Weathersfield Weekly Blog October 3
News You Can Use
ICYMI (In case You Missed It
Mark Your Calendars
Trunk or Treat Saturday, October 29
3:30-5 PMHoisington Field, PerkinsvilleSponsored by The Weathersfield Proctor Library
More info on Library events, please visit: https://weathersfieldproctorlibrary.org/
3:30-5 PM
Two Sessions Oct. 16 and 30th
This article by Liz Sauchelli was originally published in the Valley News on Sept. 22.
Home-delivered meal providers in Windsor and Windham counties are being asked to reduce the number of recipients by 25% due to a budget shortfall at Senior Solutions, the agency that distributes the funding.
This has left meal providers scrambling to adjust their budgets and find more funding before the start of the Oct. 1 fiscal year to avoid cutting vulnerable seniors from their programs.
“This is happening unexpectedly at the same time that our costs are skyrocketing,” said Deanna Jones, executive director of Woodstock’s Thompson Senior Center, which receives funding for its meals program from Senior Solutions.
She said she’s working with the nonprofit organization’s staff and board of directors to add fundraisers to make up for the loss.
This has left meal providers scrambling to adjust their budgets and find more funding before the start of the Oct. 1 fiscal year to avoid cutting vulnerable seniors from their programs.
“This is happening unexpectedly at the same time that our costs are skyrocketing,” said Deanna Jones, executive director of Woodstock’s Thompson Senior Center, which receives funding for its meals program from Senior Solutions.
She said she’s working with the nonprofit organization’s staff and board of directors to add fundraisers to make up for the loss.
A new Vermont-based company has developed the first direct-light, smokeless instrument bringing a new way to use cannabis to the rapidly growing market.
The MagicStone brand is the result of a combined effort of two iconic Vermont companies: The Imagination Company in Bethel and Vermont Soapstone in Perkinsville.
Developed and patented by Jim Giberti, the new MagicStone Odyssey is handcrafted and precision tooled from a single block of soapstone and delivers the benefits of a vaporizer with the simplicity of use of a traditional pipe — no batteries, no pre-heating, and virtually no maintenance.
The magic began when Giberti, creative director of The Imagination Company, got a call from Glenn Bowman, owner of Vermont Soapstone, who was looking for a firm to rebrand his historic company.
“As it turned out, it was a pretty serendipitous call,” said Giberti.
The magic began when Giberti, creative director of The Imagination Company, got a call from Glenn Bowman, owner of Vermont Soapstone, who was looking for a firm to rebrand his historic company.
“As it turned out, it was a pretty serendipitous call,” said Giberti.
Months later, after Soapstone’s new brand creative was finished, and after working closely with Bowman learning the unique physical, aesthetic, and most importantly, thermal, properties of soapstone, Giberti had a seminal, late night moment: might it be possible to use soapstone to create a natural vaporizer?
The thought was of a simple device that could be picked up whenever you want, and using just an ordinary lighter, extract the essence of cannabis without burning and smoking it. After several months of experimenting, Giberti produced the first working prototype, which was followed by three years of engineering, refinement and ultimately outfitting two facilities to begin production.
Cannabis Control Board issues 13 new licenses
Fred Thys reporting for VT Digger
On the cusp of the first retail stores opening in Vermont, the Cannabis Control Board issued 13 new licenses Wednesday. The new licensees included 10 growers, two manufacturers and one retail store, Bud Barn in Brattleboro.
Scott Sparks, owner of Bud Barn, said he was “very excited” about getting the license.
“It’s been a long time coming, and really glad that that major hurdle is done,” Sparks said. That brings to four the number of retail operations licensed to open Oct. 1. The others are Mountain Girl Cannabis in Rutland, FLORA in Middlebury and CeresMed in Burlington, which also operates medical cannabis dispensaries in South Burlington, Brattleboro and Middlebury.
Ana and James MacDuff, owners of Mountain Girl Cannabis, have told VTDigger that they plan to open Oct. 1, as has Dave Silberman, co-owner of FLORA.
Sparks said he is holding off on opening his store in Brattleboro.
“Hopefully, in a few weeks, I’ll be open,” Sparks said. “I just have to jump through a few more hoops.”
Isabel Schonemann reporting for My Champlain Valley
The Public Health Agency of Canada said Monday that it will not extend its vaccine requirements and mandatory use of the Arrive-Can app beyond September 30.
The U.S. still has their COVID-19 travel restrictions in place but Secretary Lindsay Kurrle with the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development hopes that will change soon.
“This is really welcome news to us, we’re happy to hear about it,” said Kurrle. She says before the pandemic, about 7,000 Canadian visitors came to Vermont and now those levels are down 40 percent.
“This is a huge opportunity for border fluidity on both sides,” said Kristy Kennedy, Director of Tourism for the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “Yes, it’s big for U.S. residents to go into Canada, but also helping alleviate some hurdles for our Canadian visitors to come as well.”
Kennedy notes that Champlain border travel is back to 70 percent of their 2019 travel levels.
“Each time since the start of the pandemic and then restrictions went into place at the borders, every time there’s been an ease in restrictions since, we’ve seen an uptick in border crossings,” said Kurrle.
Mail-in ballots heading to Vermonters this week
Juliet Schulman-Hall reporting for VT Digger
Roughly 440,000 mail-in ballots are being sent to voters this week, according to Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos.
Mail-in ballots provide an “additional option” for voting which has “been used successfully in states around the country — red and blue states,” Condos said.
All active registered voters will automatically receive a ballot by mail for this year’s general election.
This is the first election in which universal mail-in voting is a permanent feature of Vermont voting.
The practice of sending mail-in ballots to all active registered voters was first allowed in Vermont in 2020 to help reduce the spread of Covid-19. Gov. Phil Scott subsequently signed a universal mail-in voting law for general elections, Act 60, in June 2021.
Vermont has about 500,000 registered voters, including 440,000 “active” registered voters, according to Condos. Inactive voters have been challenged by a municipality’s Board of Civil Authority, according to state statute.
Due to the new mail-in voting law, Vermont is now ranked as the third easiest place to vote in the country, according to the 2022 edition of the Cost of Voting Index, compiled by a trio of researchers for the Election Law Journal. In 2020, Vermont ranked 23rd.
Voters should expect to receive their ballots for the Nov. 8 general election no later than Oct. 10, Condos said. If voters don’t receive their ballots, they should contact their town or city clerk.
Residents who have not yet registered to vote can still do so and expect to receive a mailed ballot.
Fred Thys reporting for VT Digger
On the cusp of the first retail stores opening in Vermont, the Cannabis Control Board issued 13 new licenses Wednesday. The new licensees included 10 growers, two manufacturers and one retail store, Bud Barn in Brattleboro.
Scott Sparks, owner of Bud Barn, said he was “very excited” about getting the license.
“It’s been a long time coming, and really glad that that major hurdle is done,” Sparks said. That brings to four the number of retail operations licensed to open Oct. 1. The others are Mountain Girl Cannabis in Rutland, FLORA in Middlebury and CeresMed in Burlington, which also operates medical cannabis dispensaries in South Burlington, Brattleboro and Middlebury.
Ana and James MacDuff, owners of Mountain Girl Cannabis, have told VTDigger that they plan to open Oct. 1, as has Dave Silberman, co-owner of FLORA.
Sparks said he is holding off on opening his store in Brattleboro.
“Hopefully, in a few weeks, I’ll be open,” Sparks said. “I just have to jump through a few more hoops.”
Canada to end COVID travel restrictions October 1
Isabel Schonemann reporting for My Champlain Valley
The Public Health Agency of Canada said Monday that it will not extend its vaccine requirements and mandatory use of the Arrive-Can app beyond September 30.
The U.S. still has their COVID-19 travel restrictions in place but Secretary Lindsay Kurrle with the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development hopes that will change soon.
“This is really welcome news to us, we’re happy to hear about it,” said Kurrle. She says before the pandemic, about 7,000 Canadian visitors came to Vermont and now those levels are down 40 percent.
“This is a huge opportunity for border fluidity on both sides,” said Kristy Kennedy, Director of Tourism for the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “Yes, it’s big for U.S. residents to go into Canada, but also helping alleviate some hurdles for our Canadian visitors to come as well.”
Kennedy notes that Champlain border travel is back to 70 percent of their 2019 travel levels.
“Each time since the start of the pandemic and then restrictions went into place at the borders, every time there’s been an ease in restrictions since, we’ve seen an uptick in border crossings,” said Kurrle.
READ MORE
Vermont State University to cut tuition by 15% for in-state students
Kori Skillman reporting for VT Digger
Tuition at the Vermont State University will be 15% lower, on average, than what students currently pay, according to a press release Friday.
The $9,999 yearly undergraduate tuition will take effect in July 2023 and will line up with the launch of the new university. Students at Castleton University, Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College will benefit from the price change.
The institutions make up the Vermont State Colleges System, along with the Community College of Vermont.
The Vermont State Colleges System’s board of trustees unanimously approved the price decrease earlier this week. It also lowered the base out-of-state tuition rate, which will start at $19,988.
According to Friday’s release, approximately 70% of Vermont State University students are Vermont residents.
“When you set a lower price, you remove a barrier of access and you make college education that much more in reach and that much more attainable to people,” said Katherine Levasseur, director of external and governmental affairs.
Kori Skillman reporting for VT Digger
Tuition at the Vermont State University will be 15% lower, on average, than what students currently pay, according to a press release Friday.
The $9,999 yearly undergraduate tuition will take effect in July 2023 and will line up with the launch of the new university. Students at Castleton University, Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College will benefit from the price change.
The institutions make up the Vermont State Colleges System, along with the Community College of Vermont.
The Vermont State Colleges System’s board of trustees unanimously approved the price decrease earlier this week. It also lowered the base out-of-state tuition rate, which will start at $19,988.
According to Friday’s release, approximately 70% of Vermont State University students are Vermont residents.
“When you set a lower price, you remove a barrier of access and you make college education that much more in reach and that much more attainable to people,” said Katherine Levasseur, director of external and governmental affairs.
Juliet Schulman-Hall reporting for VT Digger
Roughly 440,000 mail-in ballots are being sent to voters this week, according to Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos.
Mail-in ballots provide an “additional option” for voting which has “been used successfully in states around the country — red and blue states,” Condos said.
All active registered voters will automatically receive a ballot by mail for this year’s general election.
This is the first election in which universal mail-in voting is a permanent feature of Vermont voting.
The practice of sending mail-in ballots to all active registered voters was first allowed in Vermont in 2020 to help reduce the spread of Covid-19. Gov. Phil Scott subsequently signed a universal mail-in voting law for general elections, Act 60, in June 2021.
Vermont has about 500,000 registered voters, including 440,000 “active” registered voters, according to Condos. Inactive voters have been challenged by a municipality’s Board of Civil Authority, according to state statute.
Due to the new mail-in voting law, Vermont is now ranked as the third easiest place to vote in the country, according to the 2022 edition of the Cost of Voting Index, compiled by a trio of researchers for the Election Law Journal. In 2020, Vermont ranked 23rd.
Voters should expect to receive their ballots for the Nov. 8 general election no later than Oct. 10, Condos said. If voters don’t receive their ballots, they should contact their town or city clerk.
Residents who have not yet registered to vote can still do so and expect to receive a mailed ballot.
By VTD Editor
Vermont’s Republican and Democratic U.S. Senate nominees are set to face off next month in their first debate of the general election.
The event, part of the 2022 Digger Debate Series, is scheduled to take place Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester. A limited number of tickets are available now by clicking here. The event will also be livestreamed. The debate will feature Republican nominee Gerald Malloy, a businessman and veteran of the U.S. Army, and Democrat Peter Welch, a member of the U.S. House. The two are competing for the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
This debate is sponsored by the Necrason Group.
The 2022 Digger Debate Series began in April and has featured events focused on the competitive primaries for U.S. House, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state. In the coming months, VTDigger plans to host at least four general election debates — some in person and some online-only.
Debate Dates:
Lieutenant Gubernatorial Debate
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022
Online only
Featuring Republican nominee Joe Benning and Democratic nominee David Zuckerman
Register now
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022
Online only
Featuring Republican nominee Joe Benning and Democratic nominee David Zuckerman
Register now
Concert Report
Richard Thompson
The Colonial Performing Arts Center
Keene, NH
Keene, NH
I've seen Richard Thompson many times and at previous shows, he usually doesn't allow photos or videos but he allowed it at this show. Thank you RT!
Mr. Thompson has been making music since the 1970s when he performed with Fairport Convention. This evening was a great show except he didn't play his classic "Beeswing", a little disappointing.
BUT, he did play my favorite song and I was lucky to finally get it on video...
More photos: CLICK HERE
More videos: CLICK HERE
The Cowboy Junkies
Lebanon Opera House
Lebanon, NH
The band is made up of siblings Michael Timmins (guitar), Margo Timmins (vocals), Peter Timmins (drums), and lifelong friend Alan Anton (bass).
Black Opry Revue
Lebanon Opera House
Lebanon, NH
The Black Opry Revue (BOR) performed at the Lebanon Opera House on Saturday, October 1. The BOR is a collective of artists, fans, and musicians who perform Country, Americana, Blues and Folk music. They travel the country in small groups bringing music to the people.
The artists who were at LOH were:
Julie Williams
They even got the audience to sing along on a number of songs.
More photos and a couple of videos: CLICK HERE
Next up at LOH-The Wood Brothers with Kat Wright opening.
Adventures
New London, NH
Who knew?
We sure didn't until our friend Brad from Brentwood, NH asked us to meet for lunch at the Flying Goose Brew Pub in New London.
I had the mushroom gnocchi and apple crisp for dessert-OMG so yummy.
Jay and Brad enjoyed some of the Goose's signature brews.
Then it was off to visit the museum.
The Ice House Museum is just a quick 10 minutes from the Goose. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was overwhelmed by the collection of cars and memorabilia that Bill Kidder had collected over the years.
More photos: CLICK HERE
The Ice House doors are open on Tuesdays & Thursdays (9 AM to 4 PM) and Saturdays (9 AM to 2 PM) from May 31 to October 8, 2022. Admission is free.
Local Events and Happenings
Route 5 (5181 US-5 Ascutney VT 05030)
Mondays at 1 p.m.Please call Maureen Bogosian for details @ 603-252-0936
Route 5 (5181 US-5 Ascutney VT 05030)
Mondays at 1 p.m.
Please call Maureen Bogosian for details @ 603-252-0936
News You Can Use
Town of Weathersfield
Select Board
Select Board Minutes: The minutes can now be found at https://www.weathersfieldvt.org/node/586/minutes
All regular meetings are broadcasted live on Comcast channel 1087, VTEL Channel 161, and SAPA.org on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.David Fuller Vice Chair
Kelly O'Brien Clerk
Wendy Smith Member
Paul Tillman Member
Select Board Meets 1st and 3rd Mondays of the Month 6:30 p.m. October 17November 7, 21
Meeting Minutes https://www.weathersfieldvt.org/selectboardAugust 17-Emergency Meeting-Golden Cross Contact (5 Year Term)June 16
May 18 Special Meeting (to sign the Warrant from the May 16th meeting)May 2 (posted now but not posted at press time May 9 in violation of Vermont's Open Meeting law. )
April 18 (posted now, but not posted at press time April 25 in violation of Vermont's Open Meeting law. )
April 4March 21
March 7-(The March 7th meeting minutes are now the March 7th meeting minutes not the Feb. 7th's as originally posted)
Special Meeting March 3-Select Board organization
Town Meeting Minutes
February 21
February 7
January 20
January 3
Select Board Minutes: The minutes can now be found at https://www.weathersfieldvt.org/node/586/minutes
David Fuller Vice Chair
Kelly O'Brien Clerk
Wendy Smith Member
Paul Tillman Member
Kelly O'Brien Clerk
Wendy Smith Member
Paul Tillman Member
Select Board Meets 1st and 3rd Mondays of the Month 6:30 p.m.
October 17
November 7, 21
Meeting Minutes https://www.weathersfieldvt.org/selectboard
August 17-Emergency Meeting-Golden Cross Contact (5 Year Term)
June 16May 18 Special Meeting (to sign the Warrant from the May 16th meeting)
May 2 (posted now but not posted at press time May 9 in violation of Vermont's Open Meeting law. )April 18 (posted now, but not posted at press time April 25 in violation of Vermont's Open Meeting law. )
April 4
March 21
March 7-(The March 7th meeting minutes are now the March 7th meeting minutes not the Feb. 7th's as originally posted)
Special Meeting March 3-Select Board organization
Town Meeting Minutes
February 21
February 7
January 20
January 3
March 7-(The March 7th meeting minutes are now the March 7th meeting minutes not the Feb. 7th's as originally posted)
Special Meeting March 3-Select Board organization
Town Meeting Minutes
February 21
February 7
January 20
January 3
*Vermont Open Meeting LawMinute posting: Minutes of all public meetings shall be matters of public record, shall be kept by the clerk or secretary of the public body, and shall be available for inspection by any person and for purchase of copies at cost upon request after five calendar days from the date of any meeting. Meeting minutes shall be posted no later than five calendar days from the date of the meeting to a website, if one exists, that the public body maintains or has designated as the official website of the body. Except for draft minutes that have been substituted with updated minutes, posted minutes shall not be removed from the website sooner than one year from the date of the meeting for which the minutes were taken.
Weathersfield Police Blotter
Weathersfield School
Meeting Agendas may be found HERE
Weathersfield School Board will meets on TuesdaysVirtual Link: https://meet.google.com/nfo-qttm-bgg
In Person at Weathersfield School (135 Schoolhouse Road, Ascutney)
In Person at Weathersfield School (135 Schoolhouse Road, Ascutney)
Location: 135 Schoolhouse RD Ascutney October 11 Agenda
November 8
December 13
January 10, 2023
February 14, 2023
March 14, 2023
School Board Meeting VIDEOSMeeting MinutesFebruary 11 Special Meeting (Not posted at press time February 21 in violation of Vermont's Open Meeting law. )
February 8 video link (Now posted, not posted at press time February 14 in violation of Vermont's Open Meeting law. )
January 11
November 8
December 13
January 10, 2023
February 14, 2023
March 14, 2023
January 11
Things to Do In and Around Weathersfield
Get Outdoors, Entertainment, Classes, Workshops
Music and Singing in the Air...
The Wood Brothers, Friday October 7 TICKETS Kat Wright opens.
FLAME, The Band, Sunday October 9, 4 PM TICKETS- free show
The Jacob Jolliff Band, Friday October 14 TICKETS
The Best of Jozay and Patti Davilla, Sunday October 16, 3 PM TICKETS
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Friday October 21 TICKETS
CHICAGO-High School Edition-Trumbull Hall Troupe November 4, 5, 6 INFO
Warren Miller's Daymaker, Saturday November 12 TICKETS
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Tuesday, December 20 TICKETS
Exercise
Yoga
Whole Roasted Tro
Whole Roasted Tro
Within Reach Yoga
at Weathersfield Center Church and Meeting House
You must Register for each class at least a day ahead by emailing Lisa. (Class sizes limited to 7.)
Tuesdays
~Location Weathersfield Center Church and Meeting House~
October 4, 18, 25
Slow Flow, Rest + Restore Tuesdays 9:00 am
October 4, 18, 25
Slow Flow, Rest + Restore Tuesdays 9:00 am
Walk-ins can register up to 24 hrs. ahead by emailing Lisa and are available on a first-come, first served basis (classes fill early!).
Please arrive 5 minutes early with your own props and mats.
Workshops Online
Vermont Online Workshops
Lots of events and movies online. Contact: AARP Vermont Email: vtaarp@aarp.org with questions.
Visit Our Local Restaurants
Bistro Midva Midva is open Wednesday-Saturday 4:30-9:30 p.m. (Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) Call (802) 299-1553 or visit their FACEBOOK PAGE for more information.Call ahead for take out 674-9859
93 Pleasant St. Claremont, NH (in the space formerly occupied by Dusty’s Café)
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Exit Ate (802) 674-4299 Wednesdays-Sundays 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
202 VT 131, Ascutney
Inn at Weathersfield (802) 263-9217 93 Pleasant St. Claremont, NH (in the space formerly occupied by Dusty’s Café)
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
202 VT 131, Ascutney
Dine inside or outside Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, call for a reservation 802-263-9217. 1342 VT Route 106 Perkinsville, VT 05151
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; Wednesdays and Thursdays 3-8 p.m.; Saturdays noon-8 p.m. with LIVE MUSIC; Sundays noon-6 p.m..
60 Village Green, Proctorsville, VT 05153
Springfield Diner-seating inside/outside daily 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Ice cream shop open Thursday-Sunday 1-7 pm. Daily specials.
Villagers Ice Cream Restaurant-(802) 795-0063 CLOSED For the Season
Tuesdays-Sundays 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. (they stop cooking at 7:30 p.m.) 4261 Route 106 in Perkinsville, Downers Four Corners to the locals.
Unicorn Sundae at Villagers Rtes. 131 and 106, Downers Four Corners, in Perkinsville
Food Assistance
Ascutney Union Church Food Cupboard in Ascutney 5243 Route 5 Saturdays 9-10 a.m. call 802-674-2484.
Weathersfield Food Shelf in Perkinsville.
Beginning Thursday, January 13, the regular opening schedule of 2:00 pm-4:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month will resume. The Weathersfield Food Shelf is located in the 1879 Perkinsville Schoolhouse at 1862 Route 106 in Perkinsville. The Food Shelf has lots of good food to offer!
Call the Weathersfield Town Office to be refereed to a volunteer, visit the Weathersfield Food Shelf Facebook page and leave a message, email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com
Donations of non-perishable food are always welcomed and may be dropped off at the facility during open hours or placed in the collection box at Martin Memorial Hall. For more information, call 802-263-5584 or email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com.
Hartland Food Shelf in Hartland. 4 Corners UU Church Fridays 8-10 a.m., Saturdays 10 a.m-2 p.m.
Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf in Reading. Mondays 2-4 p.m. and Thursday 4-6 p.m. Stone School 3456 Tyson Rd, Reading.
Ascutney Union Church Food Cupboard in Ascutney 5243 Route 5 Saturdays 9-10 a.m. call 802-674-2484.
Weathersfield Food Shelf in Perkinsville.
Call the Weathersfield Town Office to be refereed to a volunteer, visit the Weathersfield Food Shelf Facebook page and leave a message, email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com
Donations of non-perishable food are always welcomed and may be dropped off at the facility during open hours or placed in the collection box at Martin Memorial Hall. For more information, call 802-263-5584 or email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com.
Hartland Food Shelf in Hartland. 4 Corners UU Church Fridays 8-10 a.m., Saturdays 10 a.m-2 p.m.
Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf in Reading. Mondays 2-4 p.m. and Thursday 4-6 p.m. Stone School 3456 Tyson Rd, Reading.
Weathersfield Food Shelf in Perkinsville.
Beginning Thursday, January 13, the regular opening schedule of 2:00 pm-4:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month will resume.
The Weathersfield Food Shelf is located in the 1879 Perkinsville Schoolhouse at 1862 Route 106 in Perkinsville. The Food Shelf has lots of good food to offer!
Call the Weathersfield Town Office to be refereed to a volunteer, visit the Weathersfield Food Shelf Facebook page and leave a message, email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com
Donations of non-perishable food are always welcomed and may be dropped off at the facility during open hours or placed in the collection box at Martin Memorial Hall. For more information, call 802-263-5584 or email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com.
Hartland Food Shelf in Hartland. 4 Corners UU Church Fridays 8-10 a.m., Saturdays 10 a.m-2 p.m.
Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf in Reading. Mondays 2-4 p.m. and Thursday 4-6 p.m. Stone School 3456 Tyson Rd, Reading.
Vermont State Resources and
COVID-19 Response Information
GET VACCINATEDand GET YOUR BOOSTERDo it for Yourself, Your Family, Your Community
GET VACCINATED
and GET YOUR BOOSTER
Do it for Yourself, Your Family, Your Community
Vermont Department of Health COVID-19 Information Page.
COVID-Vaccine Clinics
Visit https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/cdf6b5c920a54a5f960ca73bda5943c2/ to find a clinic near you.
With 26,000 shots given out, Vermont’s Omicron booster rollout trails previous campaigns
Erin Petenko reporting for VT Digger
About 26,000 Vermonters have gotten the Omicron booster, putting the state on a slower pace than previous booster campaigns, according to data from the state Department of Health.
Vermont pharmacies, health providers and walk-in clinics began offering the booster, also called the bivalent vaccine, to the general population three weeks ago. In 2021, more than 100,000 people got the booster in the first three weeks after Vermont opened eligibility to high-risk people and people 65 and older.
Anne Sosin, a health equity researcher at Dartmouth College, said it was still “relatively early” in the campaign, especially since people who have recently contracted Covid are recommended to wait until their immunity wears off.
But she said there were “reasons for concern” about the slow uptake, given that the United States has had “increasing incoherence in (its) Covid response.”
In a “60 Minutes” interview earlier this month, President Joe Biden said the pandemic was “over,” leading to criticism from some public health experts and officials.
“There's been consistent refrains that the pandemic is over, that Covid represents a low risk, and so many don't really see the reason to get boosted at this moment in time,” Sosin said. “We really need an active effort to counter that messaging.”
Vermont isn’t the only state that has struggled with its latest booster campaign: Less than 2% of eligible Americans got the shot in the first three weeks of the rollout, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The bivalent booster dose targets the Omicron strain along with older strains of the virus. Experts say it provides increased protection against the variants currently circulating throughout the country.
Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center is now offering walk-in service on weekday afternoons for people ages 2 and older, according to a news release.
The visits are available for urgent, but non-emergency medical needs Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. Patients can check in at the hospital’s central registration, through the main entrance.
Some of the conditions appropriate for care through walk-in services are minor cuts and burns; urinary tract infections; strains and sprains; minor fractures; rashes; and ear, sinus and eye infections. In addition, X-ray and lab services are available on-site.
A nurse will be on hand to determine if a patient’s condition calls for transfer to the emergency department.
The visits are available for urgent, but non-emergency medical needs Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. Patients can check in at the hospital’s central registration, through the main entrance.
Some of the conditions appropriate for care through walk-in services are minor cuts and burns; urinary tract infections; strains and sprains; minor fractures; rashes; and ear, sinus and eye infections. In addition, X-ray and lab services are available on-site.
A nurse will be on hand to determine if a patient’s condition calls for transfer to the emergency department.
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Nancy Nutile-McMenemy is an Upper Valley freelance photographer and writer who loves paddle, hike, attend concerts and local events in and around Weathersfield and the Upper Valley.
Scan this QR Code to see all the latest photos in my Galleries
or visit: www.photosbynanci.com
Nancy Nutile-McMenemy is an Upper Valley freelance photographer and writer who loves paddle, hike, attend concerts and local events in and around Weathersfield and the Upper Valley.
or visit: www.photosbynanci.com