Thanks, that is great to know!!!

Thanks for that info. That would be a tough nut to crack.

Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act in 1956. I93 in NH was built in 1957. Tolls in Hooksett.

Not sure. But other states have different tolls depending on if the driver has an EZ Pass from that state or an EZ Pass from another state or no EZ Pass.

The NY State Thruway, Albany to Buffalo... If you have a NY State EZ Pass the toll is $12.18. If you have an EZ Pass from another state the toll is $14.02. If you don't have an EZ Pass the toll is $15.84.

Help me out with how this would hurt locals' wallets more than benefit from tourists/visitors.

The legislature is proposing a $15/year hike on vehicle registrations. I don't think any of should be surprised when that passes because a lot of our representatives are going to say "it's only $15". For that registration increase, we don't get anything that we don't already have. I'm saying don't increase the registration fee, add in EZ Pass with the same $15 annual fee. That way when a Vermont resident travels outside the state and uses toll roads, they pay the lower EZ Pass rate vs a higher no-EZ Pass charge. Then set the toll rate on I89/I91/I93 at $0 for people with Vermont EZ Passes, but charge a couple $ for use of those roads by out-of-state EZ Pass drivers.

You already have some Vermont residents who drive on toll highways in other states buying EZ Pass from other states. Those of us who don't end up with the hassle of having to pay the toll plus the no-EZ Pass charge. EZ Pass works on highways in Maine, NH, NY, Mass, RI, NJ, PA, DE, MD, VA, WV, NC, OH, IN, KY, IL, MN, and coming soon to Georgia. That's a lot of miles of highways that Vermont drivers would save a few $ if they had an EZ Pass.

I posted on another thread and got downvoted hugely, but I believe in this so I'll post again...

I'm in favor of a toll system on all the federal highways in Vermont. EZ Pass, something a lot of us need if we drive highways in other states. With NY removing their tollbooths on the Thruway and going to EZ Pass I now either have to pay higher tolls the few times a year I drive the Thruway or I gotta buy an EZ Pass from NY. In other states I gotta avoid certain roads to avoid the "no EZ Pass" fees. It's not a big bucks thing, but it's a PITA thing. If Vermont added EZ Pass we'd pay like $15/year for each device. But, and here's what I'm surprised residents of this state can't get behind, I'd set the tolls for travel on I89/I91/I93 at $0 for in-state EZ Passes and whatever we want to set them at for out-of-state EZ Passes. $3 for travel on I91 from the Mass border to WRJ? $5 from WRJ to the Canadian border on I89? With all the tourists coming up to enjoy what this state offers, you can't tell me that small toll wouldn't amount to substantial revenue raised from people who don't live here. For me, that's the way to do it with minimal impact on Vermont residents.

JP's in Essex is pretty comfortable for us.

B&J barely existed. Started in 1978. Still on College/St Paul at this point.

42-45 is low up here, I don't think any Chittenden County districts are in that range these days. Maybe Franklin or Addison County? Just looking at the current contract for one district in Chittenden County, BA plus no extra credits, 1st year is $51,776 ($52,636 starting next year), one year of experience is $54,028, two years of experience is $56,279. BA + 15 credits CE adds about $2200/year to those figures. And for those who wish, there are opportunities to coach teams or be club advisors. Or teach summer school. According to my friends who are teachers, it's not that challenging to add $5k-$15k to their salaries by taking on other roles in their district, although I know that's not for everyone.

Rents are onerous up here, no doubt, and not going to get better until a lot more housing gets built and there is some real marketplace competition. Just looked at one newer place in Williston, a few apartments coming up available in the next few months... $1425/month for a 536 sq foot 1BR, $1700/month for an 800 sq ft 1BR, $2300/month for a 1327 sq ft 2BR (lol, larger than my condo!). Decent amenities at that complex - pool, grilling areas, community garden area, fitness center, covered parking. But even a studio is going to bite into about 1/3 of a new teacher in that district's base gross.

My point was that there are places in VT where teachers with "2 advanced degrees and 13 years teaching experience" get paid significantly more than what you're earning in Windsor County. The OP didn't note that they were looking at any specific part of the state. Unless your current position is Masters plus no additional credits, you'd probably be making around $18k more a year in Burlington, possibly (based on some teacher friends of mine) closer to $30k more in some districts in Chittenden County.

You are correct that COL is likely higher in Chittenden County. I'd say that's primarily housing, I don't think the cost of food, utilities, gas is that much higher in Chittenden County compared to Windsor County. Do you think rent is $18k/year higher? I've been out of the market too long to have a clue about the difference in rent Chittenden County vs Windsor County.

You would likely be well above $80k-$90k. I have a friend, veteran teacher at the top end of the scale, Chittenden County. $105k-$110k range. Department head, teaches some summer school, does some coaching, picks up random side gigs at the school for arts and athletics.

Still not enough to offset the mortgage on a $100k house vs a $500k house...

In Burlington, per the 2019-2020 contract that is available online, 13 years experience + masters is a salary of $76,419/year. Not sure if that contract has been renegotiated since. If you're 13 years + masters + 30 credits, $84,199.

Straight up BA + no extras, same 13 years, $56,627.

Depends on the district, to a degree. I have a friend who is now a 2nd year teacher with a BA. She got in with a district that pays on the higher end. Massive work-load, she's K-8 special ed. I believe starting salary for her was a little over $51K, good benefits package and the ability to do her masters course work and have the district pay. She works a side gig as a server once a week brunch shift, job she's had since high school, solid tips there. Studio apartment, no roommate. I don't think she'd say she's sacrificing much, I think she'd say she pretty much does the things she wants to do. Last summer the district offered her a summer school gig but she turned it down, which tells me something about her budget situation.

I hear what you are saying.

All I'm saying is that in my 50+ years competing, at many different levels and in wearing many different hats (competitor, coach, official, spectator), I would strongly dispute that what you initially wrote, "...almost EVERY form of competition at every level has elements of "offensive language" and racism..." is anywhere close to true.

If you had led with your last comment, I doubt I would have responded to begin with. I agree with your last comment almost 100% - with the exception that it's my personal feeling that at college, high school, grade school age sports where the competition exists to a large degree to further the education of the competitors, in those environments if offensive/racist language is being used then as a teachable moment those in charge of the competition would be serving their communities well to consider any potential sanctions including removing players from teams or having competitions without spectators. Behaviors change through both positive and negative reinforcement.

You wrote " ...almost EVERY form of competition at every level..." The NFL is one level. HS sports are another level. The thousands of competitions I've taken part in are other levels. Perhaps you feel that what I've been involved in is "sports", not "competition". I would disagree. When I'm grinding over putts to win a $10 Nassau, or trying to figure out what the oil pattern is on the lanes I'm bowling at to try to cash at a tournament, that feels like competition to me. When I was on the start line with hundreds/thousands of other people and I'm trying to have the best race I can have and beat a bunch of people, that feels like competition. When some guy is staring me down on the pitcher's mound and I know he's going to throw me his best pitch and I'm going to try to smack it, that feels like competition.

I love listening in when they mic NFL players, MLB, NBA, NHL - even more so when the players don't know what they're saying can be picked up and you get a raw look into the real stuff they say during competition. Lotsa shaky stuff, but lots of positivity/camaraderie too. Will also say I've worked the table for college B-Ball and officiated college & h.s. volleyball and from those positions you hear some stuff, from the court, from the benches, from behind us in the stands that is cringe-worthy (and a whole lot more from the bleachers that is just ridiculously misinformed). So for sure I know that sometimes offensive language and racism gets tossed around. My experience is that it's far from "almost every form of competition at every level".

Almost every form of competition at every level has elements of offensive language and racism??? Are you kidding me? I've competed in hundreds of races, coached for 20+ years, played competitive golf, racket sports, old man baseball, rec basketball and volleyball, pond hockey. Have heard very little offensive language.

It's not all sports all levels. But being around youth/HS team sports probably the worst spectator behavior I've seen/heard.

No spectators allowed but the game is played would send one heck of a message to that community.

Poetry

Friendly Toast is not the kind of place I'd usually go to, I'm more a Henry's or Handy's Lunch kind of guy for breakfast. Had a work breakfast at FT last spring, it was outstanding. Been back 3-4 times.

I feel like we need more info here to offer relevant advice... You say "the lease is signed", does that mean that you and your friend have signed the lease that starts on January 1? Or does it mean you friend has signed the lease and you've been invited to join your friend in the apartment? Has the "current person in the room I'm taking" signed anything? All those are important points to determine who has legal standing in this case.

Trapp Family Lodge

You are correct. Little Hosmer Pond and Great Hosmer Pond, those trails allow leashed dogs too. I haven't skied the trails on the northwest side of Lost Nation Rd in forever, so no recommendations.

At Craftsbury, I think the most beautiful place is the top of Elinor's Hill. It's an incredible view of to the east! On their trail map, it's where the 29 circle is: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cf93199c24c0a000107ec5b/t/601dd5f354d35170cf2e06f7/1612568051698/2021-01-11-SKI-COCZoom_10.5x17.pdf.

I'd say Balint was already a household name. Certainly not to the degree Sanders, Leahy, Welch are, but as majority leader and then president pro tem of the State Senate I think she came into this election cycle with as good name recognition throughout the state as any state level politicians have had outside of our Governors.

Did the crypto money help her win the House of Reps seat, maybe. I think Balint was well positioned based on her work in the statehouse the last 7+ years. I think she had less negatives than Gray did, real or perceived. Gray's lack of voting was an issue with a lot of people I talked with, and also a lot of those people felt Gray lacked relevant experience because she hadn't been in elected office like Balint (and Kesha-Ram too) has been in. Not that I'm talking politics with a lot of people, but I have friends on all sides of the aisle, and anything from political junkies to apathetic.

I respect that you seem to have a different take than I do ("the bigger question is"). I think our elected representatives would do a good service to tackle election funding reform on a national level, but given that's how power works I don't see anything more than lip service occurring any time soon. If that's the system that we're working under for the foreseeable future, ultimately I don't think it really matters where the money comes from and for me it doesn't reflect on the candidate to the degree that positions and experience matter to me.