Vermont
Vermont high school football: Live updates, scores, stats from Week 1
Vermont high school football: BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille linemen interview
BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille’s Izaih Erno, Hunter McGillis and Daniel Palmer are primed for the 2024 Vermont high school football season.
See below for live score updates during opening weekend of the 2024 Vermont high school football season, and check back later for final scores, stats and game details.
The new gridiron campaign kicks off Thursday, with U-32 revisiting reigning Division II state champion North Country for a 6:30 p.m. start time. Then eight matchups are slated for Friday night and another six for Saturday to close out Week 1.
TO REPORT SCORES
Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.
WEEK 1 LIVE UPDATES
WEEK 1 SCHEDULE, SCORES
Thursday, Aug. 29
U-32 at North Country, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 30
Games at 7 p.m. unless noted
BFA-St. Albans at Middlebury
Essex at St. Johnsbury
Rutland at Mount Anthony
Rice at Spaulding
Missisquoi at Springfield
Poultney at Woodstock
Colchester at Milton, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 31
Games at 1 p.m. unless noted
Hartford at Champlain Valley
Burlington/South Burlington at Mount Mansfield
Lyndon at Bellows Falls
Fair Haven at Windsor
Otter Valley at BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille
Mount Abraham at Mill River
Burr and Burton at Brattleboro, 7 p.m.
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.
Contact Judith Altneu at jaltneu@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
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Vermont
Vermont DMV launches program to assist autistic drivers
![Vermont DMV launches program to assist autistic drivers Vermont DMV launches program to assist autistic drivers](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/022aca9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5184x2722+0+0/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0b%2F69%2F2f5df4e541d3a35960fd7e9b692d%2Fblue-envelope-dmv-vermontpublic-zmcdonald-20240828.jpg)
The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles recently unveiled a new program aimed at easing challenges for autistic drivers and the law enforcement officers who engage them.
Some autistic people experience the senses more intensely than neurotypical people: flashing police lights, for example. And there can be differences in communication, which can lead to behaviors being misinterpreted.
The DMV’s Blue Envelope Program is designed to make routine traffic stops feel safer and less stressful.
Vermont Public’s Jenn Jarecki was recently joined in-studio by Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Wanda Minoli to learn more about the program. This interview was produced for the ear. We highly recommend listening to the audio. We’ve also provided a transcript, which has been edited for length and clarity.
Jenn Jarecki: So we described it briefly in the introduction, but broadly speaking, what is the state’s new Blue Envelope Program?
Nathaniel Wilson
/
Vermont Public
Wanda Minoli: The Blue Envelope Program is really simply about awareness for law enforcement when they do traffic stops, and it’s another form of communication for our residents. Our focus at DMV is customer service, and we’ve had to recognize that we deliver services to every resident at some point in time in the state of Vermont. And you have to be able to adjust and adapt in your communication with them.
Jenn Jarecki: Wanda, I’m curious about how the partnership between the DMV and the University of Vermont Autism Collaborative came about, and what role the Collaborative played in developing the DMV’s Blue Envelope Program.
Wanda Minoli: The Collaborative played the most significant role. They told us how it should be worded, how it should be designed, and what it looked like. And that’s based on their experience and how individuals — with an autistic spectrum of some type — communicate and how they communicate roadside. So they led us and we developed.
Jenn Jarecki: I understand that other states have similar programs, like neighbors in Connecticut and Massachusetts, to name just a couple. How much influence did that existing work have on what’s ultimately been rolled out here in Vermont?
Wanda Minoli: Well, for us, we used the other states’ model of the envelope and started there. Don’t reinvent the wheel. If there’s a successful program out there, then, you know, state to state, we try to model. And that’s really, really important because when you think about this program, and you think about our residents and our New England states, we don’t drive just in Vermont. We may take a vacation to Maine, we may be traveling to Massachusetts for something, and you possibly could be stopped roadside. And what we have now is consistent messaging for all law enforcement, and that applies for people driving into our state. So, when they hand the blue envelope over, all law enforcement is aware. They know exactly what they’re getting and what this document means, and that’s really important, too.
Jenn Jarecki: I want to press on that just a little bit, Wanda. You’ve said that you hope this program can, and I’m quoting you, “build bridges between law enforcement and the autism community.” Can you say even more about that?
Wanda Minoli: Building the bridges, again, is about awareness and communication. And when law enforcement is stopping someone — and we’re going to use a simple example for roadside — they are not aware. And every spectrum is different, you may not communicate with your eyes. Law enforcement is trained to communicate, you know, be looking at the individual, right, having that eye contact. And keeping it at that simple, simple level of, you know, this allows that officer to be able to do and be aware of the tasks that they have in front of them and the conversation. Because roadside stops are about conversations, generally, that’s where it starts. If you’re not aware at that point, the conversation can easily — for the passenger or the driver or the law enforcement — it can go a different way. And this is about a calming effect. This is about a tool to be able to communicate in a very comfortable manner.
Jenn Jarecki: What has the response from law enforcement been to the Blue Envelope Program?
Wanda Minoli: I have communicated with my team, and with the DMV enforcement team, and they’re very excited about it. Again, it’s awareness and it’s another tool. We sent out a law enforcement bulletin to all law enforcement entities in the state of Vermont: municipalities, Vermont State Police. I have not had any personal or direct conversations with them.
Jenn Jarecki: I’d like to talk about the blue envelope itself. Can you describe it for us, and what is written on the envelope and what its sort of purpose is?
Wanda Minoli: So the purpose is to put your necessary documents. If you think about it again, at a roadside traffic stop, a law enforcement officer is going to ask for your license, your registration and your proof of insurance. And so the document is something that you put in the envelope, you just place all of these documents in. But more importantly, too, it asks for an individual’s contact information in the event maybe communication is not, you know, going very well. It gives the law enforcement officer another avenue to help the conversation, and it’s as simple as that.
Jenn Jarecki: So, as we mentioned, the program rolled out earlier this month. Have you had any sign-ups yet?
Wanda Minoli: Oh my goodness, yes. I was so excited. I actually checked yesterday afternoon just to see how the requests were coming in and if we’re getting any online requests. And we had 175 as of noon yesterday [Aug. 21], which to me is remarkable. And in addition, we had two requests from other states. And so that alone tells me there’s awareness and individuals want access.
Jenn Jarecki: So for anyone listening, Wanda, who may be interested in getting a blue envelope, you know, what is the cost, and what might be the next steps?
Wanda Minoli: So, there’s no cost. There’s two simple ways to get the envelope. You can stop by any DMV branch office, you can walk in and we have available at the counter, and you can pick one up. Or you can go online, and you can just send us an email, there’s a direct link, and we will mail them to you.
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message.
Vermont
Vermont farmers inducted into Agricultural Hall of Fame
![Vermont farmers inducted into Agricultural Hall of Fame Vermont farmers inducted into Agricultural Hall of Fame](https://gray-wcax-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JJP5V5F7SREX5F5QWV45JPFJJI.jpg?auth=be0a542a8ef7d210029c05719157c241001e011e9b5a8b79a441b0c2c576597b&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. (WCAX) – In addition to the rides, food, games and shows, the Champlain Valley Fair maintains its agricultural roots.
Wednesday, some farming icons in Vermont were recognized for their contributions to the ag industry.
Our Darren Perron spoke with one of the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees, Barnard farmer Paul Doton, about the honor. Watch the video to see their full conversation.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. All rights reserved.
Vermont
Vermont Public releases eight-part video series about local businesses by filmmaker Rocket as part of Made Here Fund
![Vermont Public releases eight-part video series about local businesses by filmmaker Rocket as part of Made Here Fund Vermont Public releases eight-part video series about local businesses by filmmaker Rocket as part of Made Here Fund](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1ee09c2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2114x1110+0+106/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F68%2F97%2F1c049b444d9bb8b2e24015ca3029%2Frocket-headshot-20240828.jpg)
Vermont Public has launched ‘Small Vermont Businesses in Small Vermont Towns’, an eight-part series of short films by filmmaker Rocket, as part of the station’s Made Here Fund.
Rocket is a storyteller and the driving force behind Eat Vermont and Stellar, a mobile application that empowers people to create custom recipes and navigate the kitchen. He’s an alumnus of The Putney School ’10 and Middlebury College ’14, and recent graduate of the Vermont Law School.
“I’ve been to all 50 states, but I call Vermont home. I love this state for many reasons, most of all for its strong local food system, natural charm, and community-minded people,” Rocket said. “Small businesses are the bedrock of Vermont. The people who build and operate these businesses are heroes. I made this series to honor their resilient efforts and immortalize their stories as touchstones of Vermont life in the 2020s.”
New episodes are being released on Tuesdays at vermontpublic.org and YouTube through October 1.
August 13: Good Measure
Rocket visits with Scott Kerner and Andrew Leichthammer, co-owners of Good Measure Pub & Brewery, a welcoming pub with a seasonal menu and small-batch brews located in downtown Northfield. Good Measure is known for its unique focus on nostalgic beer styles, including English, Belgian, and American classics and for being a local’s favorite. Scott Kerner is the founder of Vermont food pillars such as Three Penny Taproom, The Mad Taco, and Mule Bar. Rocket highlights and explores Scott’s philosophy behind being a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist and community builder.
August 20: Nelson Farms
Rocket visits with the Nelson family, multigenerational dairy farmers operating two dairy farms – one organic, one conventional – as Nelson Farms in Irasburg. In discussion with Dylan and Meg, the husband and wife team managing these farms, Rocket explores the differences and surprising depth of similarities between these operations. The Nelsons discuss the ways dairy farmers are using technology to adapt and survive in the modern-day milk markets: from microchips and their state-of-the-art rotary milking parlor. Beyond economic survival, the Nelson family see themselves as farmers who exist and operate within the longstanding Vermont tradition of being good stewards of the land.
August 27: Jenna’s Promise
Rocket visits with the team at Jenna’s Promise, a non-profit founded in memory of Jenna Tatro, a victim of the ongoing opioid epidemic. After losing their daughter, Greg & Dawn Tatro devoted themselves fully to fulfilling the promise of Jenna’s potential: that of helping others navigate and overcome opioid addiction. Jenna’s Promise, located in Johnson, provides therapy, housing, and – featured prominently in this story – work opportunities for the people they support. Through small businesses like Jenna’s Promise Roasting Co. and Jenna’s Promising Goods, this recovery-focused organization offers a supportive environment, skill training, and purpose, preserving Jenna’s legacy as an enduring beacon of hope, recovery, and resilience.
September 3: Parro’s Gun Shop
Rocket visits with Henry Parro, founder and owner of Parro’s Gun Shop & Police Supplies, a firearm emporium widely reputed for its product selection and for being Vermont’s first public indoor shooting range. Since its founding in 1983, Parro’s has grown from a modest one-man shop to a 10,800-square-foot state-of-the-art facility for retail, recreation, training, and safety education, drawing first time gun owners and lifelong firearm enthusiasts from near and far. Additionally, Rocket visits the Barre Fish & Game Club to observe the Just For Fun Association, a benchrest shooting club, engaging in the sport in a safe and responsible community-building manner.
September 10: Elmore Mountain Bread
Rocket visits with Blair Marvin, founder and head baker of Elmore Mountain Bread, a home bakery renowned for its wood-fired, stone-milled breads. Blair and her husband Andrew Heyn began with the goal of reinvigorating our relationship to locally sourced grains, which provide many advantages: taste, sustainability, economic resilience, nutritional density and more. In solving the related issue of empowering small bakeries like Blair’s to mill their own grains, Andrew has built New American Stone Mills, which exports Barre granite mills around the world. Elmore Mountain Bread is a living testament to Vermont’s agricultural heritage and commitment to sustainable, community-focused practices.
September 17: Willey’s Store
Rocket visits with Rob Hurst, the fifth generation proprietor of Willey’s Store in Greensboro. This town is more readily known as being home to Lake Caspian and globally renowned brands such as Hill Farmstead and Jasper Hill Farm. And yet, for over a century, Willey’s has played the vital role of being the rural town’s general store, providing nearly every imaginable necessity from groceries to clothing to hardware. In their conversation, Rob and Rocket explore the importance of a community institution like Willey’s, as well as some of the looming challenges that small general stores around Vermont face in their vital effort to survive.
September 24: Woodlawn Farmstead
Rocket visits with Seth Leach, the seventh-generation farmer at Woodlawn Farmstead in Pawlet, to explore how vertical integration has been essential for this small dairy farm’s survival. Seth discusses how he and his wife Kate have worked to manage every step in milk production, from growing crops to making cheese to overcome the modern challenge of “buying retail and selling wholesale”. By partnering with renowned cheesemakers like Plymouth Artisan Cheese and Crowley Cheese, and even starting their own cheese brand, Woodlawn Creamery, the Leaches continue to find inventive ways to keep their 250-cow operation afloat.
October 1: Babes Bar
Rocket visits with Jesse Plotsky & Owen Daniel-McCarter, co-owners of Babes Bar, a vibrant community center in the heart of Bethel. Babes is at once a queer friendly space, a watering hole for locals, and a must-visit on the itinerary of Vermonters statewide and visitors from further afield. Known for its warm atmosphere and eclectic events, Babes Bar serves as a cultural hub where people of all backgrounds can come together over drinks, dance, and delicious Chicago-style hotdogs.
The Made Here Fund was launched in 2022 to broaden and diversify Vermont storytelling. Makers from across the state were invited to apply for special funding to produce pieces such as short documentary and animated films, digital shorts and audio series.
Rocket’s project was one of 10 projects selected by a jury and funded in 2023. Previously released projects include films ‘The Balloonist,’ ‘Love of the Land,’ and ‘I Have Something To Get Off Of My Chest.’ The remaining projects will be released over the next year.
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