St. Johnsbury People

I’m ready to change the name “April Fool’s Day” to “Groundhog Day,” at least here in St. Johnsbury.

Today our local woodchuck played his annual April Fool’s prank on me by surprising me with his appearance. In fact, he came right up to the house looking for food, since that’s the only place that isn’t snow-covered at this point. I guess his slumbering diet has really taken the weight off him over the winter, because he was a shadow of his summertime self. But his sudden visit to the yard, accompanied by the beginning of a hole under a blueberry bush, gives me a sort of spring fever. I’m feeling ready to garden, if only to do battle with my old combatant again. Of course, we all know who will win!

Madeleine Ducham here in St. Johnsbury told me that on a recent warm day, she was so overtaken with spring fever that she ran outside and attacked her snowbanks with a shovel! “I just couldn’t stand it anymore!” she said. I’m sure many of us are feeling like Madeleine at this point, with the volume of snow that has been around all winter.

What gives you spring fever? Is there a special sign of spring that really gets you ready for the season? Do you have any spring rituals that you do every year to get ready for the warmer weather? Let us know by adding your comments here.

Right now is the heart of maple sugaring time here in the St. Johnsbury area. Ann Lawrence took two great shots of the sugar house on her property on Lawrence Hill Road in St. J. The actual sugaring is done by Tom Barret. If anyone has other photos of any part of the sugaring process – tapping, collection, boiling, production, or enjoying the syrup – please email them to us and we’ll add them to the blog. We can’t wait for the 2008 maple syrup to be available!

Winter is a beautiful sight in and around St. Johnsbury, Vermont! And to prove it, we want to show you the winning entries in our winter photo contest.
Donna Garfield of nearby Lyndonville, Vermont, took first place with her photo of “Snow Birds.” The photograph captures the delightful sight many of us enjoy in the winter right outside our windows. These “snow birds” aren’t flying down to Florida to escape the snow – they look like they are enjoying the wintry weather as much as we do! Donna wins $25 cash for her terrific photo.

The second place photo, entitled “St. J Through the Trees,” was taken by John Curran of South Portland, Maine. It’s a wonderful view of the buildings on Main Street here in St. Johnsbury, as viewed through a network of bare tree branches. We loved it for its magical perspective that looks as though it could have been taken yesterday or 100 years ago! Thanks, John, for capturing this beautiful shot of our town.

Third place in the winter photo contest goes to Shane McKay of St. Johnsbury. Shane’s photo of the “Red Farm” shows a lovely pastoral wintertime view. It’s the kind of scenery you might see driving on any back road around St. Johnsbury, but it takes a photographer’s eye to help us notice the true beauty.

Thank you to everyone who submitted photos for the contest. Please keep your cameras close to you when you’re out and about – this area is a photographer’s dream, and we love to see your pictures!

How do you say, “I love you” to your special valentine? Some say it with one red rose, or a dozen … others with a box of chocolates … and still others offer jewelry to mark the occasion. Do you have a Valentine’s Day tradition that’s been handed down through the generations in your family? Is your greeting sent via snail mail, email, or posted on a MySpace wall? Please share your favorites with us!

It’s that time of year again – New Year, new resolutions.

You know the routine: “I resolve to…
• Go to the gym more often;
• Read more books;
• Ski Tuckerman’s Ravine (not for the faint-hearted).”

But this year we’re adding a twist:

What is your 2008 resolution for the town of St. Johnsbury?

Recently, St. Johnsbury has had a lot of exciting things happen. There are many new businesses in town (see our article on the Railroad Street Retail Renaissance). We have a brand-new St. Johnsbury website, www.discoverstjvt.com (which you are now on), a thriving Farmers’ Market, and national recognition (such as National Geographic’s naming us “The #1 Small Town for Adventure”).

All over town, there are signs of progress. St. Johnsbury Academy continues to improve its facilities, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum has had a major face-lift to its magnificent structure, and Catamount Arts is moving to a larger building next door.

But we know there’s always room for improvement.

So hit the comment button to this article and give us a New Year’s resolution for the town of St. Johnsbury for 2008.

We’ll start:
“We’d like to see St. Johnsbury develop a great walking tour to highlight the fabulous historical architecture (this one is actually in the works for 2008).”

Let’s hear your St. Johnsbury resolutions!

Some people huddle inside by the fire during the winter months, only occasionally venturing out for work, food, and a movie.

And then there are the majority of the people who live in and visit the St. Johnsbury area in winter, those hardy soles who yearn for more snow so they can test themselves on nearby ski resorts such as Burke Mountain.

Most of them have stories of close calls, or funny moments, or once-in-a-lifetime experiences from their days of skiing and snowboarding. We want to collect the most interesting stories on this blog.

Here’s one to get you started from Richard Smith of St. Johnsbury entitled “Moonlight in Vermont”:

“Back in the day when Stan Swaim still ran all aspects of the Burke Mountain Touring Center, Pamela and I bought a season pass. One Saturday we were intrigued by a handwritten poster tacked to the door post advertising “moonlight skiing tonight .” After an invigorating day of cross country skiing, we decided to buy an extra bowl of soup (self serve from the crock pot) while waiting for darkness to descend. The other skiers departed, so we embarked on a private tour of the trails led by Stan. The full moon made for surreal scenery, and the trees in the glades seemed to race by at interstate speeds. We weren’t able to maintain the breath-taking pace set by a man twice our age, but we did develop a special appreciation for moonlight in Vermont.”

We’d love to hear from you. Write us at info@discoverstjvt.com and we’ll print some of the best stories on this blog.

Victorian Holiday, held December 8th in downtown St. Johnsbury, was a major success!

Here are some photos which will remind you of the fun-filled event:

Two of St.J’s finest: Chief of Police, Richard Leighton and Town Manager, Mike Welch, taking a break from roasting chestnuts!

Fred Little, owner of Sunshine Boutique, out in Victorian dress on V.Holiday, RR St. - note the pocket watch!

Santa elves were around to help charm little visitors to downtown St. Johnsbury.

Two Victorian Ladies working the Main St. Information Booth - Left - Stephanie Gochie; Right - Tracey Holbrook.

Clara and Andy Fisher at Fairbanks Museum on Victorian Holiday in Victorian dress.

Holidays are a special time where family and friends get together to celebrate, catch up with each other, and maybe watch a little football.

Here are some recipes for holiday treats provided by St. Johnsbury area residents. If you have a holiday recipe you’d like to add, please write us at info@discoverstjvt.com and we’ll add your recipe to this blog.

Here are a couple of recipes from Janis Raye of St. Johnsbury:

Beautiful Thanksgiving Turkey

This makes a gorgeous brown herb-flecked skin on the turkey, just like the ones in those Norman Rockwell paintings!

1 12-14 pound fresh turkey, rinsed and dried
2 onions, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
5 tablespoons vegetable oil
2-1/2 tablespoons fresh thyme or 2-3/4 teaspoons dried thyme
2-1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage or 2-3/4 teaspoons dried sage
24 whole black peppercorns
6 whole allspice berries
2 bay leaves, crumbled
1/2 tablespoon ground pepper
3 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth

1. If you like, you can rub the turkey inside and out with salt the night before and place it all in a plastic bag and refrigerate it. Then when you’re ready to start, wipe or rinse off the salt. This takes the place of brining the turkey.
2. Season turkey cavity lightly with salt and pepper.
3. Mix onions, celery, carrots, 1 tablespoon oil, 2 tablespoons thyme, 2 tablespoons sage, peppercorns, allspice, and bay leaves in medium bowl. Spoon half the mixture into the turkey cavity. Sew or skewer the cavity closed.
4. Combine 4 tablespoons oil, 1/2 tablespoon thyme, 1/2 tablespoon sage and ground pepper in small bowl. Rub oil mixture all over turkey skin.
5. Place rack in roasting pan and place turkey on rack. Arrange remaining vegetable mixture around turkey in bottom of pan and pour in chicken stock.
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roast about 2-1/2 hours – until thermometer inserted in thigh registers 175 degrees. Baste every 30 minutes with pan juices. When done, take turkey out and place it on carving board. Tent it loosely with foil and let it stand about 20-30 minutes while you’re making gravy. Then carve.

Serves 10-12 people. We always have a big crowd, so I roast two turkeys rather than one huge one – we like the drumsticks and I think the smaller turkeys are usually more tender and flavorful. But if you only have one oven, make a huge turkey if you need to and double everything in this recipe!

Triple-Cranberry Compote

1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1/3 cup sugar
1 12-ounce package fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup dried cranberries (about 2 ounces)
3 tablespoons orange marmalade
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice (about 1/2 orange squeezed)
2 teaspoons minced orange peel (about one whole orange)
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1. Combine cranberry juice and sugar in saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
2. Add fresh (or frozen) and dried cranberries and cook about 7 minutes – dried cranberries will soften and fresh cranberries will pop. Stir often.
3. Remove from heat and stir in orange marmalade, orange juice, orange peel, and allspice. Cool completely. Cover and chill until cold, about 2 hours. This can be made up to 3 days ahead, but keep refrigerated.

Makes about 2-1/2 cups. Double it if you’re having a big crowd!

And here’s a recipe from Flo Bisson of Concord, VT

Deviled Eggs

This is one of our family’s favorite Thanksgiving appetizers – I make them every year!

2 dozen eggs
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste
paprika
capers, diced ham, carrot curls or other decorations for the eggs

1.    Bring large pot of water to a boil. Carefully put the eggs in the pot and after one minute, stir slowly in one direction, then slowly in the other direction for a minute or two. This will help keep the yolks in the center of the eggs. Cook eggs for 5 minutes, then let sit in the water another 5 minutes off the heat.
2.    Make a large bowl of ice water. Using a slotted spoon, take out each egg and carefully immerse it in the ice water. After a few minutes of cooling, the eggs will peel easily and cleanly.  Peel the eggs and half them neatly.
3.    Remove the yolks carefully with a spoon and put in a bowl. Add the mayonnaise and dry mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4.    Spoon a generous teaspoonful of the yolk mixture into each egg half, rounding the mixture a bit.
5.    Arrange on your platter. Sprinkle paprika on the eggs. I decorate every other egg with a few capers on top, and decorate other eggs with diced ham or carrot curl flowers. Chopped parsley is good, too. Use your imagination and enjoy!

Makes 48 deviled eggs, minus the one or two that might break while they’re boiling.

You’ve voted and chosen a winner from the many great fall foliage semi-finalists we posted on this blog. And (drum roll please), the winner is Bill Lanza of St. Johnsbury with his wonderful photo of turkeys.

Bill will receive a $50 first place prize. The runner-up is Donna Garfield of Lyndonville for her beautiful photo of fall colors.

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone who submitted photos and to all of you who voted for your favorite fall picture.