Voters in Ticonderoga and Schroon Lake passed their school spending plans while residents in St. Regis Falls said no. The schools districts offered revised budgets for the up-coming school year after voters turned down the first versions back in May. Under New York Law, St. Regis Falls must now adopt a contingency budget.
19 people have been arrested on drug charges as police wrap-up a lengthy investigation. During the drug raids, police recovered a large amount of cocaine, marijuana, and prescription drugs, as well as several thousand dollars cash. Police say the dealers were selling to people in Milton and the surrounding communities.
Rutland Police Chief Anthony Bossi is home and recovering well from surgery performed earlier this month. He returned home Saturday and was resting comfortably after the unspecified medical procedure.
No date has been set for Bossi’s return.
A section of the Saranac River in the heart of Plattsburgh is now off limits to all people as crews work to clean up the riverbed. That pertains to boaters, tubers, kayakers, anglers, and swimmers. The clean-up project is part of a plan to rid the river of deposits from the former coal-tar plant that operated on the banks of the river decades ago.
Governor David Patterson says he will offer budget legislation but if lawmakers don't act, then he will put the cuts into the next emergency spending bill. The emergency spending bill approved Monday Night included $300-Million in cuts to mental-health and human-services programs. The next emergency spending bill could included cuts in economic development and transportation.
Two Vermont State employees working for the Governor's Highway Safety Program are now on paid administrative leave, and authorities are not saying why. Program Coordinator Jeanne Johnson and Alcohol Safety Program Coordinator Stephen Reckers were put on leave. Officials say a number of grants given out by the program are now under review.
State officials say Vermont's General Fund revenues were almost 10% below expectations for the month of May. But there is good news; officials feel the state is on target for the year. The state is almost $2 million ahead of its projections for the year to date. The biggest shortfall last month came in personal income tax receipts, which were off 30%.
The American Red Cross is asking for blood donations, especially if you are Type O-Negative. O-Negative is known as the "universal" blood because it can be used by patients with any blood type. Officials say the blood supply in Northern New England is at critical levels. 83 Hospitals across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine get their blood from the Red Cross.
The state's teachers believe that poverty at home continues to play a big role in classroom achievement, and that poorer districts have less favorable learning conditions in their schools. That's according to a survey of teachers and support staff commissioned by the Vermont-National Education Association.
State tourism officials are asking businesses and organizations to serve as "information ambassadors" to boost tourism. Businesses that agree to participate will post a new blue "info" sign, and to give out maps and other information about sights to see in their area.
Independent candidates for office are unhappy with a change in the law that will require them to file as candidates by tomorrow. In prior years, independents could wait until after the September primary to file. The change is part of a new law that moved the primary to August.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public meeting next week on the safety performance of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. NRC staff conducted their annual assessment of the nuclear plant and will present their findings. They will also discuss the recent leak of radioactive isotopes from underground pipes and the resulting contamination of groundwater around the plant. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on June 22 at the Brattleboro Union High School.
A Rutland woman charged with being the getaway driver in an armed robbery at a Subway restaurant on Woodstock Avenue in the city answered to a felony charge yesterday. Natasha Bruso pleaded innocent in Rutland District Court to a charge of aiding in the commission of a felony. She was cited last month to appear in court after she allegedly told police she drove two men to and from Subway on March 22. The hold-up netted $313 from the register.
A Rutland woman charged with selling heroin to a police informant on three separate occasions answered to a trio of felony offenses yesterday.
Holly Palmer pleaded innocent in Rutland District Court to three sale-of-heroin charges. She was freed on conditions of release after her arraignment. If convicted, Palmer faces up to 15 years in jail.
The Sherman Free Library in Port Henry is hosting "Be a Reading Champ" this summer. Children in grades kindergarten through sixth grades can earn prizes for reading books through Aug. 21. Each week between now and Aug. 14 children can put their name in a drawing for prizes. At the end of the program, there will be gift certificates for first, second and third place for the ones who read the most.
With cyber-bullying a growing problem, some companies are trying to curb it. One new Facebook application will let parents track and control pretty much everything their children do on the social media website. It's called GoGoStat Parental Guidance, and it will alert parents to friend requests, wall posts, and other interactions. GoGoStat is free. There are other similar applications, such as Social Shield, and while they do cost a few bucks each month, they also allow for more control.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
WVTK Local & State News June 15, 2010
Voters in 4 North Country communities head to the polls today. Residents in Schroon Lake, St. Regis and Ticonderoga will be voting on revised school budgets while residents in Westport will decide whether to allow bonding for a shared-services building. The polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM in St. Regis and from noon to 8 PM in Schroon Lake, Ticonderoga and Westport.
Construction of the new Crown Point Bridge will force the closure of a popular historic site for the season. The Chimney Point State Historic Site, which commemorates early Native American, French, and English settlers who used the area, is located on the same road as the new bridge. Officials fear it won't be safe for people to be at the site while construction is going on.
Four longtime Addison Northwest Supervisory Union employees are stepping down. Vergennes Union High School English and reading teacher Cathy Spaulding will retire after 35 years. Sally Bushey, Anne Matteson and Lenore Morse also announced their retirements.
Three Otter Valley Union High School teachers have announced their retirements. Bruce Douglas, who has taught science at the school for 32 years, Christine Brown, a math and science teacher at the middle school for 29 years, and Doug Werner, a career services teacher for 17 years, will all be saying their final farewells to the school when it closes its doors for the summer this week.
The town of Bristol will continue to revise its bylaws with a $12,350 grant it received this last from the state Municipal and Regional Planning Fund. With the grant money, Bristol will partner with Smart Growth Vermont, a nonprofit organization, to incorporate as much community input as possible into the process of rewriting its bylaws. Vergennes also received funds from the Municipal and Regional Planning Fund.
Andrew D. Williams pleaded innocent in Rutland District Court yesterday to a felony charge of aggravated assault with a weapon after allegedly firing a .22-caliber bullet that struck 57-year-old Bobby Adams in the chest. Adams told police the friendly game of cards turned ugly after a bad hand. Williams remains in jail with bail set at $75,000.
Forest Dale native Jason Gibbs is seeking to be Vermont’s next Secretary Of State. He believes there are some needed changes in the secretary of state’s office. Those changes include making the office more streamlined and user-friendly for political candidates, businesses and residents in general. If Gibbs is to advance to the Nov. 2 General election, he will have to top Williston-based attorney Chris Roy and Middlesex Democrat Charles Merriman in a GOP primary on Aug. 24.
The new chairman of the Rutland Police Commission told his fellow commissioners yesterday that he wants to improve the department’s public image. During the first meeting since the city’s Board of Aldermen voted to appoint him as the head of the five-member commission, Chairman Larry Jensen outlined some ideas for improving the department’s relations with the community.
A shutdown of the New York State government has been avoided. Senators passed the emergency-spending bill last night. A shutdown at the state level would have frozen state worker pay checks, suspended lottery games, and other nonessential services. It would have also closed state parks, campgrounds, courts, and unemployment offices.
The state of Vermont will NOT be collecting the $250 rebate checks being sent to some seniors to help cover the cost of prescription drugs. Vermont officials said yesterday that because the state was already helping seniors cover those costs with the V-Pharm Program they wanted to collect the checks to help reimburse the program. They have since abandon those plans.
After a two-year absence, the town of Moriah summer youth recreation program is returning home. The five-week program will be held at Moriah Central School this summer. The past two years it has been held at Champlain Valley Tec in Mineville because of construction at the school. The program will begin July 6 and conclude Aug. 5 and will operate 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. daily.
A woman has been arrested in connection with 2 attempted robberies. Police last night arrested 26-year-old Amanda Bean of St. Albans. They believe she flashed a knife and demanded money from the clerk at Simon's Quick Stop in Burlington last Sunday Night, and then later, doing the same thing at Dunkin Donuts on Williston Road.
A new report says more Vermonters are paying too much for their housing. The report titled, "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" tracked the differences in wages and housing costs for 2009 and says 3,000 more Vermonters are living "cost burdened". The report also says rental prices have held steady in spite of increasing vacancies.
Officials in Williamstown have given approval to plans for what will be the largest solar farm in the state. Plans call for the farm to be located just off Exit 5 of Interstate 89 and include nearly 9,000 solar panels on 744 arrays. The "Williamstown Solar Farm", which will generate an estimated 2.1 megawatts, still needs to be approved by the Public Service Board.
Vermont's rating of bike friendliness has dropped. The state slipped from 21st in 2009 to 34th in the nation. The report released last month by the League of American Bicyclists says most of the improvement by other states was due to passed legislation to protect cyclists and enhance their infrastructure. Vermont also loses points for not having a separate capitol fund for bike projects.
The Burlington City Council voted to boycott Arizona. The city council passed a resolution last night asking all city departments and businesses to boycott Arizona companies and stand against an immigration act passed in the state. Burlington joined a growing list of cities passing similar resolutions across the country, including New Haven, Connecticut and Boston, Massachusetts.
The Chittenden County Transportation Authority or CCTA has added a new buss route. The new buss route goes directly from downtown Burlington to Williston. The route not only includes the shops and stores in Williston, it also extends up into the village just past the town hall. For more information on routes and schedules go to CCTARide.org.
A man from Great Britain was arraigned yesterday in Franklin District Court after he was clocked going 104 miles-per-hour on Interstate 89. Spencer Lodge was arrested Friday in a rented Lamborghini. Lodge reportedly told police he and 27 other people had rented cars in New Jersey and were heading to Montreal in a "Cannonball Run" type race.
Construction of the new Crown Point Bridge will force the closure of a popular historic site for the season. The Chimney Point State Historic Site, which commemorates early Native American, French, and English settlers who used the area, is located on the same road as the new bridge. Officials fear it won't be safe for people to be at the site while construction is going on.
Four longtime Addison Northwest Supervisory Union employees are stepping down. Vergennes Union High School English and reading teacher Cathy Spaulding will retire after 35 years. Sally Bushey, Anne Matteson and Lenore Morse also announced their retirements.
Three Otter Valley Union High School teachers have announced their retirements. Bruce Douglas, who has taught science at the school for 32 years, Christine Brown, a math and science teacher at the middle school for 29 years, and Doug Werner, a career services teacher for 17 years, will all be saying their final farewells to the school when it closes its doors for the summer this week.
The town of Bristol will continue to revise its bylaws with a $12,350 grant it received this last from the state Municipal and Regional Planning Fund. With the grant money, Bristol will partner with Smart Growth Vermont, a nonprofit organization, to incorporate as much community input as possible into the process of rewriting its bylaws. Vergennes also received funds from the Municipal and Regional Planning Fund.
Andrew D. Williams pleaded innocent in Rutland District Court yesterday to a felony charge of aggravated assault with a weapon after allegedly firing a .22-caliber bullet that struck 57-year-old Bobby Adams in the chest. Adams told police the friendly game of cards turned ugly after a bad hand. Williams remains in jail with bail set at $75,000.
Forest Dale native Jason Gibbs is seeking to be Vermont’s next Secretary Of State. He believes there are some needed changes in the secretary of state’s office. Those changes include making the office more streamlined and user-friendly for political candidates, businesses and residents in general. If Gibbs is to advance to the Nov. 2 General election, he will have to top Williston-based attorney Chris Roy and Middlesex Democrat Charles Merriman in a GOP primary on Aug. 24.
The new chairman of the Rutland Police Commission told his fellow commissioners yesterday that he wants to improve the department’s public image. During the first meeting since the city’s Board of Aldermen voted to appoint him as the head of the five-member commission, Chairman Larry Jensen outlined some ideas for improving the department’s relations with the community.
A shutdown of the New York State government has been avoided. Senators passed the emergency-spending bill last night. A shutdown at the state level would have frozen state worker pay checks, suspended lottery games, and other nonessential services. It would have also closed state parks, campgrounds, courts, and unemployment offices.
The state of Vermont will NOT be collecting the $250 rebate checks being sent to some seniors to help cover the cost of prescription drugs. Vermont officials said yesterday that because the state was already helping seniors cover those costs with the V-Pharm Program they wanted to collect the checks to help reimburse the program. They have since abandon those plans.
After a two-year absence, the town of Moriah summer youth recreation program is returning home. The five-week program will be held at Moriah Central School this summer. The past two years it has been held at Champlain Valley Tec in Mineville because of construction at the school. The program will begin July 6 and conclude Aug. 5 and will operate 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. daily.
A woman has been arrested in connection with 2 attempted robberies. Police last night arrested 26-year-old Amanda Bean of St. Albans. They believe she flashed a knife and demanded money from the clerk at Simon's Quick Stop in Burlington last Sunday Night, and then later, doing the same thing at Dunkin Donuts on Williston Road.
A new report says more Vermonters are paying too much for their housing. The report titled, "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" tracked the differences in wages and housing costs for 2009 and says 3,000 more Vermonters are living "cost burdened". The report also says rental prices have held steady in spite of increasing vacancies.
Officials in Williamstown have given approval to plans for what will be the largest solar farm in the state. Plans call for the farm to be located just off Exit 5 of Interstate 89 and include nearly 9,000 solar panels on 744 arrays. The "Williamstown Solar Farm", which will generate an estimated 2.1 megawatts, still needs to be approved by the Public Service Board.
Vermont's rating of bike friendliness has dropped. The state slipped from 21st in 2009 to 34th in the nation. The report released last month by the League of American Bicyclists says most of the improvement by other states was due to passed legislation to protect cyclists and enhance their infrastructure. Vermont also loses points for not having a separate capitol fund for bike projects.
The Burlington City Council voted to boycott Arizona. The city council passed a resolution last night asking all city departments and businesses to boycott Arizona companies and stand against an immigration act passed in the state. Burlington joined a growing list of cities passing similar resolutions across the country, including New Haven, Connecticut and Boston, Massachusetts.
The Chittenden County Transportation Authority or CCTA has added a new buss route. The new buss route goes directly from downtown Burlington to Williston. The route not only includes the shops and stores in Williston, it also extends up into the village just past the town hall. For more information on routes and schedules go to CCTARide.org.
A man from Great Britain was arraigned yesterday in Franklin District Court after he was clocked going 104 miles-per-hour on Interstate 89. Spencer Lodge was arrested Friday in a rented Lamborghini. Lodge reportedly told police he and 27 other people had rented cars in New Jersey and were heading to Montreal in a "Cannonball Run" type race.
Monday, June 14, 2010
WVTK Local & State News June 14, 2010
People should be able to start appling for jobs to build the new Crown Point Bridge in the next couple weeks. Both governors Jim Douglas and David Patterson were at the official ground breaking cemeromny on Friday. Officials at Flatiron Constructors, the company that will build the new bridge, say they will start hiring once they setup offices on both sides of the lake.
Rutland police say a late-night card game ended in a shooting sending one man to the hospital and another to jail. Investigators say a fight broke out just before midnight Saturday between 37-year-old Andrew Williams and 57-year-old Bobby Adams. Adams ended-up getting shot. Officials say he will recover. Williams surrended to police yesterday morning and is now behind bars.
According to the town of Benson Route 22A needs wider shoulders, better maintenance and more traffic enforcement. Those were the three main areas of concern to emerge from a recent discussion of a proposed management plan for the highway. The Rutland Regional Planning Commission is working on the plan and talking to select boards along the road. The Commission plans to continue gathering input from towns along Route 22A in the coming weeks.
New York officials say that despite a recent upturn in milk prices, 1 of every 10 dairy farms in the state could fail in the next 6 months if something isn't done. Vermont officials agree; infact, they predicted that about 20-percent of the dairy farms in Vermont will close this year. Federal authorities are considering changes in milk price regulation, but that bill isn't expected until 2012.
New York state offices and agencies could be headed for early closure today if lawmakers can't approve an emergency-spending bill. That bill is expected to pass today to keep government running for another week. The emergency bill includes more than $300 million in cuts to mental health and social services programs.
Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie launched his campaign for Governor Saturday at the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds in Essex and followed it with rallies across the state. Dubie spoke about educating youth, clean energy, and creating jobs in Vermont.
The Vermont Secretary of State's office is reminding independent candidates for elected offices in the November election that there are new filing deadlines. To be on the November ballot, candidates must file petitions with the Secretary of State by 5 p.m. on June 17th.
Vermont's two U.S. Senators are urging the state not to try to collect money from seniors who are getting federal Medicare prescription drug rebates. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy say many Vermont seniors are hurting financially, and the state should reconsider its plan to collect the money.
The ranks of Vermont's Roman Catholic Church are dropping. The statewide Diocese of Burlington says it has 118,000 members, making it by far the biggest church in Vermont. But that represents a 20% drop from the 149,000 members the church had in 2005.
A new project in Plattsburgh will save the city money and is good for the environment too. Using only federal stimulas money, the city will begin work on a new geo-thermal heating system for the city police station. Officials have already designiated a site for the system that extracts power from heat stored in the earth. Digging is expected to start in the next few weeks.
City officials in Burlington are currently work on next year's budget and they say they will hold the line on taxes. The exact details of the spending plan are not finished yet but they say that Burlington Residents should only see a slight increase in property taxes for next year. They are currently predicting only a 1-percent increase.
A home in Johnson was destroyed over the weekend when fire raced through it. Firefighters say the home on the Whitcomb Island Road, just off Route 100, was fully engulfed when they arrived. No one was home at the time, and no one was hurt fighting back the flames. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Walkers took the streets of Burlington yesterday to raise money and awareness for the American Heart Association. Survivors of heart disease, or those whose families have been touched by the number one killer of Americans were out there with a goal of raising 88-thousand dollars. That money will remain in the state, going towards research done by Vermont doctors.
The federal government is giving a local group $4.5 million to make Rutland County buildings more energy efficient. Neighbor Works of Western Vermont hopes Rutland County will lead the state in energy efficiency. Helping homeowners make such improvements has been a goal for the group since an "energy summit" it organized in September. Neighbor Works will offer efficiency audits, which look at what improvements can be made to a home, and then manage the construction while those improvements are made.
Rutland police say a late-night card game ended in a shooting sending one man to the hospital and another to jail. Investigators say a fight broke out just before midnight Saturday between 37-year-old Andrew Williams and 57-year-old Bobby Adams. Adams ended-up getting shot. Officials say he will recover. Williams surrended to police yesterday morning and is now behind bars.
According to the town of Benson Route 22A needs wider shoulders, better maintenance and more traffic enforcement. Those were the three main areas of concern to emerge from a recent discussion of a proposed management plan for the highway. The Rutland Regional Planning Commission is working on the plan and talking to select boards along the road. The Commission plans to continue gathering input from towns along Route 22A in the coming weeks.
New York officials say that despite a recent upturn in milk prices, 1 of every 10 dairy farms in the state could fail in the next 6 months if something isn't done. Vermont officials agree; infact, they predicted that about 20-percent of the dairy farms in Vermont will close this year. Federal authorities are considering changes in milk price regulation, but that bill isn't expected until 2012.
New York state offices and agencies could be headed for early closure today if lawmakers can't approve an emergency-spending bill. That bill is expected to pass today to keep government running for another week. The emergency bill includes more than $300 million in cuts to mental health and social services programs.
Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie launched his campaign for Governor Saturday at the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds in Essex and followed it with rallies across the state. Dubie spoke about educating youth, clean energy, and creating jobs in Vermont.
The Vermont Secretary of State's office is reminding independent candidates for elected offices in the November election that there are new filing deadlines. To be on the November ballot, candidates must file petitions with the Secretary of State by 5 p.m. on June 17th.
Vermont's two U.S. Senators are urging the state not to try to collect money from seniors who are getting federal Medicare prescription drug rebates. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy say many Vermont seniors are hurting financially, and the state should reconsider its plan to collect the money.
The ranks of Vermont's Roman Catholic Church are dropping. The statewide Diocese of Burlington says it has 118,000 members, making it by far the biggest church in Vermont. But that represents a 20% drop from the 149,000 members the church had in 2005.
A new project in Plattsburgh will save the city money and is good for the environment too. Using only federal stimulas money, the city will begin work on a new geo-thermal heating system for the city police station. Officials have already designiated a site for the system that extracts power from heat stored in the earth. Digging is expected to start in the next few weeks.
City officials in Burlington are currently work on next year's budget and they say they will hold the line on taxes. The exact details of the spending plan are not finished yet but they say that Burlington Residents should only see a slight increase in property taxes for next year. They are currently predicting only a 1-percent increase.
A home in Johnson was destroyed over the weekend when fire raced through it. Firefighters say the home on the Whitcomb Island Road, just off Route 100, was fully engulfed when they arrived. No one was home at the time, and no one was hurt fighting back the flames. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Walkers took the streets of Burlington yesterday to raise money and awareness for the American Heart Association. Survivors of heart disease, or those whose families have been touched by the number one killer of Americans were out there with a goal of raising 88-thousand dollars. That money will remain in the state, going towards research done by Vermont doctors.
The federal government is giving a local group $4.5 million to make Rutland County buildings more energy efficient. Neighbor Works of Western Vermont hopes Rutland County will lead the state in energy efficiency. Helping homeowners make such improvements has been a goal for the group since an "energy summit" it organized in September. Neighbor Works will offer efficiency audits, which look at what improvements can be made to a home, and then manage the construction while those improvements are made.
Friday, June 11, 2010
WVTK Local & State News June 11, 2010
Construction crews will break ground on the new Lake Champlain Bridge today. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the temporary ferry docks on the New York side of the lake at 10:15 this morning. Both Governors Jim Douglas and David Patterson will be there for the start of construction on the new bridge.
Ticonderoga Police are looking for the person or persons responsible for shooting 3 horses at local farms. All 3 horses are still alive but are under veterinarian care while they recover from their gunshot wounds. If you have any information about the horse shootings, please call the Ticonderoga Police Department.
As the town of Pittsford finishes work on its water system, the Select Board has turned its attention to the sewer. The board voted this week to warn a $1.97 million bond issue for sewer improvements. The vote is scheduled for July 20 with informational meetings at 6:30 p.m. on July 13 and July 19 at the Lothrop School gymnasium. Those plans include laying down new pipe in the most worn-out areas and replacing a pump station where a lot of groundwater seeps in.
A team of engineers is proposing to build one of the state’s largest solar farms on the west side of Route 7, across from the Hill Top RV Center in New Haven. The proposed project would feature 178 ground-mounted solar trackers with panels capable of harvesting enough energy to power 500 homes annually. It would also include an organic farm operation calling for sheep and goats to graze near the high-tech equipment. This is the second major solar farm proposal to be pitched in Addison County in recent months.
Officials from the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living in late May revoked the license of Alden Place Residential Care Home LLC in Vergennes for a series of 23 alleged violations that affected “the health and safety of the residents.
The Rutland Redevelopment Authority is projecting to finish the fiscal year about $10,000 in the black. While not a significant sum of money, it does represent an improvement from this time last year when the RRA finished more than $13,000 in debt to the city.
CVPS customers will see a slight decrease in the bills stating next month. Central Vermont Public Service has been collecting a 1-percent surcharge that was added to your bill last year to help cover the cost of repairs from the 2008 Ice Storm. That surcharge expires at the end of the month. For most people, the surcharge turns out to be about 30 cents a month.
The Paterson administration has begun preparing state agencies for what could be the first government shutdown in New York History. The shutdown could begin as early as Monday at midnight unless lawmakers pass an emergency-spending bill. With no budget yet for the fiscal year that began April 1, the state has been relying on emergency bills to stay in operation.
Two teenagers, missing since Sunday, have been found safe and sound. Police say the search came to an end after received numberous tips that the 2-missing 16-year-olds were seen in the Middlebury area. Hunter Pawlaczyk of South Burlington and Zoe Robb of Burlington were considered by police as runaways.
The Education Commissioner has braced school officials around Vermont for across-the-board spending reductions in next year's budgets. After holding the line on spending last year, school districts will be asked to shave $23 million from the bottom line in fiscal year 2012. The reduction directives are part of Challenges for Change.
One of the men charged in the shooting death of a former St. Michael's College professor has changed his plea. In court yesterday, 28-year-old Chad Lussier changed his plea to guilty. As part of the plea deal he will serve 60 days in prison. Lussier was taken into custody to start serving his sentence immediately.
A German company is pulling its operations out of Vermont and is headed back to Europe this year. Suss MicroTec says it's going to relocate a division from Waterbury to Germany later this year, which means a loss of 80 jobs. Suss also has a service and sales division in Waterbury, which is moving west to California.
A pair of St. Mary's School students will be the featured speakers at Flag Day ceremonies in Ticonderoga. Sponsored by Ticonderoga Elks, the Flag Day festivities will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. in Bicentennial Park. In the event of bad weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Ti Armory on Champlain Avenue.
The Slate Valley Teen Center has programs and a location, now it just needs to bring the two together. The Fair Haven Select Board last week voted to allow the organization to use the second floor of the town office building rent-free for 20 years. In return the center has to renovate it at no cost to the town.
Ticonderoga Police are looking for the person or persons responsible for shooting 3 horses at local farms. All 3 horses are still alive but are under veterinarian care while they recover from their gunshot wounds. If you have any information about the horse shootings, please call the Ticonderoga Police Department.
As the town of Pittsford finishes work on its water system, the Select Board has turned its attention to the sewer. The board voted this week to warn a $1.97 million bond issue for sewer improvements. The vote is scheduled for July 20 with informational meetings at 6:30 p.m. on July 13 and July 19 at the Lothrop School gymnasium. Those plans include laying down new pipe in the most worn-out areas and replacing a pump station where a lot of groundwater seeps in.
A team of engineers is proposing to build one of the state’s largest solar farms on the west side of Route 7, across from the Hill Top RV Center in New Haven. The proposed project would feature 178 ground-mounted solar trackers with panels capable of harvesting enough energy to power 500 homes annually. It would also include an organic farm operation calling for sheep and goats to graze near the high-tech equipment. This is the second major solar farm proposal to be pitched in Addison County in recent months.
Officials from the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living in late May revoked the license of Alden Place Residential Care Home LLC in Vergennes for a series of 23 alleged violations that affected “the health and safety of the residents.
The Rutland Redevelopment Authority is projecting to finish the fiscal year about $10,000 in the black. While not a significant sum of money, it does represent an improvement from this time last year when the RRA finished more than $13,000 in debt to the city.
CVPS customers will see a slight decrease in the bills stating next month. Central Vermont Public Service has been collecting a 1-percent surcharge that was added to your bill last year to help cover the cost of repairs from the 2008 Ice Storm. That surcharge expires at the end of the month. For most people, the surcharge turns out to be about 30 cents a month.
The Paterson administration has begun preparing state agencies for what could be the first government shutdown in New York History. The shutdown could begin as early as Monday at midnight unless lawmakers pass an emergency-spending bill. With no budget yet for the fiscal year that began April 1, the state has been relying on emergency bills to stay in operation.
Two teenagers, missing since Sunday, have been found safe and sound. Police say the search came to an end after received numberous tips that the 2-missing 16-year-olds were seen in the Middlebury area. Hunter Pawlaczyk of South Burlington and Zoe Robb of Burlington were considered by police as runaways.
The Education Commissioner has braced school officials around Vermont for across-the-board spending reductions in next year's budgets. After holding the line on spending last year, school districts will be asked to shave $23 million from the bottom line in fiscal year 2012. The reduction directives are part of Challenges for Change.
One of the men charged in the shooting death of a former St. Michael's College professor has changed his plea. In court yesterday, 28-year-old Chad Lussier changed his plea to guilty. As part of the plea deal he will serve 60 days in prison. Lussier was taken into custody to start serving his sentence immediately.
A German company is pulling its operations out of Vermont and is headed back to Europe this year. Suss MicroTec says it's going to relocate a division from Waterbury to Germany later this year, which means a loss of 80 jobs. Suss also has a service and sales division in Waterbury, which is moving west to California.
A pair of St. Mary's School students will be the featured speakers at Flag Day ceremonies in Ticonderoga. Sponsored by Ticonderoga Elks, the Flag Day festivities will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. in Bicentennial Park. In the event of bad weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Ti Armory on Champlain Avenue.
The Slate Valley Teen Center has programs and a location, now it just needs to bring the two together. The Fair Haven Select Board last week voted to allow the organization to use the second floor of the town office building rent-free for 20 years. In return the center has to renovate it at no cost to the town.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
WVTK Local & State News June 10, 2010
The construction of the new Lake Champlain Bridge is expected to bring hundreds of workers to Crown Point, making it an economic opportunity for local merchants. To prepare, the community may form its own chamber of commerce. A group of Crown Point residents met yesterday to discuss the formation of a local chamber. It agreed to meet again June 23 at 3 p.m. at the town hall. Currently Crown Point businesses can join the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce.
A Zamias Fund grant approved this week will likely allow the Paramount Theatre to replace its leaky roof this construction season. The grant was officially approved at the Monday evening Board of Aldermen meeting by a 7-to-2 vote. The grant will also allow the Paramount to leverage a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Grant of about $16,000 that will pay for the remainder of the $47,000 estimated roof replacement.
Plans to close a polling station in Mineville have been scrapped. The Essex County Board of Elections no longer has plans to shut down polling places in Mineville, AuSable Forks, Wadhams and Keene. In the town of Moriah the board of elections plan was to merge polling places in Mineville and Moriah.
A pool party and barbecue for families of the Vermont Army National Guard is set for Sunday at Northwood Park pool in Rutland. This year the Rutland unit deployed to Afghanistan in January. In total 1,500 Vermont troops left in 2010, the largest group of Vermonters to deploy since World War II.
Another radioactive leak has been reported at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. Power plant officials say this time the cause was found quickly and resolved. They say it came from a one-inch relief valve in the plant's cooling system within Vermont Yankee and never got out outside. The leak was stopped Tuesday afternoon, and the valve was replaced early yesterday morning.
Rep. Peter Welch wants BP to stop paying profits to shareholders and buying TV ads until the oil spill disaster is over. Welch says the millions going to a public relations campaign and stock dividends would be better spent on cleaning up the environmental damage.
State environmental officials in New York are stepping up efforts to stop the spread of destructive forest pests in firewood. It is against the law to transport untreated firewood into the state or moving it more than 50 miles. Now authorities plan to set up checkpoints on the Adirondack Northway to nab violators. Campers at state campgrounds will have to identify the source of firewood they bring in. Violators can face fines and jail time.
The branch manager of CitiFinancial in South Burlington is facing charges that she took out loans under someone else's name. A Colchester woman was paying a mortgage loan, when she discovered 5 loans were made to her without her knowledge. Police say information on the loans led them to the local branch manager, 35-year-old Angela Feeley.
Police are looking for 2 teens that have been missing for several days. Hunter Pawlaczyk of South Burlington and Zoe Robb of Burlington were last seen going to bed in their separate homes Sunday Night. Parents notified police once they discovered that the teens and their bikes were missing. Authorities are now considering them runaways.
A Ticonderoga man, who shot a State Trooper, will spend the next 15 years in prison. During a several hour standoff 2 years ago, Trooper George Stannard was trying to disarm 40-year-old Donald McCray, who was suicidal at the time, when he was shot in his hand. Stannard has since lost use of his right-hand but still remains on the force because he is left-handed.
Bomb sniffing dogs are now on the job at the Burlington International Airport. They made their debut Tuesday. The team of 3 trained dogs and TSA handlers can also provide the same bomb detection security at bus and train stations. The director of the airport's TSA says the dogs can find explosives in seconds.
The numbers are in and Vermont Ski Areas saw an increase in visits this past season. The Vermont Ski Areas Association says the state's resorts had 4.1 million skiers this past season, that's up 1.4 percent over the previous season. Officials say Vermont resorts did surprising well considering less than perfect weather and the recession.
Ticonderoga town board meetings can now bee seen live on TV. For years the town board meetings have been taped and later shown on the community cable access channel provided by Time Warner Cable. Recently some people asked about televising the meetings live. You can now turn on the community access channel at 6 p.m. the second Thursday of each month to see the Ti meetings live.
Moriah's public access television channel has made major improvements thanks to new equipment. The new technology has been a great benefit to the channel, which is operated by Moriah Central School. The new system allows for a schedule of programming, better quality of picture and sound, immediate access from a remote location in the event of a school or town emergency and an improved and updated message board. The channel is also now in sync with the school website.
A Zamias Fund grant approved this week will likely allow the Paramount Theatre to replace its leaky roof this construction season. The grant was officially approved at the Monday evening Board of Aldermen meeting by a 7-to-2 vote. The grant will also allow the Paramount to leverage a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Grant of about $16,000 that will pay for the remainder of the $47,000 estimated roof replacement.
Plans to close a polling station in Mineville have been scrapped. The Essex County Board of Elections no longer has plans to shut down polling places in Mineville, AuSable Forks, Wadhams and Keene. In the town of Moriah the board of elections plan was to merge polling places in Mineville and Moriah.
A pool party and barbecue for families of the Vermont Army National Guard is set for Sunday at Northwood Park pool in Rutland. This year the Rutland unit deployed to Afghanistan in January. In total 1,500 Vermont troops left in 2010, the largest group of Vermonters to deploy since World War II.
Another radioactive leak has been reported at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. Power plant officials say this time the cause was found quickly and resolved. They say it came from a one-inch relief valve in the plant's cooling system within Vermont Yankee and never got out outside. The leak was stopped Tuesday afternoon, and the valve was replaced early yesterday morning.
Rep. Peter Welch wants BP to stop paying profits to shareholders and buying TV ads until the oil spill disaster is over. Welch says the millions going to a public relations campaign and stock dividends would be better spent on cleaning up the environmental damage.
State environmental officials in New York are stepping up efforts to stop the spread of destructive forest pests in firewood. It is against the law to transport untreated firewood into the state or moving it more than 50 miles. Now authorities plan to set up checkpoints on the Adirondack Northway to nab violators. Campers at state campgrounds will have to identify the source of firewood they bring in. Violators can face fines and jail time.
The branch manager of CitiFinancial in South Burlington is facing charges that she took out loans under someone else's name. A Colchester woman was paying a mortgage loan, when she discovered 5 loans were made to her without her knowledge. Police say information on the loans led them to the local branch manager, 35-year-old Angela Feeley.
Police are looking for 2 teens that have been missing for several days. Hunter Pawlaczyk of South Burlington and Zoe Robb of Burlington were last seen going to bed in their separate homes Sunday Night. Parents notified police once they discovered that the teens and their bikes were missing. Authorities are now considering them runaways.
A Ticonderoga man, who shot a State Trooper, will spend the next 15 years in prison. During a several hour standoff 2 years ago, Trooper George Stannard was trying to disarm 40-year-old Donald McCray, who was suicidal at the time, when he was shot in his hand. Stannard has since lost use of his right-hand but still remains on the force because he is left-handed.
Bomb sniffing dogs are now on the job at the Burlington International Airport. They made their debut Tuesday. The team of 3 trained dogs and TSA handlers can also provide the same bomb detection security at bus and train stations. The director of the airport's TSA says the dogs can find explosives in seconds.
The numbers are in and Vermont Ski Areas saw an increase in visits this past season. The Vermont Ski Areas Association says the state's resorts had 4.1 million skiers this past season, that's up 1.4 percent over the previous season. Officials say Vermont resorts did surprising well considering less than perfect weather and the recession.
Ticonderoga town board meetings can now bee seen live on TV. For years the town board meetings have been taped and later shown on the community cable access channel provided by Time Warner Cable. Recently some people asked about televising the meetings live. You can now turn on the community access channel at 6 p.m. the second Thursday of each month to see the Ti meetings live.
Moriah's public access television channel has made major improvements thanks to new equipment. The new technology has been a great benefit to the channel, which is operated by Moriah Central School. The new system allows for a schedule of programming, better quality of picture and sound, immediate access from a remote location in the event of a school or town emergency and an improved and updated message board. The channel is also now in sync with the school website.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
WVTK Local & State News June 9, 2010
Benson voters approved their school budget yesterday, 99-84. The revised budget included cuts to the legal fund, health education, the Spanish program and the field trip budget, along with some changes to individual health insurance program. Yesterday’s vote in Benson left Vermont with eight school districts that have yet to approve budgets.
Rutland Town teachers announced last night they will strike in the fall if their contract is not settled prior to the 2010 school year. A strike is a last resort for educators frustrated with negotiations that have lasted more than a year and deadlocked in July 2009.
A small oil spill was discovered in Lake Iroquois in Hinesburg. Authorities say work crews were drilling on private property when there was some sort of problem with the equipment. That's when some of the oil in a hose made its way into the lake water. Buoys were set up to help contain the spill. Federal officials came in last night to help with the clean up.
New evidence shows efforts to clean-up Lake Champlain might be working. Using new methods, U.S. Geological Survey Scientist have found the there has been 1 to 3-percent decrease in phosphorus levels each year from 2000 to 2008. Phosphorus is a plant nutrient washed into the lake that feeds waterweeds and algae blooms.
Officials at the Burlington International Airport say construction on the main runway will cause cancellations, delays, and diversions throughout the summer. Until the repairs are completed, flights will be diverted to Albany anytime the weather reduces visibility to under one-mile. The $19-Million repair job is expected to be finished in September.
Until a state budget is passed, the New York Transportation Department will not be cutting the grass along the highways. A spokesperson said, "Because of the budget situation this year, we are only mowing for safety issues." Also put on hold for now is any non-essential road stripping and guardrail repairs.
A change to a contract between the Rutland city school district and Rutland Mental Health Services will cut 12 full-time jobs. 12 of 15 RMHS employees working at the district's SUCCESS alternative school will be let go in August. The provider's $690,000 contract with the district will be substantially reduced and the treatment program for K-12 students will be restructured.
A top official says state agencies made roughly $265,000 in duplicate payments to vendors over a 2-year period. Auditor of Accounts Tom Salmon says the state also has not yet been able to recoup $61,000 of that money.
A group that tries to help teens and young adults get back on their feet after spending time in jail has found a home. For the past few months, Hope and Community Incorporated has been trying to open a live-in rehabilitation facility in the Rutland area. But several communities have blocked the group's attempt, including a site in Killington. According to the nonprofit's executive director, the facility will open at the former Sand Hill Residential Community for Young Women in Castleton. Hope and Community's goal is to open in a few weeks.
State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding said he will refuse to allow members of the Douglas administration to monitor the Web-viewing habits of state employees working in his office. Controversy has plagued the administration's Web-monitoring plan since some lawmakers began denouncing the initiative in April. The administration has spent $120,000 on software that will be used to block certain websites and track the Internet habits of thousands of employees.
There will be a ribon cutting ceremony tomorrow at the new State Archives Building. Construction began on the new building in Middlesex in 2008 after a flood damaged storage space in Montpelier. The new State Archive Building will be the home of the Vermont State Constitution as well as the official correspondence of governors, legislative records and other documents.
One of two men accused in the shooting death of a former St. Michael's College professor plans to change his plea tomorrow. Police say 28-year-old Brad Lussier of Colchester, was one of four men who were firing guns in a backyard shooting range in Essex 2 years ago. Last month a jury convicted 40-year-old Joseph McCarthy of manslaughter for setting up the firing range.
If you notice pine trees around the state are turning brown, than your not alone. Officials say we are now seeing the effects of Needle Blight that spread though the trees last summer. Tree experts say don't give up and cut any of your pine trees down. It's just going to take time for the trees to recover.
A Massachusetts teacher cleaning up her classroom in preparation for a move has discovered a Colonial-era document buried in a pile of outdated textbooks and dusty scraps of papers. Dated April 1792 and protected by plastic, it appears to document the payment of a debt by a Vermont man named Jonathan Bates. Bates served in the Continental Army in 1780 and died in 1808 at age 63. He's buried in Williamstown, VT.
The SADD chapter at the Stafford Technical Center in Rutland has been named the best in the country. The group held a dating violence presentation, was a top 20 finalist in a national competition about distracted driving, and helped set up the first college SADD chapter in Vermont at Castleton State. Students say they were very surprised but very excited about the honor.
A tradition will return during this year's "Best Fourth in the North" celebration. A bed race will be held along Ticonderoga's Montcalm Street following the Montcalm Mile and before the annual July 4th parade. The 24th annual Montcalm Mile will race along the parade route at 1:45 p.m. It will be followed by the bed race and then the annual parade at 2 p.m. Registration forms and rules for the race can be obtained on line at best-4th-in-the-north dot com or at Century 21.
Rutland Town teachers announced last night they will strike in the fall if their contract is not settled prior to the 2010 school year. A strike is a last resort for educators frustrated with negotiations that have lasted more than a year and deadlocked in July 2009.
A small oil spill was discovered in Lake Iroquois in Hinesburg. Authorities say work crews were drilling on private property when there was some sort of problem with the equipment. That's when some of the oil in a hose made its way into the lake water. Buoys were set up to help contain the spill. Federal officials came in last night to help with the clean up.
New evidence shows efforts to clean-up Lake Champlain might be working. Using new methods, U.S. Geological Survey Scientist have found the there has been 1 to 3-percent decrease in phosphorus levels each year from 2000 to 2008. Phosphorus is a plant nutrient washed into the lake that feeds waterweeds and algae blooms.
Officials at the Burlington International Airport say construction on the main runway will cause cancellations, delays, and diversions throughout the summer. Until the repairs are completed, flights will be diverted to Albany anytime the weather reduces visibility to under one-mile. The $19-Million repair job is expected to be finished in September.
Until a state budget is passed, the New York Transportation Department will not be cutting the grass along the highways. A spokesperson said, "Because of the budget situation this year, we are only mowing for safety issues." Also put on hold for now is any non-essential road stripping and guardrail repairs.
A change to a contract between the Rutland city school district and Rutland Mental Health Services will cut 12 full-time jobs. 12 of 15 RMHS employees working at the district's SUCCESS alternative school will be let go in August. The provider's $690,000 contract with the district will be substantially reduced and the treatment program for K-12 students will be restructured.
A top official says state agencies made roughly $265,000 in duplicate payments to vendors over a 2-year period. Auditor of Accounts Tom Salmon says the state also has not yet been able to recoup $61,000 of that money.
A group that tries to help teens and young adults get back on their feet after spending time in jail has found a home. For the past few months, Hope and Community Incorporated has been trying to open a live-in rehabilitation facility in the Rutland area. But several communities have blocked the group's attempt, including a site in Killington. According to the nonprofit's executive director, the facility will open at the former Sand Hill Residential Community for Young Women in Castleton. Hope and Community's goal is to open in a few weeks.
State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding said he will refuse to allow members of the Douglas administration to monitor the Web-viewing habits of state employees working in his office. Controversy has plagued the administration's Web-monitoring plan since some lawmakers began denouncing the initiative in April. The administration has spent $120,000 on software that will be used to block certain websites and track the Internet habits of thousands of employees.
There will be a ribon cutting ceremony tomorrow at the new State Archives Building. Construction began on the new building in Middlesex in 2008 after a flood damaged storage space in Montpelier. The new State Archive Building will be the home of the Vermont State Constitution as well as the official correspondence of governors, legislative records and other documents.
One of two men accused in the shooting death of a former St. Michael's College professor plans to change his plea tomorrow. Police say 28-year-old Brad Lussier of Colchester, was one of four men who were firing guns in a backyard shooting range in Essex 2 years ago. Last month a jury convicted 40-year-old Joseph McCarthy of manslaughter for setting up the firing range.
If you notice pine trees around the state are turning brown, than your not alone. Officials say we are now seeing the effects of Needle Blight that spread though the trees last summer. Tree experts say don't give up and cut any of your pine trees down. It's just going to take time for the trees to recover.
A Massachusetts teacher cleaning up her classroom in preparation for a move has discovered a Colonial-era document buried in a pile of outdated textbooks and dusty scraps of papers. Dated April 1792 and protected by plastic, it appears to document the payment of a debt by a Vermont man named Jonathan Bates. Bates served in the Continental Army in 1780 and died in 1808 at age 63. He's buried in Williamstown, VT.
The SADD chapter at the Stafford Technical Center in Rutland has been named the best in the country. The group held a dating violence presentation, was a top 20 finalist in a national competition about distracted driving, and helped set up the first college SADD chapter in Vermont at Castleton State. Students say they were very surprised but very excited about the honor.
A tradition will return during this year's "Best Fourth in the North" celebration. A bed race will be held along Ticonderoga's Montcalm Street following the Montcalm Mile and before the annual July 4th parade. The 24th annual Montcalm Mile will race along the parade route at 1:45 p.m. It will be followed by the bed race and then the annual parade at 2 p.m. Registration forms and rules for the race can be obtained on line at best-4th-in-the-north dot com or at Century 21.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
WVTK Local & State News June 8, 2010
Voters in the town of Benson will try to pass a school budget today. This will be the third time a spending plan for next year has been proposed to the voters. There was an informational meeting last night. The polls are open today at the Community Hall from 10 to 7.
Expect some slow-downs in New Haven as you head through the village over the next few weeks as work begins on the town’s first sidewalk. Kennedy Construction of North Ferrisburgh is expected to break ground next week on the project, which will slightly enlarge the village green, install sidewalks along the green and North Street to Beeman Elementary School, and construct a safer crosswalk across Route 17.
For the second year in a row, Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects launched a special fund-raising campaign in order to meet the growing demand for services by Addison County residents still weathering tough economic times. The organization is seeking to raise $145,000 in donations and another $6,700 through special events including a fashion show this fall. Anyone interested in donating to the HOPE fund-raising campaign should call the agency at 388-3608.
Vergennes aldermen have given permission to Vergennes Opera House backers to sell the theater’s no-longer-used fixed chairs as a way to help pay for the sprinkler project. The cost of that project recently increased by $20,000 when it was learned there was not enough water pressure in the original design to reach the top of the structure and an extra pump would be needed.
The Rutland city treasurer and school district chief financial officer support a recommendation from Mayor Christopher Louras that the pension board be reconstituted as a professional board of financial specialists. At Monday's meeting, Louras introduced language for the board to consider as a possible revision to the ordinance that outlines the terms of the city's pension plan.
Vermont State Senator Susan Bartlett has formally kicked off her campaign for the Democratic nomination for Governor. Bartlett has represented Lamoille County in the Senate since 1993. She faces four other Democrats in the August primary. Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie is the sole Republican candidate for governor.
Central Vermont Public Service Corp. and Mount Snow Resort are among five companies that will share in $92 million in federal stimulus bonding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. CVPS was authorized for $25 million from the tax-exempt Recovery Zone Facility Bond Program. The bonding will help finance $48 million in capital projects this year, including infrastructure, transmission, distribution, buildings and generation.
Vermont Yankee has been ordered to reimburse opponents for money spent investigating misleading statements nuclear plant officials made to state regulators and lawmakers. The state Public Service Board granted reimbursement requests from the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, the New England Coalition and the Windham Regional Commission. The board said Vermont Yankee must pay attorney's fees and other costs related to the plant's misrepresentations about whether it had underground pipes that carried radioactive substances.
The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation is launching a new program to promote training and licensing of organic lawn care providers. A searchable list of local Be Green qualified yard care and landscaping companies will be available on the DEC's website.
Two New York lawmakers say it's time for prepaid cell phone users to identify themselves. That's rattled some civil liberties groups, who say the bill may threaten privacy rights. Prepaid phones can be a lifeline for people with limited incomes or poor credit. But since they can be purchased anonymously, they're a favored tool of drug dealers and other criminals looking to cover their tracks. Prepaid phones also have been linked to suspected terror activity.
The Burlington City Council is looking to changing the way the city elects its mayor again. Currently a mayoral candidate only needs 40-percent of the vote to be elected. The City Council voted last night to change the city charter so a candidate for the office would need a 50-percent majority. The measure now goes to the Charter Change Committee.
Police, schools and other groups in New York are joining together to prevent kids from committing crimes at school. The Coalition for Safe Schools recently launched a campaign to keep kids safe. It will work with school districts in Essex and Clinton counties. Coalition leaders said they will respond to school violence and hopefully prevent it.
A Morrisonville man has admitted to causing a deadly crash last fall. 33-year-old Aaron Trombley pleaded guilty to several charges yesterday in Clinton County Court. Police say on October 16, last year, he was driving while on drugs in the Town of Plattsburgh when he hit another car head-on. 2 of the passengers in that car died as a result. He is facing up to 15 years in prison.
About 9,000 Vermont Seniors will be getting a one-time, $250 rebate check. The checks are to help close a gap in Medicare Coverage for prescription drugs. The first round of checks will be mailed out on June 10 for seniors who have already paid over $950 for prescriptions this year. People covered under Medicare Part D should receive a check automatically.
Teens looking for something to do this summer now have another resource. Susan Hull Grasso and Sarah Vincent , 2 stay at home moms, that have several teenagers themselves, have created a website to help kids age 13 and up find jobs and volunteering opportunities. The women say there are a lot of opportunities out there. The website is TeenOpps.com.
The Department of Homeland Security recently announced it would close the Morses Line border crossing and now there is a group of people that is fighting to keep it open. Local residents on both sides of the border say, it’s the cheapest and most convenient way for them to cross the border. They say closing it could have devastating effects on local farms and businesses.
This up-coming weekend is Vermont Days. It’s your chance to visit one of the many state parks or historic sites for free. This Saturday is also Free Fish Day; the one-day of the year you don't need a fishing license in Vermont. For more information or a complete list of activities surrounding Vermont Days, go to VermontDays.Vermont.gov.
Expect some slow-downs in New Haven as you head through the village over the next few weeks as work begins on the town’s first sidewalk. Kennedy Construction of North Ferrisburgh is expected to break ground next week on the project, which will slightly enlarge the village green, install sidewalks along the green and North Street to Beeman Elementary School, and construct a safer crosswalk across Route 17.
For the second year in a row, Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects launched a special fund-raising campaign in order to meet the growing demand for services by Addison County residents still weathering tough economic times. The organization is seeking to raise $145,000 in donations and another $6,700 through special events including a fashion show this fall. Anyone interested in donating to the HOPE fund-raising campaign should call the agency at 388-3608.
Vergennes aldermen have given permission to Vergennes Opera House backers to sell the theater’s no-longer-used fixed chairs as a way to help pay for the sprinkler project. The cost of that project recently increased by $20,000 when it was learned there was not enough water pressure in the original design to reach the top of the structure and an extra pump would be needed.
The Rutland city treasurer and school district chief financial officer support a recommendation from Mayor Christopher Louras that the pension board be reconstituted as a professional board of financial specialists. At Monday's meeting, Louras introduced language for the board to consider as a possible revision to the ordinance that outlines the terms of the city's pension plan.
Vermont State Senator Susan Bartlett has formally kicked off her campaign for the Democratic nomination for Governor. Bartlett has represented Lamoille County in the Senate since 1993. She faces four other Democrats in the August primary. Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie is the sole Republican candidate for governor.
Central Vermont Public Service Corp. and Mount Snow Resort are among five companies that will share in $92 million in federal stimulus bonding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. CVPS was authorized for $25 million from the tax-exempt Recovery Zone Facility Bond Program. The bonding will help finance $48 million in capital projects this year, including infrastructure, transmission, distribution, buildings and generation.
Vermont Yankee has been ordered to reimburse opponents for money spent investigating misleading statements nuclear plant officials made to state regulators and lawmakers. The state Public Service Board granted reimbursement requests from the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, the New England Coalition and the Windham Regional Commission. The board said Vermont Yankee must pay attorney's fees and other costs related to the plant's misrepresentations about whether it had underground pipes that carried radioactive substances.
The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation is launching a new program to promote training and licensing of organic lawn care providers. A searchable list of local Be Green qualified yard care and landscaping companies will be available on the DEC's website.
Two New York lawmakers say it's time for prepaid cell phone users to identify themselves. That's rattled some civil liberties groups, who say the bill may threaten privacy rights. Prepaid phones can be a lifeline for people with limited incomes or poor credit. But since they can be purchased anonymously, they're a favored tool of drug dealers and other criminals looking to cover their tracks. Prepaid phones also have been linked to suspected terror activity.
The Burlington City Council is looking to changing the way the city elects its mayor again. Currently a mayoral candidate only needs 40-percent of the vote to be elected. The City Council voted last night to change the city charter so a candidate for the office would need a 50-percent majority. The measure now goes to the Charter Change Committee.
Police, schools and other groups in New York are joining together to prevent kids from committing crimes at school. The Coalition for Safe Schools recently launched a campaign to keep kids safe. It will work with school districts in Essex and Clinton counties. Coalition leaders said they will respond to school violence and hopefully prevent it.
A Morrisonville man has admitted to causing a deadly crash last fall. 33-year-old Aaron Trombley pleaded guilty to several charges yesterday in Clinton County Court. Police say on October 16, last year, he was driving while on drugs in the Town of Plattsburgh when he hit another car head-on. 2 of the passengers in that car died as a result. He is facing up to 15 years in prison.
About 9,000 Vermont Seniors will be getting a one-time, $250 rebate check. The checks are to help close a gap in Medicare Coverage for prescription drugs. The first round of checks will be mailed out on June 10 for seniors who have already paid over $950 for prescriptions this year. People covered under Medicare Part D should receive a check automatically.
Teens looking for something to do this summer now have another resource. Susan Hull Grasso and Sarah Vincent , 2 stay at home moms, that have several teenagers themselves, have created a website to help kids age 13 and up find jobs and volunteering opportunities. The women say there are a lot of opportunities out there. The website is TeenOpps.com.
The Department of Homeland Security recently announced it would close the Morses Line border crossing and now there is a group of people that is fighting to keep it open. Local residents on both sides of the border say, it’s the cheapest and most convenient way for them to cross the border. They say closing it could have devastating effects on local farms and businesses.
This up-coming weekend is Vermont Days. It’s your chance to visit one of the many state parks or historic sites for free. This Saturday is also Free Fish Day; the one-day of the year you don't need a fishing license in Vermont. For more information or a complete list of activities surrounding Vermont Days, go to VermontDays.Vermont.gov.
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