Discover More from This Author: Polly

Artist ‘breathes life’ into ceramics at the Brandon Artists Guild

August 26, 2020
Aug. 28- Oct. 9—BRANDON— The Brandon Artists Guild (BAG) is open for business and featuring a new exhibit by ceramic artist-member Dasha Kalisz. A Space Within, runs from Aug. 28 through Oct. 9.  The exhibit opens with a free reception to meet the artist on Friday, Sept. 4 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Covid…

Governor Scott and DMV announce new online scheduling system for in-person appointments and transactions

August 25, 2020
Montpelier, South Burlington, and Rutland offices will re-open for visits by appointment only Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced the reopening of the Montpelier, South Burlington, and Rutland offices to the public by appointment only using a new online scheduling system on Aug. 25. “Throughout the COVID-19 State of…

Environmental advocates call for implementation of critical clean water rule

August 25, 2020
The Conservation Law Foundation, the Connecticut River Conservancy, the Lake Champlain Committee, Vermont Conservation Voters, and the Vermont Natural Resources Council called on the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) today to issue the Three-Acre General Permit, ending its two-year delay on a key piece of the state’s Clean Water Act and Lake Champlain cleanup…

ACCD announces Restart Vermont grant program

August 25, 2020
The Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) has announced the launch of the Restart Vermont Marketing and Stimulus Grant Program.  The program will provide $500,000 of Federal Coronavirus Relief Funds as grants to organizations for efforts and activities related to economic recovery, consumer stimulus, marketing or tourism projects to support businesses that have suffered economic harm due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Nobody knows their community…

The assault on our Postal Service

August 25, 2020
By Patrick Leahy I'm hearing it from Vermonters every day, and with increasing urgency. From Bennington to South Newfane, to South Burlington, to Newport, to Windsor, to West Dover: People from all walks of life are rightly concerned about the threats to the mail service that we used to take for granted - the best…

Legislation to protect the Postal Service passes house

August 25, 2020
  Rep. Peter Welch on Saturday voted to pass emergency legislation to protect the U.S. Postal Service from political interference ahead of the November election. The bill provides the $25 billion that the bipartisan Postal Service’s Board of Governors requested to address budget shortfalls caused by the coronavirus pandemic and reverses the damaging operational changes…

Donovan joins other attorneys general to protect the USPS

August 25, 2020
Attorney General T.J. Donovan today joined a multi-state coalition in filing a federal lawsuit challenging planned operational changes at the U.S. Postal Service. The Postal Service’s sudden and unilateral changes deprived states of their procedural right to comment on such changes before implementation. The coalition argues that cuts at the Postal Service that impact mail…

Welch joins house members in emergency stopgap bill to prevent USCIS furloughs

August 25, 2020
USCIS is currently scheduled to furlough 67% of its employees on Aug. 30. On Aug. 21, Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19), House Committee on the Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Ranking Member Ken Buck (R-CO-4), Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE-1), Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO-5), Representative Peter Welch (D-VT-At…

Covid relief grants available for agriculture businesses

August 25, 2020
$8.5 million in relief funds represent the third phase of the Vermont Covid-19 Agriculture Assistance Program On Wednesday, Aug. 19, Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets announced $8.5 million in relief funding has been made available for farmers, sugar makers, meat and poultry processors, slaughterhouses, farmers markets, agricultural food products businesses, forest…

2020 Killington Cup cancelled

August 20, 2020
Women’s alpine World Cup to return to Killington Nov. 27-28, 2021 KILLINGTON–Killington Resort announced, Thursday, Aug. 20, that it will not be the host venue for the HomeLight Killington Cup race this year following a recent decision made jointly by the International Ski Federation, National Ski Associations and local organizing committees in Canada and the U.S.A to…

State outlines plans to beef up child care capacity as schools set to reopen

August 20, 2020
By Erin Petenko and Lola Duffort Gov. Phil Scott plans to spend about $12 million in federal relief funds to dramatically expand child care capacity for school-aged children, including establishing regional child care hubs for students on remote learning days. The state estimates 10,300 students K-6 will need care while their parents work on days…

Mountain Times – Volume 49, Number 34 – Aug.19-25, 2020

August 19, 2020
[YUMPU epaper_id="63881013" width="512" height="384"]

PPE drive seeking donations for local educators

August 19, 2020
Revive Church in Poultney is hosting a Safety First PPE Drive to support local educators through September 7th. The new school year is bringing extraordinary need for PPE (personal protection equipment) to comply with COVID 19 safety regulations. “Complicated regulations and a lack of funding will put the burden of supplying PPE on teachers and…

Mask fashion in Rutland

August 19, 2020
by Brooke Geery With a statewide mandate in place that everyone wear masks in public as of Aug. 1, it is wise to accept this new reality and enjoy the opportunity to make a  fashion statement with this additional accessory.  While disposable blue paper masks will accomplish the same medical purpose, many have made or…

Vermont artists make wearing masks fun

August 19, 2020
By Brooke Geery Wearing a mask is a lot more fun if it’s colorful and exciting, and Vermont’s artist community knows that! Several local artists have gotten in on the action, producing stylish creations that make wearing a mask just a little bit better. Ashley Carter of Sweet Potato Accessories in Mendon has been hard…