The Laconia (NH) Daily Sun reports that racist graffiti was found at the Laconia State School over the weekend. The graffiti included swastikas, references to white supremacist groups, and a targeted threat to a prominent member of the city’s Jewish community. The FBI has gotten involved.
This comes on the heels of a similar incident earlier this month in Vermont where swastikas and other antisemitic remarks were painted on the Old Stone House observation tower in the Northeast Kingdom town of Brownington. Vermont State Police are investigating.
The Old Stone House was built by Bradford and Corinth native Alexander Twilight. Middlebury College will host a three-day symposium beginning Thursday to commemorate the bicentennial of Alexander Twilight’s graduation from Middlebury. Twilight is believed to be the first African American to earn a degree from an American college or university. – today’s Journal-Opinion newsletter
Homeowner water system grants – Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Wednesday announced $5 million of funding to support low- and moderate-income Vermont homeowners in repairing or replacing their failed or inadequate on-site water or wastewater systems. This is the third round of funding for the program.
Application deadline for ARPA On-Site funding is October 31. For help filling out the required pre-qualification application, call 802-828-0141, 877-344-0354 (toll-free), or ANR.HealthyHomes@vermont.gov.
With limited funding, ANR will select about 200 priority projects to receive funding based on income, environmental impact, household demographics, and severity of system failure. ANR anticipates issuing awards by the spring of 2024. Awardees must complete their projects by September 2026. Applicants must:
- Have a failed or inadequate on-site drinking water and/or wastewater system (also known as wells, springs, septic systems or tanks, leach fields, drywells, or cesspools)
- Own and live on a residential property with either a single-family home or an owner-occupied, multi-family home with up to four units
- Earn a household income of less than $80,835 per year
Treasurer wants public feedback on greenhouse gas reduction financing – The Treasurer’s Office has been tasked by the Legislature to coordinate the State’s climate infrastructure financing efforts, collaborating with stakeholders to maximize the amount of federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds the State may receive, and coordinate these and other greenhouse gas reduction funds.
The Treasurer shall submit recommendations to the General Assembly regarding legislation for Vermont’s climate infrastructure financing on or before January 15, 2024. The Legislature identified a number of specific stakeholders to engage in this work, but Treasurer Mike Pieciak would like to hear from as many Vermonters as possible and incorporate their ideas. Written comments will be accepted through Friday, November 3, 2023 and may be submitted to: Tre.ClimateFinance@vermont.gov.
Treasurer Pieciak will also hold a series of in-person and virtual public meetings this Fall to discuss ideas and strategies on financing Vermont’s climate infrastructure.
Brattleboro tree giveaway – The Brattleboro Tree Advisory Board and VT Urban & Community Forestry Program are teaming up to give away 250 trees in Brattleboro on September 23. During the next week members of both groups will be walking through neighborhoods in Brattleboro and placing door hangers to let people know about the event. For more information about the event please visit Community Canopy Program | Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program (vtcommunityforestry.org).
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