Current News

The Green Mountain Club, maintainer and protector of Vermont’s Long Trail, has released its annual message advocating responsible use of hiking trails from mid-April until Memorial Day weekend; warmer temperatures and a substantial winter snowpack have made Vermont’s hiking trails wet, muddy, and especially prone to erosion. Hikers walking on saturated soils or on the sides of trails cause irreversible erosion and damage surrounding vegetation of our beloved Green Mountains. However, not all trails on state lands are closed this spring – just the higher elevation trails. Lower elevation state parks and forests have trails that are open. For details on what trails are open, folks should visit the VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation website for a complete listing of what is open and closed. http://fpr.vermont.gov/

Recently, the Attorney General’s Office was contacted by parents concerned about the legality, under state law, of their receipt and/or possession of a specific cannabis oil product used to treat children with seizure disorders and other medical conditions. The cannabis oil product at issue is made from cannabis which is high in cannabidiol (CBD) but low in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and referred to generically as “CBD oil.”

As part of its Essential Goods Program, ReSOURCE is offering fellow local nonprofit agencies the opportunity to upgrade their computer network and operating systems. This initiative was set up to distribute computer server systems, installation, and support to local nonprofit agencies, who may have limited computer infrastructure.

ReSOURCE is now accepting 2015 proposals from nonprofit agencies with IT and computer networking development needs that they cannot otherwise fund. ReSOURCE will select one or two projects where the need for expanded networking and information technology capacity match our capabilities and hardware availability, and will provide awards of $5,000‐$10,000 worth of hardware and installation and setup service. A total of $15,000 worth of hardware and installation service will be provided through this program.

The Brownfield Economic Revitalization Alliance (BERA), a partnership of the Agency of Natural Resources, Agency of Commerce & Community Development and Agency of Transportation, is now accepting applications from developers and municipalities to participate in an innovative program intended to bring unused or underutilized brownfields back into economic productivity. Brownfields are defined as property where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or threatened release of a hazardous material. Selected sites will receive priority funding from the state, as well as coordinated and timely permitting.

The Chittenden County Sheriff's Office, in cooperation with the Vermont State Police, is investigating a phone scam in which callers falsely identify themselves as Deputy Sheriffs or employees of the Chittenden County Sheriff's Office. The callers typically ask for a specific person and it is believed that a false caller ID identifier card is being used, to mimic the actual Sheriff's Office business line number. The caller sometimes references the Sheriff's Office is making collections for the IRS, other times Child Support. Other times they tell people they have "warrants" for child support. Many times the caller will become angry and use profanity to gain cooperation from those who question their calls.

The University of Vermont will sponsor a conference in memory and celebration of former College of Arts and Sciences dean Joan Smith on Thursday, April 16 titled "Gender and Precarity: The Consequences of Economic and Climate Instability." The conference, consisting of two panel discussions, will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. in Memorial Lounge in the Waterman Building. UVM president Tom Sullivan will welcome conference participants and attendees at 1.

Project Catalyst, established earlier this year, focuses on areas within the town of Bennington that have a history of crime, substance abuse and blight. Originally developed in response to the article that was published by the New York Times that highlighted the opiate problem in rural America, Project Catalyst, which was modeled after other regional outreach programs, combines community and municipal resources to positively impact neighborhoods and areas within the town.

Through a multi-pronged approach, the municipality and its partners, who include Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, United Counseling Services, the Vermont Department of Labor, the Vermont Department of Human Services, the local school system and other community organizations, have begun to combine efforts and resources in order to make measurable improvements within identified neighborhoods.

Governor Peter Shumlin today announced two new clean energy investments in Windham County totaling $1.9 million. The funds are made available through a 2013 agreement with Entergy Vermont Yankee and will help increase efficiency, save Windham County schools, municipalities, and homeowners on heating bills, and spur economic activity and job growth.

Through the Public Service Department’s Clean Energy Development Fund, $1.6 million has been awarded to the Brattleboro-based Sustainable Energy Outreach Network (SEON). SEON will be working with Building Green, the Windham Regional Commission, the Northern Forest Center, and other businesses and organizations to offer “Windham Wood Heat,” a program to provide for the installation of wood pellet/chip heating systems for schools and municipal buildings in Windham County.

In keeping with the Presidential Proclamation issued by President Obama, Governor Peter Shumlin has ordered flags at all state buildings and facilities be lowered to half-staff on April 15, 2015, in observance of a Day of Remembrance for President Abraham Lincoln.

Where the flags will be lowered:

The Vermont State House, all Federal and State Facilities around the state and public buildings and grounds around the state.

Which flags will be lowered:

The U.S flag, Vermont State flag, POW flags, and any other flags *

Date the flags are to be lowered: (at sunrise):

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Date flags are to return to full staff: (at sunset):

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Name of person being honored/Reason to Lower Flag:

Day of Remembrance for President Abraham Lincoln

Bernie Isabelle, President and CEO of Vermont Federal Credit Union, is pleased to announce the hiring of Insuritas, the nation’s premier provider of turnkey insurance agencies. Isabelle said: “We are excited to partner with Insuritas. We wanted to provide our members with all the insurance options they might need in a one stop shopping solution that focuses on price, convenience, and service. We are committed to insurance with the same passion and energy we have for deposit and loan products that our members, their families, and their businesses need. Through this partnership we own the agency, offer a complete array of insurance products to protect our members, their families and their businesses, and we build a powerful new fee income stream.” Isabelle concluded: “Adding a turnkey insurance agency for our members supports our mission to make a decided difference in the lives of our members.”

This year marks 40 years of independent publishing for Vermont-based Inner Traditions Bear & Company. Founded by Ehud C Sperling in 1975, Inner Traditions has established itself as a landmark publisher of books on new age spirituality, alternative health and more. Internationally recognized, Inner Traditions moved to Rochester, Vermont, in 1986. Nestled in the Green Mountains, Rochester provides a community and setting well matched to the company’s values and aspirations. Inner Traditions is one of the largest employers in the area.

by John McClaughry The Vermont legislature has entered the final four weeks of its 2015 session. The House has passed its appropriations, tax and health care “reform” bills, and the Senate is now well along in its consideration of those measures. It’s too soon to predict how differences between the two chambers will be resolved, but the outline of their likely product is emerging.

The Legislature will send the Governor a balanced General Fund budget, they will keep the three statutory reserve funds filled to required levels, and they won’t cheat on the required $300 million transfer to the Education Fund. That’s good news.

To close a $113 million budget gap, the House turned aside $53 million that the Shumlin administration wanted, above and beyond what it got last year. This is referred to as a “cut”, but it is only a “cut” from desires and expectations, not from last year’s spending level.