Vermont
See the honorees at Vermont Recovery Day next week
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.
Vermont
Vermont law enforcement officers petition for highway dedication in honor of David Chris Maland
SWANTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Police say a woman was shot and injured at her home in Swanton Town by a stray bullet.
It happened Wednesday at about 12:30 p.m. at a home on Ceres Circle in Swanton. Vermont troopers say the stray bullet was fired nearby and went into the woman’s residence.
Police say they have identified those involved, and there is no danger to the public.
The woman was taken to the hospital in St. Albans. We do not know her condition.
Anyone with information is asked to call the state police in St. Albans at 802-524-5993 or to submit an anonymous tip online.
Copyright 2026 WCAX. All rights reserved.
An investigation is underway in Vermont after two people were found dead following an early morning fire at a home in Chelsea.
Vermont State Police say the fire at a single-family residence at 5 North Common was reported around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, prompting a response from firefighters from multiple fire departments.
It took about 3.5 hours to extinguish the blaze, according to police, and the building is a total loss.
During a subsequent search of the home, investigators found the remains of two people, police added. Their bodies will be brought to the chief medical examiner’s office in Burlington for autopsies to confirm their identities and determine the cause and manner of their deaths.
Additional details about the fire, or the victims, were not immediately available. The deaths are being investigated by state police detectives, and the original and cause of the fire is under investigation by the Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion unit.
Anyone with information that could help investigators is asked to call state police at 802-234-9933, or provide an anonymous tip online here.
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