Vermont is on the right track with health care reform

Vermont is on the right track with health care reform

Rachel Lee Cummings

Don’t let the current hubbub and steady stream of misinformation from Washington distract you from reality. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obama Care, is working and will not be done in by the recent tax bill. Medicaid continues to expand, increasing the numbers insured. Tax credits will hold premiums steady for the majority of Americans. Young adults can continue to remain on their parents’ insurance until they turn 26. Those with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage. Premiums will not depend on health status. Safeguards are also in place to penalize insurers who cherry-pick and look to insure only those in good health. 

Emerald Ash Borer found in Vermont

Emerald Ash Borer found in Vermont

Nate Seigert, U.S. Forest Service Entomologist

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation (VTFPR) and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Foods & Markets (VAAFM) report that an emerald ash borer (EAB), a destructive forest insect from Asia, has been detected in Vermont. Officials with the USDA Animal & Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed the identification of a beetle recently found in northern Orange County, Vermont. The insect was reported through the vtinvasives.org website.

Girl scouting around the world

Girl scouting around the world

Cindy Bradley

It has been a very busy beginning to the year 2018 for our local Charlotte Girl Scout Troop 30066.  The cookie sale – Girl Scout cookie sales began on the first of January, as many of you are aware of, since a number of you had young Daisy, Brownie or Junior Girl Scouts braving the sometimes frigid temperatures to knock on your doors in anticipation of making a cookie sale. 

R.L. Vallee withdraws application for a Maplefields Store off Route 7

R.L. Vallee withdraws application for a Maplefields Store off Route 7

Edd Merritt, Contributing Editor

Engineers for the proposed Maplefields off Route 7, Ferry and Church Hill Roads wrote to Zoning Board Chair, Frank Tenney, saying that due to comments by the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) concerning cross-traffic turns into and out of the proposed location, they and R.L. Vallee, Inc. are withdrawing their proposal for a Maplefields Store.

Senior Center News

Senior Center News

Charlotte Senior Center

The Senior Center’s Spring Program (March through May), included in this issue of The News, describes the programs and classes being offered here this spring, along with schedules and fees. You can register for classes by calling the Center at 425-6345, by mail at P.O Box 207, Charlotte, VT 05445, or by coming in to sign up in person.

Into the Woods: American Beech Profile

Into the Woods: American Beech Profile

Ethan Tapper , County Forester

Among foresters, American beech (Fagus grandifolia) is a common source of consternation. It is often considered a low-value, low-quality “weed,” outcompeting other tree species and taking over the forest’s understory. Some foresters interested in maintaining diversity, increasing forest health and growing more commercial tree species have adopted special practices just to avoid regenerating beech, including treating cut beech stumps with herbicide. 

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Melanie Needle, Senior Planner, CCRPC

Regarding “Stop the new energy plan” – Hans Ohanian’s recent letter [Jan. 10 Charlotte News] , titled “Stop the new energy plan,” pointed out a mistake in the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission’s (CCRPC) June 2017 draft Municipal Energy Data Assumptions and Methodology report. There was indeed a math error in the graphic on page 19 from the Bennington County Regional Commission’s draft energy plan. Bennington County has since corrected this graphic in its final plan. CCRPC was unaware of the error and used the graphic to explain how regional renewable energy generation targets are developed. 

Senior Center News

Senior Center News

Charlotte Senior Center

Wednesday After-lunch Programs Programs scheduled for Wednesday after lunch begin at 1 p.m. and showcase the many interests of our community. Drop in to share the travels and experiences of our presenters—no need to register.

Report from Legislature: A Practical Approach to Pricing Carbon Pollution

Report from Legislature: A Practical Approach to Pricing Carbon Pollution

Rep. Mike Yantachka

Most people recognize that climate change is happening, that it is caused by burning fossil fuels and that it has serious environmental and health consequences. The challenge to our generation is how to counter the trend of increasing concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. The most obvious action is to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels. 

Charlotte Library News

Charlotte Library News

Margaret Woodruff, Director

IBRARY CARD EXPIRATION REMINDER – All Charlotte Library cards expire on January 31, 2018. In order to use your card at other Homecard libraries, it must have an up-to-date sticker. Please stop by with card for a new sticker and you’ll be good until January 31, 2021!

Meet Cathrine Richards, fire fighter volunteer and probationary rescue volunteer

Meet Cathrine Richards, fire fighter volunteer and probationary rescue volunteer

Tom Cosinuke, CVFRS corporate president

Cat got started with CVFRS in 2014. She wanted to do something different and more technical in her volunteering.  She made the full commitment taking both Fire 1 and Fire 2 training programs, approximately 220 hours of overall training, followed by written and practical testing.

Around Town

Around Town

Edd Merritt, Editor In Chief

Congratulations: to Jacob Edgar of Charlotte, who led off the Charlotte Congregational Church’s “Soup, Supper Series” on January 16. Jacob is a musician and ethnomusicologist, as well as a record producer. He spoke about his organizations: the record label, booking agency and music publisher, Cumbancha, as well as another label that has received world-wide renown, Putumayo World Music.

OutTakes: An independent Vermont! Who would have thunk it?

Edd Merritt, Editor In Chief

Fifty years ago Buffalo Springfield said something was happening here and asked everyone to look at what was going down. What did they find? 
They found something close to today’s climate in Vermont where the scent of revolution is in the air. Secession may well have returned to people’s minds. Vermonters may be considering becoming the Switzerland of North America. 

Notice of 2nd Public Hearing For Proposed Town Plan

Notice of 2nd Public Hearing For Proposed Town Plan

Town Of Charlotte Selectboard

Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. Section 4385, the Charlotte Selectboard will hold its second public hearing to receive public comments on a proposed amended Charlotte Town Plan on Monday, January 22, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Town Hall, 159 Ferry Road. Public comments may also be submitted in writing in advance of the public hearing.