WVTK Local & State News September 28, 2012

Coming up on Monday the Middlebury Public Works Committee will meet at 7:30 AM in the Town Offices Main Conference Room.  Items on the agenda include Public Works Project Updates including the current Status of projects under construction & plans for summer of 2013 also the discussion of and budgeting for Driver Feedback Signs.  On Tuesday the Town Center Steering Committee meets at 9 AM in the Town Offices Conference Room.  Items to be discussed include financing, the product brochure, and the identification of sources and delegate contacts.  Get details on these meetings right now by visiting the Town’s Website.

A new community solar offering is coming to Addison County next month. SunCommon launched in March 2012, serving only Chittenden and Washington Counties and increasing the number of solar homes there by over 20% in just a few months.  Since March, more than 100 Addison homeowners have reached out to SunCommon, requesting our program.  SunCommon is responding to that call by making this opportunity available in Addison County beginning in October.  You can learn more by joining them on the Middlebury Village Green, Tuesday morning at 11.  Dave Conant with SunCommon says now homeowners here will be able to go solar with no upfront cost and a monthly payment the same or less than your utility bill.

Vermont State Police are investigating an incident, which involved a gun fired at a private residence located along Route 7 in Waltham.  On Wednesday, at approximately 6:20 PM, Vermont State Police troopers, with the assistance of Vergennes Police Department, responded to the incident.  Police officers found that the southwest door of the residence of Jodi and Joseph Desautels had been damaged by what appeared to be a .45 pistol round.  No injuries were reported.  Both residents were inside of the house at the time of the gunshot.  Based on interviews and physical evidence located in an area south of the residence, it appears the bullet that impacted the residence was a result of a missed shot during target practice.  The incident is under investigation.  Neither the motive nor the name of the person firing the gun is being reported until the conclusion of the investigation.

The Monkton Energy Committee will host the Monkton Energy Fair on Thursday, October 11th from 7 - 9 in the evening at the Monkton Fire Station.  More than 18 energy and related services vendors will be represented to help the public learn about programs that save energy use.  Visitors will also learn how to tackle home energy projects: weatherization, renewables solar and wind energy.   Visit the Monkton website at www.monktonvt.com for a list of vendors.  There will be refreshments of coffee and doughnuts, and door prizes.

First there was “Black Friday” then “Cyber Monday” and now there is “Small Business Saturday.” You are invited to support Ticonderoga Area businesses on Saturday, November 24^th for the 3rd Annual Small Business Saturday. The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce is participating in the nationwide initiative in hopes to lend support to area businesses. Small Business Saturday falls on Thanksgiving weekend between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when most holiday shopping begins. The Chamber encourages Ticonderoga Area Businesses to participate. Executive Director of the Ti Chamber, Matthew Courtright, says you can register for the event and offer promotions and specials.  Learn more right now by visiting www.ticonderogany.com. 

October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month.  The attention garnered by such a declaration is welcome by The Prevention Team, but members of the Ticonderoga-based drug education and prevention program know their work is an on-going effort. With eight full-time employees, The Prevention Team is a non-profit agency providing education and prevention services for Essex County. It has educators and counselors in Elizabethtown-Lewis, Crown Point, Ticonderoga, Moriah, Minerva, Newcomb, Westport, Willsboro and Lake Placid schools. The Prevention Team is also active with adults, having formed partnerships in several communities to combat substance abuse.

The town of Moriah’s new courthouse will be used as an example for future court projects in New York State.  The Moriah court, which was expanded and renovated by Champlain Valley Tech students, is an outstanding example of shared government services and innovative thinking, according to acting director of the state office of justice court support.  State, county and local officials toured the new facility recently. Champlain Valley Tech students constructed an 864 square feet addition on the Moriah court, helping the town meet a state mandate and giving the community an updated structure.

Essex County is in the top third of healthiest counties in the state of New York.  Public Health Director Linda Beers presented the findings of the most recent County Health Rankings and Roadmaps study, which ranked Essex County as the 21st healthiest county in New York. The study took into consideration health outcomes, including mortality along with health factors that included behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors along with physical environment. 

The Agency of Transportation has announced that Route 30 in Hubbardton will close from October 8 to October 15 for culvert replacements.  The project will start Monday, with a target completion date of November 30. The project consists of removing and replacing two culverts on Route 30. Except for the week that the road will be closed, one-way traffic will be in place during the day.

A Rutland man is expected in court on charges of crashing into a parked car and taking the life of a high school student.  Police say 23-year-old Alex Spanos of Rutland was “huffing” chemicals before his car went off the road and plowed into the parked car in a Rutland parking lot, pushing it into 17-year-old Carly Ferro.  She died in the hospital. Her father, who was in parked car, was hospitalized with a head injury.  Two other vehicles also were hit and two passengers in Spanos' car were injured.  Spanos will be arraigned today on manslaughter and other charges.

A warning is going out to older Vermonters about a phone scam going around.  The Attorney General's Consumer Protection division says there's an unusual spike in scams targeting seniors with one involving a younger caller claiming to be a grandchild.  The caller says they're in trouble overseas and need money wired to them.  The calls are originating from Latin America, according to authorities.

A decision not to hold an independent investigation into whether Burlington police were heavy-handed in how they dealt with protesters going over poorly.  The city's police commission ruled last night they already have enough information about the incident last July when police fired sting and pepper balls into a crowd of demonstrators at a conference of Northeast governors and Canadian premiers.  The citizen panel says the independent investigation isn't needed and will make its own recommendation to City Council.  However, a petition continues to circulate online, calling for the independent probe.

Special events are planned for tomorrow to mark 20 years of conservation and trails, which are part of The Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association.  The group will host a morning full of guided walks along the trail system in Windham County.  It was local citizens who pooled together the money to buy the land in southeastern Vermont.  What started as 14 acres now covers about 18-hundred acres straddling five towns, with more than 20 miles of trails meandering through it.

In the first year of the state's property tax cap, a report finds average growth has been kept to two-percent.  That is 40-percent less than the previous years average.  Governor Cuomo says, quote, "for years out of control spending drove property taxes higher and higher, forcing families and businesses out of our state."  Cuomo says the cap now in place, empowers communities to take control of their own spending and tax levies."  He calls the initiative, quote, "a tremendous success."

Governor Cuomo, who held a yogurt summit during the summer, is now planning a wine and beer festival.  The idea is to bring leaders of the wine and beer industries together to discuss marketing and state regulations.  The session will be held in late October.  Cuomo has already signed a tax credit for brewers in the state to replace a tax exemption which the courts had ruled unconstitutional.

A recent US Census report shows that the US continues to suffer in some key economic indicators.  More Americans are sliding into poverty and median income levels dropped in the one-year assessment.  Vermont's numbers are brighter. It was the only state to see a rise in the median income and it was one of few states to record a decline in the number of people officially living in poverty.  But Jack Hoffman, with the Public Assets Institute, a progressive Montpelier think tank, says we shouldn't be too quick to congratulate ourselves. He says, "One thing we need to keep in mind is where we were before the start of this recession. Poverty is down; it's not as low as it was before we went into this slump. Median household income is up; it's not as high as it was four years ago."  He would like to see the state take a look at tax policy and wage improvements to move in the right direction.

A Baltimore, Vermont man says someone stole 32 gallons of syrup from him.   Last week, 72-year-old Shepard Thomas discovered his maple sugar house had been burglarized.   Some of the missing bottles are labeled "E-C Thomas and Sons."  Thomas' sugarhouse is next to the Baltimore Town Hall.  If you have any information please contact Vermont State Police at (802)-875-2112.

The Vermont village of Jeffersonville has received a $125,000 grant to help buy and conserve four acres of land in a flood plain that had been slated for development.  The land had been picked as a site for a 16-pump gas station and convenience store.  The grant Vermont Housing and Conservation Board grant will help the community buy the parcel for $402,500 to prevent the proposed development.  Village officials say the site is near the confluence of the Brewster and Lamoille rivers and had major flooding in April 2011.

Governor Cuomo announced more than 16,000 New Yorkers have used the Department of Motor Vehicle's new online voter registration service.   The press release says out of the 16,000, approximately 6,000 were first-time voters.   Whenever a customer is at the DMV, they may complete a voter registration application using the payment devices used to swipe credit or debit cards. The press release says this started on August 7 and will be expanded to every DMV office next week.  New York is ranked 47th in voter registration with less than 64% of the population registered to vote.

Brandon’s Annual Harvest Fest, sponsored by the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce gets underway tomorrow. The town’s leaf people are already lining downtown streets in anticipation of the event. Attendees will be invited to make their own leaf people.  The Chamber of Commerce will supply all materials, accessories, and instruction on how to make your very own leaf people or “Harvest Person”.  You choose the clothes, a hat, shoes, and embellishments to personalize your own scarecrow.  Volunteers help with the finishing touches. The first “Harvest Person” per family is free of charge. After that, they are only $5 each.  Besides making Harvest People, the event includes hayrides by a local farmer and pumpkins provided by the Harvest Program.  The Brandon Lion’s Club and Rotary Club will provide grilled food, apple pies, and baked potatoes with various Vermont-favorite toppings. Parishioners of St. Mary’s Church will serve coffee cider and doughnuts.  The event begins at 10 AM in Central Park. Rain location will be announced if necessary. For more info contact the Chamber at 802-247-6401.

This week's Fall Foliage Report! 

From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News Your Voice in Vermont & New York:

Big news came from Jay Peak today. Lawmakers and investors announced that more than 5-thousand jobs will be coming to the Northeast Kingdom.  Nine-hundred-million dollars is going to be invested into four different areas in the northeast portion of Vermont.  The President and CEO of Jay Peak laid out the vision for the future today.  Projects in some areas are already underway.  "Five thousand jobs, nine hundred million dollars worth of investments," Governor Peter Shumlin exclaimed.  All right here in the Northeast Kingdom. The vision for the future was laid out Thursday for a room full of locals who will do much of the work. One part of the plan is to expand Jay Peak.  "15 new trails, glades, three new lifts and a base village," Bill Stenger, Jay Peak President and CEO said.  Snow making improvements on Burke Mountain, as well as four new lodges that will pop up in the coming year. Plans for Newport are also in the works. A marina hotel and convention center, a complete renovation of the downtown, and because transportation is vital to growth, a bigger and better airport.  "This is extraordinary stuff," Gov. Shumlin said.  The plan also includes a new manufacturing business specializing in high efficiency windows.  "Bringing forth products that cut greenhouse gas emissions and save people money on their fuel bills," Senator Bernie Sanders said.  A biotech research facility will be built, where science and medicine advancements could create answers for the future.  "Where we're producing kidneys and livers for the next generation of people," Gov. Shumlin said.  Senator Sanders says even though it's a gorgeous area... "You can't live on beauty alone," So this major economic development means kids who grow up in this area can stay in this area.  "Have decent jobs and earn decent wages right here in their own communities," he said.  Perhaps one of the most interesting parts about this enormous project is that it won't cost taxpayers a single penny. A government program called "EB5" grants out-of-country investors visas.

Police identified the victim in the car crash in Rutland, Vt. Wednesday night as 17-year-old Carly Ferro.   Rutland Police Lieutenant Kevin Geno said the driver of the Toyota Camry, Alex Spanos, was driving around 60 MPH in a 30 MPH residential zone.   Ferro was leaving the Discount Food and Liquidation Center where she worked around 6 p.m.  Her dad was waiting outside the store to pick her up.   As Ferro was getting into the vehicle, Geno said, Spanos crashed into the car pinning her up against the wall. Spanos then hit other cars.  Ferro was taken to Rutland Regional Medical Center and died a short time later.  Police say Spanos hit the car after he was believed to be huffing and drinking beer.   Passengers in Spanos' car took empty beer bottles and threw them behind a bush near the store. Aerosol cans were also found in the car. Alex Spanos is expected to appear in Rutland criminal court today to answer to felony charges of manslaughter, gross negligent operation of a motor vehicle with death resulting and two counts of gross negligent operation of a motor vehicle with serious injury resulting as well as misdemeanor charges of reckless or gross negligent operation and reckless endangerment.

While low-income Vermonters might soon pay less for power, other customers will have to pay more.  That's because early this winter, Green Mountain Power will offer a discount to low-income customers.  It's 25-percent off the customer charge and the first 600 kilowatts of power.  The rate cut was pushed by AARP and approved by the legislature.  "Vermont is the only New England state without a low-income rate at this point. So the Public Service Board has approved a new rate for low-income customers," says Dotty Schnure, Green Mountain Power, manager of Corporate Communications.  To cover the cost, other customers will see their power bill go up.  Starting in January, a homeowner will pay a $1.50 more a month.  Right now the low-income discount is only available to GMP customers, though there is talk of expanding it to other utilities.

A Vermont board says it needs more time to decide whether to include dental coverage in the state's universal health care plan.  If they do, it could cost taxpayers upwards of $90-million dollars each year.  Leaders are banking on federal help for the state's medical package, but not dental.  That means if the state decides to include it, it has to pick up the bill.  The board plans to vote on it next week.