OU NTA I N IMES M Your community free press — really, it’s FREE! T Vol. 50, No. 29 July 21-27, 2021 STARTING AUG. 9, THE VACCINATED CAN VISIT CANADA The Canadian government announced Monday, July 19, that fully vaccinated Americans can begin visiting Canada on Aug. 9. Visitors will need to show proof of full vaccination and follow local jurisdictions. Page 9 By Paul Holmes No bull about it, last Sunday's dual slalom was a mudfest Grass turns, ruts, logs and loose dirt: Mountain bikers challenged eachother down the trails at the U.S. Open Next Gen Dual Slalom at Killington Resort, July 18. Amtrak is back Crowds gather in Rutland and NEW SKATE PARK Castleton to celebrate reopening PROPOSED IN RUTLAND After closing Giorgetti By Polly Mikula Arena this summer, At 7:30 a.m. on Monday, July 19, the James M. Jeffords Rutland Rec is working Station in downtown Rutland was packed with passengers on a proposal to build eager to board the Ethan Allen Express for the first time in 16 a new skate park, months. Many local officials and residents were there for the locations discussed. celebration. After remarks at the Rutland station they rode to Page 3 Castleton for a second celebration. “This is yet another example that Vermont is open,” Lyle Jepson, executive director of the area Chamber & Economic EVERYONE EATS Development of the Rutland Region, told the Rutland crowd. PROGRAM EXTENDED By Ethan Weinstein Shortly after the Ethan Allen Express departed, Amtrak’s Meal program that Greg Cox speaks with Congressman Welch in front of the Vermont Farmers' Food Center in Rutland. Vermonter train left St. Albans at 8:30 a.m. for celebratory supports restaurants, stops in Essex Junction, Waterbury, Montpelier, Randolph, farmers and food White River Junction, Windsor, Bellows Falls and Brattleboro producers, will continue Rep. Welch earmarks $1.6 million for before heading south to Washington, D.C. through September. Amtrak offered $1 fares Monday for all rides within Vermont. Page 7 VFFC, awaiting Senate approval Train > 5 By Ethan Weinstein RUTLAND—Congressman Peter Welch next week. Then, it will be off to the Senate visited the Vermont Farmers Food Center for further consideration. (VFFC) Friday, July 16, after earmarking Greg Cox, board president of VFFC and $1.6 million for the nonprofit. owner of Boardman Farm, led Rep. Welch The House Appropriations subcommit- and many of VFFC’s board members on tee approved Rep. Welch’s funding request a tour of the grounds, explaining how the and it will likely pass by vote in the House VFFC > 2 PARAMOUNT THEATRE SCHEDULE RELEASED The Pacific Northwest is being scorched by Missing the live shows? Check out the lineup a heatwave. Could it happen in Vermont? downtown at Rutland's Paramount Theatre. By Erin Petenko and Emma Cotton/VTDigger Page 18 Washington, Oregon, California and British Columbia are in the midst of a brutal heat- wave that has broken records with 115° temperatures and widespread highs above 100 °. It seems unthinkable to imagine Vermont, land of snow and frigid winters, experienc- ing such a once-in-a-lifetime event. But data and interviews with experts suggest that while Vermont may not become Oregon anytime soon, it is vulnerable to extreme heat- Living waves — and it may not be ready for them. The National Weather Service defines a heatwave as three consecutive days of temperatures ADE 90 ° and higher. But state climatologist Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux said research from one of WHAT'S HAPPENING her team members suggests that Vermont’s standard should be 87 ° or higher. THIS WEEK? “Ninety degrees is fine [as a threshold] for some parts of the country and the nation,” she By Polly Mikula Over 200 local events! said. “Because of Vermont’s location, because of our population not being as acclimated to Amtrak Conductor Muhammed Mohran greets passengers Page 12 Heatwave > 10 boarding the Ethan Allen Express at the Rutland Station. 2 • LOCAL NEWS The Mountain Times • July 21-27, 2021 OBITUARY Remembering Anne and Joe Jones, ski aficionados Joseph (Joe) Clarence Jones, age 97, died July 17, 2021 He was preceded by his wife Anne Johnson Jones, who died April 17, 2020, at the age of 90. The Jones' were from Mendon and most recently The Meadows at East Mountain in Rutland Town. Anne was born Aug. 3, 1929, in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Elizabeth (DeFord) Johnson and Charles B. John- son. Joe was born July 20, 1923, in Rutland, the son of Catherine (Dye) Jones and George F. Jones. Anne and Joe were married on April 2, 1949, in Con- cord, Massachusetts. They enjoyed 71 wonderful years of marriage together. During World War II, Joe served in the 10th Mountain Division 87th Regiment based at Camp Hale, Colorado. He saw action on the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Joe owned and operated a successful insurance agency in Rutland for over 40 years. He retired at age 70 to further pursue the outdoor activities that he and Anne enjoyed together. He served on many local boards and was also active in local and state politics. He was the co-founder of the Mid-VT Junior Alpine Racing Council and was also By Ethan Weinstein the co-founder of the Vermont Alpine Racing Associa- The Board members of the Vermont Farm Food Center pose with U.S. Rep. Peter Welch and state Sen. Cheryl Hooker. tion (VARA). Both organizations continue to thrive today. Joe was always proud of the fact that VARA is the leading VFFC: Long-term dream close to coming true for Vermont Farmers' Food Center with federal funding. Alpine racing association in the country. He is a member from page 1 of the Vermont Ski Hall of Fame and was the first inductee earmarked funds would be spent. dreams for Rutland a reality. And our problems,” he said. into the VARA Hall of Fame. VFFC plans to construct commer- dreams are to rebuild our local food VFFC is home to the Rutland Anne had many successes as a young Alpine racer, winning cial and educational kitchens, which system,” Cox said. Winter Farmers’ Market, which has many events in her career. She was always proud of winning the would feature a custom cut room in- Rep. Welch was excited to hope- brought in over $2 million in revenue famed Gibson Cup at Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire, side its 8,000 square foot “Blue Build- fully provide funds to support Cox’s while expanding access and availabil- where she skied in her younger years. She loved to ski fast — ing.” The space would allow people to vision of supporting local farmers ity of locally produced food. Downhill was her favorite event. Anne also loved gardening bring their USDA slaughtered animals and, in doing so, the local economy. In addition, the organization runs and many of her flowerbeds continue to flourish today. She to process as they see fit. “Up to 50 jobs loved all animals, especially her many dogs and cats. When are going to be created around these “When you’re here in Rutland, it’s just people Anne was not busy tending to family demands, she enjoyed her projects,” Cox said. coming together to solve problems,” Welch said. time with her skiing, tennis and golfing friends. For Anne, when In addition to the kitchens, VFFC playing golf, it was not about her score, but how fast they could plans to build a climate controlled complete the round. Playing 18 holes in under 90 minutes was storage facility available to rent by While these vision, utopian in the Farmacy Project, which provides a good day in Anne’s book. farmers. Controlled storage sites with scope, once seemed improbable, local produce to community mem- Anne and Joe were outdoor sports enthusiasts. They multiple temperature and humidity VFFC has disproved the doubters bers dealing with diet-related health enjoyed skiing, tennis, golf, sailboarding, biking and hiking. settings are often a luxury that's out of and affirmed its inspirational mis- issues. The program has fed over 1,700 Whether it was ski racing in their younger years, coaching the reach for small farmers. sion time and time again. residents since it began in 2015. alpine ski teams at Middlebury College and Pico Ski Resort, Ultimately, the initiative would pro- “I just love being here,” Welch “If you eat good food, you have a or skiing with their friends at Killington and Pico, their lives vide resources for small farmers that said. He spoke of the dishearten- better chance of reaching your fullest centered around their mutual love of skiing together. They were are typically only available at indus- ing partisanship he faces in Wash- potential. If all our members of our enamored with skiing fresh powder and were fortunate to ski trial scale, decreasing production costs ington, the polar opposite of the community eat good food and reach several million vertical feet of the cherished powder in the Ca- and building business relationships camaraderie that has created VFFC. their full potential, we have a better nadian Rockies. Anne skied her last run off the top of Pico at the between farmers. “When you’re here in Rutland, it’s community. That’s our plan,” Cox said. Obit > 6 “We’re gonna work to make our just people coming together to solve To some, that may sound like an impossibility, but Cox and VFFC’s track record has continued to defy naysayers. “The food center was born as a change agent. We aim to change Rutland and to do things in a new and dynamic way,” said Cox.