MONTPELIER – “All roads lead to the Northeast Kingdom,” at least according to U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., who stood before a packed Cedar Creek room last Thursday afternoon to rally support during the region’s Statehouse takeover day. On either side of the lunchtime rally, local advocates, elected officials and[Read More…]
Montpelier
Tri-partisan vote passes vaccine policy bill
MONTPELIER – House Speaker Jill Krowinski issued the following statement following the tri-partisan vote of 127-9 to pass H.545, an act relating to issuing immunization recommendations: “Today’s vote on H.545 is another example of the Vermont House of Representatives taking action to protect the health and safety of Vermonters in[Read More…]
Public comment sought on species conservation plan
MONTPELIER – The Southern bog lemming, whorled pogonia orchid, lake sturgeon and wood turtle may not seem to have much in common. But, all four are classified as “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” (SGCN) in a newly-drafted update to Vermont’s Wildlife Action Plan, which is now available for public comment. To[Read More…]
NEK members gather at statehouse
MONTPELIER – “All roads lead to the Northeast Kingdom.” Senator Peter Welch shared as community leaders from across Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom gathered at the Statehouse on Thursday, Jan. 22, for NEK Day, a day of collective advocacy focused on the unique needs and strengths of the region. Nearly 100 Northeast[Read More…]
Doing nothing is not an option
MONTPELIER – It seems that throughout the statehouse, in every corner, hallway, and committee room, you can hear conversations about property taxes and education. From the men’s room to the cafeteria and the parking lot, lawmakers are musing on this vexing issue. In our communities, whether on social media pages[Read More…]
OSSU voices heard at NEK Day
MONTPELIER – Two Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union (OSSU) employees testified before the Vermont House Committee on Education during NEK Day, Thursday, Jan. 22,. Kay Freedy, a Hazen Union teacher and Danville School Board member, spoke as did Lisa McCarthy, principal of Craftsbury Schools, offering her testimony from the perspective of[Read More…]
Art Resource Association celebrates 50 years
MONTPELIER – The Art Resource Association, a central Vermont arts organization, was officially born on Nov. 17, 1975, when cofounders Patricia de Gogorza and her husband James Gahagan registered the ARA as a nonprofit with the state of Vermont. De Gogorza and Gahagan moved to Vermont in 1971 from New[Read More…]
Public invited to comment on changes to public waters rules, wake-sports regulations
MONTPELIER – The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) is seeking public input on proposed changes to Vermont’s Use of Public Waters Rules. ANR will host two hybrid public meetings on January 27 and February 4. The public is welcome to provide feedback during these meetings or through written comments. The[Read More…]
Preliminary Report on deer seasons
MONTPELIER – The final number of deer taken in Vermont’s 2025 hunting seasons will not be available for a few more weeks, but the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says the final tally will be a little over 17,700 deer. Hunters took nearly 9,700 bucks, which was up slightly from[Read More…]
Free ice fishing day, Saturday, Jan. 31
MONTPELIER – Free Ice Fishing Day is held annually on the last Saturday in January. The day is geared toward giving new ice anglers an opportunity to try ice fishing before purchasing equipment or a fishing license, but any angler may ice fish on any waterbody open to ice fishing statewide[Read More…]
Ethics complaints against senators dismissed by Senate panel
MONTPELIER – The Vermont Senate Ethics Panel dismissed two complaints against Sens. Seth Bongartz, D-Bennington, and Scott Beck, R-Caledonia, and found their conduct was not unethical under the state’s Senate rules. The complaints were filed over the summer, after lawmakers worked overtime to craft the final form of a wide-ranging[Read More…]
Economic development leader hit with embezzlement charge
MONTPELIER – The former executive director of the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation has been charged with embezzling more than $70,000 from the organization. Melissa Bounty, 42, of Waitsfield, was expected to appear in Washington County Superior criminal court on January 15 for an arraignment on the felony charge, according[Read More…]
