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Table of Contents
Vermont Kin as Parents
By: Phyl Newbeck
in
Vermont Symphony Orchestra celebrates By
Elise Brunelle
Shared Journeys: Senior’s Guide to Choosing & Being an Ideal Travel Companion
Article #3 in the Wise Wanderer Series in Vermont Maturity By Carolee Duckworth
Vermont Kin as Parents
SBy Phyl Newbeck
ometimes, the best parental influences aren’t actually parents. That’s where Vermont Kin as Parents steps in. Back in 2004, the Vermont Legislature designated $5,000 to fund a conference for relatives raising the children of other family members. The first “Parenting Revisited” kinship conference was held in April, 2005. Following the conference, a small group of grandparents who were raising their grandchildren were joined by partners in the community who recognized their needs and in October of 2005, Vermont Kin as Parents (VKAP) became a non-profit organization helping nontraditional family members raise children.
VKAP has become known throughout Vermont as a strong advocate for kinship caregivers and the children they are raising, as well as a valuable resource for those kinship families. VKAP works with families throughout the state and their representatives sit on a number of committees representing the voice of kinship families. VKAP also advocates for legislative
and policy changes to improve the lives of children and families in Vermont while maintaining connections with national agencies working on behalf of kinship families.
Throughout history, family members have stepped in to help with parental duties, caring for each other’s children during difficult times like deaths and illnesses,
happy times like the birth of another child, or simply while parents were unavailable for any number of reasons. According to VKAP, an increasing number of children are being cared for by kin on a full-time basis.
The 2010 Census indicates that 7.8 million U.S. children live with grandparents or other relatives. In Vermont, the number is 6,836, in what is broadly defined as kinship care. Of these, 5,593 (4.4% of the children in the state) live with grandparents and 1,243 (1%) live with other relatives. VKAP provides direct support to kinship or relative caregivers. It is the only non-profit with a focus on kinship, and it currently serves around 150 families in Vermont.
VKAP says research shows that when parents are unable to care for them, children do better when they are with other relatives. They generally already know their caregivers, maintain a connection to the extended family, and live in and learn about their family history, culture, and traditions. They do better in school, have fewer behavior problems and generally are more settled. And because VKAP was founded and is staffed by relatives raising children, the organization understands the issues kinship caregivers face and can offer help and support.
There are six types of kinship arrangements in Vermont. They can be informal arrangements which do not involve a court order and do not legally transfer any parental rights, minor guardianship which
involves a court order and gives the guardian power to make certain decisions about a minor child, foster care, conditional custody which is an alternative to foster care, adoption, or permanent guardianship.
One way that children end up under the care of non-parental family members occurs when parents arrange for relatives or friends to care for their
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children when they are unable to do so. This might be for a few months or for longer periods while the parents are completing military service, working out of the area, or incarcerated.
A second avenue is when a family court orders the removal of a child from their home as the result of a juvenile proceeding in which the State alleges the child was abused or neglected, was without or beyond the parents’ control, or committed a delinquent act.
Regardless of the reason for parental absence, relative caregivers experience dramatic and unplanned changes in their lives when they take on responsibility for children. These include lack of knowledge about resources and how the system
works, legal issues, legal expenses, other unplanned expenses, financial challenges, delayed retirement or return to work after retirement, finding quality childcare and paying for it, becoming the parental figure rather than the doting relative, understanding the children who have often been traumatized, working with schools, homework and technology, all of which have changed since they were in school, strained or conflicting relationships with the child’s parents, changed relationships with other family members, loss of freedom, loss of friends, and little or no break from the parenting role.
VKAP’s services include a phone support line, assistance with navigating the bureaucratic
systems, financial resources, support groups, and family fun events. Their website provides resources on where those taking on parental roles can find financial assistance. Several organizations have stepped up to offer assistance including Comcast, which can help people afford internet services and a computer. Other benefits provided to those 55 and over include caregiver training, access to support groups and individual counseling, help paying for childcare, and assistance in finding programs and services.
“Kin caregivers sometimes need more support, as they are parenting both a child, and their child at the same time which is a very intense family dynamic” said VKAP Executive Director Jeanna Lavallee. To help out, VKAP hosts a weekly peer group meeting. Some consider it a time to talk with others who understand what it’s like being a guardian for a grandchild, niece, nephew, or other family member. Others may call it a support group. No matter what purpose it serves, it is a confidential way to meet with people who share
VKAP has become known throughout Vermont as a strong advocate for kinship caregivers and the children they are raising”
common issues. Another group called PASTA (Parent a Second Time Around) provides monthly opportunities for those parenting a relative’s child or an adopted or foster child to talk to others about their experiences.
Lavallee says that kinship caregivers are critically important in their impact on the outcomes for children in their care. “At Vermont Kin as Parents, we like to honor and celebrate them for the heroes they are,” she said.
the POWER of CONNECTION COMMUNITY through physical therapy
By Tim Wassberg
Amindset in any profession reflects in the logic of a situation but in health care, an aspect of emotional resonance mixed with experience always enters into the equation. Jeff Leake, a physical therapy assistant at VNA & Hospice in Bennington, has been helping patients for nearly 20 years but it reflects in knowing their story and seeing his own reflected back.
Leake grew up in Bennington and was part of a highly athletic, swimming family. He proudly states that they still have standing records at the Rec Center. His family owned a local dairy farm up in Woodford. His dad was also a national athlete in swimming. Leake says his dad always let he and his brother “do our own thing” but his mother was the one who pushed them as kids. She advocated in the state to get a good swimming program and make sure opportunities were there for those athletes. The hard part, he says, is that both his parents became sick when he was fairly young. His mom contracted terminal breast cancer. First diagnosed
when she was 38, she got a double mastectomy but the cancer came back aggressively a couple years later. She eventually passed at 49 (around 1995). However, just after she had started to recover from the first onset, his dad found out that he had a brain tumor after he had suffered from a seizure. His dad received treatment but did come back post-op with some psyche issues “because they took a chunk of his brain out.” Leake said it really impacted who his dad was as an individual.
“So as a kid, you have these two parents who are sick, know they’re sick, but you’re still trying to do well in school, figure out college and do well in your sports.” He and his brother did have some family support and his grandfather lived in town. But this is a lot to go through at 16. Leake also needed to pitch in at the farm since there was still a heavy load there to take care of as a full working farm. ”My older brother would milk a little bit. I’d milk a little bit, but you still had to do the hay and do the feed and fill in some of those gaps.” Eventually,
Jeff Leake of VNA & Hospice in Bennington working with a patient on stretching tight hamstrings to help improve the ability to walk.
during that time, his mom passed away. “My dad had recovered from his basic meningeal with the brain tumor, but just as he recovered, my mom started going downhill again, and it was really terminal. And so she did have hospice come in and help out.”
Leake’s dad was working at the farm and his brain tumor was resolved but then he started complaining of carpel tunnel which ended up being Lou Gehrig’s disease. “Basically, mom got sick. Hospice was taking care of her. She passes. And then later that next year you get bang...Dad has a terminal neurological disease.“ His dad had to sell the farm in the mid-90s “when prices were awful.” But his dad simply said: “You got to keep moving forward.” His dad eventually did pass in September 2002. At that point, Leake was coming out of college with a degree in Exercise Science. He was just figuring out what he wanted to do.
Biking was a love that Leake embraced. He blew his shoulders out swimming in college so he could no longer do that competitively. At that point, mountain biking was just kind of starting in the area. “I liked mountain biking. Did some triathlons.” He raced a lot of cycle cross. John Goodrich, who ran the bike shop in Bennington, asked if he wanted to take it over but Leake said he just wanted to work. “So I worked there with him, and he kind of supported me.” As Leake and his wife-to-be got more serious, she told him, “Look, if we’re going to get serious, you need to get a job with insurance.’ Leake went and worked at the hospital in daycare with three- and four-year-olds, but after a while he said he realized “I got to figure my life out.” He went to Berkshire Community College which had a physical therapy assistant program. He did the program in two years, graduated and started his internship with a home care gig in North Adams.
The PTA he was shadowing told Leake: “With home care, you never know where you might go. You can go to the most desolate, poorest parts of the community, and you have to service them. And you can go to the houses that have millionaires...and they’re all the same. It’s about that care. You walk in and you’re in there
providing a service.” Leake says, on some days, “you go in there thinking you are going to be a therapist. You’re doing physical therapy, but you’re also a nurse, you’re also a social worker, and you’re also just a set of ears, because you might be only person they see for months.”
Working at the VNA also keys into having good self-managing skills. “I’ve been lucky having good supervisors over the years,” Leake explains. “They teach you that you have to be flexible and know who your goto people are.”
But it is also about reacting correctly in a situation: “Sometimes you walk into a house and the person’s complaining, and you realize, ‘Wow, something’s not right today.’ And then you triage. You’re in the home by yourself saying, ‘OK...this guy’s never stumbling around like this. Is it a stroke? Is it over-medication?’ And then you have to figure out, ‘What do I need to do?’” You are there as a physical therapist you have to interpret. “Their blood pressure is dropping, so you really have to put on the other side of the hat,” Leake explains. He recollects a gentleman years ago who had substance abuse issues as well as a seizure disorders. “He would over-medicate because it made him feel good.” Leake says the man was always good to him but, he explains that, with his seizures, the man would run out of medication because he would self manage “which you should never do.” Leake remembers knocking on the door. He gets in and the man’s standing there behind a couch. His speech is slurred. Usually the man would be making eggs and bacon. There is also coffee spilt on the floor. Leake asks him “What’s happening?” Leake says, at times, one had to act like a detective to see the details. He watched the man, checked his vital signs and got him walking but
something was off. He told the man he needed to send him to the hospital because he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was wrong. The man didn’t want to go to the hospital but he had to go. “We ship him to the hospital, found out he had way too much Keppra [in his system], probably [from] self medicating. But he was at toxic levels. When he came home, he said, ‘Jeff, thanks so much for doing that.’”
And many people don’t have anyone. Leake says that is where Home Health steps in. He says he was explaining to a man the other day, that there are four worlds: There is the hospital, where the patient is there, hooked up to monitors and seen around the clock. There is the CLR or rehab center where people are seen on a regular basis. Sometimes they are monitored but, at other times, they are just in the room by themselves. Then there is Home Health. “We’re kind of that bridge between the doctors. Our goal is get you back into the community. If you had an adverse effect or a stroke, you do come home. You’ve been in rehab for six months. Our goal now is to get you so you can start doing what you want to do in the community.” The last world is outpatient through the doctors because “you have to go to them to get the care.” Leake says what is interesting about home care is that you see people sometimes at their worst. “But then you’re like, ‘OK... let’s get you up.’ And I’m then the first person that’s now stood you up after you’ve been in your bed for three weeks,” he explains. It is about that progression. “Now we have to get you down the steps to go to your doctor. ‘Let’s work on that.’ So you get to see that improvement.”
in place at home. “And that’s where we have a great team. We have an OT who comes in, and says, ‘Let’s modify the showers. What do you need to manage your daily living life? Are there utensils you can use?’ The Occupational Therapist really works on that stuff, Leake adds.
Leake says some people are more aware of their limits than others. “But I think a lot of is education in what’s going on with your your illness.” It is also providing that interaction which is sometimes a key part of the visit. “I walk into houses going, ‘How’s your son doing? How’s your daughter doing?’” Leake explains. “Sometimes I will get a request for Jeff or Greg because they know us, and they know our reputations. I’ve seen my parents friends so you have that rapport. It’s about that personal connection with people.”
The reality is, as we age, we all slow down. “I’m going to the houses now of individuals I knew as kids. And you’re like, ‘This was a strong man, and now you see him, and he can barely stand up out of a chair.”
The differential to make is that these specific instances he speaks of are for people that are not terminal. This service is not hospice. This is the Visiting Nurses Association [VNA]. Their service is helping these clients make sight improvements to function. They might need to make those home modifications to stay
Leake says has met some interesting people. “You’re in their space. And sometimes, you stop for a second [and think about it].” One time he was looking at a painting on the wall and asked the client: “‘Is this a real Picasso’ ‘Yes, it is’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because I always wanted a Picasso.’ ‘Okay, that makes sense.’ Other people have included veterans. “And you hear the stories. Some don’t want to talk. [Some do.] Sadly I miss some of those World War II guys, that have now passed, because they had some stories.” Leake says it really brings out, not just the microcosm of Bennington, but it creates a global picture. “You realize this person was at Normandy Beach. This person was in the Pacific, fighting the Japanese. This person was in tunnels in Vietnam, and is traumatized.” This also includes women. “I had no clue how much of the WASPs and all those female auxiliaries were around here. And you’re meeting them in their
Jeff Leake, a physical therapy assistant at VNA & Hospice, outside their office in Downtown Bennington
hundreds, and they’re showing you the pictures and the magazines. It’s such history lesson.
Everyone, no matter what strata they are in, “they’re people with a story. And I think, for me, that’s how I kind of approach the houses and asking those questions. You can always talk about the famous people and the people who met famous
He says they can get a nurse to come in, and explain the program to the patient.
It differs of course from person to person. It just doesn’t happen to the old but also for terminal cases.
Sometimes you don›t realize there really is a community out there. You might not know they›re there, but they›re there.
people, But sometimes you don’t hear about the gentleman who went to Normandy, and his brother was in the first wave, and he was in the second wave. And you go, ‘How’d that make you feel?’ You step back from your therapy of walking this guy. ‘Your brother was hitting the beach.’ And he’s like, ‘It was awful. The only thing you think about is, ‘Is my brother alive? And you go, ‘Man’, and it kind of hits you.”
There is a very thin line at times between what Leake does and hospice which is a different team. “There’s a thin line. And it’s always hard having that discussion saying, ‘Hey, have you considered hospice?’ and having had both parents go through it, I don’t mind talking about it, and I’ll put the card down.”
He’s heard stories of say a 30-year-old woman who had terminal brain cancer who also has young kids in the house, “much like my mom...and she would fight tooth and nail for every moment with her kids.” Leake says that is the part that just tears you up inside “because they’re not going easy but you got to let them do it, even though the doctors say, ‘There’s nothing more we can do.’” But those kind of cases go into hospice for comfort care and they meet the qualifications.”
But there are others where it is about finding the right end of life. Leake recounts the story of a woman who had congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. “We’re in for there for therapy, and we’re walking her at first hundreds of feet outside, and then it becomes less and less where it got to the point where we’re setting up chairs every five feet, just so she can go from the recliner to the bathroom.” At a certain point, a PT might say “I’m not rehabilitating you. I will make a referral to hospice.’” What hospice, Leake says, basically means is that “I’m not going to treat my disease. I’m not going to go to
the hospital, and say, ‘Fix me.’ The doctor might say we’re going to take off your medications and let nature take its course.”
This specific woman was a huge advocate in the South during Civil Rights. She was a southern white lady who did the marches in Montgomery. It was 2008 and she was seeing the nominees in Obama and Hillary
Clinton. “She’s like ‘This is it, Jeff’ ‘What’s it?’ We have a black man and a woman running for president. I’m voting for one of those two in November.” He says, at this point, she was not in hospice but said “I got to make it to Election Day because I need to see a Black man win the election.” He says Election Day comes around and she votes. “She’s like, ‘Now I can die.’” He says, she
Jeff Leake of VNA & Hospice in Bennington working with a patient stretching the hamstrings to improve walking.
Jeff Leake of VNA & Hospice in Bennington working with a patient using a rollator to help with outside walking
fall
due to balance issues. Rollators
brakes
was in hospice at this point. Her doctor told her, once she goes off her cardiac meds, she wouldn’t live long. Inauguration Day comes around. Leake says she is still in therapy, doing transfers, and he is making sure she is safe and okay. “And this is where therapy changes. In hospice, we’re looking at safety. ‘Can we keep you comfortable,” he explains. “We make it through Inauguration Day with this woman and she says, ‘I never thought I’d see the Inauguration Day of a Black man.’ And she kept joking, ‘I can die anytime now.’ And the doctor said, ‘Well, I don’t know what’s keeping her alive.’” Leake says she made it 100 days and eventually did pass in March.” It shows the resilience of the human spirit but also the importance of the mind in the final proceedings.
But it also comes back to connection. “I think the big thing is sometimes we feel isolated,” Leake explains. “Sometimes you don’t
realize there really is a community out there. You might not know they’re there, but they’re there.” He says it can be as simple as a social worker pulling in a private duty person to support a family. Sometimes, he says, he will see former patients at the gas station or the Hawkins House. A guy in a car passing will say “Jeff...how are you doing?” Leake will walk over and start chitchatting. He says it is great to see these people back in the community. He remembers seeing a patient who, six months before, was completely bed-bound and bilateral, with broken legs. “I say to him ‘You’re back...how are you doing?’ ‘Good,’ ‘When you getting back on that motorcycle?’ The man walks outside and says, “Here’s my new motorcycle.’ Sweet. Those are the fun things.” VM
To learn more about VNA & Hospice of Bennington, visit vermontvisitingnurses.org.
Jeff Leake, a physical therapy assistant at VNA & Hospice in Bennington, is on the road much of the time and is able to do a lot of the computer work in his car
Howdoes an orchestra celebrate being 90 years old? In Vermont, it’s a matter of driving through snowdrifts, over mountains, and down county roads to play music just about everywhere.
VSO 2024-25 Season geographic reach: Barre, Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Castleton, Cavendish, Chester, Derby Line, East Burke, Fayston, Glover, Greensboro, Hardwick, Island
Pond, Grafton, Grand Isle, Jericho, Ludlow, Manchester, Middlebury, Montpelier, Moretown, Mount Holly, Newport, North Hero, Pittsford, Randolph, Rutland, Saxtons River, Shelburne, South Burlington,
South Hero, South Pomfret, Springfield, Stowe, Strafford, Warren, Tunbridge, Weston, Weybridge, White River Junction, Woodstock
During the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-2025 season – it’s 90th - instrumentalists and chorus are making music in 43 different Vermont towns. Whether it’s a woodwind trio in a school gym, a string quartet in a museum, a choir in an opera house, or full symphony orchestra on a mountain slope, there’s something The VSO includes 54 contracted union musicians (with over 70 musicians for larger concerts), and four full-time and four-part time staff. An 80-voice chorus, two regional
VSO Friends committees, and its 18-member Board of Directors comprise a volunteer base of over 115 people who support the orchestra’s mission to “foster and encourage the love of music throughout Vermont.”
Nine Decades Ago
In the fall of 1934, a young conductor named Alan Carter gathered volunteer musical forces of this rural
Founded in 1996, GMALL is a nonprofit cultural organization providing lectures, workshops, moderated discussions, and other enriching educational experiences. Our dynamic in-person and online offerings span a wide variety of programs that are scholarly and practical, local and global, historical and current, and academic and hands-on.
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state, aiming to fulfill a dream for a Vermont orchestra. After a period of separate north and south rehearsals, instrumentalists came together in January of 1936 to present the fledgling orchestra’s first public concert. With Carter as its first Music Director, this premiere concert featured musicians whose numbers included barbers, lawyers, mail carriers, doctors, and farmers.
Carter was succeeded by Ephraim Guigui, who was followed by Kate Tamarkin, Jaime Laredo, and now Andrew Crust. The Music Director position serves as the creative decisionmaker and primary conductor of the orchestra, whose musicians voted to join the American Federation of Musicians Local in 2018 making VSO the sole unionized musical ensemble in the state.
90 years and five Music Directors after Carter first envisioned a Vermont state orchestra, the VSO remains one of the oldest orchestras in the country, and one of only a handful supported by a state appropriation.
“It is my great honor to serve as Music Director of this storied institution in its 90th year, a great milestone that few arts organizations achieve,” says Andrew Crust, who joined VSO in 2023. “It is likewise a privilege to make music with the sensitive and committed artists of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. I have simply loved
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my time in the Green Mountain state, especially our tours which give me the chance to explore this gorgeous state with all its lakes, mountains, and covered bridges.”
Unforgettable Memories
Memorable events abound over the past nine decades. There were years of glitzy Waltz Nights and Radio Vermont Group auctions. The annual Summer Festival Tour kicked off in 1978, and Jukebox quartet concerts began in 2016. Aaron Copland conducted the orchestra in 1979, and the VSO Chorus was founded by Robert De Cormier in 1993. An unforgettable 2008 winter storm knocked power at the Flynn, leaving guest violinist Soovin Kim to treat the audience to solo Bach in the dark. During the first summer of the pandemic, 20 outdoor quartet and quintet concerts reached every corner of the state. We’ve commissioned and performed works by dozens of aspiring, young Vermont high school composers, alongside works of Nico Muhly, David Ludwig, Suad Bushnaq, Roberto Sierra, Ray Vega, Zoe Keating, and more.
Stellar performances have featured our own VSO musicians as soloists, plus pianists Andre Watts, Leon Fleisher, and Joseph Kalichstein, guitarist Sharon Isbin, banjoist Bela Fleck, violinists Midori and Bella Hristova, cellist Sharon Robinson, and clarinetist Anthony McGill. And, of course, Yo-Yo Ma in 2011.
In just the past 45 years – or as far back as VSO’s computerized history goes - an estimated 1,580 performances took place for well over 1 million attendees.
Season Wrap
Up: Ending on a High Note
Spring 2025 wraps up VSO’s anniversary season, with everything from the all-powerful force of a Mahler symphony to a bit of rock and roll. There are concerts in an airplane hangar, a museum, in theatres, senior retirement communities, and the state capitol legislative chambers, exploring many performance venues available around the state.
✔ March 1 sees VSO’s return to BETA Technologies in South Burlington, with a chorus and instrument trio in concert accompanied by video projections designed by Champlain College Emergent Media students.
✔ March 20 and 21 feature the legendary Grace Potter and her band in their first ever performances with orchestra, at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland and The Flynn in Burlington.
✔ March 28, 29 and 30 celebrate Women’s History Month with string quartet performances in Burlington, Montpelier, Weston, and Weybridge of music by female composers.
✔ April 4-12 brings the Jukebox quartet to Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Rutland and White River Junction with Heavy Metal Strings, and family-friendly Juicebox kids shows.
Then on May 10, 2025 the orchestra’s season finale takes place at the Flynn in Burlington.
Andrew Crust shares his thoughts on wrapping up the season: “I have certainly taken advantage of the artistic caliber of the VSO in my programming, and the concert I’m most looking forward to is our final Flynn program featuring Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 “Titan”. Titanic indeed, this composer’s first symphony calls for over 80 players on the stage and tests the limits of any
orchestra’s physical and emotional stamina. There’s simply nothing like a Mahler symphony.
We’ve paired that work with the late Jocelyn Morlock’s evocative and powerful ‘My Name is Amanda Todd’ which honors the life of the so named Canadian teen whose tragically short life serves as an inspiration to young women suffering from abuse and mental illness, as well as ‘Fanfare’ by Vermont composer Alexandra du Bois.”
Special things are happening at the VSO - if you haven’t been in a while, now is the time to come back. Likewise, for friends and family who have never enjoyed a symphonic concert (especially students, who have access to $10 tickets), the VSO is creating an environment which is welcoming to everyone, no matter their background or musical knowledge.
All VSO concert information can be found at vso.org/ events, and VSO education programs can be found at vso.org/education. Keep an eye out for our 2025 Summer Festival Tour announcement in the spring! VM
Get the K nowle dge to Spot and Avoid Scams and Fraud
Join AARP Vermont and Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark for a FREE informative fraud prevention and awareness event on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in South Burlington. You can learn the red flags to proactively spot scams and protect yourself and your family, as well as how to report fraud
Did you know that ever y two seconds someone ’ s identity is stolen? People over 50 are especially vulnerable, making up more than half of all fraud victims. From bogus investment deals and the Grandparent Scam to email ploys, lotter y scams, and the latest ID theft schemes, con artists always find new ways to steal your money Staying up to date is key to protecting yourself and your loved ones.
Attorney General Clark will kick things off with a keynote presentation on current fraud issues and the top scams reported in Vermont. Then, our in-house volunteer fraud fighter expert, Elliott Greenblott, will share valuable insights on how to spot and stop some of the most common scams older adults encounter
The afternoon will be packed with fun, starting with an interactive Fraud Trivia game where you can win exciting prizes, followed by an expert panel for a Q&A session.
Lunch is provided, and RSVP is required, at events .aarp.org/fightfraud25
Lost in Translation: The Passport Predicament
By Keith Neil-Owner of Champlain Tours, 802-540-0055.
Picture this: You’re on the brink of an exciting adventure to join the annual Quebec City with Champlain Tours, from June 9th to 12th, 2025. Your suitcases are packed, your itinerary is flawless, and you’re dreaming of cobblestone streets, savory poutine, and the old-world charm of this French-inspired city. But here’s a twist: your passport or Enhanced License decided to take a staycation on your nightstand instead of joining you!
Luckily, Champlain Tours makes everything about travel stress-free. As your chauffeured motor coach arrives to pick you up, you settle into luxurious comfort. Your seasoned Champlain Tours guide greets you with a warm smile, ready to whisk you away on this all-inclusive 4-star adventure. Every detail has been meticulously planned, from your accommodations to curated cultural experiences. All you need to do is relax, enjoy the journey, and—oh yes—remember your travel documents.
As the motor coach approaches Border Patrol, you’re met with a rather puzzled look from the customs officer. With a sheepish grin, you realize no amount of ‘bonjour’ or well-rehearsed mime antics will fix the situation. While Champlain Tours prides itself on working magic
to deliver unforgettable journeys, there are some things even we can’t solve.
Meanwhile, Quebec City awaits, bursting with vibrant culture, historic charm, and culinary delights. But without your passport, the adventure stays just out of reach, leaving you to wonder what could have been.
So, dear traveler, let this be your gentle reminder: alongside Champlain Tours, your passport is the most vital travel companion you can have. Double-check your packing list and ensure your documents are ready for the journey ahead. When you travel with Champlain Tours, we take care of everything else.
HELPFUL HINT: Checkout www.ivisa.com to assure you have all the most current travel documents
Your next adventure starts with Champlain Tours— don’t forget to pack your dreams…and your passport! VM See Our Ad on page 21!
Submitted by Keith Neil-Owner of Champlain Tours, 802-540-0055.
& Two kinds of BIKES in the world, ELECTRIC ACOUSTIC
By Peter Case
There are now two kinds of bikes in the world, electric and acoustic. The latter of which you’re very familiar with, you grew up with one, maybe you were fortunate enough to make money delivering the newspaper on one. Perhaps one got you to your spring sport on time. But now, now you’re older and that old bike of yours just hangs in the corner reminding you of the time you think you’ve lost. Consider the wonder of an e-bike. But you’re not just getting an e-bike, you’re getting a time machine. Sure, it doesn’t literally reverse the age on your driver’s license, but it will transport you back to the days when your knees didn’t sound like bubble wrap every time you stood up.
Let’s face it: Vermont is beautiful but hilly. Those rolling green mountains are picturesque until you’re halfway up one, panting like a pug in July. That’s where an e-bike saves the day. Thanks to its motor assist, you can glide up steep hills like a superhero, leaving behind the pain, sweat, and existential dread. And let’s talk about recapturing your youth. Remember when biking felt like freedom, not punishment? With an e-bike, you can pedal when you want to and let the motor take over when you
don’t. It’s like riding a regular bike, except without all the gasping and muttering about your chiropractor. Your knees will thank you. Your heart will thank you. Heck, even your neighbors will thank you when they see you cruising by looking 20 years younger—just don’t forget your helmet.
At Burrows Sports, they’ve got the best selection, expert advice, certified techs and everything you need to start your e-bike adventure. There are tons of options to consider when heading down the “E” highway. What kind of riding do you want to do? Recreational, practical, adventurous? Do you want to make this purchase a three-season affair and give that dinosaur blood guzzling car a rest for a while? Maybe you should consider a cargo bike. These bikes superpowers are errands and
practicality. They haul groceries, kids, grandkids or even a week’s worth of farm-fresh vegetables from your local CSA. With their electric assist, hills are no sweat and stop-and-go traffic becomes a thing of the past. Need parking? Any sturdy pole will do. Plus, you’ll save on gas and maintenance while enjoying the smug satisfaction of passing gridlocked cars. Practical, eco-friendly, and surprisingly fun, an e-cargo bike lets you cruise through life with less stress and more pedal-powered joy!
You an old school Mountain Biker? The folks at Burrows Sports have your back! Picture this you’re bombing down some single track on a full-suspension e-mountain bike, grinning like a kid who just found candy. Rocks, roots, and ruts? No problem—you’re floating over them like a caffeinated mountain goat. And the best part? That hill you just conquered won’t haunt you. Thanks to the motor assist, climbing back up feels like a gentle breeze, not an uphill death march. Downhill thrills, uphill chills it’s mountain biking without the suffering and reliving those days out in the woods.
Oh, it’s transportation you seek! Yup, once again an e-bike is what you like! The same bike that has you enjoying endless weekend hours cruising around and soaking up the fresh mountain air is the same bike you can use to commute to work Monday through Friday!
Most e-bikes come fairly well-equipped right off the shop floor. But if they don’t, a simple read rack and a couple of panniers and you’ve got practicality locked down… speak of locks, get a good one! Since people are largely comprised of people, not all of them can be trusted.
Trek e-bikes turn every trip into an adventure worth taking!
So… now you have a little more to go on. Which bike is right for you? Burrows Sports in Brattleboro Vermont carries a few different brands. The Trek line of e-bikes combines sleek design, top-notch engineering, and pure riding joy. From commuters to mountain shredders, Trek’s powerful motors and long-lasting batteries make every ride effortless. Whether you’re conquering hills or cruising to the farmer’s market, Trek e-bikes turn every trip into an adventure worth taking! Cannondale’s e-bike lineup blends cutting-edge tech with iconic style for the ultimate ride. From urban explorers to rugged trail conquerors, their lightweight frames and responsive motors deliver power and precision. Whether zipping through city streets or tackling steep trails, Cannondale e-bikes make every journey smooth, fast, and undeniably fun!
So, trade in those grunts for grins, and let your e-bike be the magical cure for shot knees and forgotten fun. After all, you’re never too old for a little electric-powered mischief! VM
Provided by Peter Case, owner of Burrows Specialized Sports
Provided by Peter Case, owner of Burrows Specialized Sports
FShared Journeys: Senior’s Guide to Choosing & Being an Ideal Travel Companion
By Carolee Duckworth
Article #3 in the Wise Wanderer Series in Vermont Maturity
inding the right travel companion can transform a good journey into an unforgettable adventure.
As we embrace gentle travel in our senior years, the choice of who accompanies us becomes particularly crucial. The perfect travel partner enhances our experiences, shares our discoveries, and helps navigate any challenges that arise along the way.
UNDERSTANDING TRAVEL COMPATIBILITY AND RELATIONSHIPS
Travel compatibility extends far beyond simply enjoying someone’s company at home. A successful travel partnership requires alignment in several key areas: energy levels, interests, preferred pace, and travel expectations. Consider how your potential companion approaches daily activities. Do they share your curiosity about art and history? Are they comfortable with similar walking distances? Do they appreciate leisurely meals and quiet moments of reflection?
Whether traveling with a spouse, friend, or family member, the dynamics of your relationship will shift during extended time together abroad. The key lies in understanding and respecting each other’s needs while maintaining open communication. A spouse who makes an excellent life partner might have vastly different ideas about how to spend a morning in a new city. A dear friend with shared interests might operate on a completely different daily schedule.
PLANNING AND COMMUNICATION:
THE FOUNDATION OF SUCCESS
Successful travel partnerships begin long before the journey. Start with honest conversations about
expectations, preferences, and concerns. Discuss everything from budget considerations to activity preferences. Some travelers prioritize fine dining, while others prefer casual cafés. Some wake early, eager to start exploring, while others prefer a leisurely morning routine.
Clear communication transforms potential conflicts into opportunities for deeper understanding. Establish regular check-ins to discuss the day’s experiences and adjust plans as needed. Share delights immediately – a beautiful view, a delicious dish, an interesting observation, a memorable interaction with a local artist. Address small concerns before they become major issues.
NAVIGATING DIFFERENT TRAVEL STYLES
Success often lies in finding creative compromises. If one partner prefers planned activities while the other enjoys spontaneous exploration, alternate days. Or agree that mornings will be planned, followed by a shared lunch, and then “free time” in the afternoons, together or apart as best suits the focus for the day. Time apart can be happily followed by meeting up for coffee or wine (or both) at a spot you identify and agree to in advance.
If you and your travel partner’s energy levels differ, plan rest periods into the daily schedule. The one who insists on a daily nap or time out can satisfy this preference while the other takes in one more museum or market or shopping quest. If your ideas about dining differ, balance memorable “splurges” that suit the fine diner with picnics in lovely parks to keep the economizer happy.
Remember that differing travel styles can complement each other. One partner might excel at navigating city streets and finding local music opportunities to share
while the other has a talent for finding local gems for shopping and marvelous boat rides.
BALANCING TOGETHERNESS AND INDEPENDENCE
One of the most valuable skills in travel companionship is knowing when to separate. Even the most compatible partners benefit from occasional solo excursions. Perhaps one visits a museum while the other explores local shops, meeting later to share their discoveries over dinner. This independence allows each traveler to pursue personal interests while maintaining the security and joy of shared travel.
Different perspectives can enrich travel experiences immensely. One companion might notice architectural details while another picks up on local customs. One might facilitate conversations with locals while another documents the journey through photography. These varied approaches create a more complete and memorable experience.
NAVIGATING CHALLENGES WITH GRACE
Travel sometimes has difficult moments. Trains can arrive late, and cause missed connections. Some days it rains. Your driver may get lost in Monte Carlo because his GPS stops working in the tunnels under the city. Actively work together. Find ways to cooperate and collaborate. Face these challenges together. Practice a problem-solving mindset combined with patience and good humor.
Even the most compatible travelers will face occasional disagreements. The key lies in addressing conflicts promptly and constructively. Maintain perspective – most travel challenges appear minor in hindsight. Approach disagreements with the goal of arriving at mutually acceptable solutions, remembering that it is important to enrich the travel experience for both partners.
CREATING LASTING TRAVEL PARTNERSHIPS
Remember that the perfect travel companion might be someone unexpected. Focus less on who you enjoy spending time with at home and more on who shares your
travel values and approaches challenges with a compatible mindset.
The best travel companions cultivate specific qualities. They maintain flexibility when plans change, practice patience during inevitable travel delays, and approach challenges with humor and creativity. They respect their partner’s needs for both companionship and solitude. Most importantly, they bring a problem-solving mindset to every situation.
The right travel companion doesn’t just share your journey – they enhance it. They bring out the best in you as a traveler and help create memories that you’ll both treasure. As you plan your next adventure, take time to choose and cultivate this crucial relationship. The effort invested in building a strong travel partnership will repay itself many times over in shared discoveries, mutual support, and deepened connections.
With thoughtful preparation and open communication, you can create a travel partnership that enriches both the journey and your relationship. Together, gentle travel becomes not just possible but deeply rewarding – a shared adventure that brings out the best in both travelers.
Once you’ve found your ideal travel companion, you’re ready for an even deeper adventure – becoming “temporary locals” together in your chosen destinations. In our next article, we’ll explore “Cultural Immersion at Your Own Pace,” discovering how to move beyond tourist experiences to truly engage with local life, from meaningful connections with residents to authentic culinary or cultural adventures. We’ll show you how gentle travel creates perfect opportunities for rich experiences that aren’t possible with rushed tourism. VM
Carolee Duckworth is an avid and experienced traveler who has designed, taken and written about dozens of great trips, as well as about retirement life and work. Among her books, available on Amazon, are: “Shifting Gears to Your Life and Work After Retirement” and “Your Great Trip to France.” Her website, www. GreatTripGuide.com, has a growing selection of dayby-day trip plans, with comprehensive lists and links for all bookings that need to be made in advance.
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