WELL I DID IT! Friends, Neighbors and fellow Reporters think I take this vocation as a joke, just a passing fling to be thrown away when throwing is relevant.

But I did it, I scooped the big dogs!

There I was patiently waiting till the last note of the national anthem was most gloriously sung by our most humble Paula Gilles and as the note rang out I quickly proceeded to the elevator near the concession stand (Pizza was good this week more on that later) at Kreitzberg Arena, flipped the security personnel my newly acquired Press ID and entered the bowels of the hockey arena.

First floor Please!!!

Hustling down the long hall thinking it was too late, It happened, Hannah Kearney with her exuberant smile came around the corner followed by quite an entourage of Norwich personal and Northfield physicians.

I calmly introduced myself, amid heckles and laughter, requested five minutes of her time for an interview for the local broadsheet. Let me start here.

Hannah Kearney, right, from Norwich, Vermont, took Olympic gold in Moguls. She dropped the puck to begin last Friday’s Norwich Cadets hockey game against New England and was afterward interviewed by our own Dick Wobby. Hannah Kearney has to be one of the most normal down to earth young ladies I’ve ever met.

For those that don’t know she hails from Norwich (this schools birthplace) she attended Hanover High School and proceeded to first win gold in moguls in the World cup in 2009, and most recently pulled off one of the most heroic mogul runs in recent history to claim her Olympic Gold.

She graduated in 2004 and has been competitively skiing ever since. She said the change in her life since the medal has been immense, places to be, people to see. But probably most impressive was her simple air, that, with this medal she became an ambassador, not for herself, but for that, which the Olympics’ stand. Helping those people less fortunate.

She has taken two weeks away from the world cup tour to let Vermonters and all Americans share in this experience.

She talks of going back to school “you certainly need to get to college to succeed today and I hope to be able to get back to school in the next year or so.”

When asked about the possibility of a Norwich education in her future she was clear she wouldn’t close any doors, but it would be a great deal more enticing if Norwich still had their own ski area. And for those that don’t know she still knits, she said she finds it very relaxing spends a great deal of time knitting as she travels. She contributes to ‘Knitting for Peace,’ and finds the pastime almost as rewarding as skiing.

Once again a fine young lady. She’s currently working on sweaters headed to Russia, “which is a really cool feeling that it's doing something more useful than me wearing it on the ski hill." Kearney said.

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Tax Free day is upon us was again. I really don’t get it, Merchants across the state can offer amazing discounts throughout the year everything from 20% off to buying a sofa and getting a second one free and sales are sporadic, but let the taxman tell us we don’t need to pay tax for a day and that brings people out in droves. Over the years I’ve watch whole communities organize well thought-out promotions with large promotional campaigns and hope that people will show up and buy. The taxman says “No Taxes today” and everyone holds off purchases for weeks before to save a small pittance. I just don’t get it.

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As I sat in the far off shadow of Crumbs Corner a thought occurred to me, whatever happened to the blimp, you know the blimp, that was seen at Norwich’s hockey games, I believe it was white and had a Norwich emblem on it. It would float aimlessly during intermissions and spit numbered ping pong balls on fans, to be redeemed for fine prizes. I miss the blimp.

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The Suitors have sold their house, Carol-Jean and Richard have made Chittenden County their new home. Both have been very community minded and involved over their stay here, they’ll be sorely missed. As a parting gift they donated their household furnishings to the United Methodist Church for a yard sale in the near future. Once again above and beyond. Thank you Suitors for all you’ve brought and given.

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I mentioned earlier the pizza at the hockey games, if you didn’t get a chance to visit the concessions at the games, do so, Andy Pedley and the crew from Depot have done a wonderful job this year. The food is better than ever, and yours truly will soon pay his tab.

Well that’s about it, for this week, till later, keep the crumbs on the table.

We’ll get to Walleyes later…