Woodstock Early Bird The Early Bird Gets the Worm: earlybirdtips@gmail.com

This is the actual size of Alaska when superimposed over the "Lower 48"

Woodstock Early Bird has seen the V-writing of geese on the sky that the seasons are changing. She, too, will be migrating. Birds of a feather who leave Vermont (and other places) for the winter are often known as “Snowbirds” and we’re no different. Except, we don’t go to Florida or Arizona but take winter refuge in Juneau, Alaska. Go figure.

Juneau, Alaska is milder than Vermont in winter, sitting squarely on the Inside Passage, experiencing the moderating influence of the Pacific ocean on its weather.  It’s known by many as “Seattle-North” although, frankly, it is five times  wetter than Seattle, host to 100 or more inches of rain a year. There are some in the rest of Alaska, who would prefer that Juneau fall off the face of the earth. But, we kinda’ like it there.

 Juneau is also  the capital of Alaska and where the powers that be congregate for the 90 days of  the Alaska  Legislative Session.  Alaska offers good  jobs (even seasonally WEB has worked for the National Park Service) and smart Early Birds in need of a well-paying work  take advantage of 90-day opportunities there. WEB will be working (once again)  for 360North and Gavel Alaska, public television coverage of the legislature. Think C-Span/Alaska: www.gavelalaska.org

A Chair is Waiting in Juneau. This is a photo taken on the Auke Lake campus of the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau. Credit: Katie Bausler

With this announcement we let you know that we’ll still be posting information and news about Woodstock, Vermont albeit from our “listening post” on the Pacific Ocean (you can see Russia from there…).  Emails and updates will be posted and responded to. But, the most excellent news is that we will continue to provide coverage of the Woodstock Trustees and Woodstock Selectboard meetings.

Contributing Reporter  Gareth Henderson (formerly of The Vermont Standard) will be covering these meetings. Painter  Christine Orcutt will be providing updates and posts on the arts and kids.  We’re very pleased  to have their assistance in providing “on-the-ground” reportage while WEB is on the Upper Left Coast.

We had considered staying here  and passing the boot around to fully fund Woodstock Early Bird which is currently  a truly non-profit project, but, for the time being, we’ll keep things pretty much as they are until our return in the Spring. 

We hope you will continue to check in for updates and will welcome Gareth Henderson and Christine Orcutt  into the Woodstock Early Bird fold.  The office number for Woodstock Early Bird will remain 802-457-6188.

See you all in the Spring.