Douglas pitches in for winter warmth
|
|
Gov. James Douglas (left) and Sage Roys hold a chunk of wood while C.J. Crowley works a wood splitter Thursday morning in Springfield. Albert J. Marro / Rutland Herald |
Toolbox
By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: June 19, 2009
SPRINGFIELD — A collaboration between several state agencies and the local technical center will help low-income residents heat their homes this winter.
Thursday morning, Gov. James Douglas visited Hartness State Airport, where students from the River Valley Technical Center were busy sawing logs to length and splitting them to create firewood. The program, Wood Warms, is part of the Governor's Fuel and Food Partnership, created last year when gas and fuel oil prices hovered around $4 a gallon.
"Although the price of fuel has subsided somewhat, unemployment continues to increase, our gross state product is still negative and the economy is still in a somewhat downward trajectory," Douglas said. "I think it's fair to say we're going to have another tough winter and a lot of our friends and neighbors are going to need the help Wood Warms offers."
The program begins with independent loggers, who contract to cut timber on state land, said Paul Frederick, wood utilization forester for the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. The loggers are required to donate a portion of their logs, which are transported to one of eight locations around the state, which in addition to Springfield include Mendon, Bennington and Barton. Volunteers then split the wood and human service agencies distribute it.
In Springfield, the splitting is being done by inmates from the Windsor Prison work camp. Paul Brosseau, work crew supervisor for the Department of Corrections, said in order for inmates to take part in the program, they must have been convicted of a nonviolent crime and have no history of sex offenses, Brosseau said, adding inmates are brought to the site 10 at a time.
The prison's work crews perform work for state, municipal and nonprofit groups for a nominal fee to cover their expenses, Brosseau said, but they are donating their time for Wood Warms and are looking for other work.
The work allows inmates to contribute something positive to society, said Wendi Germain, director of the Springfield Restorative Justice Center.
"Restorative justice is all about making amends to the community," she said.
Inmates are not the only volunteers. About 20 students in the Horticulture and Natural Resources Program have helped cut and split wood, said teacher John Harmer. Inmates and students are not on site at the same time.
"It makes me feel great. More people should get involved," said Russell Schleimer, a junior at RVTC, as he cut up logs with a chainsaw.
Beginning Aug. 15, Southeastern Vermont Community Action will take applications to receive some of the 105 cords of wood available. To qualify, household incomes should be between 126 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, this means a net monthly income between $2,210 and $3,594.
For more information about Wood Warms, call SEVCA at (800) 464-9951.
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
31