Northeast Kingdom - page 6

NEWPORT — Northeast Kingdom Learning Services was recently named one of the 2018 Best Places to Work in Vermont.

This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses.

The 2018 Best Places to Work in Vermont list includes 50 companies.

NEKLS is a non-profit, educational organization that has served Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom for nearly 50 years. Over that time it grew to employ an average of 60 people full and part-time.

“Words cannot express how much this award means to me, the NEKLS Board and our staff,” NEKLS Executive Director, Michelle Tarryk said. “In 2011, our organization set out to improve our work culture. It has been a long and winding road with lessons learned along the way, but we were committed to our goal of a healthy and happy organization and to one day earning the recognition of being one of the best places to work in Vermont.”

Companies from across the state, including NEKLS, took a two-part survey to determine the Best Places to Work in Vermont. The first leg of the process evaluated each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. This was worth approximately 25 percent.

The second part consisted of an employee experience survey. This was worth approximately 75 percent. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings.

Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Vermont and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.

The final rankings for each category will be announced at a special awards presentation in early spring 2018.

“No matter what the final standings, we all know NEKLS IS the best place to work! It’s made up of the most honest, caring hard-working people I know. I’m So proud to be a tiny part of that,” NEKLS staff member, Deborah Shumski said.

NEWPORT — Columbia Forest Products, which maintains a manufacturing facility in Newport, has been struggling for years to compete with illegal Chinese imports.

Following four years of advocacy, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today provided long overdue relief to the company.

In a unanimous ruling, the ITC voted 4-0 to impose significant tariffs on dumped and subsidized imports of Chinese hardwood plywood.

In 2012, Columbia Forest Products, a hardwood veneer and plywood manufacturer, filed a petition with the ITC protesting the dumping of cheap and illegal Chinese hardwood and veneer products that undercut its business in Vermont and around the country.

The vote is seen as a win for the local economy, as Columbia Forest Products is recognized as a key employer in the Northeast Kingdom.

“Today’s decision is great news for the employees of Columbia Forest Products,” said Rep. Peter Welch. “The company and its employees have been reeling from subsidized and illegal competition from China. This important decision will level the playing field for the company, preserve jobs, and ensure its continued contributions to the regional economy.”

According to the trade group Coalition for the Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood, nationally, 42 mills have closed, many more have had to reduce capacity, with a loss of 52,000 jobs in the U.S. and $2 billion in wages.

In 2013, Rep. Welch personally testified before the Commission on the company’s behalf. In addition, Welch helped lead two Congressional letters of support for the industry to the Commission, one in 2013 and one this year.

NEWPORT — The National Weather Service in Burlington has issued a high wind warning from 8 p.m. this evening to 11 a.m. Monday for Orleans county.

Winds are expected to reach 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 70 mph.

Wind gusts of this strength are almost hurricane-like in nature.

The strongest winds will most likely take place between 11 p.m. tonight, lasting through 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.

The strong winds will likely lead to downed trees, tree limbs, and power lines, causing scattered to widespread power outages.

Go to www.weather.gov/Burlington for further updates on this weather situation.

NEWPORT — Trapping season starts on the 4th Saturday of October each year in Vermont and runs through March 31st. Each trapping season there are dogs, cats, and other non-targeted animals, including endangered and protected species, who are injured or even killed in traps.

Just two weeks after the official start of trapping season last year, a black lab from Orleans county was injured in a trap that had been set to kill beavers. Luckily, the dog was found and recovered from her injuries.

“I am a veterinarian who has treated dogs and cats caught in traps,” Dr. Peggy Larson, retired Vermont veterinarian, said. “The injuries they suffer were horrendous and most lost their legs.”

Traps may be set on private and public land, including National Wildlife Refuges that are home to federally protected species, including Canada lynx.

Trappers are not required to erect signage as to where they’re trapping, nor are they required to set their traps away from trails.

Baits and lures are used with traps, so a trap set for a coyote can just as likely trap a curious dog or cat. Trappers are not required to report if they catch a non-targeted animal, even if it’s someone’s pet.

The two trap types that are used in Vermont that pose the greatest risk to pets are leghold and Conibear™ (“kill”) traps.

Cats are at the greatest risk since they are often left outside unsupervised.

Quick Tips:

Know when trapping season is, but remember that traps set out of season, as allowed per Vermont’s “wild animals doing damage” statute, or traps left behind after the season ends, still present a threat.

Remember that traps can be set in water, in rivers and streams — especially on banks, so always check the area before allowing your dog to swim.

Keep cats indoors or create a cat-proofed fenced-in yard.

NEWPORT — Recently family, friends and colleagues gathered by North Country Hospital’s wood chip facility to remember Scott Perkins and the many contributions he made during his tenure.

Perkins began working at the hospital when he was 16-years-old and worked his way up the ladder to become second in command in the facilities department over the course of 28 years, until his untimely death last year at the age of 44.

Claudio Fort, President & CEO, spoke about how Perkins was so widely respected, not just for his knowledge and abilities, but for how approachable, insightful and always helpful he was.

“Scott was a compelling example of a servant-leader, even leading from home or his hospital bed on his laptop when his failing health didn’t allow him to physically be at work,” Fort said.

His colleagues in the Facilities Department felt there should be a way to remember him for his longstanding contributions to North Country Hospital.

They designed a plaque and felt the new wood-chip facility would be a fitting place to locate it, as Scott was very involved in the history of the site.

The biomass facility project was championed by former VP Larry Labor, who worked for several years to convince the Board of Trustees to make this investment.

One of his last major projects during his tenure at North Country Hospital was to help design and oversee the construction of the new bin.

Perkins and his contributions to North Country Hospital will long be remembered.

NEWPORT — Lisa Daigle-Farney recently joined the Board of Directors for the Orleans County Restorative Justice Center.

Daigle-Farney is no stranger to helping her community or to the idea of restorative justice in general.

“I believe my past experience, which is 37 years in the fields of education and human services, has given me the tools I need to serve on the Orleans County Restorative Justice Center Board,” she said. 

Daigle-Farney is a Newport native who has worked with children and families for many years to help them seek the support they need to lead a more successful life. She has taught parenting classes, communication classes, and has served in a number of volunteer capacities.

“My attraction to serving on this board is that I firmly believe in the philosophy of Restorative Justice. I have the utmost respect for the staff that do this work,” she said.

Daigle-Farney has also served on many boards over the years. She has volunteered for Special Olympics, was a volunteer with Citizen’s advocacy for eight years as a mentor for a person with disabilities, and served on the committee for March of Dimes for six years. She has even served on the National Ski Patrol for 25 years.

“Restorative Justice focuses on accountability, responsibility, and reestablishing trust,” Daigle-Farney said. “Educating those who have committed a crime and helping them to restore the damage they have done and to encourage them to mend damaged relationships, is something I am deeply devoted to. I look forward to my new role on the board and to make any contributions that will be an asset to the Restorative process and our community.”

To learn more about OCRJC services, visit their website at www.kingdomjustice.org or call 802-487-9327.

NEWPORT — The 6th annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk took place on Saturday through downtown Newport, hosted by the Vermont chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

Starting at Gardner Memorial Park at 10 a.m., this year 200 walkers raised around $17,000 for AFSP’s local and national education and advocacy programs.

The event in Newport continues to grow, this year attracting around 31 more participants and raising $1,200 more than last year.

The walk on Saturday was just one of more than 450 walks held nationwide this year.

Each year 44,193 Americans die by suicide. In 2015, 494,169 people visited a hospital for injuries due to self-harm. Many suicide attempts, however, go unreported or untreated.

Surveys suggest that at least one million people in the U.S. each year engage in intentionally inflicted self-harm.

“We walk to raise awareness about this important health issue,” said Linda Livendale, AFSP Vermont chapter board chair. “Suicide touches one in five American families. We hope that by walking we save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.”

The group’s goal is to reduce the annual rate of suicide 20 percent by 2025.