Top Stories for Tuesday March 27, 2018

Celebrating Fifty-Four Years Of Service With Larry Simino
By Cookie Steponaitis
Larry Simino was raised just fourteen miles from the Canadian border in Irasburg and grew up with and was very close to his brother, Darrell. The family lived on a ninety-three-acre farm situated in the village with twenty-five milking cows and a lot of life lessons. His mother served on the school board and select board, and helping others out of choice was a part of the fabric of their life. “I am the oldest,” he chuckled. “He is two years, two months and three days younger than me, but who is counting.” Growing up in a small rural Vermont town, Simino watched and learned how groups of people could come together to work out a solution or could dig in their heels and cause dissension. Neither lesson was lost on Simino as he moved on in his life.  [ more ]

Mt. Abe Eagles Ladies Basketball Team Division Two Champs
By Cookie Steponaitis
There is something special about the bus ride home from Barre Memorial Auditorium and a championship win that stays in the mind and heart long after the excitement has ended. Images of the 1800 plus crowd, the realization two-thirds of them were there for your team, the sound of the buzzer, the exaltation, victory, cheers and tears freely flowing are in the minds of the team and their coach. While this is far from the Eagles first trip to Barre or the winning ride home, complete with fans, police and fire department escort, this particular champion team has layers of stories and meaning about this victory showing the story of the program, coach and community that proudly supported them.  [ more ]

Ways To Celebrate Easter
By Cookie Steponaitis
Aside from the obvious and powerful message of Easter as celebrated by the Christian faiths, there are as many ways to celebrate Easter as there are eggs in some children’s baskets. So before you think you are all ready to celebrate, consider a multi-cultural world view and you might just hold your peeps and add in a bilby or two.  [ more ]