YOUTH NEWS
4-H educator
Jacob Holzberg-Pill was hired as the new UVM Extension 4-H educator for special projects. He will be housed in Extension’s South Burlington office. Holzberg-Pill will handle special projects, including collaborating with AALV (formerly the Association of Africans Living in Vermont) as part of a new grant, Youth Innovators Empowering Agriculture Across America. He is founder and an instructor for the Outdoor Technology Program at Northwest Career and Technical Center in St. Albans.
Previously, Holzberg-Pill served as co-founder/co-director of Dig In Farm and Educational Center in Shutesbury, Massachusetts. He also worked as an environmental science teacher at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public High School in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and was the founding faculty member of the Sustainable Agriculture Program at Kennebec Valley Community College, Fairfield, Maine, among other teaching positions.
AROUND TOWN
Prevention walk
MONTPELIER — The second annual Central Vermont Out of the Darkness Community Walk, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Vermont Chapter, will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 28 at the State House lawn in Montpelier. This walk supports AFSP education and support programs and its goal to reduce the annual U.S. rate of suicide 20% by the year 2025.
This year’s event features a raffle with prizes from businesses, including Sugarbush, Birchgrove Baking, and art from Vermont’s Jeneane Lunn, and pizza from local Woodbelly Pizza.
The Central Vermont Out of the Darkness Community Walk is one of more than 550 Out of the Darkness Overnight, Community and Campus Walks held nationwide this year, including walks in Rutland, Burlington and Newport. Visit AFSP.org/CentralVT to register.
Oktoberfest benefit
MONTPELIER — Downtown Montpelier restaurants are collaborating with Montpelier Alive to present an Oktoberfest benefit from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 28, rain or shine, at Farr’s Field, 1901 Route 2 West in Waterbury Village Historic District.
Featuring local beer, German food and music, 100% of the proceeds will be used to help downtown restaurants rebuild, buy equipment and replace lost summer income. Participating restaurants include Rabble Rouser Chocolate, Hippie Chickpea, Chill Gelato, Langdon Street Tavern, Three Penny Taproom, Positive Pie, Oakes & Evelyn, Julio’s Cantina, Enna International Deli, Capitol Grounds, Yellow Mustard Deli, Namaste, Charlie O’s World Famous, K Sherpa House.
Get tickets at bit.ly/SevenDaysTicketsOktoberfest online.
AROUND VT
Environmental justice
The Vermont Community Foundation is seeking proposals for programs or projects that help local communities adapt to the impacts of Vermont’s changing climate and the increase in severe weather events. Applications will be accepted between now and 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1. Visit vermontcf.org/ejgrants for more information and to apply.
Nonprofits UI
The Vermont General Assembly has made changes to the unemployment insurance laws related to small, nonprofit organizations. Act 76 requires all nonprofit organizations to participate in providing unemployment insurance coverage, effective July 1, 2024. Nonprofits will be required to report their wages quarterly, keep track of new hires, and be prepared to pay for any eligible unemployment claims that result from employee separations. Visit www.labor.vermont.gov for more information.
Board members
Hunger Free Vermont announced four new members to its board of directors:
Lucy Halvorson spent six years in Boston, working in the hospitality and travel industries. She is now a registered associate at Morgan Stanley.
Sirisha Hawley, of Colchester, is a tax partner at Gallagher, Flynn & Co. Previously, she worked at KPMG and IBM and currently serves on the board of the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Joshua Kruk, of Shelburne, has over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry and is chief financial officer for Bank of Burlington. He also serves on the boards of Humane Society of Chittenden County, Kayla’s Directory and CFA Society of Vermont.
Addison Williams, of Burlington, is a senior consultant in Deloitte’s Human Capital and Workforce Transformation practice. He has worked for multiple nonprofits and B-corporations in the education and arts sectors.
CEO change
The Vermont Public board of directors announced that Scott Finn, president and CEO, is stepping down at the end of this year. Prior to joining Vermont Public Radio as president and CEO in 2018, he was CEO and executive director of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, led news departments at WVPB and WUSF Public Media in Tampa, Florida, and was an award-winning journalist for WVPB and the Charleston Gazette.
The board also announced that Brendan Kinney, senior VP of Development, a nearly 14-year veteran of Vermont Public, will move into the interim CEO role.
Zone agents
The Vermont Creative Network, a statewide collective representing Vermont’s creative sector, welcomed two new zone agents: Corinna Thurston of the Chittenden County Zone and Lisa Mitchell of the Addison/Rutland Zone. Thurston is executive director of the Milton Artists’ Guild, a professional artist, entrepreneur, speaker, author, business consultant and wildlife conservationist. Mitchell is executive director of Town Hall Theater in Middlebury, experienced in multidisciplinary arts and event producing, as well as communications and management.
VTF&W
Deer season
Vermont’s 16-day regular deer season will begin Saturday, Nov. 11, and end Sunday, Nov. 26. A 2023 Deer Season Hunting Guide can be downloaded at www.vtfishandwildlife.com. The guide includes a map of the Wildlife Management Units, season dates, regulations and other information.
A hunter may take one legal buck during this season if they did not already take one during the archery deer season. Vermont hunting licenses include a buck tag for this season and a late season bear tag (for Nov. 11-19), cost $28 for residents and $102 for nonresidents. Cost for hunters under age 18 is $8 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. Licenses are available on Fish and Wildlife’s website and from license agents statewide.
Hunters are required to report deer in person at a big game reporting station during the regular season. Hunters who get a deer on Nov. 11 or 12 can help Vermont’s deer management program by reporting their deer at one of the biological check stations staffed from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., unless the store closes earlier:
Barre, R&L Archery; Bennington, Buck Stop Mini Mart; Derby, Wright’s Sport Shop; Enosburg Falls, West Enosburg Country Store; Guilford, Guilford Country Store; Irasburg, Bob’s Quick Stop; Lyndonville, Lead & Tackle; New Haven, Rack ’N’ Reel; Pittsford, Keith’s Country Store; Proctorsville, Singleton’s Store; Swanton, Lost Nation Guns & Ammo; Waitsfield, Village Grocery & Deli.
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