Sexual assault
RUTLAND — NewStory Center hosts “Coffee and Conversation: Sexual Violence in Rutland County” from 8 to 9 a.m. Thursday, April 17, at The HUB CoWorks, 67 Merchants Row, Rutland, presented as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Panel discussion topics include a general overview of sexual assault in Rutland County, current prevention efforts and what more can be done. Coffee and refreshments will be served. There is no cost to attend. RSVP by calling 802-775-6788 or by email at info@nscvt.org.
Supporting nonprofits
Common Good Vermont has created and is updating a webpage, Federal Actions Impacting Nonprofits: Resources & Updates, to help nonprofits navigate and respond to federal actions affecting Vermonters.
Organizations, particularly those with federal grants or contracts and those working on specific issues or in a sub-sector targeted by executive orders, are encouraged to contact Common Good Vermont in efforts to mitigate risk at commongoodvt.org.
Spring cleaning
The Department of Environmental Conservation encourages Vermonters to responsibly dispose of unwanted items frequently to minimize the amount of debris and potential damage during a flood.
During the floods of 2023 and 2024, dangerous items, like batteries, broken lamps, paint, old oil and gasoline containers, were found buried in muddy basements or scattered in flooded fields.
To learn what to do with things locally, look up your waste district, alliance or town’s A-Z Guide online, searchable list of waste items, and what to do with them.
For more details, visit VTrecycles.com or call 802-828-1138.
Colorectal cancer
With rates of colorectal cancer rising for adults younger than the age of 50, University of Vermont Cancer Center highlights risk factors and urges people to get screened starting at age 45.
Fifty-four percent of colorectal cancer diagnoses in the U.S. are caused by risk factors usually either modifiable or preventable. Those risk factors include excess body weight, physical inactivity, long-term cigarette smoking, diets high in red or processed meats, heavy alcohol use, and diets low in calcium, whole-grain or fiber-rich foods.
Current guidelines for average-risk, asymptomatic people recommend individuals begin receiving routine screening for colorectal cancer at age 45.
Biomarker testing
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteers rallied March 18 at the Vermont State House as a part of the annual Cancer Action Day advocating for legislation to address the needs of cancer patients.
Volunteers asked lawmakers to improve insurance coverage of comprehensive, cutting-edge biomarker testing across all communities.
Because insurance coverage of biomarker testing has not kept pace with medical innovation, Vermont communities face disparities in who is benefiting from biomarker testing and biomarker-informed treatment.
Access to biomarker testing opens the door to personalized medicine, including targeted therapy; 60% of oncology drugs launched in the past five years require or recommend biomarker testing prior to use.
Raising backyard birds
State health and agriculture officials are encouraging people to keep themselves and their domestic poultry healthy.
Wild birds can be a source of viruses, potentially infecting domestic poultry and other animals.
Anyone involved with poultry production — from small backyard coops to large commercial producers — should review their biosecurity plans and activities to ensure the health of their birds. If you have concerns about your flock, contact your veterinarian or call 802-828-2421.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/about/backyard-poultry.html and agriculture.vermont.gov/animal-health-0/disease-infomation-and-prevention/avian-influenza-preparedness.
Suicide prevention
WATERBURY — The Vermont Department of Mental Health has selected the Center for Health and Learning (CHL) and the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care (VPQHC) to lead Vermont’s first Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention.
The Center of Excellence brings health care providers and community partners together to create consistency, develop best practices, and provide support and guidance in suicide prevention.
VPQHC will lead suicide prevention efforts in health care settings using the Zero Suicide framework of providing tools like safety planning and resources for managing suicidality, as well as promoting the safe storage of firearms and medications.
CHL will focus on suicide prevention efforts in community settings, including leading the Vermont Suicide Prevention Coalition, tracking progress on the State Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention, and expanding suicide prevention trainings.
NAAG
MONTPELIER — Attorney General Charity Clark announced she has been elected to serve on the executive committee of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), a bipartisan organization of state attorneys general from across the country and U.S. territories.
Attorney General Clark was first nominated by the Democratic Party Caucus, and then elected during the annual business meeting at the NAAG Capital Forum in December 2024. She has been serving in her new role since January.
Grant applications
Vermont Parks Forever announced its Park Access Fund Grant Application is open for 2025. This year, the fund will again provide over 14,000 free days in the parks to community partners across Vermont, to help create a more equitable outdoor experience statewide.
Organizations serving Vermonters facing barriers to outdoor experiences can apply for a Park Access Grant at www.vermontparksforever.org/park-access-fund. The deadline is April 11. The Park Access Grant is open to Vermont government agencies and nonprofits with 501©(3) status serving Vermont.
Lake Wise
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation announced a sixth and seventh lake have achieved the Gold Lake Wise Award.
Halls Lake in Newbury and Little Averill Lake in Averill join Echo Lake, Seymour Lake, Lake Iroquois, Lake Raponda, and Lake Morey in this accomplishment.
The Gold Lake Wise Award is granted to lake associations when 15% of the properties surrounding a lake have received an individual Lake Wise Award given to a lakeshore property owner who participates in the voluntary Lake Wise Program to improve storm water management and prevent erosion.
Davis & Hodgdon
WILLISTON — The Davis & Hodgdon Advisory group, a business and financial services firm with locations in Williston and Rutland, announced Ryan Black-Deegan has been named a partner at the firm.
He joined Davis & Hodgdon CPAs in 2016. His experience includes tax return preparation, advisory services audits and other attestation engagements for not‐for‐profit and corporate clients.
Black-Deegan is a member of American Institute of CPAs, a board member of Vermont Society of CPAs, and executive committee treasurer for Generator Makerspace. He is also a graduate of the Leadership Champlain Class of 2020 and most recently, celebrated as one of Vermont Business Magazine’s class of 2023 “Rising Stars.”
Vermont Mutual
MONTPELIER — Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has recently elected Michael Solimano to the company board of directors.
Solimano is president/CEO of Killington/Pico Ski Resort, where he oversees all operational and strategic aspects.
He holds multiple board positions, including for Vermont Electric Power Co. (VELCO), SKI Vermont, Vermont Business Roundtable, Vermont Futures Project, and Killington Mountain School.
Opera performance
Vermont Youth Orchestra musicians join young opera singers from the Youth Opera Company of Opera Company of Middlebury to perform an original opera featuring music by Mozart.
The Spring Youth Opera Company of OCM cast includes eight high-school singers who represent Middlebury High School, Mount Abraham Union High School (Bristol), Harwood Union High School (Waitsfield), Montpelier High School and U32 High School (East Montpelier).
They are joined by 18 young musicians from Vermont Youth Orchestra, an organization that represents over 60 schools across the state, for the program presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 11, at Elley-Long Music Center, 223 Ethan Allen Ave., Colchester.
The Youth Opera Company will be accompanied by piano at subsequent performances 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Waterbury Congregational Church; and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13, at Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society in Middlebury.
The public is invited to attend with free or pay-what-you-will tickets. RSVP in advance at vyo.org; tickets will also be available at the door.
Woodlands conference
RANDOLPH — Vermont Woodlands Association announced it will host its annual Vermont Woodlands Conference, April 12 at Vermont State University in Randolph.
This year’s conference theme is “A Century and Beyond of Woodland Stewardship,” bringing together landowners, forestry professionals, and forest stewards for educational sessions, policy updates, hands-on resources, and conversations.
Registration is required and available here: lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/e3kr8yz.
Visit www.vermontwoodlands.org for more information.
UCS
BENNINGTON — United Counseling Service welcomes Bonnie Jamieson as its new director of developmental services. She will oversee programs, including community, employment and family supports, shared, staffed and supervised independent living, developmental services for children, and UCS residential group homes for adults.
Jamieson started at UCS in 1995 at the front desk, moved into various position, later served as quality assurance manager. She left UCS in 2023 for the town of Manchester, where she served as human resources and operations director, before returning to UCS in 2024 as interim director of DS.
United Counseling Service is a private, nonprofit community mental health center.
VSP
For the second consecutive year, a Vermont State Police trooper has been selected as one of four finalists across the United States and Canada for the International Association of Chiefs of Police/Motorola Solutions Trooper of the Year Award.
Trooper Richard Berlandy of the Derby Barracks is nominated for his heroic actions July 14, 2024, when he and two other troopers, Sgt. Joshua Mikkola and Trooper Jesse Nash, became involved in a pursuit and gun battle in Burke with a wanted fugitive from Rhode Island, and then provided life-saving medical care to the man who just attempted to kill them.
Finalists for the award are chosen from a large pool of nominees by vote among members of the IACP’s State and Provincial Police Division. Each finalist represents one of the division’s four regions; Trooper Berlandy represents the North Atlantic Region.
MSJ Athletic Supper
RUTLAND — Catered by Jay Sabataso and his team, the MSJ Athletic Supper will begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, at MSJ Martin McDonough Gymnasium. Cost is $30 per person, $15 per student (ages 6-18), children age 5 & under free. All proceeds will benefit the Athletic Association.
RSVP with payment by April 2; call 802-779-5591, or 802-770-0305, or email cward@msjvermont.org.
Holocaust education
MONTPELIER — Approximately 50 teachers recently convened to participate in the sixth annual Vermont Holocaust Memorial Educators Workshop.
“Teaching the Holocaust Using the Humanities: Integrating Photographs, Literature, Art, and Poetry to Tell the Human Story” focused on bringing the human experience of that genocidal period to Vermont teachers and students.
The program was facilitated by Echoes and Reflections, a national organization committed to ensuring U.S. secondary school educators have access to reliable Holocaust education
VINS
QUECHEE — The Vermont Institute of Natural Science Board of Trustees announced the addition of Mike Farber and Stuart Mathews.
Farber is co-founder of GreenStory, a climate communications agency. He previously started the climate practices at two communications firms. He’s an advisor at Greentown Labs (cleantech incubator) and a corporator at Walden Mutual Bank (focused on growing sustainable businesses in New England).
Mathews works at Metapoint Partners, a private equity firm that he joined in 1989. Metapoint acquires small commercial-industrial product manufacturing businesses located primarily in New England. He is active in local nonprofits, including the Woodstock Conservancy, and is chair of the Pentangle Arts Council Board.
VSNIP funds
The Vermont Spay Neuter Incentive Program, aka VSNIP, is nearly out of funds to support this program that helps income-challenged Vermonters spay, neuter and vaccinate their cats and dogs. To help, call Governor Scott 1-802-828-3333, leave him a message asking for $300,000 ASAP.
Displaced federal workers
Vermont Department of Labor announces supports for Vermont’s federal employees, contractors and other workers impacted by the recent federal government transition.
The Department of Labor has created a resource page for former federal workers with specific guidance and instructions on how to file for benefits, along with additional information to support the reemployment process. Visit labor.vermont.gov/resources-former-federal-employees online for more information.
Impacted workers are also encouraged to contact or visit their local Job Center, which offers services, including workshops, job fairs and personalized employment support.
Former federal workers are encouraged to explore employment opportunities with the state of Vermont. There are open positions across a variety of state agencies and departments that may align closely with the skills and experience displaced federal workers already possess. A full list of available employment opportunities can be found at careers.vermont.gov online.
Grant award
Hula in Burlington is part of a consortium of co-working spaces and innovation hubs statewide receiving a $10,000 grant from the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships.
The consortium goal is creating a network of spaces that foster connections between regions and among Vermonters, whether you are a student looking for an internship, a startup looking for funding, or a mid-stage company looking to hire new talent.
The three other innovation hubs participating in this year-long program, are Black River Innovation Center in Springfield, The Hub CoWorks in Rutland, and Do North Coworking in Lyndon.
Lake ice
The Department of Environmental Conservation invites the public to report when Vermont lakes and ponds lose their ice cover.
Also known as the “ice-out date,” this date marks when lakes or ponds become ice-free from shore to shore. Tracking ice-out dates helps DEC scientists decide when to begin seasonal water quality sampling efforts.
You can report lake ice observations using the DEC’s Lake Ice Reporting form at survey123.arcgis.com/share/af70b825b90c49408f1e52e0778ab979?open=menu online.
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