Whole hog for Rutland

Photo by Cassandra Hotaling Hahn / Rutland Herald

Originally published in the April 19, 2012, edition of the Rutland Herald.

Last week, Rutland was witness to something unique: A Chamber of Commerce mixer that people were actually talking about. Wales Street became a spectacle as scores of people crowded inside the large tent to mix, mingle and enjoy the complimentary food and drinks.

Donald Billings, chef-owner of Roots the Restaurant — which co-hosted the mixer with Earth Waste Systems — threw down with a menu dominated by locally sourced food. The centerpiece, a pig roast, helped build anticipation as it cooked slowly in Roots’ driveway — its smoky scents wafting through all of downtown a full day ahead of the event.

The buzz around the mixer was unprecedented for these typically humdrum Chamber gatherings. Clearly, the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce knew it had something special, as it was especially effusive in its promotion of the mixer via email, print ads and social media.

Vermont’s presidential visits: An alternate history

AP photo

This story appears in the April 5, 2012, edition of the Rutland County Express.

President Obama’s visit to Vermont last week may have been the first from a sitting president in 17 years, but throughout its history, the Green Mountain State has played host to many others. Some have come to campaign, some have come for pleasure and two were even born here. But, few, if any, of these visits were very remarkable. With that, I present an alternate history to Vermont’s presidential visits.

To elect and serve: The short, agreeable road to City Hall

Vyto Starinskas / Rutland Herald photo

In a city so notorious for its potholes, you’d think the road to the Board of Aldermen would be a little bumpier. Yet, again this year, the contest, while robust in number, was lacking in excitement.

Now, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. That, for the most part, our local politics have been able to hold negativity at bay is something we should be proud of. Certainly, outside the rail, rancor and vitriol rear their heads on occasion — all towns have their naysayers — but the board, at least through the last several terms has managed to work together with respect if not always accord.

But come on; it’s campaign season. Where’s the fire? Where’s the feistiness?

Southwest Florida dreamin’

A version of this story appears in the Feb. 29, 2012, edition of the Rutland County Express.

Call it a tale of two Naples (Napleses? Napoli?). In Rutland, the connection to towns of this name runs deep — a generationally-embedded locus where, for some, the two have become touchstones of family and heritage.

There is the Naples in southwest Italy, from where, at the turn of the last century, many Rutland families (mine included) emigrated. And there is the Naples of southwest Florida, to where many of them make their second (and final) flight. It’s the Alpha and the Omega: from whence we came, hence shall we proceed.

Cacciatore-22: The remaking of a family recipe

A version of this story appears in the Feb. 23, 2012, edition of the Rutland County Express.

Over the years, I’ve cooked through the cannon of Sabataso family recipes. I’ve made holiday dishes like Spaghetti Olio and baccalà, which traditionally only appear on Christmas or when important Italians like Sinatra the Pope show up.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day during the recession…

Today is Valentine’s Day. To celebrate, here are two V-Day inspired posts I wrote for The Plaid Crew a couple years back. It’s amazing how well they’ve held up: we’re all still broke and Chris Brown is still a scumbag. (Warning: these posts are semi-NSFW.)

• It’s the economy, Cupid (2009)
• It’s (still) the economy, Cupid (2010)

Enjoy, and Happy Valentine’s Day.

In the House: Government alive and well in Vermont

A version of this story appears in the Feb. 16, 2012, edition of the Rutland County Express.

“For a state with so many hills, Vermont is pretty flat.”

This sentiment was expressed by a colleague of mine recently after a visit to the Vermont State House in Montpelier. And while this realization is nothing new, a day spent wandering the halls of our state government really drives it home.

At a time when the average citizen feels increasingly powerless — at the mercy of governments, corporations, banks, churches and other institutions that seem more concerned with self-preservation than with the public good — it is refreshing (and comforting) to know that Vermont’s government is still accessible, democratic and equitable.