State News

Brattleboro – Vermont Partnership for Fairness & Diversity has opened the general registration for the 2nd Annual Vermont Vision for a Multicultural Future Conference. Individuals interested in attending this strategy-sharing event may register on-line at www.vermontpartnership.org .

Beginning at 1:00pm on Thursday, November 7th, Vermont Partnership will convene its signature conference at the Grand Summit Resort Hotel & Conference Center at Mount Snow in Dover, VT. The one and a half day conference will bring together Vermont leaders and interested parties who are working to strengthen business and institutional practices for an increasingly diverse marketplace within the state and beyond. The conference will close at 5:00pm on November 8th.

The state office building at 232 Main Street in downtown Brattleboro re-opened in September after being closed for renovations.

Members of the community are invited to an open house to see the improvements to the building on Monday, October 21 from 4-6 PM.

State employees will be available to provide tours of the various departments.

The federal government may not be operating at full steam today but you can be assured that Vermont is. Today Vermont Health Connect went live – there will be lots of stories and information about it.

Right now I would like to give you some contacts that can give you help. For individual customer support call 855-899-9600. Small businesses can access specific support at 855-899-9800. If you prefer to use the web the site is http://healthconnect.vermont.gov.

Good health to everyone.
Jeanette White

ROCKINGHAM, VT The Connecticut River Transit (CRT) Board of Directors announces that it has negotiated a one-year management agreement with the Deerfield Valley Transit Association (DVTA) to become effective September 16th.

The agreement calls for the DVTA to act as a management company to provide overall management services. The DVTA reports to the CRT Board of Directors which retains full control of the company. CRT is using this period to review and take a fresh look at the company from top to bottom with the help of a neighboring transit agency. All routes, rides, and services continue uninterrupted and unaffected.

MONTPELIER, Vt.—September 16, 2013–The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is temporarily reducing the speed limit on VT Route 30 from 50 mph to 40 mph for a one-mile stretch of road that extends approximately one-half mile north and one-half mile south of the location where Interstate 91 crosses over VT Route 30.

The speed limit reduction is associated with the Interstate 91 bridge replacement project, and will go in to effect to ensure the safety of construction personnel and the traveling public. The reduction will be in effect from September 23, 2013 to approximately August 2016.

The Windham Regional Commission has always maintained a neutral position as to whether or not the Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee power station located in Vernon should continue operation. We have taken this position so we could facilitate discussions among those on all sides of the issue. The Commission has, however, been very involved in Vermont Public Service Board dockets since 2007, arguing not for whether or not the plant should continue operation, but rather for what is in the best interest of the region when the plant does eventually cease operation, whenever and for whatever reason that occurs.

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) today said it plans to close and decommission its Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Vernon, Vt. The station is expected to cease power production after its current fuel cycle and move to safe shutdown in the fourth quarter of 2014. The station will remain under the oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission throughout the decommissioning process.

“This was an agonizing decision and an extremely tough call for us,” said Leo Denault, Entergy’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Vermont Yankee has an immensely talented, dedicated and loyal workforce, and a solid base of support among many in the community. We recognize that closing the plant on this schedule was not the outcome they had hoped for, but we have reluctantly concluded that it is the appropriate action for us to take under the circumstances.”

From the Entergy site:

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Vermont Yankee close?

The company anticipates shutting down the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in fourth quarter 2014, with the exact date still to be determined.

Why was this decision made?

Vermont Yankee has an immensely talented, dedicated, and loyal workforce (about 630 employees) and a solid base of support in the community. We recognize that closing the plant on this schedule was certainly not the outcome they had hoped for, but we have reluctantly concluded that it is the appropriate action for us to take under the circumstances.

The decision to close Vermont Yankee in 2014 was based on a number of financial factors, including:

(MONTPELIER, VT) While Vermont is a national leader in the local food movement, there are still many in our state who don’t have access to, can’t afford, or don’t know how to make use of the food produced here. This includes one in five Vermont children who are food insecure because their families can’t reliably meet basic nutritional needs.

A new report from the Vermont Community Foundation highlights some successful efforts underway to bridge this gap and bring local food to a lot more Vermonters. At the same time groups are working to develop stable year-round markets for Vermont farmers at nearby schools, hospitals, and senior centers.

The state offices currently located on Linden Street will be moving back to their permanent home at 232 Main Street in downtown Brattleboro in late July. The offices on Linden Street will be closed at that time.

Transport of equipment will begin on Friday July 26 and will happen over the course of the weekend. Offices located in the building include:

the Vermont Department of Labor;
the Vermont Department of Health;
the Department for Children and Families Economic Services and Family Services Divisions;
the Agency of Human Services Field Services Division;
and the Department of Vermont Health Access Chronic Care initiative.

Presenter: Tristan Toleno – State Representative (Brattleboro – District 3)

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Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast 

June 21, 2013 – Gibson-Aiken Center – Brattleboro VT

Brief Legislative History

The GMO Labeling Bill was last considered by the General Assembly in the second year of the  biennium, so that first bill went away, having been assigned to a committee and failing to see the floor for a vote.

Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast

GMO – Right to Know & What we can do

The next “Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast” will take place on Friday,  June 21, 2013 at the Gibson Aiken Center, downstairs, hosted by Senior Meals. Doors open at 7:30am.

The Vermont House passed today, accepting changes made by the Vermont Senate and sending the bill to the governor’s office to be signed into law. If signed, it will go into effect July 1, 2013.

Governor Peter Shumlin said “I applaud the Legislature’s action to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Vermonters support sensible drug policies. This legislation allows our courts and law enforcement to focus their limited resources more effectively to fight highly addictive opiates such as heroin and prescription drugs that are tearing apart families and communities.” 

The seventh annual Way to Go! Commuter Challenge kicks off on May 13th, and it’s generating a lot of excitement. So far, 130 businesses have signed up to participate, and more than 1,500 commuters are pledged to take part. In addition, Governor Shumlin has officially proclaimed May 13th-17th as “Way to Go! Week” in Vermont to voice his support for the effort, which saves money while reducing air pollution and congestion on the state’s roads.

The challenge is designed to raise awareness of transportation options among commuters by encouraging them to travel in ways other than driving alone. Participants pledge to take the bus, bike, walk, carpool, car share, or telecommute during the week of the challenge, and become eligible to win a variety of prizes, including gym memberships, ski passes, hotel stays, transit passes, and much more.

There was a tornado vortex in Southwestern Vermont today.

Vermonters won’t have that nasty Federal Budget Sequester to worry about much longer! We’re going to legalize and tax the heck out of marijuana sold to adults age 21 and over!  That makes good budget sense!
…..
House Bill 499, An Act Relating to Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana.

Introduced by Representatives Davis of Washington,  Deen of Westminster, Masland of Thetford,  Stevens of Shoreham, and Zagar of Barnard.

Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:

Here’s a handy guide to expected changes and cuts in Vermont due to sequestration going into effect today, courtesy of the White House.

VERMONT IMPACTS

“If sequestration were to take effect, some examples of the impacts on Vermont this year alone are:

Teachers and Schools: Vermont will lose approximately $1,128,000 in funding for primary and secondary education, putting around 20 teacher and aide jobs at risk. In addition about 2,000 fewer students would be served and approximately 10 fewer schools would receive funding.

Need a job? Can you “review and assess impingement mortality plans and entrainment mortality studies?” Do you have expertise on “CWIS technology and engineering, nuclear engineering and CWIS technical feasibility?” If so, you should consider the following bid opportunity from the State of Vermont:

3 Vermont State Senators – Senators Hartwell, Benning and Galbraith – Will Participate

GRAFTON, VT—With growing concern about the negative and destructive environmental impacts of a possible large-scale industrial wind development, Friends of Grafton’s Heritage has invited legislators and residents of towns with wind turbines to discuss the issues and personal after effects.