Current News

by Greta Solsaa, Community News Service Vermont is the only state in the country where farmers cannot readily access a program meant to pay them back for restoring habitats around their farms. It’s called the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program — almost always referred to as CREP — and is run by the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency. Farmers who agree to use some of their land for wildlife habitats, runoff buffer zones or other conservation-focused projects over a 15-year contract get reimbursed. But the program doesn’t pay for projects that are required by regulations, and because Vermont’s standards for conservation on farms mandate the same practices CREP covers, farmers here have to go through a separate application process with Washington, DC, to get the funds.

by Aubrey Weaver, Community News Service The Department for Children and Families has been in and out of the State House in recent weeks to initiate the process of building a new rehab and detention facility for juveniles in Vermont, the latest steps in a plan drafted back in December. Lawmakers in the Senate appropriations committee April 11 heard from recently appointed department commissioner Chris Winters and deputy commissioner Aryka Radke and adolescent service director Tyler Allen, who all testified about the significant need for a new juvenile facility. Then Radke joined Allen April 25 to urge members of the House judiciary committee not to increase the number of potential juvenile offenses as outlined in S.4, a nine-point bill more notable for its proposed gun control measures.

by Abby Carroll, Community News Service Changes may be coming to the admission process of publicly tuitioned students at approved independent schools with a bill legislators have been working on. The bill, H.483, looks to implement a nondiscriminatory admissions process for prospective students on public tuition. The approach would prevent approved independent schools from having mandatory interviews, campus visits or academic entrance exams, and it would bar those schools from reviewing students’ academic histories or considering their ability to pay as part of the admissions process. “There's a basic underpinning of a philosophy here that says a student who is on public dollars should not be told they're not the right fit.”

Vermont Business Magazine Starting Monday, May 8, the section of Home Avenue from just west of Foster Street to just east of Queen City Park Road will be closed starting at 7 am, as part of the Champlain Parkway project. The closure will be in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is anticipated to last approximately 6 to 8 weeks subject to change as weather and construction conditions dictate. Work will include the installation of water lines, stormwater infrastructure and drainage, utility duct bank, conduit, and traffic signal equipment and the reconstruction of a portion of Home Avenue and the railroad crossing. Utility service interruptions are anticipated. Impacted property owners will be notified in advance by the independent utility company.

Vermont Business Magazine This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont for the week of May 8, 2023. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it. In addition to the list, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) announced Friday the closure of the U.S. 4 Bridge #33 over the Ottauquechee River along U.S. Route 4 between East Mountain Road and Mission Farm Road near the Skyeship Gondola, as part of the Killington U.S. 4 Bridge #33 Replacement Project. VTrans will be shifting traffic onto a temporary roadway and bridge constructed to carry vehicles over the Ottauquechee River during the closure period.

Vermont Business Magazine Stowe Area Association (SAA) celebrates the travel and tourism industry during National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) from May 7-13, an annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry. The theme for this year's NTTW “Travel Forward” will spotlight the essential role that travel plays in driving economic growth and innovation. Celebrated annually the first full week in May, NTTW was created by Congress in 1983 to elevate the economic power of travel in the U.S. The 40th annual NTTW is a chance to celebrate and highlight those who make our industry what it is: business owners, town leadership, our visitors, and our community.

Every summer at Marlboro Music, an international, multi-generational community forms anew, comprised of some 80 professional musicians, as well as staff members, spouses, and children. For seven decades, it has been Marlboro's mission to mentor emerging artists, to provide nearly unlimited rehearsal time and artistic freedom, and to create a nurturing community with a joyful and loving spirit, surrounded by the verdant beauty of Southern Vermont. Known worldwide as an institution devoted to artistic excellence and to developing new leaders who illuminate all areas of music, Marlboro is where the concept of having master artists play together with exceptional young professionals was born—initiating a dynamic, collaborative approach to learning. Under the artistic direction of pianists Mitsuko Uchida and Jonathan Biss, the artists form more than 60 chamber music ensembles each week, working together intensively for seven weeks from late June until mid August.

Leonine Public Affairs House Speaker Jill Krowinski and other House leaders announced their intention on Thursday to form a special committee to investigate the conduct of two Vermont elected officials. Democratic Franklin County State’s Attorney John Lavoie is facing allegations of harassment and discrimination in his office. Republican Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore is facing charges for assaulting a person in custody last year. The impeachment process is very rare in Vermont, and the announcement that the House will move forward with an investigation adds an unexpected spin to the end of the 2023 legislative session. According to an analysis by House Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask, the last time the General Assembly conducted impeachment proceedings was in 1976, when the House impeached Washington County Sheriff Malcolm Mayo for multiple infractions, including allegedly falsifying records and assaulting someone in the Thrush Tavern in Montpelier.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has a rich tradition of community engagement with public land management. Recreation trails within our state parks and forests would not be the resource many enjoy without the efforts of countless non-profit organizations and volunteers. With over 250 miles of trails in Orange, Washington, and Lamoille counties, the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation’s (FPR) is seeking the public’s support in maintaining trails. Currently, over 43 miles do not have a trail maintainer to support general trail maintenance. The trails available to help are primarily in Little River State Park, Elmore State Park, the Worcester Range, and Spruce Mountain. Trail maintainers are asked, at minimum, to visit their trail twice a season - spring and fall.

Vermont Business Magazine When you're tired of #adulting, Ben & Jerry's newest pint flavor is a sure thing to bring you back to simpler times spent sipping from the hose, mowing lawns for money and summer skies full of stars. Say hello to Ice Cream Sammie, inspired by the classic ice cream sandwich of your youth, and, there's a "no sticky fingers guarantee" at no extra charge. The flavor focuses on the simple vanilla and chocolate combination of the classic ice cream sandwich. It features Ben & Jerry's rich and creamy vanilla ice cream with chocolate sandwich cookies and chocolate cookie swirls.