Letter: Local Business Supports PAVE Fundraiser

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To the Editor:

Each year PAVE, Project Against Violent Encounters, holds a fundraising event in October to coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness month. In the past, these fundraising events were a wine tasting or chocolate fest but with COVID-19 concerns, we found that a basket raffle was just as successful and much more social distancing friendly.

Last year we had great success putting together baskets from local business owners that included products, services, and gift certificates.

This year, local businesses have again stepped up and supplied even more wonderful products, services, and/or gift certificates. We are so appreciative of their generosity. Our ability to offer a diverse range of domestic violence prevention and support services rests on the support of community partners.

Thank you, community businesses, without your support we cannot offer the comprehensive services needed to help keep domestic violence survivors safe and moving forward.

Michael Dreiblatt
Bennington, Vt.

Michael Dreiblatt is assistant director of Project Against Violent Encounters. 

 

 


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Turtles Must be Left in the Wild

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says keeping native turtles as pets is prohibited because it can harm the turtle and pose threats to wild turtle populations.
 
"Capturing a wild turtle and keeping it as a pet, even if only for a short time, is not only bad for that individual turtle but it could hurt entire turtle populations as well," said Vermont Fish and Wildlife herpetologist Luke Groff.  "Releasing captured turtles back into the wild can spread wildlife diseases and also affect the genetics of the local population." 
 
Groff explains that adult turtles usually have well-defined home ranges and know where to find food, mates and shelter.  However, a turtle released in unfamiliar habitat may roam great distances, increasing the odds it will cross roads and risk being run over.
 
For turtles, the loss of even a couple mature females can have serious consequences because they are slow to develop, especially at northern latitudes where the growing season is short. 
 
"Many of Vermont's turtle species do not reproduce until they are at least 10 years of age," says Groff, "and older, sexually mature females are critical to the long-term persistence of some of Vermont's turtle populations." 
 
Two common species you are likely to see are the Painted Turtle and Snapping Turtle.  The Wood Turtle, Spotted Turtle and Spiny Softshell are rare in Vermont, and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department urges you to report sightings of these species to the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas (vtherpatlas.org).  If you see some of Vermont's native turtles in the wild, feel free to take a photo home with you, but leave the turtles in the wild.
 
For more information on Vermont's native turtle species, visit Vermont Fish and Wildlife's website or contact Vermont Fish and Wildlife herpetologist Luke Groff at Luke.Groff@vermont.gov.
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