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The Dandelion Run is a competitive and recreational half marathon relay event for runners of all ages and all abilities along roads passing through the Northeast Kingdom’s world famous fields of dandelions – one of ten geotourism areas in the world specially designated by National Geographic. To some, there is nothing more beautiful than the sight of uncut green fields blanketed with thousands and thousands of dandelions. It’s May! It’s time to run! Just for the fun of it!

This is a charity run to support the Orleans County Victim Assistance Fund and to support free, public access to IROC’s 1/10th of a mile padded, low impact, Rotary Walking Track.

The run will start at the Derby Beach House on the 4-H Road at Lake Salem, in Derby, Vermont. Runners will head east on Route 111 toward Morgan, South on the Gore Road, and then West on Route 105 to the Village of Derby Center and back to the Beach House. Total distance: 14 miles even. Relay stations will be available at 3.5, 7, and 10.5 mile points. Run the whole event, or enter as a team of 2 or 4 runners.

Registration is open now. Early registration is encouraged to help us plan the event. Register by May 1st to get your free T-Shirt commemorating the event. The run will start promptly at 9:00 am on Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 at the Derby Beach House on the 4-H Road at Lake Salem in Derby, Vermont. Sign in starts at 7:30 am.

Most everyone in Vermont is familiar with Green Mountain Coffee, Starbucks, etc. but one of the best VT gourmet coffee roasters you may not have heard of is Brown & Jenkins Trading Company, located in the small, picturesque town of Cambridge, VT. I had the opportunity to visit with the owners a couple weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised by their freshly roasted and brewed coffee. The moment you walk in the door, the aroma of flavored coffee beans grabs your attention.

They’ve been in business since 1984 and sell most of their fresh coffee online at www.brownandjenkins.com. They have a “coffee club” and offer private branding, which is a great way to start a mini-coffee business of your own. If you’re driving through Cambridge, they’re up on the hill at the curve. Prepare yourself for a “damn good cup of coffee”!