WVTK Local & State News November 28, 2011

Today is known as "Cyber Monday", a day in which online retailers plan to offer discounts, bringing in millions of dollars. But the Better Business Bureau is warning you to be careful of scams. To protect yourself, make sure your computer has anti-virus. Shop web sites you're familiar with. Don't click on links from e-mails, go directly to the site. And always remember, if the deal is too good to be true, it probably is.

Vergennes Police Chief George Merkal is calling on all residents to combat what he calls a growing drug problem. Merkal says, 10 to 15 years ago, people would have to travel to New York City or Albany to buy a sizeable amount of drugs. Now those people are coming here and setting up shop. Merkal is hoping to jump-start a movement with the Wednesday community meeting.

Vermont's newest Supreme Court justice takes the oath today. 46-year-old Beth Robison, who was on the legal team that fought for civil unions and later same sex marriage in Vermont, was nominated to the bench last month to replace Justice Denise Johnson, who is retiring. Governor Peter Shumlin will administer the oath to Robinson at the Supreme Court today.

Even though Friday was the day after Thanksgiving, more than 2 dozen residents showed up for a selectboard meeting in Charlotte. At the meeting, the selectboard voted 4 to 1 to stop the proposed solar energy project on Thompson’s Point Road. Those voting against the project say the solar trackers is not an appropriate use of the conserved land.

The old Moses-Ludington Hospital is about to get a life. The former hospital in Ticonderoga has been vacant since 1981. Starting next May, the 3-story brick building will be converted into 31 one-bedroom units to be called Moses Circle Senior Apartments. Officials say, if the $7-million-dollar project stays on schedule, the apartments will be rented in the fall of 2013.

When the snow flies, officials say most of the 5,000 miles of snowmobile trails will be open this year. There were fears that Tropical Storm Irene damaged a lot of the trails but thanks to a lot of volunteer labor, VAST Officials say at least 95% of the trails are expected to be open this winter.

Authorities are still investigating a tragic hunting accident in Southern Vermont. According to reports, 49-year old Timothy Bolognani, while aiming at a deer, mistakenly shot and killed his hunting partner, 39-year-old Benjamin Birch. Then, Bolognani was so distraught he turned the gun on himself. The two were out hunting with a third man, who was uninjured, in the woods near How Pond and Goldmine Road in Readsboro.

The U.S. Forest Service is offering the public Christmas trees from Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest for $5. The permits can be purchased at any of the Forest Service offices in the state. The deal is, you have to cut the tree yourself, and transport it out of the woods yourself. Vermont's Forest Service offices are located in Rutland, Manchester Center, Middlebury and Rochester.

The North Country Christmas starts today and goes though next Sunday, December 4. The arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway Holiday Train will again kick off the week. The decorated train is scheduled to stop at the Ticonderoga train station this afternoon at 3:50 PM and at the Port Henry train station at 5:35 PM. Following the train stop, there will be the lighting the town Christmas tree on the Ticonderoga Community Building lawn at 6 PM, live music, and refreshments. There are events all week long. For more information or a schedule of events, just visit TiconderogaNY.com