Vt. governor remembers WWII veteran Sidney Walton

An American flag in Woodstock Village on July 4, 2020. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

In public remarks on Tuesday, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott took some time to remember World War II veteran Sidney Walton, who famously embarked on his “No Regrets” tour in 2018 to raise awareness on veterans’ issues. 

Walton passed away on Saturday at age 102 in Santa Monica, California. A native of New York City, Walton was an Army infantryman who joined the military nine months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. In his nationwide tour, Walton’s goal was to visit all 50 governors in all 50 U.S. states, and it was two years ago that he traveled up to Vermont to meet Scott.

“I was the 24th governor he met back in November of 2019, and he met his 40th, Gov. (Kevin) Stitt in Oklahoma, just one week ago today,” Scott said at a Tuesday press conference. “As you know, while I have a great deal of respect for anyone who served our country, World War II veterans hold a special place for me, with my dad serving in the Third Army in France as a tanker under General Patton.” 

Scott said Walton’s passing shows how important it is to thank World War II veterans of the Greatest Generation “whenever you have the chance.” 

“Unfortunately, there aren’t many of them left, and they did more than we’ll ever fully know or appreciate. They literally saved the world and were the best of the best,” the governor said. “So again, whenever you’ve got the opportunity to thank someone who served, take it.” 

Seeing Walton’s dedication to his fellow veterans, he exemplified a lifetime of service, as so many veterans have. His tour drew national attention and gained more exposure for issues impacting those who have served in the armed forces. On his 99th birthday, Walton readily accepted when his son, Paul, came up with the idea for the tour. For years, Walton had told his children about one regret: how he passed up an opportunity in 1939 to meet a group of aging Civil War veterans who gathered at the World’s Fair in New York City, the Los Angeles Times reported. 

“I said, ‘How would you like to go on tour across the country, meet every governor in every state and meet people along the way and give each and every one of them an opportunity to meet a World War II veteran before it’s too late?’” Paul recalled in his interview with the Times. “He said, ‘Son, I’m up for that.’”

Paul Walton called his father’s tour “a symbol of unity” for the U.S., according to the Los Angeles Times. 

“This is not a Republican campaign, it’s not a Democrat campaign, it’s not an independent campaign,” he told the newspaper. “It’s an American campaign.”

— Gareth Henderson

Community shines bright in ‘Local Color’

Five works from the "Local Color" exhibit. At top, from left, are "At Silver Lake, September" (acrylic on board) and "Barn Across the River, October" (acrylic on board) by Margaret Lampe Kannenstine. Below, from left, are "On the Ottauquechee, Quechee" (pastel), "Up Lyme Pond Road, Pomfret" (acrylic on canvas), and "Pine Hollow Pond, Pomfret" (pastel), all by Karen Chalom. - (Gareth Henderson Photo)

As a young boy, Kip King found a 1920s Kodak camera in his family’s house and asked his dad if he could use it. Permission was granted, and a passion was born.

Today, King, who lives in Norwich, Vermont, is one of more than 70 local artists showing their work at Artistree Gallery’s annual “Local Color” exhibit, which opened on Friday and welcomes in the autumn season. It runs through Nov. 6.

Speaking at Friday’s opening night in Pomfret, King was enjoying the experience, but not only because of the chance to show his work here again; it’s also because of the highly collaborative Artistree community. Any artists are welcomed in, he said, whether they’re experienced or just starting out.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a community to make an artist,” he said. “It’s just a great community to be a part of.”

Groton State Forest, Vermont. (Photo by Kip King / kipkingphotography.com)

Sonja Olson, a printmaker and painter, is also showing her work in Local Color and praised that supportive spirit as well. Olson has lived in the area for 30 years, and is part of Artistree’s Daily Artists group which meets regularly and encourages one other on individual artistic endeavors. 

“It’s brought artists together as a community,” she said, noting the group had a gallery exhibit earlier this year. 

That inviting community feeling is also apparent in Local Color, with its great variety of expression and a range of autumn hues.  

“There’s a huge variety of work, styles and colors,” said Deborah Goodwin, exhibits coordinator at the gallery. There’s also a lot of interest from artists wanting to show their work for the first time at Artistree, Goodwin added. 

“We keep getting a lot of new participants,” she said. 

Artistree Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Read more about the work in Local Color on the website.

— Gareth Henderson

“Sunny Susie” (oil on board) by Pat Macri. - (Gareth Henderson Photo)

State seeks volunteers to conserve turtle nesting sites

A spiny softshell turtle hatchling looks out into the world. The state is looking for volunteers to help prepare nesting areas for this threatened creature. (VF&W Photo by Tom Rogers)

Wildlife officials are looking for volunteers to help a creature listed as threatened in Vermont: the spiny softshell turtle.

People are invited to join the Fish and Wildlife Department’s annual beach cleanup day, which prepares turtle nesting sites for next year. It takes place on Saturday, Oct. 16, and gives people a way to help conserve Vermont’s spiny softshell population. Loss of nesting sites through shoreline changes and development is a key reason this turtle is threatened in Vermont.

On cleanup day, participants are asked to arrive at 10 a.m. at North Hero State Park (directions below). After finishing at North Hero, the group will carpool to another site in Swanton. 

Volunteers will pull up vegetation on nesting beaches to prepare the nesting sites. They may also find a few hatchlings that occasionally remain in nests underground this late in the year, officials said. In addition to spiny softshell turtles, these nest sites are also used by map turtles, painted turtles and snapping turtles. 

State biologist Toni Mikula will have hatchling spiny softshell and other turtles on hand and will talk about the long-term turtle recovery efforts.  Some of these hatchling turtles will be raised in captivity by the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain while they are small and most vulnerable to predation, according to the state. They will be released back into Lake Champlain next spring.

“This is a great way to help conserve threatened wildlife right here in Vermont,” Mikula said in a statement. “It’s also a fun way to learn more about the turtles and to see some recently-hatched baby turtles.”

Participants are asked to dress in layers of warm clothes and to bring water, work gloves, a leaf rake, short-handled tools such as trowels, and their own lunch. Families and kids are welcome.  The cleanup may run until 4 p.m., although participants can choose how long to assist.

“This has turned into a very popular annual event for people interested in conservation,” Mikula said. “We’re always glad to see so many people care about wildlife.”

To get to North Hero State Park, follow Route 2 north past Carry Bay in North Hero. Take a right on Lakeview Drive, just before Route 2 swings west toward Alburgh. Follow Lakeview Drive almost to the end until you reach the North Hero State Park entrance sign on the left. Drive to the end of the road always bearing right. 

For more information, please contact Mikula at Toni.Mikula@vermont.gov.

— Gareth Henderson

Notice: This event is outdoors and there is enough space for social distancing. Hand sanitizer will be provided. Some hand tools will be provided but attendees are also encouraged to bring their own.

Volunteers help during a previous beach cleanup day in Vermont to help spiny softshell turtles. (VF&W Photo by Tom Rogers)

FDA authorizes booster of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Federal officials have authorized a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with a focus on several higher-risk groups. 

On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the booster is for people in three specific groups, at least six months after receiving the standard two doses of the vaccine. They are: people age 65 or older; ages 18-64 and at high risk of severe COVID-19; and ages 18-64 and at high risk of the virus due to “frequent institutional or occupational exposure”. 

The FDA decision amended the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine's emergency use authorization. Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock noted the context of the decision. 

“This pandemic is dynamic and evolving, with new data about vaccine safety and effectiveness becoming available every day,” Woodcock said in a statement. “As we learn more about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including the use of a booster dose, we will continue to evaluate the rapidly changing science and keep the public informed.”

Before the booster is made available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its advisers still have to detail who should receive the extra shot, according to The Washington Post. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to make its recommendation on Thursday. After full approval, the booster is expected to be available at pharmacies and some doctor’s offices as soon as this week, the Post reported. 

States have been gearing up to prepare for this approval, including Vermont. At Tuesday’s state press conference, Human Services Secretary Mike Smith said registration for Pfizer booster shots should start the day after they receive full approval.

“We have been actively planning for those that may qualify for boosters, making some assumptions so that we could be ready when approval comes through,” Smith said. 

All this comes as the nation continues to face the Delta variant of COVID-19, however recent statistics show that cases are beginning to come down in some western and southern states where cases skyrocketed at the beginning of the Delta wave, according to data announced at Tuesday’s Vermont press conference. That trend has not yet hit New England, Vermont officials said Tuesday. 

Statewide, 87.4% of Vermonters had received at least their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, as of Tuesday, and over 78% were fully vaccinated. Though Vermont’s hospitalizations due to the virus have trended upward in the past week, officials said Vermont continues to have the fewest COVID hospitalizations of any U.S. state.

— Gareth Henderson

Update (9/23/21): The state has issued an update at this link about starting initial Pfizer booster shots on Friday, Sept. 24, as well as details about availability in the coming weeks.

Update (9/24/21): Following this morning’s announcement from CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., the state will expand eligibility for booster shots to people aged 18 to 64 with underlying medical conditions on Friday, Oct. 1. It is anticipated these conditions will be more specifically defined by the CDC later today.

Chester festival returns, adding music and new exhibits

Acoustic trio Moon Hollow, with Tim Cardiello, Charlie Peckar and John Jamison, performs at the Chester Festival on the Green on Saturday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Reconnecting. It’s been a theme of 2021, and it was certainly happening for those attending the Chester Festival on the Green on Saturday in downtown Chester, Vermont.

The annual two-day festival has made its return after last year’s cancellation due to the pandemic, and it’s got several new features this time around — live music and agricultural exhibits and games, with a hay maze nearby. A variety of food vendors have been added, too. All this brought a big crowd in the mid-morning hours and into the afternoon. 

“I just like the fact that I ran into a bunch of people I haven’t seen for a couple of years,” said Brendan D’Angelo, of Windsor, who was there with some friends Saturday afternoon. 

One of them, Faith Wood, is the bassist with The Break Maids, performing in the music line-up, today, Sept. 19. Wood lives in Chester and was enjoying the atmosphere on the festival’s first day back in 2021. 

“I just love the fact that it’s outside, just a nice walk in a great, little town,” she said. 

The festival has been going for over 40 years, forming an event hub for many crafters and artisans in the region. But this weekend, as people checked out the various vendor booths on the Green and nearby, they’ve heard festival committee member Barre Pinske on his bullhorn, gently reminding people there’s new stuff this time. Saturday brought a great turnout. 

“I believe we killed it,” he said. “It’s been awesome.” 

People check out the various vendor tents in Chester on Saturday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Pinske said the new additions to the festival were well received. 

“If you drive here or you’re visiting, now you get to experience more things,” he said. 

Ashley Cormack, owner of the Little Art Supply Store downtown, which she just opened on Labor Day, said mid-afternoon Saturday that she’d seen double the amount of cars arriving in town, compared to when she moved here and experienced the festival in 2018. Some of that traffic came into the store as well. 

“We’ve gotten a lot more people than we normally get on a Saturday,” Cormack said. 

Outside, just across the street on the Green, Cormack’s grandmother, Betty Rounds, was doing what she’s done for decades: selling her hand-made sweaters for children and other knitted creations at her tent. She's been knitting since she was a child growing up in Chester, having picked up the skill from her grandparents and her aunt. 

"I guess it’s in the family," she said with a smile, as several customers checked out the items in her tent Saturday afternoon. The crowds were there in droves by late morning, she said. 

Here are some of the sweaters by Betty Rounds, a longtime vendor at Chester’s annual festival. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Some festival-goers enjoyed hanging out and listening to the live music, located behind the Fullerton Inn and Restaurant downtown. The stage was set far back from some bleachers and the lawn, with food and drink offered nearby. In the nearby parking lot, a tractor would occasionally arrive to give wagon rides. 

On Saturday, Royalton-based musician Ali T and her band were providing the musical entertainment in the evening until 8 p.m. She was excited to join her friends on stage, since she usually performs solo. The band includes Bobby Gagnier, Skip Truman and Ed Eastridge — a Grammy award-winning sound engineer.

“It’s a nice opportunity to join my full band for change,” Ali T said, after checking out the hay maze on Saturday. 

The 2021 Chester festival’s final day is today, Sept. 19, with vendors and exhibits going until 4 p.m., and music from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, check out the website. 

— Gareth Henderson

Kids, adults and pets alike enjoyed the new hay maze at the Chester festival. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

New funds to advance cleanup at dozens of Vt. brownfield sites

Vermont is investing $25 million to clean up and spur redevelopment on some major contaminated sites, which have sat vacant for years due to the cost of environmental remediation.

About 70 eligible sites are on the list to receive funding through the Brownfield Reuse and Environmental Liability Limitation Act. The overall $25 million comes out of a $210 million state budget surplus and was approved by the Legislature. It marks the first time state dollars have been used toward these brownfield projects, officials said in their Thursday announcement. Historically, this work has been funded exclusively by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

One of the projects benefiting from this influx of money is the 270,000-square-foot former Jones & Lamson Machine Co. building in Springfield, a huge driver of the manufacturing powerhouse this town was decades ago. The effort to demolish and remediate this 14-acre site will now receive $3.7 million from Vermont’s Brownfield Economic Revitalization Alliance program, the Valley News reported Friday. From that same program, new funding is also going to clean up a brownfield site in St. Albans and two in Burlington. 

The full amount of $25 million will be administered in parts by the state Agency of Natural Resources and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD). 

This week, officials touted the significant environmental and economic impacts of this money.

“The level of funding will speed up a process which will no doubt result in business retention and expansion, job creation, and housing development, like we’ve never seen in Vermont,” said ACCD Secretary Lindsay Kurrle in a statement.

Also in Thursday’s announcement, Peter Walke, the state’s commissioner of environmental conservation, noted the multiple ways the funding makes a difference.

“This historic state funding for brownfields will help us address longstanding environmental issues and better protect public health,” Walke said. “The benefits include everything from reducing sprawl by encouraging the use of existing infrastructure to encouraging renewable energy on brownfields.”

To help reach these goals, he also noted the importance of partnerships across state agencies, with the EPA and regional planning commissions, and many other groups and organizations. 

In Thursday’s statement, Gov. Phil Scott said this type of funding represents “exactly the kind of lasting impact” Vermont needs. 

“I hope this new level of state funding shows communities across Vermont that we are committed to helping all corners of the state recover and rebuild stronger than ever before,” Scott said.

— Gareth Henderson

Vermont one step closer to welcoming Afghan refugees

(Gareth Henderson Photo)

With a key federal decision this week, Vermont's plan to welcome Afghan refugees to the Green Mountains is moving forward. 

Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday announced the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) was approved by the U.S. Department of State to welcome up to 100 Afghans in Vermont in the weeks ahead. An exact timeline of arrivals is not yet established.

USCRI is a national nonprofit resettlement agency that assists people who have migrated to the U.S. to help them live safe and dignified lives, as Thursday's announcement said. USCRI’s Vermont Office, the Scott administration, the State Refugee Office at the Vermont Agency of Human Services and other refugee programs have been pursuing opportunities to welcome refugees over the last several weeks. The goal is to accommodate some of the many Afghans who are being targeted due to support of the U.S. military and U.S. government agencies, as well as media and non-governmental organizations, following the end of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, according to state officials.

“We have a moral obligation to help the people of Afghanistan, who did so much to help us in the War on Terror,” Scott said in a statement. “In addition to this being the right thing to do, we know that welcoming more refugees also strengthens communities, schools, our workforce, culture and economy.” 

For years, the governor has requested annual increases in refugee resettlement in Vermont as part of a strategy to increase economic growth and expand Vermont’s workforce. In Thursday's announcement, Tracy Dolan, the director of the State Refugee Office, noted the interest shown by businesses. 

“It is an honor to help those who have helped our service members overseas and it is a wonderful opportunity for Vermont’s communities and for our businesses who are very interested in expanding our workforce and filling our job vacancies,” Dolan said.

She added, “We are learning from our colleagues at military bases and arrival centers across the country that employment is one of the highest priorities mentioned by these newly arriving Afghans. They are eager to find jobs and rebuild their lives.” 

USCRI Vermont will work closely with the state, as well as with schools, employers, landlords, and health and social service programs, to meet the needs of arriving Afghans and of the community. Before they arrive in Vermont, Afghans will have completed medical and security screenings, and will be authorized to work, officials explained. USCRI is continuing to respond to Vermont volunteers and businesses interested in offering support.

“I want to thank Vermonters for the outpouring of support we are receiving — we are not always fast to respond immediately to your offers due to the preparations we are making but want you to know we are thankful as we work together to extend a warm welcome to our Afghan neighbors,” said Amila Merdzanovic, director of USCRI Vermont. 

The State Department also approved the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) to open a new field office in Brattleboro. ECDC is a resettlement agency that works with refugees from around the world and hired Joe Wiah, who will begin his new role as director of the Brattleboro Office on September 20. ECDC plans to submit a proposal to the State Department to welcome 25 Afghans to Brattleboro in the coming months. Jessica Chapman, community outreach manager for the ECDC, thanked the Brattleboro community and local, regional and national partners for supporting this effort.

“After many months of planning and discussions we look forward to starting the work of welcoming refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders to the southern part of Vermont,” Chapman said in a statement.  

Also in southern Vermont, Rutland has shown interest in welcoming Afghan refugees to its community. In a recent report in the Rutland Herald, Merdzanovic told local officials the resettlement effort would start in Chittenden County, Vermont's most populous county, and USCRI would reach out to supporters in other communities. 

The state plans to provide further information on the resettlement of Afghans in Vermont as more details become available.

— Gareth Henderson

Vermont seeking input on wildlife management

A Vermont buck observes its surroundings. (VF&W Photo by John Hall)

What do peregrine falcons, deer and bear have in common? They all share a natural habitat that’s at the center of a wildlife management effort in southern Vermont.

The state is developing a new long-range management plan for the Castleton Management Unit, which encompasses over 4,200 acres of land in the Birdseye and Blueberry Hill Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). This long-range plan serves as a guide for management of Agency of Natural Resources land, and typically lasts for 20 years. Currently, the state’s focus is hearing from Vermonters. 

“Soliciting input from the public is an important part of the management planning process, and it is a chance for us to hear from the public early in the process about how they use and what they value about these lands,” said Travis Hart, a state wildlife biologist involved with developing the plan, in a statement. 

Part of this early stage is an upcoming public meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 29, to explain the proposal and gather input from Vermonters. The in-person meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kehoe Conservation Camp in Castleton, and the public can also share comments online. 

The Birdseye and Blueberry Hill WMAs are iconic in Vermont, forming a uniquely rugged set of mountains and valleys in a part of Vermont popular with outdoor enthusiasts.  In total, these WMAs span 4,285 acres of important wildlife habitat, including the geologically remarkable Birdseye WMA cliffs where peregrine falcons nest each spring.  These WMAs are popular destinations for deer, bear and upland bird hunters during the fall hunting seasons and turkey hunters in the spring.  Given the large size of these WMAs, people can also enjoy backcountry experiences with wildlife. 

The online survey will be open until Dec. 3. The same information to be presented at the Sept. 29 meeting is on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website, www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

The public will get another chance to weigh in after the first draft of the long-range plan is complete, officials said. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is administering the long-range planning process through the Fish and Wildlife Department, and the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

— Gareth Henderson

President requires vaccines for 100M American workers

President Joe Biden announced new vaccine mandates for as many as 100 million American workers, two-thirds of the nation’s workforce, on Thursday. 

Under the new rules, companies with over 100 workers must require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to weekly tests — that’s estimated to affect about 80 million people. Full vaccination is also required for workers at health facilities that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid, as well as federal executive branch employees and contractors that work for the U.S. government, according to The Associated Press. 

These new requirements are part of a national plan by the Biden administration to stem the rise in COVID-19 cases and increase vaccination rates. The mandate already faces stern criticism from some lawmakers and union leaders, while others praised the move Thursday night. Biden’s order for executive branch employees and contractors has exceptions for those seeking religious or medical exemptions, the AP reported. 

More than 177 million Americans are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, but confirmed cases recently rose to an average of about 140,000 per day with on average about 1,000 deaths, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The federal change came just a day after a new vaccine rule was announced for Vermont state employees. Effective Sept. 15, all state of Vermont executive branch employees will be required to attest they are vaccinated, or be subject to at least weekly testing and mandatory masking at work, as announced at a Wednesday press conference. This comes after a vaccine requirement went into place on Sept. 1 for state employees working in prisons and other state-run residential facilities. 

Currently, Vermont’s state government employs over 8,000 people. Leadership of the Vermont State Employees Association says most of the workers they represent approve of the Scott administration’s new requirement, the AP reported, though the union and state have some details to work out. 

Vermont adjusts masking guidance for schools

This week, Vermont also updated its public health advisory for schools, which almost all local school districts have followed since the school year began recently. 

Originally, the state recommended that masks be required for all students for the first 10 days of school, allowing that masking rules can be lifted when 80% of a school’s students age 12 and over have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. On Wednesday, state officials asked that school masking requirements stay in place until October 4, regardless of the school’s vaccination rate.  

“We hope by then the Delta wave that has impacted the entire country — though fortunately not anywhere near as severely in Vermont — will have begun to subside,” Scott told the media Wednesday. 

In recent weeks, some have urged the governor to reinstall a state of emergency and bring back a statewide mask mandate. Scott has said there isn’t a need to do so currently, and in his Wednesday remarks, he noted that all schools except for one have implemented masking requirements. The Canaan School Board voted 5-0 last month to not require masks. 

“By encouraging schools to implement the state’s recommendations, we’ve essentially achieved a universal masking requirement in schools, without a state of emergency (order),” Scott said.

Under the state’s recommendations, it’s asking that all students under 12 continue to wear masks at school until they become eligible for the vaccine. A COVID-19 vaccine for children under age 12 is expected to receive federal emergency use authorization later in October, experts say. The approvals could come in waves for smaller groups within that age range, NBC5 reported.

According to Vermont Public Radio, state officials want to understand more about how the virus is circulating through communities before they encourage schools to lift mask mandates. In Vermont, more than 1,000 tested positive for COVID in the past week, VPR reported. However, state officials are encouraged that cases in Chittenden County have trended downward in the past seven days, as reported at Wednesday’s press conference.

In a bid to increase vaccination, the Vermont Agency of Education is reserving $2 million in grant dollars for schools who receive high vaccination rates. The Scott administration is still finalizing details for the school vaccine incentive program.

The state is continuing to offer school-based vaccination clinics throughout Vermont in collaboration with local district officials.

Statewide, the rate of eligible Vermonters with at least one dose of the vaccine is 86.7% as of Thursday.

— Gareth Henderson

Hundreds of acres conserved in Killington’s AT corridor

One can follow the Thundering Falls boardwalk, pictured here, up to the newly conserved 629 acres. (Photo by the Green Mountain Club)

In another step forward for conservation, 629 acres of land surrounding the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Killington, Vermont, will now be protected for generations to come. 

The Conservation Fund recently conveyed the property to the National Park Service (NPS), thanks to funding from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

This action secures the immediate viewshed and day-hike entry on both sides of a 1.3-mile stretch of the AT, according to the official announcement. With that, the newly conserved land will continue to provide recreational access for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. 

“This acquisition highlights the power of partnership in preserving and protecting the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The National Park Service thanks all those involved for their commitment and support to secure this property and its critical viewshed for the enjoyment and benefit of all,” said Wendy Janssen, superintendent of the AT.

The Conservation Fund, a national environmental nonprofit, purchased the property in 2014 through its Working Forest Fund with support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation as part of 30,000 acres of former industrial timberland threatened by conversion across Vermont, New York, New Hampshire and Maine. The organization managed it as a sustainable working forest until the NPS could secure the necessary LWCF funding to acquire and protect the land. 

Those scenic 629 acres are now being managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) and provides critical habitat for black bears, moose and migratory birds, as well as important wintering areas for deer.

“The GMNF is excited about the new acquisition along the Appalachian Trail in Killington because the lands will provide extra protection of the trail and add valuable wildlife value and habitat connectivity along this high use trail section,” said Christopher Mattrick, ranger for the Rochester and Middlebury District.

This latest acquisition complements decades of local efforts to conserve over 16,000 acres of natural lands in the region and enhance protection for the AT corridor, including 1,017 acres adjacent to the state-owned Les Newell Wildlife Management Area that The Conservation Fund conveyed to NPS in 2012 through the Chateauguay No Town Conservation Project.

“The rugged ridgeline traversed by the Appalachian Trail in the Chateauguay region is at the heart of this high priority and vulnerable landscape of wilderness amidst an increasingly developed area of Vermont,” said Sally Manikian, The Conservation Fund’s New Hampshire and Vermont representative. “The Conservation Fund’s efforts over the last three decades to ensure habitat connectivity, recreational beauty, and watershed protection here have been driven by partnerships and bolstered by local community support.”

This is one of Vermont’s first conservation wins since the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, which fully and permanently funded the LWCF, the announcement noted. LWCF is a bipartisan program that conserves ecologically and scenically valuable land across the U.S. — including many of Vermont’s iconic natural places, like the GMNF, Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Vermont’s Congressional delegation — U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch — supported the use of federal LWCF funding for this project.

Leahy, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said: “This trail in Killington is perhaps the most important gateway to the Appalachian Trail and to the National Forest in Vermont and the region. … This is a legacy for generations of Vermonters now, and to come.”

“We have a long history of conservation in Vermont,” Sanders said. “And it’s because of conservation efforts like this that we are able to safeguard our ecological heritage, our proud tradition of working the land, our local economies, and some of the most extensive, accessible and scenic outdoor spaces in the U.S.”

“Vermont’s outdoor recreation opportunities are world-renowned and our shared commitment to conservation and sustainability is critical to our way of life,” Welch said. “The protection of these acres around the Appalachian Trail will preserve Vermont’s wildlife and ensure this historic area remains accessible and safe for recreators.”

Management and stewardship of the AT in the Northeast is accomplished by a unique array of partnerships, all of whom helped design and implement this acquisition, according to the recent announcement. Through a partnership agreement between the NPS and the U.S. Forest Service, the lands will be added to the GMNF Appalachian Trail Corridor management unit. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Green Mountain Club support the AT in Vermont through stewardship and maintenance.

— Gareth Henderson

State to drivers: Look out for moose

Moose are more likely to be crossing roadways at this time of year, especially after dark or early in the morning. (VTF&W Photo by Benjamin Young)

It’s that time of year again: Moose are on the move, and state officials are warning people to keep an eye out for them when driving. 

Moose are more likely to be crossing roadways at this time of year, especially after dark or early in the morning, because this is breeding season for moose, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. 

“We are asking drivers to be especially careful and for people to enjoy watching moose from a distance,” said State Game Warden Lt. Carl Wedin in a statement. “Moose can be unpredictable and dangerous if you get too close and they feel cornered or get irritated.”

Motorists hit 39 moose on Vermont highways during 2020 and 41 so far this year, the state reported. Wildlife officials said there are measures people can take to avoid them on the roads: 

• Always be alert — moose cross the road randomly, as well as at their regular crossings.

• Increase your roadside awareness and reduce your speed when you see Moose Crossing signs along the road. When on secondary roads, the recommended speed is 40 mph or less in these moose crossing areas.

• Drive defensively. Moose are more active at night and early morning, and they are difficult to see because of their dark color.

• If you see a moose ahead, slow down or stop. Trying to speed past them before they can move can be a serious mistake.

Vermont highway sections most frequented by moose include the following:

-Rt.105 from Island Pond to Bloomfield.

-Rt.114 from East Burke to Canaan.

-Rt.2 from Lunenburg to East St. Johnsbury.

-Interstate 91 at Sheffield Heights.

-Interstate 89 from Bolton to Montpelier.

-Rt. 12 from Worcester to Elmore.

-Rt 118 near Belvidere Corners and the Rt. 109 intersection.

The breeding season for moose lasts from mid-September to mid-October. To learn more about moose, click here for more information from Vermont wildlife officials.

— Gareth Henderson

Federal aid going out to Vt. towns and villages

A view from North Bridgewater Road in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermont’s cities, towns and villages are receiving a new round of federal pandemic relief funds over the next several days, and some payments have already come through.

The money comes from the local fiscal recovery funds tied to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). From this funding, the state on Thursday disbursed another payment of $60.6 million to 276 eligible local governments, according to state officials. 

“These funds will play an important role for municipalities as we work to build stronger, more resilient communities,” Gov. Phil Scott said in a Thursday announcement. “In addition to the historic investments with state ARPA funds that I’ve proposed for climate change mitigation, housing, broadband, water and sewer infrastructure, and more, this municipal money can help strengthen support in these and other critical areas.”

This is the first of two rounds of funding for municipalities. In Woodstock, the town has received a check for $107,933, and the village is expecting a $44,911 payment, according to Municipal Manager William Kerbin. He said the town and village will receive the same amounts next year. The Village Trustees and Select Board held a recent joint meeting to discuss the funds, but that discussion was preliminary, Kerbin said, and no firm decisions have been reached on how to use the money. He expected another joint meeting in the next couple of months. 

Right now, municipalities are anticipating more guidance from the U.S. Treasury. 

“What we’re really waiting for is the final rule from the Treasury department to determine what we can use the funding for, the specific purposes and activities,” Kerbin said Thursday. 

On Aug. 5, Vermont received 50% of the $121 million of funds that the U.S. Treasury originally designated for distribution to the state’s 14 counties. The Treasury is required to distribute these funds to the states for distribution to local governments in two equal payments; the $60.6 million distributed Thursday represents the first round of payments. The county funds are distributed to eligible local governments based on the proportion of the municipality’s population to the county population, state officials explained. In separate funding, a total of $29 million was distributed to Vermont municipal governments in July.

The Vermont League of Cities and Towns and Vermont’s 11 regional planning commissions continue to assist cities, towns and villages with navigating federal rules related to this funding through webinars and multiple resources, including an ARPA resource webpage. For more information, visit https://finance.vermont.gov/covid-19-guidance.  

— Gareth Henderson

Helping those inside, and outside, our borders

(Gareth Henderson Photo)

It’s been an honor to recognize how Vermonters have helped each other, but today we’d like to highlight how the state has extended a helping hand to those from outside the Green Mountains. 

The state of Vermont is hoping to take in up to 100 refugees from Afghanistan who are fleeing the danger they face back home now that the Taliban are in power. A number of volunteers and businesses have reportedly offered to help refugees who end up settling in Vermont.

The last U.S. soldiers departed Afghanistan on Monday, following the collapse of the Afghan government in August and the Taliban’s rapid takeover. From Aug. 14 to 31, the U.S. evacuated more than 122,000 individuals from Kabul airport, including 6,000 U.S. citizens, according to news reports. Thirteen U.S. service members died in a suicide bombing at the airport on Aug. 26, while the evacuation effort was in its final days.

The U.S. is currently housing 20,000 Afghan evacuees in five states, with another 40,000 overseas. 

On Wednesday, the Vermont office of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants said it submitted a proposal to the State Department, WCAX reported. That came after Vermont Gov. Phil Scott recently told the White House his administration would like to help with the resettlement. 

U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) released a statement of support on Wednesday. He noted, as the governor has, that a number of these refugees helped the U.S. during the Afghanistan War over the past two decades. 

“I am gratified that Vermont is volunteering to welcome and resettle one hundred Afghans who have fled their country in recent weeks,” Leahy said. “Many of these Afghans supported the U.S. military and our government over the past two decades, risking their lives and the safety of their families. Vermonters recognize that it is our moral obligation to provide them refuge from retaliation and persecution by the Taliban and other extremist groups in Afghanistan.”

He added, “Vermont has a long history of warmly welcoming refugees who have become an integral part of communities across our state. They have made Vermont stronger. It is fitting that Vermont is stepping up yet again to offer safe haven to vulnerable Afghans in their hour of need.” 

For some here in the Green Mountains, the current situation in Afghanistan is a personal, heartbreaking struggle to help family and friends escape the country. Vermont Public Radio spoke to Wazir, who is working to get his family out of Kabul (his last name was withheld for his family’s protection). Wazir left Afghanistan at age 16, went to college in Vermont and now runs a business in the state. Like others who have settled here and made their home in Vermont, he is part of our community, and now, he faces the challenge of helping his family come here so they, too, can experience a new sense of security and success.

Many are working and praying to help people like Wazir’s family and others who seek refuge and a new life outside Afghanistan. We hope these kind, steadfast efforts help them find a path to safety and fulfillment, despite current obstacles. We hope the love being expressed to them from afar helps build the path to freedom they earnestly seek.

— Gareth Henderson

How far we’ve come

Kat Wright and The Indomitable Soul Band perform at the Community Heroes Concert last Friday at the East End Park in Woodstock, Vt. From left are Leon Campos, Kat Wright, Phil Rodriguez, Josh Weinstein and Bob Wagner. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

After we’ve completed a great accomplishment, one often looks back in awe, and says, “Wow, I did that.’” 

The greater Woodstock region had such a moment last Friday at the Community Heroes Concert, organized by Pentangle Arts, as it celebrated the work so many did over the past 18 months to help the community during the pandemic. It was special, and also moving, to thoughtfully consider what was accomplished and honor the sacrifices people made, week after week, amid the uncertainty of 2020. 

The heartfelt moments of the past year and half were many, and Sherry Sousa, WCSU superintendent in Woodstock, remembered when students and parents held a parade in Woodstock Village to thank the educators for their long hours during the pandemic. Educators were on the Green, as the parade graced the village.

“That moved us in so many ways, and teachers were in tears,” Sousa said in her remarks at the Friday concert, addressing well over 200 people. “So we met today as a full faculty for the first time, in the auditorium with our masks on, and I will tell you, your teachers are ready for you to arrive, and we are ready to be in school full time, and we can’t wait to have everyone back on Wednesday.” 

From left: Jill Davies of the Woodstock Area Relief Fund; Beth Robinson, grants coordinator for the Ottauquechee Health Foundation; WCSU Superintendent Sherry Sousa; Deanna Jones, executive director of the Thompson Senior Center; and Dr. Claire Drebitko of the Ottauquechee Health Center. Farthest to the right, Alita Wilson, executive director of Pentangle Arts, announces the speakers. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

That Wednesday, that first day of school, is now arriving in Woodstock. And it’s a testament to the progress made during this life-changing time of the pandemic. Teachers, first responders, grocery store clerks, health care workers, municipal staff, volunteers, and countless others all played a role in getting us to this proud moment. 

In her remarks on Friday, Dr. Claire Drebitko, a local pediatrician at the Ottauquechee Health Center, thanked community members for following public health protocols over the past year and getting vaccinated. 

“I think I speak for everyone at the Health Center, when I say we have felt incredibly grateful to this community for doing such a wonderful job of taking care of one another,” Drebitko said. 

Deanna Jones, executive director of the Thompson Senior Center, noted “the community stepped forward in so many ways” to help seniors over the past 18 months.

Helping each other was a continuous theme throughout Friday evening, including after Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band took to the stage. Wright, who’s lived in Vermont for 12 years, thanked everyone for being there for their neighbors and the community. 

“I don’t think we’ve ever been more proud to be from Vermont than during the past year and a half,” she told the crowd. 

Part of the crowd at the Community Heroes Concert in Woodstock. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Many of us share that sentiment when looking at how Vermont responded to the slew of challenges the pandemic brought, including those who moved to ease the towering economic burden businesses and individuals faced. Along those lines: For the Woodstock Area Relief Fund formed last year, 46 volunteers and hundreds of donors gave their support to raise funds for individuals and families struggling financially during the pandemic. Over $820,000 was raised and given to over 240 families and individuals, said Jill Davies, one of the fund’s organizers.

Throughout Vermont, even as the crisis deepened, more and more stories of community support came out. We all have a story about how we’ve helped someone, and been helped, during this unprecedented time in our lives. As 2021 continues, we’ll undoubtedly keep looking back — there’s always more to learn, and it’s important to consider the lessons we carry forward. In many ways, this period of time has supplied us with awareness of struggles we hadn’t known about before, some of which happen daily. In some aspects, we’ve also learned about ways we can help others.  

Speaking to Friday’s crowd, Beth Robinson, grants coordinator for the Ottauquechee Health Foundation, spoke about working with the Woodstock Community Food Shelf, the Thompson Senior Center and others to get assistance to those in need. However, Robinson pointed out that there’s always a need for this help: 

“Before you leave tonight, just keep this thought in your mind: There are people in our communities, every day of every year, who need our help. So keep your eyes and ears open.”

Though a huge amount of progress has been made against the pandemic, we’ll still need each other in the coming weeks and months. Financial impacts loom large, individuals and businesses face challenges, and the colder months will eventually arrive. We must remain aware of opportunities to help our neighbors, and act on them. The more we continue that work, the more our communities will benefit.

— Gareth Henderson

The Eames Brothers were the opening band at last Friday’s concert. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Community Heroes Concert set for Friday in Woodstock

The Community Heroes Concert will be held at Woodstock’s East End Park on Friday, starting at 5 p.m. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

When the pandemic first arrived in Vermont, no one knew what would happen, but Vermont communities met this new challenge with perseverance and putting their neighbors first. This Friday, Aug. 27, a concert in Woodstock is celebrating the constant efforts of so many individuals, nonprofits and essential workers who helped the community survive the past 18 months. 

The Community Heroes Concert, organized by Pentangle Arts, takes place at the East End Park. The music begins at 5 p.m. with the opening act of The Eames Brothers and features Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band from 6 to 8 p.m. At about 5:45 p.m., local workers, groups and individuals will be recognized and some will share remarks. The concert is free with a suggested $10 donation.

For those on the front lines of the community’s response to COVID-19, the memories of having to quickly reorganize, learn brand new health protocols and proceed into a new and uncertain reality remain fresh in thought. 

Deanna Jones, executive director of the Thompson Senior Center, recalled the rapid effort to arrange contactless meal delivery to seniors, as well as their curbside service, after the senior center closed to all in-person programs. But they also delivered medical equipment and prescription drugs to seniors, and also added a shop-and-delivery grocery service. 

A major theme was people helping the senior center, and quickly. Right off the bat, over 40 people volunteered as new delivery drivers, and over 100 people volunteered to support essential services for seniors. Jones said it’s hard to express the profound inspiration from seeing the community respond so quickly to help during the pandemic.

“I just can’t imagine anything in my career previously or in the future that would be more moving or fulfilling,” Jones said.  

From March 2020, the senior center had seven delivery routes (at its peak), an increase of more than 2,500 Meals on Wheels, and provided a total of over 20,000 meals. Jones said the staff and volunteers showed an incredible level of dedication through all the challenges. 

“It’s just amazing to see how people come forward, and especially the staff, too. They just put the Thompson’s mission so high up on their priority list,” she said. “Even when they would've loved to be home, they were still there. It’s just so incredible to be a part of.” 

David Green, Woodstock’s fire chief and health officer, said he and his fellow first responders would help check on community members isolated at home. Any request for help was amply met — which is normal, he said, for this region. 

“Woodstock and actually all of Vermont are very outstanding in helping their neighbors in times of need,” Green said. “I put calls out, like, ‘I need groceries delivered to this house.’ And I got 60 responses within minutes.” 

Helping to make deliveries, Green and his colleagues got a chance to interact with people and gauge how they were doing. 

“Most people were pretty resilient. They didn't like being locked down, they didn't like wearing a mask, but they all made it through,” he said. “Hopefully we don't have to again." 

From the start, Green said one of the biggest changes for his department was following the strict health guidelines around how to interact with patients. Those are rules they’re still following now, he added. 

In March 2020, delivering meals to students also became a great need. Gretchen Czaja is the school nutrition program director for the WCUUSD, the school district serving Woodstock, Barnard, Bridgewater, Reading, Pomfret, Killington and Plymouth. When school shut down and went remote due to the pandemic, the district-wide food service team had a week to consolidate operations into the Woodstock Union High School kitchen, create a menu, and make a delivery plan. 

From March to June 2020, district staff distributed 250-300 meals per day to students district wide. Along with the food, however, they delivered familiarity — a chance for the students to see, from a distance, the people they’d usually see in their school days. 

“It did help to keep some kind of normalcy in their school day,” Czaja said. “At one point we were getting thank-you notes and signs they would leave outside, saying how much they were enjoying the food.”  

Most of the students who received deliveries were receiving free and reduced-price lunch. The federal government eventually instated universal free meals, and the district’s food program was able to provide curbside meals during the summer of 2020. In the holidays, Czaja and her team put together food boxes with holiday meals to deliver for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The universal free meals are continuing into this year, Czaja said.

The high school was also a site sponsor for Veggie Van Go, a statewide Vermont Foodbank program delivering produce for free, which went curbside during the pandemic and added key items like milk and eggs. 

“We were able to have a great number of volunteers to help load people’s cars with food,” Czaja said.

She also noted the efforts of local community partners working to reduce hunger, such as the Woodstock Community Food Shelf and the Ottauquechee Health Foundation. 

“This community is amazing, the way people step up,” Czaja said.

From helping seniors to other community efforts, the younger generations also had a role in the COVID response. Over this past winter, the nonprofit Change the World Kids, which provides service opportunities for local youth, joined with Ken Woodhead and the Soup Kit Project to deliver warm soup to seniors and families in the cold months. Adi Wilson, a high school senior this year in Woodstock, and about 10 of her fellow students participated and worked in shifts to help make the soup and deliver it.

With the group’s Anti-Cabin Fever Dinner called off, Wilson said the soup deliveries were a great way the students could help their neighbors. 

“It seemed to be the best way we could help the community in a safe way and also make that connection through food,” she said. “It was so nice to be able to connect with the community again. It was the first time I had done that in months.”

— Gareth Henderson

Celebrating pollinators: the cornerstone of our food supply

A butterfly visiting the Sunflower House at Billings Farm. (Billings Farm & Museum Photo)

The bees, butterflies, birds and moths we see zipping from flower to flower in the summer are integral for growing close to 90% of our food supply. This weekend, an event in Woodstock is focusing on exactly that. 

Billings Farm & Museum’s Pollination Celebration will highlight this big contribution from such small creatures with hands-on activities and interactive programs for all ages, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For example, people will get a chance to meet local beekeepers from Hall Apiaries and Vermont Beekeepers Association. You can also explore the Sunflower House in full bloom, and hear a talk with the team from the Woodstock Inn & Resort that created it. Games and activities for kids will also be part of the weekend, as will some foods. People can sample herbal tea or corn and tomato salad made with ingredients pollinated in the Billings Farm gardens. Good news for culinary enthusiasts: They’ll be able to take home some pollinator recipes.

The event underscores the great importance of pollinators to our way of life. Earlier in the year, the state released information on this very topic, including a quote from state zoologist Mark Ferguson. 

“The majority of our flowering plants need pollinators in order to produce seeds,” Ferguson said. “Vermont is home to hundreds of species of pollinators from bees to butterflies to beetles and other bugs that play a vital role in pollinating our flowers, trees and food crops.” 

The upcoming celebration is one more way to learn about and appreciate these animals, and what they mean to the sustainability of the world. For more details on the Pollination Celebration, visit billingsfarm.org.

— Gareth Henderson

Governor shares vaccine news, reiterates school guidance

The flag at Woodstock Union High School & Middle School campus. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

With the new school year starting this month, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott shared some vaccine news and repeated the state’s recommendations for schools. 

Coming from a weekly governors’ call with the White House, Scott learned that clinical trials are going well for the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 2-11. He said Pfizer will be able to submit their application for emergency use authorization as soon as early or mid-September. 

He also noted the recent news that Pfizer just received full federal approval for its current vaccine. The full approval applies to those age 16 and older, though the Pfizer vaccine continues to be available under emergency use authorization for individuals 12 through 15 years of age (read more details here).

Scott said many who haven’t been vaccinated have expressed concern that the vaccine was approved only under emergency authorization. The governor hoped the new Pfizer status might make a difference. 

“So, if you’ve been on the fence, I hope this news will help inspire you to join well over 400,000 of your fellow Vermonters and get vaccinated,” Scott said at a Tuesday press briefing. 

To date, 85.6% of eligible Vermonters have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 76.4% are fully vaccinated. 

Scott reiterated the state’s health guidance for schools, that masks be required for all students of all ages at the start of the year. For students under 12, the state is asking all school districts to mandate masking for them until vaccines are available and they’re fully vaccinated. These are recommendations, as the state can’t mandate masking requirements without implementing a state of emergency. It removed all state restrictions and the state of emergency in mid-June. 

Scott noted how important it is for kids to return to a five-day, in-person learning schedule, as they’re about to do. He said the state released its health recommendations weeks ago to give schools time to plan at the local level. 

“We believe this common-sense approach will allow our kids to get back on track and make up some of the lost ground in a safe and productive way,” Scott said.  

Officials said the health department will support schools with contact tracing services if needed, just like they did during the prior school year. Heather Boucher, the state’s deputy secretary of education, said Vermont is “starting from a good place” thanks to everyone’s efforts over the past year, including people getting vaccinated. As both an educator and a parent, Boucher said she appreciated the great value in in-person school for students’ educational development, and so the kids can see their friends. 

“We’re hearing from educators, parents and community members that students are excited to return to school with less worry and restrictions than there were last year, and I just want to say, I’m profoundly grateful to everyone who worked so hard to make this possible,” Boucher said. 

— Gareth Henderson

‘Puppies & Pooches’ returning to Woodstock this week

“Puppies and Pooches on Parade” benefits the Norman Williams Public Library, shown here in Woodstock. The event takes place on the scenic Village Green nearby. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Dogs of all shapes and sizes will take part in “Puppies and Pooches on Parade” this coming weekend in Woodstock Village, as yet another favorite local tradition returns to the area in 2021. All proceeds benefit the Norman Williams Public Library, and an active team of volunteers has spent many weeks preparing for this event.

The fun begins Saturday, Aug. 28, on the Village Green, which will feature a 10:30 a.m. dog parade down the main path grouped in categories: Most Precious Petites, Mightiest Mid-size, Gentle Giants, Ms. Fashionistas and Mr. Beau Geste. Then it’s off to the Ring to see each category of dogs.

The judges will select a Best in Show from the category winners, but the spectators will decide the Crowd Favorite by cheering and clapping. Without a doubt, all dogs are winners and will receive ribbons and bandanas. Additionally, Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society will be present so people can learn about pet adoption. 

This event, which began seven years ago, is sponsored by the Friends of the Norman Williams Public Library and enables the community to make valuable contributions to the library. All dogs must be registered before Aug. 26. Registration forms are available at www.puppiesandpoochesonparade.com, at the library’s front desk, or by contacting Peggy Fraser at fraserusa@gmail.com. Raffle tickets are on sale most days outside of the library.

Organizers are inviting everyone to come by and celebrate the return of this live event that brings good cheer, fun memories and great moments for all to enjoy.

New leadership for Friends of NWPL

The Executive Committee of the Friends of the Norman Williams Public Library recently introduced Jarret Adams of Woodstock as the new president of the Friends, and Jennifer Baxter of Woodstock as the new vice president. 

In their new roles, Adams succeeds Peggy Fraser, and Baxter succeeds Jennifer Falvey. As past president, Fraser will remain on the executive committee.

Adams and his wife Heather are the new owners of The Village Inn of Woodstock. Heather is an accomplished chef, and Jarret runs a boutique public relations firm, Full On Communications. In moving to Woodstock, they’ve returned to their New England roots after years of living near Washington, D.C., and abroad.

Jennifer Baxter grew up in North Brunswick, New Jersey. She moved to Vermont with her family in 2006 to own and operate a country inn in Killington. She lives in Woodstock with her husband Rich Kozlowski, and she has many years of experience as a finance officer and human resources professional. Most recently, Jennifer was the director of finance and human resources for Advance Transit, the Upper Valley’s bus transportation agency. 

The Friends of the NWPL has grown into an organization of 100 members whose mission is to foster and encourage community support and participation that benefit the library in its role as a cultural center in the greater Woodstock area.

— Gareth Henderson

Permanent increase coming for US food aid program

The setting sun in West Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

As of Oct. 1, low-income Americans relying on monthly food assistance from the federal government will see a permanent increase in the funding.

Officials recently announced a 27% increase in grocery benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), media reports stated. About 42 million people currently receive SNAP benefits, and the change will impact about 70,000 Vermonters, according to Vermont Public Radio.

Anore Horton, the director of Hunger Free Vermont, said an increase has been needed for a long time.

"Advocates across the country have been saying for years and years and years SNAP benefits are inadequate; they have no relationship to the real cost of food," Horton told VPR. "And this is, while not a complete step toward fixing that, a very significant and important one."

This announcement comes as a temporary 15% increase in these benefits is set to expire next month.

The upcoming 27% increase will add, on an average per-person basis, about $36 per month to the pre-pandemic monthly amount of about $121 per person, according to CBS News.

The SNAP benefits were recently recalculated based on a program-wide assessment that Congress requested in 2018. The reassessment found that the benefits were too low, officials said.

Speaking to the media earlier this week, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the adjustments to the program are responding to higher food prices, evolving nutritional guidance, and changes in how Americans cook.

"We need to modernize those assumptions based on what is happening in kitchens and homes across America," Vilsack said.

— Gareth Henderson

Governor clarifies school masking recommendation

A scene along Route 12 in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermont’s governor has clarified recent public health guidance for schools regarding masking. 

On Tuesday, Gov. Phil Scott said he wanted to “clear up some misinformation” around the state's new guidance, and he emphasized that masks are included.

“When schools open, we’re asking all students, all teachers, and all school employees to wear masks for the first two to three weeks of school,” Scott said at a press conference. “They should stay required for all those not yet eligible for the vaccine; that means kids under 12.” 

The state recommends lifting this masking requirement only when 80% of a school’s eligible population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The mask rule should remain in place for unvaccinated people, the governor added, and federal law requires everyone to wear a mask when riding a school bus. 

The state’s top recommendation is for more people to get vaccinated, and the state continues to announce a number of school-based vaccination clinics throughout Vermont. To date, over 85% of vaccine-eligible Vermonters have received their first dose, and the state has the lowest COVID hospitalization rate in the country.

Scott said anyone who has concerns about the vaccine should “talk to a trusted medical professional, not Facebook.” 

“I’m confident we can keep moving forward, but we need everyone pulling in the same direction, and we’re not going to do it blindly,” Scott said. “We’ve always watched the data, and we’ve done what’s best for Vermonters.”

Cases are growing nationally and regionally, however the rate of growth has been steadily declining in the past three weeks, according to Michael Pieciak, Vermont’s commissioner of financial regulation, who tracks COVID data for the state. He said this hopeful trend is occurring in Vermont as well. Though Vermont’s cases climbed by 41% this week, the case growth was about half of what it was last week, Pieciak noted. 

“We anticipate that cases will continue to slow and eventually decrease in the coming weeks,” he said.

— Gareth Henderson