Vermont Habitat Stamp raises $415,000 for conservation in 2024

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Habitat Stamp raised $243,888 dollars in 2024 and leveraged a $171,266 federal match, totaling more than $415,000 for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s land conservation and habitat improvement efforts.

In 2024, the department spent $129,385 dollars from the Habitat Stamp Fund.  These dollars contributed to habitat improvement assistance with landowners and conservation partners on 96 different properties in 62 towns to benefit native pollinators, songbirds, amphibians, bats, white-tailed deer, turkeys, and other wildlife. 

Technical assistance was provided to seven town forests in Duxbury, Newbury, Goshen, Wolcott, Lincoln, Ferrisburgh, and Richmond to help guide forest management plans and improve wildlife habitat. A total of 64 acres of invasive plant control was done on ten Fish and Wildlife Department WMAs.  Fish and Wildlife Department fishery biologists continued efforts to restore habitat along rivers and streams by improving aquatic organism passage, improving streamside habitat and restoring instream cover. 

The Habitat Stamp was inspired by the Vermont Migratory Waterfowl Stamp and Federal Duck Stamp which raise funds for wetland conservation from waterfowl hunters who are required to display a stamp along with their license.  The Habitat Stamp is a way for conservationists who do not typically purchase a hunting, fishing or trapping license to contribute to the state’s habitat conservation efforts.

The 2024 Habitat Stamp Annual Report highlighting the conservation work done through the program is available online at www.vtfishandwildlife.com.  Matching funds for habitat projects sponsored by the stamp have come from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.

Central Vermont Medical Center Board of Trustees welcomes new member Kristin Carlson

Central Vermont Medical Center recently appointed Kristin Carlson of Montpelier, Vermont to its Board of Trustees. Carlson grew up in Worcester, Vermont and is eager to continue her commitment to giving back to the Central Vermont region in this new role.

As the board welcomes Carlson, Joyce Judy will continue to serve as board chair, with Erica Metzger Hare continuing as vice chair and Connie Colman, RN, BSN, Med, as secretary.

Kristin Carlson is the vice president of Strategic and External Affairs for Green Mountain Power. Previously, she was a senior political reporter and anchor at WCAX-TV, where she won multiple journalism awards for her investigative work, including the prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award.

“I grew up in the area, graduated from U-32 and now live in Montpelier,” she said. “I know how important CVMC is to the wellbeing of families and vitality of communities in this part of Vermont. It is an honor to play a role in shaping its future.”

Kristin also serves as chair of the board for ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain and is the vice chair of the Vermont Community Foundation Board. She enjoys hitting the slopes with her husband, watercolor artist Michael Ridge, and their teenager.

Vermont’s 2025 Teacher of the Year: Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver

Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver has been named Vermont’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. Caitlin teaches English and History at Winooski High School, and since being announced TOY, she has been making media appearances, bringing much needed attention to the great work that she, and all Vermont teachers, do for our students. 

Caitlin has been teaching at Winooski High School for six years, and 14 years in total. As a history teacher, English teacher, and reading specialist, she creates powerful, culturally responsive learning environments where students feel respected, valued, and encouraged to embrace their full identities.

“Caitlin’s ability to inspire, challenge, and uplift her students, makes her an exceptional educator, and a true leader in the field,” said Zoie Saunders, Vermont’s Secretary of Education. “We are proud to honor her and we look forward to the impact she will continue to have on Vermont’s students and educators.”

Also recognized are the 2025 Distinguished Finalists for Vermont Teacher of the Year: Jeremy DeMink of Edmunds Middle School and Sonya Shedd of Wolcott Elementary School.

In addition to coverage by VTDigger, Vermont Public, and ABC/FOX, last week, Caitlin was featured on an episode of WCAX’s long-running magazine show, Across the Fence. Watch the interview below, and congratulations, Caitlin!

$3.8 million in Northern Border Regional Commission Grants announced for Vermont communities

Governor Phil Scott, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Peter Welch, and Congresswoman Becca Balint, along with the Northern Border Regional Commissioner (NBRC), today announced the recipients of the NBRC’s Fall 2024 Catalyst Program and Forest Economy Program Awards. Seven projects in Vermont will receive a cumulative $3.88 million in funding, which will support projects including early childhood education, a new surplus crop processing center and food hub, and rural health care clinic upgrades. 

Established in 2008, the NBRC is a Federal-State partnership in northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York designed to stimulate economic growth and inspire collaboration to improve rural economic vitality across the four-state NBRC region. NBRC encourages projects that take a creative approach to accomplishing those goals. 

When evaluating potential projects, the Catalyst Program considers project readiness, economic impacts, impacts on Vermont’s skilled workforce, project location, regional input and priorities, and the project’s transformational nature. Awarded projects in the 2024 Catalyst Fall Competition will help pay for start-up costs—including classroom supplies and furniture for the Orange County Parent Child Center—implement new energy-efficient facilities at the Carlos G. Otis Health Care Center, transform a vacant facility into a childcare center in the Northeast Kingdom, expand water and sewer infrastructure throughout the Town of Essex, and more.   

 The 2024 Catalyst Fall Competition Awardees include:  

• Carlos G. Otis Heath Care Center (Windham County) – $1,000,000: Replace two aging, inefficient structures with a new energy-efficient facility that will increase patient privacy and enhance accessibility.  

• Orange County Parent Child Center (Orange County) – $379,124.82: Funding for furniture, playground equipment and classroom supplies, as well as start-up operations costs towards launching the early childhood education program. 

• Northeast Kingdom Community Action (Essex County) – $62,888: Convert a facility previously utilized as a health clinic into a childcare center providing 8 to 10 new Early Childhood Education spots.  

• Salvation Farms (Lamoille County) – $469,621.30: Establish a 6,100 square foot Surplus Crop Processing Center & Food Hub.  

• Town of Essex (Chittenden County) – $500,000: Planning and design to support the expansion of water and sewer infrastructure throughout the Essex Town Center area where proposed municipal facilities, fire station, library, and community space are planned.  

• Vermont Council on Rural Development (Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor Counties) – $472,192.28: Provide 9 rural communities with targeted, holistic capacity building services and support for long term economic development success. This project will scale up services to meet the overwhelming demand for facilitated community-led prioritization, technical assistance, leadership coaching, and resource guiding. 

Read more from NBRC here.  Pre-applications for the 2025 Catalyst Program are due February 28.