Last Chapter?

July 11, 2013 by Geoff Hansen

Last month, I photographed Hillary Leicher’s bookstore in Randolph, Vt., for a Valley News story about the state of local independent bookstores. Named for Leicher’s children, Bud & Bella’s Bookshop opened three years ago in the same space where Leicher’s mother owned a bookstore. They’re struggling, but I hope the store can stay in town.

From top: Hillary Leicher, owner of Bud & Bella’s Bookshop in Randolph, talks with a passer-by on Main Street before closing for the evening. Nearing the three-year anniversary of her store’s opening, Leicher is thinking about closing due to slow sales; Leicher laughs with her children Adam, 10, and Kira, 6, at the store. Reopening the store in the space where Cover to Cover Bookshop was run by her mother Jeannie Ward for 16 years, Leicher named store after her children’s nicknames.

Returning to Trenton

June 26, 2013 by Geoff Hansen

As I prepare to fly to to the Midwest in the morning to photograph a wedding, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Missouri Photo Workshop featured one of my photos from the week I spent in Trenton in 1995. It’s a cherished memory because of what I learned and the people I met. I had such a great experience!

Joy of Victory

June 16, 2013 by Geoff Hansen

The other day, I photographed a rescheduled girls softball playoff game in Bradford, Vt., for the Valley News. The host team — Oxbow Olympians — won the game in extra innings. You would have thought the team won the state championship, with their joyful reaction!

From top: Oxbow’s Cassie Hutchinson, background, and Amanda Wheeler hug on the field after the Olympians defeated Enosburg in extra innings in Bradford, Vt.; Oxbow pitcher Leah Hanzas, left, and catcher Heather White give each other encouragement during the close semifinal game.

Perfect Pair

May 20, 2013 by Geoff Hansen

While working on a story about the Windsor County Partners program for the Valley News, I was fortunate to spend time with Danny Dover and Jon Gover. Over the past year, they’ve been getting together at least once a week to do various activities from fishing to skiing, or to just hang out. I enjoyed making several visits to document the relationship they have.

From top: Jon Gover, 11, jokes with Danny Dover while fishing for trout at Texas Falls in Hancock, Vt.; The pair work on building a tepee at Jon’s home; They try on each other’s hats while spending time together in early Spring; A tradition of their get-togethers, Danny and Jon toast each other while having root beer, popcorn and clementines in Jon’s “Man Cave,” a camper damaged by Tropical Storm Irene.

Student of Sugaring

April 8, 2013 by Geoff Hansen

Isaac Barker, who is a senior at Thetford Academy in Thetford, Vt., is a serious student of the craft of maple sugaring. Over the winter, he rebuilt an early 1900s evaporator from the orginal arch found in the woods by a neighbor. With nearly 50 taps and buckets on trees near their home, the Barkers boil in their backyard. Isaac’s operation towers over my modest six-tap hobby!

From top: Isaac Barker, 18, of Strafford, Vt., adds wood to the fire box in the evaporator he recently rebuilt. The cast iron front and back — the arch — was found by a neighbor in the woods. It dates back to the early 1900s; Barker pours sap into a reservoir for warming it before it is boiled on the evaporator; Matt Barker, left, talks with his son about whether or not to borrow sap from a neighbor to continue boiling at the end of the day.

An Experience

April 6, 2013 by Geoff Hansen

Yesterday, I hit the road to photograph a media event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. The Exotic Driving Experience had five supercars on hand for reporters to try out on the track’s road course. The company travels to NASCAR tracks across the country to give clients a turn at the wheel (or for rides). Valley News staff writer Jared Pendak got his wish — taking five laps behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Gallardo, a supercar capable of speeds up to 200 mph. I was happy to see and hear a Ferrari F430 on the track at full song!

VALLEY NEWS staff writer Jared Pendak, at top, looks to driving instructor Barry Tarr, of York, Maine, as they prepare to take a Lamborghini Gallardo out on the track as part of the Exotic Driving Experience at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H.; A television reporter drives a Lamborghini Superleggera at speeds approaching 100 mph on the race track’s front stretch. Run by Petty Holdings, the three-day event returns to the track in May and July.

Farming Revisited

April 3, 2013 by Geoff Hansen

The Dartmouth Alumni Magazine recently hired me to do portraits of Chuck Wooster at Sunrise Farm in White River Junction, Vt. It was great to see him again — Chuck and I collaborated on two books, Living with Sheep and Living with Pigs. He is such a smart guy — in addition to running an organic farm, Chuck is a writer and was recently elected as chair of the Hartford (Vt.) Selectboard. I wish I had half his energy! Below is an outtake — Chuck was checking the health of a two-day-old lamb under the watchful eye of its mother. The magazine article is due to appear in June.

End of an Era

February 9, 2013 by Geoff Hansen

Last weekend, I photographed a screening of the Life of Pi at the Playhouse Theatre in Randolph for Nicola Smith’s Valley News story. Built in 1919, the theater has been through the transition from silent to sound and from black and white to color. Now, owners Dave and Tammy Tomaszewski are looking to raise $100,000 to transition to digital because film movies will no longer be available sometime this year.

From top: Film leader for the movie Life of Pi is strung from its tray to a 1950s projector at the Playhouse Theatre in Randolph. A film arrives on several reels before Dave Tomaszewski splices it together; Rose Dice of Randolph looks at posters of movie stars while waiting for her matinee ticket. To raise money to buy a digital projector, the owners are forming a cooperative and running a Kickstarter campaign. “I have to join the co-op,” Dice said. “I have to support the life of this theater.” Dave Tomaszewski feeds the film into the projector he and his wife use at the theater. They have been told movies will no longer be available on film sometime this year.

Holiday Revelry

December 13, 2012 by Geoff Hansen

The annual Christmas Revels opens tonight at Dartmouth College’s Spaulding Auditorium; the other day, I photographed a rehearsal for the Valley News’ Entertainment Highlights feature. It’s an annual tradition with a cast of local people. The music and dancing is very impressive!

From top: Kevin Quigley, of Hartford, Vt., leads the audience in singing “I Saw Three Ships” during a rehearsal of The Christmas Revels at the Hopkins Center this week; Jennifer Culley Curtin, left, of Washington, Vt., and Bill Shults, of Norwich, and other cast members dance; Children sing “The King of Love” during the rehearsal.

Plowing Day

October 28, 2012 by Geoff Hansen

Last fall, I photographed Floyd McPhetres as part of the Our Town photo project. In 1998, he started the Central Vermont Tractor Club for a group of local tractor aficionados. They get together twice a year to plow a farmer’s field — I told Floyd I would be interested in covering it for the Valley News, which I did last weekend. “For some reason, tractor clubs tend to attract nice people,” he said. I agree.
More photos from the event can be seen in the newspaper’s online gallery here.

From top: With puddles remaining from this fall’s wet weather, Bob Bushway, of South Strafford, plows at White Rock Farm in Royalton, Vt., with his 1980 Allis Chalmers AC 5040. The annual plowing day was postponed a week due to wet weather; Floyd McPhetres, of Tunbridge, Vt., laughs while leaning on his 1951 Farmall H before the start of the club’s annual fall plowing day. His tractor was bought new by a neighboring Royalton (Vt.) farmer. McPhetres started the club in 1998; Ronald Schoolcraft, of Randolph Center, Vt., leads a quartet of club members plowing under a corn field. Behind Schoolcraft are, from right, Gordon Conant, or Randolph, Allen Williams, of Randolph Center, and Chris McPhetres, of Royalton; Schoolcraft shows Joe Williams, of Randolph Center, the work he has done to his 1952 Ferguson TO30 after the club finished plowing 12 acres of corn at White Rock Farm. Williams came to the event to help his two sons set up their tractors and to watch.