Today Addison County
Transit Resources bus routes will operate on normal schedules however the ACTR
office will be closed. Then on New
Year’s Day no buses will run except the Snow Bowl Shuttle Bus, which will be in
operation to accommodate skiers and snowboarders between 9:05 am and 4:35 pm,
which is the regular winter Saturday/Sunday schedule. For more information, please call 388-1946 or go to www.actr-vt.org.
The Addison County
Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a meeting open to both members and the
public entitled “Embezzlement, Fraud & Theft: It Can (and does) Happen
Here.” The meeting will be held on Monday, January 7th, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in
the Ilsley Library Community Room in Middlebury. Holden Insurance is sponsoring
the meeting. The featured speaker
is Tom Hughes, a one-time banker, accountant, business manager, and small
business CFO. With multiple felony convictions for fraud and deceit, he is now
a disgraced ex-accountant with a story to tell. Tom will share some of the
things he’s learned. Andy Mayer, president of the Addison County Chamber of
Commerce, said “We’ve
recently been made aware of an embezzlement case in Addison County, so we know
the problem exists—right here in our own backyard.” He goes on to say he’s sure
we all think we can’t be duped and that we have all the right checks and
balances in place, but hearing directly from a past embezzler might get us to
re-think some of our practices.
This event is open to the public and is free of charge. An RSVP is appreciated to Sue Hoxie (sue@addisoncounty.com)
or 388-7951 x2.
Middlebury College
recently joined a growing number of higher education institutions when it
announced this month that it would investigate divesting from fossil fuel
companies. In what many people
consider a good sign for the growing movement in favor of divesting from fossil
fuel companies, Middlebury College’s President said in a campus-wide email that
he looks forward to engaging the community on an issue of great interest and
importance to the college and its many constituents. Campaigns at more than 100
colleges and universities are protesting their college’s investments going to
large fossil fuel companies like ExxonMobil, Shell and BP. At the University of
Vermont, students this fall were very vocal in demanding the board of trustees
sell its shares of fossil fuel companies.
More
than 50 years after it was raised from the waters of Lake Champlain, a rare
naval relic from a decisive War of 1812 battle is being stored in an open-sided
shed in upstate New York. A
maritime historian is hoping the war's bicentennial commemoration will spark
interest in finally taking steps to preserve the wooden hull of the
Ticonderoga. It played a key role in the American victory over the British at the
Battle of Plattsburgh. Arthur Cohn
of Vermont's Lake Champlain Maritime Museum calls the 1958 salvaging of the
Ticonderoga's hull a "well-meaning" effort by history buffs in
Whitehall, NY. But he says the
relic needs to be enclosed in a climate-controlled building to stem its
deterioration, a costly project not likely to be undertaken anytime soon.
The Ticonderoga Area
Chamber of Commerce will host an Open House with the North Country Small
Business Development Center on Tuesday, January 15, 2013. Services provided by the North Country
SBDC will be available at the Chamber office typically on the second Tuesday of
each month. The open house will be from 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM at the he Ticonderoga
Area Chamber of Commerce office. In
addition on the 15th from 8:00 – 9:30 AM the Chamber in coordination with the
North Country Small Business Development Center and Mannix Marketing will host
a Business Seminar entitled Facebook 101. This seminar will cover the basics of
setting up a Facebook page for your business or organization as well as using
Facebook in your marketing plan. Refreshments for this seminar will be provided
compliments of Dunkin Donuts of Ticonderoga. For more information just visit www.ticonderogany.com.
Ticonderoga High School
has a new principal. Paul
Berkheimer, who retired last June after 32 years as principal at Jackson
Heights Elementary School in Glens Falls, has been appointed as interim
principal by the Ti school board.
Paul will hold the job through June while the district searches for a
permanent replacement for Mike Graney, who resigned as Ti High principal to
accept a similar position at Bolton Central School. He taught elementary school for 10 years in suburban
Philadelphia before becoming principal at Jackson Heights.
Jay Town Supervisor
Randy Douglas is seeking a fourth term as chairman of the Essex County Board of
Supervisors. Douglas, who has
served three one-year terms in the position, said he discussed it with his family
and town staff and feels it’s the best thing to do. Douglas said he is asking
the other 17 supervisors to vote for him as chairman at the board’s
organizational meeting, set for 10 AM Monday, January 7th in the Old
County Courthouse in Elizabethtown.
The
Schroon supervisor Mike Marnell recently found and purchased a generator that
is now online at the Schroon Lake Ski Hill. The generator powers the ski tow,
lights, heaters and the warming hut.
The generator, which is valued at $30,000, was bought for $250 from
Federal Surplus Property, a program that allows non-federal organizations to
obtain property that the federal government no longer needs. Located at the
Schroon Lake Municipal Golf Course, the ski area is open Friday from Noon to 6 PM.,
Saturday 10 AM to 8 PM, Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM and on school holidays. Skiing is
free.
Future
engineers showed their skills during the annual Ticonderoga Kiwanis bridge
building contest. More than 30
students from Ticonderoga Middle School, Ticonderoga High School and St. Mary’s
School in Ticonderoga competed to see who could construct the strongest
bridges. Awards were presented for aesthetics and bridge efficiency, which is
the weight of the load in pounds the bridge carried prior to failing divided by
the bridge’s weight in grams. Team Big Buck of Ti Middle School was the most
efficient middle school bridge, carrying a record load of 170 pounds.
Rutland
Town has passed an ordinance that puts a stop to panhandling. After many complaints from local residents
Rutland Town Select Board member, Jim Hall and the other select board members
voted unanimously to restrict panhandling. The ordinance stops panhandlers from soliciting anyone
waiting in line, in a parking lot, or within 15 feet of a building entrance. Hall says there's help out there for
people who need it. If someone is
caught panhandling, it could mean a fine of up to 50-dollars for the first
offense. The ordinance goes into
effect in February. However, the American Civil Liberties Union is raising some
questions. Supporters of the
ordinance suggest donating to charity because research shows that the majority
of the money given to homeless is spent on drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.
Chaffee
Art Center Board President Tracy Carris announced Friday that the center has a
new executive director, has completed a fundraising drive, is poised to begin
the repairs being paid for by that drive, and is moving into a temporary
downtown location that will carry them through the repairs and possibly offer
added space beyond it. The new
director is Margaret Barros, a Rutland native who has worked in public
relations for Vermont Electric Power Co. She was chosen because of her business
background and “ability to help fund-raise locally and be comfortable doing
it.” The Chaffee’s new Merchants Row annex is next to the Boys & Girls
Club.
Giorgetti
Park in Rutland will get a unique timepiece next year. The park will become the
new home to “Oculus,” a marble sculpture that the Carving Studio and Sculpture
Center in West Rutland will donate to the city. The sculpture is intended for
the entrance of Giorgetti Park, near the beginning of the bike trail. Carving Studio executive director Carol
Driscoll said the organization’s board of trustees chose Oculus from among the
works produced during its 2010 Vermont Marble Sculpture Symposium.
Police
say a 50-year-old Connecticut man and his 11-year-old son are safe and sound
after skiing off a trail at a Vermont resort and later being rescued last
night. State police say Scott Barbarossa of Norwich, CT and his son became lost
after skiing off a trail at Pico Mountain at Killington Resort.
A
bridge that replaces a covered bridge that was destroyed by floodwaters from
Tropical Storm Irene has reopened to traffic in Vermont. The bridge in Quechee
was destroyed in August 2011. The replacement span has been under construction
since late summer.
Vermont
lawmakers usually gather to open their yearly session in the first week of
January, but that won't happen this year.
State law says a new 2-year session of the Legislature begins on the
first Wednesday after the first Monday of the year. Because New Year's Day is a Tuesday, that pushes the
Legislature's opening day to Wednesday, January 9th.
A
proposed a methadone clinic near schools in South Burlington is facing another
possible delay. The South
Burlington Development Review Board will be asked at its Wednesday meeting to
hold another hearing based on claims that a board member had an improper
private communication about the case.
The Burlington Free Press reports that another hearing could push back a
decision on whether the clinic can open by at least 15 days or longer. The clinic was at first approved and
then appealed by the South Burlington School District. The board has until January 4th to
issue a written decision on the appeal.
Companies
that sell heating fuels in Vermont are urging customers to take extra
precautions following this week's heavy snow. Matt Cota of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association says
people should make sure the vents from their heating systems are clear of ice
and snow. Vent blockages can lead to dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide. Cota also asks that customers make sure
there's a path open to fuel tank feed pipes and that there's access to tanks
located in backyards to speed deliveries.
Vermont Gas Systems, which provides piped natural gas to northwestern
Vermont, is offering similar tips, especially that meters and vents should be
kept clear of ice and snow.
Search
and rescue crews in Killington didn't have a minute to rest over the
weekend. They got an early start
on Friday when they were called out to help five skiers needing assistance. Then on Saturday, search crews were
called out after a man from Connecticut and his son skied into the woods on
Pico Mountain, going off of the Giant Killer trail and getting lost. They were eventually found late
Saturday night, holed up and okay inside a snow cave they had built. On Sunday, two skiers from Maryland
walked out after being lost on Pico for about four hours.
State
lawmakers won't formally get back to work until January 9, but House budget
writers will be getting a jump on the process with committee work beginning the
day after New Year's. The House
Appropriations Committee begins hearings Wednesday afternoon on a mid-year
budget adjustment. The fiscal year begins in July, and when lawmakers convene
they'll begin working on a bill making any necessary changes to the spending
plan that's been in place for six months.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the panel will hear from departments of the
state Agency of Human Services, including Mental Health, Aging and
Disabilities, and Corrections. On
Thursday, officials from the agencies of Commerce and Agriculture will be among
those testifying. On Friday, the Natural Resources Agency and Department of
Buildings and General Services will be up.
Preparations
continue for an unusual Vermont inaugural celebration. Instead of the traditional ball,
Governor Peter Shumlin is ushering in his second term with a special open house
combined with a fundraiser for Irene recovery relief on January 10th at the Statehouse
in Montpelier. The 4:30 PM event
will follow the governor's swearing-in and inaugural speech to lawmakers
earlier in the day. Shumlin is
asking businesses and individuals to donate what they might normally contribute
toward the ball instead to the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund. That fund is helping continuing efforts
to recover from Tropical Storm Irene 16 months ago.
The
annual tradition of free coffee being made available to drivers at New York
State Thruway rest stops on New Year's Eve continues tonight. For the 42nd consecutive year, free
coffee will be offered to drivers at each of the 27 Thruway travel plazas along
the superhighway. Thruway
Executive Director Thomas Madison says fatigue is a major factor in highway
accidents, and the free coffee is a reminder for drivers to put safety first at
all times.
A
plane at Albany International Airport slid off the runway over the
weekend. Airport officials say the
plane was taxing to the runway when it got stuck in a snow bank. The flight that contained 65 passengers
was headed to Chicago. Officials
say that there were no injuries sustained during the incident.
Over
the past couple day’s roads were pretty tough to drive on with all the snow and
ice. Fox 44 / ABC 22 sat down with
Vermont State Police to see the safest way to get around. Many reports came in for people
skidding off roads people in ditches and several accidents. Before you go out check road conditions
with your state's 5-1-1 website.
Also be sure to have safe tires driving with bald tires doesn't create
traction... You can also get ticketed for bald tires. And keep enough space
between you and other cars... This keeps both you, and other drives, safe. "I understand if the guy in front
of you is doing 35 because they're a little more worried about driving in this
weather, but you've gotta give yourself just a little bit more time, slow down,
then we won't be fishing you out of the median." Of course, the best way to keep safe.is to avoid snowy and
icy roads altogether.
The
top leaders in both parties on the House and Senate Agriculture committees have
agreed to a one-year extension of the 2008 farm bill that expired in October, a
move that would head off a possible doubling of milk prices next month. The agreement to extend current farm
law until next October was reached as negotiators hit a snag on averting a
broader fiscal cliff combination of higher taxes and spending cuts January 1. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said
Americans faced the prospect of paying $7 for a gallon if the current dairy
program lapsed and the government returned to a 1948 formula for calculating
milk price supports.
