Thousands show up for Bernie kickoff

Ellen Frisch was listening to the radio Tuesday afternoon when she heard a live broadcast of an event happening right here: the presidential rally for Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Frisch put on her sneakers and ran to the Burlington Waterfront to be part of the sunshiney rally where Sanders launched his 2016 presidential campaign.

"It's pretty rare that something like this is kicking off in Burlington, and it could be the start of something good," said Frisch, 29, a dog trainer. "I wanted to be part of it."

The campaign rally at Waterfront Park drew people to the edge of Lake Champlain as both a hometown happening — a Ben & Jerry, Bernie kind of day — and an historic event. Parents brought their children to witness what could be history in the making, and Vermonters attended to support a politician they say they've long admired.

Sanders became the second Burlingtonian in 12 years to announce his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination in his hometown.

"He tells the truth," said a 79-year-old Burlington woman who goes by the name River. "His energy seems to me so positive."

Positive energy — with a big dose of solar — prevailed at Tuesday's event, which drew an estimated 5,500 people to the waterfront, according to Burlington police.

"They're all good people here to watch a historic occasion," Deputy Chief Bruce Bovat said.

On a hot and sunny afternoon, people sought shade under trees, and searched for a breeze on the rocks by the water and the grass north of the stage. People arrived by boat, bicycle, skateboard and foot to be part of the occasion.

Bill McKibben, an environmental activist, thanked Sanders for being in Vermont on a day with a "great spill of solar energy all over this city." He spoke of a recent hike in which he saw the Presidential mountains in New Hampshire, and imagined a Mount Sanders.

"What you see is what you get," McKibben said to big cheers.

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield not only spoke at the rally but purchased 70 pounds of ice cream to give away. The line for ice cream was longer than the beer lines at the Vermont Brewers Festival, and scoopers took a break after 1,000 scoops were handed out to save more for later.

Kari Giroux waited in the line with her eight-year-old son, Henry, and explained why they had come.

"We're really excited that Bernie is announcing that he's going to be running," said Giroux, an instructor at Community College of Vermont. "We've loved Bernie a long time."

Lindsey Halman of South Burlington, a teacher at Essex Middle School, also came with her child. They sat under tree together before the speeches started, trying to stay cool.

"I wanted my daughter to experience the energy around something new and different," Halman said. "And the possibilities of something historic."

Amy Lee, 41, a house cleaner and fire dancer from Fairfax, came from Franklin County with her 16-year-old daughter.

"I love Bernie," Lee said. "He's for real."

Even at the far reaches of the rally, Sanders' voice came through as families ate picnics, kids did cartwheels, little boys played in the dirt and bigger boys tried to fly a kite.

Andrew Thomas, who had just gotten off work at a Colchester greenhouse, leaned on his bike and talked about his interest in Sanders.

"It's something a little different for the country," Thomas said. "Everything needs help around here."

Ray Archbold, 55, lives in Hyde Park and works as a counselor at Johnson Elementary School. He wore a black top hat that said "99%" on it, and talked about being a "little bit of a political junkie." He has followed Sanders' career for 30-plus years, since he was a freshman from New York City at Johnson State College.

"I found him personally fascinating and I still find him to be interesting," Archbold said. "I think he stands for the same things he did when I was freshman at college. Bernie tells it the way it is. He doesn't evolve. He's a politician who isn't a politician. It's kind of odd."

Contact Sally Pollak at spollak@burlingtonfreepress.com or 660-1859