Vermont

Candidate likely to become Vermont’s 1st woman in Congress

Published

2 years ago

October 27, 2022

Candidate likely to become Vermont’s 1st woman in Congress

BARRE, Vt. (AP) — Within the race for Vermont’s single seat within the U.S. Home, Democrat Becca Balint could possibly be on the verge of being elected as the primary girl and first overtly homosexual individual to signify the state in Congress.

Balint, 54, president of the Vermont Senate and a former instructor, faces Republican Liam Madden, a 38-year-old Marine Corps veteran and antiwar activist, who describes himself as an impartial, and who doesn’t have the backing of the state GOP get together. Three independents and one libertarian candidate are additionally within the race within the largely Democratic state.

Balint desires individuals who do not know her to grasp that she’s a middle-school instructor at her core.

“Whenever you train center college, it’s important to perceive what it’s to outlive a hellscape. And so I’m prepared for Congress,” she joked at a latest marketing campaign rally with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch, who’s operating for the Senate.

“However you additionally must consider in chance and promise and potential, and it’s important to consider that issues will get higher, OK, and I do. I do. That could be a worth that I maintain expensive,” she instructed the group.

Balint mentioned she plans to take the deep listening abilities she honed as a instructor to Washington to attempt to discover frequent floor. And she or he mentioned with democracy at stake and election deniers on the poll in different states, she is decided to guard voter rights to uphold democracy.

Balint mentioned she is especially involved about what she calls a scarcity of transparency inside the U.S. Supreme Court docket, and that she want to see time period limits launched for justices on that courtroom, different federal judges, and members of Congress.

The uncommon opening in Vermont’s three-member congressional delegation occurred after U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, introduced final November that he wouldn’t search reelection this 12 months. Welch is operating for Leahy’s seat, opening up the state’s lone seat within the U.S. Home.

Whereas Vermont is taken into account to be one of many extra liberal states, with a higher-than-average share of ladies serving within the state Legislature, in 2018 it grew to become the one state to have by no means despatched a lady to Congress.

“The actually robust contest for her was the first, the place it seemed prefer it was going to be very aggressive amongst various very robust candidates, and it wound up being a scenario the place most of the individuals who had been recognized with the activist left dropped out and their assist gravitated to Becca Balint,” mentioned Bert Johnson, a professor of American politics at Middlebury School.

Balint, of Brattleboro, was born in a U.S. Military hospital in Germany, the place her father was stationed, and she or he grew up principally in upstate New York. She mentioned she is the daughter of an immigrant, her father, and a working class mom, and the granddaughter of a person who died within the Holocaust.

She got here to Vermont to be a rock-climbing teacher in 1994 and moved to the Inexperienced Mountain State completely in 1997. She taught historical past and social research within the rural communities of Londonderry, Marlboro, Guilford and Washington, in addition to on the Group School of Vermont. She has a masters diploma in training from Harvard College and a masters in historical past from the College of Massachusetts at Amherst.

She mentioned she determined to run for the state Senate after seeing households struggling attributable to rising poverty in her county, and that her driving mission is to alleviate struggling. Balint has served 4 two-year phrases, together with as majority chief from 2017 to 2020. Final 12 months, she was elected president of the Vermont Senate, changing into the primary girl and first overtly homosexual individual in that position.

“With all her ardour, with all her great shows, there’s one other factor I would like allow you to in on,” Welch mentioned of Balint on the rally. “Within the quiet of the again rooms, this girl is aware of what she’s doing. She will get it performed.”

For voter Pat Rodar, of Woodbury, Balint gives some hope.

“I like the truth that she’s an impartial thinker, that she’s a lady, she’s robust, that she’ll make a distinction and that she’ll work effectively in Congress,” mentioned Rodar.

Joanne Virkler, of Waitsfield, mentioned she likes that Balint was concerned in public training, is a homosexual girl and is neighborhood oriented. Her husband Lyndon Virkler added that he helps Balint as a result of she “pro-choice and pro-democracy.”

In the meantime, it is a tough race for Republicans. GOP state Sen. Randy Brock mentioned he doubtless is not going to solid a vote for any of the candidates. He mentioned he has a superb working relationship with Balint within the Senate however that politically they aren’t suitable.

“Becca is basically largely a progressive in some ways. I’m involved about that strategy to authorities typically,” he mentioned.

Brock mentioned he is additionally not effectively aligned with Madden, the Republican operating as an impartial, and that he doesn’t assist the libertarian candidate.

Balint, who has two kids together with her spouse, an lawyer, hopes her marketing campaign, if profitable, will encourage extra folks to run for workplace, “whether or not they’re LGBTQ younger folks, folks of shade, individuals who come from working class backgrounds who by no means imagined that they may run for workplace.”

“I by no means thought I would be the place I’m proper now,” she mentioned.

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Comply with AP’s protection of the elections at: https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections

Try https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections to study extra in regards to the points and components at play within the 2022 midterm elections.

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Vermont

Mikaela Shiffrin Could Win Her 100th World Cup Next Weekend in Vermont

Published

5 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Mikaela Shiffrin Could Win Her 100th World Cup Next Weekend in Vermont

Mikaela Shiffrin, 29, recently took home her 99th World Cup win in Gurgl, Austria after her slalom victory. The astonishing skier is already an impressive record holder, but she continues giving each competition her all.

In her recent women’s slalom, she finished with a time of 1 minute and 40.22 seconds. Following behind Shiffrin was Lara Colturi at 0.55 seconds and Camille Rast at 0.57.

“It was a spectacular day,” said Shiffrin. “I am so excited! It was two really good runs.”

Next weekend, Shiffrin will be competing in Killington, Vermont, her home turf, where she may earn her 100th World Cup. At this event, a giant slalom will take place on Saturday while a slalom will occur on Sunday. In previous years, Shiffrin has dominated the slalom in Killington, winning six out of the seven years.

“It’s not impossible [earning her 100th win] but so many things have to go right. So, from the outside, it looks like it is supposed to happen this way but it’s certainly not easy – I am not taking that for granted…,” she stated.

While winning her 100th World Cup would certainly be a monumental moment in her career, and in the ski world, she remains focused on the task at hand.

“I guess there is a bit of pressure around it, but I try to ignore that,” Shiffrin said. “If it happens, it’s wonderful, if it doesn’t happen it’s kind of nothing to cry about in the grand scheme, but I hope to have a really good performance in front of the home crowd.”

Despite enduring a brutal downhill accident in January, Shiffrin has continued to be a leading force in the alpine ski world. Since the knee injury, she has won all four slaloms she has competed in, as stated by USA Today. Her determination and love for the sport is evident.

To watch Shiffrin in her upcoming competition in Killington Vermont, visit Peacock where the exciting events will be streamed.

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Vermont

Killington Women’s World Cup skiing returns to Vermont: 2 skiers with Western Mass ties to compete

Published

14 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Killington Women’s World Cup skiing returns to Vermont: 2 skiers with Western Mass ties to compete

This is a biweekly column about all things skiing and snowboarding in New England.

Since the FIS Women’s World Cup ski racing returned to the Northeast eight years ago, American Mikaela Shiffrin has dominated the slalom, winning six of the seven races and earning two bronze medals in the giant slalom.

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Vermont

VT wins big in USA Today’s 10 best ski and snowboard awards. Here’s a full list of winners

Published

22 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

VT wins big in USA Today’s 10 best ski and snowboard awards. Here’s a full list of winners

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe opens for the season

Skiers and snowboarders flock to Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe on opening day 2024.

Planning a winter ski trip? Consider heading to the mountains of Vermont.

USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards just released its best of ski and snowboard rankings, and Vermont won a total of 11 awards. The annual 10Best awards highlight the best in travel, food and lifestyle, and winners are chosen by a public voting poll after being nominated by industry experts. This year’s best of ski and snowboard awards ranks lodgings, locations and services for the winter sports across the United States.

In addition to Stowe placing as the third best ski town in the country, Vermont ski accommodations placed in the following categories: best apres-ski bar, best ski restaurant, best ski shop, best place for snow tubing, best cross-country ski resort and best ski hotel.

Here’s what to know about the winners:

The Belfry

Housed in a former one-room schoolhouse, The Belfry is a charming pub just minutes away from Jay Peak Resort. Between a robust beer and wine selection and a menu full of pub classics like wings and burgers, The Belfry is the perfect place to grab a drink after a day of skiing – earning the sixth spot on the list of apres-ski bars.

The Belfry is open for thirsty skiiers every day except Wednesday, with hours from 4-9 p.m. on Friday-Saturday and 4-8 p.m. every other day.

Award: No. 6 in Best Apres-Ski Bar

Location: 14 Amidon Road, Montgomery Center, VT

Cliff House Restaurant

Cliff House Restaurant, one of the restaurants at Stowe Mountain Resort, offers a mountainside eating experience at the top of the gondola on Mount Mansfield. The restaurant is known for American cuisine with a rustic Vermont flair, serving classics like chicken sandwiches and New England clam chowder.

Stowe’s Cliff House is open for lunch from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily once the season starts on Dec. 14. A valid ticket or season pass is required to ride the gondola to the restaurant.

Award: No. 8 in Best Ski Restaurant

Location: 7231 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT (top of the mountain gondola)

The INN Restaurant & Bar

Taking the third place spot for best ski restaurant is the restaurant at The INN, a quaint inn in Montgomery Center.

Guests have a choice of eating in the intimate dining room, lively tavern or riverside deck. The INN’s seasonal menus offer upscale comfort food made from fresh, local ingredients, completed with various craft cocktails.

The inn’s restaurant is open year-round on Thursday-Sunday starting at 5 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended.

Award: No. 3 in Best Ski Restaurant

Location: 241 Main St., Montgomery Center, VT

Darkside Snowboards

Darkside Snowboards is a premiere snowboarding shop with locations in Killington and Ludlow. Just making the list of best ski shops at 10th place, this shop has everything a snowboarder could want, from performance and freestyle boards to boots, helmets, goggles and clothing for the sport. Darkside does also offer ski rentals, but mainly focuses on snowboarding equipment.

Hours for this snowboard shop are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily in Ludlow and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily in Killington, with extended late-night hours Monday-Wednesday.

Award: No. 10 in Best Ski Shop

Location: 1842 Killington Road, Killington, VT; 57 Pond St., Ludlow, VT

Skiology Ski and Sports

Right down the road from Downside Snowboards in Killington is Skiology Ski and Sports, USA Today’s second choice pick for best ski shop. The store offers a wide range of high-performance skis, from recreational to racing and all-mountain to powder, as well as daily ski rentals and professional tuning services.

Skiology is open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Award: No. 2 in Best Ski Shop

Location: 937 Killington Road, Killington, VT

Pinnacle Ski and Sports

Pinnacle Ski and Sports, a Stowe ski shop that has been open for over 35 years, took the top spot for ski shops in this year’s 10Best awards.

Along with a wide selection of equipment and apparel, Pinnacle offers custom boot fitting, ski and snowboard rentals, ski mounting and tuning, ski repairs and a delivery concierge service. The shop is open daily from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Award: No. 1 in Best Ski Shop

Location: 1652 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT

Mount Snow Resort

Ranking fifth for best snow tubing location is Mount Snow Resort, a slopeside resort in the southern Vermont town of West Dover. The resort’s tubing hill has eight lanes and a conveyor lift, with tickets for two-hour time slots available.

In addition to snow tubing, Mount Snow has 86 skiing trails, a halfpipe and large terrain park. For those who want to stay, the Grand Summit Resort Hotel, Mount Snow’s lodging property, has almost 200 guest rooms and amenities like a spa, a health club, a heated pool and many locations for dining and retail.

Award: No. 5 in Best Place for Snow Tubing

Location: 39 Mount Snow Road, West Dover, VT

Viking Nordic Center

Londonderry’s Viking Nordic Center has over 16 miles of woodsy ski trails through classic Vermont scenery along the West River. All levels and types of cross-country skiing are welcome, whether classic, skate or snowshoe. For those just starting, the resort also offers lessons and rentals.

On select nights during ski season, Viking Nordic Center lights about two miles of their trails with overhead lights and gas lanterns from the 1900s, creating a unique nighttime skiing experience.

Award: No. 8 in Best Cross-Country Ski Resort

Location: 615 Little Pond Road, Londonderry, VT

Bolton Valley Nordic Center

Located in Bolton Valley overlooking the scenic Lake Champlain, Bolton Valley Nordic Center is a mountain adventure resort with the highest elevation in the Northeast.

The backcountry terrain offers trails for Nordic skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts of all levels, earning the resort a fifth place ranking in best cross-country ski resort. Additionally, Bolton Valley has paths for alpine, night and backcountry skiing, totaling in 71 trails.

Award: No. 5 in Best Cross-Country Ski Resort

Location: 4302 Bolton Valley Access Road, Bolton, VT

Topnotch Resort

Topnotch Resort, a luxury resort and spa located in the foothills of Mount Mansfield, ranked sixth for best ski hotel. Cozy, sophisticated rooms come together with beautiful gardens and a contemporary restaurant for a charming New England stay.

Along with skiing and snowboarding through the Stowe Mountain Resort, Topnotch has over 100 acres of activities like hiking, biking and horseback riding. Amenities include a spa, a fitness center, three pools, a tennis academy and seasonal activities.

Award: No. 6 in Best Ski Hotel

Location: 4000 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT

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