WVTK Local & State News June 5, 2012

The Middlebury Planning Commission will hold the second of two public hearings on the proposed 2012 Town Plan tomorrow.  The hearing will begin at 7PM in the Ilsley Library Meeting Room.  The Town Plan affects all of the Town of Middlebury.  The full plan with maps can be viewed at the Planning & Zoning Office in the Town Offices as well as on the Town’s Website.

Sam Cutting IV, second-generation owner of Dakin Farm, and Darcy Morter, marketing manager, will give an overview of their marketing programs complete with an explanation of their new collaborative efforts with Cabot Cheese on Wednesday, June 13^th from 8 – 9:30AM.  The presentation will take place in the Community Room at the Ilsley Public Library. Darcy will introduce some newer email marketing concepts, as well as public relations and social media, to announce the new collaboration.  For details and to RSVP to Sue Hoxie just visit www.addisoncounty.com.

Vermont State Police are currently investigating the theft of a 1987 Gray/Silver Audi Sedan from Ethan Allen Highway Storage in New Haven. The car was allegedly stolen in May of last year, however the theft was not reported until June 1^st of this year, as the owner was unable to locate the paperwork and VIN for the car. The estimated value of the car is $1,200.00. Anyone with information is asked to contact The VSP New Haven Barracks. (1-802-388-4919)

Vermont State Police are currently investigating a Burglary complaint, which took place at a private residence on West Shore Rd. in the Town of Salisbury sometime over the past two months. The owner said that someone stole a fireplace and a wood furnace from the unsecured home, which is currently for sale.  They also reported that unknown individuals are also dumping trash on the property. The estimated value of the stolen fireplace and wood furnace is $3,500.00. Anyone with information is asked to contact The VSP New Haven Barracks. (Senior Trooper Andrew Leise 1-802-388-4919)

A wind farm proposal on a ridgeline that includes the Grandpa's Knob peak is drawing fire from many local residents.  Opponents say the 50-megawatt project in Pittsford, Hubbardton, West Rutland and Castleton would hurt the region's wildlife, ruin its scenic beauty and threaten tourism at an important historic battlefield.   It's also dividing neighbors and some families. Reunion Power, a Manchester-based company, wants to put up 20 turbines along the ridge, each about 500 feet tall. Reunion Power says it has to do more studies before it will be able to submit an official proposal and seek approval from the Public Service Board.  In the meantime, there will be more public meetings and more heated debate on the project in the weeks and months to come.

A special Westport Town Council meeting will be held at 6PM Tuesday, June 12th to discuss Town Hall repair options. The regular meeting will immediately follow that.  Both are open to the public.

The Essex County Board of Supervisors has a new count when it comes to representative voting, with Jay moving into the coveted “top four.”  Board members voted to adopt the new voting policy at their May 7 regular board meeting, which will go into effect at the July regular meeting.  Under the representative voting system, each of the 18 Essex County town supervisors is assigned a number of votes based on their municipalities’ population. North Elba continued to have the most number of votes, increasing from 481 to 520 votes. Ticonderoga, who has the second most votes, it remained the same with 387. Moriah remained the third highest, adding four to total 355, while Jay moved passed Chesterfield, picking up 12 votes to total 202 as Chesterfield only added two votes to total 196. Essex is third out of the four smallest towns with 55 votes.

Dreary weather did not damper the enthusiasm for those rallying to keep Horace Nye Nursing Home under Essex County jurisdiction.  Saturday's Save Horace Nye Day was scheduled for Windsor Park, but the venue was moved to Horace Nye’s dining room, which was standing room only with residents, their families and other supporters airing concerns over privatizing the facility.  Essex County Board of Supervisors could vote this morning to sell Horace Nye to Centers for Specialty Care of New York City.

Essex County is still hoping for a higher sales tax.  The County Board of Supervisors has so far been unsuccessful in getting the State Legislature to act on a request for an extra one-quarter percent.  But Essex County lawmakers may get to add up to a full 1 percent extra instead, if currently pending bills pass and are signed by Gov. Andy Cuomo.  So the county is supporting those bills, which would allow any county to set its own sales tax, up to 4 3/4 percent.  Essex County is now at 3 3/4 percent, while the state collects a 4 percent sales tax statewide.

Tens of thousands of motorcyclists will be rolling into the region this week to enjoy the varied activities of Americade, considered the world’s premier touring motorcycle rally. The rally that runs through Saturday is to be headquartered at Fort William Henry, after moving last year from Roaring Brook Ranch. Activities include workshops, demo rides, cruises, excursions, entertainment, concerts, contests, scavenger hunts, equipment clinics and even a talent show.  Details on Americade 2012 can be found at www.americade.com.

The owner of the Barnard General Store says he is talking to a pair of potential buyers who both have an interest in reopening the historic shop.  The general store closed last month after 180 years of business.  Now, property owner Bill Twigg-Smith said he is considering two offers, including one from the Preservation Trust of Vermont. The owners decided in May to close the store after four hard years that included the effects of a poor economy and Tropical Storm Irene. It was the Town’s only store and described by many as the “heart and soul” of the community.

Officials say it's likely that next week's court hearing for the man charged along with his wife in the killing of a St. Johnsbury prep school teacher will be postponed. Alan Prue of Waterford, who's charged in the March killing of Melissa Jenkins, was scheduled for a status conference on June 14th. The defense has filed a motion to postpone the hearing.

The Burlington Fire Marshal says smoking materials that were improperly disposed of caused a fire in an apartment building in the Vermont city. The fire in a six-unit apartment building at the corner of Murray and North streets was reported just after 11:30 Sunday night.

Three Catholic parishes in Vermont will be sharing two priests. The Valley News reports the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington will establish St. Francis of Assisi in Windsor, Our Lady of the Snows in Woodstock and St. Anthony in White River Junction as a single parish with three churches.


It could be weeks before the state’s attorney general decides if a homeowner was justified in using deadly force on a suspect who broke into the man’s home in Essex Junction.  Police say Ryan Morton-Lane of Storrs, Connecticut is believed to have been stabbed to death by Shawn Garrett.  Chittenden County State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan calls the incident any homeowner’s worst nightmare.  Now, investigators will try to answer the question if the force used was reasonable under the circumstances.

The state is now accepting applications for those wanting to open dispensaries to sell marijuana for medicinal purposes.  In order to sell medical marijuana, the state requires background checks, significant video security in the shop and one-at-a-time appointments.  Applications cost 25-hundred dollars, and must be sent to the Vermont Public Safety Department by June 22nd.  More than four hundred patients in the state are currently on the state medical marijuana registry.

Fort Ticonderoga will present the Fifth Annual Scots Day on Saturday, June 16th. The commemoration of Scottish heritage and their significant contributions to 18th century North American history runs from 9:30AM to 5PM. Tour the Scottish Clan tents and vendors to discover more about your own connection to Scottish Culture, and explore the stories of centuries of Scottish soldiers in the British Army through a military timeline offered throughout the day.  Admission to Scots Day is included in a Fort Ticonderoga’s general admission ticket.  To learn more about the event visit www.fortticonderoga.org or call 518-585-2821.

The Vermont-based Lake Champlain freighter Lois McClure is headed to the Canadian capital of Ottawa before reaching Lake Ontario and touring New York's Erie Canal as part of a summer-long tour designed to help commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. The McClure is an exact replica of the vessels that used to ply the waters of Lake Champlain and the canals of New York and Canada in the 19th Century carrying cargo as varied as lumber and household goods.

Brandon Music presents another chamber music performance by the “New Music on the Point” program of Point CounterPoint summer camp this evening at 7.  Tonight’s performance features the JACK Quartet in Concert in the Brandon Music Café.  Tickets are $15 per person and proceeds will benefit the Compass Music and Arts Foundation.  For ticket information and to learn more about CMAC just visit www.brandon-music.net. 

From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News:

The decision to close the Rutland Regional Medical center was supposed to save millions of dollars but it's also creating controversy.  Republican candidate for governor, Randy Brock, held a news conference in Rutland Monday, where he told reporters that he is opposed to closing the center. It's a decision that will impact hundreds of patients and the dozens of employees who are expected to lose their jobs.  Dozens of people gathered Monday to support State Senator and gubernatorial candidate, Randy Brock's opposition to the rehab center closing.  "Out of all the floors of the hospital to close this is the worst," said Fran Veller, a patient who recently fell and hurt her neck. She hopes the board will reconsider, "I hope the community will rally around and see if we can't do something about it."  Senator Brock says the decision will create hardships for Vermonters, "It's going to hurt patients, and people in Rutland who depend on these services."  When the rehabilitation center closes, patients will now have to drive either 70 miles to Burlington or 50 miles to Windsor or even possibly over state lines to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.  "Patients and families will have to travel long distances and money that is paid for by Vermont insurers could now be paid to a New Hampshire hospital," said Brock.  40 employees are expected to lose their jobs and the current medical director of the rehabilitation center calls it devastating, "It just knocked the wind right out of us, took us totally by surprise," said Michael Kenosh.  Senator Brock says it's all because of revenue caps to come up with a 3.5 million dollar savings. Which he says won't solve the problem, "They won't save any money and they won't improve patient care."

A Vermont chef ditches the countryside for California, appearing in a popular TV cooking competition that premieres Monday.  Chef Tiffany Johnson prepared a cool steak tartar in a quaint Vermont home, Monday. She's far away from the smoldering set of Hell's Kitchen.  "Actually, funny, I used to hate the TV show, um, a lot. And I was like, Gordon Ramsey; he's such a jerk. You know, I'm like who wants to be screamed and yelled at like that you know?" Johnson said.  But the Chef from Warren, Vermont had a change of heart last year. She opted to compete against thousands of other chefs across the country for a spot on the fiery TV series.  To her surprise, Johnson was chosen to be one of 18 contestants for season ten.  "I was nervous but I was so excited at the same time because I was like this is the chance of a lifetime," Johnson said.  Johnson flew to California and plunged right into production, experiencing the wrath of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay on the first day.  "You're in the kitchen and all the sudden he's just behind me."  And drama between contestants Johnson says it is real.  "There's one part where I got really mad at this girl and I was like, I'm going to choke you out," Johnson said.  But Johnson says, it was all worth it to work with Ramsay.  "He definitely puts you through a lot and it's very stressful but at the same time it's all for better," Johnson said.