Out in the Mountains

Letters to the Editor

Dear Onion River Co-op

I love the Co-op. I shop there every week. I feel comfortable with all the paid
staff and have been treated well, so it bothers me to have to write this letter to
such a high quality, high conscious group.

But I have to tell you that the ad that appeared in Out in the Mountains (Cruise
the Co-op, Scope out the goodies, take home something luscious) was
extremely offensive to me. First of all it perpetuates the stereotype that the
gay/lesbian culture is obsessed about sex and promiscuity. Secondly, would
you have submitted an ad like that to The Vermont Times or The Free Press. I
doubt it — it would have made the Co-op look pretty sleazy which it is not.

C’mon guys. Give us a break. We too, like putting wholesome food in our
bodies. Do you really need to use sex to sell your product like Madison Ave?
And isn’t it homophobic to target the gay community for such tactics? Please
have this ad removed at once!

Thanks,
Carol Cohen

cc: OITM V

Announcements

A rite of Holy Union between Pearl Ann Morcombe and Irene Anita Moooney
was performed at Pearl’s on February 5th, 1994 by Rev. Lupe Martinez. Kim
King was DJ. Thanks Pearl’s for all your support. We had a great evening. V

Obituaries

Charles Spencer Bedard

Charles Bedard died peacefully at home in Cambridge, Massachusetts on
December 30, 1993 of PML and AIDS.

Born in Kalamazoo, MI, he attended public schools there. In 1974 and 1975 he
lived in N. Montpelier with Raymond Matkovich, who also died of AIDS last
year. Moving to Cambridge, MA in 1975, _he graduated from the Boston Univ.
School of Education in 1977. He taught at the Thom Montessori Pre—School
and worked at Charrette, Hooper Lights, Data General Corporation, and
Neiman Marcus in San Francisco, among others.

For 18 years he was the loving partner of Hugh Russell, whose life be enriched
and transformed by his steadfast love and devotion. In 1980 they bought a
house in Marlboro, VT spending most weekends and vacations there. Charles
was always happiest in Vermont. He is also survived by his mother, Regina,
sister Mary, brother Richard, and by many friends met through his diverse
interests. He loved planning his garden in Marlboro, which contained
hundreds of kinds of plants. In his last several years he became a fanatic
computer bulletin board communicator. He studied the Japanese Tea
Ceremony for many years. He loved foreign languages and travel, and at
different times lived in the Orkney Islands, Copenhagen, and San Francisco. In
the 1970’s he hosted an early gay radio show on WCAS in Cambridge, MA.
He will be missed by his many friends in the gay community.

A memorial service was held January 30, 1994 in Cambridge. Another
memorial is planned for July, when his ashes will be scattered in his garden. V

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