Starting with love

Sunrise over the mountains in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

What’s 2023 going to look like? A common question, and one that you really can’t answer – not today. But one thing is for certain: We’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to what we’ll do in the next 12 months. And while year-long goals are in the headlines today, the opening moments of each day deserve a lot of attention. 

Starting with the simplest and purest quality there is can be very powerful, and that is love. Many times, the early-morning moments have allowed me the opportunity to quietly focus more on qualities that stem from love, and to start my day in a positive light. It’s a way to let love naturally flow into your experience, like an outstretched sunray. Love provides a solid foundation that is as strong as rock, and it eliminates barriers, fear, and separation from good. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote so elegantly about this in his book, “Strength to Love” : "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." Each day, there are opportunities to live the related qualities of love through acts of:  

Kindness

Compassion

Cooperation

Service

Thoughtfulness

Patience

Generosity

Strength 

Hope

Centering the day on such qualities of love, opens up ways to more fully express them in our daily lives and overcome fear or obstacles to progress. Seeing that bigger picture, it’s more natural to be a positive force for good, even in small examples, such as thanking the store clerk, waiter, a teacher, or offering to help a neighbor. In this way, we become active parts of the greater good. Small acts of kindness uplift our entire community, moment by moment, and they help build stronger communities. Steps away from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., is an organization started by Mack McCarter called Community Renewal International. The entire project is about building positive relationships with your neighbors one house at a time and working together for the betterment of the whole. Major crime has dropped an average of 55% in most of the neighborhoods that Community Renewal went into by establishing a foundation of love, compassion and getting to know your neighbors. 

By improving our daily moments with love, these positive qualities can only lead to a ripple effect, seeing more of the abundance of love in our lives. And this cultivates progress, builds stronger connections with others, and shows us how we can positively impact this world we all share. What better way to bring more love into the new year?

— Gareth Henderson

The radiant gift of goodness

Holiday decorations in downtown Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Life has a way of reminding us there’s a greater power than us in the world. Even a simple thing, like the morning sun illuminating a snowy field, shows us a radiant, expansive beauty we couldn’t create on our own, but can always experience. It’s part of a goodness, a peace, that is often closer to us than we know. It’s innate to us, and we live in the midst of it. 

So often we feel that pull to rush into the holidays, swept up in a world that appears long on strife, but short on hope. But this time of year, we have the opportunity to reflect a bit more on the good we know, and what might come from it. Indeed, there is always a great deal of goodness and love being shared – the key is to keep our eyes more open to these qualities, and know we have them to freely give to others.

There was a heart-warming example recently, of 13 strangers stranded after a canceled flight in Orlando, Florida. Instead of despairing, they opted to rent a van and make the trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, together. As the CNN feature reported, they formed “an impromptu community”, and the results were moving. An aspiring college student, who thought she may miss the chance to visit her dream school in Knoxville, was able to do so. 

"I feel like this situation for me specifically kind of restored my trust and humanity a little bit," one passenger told CNN. "There's definitely hope for people — people, they can be good."

Also, here in the Upper Valley, another story touched our hearts. Following the many outages from last weekend’s storm, a Canadian line worker, who was far from home, went to the Wal-Mart in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, to pick up some things. When he was about to pay, he realized that they did not take Apple Pay and needed to go back to his truck to get his wallet. Well, he got back to the register to find that the people in line after him had paid for all his items, showing gratitude for his work in the field. 

We can take something meaningful from these stories: that spark of good is always at the ready, wherever our journey takes us. It’s there to touch our lives and remind us how innately good we are. Anything that would turn us inward, is very much like the cloud hiding the sun. The light can’t be stopped from being light; there’s something about our very being that looks out from self, and is ready to help others.

Whatever the situation, we are empowered to rise above any challenges and be a light for hope – even through a simple act of kindness. The more we focus on reflecting goodness and love in our lives, the more we’ll see them in action all around us, too. On days when those qualities seem in short supply, we can pause and know they are still around, still being expressed — and sometimes, they are just around the corner, waiting for us to embrace them. That’s the true spirit of the holidays. It never stops giving. Good is continuous, and it really is the best gift of all.

— Gareth Henderson

Vt. utility triples field force, issues guidance due to new storm

Green Mountain Power is tracking multiple forecasts to prepare for possible very high winds gusting up to 65 mph across Vermont overnight Thursday and through the day Friday. Winds of that speed are very dangerous and can tear down trees and lines, causing outages.

This is a very large regional storm that has all of the Midwest and Northeast expecting weather that could cause disruptions. To assist our customers and to support internal GMP lineworkers, GMP has tripled our field force, keeping external crews in the state that were here helping to restore power during the Nor’easter last week that brought damaging heavy wet to Vermont. Altogether, more than 400 lineworkers are ready to restore power if needed.

Forecasters say the massive regionwide weather system heading east will bring the potential for strong winds and rain starting Thursday night, followed by plunging temperatures Friday night causing a flash freeze and potential for flooding.

With cold temperatures forecasted, you should have a plan for where to go if you need to leave your home, and how you would get there. With extreme high winds, there can also be hazards like flying debris, that make it unsafe for anyone outside, including crews.

To prepare for storms any time of year, GMP recommends you have some basics on hand including:

• a charged cellphone

• the GMP app on your cellphone

• flashlights with fresh batteries

• bottled water

Customers should call 911 for a medical emergency.  For more GMP storm safety tips, and to sign up for text alerts go here: https://greenmountainpower.com/.../staying-safe-in-a-storm/

Report outages and track restoration times in GMP’s online Outage Center: https://outages.greenmountainpower.com

Also here is information on estimated restoration times and what they mean: https://gmpsnapshot.greenmountainpower.com/.../things-to.../

Stay safe!

— Green Mountain Power

Vermont 211 has the latest information on local shelters and warming centers in your area. You can find it at the website: vermont211.org. If you need help and you can't find any shelters or warming centers that are open in your area, call Vermont 211 by dialing the numbers "2-1-1" on your phone.

For further information about staying safe during power outages, go to this link.

Making progress, together

Vermonters support each other. That’s one of the things I emphasize when talking with people about my state. And today, Saturday, Dec. 17, was an inspiring example. 

During the aftermath of this weekend winter storm, amid many power outages, neighbors who still had warm shelter and water offered it to others. Throughout our local communities, many found willing and helping hands when needs arose. When we offer that kindness and compassion, it makes a challenging day a little brighter, and reminds us that we have each other to count on. As we recognize our community, it’s important to also send a huge thanks to the power crews — from Vermont, Canada, and elsewhere — who are out in the cold and wet trying to restore power. It’s one of the more difficult jobs there is, and we send them our gratitude.

As we reported tonight, power crews have made some headway, but they still have a great deal of work to do. As that work continues, and some neighbors face extended outages, it's a comfort to know we're not alone. Our communities — local, regional and statewide — form a strong network of resources and many good people willing to help those in need. That support sustains our communities, even through the toughest times, and reminds us that goodness is moving forward, and progress will press on.  

— Gareth Henderson

Crews tackle widespread outages after severe storm

Crews from Green Mountain Power and Quebec travel westward on Route 4 in Woodstock Village on Saturday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

UPDATE, 12/19, 7:30 PM: Green Mountain Power reported that crews have made a lot of progress, restoring power to 108,800 customers with 2,130 left to go.

They are posting updates in GMP’s outage center as they have them for specific spots: https://greenmountainpower.com/outages/

And for those spots without an ETA, here is a link to high level restoration times for towns so everyone can plan and be safe: https://greenmountainpower.com/.../storm-update.../ It is important to note that these show when the last person in the hardest hit spots will be back on, and is not an ETA for the whole town, as most will be on sooner, GMP officials said.

These towns have set up warming shelters for people to go to:

- Norwich Fire house

- Hartland Town office

- Sharon Fire house

- Woodstock Fire house

—

UPDATE, 12/18, 3:15 PM: In total, Green Mountain Power crews have restored power to over 80,000 customers impacted by this storm. As of 3 p.m. today, 18,800 GMP customers were still out, and crews continued their work throughout Windsor County, including in Pomfret and nearby towns. The total of towns impacted was down to 93, with crews addressing 787 active incidents. At 3 p.m., the percentage of GMP customers without power included the following: 71% in Barnard; 49% in Pomfret; 41% in Hartland; 31% in Hartford and Bridgewater; and 27% in Woodstock. 

Also today, the Woodstock Fire Department continues to maintain a warming center in the training room of the Emergency Services Building at 454 Woodstock Road. If there are any questions, call the fire department at 802-457-2337.

The Town of Chester began a warming center today at the Chester Emergency Services Building at 130 Pleasant Street. People are asked to call the Chester Fire Department at 802-875-2211 with any questions.

—

STATE UPDATE ON OUTAGE RESPONSE, 12/17, 7:50 PM: Mark Bosma, of Vermont Emergency Management, said the state is currently identifying sites for warming centers in areas where extended outages are expected. These centers are open during the day.

“We will be checking back with towns tomorrow (Sunday) to see how things are going or if they’re hearing from people who need a place to go,” Bosma said in an email. “We’ll also get data from 2-1-1 to figure out if a warming center or shelter is needed in a specific area. If we open any (warming centers) we will post on our website, notify the media, and post to social media.”

The state also offers guidance on safe food storage and consumption during an outage at this link.

LOCAL NUMBERS: As of 7:50 p.m., some GMP customers had power restored. In Woodstock, the percentage of customers without power was down to 51%; for Bridgewater it had dropped to 71%. However, power crews continued to address a number of issues in nearby and remote areas, with 28,000 customers still in the dark.

—

A major winter storm dumping up to two feet of heavy snow in some areas of Vermont has left tens of thousands without power, and utility crews will be at work around the clock to restore that service. 

Over 35,900 Green Mountain Power customers were without power as of 4:30 p.m., impacting 142 towns. GMP crews were responding to 1,336 active incidents.

The severest outages were in Windsor County. To help those with no heat at home, the Woodstock Fire Department opened up a warming station in the training room of the Emergency Services Building 454 Woodstock Rd. 

As of 4:30 p.m., Woodstock had 68% of customers without power; in Bridgewater, the number was at 87%. Nearby Hartford reported 58%. While there was some variance to the outage levels, multiple county towns had most of their residents without electric service. As of 4 p.m., GMP officials did not have a time estimate for when power would be restored to the region. 

Throughout Saturday, power crews from GMP and also Quebec were in the area dealing with downed wires, many of which were tangled in fallen trees. Several local roads were shut down while power crews worked on removing trees from the roadway.

Motorists are warned to obey all utility and road signs, and to stay away from any trees fallen on or near power lines. 

Customers can go to greenmountainpower.com and view the outage map for the latest outage numbers. For more information, the Vermont Emergency Management website is also available.

— Gareth Henderson

Updates will be posted here and on Omni Reporter’s Facebook page. 

Living by listening: Pete Sutherland’s gracious impact

Pete’s Posse in Vermont in 2018. From left: Pete Sutherland, Oliver Scanlon and Tristan Henderson. (Chris Henderson File Photo)

Like the colors that appear when light goes through a prism, gentleness, humility and care are the qualities shining forward when grace is expressed. 

And when you have grace, you listen – you truly connect, you truly live.

These days, I’ve been thinking about a friend who exemplifies that. Pete Sutherland, a Vermont musician whose profound work touched many, many lives, recently passed away. Pete lived grace and all its attributes to the fullest. His music shows it the best, such as in the song "A Grateful Place", by Pete’s Posse, a well-known Vermont band bearing his name. The chorus says:

I can be evermore grateful,

Grateful for everyday grace.

Whatever remains of this story of mine

Can be told from a grateful place.

The qualities in that verse are all about being selfless, which Pete certainly was. He used the power of music to stir others to positive action for the world, such as in the Posse’s wonderful a cappella version of the Pink Floyd song, “On the Turning Away”, or their original tune that spread awareness about the impact of “The Floods of 2019”.

He gave richly of his musical gift to others, and that sense of good gave way to joy and inspiration. But along with that, he always had the time to listen to people. His Pete’s Posse bandmates, Tristan Henderson and Oliver Scanlon, knew this well. 

In an interview this week, Tristan remembered Pete as a gracious listener, always making sure others felt included. 

“He always wanted to hear what someone else had to say, or play,” Tristan said. “Seems like it was always about what someone had to share.”

That focus showed up in his lyrics as well, such as this part of “A Grateful Place” — “I have laughed when I should have been listening.” 

“Whenever he was playing music, he was always listening,” Tristan said. “He always had an ear open, which made playing with him really magical. For Pete, it was always about the sum of the parts.” 

That focus was part of the heartbeat of Pete’s Posse, which Tristan said thrived on the “whole-band experience”, which Pete graciously encouraged and supported.

“He was like this presence of just supporting everything all the time,” he said. “The band was the three of us, one thing working together.” 

Oliver recalled the last time he performed with Pete, which was on October 2, an outdoor concert at the home of one of Pete’s friends in New York state. The duo performed on a little porch, with beautiful Lake Champlain in clear view.

Whenever Oliver joined Pete on-stage, he and Pete would enjoy throwing each other intellectual curve-balls about music. 

“Stage interaction was always something I loved about playing with Pete,” he said. 

Oliver and Tristan are two of the many young musicians whom Pete taught, not only about music, but about life. It was a way of giving back to the world, and he did it well, Oliver added.

“He really wanted to empower people, through music, but also in general,” Oliver said. “I was a really shy kid, and have become not as shy. He helped me build the confidence to be me, and to be me in a social world.”

I was fortunate to see the Posse take the stage many times. It was particularly special to hear them play on the Woodstock Village Green in June 2020, when the Woodstock Union High School class of 2020 rounded the Green in school buses and vehicles for a socially distanced graduation parade. It was the band’s first time at a gig in a lot of weeks, and many people’s first time hearing live music during the pandemic. The band heard many thank-you’s that day, for the joy they gave just by being there, and being them.

Pete’s work formed a foundation for the group, which you could clearly feel just by listening. I once had a long  commute back home every night. I often began those trips burdened by the stress of my 12+ hour shift, but I can say the Posse’s music helped me find a sense of calm, a sense of good things to focus on. The last time I saw Pete’s Posse play live, back in September, I told Pete how helpful the music was to me, how it often touched me at just the right time. And I’m grateful I got the chance to tell him that face to face.

Many times I’ve listened to Pete’s singing in a quiet moment, as I've done lately with a Posse song, “When the Torch Is Passed”. There can be a heaviness to the future, but also a certain graceful nature to progress and its own melodies – and Pete’s singing captures that beautifully. In one of the verses he sings: 

There’s a map burned into your brain

And a compass you know to be true.

But the light is all you behold

When the torch is passed, 

The torch is passed, to you.

Pete’s singing and creativity exude a calming presence, and a reassuring one — his voice quiet, yet commanding. He caught your attention in a gentle, authentic way that made you remember it, because of his caring nature, central to the soul of his music. When such great, good people leave this earth, they leave so much here with us. So much grace, so much good – and Pete certainly did. In many ways, he is still here.

His quiet, caring way is something the world so needs. We’ve been shown how it’s done. And those qualities endure; we’re empowered to honor those we love, who have departed this world, by expressing those attributes for the good of others, too. Pete’s music continues, and we’ve been welcomed in to add our melodies of goodness, love and grace to it. 

— Gareth Henderson

Vt. plant believed extinct since 1908 is rediscovered

The purple crowberry (pictured) grows low to the ground in exposed, high elevation habitats.  The purple crowberry is easily mistaken for the common and closely related black crowberry (not pictured). (VTF&W Photo Courtesy Glen Mittelhauser)

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department recently announced that the purple crowberry, a diminutive alpine shrub last documented in Vermont in 1908, has been rediscovered on Mt. Mansfield.

“This is an extraordinary find,” said Bob Popp, a botanist with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, in a statement.  “The purple crowberry is easily overlooked alongside the closely related and more abundant black crowberry.  This discovery emphasizes the benefit of having a community of keen botanical observers on the ground.”

The purple crowberry (Empetrum atropurpureum) grows low to the ground in rocky habitat above the tree line.  The species is identifiable by needle-like leaves and purple berries, and is found in the Northeast in Maine, New Hampshire, and New York.  The purple crowberry is listed as uncommon in New Hampshire and state-endangered in New York.

Vermont botanists had searched Mt. Mansfield — the site of the 1908 historical record — for the purple crowberry unsuccessfully in recent decades and had determined that the species was no longer present in the state.

A fresh set of eyes on an overlooked stretch of Mt. Mansfield upended that conclusion.

“I’m always looking for new purple crowberry populations,” said Liam Ebner, a recent graduate from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a trained summit steward with the Adirondack Mountain Club.

At the time of his discovery, Ebner was on Mt. Mansfield as participant in the 2022 Northeastern Alpine Stewardship Gathering, a biennial conference hosted this year by the Green Mountain Club and The Waterman Fund. 

“Since I saw a crowberry plant, I decided to check it out and was pretty surprised to see that it was purple crowberry up there,” Ebner said in a recent announcement.

Ebner reported his find to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department the following day.  He added that as an alpine stewardship professional he was able to approach the plant — which was off the trail — while staying on exposed rock, preventing damage to the crowberry or the plant’s surroundings.

Popp revisited the site on Oct. 19 and confirmed three clumps of purple crowberry.

“That observant members of the public rediscovered two different plant species believed lost from our state in the same year is a tribute to our community’s flourishing interest in and knowledge of the natural world,” said Popp, who worked with community scientists earlier this year to confirm the rediscovery of the small whorled pogonia, a federally threatened orchid, in Vermont.

“At the same time, we do not encourage anyone to venture off trail in search of rare alpine plants,” Popp added. “The work of the Green Mountain Club as stewards of our delicate alpine areas is part of what has allowed the purple crowberry to persist in this highly trafficked area for more than a century.”

The newly discovered purple crowberry population is located safely off the trail and at low risk of trampling.  The department is not disclosing the purple crowberry’s exact location to protect the plants from accidental damage.

“The discovery of a purple crowberry population after so many years really underscores the importance and effectiveness of the Green Mountain Club’s Backcountry Caretaker program,” said Nigel Bates, caretaker program supervisor at the Green Mountain Club, in a statement.

The club, which manages 500 miles of hiking trail in Vermont, including the alpine zones in the state, employs caretakers trained in stewardship and alpine botany to educate hikers and encourage responsible use during the hiking season. 

“We take this sighting as proof that our practices on the mountain are working,” said Bates. “And we thank visitors for their commitment to walking on durable surfaces, leashing their dogs, and protecting the fragile alpine flora communities in Vermont.”

In the short term, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the Green Mountain Club will monitor Mt. Mansfield’s purple crowberry population for signs of predation or encroachment by other plants.  In the longer term, the department will consider the purple crowberry for designation on the state’s threatened and endangered species list as more is learned about the species’ viability in Vermont.

— Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department

Sharing gratitude, being love

The Kedron Brook in South Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

When days of cloudy skies turn to light, we experience one of nature’s most awe-inspiring moments — and Saturday morning was such a time. I was quietly reading at my desk and looked up to see beautiful light shining into the room, illuminating part of it. Another few minutes, and the light shifted slightly, spreading further into the room as it took up more of the window. 

It struck me that good works much in the same way. Like the sunlight, it shines into our lives, and though there are days where it seems not to reach every corner of our experience, it is still active, still lending warmth, still breathing life into hope. This beautiful sense of good marches on, even through the toughest times. 

This time of year, gratitude is a point of emphasis, and is always a strong force for good in the world. Thanksgiving gives us a much-needed nudge to slow down our thought and take a moment to acknowledge the most important things. It provides an instant connection to how love is being expressed. For example, food shelves and other nonprofits are continuing to help those most in need, individuals and organizations step up to help their neighbors, and the smallest acts of kindness still go a long, long way. That’s because the light of goodness shining brightly in our hearts is a natural state of being for us, and it’s what we feel when gratitude is expressed. Take the example of Debra Ferrell of Virginia, who founded a nonprofit based on small acts of kindness. 

“It is a kindness organization where our motto is, ‘Be love. Do stuff,’” Ferrell recently told the media. 

Being love. Those two words are hugely important in today’s world, one where, so often, love seems to be very much overshadowed, or even under siege. But every time that issue comes into view, the perspective we bring to the table makes a difference, and it’s something we can consider, something we have the right to change. Even through challenges, the opportunity to be love — to do good, show gratitude to others — reveals life-changing actions we can take right now in our communities. In this world, nothing is more needed, and nothing can stand in the way of good that’s ready to make a difference.

— Gareth Henderson

Balint makes history with Congressional win

In an historic election night for Vermont, Sen. Becca Balint became the first woman elected to represent the Green Mountain State in Congress. 

Balint, a Democrat who led the Senate as president pro tempore, surged into the lead early and never looked back, gaining 60% of the vote on Tuesday evening. Republican Liam Madden trailed with 27%.

Also on Tuesday night, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, a Democrat, cruised to victory in the U.S. Senate race, leading his nearest opponent, Republican Gerald Malloy, 67% to 27%. 

As for county-wide elections, Democrat Ryan Palmer took the race for Windsor County Sheriff, topping Republican incumbent Michael Chamberlain, 57% to 36%.

In the race for Windsor County Assistant Judge, Alison Johannensen, of Woodstock, and incumbent David Singer, of Hartland, won with 27% and 21% of the vote, respectively. Independent candidate Michael Ricci, of Woodstock, garnered just over 17%.

In the Windsor County Senate election, State Rep. Becca White and incumbent Sens. Alison Clarkson and Dick McCormack won the county's three Senate seats. 

Woodstock resident Tesha Buss, a Democrat, was victorious in her bid for the local House seat representing Woodstock, Reading and Plymouth. She received over 67% of the vote, defeating independent candidate Keith Cappellini.

In elections for statewide office, Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, sailed to an easy reelection victory over Democrat Brenda Siegel, taking more than 68% of the final tally. Progressive David Zuckerman returned to his previous post of lieutenant governor, topping his nearest opponent, Sen. Joe Benning, by 51% to 40% in that race.

In the contest for treasurer, Democrat Mike Pieciak, the state’s finance commissioner, handily defeated Republican H. Brooke Paige, 62% to 32%.

— Gareth Henderson

New funding to aid Vt. downtowns, village centers

Fall foliage in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Gov. Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) recently announced over $4 million in funding supporting a record number of rehabilitation and revitalization projects throughout Vermont’s designated downtown and village centers. These 49 project awards will help generate over $95 million in building improvements and public infrastructure around the state.

“These investments are impactful, supporting local businesses, creating new housing, and improving the economic vitality of our community centers,” said Scott. “I believe this kind of targeted investment in our downtowns and village centers, along with the strategic use of federal relief dollars, shows what we can do to make Vermont an even better place to live, work and play.” 

“Thanks to the support of the Legislature, the Downtown Board was thrilled to fund 49 projects in communities large and small,” said Department of Housing and Community Development Commissioner Josh Hanford. “This year we awarded a record number of rehabilitation and revitalization projects, and I am grateful to the dedicated Vermonters working to keep the heart and soul of their communities vibrant places for years to come.”

In 2022, $4.1 million in tax credits will offset the costs of major investments in projects including upgrades to Woodstock’s historic Phoenix Block on Central Street, and also at the Shire Hotel on Pleasant Street in Woodstock Village. Another project will repair the historic carriage shed in Quechee’s village center, making part of the building into new apartments. Farther north, the former U.S. Customs House and Post Office in St. Albans will be redeveloped into mixed commercial use and will provide eight new units of downtown housing.

For a complete list of projects visit the Department of Housing and Community Development website.

State highlights careers in construction

October has been declared “Careers in Construction” month in Vermont, in an effort to recognize career opportunities within the construction industry.

“As we make historic investments in housing, broadband, and traditional infrastructure, there are many opportunities for Vermonters to find lucrative careers in the trades,” Gov. Phil Scott said during a recent announcement.

According to Department of Labor data, construction accounts for 5.2% of statewide total employment, with more than 15,000 individuals working within the industry. The average annual wage for construction workers in Vermont is $57,635, exceeding the statewide average wage of $56,264. The most recent data also shows that construction accounts for about 10 percent of the total number of businesses in Vermont, with a total of more than 2,900.

“Anyone who has needed the services of a skilled contractor in the last few years, understands the importance of highlighting and supporting this important sector of our economy, as well as helping to educate folks on just how lucrative and rewarding these careers are for those who chose to pursue a job in the trades,” said Dustin Degree, Vermont’s deputy labor commissioner.

For more information on resources for jobseekers and employers, please visit Labor.Vermont.gov/Jobs.

Click here to view the full Careers in Construction Month proclamation.

Conservation design tool sees upgrade

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has announced a significant upgrade to its BioFinder planning and conservation mapping tool.

New data layers will allow users to display socio-economic variables including per capita poverty, health insurance coverage, and a social vulnerability index alongside the ecological datasets from Vermont Conservation Design that currently populate BioFinder.

BioFinder was first created in 2013. The current update is a collaboration between the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VFWD), the Vermont Department of Health (VDH), and the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC).

“Biologists can point out the most ecologically important places on a landscape, but actually conserving those areas involves community action,” said Jens Hawkins-Hilke, VFWD conservation planning biologist. “When planners understand how ecological priorities line up with community values, they can better craft conservation opportunities that benefit both people and nature.”

Meeting the needs of both human and natural communities is an important part of the state of Vermont’s strategy for responding to climate change, state officials added. They also said this data will help the state plan housing in appropriate locations, while better protecting natural resources and wildlife habitats.

Learn more about the BioFinder Mapping Tool and new social data layers at: anr.vermont.gov/maps-and-mapping/biofinder

For more information on Vermont Conservation design, go to: https://vtfishandwildlife.com/conserve/vermont-conservation-design

The above information is from press releases and related data issued by the state of Vermont.

Bike race taking place in Woodstock this Sunday

The Woodstock Area Mountain Bike Association (WAMBA) will be hosting the Maxxis Eastern States Cup race on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at the Saskadena Six and Mt. Peg Trails networks. Entrants will be riding between the two trail networks in accordance with all traffic laws, WAMBA announced. Race timing only occurs on the trail networks.

According to the event’s website, Woodstock Village Police will provide traffic control at a couple of the intersections on Sunday. The event will also have an officer at Pomfret Road and Route 12 in the morning for the transfer to Mt. Peg, as well as an officer at River Street and Route 12. 

Local professional bike racer Gavin Vaughn has had a big hand in developing the trail system on Mount Peg in Woodstock, the Eastern States Cup website points out. According to Vaughn, the event will feature five stages accessed by three climbs. The stages will offer 500-700 feet of vertical descent and each will be 1-1.5 miles long. The terrain is of moderate grade with a few short bands of rock and ledge.

This is the Eastern States Cup race’s first time in Woodstock. For more information on the race, please visit: http://www.easternstatescup.com/woodstock-vt.

The above information was gathered from the Eastern States website and a WAMBA announcement.

Parish Players present: ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’

THETFORD HILL, VERMONT — Director RJ Crowley had two basic reasons for choosing the next play he wanted to direct. First, it’s his firm opinion that “what the world needs more than anything right about now is laughter.” And second, he’s in love with farce.

It helps that he already had a play in mind: The Play That Goes Wrong, a traditional Manor-House Murder Mystery melded to a classic French Farce, but on steroids.

The plot concerns a play-within-a-play, in which the diminutive but doughty Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, recently endowed with a substantial bequest, sets aside its usual one-acts and much-abridged scripts to attempt the production of The Murder at Haversham Manor, a tricky Mousetrap-like whodunit that just happens to have exactly the same number of roles as Cornley has actors. No need for understudies, though—after all, what could possibly go wrong?

The award-winning British comedy was born out of a 15-minute improv sketch that simply kept growing until it opened as a full-length production in 2012 in London, where it is still running to this day. And “running” is an apt description here. To reveal a single detail would be a spoiler; suffice to say that the double entendres, sight gags, blown lines, and slapstick moments have left audience after audience breathless.

Crowley first saw The Play That Goes Wrong in 2017, on Broadway. He says he knew nothing about it at the time; he was simply waiting at the last-minute-discount booth to see the list of whatever became available, and up popped this farce. (See Reason Two, above.) He saw it again just three months ago, where it’s still on Broadway (as well as in quite a few local productions country-wide). This time he was with his two daughters, and their combined laughter confirmed his desire to direct the show himself.

Crowley has the perfect resume for the role of comedic director. An alumnus of both the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and The Groundlings School for Improv Comedy in Los Angeles, he has well-honed skills as comedian, playwright, performer, director, storyteller, and teacher of same. He moved to the Upper Valley ten years ago, and is now a professional storyteller, a teacher of improv comedy at Artistree in South Pomfret, and the writer/director/producer of Immersive Theatre Events (like Murder Mysteries) for local corporations, inns, and even on board the Green Mountain Railroad. (In his night job, he’s house manager for Northern Stage in White River Junction.)

The Parish Players was Crowley’s first choice when he went looking for a local venue. In its 55-year history, the Thetford-based community theater company has produced a wide variety of comedic fare, from classics like A Comedy of Errors and The Hypochondriac to such modern fare as The Norman Conquest Trilogy and The Odd Couple, to full-fledged farces like The Foreigner, and Lend Me a Tenor, to name but a few. And then there are the many comedic moments in their annual 10-Minute Play Festival.

But Crowley cast The Play That Goes Wrong with a wider net, choosing some Parish Players members (Richard Noble, Allison Fay Brown, Will Moore, Noor Taher) and some newcomers (Franchesca Collins, Gabriella Miles, Aaron Richter, Jonathan Rosenbloom). He also looked beyond type and happily cast Allison Fay Brown in the (usually male) role of Police Inspector Carter. “The quality of each audition was important,” he explains, “but I also had to consider physicality, vocal palette, and the visual compositions the group would make on the set—which itself has been called ‘the ninth character.’”

Ah, yes, the set, and all the ways it can go wrong. “It’s a complex piece of machinery,” Crowley says. “I’m really pleased to have such a talented team of creatives to help put it together.”

That team includes set designer Cami Buster, who has worked locally for The Christmas Revels, Opera North, Rivendell High School, and Thetford Academy, among others, and is intimately familiar with the Parish Players’ Eclipse Grange Theatre. Working with her is light and sound designer Alex Cherington, also with years of professional and community experience and a long-time member of the Parish Players. He will be orchestrating dozens of light and sound cues, all of which have to go just right even when they’re meant to be terribly wrong.

“It’s a true collaboration,” Crowley says, pointing to the dozens of special props and set decorations required for the gags. Cast and crew alike have been scouring their homes and even their friends’ homes for the perfect items.—with opening night on September 29. “We’re all of us chipping in to do whatever we can.”

And all this in the midst of political dissension and the third year of a pandemic. Crowley certainly seems right that we need all the laughs we can get.

“Art in all its forms is so pertinent these days,” he observes, “but comedy is an elixir against whatever the world throws at us.”

The Parish Players’ production of The Play That Goes Wrong, directed by RJ Crowley, will be performed from September 29 - October 9 at the Eclipse Grange Theatre in Thetford Hill, Vermont. For more information visit www.parishplayers.org.

The above article is a press release issued by The Parish Players.

Canada to end COVID travel restrictions

The mountains around Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Starting on Oct. 1, Canada will remove all travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That means travelers into Canada will no longer have to provide proof of COVID vaccination, undergo pre-travel testing, or go into quarantine or isolation after entering. Masks mandates on planes and trains will also be lifted, and the ArriveCan app — used to upload health documents for visiting Canada — will become optional. 

In their announcement on Monday, Canadian officials cited the country’s high vaccination rate as a major factor for making this change. Around 82% of Canadians have received two doses of COVID vaccine, and over 90% of Canadians over 12 have received at least one dose, according to news sources. 

Bordering U.S. states were quick to praise the move. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott called it a long-awaited one for the state, which has extensive economic ties with its neighbor to the north. 

“Removing barriers to cross border travel allows our border communities to return to normal social and economic activity, which is an important part of the connection between our two countries,” Scott said in a Monday statement. “As was made clear during my recent trade mission to Montreal, there is a lot of interest in Vermont as a place to vacation and do business — and this step will also make tourism and businesses travel easier, benefitting Vermont’s economy.”

Canada’s announcement comes one week after members of Parliament and border-city mayors wrote a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden, urging them to lift all remaining COVID travel restrictions. Proof of vaccination is still required for all non-U.S. citizens traveling into the United States.

— Gareth Henderson

State to drivers: Be alert to avoid moose

Moose are more likely to be crossing roadways at this time of year, especially after dark or early in the morning, Vermont wildlife officials warn. (VT Fish & Wildlife Photo)

It’s easy to give “moose crossing” signs just a passing glance, but, as the state of Vermont is reminding motorists, watching out for these massive creatures is serious business. And I know this from personal experience. 

Driving home late one night, on a dark country road, it suddenly seemed like my headlights weren’t working — somehow the light didn’t have any reach. Well, there was a big reason why: The light was swallowed up by the giant, dark wall of moose in front of me. Fortunately, I was going 40 mph so it wasn’t too hard to slow down and stop. This thing dwarfed my tiny Corolla; I was just about looking up at the moose. In a few moments, it moved to the right and ran up through a cow pasture, and was gone. 

Encounters like this are more common in late summer. As Vermont wildlife officials explained in a recent warning, these impressive animals are more likely to be crossing roadways at this time of year, especially after dark or early in the morning, because this is breeding season for moose.

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

Motorists hit 49 moose on Vermont highways during 2021 and 23 so far this year, according to the state. With these moose on the move, state wildlife officials are recommending the following ways to avoid them on the road: 

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

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

• Drive defensively and don't overdrive your headlights.  Moose are more active at night and early morning, and they are difficult to see because of their dark color.

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

Additionally, here are some Vermont highway sections most frequented by moose:

• Rt.105 from Island Pond to Bloomfield

• Rt.114 from East Burke to Canaan

• Rt.2 from Lunenburg to East St. Johnsbury

• Interstate 91 at Sheffield Heights

• Interstate 89 from Bolton to Montpelier

• Rt. 12 from Worcester to Elmore

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

— Gareth Henderson

Woodstock Wheels going strong in second season

Luke Hanson, who owns Woodstock Wheels, shows an e-bike to Paula and Wes Stearns, of Quechee, at Taste of Woodstock in Woodstock, Vt., on Aug. 13. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Riding a bike along a country road is a treasured pastime for many, but not an accessible one for everybody. In 2021, Luke Hanson saw a need to open up that experience to more people, and he’s made it into a business — by adding some electricity to the mix. 

Now in its second year, Woodstock Wheels offers e-bike rentals to those looking to tour the local countryside in the beautiful Woodstock, Vermont, area. It’s a region Hanson knows well. He grew up biking these scenic trails and roads, and he put that knowledge to use, turning something he loves into an experience his customers are enjoying. Providing an accessible experience for many different customers is the most rewarding part of the business, Hanson said. 

“That’s one of the great things about this, especially for someone who’s a little limited physically, maybe more elderly, when they come back and you just see the smile on their face, saying ‘I felt like I was 25-30 years old on these bikes,’” he said. “The bikes help you out a little bit, but you’re able to go 40-50 miles on them and see the scenery on roads you wouldn’t be able to access in a car.

Hanson says year #2 has been a busy one, with a mix of local people and also visitors who have e-bikes at home but weren’t going to travel with them. Sometimes, having e-bikes helps them bring relatives who may not otherwise be able to participate. Additionally, Hanson said about 50% of his customers are people who ride regular bikes, but also love the opportunity to do a longer trip more easily.

Well before starting Woodstock Wheels, Hanson saw first-hand the demand for this kind of concept. During a trip to Peaks Island, just off Portland, Maine, in 2021, he saw people flocking to a bike rental shop on the island. Plus, he knew outdoor activities in general were surging post-2020. 

“People were just itching to get outside, so I said, ‘This is the time,’” Hanson recalled. 

Looking forward, he’s hoping to have a permanent location for his venture, perhaps at the East End Park. He’s also exploring the idea of “e-hubs”, essentially locations where the bikes could be stationed and available for customers. 

“It would be kind of like city bikes, but off-road capable bikes where the trails connect to different towns,” he said. 

Woodstock Wheels’ rates are based on a two-hour, four-hour, or an all-day tour. More details are available at WoodstockWheels.com. 

— Gareth Henderson

For more information, check out Woodstock Wheels online or contact Luke Hanson here. The Woodstock Wheels tent is open just outside the Woodstock Rec Center, Monday and Thursday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and Friday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

New Vt. program aims to help startups, tech sector

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

The state of Vermont recently announced the launch of its first technology-based economic development program.

It is designed to catalyze growth in Vermont’s high-tech business sector through increased access to targeted technical and research assistance, Vermont officials said. Coined as Elevate Vermont, the goal of the multi-faceted program is to help accelerate early-stage technology companies and help established small businesses remain relevant in a global market.

"Supporting businesses in every region of the state to retain and create jobs remains a top priority of my administration,” said Gov. Phil Scott in a Wednesday statement. “This program will help our innovative employers grow and succeed in the global marketplace, while strengthening our communities here at home.”

H.439 (Act 74) appropriated $800,000 to the program in the 2021 legislative session. An extensive request for proposals (RFP) process has resulted in the selection of outside experts who can assist Vermont businesses in successfully applying for federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants, according to officials. Every year, the federal government grants out over $3 billion to small businesses through the SBIR/STTR programs and a highly competitive application process.

Elevate Vermont will support companies seeking this funding through one-on-one SBIR/STTR application assistance from professional advisors at North Carolina-based Eva Garland Consulting, LLC. The application for this Technical Assistance is now open and accepting submissions on a rolling basis until funding is depleted.

“Vermont has never before had such opportunity to support startups and early-stage tech companies,” said Department of Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein, in the recent announcement. “These investments present an enormous opportunity for the state’s growing tech sector.”

In the coming months, two additional applications will become available under the Elevate Vermont moniker to provide even more support for companies engaged with SBIR/STTR. Eligible participants may qualify for matching grants to accelerate the commercialization of their technology, offsetting costs such as sales and marketing expenses that cannot be supported with SBIR/STTR funds, according to the state.

Elevate Vermont will also provide an Innovation Research Partnership Program to help small businesses strengthen connections with research institutions that can assist them in solving challenging product development issues.

To receive notification about the Elevate Vermont program as more information becomes available, subscribe to the Department of Economic Development newsletter.

The information in this article is from a press release from the Office of the Governor of Vermont.

Balint gets decisive win in Democratic primary

Sen. Becca Balint cruised to victory in the Democratic primary over Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, in her bid for Vermont’s lone U.S. House seat. 

If victorious in the general election in November, Balint will become the first woman to represent the Green Mountain State in Congress.

News outlets called the race for Balint at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night. By 9:20 p.m., with over 60% of districts reporting, Balint was leading the race with just over 50% of the vote, with Gray notching about 31%. The Republican primary for U.S. House had yet to be called; Liam Madden (36%) had a strong lead over Erika Bundy Redic and Anya Tynio. 

In other election news, former Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman won the Democratic primary in his bid to return to that post. By 9:35 p.m., with 67% of districts reporting, Zuckerman led the race with just over 42% of the vote, staying ahead of former State Rep. Kitty Toll, who had garnered nearly 37%, with Patricia Preston and State Rep. Charlie Kimbell, of Woodstock, trailing in the single digits. In the Republican primary for lieutenant governor, State Sen. Joe Benning (49%) was leading Gregory Thayer by about 10 percentage points.

As for county-wide races, Ryan Palmer, of Windsor, handily took the Democratic contest for Windsor County Sheriff with just over 44% of the vote, defeating Thomas Battista, of Springfield (30%). In the general election, Palmer will face Sheriff Mike Chamberlain, who was unopposed in the Republican primary.

In the race for Windsor County Assistant Judge, Alison Johannensen, of Woodstock, and incumbent David Singer, of Hartland, got the victory with about 26% and 18% of the vote respectively. Michael Ricci, of Woodstock, took third with nearly 15%.

In the Windsor County Senate election, State Rep. Becca White and incumbent Sens. Alison Clarkson and Dick McCormack got the primary nod for the county's three Senate seats.

Woodstock resident Tesha Buss was unopposed in her Democratic primary bid for the local House seat representing Woodstock, Reading and Plymouth.

In the gubernatorial primary, Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, and Democrat Brenda Siegel easily won their respective primary bids and will face off in the general election. 

Also on Tuesday night, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, a Democrat, sailed to an easy primary victory in his U.S. Senate bid, to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy. In the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, Gerald Malloy was leading the race (40%) over former U.S. Attorney for Vermont Christina Nolan (34%), with Myers Mermel a distant third.

— Gareth Henderson

Local House member has sights set on Vt. Senate

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

The issues that impact working Vermonters have been important to Becca White, from her childhood and right through to her time in public office. And she’s hoping to continue that work in the Vermont Senate. 

White, 28, a local state representative and a White River Junction resident, is vying for a Windsor County Senate seat on the Democratic ticket. Windsor County has three Senate seats, and incumbent Senators Alison Clarkson, of Woodstock, and Dick McCormack, of Bethel, are seeking reelection, while longtime Sen. Alice Nitka is retiring from the post. Chris Morrow, of Weston, remains on the ballot but has dropped out of the race. Vermont’s primary election is next Tuesday, Aug. 9. 

White, a lifelong Vermonter and UVM graduate who grew up in Hartford, is a current Vermont House member representing the Windsor 4-2 district. Before her four years in the House, she served the same amount of time on the Hartford Select Board.

During her Senate campaign going door to door, an issue impacting many Vermonters comes up time and time again: housing.

“The thing I’m hearing most about is affordable housing, both for people who want to stay here and continue to live here … and then for renters, just the inability to find a place to rent,” White said. Concerns around fuel and utility costs are wrapped up in those housing issues, she added. 

“If it’s not the homeowner, it’s their friend, their co-worker, their family,” White said. “Everyone is impacted by the crisis we’re experiencing now.”

The economy, equity and the environment are also high on her list, and White added they have something in common: “Housing actually cuts through all three of those.” 

In Hartford, White’s mother ran a daycare, and her father was a plumber and electrician. And so, giving young, working people a greater voice in public office has been important for White. 

When she got to the Vermont House, she recalled, “there was a good mix of women, but not a lot of young people, and not a lot of people who were working.” 

White supports a legislative effort Clarkson has led, to review whether Vermont’s citizen Legislature is effectively representing the state. 

At the same time, White feels Vermont offers a unique opportunity to participate meaningfully in democratic institutions. She hopes to keep doing so at the State House.

“This is the place where I can put my skills that I have to the highest and best use,” White said.

Reflecting on her time in public office, White said she’s built a lot of relationships that would remain important as a senator. Those include the ability to work effectively with fellow lawmakers, state administration and also local organizers. 

“All of those relationship skills, and knowing who to talk to about what, are so invaluable,” she said.

— Gareth Henderson

Sculpturefest: A gift of art and open land

“Who says fish can’t fly?” by Charlotte Donaldson at Sculpturefest in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Art has a powerful way of uplifting the soul, bringing some joy into life, and welcoming people to experience it together.

Sculpturefest, based in Woodstock, Vermont, has been doing that for over 40 years, and the 2022 edition has brought lots of new art to the property, nestled on Prosper Road, where Charlet and Peter Davenport have been welcoming sculptors’ work to their scenic Vermont land over those decades. Creativity is always in bloom there, with various artistic expressions throughout the property. 

This year, Sculpturefest has, by far, the most new art it’s had in the past three years, since efforts to move in new installations were limited due to the pandemic. In a recent interview, Charlet Davenport expressed her excitement at seeing all the new work coming in. Along with the vibrant new sculptures, another tradition continues: Anyone is welcome to drop by, walk the property, view the art, and even have a picnic in the summer sun. Davenport pointed out they’ve always had that approach of keeping it open to the public, since the event began decades ago.

“This is for the community, it’s not an organized, incorporated anything,” she said. “It’s just our gift.” 

Sometimes you have art that’s simply joyful and playful. Well, one of the new pieces poses a question, “Who says fish can’t fly?” It’s a series of colorful fish, crafted from wood and hung on a line above a vernal pond on the Sculpturefest property. Charlotte Donaldson, the longtime artist who created these flying fish, has participated in Sculpturefest before, including last year, when she also had her art installed at the pond. 

“I thought, this year I’ll just hang fish, because they sort of belong to a pond, and they're sort of whimsical,” Donaldson said. 

A metal sculpture by Nira Granott Fox, on display at Sculpturefest. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Down at the other side of the Sculpturefest property, in the wide open field by Prosper Road, another new installation awaits viewers. Nira Granott Fox has created a moving metal sculpture, which includes two circular shapes which trade places as the wind courses through this work of art. It shines brilliantly in the sun, and moves with grace in the breeze — a unique creation adding to the diversity of Sculpturefest. 

Also shining in the summer sun, is a sculpture by featured artist Blaze Konefal, titled “Windwave Grove,” which presents three metallic “trees” that dance in the sun and even the slightest wind. The sculpture presents a sort of playfulness, nestled in the calm colors of the artwork. 

In all, Sculpturefest 2022 presents over 30 artists and dozens of sculptures that capture the mind and represent the creative spirit that’s been alive on this land for decades. Each piece contributes to the comforting sense of peace, joy and freedom on the property, which keeps people coming back year after year. In a recent interview, Charlet Davenport noted that many discovered this precious, open land and its artwork during the pandemic, especially young families, who — while playgrounds were closed — were looking for places out in the open where their children could play. 

At any time, something deep in the human soul loves to connect with nature, and loves to connect with artistic expression. At Sculpturefest, you can do both, and, with more and more people experiencing this widely cherished Sculpturefest tradition, it’s sure to live on for generations to come.

— Gareth Henderson

“Windwave Grove” by Blaze Konefal, at Sculpturefest in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

“Grow” by Hector Santos, on display at Sculpturefest 2022. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

From left, “Yuke” and “Flutterby” by Roger Goldenberg, at Sculpturefest. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Grants awarded for Vt. housing, community projects

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

Local housing and community projects in Vermont are receiving support from a new round of federal grants. 

On Thursday, Gov. Phil Scott announced recipients of $2.22 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding through the Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP). This federal money will support six projects throughout Vermont, including three mixed income housing developments, planning for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility improvements and the revitalization of community facilities.

In this week’s announcement, Scott called the CDBG program an “essential resource for Vermont.” 

“Bringing together public and private partners, the program makes a big difference in our redevelopment and revitalization efforts throughout all corners of the state,” he said.

These funds provide federal funding to help local communities address priority projects that primarily benefit individuals of low or moderate income, according to state officials. Supported projects include planning and implementation of housing, economic development, public infrastructure, and community facilities such as childcare and senior centers. The funding announced this week goes to projects in Randolph, Pittsford, Arlington, South Burlington and Highgate. 

“The program has been a crucial funding source for 40 years in Vermont,” said Josh Hanford, the state’s commissioner of housing and community development, in the state’s announcement. “CDBG funding invests in local community development projects which expand low-income families’ access to opportunity in Vermont."

In a joint statement, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D), U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D) spoke about the funding’s broad impact over the decades: 

“Vermont has long benefited from Community Development Block Grant awards, which transform communities by creating opportunities for Vermonters and helping to drive our local economies.”

This year, recipients include the City of South Burlington and Ascend Housing Allies, who were jointly awarded $1 million to develop 94 units of new mixed-income apartments in two separate 47-unit buildings. 

“The Community Development Block Grant award from VCDP will allow Summit Properties, in partnership with subgrantee Ascend Housing, to move forward with one of the State of Vermont’s most ambitious affordable housing projects to date,” said Tom Getz, chief executive officer of Summit Properties, in a statement. “Especially in today’s construction environment, affordable housing requires leadership and support from the State of Vermont, its partner agencies, and local municipalities. VCDP’s and the City of South Burlington’s support for this project puts that leadership on full display and will make an impact on more than 100 people seeking an affordable housing option to live and work in Chittenden County.”

The following six Vermont projects are supported by the program’s funds for fiscal year 2022: 

• Town of Arlington for community revitalization and gathering space.

• Town of Highgate to explore development of a mixed-use property and library.

• Town of Pittsford to explore development of community programming space.

• Town of Randolph for affordable rental housing.

• City of South Burlington for mixed income housing.

• City of Vergennes to plan for ADA renovations of the Vergennes Opera House.

For details on these CDBG awardees and projects, click here.

Editor’s Note: The information in this post is from a news release by the Office of Vermont Governor Phil Scott.