Inhale the aroma of your cup of Estate Java, or whatever you are drinking this morning, and Good Morning!
One of the most unique things about living in New England, and specifically rural Vermont, is the town meeting. Once a year, everyone is welcome to attend an annual discussion of the way that town funds will be used for everything from education to land use issues. I missed town meeting this year, so I asked my neighbors to stop by and fill me in on the votes and changes. Not a problem. If you are not from this area, I've got to tell you that I haven't been anywhere else in the country that still has this level of local involvement. OK- we might debate for a good half an hour on how to spend that last $100, but it sure is fascinating!
So what does the nature of Town Meeting in Vermont have to do with roasting and enjoying fresh roasted coffee? To me, both are reminiscent of that community coffee shop feeling, I call it the coffee connection, which I am trying to reintroduce to the local area. When two locals chat over coffee, even if they are strangers, it's like a mini-town meeting. They might be two moms meeting with toddlers, seniors from the Over 55 Ski Club at Smugg's, or folks working on their laptops who suddenly interact.
What do they talk about?
Everything under the sun! Skiing conditions, family health, which Brown and Jenkins coffee they like best, local events or how well that new hybrid car is actually working out. For visitors to the Cambridge area, a lot of the discussion is about the seasonal activities that draw them here be it skiing, maple sugaring or leaf peeping. Pretty soon it will be the great fishing and kayaking on the Lamoille River. And it never ceases to amaze me how a local will offer up advice on the best places to visit while it town.
So organize your own mini-town meeting. All it takes is a great cup of coffee and one other person!
Until our next cup,
Sandy Riggen
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