Johnson: Rail trail nominated for national award

The student proposes developing a flood response plan and a debris management plan for Johnson. Rodjenski has offered his time for free, and both the village and town of Johnson are looking toward their work with the prospect of assembling a thorough management plan.

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The Johnson municipal building is still in need of repair, but there is apprehension from both the selectboard and village trustees as to how thoroughly they would be financially able to repair and renovate the building. Beth Foy, the selectboard chair, said the town is going to look for a contractor to put up insulation, moisture barrier and sheetrock to protect the downstairs in the immediate term.

The office employees will need to move downstairs — they are operating upstairs at the moment — so they can make long term decisions about the building. For FEMA reimbursement, the town does not have to restore it to what it was exactly, just to a workable environment. There is concern that the municipal building repairs and renovations will be costly. Repairs are still needed to the clock tower and the roof will need to be replaced at some point. It is still uncertain what the scope of the renovations to the building will look like, and when they will be done.

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Vermont Department of Transportation projects that elevated quality of life in their communities, improved safety for transportation system users and the general public, found new ways to better utilize their current transportation systems and utilized innovative technologies and solutions to benefit the public are among the 12 finalists competing for top honors in the 2023 America’s Transportation Awards competition, sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is one of those finalists.

The three highest-scoring projects in four regional contests became the competition’s Top 12 and are now competing for the national grand prize and the People’s Choice Award, both of which come with a $10,000 check for a charity or transportation-related scholarship of the winners’ choosing.

Online votes will be weighted to each state’s population, allowing for greater competition between states with larger and smaller populations. You may vote once per day. Voting will close on Nov. 14. Go to americastransportationawards.org.

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Basketball registration through Johnson Recreation will begin Sunday, Oct. 1, and will be open through Oct. 31. The ski and ride program is also gearing up for another season through Johnson Recreation. Soccer is in full swing now, with the Tim Sullivan fields at Old Mill Park buzzing with youth at least five days out of the week.

— Jasmine Yuris, jasmine.yuris@gmail.com