Quotes in Press

Social and Climate Issues Top Local Writing Contest

RUTLAND HERALD 12/23/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr. Staff Writer  PITTSFORD — Police, climate change and LGBTQ issues were the topics that the winners of the first Brandon Writes contest chose to focus their essays on. Brandon Writes is a contest put on by Michael Shank, of Brandon, who was behind […]

Free Conflict Training for Rutland County Leaders

RUTLAND HERALD 10/28/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr.  Two local leaders are offering to teach Rutland County board chairs some conflict resolution skills for free. Michael Shank, of Brandon, and Lisa Ryan, of Rutland City, said Tuesday they got the idea to offer this free training after learning about each other’s […]

FERC Commissioner: Listen to the Scientists

RUTLAND HERALD 10/21/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr.  A federal energy regulator, nominated to his position by President Donald Trump, told those attending a virtual renewable energy conference Wednesday that America needs to listen to scientists on man-made climate change. “We’ve got to stop having these disagreements as to whether greenhouse […]

The Herald Candidate Questionnaires: Vt. Senate, Rutland District

THE HERALD 10/01/20 Rutland County District (Three Seats) The Rutland Senate District covers the White River Valley town of Pittsfield. The Herald sent out questionnaires to area candidates running for state representative and state senator. Each was given space to respond to the following questions: As a result of the […]

Rutland Herald’s General Election Guide

RUTLAND HERALD 10/07/20 Michael Shank Independent, Brandon Why are you running this year? I love this community and I want to give back and serve the community in every way I can. I see a need to strengthen our ties and bonds so that we’re more resilient and more protected […]

Ten Vie for Three Seats in Vermont Senate from Rutland County

VT DIGGER 10/06/20 By Emma Cotton With three Democrats, three Republicans and four independents vying for three seats in the Vermont Senate, possibilities abound in Rutland County, which has been a Republican stronghold in recent decades. Incumbents Cheryl Hooker, a Democrat, and Brian Collamore, a Republican, say they aren’t taking […]

Environmental film contest goes countywide

RUTLAND HERALD 09/22/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr. BRANDON — An environmental film contest that awarded cash prizes to local students is going countywide this year. Michael Shank, an adjunct faculty member at New York University Center for Global Affairs, of Brandon, contributor to a number of national publications, said Tuesday […]

Speaker Series Offers Career Advice

RUTLAND HERALD 09/15/20 By Jim Sabataso CASTLETON — A new speaker series aims to share professional career advice for navigating the coronavirus pandemic. The Rutland Rising Job Talk series is being organized by Brandon resident Michael Shank in partnership with Castleton University. The free series, which launches at noon Friday, […]