BURLINGTON — Starting Sunday, Vermonters must be at least 21 years old to buy and own tobacco products or items — including substitutes like e-cigarettes.
The Green Mountain State joins 17 others, the District of Columbia, Guam and more than 480 municipalities that have raised the tobacco-buying age to 21, according to a news release from the Vermont Department of Health.
Increasing the buying age will help protect youths from nicotine addiction and potentially toxic chemicals, according to the news release. An estimated 95% of adults start smoking by age 21 and the goal is that by restricting access to tobacco, fewer young people will pick up the habit.
“We’ve made great strides against tobacco use, but the popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping continues to skyrocket among our youth,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine in the news release. “We are also seeing evidence of increasing rates of health problems associated with vaping.”
While e-cigarettes are less harmful to adults than traditional cigarettes, they are never safe for teens and young adults, Levine added.
“These cyber-cigarettes, with their thousands of flavors, represent a 21st century version of big tobacco’s decades-long push to market and promote their products to youth,” Levine said in the news release. “Society always races to keep up with technology. This law helps to close the gap in favor of protecting public health.”
RANDOLPH CENTER — The state of Vermont will recognize the commitment and service of Brig. Gen. Michael T. Heston by dedicating a new memorial walkway to him at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center.
The ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at 487 Furnace Road.
Heston, a Richmond, Vt., resident, was a member of the Vermont National Guard and served three tours of duty in Afghanistan, according to his obituary. He died last November at age 58.
The walkway connects the Circle of Flags, the Global War on Terror Memorial and the new Public Information Center at the cemetery, according to a news release from the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs. Heston’s daughter, Dr. Kelsey Heston, will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony.
CHELSEA — Eileen Murphy, of Vershire, will serve as chairwoman of the board for Safeline, an Upper Valley domestic and sexual violence advocacy and support services nonprofit based in Chelsea.
Murphy, a nurse practitioner at the White River Junction VA who has lived in the Upper Valley for nearly 30 years, succeeds Felicity Swayze, who is leaving the board due to a move from Tunbridge to Hartford, according to a news release. Swayze joined the board in 2008, left the board in 2014 in accordance with the organization’s term limit by-laws, and rejoined in 2015 to serve as board chair.
“I am deeply grateful to Felicity for her 10 years of dedicated service,” Linda Ingold, executive director of Safeline, said in a news release. “I’m equally thankful to Eileen for stepping up to lead our board into the future. As a small nonprofit, our volunteers are imperative to the work we do and our ability to expand the support we offer victims of domestic and sexual violence.”
WOODSTOCK — Norman Williams Public Library Executive Director Amanda Merk has resigned after two years leading the Woodstock library.
“After serving with pleasure and professional fulfillment as the NWPL’s executive director for the past two years, I have nonetheless decided to pursue a new career opportunity at this time,” Merk said in a news release.
The board will begin a search for its new executive director in the coming weeks and will accept applications from outside candidates, in addition to the library’s current staff.
LEBANON — Women of all ages are welcome to a free Rape Aggression Defense (known as R.A.D.) course being taught by members of the Lebanon Police Department.
The four-session program starts with a 6-9 p.m. session Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the Lebanon Police Department, located at 36 Poverty Lane. The remaining three classes will be held 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Sept. 28; 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2; and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 5, at SAU 88 at 20 Seminary Hill in West Lebanon.
Lebanon police, certified through the national R.A.D. program, will use realistic, hands-on training to teach women self-defense techniques, according to a news release from the police department.
Participants must attend all four classes and register in advance. Teenagers 13-17 need a parent or guardian’s permission to join the course.
To register, contact Haley Tucker at Haley.Tucker@lebanonnh.gov, or 603-448-8800, or fill out the registration form at https://goo.gl/bpgh52.
CONCORD — Hunting season is now in session throughout New Hampshire.
Black bear and gray squirrel hunting season begins on Sunday. Archery season for turkeys and white-tailed deer starts two weeks later on Sept. 15. The Canada goose hunt will take place from Sept. 1-25.
This year, hunters also will have new opportunities including additional deer days and longer bear seasons in a portion of Wildlife Management Units throughout the state, according to a news release from the N.H. Fish and Game Department.
For more information, visit www.huntnh.com/hunting/publications.html to read the New Hampshire Hunting and Trapping Digest. Paper copies of the digest are available at the Fish and Game Department and locations where hunting licenses are sold.
WEST FAIRLEE — The West Fairlee Church is looking for crafters and vendors to take part in its upcoming Fall Fling, scheduled to take place from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.
Spaces cost $15 and can be purchased by calling Dave Gibeau at 802-333-3750.
GRANTHAM — Navy veterans and current members will gather in Grantham on Tuesday, Oct. 15, to celebrate the military branch’s 244th birthday during the Kearsarge-Sunapee Navy Birthday Celebration.
The celebration will begin at noon at Eastman Golf Links’ Bistro Nouveau. A cash bar will open at 11 a.m. The cost is $25 and reservations must be made before Oct. 4.
Lt. David Batson, a Navy Fighter Pilot and veteran of over 100 combat missions over North Vietnam, will be the keynote speaker. The event will conclude with the singing of the Navy Hymn.
For reservations or more information, call 603-526-9646, 603-526-4391 or 603-763-4855.