WVTK Local & State News October 8, 2010

Local businesses appear to be making ends meet. Recently some business professionals from around Addison County we asked about the area economy. Some were cautiously optimistic others said they were skeptical but hopeful. It appears though that Vermont and Addison County are better off compared to other parts of the country.

After almost closing last year the Shard Villa residential care home continues its recovery. The historic mansion is now at capacity with 17 senior residents. Its top administrator recently received a statewide award for her stewardship of the facility. The Vermont Health Care Association named Deb Choma the 2010 Residential Care Administrator of the Year. Shard Villa is even exploring the possibility of renting out its grounds for occasional weddings, meetings and other special events to increase revenue.

In March Middlebury residents will likely be asked to approve a $3 million bond issue to address a growing backlog of road improvement projects. These projects would more than likely remain on the town’s to-do list due to a lack of available resources.

Members of the Fenn family have decided to appeal to the Vermont Environmental Court the recent decision by the Middlebury Development Review Board. The board denied their application for a proposed gravel pit off Route 116.

Lead negotiators on both sides said they are satisfied with the new two-year Addison Northwest Supervisory Union teachers’ contract. It will expire in June 2012 and preserves teachers’ existing health-care benefits and base pay. Negotiators reached agreement in mid-August. In late September both the Addison Northwest Teachers’ Association and the Supervisory Union board gave final approval.

After more than a year officials in the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union are hopeful that negotiations may be nearing an end. However the issues of salary and benefits remain on the table. Superintendent John Castle remains optimistic there will be a resolution in the next couple of months.

A Rutland Judge was asked yesterday by David Schauwecker’s attorney whether alleged misconduct amounted to a criminal offense and, if it did, what harm came from his actions. But the assistant attorney general prosecuting the former Rutland Police sergeant said his alleged tampering of evidence and lying to police warranted a criminal charge whether his actions produced harmful results or not. The Judge didn’t make a decision on the motion to dismiss but said she would issue a written decision after considering the arguments.

A Vermont man is going to prison for a minimum of 4 years after being convicted on charges stemming from a burglary at a Rutland home in which a note was left inside threatening the family if a $1 million ransom wasn't paid. The mother of the family living at the home asked a judge to reject a plea deal that 46-year-old Michael Bousquet made with prosecutors and charge him with extortion.

Sen. Bernie Sanders is fighting efforts to raise the retirement age. A White House Commission is looking at raising retirement for Social Security to 68, 69 or 70 years old. Supporters say the Social Security system is not sustainable in the long run and some changes are needed.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor David Paterson want to stop New Yorkers from spending food stamps on sugary drinks. They're asking the federal government to add sugar-sweetened drinks to the list of banned items that include cigarettes and alcohol. City leaders say about 1.7 million New Yorkers use food stamps, and spent more than $130 million on sugary drinks last year.

A bomb threat at Essex High School yesterday forced the evacuation of hundreds of students. Administrators say they discovered the bomb threat around 9 AM, but they aren't giving details about the threat. They evacuated students into the parking lots and quickly cleared the ice rink of any threat so they could move students in there. Essex Police conducted a full sweep of the school. Police did not find anything and classes resumed a short time later.

The United States Green Building Council has recently granted Fort Ticonderoga's Deborah Clarke Mars Education Center the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. The certification is a national accreditation honor given to buildings that have been rated as "green" for their efforts to minimize negative impacts on the environment, and that actually make a positive contribution through their structure and design.

The downtown Ticonderoga street art project has generated tangible results. An auction of the 32 decorated wooden soldiers that stood guard in the community this summer raised $5,000 for new lighting at the Liberty Monument. More than 60 people turned out for auction at Adam's Rib on September 30th when the soldiers and four other pieces of donated artwork were put up for auction by the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership.

Dozens of area children will now have adequate supplies for the school year thanks to donations made by those who participated in the Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union School Supplies Drive. School supplies were collected at the Credit Union offices and ATM locations beginning in mid-August through Labor Day. The donations were delivered to eight area schools.

Moriah Central School will again host a professional orchestra in concert. The Count Basie Orchestra will perform at the school Monday, October 25, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets for the jazz show are $16 each and proceeds will benefit the Moriah music department.

Despite standing water and muddy fields, apple orchards are still going to be open for business in South Hero this weekend. This is the usual weekend for the annual AppleFest, but on this 21st year, there's a big problem with finding a place to park, as recent heavy rains left the primary parking field waterlogged. Orchard owners are encouraging people to visit this weekend, but is also cautioning them about limited parking.