Vermonter.com

Strolling of Heifers Named Top Ten Vermont Summer Event for Five Years Straight; Green Mountain State’s Version of Spain’s Running of Bulls Expected To Attract 50,000

Brattleboro, Vermont –The 6th Annual Strolling of the Heifers Parade & Festival (Fri. June 1 – Sun., June 3), sponsored by Turkey Hill Dairy, expects to attract 50,000 viewers to this picturesque town (population 13,000) located on the Connecticut River. Every year, the parade, which is the centerpiece of this Mardi-Gras like agricultural celebration, attracts more people from across the country — and in some instances the globe — in the moood for an udderly great time. They come– to “Cattleboro,” recognized as one of the “best small towns in America” to attend this three-ring circus, featuring cows, farmers, musicians and farm fresh cuisine.

This year, 100 flower-bedecked bovine beauties will strut down Main Street in the town where Holstein-Friesian Association, USA’s headquarters is located. (Notably, every Holstein in the world has its genealogy on file at Holstein.) Six years ago, when Orly Munzing, Executive Director of the Strolling of the Heifers (SOTH), and other civic boosters were struggling to find a way to protect Vermont’s agricultural heritage and landscape, the answer suddenly came to them in black and white. That first year, 50 Heifers led by young people from New England-based 4-H Clubs and Putney School students attracted 10,000 viewers. Parade organizers expect an additional 40,000 people to park their baby strollers and lawn chairs along Main Street so they can enjoy the cavalcade this year. The event’s four-footed starlets will be followed by all kinds of animals and family-oriented entertainment. Several years ago, Vermont Life named Munzing a “Vermont hero” for all she has done to increase public awareness of the importance of agriculture. Notably, during the past six years, SOTH has awarded over $100,000 in funding to schools and other organizations for agriculturally oriented educational programs.

Other highlights of the weekend follow. The Dairy Fest & Market Place, Sat., June 2, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm on Retreat Healthcare’s grounds will include the Best Chefs of Vermont Tasting Pavilion, a Celebrity Milking Contest, and a Fiddle Festival. A brand new event that promises to be a hit with families is the Children’s Farm Fun Tent provided by the Cheshire Fair Association. Educationally oriented activities inside the tent will include a Wonder Cow that can be milked; a hands-on Butter Making activity, a Hay Maze; a Fishing Pond; and a Pie Eating Contest. The tent also will have a farmyard section with live animals.

Additional events at other locations on Sat., include the Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, on Route 9 in West Brattleboro; Community Contra Dance, 6:30 – 9:30 pm, Shriner’s Hall, Green Street Extension; and Louise Taylor in Concert, 7:00 pm, the Loft in the Cotton Hill building. Sun., June 3, there will be a Royal Farmers’ Feast, 7:00 am – 12 noon, Chelsea Royal Diner, West Brattleboro; Farm Tours, 12 noon – 4:00 pm. (Maps available at Chelsea Royal). All events open to the public. Most events are free. For more information log on to: www. strollingoftheheifers.com or call the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce at: 877-254-4565.
………………………………
The mission of the Strolling of the Heifers is to promote awareness of the importance of agriculture in our daily lives and to raise money to fund educationally oriented agricultural programs for youth. Log on to www.strollingoftheheifers.com for details.

Calendar Listing

Top Ten Summer Event — 6th Annual Strolling of the Heifers Parade & Festival, sponsored by Turkey Hill Dairy, June 1 – 3, 2007, Brattleboro, Vermont. Internationally renowned parade during National Dairy Month that annually attracts 50,000 spectators. Light-hearted version of Spain’s Running of the Bulls features 100 flower-bedecked bovine beauties and fun-filled entertainment. Heifer Parade, 10 am, Sat., June 2. Dairy Fest & Market Place, same day, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. This Mardi-Gras like celebration’s other events include a Best Chefs of Vermont Tasting Pavilion, Fiddle Festival, Family Entertainment Tent, Children’s Farm Fun Tent, Contra Dance, Royal Farmers’ Feast and Farm Tour. Open to the public. Most events are free. For more information call 802-257-1646 or log on to: www.strollingoftheheifers.com.

The mission of the Strolling of the Heifers is to promote awareness of the importance of agriculture in our daily lives and to raise money to fund educationally oriented agricultural programs for youth. Log on to www.strollingoftheheifers.com for details.

Carr: Housing Market Biggest Drain On Economy

BURLINGTON, Vt. — The Vermont state economist is predicting slow growth of the state economy through 2011.

Jeffrey Carr said a sluggish housing market and high fuel prices would help restrain the economy. He explained there would be a loss of construction jobs and disposable income because people would have to spend more for gasoline and heating fuel. Carr is planning to present his report Thursday at a meeting in Boston. Job growth in Vermont is expected to be six-tenths of 1 percent this year and less than 1 percent for the next five years. Carr also said the housing market will be the biggest drain on the economy. But Vermont’s economy is helped by the weak U.S. dollar, which draws Canadians to northern Vermont.

From the Bill O’Reilly website:Talking Points Memo & Top Story
The Truth About Vermont
Guest: Joe McQuaid, Publisher of the Manchester Union Leader

“Vermont is one of ten states that have rejected Jessica’s Law, which imposes harsh prison terms on child predators. The law was beaten down by state representative Bill Lippert, who instead drove a law through that imposes just five years for child rapists. But Bill Lippert is tough on one group – those who would discriminate against transgendered people. Lippert championed a bill that prohibits any bad behavior toward those who change their sex. Talking Points supports that legislation, but it’s not nearly as important as Jessica’s Law. Lippert turned us down for an interview, but Factor producer Jesse Watters went to Vermont and confronted Bill Lippert, who said this: ‘You people don’t even begin to know what the truth is … we have the strongest law in the country against sexual predators.’ That’s simply a lie. Bill Lippert is lying, and child predator statutes in most states will prove that. The moral of the story is that many Vermonters have no idea how they lost their state, which used to be traditional. But lost it they have.”

The Factor was joined by Joe McQuaid, publisher of New Hampshire’s most influential newspaper. He analyzed the stark difference between his state and neighboring Vermont. “Our transplants came to New Hampshire to flee higher taxes, most from Massachusetts. The people in Vermont came from New York, and they like having this little green state without a lot of people, a place they can control. Vermont is the most liberal state in the union – when people try to give a speech on the conservative side in Vermont, they get shouted down.” The Factor complained that Vermont is a one-party state. “There are no conservative papers or conservative anything in Vermont. This guy Lippert torpedoed Jessica’s Law, and if Vermonters don’t vote him out it’s a total surrender.”

The interview in Montpelier and the aftermath:
JESSE WATTERS, FOX NEWS PRODUCER: Why did you pass that transgender identity bill and kill Jessica’s law?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is this?

BILL LIPPERT, (D), VT STATE REP.: We don’t know what you are talking about.

WATTERS: The transgender identity bill you guys just passed. Seems like the priorities are a little strange.

LIPPERT: I passed an anti-discrimination bill to protect transgender people in Vermont. And I’m proud of that. What’s your problem?

WATTERS: What about Jessica’s law?

LIPPERT: Who are you with?

WATTERS: I’m with “The O’Reilly Factor” with FOX News.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go home!

WATTERS: What about 25 mandatory minimum for child rape.

LIPPERT: We have the strongest laws in the country against sexual predators.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are out of here!

WATTERS: Mr. Lippert, are you OK with a guy getting probation for sexually assaulting a four-year-old?

O’REILLY: He obviously, Lippert, don’t have the strongest laws. They’re very weak laws regarding child predators. Now, that confrontation happened last weekend. We played the whole thing on Monday. Today the Rutland Herald newspaper, a corrupt enterprise, ran a column that said, quote, “So why would FOX News ambush Bill Lippert, one of the most respected members of the legislature? The answer is as simple as it is unsettling. Lippert is gay. Bigots like Bill O’Reilly have the right to free speech but Vermonters also have the right and responsibility to stand up to intolerance. Go home, indeed, Mr. O’Reilly. Hate has no place in Vermont.”

Well if hate has no place in Vermont then the Rutland Herald has to shut down right now. “The Factor” never mentioned Bill Lippert’s private life in any way. It was never an issue.

So what the Rutland Herald did was change the subject from the failure to pass Jessica’s law, designed to protect children, to accusing me of homophobia. Doesn’t get more hateful and dishonest than that.

Now the Rutland Herald needs to be held accountable for that. So I’m going to give you some information and I hope hundreds of thousands of Americans will contact this newspaper. This is a culture war issue.

The editor of the Rutland Herald is Randall Smathers. His phone number is 802-747, like the plane, 6121. 802-747-6121, ext 2279.

Now if you can’t write it down we have it on our Web site. If you do call Mr. Smathers please be polite. If you are not polite, if you curse, if you harangue, you will hurt the children. Remember, this is about protecting the kids. This is about Jessica’s law.

The e-mail for the Rutland Herald is letters@rutlandherald.com. Now the reason I’m asking you for help in this situation is that the Rutland Herald is a corrupt, dishonest enterprise. It’s enabling bad politicians like Bill Lippert to do what they do. This is a Vermont issue but it’s also an American issue and the folks need to fight back against this kind of corruption.

So you make the call, pardon the pun. If you feel the way I do, that the Rutland Herald is despicable, let them know. It’s a small thing in the culture war but it’s important.