As most folks in South Woodstock know the small triangular grassy knoll at the intersection of Rt. 106, Kendall Road and Church Hill Road is often used as a place to leave old junk, usually with a sign FREE or something like that.
The triangular area that is really just the middle of three roads also used for signs and local announcements about giving blood and pancake breakfasts. In fact there is an old tag sale sign still planted there today.
Given this local knowledge, when Kedron Valley Innkeeper Wendy Jackson looked out to see someone had dumped a bike rack out there on the grassy knoll (next to the tag sale sign),like any good South Woodstock Vermonter her “thrifty wheels” started turning. She thought, “Hey, if this is just a dump, then KVI could use a bike rack since we have visitors who stop by on their bikes.” And so the round-the-corner and behind the barn up-cycling happened. Kedron Valley Inn simply moved the rack from the middle of the road where no sane bicyclist would have any reason to leave a bike (it’s not a very safe place for pedestrians) and moved it to the side of the Inn.
“Et Voila!”
Jackson goes home feeling good about saving/adopting the abandoned bike rack- Reuse, recycle, right?
Not so fast.
This morning Woodstock Police reported a stolen bike rack from South Woodstock. Oops. Was that bike rack actually PLACED at that intersection for some reason? We could see it outside the Post Office, outside the South Woodstock Store, outside Kedron Valley Inn, but at SOWO’s traditional “Here’s some free stuff” site? Eh, not so much.
Ms. Jackson, upon reading Woodstock Early Bird, promptly called Woodstock Police to say, so sorry, Kedron Valley Inn has the bike rack.
With a show of manpower we hear two Town of Woodstock police cruisers and road crew responded to the scene of the alleged up-cycling and reclaimed the bike rack. It has been placed back in the middle of the road next to the tag sale sign but is now CHAINED DOWN.
Beware thrifty South Woodstockers, do not be tricked: Apparently the bike rack — a $700 value — is NOT for the taking.
However, Kedron Valley Inn says it still plans to welcome bicyclists who are either staying at the Inn or visit for some Tavern fare!
We remind you KVI re-opens next Thursday May 2nd for the summer supper season. Tavern and Dining Room will be open. Porch dining will resume in June.
No charges have been filed in this case.
Police Chief Robbie Blish issued a bike rack “found” press release citing a “miscommunication.”
Woodstock Early Bird says, “Nice try, Wendy!”
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 