrastructure, an educated workforce and Middlebury College’s language department. E-Corp English offers on-line English training courses to business people in China and French speaking countries and plans to expand their scope of instruction to Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese and Spanish speakers. President Deborah Schwarz made the announcement in Montpelier, where she was warmly welcomed by Governor Jim Douglas and Governor–elect Peter Shumlin. Noting that the company had a number of choices, including New York and Oregon, Gov. Douglas said “We are honored that you chose Middlebury and Vermont as a place to grow.” Schwarz and her husband have a long association with Vermont. She attended Middlebury College’s language program for two summers, and her husband is a doctor with ties to Fletcher Allen Health Care as a researcher. That association, combined with a number of incentives from the Vermont
See E-CORP, page 13
Singers and players perform together at “Messiah Sing” hosted by the Middlebury Congregational Church. MIDDLEBURY — Since its inception in 1984, the Middlebury Congregational Church hosts the area's annual "Messiah Sing" that attracts hundreds of singers and players from throughout Addison County, central and northern Vermont, and the
Champlain valley area each year. This year's reading continues the tradition of featuring soloists drawn from communities throughout Vermont, including vocalists Leila Menard McVeigh, Grace Weber, Joe McVeigh, and Heidi Willis; Greg Vitercik,
harpsichord; and instrumentalists Sofia Hirsch, Ellen Vitercik, Molly Bidwell, and Chris Diehl-Noble. Harpsichord builder Robert Hicks of Lincoln, Vermont, provides a hand-crafted instrument for the
See CONCERT, page 13
Live in HD series at Town Hall Theater MIDDLEBURY — For the first time in more than 30 years, the Metropolitan has unveiled a new production of Verdi’s Don Carlo, starring Roberto Alagna in the title role. It will be seen across the world and at Middlebury’s Town Hall Town Hall Theater as part of the Met’s “Live in HD” series. Rarely seen for decades due to its epic proportions, Don Carlo is now considered one of Verdi’s finest achievements. Set during the Spanish Inquisition, it tells the personal story of two love triangles set against a public backdrop of war, persecution and destruction. Verdi tinkered with this sprawling work during his lifetime, resulting in two distinctly different versions – a four-act version and a five-act version, the later
sung in French or Italian. The Met is staging the grand five-act version, a gamble that has paid handsome dividends. The production has received rave reviews Don Carlo will be broadcast at Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater on Sunday, December 19 at 1 pm. Tickets are $22, and may be purchased at www.townhalltheater.org, 802 382-9222, at the THT Box Office (Mon-Sat, noon-5 pm) and at the door, if available.
Tenor Roberto Alagna sings the title role in Verdi’s epic Don Carlo, a Metropolitan Opera “Live in HD” broadcast at Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater. Sunday, Dec. 19, at 1 pm. Tickets: www.townhalltheater.org, 802 382-9222, at the THT Box Office (Mon-Sat, noon-5 pm) and at the door.
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