Vermont State Police celebrates 75th anniversary

Agency created July 1, 1947, after major case galvanized state

 

WATERBURY, Vermont (Wednesday, June 29, 2022) — The Vermont State Police on Friday, July 1, will mark the 75th anniversary of the agency’s creation, a watershed moment that arose from tragedy and laid the groundwork for a proud legacy of dedicated service across generations.

 

State leaders established the Vermont State Police on July 1, 1947, in the aftermath of the disappearance of Paula Jean Welden, an 18-year-old Bennington College student who vanished the year before. When local officials were unsuccessful in pursuing the case, they called in state police investigators

Governor Phil Scott Appoints Susanne Young Attorney General of Vermont

Montpelier, Vt. - Governor Phil Scott has appointed Susanne Young, a former deputy attorney general and secretary of administration, to be Vermont’s attorney general. Young will fill a vacancy created when T.J. Donovan stepped down on June 20 to pursue other opportunities. She will serve out the six months remaining in the term.

Governor Scott said Young is uniquely qualified to serve in the post, having recently retired after 40 years of extensive and dedicated service to the State of

New Laws on Coyote Hunting with Dogs, Recovery of Game and Furbearers, and Trapping Best Management Practices

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says three new hunting or trapping related laws passed by the Vermont Legislature during the 2022 session are going into effect. 

Under the new laws: hunting coyotes with dogs and training dogs to hunt coyotes will be temporarily banned in Vermont starting July 1; the retrieval and use of game and furbearing animals by hunters and trappers are now required with

State Reviewing Safety and Security Supports for Vermont Schools

In the wake of the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and several concerning reports in Vermont, the Agency of Education and Department of Public Safety are reviewing and updating state safety and security supports for Vermont schools. This type of review occurs regularly and is especially important any time there is a critical incident or threat affecting schools in Vermont or in the wake of national events.

“Our first responsibility is to do whatever we can to reduce the likelihood of

Celebrate Vermont Days with Free Entrance To Vermont State Parks And State Historic Sites

MONTPELIER, Vt. – This year, celebrate the arrival of summer during Vermont Days, an annual event designed to connect Vermonters and visitors to the state’s history and outdoor activities.

Vermont Days will be held Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, 2022. The weekend celebration includes free entrance to Vermont State Parks and

Scam Alert: Beware of “Couriers” Collecting Cash in Family Emergency Scam

Attorney General T.J. Donovan is warning Vermonters about a new variation of the family emergency scam in which scammers are demanding that cash be handed over in person to a “courier.” By presenting a fake emergency in which their loved one needs help getting out of trouble, scammers pressure panicked family members, including grandparents, into acting before they can realize it’s a scam. Until recently, scammers took a hands-off approach in collecting money, demanding gift cards, wire transfers, or virtual payments. Now, the

Governor Scott and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Kickoff House America at Stuart Avenue Apartment Groundbreaking

Colchester, Vt. - Governor Phil Scott, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officials, and other federal and state officials today celebrated Vermont joining the House America initiative at the groundbreaking for the Stuart Avenue Apartments in Colchester. In joining the House America effort, the Scott Administration has pledged to continue leveraging available resources to address homelessness.

“Last year, Vermont joined the Biden Administration’s House America

Be on the Alert for Spotted Lanternfly in Vermont

June 1, 2022 | Montpelier VT – The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is asking the public to keep an eye out for the invasive pest known as spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) during the spring landscaping season. This is due to the risk of egg masses being accidentally brought in on shipments of nursery stock imported from other states that may have an established spotted lanternfly (SLF) infestation.   This invasive bug is not yet known to

Sandy Bigglestone Appointed Deputy Commissioner of Vermont Captive Insurance Division

Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott has appointed Sandy Bigglestone to become the Deputy Commissioner of the Captive Insurance Division at the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) at the end of the summer, ensuring a smooth transition in the role from current Deputy Commissioner David Provost, who is retiring. Bigglestone is currently the Director of Captive Insurance.

“Sandy has decades of experience in licensing and regulating captives in

Assistant Attorney General, Agency of Transportation Legal Unit

The Vermont Attorney General’s Office seeks a talented and motivated assistant attorney general to join the team providing legal services to the second largest agency in State government. The Agency of Transportation (AOT) directly serves all Vermonters by maintaining the State’s transportation infrastructure including highway, rail and aviation assets, as well as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The position is located at Barre City Place in downtown Barre, VT, approximately six miles from the state capitol, Montpelier.

Legal work as an assistant attorney general with AOT involves a

VSP prepares to move into new Berlin Barracks

BERLIN, Vermont (Wednesday, June 1, 2022) — Troopers who cover central Vermont will move late this week from Middlesex into a new barracks in Berlin, the first new Vermont State Police field station since Westminster opened in 2016.

 

Housed in a completely remodeled building that served for years as the

Harvest Weekend at Billings Farm & Museum

WOODSTOCK, VERMONT - Billings Farm & Museum will host its Annual Harvest Weekend on October 6 & 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The weekend features a husking bee and barn dance, plus a variety of 19th century harvest activities and programs for the entire family.

 

A traditional husking bee will begin at noon each day, followed by a barn dance from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.  Lend a hand pressing cider, preserving apples, threshing grain, and making ice cream. Harvesting the heirloom vegetable garden will be nearing completion and children can help dig potatoes and other root crops and learn how crops are “put up” for the winter.

 

Other activities include:  shelling beans, apples-on-a-string, and 19th century games. Hot-spiced cider and homemade doughnuts will be on hand for all!  Admission includes all programs and activities. 

 

Billings Farm & Museum offers a year-round calendar of programs and family-friendly events. Find more information online at billingsfarm.org or by calling 802-457-2355.

Billings Farm is an operating Jersey dairy farm that continues a nearly 150-year tradition of agricultural excellence and offers farm programs and historical exhibits exploring Vermont’s rural heritage.  Open daily April 1 through October 31, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekends Nov. – Feb., and Christmas & Presidents’ weeks, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission: adults: $16.00; 62 & over: $14.00; children 5-15: $8.00; 3-4: $4.00; 2 & under: free.  The Farm & Museum is located one-half mile north of the Woodstock village green on Vermont Route 12.  For information: 802/457-2355 or www.billingsfarm.org.

 

BFM STAFF PHOTO

Autumn Wagon Ride Weekend at Billings Farm & Museum

WOODSTOCK, VERMONT - Billings Farm & Museum, gateway to Vermont’s rural heritage, will feature the Annual Autumn Wagon Ride Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, October 13 & 14, from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Capture the brilliant colors of a Vermont autumn on a scenic narrated wagon ride around the farm fields.  The dairy farm, farm life exhibits, and restored and furnished farmhouse -- plus programs and activities, including cider pressing -- are included in the entrance fee.

Billings Farm & Museum offers a year-round calendar of programs and family-friendly events.  Find more information online at billingsfarm.org or by calling 802-457-2355.

Billings Farm is an operating Jersey dairy farm that continues a nearly 150-year tradition of agricultural excellence and offers farm programs and historical exhibits exploring Vermont’s rural heritage.  Open daily April 1 through October 31, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekends Nov. – Feb., and Christmas & Presidents’ weeks, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Admission: adults: $15.00; 62 & over: $14.00; children 5-15: $8.00; 3-4: $4.00; 2 & under: free.  The Farm & Museum is located one-half mile north of the Woodstock village green on Vermont Route 12.  For information: 802/457-2355 or www.billingsfarm.org.

 

BFM STAFF PHOTO

A Family Halloween at Billings Farm & Museum

WOODSTOCK, VERMONT - Billings Farm & Museum will host the Annual Family Halloween on Sunday, October 28, from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Children in costume receive free admission when accompanied by an adult (adults pay the regular admission fee).

Pumpkin carving, doughnuts-on-a-string, wagon rides, hand-cranked pumpkin ice cream, plus “not-too-scary” Halloween stories, pumpkin games, and animal programs will be featured. Costume parades around the farm will be held at 12:00 & 2:00 p.m., and all children will receive a ribbon.

Admission to A Family Halloween includes all programs and activities, plus the working dairy farm, farm life exhibits, and farm house. Find more information online at billingsfarm.org or by calling 802-457-2355.

 

Billings Farm is an operating Jersey dairy farm that continues a nearly 150-year tradition of agricultural excellence and offers farm programs and historical exhibits exploring Vermont’s rural heritage.  Open daily April 1 through October 31, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekends Nov. – Feb., and Christmas & Presidents’ weeks, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Admission: adults: $16.00; 62 & over: $14.00; children 5-15: $8.00; 3-4: $4.00; 2 & under: free.  The Farm & Museum is located one-half mile north of the Woodstock village green on Vermont Route 12.  For information: 802/457-2355 or www.billingsfarm.org.

 

BILLINGS FARM STAFF PHOTO

Rickie Lee Jones - singing between the sweet spots of folk, jazz and pop- in Stowe on Saturday, September 8!

Stowe, Vermont – The Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center is thrilled to present two time Grammy award winner, Rickie Lee Jones on Saturday September 8 at 7:00 pm.

Rickie Lee Jones exploded onto the pop scene in 1978 with the hit song “Chuck E’s in Love”, and has made a career of fearlessly experimenting with her sound and persona over 15 critically acclaimed albums.   Rickie is both a character in the songs and the songwriter singing, defying convention with her sometimes brazen sexuality and the mixed bag of jazz, rock and what has come to be known as ‘confessional’ songwriter performances.

Her latest album The Other Side of Desire was written, recorded and rooted in the city of New Orleans, where Rickie lives on the opposite side of the street made famous by Tennesse Williams.  Produced by John Porter (of Roxy Music) and Mark Howard, this is the first new music Rickie has written in over a decade. Come hear the songs inspired by her New Orleans experience and other timeless favorites.

“This work is inspired by many years of sitting with all the events of my life until I had something to paint with,” says Rickie.  “I came to New Orleans to write and to live a different way than what I have known on the west coast….here is another record then, made of my imagination, and whatever else that has no words, using the clay of this place and the shapes of my eyes to form some kind of picture of my life or my heart, that I alone can understand, and hopefully that others can enjoy.”

Tickets for Rickie Lee Jones are $40 to $85. Spruce Peak Arts Members receive a 10-20% discount off purchases and an array of other Member benefits on select events. Memberships start at just $75, become a Member today! To purchase tickets visit SprucePeakArts.org or by calling 802-760-4634.

New Hampshire/Vermont 7 Day Weather Forecast

Monday

Areas of dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, sunny and hot, with a high near 92. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Wednesday

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Wednesday Night

A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Thursday

A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Saturday

A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.

Saturday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.

New Hampshire/Vermont 7 Day Weather Forecast

Tonight

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 5am, then a chance of showers after 5am. Cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday

Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 76. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday

A 40 percent chance of showers after 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday Night

A 40 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.

Wednesday

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Wednesday Night

Showers likely. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Thursday

Showers. High near 78. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Thursday Night

A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Friday

A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.

Saturday

A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 80.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

Late Goals Spoil Middlebury’s Second-Half Rally

Casey O'Neill grabbed five draw controls for the Panthers on Saturday.

Recap, photo courtesy of Middlebury

Fourth-ranked Middlebury erased a five-goal deficit in the second half, but visiting Colby tallied twice in the final 2:16 to pull out a 14-12 NESCAC victory on Saturday. The Panthers (9-2, 5-1) continue conference play next Saturday, hosting #8 Trinity at 2:00 p.m., while the #21 Mules (6-4, 2-4) host Bowdoin on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Colby started fast, scoring the first four goals of the contest. Emma Banks picked up the initial goal 4:39 into the contest, followed by a tally from Kendall Smith less than a minute later. The Mules extended the advantage to 4-0, before Middlebury got on the scoreboard. The Panthers made 4-1 when MG Gately hit a cutting Erin Nicholas for a score with 11:18 on the clock. Henley Hall and Kate Zecca added free-position goals, bringing the hosts to within a goal (4-3) with 6:17 left in the half.

The teams traded scores the rest of the half with Colby clinging to a 6-5 lead after Hollis Peritcone brought Middlebury to within a goal with 1:35 remaining, tucking a shot into the top-right corner seven seconds after winning a draw control.

Panthers got off to a fast start in the new half, with Perticone setting up Emily Barnard 50 seconds into the new stanza. Colby responded with five-straight goals for an 11-6 lead, as Kendall Smith capped the run with 19:49 on the clock.

Emma McDonagh and Nicholas recorded back-to-back goals for the Panthers, trimming the deficit to 11-8. After Maddie Hatch scored for the Mules, Perticone drove to the net for her second tally of the game with 9:53 remaining and 35 seconds, and later cashed in on a feed from behind the net from Georgia Carroll, making it a 12-10 contest. The rally continued with 5:46 left, as Nicholas converted a free-position attempt and two minutes later, Kirsten Murphy scored from the eight-meter arc, knotting the game at 12-12.

Colby's Grace Cowell scored the deciding goal on a free-position shot with 2:16 showing on the clock, while Grace Langmuir added an insurance maker with 1:20 left, spoiling Middlebury's comeback bid.

Perticone had a huge game for the Panthers with three goals and assist, a game-high 12 draw controls, two ground balls and two caused turnovers. Nicholas added a hat trick and Emily Barnard tallied twice. Julia Keith started in goal and made six saves in 39:02, while Kate Furber had two stops in 20:58.

Smith paced the Mules with five tallies, while Sasha Fritts scored twice and assisted on another. Cowell led the team with four ground balls and DeWan McGara collected five draw controls. In goal for Colby, Izzy Scribano registered 11 saves.

MTEN: Badgers Earn First Win 6-3 Over Lyndon

Recap, photo courtesy of Johnson State College

STOWE, Vt. – The Johnson State College men's tennis team defeated Lyndon State College 6-3 in a non-conference match on Tuesday afternoon at Topnotch Resort.

Doubles

The Badgers took two out of three doubles to start the match. The team of Gerrit Lane (Moretown, Vt.) and Joseph Holloway (London, England) dropped first doubles to Jake Lacerda and Neal Mulligan 8-4. Austin Walters (Grantham, N.H.) and John Folsom (Califon, N.J.) swept second doubles 8-0 over Korey Steele and Gerald Fleming, while Ethan Hutchinson (Canterbury, N.H.) and Evan Daigneault (Newfane, Vt.) defeated Mukhtar Abdullahi and Jeremy Polonia to take third flight doubles 8-4.

Singles

The Badgers won four out of six singles to take the 6-3 victory. In first flight, Lacerda dropped Lane 6-4, 6-2. Walters dropped straight 6-2 sets to Mulligan in second singles, but Holloway defeated Steele 6-0, 6-1 to take the third flight.

Folsom won fourth singles over Fleming 6-0, 6-1. Hutchinson defeated Monroe in the fifth flight 6-0, 6-1, while Quinn Lambert (Joppatown, Md.) took sixth singles 6-3, 1-0 (10-7).

Next Up

Johnson will travel to Colby-Sawyer on Saturday, April 7 at 1:00 p.m. for their North Atlantic Conference opener.

Castleton Men’s Lacrosse Loses at SUNY Potsdam

Recap, photo courtesy of Castleton University

POTSDAM, N.Y. – After a close first period, Castleton University was unable to contain the offensive attack of SUNY Potsdam, as the Bears defeated the Spartans, 13-3, Tuesday night in a non-conference men's collegiate lacrosse match at Maxcy Turf Field.

SUNY Potsdam (3-5) struck first a little more than six minutes into the game, as Ryan Waldron set up Josh Huiatt for his first goal of the night. Castleton responded with 4:01 remaining in the first period on an unassisted goal by Colin Clark, tying the game at 1-1.

The Bears retook the lead right away when Marc Leveroni won the faceoff, raced into the offensive zone, and fed Eric Soderquist for a blast into the net. Both teams had opportunities in the final minutes of the opening period, but the score remained 2-1 in favor of SUNY Potsdam after the first period.

Off the opening faceoff of the second period, Leveroni collected the ground ball, raced into the zone, and sent a shot into the back of the net. That began a stretch of six straight goals for the Bears in the second period, featuring two more goals by Soderquist as well as consecutive tallies from Lukas Baildon, giving SUNY Potsdam an 8-1 advantage at halftime.

The Bears continued to pressure the Spartan defense, scoring twice in the first seven minutes of the third quarter to extend their lead to 10-1. Jason Sedell brought the Spartans back within seven at 10-3 with consecutive goals 51 seconds apart, with Ryan Stone assisting on the second goal. SUNY Potsdam would score three goals in the first five-and-a-half minutes of the fourth quarter to complete the scoring for the night.

Soderquist led the Bears with four goals and one assist, while Baildon also notched a hat trick with three goals along with an assist. Huiatt and Nick Slate finished with two goals and two assists apiece as SUNY Potsdam outshot Castleton, 43-20, and collected more ground balls than the Spartans, 37-20.

Brandon Myron made five saves in the first 37 minutes of the game before being replaced by Maxx Ingison, who collected a season-high seven saves in 23 minutes of action. Zach Sheridan started as the goalie for SUNY Potsdam and earned five saves in 50 minutes before two other Bears combined to play the final 10 minutes of the game.