Summer Jobs For Students

Kind of an interesting observation as I go in different businesses in town. You don't see a lot of students working. A comment was made on one of the news broadcasts the other night that students have added competition for these jobs as many seniors who were retired are now back in the work force due to shrinking retirement funds. Actually the comment was made that our work force is now larger due to that and improved conditions here in Vermont will take longer because of that.

My grandson down in Bellows Falls was elated to think he has found a part time summer job, as I am sure many of our local young people here in town will be too. Steeple Market hired a lot of our young people, which made it an ideal place for them to work and hopefully they will do so again.

Mary Kay used to hire a student to do my lawn trimming, however, this year she has hired an older person who needs the work to support his family.

Another example of retirees back in the work force, I believe that Steve Cota is retired, however, he does handyman jobs around town. He actually put a bid on the work to be done up here at our Fairfax Town Office and was way lower than the next higher bid.

"A. The bids for the work to be performed on the Town office building were opened and reviewed. It appears Total Home Care (Steve Cota) is the low bidder at $10,117.95. The other quote received was from Shedd’s Spread for painting only, not including any materials, in the amount of $19,791. John motioned to accept the bid from Steve Cota, Charlie seconded the motion. Two voted in favor, three opposed. There are a few issues with the bid from Steve Cota that will need to be clarified before it can be accepted. The three opposing votes agreed to vote in favor of the motion if the issues can be resolved and the references check out. Bob will contact Steve to discuss."

You can see the bids in this past weeks Fairfax Selectboard Minutes.

I can sympathize with our young graduates, as when I graduated from High School in 1951, jobs were really scarce. I would apply for any job, not even asking what it was. I was living in Fairfield at the time and applied for a job at the local garage. I got the job, which paid $25 a week. Since I wasn't a mechanic, I was quickly trained to clean parts, sweep up and pick up, to after parts and help with anything the mechanic needed.

Hopefully things will pick up, but latest estimates are it will be at least another two years before things improve.