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May 2004 Press
Release
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Janel Johnson (802) 828-2148
For Immediate Release: May 24, 2004
_______________________________________________________________
Secretary of State Markowitz and Student
Activists
Call on High Schools To Register
Students to Vote
May 24th-28th
is Vermont High School Voter Registration Week
Montpelier. Today, Vermont
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz and high school student activists kicked
off Vermont’s High School Voter Registration Week by urging Vermont’s
students to register to vote before they graduate.
Secretary Markowitz said,
“Voter participation nationwide is on a steady decline, particularly among
our youth. This is an even greater concern for Vermont. While we are proud
that our voter turnout rate is one of the highest in the nation, we lag
other states in the participation of our young people.”
Markowitz said, “The reason
Vermont’s youth turnout rate is lower than the national average may be that
Vermont is the only state to require a voter to take an oath before a Notary
Public in order to be eligible to vote. This makes it difficult for young
people who leave Vermont for college or for temporary employment to register
and vote by mail.”
Wearing a T-shirt that
proclaimed “Your Vote is Your Voice,” Student Aaron Voldman, from South
Burlington said, “we are asking schools across Vermont to participate in
this important effort by registering their high school seniors because we
hope to reach kids before they leave the state for college.” Voldman said
“we want to let our friends know that voting is important – we can really
make a difference if we take the time to register and vote.”
Markowitz also unveiled a
painting designed by Montpelier High School Student, Taylor Severns.
Markowitz said, “we are very pleased to have such an accomplished young
artist design a poster to encourage her peers to get involved in our
democracy.” The painting has many faces of young people overlaid on a map
of the State of Vermont. Severns was commissioned by the Secretary of
State’s office to create a poster to be distributed across the state to
encourage young adults to register and vote.
To register, students must
fill out the voter registration form and then take the "voters oath" before
a Vermont notary public. Once a student is registered and has taken the
oath, they may vote in Vermont even if they have left the state for college
or employment by requesting an absentee ballot.
"High school registration has
the potential to increase youth involvement in the democratic process by
making voter participation easy," said Markowitz
#30
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Marianne Lynch (802) 828-2148
For Immediate Release: May 26, 2004
_______________________________________________________________
Londonderry Pharmacist Admits Unprofessional
Conduct
Derry
Pharmacy May Temporarily Close
Montpelier. Today Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz
announced that the Board of Pharmacy has suspended the license of pharmacist
Dale R. Martens, the pharmacist-manager of Derry Pharmacy located in
Londonderry, Vermont.
Mr. Martens admitted that he was not keeping his controlled drug inventory
up to date, and that for personal reasons, he was not capable of acting as a
pharmacist at this time. Mr. Martens has been cited to appear in Windham
District Court on felony charges relating to regulated drugs.
The suspension is effective immediately and the Derry Pharmacy may be forced
to close its doors until a new pharmacist-manager can be put in place.
Martens stated he would have a replacement pharmacist starting Tuesday, June
1, but asked the Board to allow him to continue to practice until then.
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz said, "The Pharmacy Board has the very
difficult task of weighing the danger this pharmacist poses to the public
against the inconvenience patients would encounter if the pharmacy was to
close on such short notice. The Board obviously felt this pharmacist=s
continued practice was the greater risk.@
Pharmacy Board Chair John Dorvee provided some insight into the Board=s
decision: AWhile the
Board has the utmost concern for Mr. Martens=
patients who may be inconvenienced by the temporary closing of the Derry
Pharmacy, the Board could not in good conscience allow the pharmacy to stay
open for an additional two days. These are serious charges pending against
Mr. Martens. Even more compelling, Mr. Martens himself has admitted he is
not capable of acting as a pharmacist right now.@
Dorvee went on to say, AAny
customer of the Derry Pharmacy who needs an emergency supply for chronic
medication should contact their physician immediately and request that their
prescription be transferred to another pharmacy.@
There are three pharmacies located in Manchester, approximately 15 miles
from Londonderry.
As a result of Martens=
suspension, Derry Pharmacy may be closed on Thursday, May 27 and Friday, May
28. The pharmacy would then re-open on Tuesday, June 1, as planned after
the long Memorial Day weekend. The pharmacy would re-open under a new
pharmacist-manager.
#30
Contact Marianne Lynch: 802-828-2148
For Immediate Release: May 28, 2004
Poster and Essay Contest Winners View
Vermont Constitution
Vermont Contest Winners Honored by Secretary of
State
Montpelier. Secretary
of State Deb Markowitz today honored the winners of the 2004 Vermont
Secretary of State’s Poster and Essay Contest. Winning students from
Arlington, Burlington, Manchester, Northfield, Salisbury, Shoreham and
Williston came to Montpelier with their classes for a rare viewing of the
Vermont Constitution.
Markowitz said “we bring the Vermont Constitution out of the vault only on
the rarest occasions.” The award winners and their classmates were allowed
to look closely at the constitution to try to read its words and to admire
the illuminated lettering on the handwritten document. “By bringing out the
Vermont Constitution for a close-up look we hope to encourage these
youngsters to feel as though they too are a special part of Vermont and our
great history,” Markowitz said.
The Vermont Secretary of State’s Poster and Essay Contest is a joint project
of the Secretary of State’s office and Vermont Votes for Kids. The contest
is held in an effort to promote awareness of Vermont history, the Vermont
Constitution, and the importance of voting to democracy among students in
Grades K-12. Over 250 Vermont students participated in the contest by
submitting posters or essays. Contest winners and their classes were guests
of Secretary Markowitz on a tour of the Vermont State House and the Vermont
Historical Society. In addition to the day in Montpelier, winners were
presented with an award along with a $100 savings bond from Vermont Votes
for Kids.
The winning posters and essays
may be viewed on the Secretary of State’s Kids Page website:
/kids/contest/2004/2004_winners.htm
2004 Vermont Secretary of State’s Poster and
Essay Contest Winners
Grades K-2: Official Vermont Symbols Poster Contest
Winner: Anna Violet Hardt, Raven Glen Home
School, Salisbury
Honorable Mention: Kit VanHorn, Fisher
Elementary School, Arlington
Grades 3-5: Vermont History Poster Contest
Winner: Heather Rose Hardt, Raven Glen Home
School, Salisbury
Honorable Mention:
Lily Ross, Maple Street School, Manchester
Charles Weaver, Home School, Northfield
Benjamin Brisson, Home School, Shoreham
Grades 6-8 Essay Contest
Winner: Addie Peterson, Williston Central
School, Williston
Honorable Mention: Marielle Rousseau, Mater
Christi School, Burlington
Class Honorable Mention: Sr. Joanne LaFreniere, Mater Christi
School, Burlington
Grades 9-12 Essay Contest
Winner: Isaiah Usher, Home School, Shoreham
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