The low speed Political candidates chase for Shelly in Orleans County. the tortoise. 10 & 12 8 the Chronicle THE WEEKLY JOURNAL OF ORLEANS COUNTY ONE SECTION, 36 PAGES VOLUME 47, NUMBER 27 JULY 8, 2020 ONE DOLLAR Social distancing Reasons for not wearing masks vary by Meghan Wayland politics were relevant to the question asked, but her impulse to DERBY — Outside Walmart talk about how she casts her ballots Sunday, nurse Chelsea Bishop wasn’t uncommon. When asked rolled an empty shopping cart about mask wearing, people often across the parking lot. She hadn’t mentioned President Trump. worn a mask inside the store. For Ms. Bishop, not wearing a With many calling for Governor mask wasn’t a political statement, Scott to make wearing a face mask however. A nurse at North Country mandatory in Vermont, the Hospital, she’s required to wear a Chronicle randomly approached mask all day at work — three to people outside shopping centers to four days a week, 12 hours a day — ask why they choose to wear or not and it’s uncomfortable, she said. wear a mask in public. Few were She lifted a hand over her mouth in reluctant to talk. the shape of a cage, her fingernails “I’m not a Trump supporter,” gripping the skin. Ms. Bishop said leaning against the “The N95s dig into your face,” bed of her pickup. She added she said. quickly that she wasn’t sure if her (Continued on page twenty-seven.) Closed border hits campgrounds hard by Meghan Wayland was the following weekend, but beyond that, Mr. Fischer anticipated Doug Fischer has owned White stretches where weekend business is Caps Campground in Westmore slow at best and weekdays even since 2006, and he said this is his worse. worst year yet. Even as Vermonters He said he spent years forming vacation closer to home amid the a relationship with Canadian pandemic, campground owners say clientele and has been hit hardest Uncle Sam made an appearance in Newport for July Fourth, vertically social the stay-at-home mandate and distancing. Josephine and Phillip Dreher seemed to enjoy the dignitary’s by the border closing. presence. Uncle Sam is also known as Steve Myott of Westfield. For more stories closing the Canadian border have According to tourism figures on and photos about how folks spent Independence Day this unusual year, please see hit the industry hard. the Canadian government’s website, pages eighteen and thirty-six. Photo by Paul Dreher “Hard to have a record season in 2017 Canadian travelers spent when you lose the first six weeks of $122-million in the state. In 2014, business,” Mr. Fischer said in a data shows Vermont ranked among phone interview Sunday. the top 15 states most visited by July Fourth weekend was (Continued on page twenty-four.) Craftsbury Academy booked solid at White Caps. So, too, disputes $140,000 electric bill Governor extends by Emmett Avery mistake Hardwick Electric made. Back in the fall of 2010, around emergency order CRAFTSBURY — The the time of significant energy by Joseph Gresser will continue, at whatever Hardwick Electric Department efficiency renovations at the frequency, for some time to come. (HED) is trying to recover academy, HED installed a faulty If the frequency of press On Tuesday the Governor said he approximately $140,000 it says electric meter. For that, the briefings by Governor Phil Scott and will extend his emergency order, Craftsbury Academy owes for academy board blames HED, while members of his administration are which was set to expire on July 15, electricity over the past decade or HED General Manager Mike any guide, Vermont may be one- for at least another 30 days. so. But the academy’s board says Sullivan said there were two third of the way through the COVID State regulations currently the charge is unfair, and the school components improperly installed in pandemic. At any rate, the Governor allow most businesses and other district should not have to pay for a the meter, one by HED and one by a has reduced the number of weekly public places to be open at 50 contractor the academy hired. briefings from three to two. percent of capacity. In order to The improperly functioning Governor Scott also changed continue to manage the reopening of meter ran until HED discovered the schedule so the press conferences the state and control visitation from issue in the spring of 2019. The are on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 other parts of the country, an utility said that, upon investigation, a.m. rather than Mondays, emergency declaration must be in (Continued on page twenty-six.) Wednesdays, and Fridays. place. It appears likely the briefings (Continued on page thirty.) Page Two the Chronicle, July 8, 2020 the Chronicle Economic recovery grants available INDEX by Joseph Gresser The maximum amount a business can get is $50,000. Crossword Puzzle............................................9 Despite his expressed disappointment in the Lawmakers appropriated $25-million to help Kids’ Corner.....................................................9 amount of money the Legislature allocated to dairy producers and processors as well as another helping businesses recover from recent shutdowns, $5-million to non-dairy farmers. In addition, Kingdom Calendar ...................................32-33 Governor Phil Scott signed the bill it sent him into $500,000 of the CARES Ac t money has been Letters to the Editor ....................................4-7 law. By Monday morning the Agency of Commerce dedicated to assist the state’s agricultural fairs, and Community Development had information and along with $2-million for Vermont’s agricultural Obituaries .....................................................31 application forms up on its website — organizations. Sudoku Puzzle .................................................6 accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/economic-recovery- Anyone looking for information on how to grants. apply should check with the Agency of Advertising Sections Money for the grants comes from the CARES Agriculture, Food, and Markets — Auctions & Real Estate.............................26-27 Act passed by Congress soon after the extent of agriculture.vermont.gov/vermont-covid- the COVID-19 pandemic became clear. Among its agriculture-assistance-program. Auto .........................................................23-25 provisions was one sending money to states to Forestry businesses, those engaged in Building Trades.........................................28-29 deal with the effects of the illness on their managing, harvesting, trucking, processing, economic lives. Vermont received $1.25-billion. manufacturing, crafting, or distributing forest or Classified Ads ...........................................34-35 The grants are divided up by category of wood products from Vermont forests, can apply Hair................................................................17 business, but to be eligible for any of them one for some of the $5-million set aside for them in must be located or have its main place of business the Forest Economy Stabilization Program. Jobs ..........................................................20-21 in Vermont. An eligible enterprise has to have at It is administered by the Department of Landscape & Garden .....................................13 least one non-owner employee unless it is a Forests, Parks, and Recreation, which has woman or minority-owner business. information about the program posted at Pets................................................................16 To qualify for a grant, a business must have fpr.vermont.gov/FESGrantProgram. Restaurants & Entertainment..................32-33 been open and active before February 15, 2020. Healthcare providers can apply through the It must be open for business when it files a grant Agency of Human Services for money from the application, although a business that closed due $275-million Health Care Provider Stabilization 5025 U.S. Route 5 to COVID-19 restrictions can say it plans to Grant Program. Newport, VT 05855 reopen when those are lifted. Among those entitled to apply for money from An eligible business can’t have more than that fund are hospitals, private medical practices, $20-million in revenue or be a subsidiary of a dentists, health centers, laboratory and imaging company that does make that much. centers, mental health providers, substance abuse www.AllAboutHomeVT.com In order to be eligible for a grant, a business disorder treatment providers, emergency medical has to show it had a 50 percent or larger drop in service and ambulance providers, physical total revenue in any one-month period between 65 School Street, Newport, Vermont 05855 therapists, podiatrists, optometrists, March 1 and August 31 of this year when chiropractors, and other healthcare providers OPEN FOR FALL ENROLLMENT compared with the same month last year. licensed by the Board of Medical Practice or the UnitedCall and discussChristian your child’s Academy future with an Educational Success Consultation. Finally, businesses that got a Vermont • Office of Professional Regulation. Home health CALL TO REGISTER. Phone 802-334-3112 · www.ucaeducation.org Emergency Economic Recovery Grant from and hospice agencies, pharmacy services, and Teaching the ABCs of Academic Excellence, Biblical Values, and Christian Unity since 1995 another state of Vermont agency or department long-term care providers are also eligible to apply. can’t apply for the new money. They will have to wait until the week of July Most eligible business, including those that 13 before the Agency of Human Services is set up Call for the don’t collect the rooms and meals or sales tax, or to accept online requests. Once the website is best prices pay it on an annual basis, nonprofit arts and open, healthcare providers will have until August in town! cultural organizations, women- and-minority- 15 to submit their applications. owned businesses, and outdoor recreation The Agency of Human Services has a $12- businesses, will apply at the Agency of Commerce million fund dedicated to childcare providers, and Community Development website. summer camps and after school programs. Those Business that do collect rooms and meals organizations can apply online at taxes and file on a monthly or quarterly basis will dcf.vermont.cov/cdd.