Vermont Viewpoint

We start the morning hearing from a group promoting all there is to do in the Northeast Kingdom. We learn about the Department of Labor’s Vermont Registered Apprenticeship Program, that brings together businesses, job seekers, students and educators. We then finish the program discussing the mission of the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance. 

We meet a Renaissance Man named Bill Amaru who now trawls the seas for scallops and mackerel and calls Vermont home for part of the year. Then we head to the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center to learn about a unique exhibit called Glasstastic! Kids thought up snoogles, kelpies and pegamallows and then artists created them. National correspondent Bob Ney checks in with us. Then Alison Novak of Seven Days shares stories from Vermonters who attended Burlington High School the last time in was downtown.

Lee Kittell hosts the show while Ric takes the day off. Vermont Chamber Government Affairs Director Charles Martin discusses Senate Bill No. 10 and other Vermont Chamber legislative priorities. Gary De Carolis of Burlington History Tours talks about the city's early history and some of the historic landmarks around the Burlington.

In the wake of proposed cuts and consolidations to UVM’s College of Arts and Sciences, we’ll hear from Lindsay Ellis, a reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education, about similar moves by schools around the country. And we’ll speak with UVM French professor Meaghan Emery about the faculty’s reaction to the moves. Amanda Kay Gustin of the Vermont Historical Society joins us to discuss the Women’s History Database that she oversees. We’ll meet some of the amazing Vermont women who have made history. And we finish the show by taking a field trip to the Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington to learn about the wonderful carved birds on display there and the programs they offer.

Today’s show will feature those who are keeping Vermonters fed and nourished. In the first hour, we’ll hear from the organization that has the daunting task of keeping the whole state fed. In the second hour, we’ll hear about a couple filling in the gaps on a local level. Vermont Foodbank CEO John Sayles joins us in the first hour to reflect on the pandemic as we hit the one-year anniversary and look at the challenges of food insecurity going forward, as we continue to live with COVID in our community. Then, we meet the Bread Fairy who has taken on the task of keeping community members fed with warm loaves of amazing bread. And we’ll talk with the woman who has captured that story in a new book.

We reap the benefit of Peter Shea’s 50 years of chasing trout around the state. He shares stories and info from his new book, “Vermont Trout Hikes.” Jim Bradley, one of the hosts of House Calls Vermont, joins us to discuss why we’re seeing higher home building prices and discusses other issues in the industry. And we finish the show by meeting Sergeant Travis Buttle, who was recently named as Vermont’s Game Warden of the Year.

We get a greater appreciation for Vermont’s trees and forests, hear about their greatest challenges and learn about forest management practices as we talk with Forests, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Michael Snyder and Tony D’Amato, director of UVM’s Forestry Program. Bob Ney gives a look at what’s happened in the world this week. Then, Seven Days Reporter Courtney Lamdin explains why Burlington’s Progressives have hope after losing the recent mayoral election by 129 votes. We finish the show talking with Nathanial Kitchel, a postdoctoral fellow in anthropology at Dartmouth College. He’s just come up with a big discovery that involves mammoths in Vermont! 

The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act will be introduced in Congress today. It stems from the work of the Broadband Task Force, of which Congressman Peter Welch is a member. Representative Welch joins us to discuss the Act. Mark Isselhardt gives us more than a Maple Minute, as we get an update on how the sap is flowing around the state and tips on sugaring.

St. Michael’s College student Valerie Johnston was one of nearly 1,000 young women who recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout from Scouts BSA, what was formerly the Boys Scouts. During this Women’s History Month, we hear from this history-making scout. And then it’s Vermont Viewpoint’s first Sarah Show. Writers Sarah Strohmeyer and Sarah Stewart Taylor have a lot of similarities, including being guests on this show together. We’ll learn all about them and their literary work. 

We talk with Thomas Franco, who won a seat on the Rutland Board of Aldermen after finishing in a tie. And we’ll also talk with John Atwood, the candidate who tied him and decided to let Franco have the seat. Harry Goldhagen shares his interest in President Chester A. Arthur of Vermont. Goldhagen has directed films, written books and is now creating a Chester A. Arthur comic book! We finish the show talking with Joshua Kessler, who is chronicling his trip around Vermont with beautiful photographs that are appearing in the St. Albans Messenger.