Vermont Viewpoint

Former Governor Jim Douglas hosts the show while Ric takes a few days off. Two members of the Governor's COVID response team, Mike Smith, Secretary of Human Services, and Mike Pieczak, Commissioner of Financial Regulation, will discuss the recent statistical trends and the plan to roll out vaccines. Political Science Prof. Matt Dickinson of Middlebury College tells us why the polls were wrong and whether the election is over.

It doesn’t matter how many times you have to drive through snow or ice, getting tips on how to drive safely in the winter are always helpful. We’ll hear from a couple VTrans workers who know the roads well and how we should be behaving around snow plows. We’ll hear how a startup created a repurposed version of their food deals app to bring free food to Vermonters affected by COVID-19. And then we’ll learn about the work being done by the Central Vermont Council on Aging to help older Vermonters in 54 communities.

In the first hour, we get a history lesson from NVU-Lyndon Professor Paul Searls on how Vermont tried to attract people to move here from 1890 through the 1970s. And he’ll discuss all that went into building the Interstate Highways in the state. Then we get great book suggestions from Waterbury Public Library Director Almy Landauer and Bear Pond Books Owner Claire Benedict. 

The Vermont Council on Rural Development has been working on an initiative they’re calling the Vermont Proposition. It looks to articulate priorities for our economy, environment, communities, and people. We’ll hear about the effort. We’ll meet master bird carver (and one-time decathlon champion) Floyd Scholz. Derek Brouwer of Seven Days has the latest on one-time Whistle Pig owner Raj Bhakta on his plans for the Green Mountain College property in Poultney. And we talk to a couple of the people behind the new annual Vermont Almanac.

We begin by getting a big-picture look at how Vermont’s labor market has been affected by the pandemic, how the state’s Department of Labor has handled an unprecedented surge in its caseload, and what’s coming up for the 30,000 Vermonters receiving unemployment benefits. Then we get some pointers on taking care of your personal finances during this COVID-19 era. And finally, we’ll learn about holding on to your well-earned money by avoiding the many online and phone scams that pop up daily. 

We’ve been hearing about the rising percentage of Vermonters who are food insecure since COVID-19 reached Vermont. We’ll hear from a couple of UVM researchers who have been collecting data on the subject from the outset of the pandemic. Then we head to Brattleboro to learn about emissions goals and rent controls in that town. And we finish with Brian Bittner of Bittner Antiques to learn about his deep family history and well-entrenched interest in antiques. 

Capstone Community Action Executive Director Sue Minter talks about the Fuel Your Neighbors campaign and Capstone’s work on this Giving Tuesday. Distiller Al Hilton of Mad River Distillers introduces us the spirits they’re creating, including their single-malt Mad River Hopscotch. CCV Associate Dean of Workforce Education Tiffany Walker discusses the free and very popular CARES Act job trainings that’s available to Vermonters. And Doug Morin gives us plenty of information on feeding birds this winter and avoid attracting bears.

We start by checking in with Randolph Center organic dairy farmer Chester Abbott on the current state of dairy farming. Zeb Norris, program director and morning show DJ of WCVT, talks about the exciting changes happening at the station. Health Care Today host Dr. Louis Meyers joins us to discusses his program and health care in the state of Vermont.  And Major General Gregory Knight, Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard, talks about education-related opportunities the Vermont National Guard provides to students. 

The day after the food holiday of the year brings the age-old question, “What do I do with the leftovers?” Two amazing cooks – Elizabeth Sengle and Luiza Bloomberg – offer some helpful hints and talking cooking with an always-hungry Ric. National correspondent Bob Ney lets us know what’s happening in the rest of the world. And then we meet the executive director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Elise Brunelle.   

We’ll hear about a coalition of cities and towns who want to keep our waterways clean by thinking about what is running off of your property. We give the little ball of flavor known as the Brussels sprout its due right before a bowl of them are passed your way on Thanksgiving. UVM Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Benjamin Lee discuss whether schools can safely remain open or reopen during periods of significant community spread of COVID-19. And we about local food options, from apples to wild game with Farm to Plate’s Shane Rogers.