The announcement in January by State Treasurer Beth Pearce that the state pension funds for teachers and state employees were grossly underfunded and that action had to be taken to make the plans sustainable alarmed all Vermonters, but most especially teachers and state employees who are counting on those funds for their retirement.
The Tax Commissioner’s projection of a 9% increase in property taxes last week was predictably a shock considering the economic climate we are currently in. In fact, it would be shocking even in a good year.
In 2008, Audubon Vermont and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation teamed up to create a program called “Foresters for the Birds.
Do you ever hike in the Green Mountains? Have you noticed the well-maintained trails, steps, bridges, water bars, shelters and privies? Ever wondered how this happens? Meet the Green Mountain Club.
The tax rate has been set for the July 1, 2019–June 30, 2020 tax year. The municipal tax rate has been set at $0.2021 and our local agreement tax rate is $0.0005, giving a total rate of $0.2026.
Charlotte’s musical landscape is filled with some real talent, and we are lucky to include Aaron Flinn in the lineup with Francesca Blanchard (francescablanchard.com), Jeff Hahn (jeffhahnmusic.com) and Justin Panigutti, to name a few.
The 2019 state budget passed last June included money for a study on the costs and benefits of various options to reduce Vermont’s carbon emissions in response to climate change. Vermont has several targets for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction that have been set during the Douglas, Shumlin and Scott administrations.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who gave me a vote in the recent primary election. I do not take your support for granted, and I appreciate the confidence you place in me to do a good job representing you in Montpelier.
So it’s been a year since I sold my last truck, a wonderful 30-year-old Silverado—it was a guaranteed extra 10 minutes at the gas pumps as folks weighed in on the beauty of classic designs in years gone by. But the Silverado didn’t really work for me in Vermont, for the simple reason it was rust-free and I felt guilty about driving it in winter as in no time flat the salt on the roads would have it for breakfast. So off it went to a collector, and I tried life in Vermont without a truck.
Chances are if you are like many of us, there was someone you met along the way growing up who made a major difference in your life. Perhaps it was your aunt, a soccer coach, a neighbor or a teacher at school. Whoever it may have been, you likely felt transformed, motivated or excited in ways that you hadn’t experienced before.
Volunteer Vermont will hold a potluck reunion on Dec 27, from 3 to 7 p.m., in the vestry of the Charlotte Congregational Church. In addition to sharing memories of Summerton and the Prayer House Mission, the gathering will celebrate the extraordinary life of John Mack, the leader of Volunteer Vermont from its founding until his death on August 12, 2017.
Apple season is a highly anticipated time of year in our area. Kids are back in school, the days are cooler, and Vermont’s apple orchards are brimming with fresh, juicy apples, just waiting to be picked.
At its Oct. 9 meeting, the Selectboard heard budget proposals for the next fiscal year from five town agencies. The Listers Office proposed a budget of $61,720, down $6,327 from this year, largely because of reductions in the cost of paying for appraisals next year. Planning and Zoning projected a drop in anticipated revenue from $53,000 this year to $48,000 next year primarily because of reduction in permit application fees; it also anticipates a reduction in expenses of about $10,500 because of reductions in computer-related expenses and in the cost of reviewing applications for waste water permits.
Congratulations: to Charlotte resident and Middlebury physician Dr. Jeanne Andersson-Swayze who, as a member of Heart to Heart International’s Disaster Response Team, went to both Florida in September and Puerto Rico recently to give medical aid to storm victims. Her team in Puerto Rico headed inland to small and often remote towns.
We are proud to announce The Charlotte News has won “Distinguished Newspaper” in our category in The New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA) “Newspaper of the Year” 2017 competition.
Fall in Vermont is the perfect time of year for many things: apple picking, pumpkin patches and, of course, gorgeous foliage. But what about listing your home? Typically, as the leaves begin to fall so do the number of buyers searching the market. However, with current interest rates so low, you might be surprised to find many still eager and looking. And while most consider spring to be the time to list, selling your home while the cider’s hot can have its advantages too.
Events in and around Charlotte, Vermont
Rudolphe “Skip” Vallee, CEO and owner of R.L. Vallee, is optimistic that the project will be able to meet town sensibilities. “We believe that we’ve designed the project—and are going to include the town in a number of design issues—to mitigate any opposition.”
Camaraderie and laughter filled the sidelines. Myers said it’s a big family of draft-horse lovers.
Rose-Ann Lombard of Charlotte has been a show superintendent for the draft-horse events at the fair for about a decade. She shares the responsibilities with Rick Fletcher of Jeffersonville.
The Charlotte Town Link Trail has been in the news frequently over the past several months. Although this trail has been in the works for about 20 years, now that it is becoming a reality many townspeople are more interested in the trail and have more questions about it. In an effort to answer as many questions as we can, the Trails Committee is starting this column, Trails Talk, in The Charlotte News.