Williston Observer

April 21, 2011

The Champlain Valley Union baseball team started their season off right with a 6-4 win against Mount Mansfield on April 15.

Gives you a run for the money

2 & 1/2 popcorns

Filmgoers respectful of the first “Arthur,” starring the late, great Dudley Moore, needn’t be afraid to laugh lest they commit sacrilege whence seeing this shiny new remake featuring Russell Brand as the title billionaire-dipsomaniac. Understandable, however, that possibility born of a reverence for the 1981 classic comedy does jog a fond memory.

I was a neophyte in the New York screening rooms, amazed at my good fortune to be in the same space, even if still not conversant with, my film critic idols, when Hesh and I, who would evolve into longtime movie companions, attended a preview of the original. We knew nothing of the movie; only that it was a comedy. Then the lights went down.

Dudley Moore erupted into his raucous, drunken but loveable bad boy with the force of a comedic Jack-in-the-box. The room remained silent in what seemed like conspired defiance. But Hesh and I couldn’t help it. We soon started to titter, muffling our reaction whilst looking at each other for an explanation of the otherwise Sphinx-like reception.

Then Arthur really got rolling, a gangbusters illustration of nose-thumbing impudence, a playboy who only lived for a good time, and couldn’t care less what anyone else thought. OK, so he was a fall down drunk. Who wasn’t back then? But the room stood its stodgy ground. Our snickers grew to chortles. And finally there was no containing ourselves.

We gave into the comic epiphany. Pent-up belly-laughs were released like a suddenly deflated zeppelin (so much for appearances and demeanor). We would cackle robustly. Let them throw us out of the place. It was funny! In the movies, this is when the monocled old gent in the room finally accedes, giving consent for all to join in heartily.

I like to think it happened that way, and that we were the flint that got the bonfire of mirth started. In any case, sounder funny bones prevailed, and the rest is history … until now with the arrival of what some may see as the ignoble usurper. The syndrome is common, and often as not more a patriotic defense of one’s era than an artistic criticism.

If you live the projected three score and 18, you’ll see 3.2 remakes of your favorite movie, plus the silent one you didn’t even know existed until you took that film course. But I’ll commit no blasphemy. While this “Arthur” is only a shadow of the icon, it’s not a bad silhouette at that, a contemporary homage full of its very own personality and wit.

Deserving credit for having the chutzpah to tackle the sacrosanct role, Russell Brand last imparted his stoner imprint as rock star Aldous Snow in “Get Him to the Greek” (2010). So, he is no stranger to treading on hallowed ground if you consider that said film is actually a variation on the Peter O’Toole-starring “My Favorite Year” (1982).

Borrowing from Moore but interjecting his unique style of audacious rebellion against whatever doesn’t tickle his spoiled fancy, this poor little rich kid can run amok with the best of them. All the New York City cops know him. Quickly released from jail after a night of hedonism, he bails out his fellow inmates, informing: “It wouldn’t seem fair otherwise.”

In another scene, upon hearing that there is a recession on, he unleashes the contents of an ATM in a 7-11 on a group of strangers whilst exclaiming, “free money!” He’s a goodhearted wastrel who believes that currency should be used in the pursuit of fun. To his dowager mom’s chagrin, he has no interest in working to enlarge the family fortune.

Of course Mumsy (Geraldine James) has had sonny boy’s antics and disinterest in the accumulation of wealth up to here. She’s given him everything … but love. In patrician fashion, she’s left that chore to his nanny, Hobson, nicely exacted by Helen Mirren. The governess is his only friend. Most of the other women he knows are, well, you know.

One exception, but only by the amount of money she’s interested in, is Jennifer Garner’s Susan, the daughter of a self-made industrialist (Nick Nolte). While already rich, she’d sure like the coat of arms that comes with marrying Arthur. And mother wouldn’t mind letting her believe aristocracy rubs off if it’ll harness Arthur for the good of the dynasty.

But don’t worry. This wouldn’t be the fun-filled, modern fairy tale it is if there weren’t also a poor but sweet gal like Greta Gerwig’s perfectly cast Naomi in the mix. Naturally she supports a sick dad. I know. It’s predictable. But for those who don’t mind trading a little credibility for a lot of kismet, “Arthur” proves rich with laughs and good feelings.

“Arthur,” rated PG-13, is a Warner Bros. Pictures release directed by Jason Winer and stars Russell Brand, Helen Mirren and Greta Gerwig. Running time: 110 minutes

Easter brunch or anytime

April 21, 2011

I love recipes that can be made ahead of time that allow me to concentrate on last minute details.

Blueberry French Toast

12 slices of old white bread, crusts removed
2 packages of cream cheese (8 ounce size)
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
12 eggs
1/3 cup maple syrup or honey

Sauce:
1 cup sugar (use a little less)
2 tablespoons corn starch
1 cup water
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon butter

Cut bread into cubes and put half in a greased 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Cut cream cheese into cubes and spread evenly over bread. Sprinkle blueberries over this and rest of bread cubes on top. Beat eggs in large bowl and add milk and syrup. Mix well and pour over bread mixture. Chill 6 to 8 hours or overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove cover and bake 25 to 30 minutes more, and serve with blueberry sauce.

Combine sugar, cornstarch and water. Bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in blueberries and simmer for about 8 minutes. Stir in butter (you may omit sauce and serve with maple syrup and fresh blueberries, or whipped cream, fresh blueberries and maple syrup drizzled over all)

Just before serving the French toast, prepare this Michigan’s B& B recipe for:

Mountain Top Bacon:
Mix 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon pepper in a plastic bag. Shake bacon pieces to coat and place on rack in broiler pan. Bake on 300 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Yummy!

Ginger Fruit Salad

1 8 ounce can crushed pineapple
2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
1 apple, cored and diced
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup orange juice
1 large banana, sliced
1 cup fat-free lemon yogurt
2 tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger

Toss fruits together, but add banana last. Serve in small bowls or one large bowl and top with yogurt and ginger.

Make little hats for place settings by folding a 5-by-4 ½-inch piece of plain colored paper (any kind) in half. Beginning with seam edge, turn the upper left corner down to form a three-sided triangle shape. Do the same with the right hand corner on the seam, bringing middle of each triangle touching. Fold up single sheet at front of open edge to make a band, covering bottom part of each triangle, and do the same with back, open edge. This makes a small hat with a backside that has no seam and a place to write someone’s name.

Decorate with streamers, flowers, stickers, etc.

Ginger Isham lives with her husband on a fifth generation family farm on Oak Hill Rd.

April 21, 2011

Trans-Care Ambulance Service is a new, locally owned “24/7 non-emergent medical transportation service,” that serves the entire Champlain Valley.

Non-emergent transport is simply a form of medical transportation provided in non-emergency situations to people who require special medical attention. Ambulances or other vehicles are used to get the patient from one location to another safely while offering medical support, rather than offer 911 emergency field treatment and rapid transport to an emergency facility.

A candidate for non-emergent medical transport is a medically stable patient, who needs “medical support .” For example, a resident of a nursing home who has just spent time in the hospital might need non-emergency transport to get back to the nursing home so that Emergency Medical Service personnel can monitor the patient’s condition and deal with any medical issues associated with the patient’s needs. Likewise, a chronically ill patient might need medical transport to get to scheduled doctors or rehabilitation appointments.
The patient is transported on a stretcher, and he or she is accompanied by at least two Emergency Medical Technicians-Basic (or higher). The vehicle has medical equipment and is inspected by the state’s EMS Department. The equipment is also utilized to monitor the patient during transport.

Trans-Care’s services are Medicare and Medicaid approved, and most insurance is accepted.

For more information, call (802) 288-1286.

April 21, 2011

Counterfeit money

A Wal-Mart employee called police on April 12 to report a “suspicious twenty dollar bill,” according to police reports. Police investigation determined the bill was counterfeit and forwarded the case to the Secret Service.

Stalking

Bernard J. Miller, 29, of South Burlington was taken into custody on April 13 “for violating conditions of release and stalking,” according to police reports. He was taken to Chittenden County District Court, the report notes. No other information was released.

Theft

A man and woman stole more than $550 worth of groceries from Hannaford on April 15, according to police reports. Police were not able to apprehend them, the report notes.

Multiple charges

Jennifer M. Caplin, 31, of Montpelier was cited on a charge of driving under the influence-third offense on April 16, according to police reports. Her blood alcohol concentration was .086, the report notes. The legal limit for driving in Vermont is .08. She was also cited on charges of “false reports to law enforcement authorities,” and driving with a suspended license-criminal, according to the report. She was cited to appear in court.

Driving with license suspended

• Nathan L. Robtoy, 23, of Richford was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license on April 11, according to police reports. He was cited to appear in court.
• Joshua M. Therrien, 27, of Burlington was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license on April 12, according to police reports. No other information was released.
• Holly J. Russin, 27 of Hinesburg was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license on April 14, according to police reports. No other information was released.
• Megan E. Dowsey, 33, of Eden, was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license on April 16, according to police reports. She was cited to appear in court.

Police notes are written based on information provided by the Williston Police Department and the Vermont State Police. Please note that all parties are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.