WVTK Local & State News May 11, 2012

Vermont Sate Police responded to Market Road in Bridport for a report of a home burglary early Friday morning. Darby Crum reported that several guitars and musical equipment was missing from the residence. Vermont State Police ask that anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Trooper Armstrong at the New Haven Barracks.

Route 7 in Charlotte was closed yesterday afternoon because of a house fire. The blaze broke out in an addition on the back side of a home at around 2PM. Firefighters found flames and smoke pouring from the house when they arrived. It took about 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze. The extent of the damage is unknown at this time, but it appears the quick work of firefighters kept the flames from spreading. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Route 7 reopened at about 6PM.

The week at the Middlebury Select Board meeting the board appointed Rick Emilo to the Development Review Board, John McIntyre as an alternate member of the DRB and Pete Diminico to the River Task Force. Meanwhile at its meeting on Monday, the Business Development Fund Advisory Board voted to recommend to the Select Board that the Middlebury Business Development Advisory Board expand to group of seven. The Select Board voted to add two members to the Advisory Board. Letters of interest in appointment to the board should be submitted to Town Manager Bill Finger no later than Friday, May 18th.

Town Manager Bill Finger said this week that the Fire Facilities project is on track. Seymour Street will be closed for one more day in May for storm sewer work and then road will be closed between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July for lowering of the road.

The Middlebury Select Board learned this week that as of April 30th, 10 months of the way through fiscal year 2012, overall expenditures and receipts are on-target, and current year-end projections are favorable.

The River Task Force met on April 27th and reviewed a request for proposals for engineering services for analysis of the river, which is necessary to develop a management/repair plan for the Middlebury River. Although the funding is for the analysis that is anticipated from FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the award of the grant hasn't been finalized, so the RFP is on hold until the grant is awarded and a grant agreement is signed. Given the current projected timeline, engineering proposals would be due in early to mid July.

You are invited to join the Way to Go Commuter Challenge in coming up next week by walking, biking, carpooling and riding the bus instead of driving. In addition to saving money and gas, when participants register for the challenge on-line, you'll be entered to win great prizes, including a Burton snowboard, an iPod or the Grand Prize, the prestigious Carbon Cup. Many local events are planned. Look for posters on dates, times and details around town.

Vermont State Police are investigating the theft of property from a camper at Kampersville in Salisbury and the subsequent vandalism to an R.V. at the camp. Two propane tanks were stolen which are worth approximately $300 and two doors to the R.V. were damaged by someone attempting to force entry. The value of the doors is approximately $1,000. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to contact VSP in New Haven. (Trooper Andrew Leise at 1-802-388-4919)

Vermont Smoke and Cure and Green Mountain Organic Creamery will become the first occupants of the former Saputo Cheese factory in Hinesburg. A fire heavily damaged the plant in September 2008. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be on Saturday, May 19th, at 1PM followed by an open house from 1:30 – 4:00. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy will speak at the opening. Vermont Smoke and Cure was established in 1962 in South Barre. Green Mountain Organic Creamery is a start-up company run by the owners of Kimball Brook Farm in North Ferrisburgh. Only five or six jobs will be created at the site but Hinesburg officials said they hope that at least 25 jobs will be created at the facility in the future.

Another not-for-profit group will benefit from the North Country Triathlon. The Hague race has been so successful in meeting its goal of charitable giving; organizers have added another beneficiary. The Lake George Land Conservancy joins the Hope Lodge of Burlington and the Hague Volunteer Fire Department as groups receiving donations from the event. Organizers expect more than 500 athletes for the sixth annual event on Saturday, June 30th, in Hague. For more information just visit www.northcountrytri.com.

Crown Point will keep tradition alive when it hosts its 144th annual Memorial Day celebration and observance. Events will be held on Sunday and Monday, May 27th and 28th. The theme for this year’s celebration and observance is “Memories.” The 2012 Crown Point Memorial Day celebration and observance will begin on Sunday with an ecumenical church service at 11AM in Veterans Park. On Monday Crown Point’s annual Memorial Day parade will begin at 2PM at Ferry Road and proceed north on Main Street, ending at Veterans Park.

The North Country SPCA would like to announce an exciting upcoming event! The Lake Placid Center for the Arts will be hosting “Artists for Animals,” an art show to benefit our shelter, from June 1st through June 16th. The show’s theme is “works of art with animals in mind,” and will feature paintings, drawings, sculpture, and other media by national and local artists. All art will be for sale, and proceeds will go to the North Country SPCA’s Capital Campaign to build a new shelter for the needy dogs and cats of Essex County. Get more information by visiting www.LakePlacidArts.org.

The Essex County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to install a new sprinkler system at the Horace Nye Nursing Home. Board members voted earlier this week to accept an offer of $397,600 for the sprinkler system from Albany Fire Protection. County Manager Daniel Palmer said that the board had to make a decision on the matter and could not wait to find out about the future of the Horace Nye Nursing Home as a county entity.

Peter Bauer is returning to Adirondack Park advocacy after leading the Fund for Lake George for five years. Bauer has been hired as executive director of Protect the Adirondacks, which is trying to block the largest development project in the history of the 6 million-acre Adirondack Park. The environmental group is suing the Adirondack Park Agency over its approval of a permit for the Adirondack Club and Resort project in Tupper Lake.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has asked the president to increase the state's federal reimbursement for damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene from 75 to 90%. The Brattleboro Reformer reports the governor sent President Barack Obama the request after storm damage costs exceeded the $79.4-million threshold that triggers the higher Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement rate.

President Barack Obama has appointed the head of the Vermont National Guard to be the next deputy commander of the U.S. military's Northern Command based in Colorado. Authorities say Major General Michael Dubie will resign his post at the National Guard. The Northern Command was created following the 9/11 attacks to protect U.S. territory and provide military support for civil authorities in the event of a national emergency.

Verizon Wireless is introducing a new, higher-speed communications network in about 30 Vermont communities. The company says its 4G Long Term Evolution network will have speeds up to 10 times as fast as those available on the 3G networks that are now the norm with many carriers. It says the service will be available starting next Thursday. Some of the cities and towns to be served initially include Burlington, Ferrisburgh, Middlebury, Shelburne, South Burlington, Vergennes and Williston.

Vermont 8th graders scored above the national average in science. But just 43% of them are proficient or better in the topic. That's according to the National Assessment of Education Progress results. Vermont had an overall score of 163 out of 300 compared to a national average score of 151.

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From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News:

Vermont State political races are around the corner and yet, they have not showed up much in the media. Republican State Senator Randy Brock announced he was challenging Democrat incumbent Peter Shumlin last December for the position of Governor. But political science professor, Garrison Nelson says, the reason why we have not heard much about it is because the current governor is likely a shoe-in for a second term. "Knows where the money is. Knows how to get it," Nelson said of Governor Shumlin. And that is despite the fact that Shumlin has not even formally announced his re-election. In contrast, Nelson says Brock is running a slow-moving campaign, partly because he knows he has little chance of victory. "Sometimes you take one for the team. And this maybe taking one for the team," Nelson said. But, where the gubernatorial race lacks drama, the match-up for attorney general has plenty. That is because Chittenden County State's Attorney and Democrat T.J. Donovan is taking on incumbent democrat, Bill Sorrell. Both men are popular and very politically connected. "I think the people who really admire T.J. are kind of not as encouraging as they might have been that he's making this run against a long-term, popular incumbent," Nelson said. Nelson says he cannot call this race. In fact, he will not say anything with 100 percent certainty. "Vermont is a State which defies easy categorization and will continue to do so," Nelson said. Another Republican, Roy Newton, entered the race for Governor in April. And, Rutland treasurer and Republican, Wendy Wilton, announced Thursday that she will run for State treasurer. More names could show up. The deadline to file for the primary is June 14.

More than eight months ago Tropical Storm Irene caused a Plainfield, Vermont brook to rise and sweep away anything in its path including rocks and trees. But Darlene Covey says that's not all it took. "I looked down and I was sort of surprised and I said to my husband, "My goodness a lot of the tires are gone," said Covey. Covey says prior to Irene, her neighbor's property extended further into the river but was washed away. For months she wondered what happened to the tires until she saw our Wednesday night broadcast. In the story we reported thousands of tires had been picked up along the Winooski River during "Green Up Day." A report that clicked with Covey and her husband. "I looked at him and he looked at me and he said to me, "Geez I wonder where they came from," said Covey? Covey contacted us. We learned the brook does connect to the Winooski River. But to reach Waterbury, where the tires were found, would have had to travel about 25 miles. We asked Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz if that was possible. She says it's unlikely. Markowitz says the weight of the tires wouldn't have brought them more than a dozen miles. As for people being allowed to keep tires on a riverbank, Markowitz says there's nothing wrong with it. Although Covey hopes another storm doesn't wash away hundreds more. "The good point is we'll get rid of them. The bad point is someone else is going to have our problem," said Covey.
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New York is moving toward banning indoor tanning for anyone under 18 years old, pushed by advocates who blame booths for a dramatic rise in skin cancer among teenagers. The bill backed by powerful sponsors in the Assembly and Senate comes at prom time - a peak time for using the booths. The American Cancer Society reports a 72 percent increase in melanoma in 10 years. The industry has countered by saying tanning beds can be used safely and provide necessary vitamin D.

Brandon Music will present Gerry Beaudoin with special guest Rich Lataille this Sunday at 7pm. The concert is a part of the year-round weekly Sunday Jazz series. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $18 at the door. Brandon Music offers an Early Bird dinner special, which includes a ticket for the jazz performance, for $25 per person. Enjoy the chef’s award-winning chili and cornbread as well as dessert before listening to world-class jazz. Reservations are required for dinner. For Tickets and Dinner Reservations just visit www.brandon-music.net/sundayjazz.

The Vergennes Opera House hosts a performance by Grammy Award winner Will Ackerman tonight at 8 as part of its Acoustic Encounters benefit concert series, sponsored by Vintage Fitness. Proceeds from this special event benefit the Friends of the Vergennes Opera House. Tickets for the performance are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors & students and under 10 are Free. Tickets are available at the Opera House, Classic Stitching in Vergennes, and online at www.vergennesoperahouse.org. Seating is general admission.

A special exhibit on quilts made by men since the Civil War highlights the new season of Vermont's Shelburne Museum. Quilt-making has traditionally been a woman's art, but the quilts on display include some made by soldiers who were injured in the Civil War, and from boys who were sick in childhood and learned how to quilt from their mothers.