Vote on this year’s “100 Best in the Region” Survey pg. 7-9
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VERMONT
December 9, 2017
Published by New Market Press, Inc.
Serving Addison, Rutland & Chittenden Counties
FBI investigating TRAINING VERMONT’S Shelburne case NEXT GEN PROGRAMMERS » pg. 6
By Lou Varricchio STA FF W RITER
SHELBURNE | On Nov. 28, Shelburne-area police and rescue crews were called to the Wake Robin retirement community to investigate a report of a possible ricin exposure. “During their initial investigation, a substance field tested positive for the toxic poison Ricin. Confirmatory testing at the Vermont Department of Health Laboratory completed early this morning was also positive for Ricin toxin,” according to a news statement by Mark Bosma of the Vermont Department of Public Safety last week. “At this time no one from the public is in danger.” Bosma noted that symptoms of ricin poisoning develop rapidly after exposure. “No individuals have been identified as being exposed, nor are expected, based on the last possible date of exposure on Sunday, Nov. 26. All areas potentially exposed by this substance have been evacuated and secured by law enforcement,” his statement continued. “This incident is considered to be isolated and is currently being investigated by the FBI. No further information regarding the ongoing investigation is available at this time.” » Ricin Cont. on pg. 3
Volunteers of Vermont: Time not money By Lou Varricchio STA FF W RITER
Former U.S. Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders pictured in 1970 on Green Up Day. The day, always the first Saturday in May, was launched in 1970 by Gov. Deane Davis. Since 1979, the non-profit organization Green Up Vermont proudly carries on the tradition of Green Up Day. Photo by UVM Bailey Howe Library
MIDDLEBURY | According to a new survey by the Washington, D.C.-based personal-finance website WalletHub, released just in time for Giving Tuesday on Nov. 28, when it comes to charities among the 50 states, Vermont has the most charities per capita. Yet the state did not make the top 20 list of most charitable states. Marked for the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday focuses on the year-end charitable season of giving. The event was created six years ago by the New York-based Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact. According to WalletHub, Vermont has the most charities per capita, standing at 27.14, which is 4.6 times more than in Nevada, the state with the fewest in-state charities at 5.95. However, the northern New England state didn’t make it to the top 20 most generous, charitable states in the United States. The Green Mountain State ranks 33 among the 50 states when it comes to charitable giving. “With a third of all annual giving taking place in December, and the U.S. ranking No. 5 overall in the 2017 World Giving Index, our report on 2017’s Most Charitable States includes a charity calculator (app) to help donors decide whether to give time or money for maximum philanthropic impact,” WalletHub’s Communications Manager Diane Popa said. So, how does Vermont stack up among the remaining 49 states when it comes to volunteering
and giving back to the community? At least when it comes to having a sturdy population of dedicated volunteers, Vermont is ranked No. 1 in retaining community volunteers across the state. WalletHub reported the following data about Vermont collected by its survey takers: • Volunteerism rate: 31.04 percent, 12 out of 50 • Volunteer retention rate: 75.9 percent, 1 out of 50 • Volunteer hours per capita, 37.1 percent, 13 out of 50 • Community-service requirement for high school graduation: 25 out of 50 • Share of population collecting and distributing clothes for the needy: 22.73 percent, 35 out of 50 • Share of population collecting and distributing clothing for the needy: 11.25 percent, 47 out of 50 • Share of Vermont’s population fundraising or selling items to raise money for charity: 25.73 percent, 19 out of 50. • Share of income donated to charities and the needy: .94 percent, 45 out of 50 • Share of population donating personal time to charities and the needy: 44 percent, 12 out of 50 • Rank of population donating money to charities and the needy: 34 out of 50 • Public charities per 100 residents: 27.14 percent, 1 out of 50 • State regulations affecting charities: 40 out of 50 • “Feeding America” food banks per 1 million residents: 86 percent, 19 out of 50 » Volunteers Cont. on pg. 11