Guy Page is the editor and publisher of the Vermont Daily Chronicle.
Freedom of the press is freedom of speech with a bullhorn. The average newspaper, radio or TV station knocks on the doors of thousands of Vermont homes and says “I have something important to tell you.” The press is a powerful public good. It must be protected from government suppression.
“I do think FPF has gone overboard in controlling posts—at least our local monitors. Any attempt to have a reasonable discussion on BLM for example, set them off immediately—even when I presented them with pretty outrageous posts in favor of BLM. I think it’s time to move to other social media where free speech is actually encouraged.”
About 50 cold but enthusiastic supporters of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution rallied today in front of the Vermont State House Menorah and Christmas tree Friday. The event was set on the last day of Chanukah to remember the deliverance of a small but determined minority.
An individual cleaning out his mother’s basement in Rutland came upon a box belonging to Hughes. Hughes had stored the box in the basement with the mother’s permission. The individual opened Hughes’ box and discovered VHS videotapes which depicted small children known to the individual engaging in sexually explicit activity. The individual also recognized Hughes’ voice on the tapes.
All three members of the newly formed Vermont Cannabis Control Board will be appointed by the governor after being vetted by the Cannabis Control Board Nominating Committee. Pay is equal to that of a Vermont state judge.
The Vermont Climate Council will meet Monday. Despite receiving multiple nominations and applications, the Speaker of the House has not filled the vacant “Fuel Sector” position as called for in the Global Warming Solutions Act.
Covid crisis opportunity to create longterm change, Dems say at caucus BY GUY PAGE ON DECEMBER 17, 2020 • ( LEAVE A COMMENT ) The Covid-19 crisis is an opportunity to accomplish longterm economic development and legislative […]
Significantly, HHS’s notice of alleged violation against UVM Medical Center continues to raise serious constitutional concerns as an attack against the long-established, fundamental right to access abortion services. It also presents serious constitutional issues in light of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which forms the principle of separation of church and state.
The Covid-19 crisis is an opportunity to accomplish longterm economic development and legislative goals, Vermont Democratic lawmakers said in a Dec. 5 caucus meeting.
Compulsory vaccination supporters “use the word ‘anti-vaxxer’ like it’s some kind of slur now,” Redic said. Where is that kind of malign response coming from? she asked.
Days after public outcry prompted AT&T to petition the Public Utility Commission to dismiss its bid for a tower on Buffalo Mountain, landowner Gary Bellavance posted to a forum: “I’ve decided to clear cut Buffalo mountain.” The Bellavance property, he said, spans 40 acres of the Mountain. He wrote “What bothered me most was the fact that people can tell you what to do and how you need to manage your land. This is land I pay taxes on.”
Today’s News: UVMMC backs abortionist over pro-life nurse in civil rights case. Parrot smuggler sentenced. Businesses get state $$ for ‘job retention.’ Game warden impersonators arrested.
UVMMC knew the nurse was on a “list of objectors” – but assigned her anyway.
The nurse wasn’t told it was an abortion until she walked into the operating room. By saying ‘don’t hate me,’ the doctor knew of the conscientious objection. The nurse was required to proceed even though others present could have assisted.
Police have charged two Highgate men with impersonating game wardens and assault in connection with a Nov. 20 incident at a Highgate home.
Rodriguez told law enforcement that he intended to give these birds to his mother and sister as Christmas gifts. The government questioned the credibility of that claim pointing out that these birds were collectively worth at least $10,000 and the defendant had a history of profit motivated crimes involving theft, fraud, and drug dealing.
At least three-quarters of the businesses taking government ’employment incentive’ money to stay in Vermont would not have left the state regardless, a study by Vermont Auditor Doug Hoffer concludes. Furthermore, prosperous, well-employed Chittenden County derives more employment benefit from these programs than the rest of the state combined.
No charges will be brought involving the Orphanage, which closed in 1974. Due to the statutes of limitation, which limit the timeframe during which criminal charges can be brought by the State, only the crime of murder would have been prosecutable due to the passage of time since the events of the allegations.
State server taken down after cyberattack. No employer-mandated vax for “many months.” Wrongway driver, six injured. Burlington council passes oil, gas heat ban.
Formal FDA approval of the Covid-19 vaccine is “many months” away, Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine said at the press conference today.
The State of Vermont took a server offline as a result of being among 18,000 computer users affected by a nationwide cyberattack, Chief Information Officer John Quinn said this morning.
Several people were injured in a series of crashes Sunday night, Dec. 13 on Interstate 91 in the town of Dummerston involving a wrong-way driver who sideswiped a police cruiser and then struck a van.
The Burlington City Council voted 10-2 Monday evening for a charter change resolution that may result in a ban of oil and gas heat. Voters in Burlington will decide on March 2, 2021 whether to approve the charter change. If they do, the Legislature will be asked to sign off on the proposal.
Ratted out on police line, Stamford gathers publicly to light Christmas tree. Randolph woman arrested for stabbing, killing man. VT electors cast three votes for Biden, Harris.
The Vermont State Police has arrested Victoria Griffin, 29, of Randolph on suspicion of second-degree murder related to a stabbing that occurred Saturday, Dec. 12.
Vermont has three electors. The results of today’s vote were three votes cast for Joseph Biden for President, and three votes cast for Kamala Harris for Vice President.
“Laura, you took an oath to uphold the Constitution, I would imagine, and you guys are running over it along with the governor.” – Stamford selectman Dan Potvin
At noon Friday, December 18, the final day of Chanukah, supporters of the U.S. Constitution will gather at the Vermont State House lawn for the first in a series of rallies to support the Constitution and Bill of Rights, starting with the First Amendment.
Employers can mandate vaccination but not until final FDA approval / Burlington’s Carbon Reduction War on the Poor / Former NEA negotiator urges voters reject 9% statewide tax increase / Relax, Vermont’s moon rocks are safe / Prop 5 could prioritize abortion, etc. over other procedures / Original fish hatchery rebuilt
Once the Federal Drug Administration has given final approval to a Covid-19 vaccine, an employer may mandate vaccination for employees, Health Commissioner Mark Levine said at Friday’s press conference.
The Queen City’s proposed “expect to suffer” fossil-fuel heat conversion program would inflict the most pain on the homeless and very poor.
The renovated facility will produce 25,000 pounds of fish — approximately 60,000 brook and rainbow trout annually for stocking in state waters. These fish will provide opportunities for anglers and play an important role in Vermont’s economy. Previous studies from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have shown the Roxbury Fish Culture Station has contributed about $2.4 million dollars in annual economic impact to the state.
I encourage the UVM MC board members to contemplate how that guarantee, if successfully passed, will impact the delivery of health care services. And to further contemplate to what extent abortions, sterilizations, sterilization reversals, surrogacy, fertility treatments, gender reassignment surgeries and their reversals, and other reproductive services would become a priority of not only funding, but also the provision of care over other health care services that are not a constitutional guarantee.
An investigation by a Texas attorney, and former NASA security officer, revealed that some of U.S. President Richard Nixon’s goodwill gifts of Project Apollo moon rock “chips” to all 50 states have gone missing.
Education budgets also generally are approved routinely. This is the year that this habit absolutely must change. Vermont’s economy is in dire straits. The local education budgets must be scrutinized and challenged before they are approved.
The latter case provides a telling, succinct explanation by U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan: “As this case demonstrates, we are working hard to root out long time drug traffickers in Vermont and from source cities like Hartford, Connecticut.”
With a month left to go, gun sales in Vermont appear to have exceeded 50,000 for the first time since the federal government began conducting firearms background checks in 1998
In a public statement issued December 7, Vermont Governor Phil Scott contrasted the number of Americans killed during the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor – 2463 – with the 8913 Americans who died Dec. 3-6 of Covid-19.
The defendants are: Ralph Mariani (a.k.a. “D”), 27, of East Hartford, Connecticut; Cedano Brownswell, 26, of Hartford, Connecticut; and Rashane Wedderburn, 25, of Hartford, Connecticut. The five-count indictment includes charges that: Mariani and Wedderburn distributed Fentanyl; Mariani possessed, with the intent to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl; and Brownswell possessed cocaine base.
Levine unaware of any new cases at Irasburg church / state to text ‘close contacts’ / Legislature on the brink, Dem. Rep. says / VT to reduce rooms & meals tax as proposed in NH?
I was greatly encouraged to have heard a recognition by many of the imperative for us — in these difficult days particularly — to collaborate with those “across the aisle.” But I also heard some leading voices call for a “doubling down” in terms of a more partisan agenda. This worries me.
Responding to an inquiry by Ed Barber of the Newport Daily Express, Levine said “I can’t say that with certainty. I’d have to look into it. I hope there aren’t, honestly.” (To which Barber replied, “I understand that.”)
If you get a text from the number 86911, it’s the Vermont Health Department calling. Message: you’ve been exposed. Quarantine immediately.
According to stories in the New Hampshire media, Governor Chris Sununu (R) wants to cut their state rooms and meals tax, which now stands at 9%, the same as Vermont.
National experts question Vermont’s social gathering ban. Dems pick former abortion lobbyist, current solar developer for House leadership. Commentary: Slate Ridge, Irasburg church, media bias, Turner on GOP wins, Roper on absentee ballots
Regardless of how we got here, or who is at fault, we can be sure of two things: that gun control politicians will always double down on bad policy with more gun control, and, if the situation in West Pawlet continues to deteriorate, gun control politicians certainly will not propose a “fix” that involves repealing the prohibition of anything.
Gov. Phil Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine say data and science support the need to ban multi-household gatherings. But epidemiologists like Julia Marcus of Harvard University and other public health leaders say the data does no such thing, according to the November 23 New York Times.
Vermont House Democrats Saturday December 5 chose a former professional abortion rights lobbyist and a solar power developer to leadership positions for the 2021-2022 Legislative Biennium.
Nothing reinforces conservatives’ negative media stereotypes more than watching news coverage of an event they attended being falsely portrayed as racist. They know they’re not racist. They know the event (say, the Support the Police rally in July) wasn’t racist. But coverage focused on one unknown person making one derogatory comment. Conclusion: The media came with an agenda.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott’s administration recently initiated a COVID testing regime for a tiny rural church. Problem is, no congregant appears to have been infected, and the person whom the state says tested COVID-positive did not attend services — but the congregation was asked to get tested anyway.
Don Turner: “Clearly, under the Golden Dome, Vermonters weren’t happy. Overall, Vermont Republicans will see a net gain of four in the House and a net gain of one in the Senate. Vermonters wanted more balance, and they’ll get it in January. The Democrats have lost their supermajority in the Legislature.”
(Editor’s note: in the coming legislative session, the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Secretary of State will discuss whether to continue mailing absentee ballots to every registered voter. This commentary by Ethan […]
Surveys found 20-30 percent of brown bullhead had skin lesions or tumors. The prevalence of lesions and tumors in wild fish has been used as an indicator of environmental quality for many decades.
This innovative work shows how electric vehicles (EVs) and the clean energy they store can become a reliable source of power to reduce peak demands which will in turn save money and reduce carbon.
Finding a gift that will continue to give for a full year is a challenge, but the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has a solution on their website — a license gift certificate for hunting and fishing licenses.
Ludlam was the spiritual leader of the Church of the Rock from 1983 until March when he retired. His journey encompassed every aspect of church and community life. The high points of joy within the church’s sanctuary with weddings and birth and the low and sad points of funerals and death. Ludlum took it all on in stride and became a pillar of the church and Franklin County community over the span of 37 years.
Recovery may last a year, Scott says. Covid in Burlington sewers. GOP re-elects House leadership. Commentary: BLM = Be Like Marx?
After months of discussions, proposals, and counter proposals, including a contentious November 16 virtual debate, where Mayor Lucas Herring had four over-eager participants ejected, The Barre City Council finally approved a compromise to raise the BLM flag through December, but also the “Thin Blue Line” flag in January. “Clearly we’re not all on the same page here,” stated one attendee. That turn of phrase could be a sublime microcosm for the American public’s polarizing reaction to BLM.
The Vermont House Republican Caucus unanimously re-elected its leadership on Monday. Representative Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney) will return as House Minority Leader, while Representative Rob LaClair (R-Barre Town) will return as House Assistant Minority Leader.
“The days matter in our response to this pandemic,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “We must remember that it’s in our collective power to bring this surge back down. We need everyone to cease social gatherings outside of your household and to get tested if you have participated in a social gathering over the last week.”
Vermont’s recovery from the pandemic won’t be over when the vaccine arrives next month, Scott cautioned. “This is going to take many many months….it could be up to a year,” Scott said. Levine said the optimists put the recovery date at spring 2021, the pessimists say late summer. “We’ll all have to practice masking and social distancing for a long period of time….into the spring, for sure,” he said.
Pandemic economy winners and losers / Guv wants State control of policing policies / Swanton mom charged in death of infant son / Don Keelan, new columnist / deer poaching / Barre JP says lax standards on absentee ballot envelopes
While alone with her child, 28-year-old Stephanie Gero caused injuries to Leo Cushing prior to his death. In addition, investigators learned that Leo’s father, 36-year-old Matthew Cushing, was aware Stephanie Gero was prohibited from being alone with the infant, but that he allowed her to be with the child unsupervised while he was taking a shower.
If Vermont waits to address the reduction of gas emissions for another year, so be it. It will not make an iota of difference to the world’s effort to reduce such emissions. But, it will make life for tens of thousands of Vermonters less stressful.
The Vermont Department of Public Safety wants public feedback on its plan to “modernize policing across Vermont” by increasing the state role in diversity hiring, policies for use of force and body cameras, banning invasive surveillance, and more.
Wardens remained on scene conducting surveillance for several hours until a black truck pulled up to the field and backed up to the deer shortly after 11 o’clock. The operator of the truck retrieved the deer and dragged it back to his truck. Wardens apprehended the operator, Stephen Burt.
Federal stimulus deficit spending exceeding the national spending on World War II (adjusted for inflation) is driving the economy – not underlying economic strength. This spending also has created “disparate winners and losers,” Kavet said.
As we encountered these problems during early processing of mail-in ballots, our Town Clerk was told by SOS office staff that the only thing required on the “Certificate” was the “signature,” and even that didn’t have to be legible!
At his Nov. 27 press conference, Gov. Phil Scott claimed the SCOTUS decision upholds Vermont Covid regulations allowing religious service attendance of up to 50% of building occupancy. He referenced this passage in the ruling: “there are many other less restrictive rules that could be adopted to minimize the risk to those attending religious services. Among other things, the maximum attendance at a religious service could be tied to the size of the church or synagogue.”
Friday, the Vermont Health Department issued a press release claiming an attendee had tested positive and urged anyone who had contact with the person to get tested. The press release and subsequent media coverage prompted Pastor George Lawson of the New Hope Bible Church to investigate. He determined that not only was the person not present, but also had been tested three times – each time with negative results.
Dec. 1 at 9:20 pm, Vermont State Police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Family Dollar located on Main Street in Orleans. At about 9:15 pm an individual entered the Family Dollar, displayed a weapon and demanded money. He was described as a thin white male about six feet tall and was wearing a dark colored sweatshirt and black pants.
Dec. 1 2020: Restrictions to ease as vaccinations take hold, glass recycling laws flouted by solid waste district, only 17% of FT 2-year degree students graduate on time, VTrans did righteous takedown of Covid protest banner, 9 school districts didn’t ask the Thanksgiving question; more
Gov. Scott hopes to relax restrictions as Vermonters become vaccinated, he said at today’s press conference. And Commissioner Mark Levine insists a worshipper at New Hope Bible Church in Irasburg has tested positive – despite media reports to the contrary.
By Guy Page At least nine Vermont school and supervisory union districts reportedly held in-person learning Monday and did not ask children if they were part of multi-household gatherings over the Thanksgiving […]
Only 17% of fulltime students enrolled in Vermont’s two year colleges graduate in two years, according to a Vermont Student Assistance Corp. summer 2020 study.
A banner raised Sunday morning to protest liability exemption for the Covid-19 vaccine was removed by state workers this afternoon in accordance with state guidelines.
The scandal involves the state’s largest municipal solid waste management entity, the Chittenden Solid Waste District, illegally dumping tens of thousands of tons of glass contaminated with plastics, organic materials and metal.
Not discussed are the huge – for Vermont – benefits shoveled out to the renewable industrial complex: feed in tariffs, standard offer, production tax credits, sales tax exemptions, bonus depreciation, free use of the highways by subsidized electric vehicles, and the Renewable Portfolio Standard that requires utilities to buy high-priced electricity from wind and solar producers.
Vermont’s fiscal experts will brief all legislators on the state’s economic and fiscal condition at an all-legislators’ meeting via zoom 9:30 AM, Dec. 3, according to the Vermont Legislature’s website.
Today’s News: Seven school districts refuse to question students about Thanksgiving / WRJ drug use, homelessness increase feared / Bar associations won’t back First Amendment resolution / Covid-19 vaccine protest banner removed
This decision to officially become more “welcoming,” and potential state legislation to decriminalize or legalize hard drugs, has led some Hartford residents to express concern about public safety and drug abuse.
At least seven Vermont school districts say they will hold in-person learning today and will not ask children if they were part of multi-household gatherings over the Thanksgiving vacation, as directed by State of Vermont Covid-19 guidelines.
A few days ago, I asked my colleagues in Caledonia County Bar to urge the Vermont Bar Association to take up the resolution. The response? I was verbally assaulted and publicly shamed. Lawyers said that the resolution was “right wing lunacy”, called my defense of the First Amendment “crazy rantings”, and said my proposal was “raw politics”. Several lawyers told me to stop sending messages—they were busy. One lawyer told me to go home and lie down.
A banner raised Sunday morning to protest liability exemption for the Covid-19 vaccine was removed by state workers this afternoon, Jennifer Stella of Health Choice Vermont said. The removal of the banner raised by Health Choice Vermont may be in conflict with a Scott administration policy allowing messaging on state highway property, enacted in June in response to complaints from Black Lives Matter protesters.
Today’s News: School district won’t comply / Health Dept. says Irasburg church attendees should be tested / Recent News
“The Governor’s order, and the subsequent guidance from the Agency of Education, potentially thrust our young children into adult conversations and decisions, which is not appropriate,” Georgia Elementary School principals Julie Conrad and Steve Emery wrote in a Nov. 25 letter to parents. “It also potentially sets up situations where being dishonest could take precedence over our working together to meet every student and family’s individual needs, and that is not a practice that is in keeping with the character we encourage in our students and each other.”
BURLINGTON, VT – The Vermont Department of Health is urging anyone who attended Sunday services at New Hope Bible Church in Irasburg on November 22 to get tested for COVID-19.
BY GUY PAGE ON NOVEMBER 27, 2020 His administration’s plan to quiz students on where they spent Thanksgiving struck a “guilt nerve” and a “resistance nerve” as shown by vehement community pushback, Gov. […]
With release of a Covid-9 vaccine expected within two weeks, Health Commissioner Mark Levine said “there’s no talk of mandatory vaccination” in national advisory councils overseeing vaccination release.
This week’s US Supreme Court decision striking down New York restrictions on religious gatherings explicitly upholds Vermont Gov. Phil Scott’s executive order on religious gatherings, both Scott and an administration official said today.
Editor’s Note: the author, a Chittenden County resident and mother of three, holds a Masters Degree in Public Health. November 25, 2020 To Whom it May Concern and May it Concern You: […]
As of 11:44 pm, I’ve only read the first few pages, can’t tell if it’s a bombshell or a dud or just a respectable but insufficient hand-grenade.
Reprinted from today’s reading from Our Daily Bread In the seventeenth century, Martin Rinkart served as a clergyman in Saxony, Germany, for more than thirty years during times of war and plague. […]
If you’re nostalgic for a taste of a Thanksgiving from the good old days, you might want to watch “Thanks to Vermont,” a 1955 promotional video for Vermont products.
On Nov. 24, Scott asked Vermonters not to shop on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday retailing season) if they didn’t have a need to. The normally pro-business Scott may be hoping to stop the new surge of COVID cases, but his comments seem to have rattled small business owners.
Will Covid-19 vaccine be mandatory? / Readers comment on plan to ask students about Thanksgiving travel plans / Health Dept. says “you are not allowed to gather with people you don’t live with.”
On August 25, both Gov. Phil Scott and Health Commissioner Mark Levine said they were open but not committed to mandatory vaccination for Covid-19. They took a ‘wait and see’ approach. Would the vaccine be safe? Effective? As Gov. Scott said: “details do matter.”
After Gov. Phil Scott yesterday announced that on Monday, school workers will ask both students and parents if they traveled for Thanksgiving, Associated Press reporter Wilson Ring asked if this plan puts children in the position of tattling on their parents. Many readers don’t think much of his answer.
Statement from VT Dept. of Health about Thanksgiving: You are not allowed to gather with people you don’t live with. This includes gathering both inside and outside, and in public and private spaces.
Beavers slain in East Topsham / Kids asked to rat on parents about Thanksgiving? / Gov. Scott gets invite to Bob Orleck’s house for Thanksgiving / Generosity helps needy Vermonters stay warm
The demise of the semiaquatic rodents and the damage to their dam is the result of an onsite visit from a representative from Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, an entity which advises Vermont towns on land management.
