Vermont

Vergennes mayor confirms city picked to host juvenile justice facility

Published

2 weeks ago

May 2, 2024

Vergennes mayor confirms city picked to host juvenile justice facility

VERGENNES, Vt. (WCAX) – Vergennes Mayor Chris Bearor says state officials have officially chosen the city as its location to place a long-planned juvenile justice facility.

We told you in April that a 14-bed facility was in the works to be built on state-owned land near Comfort Hill in Vergennes.

The mayor says state agencies plan to begin a public education and community engagement process in early June.

“It was a very good meeting, it was very informative and I’m hoping that people engage with this and have an open mind to it and see where it goes,” said Mayor Bearor.

This will not be the city’s first time hosting a youth facility. The Weeks School operated as a youth detention center for over a century before closing in 1979. Since then, the campus has housed the Northland Job Corps, a federally-funded vocational training program.

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Related Topics:center city crime detention facility Featured justice juvenile news vergennes vermont WCAX

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Vermont

‘Sip & Shop’ returns to Rutland

Published

3 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

RUTLAND, Vt. (WCAX) – A popular event in Rutland is pairing sipping and shopping.

Sip & Shop pairs Vermont-made food and beverage businesses like Rutland Beer Works and Golden Rule Mead with more than 20 small businesses throughout the downtown.

There are both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options at many of the stores participating.

While there are plenty of old favorites for folks to revisit, multiple new businesses have popped up this spring hoping to catch the eyes of customers.

Hali Issente with the Downtown Rutland Partnership says they are banking on this being a boost to business. “It brings in new traffic, new folks to get to see what they offer. Many new people walk in and say, ‘I never knew you carried all of this, and it’s really great to see that.’ And a lot of businesses have great sales during the evening,” Issente said. “With many new businesses opening in Rutland, they’re going to use this event as an opening day and a really great way to get folks into the door.”

Shoppers can take everything they buy or receive home in reusable bags. The event wraps up at 8 p.m.

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Vermont

Outright Vermont finalizes purchase of former Benson scout camp

Published

10 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

Outright Vermont finalizes purchase of former Benson scout camp

BENSON, Vt. (WCAX) – Outright Vermont has officially acquired a former Boy Scout property in Benson known as Camp Sunrise.

The purchase will allow the organization to expand Camp Outright, an overnight summer camp tailored to LGBTQ+ and allied youth.

Talks to purchase the camp began in December and were made possible with the help of a grant from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board.

Officials say they will need to make some design changes before they can open.

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Vermont

DEC outlines wetland building policies

Published

17 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Press Room

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Buying land is a big decision. With so much wetland in Vermont, state leaders are making sure you don’t end up in a soggy situation.

It’s American Wetlands Month, and Vermont’s Department of Enviromental Conservation wants buyers to be informed before they buy.

Regulations can impact whether a property on wetlands can be developed or require a special permit. Some parcells known as swamp lots are mostly wetlands and may not be allowed to be developed under state rules.

You can visit Vermont DEC’s website for a map of Vermont’s wetlands and development and permitting policies.

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