Vermont

Out There: More storm damage

Published

2 years ago

January 12, 2024

Press Room

It’s Friday, Jan. 12. Here’s what’s on deck:

The warmest year on record
Preparing for landslides
Fishers (the animal)

But first,

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Vermont Public’s biweekly dose of all things environment.

Cleaning up from the storm

Elodie Reed

Vermont Public

The storm this week caused nearly 30,000 outages in Vermont at its peak early Wednesday morning, mostly in communities on the western slope of the Green Mountains and sections of the Northeast Kingdom. That’s after a storm in November caused over 35,000 outages at its peak. These types of damaging storms are becoming more common.

Scientists generally cannot attribute any one weather event to climate change. But winters are getting warmer and wetter in the Northeast, and those conditions produce weather events that are more likely to cause widespread power outages like recent storms that have pummeled the state, including the one this week. Here’s why these storms are more damaging to our power system:

☔ Soggy ground: When the ground is frozen, strong winds don’t cause as much damage. But more thawing as temperatures rise and fall below freezing means trees are more likely to topple over – blocking roads, ensnaring power lines, and damaging property.

💧 Wet, heavy snow: At warmer temperatures the atmosphere can hold more humidity – and snow has a higher water content. A wet snowflake might be partially melted while falling, and its liquid edges make it stickier. That wet, sticky snow weighs down trees and powerlines.

⛷️ Less “chamber of commerce snow”: Dry, powdery snow that falls at colder temperatures doesn’t cause the same issues to the power grid. That’s the stuff that skiers love.

👷 Utilities say they’re better prepared to respond: Vermont utilities say they’ve invested in infrastructure improvements like putting lines underground, trimming trees, and “hardening” lines. They also say they’re faster at responding to storms because of better preplanning and more effective mutual aid systems to share resources.

In other news

🥵 Earth had its hottest year on record in 2023: So did several cities across the Northeast, including Burlington and St. Johnsbury since records began there in the late 1800s. It was the second hottest year in Vermont overall – shy by 0.1 degrees F. The state didn’t have an exceptionally warm summer, but temperatures were near or above normal for almost every month of the year, including a warm stretch in December that led to flooding from rain and snowmelt. Overnight lows were also considerably warmer than normal.

📛 82 calls about potential landslides: That’s what state officials received after the July storm, as Vermonters asked for help gauging the risk of a slide happening near their properties. Of those calls, 11 required same-day evacuations. Vermont Geological Survey staff say they’re not equipped to handle this volume of need, and the Agency of Natural Resources is asking state lawmakers to assemble a taskforce so they’re better equipped to respond to potential landslides in the future.

🪵 $5 million for loggers and saw mill operators: Lawmakers are proposing a plan to help the industry deal with the July floods and broader climate change impacts, along with workforce needs. That includes paying loggers to comply with water quality regulations and free safety training for people getting into the business.

🦫 Lawmakers have concerns about new trapping and coyote hunting rules: Some think the new rules don’t do what lawmakers asked for, and the Vermont Senate leader says he supports legislation that would take away the Fish and Wildlife Board’s ability to make rules like this. They’re a group of 14 volunteers, appointed by the governor.

In your backyard

A drawing of a small brown animal on all fours, standing on a tree branch.

This fall, a hunter spotted a fisher eating an apple at an old orchard in the Green Mountain National Forest and took a very cute video.

Get out there

🕯️Snowshoe by torchlight: You can also walk or ski, depending on the conditions, at the Billings Farm trail in Woodstock tonight, Friday, Jan. 12. National Park rangers and farm staff will be around to answer questions about wildlife and natural history, and you can end the night with s’mores and hot drinks around a firepit. Wear a headlamp or bring a flashlight. $12 for adults.

🦋 Make your yard a great place for pollinators: Also tonight, the Tunbridge Public Library is hosting a talk Vermont Center for Ecostudies staff about how you can support insects throughout the year, from foraging to breeding and overwintering, along with advice for selecting plants and getting involved in community science. Friday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.

🐍🥾 Hike up Snake Mountain: SheJumps is hosting a winter hike in Vergennes on Saturday, Jan. 13 open to all experience levels. It’s a moderate hike of 4 miles roundtrip with about 900 feet of elevation gain. Organizers say they’ll take it slow and steady, with breaks as needed. Bring water, snacks, warm layers, waterproof shoes, and traction like microspikes. Meet at 10 a.m. at the trail parking lot.

🎣 A weekend of hunting and fishing experts: The Yankee Sportsman’s Classic is three days of exhibitors and presentations, like the basics of butchering deer, ice fishing tips, and hunting snowshoe hare. Staff and board members from the Fish and Wildlife Department will be available to answer questions, including about new trapping and hunting rules. Friday, Jan. 19 through Sunday, Jan. 21 at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. $13 for adults.

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Vermont Public’s biweekly dose of all things environment.

Thank you for reading! Don’t hesitate to reach out, we’d love to hear from you. Just email us.

Credits: This week’s edition was put together by Lexi Krupp and edited by Kevin Trevellyan with lots of help from the Vermont Public team, including graphics by Laura Nakasaka and digital support from Sophie Stephens.

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Vermont

Boston College Men’s Hockey Falls to Vermont 6-1

Published

2 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Press Room

Boston College Men’s Hockey Falls to Vermont 6-1

The Boston College men’s hockey team lost an ugly one on Friday night, falling to Vermont 6-1 to snap a four game winning streak. The Eagles fell behind early and were never able to catch up in this one, as the Catamounts were the better team by a considerable margin over the full 60 minutes. It was probably BC’s worst showing of the season and one that they’ll immediately need to rebound from when they play in the Beanpot final on Monday night.

Vermont got out to a lead just 80 seconds into the first period, scoring on an odd-man rush turned breakaway after a rough turnover by Aram Minnetian in the neutral zone. They doubled their lead just around the nine minute mark of the period when Louka Cloutier seemingly just missed what looked like a fairly simple wrist shot from the boards on a delayed penalty. BC did bounce back with a nice penalty kill right after allowing the second goal and had some power play time of their own late in the period. They were unable to cut into Vermont’s lead, however, despite controlling the puck generating a handful of pretty dangerous scoring chances and went into the first intermission trailing by two goals.

The Eagles made the most of about a minute of carryover power play time to start the second period with James Hagens continuing his recent streak of strong play with his 16th goal of the season. Hagens was able to redirect a Lukas Gustafsson shot from the point into the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game just about 45 seconds into the period. It looked like Vermont had regained their two-goal lead a few minutes later after a goal on what appeared to be a nice passing play, but a quick review took it off of the board for a pretty clear kicking motion. BC’s reprieve didn’t last for long, though, as the Catamounts were able to convert on a power play chance just a few minutes later to make it a 3-1 game after two periods of play.

They made it a 4-1 game and ended pretty much any hope of a BC comeback about two and a half minutes into the third period. A breakdown in coverage off of a Vermont rush left a Catamount wide open right above Cloutier’s crease for a one timer into a wide open net to make it a three-goal game. They made it 5-1 with a shorthanded goal not too long after that after another rough turnover, this time from Teddy Stiga and turned it into a laugher a few minutes later with a goal to make it a 6-1 final.

On the heels of a big win against BU last week and a Beanpot victory over Harvard on Monday, this might have been BC’s worst performance of the season. It was a genuinely ugly performance basically from the opening faceoff and outside of a few minutes early in the second period, they never really looked like they were going to get into this game. It’s a bummer because they had been playing some good hockey and it felt like they could go on a bit of a run, but instead they laid a bit of an egg. They’ll have a chance to bounce back almost right away when they play BU once again on Monday night, this time in the Beanpot final.

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Vermont

Former Vermont teacher charged with sexually assaulting student

Published

14 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Press Room

Former Vermont teacher charged with sexually assaulting student

ENOSBURGH, Vt. (WCAX) – A former Vermont schoolteacher faces charges of sexually assaulting a student.

Vermont state police say they started investigating Ashley Goodwin, 43, of Enosburg, in November after a report of sex offenses that took place from 2007 to 2009, when Goodwin was a teacher at Enosburg Middle School.

Troopers say the investigation revealed that Goodwin repeatedly sexually assaulted a student, starting when the child was 14.

Police cited Goodwin on Friday for aggravated sexual assault. She’s due in court on Monday.

Goodwin is no longer a teacher.

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Vermont

See the honorees at Vermont Recovery Day next week

Published

1 day ago

February 6, 2026

Press Room

See the honorees at Vermont Recovery Day next week

Beth McDermott
| Reporter assisted by AI

Policymakers and advocates will talk about efforts to promote addiction recovery in Montpelier next week, according to a community announcement from the Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery.

The Recovery Day event is set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Supreme Court auditorium in Montpelier, 111 State St. The event aims to highlight the importance of building recovery systems around individuals rather than isolated sectors, according to the announcement.

Patty McCarthy, CEO of Faces & Voices of Recovery and a nationally recognized recovery leader, will be the keynote speaker. Her experience includes advocating for recovery-oriented systems of care and federal policy changes, as well as efforts to reduce stigma surrounding addiction.

Several individuals will be recognized for their contributions to recovery efforts in Vermont:

Kimberly Blake will receive a lifetime achievement award for her work in harm reduction and compassionate care.
Nels Kloster will also receive a lifetime achievement award for his efforts to expand access to treatment and promote coordinated, person-centered care.
Sara Byers will receive the Tammy Bushell Recovery-Friendly Workplace Award for fostering recovery-friendly workplace cultures and values.
Isaac Dayno will receive the Peter Mallary Legislative Champion Award for his leadership in advancing recovery supports within the state’s correctional system.
Katy Leffel will receive the Dr. Mark Depman Trailblazer Award for her leadership in perinatal health, overdose prevention and cross-sector collaboration.
Benjamin Lerner will receive the Jack Barry Communications Award for using storytelling and music to reduce stigma and inspire hope.

The event is open to the public and welcomes individuals and families directly affected by substance use and mental health challenges.

American Sign Language interpretation will be provided throughout the event, and organizers encourage inquiries about additional access needs to ensure full participation.

The Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, in collaboration with Recovery Partners of Vermont, is organizing the event. Registration details and more information are available at https://vamhar.org/rd2026.

Sponsors include the Vermont Department of Health Division of Substance Use, Central Vermont Prevention Coalition & Central Vermont Medical Center and the 802 Scoops Podcast.

This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

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