Spirit of Skiing Award
BOLTON — The New England Ski Museum announced Ralph DesLauriers and the DesLauriers family of Bolton Valley Resort, Vermont, as the recipient of this year’s Spirit of Skiing Award.
Ralph DesLauriers and his father developed Bolton Valley Resort in the 1960s. Continuing the family legacy, Ralph’s children now actively manage the resort, ensuring the spirit of skiing thrives for future generations.
Join the New England Ski Museum in an après-ski celebration from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the Timberline Lodge in Bolton Valley Resort to celebrate the DesLauriers family and their contribution to the sport of skiing.
Tickets for the event are $75 and can be purchased at skimuseum.org/sosa online, or by sending a check to New England Ski Museum, 135 Tramway Drive, Franconia, NH 03580-4403. Visit skimuseum.org/sosa for more information.
Chamber award
The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has selected Major General Gregory Knight, Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard, as the 2025 Citizen of the Year.
He was selected for his contributions to Vermont’s safety, economy and military readiness. Through his leadership, workforce development initiatives, and dedication to ensuring every soldier and airman feels valued, he has exemplified the spirit of service and self-sacrifice this award honors.
The award will be presented at a celebratory event Wednesday, May 21, at Von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort in Stowe.
Market 32/Price Chopper
Salvation Army bell ringers at Market 32/Price Chopper stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire raised over $618,000 during the six-week “Red Kettle” holiday campaign in November and December 2024. The money raised will help fund essential services, including food assistance, shelter, and emergency relief.
Lake ice
The Department of Environmental Conservation invites the public to report when Vermont lakes and ponds lose their ice cover. Also known as the “ice-out date,” this date marks when lakes or ponds become ice-free from shore to shore. Tracking ice-out dates helps DEC scientists decide when to begin seasonal water quality sampling efforts.
You can report lake ice observations using the DEC’s Lake Ice Reporting form at survey123.arcgis.com/share/af70b825b90c49408f1e52e0778ab979?open=menu.
Public Assets Institute
MONTPELIER — Leslie Black-Plumeau, research and community relations director at Vermont Housing Finance Agency, has joined the board of the Public Assets Institute.
She has 25 years experience in program evaluation and public policy research in the areas of housing, human services and community development.
A nonpartisan nonprofit, Public Assets is Vermont’s independent research organization on state budget, tax and economic issues, and source for state fiscal and policy analysis.
Ski history award
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — The International Ski History Association has awarded Vermonter Rick Moulton and his film “Mad River Glen: A 75-Year Fellowship of Skiers” the 2025 SKADE award. The award is named after the Nordic goddess, Skadi, associated with skiing, winter and the mountains.
The award will be given Friday, March 28.
The Association conference held this year is in collaboration with The United States Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame.
Barn preservation
Gov. Phil Scott, the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (DHP) and the Vermont Advisory Council on Historic Preservation announced the 2025 Barn Preservation Grant awardees.
The program is awarding $373,026 in matching grants to 23 preservation projects across 11 Vermont counties.
Grants awarded this year include projects from Arlington to Troy. Grants will support roofing repairs at the historic Phelps Farm (now Health Hero Farm) in South Hero, and a full roof replacement at Sunday Bell Farm, a dairy and diversified livestock farm in Danville. Framing repairs and drainage work will be completed with grant funds at Bagley Farm/Clearfield Farm in Granville, an organic vegetable farm.
Other projects funded include cupola and slate roof repairs of Remington-Williamson Farm in Huntington, repair of a hay barn, horse barn and cow barn at Valley Ridge Farm in Orwell, and replacement of a section of failing concrete foundation with traditional stonework at Bread and Puppet’s main barn on their farm in Glover.
Covered Bridge Week
A congratulatory proclamation was signed by Gov. Phil Scott to honor the 25th anniversary of the Vermont Covered Bridge Society. In addition, Aug. 2 to 9 has been declared Covered Bridge Week in Vermont to highlight the historic, cultural, and architectural significance of Vermont’s iconic covered bridges.
Vermont was once home to more than 500 covered bridges; floods, fires and the passage of time have claimed many. The mission of VCBS is to preserve the 100 Vermont bridges that remain, the highest density per square mile of any state in the U.S. These bridges stand as symbols of craftsmanship, resilience and New England charm.
Girl Scout cookies
Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains have decided to extend the time its members can sell cookies.
Donating through Girl Scouts’ Gift of Caring program is a way to send a taste of home to servicemen and women serving abroad, and say thank-you to our local veterans and essential workers.
Anyone can make a tax-deductible donation of any amount by going to bit.ly/4fquQeW. Cookies will be delivered to area hospitals, retirement and medical facilities, shelters, food banks, police and fire departments, and to the military.
Governor’s Institute
BURLINGTON — Governor’s Institutes of Vermont and Champlain College are expanding partnership to offer college credit opportunities for Vermont high school students.
This summer, 150 students will participate in three Institutes held on Champlain College campus: June 21 to 29, Technology & Design (college credit available); June 22 to 27, Entrepreneurship (college credit available); July 10 to 20, Global Issues & Youth Action.
Wood Warms
The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation is taking action to help Vermonters stay warm this winter through the Wood Warms program, which provides free firewood from timber harvests on state lands to those in need. Visit fpr.vermont.gov/wood-warms for more information.
Birds of Vermont Museum
HUNTINGTON — March and April 2025 events at Birds of Vermont Museum, 900 Sherman Hollow Road, Huntington. All events are at the Birds of Vermont Museum unless otherwise noted.
The museum is open by appointment and for special events from now through April 30; call 802-434-2167 or email museum@birdsofvermont.org to arrange a visit.
The trails are open from sunrise to sunset, every day; south trails (Spear, Discovery, Story) are recommended. Trail maps and more information are available at birdsofvermont.org online.
Bird Monitoring Walks, 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday, March 29, and 7:30 to 9 a.m. Saturday, April 26, max. 12 people, free, suggested $5-$15, bring binoculars, tick repellent, bottle of water. Register at sevendaystickets.com/organizations/birds-of-vermont-museum or call 802-434-2167.
Unbuckled Foundation
SHELBURNE — The Unbuckled Foundation, founded in 2023 by Becca and Blain Newton after Becca’s employer terminated her following their 3-year-old son’s leukemia diagnosis, empowers caregivers of children with long-term illnesses by connecting them with essential legal resources.
These services, now being piloted at the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, reach families who need support while managing their children’s health. The foundation also supports employers by helping them navigate the complexities of caregiver accommodations when employees need to take time off to care for their children.
Unbuckled is partnering with WorkLife Law, a national advocacy and research organization dedicated to advancing the rights of family caregivers in the workplace and in education.
VTG&W Prevent bear conflicts
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has begun to receive reports of bears coming out of their dens, and is urging Vermonters to remove their birdfeeders and take additional steps now to prevent conflicts with bears over the spring and summer.
— Take down birdfeeders between mid-March and December.
— Store garbage in bear-resistant containers or structures, trash cans alone are not enough.
— Follow the steps at vtfishandwildlife.com for composting in bear country.
— Use electric fences to keep chickens and honeybees safe.
— Request a bear-resistant dumpster from your waste hauler.
— Feed your pets indoors.
— Never feed bears, it is illegal.
Writers for Recovery
RUTLAND — Spring Writers for Recovery Workshop will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, beginning March 19, through April 30, at Turning Point Center, 141 State St., Rutland.
Free and open to those in recovery or anyone impacted by addiction, register at www.thepaperpoet.com/event-info/writers-for-recovery-spring-workshop-2025-03-19-14-30, or drop in.
Writers for Recovery provides writing workshops, trainings and talks to recovery groups, residential treatment facilities, and recovery organizations.
Cliff areas
Two cliff sites on the Green Mountain National Forest’s Rochester and Middlebury Ranger Districts are once again temporarily closed to protect critical nesting habitat for peregrine falcons.
As of March 15, the Rattlesnake Cliff Area (Salisbury) and the Mount Horrid/Great Cliff Area (Rochester) are closed until Aug. 1.
The Forest Service works with Audubon Vermont, Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife, and other nonprofit organizations to protect peregrine falcons.
Rutland Audubon
Tickets are on sale for the raffle of a 10 ft. Lifetime Cruze100 kayak with paddle. Tickets are $2 for one; $5 for three. Drawing will be May 10. Proceeds will support Rutland County Audubon Scholarship Fund. To purchase tickets, email birding@rutlandcountyaudubonsociety.org.
Call for vendors
CASTLETON — Friends of Castleton Parks and Recreation Inc. will host their second annual Castleton Town-Wide Yard Sale from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at Castleton Recreation Center, 47 Mechanic St., Castleton.
To be included on the map of same day local yard sales, the cost is $10.
Individuals or small groups, can reserve $25 vendor spaces. Vendors can set up from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 2; setup starts 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 3; no refunds and no early bird setups.
Vendor application deadline is April 25, space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Food vendors welcome to apply for outdoor locations.
For more information, emailcampsue1035@gmail.com, or call 802-273-3969, or visit friendscastletonre.wixsite.com/friends-of-castleton.
West Rutland Town-Wide Yard SaleWEST RUTLAND — Town of West Rutland’s Wicked Good Yard Sale, will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 9 and 10.
To be included on the event map, register with the town. If you don’t have a big yard but still want to participate, limited spaces are available on the Town Green on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information or to register, call 802-438-2263 or email info@westrutlandvt.org.
Animal Welfare
The Department of Public Safety announced the selection of Lisa Milot to lead the newly created Division of Animal Welfare.
She begins work in May, at which time the new division will begin creating a comprehensive plan to coordinate animal welfare services throughout Vermont.
Director Milot served as a faculty member at the University of Georgia School of Law since 2007 with a focus on animal welfare policy. She also has experience at the federal level as a policy consultant, and in the Georgia state animal welfare movement.
Ladder safety
March has been designated as Ladder Safety Month, spearheaded by the American Ladder Institute.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 500,000 people in the U.S. are treated in emergency departments for ladder-related injuries each year.
ALI promotes its free, comprehensive, training tools on proper ladder usage for businesses, trade schools and individuals. These courses are available at www.laddersafetytraining.org online.
Farm Credit East
Farm and forestry business owners and operators across Vermont have received an estimated $6.9 million in patronage dividends from Farm Credit East, ACA, the Northeast’s largest agricultural lending cooperative.
As owners of the financial cooperative, Farm Credit East customers share in its financial success through patronage dividends. This model enables Farm Credit East to offer competitive interest rates up front, and then return a share of net earnings to customer-owners via patronage dividends.
Mountain Top Resort
CHITTENDEN — Mountain Top Resort was named the World’s Greatest Wedding Venue by World’s Greatest TV in the summer of 2024.
On Feb. 1 and 8, their segment aired on Bloomberg Network as part of the 385th episode of the show. Their segment and the rest of the episode are available to watch on most streaming services, such as Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Hulu. The segment is also available to watch on the World’s Greatest TV website, free for a limited time.
VCBB
Vermont’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (VT-BEAD) Program is now accepting proposals from internet service providers to implement Vermont’s $239 million, federally funded, program to deploy broadband internet service throughout the state.
The VT-BEAD Full Proposal portal will close 11:55 p.m. April 16.
The VCBB is aware the BEAD program is under federal review. Meanwhile, VCBB will continue to implement the program in accordance with Vermont’s initial proposal.
For more information, go to BEAD website or email VCBB.BEAD@vermont.gov.
Call for artists
POULTNEY — Stone Valley Arts announced the call for submissions for the 2025 Artist Member Show, opening with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. April 26, and will run through June 8.
Open to artists and creators of all genres and techniques, artists may submit up to five pieces, with the deadline of April 1. Acceptance notifications will be sent by April 6. Accepted works cannot be withdrawn before the show’s end.
All images should be uploaded in high resolution at 300 dpi. You can submit your art at tinyurl.com/SVA25. If not yet a member or need to renew membership, do so at tinyurl.com/SVA26.
Artwork drop-off is from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13, or by appointment. All pieces must be prepared for display, with a wire or sawtooth hanger, and labeled with the title, medium, price and artist’s name. At least one piece must be for sale (unless approved otherwise); artist receives 70%, Stone Valley Arts 30%. Artwork pick-up is from 1 to 4 p.m. June 8, or by appointment.
For questions, email stonevalleyartscenter@gmail.com.
Truth and Reconciliation
The Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission announced Amanda Lucía Garcés as the newest commissioner.
Garcés brings experience in social justice advocacy, education equity, and immigrant rights to her role.
As director of policy, education, and outreach at Vermont Human Rights Commission, she led efforts to shape Vermont’s Education Quality Standards and Ethnic Studies Framework. She also chaired the Vermont Criminal Justice Council Fair and Impartial Policing Committee.
As a commissioner, Garcés will continue her mission to confront Vermont’s past injustices and work toward a more equitable future for all Vermonters.
VAMHAR award
Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery presented its Legislative Champion Award to Patty McCarthy at Recovery Day 2025, recognizing her dedication to advocating for individuals in recovery and shaping policies that support substance use disorder treatment and recovery services.
McCarthy has spent over 25 years working to prioritize dignity, access to care, and person-centered recovery support services. A Vermont native, she previously served as director of Friends of Recovery-VT before becoming CEO of Faces & Voices of Recovery, a national advocacy organization for the recovery community.
She played a role in passage of the SUPPORT Act to strengthen national recovery infrastructure, and has been a voice in Vermont’s legislative efforts to expand harm reduction, peer support, and recovery housing.
Grant award
DUMMERSTON — The Landmark Trust USA has been awarded a $50,000 Historic Property Redevelopment Program Grant from The 1772 Foundation in cooperation with National Preservation Partners Network.
The grant will support the organization’s preservation stewardship model, rescuing historic properties and funding their continued maintenance and management by offering the properties as short-term vacation rentals.
Currently managing five historic properties in southern Vermont, the first project to be undertaken will be Naulakha Stable rehabilitation, the 1896 horse stable on the grounds of Rudyard Kipling’s Naulakha estate, scheduled to be completed this year.
Cheese champions
Vermont dairy teams had success at the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest. The 2025 dairy processing competition was hosted by Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association.
This year, Vermont Cabot Creamery Cooperative/Agri-Mark teams racked up 15 ribbons, including seven first place finishes. The Cabot teams excelled in several cheese classes, including cheddar, natural slices and shredded. Cabot also took first place in the “Sour Cream” category with Cabot Crème Fraiche. The Agri-Mark team, based out of Middlebury, earned two first place finishes in the “Whey” category.
Jasper Hill Farm, from Greensboro, and Cabot teamed up to win a blue ribbon in the “Natural Rhined Cheddar” category. Cabot Clothbound was nominated for best overall. Jasper Hill went on to place “Best of Class” in three other categories with Bayley Hazen Blue, Withersbrook Blue and Willoughby, a cheese also nominated for best overall.
Waitsfield’s von Trapp Farmstead earned second place in the “Blue Veined Cheeses” category for Mad River Blue. Springbrook Farm Cheese, from Reading, took home a blue ribbon in the Raclette category and was also nominated for best overall cheese.
In the goat’s milk cheese categories, Vermont Creamery, from Websterville, brought home several awards, including a first place finish for Blueberry, Lemon & Thyme Goat Cheese.
For a list of all the award winners visit: uschampioncheese.org/results.
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