Hurricane Irene: Latest Vermont Emergency Management road closures

From BurlingtonFreePress

WATERBURY – Heavy rain is continuing in most areas of the state and will for several hours.  Flash floods are occurring in all areas of the state and more are expected throughout the evening into Monday.

Several roads are covered with water or washed out.  Motorists are encouraged to stay off the roads unless evacuating or you have a medical emergency.  Emergency services are stretched thin and travel is difficult for them – you may not get help for a long time if you are in trouble.

If you are close to a river or stream and it is raining hard and water is rising evacuate early.  Never drive or walk across flooded roads, a number of cars have been swept away on flooded roads.  Call 2-1-1 or 5-1-1 for current road closures.

In the Rutland area: calls to Vermont State Police or Rutland City Police may experience a busy signal – keep trying as there is a high volume of calls, and do not call 911.

911 IS OPERATIONAL, CONTINUE TO CALL 911 IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY TO REPORT.

The town of Manchester has issued a boil water notice for residents due to a broken water main.

Several local and state roads are now closed:
 

Police: Driver involved in crash with pedestrian was texting

From Burlington Free Press
Colchester police say the driver involved in an accident that left a dog walker in critical condition was texting while driving.
Thursday police cited Emma Vieira, 18, with gross negligent operation with serious injury resulting. Police said an investigation revealed Vieira was texting after she left her home, just before the crash.

Vieira was driving on River Road at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday when she hit Deborah Drewniak and her dog, Charlie, said police. Drewniak, 52, remains in critical condition at Fletcher Allen Health Care. The dog died from injuries sustained on impact.

Vieira has been ordered to appear in Vermont Superior Court Aug. 18.

A texting while driving law went into effect in Vermont July 1, 2010.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Colchester police department at 264-5556.

Fundraiser for FreeRide Montpelier Sat August 20th!

Come to this! Great music, amazing silent auction, excellent cause. This will be That's What She Said's last show, so catch them while you can. If you can't come, you can still help Freeride roll on through the next year - go to freeridemontpelier.org and click the donate button. Our goal is to raise $1000. Help us out!

FreeRide Benefit with That's What She Said and Sick Feelings!

Location: The Vermont College of Fine Arts gymnasium

Time: ‎7:00PM Saturday, August 20th

Commuter Challenge 2011 RESULTS

Better late than never... 

Results are in for the 2011 Commuter Challenge from WaytoGoVT.org

Congratulations to all who participated to make this our BEST year ever! 

The tally is outstanding!!

2011 Way To Go! Top Performers

Inaugural Carbon Cup Winners!*

Community:  Montpelier

Small Business (10 - 99 employees):  AllEarth Renewables

Large Busniess (100+ employees):  NRG Systems

*  Carbon Cup winners are not eligible for Participation Awards

Participation Awards!

Community Category

     Burlington  (2.29% participation)

      Vergennes  (2.13%)

     Hon. mention:  Hinesburg (1.59%)

Business Categories

Micro (2 - 19 employees): 

     Bratteboro Bicycle Shop  (100%)

     Vital Communities  (90.91%)

     Hon. mention:  Cx Associates  (87.5%)

Small (20 - 99)

     ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center  (77.78%)

     Skirack  (53.33%)

     Hon. mention:  Vermont Community Foundation  (52.38%)

Medium (100 - 299)

     Landmark College  (46.28%)

     World Learning  (17.27%)

      Hon. mention:  Vermont Teddy Bear Company  (16.97%)

Large (300 - 699)

     Dealer.com  (57.83%)

     Burton Snowboards  (45.67%)

     Hon. mention: Champlain College  (37.33%)

Macro (700+)

     Fletcher Allen Health Care  (8.90%)

     National Life Group  (6.90%)

     Hon. mention:  Goodrich Corporation  (5.59%)

You know what . . . we are all winners!  Thanks for your help.

From vermonttrailsandgreenways.org

The Vermont Trails and Greenways Council (VT&GC) is pleased to release the Vermont Trail Ethic, a set of 10 guidelines aimed at enhancing trails experiences for all trail users in Vermont.  The Trail Ethic is designed to unite all trail users, trail managers, and property owners in trail stewardship.  Vermont is a special place boasting a wide array of outdoor recreation activities; the trail ethic is one way to maintain the beauty and recreational opportunities of our trails for the future.

The Vermont Trail Ethic was developed by the Vermont Trail Collaborative. This effort began in 2009 with the goal of improving management and sustainability of trails and trail-related recreation on the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) and throughout Vermont.  The Collaborative was an open forum with in-person meetings that occurred twice a year between 2009 and 2011.  Three working groups were developed to focus on stewardship and outreach, trail related science, and landscape management.  The Collaborative was sponsored by the Green Mountain National Forest and the Vermont Department of Forests Parks and Recreation, and was convened by the Vermont Tourism Data Center, an arm of UVM extension.   More information about the Vermont Trail Collaborative and the many resources created by the working groups is available online at http://www.uvm.edu/tourismresearch/trails

Download a copy of the Trail Ethic here. The file will allow you to insert your organization’s name and contact information.  Then you may print and post the Trail Ethic at a trailhead near you.

For additional Information contact:  Walter Opuszynski, Chair of the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council at walter@northernforestcanoetrail.org