Program extended to help food-insecure Vermonters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Gareth Henderson

President requires vaccines for 100M American workers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vermont adjusts masking guidance for schools

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Gareth Henderson

Sharing a new tomorrow

A brook at the Green Mountain Horse Association in South Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

One of the gifts of writing is that it’s elastic, broad, expansive. It can capture things that may otherwise go unnoticed. Sometimes, those things enter into the written word by way of the camera lens. 

When we were walking late in the day on Saturday, on the grounds of the Green Mountain Horse Association in beautiful South Woodstock, we crossed a small bridge with a quiet brook running underneath it. Unassuming and serene, the sound of the bubbling water came to my ear, and then the sunlight dancing on the surface amid the shadows caught my eye. The camera lens wasn’t far behind. 

That quiet moment came on a busy holiday weekend. GMHA’s historic 100-Mile Competitive Trail Ride was back in town, bringing equestrians and spectators from near and far. On Friday night, tackle football returned to Woodstock Union High School, where WUHS notched a big 35-16 win over Springfield. Also returning to the area this weekend is the Quechee Balloon Festival, with entertainment for all ages. On a yet larger scale: The school year began this past week for the Woodstock area and many other districts, with Vermont students able to see their teachers and each other once again, five days a week. 

Taken together, these events and many others mark a return to familiar ground, more progress toward more normalcy. Though the pandemic and numerous other issues present challenges, the opportunity to visit loved ones more often, see our kids return to school, and enjoy the events and activities we missed for so many months, does have a powerful impact. Being out and about gives you another lens through which to process the changes of life and come to terms with its challenges and further opportunities for progress. And you understand more fully that others are having this experience as well; we are one world going through this next chapter of existence, together. 

That said, “together” doesn’t always feel comfortable. We’ll encounter obstacles as the world grows into a new future, and people will confront the tough questions about what we’ve really learned from the past 18 months. But right now, we are building from moments, quiet moments of reflection, whether it’s walking past a bubbling brook, or spending time catching up with family or friends. Those times let the light of good pour in and illuminate our experiences every day. They give us opportunities to ponder concepts bigger than ourselves, and be aware of issues that merit more of our attention. If we approach life, right now, with a more expansive, compassionate thought, that’s fertile ground where lasting progress can take root. And that’s the way to nurture and care for this vast, precious world we all share.

— Gareth Henderson

Federal aid going out to Vt. towns and villages

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Gareth Henderson

How far we’ve come

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Gareth Henderson

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

Community Heroes Concert set for Friday in Woodstock

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Gareth Henderson

Venue grants awarded to Pentangle, VINS

A view of the mountains surrounding Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson)

As reopening efforts continue, more financial help is on its way for the many local venues that closed their doors during the pandemic. That’s thanks to the latest round of federal shuttered venue grants. 

Among the 59 Vermont recipients are Pentangle Arts Council in Woodstock, which will get a $96,969 grant, and the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) in Quechee, which was awarded a grant of $248,419. Overall, $18.7 million in grant assistance will go to eligible live music venues, movie theaters, and performing arts organizations in the Green Mountain State.

Alita Wilson, executive director of Pentangle, said the local nonprofit plans to reopen its theater this Saturday for a three-night run of the movie “In the Heights” — the theater had closed in March 2020. Wilson said the federal grant will be a huge help in covering reopening expenses, including the higher wages needed to pay projection staff, after some former employees moved on. 

“We’re thrilled we got this money,” she said.

It also helps add a financial buffer, Wilson added, since it’s not clear how many people will show up or if restrictions may happen again in the future. So far, Vermont officials have kept things as they are — statewide restrictions were lifted in June, including all capacity limits.

As for VINS, the Quechee organization closed for three months in 2020, and went through the winter with all indoor spaces closed. It reopened to full capacity after the state lifted all restrictions last month. Like Pentangle, VINS has used other federal relief, including the paycheck protection loan program, to stay afloat through the many challenges of the past 18 months.

“The whole range of programs designed to help organizations make up for revenue loss have been tremendously helpful,” said Charlie Rattigan, VINS’ executive director. 

With the generosity of many friends and supporters, along with the federal money, Rattigan said VINS was able to avoid layoffs or program cuts. Now, they’re able to run the usual summer schedule of four programs, daily, including camps. 

“It’s fun every day to hear the shouts and laughter of children through the open windows,” Rattigan said. 

Other nearby venues receiving the shuttered venues operators grants (SVOG) include JAG Productions Company, of White River Junction; Northern Stage, of White River Junction; Chandler Center for the Arts, of Randolph; Friends of the Historic Playhouse Theater, of Randolph; and the Paramount Theatre, of Rutland. Click here to access the full list of grantees and amounts.

The support of the Vermont Congressional Delegation was vital to the legislation containing the grants. The money was part of the Save Our Stages Act, which was introduced last year by U.S. Rep. Peter Welch. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy played a key role in getting this legislation signed into law and funds appropriated for the grants. In a joint statement, Welch, Leahy and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders noted the importance of these venues to local communities.

“What began as the ‘Save Our Stages’ movement over a year ago, has now materialized into meaningful relief for the venues we know and love,” the delegation said. “Our independent live music and entertainment venues not only bring joy and energy to our downtowns and communities, they are economic engines that help make Vermont such a special place to live and visit.”

— Gareth Henderson

Vt. announces new public health advisory for schools

The U.S. and Vermont flags fly in the breeze outside the town office in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

With families in full preparation mode for the new school year, public health officials in multiple states have issued new recommendations for local districts in this latest phase of the pandemic. This comes after the CDC issued updated recommendations in response to the impact of the delta variant of COVID-19, especially on case growth in parts of the south and west.

Vermont officials have said the state has still been able to limit case increases and keep hospitalizations low, owing to its nation-leading vaccination rate — which is at 84.1% for its vaccine-eligible population. Speaking at a Tuesday press conference, Education Secretary Dan French said that was a major factor in Vermont’s new recommendations. 

“I’m pleased to say today, we will be able to start the school year as predicted, with full in-person instruction and nominal mitigation recommendations,” French said. He added, “As we did last year, we will need to leverage local and state partnerships to keep our communities and our schools safe from COVID-19.”

The state’s new advisory for schools includes the following: 

• For the first few weeks of school, it is recommended that districts require all students and staff to wear masks regardless of their vaccination status. 

• After the first few weeks of school, it is recommended that schools require masks only until 80% of students have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (The state will advise schools on how to determine their vaccination rates). 

• Once at least 80% of students in a school have received their first dose, it is recommended the school require masks only for unvaccinated students and staff.

• Masks may be removed for instructional or operational considerations, but masks are required for all passengers on school buses, per CDC regulations.

• Stay home when you’re sick.

Other mitigation strategies include voluntary COVID-19 testing and a contact tracing program, French said. The complete advisory for schools will be published online this week, with most schools opening later this month. 

To assist with the vaccination targets in the new guidance, the state will offer school-based vaccine clinics throughout Vermont. Though the focus will be on 12-18-year-olds, those clinics will be open to the public, officials said Tuesday. More details are expected next week.

— Gareth Henderson

Vermont lifts all statewide pandemic restrictions

A view from Fletcher Hill Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Effective immediately, Vermont has lifted all remaining statewide pandemic restrictions, as over 80% of eligible Vermonters are now vaccinated against COVID-19.

Gov. Phil Scott made the announcement Monday morning, noting Vermont is the first state in the nation to vaccinate over 80% of its 12-and-over population. He said lifting the statewide rules is now safe to do, because Vermonters have consistently worked hard to limit spread of the virus, including getting immunized.

“Again, not only do we lead the United States, but Vermont is now a global leader in vaccinations to defeat COVID-19,” Scott said. “Our state has shown the world what’s possible when you have a group of people with the right attitude following the data and trusting medical science.”

Due to this change at the state level, the Woodstock Village mask ordinance is now suspended.

Across the state, Vermont businesses that wish to do so can maintain rules such as mask-wearing within their stores. The governor also noted that some individuals may have “their own legitimate reasons to remain cautious.”

"As I’ve said, that’s natural, and it’s OK,” he said. “I hope all Vermonters show compassion and respect for one another, including businesses choosing to keep some requirements in place, while they wait for all their employees to do the right thing and get vaccinated.”

The state of emergency expires at midnight, but on Tuesday Scott plans to sign off on some changes to the executive order, to maintain several related programs that are still needed. More details will be released Tuesday.

Going forward, Vermont will continue to make the COVID-19 vaccine available at different sites around the state. At Monday’s press conference, Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said there is still much work to be done to maintain the high level of protection Vermont has achieved against the virus.

“We will continue getting as many Vermonters vaccinated as possible, to keep this protection as strong as we can,” Levine said. “We will continue to keep watching our data closely and act accordingly.”

He added that the state and its partners will continue to work hard to help and provide guidance to those who can’t get vaccinated for health reasons.

Levine also pointed out that the state is preparing for the time a vaccine is approved for use in children under age 12, which may be as soon as this fall.

“I’m already collaborating with my pediatric colleagues, so that we will be ready to get parents and caregivers the information they need, and to deliver the vaccine in as many appropriate settings as possible,” he said.

Scott closed his remarks by noting the state’s response to COVID-19 continues a tradition of leading the nation in tough times.

“On the first day of the Battle in Gettysburg, General Sedgwick knew enough about our character and courage to send the order, ‘Put the Vermonters ahead,’” Scott said. “157 years later, we again showed that when the nation is in need of leadership and hope; when America needs to find its path forward to solve problems and help people; when in dark times, and our country needs a state to light the way; Vermonters will always step forward and lead the charge.” 

— Gareth Henderson

Business relief grants become available Monday

Echo Lake in Plymouth, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

A new program offering a total of $30 million in grants to struggling Vermont businesses is set to launch on Monday. The money, approved by the Legislature, comes from Vermont’s share of relief funding in the American Rescue Plan Act.

The Economic Recovery Bridge Program is the latest local effort to help businesses recover from the financial impact of the pandemic. The assistance is meant for businesses who have not received state and federal relief due to eligibility constraints, and who can show a continued loss of revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To the extent that funds remain available, the program can also help businesses that have suffered a net loss even after receiving state or federal aid.

Gov. Phil Scott said this funding is key to Vermont’s economic recovery, calling small businesses the “backbone of our economy.” 

“These grants will provide critical relief in the short term, allowing them to rebuild a stable foundation for their economic futures,” Scott said in a statement.  

PJ Skehan, executive director of the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce, said Friday that a number of chamber members have already received some form of relief, but he thought this money could be a crucial resource for any businesses whose money is running out at this point.

“Vermont overall has done a great job getting these funds out to where they’re needed,” Skehan said.

Joan Goldstein, commissioner of the Department of Economic Development, emphasized the need to help businesses facing shortfalls as the state turns the corner.

“As we move past the pandemic, these funds are intended to bridge those final gaps, so that businesses can recover and thrive in the months and years ahead,” she said in the program’s announcement this week. 

Eligible businesses must have their primary place of business in Vermont and demonstrate that the business experienced a net tax loss in 2020, greater than any net loss reported in 2019 via submitted federal tax returns.

Grants will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis and priority will be given as follows:

• Priority for the first 30 days of the program will be given to businesses that have not received or do not have pending applications for any state or federal financial assistance in 2020 or 2021, including but not limited to:

  • Paycheck Protection Program Loans and Grants

  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Grants

  • Vermont Economic Recovery Grants

  • Sole Proprietor Stabilization Program Grants

  • Healthcare Provider Grants

  • Restaurant Revitalization Grants

  • Shuttered Venue Grants

  • Vermont Agricultural Grants

• After the initial 30-day window, second-tier priority will be given to businesses who suffered a 2020 net tax loss and can still demonstrate an adjusted net loss after adding back the amounts of non-taxable assistance received in 2020 and 2021.

Full program guidelines in several languages and frequently asked questions are online at the state’s COVID-19 Recovery Resource Center. The application portal is set to open on Monday, and there will be a support line available at 802-828-1200 once the portal opens.

A recording of Friday’s webinar about the program is available on the commerce agency's website.

— Gareth Henderson

Helping the environment, one life at a time

The Ottauquechee River, as seen from East End Park in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Around the world, 129 billion single-use face masks are used each month, and 3 million are thrown out every minute. They’ve entangled wildlife and polluted waterways, and some marine animals have eaten them. 

That situation might look too big for any of us to make a positive impact. But we can each do something to minimize the damage of this pandemic-specific waste, if we ever have to dispose of a single-use mask. In short, when you throw one out, cut or remove the straps — which makes it harder for animals to be strangled in them. By doing so, you can make a difference, noted Maria Algarra, founder of Clean This Beach Up, an environmental organization in Miami Beach, Florida.

“The idea is to dispose of your mask properly, put it in the bin, but also remember to cut or rip off the straps. That will be saving so many lives,” Algarra said in a PBS NewsHour segment, which aired on Earth Day last week. 

Part of the issue is that, how to properly dispose of something is not a top priority for many people, according to Jenna Jambeck, of the University of Georgia. For example, someone who goes shopping with a single-use mask and gloves, may not know how they’re going to throw them out after their errand is done. That gap has a big impact on the environment over the past year. 

“It just really came to light, I think, through the PPE that we were wearing,” Jambeck told the NewsHour. 

That culture of waste is especially worrisome, when you combine it with a number like 129 billion of those single-use masks being used and discarded each month. However, that means, as a global community, we have billions of opportunities to do what’s right. If we ever have the need to pick up a single-use mask, we can know that cutting those straps before throwing them out can have a true, positive impact on the world’s precious creatures.

Furthermore, we can know we’re very much not alone in caring about such issues. Maria Algarra and Jenna Jambeck, from the PBS NewsHour piece, are involved in constant efforts to clean up and benefit the environment, and there are many more people working to protect our natural surroundings and the animals that depend on them. We support those initiatives when we engage in loving, thoughtful treatment of the world around us, and take steps to reduce harmful human impacts on wildlife. We can truly make a difference, one life at a time. 

— Gareth Henderson

New funding aims to provide healthy food for students

A school bus heads through Woodstock Village in Vermont recently. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

A new program is being launched to ensure students continue to have access to healthy meals during the pandemic. 

The federal government recently allowed 34 states, including Vermont and Massachusetts, to provide a temporary food benefit to pre-K-12 students who would normally receive free and reduced-price meals at school. This new Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) benefit is meant to replace the value of school meals that children would have received earlier in the year, had they been at school.

In Vermont, households eligible for this funding should receive it by April 29. At the state’s press briefing on Friday, Education Secretary Dan French thanked the many people who helped get this program off the ground.

“This has been a very complex program to implement, and I want to thank the many school staff around the state who worked quickly to collect the required data from households and submit it up to the state level,” French said. “This quick work on their part made it possible for us to turn this program around fairly quickly and get the benefits deployed, and we really appreciate their efforts.”

The amount of the P-EBT benefit is based on the student’s mode of learning in the months covered. For example, the amount is $119.35 per student for a remote learning month, $70.61 per student for a hybrid learning month, and no benefit for an in-person learning month. The money is provided through an electronic benefit card to be used for food purchases at participating grocery stores, convenience stores, online retailers and farmers markets. This program has no impact on eligibility for the free meals currently available through schools. 

“Families are encouraged to use both resources to make sure students have access to healthy meals,” French said. 

About $14.7 million in P-EBT benefits will soon be issued to 21,844 Vermont households for the time period of September 2020 through February 2021. That impacts about 33,000 students, nearly 42% of the state’s public school population. Vermont had 78,928 students in pre-K-12 as of February.

Another P-EBT benefit will be provided in July, to cover the months of March through June 2021.

— Gareth Henderson

WUHS to expand in-person instruction soon

The main entrance of Woodstock Union High School & Middle School in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

When they return from April break, Woodstock Union High School students will return to more in-person learning. 

The administration is implementing four days of in-person instruction at WUHS, effective April 19. This change is made possible by the state’s updated guidance that calls for three-foot physical distancing in school, rather than the previous rule of six-foot distancing, according to WUHSMS Principal Garon Smail. In changing that rule, Smail said, state education officials cited research from other states and Europe, saying there was no significant difference between the impact of the two distances in schools during the pandemic.

The in-person instruction will be on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday will remain a day when most students are off-campus, and the morning remote class schedule on that day will be replaced with teacher office hours. The remote clubs and activities will continue on Wednesday afternoon, as well as driver’s education. 

The middle school has already switched to the four-day in-person format — the 7th grade on Feb. 1, and the 8th grade on March 18. High school students had still been operating under a hybrid learning model, a blend of in-person and remote instruction.

When this change occurs for the high school, students will follow their established in-person schedules, masks will still be required, and no congregating will be allowed in the hallways, which is the case now. Strict cleaning protocols remain throughout the day. 

“I believe we have the systems and routines in place to take on this capacity,” Smail said, in making this announcement at a recent school district board meeting.

In a Friday interview, Smail said he’s heard from parents who are happy with making this change at WUHS, and a few were concerned. He noted that this recent announcement was made the same week as the state’s new phased reopening plan, which aims to lift all state pandemic restrictions by July 4. 

“The governor releasing his return-to-normal plan on the heels of this, puts this (announcement) in the context of the state moving in this direction, and it feels right that way,” Smail said. 

He also noted that the increase in in-person learning does not mean a doubling of the student workload. He echoed the sentiment of a teacher, who recently told him, “We’re doubling the amount of connection.” 

“That’s kind of the focus,” Smail said. 

Smail pointed out that the in-person format provides more access to teachers and will add more student interactions with other students, a clear improvement, he added, over the remote days that used to take up some of the week. 

“It’s just not really how we operate as people, to be that isolated,” Smail said.  

He said the change will also allow teachers to plan for just one type of class, rather than having to make plans for remote and in-person instruction. 

At the recent school district board meeting, in which this change was announced, one question was raised about what accommodation could be made for a family uncomfortable sending their student to four days of in-person instruction.

“We do work with individual cases the best we can, to be supportive of people,” Smail said. 

Another question concerned whether it was wise to move back to a heavier in-person schedule this close to the end of the school year, which might not work for some students.  

Superintendent Sherry Sousa noted research showing that “re-establishing what is normal” is key for students’ mental health. 

This change is part of making sure WUHSMS is ready for five days a week by August, Smail added.

Additionally, the school has done $320,000 worth of HVAC work to improve air flow. Outside spaces will be available to use for classes and lunch.

— Gareth Henderson

Vt. grants coming to expand summer programs for youth

Federal relief money is fueling an expansion of summer programming for youth in Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Funding is on the way to expand summer programs for youth in Vermont, as the state continues its effort to help kids reconnect with their communities and recover from the impact of the pandemic. 

In partnership with the nonprofit Vermont Afterschool, the Agency of Education is organizing the $1.5 million grant program for those camps and organizations not connected with a school, so they can be a part of the overall state effort to enhance these summer experiences. More details will be rolled out in the coming weeks, including eligibility requirements. A strong emphasis is being placed on applications that make the programs more affordable for students and families, according to Heather Bouchey, Vermont’s deputy secretary of education. 

“We want all children and youth to participate in something great this summer, no matter their age, their family background or financial resources, their primary language, geographic location, ability status, or specific interests,” Bouchey said at the state’s Friday press briefing. 

The state and Vermont Afterschool have launched a “Summer Matters” web page, summer opportunities are listed and kids can look for summer jobs. The site also has a state map showing where participating summer programs are located. A few areas in the state don’t have many local opportunities, and the state is reaching out to those communities to help change that.

To make this statewide effort possible, the Agency of Education is also collaborating with the state departments of health, mental health, vocational rehabilitation, and fish and wildlife, as well as educators and practitioners in the field. The grants are backed by federal COVID-19 relief funding, and all types of nonprofit organizations, community collaboratives and school-community programs will be able to apply. 

The state is encouraging local school districts and organizations to collaborate on this effort.   

“We know that everyone is tired and certainly needs a rest after navigating this year, but this summer also presents a critical, critical, opportunity for us to further assist students and their families in healing and well-being,” Bouchey said. 

Speaking on Friday, Gov. Phil Scott said this is not only a great opportunity for students, but also a chance for communities to get creative. 

“Working together, we can have a huge impact and help our kids in so many ways,” Scott said. 

The U.S. has tripled federal funding for after-school and summer programs over the next three years, thanks to the recent federal COVID relief bill. On Friday, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, highlighted the importance of that funding and the state’s efforts, as he spoke at the briefing by video. 

“It is absolutely essential that we do everything we possibly can to support Vermont students in the coming months and years as we recover from these challenges, and that work must start this summer,” Sanders said. 

— Gareth Henderson

Vt. plans to lift all pandemic restrictions by July 4

After over a year of statewide restrictions, Vermont’s governor has unveiled a plan to ease those limits over the next three months and have the Green Mountain State fully reopened by July 4.

But Gov. Phil Scott said this roadmap depends on the state hitting certain COVID-19 vaccination milestones, and is subject to change.

“Our goal with this plan is to give Vermonters a transparent look at how we’ll be able to work our way out of this pandemic, moving forward together at a time when we can manage this virus like we do the flu, with simple, every-day measures, rather than the state of emergency we’ve been in for over a year,” Scott said at Tuesday’s press conference.

He said Vermont’s in a strong position to meet the July 4 goal, with a robust testing and contact tracing, and one of the most successful vaccination programs in the U.S. 

“We’re in the last laps of this very long and difficult race, and this plan shows how we’ll finish strong,” Scott said. However, for that reopening effort to work, the governor noted people must continue to get vaccinated when their age band becomes eligible. 

The newly announced “Vermont Forward” plan includes three steps, and in each of those steps, it focuses on moving more businesses and organizations into “universal guidance,” instead of the sector-specific rules that have been in place. State officials hope this will provide more flexibility and predictability for sectors in Vermont. 

This universal guidance includes five main tenets that employers, workers and customers should follow: stay home when sick; wear a mask; ensure six-foot social distancing; practice good hygiene; know the travel restrictions. The social distancing and mask requirements will remain in place until July 4.

In Step 1 of the plan, “Group A” moves to universal guidance on Friday, which includes mainly low-contact businesses, such as outdoor businesses, outdoor recreation, farmers markets, campgrounds and others.

Also beginning Friday, the state will use COVID-19 testing instead of quarantining as the main requirement of its travel guidance. This means people will need to be tested within three days of returning to Vermont, and visitors will need to have a negative COVID test within three days of their arrival. Fully vaccinated people can continue to travel freely. 

In Step 2, “Group B” moves to universal guidance on May 1. This will eliminate capacity restrictions on all businesses, including restaurants and bars, and also takes away those restrictions for houses of worship and art centers.

In discussing the plan, Secretary of Commerce Lindsay Kurrle said businesses have the right to enact rules that go further than the universal guidance or address specific safety needs. 

“We hope all Vermonters will continue to honor and practice the mitigation measures that we have in place,” Kurrle said. “We all need to work together with our business community to ensure interactions are respectful and understanding of the changing dynamics we will see in the months ahead as Vermonters are vaccinated.” 

Additionally, indoor and outdoor gathering sizes will be relaxed in May and June as Steps 2 and 3 go into effect, and events and gatherings must also follow the universal guidance until July 4. State officials are hoping this can allow for high school and college graduations to take place in some form, and will allow for event planners and organizations to plan further into the year.

— Gareth Henderson

Ushering in the spring, with ‘MUD (season)’

At right, "Bernie" by Marilyn Syme is shown at ArtisTree Gallery's "MUD (season)” show. At left are Syme's "Classic Jeans Jacket" and "Muck Boots" and Sarah Wesson's "Spade." (Gareth Henderson Photo)

ArtisTree Gallery’s annual springtime show is ushering in the light of spring as the region enthusiastically salutes this hopeful new season.

In this year’s “MUD (season)” exhibit, artists are also reflecting on the pandemic, portraying what they’ve missed most and what they’ve learned. The show at the Pomfret, Vermont, gallery runs until April 17 and is open for public viewing, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Art enthusiasts can also experience the show online. It features paintings, drawings, mixed-media collage, photographs, sculptures and ceramics from 65 local artists, for a total of 180 pieces.

Deborah Goodwin, exhibits coordinator at the gallery, said not all the work is related to COVID-19, and bright, spring-themed work has the strong presence it always does. But it's a year that drove lots of creativity among all artists.

"I think most people would say it's a solace to them, to make artwork during this weird, terrible time," Goodwin said.

The theme of looking back during this spring of hope is alive and well at this brilliant new show, which notes several topics that will be very familiar. Marilyn Syme's pieces include three works of trompe l'oeil (French for "fool the eye") acrylic painted on masonite, one of which shows U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders wearing his world-famous mittens. "Meet Me on Zoom", by Amy B. Schachter, reflects the all-too-familiar Zoom experience, from happy to tired faces, portrayed with acrylic paint and graphite on a wood panel. Photographer Nicholas Gaffney shows memories from the Tunbridge World’s Fair, juxtaposed with a picture of the empty, sunlit fairgrounds from 2020.

Part of the “MUD (season)” show at ArtisTree Gallery in Pomfret, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Being several weeks into the new season, MUD also beautifully presents the spring flowers we all love, adding to the many bright expressions of life, ranging from the realistic to the abstract. Christine Hawkins, showing her work at ArtisTree for the first time, has several abstract paintings on paper with the varied colors of spring.

"It really does make you smile," Goodwin said of the show. "It's very cheery, the colors are wonderful. In general we've seen artists get extremely creative this year."

Speaking of creativity, the recent months have also brought some great artistic successes: Katie Runde, whose work "What I Miss" is part of the ArtisTree show, was recently selected to paint a portrait of Alexander Twilight to hang in the Vermont State House. Twilight was the first African American elected to a U.S. state legislature; he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1836.

While many of these artists have displayed work at ArtisTree before, Goodwin said, a number of new artists have also submitted their creations since ArtisTree reopened last June. Many people have come by to see the work displayed in the gallery as well, though the typical openings for shows have not been possible during the pandemic.

"We've had a lot of traffic and a lot of newcomers to the area," Goodwin said.

Given this very welcome start to the spring season, it's fitting to echo the announcement for the show: "Come see more than 180 pieces of remarkable and varied artwork — you will leave with a smile, feeling more-than-cautiously optimistic!"

— Gareth Henderson

ArtisTree Community Arts Center & Gallery is located at 2095 Pomfret Road in Pomfret, Vermont. For more information, call 802-457-3500, email info@artistreevt.org, or go online at www.artistreevt.org.

Marching forward

Sunset lights up the sky in West Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

In March 2020, analyses about the growing challenges of the pandemic were everywhere. Our economy, schools, work, and travel came to a halt or went remote. Today, we’re not out of the woods, but one year after lockdowns took hold across the country, it’s a much different scene: We’re able to talk about growing points of progress. 

The $1.9 trillion U.S. relief bill is passed, well over 70% of Americans 75 and older are vaccinated, and three vaccines are being distributed.

In Vermont, the state Legislature is working on a fast-track spending bill for pandemic relief, and the push is on to return all schools to in-person learning quickly, but safely. The state opened vaccination appointments for teachers, school staff and child care providers as a group this week — a key step en route to full-time, in-person instruction. As of Friday, 1 in 4 Vermonters had received their first dose of vaccine. 

That all seemed a long way off, a year ago. Vermont had its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 5. Vermont’s state of emergency went into effect the following week. Looking back during a recent press conference, Scott emphasized the great progress on vaccines in only one year. 

“When we had that first case, no one could have predicted, just 12 months later we’d already have three safe and effective vaccines rolling out to defend ourselves,” Scott said. 

As vaccine development was underway, we were also stepping up for each other, which officials in Vermont and elsewhere often acknowledged. During the holidays, Scott asked for examples of Vermonters who were selflessly helping their communities, and emails poured in from people highlighting their friends, co-workers and neighbors. Some communities began their own relief programs; the Woodstock community organized the Woodstock Area Relief Fund, which continues to help those in need. Vermont towns saw food bank donations soar, mask-making became a wartime effort, and people volunteered wherever they could to make a difference. 

Such stories exemplify the heart of Vermont, and reflect the community spirit that has sustained us. It is our guiding light to more progress. Creativity, ingenuity, and patience were seen here and in many other communities across the world. Those virtues are foundational, and they empower us to move forward through even the darkest times. Even then, there is always light, some goodness right around the corner to lift us up. Our love and compassion for each other are here to strengthen us, and they point the way to greener pastures ahead.

— Gareth Henderson

Sharing light amid darkness

The setting sun brightens a snowy afternoon in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Today in Vermont, many of us woke up to zero degrees, or less. That crushing chill makes even the smallest outdoor task seem like an eternity. 

Many of us have also felt the chill of isolation and so many changes to our lives over the past 10 months during the pandemic. There is a thirst for what we used to call “normalcy”, especially when it comes to the activities of daily life. That came out as Vermont Gov. Phil Scott took questions at one of his two weekly press conferences on Friday. One reporter said he’d heard from several frustrated parents looking for answers on what was keeping the state from allowing winter sports teams to finally have games. In mid-January, winter sports were allowed to have expanded practices with limited-contact drills and team scrimmages, but as of Friday, games and competitions still remained off the table. 

Scott responded that the state is monitoring the impact of the expanded practices and scrimmages, and is also watching patterns experienced in collegiate sports, which have seen some COVID-19 transmission among players. He also said community spread of the virus is prevalent in some areas, which is also a factor prompting some caution. 

“I know people are anxious, I know people are frustrated, I know this is important to kids — it’s important to all of us to get back to normal,” Scott said. “But we just don’t want to make any missteps.”

All this reflects a difficult balance we’ve had to strike, in the interest of supporting the well-being of our communities. The experience is deeply shared among all of us, and, throughout these past months, we’ve all had triumphs and also obstacles in these unique times. The mix of experiences has been vast, but the light shone through the darkness has been reassuring. The spirit of helping each other has been particularly inspiring, including volunteers at food shelves, people checking on elderly neighbors, and businesses and community members helping each other, even amid their own struggles.

The kind of unselfish support of other people is still a positive factor among us, and it remains a force for the greater good. Light can appear to be overshadowed at certain points, but it can never be broken. Its nature is to shine as far and wide as possible, reaching into even the most shadowy locations — places where light may have once seemed impossible. The fact that our collective light has continued to shine in the service of our fellow human beings, shows there is still much good to be shared in the world. It’s well worth our effort to remember its impact, which has a ripple effect that can touch hearts around the globe. That much is still true.

— Gareth Henderson

2020: the year of discovery

Rev. Dr. Leon Dunkley of the North Universalist Chapel Society speaks alongside Woodstock Police Chief Robbie Blish at a Black Lives Matter rally in Woodstock, Vermont, on June 9. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

2020 was the year that turned us into discoverers. As our struggles grew, our connections to one another were revealed and, in many cases, also reinvigorated. We learned those connections underpinned one grand, shared existence, enriched by the diversity of individual experiences. And this year, more than ever, we felt the true weight of what we shared.

Throughout 2020, how often did we hear that major events, just a couple of months apart, seemed like they had happened "years ago"? That refrain underscored how unique the year was, and how we bore the multi-layered impact of converging challenges. But we didn't bear that heavy load alone. We volunteered, we donated, we checked on our neighbors — in all things, we persisted, and we discovered. We came to see ourselves and others in a whole new light, because we found out how much our expressions of love and kindness sustain us.

Still, that virtuous resolve was tested in ways it hadn't been in decades. As the pandemic impacted the world, so did cries for justice. The killing of George Floyd and the tensions that rose up in its aftermath caused us to look deeply inward. Multiple generations of multiple races protested, with young people in particular leading inspired calls for change. The younger generations remained determined, even in the face of rife criticism — some of it in person. That discovery, that courage, we bring with us into 2021.

We also bring politics forward, knowing that this contentious election season left us much to address. As the current Congress winds to a close, it's important to note it managed to do something rare in 2020: Congress managed to compromise. That compromise led to the new relief bill, and, though it wasn't a perfect deal, it's getting economic support to many who need it, and it showed genuine collaboration can still do some good on even the grandest scale. Not long before, many might have called such a compromise impossible.

That word may describe 2020 very well. It was a year of impossible challenges, that required impossible solutions. But we persevered as a people, and discovered those answers were possible. We greet 2021 with vaccine distribution happening, with a greater awareness of race issues, and with, perhaps, a chance to see more political compromise in the future. Through such sweeping change in 2020, we're still firmly rooted in our compassion for one another, although some national issues may make us think otherwise. We're stronger than we were, and more aware of each other's needs, how we live, and how we can express the love that supports the greater good. That's a reassuring way to move into the new year.

— Gareth Henderson

Cherishing hope for all seasons

Lights along an Elm Street sidewalk in Woodstock Village. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

It wasn't long ago that varying temperatures and the crunch of leaves under our feet were common features of the outdoor experience. But now, we're firmly in the chilly grasp of winter, and — if the forecasters have it right — we'll soon feel even more snow crunching underfoot.

The full arrival of wintertime is one more reminder that, regardless of changing human circumstances, the natural world rolls on. There is some comfort in the constancy of nature — it has ushered in the seasons we're already familiar with, during a year full of things unfamiliar. The experience that sticks in my mind the most was the shift from winter into spring, and what a huge sense of hope, comfort and renewal it inspired. The world was coming alive, showing its brilliant light and resilience, and posing a stern, visual challenge to the dark shadows of adversity.

Today, we're faced with a winter of now-familiar obstacles, including the pandemic, political tensions, and the struggling economy. But even as these loom large, we don't have to forsake the feelings of hope the spring inspired. We can remember all that’s been renewed and richly expressed, time and again, which is our love of and dedication to our neighbors and communities, and our collective strength in the face of many hurdles.

Those virtues remain at the heart of our existence, because they are foundational to us. They persist because we are still here, with each other, and for each other. No matter how steep a mountain we have to climb, we can still genuinely seek ways to work together for good and witness progress. That's a foundation made from hope, and one we can still build on.

— Gareth Henderson