SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Mothers, fathers and kids running. Saturday morning, rain or shine – to remember their little angels up in the sky.

“I have found that families who are experiencing misscarriage have a lot to connect about, and a lot to share,” said Burlington mom Margaret Talbot.

Margret Talbot is one of the many women running in the Second Annual Empty Arms Vermont 5k Run and Walk at Veterans Memorial Park.

She says she has experienced several miscarriages and she started participating in support groups with the non-profit in 2021.

She now has a son and says she doesn’t know where she would be without the empty arms community.

“I am so grateful for my son, and the journey that brought us to him. I don’t think that I could have gotten to this point without a community and family that has supported my partner and I,” Talbot explained.

Empty Arms Vermont is a fairly new organization aimed to support families whose babies have died through miscarriage, stillbirth, early infant death, or termination for medical reasons.

The event attracted close to 500 people this year. Labor and delivery nurses at the event say this is an important cause. As they see about three miscarriages, stillbirths, or other related cases each month.

“It’s often an invisible loss. So I think sometimes a lot of people who aren’t face to face with it every day don’t know. We are just here to raise awareness and have some fun,” said UVM Labor and Delivery Nurse Anna Garbolski.

Despite some sadness, people say they are having a good time.

“It was really good, a lot of uphill, but that’s okay, we pushed through. All three of us, this is our second year actually, and I have another on the way, so I guess yeah. We have a lot of participation in our family,” said mother Sara Mckenzie.

“It went well, my goal was to run the whole thing. I did, I pretty much jogged, ran the whole way. So I am pretty happy about that, this is only my third 5K,” said mom, Olivia Heroy.

People wrapped up the run with a little ice cream at the end.

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RANDOLPH — Vermont State Police responded to a report of unlawful trespass at Vermont State University’s Randolph campus on June 28 at 10:56 a.m.

University staff alerted authorities to the presence of an individual who had previously been banned from the property.

Following an investigation, police identified the suspect as Casey F. O’Brien, 24.

Officers confirmed that an active trespass notice against O’Brien was still in effect.

O’Brien was located and issued a citation to appear in Orange County Superior Court – Criminal Division on Aug. 14 at 8:30 a.m. to face charges of unlawful trespass.

The incident occurred on Furnace Street in Randolph Center, where the university campus is located.

For many, fireworks are the literal highlight of July 4 celebrations. Ending a day of cook outs, music and summer fun celebrating the birth of our nation with a literal bang.

We all know the hassle of getting to the site early to grab the best seats, wrangling a number of friends and family into the car, and waiting in the summer heat for several hours. Knowing all this, you may wonder, why not just have your own fireworks show in your backyard?

If you’re asking that question, it means it’s time for another July 4 tradition, folks – the annual reminder that fireworks are illegal in the state of Vermont without a permit.

What fireworks are legal in Vermont

Unlike Massachusetts, this is not a complete ban on pyrotechnics. As far as Vermont law is concerned, sparklers and other novelty devices are not considered fireworks and are therefore permitted.

However, sparklers must be less than 14 inches long with no more than 20 grams of pyrotechnic mixture. Novelty sparkling items are limited to snakes, party poppers, glow worms, smoke devices, string poppers, snappers, or drop pops with no more than 0.25 grains of explosive mixture.

Anything over these limits on explosive material are illegal for sale and use in Vermont.

What is the potential penalty for illegal fireworks in Vermont?

According to the Vermont Legislature, Title 20, Chapter 177, sale, possession, or use of fireworks without proper permit is considered a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $100 and up to 30 days in jail.

A permit for a public display is also required by the local chief of police and fire departments of the town or city in which the display is being held.

Applications for a permit must be made at least 15 days in advance of the fireworks display. The use, possession, sale and distribution of fireworks is legal only after the permit is granted.

Holding a firework display without a permit as required is also a misdemeanor but carries a heavier penalty, with a fine of up to $5,000 and up to a year of imprisonment.