Dear Editor,
We are very saddened to hear of the passing of Dan Kelly. He was truly a “great waiter” and most importantly, a great person. He was a unique character who did not lack personality. Many customers asked to be seated in his area and waited for tables to become available. He may not have remembered your name, but he remembered your favorite breakfast and placed the coffee, tea or other beverage on your table before you sat down.
He was a very responsible person who missed only one day in all his years with us. Even on stormy days he was never late. He had the restaurant open at 7am and was ready for the skiers/snowboarders who wanted to make the first tracks. He had previously worked for John Petroni for several years when the restaurant was still called Johnny Boys/Killington. He managed the front end of the Weathervane Restaurant in Rutland. He greeted a customer within 20 seconds of his arrival, and he did so with his loud voice.
New Jersey customers would love to hear his opinion on Housewives of NJ and just about any gossip in the news. Despite these “conversations,” your breakfast would be delivered without delay.
He loved his dogs and the compassionate Dr. Bruce of Eastwood Animal Clinic made house calls when help was needed. We know our repeat clients Carol, Dale, Carolyn, Bill and many others will always remember him as a Killington character.
With great appreciation,
Karen and Steve Durkee, The Back Country Cafe, Killington
By John Flowers,
Addison Independent
A recent massive infusion of cash into Vermont’s child care system under a new law has helped create 1,000 new child care spaces across the state and sparked a renaissance in the industry, which suffered major losses in child care services during the Covid pandemic.
The new rule, funded by a 0.44% payroll tax, has also increased the number of Vermont households eligible for assistance through the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP). This program has been offering tuition assistance to families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level (or $124,800 for a family of four) since April. That limit will increase to 585% (or $182,520) in October.
The current federal poverty line for a family of four is $31,200.
“We are on the path to turning things around; that’s remarkable progress in a short period of time,” said Aly Richards, CEO of Let’s Grow Kids, a nonprofit child care organization based in Burlington. “Public investment in child care pays off.”
The implementation of Act 76 led to a rapid turnaround in the MJCC’s development and future prospects – including training and advancement opportunities for the center’s 24 full-time staff members, according to the nonprofit’s deputy director, Darcy Bean.
“We have been able to pay bonuses to our employees, increase wages, introduce a pay scale based on education, and many of our employees are currently studying,” Bean said.
MJCC Executive Director Kristen Dunne explained the Act 76 initiative while guiding visitors through the center’s facilities.
“Our pay scale used to be like this,” Dunne said, pressing her fingers together tightly. “Most of our employees here with children were on subsidies themselves. With Act 76, we were able to expand that scale quite a bit.”
In other words, experienced, trained teachers can be better paid for their qualifications.
Dunne praised the new law for making it easier for centres to help their staff acquire higher qualifications.
She said proudly, “65% of our employees are in school and working toward a degree or certificate… Before Act 76, there were zero (in school). Now they have hope that there is something worth working for.”
According to Dunne, MJCC was able to increase its benefits package by about $500 this year using funds from Act 76.
“We’re also investing in professional development,” she added. “We can send our employees by plane to a place where they can learn intensively. I finally feel like we’re focusing on our pedagogy and taking the time to do it.”
Senator Ruth Hardy, Democrat of Middlebury, had plenty to smile about at the Aug. 7 rally at MJCC, which her children once attended. Hardy – a member of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and architect of Bill 76 – was able to witness some tangible impacts of the bill’s passage and meet one of her daughters, Anya, a college student who is working at MJCC this summer.
“It’s been very exciting to see all the progress that’s been made over the past year,” Hardy said.
“Most importantly, what it means to our community – our children and families here and their ability to have a quality place to send their children, to be able to go to work and know that their children are well taken care of, alleviating some of the stress that many young families in our state feel. I am excited and proud of the work and couldn’t be happier with the results,” she added.
Also in attendance was Representative Peter Conlon (D-Cornwall), chairman of the House Education Committee, who believes a better child care system will pay off in the long run.
“Our investments in child care are not only showing significant and important immediate results, they will also bring great long-term benefits to our school system because students will come to school ready to learn and hopefully need significantly less support,” he said.
Among other guests traveling to the MJCC were Phil Baruth, president pro tempore of the Vermont Senate, and Jill Krowinski, speaker of the House of Representatives, who called Act 76 a “triple win” for the state, citing the new law’s impact on access to child care, employment and the ability to attract and retain young families.
“These investments are crucial,” she said.
