Vermont

Vermont travel sector optimistic for strong season despite high gas prices

Published

2 years ago

June 6, 2022

Vermont travel sector optimistic for strong season despite high gas prices

Excessive gasoline costs are fueling frustration — simply as Vermont’s crucial summer time journey interval kicks off. Nonetheless, state officers imagine the state’s location and a key shopper development will mix for a profitable season.”We will’t wait to welcome of us,” stated Nate Formalarie, a spokesman for the Vermont Company of Commerce and Group Improvement.In 2019, earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, Vermont tallied roughly 13 million visits to the state, Formalarie stated. Spending on journey contributed roughly $3 billion to the small state’s economic system that yr, he added.Because the journey and hospitality sector appears to be like to rebound from the pandemic to these visitation ranges or greater, Formalarie stated Vermont’s location — inside a six-hour drive or much less from 80 million individuals — ought to make it a horny getaway, even regardless of excessive gasoline costs.As of Monday, a number of stations in South Burlington had gasoline priced round $4.99 a gallon.”It’s ridiculous,” lamented traveler Ginny DeQuatro, who was a part of a gaggle of childhood associates from Lengthy Island, New York visiting Vermont.”We obtained up this morning and have been like, ‘Whelp, it’s up 10 cents,’” added DeQuatro’s good friend on the journey, Christine Mangual.Commerce officers stated bookings are sturdy statewide, largely because of the out of doors recreation sector, which noticed large progress throughout the pandemic.”I believe Vermont is positioned so nicely due to our entry to nature and entry to out of doors recreation, Formalarie instructed NECN & NBC10 Boston, including that gross sales of out of doors sporting items tools have elevated over the previous two years. “After which, individuals can drive right here in a day’s time. You don’t must hop on a airplane, don’t must drive throughout the nation — they will come discover their new interest, their new ardour, within the Inexperienced Mountains.”The Spirit of Ethan Allen, which affords cruises of Lake Champlain departing from the Burlington waterfront, stated it did have to boost ticket and meal costs just a few {dollars} due to spikes in diesel and meals prices.Nonetheless, proprietor Mike Shea stated reservations are up over final yr. He attributed that to a perception individuals’s pent-up demand to savor summer time outweighs hesitation about inflation.”As horrible as (inflation) is, individuals are saying, ‘I wish to go and journey. I wish to exit and luxuriate in myself,’” Shea stated.Traveler Jackie Camerota from Connecticut stated after lacking out on journey alternatives because of the pandemic, she will not be going to let gasoline costs maintain her at house this summer time.”Can we prefer it?” Camerota requested rhetorically about excessive gasoline prices. “No, however we’re keen to do it to go the place we wish to go.”State tourism officers are reminding vacationers to verify with eating places and different locations, and to remain affected person this summer time— saying schedules or wait occasions could have modified due to staffing challenges.

“We will’t wait to welcome of us,” stated Nate Formalarie, a spokesman for the Vermont Company of Commerce and Group Improvement.

In 2019, earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, Vermont tallied roughly 13 million visits to the state, Formalarie stated. Spending on journey contributed roughly $3 billion to the small state’s economic system that yr, he added.

Because the journey and hospitality sector appears to be like to rebound from the pandemic to these visitation ranges or greater, Formalarie stated Vermont’s location — inside a six-hour drive or much less from 80 million individuals — ought to make it a horny getaway, even regardless of excessive gasoline costs.

As of Monday, a number of stations in South Burlington had gasoline priced round $4.99 a gallon.

“It’s ridiculous,” lamented traveler Ginny DeQuatro, who was a part of a gaggle of childhood associates from Lengthy Island, New York visiting Vermont.

“We obtained up this morning and have been like, ‘Whelp, it’s up 10 cents,’” added DeQuatro’s good friend on the journey, Christine Mangual.

Commerce officers stated bookings are sturdy statewide, largely because of the out of doors recreation sector, which noticed large progress throughout the pandemic.

“I believe Vermont is positioned so nicely due to our entry to nature and entry to out of doors recreation, Formalarie instructed NECN & NBC10 Boston, including that gross sales of out of doors sporting items tools have elevated over the previous two years. “After which, individuals can drive right here in a day’s time. You don’t must hop on a airplane, don’t must drive throughout the nation — they will come discover their new interest, their new ardour, within the Inexperienced Mountains.”

The Spirit of Ethan Allen, which affords cruises of Lake Champlain departing from the Burlington waterfront, stated it did have to boost ticket and meal costs just a few {dollars} due to spikes in diesel and meals prices.

Nonetheless, proprietor Mike Shea stated reservations are up over final yr. He attributed that to a perception individuals’s pent-up demand to savor summer time outweighs hesitation about inflation.

“As horrible as (inflation) is, individuals are saying, ‘I wish to go and journey. I wish to exit and luxuriate in myself,’” Shea stated.

Traveler Jackie Camerota from Connecticut stated after lacking out on journey alternatives because of the pandemic, she will not be going to let gasoline costs maintain her at house this summer time.

“Can we prefer it?” Camerota requested rhetorically about excessive gasoline prices. “No, however we’re keen to do it to go the place we wish to go.”

State tourism officers are reminding vacationers to verify with eating places and different locations, and to remain affected person this summer time— saying schedules or wait occasions could have modified due to staffing challenges.

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Vermont

Teen drug use varies by state. Here’s how Vermont compares.

Published

2 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Press Room

Teen drug use varies by state. Here’s how Vermont compares.

While teen drug use has largely declined, the latest data from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health shows moderate differences by state. In Vermont, an estimated 9.4% of teens had used an illicit drug in the past month, making it the #8 state for teen drug use.

Read the national analysis to see which states had the highest rates of teen drug use.

Drug use is generally higher in some Western states, including New Mexico, where 13.7% of teens had used drugs in the past month. This is in line with larger trends, as New Mexico has had some of the highest rates of alcohol and drug-related deaths in the country for decades. A 2023 report from the state’s legislature found fewer teens are using drugs than they were a decade ago, but overdoses are on the rise.

Northeastern states including Rhode Island and Massachusetts also have some of the highest rates of teen drug use. Again, this is in line with larger regional trends, as New England has felt the outsized impact of the opioid crisis.

States with the lowest rates of teen drug use were Alabama and Utah, with both at around 5%. However, both states have experienced a rise in opioid deaths in recent years. In 2023, Alabama launched the Odds Are Alabama campaign to raise awareness and prevent fentanyl-related overdose deaths.

Story editing by Cynthia Rebolledo. Additional editing by Kelly Glass and Elisa Huang. Copy editing by Tim Bruns.

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.

This story originally appeared on Substance Use Treatment Facilities and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

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Vermont

Vermont disaster recovery centers to close temporarily on election day

Published

10 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Press Room

Vermont disaster recovery centers to close temporarily on election day

All Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Recovery Centers in Vermont will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 5, the day of the general election.

The Green Mountain State’s three disaster recovery centers − set up to assist Vermonters impacted by the storms and floods on July 11-13 and July 29-31 − are located in the Hinesburg Town Hall, Lyndon Public Safety Facility and the Newport Municipal Building.

The Hinesburg site, which is used as a polling station, will also be closed on Nov. 4 to prepare for the election.

The Newport and Lyndon sites are slated to reopen on Nov. 6, while the Hinesburg location will reopen the following day to give employees time to transition the site back to a disaster recovery center.

Regular hours of operation for all three recovery centers are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

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Vermont

Connecticut wins against Vermont Catamounts in overtime – The Rink Live

Published

17 hours ago

November 3, 2024

Press Room

The teams were tied after 60 minutes but overtime saw Connecticut come away with the close win over Vermont Catamounts at home on Sunday, November 02, 2024.

The final score was 6-5.

UConn’s

Tristan Fraser

scored the game-winning goal.

The Huskies scored three goals in first period an held the lead 3-2 going in to the first break.

One goal were scored in the second period, the score being tied at 3-3 going in to the third period.

The Huskies took the lead within the first minute of the third period when

Ethan Whitcomb

found the back of the net, assisted by

Kai Janviriya

and

Kaden Shahan

Massimo Lombardi

tied it up 4-4 with a goal five minutes later, assisted by

Joel Maatta

Tabor Heaslip

took the lead with a goal seven minutes later.

The Catamounts tied the score 5-5 with 60 seconds remaining of the third after a goal from

Colin Kessler

In overtime, it took 4:14 before Tristan Fraser scored the game-winner for the home team, assisted by

Trey Scott

and

Ryan Tattle

Coming up:

Both teams will be back in action on Friday, November 08, 2024 when the Huskies hosts Merrimack at 6 p.m. CST and the Catamounts welcomes Massachusetts at 6 p.m. CST.