East Montpelier
GOVERNMENT
Central Vermont's queer community is on the front line of flood recovery
Plainfield was one of the hardest hit towns by the recent flood, and recovery efforts are ongoing. There’s been a strong showing from the queer community in central Vermont in these efforts. Reporter Erica Heilman spoke with some members of the queer community about why they come out in...
Dozens of homes remain without water or under boil notice in Plainfield and Barnet
Operators at the water department in Plainfield have been working over 12 hours every day since Wednesday to restore water service. That’s after a wall of water rushed through town, destroying homes, roads and bridges, and leaving hundreds of people without running water. Most customers in town now have...
Vt. homeowners mull flood buyouts that could cost their communities
BARRE, Vt. (WCAX) - After last week’s flooding, some Vermont homeowners face big questions about whether they should rebuild damaged homes or seek a buyout from the government. But dozens of families are still waiting on buyouts from last year’s flooding, and those can come at a big cost to communities.
Peacham picks up the pieces from flooding while grieving resident’s death
PEACHAM – To John Mackenzie, life on Governor Mattocks Road was “magical.” The 49-year-old teacher moved into his home on the little gravel road along the South Peacham Brook over two decades ago. The 1840s house where he and his wife raised their twin teenage daughters was surrounded by water on three sides. Just a week ago, they were scoping out the best summer swimming holes along the brook, watching fireflies in the meadow beside their home.
Officials warn against excess dredging during flood recovery
Dredging can be helpful in some situations, but is not a ‘sustainable approach’ to widespread flood recovery now that storms are becoming more frequent and stronger, according to the Agency of Natural Resources. Read the story on VTDigger here: Officials warn against excess dredging during flood recovery.
Moretown Elementary School clean up underway, Crossett Brook and HU also impacted
For the second time in 12 months, Moretown Elementary School flooded, causing damage to flooring, and the school’s boiler in the July 10 flooding. Harwood Unified Union School District superintendent Dr. Mike Leichliter said G.W. Savage was able to get to the site first thing on July 11 and has been working on clean up and remediation. He said with six weeks before the start of the school year he does not expect any delays in reopening the school.
Devastating floods tear apart Vermont community, police say it was shocking
PLAINFIELD, Vt. — Over the past few days, Vermont has been struck by multiple devastating floods. Now, communities throughout Vermont and New York are facing the aftermath, as reported by NBC5, WMTW’s sister station in Burlington. Plainfield, Vermont, is one of the areas severely affected by last week’s...
Senator Welch & Hunger Free Vermont highlight free summer meal plan for Vermont kids in need
Barre, VT – Kids will still get the nutrition they need throughout the summer with Hunger Free Vermont’s summer meals program, available at schools throughout Vermont. Any child under 18 can get free meals at one of 175 sites across the state. The Barre Town Elementary and Middle...
Red Cross sets up emergency supply distribution sites
Plainfield. The front of the white house on Mill Street is below: Photos courtesy American Red Cross. Free supplies available at locations around Vermont. Vermont Business Magazine Over the next four days, the American Red Cross will host emergency disaster supply distribution sites in several communities across Vermont. At these sites, Red Cross volunteers will be handing out water and clean-up kits. These kits contain: bucket, cleaner (typically bleach), mask, gloves, garbage bags, brush, mop, brooms, squeegee and handles. All Red Cross assistance is provided free of charge and made possible by the generosity of the public.
Local contractors pitch in to help town road crews re-open road
It takes a village, but a backhoe, bulldozer, dump truck and tractor are also useful in the aftermath of a flood when local roads and driveways are washed out or damaged. That was evident throughout The Valley and Vermont in the aftermath of July 10 flooding that heavily damaged local roads, especially those in Fayston, Moretown, Duxbury and Waterbury.
Welch tours flood damage in Hardwick
Vermont Business Magazine Wednesday, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) toured flood damage from the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl, which impacted communities across Vermont. Senator Welch heard from residents and local community leaders in Hardwick about the challenges of recovering from last week’s flooding while still rebuilding from the July 2023 floods. Senator Welch also surveyed flood damage at the wastewater treatment facility and a local farm, where the Lamoille River took out a bridge leading to one of the region’s leading providers of local produce.
Vermont organizations take on post-flood fundraising, again
“As always, cash is king,” the commissioner of public safety said. “Cash donations are the most efficient way to get aid to people and communities in need.” Read the story on VTDigger here: Vermont organizations take on post-flood fundraising, again.
Floods hit Cabot again — just a day after Phil Scott came to praise its recovery
Lucia McCallum interns as the Hardwick Gazette’s community resilience reporter with support from the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships. She works with editors at Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism program. Water drummed steadily against the pavement as Gov. Phil Scott spoke in Cabot last week to...
Taking a look at flood-related car damage
BARRE, Vt. (WCAX) - In communities across Vermont, the floods ripped through homes, and in some cases, Vermonters’ cars. In Barre, which was once again in the crosshairs of the storm-- this time the remnants of Hurricane Beryl-- many residents heeded warnings and moved their cars to higher ground.
Arborists work to prevent ash tree damage in Vermont
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Arborists in Vermont are providing a solution for homeowners struggling to save their trees from invasive pests. In the fight against emerald ash borers, Vermonters are turning to house calls to save their ash trees. A massive ash tree sits in the middle of Julia...
July flood 2.0: ‘It’s bigger’
For the third time in a year, Waterbury’s municipal building is ground zero for flood response and recovery activities with the community effort to clean up after last week’s severe storm and flooding in full swing. Volunteers are fanning out throughout the community and to homes in neighboring towns as well. Meanwhile, town officials are tallying up damage to local roads on a scale far beyond both of the 2023 floods combined.
Barre Historical Society holds Thursday forum on election disinformation
The Barre Historical Society invites the public across Central Vermont to a program this Thursday, July 18, on “Voting and Civics in the Disinformation Age.”. Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas will be the speaker for the discussion from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Copeland Hanzas will address the challenges to the election process for secretaries of state posed by Artificial Intelligence and disinformation and what citizens can do to recognize and prevent these threats.
Winnie is missing in Moretown
Winnie, a medium-size reddish-brown dog about 40 pounds has been missing in Moretown since about 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 13. Her humans are Brian and Teri Maher. While much smaller than a Rhodesian Ridgeback, she resembles one according to Brian Maher. She is a year and a half old and very skinny with every rib visible. She is half-pointer, he said.
Montpelier hosts fundraiser to support current flood relief
As communities start repairing from flood damage, a handful of fundraisers have started around the state. This includes the big one in Montpelier today called ‘Flood the Streets With Art’. It was supposed to be a gathering for the city’s one-year flood anniversary, but it quickly turned into...
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