WVTK Local & State News August 20, 2010

Five agencies in Vermont will receive about $4.7 million to provide solar thermal and solar hot water technologies for Vermont families. The Vermont grant recipients were among 120 organizations across the country selected to receive $120 million under the U.S. Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program. Locally the Bennington-Rutland Opportunity Council, Inc. will receive $900,000 and the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, Inc. will receive more than $1.1 million, and will undertake program management and evaluation in addition to the project. Vermont leads the nation in taking dramatic steps toward energy efficiency.

Fall apple picking season has arrived a little early this year. Many area orchards have already begun to offer pick-your-own apples, because their earliest apples are already ripening. Champlain Orchards apples are about 10 days early this year, one of the earliest crops they’ve ever seen.

Middlebury’s local option tax revenues continue to slightly out-pace the amount needed to meet debt service on the new Cross Street Bridge project. This is a good indicator the local economy is recovering. It is also likely to spark future community debate on what should be done with any excess funds.

Vermont State Police received help this week from a retired trooper and another citizen in arresting a Starksboro man. Police arrested Michael LaFlam of Starksboro and charged him with the string of burglaries. He was held for $25,000 bail. They also cited Crystal King of Starksboro as an accessory to the break-in in New Haven.

Paving in Vergennes this fall will focus on the city’s northwestern streets for the most part. Comfort Hill and High Street is due to be resurfaced along with two portions of MacDonough Drive: one from Main Street to Battery Hill and the other being two-tenths of a mile long and running from the west end of the Northlands Job Corp campus to the city line.

Goshen residents will find four town-related items on the ballot at next Tuesday’s Primary Election. The first item is a proposal to change the town’s trash pick-up arrangement. Currently the town makes arrangements with an outside contractor to deal with trash pick-up. However in recent months it has run across difficulties enforcing rules on what can and can’t get picked up.

Workers this week have been busy shoring up the foundation of Middlebury’s former train station on Seymour Street. The 109-year-old building will see several improvements aimed at making the former train station more attractive to prospective tenants while honoring its historic integrity.

Voters in Proctor will be asked next Tuesday to approve a $6.4 million dollar bond to pay for necessary improvements to the municipal water supply, converting it from a surface water system out of Chittenden to a ground water system sourced from within town. The Proctor water system was put on notice by the state water quality division four years ago.

The Neshobe River Winery in Brandon will be welcoming visitors during the first Vermont Vineyard and Winery Open House Weekend this Saturday and Sunday. This is a great opportunity to learn about one of the state’s newest agricultural endeavors. Vineyard and Winery owners all around Vermont are looking forward to meeting everyone. For more information: www.vermontgrapeandwinecouncil.com

Over a third of Vermont’s farmers’ markets currently accept EBT cards, allowing beneficiaries of 3spuaresVT to use their benefits to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and other market products. “Harvest Health Coupons” double EBT benefits at all participating farmers’ markets statewide. Here in Addison County that includes the Middlebury Farmers’ Market and the Bristol Farmers’ market.

The Downtown Rutland Partnership will look at what it can do with Evelyn Street. The partnership, along with the city and the Rutland Redevelopment Authority, is applying for a planning grant from the Vermont Community Development Program to do a study of possibilities along the street.

The restructuring of Vermont’s judicial system took another step forward this week with the appointment of 14 clerks who will oversee the civil, criminal and family courts in each county. As part of legislation passed during the last session, Vermont’s courts were ordered to reduce the number of clerks in each county as a way to save money.

If every Essex County employee who has expressed interest in early retirement accepts the incentive package they've been offered, there will be a big savings for the cash-strapped government.. County supervisors overwhelmingly endorsed two local laws Monday adopting the retirement incentives for employees who don't meet typical retirement standards. It would mean roughly a $3 million savings for the county over the next five years.

Vermont election officials and political campaigns are worried that a date change for this year's primary election could spell low turnout, with people unaware of Tuesday's balloting or too busy enjoying the end of summer to participate in it. The election was moved from Sept. 14 to comply with a new federal law requiring states to provide 45 days before a general election for ballots to be sent to overseas voters and back.

The Rutland Regional Airport in Clarendon is getting almost $1 million to update equipment. It will allow the airport to purchase a new, state-of-the-art Radio Navigation Landing System known as ILS. The purchase is expected to bring the site up to speed with similar-sized airports in the region.

A group of Rutland firefighters who said their pay raises weren't big enough have lost their lawsuit against the city. A jury deliberated for about an hour Wednesday before finding for the city on the single breach of contract claim. The judge had dismissed other complaints alleging negligence and false information by the city.

You will soon start to see some differences when using and purchasing Gift Cards. Starting Sunday, Gift Cards will be good for a minimum of 5 years. And since stores and banks won't be able to charge a maintenance fee for holding the balance, some stores will now be charging a fee for the card at the time of purchase.

Housing inspectors in the Burlington Area say Bed Bugs are invading. This year, the city has seen 13 cases, whereas all of last year, there was only 1 case. Bed bugs usually move from place to place as stowaways in luggage, furniture, clothing, pillows, boxes, and other such objects. They are not known to spread diseases, just cause irritating rashes on your skin from their bites.

Police in South Burlington have arrested a man they say held up the Mobile Short Stop on Williston Road Wednesday Night. Police say, just before 11 PM, 40-year-old Todd Gorton entered the store, threatened the clerk with a knife and demanded money. He fled the scene but was located by police and K-9 teams shortly afterwards.

Authorities have released the identities of the 2 people found dead in a home on North Avenue in Burlington on Monday. They are 38-year-old Tracy Mazurek and 41-year-old Ronald Clark. Police say they are awaiting autopsy and toxicology results to determine how they died but say there's no indication of foul play.

St. Albans Police have arrested 3 of 5 suspects named in a Meth Lab Case. A 4th suspect is already in custody and a warrant is out for the arrest of the 5th suspect. Prosecutors are not saying if the suspects are connected to the seizure and evacuations last month of 3 suspected Meth Labs, 2 in St. Albans and 1 in Georgia.