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Vergennes Carnevale: Little City non-profits benefit raises over $20,000 » pg. 3 Published by Denton Publications, Inc.
March 28, 2020
Serving Addison, Rutland & Chittenden Counties
First COVID-19 case reported in Addison County Patient tested “positive” via new drive-through test, telemedicine By Lou Varricchio EDITOR
MIDDLEBURY | Addison County’s first
case of coronavirus was announced March 18 by Tom Thompson, interim president and COO of the UVM Health Network/Porter Medical Center (PMC) in Middlebury. Thompson revealed that on March 18, the medical center notified the Town of Middlebury Emergency Management that a patient has tested positive for COVID-19 (novel coronavirus-2019). Patient details were not released to protect family privacy. See FIRST POSITIVE » pg. 3
Addison County’s first official case of coronavirus was reported March 18 at the UVM Porter Medical Center in Middlebury. Pictured: Porter President Tom Thompson. Photo by Lou Varricchio
A new comet in the sky
Graphic provided
ACTR: Rider alert in Addison County By Lou Varricchio EDITOR
MIDDLEBURY | Officials of Addison County Transit Resources (ACTR), a division Tri-Valley Transit, issued a rider alert, for all routes on the accompanying map, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Officials noted that they are carefully monitoring local and national guidance regarding the spread of coronavirus. In the interim, the following guidelines, to stop the spread of the virus in public places, have been provided by the Centers for Disease Control and adopted by ACTR • Stay home if you are sick • Don’t touch your face in public • Cough/sneeze into a tissue (or your elbow if no tissue available) • Throw tissues in the trash and sanitize hands as soon as possible • Wash hands with soap and water or use sanitizer when you reach your destination
No, it’s not a divine sign or a portent, but it is a good reason to get outdoors this spring. A recently discovered comet is getting the attention of astronomers as it has grown brighter than expected in the last few days. Astronomers discovered comet C/2019 Y4 (aka ATLAS) on Dec. 28, 2019. As of mid-late March, it shines at about the brightness of an 8th-magnitude star; not visible to the eye yet, but within the reach of medium-sized telescopes in Vermont. The comet is currently crossing Mars’ orbit and is approaching the inner solar system. “At its closest, the comet will be moving at 2 degrees per day through the sky in late May, about four times the apparent diameter of the full Moon,” according Universe Today online. ”The best shot at seeing the comet is mid-May at dusk for northern hemisphere observers, as the comet heads towards perihelion. As it gets closer to us, it’ll get brighter still.” Will it put on a good show, or fizzle? We’ll have to wait and see. Photo courtesy Earth & Sky
See RIDER ALERT » pg. 5
Middlebury’s P.D. Chief Hanley calls for calm Hanley squashes local rumors, sensationalism By Lou Varricchio Area grocery stores such as Hannafords and Shaw’s in Middlebury are open to provide a designated time for vulnerable populations to shop or provide curbside delivery to ensure the safest condition possible for them to acquire the products they need. Photo courtesy Hannaford
RETAILERS, GROCERS CALL FOR NEEDED ACTION
Hannaford, Shaw’s designates hours for seniors, other vulnerables By Lou Varricchio EDITOR
MIDDLEBURY | The Vermont Retail & Grocers
Association (VRGA) has issued an urgent call to action for all retailers remaining open to provide designated hours for vulnerable populations to shop or provide curbside delivery to ensure the safest condition possible for them to acquire the products they need. Middlebury’s Hannaford, located on U.S. Route 7 (Court Street) and Shaw’s on Washington Street are are providing special designated hours At Hannaford, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.will be in place starting March 24, according to VRGA President Erin Sigrist.
EDITOR
MIDDLEBURY | Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley is also the town’s local emergency management director. In the past two weeks he’s had his hands full with helping the Addison County shire town craft a COVID-19 pandemic plan. This week, Hanley has announced efforts to calm the public in the wake of rumors and media sensationalism. “There have been efforts recently to propagate fear and dissension in the COVID-19 health crisis,” according to a March 23 report by Hanley. “Many rumors are being spread through disinformation originated by both foreign and domestic actors. We recommend that you obtain your information through authentic,
Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley: “There are a number of other rumors floating about... Get your information from the authoritative sources... You can always call the Middlebury Police Department.” File photo reliable sources. The Vermont State Emergency Operations Center distributes a daily bulletin. Information is likewise posted on the Vermont Department of Health website. Hanley collected the various rumors and provided his own responses as follows: See CALLS FOR CALM » pg. 6
See SENIOR HOURS » pg. 5
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