Lt. Gov. Molly Gray running for U.S. House

The U.S. and Vermont flags flying in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

Vermont’s lieutenant governor has kicked off her campaign for the U.S. House. 

Lt. Gov. Molly Gray (D) announced her candidacy on Monday, about a week after U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) confirmed that he was running for the Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who is not seeking reelection next year. If elected to the U.S. House, Gray would become the first woman to represent Vermont in Congress.

Gray, a native Vermonter, was sworn in as Vermont’s 82nd lieutenant governor in January 2020. In an interview with WCAX this week, Gray said she understands the issues facing Vermonters, which include a lack of affordable housing and the need for affordable health care and child care.

“I have the experience not only to be ready on day-one, to get an office open and off the ground and to get to work for Vermonters, but I have a deep understanding of the needs of our state, and I’ve served as lieutenant governor and I’ll continue to serve throughout the rest of my term,” Gray told WCAX on Monday. 

Gray, 37, is a former assistant attorney general for the state, and she grew up on her family’s farm in Newbury, Vermont. She attended college at the University of Vermont. After graduating from UVM, she helped elect Welch to Congress and worked for him as a Congressional aide in Washington, D.C. Gray would later spend three years working for the Red Cross engaging the U.S. on humanitarian issues. 

Her strong interest in human rights followed Gray back to her home state, where she attended Vermont Law School. She later helped launch the International Code of Conduct Association, the first global initiative mandated to oversee the human rights compliance of private security contractors.

Mike Smith to retire from agency leadership role

Following a long career in state government, Secretary Mike Smith will retire from the top job at the Vermont Agency of Human Services at the end of the year. 

This will cap Smith’s second stint leading the state’s largest agency. Over the past two years, Smith has been a central figure in the state’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic — including overseeing the state’s vaccination efforts. He was appointed to the agency’s secretary role in late 2019, coming out of retirement to take the familiar job. 

“I don’t think he knew what he was getting himself into, because within a month the pandemic began,” Gov. Phil Scott said at his regular Tuesday press conference. “I think back on how fortunate we were that his wife, Mary, allowed him to come back, because without him, I’m not sure we would have led the nation in so many categories, from testing, to vaccination and beyond.” 

At Tuesday’s briefing, Smith thanked the governor, his voice breaking with emotion as he offered the following words:

“As a former Navy SEAL, the height of compliment in leadership is when you say that you would go into battle with someone, and I would go into battle any day with the governor,” Smith said. 

In a Monday announcement from Scott’s office, Smith said though the pandemic kept him in his current role longer than expected, it was still tough to leave the job. 

“There will never be a good time to leave. When I told the Governor of my intention to retire this summer, I thought we would be well on our way toward the endemic phase of this public health crisis,” Smith said in the statement. “The Delta variant has made our jobs a bit more difficult, but nonetheless, we have testing and vaccination programs that are the envy of the rest of the country and we have protected many Vermonters from the more serious outcomes of this virus. … I am very proud of the work that the Agency has accomplished over the last two years, and I am confident the Agency will continue to thrive.”

Smith, who grew up in Woodstock, Vermont, served in the U.S. Navy, first with the Underwater Demolition Team 21 and then as a member of SEAL Team Two. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1977-78 and as deputy state treasurer from 1995-99. Smith also served as the secretary of the Agency of Administration and secretary of the Agency of Human Services in the administration of Gov. Jim Douglas.

Deputy Human Services Secretary Jenney Samuelson, who has played a key role in the state’s COVID-19 response, will serve as interim secretary following Smith’s departure.

In addition to its role in the pandemic response, the Agency of Human Services oversees six state departments (including the Department of Health), 12 district offices, and a network of community partners and providers.

— Gareth Henderson

New aid arriving for water infrastructure upgrades

A view along Route 4 in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermont will receive $63,041,000 in funding for drinking water systems and wastewater treatment as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

The bill was signed into law by President Joe Biden late last month, and  U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Gov. Phil Scott (R) announced the new funding on Thursday. This money will go into the state’s revolving loan funds for drinking water and wastewater. Those funds are loaned or granted to municipalities for constructing, improving or expanding public drinking water and wastewater systems. This funding is in addition to the state’s annual allocation of approximately $15.8 million for the revolving loan funds, bringing the total federal funding for 2022 to nearly $80 million, according to Thursday’s announcement. 

In the statement, Scott said these historic investments in this infrastructure offer a unique opportunity for Vermont towns and cities, including during their long-term economic recovery from the pandemic. 

“My administration has made these kinds of investments a top priority, and because of (our Congressional Delegation’s) work, we will be able to have a huge impact on communities in all 14 counties, helping them build back more prosperous and resilient,” Scott said. 

Leahy, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, also noted the importance to local economies. 

“We all know Vermont needs more housing of all types, but one of the barriers to building that housing has long been a lack of sufficient water and wastewater infrastructure,” he said. “Vermonters across the state have expressed a desire for vibrant, walkable downtowns, where people can step outside their doors and walk to local businesses. Realizing that vision requires precisely the infrastructure that these investments will fund.”

Vt. brownfield clean-up investment moves forward

More than $7 million of the $25 million appropriated for brownfield site remediation has been committed to 10 projects across Vermont, state officials announced in a Friday statement.

The funding was previously announced by Gov. Phil Scott as part of Act 74 and represents the first-time state dollars have been allocated to brownfield sites, officials said. Historically, remediation projects have been funded exclusively by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. On Friday, the governor said the impact of the funding “will be transformational for Vermont communities” from economic and environmental standpoints.

Act 74 appropriated $11 million to the Agency of Commerce and Community Development; $10 million of which makes up the Brownfields Revitalization Fund used to fund clean-up projects at brownfield sites that can show transformational economic development outcomes, Friday’s announcement stated.

The Act also appropriated $14 million to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) to help with the remediation of sites enrolled in the state’s Brownfield Economic Revitalization Alliance (BERA). These BERA projects represent some of the most costly and complicated clean-ups in Vermont. To date, ANR has committed $4.5 million of those dollars to two projects: the former Fonda Container Company site in St. Albans and the Jones and Lamson site in Springfield.

— Gareth Henderson

Light shining through darkness

From left, Jeff Kahn, Dan Gottlieb and Rachel Kahn light the Menorah at Congregation Shir Shalom’s celebration of Hannukah on Friday night. It was Shir Shalom’s first in-person Hannukah Celebration in two years. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

In darkness, there is always a glimmer of light. That’s because each of us has the brilliant light of goodness and love to shine out and share with the world. 

On a frigid winter evening on Friday, the members of Congregation Shir Shalom in Woodstock, Vermont, gathered for their first in-person Shabbat and Hannukah Celebration in two years. Gathered together outside for lighting the Menorah, they sang together and heard words of inspiration from Rabbi Ilene Haigh. 

“Each of us holds a light inside of us, and particularly at this time of year, at this moment, particularly this year, we have the ability to share that light, to spread that light from one person to the next person, and to fill the world with light and hope,” she said. 

Spreading light at a time of darkness is central to Hannukah. This eight-day celebration commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where the Jewish people rose up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. Central to the story is that even though there was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for one day, the flames remained for eight nights, leaving enough time to find a fresh supply. Hence, the eight-day festival. 

Today, in a much different world and a different time, the world is crying out for light, for good, for more hope. Today’s tensions — whether about health, politics, economics, or other factors — can very much seem to have the upper hand. In times like these, however, it's crucial to share goodness with others, and to let unselfish acts of kindness and community outshine the darkness. That’s how we show good is more powerful and more important to progress than its opposite. Darkness would turn us toward conflict, while the light of good is familiar to all, connects us through compassion, and helps us strive together for better days. 

Rather than yielding to discouragement, let’s make this holiday season a time of joy and collective, uplifting love that inspires us each day. We have the ability — right now — to cultivate the goodness that propels the best qualities in ourselves, and this encourages action that leads to more good expressed in the world. With that, the light we all want to see and embrace won’t be distant. It will be our present reality, and the foundation of our lives — and it will shine freely from one person, to the next.

— Gareth Henderson

Local broadband network gets huge funding boost

Utility lines along the edge of a field off Cox District Road in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

A local organization that’s been growing its broadband network in central Vermont for over a decade is getting a major funding boost to help its expansion.

ECFiber, a municipal organization operating in east-central Vermont, has secured $11.8 million in funding. That number includes $9 million from municipal bonds and $2.8 million in grant money through the Vermont Community Broadband Board. The majority of the bond money will fund construction of lines in Norwich, Woodstock, Wilder, White River Junction and Quechee, according to an ECFiber press release on Wednesday. Funding from the statewide Broadband Board will pay for expanding ECFiber’s network into eight new towns, which are Topsham, Newbury, Washington, Corinth, Bradford, West Fairlee, Fairlee, and Windsor.

Formed in 2008, ECFiber is a Vermont municipality akin to a water district and consists of 31 member towns, according to the funding announcement. Officially known as the East Central Vermont Telecommunications District, it has no taxing powers and has — since its transition to a communications union district in 2016 — been funded mainly by municipal bonds backed by customer payments for service, ECFiber officials said in the statement. 

“We are the model for how to make world-class broadband available to every home and business on the grid in rural Vermont, infrastructure that is essential to social and economic well-being,” said Board Chair F. X. Flinn. “Investors have shown their appreciation for the work we are doing by paying a premium for our existing debt and competing for our new debt. That said, we will continue to pursue the new grant funding aggressively as we go all out to complete the network.”

Federal money coming to help health care sector

Many Vermont health care providers are seeing an influx of federal cash to help weather the pandemic. 

This week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services began distributing nearly $46 million to 143 of Vermont’s rural medical providers and suppliers serving Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicare beneficiaries. 

Awarded under the American Rescue Plan, this funding will provide much-needed relief for Vermont’s rural health care providers, who have struggled under the financial and operational challenges of the pandemic, according to a press release. Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch played a key role in securing this funding for Vermont, the announcement said. 

This money is part of $7.5 billion in American Rescue Plan Rural payments being distributed nationwide. For more information about the funding, click here.

— Gareth Henderson

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

Inspiration that always progresses

A view in South Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson)

When I step out of the house for the first time each morning, I often look up to the sky. What is it presenting today — a sky-scape that’s gray, or brilliant blue? Was the morning forecast correct? These questions are answered in a heartbeat, but that information really doesn’t predict our day. It doesn’t even predict much about nature, which thrives in navigating the unexpected and presenting us with sudden moments of beauty. Nature is that book with an unpredictable next chapter. 

I turned to such a page this afternoon, observing a lonely crabapple tree near my house. It was one of the last trees on the property to lose all its leaves. This may appear to be a disadvantage, when it comes to beautiful outdoor views. I myself was close to looking away. But then, I saw the larger picture: The pelting rains this afternoon had left hundreds of tiny water droplets on the branches, up and down the tree, as if each one was carefully placed there. What little light remained in the day was captured in each tiny droplet, hanging neatly from the bark. Together, they made up a whole network of rows of water droplets, lining the underside of each branch. Below the great sky, even on such a gray afternoon, this is really what the natural world was presenting: beauty not seen by many, but there, available for instant inspiration. 

What beauty I would have missed, if I had simply assumed I had seen all there was to see. I love what can be gained from a few moments of humble observation. If we take that time, and don’t take our surroundings for granted, we can learn something new each day. And there is always one more insight to be gained, one more lesson to know, one more kernel of wisdom to absorb. These small inspirations of nature serve to bring us a little bit more out of ourselves, and make us think more of the greater world beyond our own walls. The more we embrace such insights, the more we solidify our connections with that world and our fellow brothers and sisters that share it. 

Even on those gray days and amid difficulties, those moments of learning show us we can cultivate progress together, and see it manifested. Nothing can keep us from those moments. They are there for each of us, and abundantly so. We just have to remain open to them, regardless of how that morning sky may look.

— Gareth Henderson

The unlimited light of service

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

As the sunlight shined in through my window this morning, I already knew the impact of this radiance went far beyond my own benefit. The light spread throughout the community, blessing everyone in its path with energy, sustenance, and illumination — all from an infinite source. 

When I think of Veterans Day, and the sacrifices so many have made for our country, I’m in awe at the vast nature of that goodness, that steadfast cultivation of a life of service to others. Like the very sunlight, it goes beyond just one interaction or a few points of impact. It’s there to help everyone, and the good our veterans have expressed is beyond measure. 

This profound impact is so deserving of our recognition, and indeed, it has helped form the very bedrock of our nation and is intrinsic to its story. In Vermont, Gov. Phil Scott and Lt. Gov. Molly Gray each thanked and honored our veterans in statements on Thursday. 

“Thousands of Vermonters have served our country over the course of American history, and too many never made it home,” Scott said. “From the Green Mountain boys who joined the fight for independence; to a war that saved the Union, and two wars that would encircle the world; to Korea and Vietnam and the Middle East, and our F-16s defending the skies above Ground Zero on September 11, 2001; Vermonters have always answered our nation’s call.”

Both made appeals to Americans to honor and appreciate this great record of sacrifice. 

“Thank you to our veterans, their families and our future veterans – our active duty troops – for your commitment, your sacrifice, and your courage. We are forever indebted to your service,” Gray said. 

As we honor the incredible work of our veterans, one attribute in particular stands out: resolve. That quality of unwavering resolve to serve others and uphold the higher good, even under extreme challenges, holds an important lesson for the rest of us. Sunlight shines not just for one person, but for everyone. If we combine that concept with a broad definition of service, then we can know that anytime we help another person, we’re serving the greater good. And we can always build on that good to accomplish great things in life. 

Any unselfish act has a ripple effect into the greater community, and adds to a storehouse of goodness and light we can always access. It’s uplifting to know that we have so many wonderful examples of service to look up to in this nation, and, every day, we can be part of expanding on that firm foundation.

— 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

Exploring the history of Daylight Saving Time

Faulkner Park in Woodstock, Vt., in late October. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

I was traveling in Peru during my college years, and during a conversation with a Peruvian friend, I mentioned Daylight Saving Time. We lose an hour in the fall, I explained, and set the clocks forward one hour in the spring.

“What, lose hours? We never lose hours,” she said, rather baffled. 

Admittedly, and probably like many people, I couldn’t explain why we do this every year. This time, I got curious and looked around for that information. It turns out, it stems from the World War I era, when in 1916 Germany and England adjusted their clocks to save energy, Vermont Public Radio reports, thinking more hours of daylight in the summer would lead to less time indoors. In 1918, upon entering the war, the U.S. did the same thing. This practice was dispensed with after the war, and re-adopted during World War II, but again, afterward, it did not become a lasting national policy. Years later, to make the time zones more consistent, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966. 

In recent days, several people have asked me about efforts to do away with this system on a state level (and it is Daylight Saving, not Savings, as VPR notes). Arizona and Hawaii are the only two states which have passed bills to stick with Standard Time year-round. Federal law does not permit states to switch to Daylight Saving Time all year — that’s why such proposals, like a current legislative bill in Vermont, won’t go into effect even if passed. 

It’s always interesting to delve into this kind of historic background, especially on a topic that’s often taken for granted. Daylight Saving Time is not something many people think long and hard about — it’s just a part of life. On my summer travels out of state this past summer, it was occasionally important to know which time zone you’d be in at 4 p.m. Other than that, I think of it two weekends per year.

Though not a huge issue, the autumn return to Standard Time is indeed a harbinger of the cold season, after which darker, frigid nights build up and, eventually, the snow happens. For now, we can enjoy the autumn sunshine, and a whole week of expected 50-degree weather coming up. For us outdoor enthusiasts who aren’t quite skiing yet, we don’t mind a few more fall-weather days before late November arrives. 

And of course, remember to turn those clocks back one hour tonight. It might help the week start off a little more smoothly.

— 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

Listening to the rhythm of nature

Fog settles on the hills by Lake Pinneo in Quechee, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

At my desk this afternoon, I had a constant companion: the raindrops, and the art they made. Their steady tapping on the skylight created the most gentle rhythm, leaving little circles of water on the window for a half-second. They landed, and down they went — the effect of perfect music. 

Naturally, they inspired me to play a few songs on my guitar, including a favorite of mine from Jakob Dylan, “Something Good This Way Comes”. As I played along, nature provided its calm, steady percussion. I added my sound to its sound, and on a rainy afternoon, the day got a little brighter. Like Dylan says, “This kind of day has no night.” 

The best part is, this inspiration doesn’t need long to settle in — it only needs us to have an open mind, and pay attention. When the day seems dark, gray and gloomy, there are reflections all around us of nature holding guard and setting the tone. We’re all included in that harmony, and each of us has the opportunity to reflect it a little more, moment by moment. Ever-present good is there to guide us, and we decide how much night enters into our day. Every honest step in a positive direction welcomes more light into our experience — it helps us see that goodness in the world. That’s true progress, and our constant opportunity to thrive.

— 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