Crowd Turns Out For Scissors

A small crowd of about 50 onlookers gathered on Main Street this morning to see the scissors. The woman holding the simple black shears made an emotional speech. Photographers and videographers jockeyed for better shots of the snips. And then, in an instant captured by VT's camera, the work was done and the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore reopened.

The store's new owner, Dawn Braasch, barely made it tosafety as the crowd surged forth like mad brides towards a dress sale. VT's photographer was trampled. It was like no one had read a book in the year since the store had closed following the Cafe Moxie fire. Hungry minds commanded able bodies up and down the newly arranged aisles.

It was one of those moments when you really feel proud to belong to a community that supports an institution as old fashioned as a bookstore.