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Gen. Dick Cody Honored
On Dec. 6 Fox Nation, Fox News Media’s streaming service, honored General (Ret.) Dick Cody, originally of Montpelier, with the Fox Weather Ultimate Patriot Award for his dedication in helping individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene. The event took place on Dec. 6 in Brookville, New York.
In coordination with Samaritan’s Purse, Gen. Cody delivered life-saving supplies to the individuals and families in North Carolina who were cut off from the outside world.
“I was just one of probably a hundred helicopter pilots that showed up and answered the call to duty one more time for the devastation in North Carolina,” Gen. Cody said in his acceptance speech. “A lot of civilian helicopters, a lot of active duty helicopter pilots and stuff, they were all younger than me, I might add. So I accept this award very humbly, on behalf of all of them, because they did some great work out there.”
—Cassandra Hemenway
Statehouse Menorah Lighting
Gov. Phil Scott has invited the public to a sunset lighting of the Chanukah Menorah on the Statehouse steps on Thursday, Dec. 26, at 5 p.m. Jewish community leaders will join Gov. Scott to lead the event, which is free and open to all. Afterward, participants are invited to join the Governor inside the Statehouse for a story book reading and light refreshments. Chanukah (also spelled Hanukkah) 2024 starts at nightfall on Dec. 25 and ends at nightfall on Jan. 2, 2025, beginning on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev and lasting for eight days.
—Cassandra Hemenway
Gifts for Local Families
The Renita Marshall Helping Hands Foundation, Inc., in Barre has completed its annual gift drive.
“At this time we are done for this holiday season. We finished with 13 families and 38 kiddos getting all they wanted on their wishlists,” Renita Marshall said in an email to The Bridge.
To learn more, find the foundation on Facebook.
—Bridge staff
PoemCity 2025 Submissions Open
PoemCity, Montpelier’s city-wide, month-long celebration of National Poetry Month in April, welcomes submissions from all interested Vermont writers. Vermonters of all ages — including students — are welcome to submit their poems for this annual event. Selected works will be displayed downtown in shop windows through the month of April and will be included in an anthology published by Rootstock Publishing of Montpelier. PoemCity is a program of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library and is supported by Vermont Humanities. Submissions are welcome through Feb. 1, 2025. There is no fee to participate. For guidelines and to submit, visit kellogghubbard.org/poemcity.
—Phayvanh Luekhamhan, a co-founder of PoemCity
Union Mutual Gives Back
Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company announced a three-year, $30,000 commitment to support Hunger Free Vermont. The organization, one of Union Mutual’s major community partners for 2024, was selected in part by the company’s Environmental, Social, Governance committee.
“We at Hunger Free Vermont are deeply grateful for Union Mutual’s multi-year commitment to working with us to end the injustice of hunger for everyone living in Vermont,” said Anore Horton, executive director of Hunger Free Vermont. “Their dedication to our mission is evident in many ways — by providing their staff with educational opportunities to better understand the causes of and solutions to hunger, by actively encouraging volunteering with our organization, and through their generous financial support. Union Mutual’s strong partnership will play a vital role in advancing our shared goal of ending hunger and building a brighter future for everyone in Vermont.”
—press release
