Jericho, Vermont 2019 Hearth and Home - Scenes of 2019
Community is what we make of it, how we shape it, how we see it. Our sense of place, our sense of belonging is indeed shaped by our own hands. We may have little control of the world at large, however, here our voices are heard, our actions acknowledged, our neighbors are at least recognized if not known. Our country store, library, town green, road crew, farm stand, artists, and more, all spell that we support, in fact, thrive on our local community - we support each other - one another.
Jericho of today is a story of building resilience, supporting our local farmers and artisans, and our natural resources. Jericho of today fills the school auditorium on Town Meeting day with respectful, considerate, and thoughtful discussion and true listening.
Jericho of today trades items and discussion on FPF as though we were all related.
Jericho of today preserves open undeveloped land for public use today with an eye for future generations as well. And Jericho honors our forebears at their resting grounds. Jericho sets out the quintessential invite for visitors - outdoor chairs. There is a chair for you in Jericho, come sit a spell, relax, and visit. Whether it be to visit with yourself, nature, or others, there is a place for you here - pull up a chair.
Nobody beats Jericho's Cleary family's signage, from B E L I E V E to magnificent wood sculptures, and fire breathing and dancing Cirque De Fuego troupe performances. See photos of Cirque De Fuego's performance on the Jericho Green, here.
Jericho of today staffs town committees, school board, select board, fire department, and town volunteer groups with dedicated, intelligent, caring folks.
Jericho today comes out for library storytelling, poem writing, and more. Folks gather for the annual pet parade, Green Up Day, Santa at the JCS, Christmas tree lighting on the green. Jericho is honored to have the Gruppe Gallery as well as many distinguished artists who show their work there and at annual art events like the Plein Air Festival and Open Studio.
The Jericho Community Center holds a stage in the middle of town for both private and public events - a grand hall to watch a Snowflake Bentley puppet presentation or an outdoor food and music event, attend CPR training, or weekly Be Your Best Body classes.
The Jericho Underhill Garden Tour has me and I am sure others, eager to get new plants in the ground as soon as we have thawed ground again.
And new community - family connecting - traditions are starting up and more are on the discussion table. View 17 of the ideas here. I particularly like the idea of a Jericho Repair Cafe / Sharing Center.
I for one am grateful to this community - both the people in it and the geography preserved and maintained (read my Forever walk-in Jericho here) and for the welcome and neighborly affection I receive here in this place. I hope to do an even better job of reflecting on what Jericho is about in the coming year. A REVIEW OF JERICHO 2019 IMAGES AND STORIES is further down this page.
What of Jericho in 2020?
Can we change our internal models of the world fast enough - here at home?
"I wonder why things have to change," murmured Piglet. Pooh thought for a while, then said, 'It gives them a chance to get better. Like when the bees went away and came back.' " Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictus
How will we embrace new information as new insight, how will we adjust (rapidly) in our own local community, in our homes, in our own beliefs and behaviors?
Happy New Year
Bernie
The 2019 most viewed postings are:
#2019in5words
Save our snowflakes - Jericho, Vermont
Save our snowflakes and earth
Last year of burning dinosaurs
(#2020in5 words: Hopeless Act carbonless)
No walls in our Jericho
End plastic food packaging -WRITE
Laugh, Dream, Try, Do Good
Lawns don't feed our pollinators
Plant warm hugs, native plants
Jericho of today is a story of building resilience, supporting our local farmers and artisans, and our natural resources. Jericho of today fills the school auditorium on Town Meeting day with respectful, considerate, and thoughtful discussion and true listening.
Jericho of today trades items and discussion on FPF as though we were all related.
Jericho of today preserves open undeveloped land for public use today with an eye for future generations as well. And Jericho honors our forebears at their resting grounds. Jericho sets out the quintessential invite for visitors - outdoor chairs. There is a chair for you in Jericho, come sit a spell, relax, and visit. Whether it be to visit with yourself, nature, or others, there is a place for you here - pull up a chair.
Nobody beats Jericho's Cleary family's signage, from B E L I E V E to magnificent wood sculptures, and fire breathing and dancing Cirque De Fuego troupe performances. See photos of Cirque De Fuego's performance on the Jericho Green, here.
Jericho of today staffs town committees, school board, select board, fire department, and town volunteer groups with dedicated, intelligent, caring folks.
Jericho today comes out for library storytelling, poem writing, and more. Folks gather for the annual pet parade, Green Up Day, Santa at the JCS, Christmas tree lighting on the green. Jericho is honored to have the Gruppe Gallery as well as many distinguished artists who show their work there and at annual art events like the Plein Air Festival and Open Studio.
The Jericho Community Center holds a stage in the middle of town for both private and public events - a grand hall to watch a Snowflake Bentley puppet presentation or an outdoor food and music event, attend CPR training, or weekly Be Your Best Body classes.
The Jericho Underhill Garden Tour has me and I am sure others, eager to get new plants in the ground as soon as we have thawed ground again.
And new community - family connecting - traditions are starting up and more are on the discussion table. View 17 of the ideas here. I particularly like the idea of a Jericho Repair Cafe / Sharing Center.
I for one am grateful to this community - both the people in it and the geography preserved and maintained (read my Forever walk-in Jericho here) and for the welcome and neighborly affection I receive here in this place. I hope to do an even better job of reflecting on what Jericho is about in the coming year. A REVIEW OF JERICHO 2019 IMAGES AND STORIES is further down this page.
What of Jericho in 2020?
Can we change our internal models of the world fast enough - here at home?
"I wonder why things have to change," murmured Piglet. Pooh thought for a while, then said, 'It gives them a chance to get better. Like when the bees went away and came back.' " Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictus
How will we embrace new information as new insight, how will we adjust (rapidly) in our own local community, in our homes, in our own beliefs and behaviors?
Of large and
weighty heights, we do attend
yet in the end
airy light barely noticeable gestures of family, friends, and neighbors
wrap us in life’s immortal jewelry
and warm us in perfumery of cinnamon, vanilla, fresh coffee
and cookies fresh out of the oven
revitalizing our acuity.
yet in the end
airy light barely noticeable gestures of family, friends, and neighbors
wrap us in life’s immortal jewelry
and warm us in perfumery of cinnamon, vanilla, fresh coffee
and cookies fresh out of the oven
revitalizing our acuity.
Happy New Year
Bernie
Throughout the year of 2019, Jericho Vermont Images of Community offered snapshots of views from this picturesque rural community lying on the edges of Chittenden County suburbia. The photos tell part of the story – what would a story about the pet parade down the middle of the road in Jericho Center be without pictures of the pets dressed in their glorious if not sometimes outrageously creative costumes?
The stories also help highlight why Jericho, Vermont is a special place. Some of the stories were ‘real’ while some were ‘satirical’. Some attempted to inspire a few laughs while most left at least a hint of serious thought for consideration. For example, 'Jericho Goes Quiet' posting, real or satire? Strong opinions came out believing that Jericho politicians had gone too far, while other comments declared satire a healthy joust against despair!
The 2019 most viewed postings are:
1. Creating Pollinator Garden – Let’s Go Native (With ongoing updates)
5. Climate Change and Local Farms – Jericho VT Panel Discussion (Enlightening write-up by Maeve Kim describing three local VT farmer's stories, concerns, and actions regarding farming with the impacts of Climate Change).
Meanwhile, some 2018 posts continue to gather more than their share of views.
What was your favorite post?
Two of my favorites are: Jericho Fried Photovoltaic Chicken and Electro Syrup
and Valentine phantom asks: Do you believe in Love, Jericho?
Two of my favorites are: Jericho Fried Photovoltaic Chicken and Electro Syrup
and Valentine phantom asks: Do you believe in Love, Jericho?
What kind of Jericho images would you like to see in 2020?
What kind of Jericho stories would you like to read in 2020?
#2019in5words
Save our snowflakes - Jericho, Vermont
Save our snowflakes and earth
Last year of burning dinosaurs
(#2020in5 words: Hopeless Act carbonless)
No walls in our Jericho
End plastic food packaging -WRITE
Laugh, Dream, Try, Do Good
Lawns don't feed our pollinators
Plant warm hugs, native plants
Jericho Vermont
Images of Community
Intimate, caring, and personal; reflecting the community and its
stories.
Bernie Paquette
Bernie, thank you once again for your insight and love of place that you share so freely. I do miss some of your more humorous writings but understand that the reactions to your piece about noise ordinance may have left you feeling a bit bruised.
ReplyDeleteRemember as you write that we really have three Jerichos here, each with a completely unique style. We on the Route 15 area by the lovely, historic Town Hall will surely miss Bird's Nest Dance Studio yet our children will be able to continue to dance at the new studio in the Jericho/Underhill "flats". We may rarely make it to the town library, yet how many small towns like ours are so lucky to have two libraries? The attendees at the concert series at the Deborah Rawson Library come from all of Jericho, Richmond, Underhill and even Burlington and Montpelier.
All of this in the protection of the crown of Mt. Mansfield and Camel's Hump! We are truly blessed to be here. Thank you again for helping us remember this!