The Fireworks show in Burlington Vermont this year were spectacular!

Earlier in the evening (around 8:20) there was a special stunt air plane show which ended with some daylight fireworks. The stunt pilot dived repeatedly while releasing bright-colored smoke and the fireworks went up in the smoke.

As usual the main Burlington fireworks show started at around 9:30 and it was quite a show. I think the Burlington Fireworks show gets better each year.

Apparently the the cost $40,000 this year's show, $5,000 more than last year. The good news is that it doesn't cost Burlington Vermont taxpayers a dime as it's sponsored by 3 major sponsors: Pomerleau Real Estate, Price Chopper and Chittenden Bank. A big thanks to them for an excellent show!

As usual, there were many possible places to watch this year's show. Some places are:

• Waterfront park
• North Beach
• Perkins Pier
• The Boathouse
• Oakledge Park
• Battery Park

Below are 2 videos of Burlington Vermont's 2010 Fireworks show...

Burlington Vermont Fireworks 2010

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If you are considering buying Burlington Vermont real estate (or surrounding areas), please give me a call on my cell at 802.238.5256 or email me to discuss our real estate market and your options.

Just finished several charters this week during the most intense heat I can remember. Temperature hit 100 in Charlotte, Vt. Lakers are still biting at the 80 to 90 foot level on the Glow Bellys. Caught some beauties on yesterdays charter. Lake trout 32inches and 13lbs 3 oz. We had a double charter as there were 9 customers so I had Captain Obe White helping out with his boat. They also caught a 13lb 2oz laker on his boat. Lakers are growing like pigs. Was a rough ride yesterday with a 25 mph South wind but we got it done. Woke the lakers up a little. We also caught one around 7 lbs that had 8 feet of line hooked to ice fishing hooks. Our lure was caught in the line hanging out of the lakers mouth and we dragged him in by the tail. Salmon shut off in the heat but they will turn back on when the temp drops back to normal. South wind was pushing up the cold water from the bottom. I will post pictures of the big laker later in the week.

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Lake Champlain Fishing Charters for Salmon & Trout & Walleye. Captain Bill Birch, an avid hunter & fisherman has 20 years experience Fishing Lake Champlain. We offer fishing for Salmon & Trout out of Charlotte, VT.

STATE OF WASHINGTON MAY MAKE MARIJUANA LEGAL!

The people of the State of Washington are collecting petition signatures
to put a question on the Nov. 2, 2010 Ballot to ask voters if they
want to make marijuana legal for adults age 18 and over.

Scroll down the Washington Secretary of State page to
Initiative Assigned Number 1068.
http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/people.aspx

Assigned Number: 1068
Filed: 01/14/2010

Sponsors
Mr. Christopher H. Bass
Mr. Martin W. Howser

Public Contact Information:
1324 N Liberty Lake Rd #187
Liberty Lake, WA 99019
Phone: 208-398-6891
administrator@FreedomInitiatives.com

Ballot Title
Statement of Subject: Initiative Measure No. 1068 concerns marijuana.

Concise Description: This measure would remove state civil and criminal penalties
for persons eighteen years or older who cultivate, transport, possess, sell or use
marijuana. Restrictions and penalties for persons under eighteen would be retained.

Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]

Ballot Measure Summary
This measure would remove state civil and criminal penalties for persons eighteen
years or older who cultivate, transport, possess, sell or use marijuana. Marijuana
would not longer be defined as a "controlled substance". Civil and criminal
penalties relating to drug paraphernalia and provisions authorizing seizure or
forfeiture of property would not apply to marijuana-related offenses committed by
person eighteen years or older. The measure would retain current restrictions
and penalties applicable to persons under eighteen.

Apparently, they only have a few more days to collect initiative petition signatures in Washington! GOOD LUCK TO THEM! GOD BLESS THEM!

Vermont 2010 candidates who are in favor of ending marijuana prohibition, include, to some extent or another:
Paul Beaudry - Republican
Dennis Steele - Independent
Em Peyton - Independent
Peter Shumlin - Democrat
and Cris Ericson of the
United States Marijuana Party.
http://USMJP.COM
HTTP://CRISERICSON.COM

QUESTION FOR VERMONT ATTORNEYS:
DOES P = R, AND IF SO, DOES G NOT = G?

HUH?

YEAH, WELL, YOU TRY TO UNDERSTAND A U.S. SUPREME COURT LANDMARK DECISION ON GAY RIGHTS!

http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/09-599.pdf

Although "Doe v. Reed", Docket # 09-559 is a landmark decision case, there were only about 19 reports in the news before the Supreme Court of the United States handed down its Opinion a few days ago, and right afterwards there were only 26 news reports in Google news search.

Wow, that is some coverage for a landmark case!

What happened?

The Question before the U.S. Supreme Court was whether or not to disclose the names and signatures of people who sign referendum petitions.

O.K., how does that affect Vermont?

Well, what is a "referendum" in Vermont?

More specifically, here is my question, and I am seeking pro bono help with this idea:

I filed my ballot access Petition signatures with the Vermont Secretary of State May 17, 2010 and I am on the ballot for two offices.

I am not a member of any political party, but I appear on the ballot for the United States Marijuana Party
because Vermont law
allows an Independent candidate
to chose descriptive words
to appear on the ballot
rather than "independent".

Every single page of the ballot access petitions I submitted for certification contain the descriptive words,
"United States Marijuana party".

IS THIS A REFERENDUM, OR LEGALLY AS EQUAL TO OR ACTING AS A REFERENDUM, to essentially create the appearance of a new political party in Vermont?

IF this is a Referendum Petition, THEN do the people who signed it lose their right to privacy?

Can I file an "as-applied challenge"?

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts allegedly stated, "Upholding the law against a broad-based challenge does not foreclose a litigant's success in a narrower one."

Where do I get a "narrower" challenge?

In the case, Doe v. Reed, if I understand it, a Gay group filed the case against a conservative marriage group. The conservative marriage group wanted to stop the Gay people from getting married in the State of Washington. Because this is a Supreme Court of the United States case, the Opinion becomes law of the land in every state, including Vermont.

Now, the Gay group filed this case because they wanted to know the names of the conservative marriage group who had filed a petition with the Washington State Secretary of State because they wanted to strike down the Gay marriage law.

The conservative marriage group had enough petition signatures to get their Petition on the Ballot, but they lost, they did not have enough votes to over turn and strike down, (repeal, get rid of) the Gay marriage law.

Now, the Gays in the State of Washington want to know the names and they want to see the signatures of the conservative marriage people who signed the Petition.

Why do the Gays even care, since they won the vote?

I don't know!

What I am concerned about with my petition, again, is the Question #1 Is my particular petition a Referendum? and #2 Will the Secretary of State, Deborah Markowitz, who is also running against me for Governor, be selling or distributing copies of my petition to the F.B.I. or D.E.A. or any corporation or non-profit or group?

Because some of the people who signed my United States Marijuana Party petition
are Gay,
and because I want to protect their
rights to privacy,
and because in particular one Gay
person told me his lover was in a hospice, so he really, really needs his right to privacy,
and he signed my petition because
MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS STILL ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW, AND
FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED NURSING HOMES AND FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED HOSPICES IN VERMONT DO NOT ALL ALLOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO BE USED ON THEIR PREMISES;
therefore,
under the Supreme Court of the United States conditions that IF a person has
a "narrow" challenge to the law,
should an attorney in Vermont provide me with Pro Bono help to file an "as-applied challenge" to Doe v. Reed Docket # 09-559
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/09-599.pdf
in order to protect
Gays in Vermont?

Do you see the problem I am struggling with here? Gays in the State of Washington want Petitions to be made public so they can see the names of the people who signed and see their signatures; whereas here in Vermont, I believe Gays want privacy. I believe that Vermonters think that when they sign a Petition that it is like a Secret Ballot in a Voting Booth.

Cris Ericson
879 Church Street
Chester, Vermont 05143
(802)875-4038
http://crisericson.com
http://USMJP.COM

Vermont Secretary of State
http://www.sec.state.vt.us
click on Elections
click on Candidate List for
Independent candidates,
Cris Ericson, United States Marijuana Party is listed with the Independents.

A purely personal list subject to change (guaranteed!) of my favorite things to do in Burlington Vermont throughout the year:

10. Summer picnic pilgrammage to enjoy a sunset at Waterfront Park on Lake Champlain,

9. A show at the Flynn Theater followed by profiteroles for dessert at the "Trat",

8. An evening stroll down Church Street,

7. Finding a parking spot,

6. JazzFest in June,

5. First Night,

4. Burlington Bike Path,

3. Coming in by boat to the Community Boat House to hang out on the docks for a sunset, dinner,
drinks or all 3,

2. Christmas Lighting Ceremony on Church Street,

1. 4th of July fireworks on the waterfront.

If you would like to add a comment or add your favorite Top Ten list, please do so by posting a comment here

If you are considering buying Burlington Vermont real estate (or surrounding areas), please give me a call on my cell at 802.238.5256 or email me to discuss our real estate market and your options.