Hungry bears: Looking for that next meal, wherever it may be

With snow melting everywhere, bears are starting to emerge from their winter dens. When the snow is all gone, the bird feeders should go, too, wildlife officials say. (VTF&W Photo by Kris and Norm Senna)

Bears have long memories, and they may return to some old haunts (backyards) from 2020 if they can still get a bite to eat there.

That's even more likely now, as the bears' usual food sources in the woods are quite thin these days, turning these ursine wanderers toward bird seed, compost and trash.

That's why Vermont wildlife officials are spreading the word: Take down your bird feeders, and secure your outdoor trash areas. Bears are very smart, and they remember where that trash and compost were placed last year.

State wildlife biologist Forrest Hammond said it's best to remove bird feeders whenever the snow is gone, which usually comes ahead of April 1 these days.

"The message is, if the snow's disappeared from your lawn, then you probably should take down your bird feeder, because chances are, there's gonna be a bear checking things out," he said.

The bear sightings are starting to roll in for 2021. On Monday, Hammond got a call from a neighborhood in Quechee, where a bear has been enjoying bird feeders for the past week. A common question is whether taking down the feeder at night helps. But the bear can simply adjust his schedule to the daytime, and there's usually some seed spilled on the ground anyway.

"It really doesn't do any good," Hammond said.

Last year, Vermont bears discovered many new places for food during the height of the pandemic, when everyone was at home, and houses usually empty for part of the year were not. Hammond is hopeful that warmer weather will be consistent, and lush vegetation will flourish as a result, giving bears fewer reasons to drop by houses and yards.

“That'll help, because that's the mainstay for bears, the vegetation," he said.

As a rule, the entire month of April is "pretty bleak" for bear food in the woods, Hammond said. They'll go to beaver ponds to find some spouts by the water, or even climb some trees — like Aspens — which get their buds early. That's why you sometimes see scratch marks on Aspen trees early in the years, and racoons and squirrels do the same.

However, climbing is often a last resort.

"It takes a lot of energy for a bear that might weigh 150 pounds to climb up just to get a few buds," Hammond said.

As spring goes on, if you see a bear in your backyard, Hammond recommends making some noise, like yelling at the animal, to encourage it to back off. That may not only keep the bear from your yard, but also your neighbors' yards. Just as bears remember where they want to eat, they also remember negative experiences. The more a bear gets used to an uninterrupted food source, the harder it is to discourage them from it, Hammond said.

"Then they'll kind of adopt a neighborhood or a set of neighborhoods," he said.

Still, Hammond noted that last year, more Vermonters learned the importance of securing their trash areas and removing bird feeders. He encouraged people to keep educating their neighbors about taking those important steps.

"I've got high hopes that people in Vermont are learning how to live better with bears," Hammond said.

— Gareth Henderson

To report a bear sighting in Vermont, fill out this online form.

Vermont sugarmakers talk 2021 season

The sugarhouse at the Richardson Farm in Hartland, Vt., in early March. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Waiting for the right weather is a familiar thing for anyone working in agriculture, where Mother Nature is often at the helm. Part of the job is expecting the unexpected, but always being ready when the right conditions hit. 

That’s very much the case for maple sugaring operations, which depend on cold nights and warm days to make the sap run. In 2021 so far, Vermont sugarmakers have seen a later start to the season, but there’s still plenty of time for the right weather patterns to set in. 

Mary McCuaig, owner of Top Acres Farm in South Woodstock, said they had their first boil March 1, and then it was too cold for a week, delaying the second boil to March 8. They’ve made about 20% of a crop, with some locals already having stopped in to buy some Golden and Amber syrup. She isn’t worried about the slow start. 

“We could still have a good year, as some years we make more syrup in April than March,” McCuaig said. 

The cancellation of Vermont’s traditional Maple Sugar Open House Weekend was a noticeable absence this year, but the impact varies. For McCuaig, the local business keeps pressing on. 

“We are OK with no open house, as our local customers know they can still stop by to buy syrup or see the boiling with their masks on,” she said. Also, Top Acres Farm sells mostly wholesale to places like the Woodstock Inn, Billings Farm and FH Gillingham & Sons. 

At the Richardson Farm, a five-generation farm in Hartland, Reid Richardson said the sugaring operation has done about 20% of their expected crop so far. He noted the variability of the season is nothing new. Some years they’ve started sugaring in mid-February, others at mid-March, and other seasons have seen a hard stop on March 19 when it’s gotten too warm.

“It’s basically impossible to predict," Richardson said.

The syrup retail sales at the farm are steady, he said, and some local customers like to stop in at the sugarhouse. Those that do must wear a mask, and there is a three-person occupancy limit. 

The farm’s business has been steady on the whole, Richardson said.

“Our wholesale customers down in Woodstock and Quechee are definitely buying less. That's noticeable, but they haven't stopped buying syrup from us,” he said.

The farm has a large wholesale customer in New Hampshire who buys all the syrup that isn’t sold locally during the season, and that hasn’t changed. That’s the result of a 45-year relationship, Richardson said. 

A couple towns away in Barnard, the Doton Farm, a four-generation business, doesn’t have a new crop of syrup just yet, as they just finished tapping last Monday and started putting sap in their storage tank Saturday. Paul Doton grew up on his family’s farm and said his father began sugaring on the property in the late 50s or early 60s. Starting in late March is normal, because of the 1,500-foot elevation and the sugarbush facing north.  

“We made most of our syrup last year in late March, early April,” Doton said. “Of course, every year is different."

This year, many visitors who would usually come to buy syrup in person — but couldn’t travel because of the pandemic — have been ordering from the farm online. Doton said those sales have been “quite robust” in recent weeks, and they’ve been able to complete them using some of last year’s crop the farm kept. 

“I’ve even discovered a thing called Venmo, because we don't use credit cards,” he said. 

As for local sales, Doton said that part of the business is “about on par” with a couple of years ago. 

Vermont remains the number-one U.S. producer of maple syrup, and regionally, of course, the timing of the season varies. Richardson likes to track other regions on Facebook. At this point, the Midwest is about wrapped up, and Pennsylvania and New York are at a similar stage as Vermont, though slightly ahead of the Green Mountains, Richardson noted.

“We're just patiently waiting for Mother Nature to let us have sweet stuff," he said.

— Gareth Henderson

Vt. unveils vaccine eligibility dates, eases bar restrictions

A scenic view of the Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The state of Vermont has unveiled how it plans to make all adults eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine before May 1. 

On Friday, Gov. Phil Scott announced the scheduling of the final age groups for vaccine eligibility, and he also announced another change in Vermont’s statewide guidance for businesses. As of Wednesday, bars and social clubs will be able to operate at 50% capacity, with restrictions. 

Scott reminded the public that it’s still crucial to follow the basic public health guidance, like masking and social distancing.  

“We’ve got to stay united in order to get through this with the fewest lives lost and emerge stronger than we were before,” he said. 

In one month, all Vermonters over age 16 will be able to register for vaccine appointments, and based on expected supply from the federal government, the state aims to have all eligible people immunized by the end of June. 

The next age group, Vermonters age 60 and over, will be eligible for appointments as of March 25. Currently, the 65+ age group, and those 16 and older with specified high risk health conditions, are eligible. 

The entire upcoming schedule is as follows, with the age groups and when eligibility begins:

• 60+ : March 25          

• 50+ : March 29                            

• 40+ : April 5                  

• 30+ : April 12                

• 16+ : April 19  

With this approach and a steady supply of doses, Scott said the Fourth of July should look more normal, and graduating high school seniors could possibly have a “more traditional graduation.” 

“After seeing the second half of your junior year, and now your senior year, turned upside down, you deserve it, and we’re going to do everything we can to make it happen,” Scott said at his Friday press conference.  

Officials emphasized that the age-group eligibility dates represent the date registration opens for each group. The length of the entire process will vary, but Vermonters can expect it to take up to two months from the time you register to the point where you are considered to be fully vaccinated. This includes the anticipated time between registration and the date of your first appointment, the time between the first and last dose, and the two weeks needed after a last dose for it to be at maximum effectiveness.

Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said the long-awaited reality of many more people being able to get their vaccine is a significant step forward. At the same time, he cautioned Vermonters that with variant strains of the highly transmissible virus being identified in Vermont, prevention and testing must still be a priority.

“To really find our way out of this pandemic, along with registering for vaccination as soon as your age band opens, we must all continue to follow the very simple, but critically important guidance of masks, distancing and cautious travel,” Levine said in a statement. “This is the only way to stay ahead in the race. Through prevention, testing and vaccination, we can achieve a level of community immunity that will bring us out of this pandemic. We can cross the ‘public health finish line’ sooner, together.”

To date, more than 161,000 Vermonters have already received at least one dose of vaccine, representing about 30% of the 16 and older population.

Also on Friday, the governor announced updates to COVID-19 guidance for bars and social clubs, like American Legions and VFWs. These establishments are being moved under the state’s restaurant guidance, which will allow them to reopen within that sector’s current restrictions. These include operating at 50% capacity, requiring patrons to be seated at tables with a maximum of six per table, six feet of distance between parties, masking and more. Municipalities will be able to place more restrictions on these establishments in their jurisdictions.

— Gareth Henderson

More help available for Vt. sole proprietors

The Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

As COVID-19 relief efforts continue nationwide, a program in Vermont is supplying an additional $1.6 million in grants for sole proprietors. 

That’s the second round of funding for a statewide block grant program administered by the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) and Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission (TRORC). The first round of economic relief grants was awarded to 157 businesses totaling $1,385,000 between August 2020 and March 2021. The program is supported by federal dollars.

The new round of grants comes at a time of great need, when many businesses are looking to get to the other side of winter amid the pandemic. 

“We know this money will help many more businesses but will come nowhere near the total need that is out there,” said Bobbi Kilburn, of BDCC, in Wednesday’s announcement.

Peter Gregory, of TRORC, noted the ongoing efforts of the Legislature to provide more aid. For example, lawmakers are working on a fast-track spending bill to provide much-needed relief to individuals, families and businesses. 

“We are encouraged that state legislators are currently considering adding significant state dollars to these modest federal funds in order to support small- and medium-sized businesses across the state,” Gregory said in the official statement.

This second round of funding will offer grants between $1,500 and $10,000 to qualifying sole proprietors on a first come, first served basis. Applications will open on April 5 and run through May 26. 

Applicants must demonstrate financial need through business expenditures which have not yet been reimbursed through other relief programs. Expenditures may represent expenses incurred between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, or ongoing expenses in order to “pivot” business operations due to the pandemic. The program is funded by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program. The federal funds are passed through the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.

Eligibility criteria has been altered for this second round of grants to include both sole proprietors with no W2 employees and S-Corp owners with no W2 employees. Other key eligibility criteria include that the applicant must:

• Be from a Low to Moderate Income household per federal guidelines, which is defined as having a household income of 80% or below the area median income for your county.

• Be a for-profit entity, providing goods or services to clients.

• Have a physical establishment in Vermont.

• Have pre-pandemic or current gross annual revenues of over $24,450 for the business.

• Have been legally established prior to March 15, 2020.

Webinar training to explain the online application process will be available on April 1. To sign up for the webinar and learn more about the program breakdown, full eligibility requirements, application materials and timelines, contacts for language translation services, and to view technical assistance recorded trainings, visit the program website: https://www.vermont-cdbg-cv.com/

TRORC will be administering funds for the counties of Windsor, Orange, Caledonia, Essex, Orleans, Franklin, Grand Isle, and Chittenden. BDCC will be administering funds for the counties of Windham, Bennington, Rutland, Addison, Washington, and Lamoille.

Woodstock Village budget approved 

Voters approved the proposed $1,345,829 Woodstock Village budget proposal at the polls on Tuesday, in a 41-0 tally. The budget, which has a slight increase over last year, includes $578,655 to be raised by taxes. 

Three Woodstock Village Trustees running unopposed for reelection were also on the 2021 ballot. Board Chair Jeff Kahn will be serving a new three-year term, William Corson a two-year term and Brenda Blakeman a one-year term. Blakeman and Corson were each appointed to the board last year; Kahn has served multiple terms as a village trustee.

— Gareth Henderson

Governor: Vaccine news clears way to meet May 1 deadline

An Elm Street view of Woodstock Village. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Continued good news on vaccine supply has cleared the way for Vermont to meet the eligibility goal set out by President Joe Biden, according to Gov. Phil Scott.

In his televised address last week, Biden directed states to make all adults eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by May 1, and Scott was optimistic about meeting that goal, given sufficient supply. In a call on Tuesday, White House officials assured governors of increasing supply in coming weeks, including for the important single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 

Vermont can expect a total of 800 additional doses next week between all vaccines, and further increases in April, Scott told the media Tuesday. That includes receiving 4,000 to 5,000 Johnson & Johnson doses each week by late April. 

With that update, the state plans to open vaccine appointments for another age group this week, and Scott said Vermont might even exceed the president’s goal.

“This is the assurance we've been waiting for, and we’ll use this information to update our projections, and on Friday, we’ll announce when our next age band, 60+, will open,” he said. The news will also allow the state to fully outline its plan for the remaining age bands. 

More than 1 in 4 adult Vermonters have received at least their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and the numbers are going in the right direction, according to Human Services Secretary Mike Smith.

“We’re seeing a slow but steady increase in vaccine manufacturing and a decrease in deaths from the virus,” Smith said at the press briefing. “This is remarkable and really speaks to how we have been able to really stick together and move toward overcoming the most devastating health crisis in more than 100 years.” 

As of Tuesday, 152,800 Vermonters had been vaccinated against COVID, and 87,200 of those have received both doses. 

Already filed your taxes? You haven’t missed a key exclusion

If you’re a Vermonter who already filed their 2020 taxes, your state wants you to consider whether you might qualify for an important new exclusion for jobless aid — but don’t do anything just yet.

The convergence of tax season and the passage of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill have led to several key directives, and the latest one was at Tuesday’s state press briefing, referencing those who filed their 2020 taxes before the bill became law last Thursday. 

The relief package excludes from taxation the first $10,200 of unemployment aid for taxpayers who had less than $150,000 in adjusted gross income in 2020. That exclusion is per-person, meaning the amount goes up to $20,400 for a married couple, provided they both individually received at least $10,200 in jobless benefits.

“This is an unprecedented, retroactive exclusion, and it’s a very valuable one,” said Susanne Young, Vermont’s secretary of administration.

Young said people who already filed their taxes should not file an amended return, but need to wait for upcoming guidance from the IRS about how to claim this exclusion. People can keep track of updates at irs.gov. 

For this exemption to follow through to Vermont, the state Legislature must approve a corresponding exemption in the Vermont tax code. That effort is underway. 

During her remarks, Young also noted the IRS is using the most recently processed tax returns to determine eligibility for the much-anticipated $1,400 stimulus checks in the relief bill. 

“For those who haven’t yet filed their 2020 returns, the IRS will use the 2019 return to determine payments,” Young said.

The $1,400 direct payments are going to each taxpayer earning less than $75,000 per year; the limit is less than $160,000 for married couples. Payments of $1,400 will be received for each dependent in the household as well.

Young also outlined other assistance around unemployment. The relief bill continues the federal enhanced unemployment aid of $300 per week to Sept. 6. It also extends pandemic emergency unemployment compensation to that same date, while increasing the total number of weeks for benefits from 24 to 53. 

The bill also provides a 100% subsidy of COBRA payments from April 21 to Sept. 30 for people who lost their jobs because of the pandemic and are eligible for COBRA. 

— Gareth Henderson

Governor loosens rules, responds to Biden deadline

A view from the Ottauquechee River Trail in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

As promised, the state of Vermont made further changes to public health guidance on Friday, as the number of vaccinated Vermonters steadily increases. The state reached a new milestone in that process: 1 in 4 Vermonters have now received at least their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Gov. Phil Scott also said the state could exceed President Joe Biden’s new directive that states make all adults vaccine-eligible by May 1. But first, the state needs to know how much Johnson & Johnson vaccine it will get, and he was confident that update would be forthcoming.

At a Friday press briefing, Gov. Phil Scott announced immediate changes to rules on small multi-household gatherings and table seating at restaurants. The changes allow two unvaccinated households to gather at a time, and restaurants can seat multiple households together, but no more than six people can be seated at the same table. Masking, distancing, capacity limits, and other guidelines remain in place.

At a press briefing, Scott acknowledged Vermont continues to take one of the most cautious approaches to reopening, and this has caused some frustration. 

"I hear from people every day who think we should be moving faster to reopen like some other states have," Scott said. "But there's a reason we have the lowest number of (COVID-related) deaths in the country, and the lowest death rate in the continental U.S. If our death rate was as high as some of our neighbors, like New York, we wouldn't be talking about 212 lives lost. We'd be talking about 1,500 or more."  

Scott said he'd continue to take a "methodical and strategic approach", guided by the health experts. He also noted that, as more people get vaccinated, Vermonters can expect the loosening of public health restrictions to be more frequent than last spring, when the vaccine was not available.

Speaking of vaccinations, the governor responded to questions his office received following President Joe Biden's televised speech on Thursday night, during which he directed states to expand vaccine eligibility to all adults by May 1. 

Scott said he thought Vermont could exceed that target, but the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine is the key to meeting it. He said the state is waiting for federal confirmation on what its Johnson & Johnson allotment will look like. 

"Following President Biden's remarks, I'm assuming a clear supply picture will be made available to the states as soon as possible, so we can confirm the schedule of our remaining age bands and share it with you next week," Scott said. "But again, I want Vermonters to know, if the federal government delivers the supply, we'll more than deliver on the president's eligibility goal." 

Sanders: Rapid relief a key point of $1.9 trillion bill

For U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the direct stimulus checks going out now to about 90% of Americans are a key feature of the COVID-19 relief bill President Joe Biden signed into law Thursday.

On Friday, Sanders emphasized that rapid economic relief is what many Vermonters and people across the country badly need. For those with direct deposit, those $1,400 relief payments should show up in bank accounts in the next few days, he added.

"I have believed for a very long time, that in a moment when half of the people in our country are living paycheck to paycheck, probably the most important thing that we could do at this moment is just get cash into the hands of struggling families," Sanders said at Friday's state press conference.

The bill also has provisions meant to address child poverty, including increasing the federal child tax credit from $2,000 to $3,600 for families with kids under age 6. In fact, Sanders said, estimates project the legislation will cut child poverty by up to 50%.

"This bill, in a very aggressive way, addresses that crisis," Sanders said.

The senator said he'll never forget seeing the long lines of cars lining up all over the state for emergency food packages last year.

"People are hurting, and they need help," Sanders said.

From the new relief package, Vermont will see $1.3 billion. Within that, the state gets $152 million for rent and utility relief and $50 million for mortgage assistance.

Sanders also shared important news for the many Vermonters who filed for unemployment in 2020. The relief bill adds a tax deduction for the first $10,000 in unemployment benefits an individual received in 2020.

With the bill's passage, enhanced federal unemployment benefits of $300 per week are extended into early September. It also provides more funding for vaccination efforts, aid for school reopenings and assistance for businesses.

Noting the great need to help children during the recovery, Sanders said the bill nearly triples federal funding for summer and after-school programs. It also supplies an additional $391 million in federal funding for child care.

"The bottom line is, this is an enormously comprehensive piece of legislation. It will impact, I suspect, almost every family in the state of Vermont," Sanders said. "The goal here is to do everything that we can to help people who are struggling right now, to rebuild our economy, to open up our businesses, to get our children back to school, and to crush this pandemic as quickly as we can."

In the coming weeks, he said, people can expect Congress to take on big issues like infrastructure, energy systems and climate change, noting each of those areas can create jobs as the country moves forward.

State provides update on school staff vaccinations

The state of Vermont's efforts to roll out vaccinations for school employees has gone well for the most part, though with a few "bumps in the road", according to state education officials.

On Monday, the state began vaccine eligibility for teachers, school staff and child care providers. This included school-based clinics offered around the state.

At Friday's press briefing, Education Secretary Dan French said there were some issues regarding the location of vaccination appointments, as some appointment slots filled up more quickly than others.

“I just wanted to assure people that new clinics will be implemented as the supply increases, so school staff should not worry about being able to get an appointment if they weren't able to get one this week," French said.

Additionally, school staff in Vermont can also get vaccinated through the federal pharmacy program, which includes over 20 Walgreens locations throughout the state. French encouraged school staff to check on Walgreens appointment slots for availability as well, at walgreens.com.

Also on Friday, French shared a note of progress for the return to in-person learning. In February, Vermont schools saw slight increases of in-person learning across all grade levels.

"As the weather gets warmer and vaccination expands, we can expect to see the amount of in-person continue to increase in the coming weeks," French said.

As of Friday, over 11,000 educators, school staff, and child care providers have made appointments.

Also this week, vaccine registration opened for all Vermonters over age 16 with certain high-risk health conditions, and 21,700 people in that group of about 75,000 have signed up.

For appointments and eligibility details, visit healthvermont.gov/myvaccine or call 855-722-7878.

— Gareth Henderson

Route 4 paving project coming soon

Woodstock Village on a spring-like Wednesday afternoon. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The state process is moving ahead for the extensive Route 4 paving project in Woodstock Village this year — a project that could start as soon as next month.

This was one of the key topics covered at the Village Meeting discussion online Tuesday night. Being held on Zoom due to the pandemic, there were no amendments allowed nor votes taken at the informational meeting. All voting this year is by Australian Ballot, including on such items as the village budget and elected officers. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 16 at town hall. 

As for the Route 4 paving, bids for the project opened on March 5. The exact start date will be determined by the contractor, according to Village Trustee Daphne Lowe. The trustees have urged the state to begin the work no later than May 1, and hopefully in April. The project must conclude by Sept. 24, unless there are weather-related delays. The village portions of Route 12 and Route 106 are also part of the project. 

“The worst part of the project, as far as disruption, will be the grinding, about the first four weeks or so,” said Village Trustees Chair Jeff Kahn. 

Kahn said part of the contract allows for some night work, but they won’t go late into the evening and won’t begin early in the morning. They don’t plan to work on weekends. Lowe said there will be one-lane traffic through the village at times, and some issues with parking. 

“I think they’re going to be as considerate as they can” throughout the process, Lowe said. 

Another big topic for the year has to do with the trucks that use Route 4. Kahn said there’s an effort by some lawmakers to repeal the free overlength truck permits the state has allowed for years, for overlength trucks traveling on Route 4 from Hartford, through Woodstock, and to the Route 100 intersection in Bridgewater. The free permits have kept the number of oversized trucks down in the village, and the village enforces them. If the repeal is successful, Kahn said, it’s estimated Woodstock would see an additional 15,000 53-foot trucks coming through its downtown.

Kahn, Highway Superintendent Ken Vandenburgh and Police Chief Robbie Blish recently met with the Senate Transportation Committee. Kahn said there was a feeling of “jealousy or resentment” toward Woodstock regarding the permits. 

“They don’t see why we should have that special treatment when other towns don’t have that,” he said. 

Kahn disagreed with that sentiment and said reducing the amount of overlength trucks is important for safety in the village and also to sustain the road’s infrastructure over time. He said this matter is not being taken up in the House, but could still make it into Senate legislation. He said Sen. Alison Clarkson, of Woodstock, came up with a compromise if the repeal looks likely. It has to do with two locations involving safety concerns: the hairpin turn at the corner by Maplefields, and the sharp turn at the western end of the Rec Center Bridge.

“The amendment that Sen. Clarkson prepared would at least say that those two corners should be re-engineered and fixed before that permit is repealed,” Kahn said.  

He added, “Hopefully they won’t repeal it, but it doesn’t look good.” 

A question was raised about reducing the current 25 mph speed limit or adding speed bumps if the repeal goes through. However, Blish said those would both be up to the state. By law, police can’t enforce a speed limit under 25 mph, he added. 

As for the main items on the village ballot, voters are considering a village budget of $1,345,829, which includes $578,655 to be raised by taxes. That involves a slight increase over last year. Pointing out changes, Municipal Manager William Kerbin noted the municipal office is spending $9,250 to fix its 15-year-old phone system.

Also on the ballot are three trustees running unopposed for reelection. Kahn is running for a three-year term, William Corson for a two-year seat and Brenda Blakeman for a one-year term. Blakeman and Corson were each appointed to the board last year; Kahn has served multiple terms as a village trustee.

— Gareth Henderson

Vt. continues vaccine progress; more rule changes on tap

A view from Sherman Hollow Road in Huntington, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The state of Vermont opened COVID-19 vaccine appointments for the largest phase yet of its process this week. With over one-fifth of Vermonters over age 16 having received at least their first dose, the state plans to also roll out another change to its public health guidance at its next press briefing. 

Last week, the state eased its gathering rule to allow vaccinated households to gather with others who are vaccinated, as well as with one other household that is not vaccinated. 

“On Friday, we plan to announce changes for small gatherings as well,” Gov. Phil Scott said Tuesday. “This will have an impact for restaurants, too, so stay tuned.” 

As for the statewide vaccine effort, the current phase 5 includes about 75,000 Vermonters with certain high-risk health conditions, and the group is split into two parts. On Monday, phase 5A began, opening vaccine eligibility for those 55 and older with high-risk health conditions. 

“On the first day, just under 10,000 had signed up, which is a bit fewer than we’d hoped,” Scott said at Tuesday’s press conference. 

Because of that, the governor said, the state is moving up the first day of vaccine sign-ups for phase 5B, which is now Thursday. That part of the group involves those 16 and older with high-risk conditions. Scott noted it’s a large group and “we want to get to them as quickly as possible.” A list of eligible high-risk health conditions is available near the bottom of this page, below the “Eligibility” graphic.

Also on Monday, the state began vaccinations for school staff and child care providers, and expanded eligibility for public safety personnel and corrections staff. Scott said those vaccination opportunities were made possible by increased vaccine supply from the federal government and the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Vaccination for the first three age groups in Vermont’s vaccine process — 75+, 70+ and 65+ — made faster progress than anticipated. As of Tuesday, over 82% of Vermonters age 75 and older had either received their first dose or been fully vaccinated. That’s above the national average for vaccination within the 75+ age group, which is about 70%.

Vermont showed an increase in average daily COVID-19 cases this week, however, the state is still projecting a gradual overall decrease in cases over the next month as vaccinations continue, with that decline becoming sharper in the spring. The state’s positivity rate continues to be one of the lowest in the nation, at 1.58%.

Scott said it’s “still as important as ever” to follow the public health guidance in place, noting Vermonters should wear masks, use social distancing, wash hands and stay home when sick.

“We’re in the final quarter of this very tough game, so let’s all do our part so we can exit the pandemic as quickly as possible,” the governor said. 

— Gareth Henderson

Guide to 2021 Woodstock Village Meeting

Lights illuminating Woodstock Village during the colder months. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Woodstock’s annual Village Meeting is going online for the first time, after Town Meeting also went virtual due to the pandemic.

The Village Trustees are holding an informational meeting on Zoom at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. There will be no amendments, and all voting is by Australian ballot. Among the ballot items are the village budget and elected officers. The village polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 16 at town hall. Printed copies of the 2020 Village Report are available at town hall and other locations, and the report is also online. Absentee ballots can be returned to the town clerk up until 4:30 p.m. on March 15, or voters can turn them in at the polls on March 16.

On Tuesday, a number of topics will be presented by the Trustees, and one of them is the state-run Route 4 paving project in the village. The Route 4 project will begin on approximately May 1 and must be finished by Sept. 26, according to Village Trustees Chair Jeff Kahn. The first month of the project will involve grinding pavement, and two surface layers will be put down in the following weeks. Traffic will continue, but sometimes it will be down to one lane. Along with Route 4 in the village, this project entails the village portion of Route 12 and also the village section of South Road (Route 106). 

Having this project done in the second year of the pandemic is a challenge, with businesses already suffering, Kahn noted. He encouraged residents to support local businesses during the project period. 

“The plus, of course, is that hopefully that road will hold up and won't need to be done for another decade," Kahn said. 

On the brighter side, Kahn noted that, in spite of a difficult 2020, the new East End Park was able to open. The scenic park along the Ottauquechee River is about to go into its first full season, available to the public for play, picnicking and special events. Kahn said Pentangle is planning to move their summer music series to the park and is planning a town-wide celebration at the end of the 2022 series.  

In other good news: Teagle Landing, located by the Kedron Brook off Central Street, is set to be renovated this year. That work will start in May and will be completed sometime in the summer.

Additionally, other topics presented Tuesday night will be the local mask ordinance, the short-term rental ordinance, the Cannabis Committee, the overlength trucks, the police union contract, the new parking meters and kiosks, and local parks. 

The local Cannabis Committee is studying the issue of retail cannabis operations as it relates to Woodstock. This comes after a new law allowing a tax-and-regulate system for cannabis went into effect last October in Vermont. This month, a number of Vermont towns held votes over whether to permit such businesses locally. Kahn anticipated a village vote on the matter in 2022, and the committee is gathering information.  

“The village will provide information from both sides of the question, pluses and minuses, so voters can make an informed decision,” he said. 

Regarding overlength trucks, Kahn said the village is working to maintain the free truck permits that keep the number of oversized trucks down in the village. There is currently an effort in the Legislature to remove these permits. 

As for the $1,345,829 village budget proposal, it includes $578,655 to be raised by taxes. A slight change is anticipated in the tax rate, going up to a rate of .2021, meaning an increase of 62 cents per $100,000 of valuation. That’s an increase of $2.48 for a $400,000 home.  

“That small an increase is one I think the public should be very pleased with," Kahn said. 

Municipal Manager William Kerbin said the village was very conscious of controlling costs as much as possible, given the ongoing impact of the pandemic. 

“We really kind of held the bottom line here, when we looked at keeping the overall costs down,” Kerbin said.

On Tuesday night, Village Trustee incumbents Kahn, Brenda Blakeman and William Corson will address the public about their bids for reelection this year. All three are running unopposed.

The informational meeting isn’t the only event on Tuesday evening: It will be followed by a regular Village Trustees meeting.

— Gareth Henderson

Swanson defeats Davies in Woodstock Select Board bid

Woodstock Town Hall in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Joe Swanson cruised to victory on Tuesday, defeating Woodstock Select Board incumbent Jill Davies by a decisive 541-400 tally.

In a statement Tuesday evening, Swanson said he was “overwhelmed by the amount of support and trust” from Woodstock voters.

“I am looking forward to being a part of a respectful Select Board that achieves success through cooperation and inclusiveness,” Swanson said. “All of us will work to maintain the charm and warmth of Woodstock while acting in a financially prudent manner.”

In an interview Tuesday night, Davies said she was sorry not to be continuing her work on the board, but she wished Swanson well in his upcoming three-year term. She also emphasized the need to work together.

"I know it's been a difficult campaign for the community, and I really hope we can build some bridges together and create one resilient community," Davies said.

Swanson, a Woodstock Police sergeant and Army veteran, is the son of the late Phil Swanson, Woodstock's longtime municipal manager. Davies, who has many years of experience as a management consultant, had served four years on the Select Board and was seeking her third term.

In other election news, Ray Bourgeois was uncontested in his bid for a two-year seat on the Select Board. In the race for first constable, incumbent Kelly Linton notched a 638-122 victory over challenger Devon Kurtz. All ballot items passed, including the town and school district budgets.

— Gareth Henderson

Welch: Stimulus bill key for fully reopening schools

A sunny afternoon view of Wyman Lane in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermont's governor wants schools fully open by the middle of April, and the federal COVID-19 relief bill is designed to help schools as they transition back to in-person learning, according to U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, of Vermont.

The $1.9 trillion bill being taken up in the U.S. Senate has $170 billion going to schools. On VPR's Vermont Edition on Monday, Welch recalled when he visited the Winooski school district earlier during the pandemic, and observed all the changes they had to make to run their schools during the pandemic, which cost them about $2 million.

"This (stimulus) money is a recognition by the federal government that opening schools is easier said than done, and it requires resources and the spending of money in order to do it safely for our kids and for our teachers," Welch told VPR.

He said this federal relief could help schools hire extra personnel as they go back to in-person learning, which may include more nurses to take temperatures, for example. The funding could also help reconfigure classrooms for social distancing. Overall, Welch said any use of the federal aid must have a "COVID-related nexus", but it is less restrictive than prior aid packages. That means these new funds could be used on expenditures which could also have long-term benefits, such as improving school ventilation. The greater flexibility was something requested by the governor previously, Welch said during the VPR interview.

Currently, about 30% of Vermont schools have full-time, in-person instruction, 50% are hybrid, and 20% are fully remote. On Friday, the Scott administration announced its statewide effort to get schools back to full-time, in-person learning by year's end, and hopefully by mid-April. Education Secretary Dan French expects to give more details about that plan this week.

The topic has been one of intense debate nationally. On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a school reopening deal with lawmakers, and on Friday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a school reopening bill that he said was a threat to public health.

There seems to be broad agreement that getting students back to full-time, in-person learning is crucial, although some are concerned about the idea of reopening when not all teachers are fully vaccinated. Vermont is taking that into account as the next steps on its vaccination plan are considered. On Monday, the state opened up vaccination appointments to Vermonters age 65 and over.

Last Friday, Gov. Scott said the main reason to push for a full school reopening is "to reverse the negative impact of the pandemic on our kids."

"We have to start assessing the educational, social and emotional impact the pandemic and remote learning has had on our kids," Scott said. "Then we have to work together to reverse those impacts, as quickly as we possibly can. And that means, in this case, in-person instruction.”

A Senate vote on the federal aid package is anticipated in the next two weeks, since extended federal unemployment benefits expire on March 14.

— Gareth Henderson 

Relief bills advance as Vt. lawmakers eye longer session

A view of the mountains from Cloudland Road in Pomfret, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Much-anticipated COVID-19 relief moved forward in Congress and the Vermont Legislature this week. 

Both proposals were voted out of their respective House chambers and are headed to the Senate level. A $1.9 trillion federal bill got House approval late Friday night. Key elements in that proposal would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, extend federal unemployment insurance, deliver $1,400 direct payments to most Americans, help small businesses and support vaccination efforts. In total, the bill has $960 million for Vermont.

“This bold relief bill is a critical step to get us through and eventually recover from this unprecedented pandemic,” U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, of Vermont, said in a statement. 

The Vermont relief bill totals $80 million and now awaits state Senate action. It will be the top priority for lawmakers when they return from their week-long break from legislative deliberations. The bill includes $10 million in grants for businesses that didn’t previously qualify for federal aid; $10 million for affordable housing; $1.3 million for the Reach Up program for one-time payments to families in need; $1.4 million for the Vermont Food Bank; and $5 million for the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative.

On Saturday, State Rep. Charlie Kimbell and Sen. Alison Clarkson, the Senate majority leader, updated voters from Woodstock, Plymouth and Reading on the legislative session. Clarkson said COVID-19 relief was at the top of the list and that lawmakers are looking to “leverage these precious federal dollars” to help on a host of issues for Vermonters, such as housing needs and broadband access.

However, lawmakers are also making recovery a priority, including focusing on areas like unemployment insurance and expanding telemedicine — which have been crucial for Vermonters during this time. 

“We’re really focused on learning lessons from pandemic,” Clarkson said. She also noted they’re considering how to sustain the unemployment fund for the long-term, while also being sensitive about how businesses are impacted. Another result of those “lessons learned” is a bill currently being considered, which would allow changes in municipal functions, such as moving public meetings to Zoom, if there is a declared state emergency.

Another major topic was the future of the Vermont State Colleges System. Last year, then-Chancellor Jeb Spaulding proposed that two campuses be closed, which drew great public ire at the time. On Monday, the board of trustees voted to consolidate Northern Vermont University, Castleton University and Vermont Technical College into one entity. Under this new plan, Community College of Vermont would become a separate institution. 

The system is looking for additional funding from the Legislature to move forward with the merger, and this funding also considers the actual costs of demolishing some buildings and/or consolidating operations, according to Kimbell.

“They are committed to maintaining operations at their locations, but they have to alter those operations,” Kimbell said via email after Saturday’s meeting. Currently, the state colleges system receives $30 million in the state budget each year. In a separate request, the system is seeking to increase that base funding by $17.5 million.

Over the past year, one of the most significant issues facing workers has been child care. Kimbell said lawmakers are looking at how to address access to child care and help with funding.

“There are 20,000 fewer people in the workforce now, than before the pandemic,” he noted. Kimbell said many people either couldn’t find child care, or opted to home-school their children amid concerns about COVID-19. 

On a different issue, the implementation of Vermont’s tax-and-regulate cannabis law came up. A question was raised about the Cannabis Control Board, which sets and administers the rules for the tax-and-regulate system, and when members would be appointed to the new board. Clarkson answered that this is up to the governor’s office, and Senate leadership will urge the governor to complete that process.

“It is pushing everything behind, and we have 2,000 businesses waiting for this work to go forward, and for the structure to be all set up,” Clarkson said. 

The tax-and-regulate cannabis law went into effect last October. Kimbell said a number of towns on Tuesday will vote on whether to allow retail cannabis businesses. Recently, Woodstock municipal leaders established a group to study the issue for Woodstock.  

Moving forward, it looks like lawmakers are in for another long session. It may again go into the summer to give the Legislature time to appropriate the nearly $1 billion expected from the new federal relief bill. 

That also means a lot more time on Zoom, which, Kimbell and Clarkson acknowledged, has been a challenge for legislative work. The time spent during breaks and in the cafeteria during an in-person legislative session is important to understanding the issues surrounding a bill, Clarkson said. Those informal conversations don’t always make it into the day, in the current context.

“Really challenging to do some of that informal work that comes from being together,” Clarkson said. 

In a later interview, Clarkson explained lawmaking often involves having “very private conversations” with people about what’s driving their views. That’s harder to facilitate, being outside of the in-person environment.

However, Clarkson said she was glad the Legislature has the option to meet on Zoom. Furthermore, she noted that last year, lawmakers appropriated over $1 billion, and she’s confident they can accomplish the same high level of work for Vermonters this year.

“We’re soldiering through, we're doing best we can with the limits that we face," she said.

Clarkson is vice chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs, and is also on the Senate Government Operations Committee. Kimbell is a member of the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee. 

Other issues they spoke about Saturday included: 

• A proposal to remove the state education tax from the property tax and make it an income tax, from the Tax Structure Commission’s recent report. In this case, the education tax would be more closely tied to what the local school budget is.

• Examining unfunded pension liabilities for state employees and teachers. This has become “a $4.5 billion problem”, Kimbell said, and lawmakers are hoping to craft a plan to make the system  more sustainable. Currently, the state pays $389 million from the general fund each year. 

• Incentives to improve broadband access, by providing funding to more communications union districts, like ECFiber. 

• A bill which assesses the need for school construction projects statewide. Kimbell mentioned there has been no state aid for school buildings since 2007. Woodstock is currently in the planning process for building a new high school. 

• A bill which would establish a statewide rental registry, which state agencies could access for information about rental properties. Clarkson said this would have been useful to have both during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, and now during the pandemic. 

• An elections bill which makes permanent the mailing-out of ballots for general elections. The proposal also gives the ability to cure ballots and provides more flexibility around polling places. 

— Gareth Henderson

Click on the following links to contact Sen. Alison Clarkson or Rep. Charlie Kimbell.

Governor encouraged by efforts on Vt. relief bill

The Woodstock Village Green in early February. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermont lawmakers are currently working on a $62 million COVID-19 relief bill, and on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Scott told reporters he was encouraged by the proposal’s progress. The House plans to complete its work on the package and send it to the Senate later this week, according to news reports. 

Highlights from the bill include $10 million in grants for businesses that didn’t qualify for federal COVID relief; $1.3 million for the Reach Up program to provide one-time payments for families in need; $1.4 million for the Vermont Foodbank; and $5 million for the state’s mental health system. The legislation also fast-tracks $10 million in funding for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and another $10 million for trail networks and outdoor recreation infrastructure — both elements of the governor's budget proposal. 

At Tuesday’s press briefing, Scott praised lawmakers for their work on the new bill. He noted the package had money for state park infrastructure projects, and he was pleased with the overall proposal.

“I don’t see any showstoppers at this point,” Scott said. “I think it’s great news for Vermont, because these are projects that can hit the ground running, that can put a shovel in the ground almost immediately.”

The $62 million package was approved Monday by the House Appropriations Committee, according to media reports. Funding for the bill comes from one-time state money and about $13 million left over from the federal COVID relief dollars Vermont received in 2020.

States are eager for help from the next federal relief package making its way through Congress. The U.S. House is expected to vote on the Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion relief bill later this week.

— Gareth Henderson

Online Town Meeting features projects, local candidates

Route 4 in Woodstock Village, shown here by The Green, is due to be re-paved this summer. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

For two hours on Saturday, the town of Woodstock conducted its annual Town Meeting discussion on Zoom for the first time, covering a number of projects on the horizon. Three Select Board candidates also spoke to voters, a little more than a week out from the March 2 election.

A giant paving project in the village, a new Emergency Services Building and planning for Town Hall renovations were among the meeting’s major topics, as about 50 people showed up at the online gathering. Starting off, Moderator Matt Maxham explained the rules, including that no amendments would be taken and all voting is by Australian ballot this year due to the pandemic. One more informational meeting is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m., also on Zoom.

The polls are open on Tuesday, March 2, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and registered voters can request an absentee ballot from the town clerk to vote early. This coming Friday is the last day absentee ballots can be returned to the clerk’s office, but they can also be turned in during the voting on March 2. 

Turning to the projects, Fire Chief David Green said the town hopes to break ground on the new Emergency Services Building on April 1, and DEW Construction of Williston has been selected as the contractor. A bond was previously approved by voters to pay for the new building. 

This year, the state is paving Route 4 in Woodstock Village during the summer. Part of Route 12 and also Route 106 from the village to the Woodstock Country Club will be paved as well. Two informational Zoom meetings will be held to discuss the Route 4 project. The first is for residents on Feb. 25 at 1 p.m., and a meeting for businesses is on March 3 at 7 p.m. 

Over the past year, Woodstock’s highway crew got as much work done as possible in the areas where the paving project will occur, according to Select Board member L.D. “Butch” Sutherland, Jr. This year, the town hopes to do some work near the East End and Maplefields before the paving starts. This past year, given the lack of funds, contractors and time, the town focused more on getting curbs re-set, Sutherland explained. 

“We’re looking at the worst areas and moving forward with those,” he said. 

Some other local roads are on the list for blacktopping this year, and work on the Pleasant Street sidewalk is also in the plans. In all, Sutherland said, the town is planning on $128,000 in paving this year. 

As for the Town Hall, Select Board member Jill Davies said the town is assessing the needed work, which is extensive.

“There is quite a lot of repair and renovation that needs to happen,” she said. 

Some work was done on the side of the building during the past year. Now, the town is working with architects to draw up some plans for the first and second floors, including interior and exterior work, town office renovation, upgrading the theater and sorting out ADA access, Davies said. They’re also examining options for the old addition on the back of the building; the addition was built in 1928. For the overall Town Hall project, the town is hoping to fund it with significant private donations and grants, using a smaller amount of taxpayer money. The project already has $2 million in private donations and pledges, Davies said.

Also at Saturday’s online meeting, Select Board candidates addressed the public. Davies faces a challenge from Joe Swanson for a three-year seat. Ray Bourgeois is running unopposed for a two-year term on the Select Board.

Davies has served on the board for four years and is seeking her third term. She has many years of experience as a management consultant and has served on the boards of several local nonprofits. Davies said we all want to see Woodstock succeed, but we have to take steps to make sure the town has a sustainable future. “We’re reaching a critical moment,” she said.

Speaking after Saturday’s meeting, Davies said that work includes taking on issues like local housing, keeping taxes at a reasonable level, and good capital planning. She’s been involved in addressing the town’s infrastructure needs, including energy audits on all town buildings, and would like to continue her work as a Select Board member at this important time in the town’s history.

Swanson is currently a sergeant with the Woodstock Police. He served in the Vermont National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, where he rose to the rank of sergeant in the Guard. At Saturday’s Zoom meeting, Swanson emphasized the work he did during the recovery from Tropical Storm Irene, and his service as a town auditor. He wrote the grant for the EV charging station at the East End Park, to bring more electric-vehicle drivers into town. He is the son of the late Phil Swanson, Woodstock’s longtime municipal manager. Joe Swanson noted his own civic involvement in the community and the importance of communication.

“I want to foster a culture of cooperation and communication between Select Board members and members of the town administration, and community stakeholders,” Swanson said.    

Bourgeois, a retired Boston University grounds manager, was appointed to the Select Board and served for part of last year after Sonya Stover stepped down. He wrote budgets, managed equipment purchases and supervised staff during his 22 years at BU, and is looking to put his expertise to work for the town. For Bourgeois, the road infrastructure is a particular concern and he noted Woodstock will have to be ready for when the economy opens up.

“We’ll need to hit the ground running, with a capital plan in place,” he said in an interview Saturday afternoon. 

At the town’s online meeting, capital planning also came up. Woodstock Municipal Manager William Kerbin said the town has been working on updating its financial process. He said this doesn’t reflect any prior bad management. Rather, the town is bringing a renewed focus to transparency and managing future obligations, especially given the number of projects on the horizon. Kerbin said this will create a system that will be easier for the public to understand and easier for the town to work with. He said the current system “is not a sustainable system for municipal financial management.” 

Because of that, the town has been looking at possible changes in-depth for the past four months, Kerbin confirmed. The plan is to have a proposed Capital Budget for fiscal years 2023-2027 ready for Select Board review in November. 

Select Board Chair Mary Riley said the financial reporting process is being revamped so it reflects that the town is not a profit-and-loss organization. She emphasized that profit is not the focus. 

“We’re here to make our budget work for what we need and what we need to do,” Riley said.  

Speaking of that, there was a brief discussion on the town’s proposed $6,731,068 budget, which includes about $5 million to be raised by taxes. The budget reflects a 2.9% increase, which includes this year’s bond payment for Emergency Services Building project, Kerbin said.  

Near the close of the meeting, the Maxham, the town moderator, recognized two individuals who were recognized in the Town Report this year: Michael Brands, who retired as town planner and zoning administrator after over 30 years of service; and Paul Wildasin, who served as lister for 15 years and also retired in 2020.

“If we were all here in person, we would give them a big round of applause,” Maxham said. Sutherland, who is not running for reelection this year, was also recognized for his many years of service to Woodstock on Saturday, marking his last Town Meeting as a board member.

Through chat messages and vocally, a number of people praised the town for bringing Town Meeting online without a glitch. 

“I really applaud the Select Board for what’s been done here today,” said Jeff Kahn, who is also chair of the Village Trustees. 

One feature of Town Meeting that isn’t happening this year, is the annual update from state legislators. Rep. Charlie Kimbell said he and Sen. Alison Clarkson will hold a Zoom meeting for local residents next Saturday for that purpose. Stay tuned for details.

— Gareth Henderson

For more information about voting and Monday’s informational meeting, visit the town website at townofwoodstock.org or read Omni Reporter’s Guide to 2021 Woodstock Town Meeting.

Correction: The original version of this article had the incorrect date for the addition on the back of Woodstock Town Hall. The addition was built in 1928.

Guide to 2021 Woodstock Town Meeting

Woodstock Town Hall is shown above. This year, Woodstock is holding two informational meetings instead of the traditional, in-person Annual Town Meeting. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

A lively debate and a community lunch are cherished parts of Woodstock's annual town meeting, but things have a different look for 2021. Instead, all discussion is on Zoom, voting is by Australian ballot and lunch is at home. It's the latest example of important local traditions adjusting to life in a pandemic.

This year, the town will hold two public informational meetings on Zoom. They are this Saturday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. and on Monday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m. Connection information is online at townofwoodstock.org in the "Upcoming Meetings" section near the top of the home page.

On Friday morning, Select Board Chair Mary Riley said the town has been trying to get the word out about the 2021 Town Meeting arrangements as much as possible. The Town Warning has been posted on the website for over a week.

"It's different for all of us, so it's going to be a learning experience from the first word," Riley said.

No amendments on ballot items will be allowed at either meeting, and all items will be decided by Australian ballot. Polls are open on Tuesday, March 2, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Woodstock Town Hall. Like last November, early voting options are available. Registered voters can request an absentee ballot, and for that, Town Clerk Charlie Degener said "the sooner the better." Friday, Feb. 26, is the last day to return absentee ballots directly to the clerk's office, but they can also be turned in at the polls on March 2. Any mailed absentee ballots must be received by the time the polls close.

Degener said the biggest difference under these circumstances is the amount of absentee ballots coming in. But that isn't as new as it used to be.

"We had practice with that last year with the August primary and November election, so I think that should go smoothly," he said.

Degener said some voters have called in to ask about the details of the town meeting plan this year, but he noted that Woodstock always does some of its town meeting business at the voting booth.

"Unlike some towns who do everything from the floor, with our hybrid model, people are accustomed to voting on some issues by Australian ballot," Degener said.

When they head to the polls, Woodstock town voters will decide a pair of races this year. Select Board incumbent Jill Davies faces a challenge from Joe Swanson for a three-year seat. Vying for first constable are incumbent Kelly Linton and Devon Kurtz. Ray Bourgeois is running unopposed for a two-year term on the Select Board. Also on March 2, voters will decide on the proposed town budget of $6,731,068 — that includes about $5 million to be raised by taxes.

The 2020 Town Report can be viewed online, or request a physical copy by emailing Nikki Nourse at nnourse@townofwoodstock.org. The clerk's office is reachable at 802-457-3611 and will be closed on March 1 and March 2 for the election.

As for Woodstock Village, the Village Trustees will soon be getting the word out about their annual meeting, which will also be an informational meeting on Zoom. That will be held on March 9 at 7 p.m. The same rules apply — no amendments, and all voting is by Australian ballot. Village residents can vote absentee, including the mail-in option. The village polls will be open on March 16 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Printed copies of the 2020 Village Report will be available at town hall and other locations. Three Village trustees — Board Chair Jeff Kahn, Brenda Blakeman and William Corson — are running unopposed for reelection.

Speaking on Friday, Kahn said he hadn't heard from many village residents about the new arrangement, as much of the focus is currently on the town. He acknowledged the in-person element will be missed this year.

"We like looking at people and having questions answered and motions made from the floor, but that's not happening this year, and we'll carry on the best we can," Kahn said.

— Gareth Henderson

Data trends hopeful amid pandemic, officials say

A hillside scene by Stage Road in Pomfret, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Positive data trends continued in Vermont and nationwide as vaccination efforts advanced into a new age group in the state this week.

On Tuesday, Vermonters age 70 and older became eligible for COVID-19 vaccination appointments. On the same day, Gov. Phil Scott learned that Vermont’s vaccine allotment would increase by about 2,500 doses per week starting next week — part of an additional 2.5 million doses being rolled out nationwide.

It also appeared the vaccination effort so far is helping the state's numbers continue to improve. The seven-day average for new COVID-19 cases among 75+ age group has decreased from an average of 10 cases per day one month ago, to an average of about 3 cases per day now. Hospitalizations and deaths from the virus are on the decline here and across the country, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may get FDA emergency approval by month's end. But Scott said following health guidance is still critical to moving forward, even amid this good news.

"I encourage Vermonters to not let up, meaning follow the health guidance: Wear a mask, keep your distance and avoid crowds," Scott said at Tuesday's state press briefing.

The governor also said the CDC has issued new quarantine guidance for those who have been fully vaccinated, including what's required if someone is a close contact of someone with COVID-19 or traveling. Given that, Scott said the state is working out some changes to its public health guidance.

"This will be very narrow at first, but we hope to announce changes at Friday's briefing that will allow more mobility for Vermonters," Scott said. "So, stay tuned for that."

As of Tuesday at 11 a.m., over 11,000 Vermonters age 70 and older had registered to receive the vaccine. That's about one-third of that whole age group. Human Services Secretary Mike Smith urged people to be patient during the influx of phone calls from newly eligible Vermonters, and he asked anyone who can to register online.

"Things have been going well, but please be patient as call volumes are higher than normal," Smith said.

During Tuesday, all the state's vaccination sites were open during the ongoing stormy weather, with the exception of the UVM Medical Center's site at the Champlain Valley Expo grounds. Smith said UVM opted to close the site, and any Tuesday appointments were to be rescheduled for times within a week. Another vaccination clinic for that area was added for Saturday, he noted.

As of Tuesday, 78,200 Vermonters have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to state data. Vermonters age 75 and older became eligible for the vaccine late last month — 51% of people in that group have received their first dose, and many have appointments coming up.

Nearly 850 homebound Vermonters have also received their first dose of vaccine, Smith said. Now, the state is trying to reach out to homebound Vermonters who are not easily identified through home-health agencies, he explained. Smith said the state will continue outreach to hospitals and primary care offices to help locate those individuals.

"We want to extend our deepest appreciation to the many partners that have assisted us and continue to support a successful vaccination program across our state," Smith said.

— Gareth Henderson

Editor’s note: For clarification, within the state’s vaccination plan, Vermonters age 75 and older are in Phase 2 of the plan, and those in the 70+ age group are in Phase 3.

Winter Storm Uri closing in on New England

Woodstock Village after a storm earlier this month. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Widespread winter weather has broken snowfall records across the country, and Winter Storm Uri is now heading to New England, where snow and ice is expected to begin early Tuesday. 

Not all areas are due for tons of snow on Tuesday, but forecasters are warning about snow and ice mixing on the roads in many parts of the Northeast region. In Vermont, the higher snowfall is expected to be in the north, with much of the state, including the Woodstock area, getting 6 to 12 inches. Some southern areas may see less than 6. The farther south you go, the more ice on the roads will be the main issue, said Tyler Jankoski of MyNBC5. 

“The heavy snow and sleet is for all of us in the northern half of the region, with that icing south,” Jankoski said. 

A winter storm warning was in effect from 7 p.m. Monday through 7 p.m. for most of Vermont, with 1 to 2 inches of snow falling per hour between midnight and 7 a.m.

What’s coming is the culmination of what’s been an epic weather event elsewhere in the U.S. On Monday afternoon, communities from the Rio Grande to the Saint Lawrence River were under winter weather advisories, and about 3 million people were without power. Most of those were in Texas, where traffic in every major city ground to a halt because of snow. 

“I want to encourage people to stay home, to stay off the roads,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner at a press briefing.

Oklahoma City, which also had record snowfall, had endured five-straight days of 25-degree temperatures, and states across the Plains have recorded record-low temperatures as well. The weekend brought 11 inches of snow to Seattle, breaking that city’s snowfall record for February. 

As of 4 p.m. Monday, over half of the U.S. population remained under winter weather advisories. 

Vermont’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics will remain open on Tuesday, but people wishing to reschedule their appointment due to the weather are asked to call 855-722-7878.

In the Green Mountains, the storm is expected to largely subside by noon on Tuesday, and sunshine and 25 degrees is in the forecast for Wednesday.

— Gareth Henderson

A flurry of Valentine's Day cheer

The pavilion, like the entire East End Park in Woodstock, Vermont, is decorated for “We love Woodstock”. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Today’s forecast: a flurry of Valentine's Day cheer, and Woodstock, Vermont, is showin' the love at its newest public park.

As I write this, the East End Park is decorated with brilliant red hearts for this Valentine's weekend. Sponsored by the Woodstock Community Trust, the weekend-long decorations give people a chance to "share their love for Woodstock, their families and that special someone by taking pictures to post on social media," the online announcement reads. People are invited to Tag @woodstockcommunitytrust on Instagram or Facebook with #welovewoodstock.

Organizer Barbara Barry, part of the Sustainable Woodstock group which created the park, said “We Love Woodstock” is an ideal event for this public space. The goal was always to make it “a community asset”, Barry said, and this event meets the need for people to enjoy the outdoors, especially these days. She’s seen people throughout the weekend taking photos there.

“We really decorated for people to get out and have some fun," Barry said.

"We Love Woodstock" is shining the light of joy this weekend. Combined with the scenic views in the park, it offers a beautiful setting to share a walk, get some fresh air and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of nature.

But that's not all the good news. As the weekend drew closer, several Vermont businesses reported an uptick in business as people began picking up Valentine's gifts — especially via online orders. Some of those orders may have gone to loved ones whom family and friends haven't seen for months, and so, they're sending some gifts from afar for this holiday, too.

Whatever the trends turn out to be, any efforts to create and share joy fill our hearts now more than ever, and add some hopeful light to the day. Events like the one in the park show we're still supporting each other, even when at a distance, and they remind us happiness is most fulfilling when it's shared. It's wonderful to see the community sharing it, and to witness how our creativity spreads the light of joy and love for all to partake.

— Gareth Henderson

One of the many hearts at East End Park this weekend, with more in the distance. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

New COVID-19 relief bill taking shape

A view from Wild Apple Road in Pomfret, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

While the impeachment trial consumed the past week in the Senate, lawmakers in the House have been crafting the next COVID-19 relief bill. 

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, Vermont’s lone congressman, is a senior member on two of the House committees working with President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief proposal. Those would be Energy and Commerce, and Oversight and Reform, and they both voted to approve key components of the package.

“In my committees, we worked to make President Biden’s bold plan tangible and focused to help Vermonters and all Americans get through this unprecedented pandemic,” Welch said. “I am pleased that we produced legislation that will help Vermonters contain and crush this terrible virus, by including robust state and local funding, billions of dollars for vaccine production, distribution and COVID testing, and help for the most vulnerable among us to make it through the winter.”

The provisions passed by the committee include: 

• State and Local Coronavirus Relief Funds: Vermont will receive an estimated $961 million in state and local funds.

• $7.5 billion for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for national vaccine distribution and administration, including assistance to state and local health departments.

• $5.2 billion for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop and purchase additional vaccines for the U.S.

• $4.5 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a vital lifeline to help Vermonters heat their homes during the cold winter months.

• $46 billion for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and mitigation measures around the country.

• $7.6 billion for Community Health Centers throughout the U.S. to assist with COVID-19 response.

• $7.6 billion for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) E-Rate Program to expand access to broadband in the U.S. and allow for the purchase of connected devices for students and library members.

The COVID relief package is expected to pass the House in the coming weeks before being taken up by the Senate.

— Gareth Henderson 

A fact sheet on the Committee on Energy and Commerce’s work is here. A fact sheet on the Committee on Oversight and Reform’s work is here.

Car racing adds some humor on heavy news day

A brilliant sunset illuminates the clouds in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

When the Daytona 500 kicks off on Sunday, we’ll already have some indication who the governor of Vermont will be cheering for. 

That’s because car racing briefly came up during Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s press briefing on Friday. But perhaps it wasn’t too surprising. After all, Scott is a longtime stock-car racer and began racing at Thunder Road in his hometown of Barre, Vermont, in the early 1990s. 

The conversation turned to sports on Friday, after a reporter asked about a proposal in the Legislature that would extend sports betting to Vermont. It’s an effort Scott supported, given that it could bring much-needed revenue to the state.

“Where (the money) goes will be determined, but we have a lot of need, and in some respects, getting this on the table is good news,” Scott said. 

The next question for the governor was, “Who are you betting on for the Daytona 500?” Scott said he wasn’t betting as that’s not permitted in the state at this point. 

“But I have my favorites,” Scott said with a grin. When pressed, he humorously replied, “A lot of different drivers.” 

The real favorite might be one car in particular — like #42, a Chevrolet driven by Ross Chastain. 

“We have a lot of different connections, in terms of Vermonters being part of NASCAR teams,” Scott said. “In fact, my godson is a crew chief on the 42 car, so that will be on the top of the list for me.” 

That provided a light moment during a day that was heavy with news for the Green Mountain State, particularly for vaccination and schools. 

On the school side, Education Secretary Dan French unveiled new guidance that will soon allow for music rehearsals and performances in schools, albeit with restrictions. Full details will be published online next week.

As Vermont moves further into the recovery phase, restoring activities like music will “go a long way toward restoring a sense of normalcy” in students’ lives, French said. 

Some of the restrictions school music programs will have to follow include: 

• All performers will be required to have a 6-by-6-foot distance around them when performing (for trombones, the distance required is 6-by-9 feet). 

• Students playing woodwind and brass instruments will be required to wear masks with slits in them while performing.

• The air in rehearsal spaces will need to have three complete exchanges per hour. 

• Rehearsals are limited to 30 minutes each. 

• No audiences are allowed during performances. 

French said other areas in the education arts will be looked at as well. 

“Music is essential to the well-being and academic success of our students,” French said. “In the coming weeks, we’ll look at other areas of our guidance, such as the performing arts and theater, and do a similar evaluation.”

Progress was also announced on COVID-19 vaccination efforts. As of Tuesday, Vermonters age 70 and older will be able to register online for their vaccine appointments, as announced by Scott at the press briefing. That’s the next part of Phase 2 of the state’s vaccination process. For the past several weeks, vaccination sign-ups have been limited to the 75+ age group (or “age band”, as the state puts it). Eligible Vermonters can register at healthvermont.gov/myvaccine or call 855-722-7878.

On Friday, Scott said the progress has been faster than anticipated, with over 85% of the 75+ group having been scheduled for, or already received, their vaccinations.

“Opening to the next age band is an important step, especially with hope on the horizon for increased supply and approval of new vaccines,” Scott said.

— Gareth Henderson