The Snow, the Slush and the Cold Couldn’t Hold Us Back

With the ‘energy’ levels off the charts and the snow dancing in the air, the Step It Up Walk kicked off at The Stone Church in Brattleboro yesterday, January 2^nd, as we commenced our 126-mile journey to the VT Statehouse.

I have to admit, my expectations of yesterday’s activities were far and away exceeded. I knew as I watched a line of 70 walkers snake through the streets of Brattleboro, that we will be successful in taking back our energy future. We WILL close Vermont Yankee on schedule! This is what democracy looks like. (Photo by Chad Simmons)

Walkers, families, supporters and press gathered around 9am at The Stone Church near the end of downtown in Brattleboro. The mood was boisterous and alive. People shared New Year’s stories, snacked on food donated from local businesses and friends and worked out the last minute details before we took off. At about 9:30am, Randy Kehler (Colrain, MA) welcomed the crowd of nearly 100. Bob Bady (Brattleboro, VT) set the tone for the day both illustrating the monumental and historic opportunity we have to democratically choose how we power our communities as well as the significance of embarking on the 126-mile walk. Betsy Williams (Westminster West, VT) talked about the importance and impact sharing our stories with communities and legislators will have. John Hoffman (Charlemont, MA) recognized the feeder walk that took place on January 1^st from Gill, MA to Vernon, VT and the toxic impact VY has on Massachusetts communities. Jim Moulton (Chesterfield, NH) reiterated the unprecedented opportunity those of us living in Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire have in sharing our story with the communities along the walk route. As a special treat, local folk singer Dan MacArthur, lifted the already high spirits with a couple of songs including “Study War No More.” (Photo by David Shaw (C))

With that, a long line began weaving its way north, up Putney Road heading towards Putney. This is what Carl Doerner had to say about the first day of the walk. Carl (77 from Conway, Massachusetts) is walking most every day and is filming along the way:

“After our first day's walk, Sherrill and I crashed at 8 PM, so I was cranking the stove for this morning's fire by 4 AM, but surprisingly I felt no pain going down the stairs. Usually a five-mile jaunt is enough to cause that to occur to my 77-year-old legs, while yesterday's hike was more than nine miles. This walk is really well organized, with many Vermonters providing food and shelter along the way. After the feeder march came up from the border to Vernon on New Year's Day, 70 of us met at a church in Brattleboro on January 2nd to begin the walk. More than 50 of us pulled off our boots and lounged about in a home half way between Brattleboro and Putney [Dummerston] and just a few hundred yards off Rte 5, where we had a sumptuous lunch and opportunity to sit about for an hour - which made it like two 4.6-mile walks instead of one of 9.2. There was another sumptuous dinner of potluck items awaiting us at the Putney community center (including a roast turkey). Dan DeWalt's trio hammered out music, followed by a skit performed by Court Dorsey, an actor well known in Western Massachusetts. While contributions are appreciated, it isn't necessary to bring food on the walks."

The “skit” Carl spoke about was an informative, engaging ‘performance’ with Deb Katz (Executive Director of the Citizen’s Awareness Network) and Court Dorsey (AKA: Will Nukum-CEO of NUCORPAC) debating the question “Should Vermont Yankee operate beyond 2012?” Bob Bady exclaimed the debate was outstanding…funny and really engaging. Betsy Williams added "They outdid themselves."

Carl ended his post with this telling comment: “Missed a great shot yesterday of a woman coming out of a fitness center on Rte 5 shouting, ‘Thank you for doing this.’”

Day one can be checked off as a massive success. Thank you to all the walkers, supporters, businesses, community groups and individuals for your unwavering support. As Bob said during his kickoff commentary “…we don’t have millions of dollars for advertising, legions of lobbyists and lawyers.” We don’t need all that. We also don’t need a massive, slick ad campaign to

‘influence’ Vermonters. We have our stories, our boots and the support of our communities.

Day two from Putney to Bellows Falls. Join us along the way, follow along or join us tonight at Boccelli’s, 46 Canal St in Bellows Falls, between 7-10pm. Food, lively discussion and music from Planet Zydeco will be there to keep the energy high.

Cheers!

Chad Simmons

PS: To view all our uploaded photos, Click Here. This will be updated regularly.

(Photo by David Shaw (C))