$8.7Mil. Pleasant Street & Gilman Avenue Bond Article Passes in St. J

st j sewersSAINT JOHNSBURY- Approximately an 8.675 million dollar proposal for an upgrade to infrastructure in part of Saint Johnsbury was on the ballot for town meeting. The infrastructure upgrades would be coming to the Pleasant Street and Gilman Avenue area, as well as the part of Concord Avenue, which conjoins the two.

 

Read more: $8.7Mil. Pleasant Street & Gilman Avenue Bond Article Passes in St. J

Saint Johnsbury Town Meeting Day Results

STJVoterST. JOHNSBURY- The results are in from Town Meeting Day in Saint Johnsbury. In what was described by the Town Clerk as a “disgustingly” low voter turnout there were only 982 voters who made it to the polls out of the over 4,000 registered voters in the town, Voters who did manage to make it out to the polls put democracy into action by passing all of the items on the warning.  

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Voters Share Their Voices on St. J School Budget

st.j voteST. JOHNSBURY- Voters came out today to vote on the 22.3 million dollar school budget which is a 16% increase from last year's budget. Part of the larger budget is an increase in students attending the St. Johnsbury academy and special education requirements.

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Increases Proposed for the St. Johnsbury School District

stj school signST. JOHNSBURY- A 16% increase is being proposed for the St. Johnsbury School District at this years town meeting day. The proposed budget is just under 22. 3 million dollars. School officials say the increase comes from a number of things, including grants that are expiring and needing to find ways to fund them. Some of those grants are the CATCH After School program, the Family Place program, and a tobacco education grant.

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CCR Sports Relocation

ccrST. JOHNSBURY- CCR Sports is back in business after moving locations. They moved from their old address on Concord Avenue across the way to Portland Street.

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Achoo, This Year and The Flu

NVRH logoST. JOHNSBURY - Contrary to the popular belief for this year, the Flu has made a decline in the amount of cases present here in the New England area. Right in St. Johnsbury at the Northern Vermont Regional Hospital, the number of flu cases has declined from the high numbers that the hospital saw last year. This is not to say, however, that the number of cases for the flu are not still much higher than years past excluding last year. 

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St. Johnsbury Seeks Fire Marshal

ST. J HOUSEST. JOHNSBURY- The town of St. Johnsbury is looking to hire their first ever fire marshal.The town approved the budget to add in this position last year. The main obligation of the marshal is too implement and enforce residential housing code compliance program while inspecting homes. Other duties will require the position to work with the town health officer, fire department, division of fire safety, and the state fire marshal.

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Budget Cuts For Home Health Care

hospice  ST JOHNSBURY - The Caledonia Home Care and Hospice group has served thousands of families over the years. Offering home care for expecting mothers and dependant patients to offering Hospice care for those dealing with losing a loved one.

"The home care and hospice staff are some of the most dedicated and generous people that I know" says director for the Caledonia Home Care and Hospice facility Trenty Burgess.

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Museum Cleanup & New Exhibits Coming Up

fairbanks museum insideST. JOHNSBURY - The Fairbanks Museum will be closing down tours for the month of January in order to complete their yearly clean-up, which had begun five years ago. One very interesting development for this upcoming year, however, is the additions that will be made to the exhibits. 

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Understanding Addiction: Cynthia Boyd

cyndyboydST. JOHNSBURY- Cynthia Boyd's experience with drug-use began as a teenager. According to her, not fitting in and feeling uncomfortable in her own skin were two prominent factors which influenced her initial experimentation. "My drug use went anywhere from smoking and drinking, to using heroine to using cocaine- was my drug of choice for 25 years," she said. Proceeding to note that she'd do anything to numb herself and not be able to feel.

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Two Paintings and Two Locations

heritage center st. jST. JOHNSBURY - After many many years away from home, the portrait painting of Francis Fairbanks has returned to the side of her husband, Franklin at the Fairbanks Museum. Thanks to some heavy research performed by town resident, and Director of the History and Heritage Center, Peggy Pearl was able to return Francis to her husband, and they are both now hanging next to eachother in the Fairbanks Museum welcome landing.

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Understanding Addiction: William Liberatore

BillLiberatoreST. JOHNSBURY - William Liberatore started experimenting with drugs when he was only 13 years old. His drug-use started with marijuana, but quickly evolved into abusing Phencyclidine, and eventually prescription pills. For most of his teen years, Liberatore was in and out juvenile detention centers for drug-related crimes.

Read more: Understanding Addiction: William Liberatore

St. Johnsbury Businesses Are Changing

ST.J Buisnesses ST. JOHNSBURY- The town of St. Johnsbury will be welcoming new businesses in the next few weeks. Some of which will be adding to establishments currently in business, and some will be starting brand new. Executive Director of the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce, Darci McCann sees this as a big turn around for the town of St. Johnsbury and surrounding communities.

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Council on Aging Rings in the Holidays

handbellsST. JOHNSBURY- The Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging rang in the holidays with their annual "Winter on Summer" rememberance celebration fundrasier. The celebration is a way for the community to gather together and remember those who have been lost in the 2018 year.

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Flu Season And What You Need To Know

FLU ST. JOHNSBURY - Around this time of year, the most common form of illness is the flu. Though it has not yet hit our region, it is not to early to think about what you can do to prevent getting sick.

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Proposed Threat to Public Access Television

publicaccessST. JOHNSBURY- The Federal Communications Commission has proposed a new rule that would cut funding to cable-access television stations across the country. According to Kevin Christopher, Executive Director of Lake Champlain Access Television, it's a decision that the Commission is backing with the explanation of allowing new service providers to be more competitive with the incumbents. However, he feels their true motive may be a bit more money-based.

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V.T. Supports Hosts Annual Packing Event

V.T. SUPPORTSST. JOHNSBURY- V.T. Supports held their annual packing event this past Saturday at the St. Johnsbury Elks Lodge. This event helped those who can't quite make it home for the holidays while serving in the military overseas.

The day allowed the community to come out and pack 600 boxes of everyday supplies for the troops, some of which included socks, toothbrushes, soap and nonperishable goods. This event was dedicated to the late Joseph Fortin who was killed on active duty in the Iraq War in 2009.

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NVRH Takes on Federal Exercise Guide

nvrhST. JOHNSBURY - A new set of physical exercise guidelines was released from the federal level this week, and the healthcare proffesionals at NVRH were happy to read about the new focus on physical activity for those of all ages. While many think that being physically active comes standard with a gym membership and a three-month supply of whey protein; the new guidelines focus on the simple act of being active throughout the day, performing simple, everyday tasks that naturally raise the heartrate.

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Christmas Train In St. Johnsbury

CHRISTMAS TRAINST. JOHNSBURY- What started out as a childhood hobby, has grown into Tom Turek's way of spreading holiday cheer. Turek says, "So I had trains when I was a little boy and I played with them all through high school."Every year the St. Johnsbury Welcome Center decorates for the holiday season and one year Turek got an idea to share his hobby with others. But as you're aware it's an old train station. And I thought wow wouldn't it be fun to have a Christmas display, a train display in the Welcome Center at Christmas time."

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St. Johnsbury Academy Students Make Benches for Community

SJA wooden benches ST. JOHNSBURY- The St. Johnsbury Academy woodworking students have been working on building benches as a way to give back to the community. These benches have been in the community since 2013, as well as other places all over the state of Vermont.

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Letters to Steve Maleski

lettertosteveST. JOHNSBURY- Over the weekend, NEK resident Jerry Johnson, organized an effort show support for local Eye on the Sky meteorologist Steve Maleski, who was recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

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St. Johnsbury Warming Shelter Prepares to Open

blanketST. JOHNSBURY- Preparations are underway at the St. Johnsbury Warming Shelter for their season opening tomorrow evening. "People need a place to go," said coordinator Janis Patoine. "And you know, you don't like to see people not warm, not clean, not dry. They have the opportunity to do their laundry here if they need, and just to get warmed up and not feel so left out of the community."

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VTrans and the Snowfall

vtrans plowST. JOHNSBURY - The Vermont Agency of Transportation has begun the long haul for the end of the year. The long haul of course is combatting with snow on the roadways all throughout the state of Vermont. The District 7 Agency had it's day cut out for it on November 12th when the Vermont Weather Service recorded nine inches of snowfall in the single day. VTrans workers were out plowing roads at 4 AM, and some stayed out and worked till 7 at night.

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St. Johnsbury Moose Club Hosts Fundraiser

Moose Club FundraiserST. JOHNSBURY- The Moose Club held a fundraiser for Charlie and Pat Cushman this past Saturday. The fundraiser was used to help the cost of Charlie's medical expenses.

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St. Johnsbury School Everybody Wins

Everybody Wins ProgramST.JOHNSBURY- The St. Johnsbury school has been holding their Everybody Wins program for the past few weeks now. The program allows students to learn how to read with adult mentors during their lunch time if they want to.

Read more: St. Johnsbury School Everybody Wins