WVTK Local & State News November 2, 2010

It's Election Day, and there's a full slate of noteworthy races on the ballot in Vermont. The biggest is the race for governor, pitting Democrat Peter Shumlin against Republican Brian Dubie. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy is seeking another term, with six people running against him. Congressman Peter Welch, another incumbent Democrat, faces Paul Beaudry, a Republican. The other statewide offices on the ballot are lieutenant governor, treasurer, auditor, attorney general and secretary of state. Polls open Tuesday at various times around Vermont, and close at 7 PM We have a complete list of Vermont, Essex and Clinton County, NY polling places listed right here.

Paving work continues on Elm Street from Route 7 to the Railroad Underpass and on Seymour Street to Fire & Ice Restaurant. The intersection of Elm, Exchange and Seymour will be closed temporarily when the paving machinery is crossing the intersection.

Well it may be Election Day but Killington feels it’s for skiing too. Natural snow in late October and cold temperatures have allowed Killington Resort to open today, five days earlier than last season. Four intermediate and advanced trails on the upper mountain in the North Ridge area will be open for skiing and riding from 10AM – 4PM.

The Ferrisburgh Zoning Board of Adjustment will hold a continued public hearing on a proposal to build a Dollar General Store on a Route 7 site across from the new solar farm outside Vergennes. The hearing will reopen at 7:05 PM at the Ferrisburgh town office building on Wednesday. Plans call for access to the property from Monkton Road along with 42 parking places to the west and north of the building.

The Mary Hogan Elementary School board would like you to weigh in on approximately $235,000 in budget cuts that would be necessary for the school to comply with the state’s “Challenges for Change” request in the 2011-2012 school year. The ID-4 board’s next meeting is coming up Monday, November 8th at 7 PM in the Mary Hogan Elementary School music room. Mary Hogan Elementary has 38.5 full-time equivalent teaching positions.

The Selectmen and the town’s committee in Addison are working on the future of Addison’s former town hall. They have continued working toward finding what it might cost to make the building functional and how the town might best use it. The building stands on church property near the town clerk’s office and currently lacks a septic system and needs restoration work.

At the last Vergennes city council meeting aldermen discussed a suggestion that the city offer senior citizens a discount on sewer bills. Aldermen did not act just yet but indicated they might consider such a move in the future.

Many places across our region saw snow on Sunday. Which means the winter driving season is right around the corner. Vermont transportation officials say now is the time to get those snow tires put on your car. Do not wait for December. Authorities say speed is one of the top reasons people get into accidents in winter.

The Vermont Supreme Court says a family court was right to award custody of an 8-year-old girl to her non-biological mother in a lesbian custody case. In a ruling released yesterday, the court upheld a 2009 order giving Janet Jenkins, of Fair Haven, sole custody of daughter Isabella Miller-Jenkins, rejecting an appeal by attorneys for biological mother Lisa Miller, of Forest, VA.

Vice President Joe Biden is telling Vermonters the nation is still recovering from the policies of the administration of President George W. Bush and if Republicans turn that progress around, it will be another decade before the country gets back on track. Biden shared that message with more than 500 Democrats who gathered yesterday at the University of Vermont's Patrick Gym to rally their candidates for governor and other offices.

Former President Bill Clinton was in the North Country yesterday stumping for two congressional candidates. Two Democrats are fighting to hold onto seats they won during special elections. Clinton attended a late morning rally in Watertown to help drum up support for Democrat Bill Owens. Prior to his stop in Watertown, the former President swung by Saratoga Springs to stump for Congressional candidate Scott Murphy.

Vermont State Police are searching for a suspect who stabbed a West Pawlet man while dressed in a full-body gorilla suit. Police say the victim, whose name was not released, reported he answered his door at about 8:20 p.m. Sunday, figuring it was a trick-or-treater. Instead, he found a six-foot person wearing a full-body gorilla suit. The victim was then stabbed "with a small needle like device" causing minor pain. Police say the victim was then transported to a hospital in Glens Falls, NY, for treatment.

Registration is open for the 2011 Vermont City Marathon in Burlington. The marathon takes place Memorial Day weekend. Last year more than 8-thousand runners participated. There is the full marathon, a half marathon and a five-person relay. Registration opened Monday for the full marathon. Registration for the relay starts January first. For more information and to register click here.