Local lawmakers in committee positions to make impact

ADDISON COUNTY — Addison County lawmakers will wield influence over issues ranging from COVID-19 relief to education financing, thanks to committee assignments recently handed down by House and Senate leaders. Four of the county’s legislators secured leadership positions. They include Rep. Diane Lanpher, D-Vergennes, who was named chair of the House Transportation Committee; Sen. Chris Bray, who will continue to lead the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee; Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury, who will a … (read more)

MONTPELIER — Leaders in the Vermont House of Representatives on Wednesday announced committee assignments for the 2021-22 Legislative session. Rep. Diane Lanpher, D-Vergennes, will serve the next biennium as chair of the House Transportation Committee, wh … (read more)

Middlebury College students in Prof. Lindsay Repka’s fall Biochem class took an in-depth look at the science of coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. In their studies they saw how this pandemic reaches beyond the proteins, RNA and other buildin … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY — After a short battle with COVID-19, Mary “Pat” Brown — mother of six, member of Bristol’s St. Ambrose Catholic Church, retired Registered Nurse — died on Friday at age 79. “Her loss weighs heavy on us, with the worst part being that we co … (read more)

UPDATE: On Friday the Middlebury location for the driveu-up COID testing changed to the Town Recreation Center off Creek Road in Middlebury. Local Emergency Management Director Tom Hanley said the testing will be done outside in the back parking lot of th … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Addison County Solid Waste Management District is now accepting asphalt shingles and new drywall scraps for recycling at its Transfer Station in Middlebury. This new program allows community members and contractors to bring in new or used asp … (read more)

On Friday the head of the network of six Vermont hospitals that saw its internet systems hobbled by a cyberattack 10 days ago said the University of Vermont Health Network’s IT team is making significant progress in restoring communications systems among … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY — In a normal election year dozens — sometimes scores — of absentee ballots come into town clerks’ offices around Addison County before the main event, Election Day — when voters stream into the polls to make their voices heard in person. 2 … (read more)

Secretary of State Jim Condos, the state’s chief election official, has been working hard to make sure that as many Vermonters as possible get to cast ballots in the Nov. 3 General Election. His office and elections officials all around the state have tak … (read more)

Addison County Economic Development Corp. offers news bites of interest to our local businesses. Vermont Emergency Economic Recovery Grant Program Update Applications are still being accepted for the Vermont Emergency Economic Recovery Grants through the … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Addison County’s largest employer on Friday announced a new staff leave policy, with the hope of minimizing the risk sick employees might pose to the campus community and to provide a financial cushion for those who may need to be quarantined … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY — More than 750 Addison County employers have received Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling between $43 million and $74 million for the retention of more than 5,700 jobs, according to data released by the U.S. Small Business Admi … (read more)

Social distancing and closed schools brought on by COVID-19 meant that the 70 young Addison County singers who contributed to a new video recording of the Vermont state song this spring did not have the luxury of rehearsing together in the same room. Nor … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY — The Addison County Regional Planning Commission (ACRPC) is preparing to apply for a Broadband Innovation Grant for $60,000 to conduct a feasibility study about how best to help unserved and under-served portions of Addison County. The COV … (read more)

ADDISON COUNTY — The Addison County Recovery Team is going over the results of its survey of the local economy. The online survey garnered an impressive 275 responses from a diverse array of area business sectors, according to Fred Kenney, executive direc … (read more)