The Vermont Way

[cali]

MORETOWN, Vt.—For 30 years, Elga Gemst kept to herself and went about her business in her small Vermont town.

<snip>


Now, she can hardly open her door or answer the telephone without someone volunteering to scrub the mud out of her laundry room, throw away soaked furniture, cook her dinner or take her dishes home and wash them for her.

"I'll tell you, the sweetest words to hear—that I've heard a thousand times this week—are "Hi, can I help you? I'm here to help.' And they just start. They pitch in. There's families, old people, young people, high school students, little kids, pregnant people. It's just been incredibly overwhelming.

<snip>


The Aug. 28 storm knocked out hundreds of roads and bridges in the state, damaged or destroyed more than 700 homes and left some Vermont towns stranded.

But it has also generated countless of acts of kindness, from community house-guttings to citizen-led road rebuilding projects, from missions of mercy for stranded homeowners to volunteer days cleaning the mud out of schools. In the process, it has burnished a civility that some up here refer to as "the Vermont way."

<snip>

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18867057

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Vt is a different planet, compared to other parts of the US...

Having spent many a day there, my personal experiences have been nothing but positive.

[Auntie Bush]

2. Having spent 30 years here, my experience has been nothing but positive.

[Dennis Donovan]

5. Sorry for any misperception. I love VT...

I'm waiting for an opportune moment in my career to emigrate... ;-)

[Auntie Bush]

7. I didn't misunderstand you. I know you were saying it's nice. I was agreeing x 30.!

[Stargleamer]

3. No wonder they elect Bernie Sanders n/t

[bluestate10]

9. Vermont is not unique. Study Massachusetts and how it dealt with disasters.

And how everyday citizens helped those affected. I do think the willingness to help without material rewards is a blue state characteristic. Even hate filled republicans are shamed into helping with blue state citizens mobilize to help those stricken by disaster.

[cali]

10. I've lived in MA and I live in Vermont. Not saying Vermont is unique but generally

I do think there's a more coherent sense of community here. It's partly a function of how small we are.

And just how does one study how MA has dealt with disasters?

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. Does not surprise me at all. Vermont:

The State all others should strive to be like.

[Wind Dancer]

6. My favorite place!

Vermonters are the best!

[cali]

8. I agree. I still can't get over how helpful people here are

When I first moved here, over 30 years ago, the first winter I was here, I didn't grasp the concepts of winter driving too well. I must have gone off the road a half dozen time- and every single time there was someone there to bail me out- farmers with tractors, loggers with tow trucks, etc. And no one would ever take a thin dime for it.

[Wind Dancer]

11. I had the same experiences during my trips.

My son went to Bennington and VLS so I would visit every chance possible. We hope to retire in Vermont as soon as possible. I envy you!