Podcasts about vermont agency

Vermont Public's Mary Williams Engisch speaks with Todd Sears, deputy director of the Project Development Bureau at the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

In this latest episode of Restoration Roundup, we speak with three farmers who made the decision to restore riparian areas on their land. First we spoke with Geo Honigford, a retired vegetable farmer from South Royalton, VT who sold his farm last year. We also spoke with Larry Trombley from Swanton, VT, a landowner who leases his land to farmers, who was particularly motivated by growing up in Vermont and seeing how agricultural production affected the health of the Missisquoi Bay. Finally, we spoke with Guy Choiniere, a third generation dairy farmer from Highgate Center, VT whose land is conserved through a land trust and won an Aldo Leopold award for his conservation work on the farm. Over 80% of Vermont land is privately owned, meaning that a big piece of the puzzle with restoring riparian areas is connecting farmers to opportunities to restore a riparian site. All three men were approached by the USDA to restore a riparian area on their land. Though a shared reservation many farmers have is the loss of their land to the forest, we discuss with Guy, Geo, and Larry how the programs they worked with helped navigate how to best support their surrounding land and ecosystems, while still ensuring a productive farm. Join us in this special episode of Restoration Roundup where we hear from farmers themselves on how their restoration projects changed how they view land management, what they learned, and the positive impacts they've seen the forests make on wildlife and their surrounding waterways. If you or someone you know is interested in restoring a riparian area, click the link below for finding support to restore a riparian forest on your land through the Vermont Agency of Agriculture CREP Program.

Isaac Evans-Frantz is joined by multiple guest energy policy, and climate action in Vermont and beyond. Guests include:State Senator Becca White - Clerk of Senate Committee on Natural Resources and EnergyJane Lazorchak - Director of Climate Action Office in the Vermont Agency of Natural ResourcesIndra J. Acharya - public engagement consultant/facilitator at the Vermont Climate Council

Vermont Public's Jenn Jarecki recently spoke with Dr. Kristin Haas, the state veterinarian and director at Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, about how to deal with pets on April 8.

In the second hour, Pat McDonald is joined by the "Roads Scholar" Ray Burke. They talk about his life and career, including being a dispatcher for the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

Vermont's bee population is healthy, according to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, but beekeepers say their bees are in crisis. At the center of the debate are pesticides known as neonicotinoids.

The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is standing by its report, which says honeybees are healthy, despite pushback by some in the industry who say the insects are being affected by neonicotinoids.

I'm excited that the pandemic--for all its negativity--also said, “Hey, wait a minute. We need to concentrate on food resiliency”.  We need to encourage these small diverse farms because the big operations, the five huge companies that sell 99 % of the meat in this country, failed us. For what reason? The structure, this food system structure failed us.   John Roberts was appointed by the Biden Administration to serve as the State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Vermont in February 2022.   Roberts immigrated to Vermont from Great Britain in 1974 after earning his Bachelor of Science degree in farm management.   He managed Shelburne Farms in Vermont until 1977 and then started his own dairy farm in Cornwall, Vermont, which was managed by his family until 2012. Roberts worked for the Vermont Agency of Agriculture as a water quality specialist for over six years and as the Executive Director of the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition, which he joined in 2020.   He continues to serve as a select board member for the town of Cornwall and was a delegate to the New England Dairy Promotion Board. Roberts also served terms on the Vermont Water Resources Board, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Board of the Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Brown Swiss Association, and as Chair of the Vermont USDA FSA State Committee. Roberts also served in several state and national committee positions for the National Beef Promotion Board and the Grazing Land Conservation Initiative. Roberts' wife is a nurse and they have been married for 47 years. They have four children, all married, residing in various states across the country, with four grandchildren and another on the way. He enjoys bird watching, hiking, wood working, and photography. Vermont USDA-FSA web site   Champlain Valley (VT) Farmer Coalition   Vermont Required Ag Practices for Small Farms   Sustainable Dish web site   UC Davis Frank Mitloehner brief overview of dairy emissions video   Bill Murphy Greener Grass on Your Side of the Fence book   Gathering of Good Graziers Event Information   Northeast Pasture Consortium web site   Choosing to Farm Patreon link   Leave us a review at Choosing to Farm! The Choosing to Farm podcast is all about telling origin stories, learning from the journeys, and creating connection among first-and returning-generation livestock farmers and ranchers across the US and the world.  After nearly 30 years working professionally in agriculture as well as being a returning-generation farmer myself, I'm here to share stories, tips and resources to help livestock farmers and ranchers heal our relationship with success.  Want to help? Like, share or review this episode! Want to help even more? Join our Patreon to support the show! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/choosingtofarm/message

We'd rebuilt the milking parlor, which hadn't been operating. We've done all of this sort of stuff. When we came to close the sale we had two years of numbers to show that we actually knew-vaguely knew--what we were doing. We were off and running. We were here from 1977. We're still here. We sold the farm, and we kept 10 acres, but we farmed until 2012. John Roberts was appointed by the Biden Administration to serve as the State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Vermont in February 2022.   Roberts immigrated to Vermont from Great Britain in 1974 after earning his Bachelor of Science degree in farm management.   He managed Shelburne Farms in Vermont until 1977 and then started his own dairy farm in Cornwall, Vermont, which was managed by his family until 2012. Roberts worked for the Vermont Agency of Agriculture as a water quality specialist for over six years and as the Executive Director of the Coalition, which he joined in 2020.   He continues to serve as a select board member for the town of Cornwall and was a delegate to the New England Dairy Promotion Board. Roberts also served terms on the Vermont Water Resources Board, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Board of the Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Brown Swiss Association, and as Chair of the Vermont USDA FSA State Committee. Roberts also served in several state and national committee positions for the National Beef Promotion Board and the Grazing Land Conservation Initiative.   Roberts' wife is a nurse and they have been married for 47 years. They have four children, all married, residing in various states across the country, with four grandchildren and another on the way. He enjoys bird watching, hiking, wood working, and photography. Vermont USDA-FSA web site   Mycoplasma bovis in cattle Champlain Valley (VT) Farmer Coalition   Vermont Required Ag Practices for Small Farms   Gathering of Good Graziers Event Information   Northeast Pasture Consortium web site   Choosing to Farm Patreon link   Leave us a review at Choosing to Farm! The Choosing to Farm podcast is all about telling origin stories, learning from the journeys, and creating connection among first-and returning-generation livestock farmers and ranchers across the US and the world.  After nearly 30 years working professionally in agriculture as well as being a returning generation farmer myself, I'm here to share stories, tips and resources to help livestock farmers and ranchers heal our relationship with success.  Want to help? Like, share or review this episode! Want to help even more? Join our Patreon to support the show! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/choosingtofarm/message

In the second hour, Brad Wright is joined by Nic Longo, Director of Aviation at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, to discuss new terminal construction and airline news. Then, he talks with Ernie Patnoe, Maintenance Director at the Vermont Agency of Transportation to discuss winter driving, plowing, salt and sand.  

Julie Moore, the Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, joins Kurt & Anthony to discuss the potential impact of the proposed clean heat bill.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, March 16th, 2023. Before we get to the news… CBS NCAA March Madness Theme (2021)- Play 0:00-0:11 March Madness is upon us today! Today is also the last day you can sign up and fill out a bracket! Go fill out your March Madness Brackets in our Fight Laugh Feasters bracket group. Here’s the deal. You don’t have to know a darn thing about basketball. That’s why they call it March Madness. So if you’d like to compete, you can find our group on social media, or here in the show notes. It’s ESPN’s tournament challenge, and our bracket group is Fight Laugh Feasters 2023. You only get one entry, so make it good! Whoever wins gets a prize from Rowdy Christian Merch! https://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2023/en/group?redirect=tcmen%3A%2F%2Fx-callback-url%2FshowGroup%3FgroupID%3D5538514&ex_cid=tcmen2023_clipboard&groupID=5538514&groupp=ZmlnaHRsYXVnaGZlYXN0&inviteuser=ezQ1N0NBOUYyLTc0MjAtNDFCOC1BN0I2LTE3Q0UxRjMxODYxN30%3D&invitesource=clipboard Today we begin with world news… https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-jet-us-drone-collide-black-sea/ Russian jet collides with American drone over Black Sea, U.S. military says A Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with an American military drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday, the U.S. said. The collision made the drone "unflyable" and officials crashed it into the sea, the Pentagon said. The White House called the Russian plane's intercept of the unmanned aircraft "reckless." "Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9," U.S. Air Force General James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said in a statement. Two Russian fighter jets were involved in the incident, U.S. European Command said. At approximately 2:03 a.m. EDT Tuesday, one of the Russian jets struck the drone's propeller. Before the collision, the jets dumped fuel on the drone and flew in front of it "in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner," European Command said. The Russian jet was likely damaged in the incident but it did land afterward, said Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman. He wouldn't say where the jet landed. Ryder, who wouldn't say whether the drone was armed, referred to the unmanned aircraft as a MQ-9, but not a Reaper. The U.S. uses MQ-9 Reapers for both surveillance and strikes and has operated the drones in a variety of locations, including in the Middle East and Africa. Other countries, including Britain and France, also fly Reapers. Reapers can be armed with Hellfire missiles as well as laser-guided bombs and can fly for more than 1,100 miles at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet, according to the Air Force. The drone in Tuesday's incident was conducting an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission, Ryder said, adding that he didn't have any details to provide at the time on a possible operation to recover the drone. "To my knowledge at this point in time, the Russians have not recovered that aircraft," Ryder said. He also said officials were reviewing imagery from the incident to determine if any can be released. Moscow, for its part, denied causing the drone to crash. Speaking of Russia… https://www.dailyfetched.com/russia-teams-up-with-china-and-iran-for-joint-military-drills-as-war-tensions-rise/ Russia Teams Up With China And Iran For Joint Military Drills as War Tensions Rise The three U.S. adversaries are preparing to team their offensives n a series of exercises dubbed “Security Bond-2023.” The initiative will run through March 19, demonstrating their naval capacity in a coordinated effort against their enemies. China’s Defense Ministry said the exercises would “help deepen practical cooperation between the participating countries’ navies … and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability,” The Guardian reported. However, the White House has not expressed any concerns that Russia, China and Iran might using the military drills to escalate conflicts with the United States. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. would continue monitoring the situation. Tensions have been rising between the West recently due to provocative postures taken over Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and human rights abuses. The U.S. continues to sanction Iran for its Government’s use of live ammunition on peaceful protests. Meanwhile, Russia continues to face unprecedented sanctions and economic pressure from the U.S. The three countries stages similar military exercises in 2019 and 2022, as China has sought to strengthen its ties to nations against the U.S and expand its influence throughout the Middle East On Friday, China brokered a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to end years of hostility and enter into new diplomatic relations. https://www.foxnews.com/media/court-rules-against-employee-fired-refusing-attend-lgbtq-training-session Court rules against employee fired for refusing to attend LGBTQ training session A federal appellate court rejected the appeal of a former account clerk in western New York who was fired from his job for refusing to attend a mandatory LGBTQ training in 2018. Raymond Zdunski was employed at Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES for seven years before his termination, which he likened to "unlawful religious discrimination." He sued the organization seeking reinstatement, back pay and $10 million in damages. The Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) is a public organization that was created by the New York State Legislature in 1948 to provide shared educational programs and services to school districts within the state. The plaintiff had argued that the LGBTQ training and makeup session were "aimed at changing his religious beliefs about gender and sexuality," and that attending the training "would have caused him to violate the religious teachings to which he adheres," according to the lawsuit. BOCES denied his request for a religious accommodation. District Court Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford dismissed Zdunski's lawsuit in 2022, concluding that his claims were "unsupported" and agreeing with BOCES that he was fired for refusing to attend the trainings, which BOCES had maintained were intended to help prevent discrimination in the workplace. "Plaintiff's unsupported assumption that Defendants believe him to be ‘bigoted’ due to his religious beliefs is insufficient to support an inference of discrimination," Crawford said in his ruling. "In sum, no facts in the record support a finding that Mr. Zdunski was terminated because of his religion; rather, the evidence in the record supports Defendants' position that his termination was due to repeatedly refusing to attend a mandatory employee training." Zdunski's lawyer Kristina S. Heuser, meanwhile, maintained that her client's rights were violated "for no other reason than his refusal to be indoctrinated with anti-biblical teaching." "Though the lower courts did not find in his favor, we are not deterred and will seek redress from the U.S. Supreme Court," she added, according to The Buffalo News. "Mr. Zdunski was an account clerk," Heuser continued. "He worked on spreadsheets in a cubicle. The training was not even remotely related to the requirements of his job. The Left will stop at nothing to force their ideology upon everyone, including stripping people of their livelihood if they do not submit to their beliefs. Mr. Zdunski refused to violate his sincerely held religious beliefs by submitting to teaching that contradicts what Scripture teaches, which is his absolute right under prevailing federal law. The Court's ruling was clearly erroneous and we intend to petition the United States Supreme Court to hear Mr. Zdunski's case." U.S. workplaces have in recent years experienced more of a push toward diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). But a recent study found that companies are slashing DEI jobs while workers were leaving these fields at a higher rate than non-DEI positions. The study by Revelio Labs said last year companies who had layoffs cut DEI positions at a 33% rate versus a 21% cut for other roles. https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-james-okeefe-launches-okeefe-media-group-after-ouster-project-veritas?utm_campaign=64487 James O'Keefe launches O'Keefe Media Group after ouster from Project Veritas James O'Keefe appeared on the Charlie Kirk Show to promote his newest project since being ousted from Project Veritas, the O'Keefe Media Group, or OMG. O'Keefe launched the website on Wednesday and urged viewers to sign up, as did Kirk. O'Keefe said that he's received thousands of emails asking how they can join the cause and how they can help. O'Keefe said that viewers can subscribe to the website, and they can sponsor and pay for a camera that they can use to do their own undercover reporting. https://twitter.com/i/status/1636037876679860227 - Play Video "It's not going to be a tiny group. It's going to be thousands that we train and equip on this website. We have stories that we're about to break, but the story today is the existence of this website." O'Keefe said that he will host classes and seminars on journalism around the country. https://twitter.com/i/status/1636040105172299779 - Play Video https://townhall.com/tipsheet/madelineleesman/2023/03/14/vermont-high-school-banned-from-playing-after-forfeiting-against-trans-player-n2620576’ Girls Basketball Team That Refused to Play Against a Transgender Athlete Banned From Sporting Events A private Christian school in Vermont that forfeited a girls’ basketball game against a team with a biological male “transgender” player has been banned from participating in upcoming sporting events. The Vermont Principals’ Association, which oversees school sporting events, announced on Monday that Mid Vermont Christian School would be ineligible to participate in sporting events and other activities done through the organization. “The VPA again reiterates its ongoing support of transgender student-athletes as not only a part of building an inclusive community for each student to grow and thrive, but also as a clear expectation by Vermont state law(s) in the Agency of Education Best Practices, and in VPA Policy regarding transgender student athletes,” the announcement said. Furthermore, the announcement included the VPA policy on “gender identity,” which is when a person feels like their gender does not align with their biological sex. “The VPA is committed to providing all students with the opportunity to participate in VPA activities in a manner consistent with their gender identity as is outlined in the Vermont Agency of Education Best Practices For Schools For Transgender And Gender Nonconforming Students,” the policy said. “The prohibition against discrimination includes discrimination based on a student’s actual or perceived sex and gender.” In a letter to MVCS, the VPA said that it violated the organization’s 1st and 2nd policies, which are “commitment to racial, gender-fair and disability awareness” and “policy on gender identity.” Townhall covered March 3 how MVCS was scheduled to compete against Long Trail School on Feb. 21, but pulled out once it learned that the opposing team included a male-bodied athlete. “We withdrew from the tournament because we believe playing against an opponent with a biological male jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players,” Vicky Fogg, the head of MVCS, said in a statement at the time. “Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general,” Fogg added. The issue of male athletes who believe that they are transgender infiltrating women’s sports has made international headlines. Last month, world-renowned surfer Bethany Hamilton, who the movie “Soul Surfer” is based on, said that she would no longer be competing in professional surfing if the World Surf League moved forward with its inclusive transgender policy. Last month, Townhall interviewed Riley Gaines, a former swimmer at the University of Kentucky who competed against Will “Lia” Thomas, the biological male swimmer who began identifying as transgender and competing on the women’s swim team at the University of Pennsylvania. At last year’s NCAA championships, Gaines and Thomas tied in a race, but Thomas got to take the trophy home. “Within the past year, in terms of progress, there has not been a clear solution to the problem [of transgender athletes] at hand. There has still been an influx of biological men competing in women’s sports,” Gaines, who is a spokeswoman at the Independent Women’s Forum, told Townhall. "I think the Lia Thomas situation, bringing this to the national stage, opened a door. People see an opportunity when they see this, and they’re willing to take advantage of it. At the expense of, of course, female athletes,” she added. “If this continues, it’s a slippery slope. It’s truly only a matter of time before one transgender athlete winning a national title in the women’s category becomes three and five and 10 and so on,” Gaines concluded. “I think truthfully…the integrity of women’s sports will be lost.”

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, March 16th, 2023. Before we get to the news… CBS NCAA March Madness Theme (2021)- Play 0:00-0:11 March Madness is upon us today! Today is also the last day you can sign up and fill out a bracket! Go fill out your March Madness Brackets in our Fight Laugh Feasters bracket group. Here’s the deal. You don’t have to know a darn thing about basketball. That’s why they call it March Madness. So if you’d like to compete, you can find our group on social media, or here in the show notes. It’s ESPN’s tournament challenge, and our bracket group is Fight Laugh Feasters 2023. You only get one entry, so make it good! Whoever wins gets a prize from Rowdy Christian Merch! https://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2023/en/group?redirect=tcmen%3A%2F%2Fx-callback-url%2FshowGroup%3FgroupID%3D5538514&ex_cid=tcmen2023_clipboard&groupID=5538514&groupp=ZmlnaHRsYXVnaGZlYXN0&inviteuser=ezQ1N0NBOUYyLTc0MjAtNDFCOC1BN0I2LTE3Q0UxRjMxODYxN30%3D&invitesource=clipboard Today we begin with world news… https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-jet-us-drone-collide-black-sea/ Russian jet collides with American drone over Black Sea, U.S. military says A Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with an American military drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday, the U.S. said. The collision made the drone "unflyable" and officials crashed it into the sea, the Pentagon said. The White House called the Russian plane's intercept of the unmanned aircraft "reckless." "Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9," U.S. Air Force General James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said in a statement. Two Russian fighter jets were involved in the incident, U.S. European Command said. At approximately 2:03 a.m. EDT Tuesday, one of the Russian jets struck the drone's propeller. Before the collision, the jets dumped fuel on the drone and flew in front of it "in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner," European Command said. The Russian jet was likely damaged in the incident but it did land afterward, said Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman. He wouldn't say where the jet landed. Ryder, who wouldn't say whether the drone was armed, referred to the unmanned aircraft as a MQ-9, but not a Reaper. The U.S. uses MQ-9 Reapers for both surveillance and strikes and has operated the drones in a variety of locations, including in the Middle East and Africa. Other countries, including Britain and France, also fly Reapers. Reapers can be armed with Hellfire missiles as well as laser-guided bombs and can fly for more than 1,100 miles at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet, according to the Air Force. The drone in Tuesday's incident was conducting an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission, Ryder said, adding that he didn't have any details to provide at the time on a possible operation to recover the drone. "To my knowledge at this point in time, the Russians have not recovered that aircraft," Ryder said. He also said officials were reviewing imagery from the incident to determine if any can be released. Moscow, for its part, denied causing the drone to crash. Speaking of Russia… https://www.dailyfetched.com/russia-teams-up-with-china-and-iran-for-joint-military-drills-as-war-tensions-rise/ Russia Teams Up With China And Iran For Joint Military Drills as War Tensions Rise The three U.S. adversaries are preparing to team their offensives n a series of exercises dubbed “Security Bond-2023.” The initiative will run through March 19, demonstrating their naval capacity in a coordinated effort against their enemies. China’s Defense Ministry said the exercises would “help deepen practical cooperation between the participating countries’ navies … and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability,” The Guardian reported. However, the White House has not expressed any concerns that Russia, China and Iran might using the military drills to escalate conflicts with the United States. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. would continue monitoring the situation. Tensions have been rising between the West recently due to provocative postures taken over Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and human rights abuses. The U.S. continues to sanction Iran for its Government’s use of live ammunition on peaceful protests. Meanwhile, Russia continues to face unprecedented sanctions and economic pressure from the U.S. The three countries stages similar military exercises in 2019 and 2022, as China has sought to strengthen its ties to nations against the U.S and expand its influence throughout the Middle East On Friday, China brokered a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to end years of hostility and enter into new diplomatic relations. https://www.foxnews.com/media/court-rules-against-employee-fired-refusing-attend-lgbtq-training-session Court rules against employee fired for refusing to attend LGBTQ training session A federal appellate court rejected the appeal of a former account clerk in western New York who was fired from his job for refusing to attend a mandatory LGBTQ training in 2018. Raymond Zdunski was employed at Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES for seven years before his termination, which he likened to "unlawful religious discrimination." He sued the organization seeking reinstatement, back pay and $10 million in damages. The Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) is a public organization that was created by the New York State Legislature in 1948 to provide shared educational programs and services to school districts within the state. The plaintiff had argued that the LGBTQ training and makeup session were "aimed at changing his religious beliefs about gender and sexuality," and that attending the training "would have caused him to violate the religious teachings to which he adheres," according to the lawsuit. BOCES denied his request for a religious accommodation. District Court Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford dismissed Zdunski's lawsuit in 2022, concluding that his claims were "unsupported" and agreeing with BOCES that he was fired for refusing to attend the trainings, which BOCES had maintained were intended to help prevent discrimination in the workplace. "Plaintiff's unsupported assumption that Defendants believe him to be ‘bigoted’ due to his religious beliefs is insufficient to support an inference of discrimination," Crawford said in his ruling. "In sum, no facts in the record support a finding that Mr. Zdunski was terminated because of his religion; rather, the evidence in the record supports Defendants' position that his termination was due to repeatedly refusing to attend a mandatory employee training." Zdunski's lawyer Kristina S. Heuser, meanwhile, maintained that her client's rights were violated "for no other reason than his refusal to be indoctrinated with anti-biblical teaching." "Though the lower courts did not find in his favor, we are not deterred and will seek redress from the U.S. Supreme Court," she added, according to The Buffalo News. "Mr. Zdunski was an account clerk," Heuser continued. "He worked on spreadsheets in a cubicle. The training was not even remotely related to the requirements of his job. The Left will stop at nothing to force their ideology upon everyone, including stripping people of their livelihood if they do not submit to their beliefs. Mr. Zdunski refused to violate his sincerely held religious beliefs by submitting to teaching that contradicts what Scripture teaches, which is his absolute right under prevailing federal law. The Court's ruling was clearly erroneous and we intend to petition the United States Supreme Court to hear Mr. Zdunski's case." U.S. workplaces have in recent years experienced more of a push toward diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). But a recent study found that companies are slashing DEI jobs while workers were leaving these fields at a higher rate than non-DEI positions. The study by Revelio Labs said last year companies who had layoffs cut DEI positions at a 33% rate versus a 21% cut for other roles. https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-james-okeefe-launches-okeefe-media-group-after-ouster-project-veritas?utm_campaign=64487 James O'Keefe launches O'Keefe Media Group after ouster from Project Veritas James O'Keefe appeared on the Charlie Kirk Show to promote his newest project since being ousted from Project Veritas, the O'Keefe Media Group, or OMG. O'Keefe launched the website on Wednesday and urged viewers to sign up, as did Kirk. O'Keefe said that he's received thousands of emails asking how they can join the cause and how they can help. O'Keefe said that viewers can subscribe to the website, and they can sponsor and pay for a camera that they can use to do their own undercover reporting. https://twitter.com/i/status/1636037876679860227 - Play Video "It's not going to be a tiny group. It's going to be thousands that we train and equip on this website. We have stories that we're about to break, but the story today is the existence of this website." O'Keefe said that he will host classes and seminars on journalism around the country. https://twitter.com/i/status/1636040105172299779 - Play Video https://townhall.com/tipsheet/madelineleesman/2023/03/14/vermont-high-school-banned-from-playing-after-forfeiting-against-trans-player-n2620576’ Girls Basketball Team That Refused to Play Against a Transgender Athlete Banned From Sporting Events A private Christian school in Vermont that forfeited a girls’ basketball game against a team with a biological male “transgender” player has been banned from participating in upcoming sporting events. The Vermont Principals’ Association, which oversees school sporting events, announced on Monday that Mid Vermont Christian School would be ineligible to participate in sporting events and other activities done through the organization. “The VPA again reiterates its ongoing support of transgender student-athletes as not only a part of building an inclusive community for each student to grow and thrive, but also as a clear expectation by Vermont state law(s) in the Agency of Education Best Practices, and in VPA Policy regarding transgender student athletes,” the announcement said. Furthermore, the announcement included the VPA policy on “gender identity,” which is when a person feels like their gender does not align with their biological sex. “The VPA is committed to providing all students with the opportunity to participate in VPA activities in a manner consistent with their gender identity as is outlined in the Vermont Agency of Education Best Practices For Schools For Transgender And Gender Nonconforming Students,” the policy said. “The prohibition against discrimination includes discrimination based on a student’s actual or perceived sex and gender.” In a letter to MVCS, the VPA said that it violated the organization’s 1st and 2nd policies, which are “commitment to racial, gender-fair and disability awareness” and “policy on gender identity.” Townhall covered March 3 how MVCS was scheduled to compete against Long Trail School on Feb. 21, but pulled out once it learned that the opposing team included a male-bodied athlete. “We withdrew from the tournament because we believe playing against an opponent with a biological male jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players,” Vicky Fogg, the head of MVCS, said in a statement at the time. “Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general,” Fogg added. The issue of male athletes who believe that they are transgender infiltrating women’s sports has made international headlines. Last month, world-renowned surfer Bethany Hamilton, who the movie “Soul Surfer” is based on, said that she would no longer be competing in professional surfing if the World Surf League moved forward with its inclusive transgender policy. Last month, Townhall interviewed Riley Gaines, a former swimmer at the University of Kentucky who competed against Will “Lia” Thomas, the biological male swimmer who began identifying as transgender and competing on the women’s swim team at the University of Pennsylvania. At last year’s NCAA championships, Gaines and Thomas tied in a race, but Thomas got to take the trophy home. “Within the past year, in terms of progress, there has not been a clear solution to the problem [of transgender athletes] at hand. There has still been an influx of biological men competing in women’s sports,” Gaines, who is a spokeswoman at the Independent Women’s Forum, told Townhall. "I think the Lia Thomas situation, bringing this to the national stage, opened a door. People see an opportunity when they see this, and they’re willing to take advantage of it. At the expense of, of course, female athletes,” she added. “If this continues, it’s a slippery slope. It’s truly only a matter of time before one transgender athlete winning a national title in the women’s category becomes three and five and 10 and so on,” Gaines concluded. “I think truthfully…the integrity of women’s sports will be lost.”

Today on Vermont Viewpoint, Pat McDonald hosts! During the first half of the show, she'll speak with Steve Collier and Julie Boisvert. Steve is on the General Council for the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and Julie is the Chief of the Meat Inspection Section of the Agency of Agriculture. They'll be discussing Vermont Meat and Poultry Processing. Then, during the second half of the show, Pat will speak to Matt Cota, a member of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association. They'll be discussing the Clean Heat Standard – S.5

Today on Vermont Viewpoint, Pat McDonald hosts! During the first half of the show, she'll be speaking with Jack Widness of Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes. They'll be discussing managing the impacts of wake boats. Then, during the second half of the show, Pat will speak with Justin Kenney and Katie Bockwoldt of the Vermont Agency of Administration. They'll be discussing continual improvement.

On today's episode of Vermont Viewpoint, Pat McDonald hosts! During the first half of the show, she'll speak with Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Secretary Anson Tebbetts! They'll discuss the Future of Vermont Agriculture. Then, during the second half of the show, Pat will speak with the Executive Director of the Vermont State Ethics Commission Christina Sivret. They'll be discussing what's next for ethics in Vermont.

THE THESIS: The Party has installed the permanent emergency. Now, the emergency is “‘climate' ‘refugees.'” But, the pattern is the same as Covid and “gender.” There are no “cures” save the most radical, invasive and harmful methods. The problem is your freedom and simple common sense and the “cure” is more power for them. Once again, God seems to be giving us the easiest pass/fail test in history: do we follow these despots or to we follow God?THE SCRIPTURE & SCRIPTURAL RESOURCES: Bill Graham's organization answers this question: “I heard that the Bible says the world is going to get worse and worse as the end of time approaches. Is that true? We've had some horrible crimes in our city lately, and I can't see how things can get much worse.” “Yes, the Bible does indicate that as the time for Christ's return approaches, evil and social chaos may well intensify. The Bible says that ‘evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived' (2 Timothy 3:13).Are we living in those days? Only God knows the answer to that; the Bible makes it clear that we aren't to predict the exact time of Christ's return or claim to know when it will happen. Jesus said, ‘No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father' (Matthew 24:36). The world has faced terrible times before, and so have God's people.At the same time, many of the signs or events that Jesus said must take place before His return are certainly in place. Never before, for example, has it been possible to penetrate virtually every corner of the world with the Gospel, as Jesus predicted (see Matthew 24:14).Make it your goal to be faithful to Christ, no matter what happens in the world around you. We may be tempted to withdraw, or to react negatively to those who don't agree with us. But God loves them, and He wants to use us to share the good news of Christ's forgiveness and new life with them. Remember Jesus' words: ‘As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work' (John 9:4).”THE NEWS & COMMENT:AlGore wants to track “individual ‘emitters'” [read: people] with satellites and facial recognition because of the weather, of course.Al-Gore Unveils “Radical Climate Transparency” Project at Annual Conference of Climate AlarmistsThe goal is not to improve the condition of humanity in general, but to improve the bank accounts and status of the globalists attending this conference.“Until now, most emissions inventories have been based on self-reported, often years-late data that relied on rough estimates, opaque methods, and inaccessible reporting. Government officials, scientists, investors, executives, and activists need better data to support the creation of policies, programs, and campaigns aimed at limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C as agreed to under the Paris Climate Agreement.That's where Climate TRACE comes in. We're harnessing technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to analyze over 59 trillion bytes of data from more than 300 satellites, more than 11,100 sensors, and numerous additional sources of emissions information from all over the world. The result is a groundbreaking approach to emissions monitoring… one that is independent, transparent, and timely.”Meanwhile, they flew there on private jets. They can choose one of two things: the climate is an combustion engine made emergency and is killing all people or flying in private jets. Their actions trump their words. Here are the new kiddie-shields. The same people who destroyed small businesses with a politically targeted, medically useless, deadly series of lockdowns, the same people who seek to murder more babies at even larger scale, who back chemically and surgically mutilating and sterilizing children are suddenly concerned about the lives of “the ‘little people.'” Again, their actions trump their words. [AUDIO] - Globalists Rebrand Illegals as 'Climate Migrants' to Further Their Population Replacement Scheme (Video)It's all Russia's fault and the only cure is less freedom. [AUDIO] - Joe Biden: "Russia's war only enhances the urgency of the need to transition the world off its dependence on fossil fuels."A bankrupt Nation has money to burn? Reality trumps their words. [AUDIO] - Biden says he wants to "provide $11 billion annually" to help third world countries respond to climate change.The same people who pretend men are women now want to fund women. Their actions trump their words.The Dictator of Washington, Jay Inslee, has failed at every single so-called carbon goal he set, even when he had 100% control as he did over the State Motorpool. But, he is still selling his schemes and traveling around the World.[AUDIO] - Dictator Inslee: “we know where the ‘rubber meets the road.'”What do many new, electric cars have in common? Kill switches and tracking tools. The goal is to blackmail you out of driving. Were it not, they could simply apply a usage tax to tires. Tracking devices? Did I say tracking?[AUDIO] - “I remain even more convinced today, particularly with biometric technology. The world will move to biometric ID and they will do it because in the end, it is better for people.”- Tony Blair, June 2021.[AUDIO] - Credit Card Companies Are Now Officially Tracking Guns & Ammo Sales. (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)When they are asked simple questions about their own lifestyles, they reveal the fraud. [AUDIO] - FLASHBACK: Trudeau explains how he's helping to reduce plastic use. "We have recently switched to drinking water bottles out of, water, out of, when we have water bottles, out of a plastic – sorry, away from plastic towards paper, um, like drink box water bottle sort of things."Coming soon, the “new emergency” will be too much meat. In fact, The Party is already demanding farmers eliminate entire generations of ranches. Do small farmers REALLY need the feds to investigate how they feed their families? Petition to Clarify the Personal Use Exemption of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA)“This issue arose early in 2022 when we became aware that the federal Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) was threatening to impede on the “equal to” status of Vermont's meat inspection program if animal share programs were written into law. In reaction to the threat, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) notified on-farm slaughter practitioners that in order to qualify for the federal exemptions that allow on-farm slaughter for personal use, all owners of the animal must conduct the slaughter and/or be present if they hire an itinerant slaughterer to process on their behalf.VAAFM's stance suggests that each and every owner of an animal would need to be present on the farm where their animals were raised to witness the slaughter if they want access to the meat that is harvested. In fact, Vermont's on-farm slaughter law does not prevent farmers from organizing on-farm slaughter; it just prohibits them from assisting in the slaughter. This interpretation that requires that all owners be present for slaughter prior to animals being brought to a custom slaughter facility, if allowed to stand, would create an untenable situation for farmers and owners on whose behalf they raise the animals, and would grind local meat production to a halt.”Meanwhile . . . Scientists Find That “Protein Hunger” Drives Overeating, Obesity

ALSO: Montpelier Police Chief Brian Peete is leaving for Kansas after just over two years of heading the police force in the capital city; A jury deliberated for about six hours Monday without reaching a verdict in the case of a Burlington man accused of killing his wife and seriously injuring her mother with a meat cleaver; Nearly 90 forlorn snowplows still lack names of their own, and the Vermont Agency of Transportation is turning to the kids again to remedy that.

On this episode of Vermont Viewpoint, Guy Page hosts! He talks with the Vermont Agency of Transportation about an increase in highway deaths, Green Mountain Solar about Solar Power, Jared Duval about power needs, and VT Climate Council.

The Vermont Agency of Education now says that schools may need to institute mask mandates in order protect students who are at high risk of getting seriously sick from COVID-19.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation has an internal word for when a tractor trailer wedges itself on the windy mountain road between Stowe and Jeffersonville: a “stuckage.” And while they're working on a handful of ways to prevent stuck trucks, it remains a persistent, vaguely goofy, problem. Earlier this summer, not too long after the Notch road reopened from its annual winter hibernation, two trucks got stuck in the Notch in less than two weeks. From 2009 to 2021, an average of 8.6 trucks have gotten stuck in the Notch each year, according to data from the Vermont Agency of Transportation. That number has decreased in recent years, with only five stuckages in 2021. The agency isn't exactly sure what's behind the trend, said Todd Sears, the agency's deputy bureau chief of operations and safety. They have increased the number of warning signs on surrounding roads, and gotten some GPS services — specific to commercial truckers — to exclude the Notch on their programs. A stuckage can shut down the road for hours. It takes careful choreography to get a truck back down off the mountain.

If you are under ambush, would you run straight forward and into the attack? This week, Hallie and I recount a super interesting talk we heard from Mike Smith, former Navy SEAL and CEO of both private and public companies, along with serving as the Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services. Known as the “guy to come in and save companies,” Mike has a lot of wisdom to share on bringing mental fortitude into both business and spirituality. We first talk about why you want to face ambush head-on rather than retreat, and how to start freeing yourself of the mental energy that comes with ruminating about your decisions. Hallie and I also talk about embracing spiritual lessons in every facet of life, and what leaving a living legacy can mean to help future generations. https://adamhergenrother.com/148-always-charge-the-ambush-and-leave-a-living-legacy/ (See full show notes.)

Each year the Vermont Agency of Education releases what they call its Annual Snapshot — a glimpse into how Vermont schools are faring, using quantitative data. It's designed to show progress and change over time. But this year, because of ongoing COVID impacts, the Snapshot reveals mostly uncertainty.

Following up from yesterday, did you find your lost socks? Do you have an interest in tying up loose ends? For that’s mostly what this May 10, 2022 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement shall be, with bits and bobs from previous weeks knitted together in this 377th edition of this newsletter and or podcast. I’m your host, Sean and or Tubbs.  Send this on to someone new so we can grow the audience!On today’s program:Transit officials from Burlington, Vermont chat with Charlottesville-area transit officials about efforts to carry more public school students on public transportation The latest campaign finance reports are in for the race for the Republican nomination in the 5th Congressional DistrictStonefield will be the next place in the area that people can relax in public with an alcoholic beverage And both Albemarle and Charlottesville are still recruiting lifeguards to open up the swim season First shout-out: The Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign It’s springtime, and one Patreon subscriber wants you to know that the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign is a grassroots initiative of motivated citizens, volunteers, partner organizations, and local governments who want to promote the use of native plants. This spring the group is working with retailers across the region to encourage purchase of plants that belong here and are part of an ecosystem that depends on pollination. There are plenty of resources on the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Facebook page, so sign up to be notified of lectures, plant sales, and more!Good raises $71K in April; Moy did not file FEC report by deadline There are ten days remaining in the race for the Republican nomination for the Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Bob Good faces a challenge from Attorney Dan Moy of Charlottesville. Yesterday was the deadline for candidates to file a report for campaign activity between April 1 and May 1, a report that only applies to candidates who are seeking a party nomination through a convention. (details on FEC website)Good raised $71,058 in the period and spent $74,225, leaving a balance of $370,131.54. (read the report)Updated after publication:Moy filed a day late and reported $7,870 in contribution in April and the campaign spent $38,127.13. The challenger had $17,682.75 on hand at the end of the period. (read the report)The winner of the Republican convention on May 21 will face Democrat Joshua Throneburg in the general election. Throneburg was the only candidate to qualify for the primary ballot. (read all of campaign finance reports for the 5th District filed with the Federal Election Commission)Supervisors support Stonefield as a Designated Outdoor Refreshment AreaA live music program at one of Albemarle County’s mixed-use communities got a boost earlier this month when the Albemarle Board of Supervisors agreed to a letter of support for an Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority license known as a DORA. “A DORA is a designated geographic area licensed by the ABC annually that allows the consumption of alcoholic beverages, (wine, beer, mixed beverages) in a public space and a private space which include things like streets and lawns, and within any business without an ABC license as long as the business agrees,” said Roger Johnson, Albemarle’s economic development director. These designated outdoor refreshment area licenses have been used in Scottsville and last month, one was used in Charlottesville for the Tom Tom Festival.“I will mention to you that I spoke with the director of economic development from Charlottesville and there were no complications with this particular event,” Johnson said. Johnson said beverages purchased at individual restaurants at Stonefield could not be transferred between those businesses. In this case, a nonprofit organization will be the entity that technically applies for the license. “And what we’re asking you to do is provide a letter of support that verifies that Stonefield consulted with a local municipality and they will submit that with their ABC application,” Johnson said. An ordinance would be required if an entity wanted to hold more than 16 events a year or for more than three days. Until then, all that’s required is a map of the DORA, a public safety plan, and designated cups.“Also required at the events are specific containers that are no larger than 16 ounces with the name or the logo of the retailer from which it was purchased,” Johnson said. In the case of Stonefield, they’ll produce the Music on the Lawn events and the Center for Nonprofit Excellence will be the nonprofit partner. But the whole point is to drive business.“Stonefield informed us that onsite traffic increased by 25 percent when they held Music on the Lawn,” Johnson said. “The point being, we will be helping existing businesses with the foot traffic.” Supervisor Diantha McKeel asked that there be outreach to the people who live in the apartments and condominiums at Stonefield. She was also concerned with the potential waste from the plastic cups. “Is there a way to brainstorm or think about what other options we could provide that are not just, I mean, we’ve switched to paper here and I don’t think these cups are going to work,” McKeel said. “I am saying that it’s something to think about.”Johnson said that could be made as a condition of the letter of support. A vote to authorize that letter passed unanimously. The first event will be held on May 27 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Lifeguards still sought for summer seasonMemorial Day Weekend is less than three weeks away, marking the beginning of the summer outdoor swimming season. Both Albemarle and Charlottesville are preparing to open lakes and pools and need more lifeguards to ensure services can be offered to the public. The Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department will hold a job fair at Carver Recreation Center on Wednesday May 18 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. that will cover more than just lifeguards.“A sample of positions that are currently open include: camp counselors and directors, lifeguards (includes signing bonus), aquatic fitness and program instructors, instructor-American Red Cross, athletic officials, landscapers, custodial maintenance, aquatic maintenance, adaptive camp staff, customer service attendants, and more,” reads the website announcing the job fair. In mid-April, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board were told by staff that new lifeguards in Charlottesville are signing bonuses, and all of them are eligible for end-of-season bonuses. (story)Albemarle County is also seeking lifeguards and needed 19 new employees as of last Wednesday in order to open on a full schedule. Until then, there is a contingency plan. “We’re going to be moving forward with plans to open two of the three swim parks, Mint Springs and Chris Greene Lake,” said Trevor Henry, Albemarle’s assistant county executive. “We’re having issues getting enough [people] to staff Walnut Creek and so in order to safely open up the parks, the plan will be to start with those two.”In the hopes of opening up Walnut Creek, Albemarle County is also recruiting for lifeguards and will pay $15 an hour, plus reimbursement for any certification costs. Apply online. Charlottesville will open up the city’s four spray grounds this weekend, according to a news release that went out this morning. Learn more on the city’s website. Today’s second shout-out goes to LEAPWe’re now well into spring, and many of us may have already turned on our air conditioning units for the first in months. To see what you can do to get the most out of your home, contact LEAP, your local energy nonprofit, to schedule a home energy assessment this month - just $45 for City and County residents. LEAP also offers FREE home weatherization to income- and age-qualifying residents. If someone in your household is age 60 or older, or you have an annual household income of less than $74,950, you may qualify for a free energy assessment and home energy improvements such as insulation and air sealing. Sign up today to lower your energy bills, increase comfort, and reduce energy waste at home!Regional Transit Partnership briefed on efforts to use public transit fleets in Vermont to carry students to school In the nearly five years the Jefferson Area Regional Transit Partnership has been in existence, there have been many conversations about how various systems might be made more efficient. One idea that has been discussed is the combination of transportation for school pupils with regular transit. “For Burlington, the school district has a handful of school buses for special needs kids but the majority of the school population rides Green Mountain Transit buses to school,” said Peggy O’Neill Vivanco, the Vermont Clean Cities Coordinator. At their meeting on April 28, 2022, the members of the Regional Transit Partnership learned about efforts in Burlington, Vermont to do just that. Those efforts stemmed from a commonly asked question in the Green Mountain State. “Why do we have two public transit systems?” asked Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur of the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. “One for students, one for the public. That’s really inefficient. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get the public on school buses because school buses go everywhere and they go places that are hard to reach by transit.”Wallace-Brodeur said a group came together to study the issue with funding from the Vermont Agency of Transportation as well as the Energy Action Network.“We started out by looking at where our public transit system is currently providing services that students can access,” Wallace-Brodeur said. “There had been some research done for one of our regional planning commissions on the topic where they really dug into some of the legal issues and some of the other challenges that could come with this.” Wallace-Brodeur said the best path forward was to adjust public transit to provide more service to middle school and high school students. “Anybody can ride the bus,” Wallace-Brodeur said. “There’s really no barrier to that. Anyone can ride the bus including little kids, older adults, anybody. The general public can get on the bus. Not so for school buses.”Some of that work extended to the exurbs of Burlington, Vermont’s largest city. Wallace-Brodeur said the group worked with school systems that were open to the idea. Two goals are to build lifelong transit riders and to fill service gaps.“One of the things we hear a lot about is that students can’t access some after school activities if there isn’t a late bus or something that can get kids home after extracurriculars so if students don’t have personal transportation, they miss out on really important opportunities which then becomes an equity issue,” Wallace-Brodeur said. How does it work? Jamie Smith is the director of marketing and planning for Green Mountain Transit.“We operate during the school year ten additional routes,” Smith said. “The [Federal Transit Administration] doesn’t really allow traditional school transportation to be operated by a public transit agency but they do allow for us to increase our capacity during the academic school year,” Smith said.  Wallace-Brodeur said there had been an attempt to reroute some rural transit routes in eastern Vermont to serve a pair of high schools, but that ran into some obstacles due to COVID. Mike Reiderer is with Tri-Valley Transit which serves Addison, Orange, and northern Windsor counties with commuter routes. He pointed out that many school children are transit-dependent until they have a driver’s license and a car. “We were looking at an addition to one of these routes that would be able to transfer students basically from one high school to another to take more advantage of those after school opportunities,” Reiderer said. “Worked great, great partnership, really great information sharing that really culminating in our ability to provide that service. I think it was one of those instances where COVID came to bite us once again.”Reiderer said he hopes that partnership can be resumed by the next school year. Speaking of schools, the Burlington area is home to several institutions of higher education, such as the University of Vermont. Smith explains that an entity called the Chittenden Area Transport Management Association runs a transportation demand management program that seeks to get more people on buses, including university and college students.“And we have an agreement with them, an unlimited access agreement where students are able to use their IDs to ride for free in our system,” Smith said. The University of Vermont also has its own system of shuttle buses that run the inner loop of their campus in Burlington which has a student population of about 13,300. Champlain College also has a bus that runs throughout their campus. I’ll have more from the April 28, 2022 meeting of the Jefferson Area Regional Transit Partnership in a future edition of the program. If you can’t wait, take a look at the meeting on YouTube now. So far, there are 3 views. Why not give it the Charlottesville Community Engagement bump?Help Ting help support Town Crier productions! For one year now, Town Crier Productions has had a promotional offering through Ting!Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Julie Moore, the Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources discusses the Administration's plans for the ARPA funds. Each morning we talk about the issues and events that are important to you. And they want to hear from you. Feel free to call in anytime during the show at 888-414-0303.

We all know that a key part of addressing climate change involves getting off fossil fuels. But renewable energies, such as solar energy, are not without costs. One key cost? It uses a lot of land. The team at How to Save a Planet takes a look at one creative solution to this problem – mixing solar panels with agriculture. And they are not at all sheepish about the role of one very adorable four legged animal.Featuring How to Save a Planet. SUPPORTOutside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member of Outside/In. Subscribe to our newsletter.Follow Outside/In on Instagram or Twitter, or join our private discussion group on Facebook CREDITSHow to Save a Planet is a Spotify original podcast and Gimlet production.Host: Alex BlumbergEpisode producer: Kendra Pierre-LouisShow producers: Anna Ladd, Rachel Waldholz and Hannah Chinn Intern: Nicole WelchSupervising producers: Lauren Silverman and Kaitlyn BoguckiEditor: Caitlin Kenney.Sound design and mixing by Peter LeonardOriginal music by Peter Leonard, Catherine Anderson and Emma MungerFact-checking: James GainesSpecial thanks to Alex DePillis at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, and Tonje Waxman and Brooks Mixon at Sun Raised Farms. Outside/In team: Justine Paradis, Taylor Quimby, Felix Poon, and Jessica Hunt.Executive producer: Rebecca LavoieTheme: Breakmaster Cylinder

Sec. Smith joins WVMT's The Morning Drive to discuss his upcoming retirement, some of his accomplishments, and recent decisions around managing the pandemic.

Secretary Smith joins WVMT's The Morning Drive to clarify an investigation of patient wait times in our health system, share the process for inclusion in the data search, and whom they are looking at.

July 30, 2021: We joke on this show about the mishaps and blow-ups with the internet and IT systems in this state. But, as the debacle with the Vermont Department of Labor's unemployment portal during COVID demonstrated, bad IT has consequences. Scott Woodward, a technology consultant, weighs in on IT in the Green Mountains. Vermont Agency of Digital Services: https://digitalservices.vermont.gov (https://digitalservices.vermont.gov) Scott Woodward: https://www.forestandwater.com (https://www.forestandwater.com) Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net (http://rhtt.net)

This school year has been challenging for many students, their families, teachers and administrators as they tried to cope with the impact of the pandemic. Now, as the school year is coming to an end, there's hope that some rituals like in-person graduation ceremonies might be able to take place. This segment, we speak with Education Secretary Dan French about the strategies that many schools used this year to develop hybrid learning systems, and the outlook for full in-person classes next fall.

This school year has been challenging for many students, their families, teachers and administrators as they tried to cope with the impact of the pandemic. Now, as the school year is coming to an end, there's hope that some rituals like in-person graduation ceremonies might be able to take place. This segment, we speak with Education Secretary Dan French about the strategies that many schools used this year to develop hybrid learning systems, and the outlook for full in-person classes next fall.

Harvest the brightest fruit on the Quince Tree In late 2019, Vermont Quince Company was awarded USDA-funded Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding through the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) to support commercial and backyard growers by compiling and disseminating resources and expertise about growing quince in New England. Knowing when to harvest is key to this discussion! On March 8, 2020, the #GrowQuince initiative kicked off in West Townshend with a roundtable discussion featuring regional quince growers, followed by a scion exchange. This episode and the upcoming episode 253 is from the West Townsend forum. Part 2 Factors for the Harvest of Quince This episode follow up from Part one where Zeke Goodband led us through tips on propagation. In Part 2 he provides tips on when this aromatic fruit is ready to be picked  Additional Topics in Part 2: Different varieties Cracking of fruit Markets for quince Storage Cold temps before harvest Grafting  Contact info for Vermont Quince Company Website: Vermont Quince email info@vermontquince.com Facebook page: GrowQuince. Mentions in this Chat New York International Cider Competition - February 21, 2021 3rd Annual New York International Cider Competition for commercial makers. Judges are real buyers making this competition stand apart from all others in cider. Send in your ciders now. Fermentis by Lesaffre -This week's Q&A with Kevin Lane from Fermentis: Q: Are all Fermentis yeast cultures gluten free? For instance, if I choose a yeast typically used by brewers such as a Saison culture can I assume that it too is gluten free? A: Yes, all Fermentis yeast are certified gluten free that are specific for cider. Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

#GrowQuince - it is easy to do! In late 2019, Vermont Quince Company was awarded USDA-funded Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding through the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) to support commercial and backyard growers by compiling and disseminating resources and expertise about growing quince in New England. The #GrowQuince is helping to spotlight this forgotten fruit On March 8, 2020, the #GrowQuince initiative kicked off in West Townshend with a roundtable discussion featuring regional quince growers, followed by a scion exchange. This episode and the upcoming episode 253 is from the West Townsend forum. Part 1 #GrowQuince - Disease/Pest Management   Nan provides an overview of the #GrowQuince goals and then renown horticulturist Zeke Goodband who has extensive experience growing quince for over 25 years leads this conversation. Contact info for Vermont Quince Company Website: Vermont Quince email info@vermontquince.com Facebook page: GrowQuince. Mentions in this Chat New York International Cider Competition - February 21, 2021 3rd Annual New York International Cider Competition for commercial makers. Judges are real buyers making this competition stand apart from all others in cider. Send in your ciders now. Fermentis by Lesaffre - Q&A on yeast in this episode:What Fermentis yeast cultures are best for creating a dry finish to my cider?I typically use a blend of apples that are high in acid and very low in tannin Answer: Fermentis AB1 and AC4 Find all your cider yeast needs via Fermentis   Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube  

A couple of weeks ago, we had the chance to take part in a collaboration between the Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont Public Radio (VPR), celebrating the strange and wonderful ways this year's graduation differs from those in years past. The hourlong program featured students and educators from around the state, performing music, giving speeches and simply musing on the ways in which the class of 2020 made. It. Work. So as an excerpt, and leading us towards the end of the podcast's fourth season, here's the piece we produced for the show. We spoke with students, educators and families from two schools who approached graduation very differently: The Warren School, in Warren VT, and Poultney Elementary School, down in Poultney VT. This is a tale of two sixth grades.

In this special live episode But Why had a musical celebration with Mister Chris, the Junkman and May Erlewine, and we heard your songs. You can listen to But Why Live at vpr.org and call-in every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time through June 26, 2020. This program is in collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Education to bring interactive educational opportunities to students while schools are closed.

This episode starts where we probably would have started a telehealth series in normal, non-COVID-19 times . . . looking at telehealth as one of the tools available to help overcome transportation-based barriers to accessing health care. Chris Towne, of Northern Counties Health Care*, and Dr. Brian Bates, of Mountain Health Center, join us to discuss this issue.If you want to read more about options for public transit, including the state's plan for connecting patients to medical appointments, the Vermont Agency of Transportation released their Public Transit Policy Plan earlier this year. Slide 9 in this presentation shows travel hours and miles saved in a telehealth pilot at UVMMC.  If you want to read more about MAT programs in Vermont and their COVID-19 adjustments, UVMMC has this April 17 blog post. Also, the Rural Health Information Hub has this toolkit on using telehealth as part of MAT programs (in non-COVID-19 times). *Northern Counties Health Care was an original sponsor of this series - and if you feel it's totally unfair that a sponsor got a coveted interview spot then please, by all means, contact us and volunteer to be interviewed to even things out, we would love that. 

In this special live episode But Why held a discussion about race and racism with the authors of ABCs of Diversity, Y. Joy Harris-Smith and Carolyn Helsel. You can listen to But Why Live at vpr.org and call-in every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time through June 26, 2020. This program is in collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Education to bring interactive educational opportunities to students while schools are closed.

In this special live episode learned about trees and tree communication with scientists Alexia Constantinou and Katie McMahen of the Simard Lab at the University of British Columbia. You can listen to But Why Live at vpr.org and call-in every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time through June 26, 2020. This program is in collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Education to bring interactive educational opportunities to students while schools are closed.

In this special live episode we held a kid press conference with Vermont Governor Phil Scott. You can listen to But Why Live at vpr.org and call-in every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time through June 19, 2020. This program is in collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Education to bring interactive educational opportunities to students while schools are closed.

In this special live episode we learn about words and language with linguist John McWhorter, host of the podcast Lexicon Valley. You can listen to But Why live at vpr.org and call-in every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time through June 19, 2020. This program is in collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Education to bring interactive educational opportunities to students while schools are closed.

In this special live episode we learn about space and space exploration with Jim Green, NASA's Chief Scientist. You can listen to But Why live at vpr.org and call-in every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time through June 19, 2020. This program is part of a collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Education to bring interactive educational opportunities to students while schools are closed.

In this special live episode we learn about poetry and writing with Poetry Guy Ted Scheu, Rajnii Eddins, and we hear your poems! Get your pencils ready; we’ll be doing some fun writing exercises as well. You can listen to But Why live at vpr.org and call-in every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time through June 19, 2020. This program is part of a collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Education to bring interactive educational opportunities to students while schools are closed.

In this special live episode, we learn about bats and beavers! First up, all about bats with Barry Genzlinger of Vermont Bat Center. Then, we learn about the industrious beaver with wildlife biologist Kim Royar of the Vermont Department for Fish & Wildlife. Listen live at vpr.org and call-in every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time through June 19, 2020. This program is part of a collaboration with the Vermont Agency of Education to bring interactive educational opportunities to students while schools are closed.

An interview with Ena Backus from the Vermont Agency of Human Services about the HCP LAN APM Framework, which maps a path through payment reform. Find show notes and more episodes at www.plainerenglish.org.Background music is by FesliyanStudios.com

This special episode is part of MIT's Together in Climate Action Summit, which is focused on sharing climate leadership strategies and exploring pathways forward in Northeastern North America. In this episode, we interview Deb Markowitz, a former six-term Vermont Secretary of State, and Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Currently, Markowitz is currently a visiting professor in Environmental Policy and Leadership at the University of Vermont. We discuss how state power and regional action can be leveraged to combat climate change in light of the United States plan to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Deb highlights how carbon pricing, market-driven policies, leadership, and ideology can produce meaningful change and measurable economic and environmental benefits. We also discuss the success of RGGI cap-and-trade system, and how inter-state cooperation on carbon emissions and environmental policy can lead when federal policies lag.

Raccoons in the road and confusing highway signs -- plus "hanging chad" "gores" -- are the subject as Erick Filkorn of the Vermont Agency of Transportation joins us live on the air.

Shawn Lafountain is the Maintenance Supervisor for the Colchester Fort Garage within the Vermont Agency of Transportation. He has plowed a lot of snow. These crews make it possible for skiers, riders, the general public and emergency crews to get where they need to go through all kinds of harsh weather. All while a steady stream of motorists make questionable decisions in their midst. Often a thankless job with long hours, these committed individuals keep their states open for business when Mother Nature tries to shut things down. Episode 8 is supported by Snocountry.com. Visit http://www.snocountry.com/mix to enter your name for their weekly lift ticket drawings.

In today's episode we visit with the Vermont Agency of Education as well as MMMUSD educational leaders to introduce the work happening with P.L.P.'s or Personalized Learning Plans. This is a first of many visits to the topic.

Chuck Ross was appointed as the Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets by Governor Peter Shumlin and took office in January of 2011. Prior to his current role as Secretary, he served as U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy’s State Director for 16 years. Before joining Leahy’s staff, Ross was a farmer and legislator from Hinesburg, Vermont. During his six years in the Vermont State Legislature, Ross served as Chair of the House Natural Resource and Energy Committee. He has served on the Board of Directors at Shelburne Farms; on the Advisory Board of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont; as an advisory member of the Vermont Council on Rural Development; and as Vermont’s National Democratic Committeeman. Ross formerly served as a trustee at Fletcher Allen Health Care; a trustee at the University of Vermont; a member of the Hinesburg Planning Commission; and a member of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission. Born in Burlington, Vermont, he graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in Geography in 1978 and from the University of Washington with an M.A. in Geography in 1982. Thanks to our sponsor, Hearst Ranch. “If the 98% percent of people who are not involved in food production are not literate in agriculture, it’s going to be difficult to address the problems of our state, our country, and our globe when it comes to food issues.” [3:15] — Chuck Ross, Secretary of Agriculture (VT), Greenhorn Radio