[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 161 (Tuesday, October 23, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13256-S13257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        KINGDOM GEMS OF VERMONT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased to stand before the Senate 
today to tell my friends about Vermont's Northeast Kingdom--a place 
that is known as much for its natural beauty as the rural and 
industrious Vermonters who have settled there.
  This region, defined by the three northeastern-most counties of 
Vermont that sit between the headwaters of the Connecticut River and 
the U.S.-Canadian border, became one of America's first National 
Geographic geotourism destinations. The designation highlights the 
character and sense of place that has come to define the dozens of 
mountain valley communities that sit in Orleans, Essex, and Caledonia 
Counties.
  My wife Marcelle was born in the Northeast Kingdom, just south of the 
Canadian border in the city of Newport. Since then, like many 
Vermonters, we have often found ourselves heading to this part of 
Vermont to visit friends, go for a hike, or find a special place to 
have a meal. The people of the Northeast Kingdom have made this region 
of Vermont advance while carefully holding on to the key elements of 
their identity. Whether they are crafting furniture from the forests of 
the north woods or diversifying their family farm, these individuals 
have helped the communities of northeastern Vermont grow.
  This autumn, Michelle Edelbaum and Daria Bishop of the Burlington 
Free Press published an article about a trip the two of them shared 
through the area, and I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the 
Record the text of the article offering a glimpse into these ``Kingdom 
Gems.''
  There being no objection, the materials was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            [From The Burlington Free Press, Sept. 30, 2007]

                              Kingdom Gems

                         (By Michelle Edelbaum)

       When trees scream with crimson, gold and orange, head to 
     the Northeast Kingdom for world-class leaf peeping.
       With foliage in mind, photographer Daria Bishop and I spent 
     a day exploring the towns, shops and people that make the 
     area special. We strayed from our loose plan to follow 
     locals' hand-drawn maps down scenic dirt back roads to not-
     to-miss destinations.
       On our 13-hour tour we didn't reach half the locations on 
     our list, which included classic attractions Cabot Creamery, 
     Great Vermont Corn Maze, Stephen Huneck's Dog Mountain and 
     Fairbanks Museum. But we did visit a handful of gems worth a 
     stop.


                               GREENSBORO

       Twenty-eight years ago an enthusiastic David Smith and his 
     wife, Willie, took over Highland Lodge in Greensboro from his 
     parents and fostered a community-centric gathering place that 
     hosts out-of-town guests and community gatherings. ``The 
     Walking Ladies,'' a group of 55 women who range in age from 
     40 to 86, meet thrice weekly in the dining room for coffee 
     and muffins after they exercise.
       On their recommendation we ate moist, sugar-crusted 
     blueberry muffins, from-scratch blueberry pancakes and a 
     fluffy cheese and veggie omelet with McKenzie sausage links. 
     After breakfast, we set out on the lodge's 30 miles of trails 
     from a grove of soaring pine trees decorated with colorful 
     placards of children's artwork, courtesy of the lodge's 
     summer campers.

[[Page S13257]]

       In Greensboro village two stores dominate the retail scene. 
     The Miller's Thumb, housed in a former grist mill, is filled 
     with local artwork, fancy kitchen knickknacks, Italian 
     pottery and antiques. Watch water rushing under the red 
     building through a plexiglass-covered hole in the floor.
       At Willey's Country Store, customer Doug Aronson of 
     Woodbury declares ``if you can't find it here, you can't find 
     it anyplace.'' Wine, appliances, groceries, hardware and 
     clothes are sold at the town institution, housed in a 
     rambling white building that dates to the 1800s and has been 
     owned by the Hurst family for five generations.


                               CRAFTSBURY

       Look up as you approach Pete's Greens in Craftsbury. The 
     roof of the farm's serve-yourself stand is laden with 
     trailing plants, flowers and herbs. Peek inside at artful 
     displays of colorful organic vegetables.
       Consider yourself lucky if you hit Stardust Bookstore and 
     Cafe on the idyllic Craftsbury Common during its limited 
     school-centric hours. The store, run primarily by students 
     from Craftsbury Academy, sells new and used books, coffee and 
     espresso drinks inside the quaint 1940s former public 
     library. Part of the proceeds are given to nonprofit 
     organizations and granted as scholarships.
       Just outside of town down a long dirt road lies Craftsbury 
     Outdoor Center, on Great Hosmer Pond with 10 kilometers of 
     trails open for biking and hiking. Ski director John Brodhead 
     suggests spending an afternoon canoeing, mountain biking, 
     walking with a naturalist, kayaking or relaxing in an 
     Adirondack chair by the lake.


                                 GLOVER

       Untold treasures lie within Red Sky Trading Co. in Glover. 
     Owner Cheri Safford's whimsy is on display in the unique and 
     colorful assortment of vintage house wares, Melmac resin 
     dishware, trays, china tea cups, garden decor, picture frames 
     and more, that fill the maroon barn.
       Buttery cookies, dense bars and rich chocolate cakes from 
     Safford's kitchen share counter and refrigerator space with 
     Vermont cheeses, natural sodas and local produce. Don't miss 
     Safford's award-winning canned jellies, jams, bread and 
     butter pickles, chutneys and pickled beets--just like Grandma 
     made.
       Between a bank of beer coolers and a rack of chips at 
     Currier's Quality Market Inc. stand three stuffed deer and a 
     black bear; turn the corner into the postal area and you'll 
     come face-to-face with a 948-pound moose. More than 100 
     taxidermy animals are on display in the one-stop shop, 
     including a porcupine, wild boar, ram and British timberwolf.
       Jim Currier, who's owned the store for 40 years with his 
     family, started the ever-growing collection 25 years ago with 
     a deer head from his father. Hunters with a mount at the 
     store earn ``bragging rights,'' said Currier's daughter Julie 
     McKay. Coming soon: a red fox, possum, and snow goose.
       By 4 p.m. we hadn't eaten lunch and regretfully skipped 
     Bread and Puppet Museum and its ``Cheap Art.'' We missed 
     Mount Pisgah in Barton, with stunning views of Lake 
     Willoughby, biking in Burke at Kingdom Trails, and a mandarin 
     orange chicken salad at River Garden Cafe. We also passed on 
     flat bread and microbrews at Trout River Brewing Co. in 
     Lyndonville and coffee and chitchat at Miss Lyndonville 
     Diner.


                             ST. JOHNSBURY

       Instead we split for St. Johnsbury, where local-food-
     centric Elements Food and Spirits, like many destinations in 
     the Northeast Kingdom that have irregular hours, isn't open 
     on Monday.
       At Kham's Thai, chef and manager Souki Luangrath, whose 
     Essex Junction-based parents own the restaurant, says quality 
     ingredients are a priority--he even deveins shrimp. Our 
     refreshing late lunch included fresh spring rolls filled with 
     crisp veggies, savory coconut Tom Kha soup and saucy panang 
     curry with chunks of vegetables.
       Railroad Street in downtown St. Johnsbury is home to 
     several dozen independently owned shops and restaurants. 
     Moose River Lake and Lodge Store sells jewelry with a 
     Southwestern flair, Adirondack and Amish-style furniture, 
     fine wine kept in a walk-in vault, art by illustrator Philip 
     R. Goodwin, quality sportswear and home decor.
       Scottie Raymond, formerly an employee at Outdoor Gear 
     Exchange in Burlington, recently opened Kingdom Outdoors, 
     which sells technical outdoor wear and gear. Raymond inked 
     the graffiti-style mural in the skate shop and lounge 
     downstairs.
       During the day, hit Dylan's Caf for creative breakfast and 
     lunch combinations, the newly opened Village Baker for 
     artisan bread and pastries, or Boxcar and Caboose for coffee 
     drinks and books. If you have time, check out PODO Shoes, the 
     Northeast Kingdom Artisan Guild and Gallery and Frogs and 
     Lily Pads.

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