Mountain Times - Volume 48, Number 21: May 22-28, 2019

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12 • NEWS BRIEFS The Mountain Times • May 22-28, 2019 Governor Phil Scott signs on two new tobacco laws By Ellie French/VTDigger The American Heart Association is pleased that Vermont is now the 14th state where the Governor has signed into law legislation raising the legal sales age for tobacco products to 21. That is one of two tobacco bills that Gov. Phil Scott signed Thursday, May 16 – the other banning the Internet sale of e-cigarettes. Gov. Phil Scott signed into law S.86, which raises the legal sales age for tobacco products to 21, and H. 26, the ban on Internet sale of e-cigarettes. “Vermont is a leader in curbing tobacco use by passing Tobacco 21,” Government Relations Director Tina Zuk said. “Only 14 states have this law to date, but Vermont leaders recognized the impact of tobacco and the e-cigarette crisis and acted quickly to help youth. We are especially grateful to our champions in the Legislature, Sen. Ginny Lyons and Rep. George Till for sponsoring the legislation in their respective chambers, Senate Health Phil Scott and Welfare and House Human Services Committee chairs, Sen. Lyons and Rep. Ann Pugh, and their committee members who spent many hours researching these issues and listening to testimony. We’re grateful to Gov. Scott for signing this important prevention legislation.” Zuk added, “We know that if someone doesn’t pick up a cigarette by the time they are 21, their chances of doing so falls to just 2 percent. Smoking is the leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the nation’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers. The state of Vermont just saved a number of lives with this legislation, and millions of dollars that would otherwise have been spent treating tobacco-caused illnesses.” Vermont currently spends $348 million annually on health care costs directly related to smoking, $87.2 million of which are Medicaid costs. The National Academies of Medicine found that raising the age to 21 would reduce the smoking rate over time by 12 percent and reduce smoking-related deaths by 10 percent. The Tobacco 21 law takes effect on Sept. 1. The American Heart Association also praised the passage of the ban on Internet sale of e-cigarettes which would take effect on July 1. The American Heart Association is optimistic that Gov. Scott will soon sign H.47, which imposes a tax on e-cigarettes, making a tobacco triple play in the Green Mountain State. By John Hall Fawns are being born now and should be left alone. Their mothers are almost always nearby, according to Vt. Fish & Wildlife. Fawns are arriving; leave them alone, urges F&W The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says deer fawns are being born this time of year and asks that people avoid disturbing or picking them up. Most deer fawns are born in late May and the first and second weeks of June, according to Vermont deer biologist Nick Fortin. Fortin says it is best to keep your distance because the fawn’s mother is almost always nearby. When people see a small fawn alone, they often mistakenly assume it is helpless, lost or needing to be rescued. Fawns do not attempt to evade predators during their first few weeks, instead relying on camouflage and stillness to remain undetected. During these times, fawns learn critical survival skills from their mothers. Bringing a fawn into a human environment results in separation from its mother, and it usually results in a sad ending for the animal. Fortin encourages people to resist the urge to assist wildlife in ways that may be harmful, and he offered these tips: -Deer nurse their young at different times during the day and often leave their young alone for long periods of time. These animals are not lost. Their mother knows where they are and will return. -Deer normally will not feed or care for their young when people are close by. -Deer fawns will imprint on humans and lose their natural fear of people, which can be essential to their survival. -Keep domestic pets under control at all times. Dogs often will kill fawns and other baby animals. For the safety of all wildlife, taking a wild animal into captivity is illegal in Vermont. “It’s in the best interest of Vermonters and the wildlife that live here, for all of us to maintain a respectful distance and help keep wildlife wild,” added Fortin. July 29th - August 2nd July 8th - 19th July 8th - 12th & July 15th - 19th Digital Photography, Game Design, Cosmetology, Tree to Project, Auto Tech, Auto Body, Party Foods, STEM, and Natural Resources.
The Mountain Times • May 22-28, 2019 NEWS BRIEFS • 13 Vermont’s Trophy Trout stocking for 2019 Vermont’s “Trophy Trout” stocking program for 2019 includes eight river sections and 25 lakes and ponds receiving the two-year old trout, some over 18 inches long. “The trophy rainbow and brown trout stocked in the Black, Winoos ki, Lamoille, Missisquoi, Walloomsac, and Passumpsic Rivers as well as East and Otter Creeks provide exciting fishing for many anglers of all ages and skill levels,” said Vermont’s Director of Fisheries Eric Palmer. “Large two-year old brookies and rainbows will also be stocked in many lakes and ponds to provide excellent fishing opportunities.” Trout fishing opened April 13 and will continue through Oct. 31 this year in the river sections listed below. There is no length limit and the daily creel limit for these stream sections is two trout. Stocking of the river sections is occurring throughout May. Anglers can check Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife. com) to see the stocking that has occurred and see the lakes and ponds that are being stocked with trophy trout. Click on “Fish” and then “Fish Stocking Schedule.” Black River: along Rt. 131 in Weathersfield and Cavendish, from Downers covered bridge upstream, approximately four miles, to the next bridge across the river, the Howard Hill Bridge. Lamoille River: from the downstream edge of the bridge on Route 104 in the Village of Fairfax upstream, approximately 1.6 miles, to the top of the Fairfax Falls Dam in Fairfax. Otter Creek: in Danby and Mt. Tabor - From the Vermont Railway Bridge north of the fishing access upstream, approximately 2 miles, to the Danby-Mt. Tabor Forest Rd. Bridge (Forest Road # 10). East Creek: in Rutland City – from the confluence with Otter Creek upstream, approximately 2.7 miles, to the to p of the Patch Dam in Rutland City. Missisquoi River: In Enosburg and Sheldon, from the downstream Trophy trout, page 32 By John Hall, courtesy VTF&W Trophy trout like these are being stocked this spring in eight Vermont river sections and 25 lakes and ponds. Jarvis Green to be honored for leadership Vital Communities will honor Jarvis Green and other individuals and organizations that have contributed to the vitality of the Upper Valley at its eighth annual Heroes & Leaders dinner on May 30. This year’s event, part of Vital Communities’ yearlong 25th anniversary celebration, will be held at the Top of the Hop and Alumni Hall in Hanover. Green is the founder of JAG Productions, formerly in Barnard, and has served as its producing artistic director since 2015. JAG was formed with the mission to produce classic and contemporary African-American theatre; to serve as an incubator of new work that excites broad intellectual engagement; and thereby, to catalyze compassion, empathy, love and community through shared understandings of humankind through the lens of the African-American experience. With a home base in White River Junction – at the confluence of the White and Connecticut Rivers, which separate Abenaki land into the majority white states of Vermont and New Hampshire – JAG Productions nurtures and sustains a multi-generational and multi-racial theatre company with Black artists and community organizers at its center. “I am deeply honored by this recognition by Vital Communities and humbled that the work I am doing is valued and supported by this community,” said Green. “In this contemporary moment where we are constantly being made aware of the deep divisions that keep us segregated from people who do act, think, Jarvis Green talk or look like us – it is crucial now more than ever that we build, encourage and support artists and cultural workers that reflect the diversity of our nation and our world.” The theatre company recently closed its third season with JAGfest 3.0, an annual festival of new works celebrating the talents of African- American playwrights. The weeklong festival of workshops and events hosted 30 artists, four playwrights, and saw 800 attendees during the four sold out readings. During JAGfest 2.0 in 2018, the company cultivated Nathan Yungerberg’s play Esai’s Table; a dream was then born to produce the world premiere of this play in the Upper Valley for the community that nurtured and supported its development. October 2019 will see the fruition of that dream as JAG presents the world premiere of Esai’s Table at the Briggs Opera House in White River Junction. The play will subsequently transfer Off-Broadway to the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City. Esai’s Table marks a pivotal moment for JAG as it’s first world premiere, first Off-Broadway transfer, and first co-production. JAG’s 2018-19 season saw other notable firsts including selecting and introducing its founding Board of “IT IS A GREAT JOY ... TO HONOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE VIBRANCY OF THE UPPER VALLEY IN SIGNIFICANT AND SUSTAINED WAYS,” SAID ROB SCHULTZ. Courtesy JAG Productions Directors led by Co-chairs Brian Cook and Jacqueline Fischer. In October, the company launched its inaugural benefit dinner party JAG Juke Joint, which included live performances from nationally recognized black theater artists and southern home cooking. The event was sold-out with 200 attendees and raised more than $20,000. In January 2019, JAG’s production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill was selected by Capital Jazz to be featured during its 12th Annual SuperCruise, a full-ship African- American Jazz music festival at sea. JAG’s was the only theatrical production selected to perform during the 8-day festival that featured noted Jazz performers such as Sheila E., Take 6, and Babyface Nelson. The festival was host to 4,000 attendees and departed in January 2019 from Florida, visiting Haiti, Honduras, Belize and Mexico. Beyond theatrical productions and events, JAG works to bring its mission and values to the public through outreach programs such as a free student matinee program, educational support materials and guest speaking engagements. Jarvis Green recently was the keynote speaker at Lebanon High School’s first Martin Luther King Day celebration. JAG provides classroom packets for teachers JAG, page 14
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Mountain Times - Volume 48, Number 21: May 22-28, 2019

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