Nesting loons have a record year in Vermont

A record 109 pairs of loons nested in Vermont in 2021, with 125 chicks hatched and 84 surviving through August. (VTF&W Photo by Tom Rogers)

Vermont’s loons are thriving with a record 109 nesting pairs reported in 2021, the highest since loon monitoring began in 1978, according to wildlife experts.

“Across Vermont, 77 loon nests produced 125 chicks this year, and 84 of those chicks survived through August,” said Eric Hanson, wildlife biologist with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE). 

VCE leads the Vermont Loon Conservation Project in partnership with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. In a Tuesday’s announcement, officials noted the importance of that collaboration.

“We are very grateful to Eric Hanson and the many volunteers who help monitor Vermont’s nesting loons,” said Fish and Wildlife’s bird biologist Doug Morin. “The loon has been the flagship species of our nongame work ever since the nongame tax checkoff and conservation license plate programs have been helping to fund these efforts.” 

“Vermont’s loon project is a tremendous success story,” added Morin. “It’s hard to believe that in 1983 there were only seven nesting pairs.”

Loons were removed from Vermont’s endangered species list in 2005 following decades of recovery efforts.  One of the main threats still facing loons as they continue to recover is human disturbance during the breeding season.

Keeping your distance from loons is of great importance, but Morin also reminds people to avoid lead fishing tackle.  Loons sometimes swallow stray fishing tackle and suffer the effects of lead poisoning.  Lead sinkers weighing one-half ounce or less are prohibited for fishing in Vermont.  And, Morin recommends that anglers be careful to not attract loons to their bait and lures, and especially don’t leave any fishing line behind as fishing tackle does kill loons. 

“Many areas where loons are nesting on Vermont’s lakes are surrounded by signs reminding people to give loons the space they need, but not all nesting areas are marked,” said Morin. “We ask people to enjoy loons from a distance, whether they are in a motorboat, a canoe or a kayak.” 

Check out the VCE website for more information about the Vermont Loon Conservation Project and how you can get involved.

— Gareth Henderson

Vermont masking bill becomes law

A view from River Street in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson)

Vermont municipalities can now create their own mask ordinances for indoor public spaces, if they so choose. 

On Monday, the Legislature passed a bill granting this local authority on masks, and Gov. Phil Scott signed it into law Tuesday. The bill removes this authority on April 30, 2022, meaning any local mask mandates put in place under this new law will end on that date.

Scott has been under pressure from lawmakers for weeks to reimpose a statewide mask mandate, given the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Vermont. The governor, wary of bringing back such statewide measures, offered the special session and the locally-focused masking bill as a compromise, with the caveat that this authority be temporary. Legislative leadership took him up on the offer, while criticizing Scott for not using his authority to require masks statewide amid the large increase in cases. They also worried the town-by-town approach would be divisive. Meanwhile, in Tuesday remarks, Scott repeated the argument that broad, statewide restrictions are not needed, given Vermont’s success in COVID vaccination and testing, and its low fatality and hospitalization rates.

As for the new law, it does not require anything of municipalities; it just gives them the option of creating their own local mask mandates. If a town or city imposes a mask mandate, the ordinance can apply to indoor public spaces, but the law leaves it up to local officials to define “public space” under their ordinance, according to Vermont Public Radio. Also, municipalities are allowed to enact penalties for non-compliance if they so choose, VPR added. However, the ordinance can’t apply to schools, as local school boards still have jurisdiction over school district mask policy.

So far, Burlington and Montpelier are reportedly planning to enact mask mandates, but some other communities are not doing so. Woodstock Village, which had a mask mandate for about a year until this past June, is not planning to reinstate one at this time. Village Trustees have said the mask policies already in place at local businesses and organizations are sufficient at this point, but they’ll review this decision in December. 

Welch to run for U.S. Senate

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch will run for the U.S. Senate in 2022, according to media reports.

VPR reported on Monday that Welch plans to seek the Senate seat that will open up after Sen. Patrick Leahy’s announced retirement. Leahy said last week he will not run for reelection, after nearly five decades in the Senate. 

Welch, 74, is Vermont’s lone congressman and has served eight terms in the U.S. House. On Monday, he told VPR that the priorities highlighted in the “Build Back Better” bill, which the House recently passed, will be key to his Senate campaign.

Welch, originally from Massachusetts, has a political career spanning over four decades. After graduating from law school at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1973, he settled in White River Junction, Vermont. There, he worked as a public defender and later founded a small law practice. Welch was first elected to represent Windsor County in the Vermont Senate in 1980. In 1985, he was unanimously elected by his colleagues to lead the chamber, becoming the first Democrat in Vermont history to hold the position of president pro tempore.

In 2006, Welch was elected to Vermont’s only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

— Gareth Henderson

Groundbreaking data project aims to protect wildlife

2016 lidar-derived tree cover (light and dark green), overlaid with 2011 habitat blocks (yellow), highlights the opportunities to improve Vermont Conservation Design with new data that account for connecting landscapes, state officials said. (Image Provided)

Vermont’s conservation efforts are getting an important data technology upgrade, thanks to some new grant funding. 

This week, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department won a $106,256 competitive federal grant to use groundbreaking new data to help conservation planners protect plants, animals and natural habitats in the face of climate change, according to Wednesday’s announcement. The process is based on Vermont Conservation Design, a science-based assessment of Vermont’s ecologically functional landscape. The new data approach helps guide strategic fish and wildlife conservation, notably through upgraded mapping capability.

“With this grant, we are excited to fine-tune our assessment to better identify lands and waters that contribute to Vermont’s healthy environment with climate change in mind,” said Director of Wildlife Mark Scott in a statement. 

This work will help priority species, from moose and northern long-eared bats to native bees and rare plants, remain healthy and able to adapt to changes in the climate, Scott added.

First released in 2015, Vermont Conservation Design maps the habitat needed to ensure Vermont’s wildlife remains healthy and abundant. Six years later, new state-wide “Lidar” data from the Vermont Center for Geographic Information provide an opportunity to upgrade this conservation tool, officials said. 

Lidar, short for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses aircraft-mounted laser scanners and a global positioning system to map landscape texture, giving researchers a more accurate understanding of land cover. It provides 400 times higher resolution than any previous landcover data.

The new data will reveal critical details for wildlife movement and ecological connections, like hedgerows through fields and forest edges close to roads. These connections allow animals to move from one habitat block to the next as they adjust their ranges to climate change, as officials said in this week’s announcement.

“These very detailed land cover maps will help us find the places where wildlife, such as black bears and bobcats, can travel between large patches of forest,” said Jens Hilke, a conservation planner at Vermont Fish and Wildlife.  “It is critical that wildlife have the ability to move around the state and beyond, especially as climate change pushes plants and animals into new habitats.”

— Gareth Henderson

Beware of scams in a tight housing market

(Gareth Henderson Photo)

If you see a home listed for sale in Woodstock, Vermont, on Craigslist, it may not be on the market at all. 

In recent weeks, several occupied homes in the Woodstock area were falsely listed for sale on Craigslist and occasionally other online housing platforms. Though there isn’t a clear read on the details, it’s indeed a scam, and some sources say it’s likely the result of outdated real estate information being repackaged and reposted online. That general scheme has led to false rental postings in the past — something that’s nothing new in the digital age. 

Omni Reporter became aware of this scam when a lady came to my property wanting to see our place. I said it is not for sale, but she was very insistent and said it was listed on the internet. After she left, I put on my investigative reporter hat and found the listing online. In mid-October, several other people in our neighborhood also found their properties were falsely listed for sale or for rent, the majority being on Craigslist.

Woodstock Police Chief Robbie Blish said in October no one had reported this issue recently, but he’d heard of such scams before, mainly regarding fake rentals. 

“We have had similar incidents in the past involving rental properties, meaning someone advertises an apartment for rent that doesn't belong to them,” Blish said. “In that case, several years ago, no money was lost and we were alerted to the ad and it was reported to the company.”

As for the recent fake for-sale listings, that appears to be more rare than the false-rental scam, in which perpetrators would try to trick prospective renters into sending them a deposit. Laird Bradley, owner and principal broker of Williamson Group Sotheby’s International Realty in Woodstock, said the fake for-sale scenario “is pretty new”, but could have the same goal of falsely collecting some kind of deposit. Some of the prior rental scams have repackaged for-sale listings as rentals; others showed entirely fake properties. 

Bradley noted it’s been a tough real estate market, and scammers might see an opportunity as a result, especially if someone is desperate for housing. 

“In our greater Woodstock area, we’ve been at zero vacancy long before COVID,” he said. “It’s been a difficult market for a very long time.” 

Bradley said real estate agents have been watching online platforms, especially Craigslist, for years now. 

“Let’s just say I’m not surprised,” he said of the scam. 

There have been no reports of any real estate scams being successful in the Woodstock area recently, including any false for-sale listings. Several were taken down after the relevant company was contacted. 

For more information on these kinds of scams and protective measures to take, click here and scroll down to the tab labeled “Craigslist/Online Listings Scams”. 

To report a scam, you can contact your local authorities and reach out to your state’s Attorney General’s Office. Contact information for the Vermont AG’s office is available at this page.

— Gareth Henderson

Vt. names Canada liaison as U.S. border reopens for vaccinated travelers

The American and Vermont flags flying together in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Cross-border reunions of all kinds have commenced now that the U.S. border with Canada and Mexico is open to vaccinated travelers. The major change, announced last month, took effect this week. 

An important type of reunion now going on is that of trade and commerce. And on Monday, after the reopening took place, the state of Vermont announced its new representative for trade and investment in Canada. CIDEP, a Montreal-based economic development firm, was named to the representative and liaison role.

“Our connection with Canada runs deep, and as the land border reopens, communities and families are reconnecting, Canadian travelers are returning, and businesses can once again focus on expanding operations and increasing trade with Vermont,” said Gov. Phil Scott. “We hope this reconnection will remind Canadian companies what Vermont has to offer when thinking about expanding or doing business here, while also creating interest in Vermont products north of the border.”

CIDEP’s main priority will be to initiate contact with Canadian businesses looking to expand into the U.S. market and then generate quality leads that have high potential to turn into Vermont investment projects, according to the state announcement. CIDEP will also represent Vermont at key trade events in Canada touting Vermont as a business and tourist destination.

"The relationship between Québec and Vermont is more than business. For more than 100 years, we have shared the same values,” said Michel Belval, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Québec. “We support environmental projects, family's businesses, and small and medium enterprises. The opening of the new Vermont Office in Québec is a sign that our relationship can only continue to grow and that our partnership is better than ever."

In 2020, Vermont exported over $918 million in goods to Canada and imported $1.7 billion in goods, 76% of which were used in the production of American-made products. There are also 66 Canadian-owned businesses employing over 2,900 workers in Vermont.

CIDEP was selected through a competitive bid process administered by the Vermont Department of Economic Development, state officials said. In addition to business recruitment, CIDEP will promote the state as an investment destination and encourage greater bi-lateral trade with its top market.

The funding for this two-year initiative was proposed in the governor’s budget address calling for investments in Vermont’s economy, workforce, and communities, Monday’s announcement noted. The funding was approved and included in Act 74 by the Vermont Legislature in June.

“I am firmly convinced that Vermont has everything it takes to attract more Canadian companies in the years to come, and we are dedicated to allocating all the necessary resources to promote the state of Vermont as a great location for Canadian corporations to do business,” said Frederick Bernard, CEO of CIDEP.

Marie-Claude Francoeur, the Québec Provincial Government’s delegate to New England, noted the importance of such partnerships to the region’s recovery from the pandemic. 

“In these uncertain times, North America's economic recovery will depend on trade initiatives that support innovation, enhance our competitiveness, protect our integrated value chains, promote our common prosperity and benefit both our regions as well as our respective workers and their families,” Francoeur said in a statement. “This is a win-win.”

Click here for more coverage of the border reopening and Canada’s rules for travelers.

— Gareth Henderson

Killington opens for the winter season

A sunset view from River Road in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

To the delight of skiers and snowboarders around the region and beyond, Killington Resort in Vermont has kicked off the winter season. Killington, the largest ski resort in the eastern U.S., opened for passholders on Friday and will be open to the general public starting Saturday.

“We are excited to welcome skiers and riders back to the Green Mountains, and to kick off the longest season in the East,” said Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, in a statement. “Last year was a season of change, and while we are not out of the woods yet, we are happy to be starting the season without many of the adaptations the COVID-19 pandemic demanded this time last year.”

The resort’s COVID-19 policies are different now, with masks not required in lift lines or on lifts or gondolas, which will be loaded to capacity. Masks are recommended indoors, resort officials said. 

Additionally, those heading to the resort will notice changes in the K-1 Base Area, due to the build out for the HomeLight Killington Cup, a stop on the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Tour. With that ongoing work, Killington Road will be closed at the Vale Road junction, with all traffic detoured onto Vale Road to access K-1.

According to Killington’s Friday snow report, snowmaking has for continued much of the week on our higher elevation North Ridge terrain, including portions of Great Northern with hopes of linking the North Ridge Quad with the K-1 Gondola in the coming days. Until this terrain is sufficiently covered, all skiers and riders will utilize the Peak Walkway in both directions to access open terrain. Killington’s snowmakers are also hard at work cranking out gunpowder on much of Superstar in preparation for the HomeLight Killington Cup, adjusting the guns up and down the hill as temperatures permit, the resort reported.

More information about this weekend’s opening is available online.

Crucial home heating aid released to states

Over $3 billion in home heating assistance for families in need has been released by the federal government.

More than $78 million is heading to Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, from the national total of $3.4 billion being disbursed for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Vermont will get over $18.8 million through the program, Maine is slated for about $36 million, and New Hampshire will see around $25 million.

But the cost of all fuels is expected to rise this winter. In the winter season of 2020-2021, a home using natural gas paid about $570 for heat, but this year, that could rise to almost $750, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Last month, officials noted the importance of this program when they announced this winter’s historic funding increase.

“These additional funds will allow us to do a number of things to help the vulnerable, including increasing fuel benefits; providing more money for weatherization services, including furnace repair and replacement; increasing the number of gallons or cords of wood you can receive under the crisis fuel program; provide a one-time check of $400 to those who qualify to offset electric heat, benefitting 18,000 households; and more,” Scott said in an October statement.

The $3.4 billion represents 90% of the funding for the coming year under LIHEAP. Click here for a state-by-state breakdown of those funds.

— Gareth Henderson

Fall foods abundant for wildlife

Mountain ash berries are among the many fall foods enjoyed by wildlife this year. (VTF&W Photo by John Hall)

As the cold weather intensifies, woodland creatures are having no trouble finding food. Vermont Fish and Wildlife is reporting that several important fall foods for wildlife are abundant this year following last year when many foods were lacking.

Fish and Wildlife staff survey mast stands around the state each fall season, and in 2020 they documented that many important berry and nut species were lacking. That helped cause a dramatic increase in the number of bears harvested in the hunting season due to the bears searching widely for alternative foods including corn.

Results for this year are markedly different, with most species of nuts and berries available to wildlife and some, such as apples, choke cherries and mountain ash berries being very abundant. Acorn numbers were the highest in 20 years. It was a good year in most areas for beech nuts, for although many of the beech stands surveyed contained abundant nuts, other stands contained few or none. 

“The great variation in beechnut numbers between sites that were sampled was a surprise to us, as we had predicted it to be an excellent year for beechnut production following such poor numbers last year,” said State Wildlife Biologist Jaclyn Comeau who was recently chosen to fill the position of Black Bear Project Leader. 

To learn more about the animals that inhabit the Green Mountains, check out this Vermont Fish and Wildlife page. 

— Gareth Henderson

Bears are some of the many creatures who will benefit from this year’s abundant fall foods. This photo was taken in November 2015. (VTF&W Photo by Kris & Norm Senna)

Broadband money to benefit multiple Vt. regions

West Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

When it comes to statewide challenges, broadband is a perennial issue in rural states and money is a consistent obstacle. However, Vermont officials this week announced $9.9 million in federal grants to aid broadband expansion in the state. 

The Vermont Community Broadband Board will issue the grant money to four communications union districts (CUD’s). These volunteer-run municipal organizations are working to improve high-speed broadband access — a need that was hugely exposed in 2020 when many had no choice but to work or learn remotely. 

The grant funding will mainly benefit communities in the Northeast Kingdom and central and southern Vermont. CUD’s receiving funds include the Deerfield Valley Communication Union District in southeastern Vermont ($4,111,318), Maple Broadband in Addison County ($2,399,200), Central Vermont Fiber in Washington County ($2,804,667) and Northwest Communication Union District in northwestern Vermont ($604,376). The grants are for preconstruction costs, including business planning, pole data surveys, and engineering work.

In the Monday announcement, Christine Hallquist, executive director of the state’s Community Broadband Board, praised the teamwork around this issue. 

“Vermonters have been working decades to get broadband to every address in Vermont,” she said. “It is exciting to see that goal within reach. I am so grateful to the hundreds of volunteers, the Legislature, the Administration and the many branches of state government that are working together to make this happen.”

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch told the media at the Monday press conference that the toughest part was yet to come. 

“We did our part to get funds, but you know the hardest part? It’s taking those funds and then in a responsible, careful, effective way to actually get them deployed and get those homes wired,” Welch said. 

Gov. Phil Scott also spoke to the great need for this money, especially given the experiences of the past 18 months. 

“We saw how challenging it was for some families and kids who didn’t have access to broadband when we closed schools and had to resort to remote learning,” Scott said. “We also saw the challenges for working Vermonters who didn’t have access to broadband when we asked them to stay home. Access to broadband is a necessity in the 21st century.”

Grants funding the construction work will be issued early next year. Three of the four groups awarded in this first round of grants plan to start construction in the spring of 2022. 

According to a Pew Research study released in August, seven out of 10 rural Americans say they have a home broadband connection — up from six out of 10 in 2016. The study notes that despite the increase, “rural residents are still less likely than those living in suburban areas to report having home broadband.”

— Gareth Henderson

Officials: Vt. ready to vaccinate children ages 5-11 against COVID-19

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

Parents of children ages 5-11 will soon be able to have their kids vaccinated against COVID-19.

CDC advisers voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for this age group. Following that panel’s decision, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky is widely expected to issue final approval. This vaccine for children ages 5-11 will be given in two doses three weeks apart. It is one-third the dosage of the Pfizer vaccine for adults. 

In anticipation of the final CDC approval, registration will open at 8 a.m. for Vermont parents to sign their children up. People will be able to go to healthvermont.gov/myvaccine or call 855-722-7878 to make an appointment. With support from EMS and other health care partners, the state Health Department has also arranged for clinics in nearly 100 schools across the state over a six-week period, beginning on Monday, Nov. 8.

“Our goal is to get as many doses as possible into students’ arms before the holiday break at the end of December — that’s first and second dose,” said Mike Smith, Vermont’s secretary of human services. 

At a Tuesday press conference, it was clear the gears were fully in motion in Vermont. The state was receiving 6,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine for ages 5-11 by Tuesday night — part of 23,400 doses being shipped to the state this week. Of those, 15,900 are going to the state, with the remaining 7,500 heading to clinics at pharmacies and health care sites around Vermont, according to officials.  

“This will be an enormous step forward and a significant opportunity to protect as many people as possible,” Gov. Phil Scott said of the expected vaccine.

At the briefing, Scott urged those who are skeptical about vaccinating their kids to consider the following factors.

“We know from recent experience how important in-person instruction is for our kids, and by getting them vaccinated, you’re not only reducing their chance of getting COVID, but you’re taking an important step to keep them in school, improving their education, and all the social and mental health benefits that come along with it,” Scott said.  

Dr. Rebecca Bell, president of the Vermont chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said this has been “a long-awaited and much-anticipated development.” This low-dose Pfizer vaccine was shown to be 91% effective against COVID-19 infection, Bell said. The doses are expected to be available at local pediatrician offices by mid-November.

Bell also noted the success of the effort to vaccinate older children, adding that 31,000 Vermonters ages 12-17 have been vaccinated against the virus. 

“Those are our patients, and we have been so grateful that they are vaccinated and protected from serious illness,” she said. 

The governor was hopeful that most parents of kids ages 5-11 would have their children inoculated. He said Vermont leads the country in a number of vaccination-related categories, including youth vaccination. 

“About a week ago, we were the first state to cross the 80% vaccination threshold for kids 12-17, with over 70% of them being fully vaccinated,” Scott said. 

There are about 44,000 children ages 5-11 in Vermont; the state’s total population was just over 643,000 as of April 2020.

— Gareth Henderson

Vt. archaeological work gets major funding boost

(Gareth Henderson)

A local university will create a new museum and a host of learning opportunities at an archaeological site in southern Vermont, thanks to new funds for an ongoing project.

Castleton University will provide up to 40 paid internships to continue archaeological exploration at the historic Granger House after receiving a nearly $500,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The money aims to support education in archaeology, geography, history, and related fields.

The grant will fund the creation of a museum and learning laboratory at the Granger House on the campus in Castleton. Along with the internships, there will be a summer field school and numerous public outreach efforts. In embarking on the Granger House Project, Castleton University will develop an innovative approach to education in the humanities by emphasizing community engagement and fostering the development of job-ready skills, according to the official announcement on Thursday. 

The Granger House Project centers on renovating and repurposing the home. The new museum will celebrate an inclusive history of Castleton through interactive exhibits, photography, and 3D-printed copies of material culture that visitors can manipulate and study.  The museum will serve as a venue for a wide range of public programming with an emphasis on K-12 education.

“The preservation of sites like Granger House have traditionally served to commemorate the history of white European settlement, but such an approach does more to obscure than to elucidate the true history of the early United States,” said Andre Fleche, project director and professor of history, in a statement. “Granger House sits just miles away from significant Native American archeological sites, and, according to the Library of Congress’s Historic American Building Survey, the home may have had ties to the Underground Railroad. This project will investigate those histories in an effort to forge a ‘more perfect union’ between the fields of Native American, African American, and early American history.”

At the center of the project are learning communities that will provide enrichment for paid student interns. During the summer up to 40 students, under the guidance of trained professionals, will supervise volunteers and K-12 school groups as they conduct archaeological investigations and other research at Granger House. Advanced coursework during the spring and fall 2022 semesters will focus on local history and help prepare exhibits and train students for active roles in the museum.

In Thursday’s announcement, Matthew Moriarty, director of archaeology and co-director of the project, noted the many opportunities for students.

“They’ll have a chance to participate in this project from start to finish, gaining valuable hands-on experience in everything from archaeology to archival research to 3D scanning to museum exhibit development,” Moriarty said. “We also think this museum will be a great benefit to local educators, providing a place where they can bring their students and explore the richness and diversity of local history.”

Castleton’s Granger House Project will underscore the continued relevance and importance of the humanities in higher education’s fast-changing landscape. By emphasizing hands-on projects and skill development, Castleton University will reinvent the role of student-faculty research at teaching institutions, according to the grant announcement. The Granger House Project will demonstrate that interactive, place-based immersion in the humanities can successfully prepare students for the workplace and for a lifetime of active citizenship.

Castleton University was awarded the grant as part of the National Endowment for the Humanities Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) program. SHARP grants were funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and are designed to preserve humanities jobs and support the reopening and rebuilding of humanities programs.

Granger House is one of the oldest in the town of Castleton and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed and built by Noahdiah Granger around 1800 and was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The home is an important local example of Federal-style architecture and features one of the outstanding extant spiral staircases by the noted Vermont architect and craftsman Thomas R. Dake.

— Gareth Henderson

Hike and learn: State offers virtual program for young students

The eastern wild turkey is one of the animals to be studied in a virtual education program being offered by Vermont Fish and Wildlife. (VTF&W Photo by John Hall)

Throughout the country, the education sector has been a place of innovation over the past 18 months. Within that, the pandemic has driven lots of interest in outdoor programs. Along with being a healthy option, those programs also offer meaningful opportunities to learn about the environment in a local setting. 

Now, Vermont educators have one more such opportunity. On Thursday, the state Fish and Wildlife Department announced “Scats and Tracks”, a virtual program for elementary school classes grades 1-6 designed to get kids outside with their teacher, while also learning about the wildlife in their community. The 4-week program gives educators plans and support to lead nature hikes on school or nearby grounds.  

Each week’s hike teaches students to identify scat and tracks for a different native species, and it is supported with access to a virtual class visit on nature facts from Fish and Wildlife experts. Indeed, the Green Mountains offer a variety of wildlife to study, meaning such opportunities are never far away. This year’s program focuses on the gray fox, beaver, gray squirrel, and eastern wild turkey.

There are two ways for classes to participate, designed to meet the needs of different schedules and student groups: 1) pre-recorded lessons; or 2) live virtual presentations with a department staff member once a week. Fish and Wildlife officials understand that many educators have questions about leading a nature hike of their own, a news release stated. Staff are available to answer any questions about that portion in advance and to provide tips.

The live virtual sessions will take place weekly during January 2022, and educators that choose the pre-recorded option will receive the video links and additional information in late 2021.

— Gareth Henderson

Notice: To register for the program, educators should contact Education Specialist Corey Hart by emailing him at corey.hart@vermont.gov, or calling him at 802-505-5562. Please indicate which option you prefer, school, grade level, and how many students will be participating. The homeschool community is also encouraged to reach out.

Hello, Halloween!

Pumpkins on display in Woodstock Village. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Late October is bringing that fresh, crisp cold in the air, and you know what that includes: Halloween. And Woodstock will be celebrating. 

For a new addition: The East End Park in Woodstock, Vermont, will be getting into the Halloween spirit this weekend on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 1-3 p.m. It’s also the grand opening of the park’s improved slide and new rope climb, meaning lots of enjoyment awaits the families at this park, which has become a favorite place for many after it opened last year. As an announcement says, “Dress in your Halloween costume and come on down for apple cider, doughnuts and fun!” (Weather dependent.) If you bike to the event, the new bike racks provide an easy parking option. 

There are several other ways to start Halloween early, too. In South Woodstock, a community trick-or-treat, hay ride, and haunted forest will take place on Saturday from 4-6 p.m. Parking is at the South Woodstock Fire Station, where trick-or-treat maps will be available. The event is geared toward children under 10, but as the announcement said, all are welcome. 

The community is also invited to a Halloween event at Artistree in nearby Pomfret, where “Spooktacular FUN” is going from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The family event includes a costume parade, pumpkin carving, decorating, scavenger hunt, and, of course, some tasty treats to enjoy. 

As for the big day itself, on Sunday, Oct. 31, a favorite local Halloween tradition is returning: trick-or-treating along High Street, Maple Street and Golf Avenue, from 5-8 p.m. After being cancelled last year, all three of those streets in Woodstock Village will be closed off for trick-or-treaters for that three-hour span. 

Here’s to hoping many people here and everywhere get to enjoy Halloween festivities and the sense of community they bring. Let’s use every interaction this weekend as a way to uplift other people, and begin the cold season on a note of togetherness and joy.

— Gareth Henderson

Vermont expanding home weatherization program

A mid-morning scene in Woodstock Village. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

In a bid to lower energy bills and boost energy efficiency, the state of Vermont is directing $7.9 million in federal relief money to home weatherization efforts. Officials say reducing greenhouse gas emissions is also part of the goal. 

This funding from the American Rescue Plan Act will expand the state’s Weatherization Assistance Program, run by the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF). This program usually weatherizes between 800 to 1,000 homes each year, according to Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, who announced the news Wednesday. 

“This investment will allow more than 550 additional homes to be weatherized, helping create good weatherization jobs, reduce costs for Vermonters and help our planet,” Scott said in a statement. 

About $1.6 million of the additional funding will be used to provide “one-stop” comprehensive weatherization and efficiency improvements in multi-family housing, state officials confirmed. 

A household is eligible for no-cost weatherization services if their gross household income is below 80% of the median income in their area. A family of four with an annual income of about $67,000 would be eligible in most Vermont communities.

“Weatherization saves the Vermonters we serve about 35%, on average, on their home energy use,” said Sarah Phillips, director for the DCF Office of Economic Opportunity, in the Wednesday announcement. “That helps lower their energy bills, keeping money in their pockets for other necessities like food, clothing and medications.”

Priority for funding is given to households receiving seasonal fuel assistance; high-energy use homes; families with young children; older Vermonters; and people with disabilities.

Free weatherization services include energy audits with methods like blower door testing and infrared scans; energy renovations such as insulation, air sealing and heating system upgrades; health and safety improvements like addressing ventilation, carbon monoxide and unsafe heating issues; efficiency coaching; and referrals to other programs and services.

On average, the program makes about $8,500 worth of improvements per home, adds about 1,500 square feet of insulation and reduces drafts by about 40%, according to the state.

For more information, check out the program page on the DCF website.

— Gareth Henderson

Abracadabra Coffee serving at East End, planning for winter

This coffee trailer, owned by Abracadabra Coffee Co., is a recent addition to Woodstock’s East End. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

If you’re enjoying the East End Park in Woodstock, Vermont, you can also enjoy an oasis of coffee and ice cream in this same part of the village. Now, just near the park’s entrance across the road, people can grab some coffee, baked goods and creemees, along with the foliage views in the area.

At that spot, Abracadabra Coffee Co. has been operating their coffee trailer since August and it’ll be there until mid-November. Picnic tables and umbrellas are there for seating, the parking’s free, and people can enjoy locally brewed coffee and a fabulous view of the Ottauquechee River and the mountains beyond. Also available are liege waffles, canelé (a French pastry), vegan apple cider donuts, and of course, creemees. 

The company purchased the shasta trailer earlier this year, and it’s been a big hit, said co-owner Sarah Yetter. 

“It’s been really great, everyone just really loves seeing the shasta,” she said. “Everyone says it’s adorable.”

The hours of operation are Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As for what happens after mid-November, there is a winter option on the horizon. Abracadabra is working on final plans and permitting for an indoor location where they can serve to-go orders out of the trailer.

The seating area by the Abracadabra Coffee trailer near Woodstock’s East End Park. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

For the time being, the coffee trailer remains at the East End, where it was quickly gaining more fans last week. 

On Friday morning, Reda Kongjonaj and Sarah Waldron, both of Boston and staying in Killington, came down to Woodstock looking for a bit to eat. After not finding options for a quick lunch in the village, they hit Google Maps and, well, Abracadabra. 

“It’s convenient, I think it’s cute,” Kongjonaj said, while enjoying a coffee and a creemee. 

Waldron added, “It’s nice that it’s by this park, with the view, and you can just chill at the tables.” 

Also enjoying the coffee were Hartland resident Poli Nightingale and Dave Matz of Woodstock. Nightingale has been there with his family numerous times. 

“It’s usually our Saturday morning go-to after soccer and then after skiing in the wintertime,” Nightingale said of Abracadabra Coffee. 

Matz loved the atmosphere of the park and the trailer. 

“It’s great to see these new additions to the town of Woodstock,” he said. 

Abracadabra Coffee was founded by Clint Hunt and his wife, Antoinette, who both knew Yetter when they were all living in Columbus, Ohio. Yetter ended up becoming a partner in the company after moving to Vermont in 2016. Abracadabra started renting the building at 54 Pleasant Street in Woodstock in 2017, and they now operate their roasting there. 

“We’ve really been able to expand our wholesale,” Yetter said. 

They sell their whole-bean coffee all over the U.S. and have a robust online retail business through their website. Abracadabra also sells a line of cold brew cans throughout New England, and the company now has 11 employees.

— Gareth Henderson

The mountain view near the Abracadabra Coffee trailer at the East End. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Conserving our winged friends: ‘Bat Week’ coming soon

Bat houses are a great alternative for bats you need to evict from your home, but they do require some maintenance in the late fall or winter. (VTF&W photo)

Bats are busy this time of year, and it’s not because of Halloween. Vermont has nine native bat species, and summer groups of bats that roost in buildings begin to scatter in the fall, in preparation for migration or hibernation, according to state wildlife officials. They say it’s an important time for conservation-minded Vermonters to learn about and help conserve these creatures, which play an important role in the region’s ecosystem. 

If you have noticed bats roosting in your attic, barn, or office over the summer, fall is the perfect time to safely evict these uninvited guests from your property. You can learn how to safely evict bats from your building at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s best management practices page.

You can also help bat conservation efforts by reporting large colonies of bats living in structures to the department’s website. Locations with rare colonies of one of our endangered species, the little brown bat, are eligible for free bat houses from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

Bat houses provide an alternative location for safely evicted bats to remain in your yard and continue eating huge quantities of insects that may be forest, agricultural, or human pests, according to wildlife officials. Bat houses can be put up any time of year but do require some simple maintenance. Late fall or winter is the time to look up inside your bat house and make sure all the bats have left before cleaning out any abandoned wasp nests and planning any needed caulking or repainting.

“Fall also means Halloween, and scary images of bats, but this presents an opportunity to bring positive attention to bats as well,” state biologist Alyssa Bennett said in a statement. “So, we celebrate ‘Bat Week’ in the days leading up to Halloween.” Bat Week takes place Oct. 24-31 and aims to raise awareness about the vital ecological function of bats and to dispel the many myths and misinformation about them, officials said.

This year, Bennett will be giving a public talk about Vermont’s nine native bat species at the Intervale Center in Burlington. You can register for the talk on the department’s events page.  Anyone interested in learning more can visit the official Bat Week website at www.BatWeek.org, or email Alyssa.Bennett@vermont.gov for more information about what they can do right here in Vermont to promote bat conservation.

“Vermont is home to several species of threatened and endangered bats that we are working to conserve and recover — we hope Vermonters will support these efforts and come to enjoy seeing bats in their natural environment,” Bennett added. “Bats are a very important part of our natural world and now, more than ever, they need our help.”

— Gareth Henderson

Historic increase announced in Vt. home energy assistance

A foliage scene at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermonters needing help to keep their homes warm this winter will benefit from a historic increase in funding from a key federal program. 

This week, state and federal officials announced Vermont is receiving $49 million from the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), thanks to relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Usually, the state receives about $20 million a year in LIHEAP funding. The program supports eligible households with their heating and energy needs. With the increase, seasonal fuel assistance benefits from LIHEAP will, on average, increase from $912 to $1,522, and cover 89% of a household’s seasonal fuel bill.  

Gov. Phil Scott thanked Vermont’s Congressional Delegation for working to secure this money. 

“These additional funds will allow us to do a number of things to help the vulnerable, including increasing fuel benefits; providing more money for weatherization services, including furnace repair and replacement; increasing the number of gallons or cords of wood you can receive under the crisis fuel program; provide a one-time check of $400 to those who qualify to offset electric heat, benefitting 18,000 households; and more,” Scott said in a statement on Thursday.

U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, joined Scott and the Vermont Department for Children and Families in making the announcement. 

“I’ve supported LIHEAP since its beginning 40 years ago for one simple reason: No Vermonter, no American, should have to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table or purchasing an essential medication,” said Leahy, who is on the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Our work in Washington is only the first step. The last step, the most important one, is when Vermont families sign up for the program and receive the home heating help they need.”

Also in the joint statement, Sanders said the delegation has a “moral responsibility” to make sure no Vermont family goes cold during the long winter months. 

“I’m very proud that this substantial increase means far more Vermonters will receive the benefits they need, and I thank the state of Vermont and our Community Action Agencies for the great work they do helping Vermonters stay warm through the winter,” Sanders said. 

Welch noted that the LIHEAP program “serves as a lifeline” for many low-income families.

“The pandemic has only increased the need for more funding to ensure our communities get relief during the challenging winter months of these already trying times,” he said. “I’ll continue to fight for the highest possible level of funding to make sure that the low-income, elderly and disabled Vermonters who rely on this program are supported in the coming months.”

— Gareth Henderson

For more information, view the Thursday press conference about this increase in LIHEAP funding.

Holiday weekend sparks return of high foliage traffic

Traffic going in and out of Woodstock Village on Route 12 near Billings Farm, Saturday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Fall foliage traffic has surged to levels the New England region hasn’t seen for two years. The holiday weekend of Oct. 9-11 was of course the catalyst for this, but in many places, the crowds continued into the week. 

In Woodstock, Vermont, the downtown crowds quickly gathered, filling restaurants, stores and village sidewalks. Courtney Lowe, president of the Woodstock Inn & Resort, said the very busy weekend continued what’s been a strong leisure travel market since June. The resort is seeing more elderly couples now, since many switched their reservations from 2020. 

“There’s a pretty large migration of reservations coming from last year to this year, so that did fill us up pretty quickly in this time period,” Lowe said. 

Another theme: The bus tours are back, and are adding to the crowds in a big way. That’s a large part of the pent up demand bringing the huge surge in traffic throughout the week. 

“People want to get out and about,” said Jeff Kahn, owner of the Unicorn. “The number of bus tours has doubled, tripled, from most recent years.” 

Overall, Kahn said he’s seen repeat visitors, but also travelers who are coming to Woodstock for the first time — and lots of each. 

“Forty-three years in, I never expected to still be working 7 days a week, but this week it was required,” he said. 

Kim Smith, co-owner of 37 Central Clothiers and the Red Wagon Toy Co., said it was a super busy weekend, and a popular one for ice cream. Smith runs Woodstock Scoops, an ice-cream pop-up shop, just across the street from her stores.

“It was just a beautiful weekend, and we sold lots of maple creemees,” she said. 

In a sign of business looking up, Lowe said the resort has seen an increasing number of people booking over the long term, into next summer and fall. 

“It helps you build a base for the following year,” Lowe said. “I feel like every inn, every lodging business in Vermont, has been extremely busy this whole time period."

— Gareth Henderson

Vermont roots: Centennial spotlights Morgan breed’s storied history

“Figure” stands proudly at the UVM Morgan Horse Farm in Weybridge, Vt. This month, the farm marked the statue’s 100th anniversary with a special Centennial Field Day. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The first weekend of October brought a major anniversary to a special part of the University of Vermont’s Morgan Horse Farm, and also a celebration of the majestic animal for which the farm is named. 

On Saturday, Oct. 2, the life-size bronze statue of “Figure”, the foundational sire of the Morgan Horse breed, passed the century mark and the community celebrated. Figure’s owner, Justin Morgan, brought the horse to Randolph in 1792, and from there the breed’s history began in the Green Mountains. The UVM Morgan Horse Farm has played a crucial role in that history in Vermont, as thousands of Morgan Horses have been raised on this long-cherished property. 

People from all around Vermont took part in the 100-year celebration last weekend at the farm in Weybridge, where the event mirrored the activities and exhibits of the site’s original field day. It was a cloudy day, but the love of the farm and its cherished place in history shone bright.

This week, Margot Smithson, operations coordinator for the UVM Morgan Horse Farm, said the Oct. 2 Centennial Field Day brought out the community's passion for the Morgan Horse breed, and also sparked some new interest. 

“Think we brought some new folks in, and we rejuvenated the passion and interest of some folks who’ve been in our community for a while,” said Smithson, who introduced the Oct. 2 speakers and delivered remarks alongside Farm Manager Kimberly Demars. “We’ve had a number of people write to us, just being very grateful for the promotion we did for the Morgan Horse, what it means for the state, and just rekindling passion for it as our state animal.” 

One of the planners for the centennial event was Nina Quinn, president of the Morgan Horse Heritage Foundation and member of the farm’s UVM Advisory Board. Her carriage mare is a granddaughter of UVM Kerry, a famous Morgan bred at the farm. Quinn was also an apprentice at the farm, adding, “I grew up here basically.” 

She’s hopeful about the farm’s future. “It takes a village; it’s a very, very important place,” Quinn said. 

A young visitor meets a new friend at the UVM Morgan Horse Farm on Oct. 2. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The 150-year-old working farm, with over 40 Morgans, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it welcomes the public annually from May through October. Time and again at the recent Centennial, a key point was driven home: the UVM Morgan Horse Farm has been an ambassador for the Morgan Horse breed. In 1878, Joseph Battell commissioned construction of the farm to preserve the Morgan breed, and also published the first volume of the Morgan Horse Registry in 1894, noted Jim McClay, director of The Lippitt Club, during his remarks at the event. In 1907, Battell sold the farm to the U.S. government, and under the Department of Agriculture, the government farm bred over 500 Morgans for their cavalry remount program between 1907 and 1951. 

“Morgan horses from his government line of breeding are known for substantial bone and very athletic abilities,” McClay said. 

By 1951, the government no longer needed the program, and divided the Morgans still at the farm between the New England land-grant colleges — one of them being UVM. For decades, the farm has provided education and training for students, while “perpetuating the Battell, government and UVM blood lines,” McClay said. Through attracting thousands of visitors over its history, the farm has also educated the wider public about Vermont’s state animal.

Speaking of the robust equine education for students, Dr. Leslie Parise, dean of UVM’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, told the crowd at the event the farm staff recently taught a handling lab at UVM’s Miller Farm near the Burlington campus, working with several of UVM’s Morgan foals. Though some classes at the Weybridge farm are on hold due to the pandemic, Parise said the Morgan Horse Farm team was able to host their second-annual Saturday handling lab with 16 students. 

“It’s a great opportunity for these students to really get hands-on experience,” she said. The farm also offers a yearly equine reproduction course, focusing on the best practices for horse-breeding, artificial insemination, and more. 

Through working with students and promoting history and stewardship of the breed, The UVM Morgan Horse Farm has meant a great deal to the breed’s storied past, including its place in Vermont history. The farm was a favorite place for Gov. Deane C. Davis, who held the state’s top office from 1969 to 1973, owned and showed Morgan horses, and was instrumental in making the Morgan the state animal.

Horses look into the distance at the UVM Morgan Horse Farm in Weybridge, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

In an interview during the Oct. 2 event, Denny Emerson, an equestrian and Olympic gold-medalist based in Strafford, said the UVM Morgan Horse Farm has been a steady, positive influence over the years. He added that Vermont’s strong ties to the breed — from Justin Morgan and Figure, to the contributions of Gov. Davis and others — helped sustain the farm even as other New England colleges halted their Morgan breeding programs. That history has also turned into dollars for Vermont, with many tourists visiting the farm every year. 

“I think there's more of a tradition in Vermont than any other state, and hopefully they understand the tourist attraction and keep maintaining this place, both the University of Vermont and the state,” Emerson said.

Along with history and other aspects, the Oct. 2 speakers went to the very heart of the Morgan breed, noting its versatility, unmatched stamina, and a special closeness to its human companions. As Amanda Ryan, vice president of the Vermont Morgan Horse Association, noted about this special horse, “Above and beyond all else, he chooses you.” 

“There is a brightness that burns in them that you can see, whenever you stand in their presence,” she said. 

She added, “In Vermont, you are in the homeland. This horse irrevocably belongs to all Vermonters.” 

The Centennial crowd also heard from Anson Tebbetts, Vermont’s agriculture secretary, who thanked UVM, the Morgan Horse Farm team, and all volunteers and supporters throughout Vermont and beyond. He noted the farm’s importance to the breed, and the Morgan’s crucial place in Vermont’s long-standing equine economy.

“Horses, as we’ve learned today, are also great companions, teaching our young people responsibility and care of our animals,” Tebbetts said. “Through 4-H and horse shows, thousands of Vermonters have learned life-long skills that benefit all of us.” 

Because of the education they gained at the farm, many young people over the years have gone into careers in agriculture, a number of them becoming veterinarians, Tebbetts told the crowd. Behind these great traditions, are the great times generations have shared with this special breed, right here in the Greens. 

“The future is bright for UVM, and, as many have said earlier, the Morgan brings us joy and happiness,” he said.

— Gareth Henderson

A young Morgan greets the camera at the UVM farm in Weybridge, Vt., during the recent Centennial Field Day. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Looking toward the good

It's a familiar phrase: Life is a matter of perspective. The same holds true all year, including this fall season, when we not only welcome in the dazzling colors of autumn, but also numerous visitors to these Green Mountains we love. Some folks are making their first trip, while others have made numerous journeys north and have forged some longtime local friendships along the way. Indeed, the traffic can be tough, but it’s also a time of sharing our home — this beautiful Vermont — with others. Any time we’re going about our daily routines, that connection can happen in this land we all love. 

I had such an experience earlier in the week, when making my way through South Woodstock and stopping several times to explore some new photo angles on some favorite vistas. With the distant mountains in sight at one location, I stopped — but I wasn’t the only one. Another car approached from the opposite direction, with another behind it. For a moment I thought I might have to move, to avoid an impending mini traffic-jam. But I calmly went about my business, needing to change camera lenses for a better shot. I came back out to see the driver who had stopped near me, with camera in hand to capture the view while the late-afternoon sun still brightened the mountaintops. “Pretty irresistible isn’t it?” I said, pointing into the distance. “Oh I know!” came the cheerful reply. 

In a few minutes, we both went our separate ways, but having shared that joyful moment and a few smiles — all because we both wanted to see and remember the same beautiful, quiet place in the Greens. 

As we roll into the holiday weekend, opportunities for kindly moments of connection with others will be plentiful. They might come up where they’re least expected, too. But whatever happens, there remain many good moments in the world, even when major issues arise and appear unmovable. When we embrace even brief instances of good and share them with others, a bit more peace abides in the world at that precious moment. And those times are not the exception to any rule, but they reflect who we naturally are. As we let that spirit of peace inspire us, every interaction becomes an opportunity to see the good in others. The uplifting effect is harmonious, restful, and an open gift each of us can always experience.

— Gareth Henderson

Program extended to help food-insecure Vermonters

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

A statewide program helping food-insecure Vermonters has been extended through the end of 2021.

This week, the "Vermont Everyone Eats" program announced it would continue through the end of the year. In an interview with Vermont Public Radio, Jean Hamilton, the program's statewide coordinator, noted that pandemic-driven needs persist in Vermont communities.

"The impact will be here for longer than we imagined, but also, we just didn't anticipate the impact of (the) Delta (variant) and the fact that numbers would actually go back up," Hamilton told VPR.

More funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is allowing this extension to move forward, according to news reports. FEMA is currently covering the restaurant-made meals at $10 each, NECN reported via NBC5, with the purpose of helping hungry Vermonters and also the local eateries and farms providing the food.

Early during the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 1 in 3 people in the state were facing food insecurity, according to University of Vermont researchers. A year later, UVM found that over half of those affected Vermonters were still having trouble accessing nutritious meals.

In Middlebury, Bethany Farrell, of The Giving Fridge, told NECN she was glad to take part in Everyone Eats and was thrilled about the program's extension.

"It will help our communities thrive," Farrell said.

Vermont Everyone Eats has over 134 distributions sites statewide managed by 18 regional partners, according to the program’s website. For more details about its work, download the impact report on this page.

— Gareth Henderson