WVTK Local News

WVTK Local & State News January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T00:16:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Department of Energy announced that Middlebury College has been selected to participate in Solar Decathlon 2013, a competition in which 20 collegiate teams from around the world design, build and operate solar-powered houses. The announcement comes on the heels of Team Middlebury’s fourth place finish in Solar Decathlon 2011 last fall. Another Vermont school, Norwich University, will also take part in the 2013 competition. More than 80 students have already pledged to join the nearly two-year effort.

Earlier this week Middlebury officials discovered approximately $1.5 million in surplus funds that will in the short-term assure no rise in the municipal tax rate. The money has sparked an interesting debate among town residents on how the financial windfall should be allocated in the long-term. Middlebury town Treasurer Jackie Sullivan and CPA Thomas Telling confirmed the $1.5 million fund balance at Tuesday evening’s select-board meeting. The surplus money has accrued from various capital improvement projects that had been completed under-budget, but had not been closed out.

Residents in the Addison Central Supervisory Union towns of Bridport, Cornwall, Ripton, Shoreham, Salisbury and Weybridge will soon vote on 2012-2013 elementary school spending plans that in many cases reflect small increases in spending but decreases in education property taxes. According to interim Superintendent Gail Conley the proposed budgets show a commitment by school directors to keep expenses low.

Ferrisburgh selectmen have approved a roughly $1.619 million town budget for fiscal year 2013 and on Town Meeting Day Ferrisburgh voters will have the option of adding up to $79,000 to that figure. The select-board’s spending proposal does not include about $29,000 of charitable donations that Ferrisburgh residents typically back in March, plus two articles that would create capital funds: $30,000 for the town’s fire department and $30,000 for the public works department.

The ID-4 school board is considering a comprehensive makeover of Mary Hogan Elementary School’s recreation areas. This is an initiative boosters will likely complete in phases using grants, donations and volunteer labor. This week the principal of Middlebury-based LandWorks presented the ID-4 board with some ideas for replacing the aging but popular Kidspace apparatus while adding some new amenities and landscaping.

On Town Meeting Day Leicester voters will see a ballot with two open select-board spots. Incumbent Ron Fiske will be running to reclaim his two-year position on the select-board, but longtime board member Robert Oliver will step down once his three-year term has ended, bidding farewell to the board after 19 years. Oliver said he is retiring after more than 40 years of service to the town between the school board and select-board.

Many income surveys, which are the key to grant funding for a $13.8 million water project in Ticonderoga, still have not been returned. The confidential income surveys were sent to water customers in October. Officials had hoped to complete the survey work last fall but to date about 50 percent of the surveys have been returned. To be eligible for the grant funding, 65 percent of the surveys must be completed. That means 350 more surveys are needed. The town is now working with a Ticonderoga High School government class and students will take the surveys door-to-door and wait while they are completed. Information on the project is available on the town website at www.townofticonderoga.com.

The Essex County Ways and Means Committee passed a number of resolutions onto the full board this week. All resolutions passed by the committee will be considered by the full board under the weighted voting system at the regular February Board Meeting, scheduled for Monday, February 6th at 10AM. Among the resolutions, the committee approved a pair of increases to the cost of services provided through the Public Health Department. The board also passed a pair of resolutions concerning the potential sale of the Horace Nye Nursing Home in Elizabethtown. And they passed a resolution to increase the hours of the Finance Deputy in the County Treasurers office from 35 to 40 hours per week.

Registered snowmobilers in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine can roam trails in all three states this weekend. Any snowmobile legally registered in 1 of the participating states is allowed on trails in all three from Friday through Sunday. All other host state regulations apply, including speed limits, youth laws and Vermont's mandatory liability insurance.

A man charged with second-degree murder in a drunken driving crash that killed a woman in 2010 has changed his plea and is expected to serve 10 years in prison. 53-year-old Timothy Dowd of Hinesburg allegedly slammed into a car during a police chase through Burlington on Dec. 26, 2010. The crash killed 43-year-old Kaye Borneman. The Burlington Free Press reports that Dowd changed his plea yesterday to no contest to second-degree murder and pleaded guilty to driving under the influence with death resulting.

The lack of snow could hit one of Vermont's biggest industries: maple syrup. Syrup season is typically just a month away, but Dakin Farm employees say the bare ground could make for a late season. UVM experts in the maple industry say snow provides insulation for the roots, and without it, hard frosts could make it difficult to get the sugar this spring. But maple syrup producers say there's still a lot of time for that to change. The kick-off to maple syrup season usually takes place in the beginning of March.

Vermont's top health officer is telling lawmakers not to be overly worried about a form of radiation emitted by the wireless smart meters some Vermont utilities want to install in customers' homes and businesses. Dr. Harry Chen, the state health commissioner, told the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday that an international health panel last year found that radio frequency radiation emitted by cell phones is a possible source of brain cancer in heavy cell phone users. Chen said smart meters emit well less than 1% of the radiation emitted by cell phones, and they're not often held right next to the head.

Two Vermont Senators want to gradually raise the legal school drop out age from 16 to 18. The bills says that in 2013, the drop out age would increase to 16 and half, then 17 in 2014, then 17 and a half in 2015, so on so forth. Senator Alice Nitka says it is not because there is a drop out problem in Vermont. In fact, the graduation rate in the Green Mountain State is one of the best in the country. She says there's high unemployment and young people are not getting jobs.

A group of Vermont senators has proposed legislation that would give sales and property transfer tax breaks to help with recovery from Tropical Storm Irene. The measure calls for a holiday from Vermont's 6% sales tax on August 28th. A weeklong sales tax holiday, from August 26th to September 1st, would apply to home weatherization items.

All eyes are now on the Vermont Public Service Board, which could make the final call on Vermont Yankee's future. Last week, a federal judge ruled that lawmakers do not have the authority to make the call. The board is now left with two options. It can decide whether to issue the plant a Certificate of Public Good to continue operation for another 20 years or wait and see if the state appeals the judge's decision. The board is made up of three members that oversee Vermont's utilities.

The Vermont Law School in South Royalton says it has exceeded expectations with its largest fundraising campaign ever and hopes to raise more. The school says the campaign that began without fanfare in 2008 has raised $15.3 million, above the goal of $15 million. It's hoped another $1 million to $2 million can be raised by June 30th when dean and President Jeff Shields retires.

A state lawmaker wants to amend the state's medical marijuana law to allow it to be used to treat people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. State Rep. Jim Masland says he introduced the bill after he was asked to do so by a number of his constituents who were using marijuana to alleviate stress symptoms caused by their military service.

Savvy students-turned-salespeople at Ferrisburgh Central School have earned the school a new array of solar panels. The school participated in a program sponsored by Green Mountain Power that challenged local schools to sell energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs within their community. The school that sold the most light bulbs per student would win a $14,500 solar installation. Ferrisburgh Central sold nearly 600 light bulbs. Their top seller was a fifth-grader who sold 118. The school principal says adding solar is just one step along the school's path of becoming carbon neutral.

A local nonprofit group advocating for local renewable energy projects hopes to motivate residents to consider constructing a small-scale community solar project in Rutland County. Representatives of Energize Vermont held an informational meeting with local residents at Poultney High School on Wednesday about the possibility of building a community solar farm in Rutland County that would be owned by and benefit local residents.

Fort Ticonderoga’s new winter series of programs will continue on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m. with “The Roar of Musketry and Cracking of Rifles: An Introduction to Weapons of the 18th Century” presented by Curator of Collections Chris Fox. The cost is $10 a person and will be collected at the door. It is free for members of the Friends of Fort Ticonderoga. For information just visit www.Fort-Ticonderoga.org.

High school band and choir students from across Vermont will have the opportunity to hone their skills under the direction of two prominent conductors and composers at the second annual Castleton Honors Music Festival today. More than 225 high school musicians from 20 high schools in Vermont will participate in the daylong festival. The day will culminate with a concert at 7:30 p.m. at Castleton State College’s Casella Theater. Area schools participating include Fair Haven Union High School, Middlebury Union High School, Otter Valley Union High School, Poultney High School, Vergennes Union High School and West Rutland High School.

Utilities offer safety advice in face of possible ice event and power outages

2012-01-26T12:11:00.001-08:00

Utilities offer safety advice in face of possible ice event and power outages:

Vermont utilities are advising customers in the eastern and central parts of Vermont of the potential for ice damage that could cause downed trees and limbs, and lead to power outages late this evening and into Friday. Customers across the state could see power outages late tonight and into Friday.

Utility forecasts include the threat of up to a half inch of ice in eastern and central Vermont, combined with sleet and snow, which could cause power outages.

Utility crews are on standby to ensure a strong response if the ice accumulations bring significant problems. Government officials are also coordinating efforts to assure the necessary resources are available.

Utilities urged customers to be sure to have flashlights, batteries, food and water available in case they lose electrical service, and suggested that friends, family and neighbors check on elderly Vermonters who may need help. Candles are not recommended as light sources during a power outage due to fire risk.

The utilities offered the following advice:

Before outages occur, be sure you have a phone that is hard-wired and does not rely on electricity.

Fill a bathtub with water before you lose service so the water can be used to flush toilets when the power is out. PREVENT UNSUPERVISED BATHROOM ACCESS TO CHILDREN.

Treat any downed line as if it is live. Report the line to your local utility and fire department, stay at least 50 feet away from the line, and keep children and pets away as well.

If using a generator, read and follow the owner’s manual before starting the generator. Never operate a generator inside any structure or near a structure. Use a transfer switch to ensure electricity is not accidentally fed onto a line where line crews must work.

Keep freezers and refrigerators closed as much as possible to prevent food spoilage.

If power goes out, turn off all electrical appliances except one light so you’ll know when service returns. Then, turn equipment back on slowly.

Never use grills inside for warmth, as the fumes can be poisonous.

WVTK Local & State News January 26, 2012

2012-01-26T00:17:00.000-08:00

Some of the highlights from this week’s Middlebury Select-Board meeting include three Police Officers taking the Oath of Office. School Zone Warning Signs with 30 mph Advisory Signs will be posted on Exchange Street between the Exchange Street/US 7 intersection and the western boundary of the property owned by The Bridge School. The Town will monitor speeds in the area to determine if a lower speed limit is warranted. Meanwhile the Board approved the General Fund budget for the Warning for Town Meeting after increasing the amount included for the Parent Child Center by $3,185 and applying more of the Fund Balance to offset expenses in FY13 in order to maintain the same estimated tax rate as in the current fiscal year. The proposed budget is available on the town’s website.

Middlebury police were busy yesterday with a busy thief. Yesterday morning, police cited 20-year-old Adrian Moore for trespassing at Shaw's supermarket around 9:45. Then just after noon Moore matched the description of a thief who had just stolen a jacket from SkiHaus, but he got away. Police caught up with Moore again around 6 p.m. while using GPS to track down an iPad that had just been stolen from the Middlebury Library. He is due in court today.

The Vergennes Union High School Commodore Booster Club honored local business owner Brett Ward at a ceremony during half time of a recent Vergennes Varsity Boys basketball game. Members of the booster club presented Brett and City Limits Night Club a plaque in recognition for eleven years of support of the Vergennes Union High School boosters and athletic programs. In 2011 City Limits contributed $15,000 to the Commodore Booster Club and since 2001 it has contributed a grand total of $203,000.

Ticonderoga residents can now purchase trash disposal cards at the town transfer station on Saturdays. Station attendants will sell the punch cards as a convenience to customers. They can only be purchased by check. Cash and credit cards will not be accepted at the trash transfer station on Vineyard Road. Attendants will not handle cash. The cards are sold at the town clerk’s office during normal business hours during the week. The town clerk’s office is closed on Saturday and some town residents said that creates a hardship since they work during the week and can’t get to the clerk’s office to purchase trash cards. The cards are available for $3, $5, $10 and $20.

It will now cost you more to ride a ferry across Lake Champlain. Lake Champlain Transportation is raising its rates 30 cents for a one-way ticket and the company is eliminating round trip fares. A round-trip ticket used to be several dollars cheaper than purchasing two one-way tickets. A one-way pass for a driver and a car now costs $9.80. This is the first rate increase since 2008.

Vermont State police are investigating a chain of thefts in Poultney. Thieves hit as many as 18 unlocked cars parked near Green Mountain College at night Sunday and Tuesday. Police say thieves were not targeting any one type of car or any specific contents, but stole whatever they could find. Police remind people to keep your doors locked and to never leave valuables in plain sight.

Free income tax preparation is available to local taxpayers through the AARP Tax-Aide program. The local Tax-Aide program prepares and electronically files individual 2011 tax returns. Volunteer counselors, trained and certified by the IRS, assist low- and middle-income taxpayers. People do not have to be retired or a member of AARP for this service. All locations are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment in Port Henry, Schroon Lake or Elizabethtown call; 873-2341 or 1-800-675-2668. Contact the Hague Community Center at 543-6161 to schedule an appointment in Hague or Ticonderoga.

Numerous Vermont state lawmakers got a disturbing email early Wednesday morning that contained a death threat. The email demands $10,000 or else. It's not clear if lawmakers were intentionally targeted in the scam. The email doesn't mention anyone by name or anything political. State police assigned detectives to investigate the scam and try to track where the emails came from. They say this is not a legitimate threat. And there is no danger to lawmakers.

The Vermont Senate is expected to approve commemorative license plates that will raise money to help the state recover from Tropical Storm Irene. Most of the $25 charged for the "Vermont Strong" plates will go to the Vermont Long-Term Disaster Relief Fund for people affected by flooding from Irene. The goal of the project is to raise a million dollars.

It's getting easier to get into a Vermont shelter if you need one. The state is lowering its eligibility requirements, plus communities now have the option to open wet or dry shelters. Governor Peter Shumlin announced the changes Wednesday, saying this gives more people access. He also says the change allocates state funds to house people even if under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He says one-point-five-million originally budgeted for the state hospital is being shifted over to help support the change.

Citing the recent deaths of 3 homeless Vermonters who died of exposure to the cold, Gov. Peter Shumlin is launching some new steps to reduce homelessness in the state. The governor told a news conference on Wednesday he wants to reconstitute the Vermont Council on Homelessness, an interagency group designed to improve coordination between programs. He also pointed to a new rental subsidy program started this month that is aimed at keeping low-income Vermonters from becoming homeless. And he appointed a new person to coordinate housing programs in the Agency of Human Services. Shumlin says 2 of the deaths of homeless people occurred in Burlington and one in Rutland.

Gov. Peter Shumlin is defending the actions he took two years ago as president of the Senate that led to a vote to close the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. Shumlin told reporters on Wednesday that he was not in the Senate when the law was passed in 2006 giving the Legislature veto power over continued operations at Vermont Yankee. He says he called for the Senate vote in 2010 after being requested to by Public Service Board Chairman James Volz. Shumlin also said he would leave to Attorney General William Sorrell the decision on whether to appeal last week's federal court order blocking the state's bid to close Vermont Yankee.

A House Democrat this week will unveil legislation requiring an up-or-down vote from the Legislature before the Public Service Board can consider a proposed merger of the state’s two largest electric utilities. While the bill has a slim chance of getting to the House floor, it reflects angst among some lawmakers about the merits of the $700 million deal between Green Mountain Power and Central Vermont Public Service Corp. And even as top administration officials and legislative leaders voice confidence in the regulatory process, some lawmakers say the scope of the proposal demands a more intensive review.

Consultants are looking at reusing the upper floors of the state office complex in Waterbury among a number of options for housing state workers displaced by Irene flooding. The president of Freeman French Freeman, a Burlington-based architectural firm, told a Senate committee on Wednesday that the firm is on schedule to report on the costs and feasibility of 4 proposals by March 2nd.

Vermont lawmakers are considering a 3-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, a controversial technique for natural gas drilling, while the scientific issues are explored further. No natural gas wells currently exist in Vermont, but lawmakers have heard from state environmental officials that there's a shale formation under the Lake Champlain islands that could be a target for the practice.

Former New York Mayor Ed Koch says he's sure the state Legislature will soon unveil new election district lines that further protect majority party incumbents despite pledges lawmakers made in the last campaign to draw non-partisan lines. The majorities are expected to release their proposed district lines this week. If approved by Gov. Andrew Cuomo or the courts, the new districts would be in place for the next 10 years. In 2010, nearly every state lawmaker pledged to reform the process this year.

U.S. Forest Service employees from the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont took to the slopes of local ski areas to share a new Junior Snow Ranger Activity booklet with local elementary school children this week. The children look at personal safety, wildlife, winter ecology, snow science and recreation using the booklets. They also learn about rescue dogs and the continued importance of wildfire prevention during the winter. For students who didn’t make it to the program introduction, the books are available free at Green Mountain National Forest offices in Middlebury, Manchester, Rochester and Rutland. Once completed, children can take their books back to the office, or mail them in, and receive and card, patch, and certificate of completion.

Vermont Lt. Gov. Phil Scott and Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Berry recognized the winners of Vermont’s 2011 Youth Hunting Memories Contest at the Yankee Classic Sportsman’s Show in Essex Junction last weekend. Each winner received a Beagle Outdoor Wear fanny pack, binoculars, a compass and several Fish and Wildlife Department publications, including the 2012 Calendar. Contest winners were Colby Fox of Wallingford, Jacob Crawford of Jericho and Trevor Houle of Brattleboro.

Teen theater troupe will hold it’s first public performance. The Prevention Team and Moriah Central School will present the first public performance from their teen theater performance group, On Common Ground. The group will perform “I Don’t Have a Problem,” a play about the dangers of gambling written and performed by students. The play will be performed February 2nd at 6PM in the Moriah Central School Auditorium. On Common Ground writes and performs skits about current social issues for teens to promote awareness and to engage their peers in dialogue. The event is free and open to the public.

The Peace Corps says the University of Vermont ranks fifth in the country in the number of former students who are serving as volunteers overseas. The rankings of medium sized universities released Tuesday show that 42 UVM alumni are serving overseas. The figure is up eight over last year and it moved the school from 13th to fifth. The top-producing medium sized college or university is The George Washington University. The overall top producing school is the University of Colorado at Boulder.

WVTK Local & State News January 25, 2012

2012-01-25T00:21:00.000-08:00

Albany-based Independent Optical Network has imbedded a 3,500 fiber-optic line in the new Lake Champlain Bridge. Work on the project started two years ago but has hit a bit of a roadblock. Crown Point Telephone has connected to ION's fiber-optic line. But its 700 customers will have to wait until the company can upgrade its system before passing the faster speeds along to customers. Now that the fiber-optic line has made its way across the new Champlain Bridge, ION hopes to run it 45 miles north to Burlington by early next year. The company also plans to connect a fiber-optic line between Whitehall and Rutland in the near future.

Police have made a third arrest in connection with a violent home invasion in Rutland over the weekend. Police have arrested 20-year-old Shane Haven of Rutland Vermont on charges of burglary and unlawful restraint. Authorities suspect the three were looking for drugs. Shane Haven will be arraigned in Court today. He is being held at the Marble Valley Corrections for lack of $150,000 bail.

The Vermont company that runs much of the electric distribution system in the state is joining with IBM to build a fiber optic control system designed to make the system more efficient and reliable. The Vermont Electric Power Company and IBM announced yesterday an agreement to build what's called an intelligent fiber optic communications and control network across the state. The system will span more than 1,000 miles and connect transmission substations to Vermont's distribution utilities and be part of the smart grid that's being designed.

Nearly 150 people packed the Statehouse last night to offer their opinions on the future of the state's mental health system, after Tropical Storm Irene forced the closure of the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury. Some favor a centralized state hospital. Others support Governor Peter Shumlin's plan to have smaller facilities in different locations.

Vermont's newest commercial wind farm is starting to pay dividends. Earlier this month the town of Sheffield received a check for $117,000 for hosting the First Wind project. The sixteen turbines started producing power in October. The project is obligated to pay $520,000 a year for the life of the project. Officials say so far the farm has generated enough energy to power about 16,500 homes daily.

The union for Burlington police officers is now officially backing the Republican candidate for mayor. The president of the Burlington Police Officers Association said the views of Kurt Wright did not seem to be vastly different from his opponents. But, it's his experience in city and state government along with his leadership style. The last time the union endorsed a Republican for mayor was the last time a G-O-P candidate was elected, in 1993.

When it comes to students doing well on national tests, Vermont students hold their own. The 17th annual Report Card on American Education released by the American Legislative Exchange Council ranks Vermont second in the nation when it comes to test scores. Massachusetts placed first while West Virginia was at the bottom of the list. However, as for education reform policies, such as academic standards and a state's ability to hire good teachers and fire bad ones, it was a different story. Vermont received one of the lowest grades, with a D-plus.

Many northeast residents are seeing a very rare sight in the night sky, the Northern Lights. Scientists say a big solar flare up on Sunday is just now affecting Earth. It's so big that it's actually sending enough radiation our way to disrupt satellites and radio communications. In Canada, many GPS units aren't working accurately. The solar flare up also means many people in the northeast can see the Northern Lights. The spectacular display is visible in most states that border Canada.

Vermont police are working with a state senator to create a gang task force to attack a growing illicit drug trade. The director of the Vermont State Police said low-level gang associates are turning up as dealers in every corner of the state. He says the effort is more organized than in the past. The existing drug task force focuses on mid- and upper-level dealers. A gang task force would focus its efforts on street-level activity.

Four repaving road projects for western Rutland County are on the state Agency of Transportation’s docket this year. The projects, which will involve Castleton, Fair Haven, Ira and West Rutland, are estimated to cost a combined $9.2 million. An expensive repaving project is scheduled for Route 4A and Route 30 that will include changing guardrails, maintenance of ditches, some new signage and markings. In addition to those three paving project, another project in western Rutland County is planned for Route 4 which will include resurfacing the state highway from the New York state line to the intersection with Route 7 in Rutland Town.

Essex County lawmakers now say they regret their decision to break out Medicaid mandates on county tax bills. That's because the bills that just went out show a 16.9 percent tax hike, instead of the 10.54 percent the County Board of Supervisors approved in December, prompting taxpayer alarm. The actual county tax-levy increase was 10.54 percent, but with state and Medicaid mandates figured in, it totaled 16.9 percent, and that was automatically printed on the bills.

Applications are being accepted for $30 million in grant funds for communities and businesses in New York recovering from the devastating storms Irene and Lee. Empire State Development and the Department of Environmental Conservation announced the $21 million Business Flood Recovery Grant Program and $9 million Flood Mitigation Grant Program yesterday.

The court hearing for Port Henry arson suspect Joseph P. King was canceled Monday. The preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Moriah Town Court, but court officials said it was called off after King's Counsel waived the statutory time frame for the proceeding. King's next appearance will probably be in Essex County Court, at a date yet to be set.

The state of Vermont is soliciting ideas for how to spend the $21.6 million dollar federal community-rebuilding grant announced last week as part of the Irene recovery effort. The Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development will hold a hearing February 13th in Montpelier. Jen Hollar of the department says there's already been a great deal of communication with towns and organizations about how to fill gaps after FEMA and other assistance money is spent.

The Vermont Economic Development Authority has approved $13.4 million in financing to support a group of projects around the state. The main projects include the restoration of a Hinesburg manufacturing factory to lease to several businesses; new machinery and equipment for Autumn Harp in Essex Junction, which makes personal care products; land for Washington County Mental Health Services in Barre to convert a building to a school; and insurance and line of credit for the New England Culinary Institute. Financing also has been approved for Vermont farmers through the authority's agricultural loan program; small businesses through its small business loan programs; and repairs for privately owned drinking water systems.

Williston Police Chief Roy Nelson submitted his letter of resignation Monday. He has served as Williston's chief since July 2010, but has been on leave since last summer while undergoing cancer treatment. Although Nelson's cancer is now in remission, he says he is still concerned about his health and wants to be near his family in Connecticut. Douglas Hoyt is already serving as interim chief. Williston hopes to have a new chief of police picked by June.

Vermonters can anticipate taking on more than $10 million in fees this year, as opposed to $400,000 in fees last year. The fee bill has yet to be finalized as it sits before the House Ways and Means Committee. They expect to finalize them by February. The majority of the fees will be applied to services provided by the Agency of Natural Resources and the Agency of Transportation. For example, fees could be applied to solid waste disposal or air pollution from factories. At the DMV, drivers can expect to pay more for a new license or to register their car. Fees are expected to be unusually high this year because of a lack of federal funding for certain programs and added transportation demands after Irene.

This year's Vermont Farm Show is the biggest one so far. The annual event opened Tuesday at its new location at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. Organizers say it is the largest Farm Show in the state's history, with 266 booths, representing 168 vendors.

The Vermont Health Department says whooping cough is still on the rise in the state. Preliminary data indicates there were 91 cases of whooping cough reported in December, compared to 18 cases for all of 2010. The Burlington Free Press reports at least 17 cases have been reported this month.

Labor officials say Vermont's unemployment rate has dropped to 5.1%, the lowest statewide rate since October of 2008. The national rate is 8.5%. Department of Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan said Tuesday that Vermont appears to be making headway in its economic recovery. She says she hopes Vermont employers will continue to work with the Labor Department to recruit employees because there are many Vermonters who want to work and need a chance at a job to prove themselves.

The performance of Vermont's attorney general is coming under scrutiny after losing three cases with a national profile. Vermont lost as the office of Attorney General William Sorrell defended campaign finance and drug data mining laws before the U.S. Supreme Court. Last week, a federal judge ruled that the state couldn’t close the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. The data mining case is expected to cost the state more than $5 million in legal fees paid to the drug and data mining industries. Sorrell says his office also has its share of wins and has been recouping more than $40 million a year for the state treasury.

Cpl. Chuck Hall has been with the Rutland City Police Department for more than 25 years and will retire at the end of the week. His stint in law enforcement stretches over 30 years counting the time he served as a military police officer with the U.S. Air Force. Now he feels it’s time for something new. Hall has also served as second constable in Clarendon for the last 15 years.

The Lake George Land Conservancy is holding a contest to name the summit trail at its Cook Mountain Preserve in Ticonderoga. Naming rights will go to the winner of the conservancy's Name-the-Trail Drawing, which will take place March 6th. Entries are being accepted until February 25th. The conservancy is charging $50 to enter, or three chances for $100. To buy a naming ticket, contact Cornelia Wells. (644-9673, or email cwells@lglc.org)

WVTK Local & State News January 24, 2012

2012-01-24T00:15:00.000-08:00

The organizing committee for the “Middlebury Maple Run – The Sweetest Half” is pleased to announce that Ingrid Punderson Jackson (IPJ) Real Estate in Middlebury has committed to become the race’s title sponsor. Scheduled for Sunday, May 6th with a start time of 9AM, the Middlebury Maple Run is becoming one of New England’s “must-do” races and organizers hope to attract at least 1,000 runners for this year’s event. Yours truly (Gale Parmelee) is already registered to run again this year. It was by far my favorite race in 2011 and I’m looking forward to this year’s event. The proceeds from 2011’s Middlebury Maple Run were donated to several worthwhile charities. In 2012 the Addison County Humane Society will be added to the list of recipients. Get more info and register now by clicking HERE.

In preparation for the fire facilities bond vote at Middlebury’s Town Meeting in March, the Fire Department's Fire Station Committee will present building designs and estimates of the cost of improvements for both fire stations. Tours of Fire Station #1 will also be offered after the informational meeting. The meeting is set for Thursday, February 2nd at 7PM at Fire Station #1 in Seymour St. Information on the project is also available on the Fire Department's website, www.middleburyfiredept.org.

Firefighters battled a tough blaze on Old Ti Road in Hubbardton on Monday morning. A long icy road made truck access difficult until sand trucks arrived and chains were put on the fire engine tires. It is the second fire this month to burn down a home in Hubbardton. A home on Delancey Road burned down January 11th.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move ahead with proposed bridgework along Route 116 in Bristol. The proposed project will replace two deficient bridges beginning this year. VTrans proposes to place fill material in the New Haven River, an unnamed tributary and adjacent wetlands relating to the two Route 116 deficient bridges. The existing pony truss of the Route 116 Bridge 8 will be replaced with a new two-span 361-foot steel girder bridge. Traffic during construction will be detoured to a temporary bridge on the downstream side of Bridge 8.

Last week the Bristol Planning Commission said that a zone prohibiting gravel extraction in and around Bristol’s downtown area would still be included in the new town plan. The perimeters of that zone and the language that accompanies it are still being worked out. After commissioners realized last year that there were discrepancies between different accepted versions of that no-extraction zone, they decided to go back to the drawing board to better define it.

In the wake of a burglary at Monkton Central School last week, school staff and students are putting the school back together and returning to a normal routine. According to Principal Susan Stewart the teachers and staff are keeping things as normal as possible. There hasn’t been any huge interruption. The investigation into the burglary continues.

After an unprecedented $141,000 plus of dorm damage in the 2010-11 academic year, Middlebury College saw a 44.5 percent decrease during the first semester of the current academic year. According to data released by Assistant Director of Custodial Services Linda Ross, there was a little over $21,600 of damage this past fall semester. Comparatively, the College suffered over $48,000 during the fall of 2010. Ross attributed the turnaround to this year’s first-year class and a “phenomenal” residential life staff.

The latest version of state’s multiyear transportation program has a lot of rail projects in it, but not the Western corridor. After repeated failed attempts at securing federal funding to extend passenger service from Rutland to Burlington, state officials said last year they were eyeing the $14 to $20 million remainder of a $26 million federal earmark retired senator James Jeffords secured for rail development in the state. Rep. Patrick Brennan said on Monday that was not looking like an option. He said the state’s commitment to the project remains strong, but that the project remains beyond Vermont’s means without federal money.

The deadline to apply for tax exemptions in Ticonderoga is approaching. Property owners have until March 1st to seek a reduction on their tax bills. If you have any questions you can call (585-5285) or stop into the Ticonderoga Community Building from 3:30 to 5PM Monday through Thursday and 8AM to 4:30PM on Friday. There are several different tax exemptions available in Ticonderoga.

Essex County is making necessary legal preparations for the possible sale of Horace Nye Nursing Home. Late last year, the county contracted with a national real-estate broker for sale or lease of the Nursing Home, which is losing millions of dollars annually. The County needs to conduct a Phase One environmental evaluation of the facility and its grounds followed by a full title search. The county seems to be leaning toward sale instead of lease of the facility and several contract restrictions will protect patients and staff at the Nursing Home.

The implications of a federal court ruling over the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant will be the topic of a forum at the Vermont Law School. Faculty experts on Wednesday will discuss what's next in the ongoing legal battle. Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin met with Attorney General William Sorrell on Monday to discuss whether to appeal the federal court decision. The Vermont Law School forum will be held on Wednesday at 2:30PM in Oakes Hall, room 12. It's free and open to the public.

The number of people taking off from the Burlington International Airport is down slightly from last year. The airport tracks the number of passengers boarding flights and says more than 648,000 passengers did so in 2011. That's down from about 3,000 a year earlier.

The Burlington City Council rejected a plan last night to bring a proposed tax hike before voters. The proposal by Mayor Bob Kiss would have raised about $700,000 to maintain police and fire services in the city. Councilors shot down the measure by a vote of 11 to 3.

If you're a Vermont parent with school-aged kids there could be major changes coming to what the state says you have to do to keep them healthy. Lawmakers are looking at changing the rules on who has to get immunized. Advocates for immunizing Vermont's kids say it's a matter of life and death. This morning a public hearing at the statehouse in Montpelier will raise the issue of getting in line with states like New York and New Hampshire by taking the philosophical exemption off the table for parents.

FairPoint Communications says Vermont utility regulators are making it easier for the company to be more flexible in the prices it charges its customers. The utility says the Public Service Board has approved a 4-year regulatory plan that allows FairPoint to offer competitive pricing. In the past such changes could take up to seven weeks to approve.

Governor Peter Shumlin is going to be meeting with Attorney General William Sorrell to decide whether to appeal a decision by a federal court that allows the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant to continue operating. Shumlin made the comments today at an event sponsored by the Lamoille Valley Chamber of Commerce in Morrisville. Shumlin says he will have little to say about a possible appeal before Wednesday.

Critics of Vermont Yankee are not giving up their fight. A few dozen activists rallied outside the statehouse late Monday afternoon. They thanked Governor Shumlin and other lawmakers who called for Yankee to close on time. They say they're disappointed in the judge's decision last week that prevented the state from closing the plant. They called the ruling a setback but not a defeat.

Some people are concerned that cars and trucks are rusting quicker because of what the state uses to prevent icy roads. Vermont transportation crews started using brine, a pre-mix of water and salt, three-years ago. Its use is growing across the state but that has not ended concerns about what brine could do to cars and trucks. VTrans says the real corrosion culprit is salt and crews say the switch to brine means less salt used on Vermont roads. Also they say studies in other states that have used brine for a while has found no link between brine and more corrosion.

The United Way of Addison County has a very strong commitment to literacy. The nonprofit organization announced this week a three-year, $30,000 commitment to promoting reading in four county grade schools. It all begins with Salisbury Elementary.

Crown Point children will have a chance to learn about ice fishing from experts. The Vermont Sportsman Association will hold a free ice-fishing clinic for children age 15 and younger Saturday, February 11th from 10 to Noon at Monitor Bay Park. All children need to be accompanied by an adult or guardian and are advised to dress warmly and appropriately. An introduction to the equipment used, proper ice fishing techniques and ice safety will be covered. Prizes will be awarded.

The Vermont Inn, one of the area’s landmark inns is back up and running. Under new owners Jeremy and Samantha Smith, the bed and breakfast is open for business, accepting guests and serving dinner to the public. Rutland natives and 1998 graduates of Rutland High School, the Smiths purchased the 16-room bed and breakfast at auction in November. After some sprucing up they reopened the inn on December 28th. Innkeeper Tim Hammond said the menu has stayed largely the same.

WVTK Local & State News January 23, 2012

2012-01-23T00:16:00.000-08:00

The Town of Middlebury will hold its regular Select Board Meeting tomorrow at 7PM in the Town Offices Conference Room. There will be a Public Hearing on the Amendment of Ordinance for the Regulation of Speed and for the Regulation of Traffic Lights and Traffic Signs on Exchange Street. Also the Oath of Office will be administered for two new Police Officers. Members will also finalize the Town General Fund Budget for FY13 and make Board Assignments for Presentation of the Budget at Town Meeting. For more information and the complete agenda just visit the Town’s Website.

A Vergennes man may face criminal charges after crashing a car and leaving two children inside. It happened Saturday night on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh. Police say 23-year-old Korey Koch lost control of the car he was driving and rolled it. When police arrived on scene they found two young children who had been left inside the car. Koch was later found at a nearby home getting help. All three were hospitalized with minor injuries and police say criminal charges are pending in the case.

It's still too early to tell just how many people flocked to Killington Thursday through Sunday for the Dew Tour skiing and snowboarding competition. Last year's stop brought in nearly 30-thousand spectators and even more were expected this time. Killington is the only East Coast stop on the tour with the season ending in a few weeks in Snow Basin, Utah. Killington is hoping to bring the Dew Tour back again next year.

Mark your calendars because the fourth annual Middlebury Chili Festival and Contest is scheduled to for Saturday, March 10. Public tasting begins at 1:30PM and festivities last well into the evening. Last year's chili event attracted over 3,000 people to the downtown area. Town officials project that this year’s event is likely to attract a greater number of hungry locals and out-of-towners. The festivities will include live music, giveaways, and a beer tent that includes local brews and a performance by the Horse Traders at 5PM. The Better Middlebury Partnership bills the event as “family friendly”, so there will be something for everyone. For more information visit www.vermontchilifestival.com.

Hinesburg voters will decide on the town’s $2.9 million Public Safety Building Project plan bond at Town Meeting Day in March. The article facing voters will include a facility totaling 14,993 square feet in the central part of the village. Reflecting a trend in several progressive communities in Vermont in recent years, the plan proposes to expand the fire station and bring the police department under one roof. A public meeting will be held on Feb. 9th at 7PM in the Hinesburg Town Hall to explain the project.

A man from Port Henry New York has been charged with setting a string of fires in that area. More that 500- thousand dollars in damage has been done to buildings and vehicles in the northern New York Village. Last week, 43-year-old Joseph King of Port Henry was charged with arson, burglary and criminal mischief. Troopers arrested King late on January 1st after a series of fires broke out in Port Henry.

Rutland City police believe a man found dead in a warehouse on West Street on Thursday may have been died from a medical condition for which he was hospitalized recently. The man was identified Friday as 51-year-old Mark Robinson, who grew up in the city but has lived as a transient in recent years. Foul play isn’t suspected in Robinson’s death.

The Town of Benson’s school budget going up more than 7 percent because of mandatory special education costs. The school’s budget is going up 7.4 percent for next school year. The majority of that increase is due to the education of four special needs students in the district. The cost is about $38,000 per student for all the students to attend Rutland’s Vermont Achievement Center. The public votes on the Benson school budget this March at Town Meeting Day.

A state report offers a possible future for Flory's Plaza. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has released the “corrective action plan” for the much-discussed Center Rutland property. The plan, developed with the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, outlines the steps necessary to get the plaza off ANR's list of contaminated properties. Matthew Becker, an environmental analyst with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, said there could be federal money available for a cleanup that follows the plan.

Ticonderoga and Crown Point school districts are seeking a grant that would recommend whether they should consolidate. The $45,000 State Local Government Efficiency Grant would fund a merger feasibility study for the two districts. Both schools face declining enrollments. Crown Point has 280 students, while Ticonderoga has 900. Ten years ago, Crown Point was at about 350 and Ticonderoga at 1,100. Ticonderoga and Crown Point school boards had to jointly approve the grant application, which is due March 31st.

Essex County's new ad hoc committee is about to get started on its goal of ensuring that county employees live in the county. County Board of Supervisors Chair Randy Douglas named eight people to the Residency Committee, which will hold its first meeting at 9AM Thursday in the Old County Courthouse at Elizabethtown.

A regional tourism group has recognized Fort Ticonderoga and the Champlain Bridge project. The Lake Placid CVB/Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism awarded Fort Ticonderoga the 2011 Tourism Marketing Award. The 2011 Destination Product Award was presented to the New York State Department of Transportation and the Vermont Agency of Transportation, the team responsible for the new Champlain Bridge. The Tourism Marketing Award is given to a group or individual who has produced or launched an innovative tourism-marketing product or initiative.

Two committees of the Vermont Legislature will take testimony at a public hearing on the future of the state's mental health system, now that the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury is closed. Residents had to be evacuated from the Waterbury facility because of flooding during Tropical Storm Irene, and Governor Peter Shumlin says he doesn't want to reopen the antiquated hospital.

New York and Vermont have made substantial progress in complying with the national health care law, which would extend coverage to the uninsured by 2014, but New Hampshire has made no significant progress. An analysis by The Associated Press shows 13 states have adopted a plan to comply with the law. New York is among 17 states making headway. States must have their plans ready for federal approval by January 1, 2013, or risk having federal oversight of their health care.

Vermont's annual Farm Show will open at its new location at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. Organizers say it will be the largest Farm Show in the state's history, with 266 booths, representing 168 vendors. The Farm Show this year moved from Barre to Essex Junction to accommodate the growing number of vendors and visitors. The 3-day event kicks off on Tuesday and runs through Thursday afternoon.

Maine and Vermont are moving forward with plans to comply with the national health care law, but New Hampshire has made no significant progress. States are expected to be partners with the federal government in implementing a plan to extend coverage to the uninsured by 2014. An important part of the law calls for health insurance exchanges, new one-stop supermarkets with online and landline capabilities for those who buy coverage individually.

Lake Champlain is freezing over less frequently and less extensively than it did decades ago. The Burlington Free Press says the lake froze over in just half the years in the 1980s and 2000s. In the 1990s, the lake froze completely in just three winters. From the 1820s through the 1920s, Champlain froze every year, or stayed open just once in each 10-year period. The lack of complete ice cover is raising questions about the impact on the lake.

A change in regulations has raised hopes that New England is a step closer to unlocking the power in its renewable energy resources. The federal government released an order this fall to make it easier to build electricity transmission. Every New England state has set goals to increase the amount of renewable power it uses. To date, grid managers have focused on whether transmission projects would help keep power flowing. After the new order, they must plan projects that help a state reach such goals as increasing renewable power. And they must devise a way to pay for it.

The Vermont Air National Guard will continue its night flying training in South Burlington. Pilots will be practicing night missions from Tuesday through Friday, taking off and landing in F-16s after dark. During the trainings, multiple F-16s will take off twice a night. They are all expected to land no later than midnight.

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York Inc. will be accepting applications from qualified new farmers to participate in its two-year support program, known as the NOFA-NY Journeyperson Program. The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture support the program. The application deadline is February 8th with notification regarding the next step of the process occurring on or around Feb. 24th. Details can be found at www.nofany.org.

School officials in Burlington are considering providing portable computers or iPads to all 1,900 middle and high school students in the Burlington district. The Burlington Free Press said the proposed school budget for next year includes funding for the first year of a four-year phase-in that would make the computers available. Burlington is one of a growing number of school districts that are moving beyond shared computers in classrooms and libraries and exploring programs in which schools assign a portable computing device to each student.

Actor and activist Danny Glover will be putting on a performance at the University of Vermont. Glover along with actor and director Felix Justice will present "An Evening with Martin and Langston" tomorrow. Justice will portray Martin Luther King, Jr., in some of his most powerful speeches and Glover will read words and poetry of Langston Hughes about the African American experience. Following the performance, the audience will get to ask the actors questions. Tickets are free but limited. They have been available to UVM students and as of today will be available to the public.

Twelve teams battled for the puck in Middlebury Saturday at the 13th annual 'Face-off Against Breast Cancer’ event. The American Cancer Society estimates one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. In the first year, the tournament raised a couple thousand dollars as well as awareness and camaraderie. Now in the 13th year, organizers said they hope to raise $72,000, which would break the $60,000 mark set last year. The funds will be used to assist survivors in their on-going fight against the disease.

WVTK Local & State News January 20, 2012

2012-01-20T00:20:00.000-08:00

A federal judge in Vermont has ruled that the state's only nuclear plant can remain open beyond its originally scheduled shutdown date this year, despite efforts by state government to close the 40-year-old reactor. The ruling Thursday is a win for New Orleans-based Entergy Corp., which had argued during a 3-day trial in September that Vermont's efforts to close the Vermont Yankee plant were pre-empted by federal law. The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted Vermont Yankee a 20-year license extension in March. But state law required Vermont lawmakers to support keeping the plant open as well. A bill to grant legislative approval died in the state Senate in 2010, and the House has never acted. The state is expected to appeal.

This week the Mount Abraham Union Middle and High School board approved a proposed budget that would level-fund education spending for next fiscal year. Under the proposal, overall expenses would increase 0.7 percent but education spending would remain the same as this year. Additionally the “per pupil” spending rate would increase 4.1 percent next year. As far as the property tax rate, Addison Northeast Supervisory Union officials estimate that if voters approve the spending plan on Town Meeting Day then tax rates in Bristol, Monkton and New Haven would rise, while rates should drop in Lincoln and Starksboro.

The Vergennes Union Elementary School board will put before voters on Town Meeting Day a $3.91 million budget proposal for 2012-13 that would increase current spending by $20,500, or 0.5 percent. Addison Northwest Supervisory Union officials are cautiously optimistic that spending proposal, combined with the recently proposed $8.97 million Vergennes Union High School spending plan, would lead to little or no school tax hikes in the three towns served by the school.

Ripton is looking at two votes for a school plan. Ripton Elementary School directors are crafting a 2012-2013 spending plan that would require two public votes at town meeting in order to maintain current services, preserve a new after-school program and establish a Spanish language offering.

The Better Middlebury Partnership wants to hear local business owners’ views on the challenges and advantages of operating here in town, so that future changes can be made to improve local commerce. BMP is circulating its second survey of the winter, this one featuring 32 questions polling Middlebury business owners on their impressions of municipal services, help they might need to become more prosperous, and what local events seem to best stimulate customer traffic.

This week the Bristol select-board continued ironing out a proposed town spending plan for the next fiscal year, addressing budgets for the recreation department, the Lawrence Memorial Library and the town’s waste disposal programs. According to Town Administrator Bill Bryant the recreation department spending plan for next fiscal year, which has not yet been finalized, is likely to see a noticeable hike.

Vergennes aldermen adopted two articles for voter consideration on Town Meeting Day. The first one would devote $37,000 to improvements to the city’s recreation area and the second would end the practice of mailing annual reports to every Vergennes household. Aldermen also discussed adopting a conflict of interest policy, possibly at their next meeting, set for January 31st, and broadened their search for a new police station site.

The Bridport Grange and the Addison County Farm Bureau will launch the first in its annual legislative breakfast series on Monday morning, February 6th beginning at 7 in the Bridport Grange Hall. The legislative breakfast series offers Addison County residents a weekly opportunity to personally meet with their state representatives and senators on legislation being debated in Montpelier. As has been the custom, the breakfasts will rotate between various public venues throughout the county.

A person passed away in Rutland and was found early yesterday evening in a building in the abandoned Mintzer Brothers warehouse complex on West St. Police are saying the discovery is not suspicious and foul play isn’t involved. The man is approximately 50 years old.

The United Way of Rutland County announced its 2011 fundraising total yesterday and it’s a number that surpassed the campaign’s goal of $565,000. The group raised $568,640 during a four-month period that began the campaign only several days after Tropical Storm Irene hit the community. The organization, now in its 69th year of service, grants money to groups that assist area residents in everything from mental health services to low-income housing to medical services and food.

The Rutland Board of Aldermen voted unanimously yesterday to endorse the proposed merger of the state’s two largest utilities. The blessing was contingent on a number of conditions that were agreed to by Central Vermont Public Service Corp. and Green Mountain Power being included in the Public Service Board’s order approving the merger. Spokesman Steve Costello said CVPS has cooperated with the city on efforts ranging from storm restoration to economic development and hopes to maintain the same sort of relationship post-merger.

Essex County’s discount-prescription program for uninsured consumers has some independent pharmacies concerned, while others are taking advantage of it. The County Board of Supervisors contracted with ProAct last year to offer the service for county residents. Now, some independent pharmacies have complained about using ProAct because it’s owned by Kinney Drugs. But other independent drug stores are using the program.

The Vermont House has voted to advance a bill that would authorize four state agencies to make a total of 49 new hires. The budget adjustment bill, which is up for final House approval today before moving to the Senate, would have the Agency of Transportation make 21 temporary hires through the middle of 2014 to help towns rebuild from Tropical Storm Irene.

The public will get a chance to offer recommendations on how Vermont's mental health system should be structured. Vermont lawmakers are holding a public hearing next week on a draft mental health care bill. Gov. Peter Shumlin has proposed a new secure, acute-care facility in Berlin, expanded psychiatric facilities in Brattleboro and Rutland and additional community placements for those deemed eligible for them. The public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday from 4:30PM to 6:30PM in room 11 of the Statehouse.

Police at the University of Vermont have released the identity of a man found dead on campus. They say he is 57-year-old Thomas Keenan of Shelburne. A preliminary investigation found the probable cause of Keenan's death was exposure to the cold. A person walking a dog found Keenan in UVM’s Centennial Woods Wednesday.

Vermont is getting a failing grade for the amount of money it spends to prevent smoking. The American Lung Association's latest report card says the state falls short in its investments in tobacco prevention and control. The association said Wednesday that this year the state cut over a million dollars from tobacco prevention and control efforts, allocating $3.4 million. Vermont also got a "D'' for helping smokers quit. But the state got an "A'' for its smoking restrictions that protect people from secondhand smoke. Only four states, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine and Oklahoma, received all passing grades.

The administration of Governor Peter Shumlin is defending its decision to put off deciding how to pay for its planned single-payer health care system until next year. Robin Lunge, director of health care reform for the administration, says she and other officials must decide first what benefits will be included both under the health care exchange and under the Green Mountain Care system Vermont plans to set up by 2017.

The Vermont Attorney General's office says a propane company has agreed to pay $140,000 in civil penalties to the state and $100,000 to an energy assistance program in the wake of complaints by consumers about usage fees. The attorney general's office says Inergy Propane, doing business as Pyrofax Energy, assessed customers "minimum usage fees" in the fall of 2010 and delayed refunds following termination or disconnection of services.

Vermont Law School has received a $1.25 million grant for its new center on agricultural law and policy. The anonymous grant, which will be distributed over four years, will allow the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems to hire a director with national experience and to expand its agricultural law and policy curriculum and training, research and support programs.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order Wednesday to limit administrative costs and executive pay at state-funded service providers, many of them devoted to social services, including a $199,000 salary cap for executives. The order noted that the government funds many tax-exempt organizations and for-profits that provide critical services to New Yorkers in need, but it has an obligation to use taxpayer money effectively.

While New York devotes much of its effort and billions of dollars in tax breaks to attract global corporations, an influential bloc of state senators is targeting small business. The Independent Democratic Conference is proposing bills to help small business cut health insurance costs that can be 50 percent higher than in other states, reduce state regulatory paperwork and fees, and make more credit available for growth.

The Ticonderoga Historical Society has received some help. The group recently was awarded $1,000 from the Wal-Mart Foundation to assist in its youth education programs. Jan Trombley, manager of the Ticonderoga Wal-Mart, presented the grant to the Ticonderoga Historical Society. The society is most appreciative of this grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation and looks forward to using it to make the community and even better place to live, especially children.

Just before the second anniversary of Haiti’s devastating earthquake, three local moms have delivered more than 700 pairs of shoes collected in Addison County to needy children in the Caribbean island. Andrea Ward, Maria Graham and Kelly Hickey made the trip January 4th – 8th. Kelly created the shoe drive in October 2010. That fall she collected some 660 shoes from local drop-off sites, which were sent to Soles4Souls, a Nashville-based charity that collects new and gently used shoes, redistributing them to those in need around the world. She attributed the second year increase in collections to community-wide support.

Elvis is coming to Port Henry. Drew Polsun, an Elvis Presley tribute artist, and his band The Fascinations will perform at the Port Henry Knights of Columbus Saturday, February 11th as part of a dinner-show-dance. It’s a fundraiser to support the Knights of Columbus and their charitable efforts. The dinner will be an Italian buffet served at 6PM The Elvis performance will follow. Tickets are priced at $20 a person and must be purchased by February 6th. (They are available by calling Chuck Kolodzey at 546-8290, Nappy Marcotte at 546-7501 or Tim Kolodzey at 546-7125)

WVTK Local & State News January 19, 2012

2012-01-19T00:20:00.000-08:00

Price Chopper Supermarkets is voluntarily recalling its 16 oz packages of Coyote Joe's Shredded Taco Cheese because the packages may contain small pieces of plastic. According to a press release sent out by the chain, the cheese was at its stores between the dates of January 4 and January 17. Prices Chopper has stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. People can return the cheese for a full refund. For more information, visit www.pricechopper.com.

The Addison County Chamber Of Commerce and the Ticonderoga Chamber will be hosting Mixers this evening. The first Addison County Chamber Mixer of 2012 will be held at Café Provence in Brandon from 5-7PM. For more information just visit www.addisoncounty.com. The Ti Chamber’s “After Business Mixer” will be held at Sugar Hill Manor Bed & Breakfast in Crown Point from 5:30 to 7PM. Get more info at www.ticonderogany.com.

A convicted embezzler from Addison County is back in trouble with the law. 65-year-old Susan Emilo spent nearly three years behind bars after admitting in 2003 that she stole $730,000 dollars from her employer, Lincoln Applied Geology. The Salisbury woman is now back in court because prosecutors say she hid a big asset: A vacation house in Florida. Emilo pleaded not guilty Wednesday to new charges. Authorities say she sold the home in 2009 but tried to cover up the sale.

Another driver was killed in a crash on a Vermont highway last night. It happened at about a quarter to five on northeast road in the town of Tinmouth. State police say 46-year-old Adam Delisle drove off the road and into a tree. The Danby man died shortly after being rushed to the hospital in Rutland. Police are still investigating exactly why Delisle drove off the road.

A Vermont-based business is crediting a foreign investor visa program for helping to make sure their jobs stay put in the Green Mountain State. Country Home Products based in Vergennes says the EB-5 investor visa program has allowed it to continue to be innovative and maintain 135 jobs in a tough economy. The program is designed to solicit investments of $500,000 or more from foreign partners to preserve or create jobs in the United States. At Country Home's DR Power Equipment plant in Winooski, the program has helped support its new log splitter assembly line. Country Home is the first manufacturer to benefit from EB-5 investors.

The former treasurer of the tiny Vermont town of Ira has been sentenced to more than two years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $300,000. Sixty-year-old Donald Hewitt was sentenced to 27 months on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Brattleboro. The judge has ordered that Hewitt serve three years of supervised release when he gets out of prison.

The Rutland Board of Aldermen voted against buying police cars with Zamias money, but agreed to continue discussing how to fund the purchase. Money slated for the cars was diverted to purchase a truck for the Department of Public Works during the budget process. The Public Safety Committee voted 3-1 to recommend using $60,000 from the Zamias fund to pay for the cars, but the full board rejected that proposal 5-3 during its regular meeting Tuesday.

Town officials in Hinesburg are hoping to build a new fire, police and community park. Plans include a town green that could host musical performances, farmers' markets and other recreation. Voters will ultimately determine if the project will go through during a public bond vote on Town Meeting Day in March. The town estimates the project will cost around $2.9 million.

The A.E. Phelps Fire and Rescue in Crown Point held elections in December. In 2011 the Department responded to 270 calls for both fire and ambulance. It has a current membership of 45 people. The company is always looking for additional members for fire, EMS, fire police and auxiliary. To join contact any current member or come to the fire house on Main Street any Tuesday evening to get a membership application. All training will be provided when classes are available.

In coordination with Winter Fest 2012 the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce is promoting Ticonderoga area businesses that will offer at least a 10 percent discount the day of the event. The Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership plans Winter Fest with support from the Ticonderoga Central School as well as area organizations and businesses. The free event will be held Saturday, February 11th from 11AM to 2PM at the Ticonderoga recreational fields, ice skating rink and surrounding areas. For more information on any of the businesses, the promotions, or Winter Fest contact the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce.

University of Vermont police are investigating the death of an unidentified man found frozen and wrapped in blankets in a wooded area. The UVM Police Chief says the death does not appear to be suspicious and that the man was not a university student. The Burlington Free Press reported that the body was found about 2:30PM Wednesday in an area known as Centennial Woods, which runs from Interstate 89 in south Burlington west to the main campus.

Vermont’s congressional delegation announced that Vermont will receive nearly $8.7 million for two flood relief programs integral to helping Vermont farmers and property owners recover from Tropical Storm Irene. Vermont will receive $6.3 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program and $2.3 million for the Emergency Conservation Program. Both programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Burlington police have made an arrest in a stabbing over the weekend. The incident happened near Big Daddy's Pizza on lower Church Street around 2:20AM Sunday. Detectives say the 28-year-old victim approached a patrol car for help shortly after the altercation took place. The victim suffered a stab wound. Late Tuesday night police arrested 22-year-old Glen Haskins of Hinesburg, on a charge of attempted murder. The victim is currently still in the hospital listed in serious but stable condition.

Here’s a reminder from police that with our wacky weather so far this winter, it's probably not safe to drive on the ice. Someone drove out on the frozen Waterbury Reservoir Tuesday night, and then fell through the ice. No one was hurt, but the pickup is underwater. The driver did not contact authorities until Wednesday. Vermont Fish and Wildlife tried to pull the truck out, but could not reach it. Police say that means the truck will likely be submerged until spring. Police say the truck's owner could face thousands in environmental fines for polluting the reservoir and possibly other environmental charges.

Bigger corporate income tax refunds, higher gas prices and a slow start to the winter tourism season are prompting small downgrades in state revenue projections for the rest of this fiscal year, as well as the next. Two economists who consult with Vermont told its Emergency Board yesterday that revenues for the first six months of the current fiscal year - July through December - were on target with the forecast they released in July. But economists Jeff Carr and Tom Kavet told state officials Wednesday they think revenues for the second half of the current fiscal year - meaning the next six months - will come in at about $1.8 million lower than had been projected last July.

AARP Vermont has launched a statewide campaign to recover $21 million owed to ratepayers of Rutland-based Central Vermont Public Service. The pro-liberal senior citizen advocacy group has formally intervened in the pending merger of Green Mountain Power and CVPS. AARP officials said they intervened in December and filed testimony with the Vermont Public Service Board. The board will consider the matter in the coming months. Officials have stressed that AARP does not oppose the merger itself, but only wants to ensure customers recover their funds from a decade ago.

Some state lawmakers and activists, including Ben & Jerry's cofounder Jerry Greenfield, have unveiled a resolution calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution overturning the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision. That 5-4-ruling two years ago found that corporations have the same rights as individuals to make unlimited contributions to independent groups seeking to influence elections.

Vermont's lieutenant governor is sharing some good news he discovered in the ashes left from the fire that destroyed the construction business he co-owns. While cleaning up the debris at Dubois Construction in Middlesex, Phil Scott discovered a check for more than $12,000. The money was a donation from All Metals Recycling for the Vermont Community Foundation that supports Irene relief. The building and all the heavy equipment inside Scott's warehouse are gone. Scott and his employees tried to save critical files during the fire but conditions were too intense.

Beginning today through Sunday, the Dew Tour festival village opens at 9:30 a.m. at Bear Mountain in Killington. At 10:30AM today, top men compete in the free-ski super-pipe last chance qualifier and at 1:30PM, men hit the super-pipe for the snowboard last chance qualifier. On Friday at 11AM, women compete in the free-ski super-pipe semi-final and at 2PM, men compete in the snowboard super-pipe semi-final. For a complete listing of times and events, go to www.killington.com.

Ticonderoga Middle School technology students under the direction of teacher Jim Marshall have completed a community service project. Brittany Bruce and Rachel White have constructed additional equipment storage cubbies for the Ticonderoga Little League dugouts. Bruce’s father, Mike Bruce, provided the needed materials and dimensions for building the cubbies to match the existing storage currently in the dugouts.

The United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. will host its second annual “Dine United” event on Thursday, January 26th. The unique event invites restaurants throughout Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties to donate a percentage of one day’s gross sales to the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. The event is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner at participating restaurants. For a complete list of restaurants and locations visit: www.unitedwayadk.org or contact the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc.

Grants of up to $1,000 from the Honeybee Community Fund are available to assist small businesses, farmers, nonprofit organizations, environmental projects and the arts in Essex County. The organization now awards grants only once a year. You can request applications for the funding by emailing bzzwords@gmail.com. The deadline is April 10, with awards made in May.

Your Smart Phone may be causing you extra stress. We all know checking your smart phone is a great way to stay connected but a new study says that it also creates more stress in your life. A study published by The British Psychological Society says when you use the phone for work, the benefits of having work at your fingertips goes out the door with the pressure to stay on top of social media. The study also says if you have a smart phone, you are more likely to constantly check alerts and listen for beeps because you "just have to know" what the latest e-mail, text or status update says. According to the Mayo Clinic, long-term stress levels can put you at risk for things like heart disease, digestive problems and depression.

WVTK Local & State News January 18, 2012

2012-01-18T00:20:00.000-08:00

A head-on collision involving a car and a tractor-trailer on Route 7 Monday night severely injured a Brandon man who remains hospitalized in New Hampshire. Police say Andrew Mitchell was attempting to cross Route 7 to turn onto Fern Lake Road when the truck travelling north struck his car. Police say Mitchell was seriously injured in the crash with multiple skull fractures and numerous cuts. He was taken first to Rutland Regional Medical Center and then to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center where a spokeswoman said she could not release any information about his condition.

The Addison County Chamber Of Commerce and the Ticonderoga Chamber will be hosting Mixers tomorrow evening. The first Addison County Chamber Mixer of 2012 will be held at Café Provence in Brandon from 5-7PM. You can join in on an evening of great food and drinks, door prizes, pot of gold and more! For more information and to RSVP to Sue Hoxie just visit www.addisoncounty.com. The Ti Chamber’s “After Business Mixer” will be held at Sugar Hill Manor Bed & Breakfast in Crown Point from 5:30 to 7PM. Sponsors providing door prizes will be Best Western Plus Ticonderoga Inn & Suites, International Paper, Sugar & Spice Country Shoppe and the Wagon Wheel Restaurant. More info can be found at www.ticonderogany.com.

Police need your help finding a man who led them on a high-speed chase Monday night. Vermont State troopers were conducting a warrant on Thomas Weston's home in Monkton. The 23-year-old drove home, saw police at his residence and took off, leading them on a chase through Monkton and Bristol. Police spiked Weston's tires, but say he continued driving for about two miles before ditching his vehicle and taking off on foot. Police eventually abandoned their search after a five-mile foot pursuit. Weston is still at large. Call police if you know where he is.

A Benson woman was sentenced for embezzling from her employer yesterday. Pamela Natoli was sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to tax fraud. Prosecutors say Natoli stole more than $200,000 from the Brandon art gallery where she worked by writing checks to herself from the owner's account.

The former treasurer of the town of Ira is due to be sentenced today for embezzling more than $300,000 from taxpayers. Donald Hewitt has admitted his guilt and is even working with the state auditor to help educate other communities about the risks of embezzlement. Hewitt could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison but because of his work with Salmon, his remorse and his efforts to make restitution, Hewitt's lawyer is asking the judge for no jail time.

The executive director of Addison County Home Health and Hospice in Middlebury said five new members were added to the agency's Board of Directors for three-year terms, which begin immediately. The sixteen members of the board represent eleven towns within Addison County. The nonprofit agency employs more than 180 full and part-time employees and serves people of all ages within Addison County.

The Essex County Public Health Director Linda Beers has concerns about rabies in the area. Recently a stray cat in Westport was found to have the deadly disease. Seven people who were playing with and feeding the feline needed to get rabies shots. Beers said she would meet individually with town supervisors soon to discuss rabies control. Animals seen wandering around, especially nocturnal creatures out during the day should be avoided.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is presenting a $132 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning April 1. That makes the overall budget, including federal funds tied to state spending, about the same as the current budget. Cuomo says it includes about a 2-percent decrease in state spending. The budget proposed Tuesday contains no new or higher taxes or fees, but instead is built around spending about $2 billion from the "millionaire tax" increase on New York's top earners adopted in December. His budget includes 4-percent increases for public schools and hospitals and health care facilities through the Medicaid health care system. Those increases total $1.4 billion. Cuomo also plans longer-term measures, including a far less expensive retirement system for new hires in state and local government jobs.

Police say two teenagers face criminal charges after a fire at the Champlain Valley Expo. Firefighters were called to the Expo Tuesday morning for a fire at trailer. Firefighters use that trailer for training. The trailer was destroyed and firefighters say it was no accident. Police say they followed tracks in the snow, which led them to 18-year-old Colin Howard, and a 14-year-old boy. The teenagers face arson and trespass charges.

A Burlington elementary school was locked down yesterday. Burlington police received a report of an incident involving a gun outside of H.O. Wheeler around 2:45PM. Most of the children had already left school for the day. By the time police arrived, the suspects had fled. The school reopened around 3.

The state of Vermont is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to support the constitutionality of the federal health care reform law known as the Affordable Care Act. Attorney General William Sorrell says the state filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Supreme Court last week. Last August an appeals court ruled a provision of the health care law was unconstitutional. The United States government has appealed that decision to the Supreme Court, which will hear oral arguments in the matter in March.

Aides to Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin have unveiled the next steps in his plan to move Vermont toward a single-payer health care system, and some business groups aren't happy about it. Yesterday administration officials got two key legislative allies to introduce a bill that would set up the Vermont version of a health insurance exchange, or marketplace, called for under federal health reform legislation. Both Jeanne Keller of Burlington and the National Federation of Independent Business' state chapter say by including employers with up to 100 workers, the Vermont exchange would cover too broad a range of businesses, and provide too few types of health insurance coverage. House Health Care Committee Chairman Mike Fisher says those claims are exaggerated.

A former office manager for a Vermont municipal utility has been sentenced to 3 ½ years in prison in the state's largest embezzlement case. Yesterday Joyce Bellavance apologized for stealing $1.6 million in customer funds from the Hardwick Electric Department, saying she felt worthless and wanted to buy people's affections. The Burlington Free Press reports that three members of the department asked that she be given the maximum 3-year sentence.

The price Vermonters pay for home heating oil and other fuels continues to rise, with the price of fuel oil averaging nearly $3.84 a gallon this month, up 6 cents from December, and 69 cents more than a year ago, according the state’s monthly fuel price report. Propane averaged $3.26 a gallon in January, up a penny from December; kerosene increased 3.5 cents to $4.25 a gallon. With seasonably warm temperatures so far this winter, the federal Energy Information Administration said consumers would spend less on home heating oil than initially forecast.

Scientists studying white nose syndrome in bats estimate the fungal ailment has killed at least 5.7 million bats in 16 states and Canada, providing alarming new numbers about the scope of its decimation. First detected in a cave west of Albany in 2006, white nose has spread to 16 states from the Northeast to the South and as far west as Kentucky. It also has been detected in four Canadian provinces.

1 of the co-founders of Ben & Jerry's ice cream is expected to be on hand as lawmakers and advocates unveil a resolution calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution overturning the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision. That 5 4-ruling two years ago found that corporations have the same rights as individuals to make unlimited contributions to independent groups seeking to influence elections.

Vermont is at the top of the list when it comes to states that are at highest risk for loss due to embezzlement. That's according to a new study just released by a Boston-based firm that examined 473 major embezzlement cases across the country where at least $100,000 dollars was taken. Vermont tops the list but is closely followed by Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Montana.

L.L. Bean is donating up to $1 million to the National Park Foundation with the goal of increasing family outdoor recreation and getting children to visit national parks. The Maine-based outdoors retailer says the Million Moment Mission aims to get people to share stories, ideas and photos of outdoor experiences online. L.L. Bean will donate $1 for each of them, up to $1 million.

A new piece of art is now part of Ticonderoga’s Community Building. “War Party from Ticonderoga,” a painting by Robert Griffing, has been donated to the town and now hangs in the town hall’s lobby. Historians Keith Dolbeck and Dan Blanchette of Ticonderoga arranged the donation. During the past two decades Blanchette and Dolbeck have found many items with historical significance. They would like to someday create a museum in downtown Ticonderoga to display the artifacts.

The Ticonderoga Middle School recently held its 2012 Geography Bee. Ten contestants representing grades 6-8 participated in the local bee. The championship round pitted Emily Powers against Mackenzie Strum. In the end eighth grader Mackenzie Strum became the winner of the 2012 Geography Bee. Strum will now take a written exam in hopes of being selected to compete at the New York State Geography Bee contest in Albany on March 30th.

WVTK Local & State News January 17, 2012

2012-01-17T00:11:00.000-08:00

A Brandon man is in the hospital after a head-on collision in Leicester last night. It happened just before 10 Monday night. Police say 33-year-old Andrew Mitchell attempted to cross Route 7 onto Fern Lake Road when a tractor-trailer collided with his car. Mitchell was taken to the hospital with multiple skull fractures.

The Town Of Middlebury is closer to offering public Wi-Fi access. The downtown public Wi-Fi project has been talked about on and off over the past few years. Ilsley Public Library Director David Clark said the library is committed to hosting the project, which has enough funding to go forward. He said the planned schedule is for the Wi-Fi network to be up and running by sometime this summer. The project has a budget of $10,000, half of which comes from the municipal budget. The town’s Downtown Improvement District Commission recently recommended that the town allot another $5,000 from its funds.

FairPoint Communications expanded broadband Internet service to 225 Granville homes and businesses in late December. The arrival of high-speed Internet in the town is a milestone for the company. Now all of FairPoint’s Addison County exchanges have at least some broadband coverage, and nearly 90 percent of the company’s customers statewide have access to broadband Internet.

As the Bixby Memorial Free Library in Vergennes prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday in October they are currently taking steps to keep the institution relevant for its second century. In the next few months, the Bixby will automate its card catalog, receive computer hardware and software as part of the e-Vermont grant the library helped Vergennes win, run computer literacy workshops, and on Town Meeting Day survey residents of the five communities it serves to find out what kinds of things the community would like to see happen at the library that you’d participate in.

Middlebury College will soon expand its renewable energy portfolio. Next month it will install 34 solar power collectors off Route 125, between McCardell Bicentennial Hall and the college organic garden. The 143-kilowatt project, slated to go up in February, is expected to generate 200,000 kW-hours of electricity per year, and will be metered against Battell Hall to offset the annual power consumption of the year-round dormitory, which annually uses about 190,000 kWh. The college signed a Power Purchase Agreement with AllEarth Renewables of Williston for five years.

Addison County residents have been taking advantage of a solar water initiative. Almost 100 residents have hooked their homes up to a solar hot water system in large part due to Solar Addison County. The program was launched last summer by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group.

The Otter Valley Union High School board has approved a proposed $10,332,550 spending plan for 2012-13. That represents an increase of 2.32 percent over the current spending plan. Last year the alternative education Harvest Program and the school resource office were two major items in question however; both of those line items remain in place.

Last Tuesday Vergennes aldermen agreed to increase the city’s financial contribution toward installing sprinklers in City Hall and the Vergennes Opera House to $35,000. The increased contribution for the delayed project is up from an earlier estimated city share of $20,000 to $22,000.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will deliver his budget address today. During his State of the State last week the governor talked about flood relief for communities still rebuilding following Tropical Storm Irene. Essex County was one of the hardest hit areas. Damage estimates are in the tens of millions of dollars. The Governor did not give any specific details for financial help but local leaders are keeping their fingers crossed that cash is on the way. Several homes in the Jay area were hit twice, first by a major ice jam in the spring and then by Irene.

It's still possible that the Ticonderoga Town Police Department could move to the old Rite Aid Drug Store on Montcalm Street. According to Supervisor Debra Malaney that would help the downtown business district a lot. The Rite Aid building is still viewed as the best choice. Another downtown possibility for the Police Department is the building that formerly housed the Family Dollar store.

One popular Ticonderoga eatery that closed last year will reopen soon. Russ Slater who cited a lack of business for the closing had operated the Carillon Restaurant on Hague Road. Now the building owner is completing renovations, and the restaurant will reopen soon. Another Ticonderoga restaurant, Ti-Pi, which closed in December, is expected to reopen as soon as the owner of the building finds someone to run it.

The Henry Sheldon Museum announced that after a national search, Eva Garcelon-Hart has been appointed the new archivist of the Sheldon’s Stewart-Swift Research Center. She received her Masters in Library and Information Studies and Masters in Art History degrees from U.C. Berkeley and worked as an archivist at Berkeley's Bancroft Library.

Vermont activists and lawmakers are planning a busy week at the Vermont Statehouse, with events designed to push their agendas. Today, Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell will be unveiling a report of a task force that's been looking into issues of property law raised by Tropical Storm Irene. Also, supporters of using a "genuine progress indicator," which combines a range of measures about social well being in place of more traditional economic indicators, will hold a news conference to talk up their agenda. The group is also promoting the idea of a state bank. And on Wednesday, critics of the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United decision are planning a midday event to demand that it be reversed.

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin is halting the Green Mountain Care Board's search for a PR firm. Last week the five-person panel tasked with redesigning health care coverage in Vermont put out a help wanted ad looking for a communications specialist to help craft its public image. A senior staff member says the governor was frustrated when he learned of the job posting and asked the board not to go forward with its plan. Because the health care reform law says the board and the executive branch are supposed to remain separate, the governor can only voice his strong opposition to the proposal. He cannot tell the board members they cannot hire a PR firm. The board is expected to react to the governor's request this week.

It was a little over a year ago that a Blue Ribbon Tax Commission proposed some significant changes to the Vermont tax code, and at the time, Legislative leaders expressed a fair amount of interest in the plan. However it's unlikely that any of the recommendations will be adopted during the 2012 session. The Panel also proposed expanding the base of the state sales tax to include many services, a move that would allow lawmakers to lower the sales tax rate. But it appears that there's little interest at the Statehouse to consider this change during the current session.

The Vermont Army National Guard's band is now getting the recognition it earned during World War II fighting the Japanese in the Pacific. The Vermont National Guard's 40th Army Band was honored last week. The 31 members of the band, then based in Brattleboro, were called to active duty in February 1941, nine months before the United States entered the war.

Vermont's three congressional lawmakers gave out more than $236,000 in bonuses to their staff members last year. The Burlington Free Press also reports that Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic Rep. Peter Welch expect to return about $816,000 to the government, representing about 10% of their allowances, that went unspent in fiscal 2011.

A historian, writer and editor who co-founded a magazine about country living and wrote 17 books, has died at age 89. Richard Ketchum died Thursday at a retirement community in Shelburne. He co-founded Blair & Ketchum's Country Journal, written for people who had moved to rural areas after growing tired of hectic city and suburban life.

Middlebury is about to welcome its latest adult-beverage offering, Drop In Brewing and the America Brewing Guild. Owned and operated by Steve Parkes, Drop In Brewing and the America Brewing Guild School will act as both beer-maker and brewing school when it opens early this spring. The facility is currently under construction at the former Dundon Plumbing site on Route 7. The 1,600-square-feet of brewing and teaching space includes 3,200-square-feet of classrooms, lab space, and a 900-square-feet independently operated sandwich shop. Parkes said he has received a lot of encouragement and support from local banks and the business community.

Shelburne Players has scheduled a free informational meeting at Pierson Library in Shelburne on Thursday, January 26th from 6:30 to 8PM for anyone interested in the company’s April comedy "Lend Me A Tenor" by Ken Ludwig. For more information and the audition schedule just visit www.shelburneplayers.com.

Singer-songwriter Julie Frost from New Haven beat out some of Hollywood’s biggest musicians Sunday night to take home a Golden Globe award for Best Original Song. Frost, along with her co-writers Madonna and Jimmy Harry, were presented the prestigious award at the 69th annual awards show in Los Angeles for the song “Masterpiece”. Frost began her music career while living in Chicago in the early ’90s, which led her to produce several original albums. Throughout her career she has worked with prominent artists like Beyonce, Black Eye Peas and Pitbull. She hopes to return to Vermont this Spring.

Registered snowmobilers in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine will be able to roam trails in all three states during the last weekend in January. Any snowmobile legally registered in 1 of the participating states will be allowed on trails in all three during the Jan. 27-29 weekend. All other host state regulations will apply, including speed limits, youth laws and Vermont's mandatory liability insurance.

WVTK Local & State News January 16, 2012

2012-01-16T00:28:00.000-08:00

On the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., Vermonters in different parts of the state are pausing to reflect on the work of the civil rights leader. Norwich University plans a week's worth of discussions, reflections and service. Here in Middlebury there will be a celebration concert at Middlebury College in Mead Chapel this evening from 8 – 9:30. For more information on this free event just visit www.middlebury.edu/arts.

The Town of Middlebury will hold a special Select Board Meeting tomorrow at 7:00PM in the Town Offices Conference Room. Items to be covered during the meeting include an Annual Report on the Marketing Position from the Better Middlebury Partnership, a Public Hearing & Informational Meeting on the Preliminary Proposed Town General Fund Budget for FY13 and an Executive Session if needed. More information and the complete agenda is available on the town’s website.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency could be buying 56 homes in Essex County that were flooded during 2011. The County Community Development Director said February 29th is the deadline and that Essex County serves as the municipal applicant. The total number of homes in the buyout is still uncertain but 56 property owners have shown interest so far. How much they'll be paid and how it will be determined will have to worked out with FEMA.

Middlebury now has a Center for Social Entrepreneurship. The center, located at the Marble Works and will support and give young social entrepreneurs the tools and strategies they need to take on some of the toughest social global challenges. The Middlebury College President said whether addressing global health challenges or designing and building a solar-powered house, students are eager to find ways to apply what they learn in the classroom to pressing social problems around the world. For more information on the Center for Social Entrepreneurship or the upcoming symposium, visit www.middlebury.edu/studentlife/innovation/cse.

Fire destroyed a glass blowing studio in Charlotte on Friday morning. The blaze broke out at a garage on Ferry Road. Firefighters say a power outage likely caused the glass blowing fans to shut down while the artist and his assistant were at lunch. Fire in the kiln then billowed up and engulfed the garage. Crews extinguished the blaze before flames could spread to the flammable tools inside or the propane tank outside.

The Middlebury Summer Festival On-The-Green celebrates its 34th anniversary season during the week of July 8-14. The festival hosted entirely by volunteers is one of the many summer arts events in Addison County. The annual meeting will be at 6:30PM this Wednesday at Middlebury Union Middle School.

The Moriah Central School Board will meet at 6PM tomorrow in the High School library. Topics of interest include a first reading on several policy changes and personnel discussions. The meeting is open to all.

Everyone is looking for ways to save money in today’s economy. The National Bank of Middlebury is offering a cost-saving opportunity for members of its New Horizons Club for those aged 50 and over. The new feature is called “Ticket to Ride” and can be redeemed for Club Bucks that can be used like cash for any NHC activity. NHC members may obtain a pin by visiting any National Bank of Middlebury office.

Rutland police are looking for a thief. Someone broke into the Trace of Lace wedding shop at around two Saturday morning and stole an undisclosed amount of cash and merchandise from the store. The male suspect was wearing a New York Yankees hat, a winter jacket, and converse sneakers. Call police if you have any information.

The Rutland County Sheriff’s Department is seeking a permanent home and some significant rent increases at the department’s home above the Rutland Police Department could end that search sooner than later. Beginning this year and continuing until 2014, the rent charged by the city will increase 6.25 percent annually. To find a permanent home, the department needs to find a building both centrally located within the county and one that’s suitable for police activities.

A teenager is dead after being struck by a train in Windham County. It happened shortly after 5PM near the town hall in Vernon. An Amtrak train headed from Washington D.C. To St. Albans struck a 15 year old who was on the tracks. The victim's name has not been released. Why the teen was on the tracks remains under investigation. None of the 141 people on board the train were hurt.

U.S. Senators from Vermont and New York say funding for flood gauges in the Lake Champlain basin has been secured. Democratic Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Charles Schumer of New York say the funding will prevent the imminent shutdown of river and lake gauges in the basin. The 18 U.S. Geological Survey gauges, nine in each state, proved their worth last year forecasting spring floods and Tropical Storm Irene. Before Irene hit, they enabled first responders, local and state officials, farmers and businesses to plan ahead of the rising floodwaters and act.

Vermont's 18 ski areas are teaming up to send a message to skiers and riders this week: Wear a helmet. This is National Ski Safety Awareness Week. Several ski areas are offering incentives to those who choose to purchase a helmet this week. AT Killington and Pico, skiers and riders will get a free lift ticket. Other resorts are offering discounted passes. While all Vermont resorts encourage skiers to wear helmets, they are NOT required at any of the state's ski areas.

Republicans in the Vermont Legislature say they're growing concerned about a loss of the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches since Democrat Peter Shumlin's election as governor. Big Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate, and Shumlin's close relations with lawmakers from his days as Senate leader, are seen as combining to form a powerful engine behind the Democratic agenda. Democratic House Speaker Shap Smith says there's enough internal disagreement within both parties to get issues aired fully.

The American Red Cross wants to help Vermonters learn how to be ready to volunteer to help their community in disasters. On Friday, the Red Cross will present at its Burlington office "Disaster Services: An Overview." Participants will also learn more about the scope of disaster services at their local Red Cross.

The state of Vermont's general fund revenues came in more than 9 percent short of their target for December, a setback after four consecutive months of exceeding their targets. Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding says corporate income tax receipts had been running above expectations and fell below them in December, which he says was not unexpected. Consumption taxes on sales and use and rooms and meals both came in just about on target for December, and the same was true of the state revenues that support the transportation fund.

Vermont can expect continued modest economic growth in 2012. That was the message Friday at the annual Vermont Economic Outlook Conference in South Burlington. According to Richard Heaps of the Vermont Economy Newsletter, which organized the conference, the professional and business services field will lead job growth. Heaps says these are generally good paying jobs. He says even as unemployment goes down, the lack of job growth in Vermont contributes to the problem of young people leaving the state to work elsewhere.

A nuclear watchdog group is reacting to a suit by Vermont utilities over failures of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant's cooling towers by saying they warned of just such problems. The New England Coalition's comments followed the announcement this past week that Central Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power were suing Vermont Yankee and its owner over the cooling tower collapses in 2007 and 2008. The New England Coalition says its expert witnesses warned of potential problems with the cooling towers, especially if Vermont Yankee was permitted to boost its power output, which it was allowed to do.

The University of Vermont has announced five finalists in its search for a new president. Four of the five are top administrators at public universities. The fifth candidate is the senior vice president for Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute. Each candidate will be interviewed by faculty and administrative leaders and appear at a public forum, which will be recorded and made available on UVM's website. All the visits will take place during the last two weeks of January. Officials hope the next president will start in July.

It's okay to light up again on Church Street in downtown Burlington. Mayor Bob Kiss vetoed Friday the new ordinance passed last week by City Council banning smoking in some areas of downtown. The mayor says it opens the door to difficult and selective enforcement. It had barely passed as it was, with the City Council approving it by a vote of eight to six. Councilors could override the veto, but it will take ten of the 14 members to be in agreement on that.

FairPoint Communications is continuing its effort to bring broadband Internet service to rural parts of Vermont, with the town of Peru in northeast Bennington County now added to the list. FairPoint says it has expanded broadband access to more than 225 homes and businesses in the rural town.

Northern New England was in the grip of icy temperatures over the weekend. But if you think it's cold here in the flatlands, try 15 below, and 50-below with the wind, atop New Hampshire's Mount Washington. The Mount Washington Observatory reported it felt like 53.3 degrees below zero with the 54 mph wind gusting on top of the 6,288-foot mountain, New England's highest yesterday. In Vermont, early morning lows Sunday were minus-12 in Morrisville and minus 8 in St. Johnsbury.

Lake George Village Mayor Robert Blais announced to village trustees that he is planning a village-wide celebration of Christmas over Mothers Day weekend. The event, titled May You Have a Very Merry Christmas, is to feature Christmas decorations in stores around town, a concert of Christmas music in Sheppard Park by the Lake George Community Band, and holiday dinners in hotels and restaurants. These venues are to be adorned with Christmas trees and holiday decorations for the event. The Mayor said his visit to another municipality where such an event was successful sparked his interest in holding a similar celebration in Lake George.

WVTK Local & State News January 13, 2012

2012-01-13T00:15:00.000-08:00

Nine ski resorts, from northern Burke Mountain to southern Okemo Mountain Resort and Stratton, accumulated anywhere from 2 to 6 inches overnight Wednesday through Thursday, according to the Vermont Ski Areas Association Thursday afternoon. Killington started with 66 trails open yesterday and opened five more during the day for total of 71 trails, which is half of all the resort’s trails. For drivers, however, the snowy, icy, slushy road conditions glazed over roads and made transportation hazardous throughout the day. Roads became slick Thursday, causing 34 accidents statewide from 4AM to 4PM.

Gov. Peter Shumlin's budget for the next fiscal year calls for no increases in income or sales taxes. The spending plan relies on projections of increasing revenue due to an improving economy to spend more on higher education and in other areas. Yesterday Shumlin unveiled a budget that calls for spending to grow about 3.8% to a bit more than $3.2 billion. With federal funds added in, the budget is expected to total about $6.7 billion for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. General fund revenues are expected to grow by about 6.4%. Shumlin says he wants to use the money to help communities recover from Tropical Storm Irene, and for new innovation at the University of Vermont and state colleges.

Vermont Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Randy Brock says Gov. Peter Shumlin's annual budget address to lawmakers was noteworthy for what it didn't include. But other Republicans praised some of the policy proposals the Democratic governor laid out, especially those relating to education. Brock faults Shumlin for making no mention of his ambitious plan to bring a single-payer health care system to Vermont. He pointed to an announcement by the board working on that plan that it wants to hire a firm to do public relations.

The future of the massive State office complex in Waterbury is a little clearer. Governor Peter Shumlin outlined his plan Thursday in his annual budget address. That plan would impact about 1,500 workers who were displaced by Tropical Storm Irene. The plan includes putting the State's Education Department in Barre, and consolidating the Agencies of Transportation, Natural Resources, and Commerce in the National Life building in Montpelier.

The Vergennes Union High School board settled this week on an $8.97 million budget proposal to put before voters in March. The plan would increase spending at VUHS by a little less than 2 percent, which is essentially back to the school’s 2007-2008 level. The savings in salaries and benefits came to about $42,000, enough to meet the board’s target. The board’s proposed 2012-2013 budget is about $60,000 higher than the 2007-2008 VUHS budget, an overall increase in spending of about 0.7 percent over the past four budget cycles.

The UD-3 board agreed this week to present voters with a 2012-2013 budget of about $16.1 million, representing a 3.18-percent spending increase compared to this year. While school officials are awaiting firmer state aid information from Montpelier, they are estimating the budget would require a homestead education property tax rate representing a 1.4-percent increase compared to this year’s rate.

Voters on March 6th will be asked by the Addison Central Supervisory Union to approve a 20-year, $1,012,491 bond to replace the Middlebury Union Middle School roof. The UD-3 board unanimously agreed to place the bond issue on the Town Meeting Day ballot. Rutland-based Quinn Company submitted the lowest bid for a new metal roofing system for the school.

Traffic on Route 4 in Mendon yesterday was stopped for a while near Town Line Road while crews work to clear up an overturned water truck. The truck, hauling 5-gallon drinking water jugs, slowed for a vehicle at about 9:30AM and the driver lost control on the icy road, according to police. The truck overturned and blocked all three lanes of Route 4 necessitating the closure. The driver was uninjured.

A group of federal, state and Middlebury representatives met on Tuesday to discuss the future of the East Middlebury stretch of the Middlebury River. They discussed the town’s legal parameters, planning problems, funding sources and the environmental issues involved. The town’s first step in dealing with flood hazards along East Middlebury is to conduct two engineering and river studies. FEMA’s Public Assistance Program will fund the majority of repairs to the East Middlebury floodwall, just below the Grist Mill Bridge.

Rutland’s new interim police chief said yesterday he wants to change an environment and culture at the city’s police department that has detracted from its goal of serving the public and contributed to problems in the ranks. In his first meeting with the city’s Police Commission interim Chief James Baker said he spent his first two days at the department listening and assessing.

Harrison Rich wanted a place in history and on November 7th he got it. Rich, a sixth grade student at Moriah Central School, was officially the first person to cross the new Champlain Bridge when it opened. Rich methodically worked his way through the crowd until he was standing directly behind the dignitaries attending the formal ribbon cutting ceremony on the Crown Point side of the span. Rich was recognized for his accomplishment during a ceremony at Moriah Central School on Thursday. Vermont House Rep. Diane Lanpher presented Rich with a framed photo of him running across the span that day and Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward of New York gave Rich a certificate from the state Assembly marking his feat.

Vermont State Police have found a Vermont man who had been reported missing by his wife Tuesday. Police contacted Douglas Andrews of Barton around 2PM Thursday. They say he is safe and visiting family out of state. On Monday, his wife said he drove two people to Pennsylvania and planned on returning home the same day. When he didn't return home, she involved police.

2 of the 12 inmates from Vermont charged with participating in a riot at a Massachusetts county jail have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to an additional year behind bars. All 12 inmates charged are from Vermont, doing time in Massachusetts under an agreement with Vermont prison officials.

Two Vermont firefighters are trying to change a state law that covers people receiving workers compensation. Michael Richards and Jason Stech, both volunteer firefighters for Colchester, gave testimony in front of a senate committee Thursday. They are trying to eliminate the part of the law that states "in the line of duty." They feel that if you are working for the station, you should still be compensated if you are hurt. Both men hope their testimony will start the process of changing the law.

The Vermont House has quickly advanced a bill that would save money for towns hard-hit by Tropical Storm Irene. The bill allows towns to defer their education tax payments to the state until late February. Manchester Democrat Jeff Wilson said the legislation would help towns such as Jamaica and Wardsboro, whose budgets were overwhelmed by Irene-related damage. The money was due in December, but state Treasurer Beth Pearce said towns could delay the payments as long as the Legislature quickly changed the law.

Senator Patrick Leahy is the sponsor of a controversial bill that aims to prevent Internet piracy - the problem of rogue websites distributing copyrighted data that they don't own. Critics of the bill include technology entrepreneurs, services like YouTube and free-speech advocates who say the law would stifle legal online activity. Supporters say the bill goes after illegal websites and protects the intellectual property of content creators. Leahy has stated he was willing to compromise on one aspect of the so-called Protect IP Act. He said he's going to drop a provision that would require service providers to block or redirect users from accessing illegal sites. The Protect IP Act still faces a contentious closure debate later this month in the US Senate.

Vermont saw its lowest number of highway fatalities since 1944 last year, but a national group says the state could do even better if it passed more highway safety laws. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety released its annual report card this week on how states are doing in making their roads safer. Vermont gets a "yellow light" from the association for having 8.5 of the 15 laws recommended by the group. Among requirements Vermont doesn't have are ignition interlocks for all drunk drivers and enhanced penalties for driving drunk with children in the car. The group also wants Vermont to increase the age for getting a learner's permit from 15 to 16 and add more restrictions on teen drivers.

For the next few weeks most Middlebury College students will learn about topics ranging from adventure writing to Motown. Returning from holiday break, students have begun Winter term classes, known casually as J-term. Over the next four weeks students take courses on a wide variety of topics, many of which they are not able to explore during a full semester. The classes meet for eight hours a week allowing them to explore a single topic more deeply.

The four programs that contributed student artwork, poetry, essays and photography to the Vermont Folklife Center’s “Learning with the Land” exhibit, encourages a unique style of learning. From growing vegetables to building primitive shelters, the Walden Project, Monkton Central School’s Salad Days, EarthWalk Vermont and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps high school leadership program are all using nature-based education to structure learning.

You could say they put the “mock” in democracy. The musical, political parody group Capitol Steps returns to Rutland’s Paramount Theatre for a performance at 8PM on Saturday January 21st. The evening features the popular Washington, D.C.-based ensemble performing songs from its latest album “Liberal Shop of Horrors”, as well as new material, updated to the news of the day. Tickets may be purchased online at www.paramountlive.org or at the box office at 30 Center St. in downtown Rutland.

WVTK Local & State News January 12, 2012

2012-01-12T00:23:00.000-08:00

Your Forecast For Addison & Essex County: A Winter Weather Advisory is in Effect for Addison, Rutland & Essex County New York. Snow and Mixed Precipitation are expected throughout the day. Rutland County is also under a Wind Advisory through this afternoon.

A storm off the coast of New England is expected to bring just what many winter sports enthusiasts have been longing for: snow. Vermont is expected to get anywhere from 3 to 6 inches today, followed by sleet or freezing rain. The forecast is welcome news for winter tourism businesses.

At this week’s Middlebury Select-Board meeting Project Manager Amy Sheldon reported on the work of the River Management Task Force during the month of December and in January to date. Planning Commission Chairperson Nancy Malcolm gave the Board an overview of the Town Planning process and a status report on the update. The current Town Plan expires in June and the Planning Commission has been working diligently to prepare a revised Town Plan for review in a series of public meetings both before the Planning Commission and Select-Board in the coming months before the plan is re-adopted. Meanwhile Fire Station Committee Members updated the Board on the project, which is progressing as anticipated, on time and on budget. If the bond for the project is approved at Town Meeting, the construction of the stations will begin the first week of May 2012. And the proposed preliminary FY13 General Fund Budget is warned for public hearing on Tuesday, January 17th at 7:30PM. Stay up to date and get further details on the Town Of Middlebury’s website.

A volunteer firefighter and his two-year-old son have been released from the hospital after a blaze broke out at their home. Cornwall resident Bob Stone and his son were in the bathroom when he heard popping noises and the lights began to flicker. Investigators said the fire started by the kitchen stove, but a cause hasn't been determined yet. Volunteer firefighters said they arrived just in time to prevent a total loss. They said the blaze didn't extend far beyond the kitchen and likely caused about $20,000 worth of damage. Bob and his son had minor smoke inhalation and went to the hospital as a precaution. Crews from Middlebury and Weybridge assisted on the fire.

Heavy snowfall is more than just a problem on roads and sidewalks. It can wreak major havoc around the home. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority advises homeowners to watch out for the development of dangerous icicles and ice dams on roofs that can cause serious structural damage. Heavy snowfall, followed by days of freezing temperatures and sudden sunny days are conditions that cause dams.

Gov. Peter Shumlin is putting the final touches on his plan for how to spend your money. Shumlin will outline his spending priorities in a budget address today. The governor says rebuilding the state after Irene will be a big focus. He also plans to propose investing more in higher education and job training. He wants to revamp how state government works and would like to consolidate workers and agencies. He says that means some state workers will relocate to Barre.

As Gov. Andrew Cuomo prepares to release his proposed 2012-13 budget next week, a state official says state agencies are cutting another 2.5 percent from their spending. The chairwoman of the new state ethics commission says that all agencies are cutting 2.5 percent. Cuomo's budget division won't say if all agencies, or even overall agency spending, will be cut by 2.5 percent. That won't be released until Cuomo presents his budget to the Legislature on Tuesday. Agencies including the public university systems have been cut for three years.

Vermont State Police said they are receiving complaints about “mystery shopper” scams. They said people have gotten offers about making purchases at stores, working on behalf of retailers and product manufacturers. The prospective shopper is asked to deposit a check into their bank account, then withdraw the money and send a specified amount via Western Union to a destination typically outside of the United States, and then asked to evaluate the customer service they received. Police said although it appears to be an easy way to make some extra money after the holidays, consumers should be skeptical of the offer.

The first radio towers and microwave dishes for the new multi-million-dollar Essex County public-safety radio system should start going up this year. The entire communications network should be ready for use by spring 2013 according to the Essex County Emergency Services Director. The purchase of end-user radios, for fire departments, police and the rest, will be funded with a $2 million state grant.

The state Department of Taxes says it has contacted the three people who, due to a computer glitch, had access to Social Security numbers and other personal information belonging to people and businesses that were part of a weekly property tax data package. The department says 2 of the three could not even open or see the data file, as it was corrupted. They did not share the file with anyone and destroyed it.

The Vermont National Guard is hosting the North American Cup series biathlon races this weekend. The races will be held on a course at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho. The event will include a mix of top U.S. and Canadian civilian biathletes competing alongside National Guard biathletes.

A teacher from Saxtons River has been fired after becoming the target of a police investigation. The Vermont Academy tells the Brattleboro Reformer that Brant Nelson was terminated last week after the school learned about criminal activity that Nelson was allegedly engaged in. Neither police nor the school are releasing any details about the investigation. Nelson has not been arrested.

Turning milk into cheese, apples into cider and trees into furniture are the keys to keeping Vermont's working landscape vital in the future. That's the idea behind a bill introduced yesterday by a group of lawmakers and the Vermont Working Landscape Partnership. The bill calls for a new fund to be set up for loans and grants to small entrepreneurs who are trying to add value to the raw materials harvested in Vermont.

Republicans in the Vermont House say they want to cut funding for a housing and land conservation program they've long targeted, and put the money into helping the victims of Tropical Storm Irene. That was 1 of the goals outlined by House Republican Leader Don Turner this week. This year, Turner says he'd use the money to create a low or no-interest loan fund for people who had lost their homes due to flooding from Irene. With only 48 Republicans out of 150 House members, that and other proposals outlined by Turner are deemed unlikely to pass, at least as the versions that the Republicans are proposing.

The Shumlin Administration wants the public to have more of a role in managing Vermont's statewide electric grid. The suggestion for more public oversight came as regulators review the planned sale of Vermont's largest electric company. GazMetro of Montreal won the right to buy CVPS and merge it with Green Mountain Power. The combined company would own a majority stake in the Vermont Electric Power Company, which manages the statewide transmission network. But critics questioned if the deal would concentrate too much control into one, Canadian-owned corporation.

Vermonter Tommy Watson saw an elderly man die at a school soccer game last fall, and has been on a mission since then to get people trained to do cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. The Williston Central School eighth-grader traveled to the Statehouse on Wednesday to urge passage of legislation that would require that all Vermonters get CPR training before they graduate from high school.

An Eden man has been sentenced to 2½ years in prison on charges of selling stolen gold coins and assaulting a prison official. A federal judge also sentenced 31-year-old Joshua Benjamin to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $201,000 to the victim of the theft.

The Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union will host their its annual cell phone drive January and February. Cell phones donated at TFCU branches will be given to the STOP Domestic Violence Center in Essex County where they will be turned into emergency 911 phones for domestic violence survivors. More than 200 phones have been collected through TFCU’s previous drives.

For nearly half of 13-year old Courtney Clark’s life, her father has been in war zones with the U.S. Army. She’s a student at Moriah Central School and is a member of the Moriah Central School girl’s choir, which has been selected to perform this spring at Disney World in Florida. Members of the group have been raising money to make the trip. To help out he Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 19-3 contributed $850 while the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 19-2 of Fort Drum donated $350 and the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 26-2 of Vermont gave $250 for Courtney’s Disney adventure. Overall the Moriah choir must raise about $28,000 to cover the costs of the trip.

The blues are coming to Ticonderoga. Knights of Columbus Council 333 will host a “Mid-Winter Blues Night” Saturday, January 28th at its lounge on Montcalm Street. The event will include a happy hour 6 to 8 p.m. and the show 8 to 11PM. Ernie Williams and his band will be the featured performers. Tickets are priced at $15 a person and $25 a couple.

Hinesburg Winter Carnival kicks off February 11th at 8AM. The day will be filled with a variety of activities for young and old alike. It starts with the annual town waffle breakfast held at the Hinesburg Community School. In addition there will be children's activities including crafts, face painting, and a visit by Clifford the Big Red Dog. Admission to the waffle breakfast is $6 for adults, $4 for children 3-12 and children under age 2 are free. The waffle breakfast is a benefit for the Hinesburg Nursery School, a non-profit, parent cooperative preschool operating for over 30 years in the heart of the village.

WVTK Local & State News January 11, 2012

2012-01-11T00:20:00.000-08:00

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night, adding to a first-place finish in last week’s Iowa caucuses and establishing himself as the man to beat for the Republican presidential nomination. Texas Rep. Ron Paul led former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman for second place, with Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum trailing.

The Vermont Tax Department is scrambling to protect personal information after it says a computer problem left Social Security numbers for more than 1,300 people exposed on the department's website Monday. Federal Employee ID numbers for 245 businesses were also involved. The department says the information was accessible for about two hours. It is sending letters to people impacted by the breach. It is encouraging taxpayers with questions to call or email the department. The department says it will post updates on its website. (866-348-4038 or Tax.DataProtection@state.vt.us) -- www.state.vt.us/tax/DataProtection.shtml.

Vermont State Police in New Haven have located the body of 19-year-old Levi G. Duclos of New Haven. He had been reported by his family to Vermont State Police as an overdue hiker last evening and was noted to have been an experienced hiker. Troopers found him just before noon yesterday along the Emily Proctor Trail in Ripton. His death is believed to have been accidental, with no indication of foul play at this time.

The Vermont State Police in New Haven are investigating the theft of 350 feet of copper wire stolen from the Pulp Mill Bridge restoration project. The theft occurred between 5:00PM on Monday and 7:00AM on Tuesday of this week. Anyone with any information is urged to contact the State Police in New Haven. (388-4919)

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Acorn Energy Solar One was held last week behind the Middlebury Police Station. Representatives of the three main partners, Co-operative Insurance Companies of Middlebury, the Town of Middlebury and the Acorn Energy Co-op along with others, attended the ceremony. The project received its final inspections and began producing electricity during the last week of December. The ground mounted solar array is expected to generate 172,500-kilowatt hours of electricity each year, which is enough to provide electricity for around 30 average homes. The Acorn Energy Co-op is actively considering a follow-up solar project for 2012.

On November 27th at approximately 11PM Vermont State Police were called to a reported burglary located on Woodland Drive in Bristol. The investigation revealed that an individual broke into the residence while the owners were home. Numerous items were broken and vandalized inside the residence. Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call the Vermont State Police New Haven Barracks. (802-388-4919)

Last night the School Board adopted the Rutland school district spending plan for next year, which is up 1.7 percent. State representative and board member Peter Fagan cast the only “no” vote Tuesday for a budget he said was too much for taxpayers to handle. The majority of Board members were in favor of the new, slightly-increased spending plan after 18 teaching and staff positions were cut this year. Voters will have the final say on the budget Town Meeting Day this March.

Essex County Social Services Commissioner John O'Neill won preliminary appointment to a new five-year term Monday. He will receive no increase in his annual salary, since the county has frozen the pay of management-level workers. O’Neill was unanimously reappointed by the County Board of Supervisors Human Services Committee but will need a final vote at the board's regular February meeting.

There will not be a Fred LaPann Memorial Road Race in 2012. The 5-mile race had been held for more than a decade as part of the annual Hague Winter Weekend. Other events will be held the weekend of Feb. 18 and 19 in Hague, although the schedule is not yet finalized. Organizers say many members of the local running community are now older and spend their winters in the south, depleting the race field. For information on the Hague Winter Weekend call the Hague Chamber of Commerce. (543-6441)

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin's statements that he plans to move some state workers displaced by flooding from Waterbury to Barre is drawing fire from some lawmakers. Sen. Robert Hartwell, who chairs the Senate committee that oversees state buildings, says lawmakers are awaiting the recommendations in a report from an architectural firm, which aren't due until early March. He says lawmakers then have to vet the proposals. He says the governor is getting ahead of the process.

For those renting apartments in Vermont, the state could be putting more money in your pocket. Senator Vince Illuzzi is working to get a bill passed that would get renters their annual tax rebates, sooner. Right now, a person has to rent for a full year before they're eligible and Illuzzi says they shouldn't have to wait that long. The legislation is still in its early stages and a Senate committee is discussing the potential changes.

Vermont towns devastated by Tropical Storm Irene could soon get some much-needed support from the state. Many people have applied for property tax reductions since Irene, leaving municipalities to make up the difference. However, there may be a plan that Republicans and Democrats can agree on to solve the problem. Lawmakers are working on a new proposal that would keep everyone from paying higher taxes to make up the difference. Lawmakers are only one week into the session and the House has already approved the bill. The bill is expected to make its way to the Senate floor by the end of this week.

Officials with Vermont's only nuclear power plant aren't commenting on a new lawsuit filed by the state's two largest electric utilities over failures in the plant's cooling towers that required the utilities to buy expensive replacement power. Green Mountain Power and the Central Vermont Public Service Corp. are seeking $6.6 million. The utilities say the owner of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant in Vernon didn't live up to its obligation to use "good utility practice" prior to the failures of the towers in 2007 and 2008.

Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos announced last week that records relating to the first hundred years of the Vermont Constitution, including proposals of amendments, are now available online. Condos said, “The records of the Vermont Council of Censors, 1777-1870 provide unique insights not only into the evolution of our state constitution but also on persisting issues such as the nature of representation, constitutions, and citizenship.” The records can be found by visiting http://vermont-archives.org/publications/publicat/pdf/Council_of_Censors.pdf.

Some Vermont farmers are struggling to get through the winter after Tropical Storm Irene swamped the state in August, damaging corn and hay they were growing to feed their livestock. The timing of the destruction couldn't be worse. Feed prices have risen nationwide amid a hay shortage caused by drought in the Southwest. Flooding from Irene damaged only about 6,000 of the 92,000 acres of corn grown for feed in Vermont. But the water was concentrated in certain areas, hitting some farmers hard.

A total of 6 Vermont schools have received waivers for administering this year's statewide assessment exam. That's thanks, in part, to Tropical Storm Irene, which forced the displacement of students in the weeks following devastating flooding. In central Vermont, Moretown Elementary held classes outside of school for nearly three weeks because of flood damage to their building. Five schools in the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union have also received waivers. Those schools started late because of Irene, and then were closed in October during the Bennington teachers strike.

Repair work has started on a covered bridge that crosses the Connecticut River between New Hampshire and Vermont. The work on the Mt. Orne Covered Bridge connects Lancaster, New Hampshire, with Lunenburg, Vermont. It's expected to take three months to complete and will allow for the opening of the 100-year-old wooden bridge, which has been closed to traffic since May 2010.

Vermont Public Safety officials say the number of people who died on the state's roadways last year was the smallest since 1944. The figures follow national numbers that showed fatalities and injuries at their lowest level since 1949.

While attending Mount Abraham Union High School Rory Jackson signed up to be a member of a Vermont Global Village Project student trip to Ghana. After graduation, Jackson had an opportunity to visit Ghana again. The return visit inspired him to place deeper roots there and he eventually made a significant personal investment by purchasing 10 acres of seaside land in the village of Cape Three Points. On January 19th, from 7-8:30PM, Jackson will meet the public at the Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol as part the library’s stellar One World Library Project series of events. You can learn more at www.oneworldlibraryproject.org.

The Schroon Lake Fish & Game Club will host its 20th annual ice fishing derby. The event is slated for Saturday and Sunday, March 3rd and 4th. Fishing will start at daylight on Saturday and end at 4 p.m. on Sunday. All fish must be weighed in at the clubhouse by 4 p.m. Sunday. All fish must be caught in the designated waters of Schroon Lake. Tickets must be purchased prior to fishing to be eligible for any prizes. This includes children who have tip-ups out.

There is a Vermont man running for President. There is nothing conventional about Democratic presidential candidate Ed Cowan. The 73-year old Democrat says he's driven from his home in Moretown to New Hampshire every day to campaign since registering to run in the in state's democratic primary in October. Cowan says he's running on a 5 question platform that includes what he calls the nuclear tipped arms race, population growth, the corporate market economy, the disparity between the rich and the poor, and the environment. Cowan says military spending is out of control. With just $300 in campaign contributions and no political experience, the author and teacher knows his chances of unseating president Barack Obama are slim at best.

WVTK Local & State News January 10, 2012

2012-01-10T00:15:00.000-08:00

Two Vermont men have pleaded no contest to catching an endangered lake sturgeon. Dhan Gurung of Winooski and Kamal Pradhan of South Burlington were arrested by game wardens in July after catching the 35-inch sturgeon from Otter Creek in Ferrisburgh. The lake sturgeon is on Vermont's State Endangered Species List. The men were fined $516 a piece and must pay $1000 in restitution. Their licenses they have to hunt, fish or trap in Vermont will be revoked for three years, and they will be required to take a remedial course before being eligible for licenses again.

An alumnus and trustee of Middlebury College recently gifted the college 377 acres of land in Cornwall bordering the school’s historic campus. Willard T. Jackson, a 1951 Middlebury graduate, began donating land parcels to the college in 2007. The final and largest section of 269 acres was donated in December and includes Jackson’s Cornwall home, Taproot. The property, located along Route 125 and Cider Mill Road, is larger than the college’s main campus of 350 acres.

Wind power has arrived at the Northlands Job Corps campus and is capable of powering 20 homes. The installation of the 121-foot-tall wind turbine on the north end of the Northlands Job Corps campus was completed at the end of December. The windmill will be owned and operated by Green Mountain Power, but the Vergennes job-training center will receive 10 percent of its power output. In 2011, Northlands applied for and won the right to host the first wind turbine installation of the Green Mountain Power and Northern Power Systems Community Wind Partnership, which was created to promote local wind power.

The Hub teen center in Bristol has seen the facility and its resources grow and the programming has expanded substantially. And thanks to some substantial grants, all of this has happened without a serious impact on local taxes. The average weekly visits increased from slightly over 64 in April to 106 in November. Organizers have found that keeping kids busy with things they like to do also keeps them out of trouble. The Hub is also attracting other new visitors. The Mount Abe football team this fall reviewed game tapes there, and it’s often used during the day for tutoring.

Heading into its second year, Hogback Community College has doubled its course offerings and is expanding it’s classes to incorporate courses in health, acting and even home brewing. The first classes start later this month with some getting under way later in the spring. The college is based in the five-town region around Bristol and is and offshoot of Vermont Family Forests, which is a local nonprofit dedicated to environmental conservation.

Community College of Vermont students will have a shiny new building waiting for them when classes resume January 23rd in Rutland. The recently completed 32,000-square-foot building at the corner of West and Wales Streets offers more classes and larger classrooms for the 800 students who study in about 140 classes at the Rutland campus each regular semester. The school will hold a grand opening ceremony in February for the more than $8 million project.

All interested families are welcome to visit Christ the King School and Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Rutland during the schools’ upcoming winter open houses in the upcoming weeks. Mount Saint Joseph Academy will hold its open house at 7PM Thursday, January 26th. Christ the King School's open house will take place at 5:30PM Thursday February 2nd. Tuition assistance programs are available. No RSVP is necessary to attend either open house. For more information visit www.rutlandcatholicschools.org.

Everyone has a role to play as schools take measures to prevent bullying including parents. That’s why Crown Point Central School will host a bullying prevention program for parents Thursday, January 19th at 6PM. The program has been billed “Promoting Respect and Acceptance at CPCS.” Last fall Crown Point school adopted a Bullying Prevention Program that has been used successfully in schools all over the country and around the world.

Elizabethtown Community Hospital has entered into a process to purchase the Smith House clinic in Willsboro. The hospital is awaiting state approval, which is expected by Spring. ECH officials said the purchase price wouldn’t be released until the sale is finalized and the information becomes public record.

Individuals and groups have banded together in Essex, NY to erect new signs, beautify and provide activities throughout the year. Two new signs have been installed at the western and northern ends of the hamlet of Essex by a group of volunteers called the Beautification Committee. They obtained a grant from the Essex Community Fund/Adirondack Community Trust to pay for one and raised private funds for the other. Each sign cost around $1,300.

Seven candidates have filed to be on the ballot in Vermont's presidential primary in March. The Republicans are Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Rich Santorum and Jon Huntsman. The lone Democrat is Barack Obama.

Pilots with the Vermont Air National Guard will be practicing night missions this month. F-16 aircraft will be taking off and landing in South Burlington after dark on several nights throughout the rest of the month. The trainings start today.

Vermont's former Agriculture Secretary Roger Allbee is joining Vermont Technical College as a consultant and advisor to the school's president. One of the school's areas of growth is in diversified agriculture. VTC president Philip Conroy says Albee's broad interest in the field makes him well equipped to help it respond to new developments in the industry.

Burlington city council voted 8-6 to ban smoking around Church Street. The proposal would prohibit smoking in almost all downtown areas from 9 in the morning to 9 at night. The penalty for violating the ordinance ranges from $50 to $100 dollars, although officers will first have to give out a warning.

An industrial kitchen with professional ovens and mixers may not seem like the traditional business incubator, but its creators hope it'll lead to the next Ben and Jerry's or Cabot cheese. The nearly $4 million Vermont Food Venture Center in Hardwick features 15,000 square feet of industrial kitchen space, funded with a mix of federal and state money, and grants. Economic development leaders say the center should be a model for states looking to add value to farm products.

Officials with the Vermont Transportation Agency and other groups are going to be talking about improving services at the Newport State Airport. The expansion will benefit Newport and other communities, including the Jay Peak ski resort and other businesses along the U.S. Canadian border.

Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott is thanking the Vermonters who offered him support after a fire destroyed the building that housed his business, DuBois Construction in Middlesex. Scott says friends, colleagues in the Legislature and state government as well as competitors have expressed their condolences and offered help. He says he's "honored and humbled" by the support.

New data from the Vermont Department of Mental Health appear to add fuel to the fire of criticism that several drugs widely used with the mentally ill raise the risk of diabetes in those patients. The Department of Mental Health looked at Medicaid recipients who were getting drugs known as atypical antipsychotic medications in 2005 and found them 60% more likely than those not getting the drugs to have diabetes.

Two Burlington police officers are being credited with possibly saving the life of a man threatening to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge linking the Vermont cities of Burlington and Winooski. A passer-by spotted the 41-year-old male Saturday night. He was on the top of the bridge rail. Officer Jennifer Cousins was the first to arrive and found the man sitting on the railing with his legs over the rail and threatening to jump. Police also brought in trained negotiator Officer Laura Pezzulo.

New York auditors report widespread compliance by local governments with the 2 percent property tax cap imposed by state law, though 177 exercised the option to pass resolutions or local laws and exceed that limit. The State Comptroller says the next challenge will come when the cap takes effect for school districts working on their 2012-2013 budgets. The cap was pushed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and approved by the Legislature in June. It generally limits annual increases to 2 percent or the inflation rate.

In just a few weeks, Addison County musician Mark LaVoie will be heading to the tropics on a sold-out luxury cruise. The East Monkton harmonica player forms one part of a blues-roots duo with New York City-based blues singer Bill Sims Jr. They will be one of nearly 30 groups to perform aboard the weeklong Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise in the Caribbean.

Fort Ticonderoga’s new winter series of programs begins on Sunday, January 22nd at 2PM with a “Winter Landscape Snowshoe Trek.” People can discover Fort Ticonderoga’s landscape while exploring the wide variety of tree species that grow along the shores of Lake Champlain near the historic fort and King’s Garden. The cost is $10 a person and will be collected at the door. It is free for members of the Friends of Fort Ticonderoga. Participants must provide their own snowshoes. Learn more at www.Fort-Ticonderoga.org.

The last 24 hours have seen a number of changes to the Burlington areas restaurant scene. Two Friendly's shops closed for good and a popular southern burger joint had customers lining up out the door for its grand opening. Freshly made burgers and hand-cut fries brought big business to the new Five Guys restaurant in South Burlington Monday. Five Guys will be keeping a close eye on the Shelburne Road location. If it is successful, the chain could add restaurants on Church Street, in Williston and Rutland.

WVTK Local & State News January 9, 2012

2012-01-09T00:18:00.000-08:00

As of December 31st the Addison County Humane Society has raised a little over $878,000 towards their total project goal of $1.12 million for the Homeward Bound Campaign. They have organized a “Promotions Committee” which is comprise of approximately fifteen highly dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers! They will work to create events and fundraising activities specifically targeted towards “Homeward Bound”. To donate, just visit www.addisonhumane.org or call 388-1100. Hobbes appreciates your support!

Vermont State Police are investigating the report of a theft of a catalytic converter from a 2008 Toyota Tacoma from Starksboro. The estimated value of the converter is approximately $300. Community members in the Starksboro/Monkton areas are urged to be vigilant of suspicious individuals and or persons on their property near their vehicles. Anyone with information is asked to contact VSP in New Haven. (802-388-4919)

The Westport Central School District Board of Education will hold its monthly meeting this Thursday at 6PM in the library. The agenda will include budget discussion, financial reports, and extracurricular appointments. Meetings are open to the public.

The Rutland City Police Department has a new interim chief: retired state police Col. James Baker. A committee assigned to find a new police chief hired Baker, who recently served as the interim head of both the Vermont Police Academy and the Manchester Police Department, last Thursday night. His hiring won’t be official until the Board of Aldermen votes this month on whether to ratify a proposed contract.

The owners of the downtown Rutland shopping plaza say the property’s listing is about $2.6 million too high. Centro Heritage, which owns the plaza, has appealed the assessment to Rutland civil court. The property, which includes Wal-Mart, Price Chopper and the stores in between, is listed at $16,511,400. Centro says the value should be adjusted by the city’s common level of appraisal.

A local airport project, years in the making, is underway. And efforts by the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce and Rutland Economic Development Corporation who advocated for an Instrument Landing System at Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport appear to be paying off. The $1 million upgrade is expected to be completed and fully operational by November. Tom Donahue of the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce said that Rutland is the second busiest airport in Vermont and now serves much of southern Vermont as well as the greater Rutland region.

The new Moriah Town Courthouse is open and getting a lot of business. Weekly court sessions and arraignments for Moriah Town Court take place there and the Moriah Town Council meetings are also being held in the new structure next to the Town Hall on Park Place in Port Henry. Students from the Champlain Valley Technical Education Center in Mineville built the courthouse and the town paid for the materials.

Potential buyers have expressed interest in the Horace Nye Nursing Home. Essex County put the 100-bed facility on the market last year, saying it was going to lose several million dollars this year. And the county still owes more than five million from past years. Several private firms have expressed interest in taking over the facility. Officials would not elaborate on the details of the deal saying negotiations were ongoing.

A new residency task force will get to the bottom of Essex County's problems with non-resident workers. The Essex County Board of Supervisors has been threatening for months to take action against employees who violate the requirement mandating residency. Some employees have waivers, and nurses have been exempted because finding them is difficult, but another 10 or so workers apparently never moved to the county after hiring.

One of Upstate New York’s most prominent Elvis impersonators, Joseph E. Ramsey, and his wife Angela J. Ramsey have been arrested and arraigned on felony charges relating to welfare fraud. Police said the two failed to inaccurately report their total household income, particularly Joe Ramsey’s earnings as an Elvis tribute artist. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the County Department of Social Services imposed the charges following an investigation. They have been ordered to return to court on February 6th.

Northern New York farmers interested in learning how such social media as blogs, Facebook, Twitter and RSS work can attend a workshop set for the region in January. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop computer. The registration deadline is January 17th. A workshop will be held in Plattsburgh from 5 to 9PM Tuesday, January 17th at Plattsburgh State. Computers are provided, but space is limited. A $15 fee includes dinner. For more information or to register contact Laurie Davis at lsd22@cornell.edu. (Or call 962-4810, Ext. 0)

State workers who lost their jobs when Tropical Storm Irene flooded the state office complex in Waterbury want their jobs back. Dozens of displaced workers from the state office complex rallied Saturday in Waterbury, asking the state commit to re-building there. Nearly 20-percent of the state's employees worked at the Waterbury complex. Governor Peter Shumlin says he'll address the issue in his budget speech to the Legislature planned for Thursday.

Money will be on the minds of Vermont lawmakers this week. On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on the budget adjustment bill. It's expected the budget this year will be adjusted by more than $25 million, mostly to try and help pay for Irene recovery. On Thursday, Governor Shumlin will lay out his spending plan for the coming year. The governor has signaled that he wants to increase spending on higher education.

Sen. Bernie Sanders says he is going to introduce legislation to reauthorize the Older Americans Act, which supports Meals on Wheels and other programs for older Americans. Sanders is the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging, which has jurisdiction over the Older Americans Act. It can help with meals, home-care, coordinating long-term care, job training, and legal services. He plans to introduce the legislation later this month.

Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott says a construction business in which he's part-owner will reopen tomorrow, less than three days after a building was destroyed by fire. Scott says electricity and telephones have been set up in a trailer at DuBois Construction Inc. in Middlesex. A fire engulfed office files, destroyed heavy equipment and triggered explosions Friday night. The cause hasn't been determined.

Police say three people are dead in an apparent murder-suicide in Hartford. Deputy Chief Leonard Roberts says in a news release that a family friend contacted police Friday night asking them to check on residents who hadn't been heard from in several days.

The president of Southern Vermont College in Bennington is taking a 1-year leave of absence so she can take a senior position in the U.S. Department of Education. Karen Goss will begin her leave on January 17th. During Goss's absence, the college's chief operating officer, James Beckwith, will serve as acting president.

More than four-months after Tropical Storm Irene hit Vermont, Governor Peter Shumlin says there are lessons for Vermonters to learn. The governor says the Irene Recovery Report documents the storm damage and the response including what worked and what did not. State Irene Recovery Officer Neale Lunderville says the report suggests 48 changes. Those include designing longer bridges, building homes away from flood prone areas and requiring fuel tanks to be tied down. Lunderville says some changes will require new laws, others just a change in attitude. He says all of them will help the state run better not just when a disaster strikes. Shumlin says the number one lesson from Irene is for Vermonters to take weather more seriously.

Vermont Soldiers Angels is getting ready for Valentine's Day. The group met at Creative Habitat to write Valentine's Day cards for soldiers deployed overseas. The idea is to make sure every soldier feels like they are not forgotten. If you would like to send letters or package to troops overseas, email Barbara at vtsoldiersangels@aol.com.

There was a changing of the guard Sunday for Vermont's Green Mountain Boys. In a ceremony at their South Burlington Base, The Vermont Air National Guard appointed a new wing commander. Colonel David Baczewski assumed command from Colonel Douglas Fick, who has been on the job nearly four years. He is a Command Pilot with more than 36-hundred flying hours including 477 Combat hours.

The third annual Ticonderoga Winter Fest will be held Saturday, February 11th. It’s a day of outdoor recreation. Winter Fest 2012 will be held from 11AM to 2PM in and around Ticonderoga’s Bicentennial Park. It will feature sledding, ice-skating, broomball, snowshoeing, snowmobile rides and fun runs. Winter Fest is free to all but they do encourage you to bring a donation for the Ticonderoga Food Pantry suggesting either $2 or two non-perishable food item donation.

Gardeners, homesteaders, and local food lovers will find many workshops to choose from at the 30th Annual Winter Conference put on by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont. Taking place February 10-12 at the University of Vermont in Burlington, the conference will feature over 70 workshops, including hands-on workshops such as Lactofermentation, Making Fruit Wines at Home, and Cooking New American Foods. Learn more, browse workshops, and register at www.nofavt.org. (Or call 802-434-4122)

While most folks celebrating their 90th birthday would be happily enjoying retirement, Robert De Cormier was in the middle of directing a chorus rehearsal whereupon the 100 members of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus erupted into “Happy Birthday!” De Cormier is the founding director of the VSO Chorus and he and its members were rehearsing at Rutland’s Trinity Episcopal Church on Saturday afternoon. De Cormier will conduct the VSO and VSO Chorus in both Fauré and Mozart Requiems on January 28th at Burlington’s Flynn Center and January 29th at Rutland’s Paramount Theatre.

WVTK Local & State News January 6, 2012

2012-01-06T00:23:00.000-08:00

Gov. Peter Shumlin says that he and everyone in his administration are committed to continuing to bring new jobs to the state. Shumlin made the comments yesterday during his 37-minute state-of-the state speech at the Statehouse in Montpelier in which he thanked those involved in the recovery from Tropical Storm Irene and vowed to avoid any increases in broad-based taxes to close a $46 million budget gap. Shumlin's speech was interrupted about 25 times by applause from a Legislature made up largely of the governor's fellow Democrats.

Vermont State Police are currently investigating a burglary of a Salisbury residence on Route 7. Police did not release the name of the robbery victim or the specific location of the residence. Numerous items were reported missing to include firearms, jewelry, liquor and other personal belongings. Approximately $6,500 worth of belongings was stolen, according to police. Anybody with any information is asked to contact the Vermont State Police New Haven Barracks. (802-388-4919)

Police say a 23-year-old Vermont man died from injuries he suffered during a car crash in Shelburne Wednesday. A medical examiner says Jonathan Leach of Rutland died Wednesday night. Police say Leach was driving on Spear Street a little after midnight when he failed to make a turn and smashed into a tree. When rescue crews arrived, Leach was unresponsive and taken to Fletcher Allen Health Care. Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.

State police say a local woman was drunk behind the wheel when her truck crashed on Twitchell Hill Road on Tuesday. Jill Devoe was uninjured in the crash but a Breathalyzer test at the scene indicated that Devoe’s blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal 0.08 percent limit for driving, police said. She was travelling east on the road at about 2:22PM Tuesday when her truck crashed into a guardrail and went off the road. Devoe was arrested for drunken driving and issued a citation to appear in Middlebury criminal court.

The Addison County Chamber Of Commerce and the Ticonderoga Chamber will be hosting Mixers on Thursday, January 19th. The first Addison County Chamber Mixer of 2012 will be held at Café Provence in Brandon from 5-7PM. You can join in on an evening of great food and drinks, door prizes, pot of gold and more! For more information and to RSVP to Sue Hoxie just visit www.addisoncounty.com. The Ti Chamber’s “After Business Mixer” will be held at Sugar Hill Manor Bed & Breakfast in Crown Point from 5:30 to 7PM. Sponsors providing door prizes will be Best Western Plus Ticonderoga Inn & Suites, International Paper, Sugar & Spice Country Shoppe and the Wagon Wheel Restaurant. More info can be found at www.ticonderogany.com.

According to the Second Language Study Committee report Addison Central Supervisory Union schools should try to offer second-language instruction for all children in grades kindergarten through 7. Providing language instruction at the elementary level, committee members reasoned, would allow students to achieve decent proficiency by grade 8 and likely allow the ACSU to do without the fifth level of instruction currently offered at MUHS. Plans now call for the individual school boards to discuss the study committee’s report and its implications for their respective operations.

According to local appraisers unlike many areas of the nation the bottom has not fallen out of the Addison County real estate market in the past three or four years. However the market does not appear to be booming either. Appraisers acknowledge softness in the local market, especially in the middle price range. Meanwhile, the higher end of the market has shown some life. One local appraiser sees hope for the real estate market coming from some encouraging economic news, including decent preliminary retail numbers from the holiday season, and Vermont’s relatively low unemployment rate.

The town of Bristol is rethinking gravel extraction. Earlier this week the Bristol Planning Commission decided to throw out the conflicting maps they had been working on and restart the process of defining the zone. They appear deadlocked over where to draw the boundaries for a zone where gravel extraction would be prohibited.

The Addison County Relocalization Network is introducing the new Farm to School Entrepreneur Awards. They will honor students working on food-related projects. ACORN hopes to see projects boosting everything from agriculture and farming to nutrition and food awareness efforts within schools. Part of the goal is to encourage students to participate in food and agriculture efforts outside of the cafeteria.

The Addison County Community Trust will acquire and renovate Hancock’s most prominent affordable housing apartment building. This will preserve the low-cost rental units for at least the next 20 years. For the past 30 years the five-unit Mountain View project on Route 125 has accommodated low-income tenants under the federal Section 8 housing program. That program pays rental subsidies for tenants earning less than 50 percent of the area median household income, which is currently $35,750 for a family of four.

Rutland Mayor Christopher Louras wants to hear what people think should become of the West Street Armory. The building is slated to go up for sale. The city will hold a public forum on the building’s future at 7PM Wednesday, followed by a meeting of the General Committee on the same subject.

A total of 19 people from seven states have become sick from salmonella linked to ground beef sold by Hannaford supermarket. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday most of the victims indicated they bought the beef between October 12th and December 10th. The Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford supermarket chain announced on December 15th that it was recalling ground beef with a sell-by date of December 17th or earlier. The CDC says the recalled beef may still be in consumers' homes. The company says customers should return or dispose of ground beef with the December 17th or earlier sell-by dates.

An incubator for new food businesses has opened in Vermont. The 15,000-square-foot Vermont Food Venture Center is located in Hardwick and officials say it's taking a key role in Vermont's agricultural renaissance. The facility allows startup businesses to use equipment and space and get technical assistance to process foods into new products. A grand opening takes place this afternoon.

It's on to the Vermont Senate for a bill that would have the state tax commissioner reimburse towns that have made tax abatements for property owners who suffered damage from Tropical Storm Irene. The House passed the measure on a voice vote Thursday, and it's expected to win easy passage in the Senate.

The former director of the Vermont Film Commission now heads up the state Office of Creative Economy, a new post. Joe Bookchin says the office will be a resource for people in artistic and intellectual businesses and entrepreneurs who contribute culturally and economically to the state, such as web and graphics arts designers, performing artists, architects and filmmakers. Bookchin said the office would help people find out information about loans, grants and workforce development. The goal is to help create jobs and contribute to the economy.

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a draft environmental impact report that provides a straightforward construction path for two new hydroelectric facilities on Vermont's West River. The Brattleboro Reformer reports the hydroelectric generation facilities near the Townshend and Ball Mountain dams in Jamaica are the first hydro projects since 1987 to receive water quality certificates from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.
Providing health care coverage is a big cost for many small business owners in Vermont.

Yesterday, members of the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce came together to voice their support for changes in the health care reform law proposed by Senators Vince Illuzzi and Hinda Miller. Illuzzi has said if health care costs becomes prohibitively expensive businesses will drop coverage for their employees and providers will leave the state.

A Fletcher Allen Health Care doctor addicted to pain meds is facing sanctions, but not criminal charges, for writing herself prescriptions. Dr. Anne Johnston specializes in neo-natal intensive care. The attorney general's office says she wrote prescriptions for nonexistent patients, and then used several pharmacies in the Williston area to get the drugs. But Attorney General Bill Sorrell says he is not charging her now because she is a skilled physician and the hospital supports her. Johnston is on probation for the next decade with the Medical Practice Board. She cannot prescribe any medication and must undergo random drug testing.

The director of University of Vermont's student health center has been cleared of allegations that the center improperly prescribed opiate painkillers to student patients. The state Medical Practice Board voted on Thursday to reject a recommendation that Dr. Jon Porter be found guilty of unprofessional conduct but not face any disciplinary action. Porter told the Burlington Free Press that the decision was a "good action." Assistant Attorney General David Groff says the state may consider appealing the decision to the Vermont Supreme Court.

The Olympic venues are waiting for New York's top youth athletes. The Empire State Winter Games begin February 1st with a torch run, and regional planners expect some 1,000 winter competitors to test their training where world Olympians have played. With a little less than a month to go before opening ceremonies, Winter Games coordinators said that they're ready. It is the largest multi-sport event for youth in the United States.

The Vermont Folklife Center of Middlebury’s 13th Annual Gingerbread Competition was a dazzling display of creations from the Rockefeller Center in New York to a demolition derby this year. More than 4,600 community members, including 30 classrooms were enchanted by the likes of the Colchester Reef Lighthouse at Shelburne Museum, Snoopy snoozing on his doghouse, and the new Champlain Bridge. The prize of Middlebury Money was bestowed on the designers and makers of 14 different creations.

Nominations are being called for the 2012 CVPS-Zetterstrom Environmental Award. The CVPS-Zetterstrom Environmental Award was presented for the first time in 2010, and is presented annually to one person, business, group or non-profit to honor a significant contribution to Vermont’s environment. It will be accompanied by a $2,500 donation to the winner’s environmental cause. For a nomination application and more information, visit www.cvps.com/osprey.

The Paramount Theatre will present the world premiere of Scholastic’s “Clifford The Big Red Dog LIVE!” in the historic hall this evening at 7. It should be noted the curtain time has changed from the originally announced 8PM show. Celebrating 50 years in 2012, Scholastic’s “Clifford The Big Red Dog” has charmed and amazed children with his engaging adventures and “Big Ideas.” Now, kids will have a whole new way to experience the crimson canine. It’s sure to be fun for the whole family! For tickets and information just visit www.paramountlive.org.

A logo that has come to represent Vermonters’ resilience after Tropical Storm Irene is now set to adorn a commemorative license plate. The “I am Vermont Strong” plate was unveiled during Gov. Peter Shumlin’s State of the State address at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday. You will be able to display the “Vermont Strong” plate over their front license plate until June 30, 2014. The “Vermont Strong” plates can be pre-ordered for $25 at www.vtstrong.vermont.gov. From the proceeds, $18 will go to the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund and $2 will go to the Vermont Foodbank.

WVTK Local & State News January 5, 2012

2012-01-05T00:18:00.000-08:00

The 13th annual “Face Off Against Breast Cancer” hockey tournament is coming up this month. The all-female ice event is a big deal to hockey and sports fans here in Middlebury. This year’s cancer icy face off will take place at Middlebury College’s arena, January 21st – 22nd. The event brings together 12 women hockey teams from across Vermont. The teams compete in three recreational hockey divisions. The goal: raise funds for breast cancer research and development. The local tournament also raises money for the Vermont Cancer Patient Support Program, which offers patient services and an emergency fund free of charge. Last year, the Middlebury event raised $60,000 for area breast cancer patients. This year’s goal is $72,000!

FairPoint Communications says 225 more homes and businesses in the Vermont town of Granville now have access to high-speed Internet services. The utility is expanding its fiber optic network into areas that previously had no high-speed Internet capability. FairPoint says the new system provides Internet speeds of up to 15 megabytes per second.

A 20-year-old Vermont woman has been accused of writing about $2,500 in bad checks to a travel center. Megan Mahoney of Hubbardton was arrested on December 30th in Fair Haven following an investigation. Police say they received a complaint in September about checks she had written to the Fair Haven Travel Center and were returned marked as a closed account.

A public hearing and information meeting on the preliminary proposed town general fund FY13 budget will take place here in Middlebury on Tuesday, January 17th. This includes capital project funds. Your comments, suggestions and input are important and appreciated. Copies of the proposed budget may be obtained from the Town’s Website or at the Town Manager’s Office.

Proctor High School officials are soliciting more input from the community before they consider a study that would offer options for school union mergers or other ways to deliver education. A survey due January 13th was sent Wednesday to Proctor Elementary parents asking them eight questions including what they view as the high school’s strengths and weaknesses as well as what “quality” at the school means to them. The study was commissioned because of declining enrollment and “the desire to ensure quality and equity in education for all students.”

Rutland Downtown parking is about to get more expensive. The Board of Aldermen voted this week to give final approval to a group of changes designed to entice the state to offer lower prices and greater access to the downtown parking deck. While rates at short-term meters remain unchanged, long-term meters will cost 25 cents an hour and monthly parking passes will cost $35. The rate changes will take effect as soon as appropriate signs are put up and adjustments to equipment are made.

Three towns in Rutland County will be able to move forward with pedestrian safety and recreational projects using Vermont Transportation Enhancement Program grants. As part of $3.58 million in transportation enhancement grants awarded Wednesday to 20 Vermont communities, Poultney received $230,000 for pedestrian improvements in East Poultney, while Chittenden received $300,000 for a shared-use path. Rutland City also received $126,000 for section two of the Creek Path project.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s state of the state address offered little for North Country residents. The governor outlined a new economic development blueprint that invests billions of dollars in public-private sector partnerships and plans to rebuild infrastructure as a means of creating new jobs across the state during his hour-long speech yesterday but did not present any initiatives specifically for the region. Cuomo only mentioned the Adirondacks twice, once when announcing a second round of Regional Economic Development Awards and again when discussing the “New York’s Open for Business” tourism promotion effort.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he's creating a special commission to improve public schools, likely with competitive grants. Cuomo's move would avoid the problem faced by past governors who were stymied by the state Board of Regents, which sets education policy and is appointed by the Legislature. He has said he wants to change the debate over education from spending to student performance, noting New York trails 30 states in some measures.

According to a new survey by the Vermont Business Roundtable business growth is looking up. The outlook on sales capital expenditures and employment levels continues to improve for the first six months of 2012. The survey shows that 64 percent of Vermont businesses expect to see sales increase in 2012, 9 percent expect to see a drop and 27 percent expect no change. The Vermont Business Roundtable says that economic growth has been slow, but it is increasing steadily.

Gov. Peter Shumlin is expected to address continuing recovery from Tropical Storm Irene and to urge spending restraint as he delivers his State of the State address to lawmakers. Shumlin speaks to a joint assembly of Vermont lawmakers this afternoon at 2. He's expected to amplify recent statements thanking and praising Vermont transportation workers and others for their work in rebuilding the state's roads and bridges after the storm.

Four New England schools are among 100 public colleges and universities offering quality education at an affordable price. That's according to Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, whose newly released rankings placed the University of Connecticut at No. 30 nationwide - the highest among New England institutions. The University of Vermont was ranked at No. 59, while the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and University of New Hampshire were 96th and 100th, respectively.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is estimating Vermont could get about $240 million to help recover from Tropical Storm Irene and lesser flooding in the state last year. Of that figure, $72 million has already been paid to Vermonters and state and local governments working to recover from the floods. And FEMA is estimating there are about 4,300 additional recovery projects across the state that could receive about $168 million in federal aid. Statistics show that 8,418 people have registered with FEMA for disaster assistance.

Two women say a strange man at a South Burlington hotel attacked them. Police won't identify the hotel, but say the suspect jumped an employee Tuesday night and then groped a guest while she slept. Both women fought off their attacker. Police say he is white, heavy, and about 5'10" with scruffy facial hair. South Burlington police say people staying in the greater Burlington area should exercise caution.

Hundreds of people filled the American Legion Hall in White River Junction Wednesday night. While dozens more stood in line, all were there to tell the U.S. Postal Service, what they think about a plan to close the White River Processing Center. The Postal Service wants to consolidate the White River Junction facility with ones in Burlington and Manchester. Senator Bernie Sanders says that's a bad idea and it would slow down mail service throughout our region. The postal service says the plan will save about 8-million dollars a year and cost more than 50 jobs.

Yesterday, a handful of Vermont state senators left Montpelier to check out the condition of the state office complex in Waterbury as the clean up continues months after Irene. The Senate Institutions Committee is preparing for hearings on the future of the site. More than 1,000 people were displaced from this facility following the storm. Millions of dollars have already been spent to clean up the site and millions more will be needed if it's returned to its former capacity. Senator and gubernatorial candidate Randy Brock says solving the complex crisis is a top priority. Lawmakers need to weigh a number of factors as they plot a move forward.

Police say a growing number of people are abusing prescription drugs in Vermont but state leaders can't tell you just how big that number is. Two years ago the state started requiring pharmacies to report who was getting narcotics and where. However, the system is not able to track prescription information on Vermont residents that are out of state. The Department of Health says it has a solution: an interstate exchange program. If lawmakers approve it, Vermont would begin sharing information with New York and Massachusetts. Lawmakers will also have to consider how much of this information would be available to police.

Police say an elderly man died of natural causes before his bedroom caught fire in Essex Jct. Monday. Police say Donald Struthers was in his bedroom when the fire started around 4PM on Taft Street. His wife and grandson were able to get out safely. The Vermont State Police Fire Investigation Unit has ruled the fire accidental and not suspicious. The exact cause of Struthers death is not known at this time. Toxicology results are pending.

Less than three weeks after a homeless man was found dead near a downtown Burlington street corner, advocates for the homeless in Vermont came to the Statehouse and offered testimony to a legislative committee. Homeless shelter operators say they're dealing with growing numbers of veterans and working families with children in which the parents' wages are not enough to cover the cost of an apartment.

State officials say they may have recovered the missing emails that raised questions last month about the integrity of Vermont’s open records policies. Administration officials in December disclosed that a series of email correspondences had been erroneously deleted following a public records request filed by the state workers’ union. The commissioner of the Department of Information and Innovation, said that members of his staff have since recovered 3.5 gigabytes of stored memory that may include the requested emails.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Company is heading into its busiest time of year and is looking to hire 1,500 temporary workers. The company will pay seasonal employees $9 per hour. The new hires will be needed for the last week and January and the first week of February. A variety of jobs such as sewing, answering phones and taking orders are available. People can go right to the factory, fill out an application and receive an on the spot interview.

Wednesday was the last day of work for 105 employees at the Bombardier plant in Plattsburgh. The company says it had to close down its production line because of problems with a supplier. The plant turns out rail cars. The part in question holds wheels and axles to the car body. Bombardier says the line will remain closed until each unit is inspected. The company says it will rehire 40 workers by the end of February and the remaining 65 will come back once the production line is running again.

The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce has named its fall/winter “Five Hundred Dollar Friday” winners. Every Friday in December the Chamber gave away $500. Those wishing to participate in the fundraiser received a ticket for a chance to win for a $20 donation. All proceeds of the fundraiser were to benefit the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce in its efforts serve, market and promote the Ticonderoga area including, Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Hague, Moriah, and Putnam. Learn more about the Ti Chamber right now at www.ticonderogany.com.

The best chili cooks in Schroon Lake will face off to assist the local fire company. The inaugural Schroon Lake Chili Cook Off will be held Saturday, February 25 from 11AM to 2PM at Mountainside Bible Chapel. The event will benefit the Schroon Fire Department. For more information you can visit www.schroonlakechilicookoff.org.

WVTK Local & State News January 4, 2012

2012-01-04T00:26:00.000-08:00

The Town of Middlebury will begin the Painter Hills water line and road improvement project this summer. The cost of the project is estimated at $22,076. According to the project plan the Painter Hills water main and related hydro valves and fire hydrants will be replaced. In addition to the water system, neglected culverts will be replaced and in some cases cleaned. The project will also include a Juniper Lane cul-de-sac, and better grading at the Grey Ledge and Painter Hills Road area.

Officials say one firefighter was struck as an arson suspect drove his car through fire lines while Mountain Lake Services' Port Henry offices burned. The former worker at the organization for the developmentally disabled, Joseph P. King of Port Henry, was arrested by State Police on multiple counts, with charges of arson of a structure and a motor vehicle pending. Officials said King had driven through the fire scene at about midnight Sunday, running over hoses and ladders.

Police have identified the pedestrian killed by a car while crossing a street in Rutland as a 54-year-old Connecticut woman. Nancee L. Gell, of Norwalk was visiting Rutland and trying to cross South Main Street at about 8PM Sunday when she was hit by a car driven by a 16-year-old juvenile. Police say alcohol was not a factor in the crash and it does not appear that the driver was speeding. Rain may have affected visibility. The victim was wearing dark clothing.

The Westport Town Council organizational meeting will be held at 3:30 Thursday afternoon at the Town Hall. This is a special meeting. The next regular Town Council meeting will be at 7PM Tuesday, January 10th. All meetings are open to the public.

The Brandon Town Players will hold auditions for “Moon Over Buffalo” at 7PM February 2nd – 4th at First Congregational Church of Brandon. An additional will be held at 4PM February 5th in the event of a winter storm. The cast consists of four men and four women ranging in age from 20s and up. For more information, contact director Tim Rice at 558-5653.

The Middlebury men's hockey team will offer its annual "Skate With The Panthers" following the 4:00PM Trinity game this Saturday. Friends of Panther Hockey will provide photos to be signed by the players, with the Kenyon Arena ice open for skating alongside the Panthers. The Panthers will also have a "white-out" game on Friday, January 13th against Plattsburgh at 7:00PM. All fans in attendance are encouraged to wear white to the game.

Vermont State Police completed a Burglary investigation concerning a recreational vehicle that had been broken into in May of 2011 at Kampersville in Salisbury. At the time of the initial complaint DNA was secured from the door of the R.V. and sent to the Vermont Forensic Lab for analysis. A suspect, Justin R. Schroeder was developed based on a prior blood sample he provided. After matching evidence was found he was booked and cited for Burglary on Monday. Schroeder will be required to appear in Addison District court to answer to those charges on January 30th.

The Middlebury Ski Bum League is fast approaching. Skiers and snowboarders are encouraged to participate. The SBL is a series of ten races on Friday afternoons held at the Snow Bowl. You can form a team of at least three people or be added to an existing team. This is a series designed to have fun, if the Olympics are in your future it’s not for you! The first race is January 13. Please contact Holmes Jacobs (holmesmjacobs@gmail.com) for more information.

The One World Library Project at the Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol will host the grand opening of their Kid’s Kiosk featuring new books for children about cultures around the world. Having spent the past three years developing the One World Library’s adult collection they are thrilled to expand to include recommended books and movies for younger readers. The celebration will take place on Saturday, January 14th from 10 to noon and will include a reading by Vermont author Alison James. The Lawrence Memorial Library has a full listing of items in the One-World Library in its online catalog.

Returning to the Statehouse for the first day of their 2012 session, Vermont lawmakers were greeted with some good fiscal news. The Legislature's Joint Fiscal Office reduced its estimate of a shortfall in the budget for the fiscal year that begins in six months from $74.5 million to about $46 million. Budget analysts are attributing the change to lowered projections for spending on the Medicaid public health insurance program for low-income residents.

The Vermont Senate has voted 28-1 to decline to override Governor Peter Shumlin's veto of a bill requiring water testing of private wells. The first substantial legislative action of 2012 came in response to a veto Shumlin issued in May of a bill lawmakers passed last year. Shumlin said he worried about imposing new costs on Vermonters during an economic downturn.

Vermont lawmakers got to work with members of the Emergency Board yesterday, approving extra money to help low-income Vermonters heat their homes. The $6.1-million will go to LIHEAP. Gov. Peter Shumlin says the additional money is needed because of cuts to the program in Washington, D.C. Now, $5 million will come from money the state has in reserves and about $1 million from weatherization programs.

A key lawmaker says she thinks the future of Vermont's mental health system can be resolved within a month. The chair of the House Human Services Committee, told fellow Democrats at a caucus yesterday that she believes lawmakers can reach a consensus on how to replace the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury that quickly. Gov. Peter Shumlin has proposed a new secure, acute-care facility in Berlin, expanded psychiatric facilities in Brattleboro and Rutland and additional community placements for those deemed eligible for them.

A federal ruling regarding the future of Vermont Yankee nuclear plant could come some times this week. Both sides say they expect a decision in the coming days. Yankee wants to stay open despite the state's attempts to shut the plant down when its operating license expires in March. No matter which side wins, an appeal is expected.

The U.S. Forest Service has approved the construction of 15 wind turbines in the Green Mountain National Forest in southern Vermont. The project planned for Searsburg and Readsboro was placed on a list of 14 infrastructure projects around the country to be given what federal officials are calling expedited environmental reviews and permitting. Central Vermont Public Service Corp. plans to take two-thirds of the power generated by it. Officials say the project will produce enough electricity to power 13,000 homes a year. The project is adjacent to another wind farm operated by Green Mountain Power Corp.

Vermont has awarded more than $409,000 in municipal planning grants to 42 communities across the state. The grants of up to $15,000 cover economic development, revitalization and housing projects. Communities have 18 months to complete their planning projects. Recipients include a number of flood-affected towns such as Waterbury, Rochester and Wilmington.

Vermont's road department is saving money so far this year due to the mild winter. But, independent snow-clearing companies are struggling to stay afloat with little work. Snow's delay allowed the state to complete repairs in the wake of Irene. Because the state transportation budget functions as a general road fund, the winter savings to date have helped offset some of the repair costs. A big storm like the Nor'easter that dropped 30 inches last March can cost the State one million dollars.

The lack of snow, warm weather and some rain combined for a less than stellar Christmas-New Year’s week for the state’s ski areas, which is the first and biggest holiday of the season. And it’s not just the lack of natural snow throughout the state that’s affected business. The lack of consistently cold temperatures in November and December haven’t been conducive to snowmaking. At Killington Resort skier visits were down 7 percent over the Christmas-New Year’s holiday from last year. For the rest of this week, temperatures are expected to cooperate as resorts turn out snow.

The Munroe family of Mendon has the honor of giving birth to Vermont’s first baby of the New Year. Danielle Munroe gave birth to premature baby Wells Fract Munroe at 12:25AM on January 1st. The baby was born at Porter Medical Center in Middlebury. Born 16 days early, baby Munroe weighed-in at six pounds, 13.5 ounces. Other New Year babies followed including one at Fletcher Allen at 1:45 AM and at Rutland Regional Medical Center at 7:09AM.

A native son and a visitor claimed top spots in the 10th annual Resolution Run in Ticonderoga on Sunday. Lee Gabler, a Ti High grad, toured the 3.1 miles in 16 minutes, 21 seconds to win the race. The LaChute Road Runners Club of Ticonderoga sponsored the race.

State officials estimate that Montana's population has surpassed 1 million people for the first time. The Governor’s office said Tuesday that state Census and Economic Information Center officials believe Montana passed the milestone sometime between November and December. If the state has passed the 1 million mark, that leaves just Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming as states having fewer than a million people.

While many gyms in other parts of the country tend to lose customers once their new year's resolutions have faded, Burlington gyms seem to stay busy year round. Men's Health Magazine says Burlington is the healthiest city in the country for men in 2012. Men's Health Magazine says Burlington is the healthiest city in the country for men in 2012. The magazine ranked 100 cities on 35 categories including; exercise, employment, and air quality. For the ladies who are wondering what the top city for healthiest women is, according to Women's Health Magazine the top city is Raleigh, North Carolina.

WVTK Local & State News January 3, 2012

2012-01-03T00:20:00.000-08:00

Police are looking for an armed suspect who stole medication from a Poultney woman. Police say a man entered 65-year-old Sheila Rockwell's home at around 7:00 last night and demanded medication from her. He then fled in an unknown direction. Police say a weapon was displayed during the incident but no one was hurt. The suspect is described as a white male wearing dark clothing, including a hoodie and a mask. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Police say the fire that damaged the Mountain Lake Services building in Port Henry, New York was intentionally set and they have a man in custody. The fire started late Sunday night on Main Street. Police have charged 43-year-old Joseph King for DUI, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. He has not been charged with arson. King use to work in the building, but hasn't been employed there since 2008. Damage to the building is estimated at $500,000. No one was injured during the blaze.

By the end of this year, there will be 7,747 more acres of land in Vermont that will never be developed. That’s the total acreage of new Vermont Land Trust conservation easement projects across the state, which includes 1,241 in Addison County. The easement ensures that forested and agricultural land will not be developed, however the forests can be sustainably harvested, fields can continue to be farmed, and the land can be used for recreational purposes.

For more than a decade, police officer Scott Fisher has walked the beat in Middlebury schools, maintaining the peace while dispensing wisdom, mediation and some kind words along the way. Fisher will be vacating his position of Middlebury School Resource Officer. This month he will be rotating back to the Middlebury policed headquarters to tend to some projects in anticipation of his retirement next year. Officer Chris Mason will succeed Fisher.

Vergennes aldermen have agreed to consider at a future meeting adopting a formal conflict of interest policy. The recommendation came from school board member Cheryl Brinkman and planner Alex McGuire, who asked aldermen to either consider adopting a conflict of interest policy or ordinance, or give residents the option of adopting one on Town Meeting Day.

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is wary of plans for a large wind power project that would be based around Grandpa's Knob in Castleton. Agency Secretary of Deb Markowitz said her staff met recently with the owner of Reunion Power of Manchester and his consultant and outlined several potential problems. Markowitz says there are numerous rare species and significant natural communities in the area. Reunion Power is considering up to 20 turbines in the Grandpa's Knob area.

A panel of top Vermont state officials who track fiscal issues is expected to approve Gov. Peter Shumlin's request for $6.1 million in state money to make up for cuts in federal heating assistance today. Federal aid to Vermont for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is being cut from last year's level of $27.5 million to $19.5 million this year. Shumlin's plan is to make up for most of that cut with $5.1 million from a fund set aside by lawmakers last year to guard against federal cuts.

There had been widespread speculation that a federal judge would decide the future of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant by the turn of the year. But so far, there's been no word. Vermont's Yankee's owner, New Orleans-based Entergy Corp., is suing to try to prevent Vermont from forcing the state's lone nuclear plant to shut down. Vermont Yankee's state operating permit expires March 21.

The Rural Vermont Board of Directors announced it has named Andrea Stander as the organization’s new director. Stander is a long-time central Vermont community organizer and political activist. Prior to being named Director for Rural Vermont, Stander served for a year as the executive director of the Vermont League of Conservation Voters after having helped organize the Get Out the Green Vote initiative during the 2010 election cycle.

Republican leaders say they're continuing to talk with potential candidates to challenge either Senator Bernie Sanders or Congressman Peter Welch, but so far no GOP candidates have announced intent to run in either race. Potential challengers will face an uphill battle on fundraising from the state, with Sanders already banking $2.3 million and Welch $1.1 million.

Rutland Police Commission Chairman Lawrence Jensen said an interim police chief could be named Thursday. Until then the Rutland City Police Department will function as if the chief was on vacation. Chief Anthony Bossi worked his final day at the department Friday. The City has three applicants seeking to serve as interim chief as the city searches for Bossi’s successor.

The federal agency in charge of investigating the illegal use and trafficking of firearms is assisting the Rutland Police Department in a case involving a gun fired downtown shortly after midnight on New Year’s Eve. A shot was fired downtown early Sunday morning at the corner of Center and Wales streets as hundreds of people gathered at bars to celebrate New Year’s Eve. No arrests had been made as of Monday morning. Anyone with information is asked to call police.

State Rep. Butch Shaw of Pittsford is hoping to protect Vermonters who might be disconnected from a public water system through a bill he will introduce during the new legislative session. The bill, named H.470, proposes to prohibit the discontinuance of a public water system until all disconnected customers have obtained an alternative drinking water supply. Shaw said he hopes the bill will protect the approximately 70 residents in Pittsford and Chittenden who will be disconnected from the Proctor water system as Proctor works to improve its water system.

Vermont’s local historical societies and museums are getting a shot in the arm during the New Year thanks a program started by the Vermont Historical Society. The Barre-based statewide organization announced that its Vermont Collections Care Mentoring Program will provide local volunteers, and paid staffers, with high-level training. For a group or museum to be eligible for the program, it must be a member of the Vermont Historical Society. Only institutional membership qualifies for the mentoring assistance. For more information or to request an application you contact Lisa Evans via e-mail lisa.evans@state.vt.us. (Phone: 802-479-8522)

A simple change in the weather makes all the difference in the world of skiing. The popular Vermont alpine destination is located atop the Green Mountain range a few miles east of Middlebury, along Route 125. They opened back on December 6th but the December 28th – 29th was the first significant snowfall of the season. More than 10 inches of white stuff helped transform the Snow Bowl into an alpine wonderland. More than 500 skiers and snowboarders rushed to the Snow Bowl to take advantage of the fresh snowfall.

The Essex County Department of Public Works is getting an extra $1 million for flood repairs in 2012, despite efforts to use some of those funds for existing road programs. The County Board of Supervisors granted Department of the Public Works Superintendent’s request to move $918,800 in unspent asphalt and project money from this year's budget to the flood account.

Vermonters who earn minimum wage are welcoming in the New Year with a raise. The state is increasing minimum wage to $8.46 per hour. That is a 31-cent increase, which will net full time workers an extra $645 per year. The change will affect more than 20,000 workers in the state.

Vermont lawmakers are set to return for the second half of their 2-year term with continued recovery from Tropical Storm Irene and balancing the state budget among the top items on the agenda. Both House and Senate convene at 10 this morning and are slated to pick up business where they left off when they adjourned last May, with the House to debate a bill requiring safe cleaning products in schools. The Senate will be taking up a possible override of a veto by Gov. Peter Shumlin of a bill requiring testing of private wells for arsenic and other toxic substances. But the big, longer-term issues will include how to close an estimated $75 million budget gap and paying for Irene recovery.

The Vermont utility building a 21-turbine commercial wind farm on Lowell Mountain says it's going to conserve 2,700 acres as a way to compensate for the land being developed as part of the project. Green Mountain Power says that last month the Vermont Public Service Board approved its plan to conserve 1,662 acres on two parcels in Eden. In addition, GMP has conserved 1,070 acres of land on Lowell Mountain away from the wind power project.

A specialty peanut butter manufacturer is making a go of it in a new Vermont town after losing its manufacturing facility to Tropical Storm Irene. The Vermont Peanut Butter Company has set up in new manufacturing space in Morrisville, about 20 miles up the road from its previous site in Waterbury. Founder Chris Kaiser started his gourmet peanut butter company in his kitchen in 2009. He says sales had doubled in the year before the setback with Irene.

A public meeting will be held on the future of the postal office in White River Junction. The U.S. Postal Service is looking to close 3,700 post offices nationwide and 250 mail processing centers, including the one in White River Junction. The $3 billion in cuts announced early this month would slow first-class mail service, ending next-day deliveries of stamped letters. The Postal Service has agreed to delay the closing of 252 mail processing centers and 3,700 local post offices until mid-May. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who helped push for the moratorium, plans to attend the meeting on Wednesday at 6PM at the American Legion Hall in White River Junction.

Neal White’s black and white photography is featured in prestigious venues around the world, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art, Washington’s Smithsonian Institution, Paris’s National Library of France, and now, Middlebury’s Ilsley Public Library. Through March 1, 10 of White’s most famous pictures that were selected by his wife, Elisabeth will be on display in the community meeting room at the Ilsley. Neal White will give a talk at the Ilsley Library on Tuesday. January 17, at 10:30AM and his photography can be viewed at nealwhiteportfolio.com. He will also be teaching classes this winter, more information is online at middleburystudioschool.org.

Twelfth Night will be celebrated with an ecumenical church service at the Penfield Homestead Museum. The event will be held this Sunday at 3PM at the Penfield Church, across the street from the Penfield Museum in Ironville. It will feature songs, scriptures and stories. There will also be light refreshments. It’s sponsored by the Museum and will feature members of the Crown Point Methodist Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the First Congregational Church. The Twelfth Night tradition dates to the Middle Ages. In early times, Christmas was 12 days of celebration, starting on December 25th and culminating on the 12th night, which was considered “Christmas Day.”

The Ticonderoga Kiwanis are thinking about warm weather. Members are now selling tickets for their annual “Win at 55” contest. Participants are asked to guess the date and time the temperature in Ticonderoga will reach 55 degrees. Win at 55’ is one way to keep folk’s spirits high during the winter months and to raise funds for the many community projects that Ti Kiwanis undertakes each year. Tickets will be sold through February 20th and the 55-degree day will be recorded after February 28th. All monies raised will be used to improve the community and or help area children.

The Town of Willsboro has enjoyed renewed interest since Willsboro native Sophie Clarke won the million-dollar prize on the latest season of "Survivor." Twelve years ago a former town councilman started the website, www.willsborony.com, to focus on tourism and points of interest in the area. The site has been going strong ever since, with about 1,000 hits a week. The Monday after Sophie won, the site had 12,000 hits. The community is hoping the recent attention will help increase the number of annual visitors and bring more money to the town.

WVTK Local & State News December 30, 2011

2011-12-30T01:07:00.000-08:00

On Jan 17th, Middlebury residents will be asked to comment on a proposed 2012-2013 municipal spending plan of $8,417,735, representing an increase of 1.74 percent that would require a 1.8-cent hike in the local property tax rate. The Middlebury Selectboard approved the budget for public hearing after agreeing on a combined total of $116,443 in cuts and revenue adjustments since November, when they first began putting together a fiscal year 2013 spending plan.

Crews have removed 68 mobile homes across the state that were heavily damaged from Irene-related flooding. The cost was covered by a deal worked out with Associated General Contractors of Vermont and funds raised by the Vermont Community Foundation and the Vermont Long Term Disaster Recovery Group.
There's no word on the cause of a fire that severely damaged the upper floors of a home in South Burlington. Multiple crews were called in to fight the blaze last night. The woman living there wasn't hurt. One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.
Some Vermont businesses can now renew their retail licenses online. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets has started a new online service for businesses to renew and pay for their annual retail products and weighing and measuring device licenses online. The new web service is intended to be more convenient and to save both businesses and state government time and money. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture has licensed more than 3,700 retail locations each year in retail and weights and measures categories and officials say that number is expected to grow.

A winter carnival that has been held in an Adirondack village for more than a century is getting some national exposure. The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports that National Geographic Traveler magazine ranks Saranac Lake's annual winter carnival the second-best in the world. Anchorage, Alaska's carnival was ranked No. 1 in the magazine's January-February 2012 issue. Saranac Lake's 114th winter carnival will be held Feb. 3 to 12.

Tropical Storm Irene left hundreds of Vermont mobile homes destroyed or in disarray. FEMA will award to the homeowners an average of $4,500; not enough to cover removal of the damaged units and replace them. But a post-Irene deconstruction team set out to help and has just finished the first phase of a $300,000 privately-funded effort.

Rutland city’s Tropical Storm Irene relief fund tripled in size. Representatives of Restoring Rutland and the Rutland Country Club, presented Mayor Christopher Louras with $13,500 for the fund. The money comes from a fundraiser held at the club in September and subsequent donations. “With my job, I couldn’t get out into the community to help out and I was looking for a way to help out,” said Greg Nelson, the country club’s head golf professional. Nelson organized the benefit tournament and solicited donations from club members he thought would be willing to help. Early on, he said he contacted Louras for recommendations on a charitable organization to work with. Louras offered several, he said, and he picked Restoring Rutland.

Schroon Lake will have a new holiday celebration this year.
The Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce has dropped sponsorship of its annual Old Tyme Christmas celebration after 25 years. Instead, the chamber will have it’s First Night Dec. 31. The Chamber President said “Our entire purpose is to help local businesses and we feel a First Night can be a boost.” The family-oriented evening will include magic, music, dancing, children’s activities, food, a bonfire and fireworks.

With a lack of snow in Boston and New York, conditions kept people from coming to ski in Vermont. The Director of public affairs for the Vermont Ski Areas Association said an advertising blitz is under way to tell people living in points south who are suffering from “back yard syndrome” that Vermont ski slopes are white and open for business. This week, she posted updates on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, telling would-be tourists of falling snow, and temperatures across most of Vermont.

New York plans to keep reimbursing counties for monitoring convicted drunk drivers who are required to install ignition interlock devices on their vehicles. The Governor's Traffic Safety Committee has awarded $3 million to continue reimbursement for a second year. The devices, with more than 5,000 installed statewide, require the driver to blow into them. The vehicle won't start if even trace amounts of alcohol are detected.

WVTK Local & State News December 29, 2011

2011-12-29T01:15:00.000-08:00

According to FAA officials, there is no evidence to suggest that an engine failed on a plane that made an emergency landing shortly after take off at the Burlington International Airport Wednesday morning.
The Chicago-bound United Airlines flight landed safely just before 6:30 a.m. in South Burlington after being in the air for about 10 minutes. No injuries were reported. The FAA says the crew had a report of smoke in the cargo area and as a result they shutdown the generator to engine one. This did not cut power to the engine, said the FAA. The plane can carry up to 70 people, but it isn't known how many were on board.

Police arrest two people who are being accused of burglarizing a Fair Haven home on Christmas. Police say Crystal Mahoney, 28, and Griffith Mahoney, 24, allegedly entered the home on Grape Street without permission and stole a TV valued at $500. Crystal admitted her role in the theft to police. Griffith was taken into custody Tuesday. Both are scheduled to appear in Rutland District Court at a later date

A Vermont man has been taken into custody for threatening to shoot people at Fletcher Allen Health Care in order to see the mother of his unborn child. Police say Bryan Poulin, 43, of Burlington wanted to see the mother of his child, but she is in custody of the Department of Corrections and is not allowed visitors. Police say Poulin called the hospital Tuesday night and said he was going to bring people and ammo too, "put people down."Because of that threat, Burlington police increased security at the hospital. Police later arrested Poulin in Winooski and charged him with simple assault. If convicted, he could see one year of jail time and or a $1,000 fine.

The Pulp Mill bridge connecting Middlebury and Weybridge will shut down Jan. 3 for about 10 months.The bridge over Otter Creek is about 192 years old and in need of rehabilitation, a news release stated. It is not expected to reopen until Nov. 16. The pedestrian bridge next to the covered bridge will remain open during the construction work except for occasional closures when crane work is taking place nearby. The bridge was used much from folks working at Middlebury College and other local business’s. For the $1.6 million project, .workers are planning to replace deteriorating portions of the bridge, install new siding and metal roofing and redo approaches to the bridge.

Mount Abe School talked about funding the 2012-2013 school budget, Mount Abraham Union High School Principal Andy Kepes offered the school board at its meeting an even slimmer spending plan that would decrease spending by 1.9 percent from this year’s $11,309,068 budget.
Icy roads caused multiple accidents on Interstate 89 yesterday afternoon. Vermont State Police say the interstate was closed from Waterbury to Richmond because of crashes. Drivers were advised to seek other routes and to use extreme caution on all roadways. It was also reported, “It looked like a parking lot.”
Twenty-two Vermonters have been nominated to attend The United States service academies. They were selected by Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch through a competitive voting process. The names will be sent to the academies, which will make the final decision on who is picked.

An effort to save the jobs of 10 Essex County employees fell short Dec. 27.Chesterfield Supervisor Gerald Morrow, who moved the resolution to re-instate the 9.6 positions affecting 10 employees, said that he was surprised more supervisors did not vote in favor of the measure. “It would cost us money to get rid of these people,” Morrow said. ”I think this is pretty much done now unless we could figure out another way.” Morrow said that if the resolution would have passed, he was going to suggest using the money budgeted for unemployment and other benefit funds to pay for the positions. His motion included further discussion on employee funding at the board’s Jan. 3 meeting.

Vermont state officials say they're sticking with a decade-old policy of encouraging new development in village and town centers, even though most of them are in flood plains. State officials say they've been re-examining that policy since the remnants of Hurricane Irene in late August flooded many village and town centers. Secretary of Natural Resources Deb Markowitz says protecting against floods is expensive and it makes the most sense to focus development on areas that already have infrastructure devoted to that. She adds that building outside town centers often worsens flood conditions because parking lots and roofs don't allow the ground to absorb storm water. Lawrence Miller, secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, says it's not feasible to consider moving Vermont's town centers out of flood plains.

A Manchester family got a rude awakening when a man broke into their home and started hitting the homeowner with a stick. John Horan, 62, is facing assault and trespassing charges. Police said the Rhode Island man appeared to have suffered a severe mental breakdown and believed that he owned the home, reportedly telling the homeowner, "This is my house" and "You're mine." One person in the home suffered minor injuries. Horan will now undergo a hearing.

The Vermont Senate may take the first step this coming session to change the state constitution to allow candidates for governor and lieutenant governor to win if they get the most votes, not necessarily a majority as the constitution currently requires.
The governor's and lieutenant governor's races in the 2010 elections were decided by the Legislature because the front runners did not win a majority vote, only a plurality. The Senate is expected to consider the proposed amendment, which also would extend the terms of statewide elected officials from two to four years. It's hard to amend the Vermont Constitution. The measure must pass the 30-member Senate with 20 votes, then pass the House by a majority. In the next legislative session, it must be approved by majorities in each chamber. It then goes to voters for their decision.

WVTK Local & State News December 28, 2011

2011-12-28T01:10:00.000-08:00

Vermont State Police are investigating a Burglary which took place in the Town of Monkton. Unknown individual(s) forced entry into a secured camp and pump house located at a camp. The unknown individual(s) damaged two hasps while breaking into the camp which are valued at approximately $15. Nothing was stolen from the camp. It is suspected the individual(s) who entered the camp where possibly looking for copper pipe as cabinets in the kitchen near the kitchen sink were left open. The pump house was also entered which contains piping as well. There was plastic piping in the camp and not copper pipe. Anyone with information or leads is asked to contact VSP New Haven at 1-802-388-4919

Drivers in New York will have to abide by a new law. Changes to New York's "Move Over Law" will take effect. Right now, state law requires drivers to shift lanes if at all possible when approaching flashing police lights. The law is now being expanded to also include tow trucks and other emergency vehicles. Drivers that fail to change lanes can face hefty fines.

In 2011. The state lost lawmakers. One was Richard Mallary, who had a 60-year career in public service, including a stint as a U.S. representative from Vermont during the Watergate era. John Murphy of Ludlow served 30 years in the Vermont Legislature until stepping down in 1998. Helen Stafford, widow of former U.S. Sen. Robert Stafford, R-Vt., died in February. Vermont lost several media figures. Stuart Hall, the warm, friendly weather forecaster for Channel 3 from 1954 to 1990, died in September at age 90. John Curran, the versatile Associated Press reporter and bureau chief, died in September at age 54. The state also lost artists. The eminent American poet and former Vermont poet laureate Ruth Stone of Goshen died in November. George Tooker, known for his haunting and luminous paintings, died in April. Free spirit Poppa Neutrino, an adventurer and environmentalist, died in January.

Police are investigating the theft of a diamond ring from a jewelry store at the Burlington Town Center. Police say a man asked to see the ring yesterday at the Zales Jewelry store, then took the ring and ran off. The ring is valued at about $3,200.

A sex offender who was granted probation last week after reaching a plea deal must stay in jail because he doesn't have an acceptable place to live. Scott French was deemed to be at high risk to commit another crime. He has until January 27th to find a place to live.

An incident at the Rutland jail last March involving an inmate who was held naked in a cell for more than two hours prompted an internal investigation by the Department of Corrections and a lawsuit by the former inmate who is seeking at least $200,000 in damages. State officials at the jail and Department of Corrections Commissioner Andrew Pallito have declined to comment on the incident due to the lawsuit filed in Rutland civil court. Incarcerating an inmate without clothing isn’t expressly prohibited under DOC policy. But removing their clothing as a form of punishment is off limits. “At no time will inmates be deprived of clothing ... as a means of punishment,” the DOC policy relating to custody and security in a correctional facility states. Correspondence between the jail’s perintendent and the state’s director of correctional facilities, William Lawhorn, suggest there were concerns about the incident at the highest level. In an email Lawhorn sent to Superintendent Phillip Fernandez in April, the director said he had a number of concerns. “He was made to stay in a cell naked for several hours.” Was this punishment? What is the justification and where is the documentation? The on-coming shift supervisor returned his clothing, so it appears as though there was not a justification for removing the clothes.” Lawhorn’s email also included an order for more information about who was involved, what was documented and “what you are doing so that it never happens again.”

The administration of Gov. Peter Shumlin is scrambling to come up with a plan by early January to attack what it openly acknowledges is a prescription opiate abuse problem of epidemic proportions in the state. “It’s grown so fast it’s like you’re in a tidal wave,” Shumlin’s aide Susan Bartlett said in an interview last week, speaking of the substantial addiction levels and how to confront them. “We just want to make sure we can pull something together that will work. It needs to be real.” A new Health Department memo prepared for the state Legislature’s Corrections Oversight Committee and made public offered a fresh look at the dimensions of the problem. According to the memo, 5,900 Vermonters received out-patient treatment for substance abuse problems in the last year, many of them people addicted to prescription opiates. More than half were people who were in the custody of the state’s Corrections Department. In addition, the memo said 127 people were on waiting lists for residential treatment programs and another 445 were on waiting lists at the state’s only two methadone clinics, in Burlington and St. Johnsbury.

Mohawk Valley GIS, creators of the NYSnowmobileWebMap.com interactive trail map and trip planner website, has just released a trail app for Android smart phone users. The iPhone version is currently in beta test and will be available shortly. The app features trail coverage for 45 counties in New York. Trails, intersections, sponsoring businesses and current GPS location’s all display without reception. Choice of street view, satellite or hybrid background maps display with reception. Users can create a route before heading out or check the mileage of any trail segment. Most importantly, riders can feel safe in unfamiliar terrain knowing that their GPS location and the trails and intersections will always display regardless of tower reception. Route creation and trail mileage checks will work regardless of reception availability also. The project is now in its third year. Snowmobile clubs can benefit from the new profit-sharing model, introduced for this season, along with numerous other new web map offerings. Complete details and screenshots for the Snowmobiling New York State app are available on the NYSnowmobileWebMap.com website, along with contact information for questions or to suggest new features.

Firefighters say a construction worker saved a Burlington family from an early morning blaze. The fire broke out yesterday at a home on Caroline Street in the city's south end. It is the home of UVM head basketball coach John Becker. A construction worker doing a project nearby noticed the flames on the back porch and began banging on the door until the family woke up. Fire investigators say fireplace ash disposed of in a paper bag sparked the blaze. Firefighters knocked down the flames before the blaze had a chance to damage too much of the home. "The porch was full of paper product and had that tenant opened the door they would have introduced themselves to huge plume of fire and smoke, and we know from experience that would have been of tragic consequence," Burlington Fire Marshal Terry Francis said. Fire officials say wood ash can burn for up to three days. They remind folks that it should be disposed of in a metal container with a secure lid far from the house.

The Vermont Senate may take the first step this coming session to change the state constitution to allow candidates for governor and lieutenant governor to win if they get the most votes, not necessarily a majority as the constitution currently requires.
The governor's and lieutenant governor's races in the 2010 elections were decided by the Legislature because the front runners did not win a majority vote, only a plurality. The Senate is expected to consider the proposed amendment, which also would extend the terms of statewide elected officials from two to four years. It's hard to amend the Vermont Constitution. The measure must pass the 30-member Senate with 20 votes, then pass the House by a majority. In the next legislative session, it must be approved by majorities in each chamber. It then goes to voters for their decision.

A new pain killer has drug abuse experts worried. Drug companies are working to develop a pure, more powerful version of the nation's second most-abused medicine. That has addiction experts worried that it could spur a new wave of abuse. The new pills contain the addictive painkiller hydrocodone. They pack up to 10 times the amount of the drug as medications such as Vicodin. If approved, it would mark the first time patients could legally buy pure hydrocodone. Existing products combine the drug with non addictive painkillers. Critics say abusers might crush the pills to get high. That's exactly what people do with oxycodone, which is the most-abused medicine in the U.S. The pharmaceutical firms say the new drugs give doctors another tool to help patients manage pain. The companies also say patients will be more closely supervised.

CVPS announced a $10,000 company donation and $100,000 in matching funds for CVPS Shareheat, a last-resort program that provides emergency fuel assistance to hundreds of Vermont families each year. “With federal cutbacks in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Shareheat will be more important than ever this winter,” CVPS spokesman Steve Costello said. “As a result, CVPS is making a special $10,000 donation to Shareheat, in addition to a pledge of $100,000 in funds to match customer contributions dollar for dollar.” The $10,000 grant will be divided and paid immediately to five community action agencies that administer Shareheat funds, with the $100,000 going out as customer contributions are received and matched this winter. Donations may be mailed with a CVPS payment, or sent separately to CVPS Shareheat, 77 Grove St., Rutland, VT 05701. Vermonters who need help with a winter heating crisis should contact their local community action agency for assistance.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg says New Yorkers are living longer than ever. The mayor detailed new health stats on Tuesday showing babies born in the city in 2009 have a record-high life expectancy of 80.6 years. That's an increase of 3 years since 2000 and 2½ years better than the most recently reported national average. Bloomberg and health care officials announced the figures in a maternity ward Hospital. They said anti-smoking initiatives and HIV prevention programs are helping city residents live longer. The officials said drug-related deaths and the infant mortality rate also have fallen.

WVTKLocal & State News December 27, 2011

2011-12-27T01:05:00.000-08:00

The historic Pulp Mill Bridge will close on Jan. 2 for an estimated 10 months of extensive repairs designed to make the span more structurally secure and durable. The 192-year-old, double-laned Bridge links Middlebury with Weybridge across Otter Creek. With some structure deterioration and other deficiencies, the span has needed repairs for several years and has been limited to one vehicle per lane at a time. But the project schedule has a funding package, had to wait for completion of the Cross Street Bridge, and deal with the discovery of bat inhabitants within the span. All of those issues have been resolved, to the extent that New York-based Alpine Construction will begin working on the Pulp Mill Bridge on Jan. 2, according to Mark Sargent, project manager for the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Alpine won the bridge repair project with a bid of 1.7 million dollars.

“Survivor” champion and hometown hero Sophie Clarke will make her first public appearance in the region at her alma mater. Clarke will be at the Willsboro Central School on Wednesday, Dec. 28, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. School Superintendent Stephen Broadwell said “I reached out to Sophie and asked her if she would be willing to come in, He also said that the majority of the hallway and, in some cases, classroom conversation has centered around the 2007 graduate’s exploits after being named the winner of the show “Survivor: South Pacific” Dec. 18.

Tropical Storm Irene dumped a lot of water on Rutland but also held it back. While Rutland did not have the same sort of flooding as many other communities, homes on Meadow Street, Cleveland Avenue and other city streets suffered water damage. The inlet from Mendon Brook to the Rutland reservoir was destroyed. The city had a 30-day supply in the reservoir, and conservation measures were adopted to stretch that out. A back-up supply worked briefly before failing, but helped buy the city time. Mendon Brook again began flowing into the reservoir in mid-September. Mayor Christopher Louras said he still could not offer a precise estimate of the city’s damages. “Working with FEMA, it’s a broad range of anywhere between $1 to $1.6 (million) total cost, with no indication of how much is reimbursable,” he said. “FEMA is still breaking it down into individual projects.”

It’s the beginning of a critical vacation week period for ski resorts across the Northeast. A record, mild fall that featured minimal natural snowfall led to a slow start for the ski industry this year. Resorts have had to rely heavily on the costly process of manmade snowmaking early this season. Officials are hoping for a big turnout this week despite the difficult start. Bonnie Macpherson with Okemo said "There are a couple vacation periods that are a big percentage of our business overall. The rest of the week is important too, but those holiday weeks are just crucial to our overall season.

Vermont's Governor says he has a new plan to keep you safer on the roads this winter. At a news conference , Governor Peter Shumlin said it starts with giving more power to road crews when it comes to salt and brine. "There was some feeling among some of the hard working men and women that are keeping our roads safe, that for budgetary reasons they couldn't allocate what they thought was right," Shumlin said. Under the new plan, road crews can determine how much salt or brine to use regardless of what their higher-ups say or the cost. Plus, there are other changes including using brine on more locations around the State. "Salt brine is something we've been using in districts five and eight which is Colchester area and St. Albans area. It will be expanding to district three which is the Rutland area this year. And you'll also see it down I-89 in Washington County," Vtrans Operations Director Scott Rogers said. Vtrans says brine, which is a combination of salt and water, is far more effective than salt.

Middlebury’s 2012 Chili Fest will be held Saturday, March 10, according to a decision made by the town Select Board.The Board’s approval was needed to close Main Street, from Seymour Street to the Cross Street Bridge and Merchants Row from South Pleasant Street. This year’s event will start at noon and close at 6 p.m. Similar to the 2011 event, the Board approved the northeast side of the Main Street traffic rotary for the event’s beverage tent.

Ticonderoga residents still have time to comment on a proposed revision of the town’s zoning law. About two dozen people attended a public hearing on the measure Dec. 8, most expressing concerns with the changes. Many of the complaints centered on the process, which included a residents committee, a paid consultant and a series of public information meetings. Others voiced concerns about their individual situations. The proposed law is available at the town clerk’s office. There is no deadline for comments, but Malaney expects the town board to act on the proposed law before March 31. The zoning revision project is

The UD-3 school board is considering cuts to driver’s education, dance, art and foreign languages in order to limit the increase in the 2012-2013 spending plan to around 3 percent. The UD-3 budget includes expenses for Middlebury Union middle and high schools. School directors earlier this month reviewed a 2012-2013 budget draft of $16,247,714, reflecting a 4.1-percent increase in spending just to cover contracted teacher salary raises and benefits, projected hikes in fuel and electricity costs and a rise in special education transportation expenses.

On the day after Christmas, shoppers sought great deals and retailers looked to close out the season in the black. This Christmas was a little brighter for retailers nationwide. According to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales went up 3.8% over last year. Now, the second half of the holiday shopping season is underway. It was a quiet start yesterday morning for what is expected to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year. The day after Christmas. One Mall in South Burlington opened early, at 8 a.m., for many expected happy returns. "We came to exchange some boots to get the right size and the color," said a Vermont resident. He, like others out early, was hoping to avoid the expected crowds. "Usually if you come early you beat the crowds you can find what you are looking for pretty quickly and get in and out that is what we are trying to do," he said. Final sales figures for the two-month holiday shopping period are expected to reach $469 billion dollars nationwide.

WVTK Local & State News December 23, 2011

2011-12-23T00:20:00.000-08:00

The Vermont Economic Progress Council on Wednesday approved $8.3 million in incentives to create as many as 988 jobs. Incentives were approved for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Ellison Surface Technologies, eCorp English here in Middlebury and seven other companies. eCorp English was approved for job growth incentives of $464,731. The projects approved under the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive program will create 988 new jobs, $40 million in new payroll and $302 million in capital investments.

The UD-3 school board is considering cuts to driver’s education, dance, art and foreign languages in order to limit the increase in the 2012-2013 spending plan to around 3 percent. School directors earlier this month reviewed a 2012-2013 budget draft that reflected a 4.1-percent increase in spending. Board members agreed that they could not ask Addison Central Supervisory Union taxpayers to absorb a 4.1-percent budget hike next year. They asked UD-3 administrators to go back and look for some additional savings. The UD-3 board will try to finalize a 2012-2013 budget at its January 10th meeting.

In an effort to work toward level-funding for the 2012-2013 school budget, the Mount Abraham Union High School Principal presented the school board with an even slimmer spending plan that would decrease spending by 1.9 percent from this year’s $11,309,068 budget.

In Weybridge this March voters will be asked to approve a 2012-2013 elementary school spending plan of $970,277, representing a 14.55-percent decrease to reflect an ongoing trend of declining enrollment. This is the third year in a row that Weybridge school directors are pitching a reduced budget. Local voters last year OK’d a spending plan that amounted to a 6.4-percent decrease compared to the previous year.

Christmas came early for two schools in Pittsford and Clarendon. In its latest grant cycle, the James T. Bowse Community Health Trust awarded $198,248 to support healthy living programs in Rutland County, including $25,970 to the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains and $10,000 to a regional work force investment board. But the lion’s share of grants will go to support programs at Lothrop Elementary School and Mill River Union High School for the next three years. At Lothrop the grant funding will be used to integrate gardening, cooking, nutritional lessons, composting and physical activity into a program called “Get Rid of Waste” or GROW.

Just in time for Christmas, more Vermont farms are getting help to recover from flood damage. Farms all over the state sustained heavy losses during Tropical Storm Irene. Flood water wiped out crops, killed livestock and damage buildings and equipment. The Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund was set up to funnel donations to farmers in need. Thursday, the fund announced its fourth round of grants totaling $897,000 and helping 126 farmers. All totaled, the fund has now paid out in excess of $1.5 million to 171 farms.

Staff from The Hub teen center updated the Bristol select-board this week on its data-recording project, increased enrollment and recent activity. Hub Director Jim Lockridge and Bristol Recreation Director Darla Senecal also made the case for extending Hub assistant Ryan Krushenick’s hours. With a background in music he offers free music lessons at The Hub, helps oversee Hub activities and organizes events.

Jay Town Supervisor Randy Douglas said Wednesday he’s seeking an unprecedented third term as chairman of the Essex County Board of Supervisors. The chairman traditionally serves a two-year term, and this would make Douglas the first chair in decades to go three years. The chair is elected at the county organizational meeting in January, scheduled for 10AM Tuesday, January 3rd.

Ticonderoga High School athletes enjoyed a successful fall season on the field and in the classroom. For the first time in school history, the Sentinel soccer, football and boys cross country teams have earned state scholar-athlete awards in the same season. The girls cross country team had an overall average high enough to gain the honor, but not enough runners. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association gives scholar-athletes awards to teams statewide whose members manage a 90 or better academic average during the season.

A South Burlington man is recovering from being hit by a car while crossing the street. Police say Mark Dobson was crossing the street near the Barnes and Noble in South Burlington Thursday afternoon when he was struck by a car being driven by Virginia Borrok of Shelburne. Police say she had a green light and Dobson did not have a walk signal when he crossed directly into the path of the car. He was carried for a short distance on the hood of the car and later taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries. Police are seeking any witnesses to the crash.

States are getting an additional $845 million in federal home heating aid as winter begins. The government said yesterday it was releasing the money to help poor families and seniors stay warm. The latest funding comes in addition to the $1.7 billion that states have already received this winter for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which New England states rely on. The program will get $3.5 billion this year, a reduction of about 25% from last winter.

Emails from some top officials in the Douglas Administration were apparently deleted shortly after his administration left office. The practice came to light after the state employees union sought internal emails from officials in the Agency of Natural Resources. The state employees union says it wants to work with the Shumlin Administration to prevent records from being purged in the future.

People in Townshend are raising concerns about a suboxone clinic slated to open in their community. They worry it will attract drug addicts and invite crime to the town situated on the Upper West River. Suboxone is a prescription medication designed to ease withdrawal from opiates like heroin, OxyContin and Percocet. It is prescribed for take-home use unlike methadone, which, under federal law, can only be administered under strict controls. The Select Board held a hearing earlier this week to extinguish rumors and calm any fears.

The 112th Christmas Bird Count kicked off on December 14th and will run through January 5th. The oldest citizen science project in North America involves thousands of volunteers who count birds to help scientists learn more about bird trends, landscape changes and climate change. There's still time to join a count circle near you or become a feeder watcher! Visit the National Audubon website at www.audubon.org.

Kids at the Vermont Children's Hospital in Burlington got new toys and a visit from Santa yesterday. Vermont State Police, the City of Burlington Fire Department and Morrisville Police joined up to form "Operation Fire Cuff". The three agencies collected enough toys to fill three trucks to give to children. They also accepted monetary donations to buy additional toys. About 200 kids were able to get a toy from Santa. Plus, State Troopers handed out candy. During the visit, children had an opportunity to meet Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.

While the snow has been slow to fly in most parts of New York State, snowmobile season is right around the bend. The New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA) is reminding snowmobilers’ throughout the state that local trails are not open until the local club has inspected and cleared trails for the 2012 season. Snowmobilers are encouraged to visit www.nysnowmobiler.com for information on local clubs as well as the latest news on snowmobiling in New York State.

Christmas is still two days away, but Rutland’s Secret Santa s has finished his rounds for the year. Since 2007, the anonymous Santa has handed out good tidings in the form of cash to people he meets on the city’s streets. Seemingly driven by the need to share his holiday cheer, the Secret Santa has said in the past that he’s a native Vermonter and by no means rich except when it comes to Christmas spirit. And this year in particular saw a need for elevating spirit.

According to a survey of some of the top radio stations in the country, here are this year's Most Popular Christmas Songs: Happy X-Mas (War Is Over) by John Lennon, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams, Have a Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives, All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey, The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole and Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano! You can join WVTK beginning at Noon tomorrow for 36 hours of Christmas Tunes and Special Features! Beginning at Noon Christmas Day it’s another edition of “An American Christmas” hosted by Mannheim Steamrollers front-man Chip Davis! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Vermont winter resorts are stepping up their snowmaking. With a lack of natural snow, officials say they're happy about recent investments in new snowmaking equipment. Resorts are hoping a storm moving across the country's midsection brings snow by the holiday weekend.

Frankincense is a well-known element of the Christmas story and scientists are raising an alarm about future production. The trees that produce the fragrant resin used in incense and perfumes are in a decline so steep that they could be only half as many over the next 15 years. The study published in the "British Ecological Society's Journal of Applied Ecology" quoted ecologists from the Netherlands and Ethiopia that looked at large-scale field studies.

WVTK Local & State News December 22, 2011

2011-12-22T00:12:00.000-08:00

At Tuesday’s Middlebury Select-Board meeting, the Board approved road closures from Noon to 6PM on March 10th for Chili Fest. The Board awarded the bid for the purchase of two cruisers to the low bidder, which was Foster Motors, for $48,744. Meanwhile they awarded the engineering for the Painter Hills project to the low bidder, Phelps Engineering, for $22,076 plus construction review, estimated at $18,100. The Board continued its review of the FY13 budget. In response to the Board's input at its last meeting, staff presented additional recommendations for line-item expense reductions. The Board accepted the proposed preliminary budget of $8,417,735 and warned the public hearing on the proposed budget for Tuesday, January 17th at 7:30PM. Details on these items and more can be found on the Town’s Website.

Vermont State Police are currently investigating the theft of an unsecured 1995 Triton 10'X8' Snowmobile Trailer from a seasonal camp in Leicester. The estimated value of the trailer is approximately $500. Anyone with any leads or information is asked to contact VSP at the New Haven barracks. (1-802-388-4919)

The Vermont Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled the death of 52-year-old Gerald “Dusty” Woodburn from Salisbury, a suicide, from a single gunshot to the head. On November 17, Vermont State Police Troopers responded to Woodburn's residence on Lake Dunmore Road in Salisbury, after a 911 call to state police by his girlfriend reporting a domestic disturbance.

Two Vermont women have been charged with defrauding Medicaid by collecting money for services they never received. Anne Roberts of Ferrisburgh and Rebecca Earle of Bomoseen were arrested Wednesday and charged with violating the federal health care fraud law. The two cases are unrelated, but the U.S. Attorney's office says both women engaged in similar schemes involving Choices for Care, a Vermont program that allows some Medicaid-eligible residents to hire caregivers for help with daily living activities. The women are accused of submitting false time sheets for care they never received and then pocketing the money.

The final two Vermont bridges that were closed due to Tropical Storm Irene have reopened. The Vermont Agency of Transportation said Wednesday that two bridge replacement projects on Route 12A in Roxbury have been completed and the road is now open to all traffic. The final closed road, Route 107 in Stockbridge, is on track to re-open at the end of next week. Tropical Storm Irene severely damaged more than 500 miles of state highway, including some 200 bridges.

A new video, released this week by the Vermont Community Foundation, says thank you to everyone who has contributed to Irene relief and recovery on behalf of all Vermonters. The short message is drawn from storm footage as well as recent interviews with flood victims, local heroes, and state leaders. The Community Foundation is distributing the video to share this message of gratitude with people across the state and beyond who have helped heal Vermont.

Some Essex County lawmakers say the County Department of Public Works is dragging out repairs to roads and bridges damaged by Tropical Storm Irene. The issue came up when the Public Works Superintendent asked for permission to carry over to 2012 almost $1 million from this year's highway budget. The County Public Works Committee allowed him to carry over the $1 million. A vote by the whole board will take place at the year-end meeting, set for December 27th.

Ticonderoga residents still have time to comment on a proposed revision of the town’s zoning law. About two-dozen people attended a public hearing on the measure Dec. 8, most expressing concerns with the changes. The proposed law is available at the town clerk’s office as well as online at www.townofticonderoga.org. There is no deadline for comments, but Town Supervisor Deb Malaney expects the town board to act on the proposed law before March 31st.

Test changes may make it more difficult to earn a GED in New York. That’s the concern of Maria Burke, director of the Literacy Volunteers of Essex/Franklin Counties. The New York GED test program is scheduled to make some major changes in 2014. The test will become more intellectually challenging as it its aligned with increased high school graduation requirements, it will be administered online only, there will be fewer testing sites and students will have to pay $120 to take the exam.

North Country Community College President Carol Brown is retiring. Brown will step down at the end of the spring semester 2012. President Brown indicated it was not an easy decision but one that came from a desire to spend more time with her family. The college is sad to see her go and will now move forward in the search for a new president.

An official with a Vermont youth organization says a special event sponsored by MTV helped raise more than $3,000 to help fund programs for special athletes at Essex High School. A group of Essex students who have vowed to stay away from drugs and alcohol won the event held Saturday at the Champlain Valley fairgrounds by filming and producing a 7-minute video about what their ideal weekend would be. MTV is planning to air an episode on the event at the end of next month.

Senator Bernie Sanders is praising the Environmental Protection Agency for forcing coal and oil-fired power plants to reduce emissions. The independent lawmaker says Clean Air Act standards announced by the EPA will cut toxic air pollution, such as mercury and arsenic, from U.S. power plants.

Vermont Yankee says a small amount of radioactive tritium was found in a Connecticut River water sample, but follow-up samples showed no signs of it and the finding poses no risk to public health or safety. The nuclear plant says it learned Tuesday that a small amount of tritium was found in a sample taken near the plant on November 3rd. The amount was significantly below the federal drinking water limit, and samples taken November 7th and 10th showed no signs of tritium.

There could be a third candidate in the Burlington mayor's race. Wanda Hines says she is seriously considering becoming a candidate. Hines currently works for the city's Community and Economic Development Office. She also ran the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf for nearly a decade. Hines says she is leaning toward a run for mayor and will decide in January.

A Montpelier lawyer is in the race to be the city's next mayor. This week, John Hollar announced he was seeking the city's top post. Hollar is not a newcomer to public office. The dad of school-age children has nine years on Montpelier's school board under his belt. Hollar says his priorities including tackling the city's high property taxes and the need to improve the city's roads and infrastructure.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney began his three-day "Earn It" bus tour in New Hampshire yesterday, part of the final push before the New Hampshire primary. Governor Romney toured the Hypertherm factory in Hanover. The company has seen double-digit growth in 2011 earnings. Romney used the company's success as a vehicle for his own message that government, like business, should be forced to restructure.

Fort Ticonderoga will introduce a new series of Sunday afternoon programs running from January through April. Presented by Fort Ticonderoga staff, the programs cost $10 each and are free for members of the Friends of Fort Ticonderoga. You can learn more about these new programs by visiting the fort’s website at www.Fort-Ticonderoga.org and selecting the “Explore and Learn” button.

Dozens of Booth Brothers farmers are celebrating their efforts to raise thousands of dollars for fellow farmers hit hard by Tropical Storm Irene. The group of 32 farms decided to donate 10 cents of every gallon of milk sold in November to the recovery effort. Together they raised more than $15,000. Yesterday, the Booth Brothers team handed over the money that it collected to the Vermont Community Foundation. Farmers are able to apply to that organization to benefit from what was raised.

The National Weather Service says there's still hope for a white Christmas in northern New England, but it probably won't be a coastal storm forecast offshore on Christmas Day. Meteorologist Tom Hawley says he has his eye on a storm on Friday that could bring "several inches" of snow. He says there'll be rain in southern New England, but it'll be snow in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Patricia Richards of West Haven has been raising and training a rare breed of dogs called Chinooks for close to nine years. For the past eight years she has entered her 9 1/2-year-old Chinook, Doonerak, in many dog competitions in the region. This past weekend, Doonerak, nationally ranked number one in her breed by The American Kennel Club, became the first Chinook to qualify and complete at the annual American Kennel Club Agility Invitational in Orlando. The show will be broadcast nationally on ABC on February 4th.

WVTK Local & State News December 21, 2011

2011-12-21T00:18:00.001-08:00

According to VTRANS the anticipated re-opening of the Pulp Mill Bridge that connects Middlebury and Weybridge will be in November 2012. During repairs the footbridge will be open for the most part, except when necessary to close as part of the ongoing construction or for the purpose of public safety. The Bridge will close on Monday January 2, 2012.

Rutland gave the gift of life yesterday. Organizers of the 9th annual blood drive aimed to break a national record for most blood collected at one event. Manchester New Hampshire set the record earlier this year with 1,968 pints. Rutland's marathon had three donation locations this year to accommodate everyone. And in the end, they collected 18-hundred 48 pints of blood, just about 100 pints shy of the record.

Water and sewer rates are up slightly this year in Rutland. The water rate was set at $3.314 per 100 cubic feet, the sewer treatment rate at $3.871 and the sewer maintenance rate at $.935 for a combined total of $8.12, up about 1.5 percent, from last year. The board also raised the quarterly meter fee from $19.50 to $22.50. The department described an “average” family as using 2,400 cubic feet a quarter, giving them a quarterly water bill of $217.38

Vermont State Police are currently investigating the theft of approximately $1,800 U.K. Pounds (The equivalent of $2,814.00 U.S. Dollars) from a private residence in the Town of Bridport. The victim initially noted the money was missing on October 24th of this year but did not notify authorities until yesterday. The victim felt she might have misplaced the money, which had been hiding, in her residence. After having looked through her house thoroughly she realized she had not misplaced the money and it was most likely stolen. The case is active and Troopers are pursuing leads. Anyone with information is asked to contact VSP at the New Haven barracks. (1-802-388-4919)

Essex Vermont police are warning residents to look out for homemade bombs in their mailboxes. In two cases over the weekend household chemicals were placed in plastic bottles. The bottles were shaken to build up pressure. They eventually burst. No injuries were reported. But police say if there is something suspicious in your mailbox, don't touch it. Call them instead.

Vermont State police are warning about an Internet scam involving phony rental property. Police say the scammers take information about homes listed for sale on real estate websites and create their own phony listings, offering the properties for rent. Potential renters are asked to send first month rent and security payment via Western Union and are told the keys will be mailed to them.

The Good News Garage, the charity long known for turning donated cars into life-changing transportation for the needy is sending out thousands of notices this week that are going current and former donors notifying them they are now at some risk of identity theft. The news follows a burglary at the home of an employee on November 25th when a thief broke into a locked car stealing a backpack. The backpack contained a data tape encrypted with the names, addresses and -- in some cases -- social security numbers of Good News Garage donors dating back fifteen years. Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell called the case a concern, but no reason for panic.

Police will be conducting checkpoints and watching the roads for drunken drivers through the holiday season. Starting Friday and stretching through January 2nd, State Police and local police agencies said they planned to set up a number of checkpoints to look for impaired drivers and to conduct seat belt enforcement.

The Vermont Department of Labor says the state's unemployment rate dropped three-tenths of 1% last month to 5.3%. The rate is lower than the 5.8% rate in November 2010. It's dropped six-tenths of a percentage point over the past three months. Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan calls the number good news as one measure of Vermont's economic health. Noonan said that many Vermont businesses are hiring, particularly in manufacturing, computer and web design, engineering, retail, food services and hospitality.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has announced that two senior human services officials in his administration will be swapping jobs. Deputy Human Services Secretary Patrick Flood is being reassigned, as commissioner of mental health, while the person who had filled that job, Christine Oliver, will become the deputy secretary. Shumlin said that his recently announced long-term plan for replacement of the Vermont State Hospital and retooling the mental health system are projects for which Flood is ideally suited. Meanwhile, he says Oliver's extensive management and legal experience match well with the Agency of Human Services current needs.

IBM has given out more than $500,000 in grants to Vermont nonprofits organizations and schools. The grants have been awarded to more than 100 groups or schools around the state in recognition of employee volunteer work in 2011. IBM says 20 organizations including the Red Cross of Vermont & the New Hampshire Valley, Spectrum Youth and Family Services and the United Way of Chittenden County received $10,000 community impact grants.

Vermont will miss out on millions of dollars in federal money to support early education programs across the country. The federal government has denied the state's race to the top program application. That program awards money to states that make big education reforms. 35 states applied for $500 million in early education funding. Nine states will receive the grants ranging from $50 to $100 millions. Vermont may still be able to reapply for a second round of funding.

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development has named Dave Hakins as publisher of Vermont Life magazine. Hakins, who joined the magazine last spring as an advertising contractor, helped boost sales revenues in 2011 and oversaw several initiatives to increase the magazine’s visibility.

Vermont Law School has compiled its Top 10 Environmental Watch List, for the second year in a row. The list looks at significant decisions by courts, Congress and governmental agencies that will have a bearing on important environmental issues. The new list includes the disputed Keystone XL Pipeline, the Fukushima fallout and the EPA-White House clash over ozone standards.

Attorneys for the City of Burlington will be in federal court in February to try and stop key components of Burlington Telecom from being taken away. Burlington Telecom's lender, Citibank, filed a motion in federal court to force the city to immediately return leased equipment. In court documents, Citibank says the judge should agree because Citibank is likely to win at trial. Citibank claims the longer it has to wait the more money it will lose.

The town of Alburgh is losing its only bank. People's United Bank announced Tuesday it's closing the Alburgh branch after the New Year. For the bank, it's the third closure announced over the past two days. People's United says it's closing branches on Williston Road in South Burlington and also at the 5 Corners in Essex Junction. The bank won't say how many employees are affected, but those at closing branches can apply for other jobs within the company.

Victims of Tropical Storm Irene can now get some emotional support. The mental health association in Essex County, New York is offering counseling services for individuals, businesses and community groups hit by the storm. People in Essex and Clinton county can get help, free of charge. The program is funded by a grant from FEMA. If you have questions call the project coordinator at (518) 524-9616.

Schroon Lake will have a new holiday celebration this year. The Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce has dropped sponsorship of its annual Old Tyme Christmas celebration after 25 years. Instead, the chamber will hold First Night December 31st. The town has had a lot of requests for a First Night according to the chamber president. The family-oriented evening will include magic, music, dancing, children’s activities, food, a bonfire and fireworks. More information can be obtained by calling the Schroon Lake Chamber office. (532-7675)

Fort Ticonderoga honored Belva Blood at its staff Christmas party. More than 50 employees joined together in thanking Blood for her long-time service to Fort Ticonderoga. She began work at Fort Ticonderoga in 1975 working in the Log House Museum Store and admissions where she greeted visitors through the 2010 summer season. Belva was fondly recognized by her colleagues as holding the record of highest sales in the shortest time in Museum Store.

WVTK Local & State News December 20, 2011

2011-12-20T00:11:00.000-08:00

Beginning Monday, January 2nd the historic Pulp Mill Bridge in Middlebury will be closed for repairs and restoration for an extended period of time. Officials say a definitive date for the opening will be announced once it’s clearly known. The circa-1820 covered bridge will get a major face starting in 2012. Middlebury and Weybridge town officials said the ailing wooden bridge would be extensively rehabilitated, including fixing 19th-century design errors. The construction project will cost $2.6 million. Construction will create some traffic snarls for commuters using the bridge, which connects Middlebury and Weybridge. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and is called a Burr-arch bridge.

The Moriah Central School Board meets this evening in the High School library. Agenda items include bid opens for cabinetry and reports on revenue and 2011 uncollected taxes. The public is welcome to attend. Also, happening today will be the annual Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner from 4 to 6PM and then at 7 elementary students will perform a Christmas concert in the auditorium.

A panel of Vermont lawmakers that has been reviewing the state's public records law plans to issue its report to the full Legislature next month. Sen. Claire Ayer says it appears poised to restrict access to academic research at the University of Vermont and Vermont State Colleges, except for that involving the care and treatment of animals. The committee has been delving into the more than 200 exemptions from the underlying Vermont law that says records generated by the various arms of government need to be open for inspection by members of the public. Ayer says the committee will recommend that records having to do with health care provided to individuals remain private.

The Vergennes Union High School Board is now looking at a third budget draft for the 2012-2013 academic year that could raise spending by 2.47 percent to a little more than $9 million. VUHS Co-principals Ed Webbley and Peter Reynolds made the recommendations to the board last week. They also shared with the board the outline of what another level-funded budget could mean in terms of reductions in force. However they did not make specific recommendations at the last meeting. Next year, the VUHS enrollment is projected to drop by 30 students to 585, and by 2013 it will fall to 525.

According to “Time” magazine it’s the year of the protester and Ripton’s Bill McKibben has made it onto the “People Who Mattered” list in the magazine’s annual year-in-review issue. However he stressed, it’s not his accomplishments exclusively that landed him in the national media this year, it’s everyone who participated in the actions coordinated by environmental group 350.org, which he co-founded with students at Middlebury College.

Gerry Gossens’ volunteer contributions have been recognized throughout New England. The Salisbury resident received the New England Healthcare Assembly’s “Trustee Leadership Award” this month. The award is given annually on a hospital trustee in the Northeast who has made exceptional contributions to the health care industry. Over the years he has collected various awards and received recognition for his service in the state Legislature and on the leadership boards of more than a dozen local and statewide nonprofits.

Students in the Middlebury College Environmental Studies Senior Seminar have been busy analyzing Vermont’s forgotten dams and have proposed guidelines for removing or developing the existing infrastructure. Vermont’s forgotten dams are mostly small structures tucked away on streams and brooks, once used in small-scale milling operations. Most have been dormant for a century.

The Town Of Killington’s auditor has confirmed that there is $639,401 in undesignated cash the town can use to offset the 2012 budget. According to Town Manager Seth Webb it will completely cover the budget deficit for next year of less than $160,000. Before the money was found in the town's latest audit report the municipal tax rate was expected to jump 2.5 cents next year. Depending on the discussion tonight at the Select Board's regular meeting, utilizing some of these funds could allow the Select Board to avoid increased taxes.

The Moriah Food pantry is getting a holiday gift from a group of students at the Yandon Dillon Center in Mineville. Champlain Valley Educational Services students sold soup and cookies during the holiday season to raise money for the local food shelf. They raised $250. Students from Moriah, Crown Point, Schroon Lake and Ticonderoga schools took part in the project. The Moriah Food Pantry is seeing major cutbacks to its donations and increased number of patrons this year.

The Essex County Layoffs Committee has chosen the 10 jobs that will be eliminated next year. The 2012 county budget cuts nine full-time positions and one part-time slot to save money, and County Board of Supervisors Chair Randy Douglas said he appointed a three-person subcommittee to decide who goes. The list is not yet ready for public release but they expect that would be done later this week. The County Manager said those people laid off will go on recall status, so if other jobs open, they can return to county employment.

A Vermont high school principal hired to boost academic performance at Winooski High School is leaving before the end of his 3-year contract. Justin Brown submitted his resignation last month, effect June 30, the end of the second year of the 3-year federal School Improvements Grants program. The Burlington Free Press reports Brown felt that his "skill set as an administrator is not the match for the challenges" facing Winooski High School." In 2010 Winooski High school was identified as 1 of Vermont's 10 lowest-achieving schools.

A plan to sell Fletcher Allen Health Care's five outpatient dialysis clinics has been dropped after a top Vermont official said he would reject the proposal. Fletcher Allen said Monday it would not pursue the plan. State officials said Bio-Medical Applications of New Hampshire had withdrawn its application to buy the clinics.

Vermont businesses tied to the future of one of the world's more distinctive brands expressed concern Monday after the carmaker filed for bankruptcy. The chief executive of SAAB Automobile hand-delivered an application for bankruptcy protection to a Swedish judge after talks with General Motors and Chinese investors interested in taking over the niche carmaker collapsed last week.

The attorney general's office says it wants 27 Burlington landlords to prove they're in compliance with the state's laws about lead in housing. Attorney General William Sorrell says 80% of Vermont's rental housing units were built before 1978 when lead-based paint was banned.

Vermont's largest city is considering an outdoor smoking ban. The Burlington City Council is looking at an ordinance that would exempt smoking on private property and on stretches of sidewalk leased by the city to cafes and restaurants. If approved, the resolution would be forwarded to a committee for refinement. A separate ordinance under consideration would set aside part of City Hall Park for smokers.

Studies have shown that Tai Chi can improve balance, flexibility, and muscle strength while relieving chronic pain in joints. CVAA is offering several Tai Chi classes in Addison County for resident age 50 and over. There is no charge for classes, which are open to anyone age 50 and over (donations are appreciated). Volunteer leaders are certified through the Arthritis Foundation. Call Cindy at ext. 1028 at CVAA 1-800-642-5119 for more information.

The LaChute Road Runners Club of Ticonderoga is planning its 10th annual Resolution Run on New Year’s Day 2012. The event will include a five-kilometer run and a four-kilometer walk. Both events will begin and end at the Community Building on Montcalm Street at 11AM. The course follows Lake Champlain Avenue to Water Street to Lake George Avenue back to Montcalm Street. Registration will be that day beginning at 10:15AM at Bicentennial Park. Registration fee is $2 or two food items. All proceeds will be donated to the local food pantry. For more information just visit www.lachute.us.

Some seminal documents from Vermont's first century as a state are now available online. Secretary of State Jim Condos says his office's website now includes a link to the work of the Council of Censors, a 13-member body that met every seven years from 1777 to 1870 to review the actions of state government and to propose amendments to the Vermont Constitution. In 1869, the Council recommended women's suffrage about a half-century before it became the law of the land nationally. It recommended the creation of a state Senate in 1835, but against the idea of having legislative sessions every year. 1 of the Council's final recommendations was for its own abolishment and replacement with something very much like the current system for amending the Constitution.

The National Weather Service says the latest outlook opens the door to a sliver of hope for a white Christmas in northern New England. Meteorologist Stacie Hanes says the forecast calls for a low-pressure system to develop off the coast, bringing the possibility of rain or snow on Christmas Day. She says it's too early to predict with any certainty what will happen. But she says it "looks like some snow is possible."

WVTK Local & State News December 19, 2011

2011-12-19T00:16:00.000-08:00

The Town of Middlebury will hold a special Select Board Meeting tomorrow evening at 7 in Town Offices Conference Room. Items on the agenda include Chili-Fest coming up in March, a report on incorporating Bike-Friendly Elements to Public Works Projects that includes a follow-up to Presentation to the Downtown Improvement District by Andrew Gardner. There will be an FY13 Budget discussion, deliberation & decision on the budget amount to be warned for public hearing on January 17th as required by Town Charter. More information is always available at Town Of Middlebury's website.

Last night CBS aired the finale of this season's reality series, Survivor. 22-year-old Sophie Clarke of Willsboro, NY won the million dollars and title of sole survivor. The Middlebury College graduate said she studied survival guides for weeks beforehand. The final immunity challenge came down to just her and veteran player OZZY. The win is determined by a jury vote and competitors chose Sophie as the winner.

The cost of the new Lake Champlain Bridge is running 8-9% over budget. Public records requested by the Burlington Free Press of New York, Vermont and federal agencies show that what started as a $69.6 million construction bid has become $75 million and is likely to reach $76 million. The newspaper says that much of the added cost is due to completing the bridge on an accelerated schedule. It also cites a report showing that cost overruns on transportation projects are not unusual. The new bridge carries an estimated average of 3,000 cars a day.

Fewer than 200 students are attending Proctor Junior - Senior High School this year. About 50 years ago that number was 500 or more. The school and town are living the effects of the absence of industry. And now the school is up for debate. On Saturday, community members, parents and high school staff had a talk on how to keep the school open and affordable and how to keep the community together. Across the state, other school districts face a similar challenge as enrollments dwindle. Saturday’s audience considered things like partnering with other schools, creating a magnet high school and consolidating or merging Proctor with other school unions or districts.

Rutland City Aldermen trimmed roughly $700,000 from the proposed budget at the end of last week. Mayor Christopher Louras came to the board with an $18.3 million budget, an increase of 5.4 percent over last year. By the end of the meeting late Thursday night, the final number was an increase of 1.3 percent from last year. The budget now goes before city voters on Town Meting Day.

The results of an income survey in Proctor promises to save more than $1 million in payments on a 30-year water bond. The $6.1 million bond, passed by voters in 2010 for improvements to the town water system, originally qualified for an interest rate of 0.2 percent under the state’s Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund. Now the estimated rate is -1.9 percent due to the results of a survey that indicated the median household income in town was lower than state estimates.

Vermont’s congressional delegation announced that Vermont would receive $19.5 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding for Fiscal Year 2012. The funding level is less than the $26 million Vermont received in FY2011 but more than the $11 million proposed by President Obama. LIHEAP funding is included in a FY2012 omnibus appropriations bill, which passed the House Friday afternoon and was scheduled to be voted on in the Senate over the weekend.

The childhood poverty rate for Essex County is 19.3 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s an increase from 17.1 percent five years ago. In Ticonderoga 21.4 percent of people age 17 and younger live in poverty. In Crown Point it’s 20.9 percent, Moriah 17.4 percent and Schroon 8.2 percent. Overall, 13 percent of Essex County residents live in poverty, according to the government. Essex County is near the national average, 19.8 percent in childhood poverty. The county is slightly better than the state average of 20 percent. All of those numbers have increased in the past five years.

Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. has received a Superior 5-Star rating from BauerFinancial Inc., a rating it has earned for the last 19 consecutive quarters. Glens Falls National was established in 1851 and has been providing financial services to its local communities for 160 years. It currently operates through 29 offices in five counties in Upstate New York.

Rep. Bill Owens has joined the New York Farm Bureau in praising new, common-sense guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that affect nutrient and waste management in the agriculture community. The original guideline created by the Natural Resource Conservation Service for Nutrient Application Timing and Placement did so without taking into account the already satisfactory rules and performance related to nutrient management in New York. Most troubling in the original guidelines was a section that almost banned manure spreading during the winter months.

A panel of Vermont lawmakers that's been reviewing the state's public records law plans to take up several more exemptions to disclosure this week. The Public Records Legislative Study Committee will meet today and start reviewing whether materials related to academic research or creative efforts at the University of Vermont and state colleges should be exempt from public disclosure.

The likely death of a planned nuclear waste site at Nevada's Yucca Mountain has left federal agencies looking for a possible replacement. Now, a national lab working for the U.S. Department of Energy is eying granite deposits stretching from Georgia to Maine as potential sites, along with big sections of Minnesota and Wisconsin where granite is prevalent. Andrew Orrell, who headed up a site study for the Sandia National Lab in New Mexico, says it would be premature for anyone to worry about his or her neighborhood becoming a potential high-level waste site.

The Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at the University of Vermont is no more. The Fraternity’s executive director Brian Warren announced the decision to shut down the UVM chapter immediately. The move comes after a week of headlines about a survey tied to the fraternity that asked students a controversial question regarding rape. In a statement Warren said, "Without suggesting that every member had knowledge of this questionnaire, the questions asked in the document are deplorable and absolutely inconsistent with our values." The University's own investigation will continue.

South Burlington police are reminding motorists to lock their cars after a sudden increase in thefts from cars in the city. Police are asking community members to be vigilant and report suspicious activity. Police say it's also helpful if motorists remove valuables and lock their vehicles. They say few of the thefts from cars involved forced entry.

Starting this spring, Delta will offer daily flights to New York's LaGuardia airport from Burlington. Delta currently does not serve Vermont, but starting in late March, the major air carrier will offer three flights a day to LaGuardia and three flights back. Those flights on regional jets are set to begin in late March. US Air is currently the only other airline offering flights to LaGuardia.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department wants to hear from young hunters. The department is seeking entries into the 2011 Young Hunting Memories Contest. The hunters are asked to submit an essay or artwork about their time out on a hunt. Essays should describe why hunting is important to the writer as well as tell a story about a hunting experience. The winners in three age categories will get special prizes from the department and Beagle Outdoor Wear. Winners will be announced on January 21st at the Yankee Classic Sportsman's Show in Essex Junction. The deadline for submissions is December 31st.

MTV threw a big party for high school students at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction on Saturday. Essex beat out hundreds of other schools as part of the "MTV/Above the Influence Unwasted Weekend" challenge. The event was more than teaching kids they can have fun without drugs or alcohol. The Essex students decided money raised from ticket sales would help kids with special needs play sports. The event has already raised more than $2,000 for the Essex High School Unified Sports Team. That will help the students participate in the Summer Special Olympics Games.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Visitors Center & Café in Waterbury re-opened Saturday. The shop's basement was flooded destroying inventory and the heating and cooling system. Café employees say although it was a lot of hard work it was worth the effort. The café also did some remodeling, with more seating space for customers. The restaurant was also able to bring back all of its employees.

WVTK Local & State News December 16, 2011

2011-12-16T00:21:00.000-08:00

The Hannaford Supermarket chain says it is recalling ground beef with a sell-by date of Dec. 17 or earlier because it may be contaminated with salmonella. The Scarborough, Maine-based Company says in a statement Friday it has received information indicating 10 people have become ill. All have indicated they purchased ground beef between October 12th and November 20th. Hannaford says it is confident in the safety of its products and that all ground beef affected by the recall has been removed from stores. The company says customers should return or dispose of ground beef with the December 17 or earlier sell-by dates.

Writer and environmental activist Bill McKibben says he's disgusted with a push by Republicans in Washington to tie approval for an extension of a middle-class tax cut to a speedy OK for a pipeline to carry oil from western Canada to refineries on the Gulf Coast of Texas. McKibben, a scholar in residence at Vermont's Middlebury College, has been a leader of efforts to block construction of the pipeline. President Barack Obama is supporting a delay in a final decision on the pipeline. Republicans say work needs to get under way now to generate new jobs.

Ripley Bridge Rutland is scheduled to close from 1 to 3 this afternoon. Central Vermont Public Service Corp. will be performing “customer-requested work” at the one-lane bridge. The work should not result in any power outages in the area.

The Middlebury Fire Department and Bread Loaf Corp. architects have put the last major touches on the design of a renovated and expanded Seymour Street fire station. Middlebury voters will decide at Town Meeting Day in March as part of a $4.8 million bond issue. The biggest design change is the relocation of the new elevator shaft from the building’s exterior to its interior. Firefighters are planning additional public meetings about the project in late January or early February, along with a Middlebury Community Television documentary and a mass-mailed flyer to explain details.

The Better Middlebury Partnership is circulating a marketing survey to get a sense from local shoppers and merchants about how the town could improve its retail, parking, restaurant and housing amenities. The 17-question survey is based on a similar questionnaire that the University of Vermont administered in the town of Newport a few years ago. Respondents are asked to weigh in on a series of topics.

Middlebury select-board Chairman John Tenny said earlier this week he will not seek another three-year term on Town Meeting Day. His retirement from the select-board comes at the end of a more-than-16-year run. Tenny’s position on the select-board will be one of three up for grabs on Town Meeting Day next March. He is most proud of the professional culture that grew within the town staff and select-board that helped bring about results.

Crews in Rutland contained a fuel oil spill on Cleveland Avenue yesterday morning. According to Rutland City Police, about 100 gallons of fuel oil leaked from a delivery truck overnight due to a faulty valve. Police said there is no danger to the community and no evacuation had been ordered. The fuel did not reach East Creek based on preliminary tests despite getting into a nearby storm drain.

Administrators at Mount Abraham Union High School are working this week at a 2012-2013 budget proposal, hoping to have a zero-percent spending increase. This task comes after Gov. Peter Shumlin asked school districts statewide to level fund their budgets for the third straight year. But right now officials on the Mount Abe school board aren’t sure that’s possible.

Last Sunday ended the muzzleloader and bow deer season. It brought no more good news for local hunters than the end of November’s rifle season. The numbers of deer weighed at local reporting stations this month declined dramatically from recent years. The drop for the combined results for October’s bow season and December’s muzzleloader and bow season was even steeper.

After some ups and downs over the last couple of years, it looks like Middlebury College is out of the woods financially. That’s according to Patrick Norton, vice president and treasurer at the college. Norton said that although the school’s endowment has rebounded to $825 million from its low point in March 2009, the financial crisis has changed the way the school handles its money.

Christmas came early for Ticonderoga officials. Supervisor Deb Malaney learned earlier this month the community has been included in the state’s $785 million Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Ticonderoga will receive $598,575 for water and sewer improvements on John Street and $270,000 to install a fuel station at the town airport. The Regional Economic Development Council initiative also funded two other local projects. The Fort Ticonderoga Association received $20,320 for a historic preservation planning report and the town of Hague got $44,000 for a Hague Brook storm water reduction program.

Essex County lawmakers say talks have broken down on a pay freeze for union workers next year. County employees represented by the Civil Service Employees Association local unit are due for a 4 percent pay hike in 2012, the last year of a four-year contract. Numerous efforts by the County Board of Supervisors to get the union to agree to suspend the raises have been unsuccessful. The county passed a new budget this week with 10 layoffs and a 10.5 percent tax increase. Another 10 unfilled jobs will be eliminated.

National Grid's electricity customers in upstate New York will see cuts in their bills next year after regulators approved a reduction in what the utility charges to deliver power. The state Public Service Commission said that residential customers will see an average 6 percent drop and some business customers will see cuts as much as 23 percent. The savings will be driven by an 11 percent cut in residential delivery charges and 44 percent for some businesses. The decrease follows expiration of charges dating to before National Grid's acquisition of Niagara Mohawk.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood announced updated fatality and injury data showing that highway safety deaths fell to the lowest level since 1949. When presented with this notable achievement, Vermont Department of Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn pointed out that 2010 Vermont traffic fatalities fell 4.1 percent from 2009, exceeding the national reduction by 1.2 percent. Flynn attributed, in part, the reason for the decline to collaborative efforts between traffic safety educators, law enforcement, traffic engineers and emergency medical responders.

It's that time of year again, when the Christmas lights go up, candles become more prominent and home fires skyrocket. That's why area firefighters are reminding everyone to be aware of holiday hazards. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, fires occurring throughout the holiday season claim 400 lives nationally, injure more than 1,600 people and cause more than $990 million in fire damage each year.

There is a new international flight in and out of Burlington that could be a boost to Vermont's ski industry. Tourism leaders hope Canadians might be tempted to ski in Vermont now that there is a direct link between Burlington and Toronto. Yesterday afternoon Porter Airlines' inaugural flight from Toronto landed at Burlington International Airport. There will be two roundtrip flights a week through ski season. Though the hope is the hour long trip becomes year round.

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin is defending his administration, saying it should not be the target for criticism for the state's treatment of vulnerable adults. Yesterday's comment was in response to a lawsuit filed Thursday by Vermont Legal Aid and Disability Rights Vermont. The groups say the state has too many backlogged cases and is not investigating reports of abuse quick enough. Shumlin says it's not his fault. He says his administration inherited this problem from past governors. The groups, which filed the lawsuit, have asked the judge to schedule a status conference for as soon as possible.

Vermont is already known as the Green Mountain State, but by 2050 it also wants to be known as a green energy state. Officials released their final comprehensive energy plan yesterday. Officials say they want to use 90% renewable energy in all sources by then, focusing on transportation and home heating. Currently, one fourth of Vermont's energy is green, and the Department of Public Service Commissioner Elizabeth Miller says that's proof the state can meet the new goal. Vermont has not had a long-term energy plan since 1991.

If you are looking for a little free financial advice after suffering damage from Tropical Storm Irene you might just qualify for a program recently announced by the New England chapter of the Financial Planning Association. They are offering free, no-strings-attached financial advice to those affected by the August 28th storm. You can call them toll free at (888) 562-8784.

A passenger rail study, jointly supported by Vermont and New York, is closing in on a recommended proposal for bringing passenger trains into Bennington County from Albany and north to Rutland. Details of the proposal were discussed at a public meeting Tuesday. In the first phase of the study, alternatives were ranked based on factors like projected ridership, operational and maintenance costs, implementation costs and environmental impact. All of the alternatives were based only on existing rail lines.

Our Toys For Kids toy drive is heading into its final weekend and we need your help. The program helps brighten a child’s Christmas right here in and around Addison County and all donations remain local. The Department Of Vermont Marine Corps League sponsors Toys For Kids. You can drop off a new unwrapped toy at locations in Brandon, Bristol, Middlebury, Orwell, Shoreham and Vergennes. Get the details right now by clicking HERE. Your generous support is much appreciated!

Union members representing service and maintenance workers at the University of Vermont have ratified a new contract. The union says the deal provides 4.5% to 5.5% pay raises over three years and doesn't increase health insurance amounts paid by active employees.

A homeless dog in Wisconsin named L.L. Bean has found a new home in Maine, thanks to the company he's named after. The Dunn County Humane Society in Wisconsin received a call from an employee at L.L. Bean's Freeport headquarters after a local TV station ran a story about the Coonhound that had been in the shelter for more than a year. The story of L.L. Bean the dog was shared on L.L. Bean's company Intranet site, and a customer service representative was chosen to be the dog's new owner. L.L. Bean is expected to arrive in Maine in early January.

WVTK Local & State News December 15, 2011

2011-12-15T00:17:00.000-08:00

The Addison County Chamber Of Commerce After Hours Business Mixer and the Ticonderoga Chamber’s Mixer will both take place this evening. Addison County’s will be held at the Waybury inn in East Middlebury from 5 – 7PM. The entry fee is a donation to the Addison County Humane Society. Meanwhile The Ticonderoga Historical Society and Ticonderoga Arts will co-host their event from 5:30 to 7PM. Appetizers, soft drinks and beverages will be served upstairs in the library and desserts will be served downstairs in the gallery.

This week at the Middlebury Select Board meeting, Town Planner Fred Dunnington, introduced the concept of Property Assessed Clean Energy Districts. PACE Districts, which must be authorized by Town Meeting vote, allow property owners to finance energy efficiency improvement projects through a program, which is currently being set-up by Efficiency Vermont. Working with the River Steering Committee, Project Manager Amy Sheldon prepared and submitted an application for $15,000 from the State's Watershed Grant Program for river modeling and to plan and design river management strategies. Meanwhile the Fire Department project remains on schedule and within budget. And the Board continued its review of the FY13 budget. Staff presented additional recommendations for revenue enhancements and line-item expense reductions and the Select Board asked for the review of wage and overtime line items in various budgets. A public hearing on the FY2013 budget proposal will be held on Tuesday, January 17th.

The Board of Trustees of Ilsley Public Library will have a vacancy in March for a five-year term. The Board of Trustees is authorized by state statute and has five members. Members set library policies, oversee long-range planning, advocates for the library, and promotes it use. The Board works with the Middlebury Select Board to provide appropriate funding. Persons interested in serving are invited to run for the board at the March town elections. All candidates must be registered voters in the Town of Middlebury. A petition is required and may be obtained from the Middlebury Town Clerk’s office or the library and must be submitted to the town clerk by January 30th.

Rutland City Alderman Ed Larson will not seek a second term. Larson said yesterday he would not run again due to health reasons. While Larson said he would have liked to serve longer, he originally planned to stay for no more than three terms. Several of the other five aldermen whose terms are up in March were noncommittal yesterday.

Health insurers in New York will no longer be allowed to require policy holders to have their prescriptions filled by mail under a bill signed into law that is considered win for local drug stores and for immigrants. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the law approved by the Legislature earlier this year on Tuesday. It would require prescriptions filled by the local pharmacy to cost no more than the mail order prescriptions some health insurers prefer.

There are more signs of Vermont's economic recovery in a new jobs report. The recruiting software company Bullhorn says Vermont is leading the nation in job creation in the last year. According to the report, Vermont saw a 62 percent increase in job openings in 2011 compared to 2010. Other New England states have seen far fewer jobs available. Maine had an increase of 21 percent, New Hampshire had an increase of 20 percent and Massachusetts had an increase of just 11 percent.

There are new developments regarding an accusation that a Salvation Army bell ringer was attacked on Church Street in Burlington. A longtime volunteer claimed a drunken man attempted to steal her kettle Tuesday. Marjorie Burns of Burlington told police that a man tried to swipe her donation kettle in front of the Burlington Town Center. She told police she confronted the man, so he hugged her and left without any money. Police arrested Nathan Miner, 49, of South Burlington, for the attempted theft. But Wednesday evening, Burlington Police said Burns made up the story. She was cited for false report and is due in court in February. She could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A University of Vermont fraternity suspended over a survey that asked members who they would like to rape is getting a visit from a representative of the fraternity's national headquarters. The national Sigma Phi Epsilon organization says in a statement that is has instructed the chapter to cease all operation, pending further investigation. It says that any behavior that demeans women is not tolerated.

Prosecutors are planning to drop a charge of attempted murder against a Vermont man stemming from a shooting over a heroin dispute. Their reason is that a federal grand jury indicted 28-year-old Dean Heffernan on a gun charge arising from the August shooting in Hinesburg. The Burlington Free Press reports Heffernan pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court to the charge earlier this week.

Groups representing the elderly and disabled in Vermont have filed suit against the state over what they say is its failure to investigate many instances of abuse by caregivers. The Community of Vermont Elders and Disability Rights Vermont say the state Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living has been promising for a year to correct a backlog of 150 to 300 cases of alleged financial exploitation and physical abuse of elderly and disabled Vermonters, but has not kept the promise.

A national research group says Vermont is among the top-ranking states for the quality of its job subsidy programs. The Washington-based group Good Jobs First says many states do not do a good job making sure that their job subsidy programs. But the group ranks Vermont with North Carolina and Nevada as the states doing the best job making sure taxpayers get their money's worth from the job subsidy programs.

Continuing efforts to recover from Tropical Storm Irene in areas of Vermont and New Hampshire are getting a $75,000 boost from private groups in the two states. The group Upper Valley Strong is made up of 50 local nonprofit agencies, churches, schools and government agencies. The award came from the Granite United Way, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and The Vermont Community Foundation.

Burke Mountain is the latest Vermont ski resort with big expansion plans on the table. The Northeast Kingdom ski area is seeking Act 250 approval to add 32 housing units and other amenities. Plans call for the housing mostly to be clustered along the edges of existing developed. The average market value of the homes is expected to be about $500,000.

St. Mary’s School in Ticonderoga is the first in the area to have Kindles’ for its students. The Kindles were purchased for students in grades 5 through 8 recently using an anonymous donation in the memory of Eleanor Smith of Putnam. Smith, a long-time St. Mary’s benefactor, died this fall. A Kindle allows wireless access to books, newspapers, magazines, blogs and other digital media. The St, Mary’s students have lessons on the tablet, which also contains reference materials like dictionaries and maps.

Molly Bechard has been named visitor and member service representative/office assistant with the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce. She was introduced at the chamber’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner and Awards Ceremony. For more information on the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce just visit www.ticonderogany.com.

Are YOU dreaming of a White Christmas? Climate experts at Cornell University have made their annual predictions about the probability of a white Christmas, while noting that December is shaping up as the 12th month in a row of above-normal temperatures in the Northeast. Pinkham Notch, NH tops the list from the Northeast Regional Climate Center with a 95% probability of an inch or more of snow on the ground on December 25th. The predictions are based on a 50-year average.

The Vermont State Police and other law enforcement agencies will be conducting sobriety checkpoints in Vermont during the weekends of the holiday season. Police say the goal is to detect and apprehend drivers under the influence of alcohol or any drug that impairs the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

PBS’s “This Old House” is working on its winter project to renovate a Rhode Island beach house that will feature at least 35 signature light fixtures created by the Hubbardton Forge in Castleton. The show’s host, Kevin O’Connor, was at the Vermont lighting factory Tuesday to film a segment of the 10-episode show that premieres nationally in January. HDTV’s Property Brothers will also highlight Hubbardton Forge in an episode. The company was previously featured in the Science Channel’s “How It’s Made.” The episode of “This Old House” featuring Hubbardton Forge will air in March.

WVTK Local & State News December 14, 2011

2011-12-14T00:14:00.000-08:00

Addison County Transit Resources has announced the kick-off of its daily winter service thru March 2nd of next year to Middlebury College’s Snow Bowl and Rikert Nordic Center. This Saturday and Sunday the Winter Schedule begins. As of Monday the 19th the Monday through Friday Winter Schedule begins. For more information, please call 388-1946 or go to www.actr-vt.org.

Sixty of Vermont’s largest commercial, industrial, municipal, and institutional energy users have joined Efficiency Vermont’s Energy Leadership Challenge, a two-year effort to reduce energy use at participating organizations by 7.5 percent by June 30, 2013. Local businesses and organizations include: Basin Harbor Club, Carris Reels, Inc., Castleton State College, Green Mountain College, Killington Pico Ski Resort Partners LLC, Middlebury College, Rutland Plywood Corporation, and Rutland Regional Medical Center.

The search committee that will select a new police chief in Rutland held its first meeting to find a replacement for Chief Anthony Bossi, whose retirement is less than a month away. A 13-member search committee made up of the city’s police commission, other elected officials and members of the public, talked about the steps for selecting a new chief, starting with the hiring of a search firm that would find and screen potential candidates.

Rutland city bridges appear headed for the March ballot. The Public Works Committee voted unanimously at a meeting this week to recommend putting a $2 million bond before voters at town meeting. The money would help cover the city’s share of work on seven bridges over five years.

Gov. Peter Shumlin says he wants to replace the Vermont State Hospital with a new 15-bed hospital in Berlin and regional facilities in Brattleboro and Rutland that would have a total of another 20 beds. He outlined his plans to replace the state hospital yesterday in Montpelier where members of his administration joined him and mental health advocates. But state Rep. Anne Donahue says the governor's plan takes Vermont's mental health system back 20 years because it does not integrate mental health care with medical care.

Vermont legislators looking at the future of the state office complex in Waterbury have been told by the Shumlin administration it will be at least two years before all workers are relocated. Administration secretary Jeb Spaulding told the committees the Shumlin administration is just starting to sift through 10 proposals for the future of state offices, including re-using the Waterbury campus, or moving the offices elsewhere.

Top officials in New England state governments say they'll be hard-pressed to make up for planned cuts at the federal level in home heating aid. The Obama administration has proposed cutting money for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program in half. In a conference call yesterday, the governors of Vermont and Rhode Island and the lieutenant governors of Massachusetts and Connecticut warned that a big cut in heating aid could leave some low-income residents unable to heat their homes this winter. They also say cash-strapped states will not be able to make up the difference.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont says an agreement by the U.S. Postal Service to delay the closing of 252 mail processing centers and 3,700 local post offices by five months gives Congress more time to consider postal form legislation. Tuesday's announcement comes after Sanders and a small group of senators met with the U.S. postmaster general and the chairman of the US Postal Service Board of Governors on Monday. The closings under consideration include the mail processing facility in White River Junction, which would cost 245 jobs.

The National Guard has earned a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The final version of the defense-spending bill includes a provision co-authored by Sen. Patrick Leahy giving the guard equal standing with the other branches of the armed forces. For decades the guard was a reserve force of "weekend warriors" undermanned and ill equipped. But in recent years guard units have been called upon to be frontline forces. Leahy has helped fight for more funding for the guard. This move will give guard commanders’ greater say over how their forces are utilized.

UVM Police say they caught a campus peeping tom. 29-year-old Travis Blair now faces a voyeurism charge and is due in court next January. No word on how police tracked him down. Police say he got into the Tupper Hall dormitory Monday around noontime and snapped a photo of a female student taking a shower. Other students had also reported seeing someone matching the same description hanging around the dorm over the last few days.

The University of Vermont temporarily suspended a fraternity after a questionable questionnaire. Administrators call the social survey "highly-offensive" because of a question about rape. The school is investigating and notified police. Women’s’ groups are pushing for the frat to be permanently banned. Sigma Phi Epsilon was already on social probation for alcohol violations. Now both the school and national fraternity have told the brothers they must cease all operations.

Three Vermont hospitals are receiving national recognition. Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, Copley Hospital in Morrisville and North Country Hospital in Newport have all been named among the top 100 critical access hospitals in the nation. The National Rural Health Association measured 56 different criteria when conducting its rankings. The three Vermont hospitals were chosen from more than 1,300 critical access hospitals nationwide.

A $1 million anonymous donation will help to replace squeaky seats at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington. The 1,453 seats at the Flynn date back to 1946. Their replacement is part of a renovation plan that also would improve acoustics and add lighting to play up the art-deco features in the lobby and on the facade of the 81-year-old building. The Flynn Center says a November 2nd Burlington Free Press article about the Flynn’s $1.5 million fundraising campaign prompted the anonymous donation.

If you’ve been naughty this holiday season look out! Santa Claus may leave a lump of coal in your stocking! But this Christmas you can take your lumps for a good cause, thanks to Keyser Energy in Rutland County. Keyser officials have announced that all the proceeds collected from its fun, new Holiday Coal Bag sales program will be donated to the Open Door Mission located on Park Street in Rutland. The company is selling the genuine coal at $2 a bag. Each decorative bag will have a hand full of hard coal tied with a holiday ribbon. To purchase your bag of coal to help the Open Door Mission, stop by a Keyser office at any one of these four locations in the Rutland County: 190 West St. in Rutland; 41 School St. in Proctor; 143 Bentley Ave. in Poultney; or 5 North Railroad Rd. in Brandon.

The fourth annual Kiwanis Bridge Building Contest will be held in Ticonderoga. This year’s contest will be held at the Ti Middle School on Saturday, January 21st. More than 60 students have already registered for the contest, which will expand in 2012 to include Crown Point Central School. The bridge contest will also include this year’s Ticonderoga High School physics class.

The goal of eating local can be tough in the winter when no crops are growing in Vermont's frozen fields, but now those crops can be found in the frozen food section of food co-ops around the Northeast. With the use of the Vermont Agriculture Agency's flash freeze unit, the stores are now offering frozen green beans, corn, broccoli and blueberries grown by local farmers. It's a pilot project to test consumer demand for local produce year-round. Because it's just a pilot project, organizers expect there is enough supply to last through mid-winter. But they hope frozen local veggies will provide a long-term opportunity for Vermont farmers.

The Vermont city of St. Albans is going to get nearly $2.1 million federal funds or its ongoing effort to rebuild its downtown. The U.S. Department of Transportation grant announced yesterday by the three members of the state's congressional delegation will help pay for improvements to the city's downtown. The project includes a redesign of Main Street and its sidewalks; and replacement of streetlights and traffic lights.

When it comes to taking care of homeless children, Vermont gets a very good score. In fact, the National Center on Family Homelessness believes Vermont is the very best in the nation in its annual report. While most of New England ranked in the top ten, Minnesota and Nebraska were two and three, behind Vermont. It was estimated there were more than 13-hundred homeless children in Vermont when the survey was taken.

New York owners may donate their unwanted car by December 31st to Cars4Charities and receive a year-end tax deduction of at least $500 on itemized federal taxes. Cars4Charities will handle the donation process and turn unwanted vehicles into cash and send the entire net proceeds to the charity the donor selects from a list provided. Cars may be donated online, as well, at www.cars4charities.org.

WVTK Local & State News December 13, 2011

2011-12-13T00:15:00.000-08:00

Essex County has a new budget that increases taxes 10.54 percent and cuts more than 20 positions, including nine through layoffs. During more than three hours of discussions yesterday, the County Board of Supervisors voted on separate resolutions to set the 2012 budget. The budget raises the tax levy by 10.54 percent, which exceeds the state's new 2-percent tax cap. Supervisors needed a 60-percent majority to bust the cap. The spending plan establishes a tax rate of $2.41 per $1,000 of assessment, 27 cents more than the current rate.

Vermont State Police from New Haven responded to a 4-deer, 1-vehicle collision that occurred in the Town of Ferrisburgh at the junction of Route 7 and 22A early yesterday morning. There were no injuries, but minor damages were sustained as the vehicle collided with a deer. The deer was the last of a herd of four deer that bound across the roadway.

Eleven seniors in the Environmental Studies senior seminar at Middlebury College are doing more than completing graduation requirements, they’re conducting research that will actually be used by government agencies, local officials, scientists and consultants. They hope the work they did will improve the health of Lake Champlain and make local neighborhoods healthier places to live. A key part of the research was Lake Champlain, where phosphorous and other nutrients brought in by runoff act as fertilizers. This drives algae growth in the lake, which in turn depletes dissolved oxygen in the lake.

Kathy Alexander who runs the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union foodservice cooperative is hoping to develop a strategy that will build the farm-to-school momentum, spreading the emphasis on fresh, healthy, local food from the classrooms to the cafeteria to the community. During a gathering last week she explained that when estimating the cost of a foodservice program integrated with the curriculum and with the community, it’s difficult to put a dollar value on the less tangible gains, like student health and knowledge of nutrition and agriculture.

For over 20 years, Ilsley Public Library has been collecting books for children in need. The Christmas Shop at HOPE in Middlebury distributes these books to children whose parents might otherwise not be able to afford a new book. To contribute to this year’s collection, you can drop off clean, new, undamaged children’s books at Ilsley Public Library, the Vermont Book Shop, the Bridge School, or Mary Hogan School. Boxes are available until December 21st. For further information, contact Chris Kirby at Ilsley Public Library. (802-388-4095)

Earlier this month clothing maker Geiger of Austria cut five positions at its Middlebury facility. That now brings its total workforce to three from what were once 70. The Executive Vice President of Geiger indicated that with the nature of such a seasonal business it was not feasible to continue with the staff they had.

A new economic-development planner is poised to come to the aid of businesses interested in Ticonderoga. Justin Woods is the new chief executive officer of the Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance. He has worked the past 3 1/2 years as the City of Ogdensburg director of planning and development, and has 10 years experience in municipal planning and economic development.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has come up short of a budget savings goal he set just after taking office. Shumlin in January said his administration had found $12 million in state personnel costs that would not involve laying off any workers. But Finance and Management Commissioner Jim Reardon, presenting the governor's proposed budget adjustment bill on Monday, said the administration had come up about $2.6 million short of the $12 million goal.

Concern is growing about planned cuts in federal funding for heating assistance for low-income households. That's got elected leaders and advocates in the Northeast upset. The governors of Vermont and New Hampshire, along with the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts are planning a conference call on the topic today. Meanwhile, three committees of the Vermont Legislature have planned a hearing today to discuss the possibility of the state stepping in to fill the gap.

The administration of Gov. Peter Shumlin is asking lawmakers for nearly $25 million to be added on to Vermont's general fund budget for the current fiscal year to pay for costs related to Tropical Storm Irene. Finance and Management Commissioner James Reardon listed items yesterday to be included in a budget adjustment bill ranging from more than $690,000 for supplies and equipment used by National Guard personnel in responding to the emergency to $1.75 million for cleaning up spills of petroleum products caused by flooding. The $25 million in budget adjustments for Irene are expected to be a down payment on costs to the state that are projected eventually to near $100 million.

Massive damage to Vermont's infrastructure from Tropical Storm Irene left many communities cutoff and unable to communicate with the outside world. Yesterday, the crews that helped reconnect Vermont were honored for their efforts. Governor Peter Shumlin was on hand to extend his thanks to the telecommunications crews that worked tirelessly, like so many other Vermonters, in the days and weeks following Irene.

Yesterday Governor Peter Shumlin swore in the state's newest Environmental Judge. Thomas Walsh took the oath of office in Superior Court in Burlington before family and friends. The legislature created the environmental court in 1989 to balance development and preserving Vermont's natural resources. Walsh will be responsible for hearing Act 250 and zoning appeals. Judge Walsh had his own law firm for years. He begins his new job this morning.

Police at the University of Vermont are warning students about a peeping tom. School officials say a man was discovered on the fourth floor of Tupper Hall at around noon Monday where he used a cell phone to take a picture of a female resident. Police are now looking for a white male in his 20s. He's described as 5-foot-8, with dirty blonde hair and scraggly facial hair. He had two hoop earrings in his left ear and was seen leaving campus in a black sedan. Students are also being reminded not to let strangers into residential buildings and to use caution when using shared and public restrooms.

A $15 million energy research center is planned for the University of Vermont. The Center for Energy Transformation and Innovation, first discussed last year, will focus on new energy technologies and how to connect renewable energy projects and conservation to the national electrical grid. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Governor Peter Shumlin, and representatives from Sandia Laboratories, UVM and Green Mountain Power made the announcement yesterday in Burlington.

Following a strike that shut down schools in the Bennington area for nine school days in October, the local teachers union filed a complaint yesterday with the Vermont Department of Labor alleging the school district has “willfully withheld” almost $300,0000 in salary, but school district officials say they are only taking extra time to make sure teacher paychecks are correct. In their complaint, teachers said the contract called for an increase in pay and a decrease in the amount teachers contribute toward their health care benefits, both retroactive to the first paycheck of the current school year. However, teachers said administrators at the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union have told them they will not see those changes in their paychecks until January 19.

Police here in Vermont say a stolen 1972 Fender Telecaster electric guitar autographed by members of Pearl Jam for a New Hampshire teenager with a brain tumor has been recovered, but the signatures are gone. The Burlington Free Press reports that two men have been jailed on charges of possession of stolen property. Police say the autographs were sanded off. Arrested were 25-year-old Jeffrey Leduc and 51-year-old Timothy Crews, both of Burlington.

Woodchuck Hard Cider of Middlebury just announced the winners of it 20th Anniversary Woodchuck hard Cider Video Contest. The cider maker launched the contest earlier this year to kick of its 20th year of making hard cider. Company officials asked fans to submit videos that represent why and what they love about the nation’s number one selling hard cider. A total of 38 videos were submitted. Winners were from New Jersey, Massachusetts and Georgia.

This holiday season the Tiny Tim Christmas Wish Program, which provides Christmas gifts to needy children in the Ticonderoga area, will service 140 children from 52 families. Many contributed including Ticonderoga Cub Scout Pack 72 who recently purchased toys for the program. The boys picked out and purchased over $110 in toys to be donated to the Tiny Tim program. Tiny Tim gifts will be distributed this Saturday from 8AM to Noon at the Masonic Lodge on Montcalm Street in Ticonderoga.

Panera Bread is set to open its second Vermont bakery café on South Main St in Rutland. The opening is set for next Wednesday December 21st. A Panera menu is focused on soups, salads and sandwiches made on a variety of breads baked in house. Panera’s planned involvement in the community includes its Operation Dough-Nation program. The Rutland store will join Panera locations in Connecticut in giving back through its local Day-End Dough-Nation and Community Breadbox programs. At the end of the day, Panera also donates all unsold bread and baked goods to local area hunger relief agencies as part of the program. The Rutland store is seeking nonprofit partners to collect end of day bread from the café.

WVTK Local & State News December 12, 2011

2011-12-12T00:12:00.000-08:00

A Middlebury College student was ejected from a global climate conference in South Africa after she interrupted a speaker to make a statement urging global agreement on a treaty to limit greenhouse-gas emissions. Police escorted 21-year-old Abigail Borah from the conference last Thursday. Before she was seized Borah began reading a speech accusing the United States of stonewalling an agreement. U.S. delegate Todd Stern was speaking at the time. Stern denied any stonewalling.

The Middlebury Select-Board will hold its regular meeting tomorrow evening at 7 in the Town office’s conference room. Agenda items include an update on the East Middlebury Flood Hazard Mitigation Effort, a Middlebury Fire Station update, and a Report on the December 8th Public Hearing on FY13 Budget and Project Recommendations. For the complete agenda and more information just click HERE.

On November 27th at approximately 11PM Vermont State Police were called to a reported burglary located on Woodland Drive in the Town of Bristol. Investigation revealed that an individual broke into the residence while the owners were home. Numerous items were broken and vandalized inside the residence. Anybody with any information about the incident is asked to call the Vermont State Police New Haven Barracks. (802 388-4919)

Vermont State Police are investigating an attempted theft from the Little residence in New Haven. The property owner reported that she observed 3 subjects leaving her driveway carrying her snowplow attachment and was able to surprise the three subjects who dropped the plow and left the area on foot. Police are attempting to identify the three subjects. Please contact Trooper Armstrong at the New Haven Barracks if you have any information. (802-388-4919)

Lynne Kathryn Schulze's family and friends are still hoping for a break that could solve the mystery of what led to the Vermont college student's disappearance 40 years ago. Her family and friends don't believe that Lynne is alive and suspect she was killed or accidentally died soon after she disappeared. As a freshman at Middlebury College, she was walking to a final exam with fellow students when she said she had to get something from her dorm room. She left them to head back, and then vanished. She's still missing.

Motor vehicles aren't all that are crossing the new Champlain Bridge. The bridge has 3,300 feet of fiber-optic cable imbedded in it, part of a plan to take state-of-the-art broadband Internet and data service to rural communities. Local phone companies and wireless carriers will resell the fiber-optic network to residential and commercial customers. The entire network being installed will be in Vermont, New York and Pennsylvania and is ahead of budget and on schedule. The next step is to connect the cable all the way to Burlington, by the end of 2012. Another section will cross from Whitehall to Rutland.

The Westport Central School Board will meet at 5:30PM Tuesday in room 112. The meeting will start with a presentation by Champlain Valley Educational Services business executive Ron Clamser on the tax-cap legislation, followed by review of the audit report. Board meetings are open to everyone.

With winter weather approaching, the Ticonderoga highway department is asking for help with snow removal. Mike Parent, Ti highway superintendent is asking people to remember a town-wide parking ban is in place through April 1. The ban prohibits parking on all town streets and roads from 1 to 6AM to facilitate plowing. Violators will be ticketed and/or towed. Avoid plowing and shoveling snow from driveways onto sidewalks or into the street or road. Local police can ticket people who place snow in a road. Ticonderoga follows the state Department of Transportation “clear road” policy. That means snowplows roll as soon as there is a coating of snow on the road. The goal is to keep roads clear of all snow.

Efforts to move the Ticonderoga Police Department have hit a snag. After they found a way to move the police headquarters to the former Rite Aid building on Montcalm Street, a state law was discovered that has placed the plan on hold. Supervisor Deb Malaney explained the old Rite Aid building is larger than what the town of Ticonderoga needs for its police department. The town had planned to rent the building and sub-lease some of the extra space to help defray the rental costs. According to Malaney they can’t do it because there’s a state law that prevents from renting more space than they need and sub-leasing is not an option. The matter has been turned over to the town attorney and officials are optimistic they will be able to do something.

The top budget official in the administration of Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin is going to give lawmakers the state's best estimate of how much more money will be needed in the current fiscal year to help meet expenses caused by the recovery from Tropical Storm Irene. Officials have been trying to determine how much money Vermont taxpayers will have to pay as the state's share of the Irene recovery costs.

Vermonters with property damaged during Tropical Storm Irene may be able to get some free financial advice. The northern New England chapter of the Financial Planning Association has announced a program to provide free advice to those affected by the August 28th storm.

Democrats in Burlington have chosen their candidate for mayor. Developer Miro Weinberger defeated State Sen. Tim Ashe on Sunday in the second Democratic caucus by a vote of 655 to 533. He will go on to face Republican city councilor and state Rep. Kurt Wright in the race for mayor. Meanwhile, the Burlington Free Press reports Progressive Party caucus members have voted to put off a decision on whether to nominate a candidate until January.

Central Vermont Public Service and Efficiency Vermont have teamed up to encourage municipalities to re-evaluate the efficiency of their streetlights and public space lighting and look at ways to reduce the cost of energy consumption in municipalities. The Municipal Street Lighting Initiative is a two-fold project that encourages towns to increase the efficiency of their streetlights by determining how many light fixtures are needed and replacing them with energy-efficient light emitting diode lights.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is scheduled to make what's being billed as a major announcement today, on efforts to make Vermont a national leader in the area of smart gird technology. Earlier this year The University of Vermont and The Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratory received funding to create an energy research laboratory in Vermont. The new center is expected to focus on sustainable energy, economic development and creating smart-grid technology that will allow energy consumers greater control over their consumption of power. The announcement is expected in Burlington this morning.

Things are starting to get busy at the Vermont Statehouse, as lawmakers prepare to convene next month. Today, the House Corrections and Institutions Committee and the Senate Institutions committee hold a joint session. Those panels have been grappling with the future of the state office complex in Waterbury. Tomorrow, the House Appropriations Committee meets to work on its middle-of-the-fiscal-year budget adjustment bill. The Mental Health Oversight Committee meets to review proposals for the future of Vermont's mental health system. Also, the House Natural Resources and Energy, Human Services and Ways and Means committees meet in a joint session to discuss how to address cuts in federal funding for home heating aid.

How to pay for a new universal health care system will be the focus of several discussions around Vermont. The Agency of Administration says participants will talk about the challenges facing Vermont's health care system, possible principles for a health care financing system and an overview of potential funding sources. The sessions are designed for the public and stakeholder groups that have been identified by the Legislature. The next sessions will be held on Tuesday night at the Rutland Free Library from 6 to 8PM and Wednesday night at Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington.

A new court office is opening in Windsor County. The Springfield office of the Vermont Superior Court Windsor unit will open on Tuesday. It replaces the North Springfield Probate Courthouse, which closed on December 6th. Officials say the new court office is closer to most southern Windsor County residents.

With more illegal immigrants moving beyond the “border states” and a lack of federal immigration reform, some states and communities are coming up with their own enforcement policies. They range from crackdowns to a hands-off approach where police are prohibited from asking about immigration status. Here in Vermont last month Gov. Peter Shumlin changed the state policing policy after two illegal immigrants who were passengers in a pickup truck were handed over to Border Patrol after a traffic stop. Now Vermont troopers will not ask about immigration status when investigating a civil violation, mainly traffic stops. But they can ask about it in investigations of criminal offenses or certain cases of suspicious activity.

A snowboarder from Vermont who suffered a brain injury while in a half-pipe accident is ready to get back on the snow nearly two years later. Kevin Pearce acknowledges that his days of competitive riding are over but he still wants to be on the snow. He'll give it a try Tuesday in Breckenridge, Colorado. Pearce, who's from Norwich, doesn't remember what happened on December 31, 2009, when he hit his head while practicing in Utah for the Olympics.

A general store damaged twice by fire in southern Vermont got a new life Saturday. The Putney General Store reopened for the third time Saturday complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony. It first burned down in May 2008. The store was then bought by the Putney Historical Society and rebuilt. Shortly following, a second fire in November of 2009 leveled it. That fire was ruled arson. After 18 months of rebuilding, Saturday the store opens for the third time. The owner says he is humbled by the communities support.

WVTK Local & State News December 9, 2011

2011-12-09T00:13:00.000-08:00

The UD-3 school board will continue to refine a 2012-2013 budget draft for Middlebury Union Middle and High schools this month. The current draft reflects a 4.1-percent increase in spending just to cover contracted teacher salary raises and benefits, projected hikes in energy costs, and a rise in special education transportation expenses.

A land-use zone prohibiting resource extraction is one of the key elements in the Bristol Planning Commission’s proposed town plan update. Due to this zone’s importance and a recent discrepancy over its exact boundaries, the commission has decided to revisit this part of the plan at a special meeting on January 3rd.

Replacing two bridges in Bristol has been on the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s to-do list since the early ’80s. VTrans officials met with the Bristol select-board earlier this week and said the timetable for completing that work would be pushed back six months from the timeframe they gave in March. The South Street Bridge and the Route 116 “Stoplight Bridge” is in need of replacement.

The after-effects of Tropical Storm Irene continue to challenge human service agencies trying to raise money right now. United Way of Addison County is one of several United Way branches statewide reporting slower-than-usual progress in their annual fund drives for money to support local nonprofits serving people in need. Last year at this time, United Way of Addison County had raised 44 percent of its $750,000 goal, the same target as this year. But as of Monday the agency was around $35,000 short of last December’s tally.

Middlebury College’s Nordic ski center in Ripton has completed a new five-kilometer ski trail and enhanced its ski shop. It’s a major step forward in the effort to make Addison County a better draw for those interested in winter sports and recreation. The new trail has been certified for national and international competition, and was one of the key elements that helped Middlebury solidify its bid to host the NCAA Skiing Championships in 2013.

Town officials in Ticonderoga are beginning a door-to-door canvas of the community’s water districts seeking the return of income surveys that may hold the key to grant funding for a comprehensive drinking water project. The confidential income surveys were sent to water customers in October. The information is needed to seek grant money for a $13.8 million water project. To date about 50 percent of the surveys have been returned. To be eligible for the grant funding, 65 percent of the surveys must be completed.

Stalled by the construction of the new Lake Champlain Bridge, a Port Henry marina project is gearing up to move forward. The Adirondack Park Agency approved a series of variances last January, clearing the way for the renovation and expansion of Velez Marina on Lake Champlain. The project, which local officials consider vital to future economic development, was put on hold while the arch for the new bridge was constructed at the site. With the new bridge complete, the marina project is now scheduled to begin in the spring.

The Rutland Recreation Committee voted to trim $20,000 out of the budget and some aldermen said arguments over that department’s bottom line would continue when the full board reviews the budget next week. The one cut made this week was to a $30,000 line item for playground equipment at White Park.

A fire destroyed the Hinesburg Jiffy Mart on Ballards Corner Road in March of this year. Now a new convenience store with a full fuel service station is well under construction. The new Jiffy Mart is 20 percent larger. It includes North Woods Cafe, a Subway sandwich shop, and gasoline and diesel pumps.

Police now say a suspicious death in Shelburne was actually a suicide. Family found 72-year old James Knights dead in his home on Penny Lane Wednesday. He had not been seen since Sunday. Police were not initially sure what happened, so they treated the investigation as a possible homicide. But an autopsy conducted Thursday revealed that Knights took his own life.

Senator Bernie Sanders is proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution in hopes of reining in campaign spending by corporations and interest groups. In a landmark ruling two years ago, the Supreme Court said those entities have the same first amendment free-speech rights as individuals. The effect of the ruling is unlimited spending on political campaigns, and Sanders says that is endangering Democracy.

The annual fight is underway in Congress for home heating assistance. The Obama administration cut funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program in half this year. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is sponsoring legislation that would restore the program to last year's level. In a speech on the Senate floor, Sanders read letters he received from Vermonters worried about how they will afford to heat their homes this winter. The Obama administration has approved 11-million dollars in home heating assistance for Vermont this year. About half what the state got last year.

Sarah London, an assistant attorney general, will become Gov. Peter Shumlin's legal counsel. London will replace Beth Robinson, who has become Vermont's next Supreme Court justice. London focused on consumer protection and antitrust efforts in her work in the public protection division of the attorney general's office. Shumlin said yesterday that London is an exceptional lawyer who understands the legislative process and has great judgment.

The Vermont Supreme Court is going to decide whether the Hartford Police Department should be required to release records of a case in which a man from their community was forcibly handcuffed inside his home. The news web site vtdigger.org asked the court yesterday to require the police department to release the information.

The man who police say is one of Vermont's most dangerous criminals is back behind bars. Harley Breer was back in court yesterday, accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend. Breer was on probation for a previous kidnapping charge. Now, he could face life in prison if he is convicted on these new charges.

New York's second major income tax increase in two years will charge millionaires more, but give 4.4 million middle-class residents a rare break worth $200 to $400 a year. Under the plan backed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which the state Senate passed 55-0 Wednesday night and the Assembly approved 130-8 early yesterday, those tax breaks will go to most households with annual earnings of $40,000 to $300,000, or single filers making $20,000 to $150,000 a year.

According to New York Troopers, a “hoax” e-mail is going around that appears to be from New York State Police or the Los Angeles Department of Motor Vehicles. The subject line of the e-mail may contain the title, "Uniform Traffic Ticket." Troopers advise that anyone receiving the e-mail delete it without clicking on the link. They also advise that if you did open the e-mail attachment, you should update and run antivirus software.

Vermont State Police say three people have died in a collision between a propane truck and vehicle in Moretown. Police say the driver and two occupants of the vehicle were killed in the crash on Route 100B yesterday. The driver of the propane truck was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Police say the names of the victims are being withheld until their families are notified. Part of Vermont Route 100B in Moretown was closed until about 11PM Thursday.

Middlebury College’s Lessons and Carols service is celebrating its 40th anniversary this Sunday in Mead Chapel. There will be two services one at 4PM and the other at 7PM It will feature a special guest reader, former Gov. Jim Douglas, who, as a Middlebury College senior in 1971, read from the Gospel according to Luke at the first local Lessons and Carols service. The service draws visitors from around the county and state.

A Vergennes Union High School student has been selected as a youth ambassador. It is considered an honor to be chosen for HOBY, the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership. That’s why students at Vergennes Union High School are excited for classmate Stephanie Anderson. The second-year student was just selected as an ambassador to the 2013 HOBY World Leadership Conference. According to HOBY officials, Anderson was nominated and selected for the honor based on her demonstrated and potential leadership skills and traits at VUHS.

The Westport Library has a new director. Dan Van Olpen, a former AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and current board member of Literacy Volunteers of Essex-Franklin Counties, has taken the role of director. The Library Association President said he is proficient in computer skills, has a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in education from the University at Albany.

New Haven artist Tami Crupi-Zeman has another title to add to her already impressive resume, that of award-winner. On December 1st, the Chaffee Arts Center of the Rutland Area Art Association, awarded Zeman the prestigious, "Dr. Ralph Seeley Best in Show Award" for its' current exhibit, "Enduring Traditions: Winter All Members Exhibit." Zeman's entry, "Sisters," was chosen over hundreds of other entries in the exhibit, which runs through January 7th, at the Center. Several other pieces of Zeman's award-winning work are currently featured at a number of Addison County Businesses, including "Jackson's on the River," in Middlebury, along with the WVTK Studios in the Marble Works.

WVTK Local & State News December 8, 2011

2011-12-08T00:26:00.000-08:00

Republican Vermont State Sen. Randy Brock announced he is running for governor. Brock made the announcement yesterday afternoon. Former Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas was at the press conference to show support for Brock. The 68-year-old, of Swanton, represents Franklin County in the state Senate. He also served as Vermont state auditor.

Vermont Democrats announced the launch of a newly redesigned website, which uses the same web address as the previous site; www.vtdemocrats.org. The site features technological and aesthetic improvements, making it both easier and more appealing to use. The improvements include links to information on voter registration and obtaining an absentee ballot, platform pages detailing Vermont Democrats’ stance on the issues, the latest news from the party’s Twitter feed and more.

Vermont police are investigating a suspicious death in Shelburne. Shelburne Police Chief James Warden say a man in his 70s was found dead in a mobile home by a relative Wednesday morning. Warden told the Burlington Free Press that the cause of death has not been determined and that the man died under suspicious circumstances. He would not provide further details. Police are not releasing the man's name until relatives are notified. Vermont State Police are helping with the investigation.

The Middlebury Downtown Improvement District Commission will hold a Public Meeting this afternoon at 4:30 in the Town Offices Conference Room. The hearing is regarding the Downtown tax district revenues and budget/project recommendations that the DIDC should make to the Select-board for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from July 2012 through June 2013.

The Middlebury Select-board Board continued its review of the fiscal year 2013 Budget, which is a level-service spending plan. Staff presented revenue enhancements of $18,248 and expense reductions totaling $44,405, lowering the amount of property tax revenue to support the budget by $62,653 from the first budget draft. The Board will continue to work on the budget proposal throughout December and January, and will hold a public hearing on the proposal on Tuesday, January 17th. Budget drafts and supporting information are available on the Town's website, www.townofmiddlebury.org.

The Brandon Planning Commission presented a second draft of a more “business-friendly” sign and merchandise ordinance on Monday at a public forum. The Commission Chairman said they worked hard to incorporate some of the changes and suggestions they received at the first public hearing in October. She said they have streamlined it and made it user-friendly and clearer. At the first public hearing, several business owners raised concerns regarding internally illuminated signs, product merchandise and sandwich signs.

A Hinesburg man charged with second-degree murder in a fatal drunken driving crash in Burlington wants statements he made to police blocked from his trial. He says he wasn't read his rights. Timothy Dowd allegedly slammed into a car during a police chase. The crash last December killed Kaye Borneman.

Mendon hopes to work with the city of Rutland to get debris out of Mendon Brook. The city’s watershed runs along the town’s roads, and Mendon Selectman Larry Courcelle said there were worries about debris in Mendon Brook knocking out sections of Wheelerville Road that has just been repaired after the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene. He told the Board of Aldermen earlier this week that five of Wheelerville Road’s seven miles were damaged.

A former park ranger is facing a felony charge for allegedly skimming about $5,000 from Bomoseen State Park. John R. Davine of Proctor, pleaded innocent in Rutland criminal court to a single charge of grand larceny. If convicted, he could face a maximum of 10 years in prison. He was released on the condition he not have any contact with witnesses in the case.

There are safety concerns with the new Cheney Mountain Trail in Moriah. The new recreation trail opened last month. It starts by the town’s former landfill and follows an old logging road to the summit of Cheney Mountain. However the problem is hunting. Moriah allows hunting on town property. Adjacent landowners also allow hunting on their property. The supervisor said he would recommend to the town board that the Cheney Mountain Trail be closed during deer hunting season, from mid-October to the first week of December.

Essex County lawmakers will finally decide next week whether they want to slash county programs and eliminate 30 jobs to balance the 2012 budget. A special meeting to discuss and pass the 2012 budget has been scheduled for 11:30AM Monday in the Old County Court Courthouse at Elizabethtown. In related developments, the union representing county workers may agree to reopen contract discussions.

The Vermont Health Department says the number of cases of whooping cough is continuing to go up in the state. In the last six weeks there have been 26 confirmed cases of whooping cough and 47 cases this year. Suspected or confirmed cases have been reported or are under investigation in 11 Chittenden County schools.

This winter, the U.S. Supreme Court will review the constitutionality of President Obama's health care plan. Vermont officials say Governor Peter Shumlin's efforts to implement a single payer system in the state could hinge on how the Court rules. According to Cheryl Hanna a constitutional law professor at Vermont Law School, if the Court were to strike down either part or all of the health care legislation it could really have significant consequences for the state of Vermont in its desire to move forward with single payer health care.

The U.S. Postal Service announced yesterday it has rescheduled a public meeting regarding the future of the White River Junction mail processing facility. The meeting will address the future of the plant. A recent feasibility study conducted by the postal service suggested the White River Junction facility for closing. The public meeting will be held January 4th at 6PM at the American Legion in White River Junction.

Fugitive Harley Breer Jr. is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon at 1 in Barre criminal court. Breer was located in Tilton, NH on Monday. The Tilton Police Department said officers located Breer at the residence of an acquaintance and that he was taken into custody without incident. He had a warrant out for his arrest issued November 30th after Vermont State Police received a report that he had allegedly assaulted a female acquaintance several times in October.

A former doctor at Fletcher Allen Health Care pleaded guilty to illegally accessing medical records. Thirty-five year old Joshua Welch now lives in Colorado. But back in 2008, he admits he checked the medical records of a several women, including one woman he was dating, who were not his patient. He'll be sentenced in March. He could get up to a year in prison.

The search for a new University of Vermont President is moving along. The field has been narrowed to a dozen candidates. The UVM presidential search committee met last week in Boston to conduct interviews with those candidates. It's expected that field will be narrowed to a handful of candidates soon. The finalists will be made public and will be invited to campus for more interviews and meetings with students and faculty.

Since its inception in 1984, the Middlebury Congregational Church's annual grand Christmas season “Messiah Sing” performance attracts hundreds of singers and players from throughout Addison County and the greater Champlain Valley region. The community music-making at the Middlebury Congregational Church will begin at 2PM on Sunday, December 18th. Singers, instrumentalists and all who enjoy music are welcome to sing and play. A $5 contribution ($10per family) is requested at the door.

A crowd of more than 225 gathered for the fourth-annual Fashion for Passion show to support the North Country SPCA. The sold-out "Winter Wonderland" show featured 45 models. The local students, business owners and SPCA Board members all walked the runway to raise money for the shelter in Westport. The event surpassed last year's total, raising nearly $8,000.

Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are among the top eight states in the country in the amount of Peace Corps volunteers they have per capita. Vermont is the top-ranked state, although the District of Columbia ranks higher. New Hampshire ranks fifth and Maine is eighth. Currently there are 47 volunteers from Vermont serving in the Peace Corps.

WVTK Local & State News December 7, 2011 (Afternoon Update)

2011-12-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

A burst of snow during the overnight hours will bring heavy accumulations by tomorrow morning in our southernmost areas. 6-12 inches of snow, or more, is possible by Thursday morning for Bennington and western Windham counties. 3-6 inches of snow can be expected in our central and eastern counties, as well as much of NH. The northern Champlain Valley will be getting 1-3 inches, and northern NY just a dusting to 2 inches.

Republican Vermont State Sen. Randy Brock announced he is running for governor. Brock made the announcement this afternoon. Former Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas was at the press conference to show support for Brock. The 68-year-old Brock, of Swanton, represents Franklin County in the state Senate. He also served as Vermont state auditor.

Vermont Democrats announced the launch of a newly redesigned website, which uses the same web address as the previous site; www.vtdemocrats.org. The site features technological and aesthetic improvements, making it both easier and more appealing to use. The improvements include links to information on voter registration and obtaining an absentee ballot, platform pages detailing Vermont Democrats’ stance on the issues, the latest news from the party’s Twitter feed and more.

The Addison County Chamber Of Commerce After Hours Business Mixer and the Ticonderoga Chamber’s Mixer will both take place next Thursday, December 15th. Addison County’s will be held at the Waybury inn in East Middlebury from 5 – 7PM. The entry fee is a donation to the Addison County Humane Society. Meanwhile The Ticonderoga Historical Society and Ticonderoga Arts will co-host their event 5:30 to 7PM. Appetizers, soft drinks and beverages will be served upstairs in the library and desserts will be served downstairs in the gallery.

A Hinesburg man charged with second-degree murder in a fatal drunken driving crash in Burlington wants statements he made to police blocked from his trial. He says he wasn't read his rights. Timothy Dowd allegedly slammed into a car during a police chase. The crash last December killed Kaye Borneman.

There are safety concerns with the new Cheney Mountain Trail in Moriah. The new recreation trail opened last month. It starts by the town’s former landfill and follows an old logging road to the summit of Cheney Mountain. However the problem is hunting. Moriah allows hunting on town property. Adjacent landowners also allow hunting on their property. The supervisor said he would recommend to the town board that the Cheney Mountain Trail be closed during deer hunting season, from mid-October to the first week of December.

Three New England senators are pushing a bill to prevent deep spending cuts in the federal home heating assistance program that they say could hurt the poor and elderly this winter. Maine's Olympia Snowe, Vermont's Bernie Sanders and Rhode Island's Jack Reed said Wednesday said they want $4.7 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the same amount provided by the government to states last winter. President Barack Obama has proposed cutting the program to about $2.5 billion this winter. The House is considering $3.4 billion for fuel assistance while the Senate weighs a $3.6 billion proposal.

This winter, the U.S. Supreme Court will review the constitutionality of President Obama's health care plan. Vermont officials say Governor Peter Shumlin's efforts to implement a single payer system in the state could hinge on how the Court rules. According to Cheryl Hanna a constitutional law professor at Vermont Law School, if the Court were to strike down either part or all of the health care legislation it could really have significant consequences for the state of Vermont in its desire to move forward with single payer health care.

The Vermont Human Rights Commission has joined a lawsuit alleging a Lyndonville inn refused to host a lesbian couple's wedding reception. The Caledonian-Record reports a judge approved the commission entry into the case. The couple says the inn turned them away after being told their wedding would have two brides.

A Colchester man was taken into custody after police say he held a disabled woman hostage in his home and was armed with a rifle. Police evacuated a family next door and removed the woman through a window. Randy Myott was arrested about 90 minutes later.

Since its inception in 1984, the Middlebury Congregational Church's annual grand Christmas season “Messiah Sing” performance attracts hundreds of singers and players from throughout Addison County and the greater Champlain Valley region. The community music-making at the Middlebury Congregational Church will begin at 2PM on Sunday, December 18th. Singers, instrumentalists and all who enjoy music are welcome to sing and play. A $5 contribution ($10per family) is requested at the door.

The Vermont-based folk trio Bread And Bones 2008 album, I Know Stories, was a big hit in folk circles: It won accolades from reviewers and the honor of Vermont’s Best Traditional Album for that year by the Times Argus. The band is out with a new album, which is titled Could Have Been A Dream. You are invited to check out one of their upcoming shows: Thursday, December 15th at 8PM at 51 Main here in Middlebury and on Saturday, December 17th at 8PM at Bread and Butter Farm in Burlington. Check them out online, click HERE!

WVTK Local & State News December 7, 2011

2011-12-07T00:28:00.000-08:00

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor barrage, which lasted just two hours. In the bombardment, the Japanese navy managed to destroy nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight enormous battleships, and almost 200 airplanes. Two thousand Americans soldiers and sailors died in the attack, and another 1,000 were wounded. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war. Three days later, Japanese allies Germany and Italy also declared war on the United States, and again Congress reciprocated. More than two years into a conflict that had engulfed much of Europe, America had finally joined World War II.

The Vermont State Police reported yesterday that a runaway teen left her Main St. residence in New Haven. The teen has been missing since November 11th. 17-Year-Old Cheri Jean Karzmarczyk ran away from her foster residence sometime after 10:30PM on November 11th. She is described as being a white female, 5'4" tall, approximate 160 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes. She has some scratch marks on her left wrist that are relatively fresh and may be wearing sweat pants and a maroon Carhartt jacket. It is possible that she may be headed to her biological mother's home in Colorado. Anyone with information should contact the State Police New Haven Barracks.

This evening ACRPC and the Acorn Renewable Energy Coop are co-sponsoring a program on plug-in cars and Vermont’s Transportation Infrastructure. The presentation will cover plug-in electric cars and the future of plug-in electric cars in Addison County. The discussion will also feature Tom McGrath, University of Vermont Transportation Research Center and Coordinator of the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition, who will present an overview of Vermont’s Transportation Infrastructure; the “Clean Cities” design concept, and eco-driving. ACRPC is hosting the free event and snacks will be provided.

Rising concerns of local business owners about burglaries and robberies led the Brandon police chief to hold a seminar on how to help prevent such incidents. One business owner said the concern comes from nightly reports of convenience stores and banks getting robbed. The Brandon Police Chief said robberies are not a big concern in the community with crime down about 30 percent from last year. The largest crime issue in Brandon is the sale of pharmaceutical and prescription drugs. The Chief suggested various basic safety precautions to store owners.

Rutland City Police said they found heroin, crack cocaine, almost $14,000 in cash and a handgun during a drug raid on Strongs Avenue. Keith D. Dunn of Brooklyn pleaded innocent yesterday in Rutland criminal court to two felony charges of selling heroin, one misdemeanor charge of possession of heroin and one misdemeanor charge of possession of cocaine. If convicted on all charges he could face a maximum of 22 years in prison.

G. Stone Motors of Middlebury presented a $7000 award check yesterday to Vergennes Union High School as part of the Ford Drive One for UR School Event that took place in September. As part of the event, Ford matched what G. Stone raised for Vergennes and gave it to Ted Greene Ford in Rochester to present to Rochester High School as Tropical Storm Irene prevented Ted Greene the opportunity to hold the Drive One for UR School Event at Rochester High School.

Vermont is taking the top spot in the UnitedHealth Foundation's 2011 edition of "America's Health Rankings." New Hampshire ranks second on health-related criteria that include high rate of high school graduation, low violent crime, usage of early prenatal care and availability of primary care physicians. Connecticut, Hawaii and Massachusetts round out the study's five healthiest states. Mississippi ranks lowest in the 2011 health ranking. To see the complete list, go to AmericasHealthRankings.org.

A Ticonderoga graduate is coming home to perform a benefit for Moriah students. Megan Walls, a graduate music student at Illinois State University, has organized a concert by the Snow Bones Trombone Ensemble. The show will be Wednesday, December 21st at 7PM at St. Mary’s Church in Ticonderoga and will benefit the Moriah Central School women’s chorus, which is raising money for a trip and performance at Disney World this spring.

The Essex County Board of Supervisors voted to override the New York state-imposed 2 percent tax cap after a public hearing on the topic earlier this week. It preceded the much-anticipated hearing on the tentative 2012 county budget, where people overwhelmingly asked supervisors to add funding for several agencies and services back into the budget. Along with the cap override, the board also unanimously seconded a resolution asking the state to pass a bill implementing a multi-year state takeover of the local share of Medicaid.

More than 100 people packed into the Old Courthouse at the Essex County Government Center with a request to raise taxes. A total of 24 people spoke at the 2012 county budget hearing on Monday with most asking for the Essex County Board of Supervisors to reinstate funding for a number of programs, including the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Adirondack Harvest and the Adirondack Regional Airport. The board decided to meet again this coming Monday to further look at the budget. The county budget has to be approved by the board on or before December 20th.

A section of Route 107 will be closed next week as part of an effort to get the whole highway repaired and re-opened by the end of the year. Starting at midnight Sunday a 1.1-mile section of the highway will be closed. That will enable highway crews to install two new culverts. That section of 107 has only been open to local traffic since Tropical Storm Irene, and local residents will have access to a detour route.

Police say there is more evidence of a rise in robberies across Vermont. There were two armed robberies in Franklin County yesterday and more than half a dozen in the past month. Police say a man walked into a St. Albans pharmacy on Tuesday, told the owner he had a gun, and demanded cash. Then he fled. Hours earlier there was an armed robbery at a Sunoco in Swanton. He then left with an unknown amount of cash and cigarettes. Police say they are seeing a trend. They are just not exactly sure what is causing it. They say most likely, some of the robberies are linked to drugs.

The latest national survey of vaccination rates has been released, and Vermont's statistics show that more parents are deciding to opt out of vaccinating their children. The Vermont Health Department says about six percent of Vermont school kids haven't had all their shots, one of the highest rates in the country. Parents who choose not to vaccinate often cite concerns about vaccine safety, side effects or harmful ingredients in vaccines. Dr. Jerry Larrabee is the medical director of University Pediatrics in Burlington and says the risks of vaccines are low and there is a lot of misinformation.

Federal prosecutors say a Virginia man helped a former Vermont woman leave the country with her daughter so she wouldn't have to turn custody of the girl over to her former lesbian partner. The U.S. Attorney's office in Burlington says Kenneth Miller surrendered yesterday to face charges stemming from his role in helping Lisa Miller leave the country with her daughter in September 2009.

Two Vermont men are facing a variety of charges after they fled police by crossing into Canada. The two were arrested several hours later as they tried to re-enter the United States. State Police say a trooper tried to stop a vehicle early Monday in Island Pond because it had a loud muffler, but the car fled north, reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour until its crossed illegally into Canada.

The deaths of a husband and wife in St. Johnsbury are considered a case of domestic violence turned deadly. A friend of 50-year-old Penny Birch called police when the woman didn't turn up to meet her as they'd planned. Police obtained a search warrant and went in the house on Monday, making the grim discovery of 55-year-old David Birch and his wife. Police say Penny Birch died from several gunshot wounds while her husband died from one wound. A pending breakup of the marriage and financial problems are believed to be the motives behind the deaths.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who promised to "freeze taxes" since his campaign a year ago, is now pushing a proposal that would revamp New York's tax code and apparently increase taxes on the wealthy next year. The plan would also cut taxes for the middle class as a response to indications of worsening national and state economies, while avoiding more cuts to education.

Each year the Rutland County Women's Network & Shelter hosts a holiday give away. The nonprofit agency works to provide gifts to families who might not otherwise receive much, if anything. Last year, the organization was able to provide gifts to more than 600 children thanks to donations from the community. This year, because of the economy and Tropical Storm Irene, the need is expected to be even greater. Time is running out, however and this is the last week to donate items for the women's shelter. Donations of toys and gifts for infants through teens can be dropped off at their office at 101 Grove St. between 9AM and 4PM until Friday of this week. For more information, call the RCWN&S at 775-6788.

There's a difference between art and tackiness, and apparently Anne Marie Blackman knows just how far to go. Her Killington based business is called "My Ugly Christmas Sweater" and is turning into a booming one. She says since many people are now wearing the tackiest clothes they can find at themed Christmas parties, she takes gently used sweaters and embellishes them even more. She says you can never have too many bells on a sweater or too much fringe. Prices range from 35 to 80-dollars, and Blackman ships thousands worldwide.

Sen. Bernie Sanders once again is inviting Vermont high school students to participate in an essay contest about the state of the Union. It's the second annual such contest sponsored by Sanders, who calls it a way to get Vermont's young people engaged in the issues facing the nation. The contest is timed in advance of the president's annual State of the Union address. Participants are invited to write from 250 to 500 words and submit the essay by January 6th to stateoftheunion@sanders.senate.gov.

WVTK Local & State News December 6, 2011 (Afternoon Update)

2011-12-06T13:00:00.000-08:00

Vermont State Police are looking for two people discovered in other people’s homes. The first incident took place shortly after 9AM yesterday on Creek Road in Clarendon. Police say Christina Wortman returned home and found a man standing him her living room. A similar incident took place a short time later on Geer Road in Wells. Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call police.

A Middlebury College political science professor will resign December 31st following her July plea of no contest to the charges of embezzlement. Kateri Carmola informed coworkers and students of her decision to step down at the end of this year via an e-mail message that was distributed on campus.

If you felt last month was unseasonably warm here in Addison County it was truly record breaking. According to data documented by National Weather Service observers, South Lincoln had its warmest November on record, with a monthly average of 40.8 degrees. The second warmest November in South Lincoln weather history was in 2006 at 40.3 degrees. Salisbury tied its November 2006 monthly temperature average record of 43.6 degrees and Cornwall posted its seventh warmest November in history at 42.3 degrees. The warmest was in 1948 at 45.7 degrees. While temperatures were up in November, precipitation was down in Addison County.

The Cornwall select-board is seeking public input by circulating a community-wide survey in hopes of settling the future of the town-owned Lavalley Store building at next March’s town meeting. The Lavalley building is a circa-1880s structure located next to the Cornwall Town Hall. It was used for decades as a store and as a residence before being vacated and donated to the town by the Lavalley family in 2001.

The latest national health rankings show that once again Vermont is the healthiest state in the nation. The study done by the United Health Foundation ranked Vermont the most healthy for the third year in a row and the fourth time in the last five years. New Hampshire ranked as the second healthiest state and Maine ranked eighth.

The new Middlebury African Music and Dance Ensemble will present its debut concert "Beyond Drumming" this evening at 8 in the Mahaney Center for the Arts Concert Hall. The ensemble will highlight the music and culture of Uganda in an hour-long program of instrumental, song and dance performance.

WVTK Local & State News December 6, 2011

2011-12-06T00:14:00.000-08:00

A Middlebury College political science professor will resign December 31st following her July plea of no contest to the charges of embezzlement. Kateri Carmola informed coworkers and students of her decision to step down at the end of this year via an e-mail message that was distributed on campus.

Vermont State Police are looking for two people discovered in other people’s homes. The first incident took place shortly after 9AM yesterday on Creek Road in Clarendon. Police said Christina Wortman returned home from taking her child to school and found a man standing him her living room. A similar incident took place a short time later on Geer Road in Wells. Police said they got a call shortly before 11 a.m. about an “unknown person” entering the house. Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call police. The suspect in the Creek Road incident is described as a black male, about 20 years old, clean-shaven and wearing a brown jacket, light blue hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and red sneakers.

If you felt last month was unseasonably warm here in Addison County it was truly record breaking. According to data documented by National Weather Service observers South Lincoln had its warmest November on record, with a monthly average of 40.8 degrees. The second warmest November in South Lincoln weather history was in 2006 at 40.3 degrees. Salisbury tied its November 2006 monthly temperature average record of 43.6 degrees and Cornwall posted its seventh warmest November in history at 42.3 degrees. The warmest was in 1948 at 45.7 degrees. While temperatures were up in November, precipitation was down in Addison County.

According to the 2010 census, Monkton is one of Addison County’s fastest growing towns, expanding at a rate of 12.6 percent in the last decade and they have exceeded the capacity of their town hall. Town officials are hoping to move Monkton’s 152-year-old town hall from its current spot on Monkton Ridge up the street to town-owned land next to Monkton Friends Church overlooking Monkton Pond. The cost of this new town building is estimated at $1.5 million and if approved in a vote likely to take place next year, this would add 8-10 cents to property taxes to cover a 20-year bond with no outside financial assistance.

Child Care advocates are concerned about service cuts. More than 20 representatives of Addison County’s child care community gathered in Middlebury last week and vowed to push for more state support for services they said are being stressed by the struggling economy and drug abuse within young families.

A local resident has been named to the national organic advisory board. Rural development and environmental policy expert Jean Richardson of North Ferrisburgh has been named to the advisory board that helps set national standards for organic agriculture and products.

The Cornwall select-board is seeking public input by circulating a community-wide survey in hopes of settling the future of the town-owned Lavalley Store building at next March’s town meeting. The Lavalley building is a circa-1880s structure located next to the Cornwall Town Hall. It was used for decades as a store and as a residence before being vacated and donated to the town by the Lavalley family in 2001.

How to mitigate flooding from events like the record spring levels of Lake Champlain and Tropical Storm Irene remains an enigma. But the Lake Champlain Citizens Advisory Committee of New York State and others hope to find a solution. The Advisory Committee, comprised of a cross-section of agency representatives and individuals, provides information and works with other groups and governmental entities.

Ken Tucker believes beer could be an economic force in the Adirondacks. The Ticonderoga man has embarked on a project to attract small breweries throughout the region. He believes the effort will result in $3 billion in revenue a year and 5,000 jobs in 15 years. The key is the 10 trillion gallons of fresh water that flows from the Adirondacks each year. Water is the key ingredient in beer making this area a prime location for breweries. Tucker lived for 12 years in Oregon where small breweries thrive. Craft brewing is responsible for $3 billion in revenue each year and 5,000 jobs in Oregon and he believes the industry can do the same thing in the Adirondack Park.

The state has released new estimates on the cost of damages from Tropical Storm Irene and how much of it will have to be paid for by Vermont taxpayers. Officials now believe the floodwaters from Irene caused up to 572-million dollars in damage to state and local roads, bridges and other infrastructure. And if all federal funding comes through that the state could qualify for, state and local governments would have to cover about 98-million dollars. The Vermont share is greatly reduced thanks to legislation pushed thru recently by Vermont's congressional delegation that waives federal funding limits.

It's now illegal to toss rechargeable batteries in the trash in New York State. Under a law signed into law by the governor in December 2010, consumers now have to take their worn-out rechargeable batteries to be recycled. And stores that sell them have to accept rechargeables for recycling. Retailers had to start accepting batteries for recycling back in June, but the consumer ban on disposal has just now taken effect. The law covers batteries for laptops, cameras, cell phones, and rechargeable alkaline batteries. People caught tossing rechargeables in the garbage face fines of $50 for the first offense and $100 for the second.

A convicted kidnapper suspected of assaulting a woman in Vermont has been arrested in New Hampshire after a 5-day search. Vermont State Police say 42-year-old Harley Breer of Calais was found at the home of an acquaintance in Tilton, NH. Police say he was arrested on Monday without incident. Police had issued an arrest warrant for Breer on Wednesday for violating the conditions of his parole after his 2009 release from prison for kidnapping his estranged girlfriend's mother in 1999.

The struggling U.S. Postal Service says it's moving forward with plans to close more than 250 mail processing centers around the country, including two slated for Vermont. The $3 billion in cuts announced Monday would slow first-class mail service, ending next-day deliveries of stamped letters. The list released earlier this year of processing centers to be closed includes facilities in the village of Essex Junction and in White River Junction. The Postal Service says the cuts are in response to a steady drop in the amount of mail it handles.

The faculty union at the University of Vermont has ratified a new contract. United Academics and UVM reached a tentative agreement on November 14th after ten months of negotiations and mediation sessions. The faculty ratified the contract on Monday. The union says the new 3-year contract includes modest salary increases and improvement in workload conditions while retaining existing health benefits and premium rates for active faculty.

A supporter of the protesters seeking to derail a wind power project under construction on a Vermont ridgeline says seven people were arrested while blocking a road up Lowell Mountain. Steve Wright of Craftsbury says the protesters were arrested yesterday morning after they blocked construction vehicles in an area where they believe land ownership is in dispute.

The Atlanta-based chicken restaurant chain Chick-fil-A says it's going to fight to protect its trademarked slogan "eat mor chikin" from what it sees as encroachment by a Vermont folk artist who uses the term "eat more kale" on T-shirts. Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin says the state will help Montpelier artist Bo Muller-Moore raise money for his legal costs in a trade mark fight with Chick-fil-A, the nation's second largest chicken restaurant chain.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters expects to be named in a lawsuit that claims the company defrauded investors. A Green Mountain Coffee spokesperson says the Louisiana Municipal Police Employees' Retirement System is filing suit against the company, claiming it falsified statements to make it look like it was performing better than it was. The Company has reviewed the complaint and believes the claims are without merit and will defend themselves.

A Vermont woman is accused of telling police she escaped from a potential kidnapper while on a break from her job at a Colchester convenience store. Colchester police say Kendra Brown of Fairfax is charged with filing a false kidnapping report.

The Ticonderoga Historical Society will host its annual Festival of Trees this December at the Hancock House. This marks the 21st year for the holiday tradition, which features a festive display of trees decorated by local businesses, organizations, families and individuals. A highlight of the month long event is the Hancock House open house this Sunday from 1 to 3PM. The open house gives visitors a chance to see the trees and exchange holiday greetings.

The new Middlebury African Music and Dance Ensemble will present its debut concert "Beyond Drumming" this evening at 8 in the Mahaney Center for the Arts Concert Hall. The ensemble will highlight the music and culture of Uganda in an hour-long program of instrumental, song and dance performance.

Stafford Technical Center in Rutland is hosting a "Building Renovations Community Open House" from 4:30 to 8PM today. There will be guided tours, demonstrations by programs, fun activities, live music by the Stafford All Stars, refreshments and door prize giveaways.

WVTK Local & State News December 5, 2011

2011-12-05T00:18:00.000-08:00

A student at Landmark College has pleaded not guilty to charges of setting off a homemade bomb on campus. According to court documents, Kevin Spitzner told police that he built the device using household cleaning products, and that he set it off to scare another student that he was fighting with. No one was injured by the device. The 23-year-old Shoreham man faces up to 10 years behind bars if convicted.

Area Police Departments are urging you to be aware of shoplifters and to protect yourself against theft this Holiday Season. Police recommend that you always lock car doors and place packages and valuable items in the trunk. If possible, leave handbags at home in favor of a wallet. Never leave a purse or other valuables unattended in a cart. Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Report suspicious activity to police or store personnel. When choosing a parking spot, favor well lit, heavily traveled sections of the parking lot and park close to the entrance if possible.

According to Vermont State Police no one was injured in a three-car, two-deer collision on Route 7 in New Haven on Friday night. A state trooper and a Vermont Fish and Wildlife game warden responded to the scene where drivers said two deer came bounding into traffic between vehicles. Although no one was injured, two of the three vehicles sustained damage when they collided with the deer before leaving the roadway.

A New York man was in a Vermont court Friday to face drug trafficking charges. Vermont State police stopped Saad Washington of Brooklyn, Thursday night on Route 4 in Fair Haven. Police say they found 220 bags of heroin, an ounce of cocaine and some marijuana in the car. Police say Washington was bringing the drugs from New York City into Rutland County, specifically the Brandon area. Washington faces charges of heroin trafficking and possession of crack cocaine and marijuana.

The Brandon House of Pizza reopened last Tuesday and according to the owner people have been coming into the pizza shop excited that they are open. On its fourth day open, there was still a long wait. She said they have received numerous phone calls congratulating them for reopening and have had people come to Brandon from as far as Rochester and Burlington for pizza. The Brandon House of Pizza closed its doors on August 28th after water from the Neshobe River flooded the shop during Tropical Storm Irene with several inches of water and lifted up the back of the building, causing permanent damage. The new shop is located next to Aubuchon Hardware on Route 7.

The town of Moriah is borrowing $500,000 to help cover expenses from major storms that hit the community this year. According to the Town Supervisor the loan will not affect local taxpayers. Moriah officials are confident the storm damage will ultimately be paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but that money has not yet arrived and a new budget year starts in a few weeks.

A big crowd is expected for tonight's public hearing on the tentative 2012 Essex County budget. The hearing at 6:30PM in the Old County Courthouse will let the County Board of Supervisors know whether most people would prefer a significant tax hike over deep cuts to county programs and personnel. County Manager Daniel Palmer said the County Board of Supervisors is planning to pass a budget with a 4.5 percent increase in the amount to be raised by taxes.

Twenty North Country fire districts failed to file the required tax-cap data with the State Comptroller's Office in November. More than 56 percent of the state's 882 fire districts recently approved budgets without filing the required tax-cap data, which was due November 4th. Locally in Essex County, the districts that did not file the data on time include Essex No. 1 and No. 2, Keene, Mineville-Witherbee, Schroon Lake, Ticonderoga and Willsboro.

Rutland physician Dr. Seth Coombs is 1 of the first doctors in Vermont to adopt a new style of medical practice that is expanding across the country. Coombs has switched to a practice known as boutique doctors, or personalized medicine. His patients have to pay him a retainer and they are still billed for their appointments and procedures. In return, the patients’ get his cell phone number and email address and they're guaranteed appointments the same or the next day. Coombs says he's also providing better care than traditional practices. But thousands of people in the Rutland area have had to find new doctors and some of Coombs' former patients are ending up in the emergency room when their conditions couldn't wait for an appointment with a new physician.

Authorities across New England continue to hunt for a prison escapee. Police say David Hobson should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. The Alfred Maine man escaped from a county jail in Ossipee New Hampshire on Thursday. Police say Hobson escaped from prison with the purpose of harming two individuals however no further details have been released. His father, Glenn Hobson, was arrested Friday for allegedly leaving a stash of supplies for his son.

Vermont Democrats held their annual caucus to plan for the upcoming legislative session, and discussion turned to Tropical Storm Irene. House Speaker Shap Smith told his Democratic colleagues Saturday that Irene was a defining moment in Vermont history. Smith said it served as a reminder that government serves a purpose, especially in an era when much of the conversation is about what is wrong with government. Lawmakers return in January.

Period music, holiday decorations and horse-drawn sleigh rides will be among the draws for next weekend's holiday open house at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth Notch. Many of the site's buildings will be open free of charge next Sunday, with the Coolidge birthplace decorated as it would have been in 1872, the year Coolidge was born.

Governor Peter Shumlin plans today to wade into the battle between Chick-fil-A and folk artist Bo Muller-Moore. Muller-Moore has been at odds with the fast-food chain, which says his "Eat More Kale" t-shirts interfere with the chain's trademarked "Eat Mor Chikin" sales pitch.

For 54 years, Santa's Land on Route 5 in Putney has been a holiday tradition for many, many families but not for much longer. In two weeks, the attraction resembling Santa's home at the North Pole is closing down. Owner Tim Wells says the cost of running it has gone up while the incoming revenue has gone down. The high cost of gas has also hurt much of the park's out-of-state business. It's now up for sale, and the Wells family hopes the next owners can re-open in time for the holidays next year.

A long-time Vermont journalist and government communications official has joined the staff of U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy. Diane Derby will work out of Leahy's Montpelier office. Derby worked as communication director for retired U.S. Senator James Jeffords and as a reporter for the Vermont Press Bureau and the Burlington Free Press.

Since the wind turbine project began on Lowell Mountain in September, dozens of people have been camping nearby on Don Nelson's property. Sunday they opened up their camp to anyone else who wanted to see what the project looked like. At the protesters camp organizers took questions and explained what they were doing, as well as what was happening on the mountain. Green Mountain Power is putting in 21 windmills that will ultimately pay out big bucks to nearby towns.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's jobs plan proposes to expand gaming, which could mean a Catskills casino, a new infrastructure repair fund, more tax credits for job growth and a job-training program. The extensive proposal released yesterday is Cuomo's response to an unexpected $350 million deficit this year and a projected $3.5 billion deficit in the 2010-13 fiscal year. Cuomo doesn't mention raising taxes, or adjusting the tax code to increase taxes for wealthier New Yorkers.

Hundreds of people turned out for an open house and tour of the new barn at Pete's Greens, a four-season organic farm in Craftsbury. Pete Johnson's new, modern barn, which looks like a warehouse, replaces the farm's traditional barn, which burned down in January. The open house Saturday was to thank people who helped Pete's Greens rebuild and keep operating.

When you plan your next trip, you might want to think about something else besides the quickest way to get to your destination. A Shelburne company has created a new web app that promises to find you the best route for the environment and possibly your wallet. And it's been honored with a big national award. The web app Hootroot allows people to plan trips with CO2 in mind. The EPA has taken note of the Hootroot app, recognizing Brighter Planet with an award in the Best App for the Environment challenge.

It’s that time of year again! You can cut your own Christmas tree in the Green Mountain National Forest for the $5 cost of a permit and the energy to go cut it. The permit must be bought at a Forest Service district office; it has to be attached to the tree before it’s removed; and the permit holder is responsible for knowing the tree comes from Forest Service land. Local Forest Service offices are located here in Middlebury on Route 7 South, Rutland on North Main Street and in Rochester on Ranger Road.

There's new life for a shuttered ski resort in southern Vermont. A Connecticut businessman has purchased Dover's Haystack Ski area and plans on turning the complex into an exclusive, members-only resort. The ski area has been closed for the past six years. The new owner plans to open the ski area on weekends starting some time later this month.

WVTK Local & State News December 2, 2011 (Afternoon Update)

2011-12-02T13:00:00.000-08:00

A New York man is in court today answering to charges of drug trafficking in Rutland County. 26-year-old Saad Washington was arresting last night in Fair Haven. During a search of his vehicle police recovered a large amount of drugs. Police say Washington was bringing the drugs from New York City into Rutland County.

Bristol Planning Commission Chair Tom Wells resigned on Wednesday after 8 years serving on the commission and four years heading it. His decision comes after he missed the past 3 meetings for work-related reasons. It also comes after the Commission’s Vice-chair potentially violated the state open meeting law when he refused to let a member of the public ask a question.

Town Officials in Middlebury are looking for the public's input on a new municipal building. Officials hope the project can ready for construction by the spring of 2013. Right now Middlebury’s new municipal building exists as rough lines on paper. You can get more details by visiting the Town’s Website: Middlebury.GovOffice.com.

New England Quality Service LLC is seeking zoning permission to acquire a large metal shredding device for use at its Wyre Wheel Route 7 location. The shredder will allow them to recycle metal debris, including cars and washing machines, more quickly and efficiently. Some residents have spoke up and told the Middlebury Development Review Board that they want to make sure the new equipment doesn’t bring more noise and traffic to the area.

The Rutland School Board approved a contract for about 110 teachers’ aides and nonexecutive secretaries in the district Tuesday night that provides them with an average 2.93 percent salary increase over the next three years. The Board unanimously approved the contract for the Rutland School Staff Association after a brief executive session.

Some of Vermont's veterans want to help fellow vets who are suffering after Tropical Storm Irene. Staff at the state VFW has raised tens of thousands of dollars and are ready to write checks. But first they need proud veterans to ask for help. The VFW is not sure how many veterans were affected by the storm. But the VFW knows they are out there and they hope those veterans hear this message; there is money to help you. To apply just contact the Vermont VFW.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says Vermont's statewide school property tax rates should remain at 87 cents per $100 of value for primary homes and $1.37 per $100 for commercial and other non-homestead properties. December 1st is the day when state law requires the administration to issue its recommendations for the tax rates for the coming year. Shumlin says Vermont's declining school enrollment numbers mean the tax rates can remain flat, even if per pupil costs rise slightly.

WVTK Local & State News December 2, 2011

2011-12-02T00:16:00.000-08:00

Many local shop owners are cautiously optimistic about the holiday shopping season that they say kicked off strong last weekend. The strong local sales over the weekend after Thanksgiving follow a national trend. Preliminary estimates from the National Retail Federation show that retailers nationwide posted record Thanksgiving-weekend sales of $52.4 billion. Reputable consumer confidence indexes also showed a promising economic outlook heading into the holiday season. WVTK reminds you to shop local this season! Some great local discounts wait right now on our website, click HERE!

With a terrific line-up of talent and tunes, the Vergennes Opera House is preparing for its annual Broadway revue benefit show, “Broadway Direct”. This year’s show will be held this Sunday at 4PM and will once again be hosted by Vergennes resident and Broadway veteran Bill Carmichael. Proceeds from the “best-of-Broadway” show go to benefit the non-profit group Friends of the Vergennes Opera House who are responsible for the restoration and operation of the historic 1897 theater above the Vergennes City Hall. Tickets are available at the Opera House, Classic Stitching in Vergennes, or online at www.vergennesoperahouse.org.

Bristol Planning Commission Chair Tom Wells resigned on Wednesday after eight years serving on the commission and four years heading it. His decision comes after he missed the past three meetings for work-related reasons. It also comes after the Commission’s Vice-chair potentially violated the state open meeting law when he refused to let a member of the public ask a question.

A vision for Middlebury’s new municipal building currently exists as rough lines on paper. Over the next few months’ town officials are asking local residents to fill in those lines by offering input on a project that could be ready for construction by the spring of 2013. You can get more details by visiting the Town’s Website: www.middlebury.govoffice.com.

New England Quality Service LLC is seeking zoning permission to acquire a large metal shredding device for use at its Wyre Wheel Route 7 location. The shredder will allow them to recycle metal debris, including cars and washing machines, more quickly and efficiently. Some residents have spoke up and told the Middlebury Development Review Board that they want to make sure the new equipment doesn’t bring more noise and traffic to the area.

Bristol-area school administrators are looking for people who are interested in their schools’ food systems and wish to see more local foods in public schools or think food education is important. Addison Northeast Supervisory Union administrators are seeking input from all members of the public as the Union aims to restructure the food system of all six of its schools.

A new exercise option is coming to Middlebury Union High School. School officials are hoping students will get off to a running start with their classes beginning this Monday thanks to the launch of a voluntary “Zero Hour” fitness program aimed at getting participants healthier and in a better mindset for learning. Zero Hour was started by the Coordinated School Health Team, and is based on the premise that working out can lift people’s moods, sharpen their minds, improve their self-esteem, and help them get ready to learn.

The town of Killington’s latest reassessment caused a drop in the Grand List of $13 million but the town has the hit to municipal tax revenue covered. The drop is the result of more than 200 homeowners winning appeals on what their homes and properties were worth according to appraisers. It will cause a loss of $37,000 to municipal coffers in taxes. And that number may rise to about $44,000 after the state considers anywhere from two to eight more appeals.

The Rutland School Board approved a contract for about 110 teachers’ aides and nonexecutive secretaries in the district Tuesday night that provides them with an average 2.93 percent salary increase over the next three years. The Board unanimously approved the contract for the Rutland School Staff Association after a brief executive session.

Crown Point has hired a sole assessor. Richard Maxwell of Syracuse-based of Maxwell Appraisal Service was appointed by the town board during a special meeting November 30th. He’ll assume his duties January 1st. The sole assessor will have office hours in Crown Point two days a week throughout the year with additional hours in the spring leading up to Grievance Day. State law mandates a sole assessor must spend a minimum of 384 hours a year in a municipality.

Some of Vermont's veterans want to help fellow vets who are suffering after Tropical Storm Irene. Staff at the state VFW has raised tens of thousands of dollars and are ready to write checks. But first they need proud veterans to ask for help. The VFW is not sure how many veterans were affected by the storm. But the VFW knows they are out there and they hope those veterans hear this message; there is money to help you. To apply just contact the Vermont VFW.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says Vermont's statewide school property tax rates should remain at 87 cents per $100 of value for primary homes and $1.37 per $100 for commercial and other non-homestead properties. December 1st is the day when state law requires the administration to issue its recommendations for the tax rates for the coming year. Shumlin says Vermont's declining school enrollment numbers mean the tax rates can remain flat, even if per pupil costs rise slightly.

The Church Street Marketplace in Burlington once used by Borders Bookstore is about to get a new tenant. City Sports, a Boston-based athletic gear retail chain, will be moving in. It sells not only sporting goods, but also equipment for cyclists and those training for road races and triathlons. City Sports currently has stores in 21 other cities including Boston, Providence and New York City.

There’s another big honor for a Vermont music star. Grace Potter has been nominated for a Grammy Award for her duet with country star Kenny Chesney called "You and Tequilla." The pair was nominated in the Best Country Duo category. Their music video recently received top honors at the Country Music Awards.

A state panel now says a Vermont state police trooper may have discriminated against two illegal immigrants during a traffic stop. During the September traffic stop, Trooper Jared Hatch asked the two Mexican passengers for identification. And eventually turned the men over to federal agents. According to the Burlington Free Press, the Vermont Human Rights Commission voted last night to support the complaints of the two men. The decision comes seven weeks the state police advisory commission ruled the trooper did nothing wrong. Supporters of the two men say the ruling means the complaint could still end up in court.

WCAX-TV’s very first Rutland reporter has died. John Gladding passed away at the hospital in Rutland Wednesday. Gladding is best known for standing up for his first amendment rights as a reporter. In 1973 he was subpoenaed to give up his sources in a drug raid story, but he refused. The Vermont Supreme Court sided with Gladding -- and that ruling has been used in other first amendment cases since. Gladding was 70 years old.

Five maple syrup producers in Vermont and one in Michigan will get federal grants to make their operations more energy efficient and competitive. The funding from the Rural Energy for America Program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture will allow the sugar makers to install reverse osmosis systems. Those systems remove water from the sap before it's boiled down into syrup, reducing the amount of energy used.

Vermont's emergency management chief has a new job. Michael O'Neill is going to become the executive director of the Vermont Division of Fire Safety, within Emergency Management. The change was announced Thursday by Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn. He starts December 12th. Emergency Management's Deputy Director of Operations Peter Coffey will become interim director.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation announced it is now accepting nominations for the Citizen Service Before Self Honor award in Vermont. The award recognizes and honors those ordinary Vermonters who become extraordinary through their indomitable courage and selflessness. Citizens may submit an eligible nominee by completing the nomination form online via the Citizen Service Before Self Honors website at www.CitizenServiceBeforeSelfHonors.org. The nomination period runs through Friday, Feb. 10, 2012.

Vermont’s long road to recovery following Tropical Storm Irene began Aug. 29. The cleanup and the mending of broken lives continue into the Christmas season. An important fundraising event for the over 7,000 flood victims in the state will be held December 10th at 8PM in Haybarn Theatre on the Goddard College campus in Plainfield. Thirteen professional Vermont-based choreographers and dance companies will come together to support relief efforts with an uplifting show titled, “Rising Above Water: A Vermont Irene Benefit Performance”. Tickets for the show are a $20 suggested donation and can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/209122

The popular community-wide Hinesburg Artist Series will present the annual Community Christmas Concert Sunday, December 11th at 4:30PM at St. Jude Church in Hinesburg. The concert will feature the South County Chorus and the Hinesburg Artist Series Orchestra under the direction of Rufus Patrick. Admission to the concert is free although donations are appreciated. Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable item for the Hinesburg Food Shelf.

The annual Tiny Tim Christmas Concert will be held Friday, December 9th at 7PM at the First United Methodist Church on Wicker Street. The concert, featuring the Ticonderoga Community Band, raises money for the Tiny Tim Christmas Wish Program, which provides Christmas gifts to needy children in the area. The Ticonderoga High School Sentinel Big Band and the school a-cappella choirs have been invited to participate. The Tiny Tim Christmas Wish Program serves needy children of the Ticonderoga Central School District, including Putnam and St. Mary’s schools. Children ages 1 to 16 are eligible.

WVTK Local & State News December 1, 2011 (Afternoon Update)

2011-12-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

People in Vergennes say they're ready to wage a new war against an old and growing problem: drugs. Yesterday hundreds of people showed up for a meeting organized by the police chief. The chief wants to make it clear he doesn't think the Vergennes drug problem is worse than anywhere else. He says he is just taking a stand and hopes the community joins him.

A spokeswoman for Governor Peter Shumlin says the governor supports and will sign on to an effort to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana and pharmacists to fill the prescriptions. Shumlin is joining an effort by Rhode Island’s Governor and Washington’s Governor.

A 27-year-old Vermont man has pleaded guilty to trying to trap a black bear. Game wardens say Jake Duprey of Chittenden was seen on September 20th checking a baited steel cable foot snare. Game wardens say Duprey admitted he had baited the snare with grain and doughnuts in an attempt to catch a bear. He was fined $371 and won't be able to have licenses to hunt, fish and trap for three years and until he completes a remedial hunting course.

Senator Bernie Sanders is working to build a bi-partisan group to support additional funds for the Low Income Heating Assistance Program. Last year, Vermont received roughly $23 million in LIHEAP funds. But the Obama Administration has proposed cutting the appropriation in half. Sanders’ doesn't think this is a partisan issue. The state has received more than $40,000 applications for LIHEAP funds so far. That's already more than last year.

A longtime Vermont lawmaker has died. Rene Blanchard passed away Tuesday at the age of 78. The Democrat served three terms in the legislature in the 1990's. Blanchard was also a basketball coach and social studies teacher at Winooski High School. In 2009, he was inducted into the Vermont basketball coaches Hall of Fame.

A two-month bottle drive has raised more than $8,000 for Vermont farms damaged by the remnants of Hurricane Irene. Vermont Public Interest Research Group says over 130,000 bottles and cans were redeemed to raise the money. The Redeem to Rebuild drive also received donations from non-profit organizations, businesses and individuals.

WVTK Local & State News December 1, 2011

2011-12-01T00:23:00.000-08:00

Farmers have until this Friday to apply for grant money aimed at helping them recover from losses sustained during Tropical Storm Irene. The Community Foundation of Vermont has about $2 million in its flood relief fund for farmers who sustained losses during the August storm. Farmers sustained millions of dollars in crop losses when the flood hit the Green Mountains. Some of grant dollars have already reached farmers, but there is still money left for those who have not applied for funding. Those interested in applying can get an application at www.VtFloodResponse.org.

People in Vergennes say they're ready to wage a new war against an old and growing problem: drugs. Yesterday hundreds of people showed up for a meeting organized by the police chief. The chief wants to make it clear he doesn't think the Vergennes drug problem is worse than anywhere else. He says he is just taking a stand and hopes the community joins him. Chief Merkel says 80-percent of the crimes his officers investigate are drug related including a recent attempted robbery at a convenience store. He says another meeting is scheduled for January when they will start to plan what to do and a top priority is the schools to make sure kids don't start using drugs.

Just in time for the Holiday’s unique and one-of-a-kind gifts will be featured at this year’s Brandon Moonlight Madness discount special event kicking off at 4PM today. Downtown Brandon shops and eateries will offer bargains, sales, specials, drawings and more during the event that brings friends and neighbors together. Many shops will be offering up to 20 percent off storewide. A second Moonlight Madness day will be on December 14th. For more information contact the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce. (802-247-6401)

The missing bronze parking meter from a Rutland sculpture has been found. A janitor found the meter this morning at Rutland's Northeast School. Police are still searching for the person or persons who took the meter from the granite slab where it has stood opposite a bronze depiction of a dog straining on an invisible leash tied to the meter. When, exactly, the meter was stolen remains unclear. But how it was taken seems clear; it was pulled from its apparently unsecured mount.

Without any cuts to programs, services or staff, the Rutland school district budget for fiscal year 2013 is up 1.75 percent. The budget, presented as a draft Tuesday, would go from $44.3 million to $45.1 million if everything in the district were maintained as is. That includes all settled staff union contracts. The impact the new budget would have on taxpayers was not provided.

Preschool classrooms under the auspices of the Children's Development Group have recently opened in Ticonderoga and Elizabethtown schools. The agency specializes in children with special needs, but the classrooms are also for community youngsters. The program includes speech and occupational therapy, physical therapy and psychological services. The agency rents classroom space from Ticonderoga Central School and Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School. By working with preschool youngsters and providing services at that age, it is hoped that by the time they are enrolled in kindergarten or first grade they will have had a chance to catch up with their peers.

A longtime Vermont lawmaker has died. Rene Blanchard passed away Tuesday at the age of 78. The Democrat served three terms in the legislature in the 1990's. Blanchard was also a basketball coach and social studies teacher at Winooski High School. In 2009, he was inducted into the Vermont basketball coaches Hall of Fame.

A spokeswoman for Governor Peter Shumlin says the governor supports and will sign on to an effort to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana and pharmacists to fill the prescriptions. Shumlin is joining an effort by Rhode Island’s Governor and Washington’s Governor.

A two-month bottle drive has raised more than $8,000 for Vermont farms damaged by the remnants of Hurricane Irene. Vermont Public Interest Research Group says over 130,000 bottles and cans were redeemed to raise the money. The Redeem to Rebuild drive also received donations from non-profit organizations, businesses and individuals.

Vermont State troopers are on the hunt for a notorious kidnapper. 42-year-old Harley Breer served eight years in jail for kidnapping the mother of his ex-girlfriend and has had several brushes with the law since his release in 2009. Now, a judge has issued an arrest warrant for Breer. He faces multiple charges after police say he attacked a female acquaintance and stole her car. The woman was treated for injuries. Police say Breer had been living in the Calais/Woodbury area, but may be in Cabot.

A 27-year-old Vermont man has pleaded guilty to trying to trap a black bear. Game wardens say Jake Duprey of Chittenden was seen on September 20th checking a baited steel cable foot snare. Game wardens say Duprey admitted he had baited the snare with grain and doughnuts in an attempt to catch a bear. He was fined $371 and won't be able to have licenses to hunt, fish and trap for three years and until he completes a remedial hunting course.

New York State Police say a Lake Placid was found dead after he went missing last week while hunting. The body of 63-year-old Russ Beede was found near Mount Jo Wednesday afternoon. State police and forest rangers had been looking for him for days. He was reported missing Sunday. At this time we don't know how he died. State police say they didn't believe foul play is involved in his death.

The state of New York is asking to be heard in a lawsuit by the state of Vermont against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's issuance of a 20-year license extension to the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. New York is seeking friend-of-the-court status in the case and is agreeing with Vermont and the Coalition that the license extension was granted improperly. New York State is also trying to shut the twin Indian Point reactors in Westchester County.

Fast food chain, Chick-fil-A is blocking a Vermont T-shirt business from trademarking its logo. The company says the T-shirt business's logo, "eat More Kale" is too similar to the Chick-fil-A logo, "Eat Mor Chikin". Eat-More-Kale owner, Bo Muller-Moore says he got a letter from the Atlanta-based company in 2005 asking him to shut down his Web site and send his T-shirts to Atlanta to be destroyed. Chick-fil-A dropped the complaint when Muller-Moore hired a lawyer. But when the Eat More Kale creator tried to Federally trademark his logo this year, Chick-fil-A blocked it.

Senator Bernie Sanders is working to build a bi-partisan group to support additional funds for the Low Income Heating Assistance Program. Last year, Vermont received roughly $23 million in LIHEAP funds. But the Obama Administration has proposed cutting the appropriation in half. Sanders’ doesn't think this is a partisan issue. The state has received more than $40,000 applications for LIHEAP funds so far. That's already more than last year.

Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss is not seeking re-election. The Progressive mayor made the announcement yesterday morning. He says the decision was a personal one. Kiss has been criticized for the financial problems facing the municipally owned telecom provider, Burlington Telecom.

A Vermont woman who was burned and disfigured when her ex-husband doused her with industrial lye four years ago has been approved for a face transplant at a Boston hospital. Carmen Tarleton of Thetford underwent a series of screenings this summer at Brigham and Women's Hospital to determine if she was suitable for the procedure.

Clinton County officials are hoping some hungry airlines will put in bids to provide daily service in and out of Plattsburgh International Airport. The county is looking for a new carrier to replace Colgan Air, which announced in September that it would no longer be providing daily service to Boston once a replacement is found. Airlines have until December 20th to submit bids.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is a featured guest at an event being held by two New Hampshire nonprofits to honor community volunteers. Working Families Win New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Citizens Alliance are teaming up for the awards event on Sunday at 2PM at the Stonewall Farm in Keene. Volunteers involved in the movement for improving the economy of the Monadnock Region are being honored.

Holiday in Hague will be held this Saturday. The festivities begin at 10AM with the opening of the senior’s Christmas Shop located at the Hague Visitor’s Center. Juniper Gifts and The Carriage Barn both located on Route 8 will also be open for holiday shopping. The Baptist Church will be serving homemade soup beginning at Noon. The Carillon Garden Club will be selling wreaths, sprays and other handmade items at the Hague Community Center beginning at 1PM. Ending the event will be caroling and a tree lighting ceremony.

Santa will be coming to Schroon Lake after all. A month after the Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce announced it had dropped sponsorship of its annual Old Tyme Christmas celebration, a group of residents have joined to bring a holiday event to the community. Santa’s arrival is scheduled along with children’s games, refreshments and a holiday movie Saturday, December 10th. The event will begin at 4PM with children’s face painting and activities at the Strand Theatre on Main Street. Santa will arrive at the theatre at 6PM to meet children. At 8PM the movie “Happy Feet 2” will be screened. The Schroon Lake Senior Citizens Center will be part of the festivities, serving cookies and hot chocolate 6 to 8PM.

Food, art, performances and music from around the world will be on display at Vermont's International Festival. The 3-day festival will be held at the Champlain Fairgrounds in Essex Junction starting on Friday. Organizers say the event has been growing in its 19 years and this year has nearly 50 arts and crafts, as well as food vendors, performers and community booths. The Vermont International Festival takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds. Admissions costs $6 for adults, $3 for children and is free for kids six and under.

WVTK Local & State News November 30, 2011

2011-11-30T00:25:00.000-08:00

A special Vergennes Community Action Meeting to discuss the impact of illegal drugs on the Vergennes community and what residents can do about it, will be held this evening at 7 in St. Peters Parish Hall located on South Maple St. The meeting, sponsored by the Vergennes Police Department, will provide awareness to the current situation in the city involving illegal narcotics. It will also identify measures residents can take to minimize and prevent their further impact.

The National Weather Service says this autumn in Vermont is expected to be the third- or fourth-warmest on record. And that might lead to a warmer winter. The Burlington Free Press reports a review of the 10 warmest autumns in Burlington shows that in eight of those cases, the following winter was warmer than normal. The other two winters had temperatures close to normal. National Weather Service records show that five of the winters that followed the warm autumns were among the 10 mildest on record.

Hundreds turned out to greet what's become a holiday tradition in the North Country. For the 13th year, Canadian Pacific Railroad has decorated one of its freight trains with tens of thousands of festive Christmas lights. The "Holiday Train" makes stops across Northern New York and Quebec, putting on a live show of Christmas songs and donating money to local food banks. The Holiday Train made stops this week in Ticonderoga, Port Henry and Plattsburgh. Over the years CP Rail has raised more than 5.5 million dollars and collected more than 2-million pounds of food donations for local food shelves.

Plans are underway to fight the opiate drug problem in Rutland. Health experts say they need another option to help hundreds of people there fighting an addiction to powerful pain relievers. About 400 people in Rutland are being treated for a prescription drug addiction. Rutland is the only major city in Vermont without a methadone clinic nearby. Rutland Mental Health hopes to have a program running in six months. The state and the feds will pay the up to $2-million yearly cost. The Vermont Health Department says it has already put aside money for its share.

Part of an art display was stolen in downtown Rutland. Police and city officials are asking for help locating a missing parking meter, not just any parking meter, but a bronze statue of a meter that stood in Depot Park. It was part of a sculpture created by a longtime Rutland resident more than 20 years ago. It displayed a dog resisting an invisible leash that was tied to the meter. It disappeared sometime this week. Police say there has been an increase in copper thefts in Rutland lately. A reward may be offered in this case.

Two bank offices in Rutland are slated to close early next year, though officials at each company say no jobs should be lost. The Citizens Bank office located in Price Chopper is scheduled to close in January, while the TD Bank on South Main Street will follow suit in February. TD Bank spokesman Jimmy Hernandez said the five employees at the South Main Street branch would all move to the bank’s Merchants Row location. A representative of Citizens Bank said the Price Chopper location would be consolidated to the branch at the corner of West Street and Merchants Row. With online and mobile banking on the fewer people are coming to the brick-and-mortar bank offices.

The city of Burlington wants drivers to slow down. The city is dropping its speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph today. The Burlington Free Press says some sections of the city will keep their higher or lower speed limits. The slowdown will improve the safety of drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians while decreasing air pollution.

The Vermont Agency of Human Services is going to get an $18 million federal grant to help implement the next phase of the federal health care reform known as the Affordable Care Act. The money from the federal Department of Health and Human Services that was awarded to Vermont is part of $220 million in grants being sent to 13 states.

Senator Patrick Leahy says the time has come for the U.S. Supreme Court to televise its proceedings. Leahy is sponsoring legislation that would allow the chief justice to permit cameras in the court. He's been a strong supporter of the so-called "Sunshine in the Courtroom" Act. Congress can't require the Supreme Court to televise its proceedings. So the legislation strongly encourages Chief Justice John Roberts to take this step. Leahy says the court's review of the Affordable Care Act, the health care law passed by Congress last year, is the perfect time to start the new policy.

Tree farms in New Hampshire and Vermont are donating at least 400 Christmas trees to military families around the world. The donations are part of a nationwide effort called Trees For Troops. This year, the organization is hoping to deliver its 100,000th tree since the program started in 2005.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the state-run website for job seekers now lists 52,000 openings statewide. According to Cuomo's office the "Jobs Express" site has had more than 200,000 visits since it was launched four weeks ago and has added 10,000 more listings of job openings. Those positions are listed on the state website, which has added tools to permit variations on searches for job openings listed among 10 regions.

Roger Phinney, executive director of the Eastern New York Marine Trades Association and marina owners from the region are supporting the new Marine Academy being established at Ticonderoga High School in its newly constructed, state-of-the-art technology center. Slated to open next September, the Marine Academy will be operated by Champlain Valley Tech and be available to students from Glens Falls to Plattsburgh. It’s a two-year program that will be limited to 13 students and marina owners can’t wait until the first class graduates.

Every year in December, it’s a special time in downtown Middlebury. This year is filled with seasonal family activities at a variety of locations including the Middlebury Community House, Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, Vermont Folklife Center, and Middlebury College's Mahaney Center for the Arts and Mead Chapel. On the three Saturdays before Christmas Day Santa will be in Middlebury from 10AM to noon at a variety of locations. You can make WVTK your soundtrack, as we’ll present yet another “Very Merry Middlebury Weekend” – continuous Christmas favorites get underway with Amanda Leigh this Friday afternoon at 3pm!

A new public service announcement is going to be airing on television over the holiday season, with State Auditor Tom Salmon telling people not to drink and drive. It's a lesson he knows well, because that's what happened to him two years ago. He says the DUI arrest was a life-changing event for him, and he wants to focus more attention on preventing it from happening to others. Over the holiday weekend, Vermont State Police arrested 33 suspected drunk drivers; nearly double the amount of arrests from last Thanksgiving.

Vermont's comprehensive energy plan, workshops on wind power, smart grid technology and other issues will be on tap at a conference at the Lake Morey Inn in Fairlee. The event, which runs from 8:30 to 4 on Saturday, will feature talks by Public Service Commissioner Elizabeth Miller and Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz. The program is being geared to anyone with an interest in energy issues, with special emphasis on members of local energy committees. The conference will include 14 workshops on issues ranging from energy efficiency to renewable energy.

Search crews are combing the woods near Lake Placid looking for a missing hunter. A neighbor last saw Russ Beede early Saturday morning. The 63 year old was hunting just outside the village. Helicopters, canine units, and dozens of people on the ground will continue the search today.

WVTK Local & State News November 29, 2011

2011-11-29T00:23:00.000-08:00

A professor at Middlebury College is stepping down after pleading no contest to embezzlement charges. 45-year-old Kateri Carmola allegedly siphoned $4,800 from the Salisbury Historical Society over a three-month period last year when she served as treasurer. According to the Burlington Free Press, the college is not commenting on whether Carmola was asked to resign. All the money has been paid back to the society.

There's been a change of course for a big solar array being proposed in Charlotte. A company called All Earth Renewables had wanted to install solar panels on a half-acre of town-owned land on Thompson's Point. Now a new plan has emerged. Developers want to build 345 solar panels on 15 acres of private land just north of Hinesburg road and west of Spear Street. The Charlotte Planning Commission will discuss the proposal on Thursday.

Empire State Development says the Essex County Industrial Development Agency can redirect $250,000 in unused Champlain Bridge closure funds to create a Hurricane Irene Recovery Community Revolving Loan Fund. The fund will assist businesses located in Essex County that incurred additional costs and experienced economic losses as a result of the storm. The Essex County IDA will administer the “Revolving Loan Fund”. As loans are repaid, funds will stay in the community for future business investment and growth.

A week from today the Middlebury select-board will begin paring back the first draft of a 2012-2013 municipal budget that would require a 3.4-cent increase in the local tax rate in order to maintain existing services and capital improvement priorities. The draft spending-plan represents a $230,825 increase compared to this year’s municipal budget. One penny on Middlebury’s tax rate raises roughly $72,000.

Award-winning poet Ruth Stone has passed away Saturday, November 19th at her home in Ripton. She was 96. For decades she lived in a farmhouse in Goshen. Ruth Stone became one of the country’s most honored poets in her 80s and 90s, winning the National Book Award in 2002 for “In the Next Galaxy” and being named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for “What Love Comes To.”

The Addison County Solid Waste Management District board has approved a 2012 budget that reflects a 7-percent increase in expenses, but maintains a level fee for trash disposal and reduces the drop-off charges for some recyclables at the transfer station. The budget increase is based on the assumption the transfer station will handle an increasing amount of trash, demolition debris and recyclables next year.

After the Vermont Department of Health earlier this month released the results of this year’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey a taskforce of Mount Abraham Union middle and high school students spent a day analyzing the Bristol school’s results. The group consists of 26 students in grades 8-12. They’ve identified Mount Abe’s strengths and weaknesses surrounding risky behavior and created an action plan for dealing with various issues. The committee plans to engage the entire student body to consider the issues raised and organize a public discussion with the community about the survey’s results and the students’ findings.

On December 14th the Patricia Hannaford Career Center board will consider a 2012-2013 budget that reflects a 2.41-percent spending increase and the proposed elimination of two courses. The PHCC offers technical, workplace and continuing education to secondary school-age students in the Addison Central, Addison Northeast and Addison Northwest supervisory unions. The tuition rate would increase by 4.4 percent under the budget currently under review. The draft budget eliminates two courses; video technology and sustainable landscapes, in order to help keep spending in line.

It wasn’t a happy Thanksgiving last Thursday for residents along Meehan Road in Bristol. Several mailboxes along the road were shot with a firearm during the night. The mailboxes were in a residential area. A full-size white truck was seen in the area at the time of the gunshots. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Vermont State Police New Haven Barracks. (802-388-4919)

Rutland Area Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice will host a bereavement workshop on Thursday, December 8th from Noon to 1:30. The workshop, titled “Coping with Grief during the Holidays”, will help those who are grieving the loss of a loved one with coping strategies and helpful suggestions on how to make it through the holidays and even enjoy them. The workshop is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required.

Rutland Mental Health Services will put plans for a drug treatment center before the public today. The organization, along with Rutland Regional Medical Center, announced last month they would work together to fill a gap in treatment of opiate addiction. The meeting will take place at 5PM in the Howe Center’s Franklin Conference Room. Opiates are a class of drug that includes heroin and many prescription painkillers. The plan is still in the early stages and the location of the center had not been determined, though it would not be at the hospital.

The Town of Westport will operate in 2012 on a bare-bones budget that shows a tax-levy increase of not quite 1 percent. The levy is comfortably below the state's 2 percent tax-levy cap. No major projects or purchases are anticipated for the coming year. Neither elected officials nor employees will see pay increases. And there will be no rise in rates for services or utilities. In fact, those living in Water District 3 can expect a decrease of $25 per quarter.

The recent drug crackdown in Essex County swept up another person on Monday. Carlos Maldonado of Ticonderoga was arrested on a warrant and arraigned on charges of fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. Conviction could mean up to 12 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision.

No sooner did Essex County lawmakers request a list of non-resident employees than some of them applied for waivers. The County Board of Supervisors recently asked County Manager Daniel Palmer to compile a list of workers who reside outside the county without permission. The move was considered preliminary to dismissing or laying off those employees first among others in order to reduce a possible 62 percent tax hike in the preliminary 2012 county budget.

It’s won’t be midnight, but the 22nd annual Moriah Midnight Madness still promises to be a festive event. The holiday tradition will be held 11AM to 2PM this Saturday. Midnight Madness is sponsored by the Town of Moriah Chamber of Commerce and will feature store sales, giveaways, street vendors, music, fire truck rides for the children, candy, face painting, balloons, games and more. There will also be Christmas caroling and fire truck rides for children. The Moriah Central School band and chorus have also been invited to entertain.

The annual Museum Store is returning in Ticonderoga this holiday season. The store, located at the Hancock House, will be open from 9 to 4 this Friday and Saturday. Participating museums will be the Ticonderoga Historical Society, Fort Ticonderoga, Ticonderoga Arts and the Ticonderoga Heritage Museum. Each will offer a variety of items from their gift shops for sale.

Vermont snowmobilers say that despite extensive damage from Tropical Storm Irene 95% of the state's 5,000-mile trail network has been repaired and is now waiting for snow. But the damage in a portion of the Green Mountain National Forest in Peru is so severe that it won't be possible to repair it until next year.

More kids in Vermont aren't receiving immunizations. Vermont now has the fifth highest exemption rate in the country. Six percent of kids in the state aren't receiving recommended shots. Over the past five years, the percentage of kids entering kindergarten without the recommended number of vaccines increased by more than 1.5 percent. That's one of the highest rates of increase in the country.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is sending Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine millions of dollars to help repair roads damaged in storms earlier this year. Vermont is going to receive more than $15.3 million to help repair damage from spring flooding and Tropical Storm Irene in August. It's a portion of the money Vermont will need to pay for work to its roads and bridges. Some estimates say the repairs could cost a total of $250 million.

Vermont police are looking for a bike-riding bank robber in Swanton. Authorities say the man handed a note to the teller at the Peoples United Bank demanding cash around 11AM on Monday. He then fled on a red bicycle. Police say the robber, who was photographed by a bank surveillance camera, was wearing a black and grey North Face vest, with a yellow striped winter hat. He's also described as being between 25 and 30 years old and about 5 feet 9 inches tall.

Police are warning store owners and their customers to take extra care in response to a rise in robberies. On Monday morning, police say a man entered the People's United Bank in Swanton and handed the teller a note demanding money. Another People's United Bank in South Burlington was robbed last week. Just a few hours before the Swanton robbery, the Champlain Farms convenience store in Winooski was also robbed. Police are looking for your help in all of the recent robberies. If you have any information please contact the Vermont State Police.

A woman who pushed for Vermont's ground-breaking civil union and gay marriage laws has been sworn in as the first openly gay member of the Vermont Supreme Court. Beth Robinson took the oath yesterday afternoon. She was one of the lawyers who represented three couples in a landmark 1999 Vermont Supreme Court decision that prompted the Legislature in 2000 to make Vermont the first state to offer marriage-like rights and benefits to same-sex couples. She later led Vermont Freedom to Marry, which pushed for and won passage of the first gay-marriage law in the country that wasn't directly prompted by a court decision.

The Salvation Army's red kettle drive has kicked-off in Vermont for the holiday season, but donations have taken a big hit. Last year, the kettles brought in more than $85,000. Officials say they are about $7,000 behind last year's totals. Yet, the organization has set a goal to raise $95,000. Tropical Storm Irene may have something to do with the decrease in donations as many Vermonters have given generously to many other causes and they could be stretched too thin financially. They are hoping the people that the Salvation Army has helped in the past will help them reach the goal.

A group of area artists will put their hearts on display next year. The heARTs of Rutland Committee, an organization formed by local artists working with a number of Rutland-area organizations, has announced that four-foot fiberglass hearts will serve as the basis for Rutland’s next public art project. Organizer Mary Crowley said she is modeling the project off on a similar one in 2005 that saw downtown adorned by a number of decorated wooden trains. The group is planning to display 30 hearts in and around Rutland before auctioning them off. They expect to get the hearts to the chosen artists by early March with an unveiling in late May or early June and an auction in the late fall.

WVTK Local & State News November 28, 2011

2011-11-28T03:08:00.000-08:00

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