BIRTHS
CVMC
A daughter, Madelyn Irene Martin, was born Nov. 15, 2023, to Bridget Grant and Colby Martin, of East Montpelier.
Copley Hospital
A son, Alistair Carlos Jones, was born Nov. 21, 2023, to Austin Jones and Brenda Quispe-Jones, of Wolcott.
AROUND TOWN
Flood relief
MONTPELIER — Capital City Concerts opened its 24th season with a flood-relief concert Sept. 8 at the Barre Opera House. Pianist Jeffrey Chappell performed works of Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Samuel Barber. Chappell donated his fee, and Capital City Concerts covered associated expenses and contributed 100% of ticket proceeds to Montpelier Alive and Capstone Community Action to directly aid families, individuals and businesses.
Samara Fund
The Samara Fund at Vermont Community Foundation announced $86,710 in grants to 23 organizations statewide in this year’s competitive grant round. These grants include funding for LGBTQ+ centered events, projects and organizational operating support. The fund also made 19 scholarships totaling $18,320 to graduating seniors in Vermont. 2023 grant recipients are:
— Out in the Open, Outright Vermont, Rainbow Bridge Community Center, Rutland County Pride, The Ishtar Collective, The Root Social Justice Center; each received $5,000.
— Addison Central Teens, AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, Alliance for Community Transformation, Central Vermont Community Radio, Drag Story Hour, Pride Rides, University of Vermont Prism Center, each received $4,000.
— White River Craft Center received $3,500.
— Homosteading101 received $3,210.
— Community Resilience Organizations, HIV/HCV Resource Center, Yestermorrow, each received $3,000.
— Epsilon Spires, Pride Center of Vermont, each received $2,500.
— The Main Street MUSEUM, The Queer Art Club in Milton, Twin States Network, each received $1,000.
— In addition to the competitive grant round and scholarship program, the Samara Fund awarded three out-of-cycle grants to Vital Partnerships as fiscal sponsor for Pride Without Borders ($1,200), the Common Ground Center for Camp Outright ($5,000), and the Main Street Museum for White River Junction Pride ($1,000).
AROUND VT
Heating safety
If your heating system was damaged in July’s floods, here are some safety tips and resources that can help.
Generators — Generators and fuel should always be used outdoors, and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages. Install working carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill you, your family and pets. Keep the generator dry and protected from rain or flooding. Never touch a wet generator or devices connected to one; they can cause electrical shock. Always connect the generator to appliances with heavy-duty extension cords. Let the generator cool before refueling. Fuel spilled on hot engine parts can ignite. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Portable space heaters — Keep combustible objects at least 3 feet away from portable heating devices. Only buy heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Check to make sure the portable heater has a thermostat control mechanism and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over. Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene in kerosene heaters; never overfill it. Use the heater in a well-ventilated room, away from curtains and other flammable items.
Fireplaces and woodstoves — Inspect and clean woodstove pipes and chimneys annually, and check monthly for damage or obstructions. Use a fireplace screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks. Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to bed.
Resources — For more information, visit efficiencyvermont.com/floodrebate and call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
Advocacy training
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont (NAMI Vermont) is offering free NAMI Smarts for Advocacy trainings from noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 9 and Jan. 13. NAMI Smarts provides participants with the knowledge and practice they need to share their story of mental health lived experience as an individual, family member or advocate, to effect legislative change.
The training sessions will be held virtually via Zoom. Module 1 (Telling Your Story) will be Dec. 9; Modules 2 and 3 (Contacting and Meeting Your Policymaker) will be in the same session on Jan. 13. Separate registration is required for each day of training, and participants may attend one or both sessions. Visit namivt.org/nami-smarts to learn more and register to attend.
VTF&W
License gifts
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department offers a gift certificate for hunting and fishing licenses on their website vtfishandwildlife.com online. The person who receives the certificate must go to the website to redeem their certificate and purchase their licenses.
BUSINESS
Ag funding
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the agency is making investments in 185 projects worth nearly $196 million to create new and better market opportunities for producers and entrepreneurs across the country. Local projects include $250,000 Value Added Producer Grants for three farms in Vermont and one in New Hampshire; $1,200,000 Business & Industry Loan Guarantee to finance a 788 kW solar array farm in Georgia, Vermont, expected to power the equivalent of 88 homes annually; and $47,000 Rural Business Development Grant for Merrimack County Conservation District, to help Brookford Farms in Canterbury, New Hampshire, improve its product marketing and create three new jobs.
Outdoor careers
BURLINGTON — Chill Foundation, a nonprofit youth development organization, is partnering with Burton Snowboards on a five-day giving campaign that began Nov. 29 to help young people build careers in the outdoor industry. After 30 years of introducing youth to board sports, Chill is expanding its focus to include leadership and professional development in the outdoor industry for Chill alumni with informational interviews, introductions to hiring managers, training and certification in mountain operations and avalanche rescue, and more.
Giving back
Community Bank branches across its four-state New England region are giving back to their local neighbors and communities by sponsoring or hosting charity drives. Each branch has chosen its own activities based on the specific needs of its community. This year, specific local activities include:
— Bennington Branch is donating grocery gift cards for customers and families in need.
— Bradford Branch is donating toys to support Toys for Tots.
— Essex Junction Branch is participating in the Essex Train Hop.
— Fair Haven Branch is collecting hats and mittens for Slate Valley Cares.
— St. Albans Branch is collecting toys for Operation Fire Cuffs which collects toys for children at the UVMMC Children’s Hospital.
— Williston Branch is collecting toys to support Toys for Kids and non-perishable food items for Williston Community Food Shelf.
— Wilmington Branch baked pies for the annual senior Thanksgiving dinner at Deerfield Valley Senior Meals.
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