Bernie Buzz

What can we learn from Finland? What can Finland learn from Vermont? I hope you’ll join me next week for a town meeting as we welcome Finland’s Ambassador to the U.S., Mikko Hautala, to Vermont.

Public libraries play an enormously important role in our communities and we should all be proud that Vermont has 183 of them – more, per capita, than any other state in the country. As Youth Services Librarian Sam Maskell put it when speaking about the Rockingham Free Public Library, “The library is the community’s living room.” I couldn’t agree more and I believe we see that reality all across Vermont.

Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to visit town fairs in every part of Vermont, each with its own history, personality, and tradition. And I have a lot of memories from them all. Like many other Vermonters, my kids, grandchildren, and I have enjoyed the rides, the food, the agricultural exhibits, the historical displays, the demolition derbies, the tractor pulls, the beer tents, the concerts, and many other activities.

Recently, my team spoke to World War II Veteran Bob Coon, now 97, to talk about his time in service, his experiences as a veteran, and his life in Vermont. Bob fought in the 1940s and served in the 101st Airborne Division, where he parachuted into the occupied Netherlands and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

Now, more than ever, it is important for ordinary people to make their voices heard and for elected leaders to listen to what they have to say. That is why in the coming weeks, my Senate staff will be out knocking on doors across our state, to hear directly from Vermonters about the issues that matter most to them and answer questions about how my office can be of help.

A major challenge that our rural communities face today – which does not get enough attention – is the struggle to staff our volunteer fire departments and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) crews. Simply put, EMS providers and firefighters are the first responders to some of people’s most difficult moments, and often are the difference between life and death.