Northeast Kingdom - page 3

NEWPORT — North Country Hospital recently purchased five new “comfort cots,” that should provide more comfort and positive experiences for patients and their families.

This new generation of furniture is a love seat, large enough for 2-3 people to sit in, a lounge chair, as well as a pullout hide-a-bed.

The new piece has multiple uses, with the opportunity for parents to be close to a sick child in a pediatric room or for a lactation consultant to sit beside a nursing mom.

“What a difference these new comfort cots are going to make for our families,” said Anne Flynn, RN, Director of Maternal Child Health at North Country Hospital.

Previously each of the patient rooms in the department provided an outdated hospital bed, out of commission for patients but referred to as comfort cots, for dad or a family member to stay overnight.

The purchase of five new cots was made possible by the hospital Auxiliary.

When hospital staff finally found the right piece of furniture, they approached the Auxiliary, proposing that this might be a project of interest.

“A few of us attended a demonstration when the hospital was in the process of selecting a model, and we were so impressed,” Auxiliary President, Betty Lahar said. “On behalf of the Auxiliary I am happy that our group voted to make this purchase for Maternal Child Health.”

NEWPORT — The popular Youth Discovery Program that last year saw 300 third grade students from Orleans County learning about the area aboard the Northern Star boat, has been continued on land.

The program used a similar approach as was used on the Northern Star.

Students from Newport City, St Paul’s, Charleston, Derby, and Newport Town became “Lake Detectives,” using their senses to observe and explore during a nature walk.

They learned the origins of Lake Memphremagog, where all the water in the lake comes from, and their school watershed address.

They also investigated the damage the can happen from runoff and how to protect our lakes and streams with buffer planting.

Since participants could not be on the water they went in the water and added a near-shore experience, wading in and collecting some macroinvertebrates living in the water.

Later students observed them under a magnifying lens.

Continuing this program on land will enable the Memphremagog Watershed Association to jump the program back onboard when the boat floats again.

NEWPORT — Eighteen new healthcare scholarships were recently awarded to high school seniors and one adult, totaling $18,000.

In addition, North Country Hospital has renewed scholarships for consecutive years providing students stay in healthcare education and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Each year the scholarship review committee makes selections based on student essays, transcripts, extra-curricular activities, as well as financial need.

Applicants and families must also live in the hospital’s service area in order to initially apply.

This year a total of 10 awards were received from this fund.

They went to Lake Region Union High School graduates Krystianna Ingalls and Melanie Joubert, and North Country Union High School graduates Jacob Bean, Chelsea Daigle, Carley Giroux, Lettie Hale and Brooklyn Szych-Brown.

Cara Strona, Elizabeth Gaudreau, and Brianna Doty also received scholarships from this fund.

Caryl B. Custer Scholarship for Nursing Students awards went to North Country graduates Brianna Crouch, Gwen Pettengill, Mariah Poutre and Chantal Therrien.

Lake Region graduate Paige Menard also received this award.

The fund was created by summer resident Dr. Keith Custer in memory of and on behalf of his wife Caryl, who was a nurse manager in Florida for many years.

She individually supported many nursing students with scholarship monies in the past.

This year NCU graduates Emily Perkins and Riley Laffoon received The Legends Scholarship.

This fund was created in 2010 and has since named five “Legends” of North Country Hospital, including Merrilyn Barry, Robert Trembley, MD, Thomas A.E. Moseley, MD, A. David Alsobrook, MD, and Cecile Gelineau, RN.

In 2015 the Sidney A. Toll Scholarship Fund was created, honoring long time previous CEO and founder of North Country Hospital’s scholarship golf tournament.

This year’s recipient is Jaime Kramer, having received her bachelor’s degree and going on to become a physician assistant.

Contributions to North Country Hospital for any of the scholarship funds help sustain these awards for years to come.

Students receive awards for 2-year, 4-year as well as graduate programs.

The Healthcare Career Scholarship is made possible by the annual North Country Hospital Scholarship Golf Classic, with proceeds each year going directly to awardees.

The 30th annual scramble is set for Sunday, July 22, with 8 a.m. registration and a 9 a.m. shotgun start at Orleans Country Club.

For more information, call the Development/Community Relations office at (802) 334-4186.

NEWPORT — Newport Police Department Detective Jennifer Harlow has been recognized as “One of Orleans County Children’s Advocacy Center’s Best,” in an article detailing her work protecting children from becoming victims of crime.

The article, published by the Vermont Children’s Alliance, details Detective Harlow’s work, training, and education.

“Jenn Harlow has been a Detective with the Orleans County Child Advocacy Center since 2010 and has been an integral member of the CAC/SIU since she first walked through the CAC doors almost 10 years ago,” the article states. “Having been in law enforcement for 22 years, more than half of her life has been spent in public service, protecting her community. It would seem that at the heart of the Orleans County Child Advocacy Center, there is a real-life Wonder Woman!”

The article also chronicles how Detective Harlow has completed a number of advanced training and educational courses to further her work with the Newport Police Department, including:

• Extended Forensic Interviewing training in 2013

• Advanced Forensic Interviewing training in 2010

• Obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology

• Working as an instructor for the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council where she teaches domestic violence courses.

• Working as an instructor at the Vermont Police Academy teaching a three-day course to all new police officers on sexual and physical abuse investigations.

Detective Harlow also regularly is called upon to serve as an expert witness in child sexual abuse cases as well as domestic violence cases.

She visits area schools and conducts Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes and talks to young students about technology/internet/smart phone safety and how to maintain healthy relationships.

As a detective, her work takes her around the Northeast Kingdom, and she has conducted more than 1,000 investigations into child sexual abuse, physical abuse and/or sexual assault cases.

“Detective Harlow is truly an asset not only to the Newport Police Department but also to law enforcement agencies and children’s advocacy organizations all around Vermont,” Chief DiSanto said. “I would like to express my gratitude to the Vermont Children’s Alliance for their amazing work every day and for recognizing Detective Harlow for her lifesaving and life-changing police work.”

NEWPORT — A diverse set of leaders from across Orleans, Caledonia, and Essex counties will be meeting monthly through the fall.

They were convened by the non-profit Northeast Kingdom Collaborative to tackle challenges in two crucial areas: developing the next generation of local leaders, and supporting growth at the intersection of the creative, recreational and food sectors.

“Leadership capacity is so important,” said NEK Collaborative Executive Director Katherine Sims at the first meeting of the Collaborative’s Leadership Development Task Force on May 3. “We want to know, is there more in our region that we can do to improve the pipeline.”

The arts, outdoor recreation and local farm and food economy are already economic forces in the region, Sims said.

The Collaborative’s Tri-sectors Task Force, which met for the first time on May 7, will look to strengthen the intersection between them.

“We think focusing on where there is already energy and momentum will be a strategy for success,” Sims added.

A primary task of each group will be convening a larger gathering of stakeholders in July to gather more information about the barriers to success and ideas for solutions.

Each will develop an action plan by November, which the task forces and the Collaborative will work to carry out.

For more than 20 years, the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative has been working to increase coordination and communication between organizations in the region with the goal of increasing community engagement and economic vitality.

Since 2000, the organization has worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Rural Economic Advancement Program to direct federal funds to economic priorities in the region.

USDA has invested over $200 million in the three NEK counties over that period.

Last year, the Collaborative renewed its commitment by launching a new strategy, which includes a reformatted governing board, a new executive director, closer ties with private funders and the task force process.

Reaching the Millenial Generation

An early focus at the first meeting of both task forces was on the next generation of local leaders and workers in the region’s economy.

The creative, recreation and food economies are more than a source of new jobs in the region. Vibrancy in those sectors will draw young workers back to the region and keep them here as they grow their families, said Jody Fried, Executive Director of Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury, at the Tri-Sector Task Force.

“Millenials love outdoor recreation and a close second is nightlife. They value arts and culture and sense of place,” said Fried. “The opportunity here is to match our sectors with a future workforce, which can be remote because of technology, and really try to address a long-term problem through some short-term strategic work.”

Minty Conant, a business consultant and Chief Financial Officer of Caledonia Spirits in Hardwick, agreed. “What we want is that critical mass of cool,” she said.

The Leadership Development Task Force discussed how to remove barriers to civic participation for younger leaders.

“I often feel that there are people in town who should be taking a more pro-active role because of their abilities and interest, but there is a resistance,” said Molly Veysey, Executive Director of the Old Stone House Museum in Brownington, and a member of the planning commission in Irasburg.

“I know a lot of people, especially women, who are organizers but are unwilling to become leaders,” added Ellen Rowe, who specializes in community and leadership development for the University of Vermont Extension Program. “They need skills and they need a mentor in order to be willing to step up.”

Motivation is also important, said John Castle, Superintendent of North Country.

“Most people don’t become a leader just to become a leader. It’s to make something happen that isn’t happening. There has to be an underlying sense of purpose.”

Optimism for the Future

Both Task Forces left the meeting with a sense of optimism about their ability to bring about progress.

“Our communities are small enough that one or two things can absolutely turn things around,” said Kevin Chamberlin, co-founder of advertising and graphic design agency, Flek.

“The scale is small enough that you can really make a difference.”

“We really have a rock star group,” Sims said about members of both Task Forces. “There is momentum and let’s seize that.”

NEWPORT — United Christian Academy’s 2018 Spring Appeal is underway, and the school says they are off to a good start.

Last Friday, April 27, UCA raised nearly $4,400.00 to kick-off its spring funding drive. Its goal was to raise $6,200.00 the first day, which is equal to one year of student tuition and raise more during the campaign.

“This would position us nicely to meet our annual funding goal for this academic year,” stated Dr. Montoro, Head of School.

United Christian Academy says they are very grateful for all those who give generously to the school.

As UCA looks to the future, they say they are excited about what “God is, and will be, doing through UCA and its students.”

One of its main objectives is to build a solid financial foundation for the school through a concrete development and funding plan, as well as reasonable enrollment growth objectives for both day and international students.

Many of its students attend on need-based scholarships, and this school year UCA provided nearly $150,000.00 in aid.

It has $60,000.00 remaining to meet its funding needs.

Since tuition only covers about half of the cost of educating students, it is vital for UCA to raise the difference.

Its students, teachers, and leadership say they appreciate the support and generosity.

UCA is truly a ministry that depends on the generosity of others who continue to see the value that the school provides.

NEWPORT — Governor Phil Scott will be the featured keynote speaker at the Newport based Vermont’s North Country Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and luncheon.

The event will take place at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 25, at the Eastside Restaurant in Newport.

Governor Scott will speak on the north country’s economy and its future.

Luncheon tickets should be purchased in advance and are available on the chamber’s website at www.vtnorthcountry.org/annual-luncheon.

Tickets are $20 per person or a table of 10 for $200.

The luncheon is open to both chamber members and interested community members.

At the annual meeting, the chamber will elect members for its Board of Directors, updates on this year’s Aquafest will be shared, new area businesses will be recognized, and community involvement awards will be presented to area businesses.

Vermont’s North Country Chamber of Commerce operates the Welcome Center on the Causeway in Newport plus promotes events and activities designed to improve business and lifestyle in its membership area.

The chamber membership is open to all businesses, organizations, and individuals interested in promoting the economic well-being of the greater Newport area, including Orleans County, eastern Franklin County, and northern Essex County.

LYNDONVILLE — The Board of RuralEdge (RE) announced the appointment of Patrick Flood as interim CEO, effective April 3, 2018, following the resignation of Trisha Ingalls, in February.

Louise Bonvechio, chair of the RuralEdge Board of Directors, announced the transition plans.

“I am happy to announce that Patrick Flood has been hired as an interim CEO to provide leadership during the executive transition period,” Bonvechio said. “The RE board is enthusiastic about choosing Patrick for his adept abilities to work with rural communities, his confident leadership style, and his demonstrated skills to lead an organization through challenging times.”

Flood, who lives in East Calais, VT, worked for 29 years in state government, in the VT Agency of Human Services (AHS).

He was the Commissioner of the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, the commissioner of the Department of Mental Health following tropical storm Irene, and the Deputy Secretary of AHS for four years.

After leaving state government in 2013, he was CEO of Northern Counties Health Care, based in St. Johnsbury, until retiring in 2016. He has also served as a trustee of Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital.

“I am looking forward to this opportunity,” Flood said. “Housing that is affordable is critical to our communities, and I hope, with the help of all the staff, to strengthen Rural Edge’s capacity to meet that need.”

A CEO search committee, comprised of board directors, stakeholders, and staff, has been formed. The process is expected to take six to nine months.

NEWPORT — Today the North Country Hospital Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of President & CEO, Claudio Fort.

Fort is leaving to fill the position of long-time CEO of Rutland Regional Medical Center, Thomas Huebner, who is retiring at the end of March.

Chairman of the North Country Hospital Board of Trustees, Frank Knoll, expressed appreciation for Fort’s nine years of service at the helm of North Country Hospital.

“Claudio has left the organization well positioned for the future and we wish him continued success in his new position,” Knoll said.

The North Country Hospital Board of Trustees is working with Fort to develop a transition plan and begin the search process for Fort’s successor.

“I am and will forever be grateful to have had the opportunity to advance the mission of North Country Hospital,” Fort said. “With a committed board, talented medical staff, and engaged employees, I know that the organization’s best days lie ahead.”