Bernie Buzz

Great ideas can come from anyone – not just those in power. Which is why I am happy to announce that my 15th annual State of the Union Essay Contest for Vermont high school students is now open! The contest is an opportunity for students to ask themselves: If I were the President of the United States and I was delivering the State of the Union address before Congress, the nation, and the world, what would I say? What is one major issue facing our country and how would I propose solving it?

This time of year, I am always reminded of the Thanksgiving scene painted by one of my favorite artists, Norman Rockwell. Many people don’t know this, but Rockwell actually lived for a time in Arlington, Vermont, and painted some of his most well-known pieces there, including his “Four Freedoms.” He even used many of his Vermont neighbors as models and inspiration in his work.

With winter around the corner, I know many Vermonters are worried about keeping their families, and themselves, safe and warm through the season. The good news is that assistance is available to help eligible Vermonters afford their heating bills, their electric bills, and to weatherize their homes. There is also assistance available to repair and replace furnaces and fuel tanks.

It is no secret that climate change is real and its impact in our communities is becoming more frequent and more severe. After the devastating floods of the last two years, we know that fact all too well here in Vermont. And we are not alone: More and more, states all over the country are dealing with dangerous flooding, wildfires, droughts, severe storms, and record-breaking heat. The Bernie Buzz had the chance to meet some members of the NWS team at their station in the Burlington Airport and learn more about the work they do.

U.S. law is very clear. Our government cannot provide weapons to any country that violates internationally recognized human rights or prohibits the delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid. Tragically, that is precisely what Israel is doing in Gaza where the people there are experiencing a horrific humanitarian disaster.

One of the changes I worry about in Vermont and across the country is the decline in family-based agriculture. Today, only about 2% of Americans are engaged in farming, and many rural communities are seeing declines in their population. That’s not good. Today, the Bernie Buzz features a story about a Vermont couple, Walter and Margaret Gladstone, and what their farm in Bradford, Vermont means to them, their family, and their community.