Reviews
Bobcat Stays Open
Through Pandemic
By Neil Guy '22
Staying open when everyone else is staying at home is not an easy task in the restaurant business. Despite this challenge, the Bobcat Cafe in downtown Bristol continued to serve their community.
The Bobcat has always been a popular destination for local families to eat out for dinner. The local pub attracts people from all walks of life. When COVID-19 hit and restaurants were forced to close down, the Bobcat got to work on a plan to provide take out food to people in the community. Not long after, they were able to get their menu up on their website and reopen for business. The new “COVID style” menu featured a handful of different meals for ten dollars a piece, and had meals changing weekly. This frequent switching of menu items provided a great opportunity for trying new things as well.
My family and I frequented the Bobcat quite often during the months of COVID lockdown. With its convenient location and reasonable prices, it was the perfect choice for many busy winter nights. Although I didn’t love every takeout meal I tried, there was always something the next week that became one of my favorites. One of the meals was created by Eli Burgess, a student at Mount Abraham. The Bobcat and the school teamed up last spring to have a few students create their own meal plans and recipes for the public menu. When I saw Eli’s on the menu one night, I knew I had to try it. It was a great pesto pasta with grilled chicken and veggies on top. That meal, along with the pork burrito and tater tots I got another night, were some of the best dishes I’ve ever had at the Bobcat.
The Bobcat established a very efficient system of ordering over the phone and placing meals outside for pickup. With this in place, the Bobcat stayed very busy and constantly had a flow of cars pulling up to grab their dinners. Due to the amount of people ordering, there were a couple times they forgot to include a sauce for our wings or a brownie dessert. Of course, there were also the inevitable phone troubles here and there. Although disappointing at the time, these were small hiccups in comparison to the amount of good they were doing for the community.
With busy families looking for a quick dinner and hungry people passing through Bristol, the Bobcat became a lifesaver. The Bobcat is now open for in-house dining, and I strongly recommend going there, whether it be a family night out or a date night. The Bobcat survived one of the hardest hits on the restaurant business and they deserve our appreciation, in return for all they’ve done for us.
Award Winning Film Touches on Race, Religion, and Success
By Harrison Bruhl '22
The Academy Award-winning film, One Night in Miami, released in 2020, follows Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown as they tackle issues around race, religion, and success.
Set in the mid-sixties, One Night in Miami begins by introducing the four characters, all of which are famous Black Americans. Eli Goree portrays Cassius Clay’s early success before joining the Islamic faith and changing his name to Muhammad Ali. The film also shows Malcolm X, played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, and his influence on Ali’s life. The movie highlights The music career of Sam Cooke, played by Leslie Odom, Jr., and Aldis Hodge portrays Jim Brown’s struggle with race as a successful football player. Based on a true story, the four convene in Miami to support Ali in the world championship for boxing. Post fight, Malcolm X invites the three other characters to reflect on their success, and what that has allowed them to accomplish regarding the Civil Rights Movement.
The film excels at creating a conversation that the viewer can join in on. One way the film creates a sense of reality is by being shot with as few cuts as possible. Instead, director Regina King carefully crafted angles that would flow from one interaction to the next, and she didn't shy away from moments of silence in between those interactions to build tension. Because the movie simply follows a conversation, it doesn’t stick to the typical plot line either. There is no climax to the story, but it does lead the viewer to a resolution. Malcolm X leads the others to recognize their influence and power as successful Black Americans during a time of civil unrest.
The movie concludes by following the characters post conversation. It shows how each of their lives changed as a result of the conversation they had together. Each character made a change, whether it was pursuing an aspiration, or taking a new step in their life. It’s not one of those movies you can simply put on as background entertainment because you have to dedicate attention to the conversation that the four are engaged in. One Night in Miami received a 7.1/10 rating from IMDb, as well as a 98% from Rotten Tomatoes, and I would absolutely agree. It’s not an action-packed movie, but you will leave wanting to take positive action in your own life. This movie isn’t for everyone; it’s for the viewer who appreciates learning new things when watching a movie, and is interested in the civil rights movement of the sixties in America.
One Night in Miami is a very well done and thought-provoking film that has come at a perfect time. It uses history from the past to mirror events transpiring today and provides a relevant film that everybody can learn from.
Deathly Hallows is Wonderful Ending to a Magical Series
By Ethan Thompson '22
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a riveting tale that ultimately wraps up the Harry Potter series after seven books. Author J.K. Rowling finally finishes the story in this last book, with many storylines coming to a satisfying close. While keeping this dark, enticing tale as magical as ever.
Just like book one, the story begins at Harry Potter’s aunt and uncle's house on Privet Drive where Harry grew up after his parents died. As summer draws to a close, Harry begins to pack up his things, but this time he is leaving for good, because he turned 17 the protective charm that has kept him safe for his whole life will break. He will no longer be safe at Privet Drive during the summers when he is not at Hogwarts. With the help of his friends in the Order of the Phoenix, Harry manages to escape Voldemort and his supporters, the Death Eaters. After Voldemort fails to capture and kill Harry once more, Voldemort comes to realize that he needs a stronger wand to fight him. This begins the book's long search for the Elder Wand, the most powerful wand that ever existed as well as seven magical items called horcruxes . For the rest of the story, Harry and his two friends, Ron and Hermione, run away from the Death Eaters, always trying to be two steps ahead of them, while searching for the magical items needed to kill Voldemort.
J.K. Rowling creates emotional connections to characters that many authors cannot manage to do. Throughout this complex story, many characters are killed during fights and battles. When reading about the death of characters, it is hard knowing that the presence of them will no longer be in the story. But Rowling also manages to make the dead reappear at times in flashbacks, making their presence shown. By adding thoughts and feelings that the dead would have had, it keeps them alive, adding a different level to the story. Like when the ghosts of Harry’s parents helped him when he needed them, it added more to the story by showing important characters that shaped the story.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an action-packed novel filled with everything a reader would ask for when reading a magical tale. Rowling manages to incorporate themes of teenage love and desire alongside the tense drama of battles. During the final fight in the book, Harry is thinking about an old relationship that he had years before, while fighting to save his life. Throughout this story, Rowling weaves together old story lines with new ones. But it never feels like a jump in time. It is a merge of storylines that work together effortlessly to build the story even better.
While getting deeper into this novel, it is hard knowing the story is coming to a close, but exciting as you get closer to the final conclusion. J.K. Rowling created a truly magical tale that concludes this series as wonderfully as anyone could have hoped, tying up the details in the story of a lifetime, and still leaving us wishing for just a little more.
Grey's Anatomy Rising Drama Series
By Shyanna Cram
Grey’s Anatomy is a TV show that is played every Thursday, millions of people watch this show.
The rates and reviews about this tv show are amazing. People usually rate this show as an 8.041 rate. Some of the reviews are very well said and explained how much people love this show, but other reviews have some negative impact about the show as well. I like how this show isn’t afraid to show the brutal parts and has the love twist to it.
Grey’s is about a group of interns learning to become one of the best surgical residents. Grey’s is about a group of interns learning to become one of the best surgical residents around. It is not just about the interns learning the surgical ways around the hospital, it has a love twist to it as well.
The main character, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) falls in love with her resident but also, teacher Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), but little does Meredith know the chief Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.) of the hospital use to sleep with her mother, and that’s why her mother left her father.
This TV show will keep you hooked once you start watching it. Grey´s Anatomy aired first in March 27, 2005, and ever since then it has been a great hit. There is a lot of blood and terror parts of this show as well, it's not just about love.
This show is definitely something that people should watch, I love it and I can't get away from it. Grey’s Anatomy is a big TV series that a lot of people love. I can guarantee you will love to watch and stick to watch.
The Feelings of the Lonely Few
by Susannah Frey
It’s Senior Recognition Night and the air is full of hope and anticipation. Students clad in robes of maroon and white file onstage to tumultuous applause. As the first few awards are called out all the students smile, laugh and pass out high fives to those chosen few who have won a scholarship or received a recognition award. But already there’s a problem. Though there are easily sixty chairs set up on stage only 35 or so students have bothered to show up. Why? Where are the other members of the class? Some are too lazy, or have prior engagements, or just don’t care, but many didn’t because they knew what some seniors onstage are about to learn.
As the night progresses and more students are awarded with money or accolades the tension rises in a lonely few. They have been waiting patiently through the past two hours; applauding politely and congratulating their friends with hopeful exuberance. However as the evening wears on this joviality fades. Student after student walks up to the podium to shake hands and receive their due. Some go twice, three, or even four times. Again and again and again. They smile because they have won something. Their hard work and talents have been acknowledged.
Finally the students come off the stage and into the audience to watch their senior slideshow. There are a few who are quiet while everyone else laughs at baby photos and senior quotes. There are a few in this ecstatic group who sit empty handed. They have received nothing. No scholarship, no recognition award, no compliments, no applause. They have sat on the uncomfortable folding chairs in the blinding spotlights all night and clapped for their hands for their classmate while their hearts grow heavy and the muscles in their faces become lax as they become unable to force a smile anymore. They showed up hoping for something, anything, and yet home they go empty handed. They have had to sit through speeches extolling the virtues of others while waiting for something that will never come. By the end of the evening the lonely few go home knowing why two thirds of the class didn’t come. They were the smart ones. They smile and laugh with everyone else to hide their pain and humiliation. All of their hard work and no one had a kind word to say.
This was my experience during the 2015 Senior Recognition Night. I’ve worked hard for four years, made honor role every single year without fail, never settled for anything less than a B. That doesn’t matter though. I knew I probably wouldn’t get a scholarship because I don’t fit into a niche. I’m not low income, a veteran's child, an avid volunteer, a fanatical environmentalist, I never played sports through Mount Abe, and I’m not going to college for the arts or STEM. But I thought at least there might have been a recognition award. I’ve done three english ILOs over the years. I was one of the top grades in AP European History. I’ve played volleyball for four years and repeatedly tried to start a club at Mount Abe. I was in the Thin Budget Theater Club for three years. No one clapped for me. No one called my name after listing off my accomplishments and admirable qualities. I sat and waited for two and a half hours but my recognition never came.
And I’m not the only one. Several people besides myself waited for words they’d never hear. It hurts. Imagine the humiliation of filing offstage unburdened by certificates or envelopes. You feel so alone. You wanted to celebrate the happinesses of your friends but inside is an ugly roiling mass of jealously. You want to scream. You want to hide until everyone leaves. You can’t do any of those things though. You have to smile and applaud until the bitter end.
My experience during Senior Recognition Night didn’t have to be like this. If a student has won something they could be sent an e-mail and the everyone else could be discreetly made to understand that if you didn’t receive such and e-mail you may not want to attend. Or perhaps a form could be sent out and those who intend to come would respond to it. As the night went on the teachers could look at the list and find the lonely few who haven’t received a scholarship or an award, and then they could call up those students. After four years someone must have something nice to say. Even if it were something as small as remembering how hard this student worked during class or that they were always on time. It would have been easy to look at the students and see which ones are holding envelopes or have certificates tucked under their seats, and then say some nice things about the ones that don’t. I wish it could have been like this for me. I want this to change so that someone else won’t have to look at their friend and shrug because neither of them got a single thing. I want this to change because Senior Recognition Night shouldn’t be a night where a senior goes home feeling insignificant and invisible. There shouldn’t be a lonely few.
Annual Addison County Fair Delights Many
By Rose Meyer, Spring 2015
The Addison County Fair and Field Days is an event that occurs every August in New Haven. It is Vermont’s largest agricultural fair, featuring farm animals, the children’s barnyard, tractor pulls, the draft horse show, rides, delicious food, and so much more! Each year, people from all over the country show up, to see what the fair has to offer.
The Demolition Derby is loved by many, and is very exciting. The derby drivers are required to follow the rules and regulations, and must be entered and at the track two hours before the derby begins. Many people like to pick a car to root for, and fans make bets on which car they want to win. Popping tires and skidding cars are very exciting, and the event is fun for all who come to watch. The fire department is always there, making sure all drivers are safe and secure.
Of course, there are rides at the fair. There are large rides such as the Zipper and the Ferris Wheel and there are smaller rides for younger children. The fire engines, and the Orange Whip are some of the popular rides that children love. Lots of people like to try the more daring rides to challenge themselves. The rides are a fun experience, and for all ages.
Many people like to visit the Children’s Barnyard. It includes cows, ducks, sheep, unusual birds, chickens, and other interesting farm animals. There are even miniature horses named after the seven dwarfs! The horses love it when people come over to pet them, and give them attention, which children love to do. Children also love the goats and rabbits, and even get to feed them.
Addison County Fair and Field Days has been going on for decades, and gives people a chance to explore agriculture, learn about farm life, try new foods, and overall, just have a good time. Each year, it offers new rides and farm equipment, and food for everyone to enjoy.
Swinging Through Adversity, 42
Cody Driscoll, Spring of 2013
If your intention is to go and see a movie about Jackie Robinson as a ball player, then this is not the film for you. The film 42 is about the painful struggles that African American athletes faced during a period of segregation between the blacks and whites in American sports during the 1940s and 1950s.
If you have a couple of hours to spare, I highly recommend making a trip to the local movie theatre and watch the movie 42. Writer Brian Helgeland dove deep into the life of Jackie Robinson, into how his toughness as an individual led to him being chosen as the first black MLB player in history. the film also moves into the personal life of a black man and the struggles he was forced to go through in everyday life, which overall led to the incredible journey that Jackie Robinson was forced to fight through in order to break through for thousands to come.
After a quiet years from Harrison Ford, he does just an incredible job of simulating the role of Branch Rickey, the General Manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940’s and 50’s. Rickey, as General Manager, was integral intricate in selecting Robinson as the first African American player and, not only because of his baseball skills. He truly believed that Robinson had the mental toughness and durability to survive tumultuous challenges that would be presented during the initial stages of being in the bigs.
I graded this movie based on two different criteria: one, as a sports movie, and the second, as a historical movie in a sports setting. As a sports movie I would give 42 a 8.5 of 10 because of the tremendous work inside of the Brooklyn Dodger locker room, bringing out names like Pee Wee Reese and the manager, Ben Chapman. As a historical movie in a sports setting, I give 42 a 9 of 10, I give it a such a high grade mainly because the film teaches you about the historical significance that Robinson played on this seriously racist time period, and still made it enjoyable the watch.
The Mad Taco Doesn’t Disappoint
Louissa Rozendaal, June of 2012
When you walk into the Mad Taco in Waitsfield, you are instantly greeted by warm smiles. The menu is written on a few chalkboards in sloppy but legible handwriting. The restaurant is sparsely decorated, but in such a way that it’s tasteful. Picnic tables are scattered about, and there is a bench near the window. Near the counter, there is a “hot sauce bar” featuring many house-made hot sauces. Surf and skateboard magazines on the tables offer a summery vibe even though it’s a cold and rainy Vermont day.
The staff are friendly and helpful. I’m asked if I have any questions as I peruse the menu. After I look over the elaborate menu, I decide on a burrito with carnitas, which is smoked and pulled pork. I sit at a bench that faces out the window, and read a surfing magazine. The kitchen is lively, and the friendly shouts of the kitchen staff bounce around the dining room as I wait contentedly.
The wait isn’t long, and my burrito arrives shortly after I order it. It’s massive, and sitting on a paper plate. I take a bite, and instantly taste flavors of avocado, smoky pork, and refried beans. It’s the ultimate burrito.
The prices are cheap for the quality of the food. For two to eat dinner, it was about $25 including drinks. There is a tip jar, but there isn’t a specific waiter or waitress that you have to tip. The drive is about an hour from Addison County, but it’s worth every second. If you go in the winter during ski season, the Mad Taco is a perfect place to get an après ski dinner. It’ll be filling after a day of skiing.
The atmosphere of The Mad Taco is perfect, loud in a way that makes it comfortable. The restaurant is clean, offers simple seating, and is just right for enjoying your meal. Servers are gracious and make you feel very welcomed. Restaurants aren’t good just because of the food they serve. A good restaurant has good food, but a great restaurant has much more than that. A great restaurant has amiable atmosphere, plays good music, and is welcoming, along with having good food. The Mad Taco succeeds in capturing this, making it a great restaurant.
EVERYTHING ELSE:
Stars: 3 out of 4
Noise level: very easy to have a conversation, music was played, and you could hear chefs talking from where we sat, but you can’t hear other diners.
Service: super friendly, and helpful
Hours: 7 days a week from 11 am to 10 pm
Location: 2 Village Square in Waitsfield, VT (there is another location in Montpelier, although the one in Waitsfield is the original)
Contact: 802-496-3832
Price Range: For two, it’s around $25 for dinner and drinks