Vermont news

• Education secretary advises schools against gun-violence walkouts

  07-03-2018 23:58 via vtdigger.org
  Meaghan Filkowski, a Harwood Union High School senior, was one of dozens of students who pressed legislators to tighten gun laws. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger
  Gov Phil Scott’s administration says it’s open to all options when it comes to countering gun violence, especially at schools. But it has drawn a line at students walking out of those schools to call attention to the issue.The organizers of the Women’s March have called on students across the country to stage 17-minut
  
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• After scandal, Coventry plots recovery

  07-03-2018 23:27 via vtdigger.org
  Coventry Community Center, where more than 130 residents gathered for Town Meeting on Tuesday. Photo by Mike Faher/VTDigger
  COVENTRY — Sunlight streamed through Coventry Community Center’s windows, and it might have been symbolic of the mood inside as residents went about their Town Meeting business.
  After years of struggling with missing money and scandal, recovery was the theme of Tuesday’s meeting.Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll never miss a political story with
  
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• Green Mountain Care Board updates March meeting schedule

  07-03-2018 22:34 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Green Mountain Care BoardMarch 7, 2018
  Contact:Conor KennedyGreen Mountain Care Board802-505-3055
  Montpelier – Unless otherwise noted, all Green Mountain Care Board meetings are held in the Pavilion Auditorium at 109 State Street, Montpelier, VT
  Wednesday, March 7th: No Meeting Scheduled
  Monday, March 12th: Board Meeting (1:00 pm)
  · Hospital Budgets: 2019 Guidance
  · Reflective Silver Plans – Vote
  Wednesday, March 14th: Board Meeting (10:00 am)
  &midd
  
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• LISTEN: Occupy, Disrupt, Walk Out: Student Activism Today dlvr.it/QK6wJM https://t.co/jciox4Bcnw

  07-03-2018 19:40 via twitter.com
  
  LISTEN: Occupy, Disrupt, Walk Out: Student Activism Today dlvr.it/QK6wJM https://t.co/jciox4Bcnw
  
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• Hartford votes to replace sitting Selectboard members

  07-03-2018 18:44 via vtdigger.org
  Hartford voter Joan Vogel talks with Hartford Selectboard candidate Jameson Davis on her way to the polls at Hartford High School in White River Junction on Tuesday. Cyndi Salazar, of White River Junction, is at left, and Selectboard candidate Mike Morris, of Quechee, is at right. Photo by James M. Patterson/Valley News
  This story by Matt Hongoltz-Hetling was published by the Valley News on March 6, 2018.
  HARTFORD — Unofficial vote tallies show the town’s political winds may have shi
  
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• Vernon reduces sheriff’s contract

  07-03-2018 17:58 via vtdigger.org
  This story by Harmony Birch was published in the Brattleboro Reformer on March 7, 2018.
  VERNON — The Windham County Sheriff’s Department had its Vernon contract significantly reduced at town meeting on Monday night.
  The department currently is contracted to cover the town 20 hours a day. In fiscal year 2019, which starts in July, the department will be contracted for 40 hours a week. Vernon went from a $230,000 contract to a $70,000 contract.
  The reduction is something the Select Boa
  
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• Norwich University recruiting businesses for free leadership summit

  07-03-2018 17:37 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Norwich UniversityMarch 7, 2018
  Contact:Daphne [email protected]
  Northfield – Norwich University’s Leadership & Change Institute, a center of excellence, invites organizations to participate in its sixth Annual Leadership Summit in which graduate students work with businesses on issues of organizational leadership.
  Completely confidential, students are organized into cross-disciplinary groups and paired with partner business representative
  
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• State of Vermont urges caution in coming snowstorm

  07-03-2018 17:30 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Vermont Department of Public Safety, Vermont Department of Health, and Vermont Agency of TransportationMarch 7, 2018
  Contact:VT DPS: Mark Bosma, 802-839-6717VDH: Communications Office, 802-863-7281VTrans: Communications office, 802-505-3918 or 802-498-5988
  Waterbury – The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for all of Vermont from 4pm on Wednesday until 7pm on Thursday. Most areas of the state are likely to see 6 to 10-inches of snow with souther
  
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• Orleans County Conservation District releases online RAP quiz for farmers and service providers

  07-03-2018 17:09 via vtdigger.org
  Contact:Sarah Damsell, District ManagerOrleans County Natural Resource Conservation District802-334-6090 [email protected]
  Newport – Orleans County Conservation District is excited to announce the release of their new online educational tool for Vermont farmers and service providers. Sarah Damsell, District Manager for Orleans County NRCD, received a grant from Vermont’s Clean Water Fund to support the creation of the Required Agricultural Practices (RAP) Online Quiz.
  
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• Vermont ski and snowboard areas welcome March snow

  07-03-2018 17:05 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Ski VermontMarch 6, 2018
  Contact:Sarah Wojcik, Director of Marketing & CommunicationsSki [email protected]
  Montpelier – March came in like a friendly lion at Vermont ski resorts with some ski areas receiving over a foot of snow on Friday March 2nd. The snowy forecast looks like it could be a trend this month with another 6-12 inches of snow expected to reach Vermont’s Green Mountains later this week and more snow in the long-range foreca
  
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• ECFiber announces infrastructure build through Woodstock

  07-03-2018 16:59 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — ECFiberFebruary 23, 208
  Contact:Irv Thomae, District [email protected]
  Royalton – ECFiber today announced the launch of a new project which will bring ECFiber’s fast Internet service to many residents of Woodstock this year.
  The project is intended to connect the northern part of the ECFiber network (Barnard, Pomfret, Bethel, and beyond) to the southern part of the network (South Woodstock, West Windsor, and Reading).
  Many Woodstock residents on
  
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• VYCC receives grant from International Paper Foundation

  07-03-2018 16:53 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — VYCCFebruary 28, 2018
  Contact:Rachel Headings, VYCC Development VISTA802-434-3969 ext. [email protected]
  Richmond – Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) was honored to receive a $1,600 grant from the International Paper Foundation for VYCC’s Food and Farm Health Care Share (HCS) program. These funds will support HCS expansion throughout Vermont.
  Donna Wadsworth, Mill Communications Director at their location in Ticonderoga, New York said, “We a
  
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• Chittenden County ECOS Partnership Releases 2017 Annual Report: The State of Chittenden County

  07-03-2018 16:43 via vtdigger.org
  Contact:Emma Vaughn, Communications ManagerChittenden County RPC(802) 846-4490 x *[email protected]
  Winooski – The Chittenden County ECOS Partnership has released its 2017 ECOS Annual Report and online data Scorecard. For the third year in a row, the Annual Report is an infographic that visually displays some of the most interesting trends and notable accomplishments from 2017 relating to people, place, and prosperity in Chittenden County.
  The ECOS Annual Report summarizes progress tow
  
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• UVM wins Workplace Wellness Award for second year in row

  07-03-2018 16:10 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — University of VermontMarch 5, 2018
  Contact:Jeff [email protected]
  Burlington – For the second year in a row, the University of Vermont has won a Workplace Wellness Award from the Vermont Department of Health.
  The award recognizes Vermont organizations demonstrating an established wellness strategy that promotes healthy environments and supports the well-being of their employees.
  “It’s an honor to be included among a group of Ver
  
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• What Went Down On Town Meeting Day: A Curated Sampling dlvr.it/QK5RSs https://t.co/FFNWjpDudq

  07-03-2018 15:49 via twitter.com
  
  What Went Down On Town Meeting Day: A Curated Sampling dlvr.it/QK5RSs https://t.co/FFNWjpDudq
  
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• Matching gift propels Greater Burlington YMCA building project into the final stretch

  07-03-2018 15:33 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Greater Burlington YMCAFebruary 28, 2018
  Contact:Doug BishopGreater Burlington [email protected]
  Burlington – The Greater Burlington YMCA today announced that its fundraising campaign to build a new home in Burlington has raised approximately $14.5 million of its $15 million goal. With $500,000 left to raise, the Y also announced a new challenge that will match the first $100,000 in new gifts dollar-for-dollar as the Y launches the community phase
  
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• Burlington School District hosts ‘Beyond Black History Month,’ March 6

  07-03-2018 15:24 via vtdigger.org
  News Release — Burlington School DistrictMarch 5, 2018
  Media Contact:Russ Elek, Communication SpecialistBurlington School District802-540-5347
  Burlington – “Black History doesn’t end when March begins,” notes Burlington School District Superintendent (BSD) Yaw Obeng. In recognition of this, and in the spirit of the District’s commitment to representation, reflection, and dialogue, BSD proudly invites the community to “Beyond Black History Month,” a
  
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• LISTEN: An Early Look At The 2018 Governor's Race dlvr.it/QK56lz https://t.co/4dDVJq9UtT

  07-03-2018 15:00 via twitter.com
  
  LISTEN: An Early Look At The 2018 Governor's Race dlvr.it/QK56lz https://t.co/4dDVJq9UtT
  
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• An Early Look At The 2018 Governor's Race dlvr.it/QK55fw https://t.co/p4WNacArxq

  07-03-2018 14:55 via twitter.com
  
  An Early Look At The 2018 Governor's Race dlvr.it/QK55fw https://t.co/p4WNacArxq
  
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• Barre elects Herring as mayor, approves local options tax

  07-03-2018 05:42 via vtdigger.org
  Lucas Herring and supporters hold signs outside the polls in Barre on Tuesday morning. Photo for VTDigger by Tristan von Duntz
  The Thom Lauzon era is officially over in Barre. The longtime mayor resigned this week ahead of Town Meeting Day, clearing the way for Lucas Herring to be sworn in as soon as he was elected on Tuesday night.
  Herring, a city councilor and IT director for the Vermont Department of Corrections, defeated his only opponent in the mayoral race, fellow councilor Sue Higby, by a
  
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• Shelburne alone in rejecting regional dispatch center

  07-03-2018 04:49 via vtdigger.org
  The State Police barracks in Westminster includes an expanded emergency dispatch area that handles 5,000 to 6,000 southern Vermont 911 calls monthly. File photo by Randolph T. Holhut/The Commons
  SHELBURNE — While all six of its fellow Chittenden County communities voted Tuesday to enter into a regional emergency services dispatch center, Shelburne residents decided to retain their own 911 service.
  By more than 200 votes, townspeople rejected a proposal to join the Chittenden County Public
  
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• Bennington turns back another bid for mayoral government

  07-03-2018 03:43 via vtdigger.org
  A  sign advocating rejection of a mayoral form of government in Bennington. Photo by Holly Pelczynski/Bennington Banner
  BENNINGTON — Voters decisively rejected the idea of a mayor for Bennington, swatting down the proposal by a margin of 1,483 to 954.
  The vote on this persistent local issue was the third here in 20 years, but it marked the first time residents had faced a binding referendum. A town charter amendment was proposed through a petition initiated by advocate Mike Bethel and
  
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• Rutland re-elects 3 board incumbents, OKs money issues

  07-03-2018 03:18 via vtdigger.org
  Rutland Mayor David Allaire, who spent time outside the polls Tuesday, said voters are concerned about the rough condition of city roads. File photo by Erin Mansfield/VTDigger​
  RUTLAND — All three incumbents who ran for Rutland City Board of Aldermen are heading back to their seats with two newcomers set to join them on the panel.
  Town Meeting Day voters also approved all money matters on the city ballot, including the school spending plan that’s up about 2 percent and the muni
  
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• Cancel F-35 basing, Burlington voters advise

  07-03-2018 02:31 via vtdigger.org
  Fiona Griffin and Liam Dougherty hold signs encouraging voters to vote yes on question #6 on the Burlngton ballot. The article would request the cancellation of F-35 basing at Burlington International Airport and replace it with a low-noise-level aircraft. Photo by Bob LoCicero/VT Digger.
  Voters in Burlington said no to the F-35 Tuesday, approving a ballot measure that advises the City Council to request the cancellation of a plan to base the fighter jets in the city next year.
  The measure passe
  
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• Weinberger re-elected as Burlington mayor

  07-03-2018 01:53 via vtdigger.org
  Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger. File photo by Cory Dawson/VTDigger
  Miro Weinberger cruised to a third term as Burlington mayor, winning 48.4 percent of 1,910 votes, according to final results released by the city.
  Carina Driscoll and Infinite Culcleasure, his challengers, together received 51 percent ofthe vote. Driscoll finished with 35 percent and Culcleasure with 16 percent. Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll never miss a political story with our weekly headlines in your inbox.Dail
  
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• UPDATED: Weinberger re-elected as Burlington mayor

  07-03-2018 01:53 via vtdigger.org
  Mayor Miro Weinberger gives his victory speech at Nectar’s in Burlington. Photo by Bob LoCicero/VTDigger
  BURLINGTON — Three more years for Mayor Miro Weinberger.
  The incumbent Democrat received 5,749 votes, overcoming independents Carina Driscoll with 4,155 votes and political newcomer Infinite Culcleasure, who had 1,910.Get all of VTDigger's political news.You'll never miss a political story with our weekly headlines in your inbox.Daily
  Sundays only (Weekly Wrap) Email me stories on
  
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• DACA deadline set by Trump passes without action

  07-03-2018 01:12 via vtdigger.org
  Protesters outside the U.S. Capitol Monday call for Congress to pass legislation extending DACA. Photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDigger
  WASHINGTON — The deadline President Donald Trump set for lawmakers to act to extend a program that provides work permits and deportation protections for undocumented immigrants who arrived as children passed Monday.
  Recipients of the deferred action for childhood arrivals, or DACA, program, retain protected status for the time being because of two court decisi
  
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• Greg Guma: How fake news confirms biases

  07-03-2018 01:05 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Greg Guma, the Vermont-based author of “Dons of Time,” “Uneasy Empire,” “Spirits of Desire,” Big Lies, and “The People’s Republic: Vermont and the Sanders Revolution.” His latest book is “Green Mountain Politics: Restless Spirits, Popular Movements.”
  “I think there is a broken relationship with reality,” Salman Rushdie said in 2017, referring mainly to the fractured mood of th
  
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• Jeffrey Reel: Embracing change — IT’s inevitable

  07-03-2018 01:00 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Jeffrey Reel, of Lyndon Center, who is the general manager of Natural Provisions in St. Johnsbury, and the former sustainability manager of the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York.
  When throughout human history have humans not fully embraced, and run with, new safe technologies? The harnessing of fire? Stone, then metal, tools? The wheel? The cart? The horse and buggy, the train, airplane, radio, television, computer, smartphones …? In short:
  
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• Bob Zaino: Emerald ash borer and nature’s resilience

  07-03-2018 00:55 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Bob Zaino, who is an ecologist with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. He lives in Middlesex.
  The news that emerald ash borer has arrived in Vermont is devastating. In just a few decades, the majestic ash trees in our forests and swamps could practically disappear.
  Sadly, the emerald ash borer is just one of many non-native insects and diseases that have affected Vermont’s natural communities over the past century. In the early 1900s, chest
  
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• Bob Orleck: Scott captive to the Dems

  07-03-2018 00:50 via vtdigger.org
  Editor’s note: This commentary is by Bob Orleck, who is a retired pharmacist and lawyer. He served as an assistant attorney general under Vermont Attorney General Jerome Diamond.
  I rarely put stock in Jon Margolis’ opinions, but he is right about the Gov. Phil Scott likely being re-elected. I think he is wrong, however, when he says the Democrats are “floundering” and that “Scott is in control.”
  Most dogs are loyal to those who feed them and treat them well, b
  
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• Putney town clerk saga triggers statewide questions

  07-03-2018 00:22 via vtdigger.org
  Putney holds its annual town meeting Tuesday at the local Central School. Photo by Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger
  PUTNEY — When the local official set to preside over Tuesday’s town meeting resigned 10 hours earlier after a year of conflict, who would — or could — succeed her was just the first of a long list of questions.
  Town Clerk and Treasurer Denise Germon won election last March, only to stop working in May without offering a timely reason or resignation. That left t
  
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