AARP Vermont

"On behalf of our members and all existing ratepayers in Chittenden and Franklin counties, AARP is pleased to learn that Vermont Gas Systems (VGS) has made the decision to drop its plans for Phase 2 of the gas pipeline project. The determination by VGS and International Paper (IP) that the project is not economically viable is a prudent one. However, it will have a direct impact on the cost of Phase 1 – a cost being paid for by current VGS customers. With Phase 1 costs already estimated to nearly double, this new development makes it even more difficult to prove that the greater good is being served by a project that will bring service to only 3,000 Addison County customers. According to VGS testimony, the rate increase for customers in Chittenden and Franklin counties will now go up at least 10% due to the elimination of Phase 2. This will represent the third substantial cost increase on a project that is just barely underway.

Today AARP applauds the quick, bipartisan action on S. 192, the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA), introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) with Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Patty Murray (D-WA), and also cosponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), John Isaakson (R-GA), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

Scam Alert: Tax ID Theft & Fraud

At a press conference Thursday, Newport Mayor Monette and the City of Newport were formally recognized for the city's commitment and progress to date as a participant in AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities. Last year, Mayor Monette, with support from city council and the community, committed Newport to become Vermont’s first city to gain such distinction. Since then, an active Advisory Council made up of 20 local government and community leaders from both the business and non-profit sectors, is leading the effort. The group is just completing a county-wide survey examining the needs and concerns of residents around issues such as housing, transportation/mobility, pedestrian safety, social participation, community support and services among others.

Are you ready to elect the next mayor of Burlington? Here's a chance to find out how candidates Miro Weinberger and Steve Goodkind stand on issues important to Burlington residents. Our Voter Guide reveals how they plan to address transportation, mobility and affordable housing challenges in the Queen City. If you'd like to learn more and see their answers to our questions, click here.

“Today we learned of yet another significant cost overrun on the Vermont Gas Systems Phase 1 pipeline project to the tune of $33 million. This comes on top of a $35 million increase announced this summer. AARP Vermont is calling on Vermont’s Dept. of Public Service and the Public Service Board to give close scrutiny to today’s announcement since it is current ratepayers in Chittenden and Franklin Counties that will be footing the bill. The public deserves to know what the additional costs are, how they are being justified, and if the project is still viable given that the projected cost has now gone from $86 million to $154 million in just a matter of months. The Department should also ask the utility to provide reliable and well documented projections on what the final costs will actually be, in order to make an informed recommendation to the Public Service Board on reopening the certificate of public good process. Current ratepayers – especially seniors – should not be expected to absorb ever rising costs for a multi-million project that will provide them no real benefit. Consumers need to be protected and if this overrun goes through it is a glaring example of how broken our regulatory system has become.”

Black Friday has kicked off the official holiday shopping season, so here’s a rundown of the most common scams aimed at shoppers — and how you can avoid them:

During the busy holiday season, family caregivers – over 268,000 right here in New Hampshire – already feel overwhelmed with daily responsibilities, leaving them vulnerable when the stress of the holidays arrive. Turning to unhealthy behaviors – drinking more eggnog, eating more sweets, getting fewer hours of shut-eye, and forgoing exercise – is not the answer.

Most drivers know drowsy driving is risky, yet too many still do it. Of course we cannot always get enough sleep as easily as we can avoid alcohol and drugs, but we must try, because drowsiness can be every bit as dangerous. It causes 100,000+ crashes nationally every year, killing over 1,500 of us and injuring at least 40,000 more. And those are conservative estimates, because drowsiness is so difficult to quantify and track. According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research, 28% of motorists reported struggling to keep their eyes open while driving in the previous month, more than a third have fallen asleep behind the wheel at least once, and more than one in ten has done so in the past year.

Doug Masson of Cambridge, VT was named Volunteer of the Year for the AARP Vermont Driver Safety Program. Doug has been insrtumental in delivering the program on many levels, according to Dave Peters, Driver Safety state coordinator. Doug serves as an instructor, district coordinator, trainer and Car Fit technician. In 2014 alone he taught 9 classes and recruited and trained 4 new instructors. He has been active in launching and conducting CarFit programs around Vermont and helped train 3 new technicians for the program.