State utility regulators will soon decide whether to trim a statewide energy conservation program. A business group opposes the planned expansion of the Efficiency Utility. The group also says it will lobby against the program in the Legislature.
Many Vermonters find ways to help others, especially at this time of year. One volunteer is Marguerite Holden, who’s a native of Middlebury. She’s worked in the Christmas Shop at the Addison County Community Action Group for many years.
Santa Claus and his helpers are a familiar sight this time of year. Practically every shopping mall features a Santa who poses with children and listens to their Christmas wishes. One recent Saturday, VPR’s Steve Zind visited the Diamond Run Mall in Rutland and spent time with a man who, every year at this time, takes time off from work and dons a red suit.
Vermont author Grace Paley returns with one of our favorite seasonal
stories. Read by the author from her collection of short stories published
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, “The Loudest Voice,” celebrates both Chanukah
and Christmas through the experience of a young girl, narrator of the
neighborhood school holiday pageant.
Sometimes, great ideas emerge from collective inspiration. As VPR continues to explore Great Thoughts of Vermont, commentator Mary McKann tells the story of how Vermont got it’s first ski tow.