Lyndon

Lyndonville Flooding

Details: Created on Friday, 11 March 2016 19:01; Written by Alex Pinkham

Lyndonville- The Northeast Kingdom Trailer Park in Lyndonville was flooded Thursday night. The cause of this flooding was because of an ice-jam. These floods happen when ice breaks up creating a dam which blocks the river or stream it is in. This causes water to become backed up and flood into the roadway.

Lyndonville Fire Department Calls

Details: Created on Thursday, 10 March 2016 22:53; Written by Lily Elmore

LYNDONVILLE- When the Lyndonville Fire Department gets a call, almost 25% are false alarms. Lieutenant Dan Bigelow says these non-emergency calls are a problem when it comes to keeping volunteer firefighters interested.

Pellet Boilers in the NEK

Details: Created on Wednesday, 09 March 2016 11:41; Written by Alexandra Conroy

LYNDON - Northern Forest Center hosted their first pellet boiler home tour on Darling Hill Road yesterday. This allowed residents around the Northeast Kingdom to see the advantages and disadvantages of having a pellet boiler in their home.

The Struggle of Vermont Homeless

Details: Created on Monday, 07 March 2016 19:42; Written by Matthew Nelson

Lyndonville- RuralEdge kicked off their second event of the weekend at Lyndonville's Bandstand Park on Friday night as a part of their Rural Reality Campaign. About 30 people braved the single-digit temperatures for this year's "Night in the Park."

Work Camp Helping Local Church

Details: Created on Thursday, 03 March 2016 18:21; Written by Lily Elmore

LYNDON- The First Congregational Church in Lyndon is currently under construction. The Upright Steeple Society has planned the church will renovate their walls, ceilings, bathrooms, electricity, and heat.

Local School Celebrates Black History Month

Details: Created on Monday, 29 February 2016 19:13; Written by Brooke Devine

LYNDON- Thaddeus Stevens School students recognized the importance of Black History month in a powerful way by reading poems and passages written by African-Americans.

Respite for Military Veterans

Details: Created on Friday, 19 February 2016 13:26; Written by Skyler Dixon

LYNDON- Military veterans who wish to start or continue their college careers might find it difficult to go through the higher education process after serving their country. That's why groups like Lyndon State College's Veterans Club exist.

VSC Begins Consolidation Efforts

Details: Created on Monday, 15 February 2016 18:49; Written by Morgan Vaudrien

SpauldingInterview LYNDON- Since this fall, when Castleton, one of the Vermont State Colleges, underwent a name change from Castleton State College to Castleton University, there has been much talk of other changes to the VSC, and some of those changes may become a reality.
Due to declining enrollment in the VSC system and high costs of tuition, members of the Long Range Planning Committee have presented a plan in hopes to consolidate amongst the schools-- hoping to leave the campuses and individuality of each school the same, but merging things like repetitive degree programs in hopes of financial savings in overall institutional operations.

Since 2008, state funding has remained leveled-- only accounting for 18% of the budget. This means State Colleges have to make up for 82% in tuition, which is difficult when enrollment keeps declining.

"The gap between the half getting a college education and the lower income folks not getting a college education is getting wider, so that opportunity gap is getting worse, not better," Jeb Spaulding, VSC Chancellor points out, "Where we are is a chance to kind of change that whole thing".
After a meeting Saturday which lead to approved tuition increases throughout the VSC system: 2.5% for Lyndon and Johnson, 3% for Community College of Vermont, 4% for Vermont Tech, and no change to Castleton University -- the Long Range Planning Committee and Chancellor are trying to find ways other ways to save money--other than continuing to increase tuition.
Spaulding remarks that the plan, presented at the meeting held January 7th, is not intended to combine colleges entirely but to utilize the college system as a whole to maximize financial savings.

"Ultimately, it's about trying to make sure that we work together to make sure that we [Johnson and Lyndon] both get stronger and are able to offer our students the maximum experience that we can. So, you know, we don't plan on closing any campuses and we don't actually plan on merging any colleges. But if we could find ways that we could actually work together to supplement what we do"

This means doing things such as expanding on the interactive classrooms--utilized by the nursing program at Vermont Tech and Lyndon. Other ideas include less repetition, meaning not having the same degree programs offered at Lyndon as there are at Johnson and vice versa, for example. Ultimately, the goals agreed upon by the Board of Trustees and Long Range Planning Committee at their January 7th meeting, are to increase access to academics, maintain campuses, financial savings in overall institutional operations, and to avoid the duplication of academic programs.
With Vermont in-state tuition being the second highest on average in the country, The Board of Trustees and Long Range Planning Committee are working to not increase tuition any more.

"They just and to do something. We've gotten no increase in funding in eighth years," said Jerry Diamond, a VSC Board of Trustees member, "Without any promise from the state legislature for an increase in state funding, we were going to be in a position where all of the state colleges would ultimately be facing deficits."
With all this talk, though, nothing within the school system will be changing anytime soon. Proposals on how to begin the consolidation process and what kinds of steps need to be taken, will be expected this summer at the next Board of Trustees meeting.

Spaulding wants to emphasize, though, that this merger does not simply mean job cuts, "I want to emphasize this is not a job reduction kind of exercise here. We gotta make sure we're headed in the right direction and that we are using as little fuel as we possibly can, and that we're providing the best experience for our passengers".

"What I can guarantee is the vast majority of our faculty and staff will continue to work for the Vermont State Colleges. The surest way to make sure that the ship stays afloat and is headed in the right direction is to be somewhat open to looking for better ways and more efficient ways to do the things that are important for the students".

Vikings Score Serbian Superstars

Details: Created on Thursday, 11 February 2016 18:10; Written by Dylan Clark

LYNDON- Lyndon Institute has been known for its long-standing tradition of having great foreign exchange students in their athletic programs. For the Vikings boys' varsity basketball team, the tradition remains strong.

Rosie's Girls Coming To The NEK

Details: Created on Tuesday, 09 February 2016 21:27; Written by Kaitlyn Manktelow

LYNDON- A branch of Rosie's Girls summer camp is coming to Lyndon Center and their purpose is to teach girls more than just how to roast marshmellows. They will be empowering girls and giving them leadership skills.

Housing Improvement Grant

Details: Created on Tuesday, 09 February 2016 15:44; Written by Dylan Robichaud

LYNDONVILLE- Low-income homeowners in the North East Kingdom may very soon get financial assistance in repairing their homes. Rural Edge, a local non-profit organization that assists in improving poverty, is in the process of seeking a $200,000 housing preservation grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to repair homes.

Vermonters Take Action Against Climate Change

Details: Created on Monday, 08 February 2016 22:41; Written by Alexa Richard

warmerweather LYNDON- If you live in Lyndon, you probably know just by looking outside that this has been a warm winter. It is early February, and there is barely any snow on the ground. Many people already know that this is because of el Niño, but there are things that Vermonters can do to help with the effects of climate change.

CNSU Superintendent Named

Details: Created on Friday, 05 February 2016 15:56; Written by Skyler Dixon

cnsusuperintendent LYNDON - Jennifer Botzojorns has been selected to be the superintendent of the Caledonia North Supervisory Union. The CNSU Board made the decision earlier this morning after the completion of background checks and approval from the Agency of Education. The choice was between two candidates, the other being Chris Pratt.

CNSU Search Down to Two

Details: Created on Thursday, 04 February 2016 22:10; Written by Alex Paduch

LYNDON- The search for a new superintendent in the Caledonia North Supervisory Union will soon be coming to a close. The position is down to just two candidates; Jen Botzojorns and Chris Pratt.

Transplant Granted

Details: Created on Thursday, 04 February 2016 22:01; Written by Lily Elmore

LYNDONVILLE, VT- Jane Rivera has been battling cancer for a year and a half; now she can be at peace with some news her and her family have been waiting for. After waiting one month after the NVRH bone marrow and stem cell drive, tomorrow she will be traveling to Boston to receive her stem cell transplant.

Grindstone Cafe Starts Pay It Forward Program

Details: Created on Monday, 01 February 2016 22:32; Written by Alexa Richard

LYNDONVILLE- Customers at the Grindstone Cafe in Lyndonville have a new thing they are raving about, and it is more than just their coffee.

Workers at the Grindstone Cafe came up with a "Pay it Forward Program" to help customers pay for a friend's coffee without the friend being actually being there to pay for it.

Burklyn Holiday Market Supports Arts in Schools

Details: Created on Wednesday, 09 December 2015 18:21; Written by Tim Laroche

Lyndon - The end of the year is fast approaching, and holiday events are being hosted with increasing frequency and scale.

Burkelyn Annual Craft Fair

Details: Created on Monday, 07 December 2015 18:49; Written by Vincent Boccanfuso

LYNDON, VT - Lyndon Town school hosted the 46th Annual Burkelyn Holiday Market. The market gives artists, and aspiring artists a chance to promote themselves, or sell their products.

Stuff the Humvee

Details: Created on Thursday, 19 November 2015 22:01; Written by Dan Reynolds

LYNDON - For the past four years, the Lyndon State College Student Veterans of America Association has been coming together to help donate and fundraise for the annual VT Supports Holiday Packing Event. Although the two organizations are not connected, the Student Veterans Association at Lyndon State has made it their goal to raise even more this year than they have in the past.

More Than Black and White

Details: Created on Thursday, 19 November 2015 18:53; Written by Emma Kaplan

LYNDON- College Campuses are tackling the issue of racism head on, and the Vermont State College System is doing their part to acknowledge the issue of Racism in Vermont.

Benning Introduces Energy Bill

Details: Created on Tuesday, 17 November 2015 18:57; Written by Alex Paduch

LYNDONVILLE - The pristine scenery of Vermont has become home to many renewable energy projects in recent years, but some are taking a step back and looking at the larger picture.

Lyndon Institute New Board President

Details: Created on Friday, 06 November 2015 21:28; Written by Victor Mwangi

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndon Institute Board elected its new president. Richard D. Ashton stepped down as president and retired after serving for seven years, allowing Meredith Feltus to take the position.

21st Annual Business Celebration

Details: Created on Tuesday, 03 November 2015 21:57; Written by Kaitlyn Manktelow

LYNDON- 170 people and 70 businesses gathered at Lyndon State College to celebrate the 21st annual business celebration. During this event, businesses were recongnized, employees who went above and beyond were acknowledged, and people looked back on the challenges they have overcome.

Bona Set to Start Sentence

Details: Created on Tuesday, 03 November 2015 19:01; Written by Alex Paduch

LYNDON – After losing an appeal filed with the Vermont Supreme Court, Lyndon resident Bruce Bona will be headed to prison on Friday following his conviction of 17 counts of animal cruelty. Back in February 2014, police removed horses from Bona’s property, citing malnourishment and neglect. After being found guilty in November of that year, Bona, representing himself, took his case to the State Supreme Court citing wrongdoings by the state prosecution.

Trick or Treat...No, Trunk!

Details: Created on Monday, 02 November 2015 15:39; Written by Abbey Greene

LYNDON – Usually when one thinks of Halloween, little kids approaching your door saying, “Trick-or-treat!” is one of the first things to pop into your mind. However, Lyndon residents had a different approach to this tradition than others.