The Lake Champlain Bridge will re-open on Monday, November 7th! Construction of the span between West Addison and Crown Point is nearly complete and will once again link Vermont and New York over Lake Champlain. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 2:30 PM. Sources indicate that Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin is slated to attend the ceremony. New York's Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy is also expected to attend the event.
A Poultney man is dead after his tractor rolled on top of him. According to reports, Gary Miller was widening his driveway off of Lewis Farm Road when the tractor slipped on an embankment and rolled over. The 69-year-old was home alone at the time. Miller's wife found him when she arrived home.
Teachers in the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union, who threatened to strike last February before accepting a short-term contract imposed by the school board, have taken contract negotiations to the next level. The Addison Northeast Education Association teachers union has called for an impasse in the negotiations. This means the union feels a third-party mediator is necessary. Teachers have been working without a negotiated contract since June 30, 2010.
The Addison County Regional Planning Commission board will vote on an updated regional plan that includes a complete re-write of the natural resources section next Wednesday. The county’s regional plan maps out transportation, housing, natural resources, economic, land use and utilities/facilities priorities. By state statute, the document must be revised every eight years.
Salisbury residents have given their municipal planners some ideas as they prepare revisions to the community’s town plan. T he Salisbury Planning Commission is currently interpreting the results of a town-wide survey that sought residents’ opinions on issues ranging from the future of the municipal landfill to the health of Lake Dunmore.
It looks like Middlebury’s hydro plan will finally advance. A family seeking to install a small-scale hydroelectric project at Middlebury’s Otter Creek falls has won permission to take advantage of a streamlined federal review of the plan. They are currently looking for investors to help finance eventual construction.
Vermont wildlife officials say the hunting preserve where a popular moose named Pete lived and died is to close. State Fish and Wildlife Board member Walt Driscoll said that preserve owner Doug Nelson has decided to close the preserve and convert it to cornfields.
Friday, November 4, 2011
WVTK Local & State News November 4, 2011
WVTK was informed late yesterday that the Lake Champlain Bridge will re-open on Monday, November 7th! A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 2:30PM. Sources indicate that Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin is slated to attend the ceremony. New York's Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy is also expected to attend the event along with WVTK!
Teachers in the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union, who threatened to strike last February before accepting a short-term contract imposed by the school board, have taken contract negotiations to the next level. The Addison Northeast Education Association teachers union has called for an impasse in the negotiations. This means the union feels a third-party mediator is necessary. Since June 30, 2010, teachers have been working without a negotiated contract. In February the teachers accepted an imposed contract. The two sides are currently looking for a third party to moderate negotiations and their next meeting hasn’t been scheduled.
Rutland City Police Chief Anthony Bossi announced yesterday that he would be retiring in January after more than three decades with the department. Bossi, who has been a part of the force for 35 years with the last 13 as chief, will retire on January 3rd. Who will replace the chief on an interim or permanent basis is unclear at this time. The city's five-member Police Commission has the authority to appoint an acting police chief but it would take the approval of a broader search committee to hire a permanent chief.
A couple in Vermont has been arrested in connection with a bank robbery, and police say they may be behind others. Police said a woman walked into Citizen's Bank in Poultney on Wednesday afternoon and handed the teller a note saying she had a gun and was demanding cash. Police caught her and a man who was with her a short time later in Castleton. The woman has been identified as 30-year-old Jill Ludwig of Castleton. The man's name hasn't been released yet. Police also are investigating the couple in connection with a robbery last week at a TD Bank branch in Granville, NY as well as recent ones in Rutland and West Rutland.
The Addison County Regional Planning Commission board will vote on an updated regional plan that includes a complete re-write of the natural resources section next Wednesday. The county’s regional plan maps out transportation, housing, natural resources, economic, land use and utilities/facilities priorities. By state statute, the document must be revised every eight years.
Panton’s Town Clerk is leaving her post. Over the past 17 years Sue Torrey has served as Panton’s Town Clerk and has greet residents and visitors in the Town Office. She has been there through town debates regarding needed work on the Town Hall, how to word new town plans and zoning laws and even how to get a handle on rising taxes.
Salisbury residents have given their municipal planners some ideas as they prepare revisions to the community’s town plan. The Salisbury Planning Commission is currently interpreting the results of a town-wide survey that sought residents’ opinions on issues ranging from the future of the municipal landfill to the health of Lake Dunmore.
It looks like Middlebury’s hydro plan will finally advance. A family seeking to install a small-scale hydroelectric project at Middlebury’s Otter Creek falls has won permission to take advantage of a streamlined federal review of the plan. They are currently looking for investors to help finance eventual construction.
More than 200 area residents participated in what was a record-setting Addison County Crop Hunger Walk on October 2nd. The event raised $24,705 for programs to feed the hungry. The 34th annual Crop Hunger Walk was organized by Addison County clergy and culminated in a 2.2-mile route through Middlebury.
Town officials in Benson voted to adopt proposed changes to the town’s zoning ordinance following an unattended public hearing Monday. The Select Board unanimously voted to adopt the changes to the zoning bylaws. The changes take effect in 21 days. During Monday’s meeting, the board also unanimously approved increasing the town’s sewer rate incrementally by $25 per period for the next three years. The approved sewer rate this year is $150. Additionally, the board discussed the possibility of creating a path from the Benson Village School to the town, through private properties.
The pending sale of Central Vermont Public Service Corp. drew little interest earlier this week as the Public Service Board held a statewide hearing to gauge public sentiment on the proposed $702 million sale to Gaz Metro of Montreal. Backers of the sale of Central Vermont Public Service Corp. to Gaz Metro told the Public Service Board that the deal would help keep electric rates in the state competitive and ensure that the merged company would retain a significant presence in Rutland. If the sale is approved, CVPS would merge with GMP.
Burlington International Airport is having bird problems that seem to be getting worse. Now, airport officials have the okay from the city of South Burlington to do something about birds in the flight line outside of airport boundaries. Corn left in a field near the airport, which flooded earlier, is attracting the birds. The airport is arranging for pyrotechnics, with noises and flashes designed to scare the birds. The farmer owning the field is concerned his other animals will be scared as well, but those details are still being worked out with him.
A Poultney man is dead after his tractor rolled on top of him. State police say Gary Miller was widening his driveway off of Lewis Farm Road when the tractor slipped on an embankment and rolled. The 69-year-old was home alone at the time. Miller's wife found him she arrived home. He died at the scene.
Vermont wildlife officials say the hunting preserve where a popular moose named Pete lived and died is to close. State Fish and Wildlife Board member Walt Driscoll said that preserve owner Doug Nelson has decided to close the preserve and convert it to cornfields.
The Vermont Transportation Agency has received national recognition for the way it monitors weather conditions on highways. VTrans uses remote cameras at 24 locations around the state to keep an eye on the roads and better judge when to dispatch plow and salt trucks. As part of the system, VTrans can also activate a series of electronic roadside message boards that alert motorists about the changing road conditions. A national transportation technology organization has awarded Vermont a second place award for Best New Innovative Practices.
The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant is back on line after a 25-day outage for refueling and maintenance. The plant returned to service shortly before midnight Tuesday and officials say it will be slowly brought up to full power over the next few days. Plant spokesman Larry Smith says 850 workers were brought in to supplement the plant's normal staff of about 600 during the outage. One third of the fuel rods in the reactor core were replaced, and other maintenance tasks were undertaken.
Community leaders in the town of Lowell are voicing their support for a wind-energy project under construction on a Vermont mountaintop that has been the focus of opposition from a group of determined protesters. The chairman of the town select board held a rally with other officials and local residents in Lowell to express that support. On Town Meeting Day 2010, the Kingdom Community Wind project in Lowell was supported by 75% of town voters.
David Clark, director of Middlebury’s Ilsley Public Library, has returned to Vermont from a recent visit to South Africa. He is a member of the Middlebury Rotary Club and traveled to Africa as part of the Rotary Group Study Exchange program. The purpose of the group study exchange is to provide four people between 25-40 years old and who are not members of Rotary an opportunity to visit another culture, meet people who do similar work, and to see projects undertaken by local Rotary clubs. Clark will speak about his South African experiences as part of two public presentations at the library on Friday, November 11th at 10:30AM and again Wednesday, November 30th at 7PM.
Fort Ticonderoga and Champlain College are entering the second year of a growing collaboration, utilizing the needs of a non-profit institution while providing students at the Vermont institution with real-world experience as they prepare to enter the workforce. Some senior-level students are currently working on a public relations project for Fort Ticonderoga. The students are working with Brawn Media on developing a viral social media campaign for the fort. A final product from the group of students is due in December.
North Country Community College will host an education fair this coming Monday from 4-6PM at the NCCC campus in Ticonderoga. It is open to the community and is co-sponsored by the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce. There will be a variety of representatives from NCCC at the education fair for community members and potential students to speak to as well and gather information from. For more information regarding the education fair contact the Ti Chamber (at 585-6619) or North Country Community College (at 585-4454).
The curtain at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Rutland will rise for the 16th annual Really Big Show on Saturday. Twenty amateur talents in the area will display a variety of acts from singing, dancing, Broadway skits and more to benefit the United Way of Rutland County. The show starts at 7PM at the Paramount Theatre. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Paramount Ticket Box Office or ONLINE.
Teachers in the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union, who threatened to strike last February before accepting a short-term contract imposed by the school board, have taken contract negotiations to the next level. The Addison Northeast Education Association teachers union has called for an impasse in the negotiations. This means the union feels a third-party mediator is necessary. Since June 30, 2010, teachers have been working without a negotiated contract. In February the teachers accepted an imposed contract. The two sides are currently looking for a third party to moderate negotiations and their next meeting hasn’t been scheduled.
Rutland City Police Chief Anthony Bossi announced yesterday that he would be retiring in January after more than three decades with the department. Bossi, who has been a part of the force for 35 years with the last 13 as chief, will retire on January 3rd. Who will replace the chief on an interim or permanent basis is unclear at this time. The city's five-member Police Commission has the authority to appoint an acting police chief but it would take the approval of a broader search committee to hire a permanent chief.
A couple in Vermont has been arrested in connection with a bank robbery, and police say they may be behind others. Police said a woman walked into Citizen's Bank in Poultney on Wednesday afternoon and handed the teller a note saying she had a gun and was demanding cash. Police caught her and a man who was with her a short time later in Castleton. The woman has been identified as 30-year-old Jill Ludwig of Castleton. The man's name hasn't been released yet. Police also are investigating the couple in connection with a robbery last week at a TD Bank branch in Granville, NY as well as recent ones in Rutland and West Rutland.
The Addison County Regional Planning Commission board will vote on an updated regional plan that includes a complete re-write of the natural resources section next Wednesday. The county’s regional plan maps out transportation, housing, natural resources, economic, land use and utilities/facilities priorities. By state statute, the document must be revised every eight years.
Panton’s Town Clerk is leaving her post. Over the past 17 years Sue Torrey has served as Panton’s Town Clerk and has greet residents and visitors in the Town Office. She has been there through town debates regarding needed work on the Town Hall, how to word new town plans and zoning laws and even how to get a handle on rising taxes.
Salisbury residents have given their municipal planners some ideas as they prepare revisions to the community’s town plan. The Salisbury Planning Commission is currently interpreting the results of a town-wide survey that sought residents’ opinions on issues ranging from the future of the municipal landfill to the health of Lake Dunmore.
It looks like Middlebury’s hydro plan will finally advance. A family seeking to install a small-scale hydroelectric project at Middlebury’s Otter Creek falls has won permission to take advantage of a streamlined federal review of the plan. They are currently looking for investors to help finance eventual construction.
More than 200 area residents participated in what was a record-setting Addison County Crop Hunger Walk on October 2nd. The event raised $24,705 for programs to feed the hungry. The 34th annual Crop Hunger Walk was organized by Addison County clergy and culminated in a 2.2-mile route through Middlebury.
Town officials in Benson voted to adopt proposed changes to the town’s zoning ordinance following an unattended public hearing Monday. The Select Board unanimously voted to adopt the changes to the zoning bylaws. The changes take effect in 21 days. During Monday’s meeting, the board also unanimously approved increasing the town’s sewer rate incrementally by $25 per period for the next three years. The approved sewer rate this year is $150. Additionally, the board discussed the possibility of creating a path from the Benson Village School to the town, through private properties.
The pending sale of Central Vermont Public Service Corp. drew little interest earlier this week as the Public Service Board held a statewide hearing to gauge public sentiment on the proposed $702 million sale to Gaz Metro of Montreal. Backers of the sale of Central Vermont Public Service Corp. to Gaz Metro told the Public Service Board that the deal would help keep electric rates in the state competitive and ensure that the merged company would retain a significant presence in Rutland. If the sale is approved, CVPS would merge with GMP.
Burlington International Airport is having bird problems that seem to be getting worse. Now, airport officials have the okay from the city of South Burlington to do something about birds in the flight line outside of airport boundaries. Corn left in a field near the airport, which flooded earlier, is attracting the birds. The airport is arranging for pyrotechnics, with noises and flashes designed to scare the birds. The farmer owning the field is concerned his other animals will be scared as well, but those details are still being worked out with him.
A Poultney man is dead after his tractor rolled on top of him. State police say Gary Miller was widening his driveway off of Lewis Farm Road when the tractor slipped on an embankment and rolled. The 69-year-old was home alone at the time. Miller's wife found him she arrived home. He died at the scene.
Vermont wildlife officials say the hunting preserve where a popular moose named Pete lived and died is to close. State Fish and Wildlife Board member Walt Driscoll said that preserve owner Doug Nelson has decided to close the preserve and convert it to cornfields.
The Vermont Transportation Agency has received national recognition for the way it monitors weather conditions on highways. VTrans uses remote cameras at 24 locations around the state to keep an eye on the roads and better judge when to dispatch plow and salt trucks. As part of the system, VTrans can also activate a series of electronic roadside message boards that alert motorists about the changing road conditions. A national transportation technology organization has awarded Vermont a second place award for Best New Innovative Practices.
The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant is back on line after a 25-day outage for refueling and maintenance. The plant returned to service shortly before midnight Tuesday and officials say it will be slowly brought up to full power over the next few days. Plant spokesman Larry Smith says 850 workers were brought in to supplement the plant's normal staff of about 600 during the outage. One third of the fuel rods in the reactor core were replaced, and other maintenance tasks were undertaken.
Community leaders in the town of Lowell are voicing their support for a wind-energy project under construction on a Vermont mountaintop that has been the focus of opposition from a group of determined protesters. The chairman of the town select board held a rally with other officials and local residents in Lowell to express that support. On Town Meeting Day 2010, the Kingdom Community Wind project in Lowell was supported by 75% of town voters.
David Clark, director of Middlebury’s Ilsley Public Library, has returned to Vermont from a recent visit to South Africa. He is a member of the Middlebury Rotary Club and traveled to Africa as part of the Rotary Group Study Exchange program. The purpose of the group study exchange is to provide four people between 25-40 years old and who are not members of Rotary an opportunity to visit another culture, meet people who do similar work, and to see projects undertaken by local Rotary clubs. Clark will speak about his South African experiences as part of two public presentations at the library on Friday, November 11th at 10:30AM and again Wednesday, November 30th at 7PM.
Fort Ticonderoga and Champlain College are entering the second year of a growing collaboration, utilizing the needs of a non-profit institution while providing students at the Vermont institution with real-world experience as they prepare to enter the workforce. Some senior-level students are currently working on a public relations project for Fort Ticonderoga. The students are working with Brawn Media on developing a viral social media campaign for the fort. A final product from the group of students is due in December.
North Country Community College will host an education fair this coming Monday from 4-6PM at the NCCC campus in Ticonderoga. It is open to the community and is co-sponsored by the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce. There will be a variety of representatives from NCCC at the education fair for community members and potential students to speak to as well and gather information from. For more information regarding the education fair contact the Ti Chamber (at 585-6619) or North Country Community College (at 585-4454).
The curtain at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Rutland will rise for the 16th annual Really Big Show on Saturday. Twenty amateur talents in the area will display a variety of acts from singing, dancing, Broadway skits and more to benefit the United Way of Rutland County. The show starts at 7PM at the Paramount Theatre. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Paramount Ticket Box Office or ONLINE.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Lake Champlain Bridge To Re-Open Monday!
WVTK was informed late Thursday that the Lake Champlain Bridge will re-open on Monday, November 7th! A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 2:30PM. Sources indicate that Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin is slated to attend the ceremony. New York's Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy is also expected to attend the event along with WVTK!
WVTK Local & State News November 3, 2011 (Afternoon Update)
Police have arrested 2 people that they believe are part of a number of robberies including the Citizen’s Bank in Poultney yesterday afternoon. Just after 3 PM yesterday afternoon, a woman walked into the Citizen’s Bank with a note saying she had a weapon and wanted money. Police caught her and a male accomplice a short time later in Castleton. Authorities believe the 2 have robbed 4 other banks recently including one in West Rutland and another in Rutland Town.
Gov. Peter Shumlin says he's open to having a conversation about banning teacher strikes in Vermont, but is stopping short of endorsing a proposal to do so. Shumlin told a news conference yesterday that he is very willing to consider a proposal by the Education Commissioner to ban teacher strikes, as well as contracts being imposed by school boards. The comments from the commissioner and the governor follow the conclusion of a 9-day strike by teachers serving the Bennington area, who were opposing a contract imposed by the region's school boards.
The cost of road repair after Irene is less than half the original estimate. New estimates put the price tag between 175 and 250 million dollars for state roads. Work crews say closing the roads and easing the permitting process helped cut the work time in half. Officials are now studying the efficiency of road repairs and say Vermonters may see more road closures in the future to save money and time.
After nearly two decades on the road, Moriah’s town board meetings will return home in 2012. The meetings will be held at the newly expanded and renovated court building, adjacent to the town hall at Park Place in Port Henry . Champlain Valley Tech students recently finished construction of an 864-square-foot addition to the Moriah court, helping the town meet a state mandate and giving the community an updated structure.
Addison County Transit Resources will build a new center on a vacant lot on Creek Road, across from the MUHS playing fields and adjacent to the VTrans highway shed. Officials say the plan is to break ground in spring of 2012 and move in just in time to celebrate their 20th anniversary in November. Vermont architect Black River Design of Montpelier is responsible for the center’s concept.
The Port Henry Fire Department Auxiliary is now taking applications for its fourth-annual Toy Drive. To apply for assistance this year for children up to 18 years old, call one of the auxiliary members for an application. The deadline for the program is December 1st.
Gov. Peter Shumlin says he's open to having a conversation about banning teacher strikes in Vermont, but is stopping short of endorsing a proposal to do so. Shumlin told a news conference yesterday that he is very willing to consider a proposal by the Education Commissioner to ban teacher strikes, as well as contracts being imposed by school boards. The comments from the commissioner and the governor follow the conclusion of a 9-day strike by teachers serving the Bennington area, who were opposing a contract imposed by the region's school boards.
The cost of road repair after Irene is less than half the original estimate. New estimates put the price tag between 175 and 250 million dollars for state roads. Work crews say closing the roads and easing the permitting process helped cut the work time in half. Officials are now studying the efficiency of road repairs and say Vermonters may see more road closures in the future to save money and time.
After nearly two decades on the road, Moriah’s town board meetings will return home in 2012. The meetings will be held at the newly expanded and renovated court building, adjacent to the town hall at Park Place in Port Henry . Champlain Valley Tech students recently finished construction of an 864-square-foot addition to the Moriah court, helping the town meet a state mandate and giving the community an updated structure.
Addison County Transit Resources will build a new center on a vacant lot on Creek Road, across from the MUHS playing fields and adjacent to the VTrans highway shed. Officials say the plan is to break ground in spring of 2012 and move in just in time to celebrate their 20th anniversary in November. Vermont architect Black River Design of Montpelier is responsible for the center’s concept.
The Port Henry Fire Department Auxiliary is now taking applications for its fourth-annual Toy Drive. To apply for assistance this year for children up to 18 years old, call one of the auxiliary members for an application. The deadline for the program is December 1st.
WVTK Local & State News November 3, 2011
New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) officials refuse to give an opening date for the new Lake Champlain Bridge but say a “ribbon-cutting” media event with government officials will be held when it does open. As Flatiron Construction crews make final adjustments to the lighting and pour concrete between the pre-cast deck panels and sidewalk panels of the bridge, DOT Senior Public Information Officer Carol Breen says that work continues and she expects the span to open sometime before the end of 2011.
A man and a woman were taken into custody yesterday afternoon following a reported armed robbery at a Poultney bank. Police said they are investigating whether they are the same two people involved in four other bank robberies in the area in recent weeks. Shortly after 3PM a woman in her mid- to late 20s wearing a hoodie approached a teller at Citizens Bank in Poultney with a note saying she had a weapon and wanted money. Police said this was a similar method used during several bank robberies in recent weeks, including two in Granville, NY, and one in West Rutland and another in Rutland Town and believed this bank robbery was linked to other incidents.
Addison County Transit Resources will build a new center on a vacant lot on Creek Road, across from the MUHS playing fields and adjacent to the VTrans highway shed. Officials say the plan is to break ground in spring of 2012 and move in just in time to celebrate their 20th anniversary in November. Vermont architect Black River Design of Montpelier is responsible for the center’s concept.
The Vermont State Police responded to the Silver Street residence of Michael and Janet Burnor in Hinesburg for a report of a burglary of a gun safe, truck and jewelry this week. The suspect or suspects removed a large gun safe with several guns inside using the victim’s truck that was locked in the garage. The safe was located in a nearby town. The Vermont State Police are requesting anyone with information about the location of the missing guns, truck or jewelry please call the Williston Barracks. (802-878-7111)
Some ideas about parking in Rutland will be addressed sooner than others. No action was taken at the Community and Economic Development Committee meeting on Tuesday to discuss downtown parking options. At the center of the discussion is the future of the downtown parking deck. A meeting will be scheduled on November 16th to act on the mayor’s current proposal and refer additional ideas to the appropriate committees or city departments.
The northeastern stock car racing community is buzzing about Devil’s Bowl Speedway. Nearly 150 drivers, team owners, and crewmembers gathered Sunday at the track’s first “town meeting” to discuss the West Haven facility’s future. Meeting with new Devil’s Bowl Speedway owners/promoters Mike and Alayne Bruno in a segmented open-forum summit, racers from all over Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire expressed suggestions, concerns, and progressive ideas to lead the track into the future. Announcements will be made at a news conference in Rutland November 8th regarding the 2012 season at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
After nearly two decades on the road, Moriah’s town board meetings will return home in 2012. The meetings will be held at the newly expanded and renovated court building, adjacent to the town hall at Park Place in Port Henry. It’s been three years in the making, but the town of Moriah has a renovated, expanded court thanks to a group of students. Champlain Valley Tech students constructed an 864-square-foot addition on the Moriah court, helping the town meet a state mandate and giving the community an updated structure.
Essex County lawmakers are preparing to see if they can buy fish cheaper than the Essex County Fish Hatchery can produce them. If the county bought fish from a private source, the Fish Hatchery in Crown Point would be closed and the three jobs there eliminated. The vote on seeking proposals to buy fish gets a final vote at 10AM Monday.
Gov. Peter Shumlin says he's open to having a conversation about banning teacher strikes in Vermont, but is stopping short of endorsing a proposal to do so. Shumlin told a news conference on Wednesday he is very willing to consider a proposal by the Education Commissioner to ban teacher strikes, as well as contracts being imposed by school boards. The comments from the commissioner and the governor follow the conclusion of a 9-day strike by teachers serving the Bennington area, who were opposing a contract imposed by the region's school boards.
Governor Peter Shumlin says he's worried some low-income Vermonters won't be able to heat their homes this winter. Shumlin says the Obama administration is proposing cuts in the Low Income Home Heating Assistance Program that, couple with increased costs of heating oil, could reduce the amount of heating assistance to the average recipient from 262 gallons last winter to 92 gallons this winter.
A new survey finds that alcohol and tobacco use has decreased among Vermont students. According to the 2011 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey released Wednesday, 60 percent of high school students reported drinking compared to 66 percent in 2009 and 82 percent in 1993. The latest survey also shows the percentage of students who smoked in the past 30 days dropped to 13 percent last year, from 18 percent in 2009 and 40 percent in 1995.
A Vermont covered bridge whose destruction during flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene was captured on video is going to be rebuilt. The select board in the town of Rockingham has agreed to build a new covered bridge over the Williams River in the hamlet of Bartonsville, not far from Bellows Falls.
The New York State Labor Department says a new state-funded jobs website attracted 20,000 hits in its first 24 hours of operation. The Jobs Express website lists more than 42,000 job openings statewide. The site also offers tips on seeking jobs and helps with skills such as writing resumes and interview techniques. The Labor Department is updating the list daily. The website is available through the Labor Department's WEBSITE.
New York soon will require insurers to cover screening, diagnosis and treatment for autism spectrum disorders, which will increase premiums for all individuals and businesses. Supporters say the new law will include routine toddler screenings, behavioral health treatments, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Meanwhile the association of health insurers wants to negotiate changes to reduce coverage and costs before the law takes effect in one year.
New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch wants the Federal Emergency Management Agency to expand its emergency declaration for the state to cover more costs related to the weekend snowstorm. Lynch says the declaration granted on Tuesday applies to direct assistance from federal agencies, which would cover the cost of water, food and other materials that are supplied by those agencies. But he said Wednesday that he's asked FEMA to amend the declaration to provide additional assistance for debris and snow removal, overtime, the cost of shelters and other emergency response costs.
New England and Canadian business leaders are meeting in Boston to discuss challenges and opportunities of energy trade and cooperation in North America. The 2-day conference beginning today will also feature policy makers, regulators and energy experts who are expected to discuss efforts to secure reliable and affordable energy supplies despite environment concerns and uncertainties caused by the slow pace of economic recovery.
Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling a public meeting on the future of the U.S. Postal Service. The independent lawmaker says he wants to hear Vermonters' thoughts about the Postal Service in an age of email and online bill paying. Sanders says he is working on legislation to maintain mail service to communities throughout Vermont and avert cuts that could cost thousands of workers their jobs. The session is set for 1PM Sunday at Montpelier High School. A free lunch will be served at noon.
Vermont's Green Mountain Power says it has exceeded its goal of installing 1,000 solar panels in 1,000 days. GMP says it has installed or had approved for installation 26,000 panels within its service territory. The solar facilities include 952 panels in Berlin, 616 panels on the roof of the company's Montpelier headquarters, and 308 panels at its Westminster Service Center. The company has also built 530 panels in a "solar orchard" at Shelburne Farms.
The Occupy Burlington movement got some help yesterday from students and staff at the University of Vermont. About 200 people gathered on the UVM campus rallying for labor solidarity and protesting the severance package given to the former university president. From there, about 120 protesters joined up with the Occupy Burlington group, marching and chanting through the city last evening.
Renovations at a Vermont performing arts center include getting rid of over 1,400 squeaky seats that date back to 1946. A fundraising project at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts would replace the chairs as part of $1 million in improvements. The seat project is included in a plan that also would improve acoustics and add lighting to play up the art-deco features in the lobby and on the façade of the 81-year-old building. Also planned is increased wheelchair-accessible seating.
The First Congregational Church of Crown Point will host its third annual Veteran’s Recognition and Appreciation this Sunday. The event will be part of the regular 9:30AM worship service. Essex County Veterans Affairs Agent Timothy Pierce will speak. Meanwhile the Hague Wesleyan Church will host a special service to honor veterans on Sunday at 10:30AM. All are welcomed to attend.
The Port Henry Fire Department Auxiliary is now taking applications for its fourth-annual Toy Drive. To apply for assistance this year for children up to 18 years old, call one of the auxiliary members for an application. The deadline for the program is December 1st.
A man and a woman were taken into custody yesterday afternoon following a reported armed robbery at a Poultney bank. Police said they are investigating whether they are the same two people involved in four other bank robberies in the area in recent weeks. Shortly after 3PM a woman in her mid- to late 20s wearing a hoodie approached a teller at Citizens Bank in Poultney with a note saying she had a weapon and wanted money. Police said this was a similar method used during several bank robberies in recent weeks, including two in Granville, NY, and one in West Rutland and another in Rutland Town and believed this bank robbery was linked to other incidents.
Addison County Transit Resources will build a new center on a vacant lot on Creek Road, across from the MUHS playing fields and adjacent to the VTrans highway shed. Officials say the plan is to break ground in spring of 2012 and move in just in time to celebrate their 20th anniversary in November. Vermont architect Black River Design of Montpelier is responsible for the center’s concept.
The Vermont State Police responded to the Silver Street residence of Michael and Janet Burnor in Hinesburg for a report of a burglary of a gun safe, truck and jewelry this week. The suspect or suspects removed a large gun safe with several guns inside using the victim’s truck that was locked in the garage. The safe was located in a nearby town. The Vermont State Police are requesting anyone with information about the location of the missing guns, truck or jewelry please call the Williston Barracks. (802-878-7111)
Some ideas about parking in Rutland will be addressed sooner than others. No action was taken at the Community and Economic Development Committee meeting on Tuesday to discuss downtown parking options. At the center of the discussion is the future of the downtown parking deck. A meeting will be scheduled on November 16th to act on the mayor’s current proposal and refer additional ideas to the appropriate committees or city departments.
The northeastern stock car racing community is buzzing about Devil’s Bowl Speedway. Nearly 150 drivers, team owners, and crewmembers gathered Sunday at the track’s first “town meeting” to discuss the West Haven facility’s future. Meeting with new Devil’s Bowl Speedway owners/promoters Mike and Alayne Bruno in a segmented open-forum summit, racers from all over Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire expressed suggestions, concerns, and progressive ideas to lead the track into the future. Announcements will be made at a news conference in Rutland November 8th regarding the 2012 season at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
After nearly two decades on the road, Moriah’s town board meetings will return home in 2012. The meetings will be held at the newly expanded and renovated court building, adjacent to the town hall at Park Place in Port Henry. It’s been three years in the making, but the town of Moriah has a renovated, expanded court thanks to a group of students. Champlain Valley Tech students constructed an 864-square-foot addition on the Moriah court, helping the town meet a state mandate and giving the community an updated structure.
Essex County lawmakers are preparing to see if they can buy fish cheaper than the Essex County Fish Hatchery can produce them. If the county bought fish from a private source, the Fish Hatchery in Crown Point would be closed and the three jobs there eliminated. The vote on seeking proposals to buy fish gets a final vote at 10AM Monday.
Gov. Peter Shumlin says he's open to having a conversation about banning teacher strikes in Vermont, but is stopping short of endorsing a proposal to do so. Shumlin told a news conference on Wednesday he is very willing to consider a proposal by the Education Commissioner to ban teacher strikes, as well as contracts being imposed by school boards. The comments from the commissioner and the governor follow the conclusion of a 9-day strike by teachers serving the Bennington area, who were opposing a contract imposed by the region's school boards.
Governor Peter Shumlin says he's worried some low-income Vermonters won't be able to heat their homes this winter. Shumlin says the Obama administration is proposing cuts in the Low Income Home Heating Assistance Program that, couple with increased costs of heating oil, could reduce the amount of heating assistance to the average recipient from 262 gallons last winter to 92 gallons this winter.
A new survey finds that alcohol and tobacco use has decreased among Vermont students. According to the 2011 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey released Wednesday, 60 percent of high school students reported drinking compared to 66 percent in 2009 and 82 percent in 1993. The latest survey also shows the percentage of students who smoked in the past 30 days dropped to 13 percent last year, from 18 percent in 2009 and 40 percent in 1995.
A Vermont covered bridge whose destruction during flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene was captured on video is going to be rebuilt. The select board in the town of Rockingham has agreed to build a new covered bridge over the Williams River in the hamlet of Bartonsville, not far from Bellows Falls.
The New York State Labor Department says a new state-funded jobs website attracted 20,000 hits in its first 24 hours of operation. The Jobs Express website lists more than 42,000 job openings statewide. The site also offers tips on seeking jobs and helps with skills such as writing resumes and interview techniques. The Labor Department is updating the list daily. The website is available through the Labor Department's WEBSITE.
New York soon will require insurers to cover screening, diagnosis and treatment for autism spectrum disorders, which will increase premiums for all individuals and businesses. Supporters say the new law will include routine toddler screenings, behavioral health treatments, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Meanwhile the association of health insurers wants to negotiate changes to reduce coverage and costs before the law takes effect in one year.
New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch wants the Federal Emergency Management Agency to expand its emergency declaration for the state to cover more costs related to the weekend snowstorm. Lynch says the declaration granted on Tuesday applies to direct assistance from federal agencies, which would cover the cost of water, food and other materials that are supplied by those agencies. But he said Wednesday that he's asked FEMA to amend the declaration to provide additional assistance for debris and snow removal, overtime, the cost of shelters and other emergency response costs.
New England and Canadian business leaders are meeting in Boston to discuss challenges and opportunities of energy trade and cooperation in North America. The 2-day conference beginning today will also feature policy makers, regulators and energy experts who are expected to discuss efforts to secure reliable and affordable energy supplies despite environment concerns and uncertainties caused by the slow pace of economic recovery.
Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling a public meeting on the future of the U.S. Postal Service. The independent lawmaker says he wants to hear Vermonters' thoughts about the Postal Service in an age of email and online bill paying. Sanders says he is working on legislation to maintain mail service to communities throughout Vermont and avert cuts that could cost thousands of workers their jobs. The session is set for 1PM Sunday at Montpelier High School. A free lunch will be served at noon.
Vermont's Green Mountain Power says it has exceeded its goal of installing 1,000 solar panels in 1,000 days. GMP says it has installed or had approved for installation 26,000 panels within its service territory. The solar facilities include 952 panels in Berlin, 616 panels on the roof of the company's Montpelier headquarters, and 308 panels at its Westminster Service Center. The company has also built 530 panels in a "solar orchard" at Shelburne Farms.
The Occupy Burlington movement got some help yesterday from students and staff at the University of Vermont. About 200 people gathered on the UVM campus rallying for labor solidarity and protesting the severance package given to the former university president. From there, about 120 protesters joined up with the Occupy Burlington group, marching and chanting through the city last evening.
Renovations at a Vermont performing arts center include getting rid of over 1,400 squeaky seats that date back to 1946. A fundraising project at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts would replace the chairs as part of $1 million in improvements. The seat project is included in a plan that also would improve acoustics and add lighting to play up the art-deco features in the lobby and on the façade of the 81-year-old building. Also planned is increased wheelchair-accessible seating.
The First Congregational Church of Crown Point will host its third annual Veteran’s Recognition and Appreciation this Sunday. The event will be part of the regular 9:30AM worship service. Essex County Veterans Affairs Agent Timothy Pierce will speak. Meanwhile the Hague Wesleyan Church will host a special service to honor veterans on Sunday at 10:30AM. All are welcomed to attend.
The Port Henry Fire Department Auxiliary is now taking applications for its fourth-annual Toy Drive. To apply for assistance this year for children up to 18 years old, call one of the auxiliary members for an application. The deadline for the program is December 1st.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
WVTK Local & State News November 2, 2011
Otter Creek Brewing of Middlebury announced an agreement with Ken and Kathleen Strong, the founders of The Shed Restaurant in Stowe to have Otter Creek Brewing acquire The Shed Brewery and the award winning Shed brand family of ales. The change is effective immediately. Plans are underway to transfer The Shed’s existing brewing equipment to Middlebury so that there is no interruption in supply to the marketplace.
The regular Westport Town Council meeting scheduled for November 8th has been changed to Wednesday November 9th with the preliminary-budget public hearing at 6:30PM. The board meeting will follow. The meetings are at the Town Hall and are open to all.
Rutland Mayor Christopher Louras’ proposed 2012-13 budget would pay for two new police officers and three new trucks. The $18.3 million budget is up 5.37 percent from last year. Along with the budget, Louras has sent the Board of Aldermen $579,000 worth of suggested cuts. The police department would get $135,000 to hire two new police officers to focus on drug enforcement. The Board of Aldermen has already voted to refer the budget to the appropriate committees and hearings should begin in the coming weeks.
Power has been restored to most of the Vermont households and businesses that lost service during the weekend's snowstorm. Just a handful of customers were still in the dark Tuesday evening. Officials say about 7,500 lost power at some point during the October storm. Areas devastated in August by remnants of Hurricane Irene reported 13 inches of snow.
Amtrak's Vermonter and Lake Shore Limited trains are still seeing disruptions from the weekend snowstorm as crews work to clear debris from tracks. Amtrak says Vermonter trains today will originate and terminate in Springfield, MA, with no alternate transportation provided. Lake Shore Limited trains 448 and 449 are canceled between Albany and Boston today with alternate bus transportation provided. A determination on Thursday's operations will be made sometime today. Passengers who have paid for travel on canceled trains can contact Amtrak to receive refunds without penalty.
Vermont's largest utility is proposing a 4.8% rate increase. Central Vermont Public Service Corp. said Tuesday that it's asked the Vermont Public Service Board to authorize the increase, which would take effect in January if approved. Chief Executive Officer Larry Reilly says the rate change is being driven by a variety of factors, including new power contracts at competitive, slightly higher costs, and investments to improve reliability for customers. If the change were approved, the bill for a residential customer using 400-kilowatt hours of electricity a month would rise from $82.26 to $86.22.
New projections by the state of Vermont say a public, universal health care system would cost between $8.2 billion and $9.5 billion a year by 2020, but that sticking with the current system based on private insurers would cost even more. That amounts to roughly $13,000 to $14,000 per person. Either way, costs for health care in the state are expected roughly to double in the current decade. But a report by Gov. Peter Shumlin's administration and legislative researchers says what would be most costly would be for Vermont to stick with its current health care system. Still unresolved is how to pay for the new system.
Officials say the U.S. Senate has approved a transportation bill that includes emergency funding that will help repair roads and bridges in Vermont damaged by the remnants of Hurricane Irene. The bill includes $1.9 billion in emergency assistance for the Federal Highway Administration. Sen. Patrick Leahy says the bill includes waivers that will allow the state to be reimbursed for more than the current $100 million state limit on federal emergency highway repair funds. It would also allow the state to receive 100% reimbursement for permanent repairs if the damage is more than twice the state's annual federal highway funding. A House bill will now go to the House Appropriations Committee before it gets to the full House.
A litigation trust made up of former FairPoint Communications creditors is blaming Verizon Communications for FairPoint's bankruptcy. In a $2 billion fraudulent transfer lawsuit filed in North Carolina, the FairPoint litigation trust claims FairPoint went bankrupt because of its "disastrous" $2.3 billion purchase of Verizon's landline and Internet operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont in 2008. FairPoint filed for bankruptcy 18 months after the acquisition. Verizon is calling the lawsuit meritless.
A Vermont judge says protesters can be arrested if they refuse to leave private property before Green Mountain Power contractors set off explosives while building a road that is part of a wind power project in Lowell. Superior Court Judge Martin Maley issued the order Tuesday as part of an ongoing dispute between GMP and the protesters who object to the construction an industrial wind farm atop the mountain. GMP says delays caused by the protesters are increasing the costs of its 21-turbine project.
Vermont 8th graders improved their performance on national math and reading tests this year. Results of National Assessment of Educational Progress tests show 46-percent of 8th graders are proficient or above in math. That's up three percentage points from the last test in 2009. It's also well above the national proficiency rate of 34-percent. In reading, 44-percent of Vermont 8th graders are proficient or above. Again that is up 3-points from the last test and compares to the national rate of 32-percent. Vermont fourth graders saw their scores hold steady in reading and drop two points in Math.
New national test scores show New York is the only state to see math scores fall for fourth graders over the past two years. Overall, the report shows the state's progress is mostly stagnant. The National Assessment of Educational Progress found New York's fourth graders who took the math test in the spring had a lower average score than the national average. New York's 8th grade math score was also lower than the national average and showed no significant improvement since 2009.
The Vermont Transportation Agency says a short stretch of Route 14 in East Montpelier has been reopened after repairs to damage caused by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene. The stretch near the village of East Montpelier was restricted to one land on September 26th and then closed on October 6th after a section began sliding into the Winooski River.
Students in Bennington and surrounding communities did something yesterday they haven't done in more than a week: they went to school. A tentative deal in the nine-day-old teachers' strike was reached Monday afternoon and evening. The final contract sorted out more than a hundred different issues, and exact details are still not available. Union officials say both sides met in the middle over health care premiums, while teachers got a modest salary increase but had to compromise on the issue of allowing administrators more control of their time.
A flock of birds are creating some big problems at the Burlington Airport. Airport officials tell the Burlington Free Press that planes have struck birds on at least eight occasions over the last month. Officials say the birds represent a serious safety issue and a threat to aircraft operations at the airport. A St. Michael's College compost area is being blamed for some of the problems. The airport is now working on a plan to mitigate the problem.
Russian piano sensation Alexander Melnikov makes his Middlebury College Performing Arts Series solo debut with an all-Shostakovich concert program on Friday, November 18th at 7PM in the Mahaney Center for the Arts Concert Hall. He will play Shostakovich’s 24 Preludes and Fugues, op. 87, a tour de force set of works in every major and minor key. This rarely performed masterpiece pays homage to the genius of Bach. Tickets are $25 for the general public. For more info and ticket prices click HERE.
Vermont Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources Deb Markowitz announced last week that two Vermont projects would be included in President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. The two projects chosen for Vermont include the Winooski River Watershed Project and the Connecticut River Blueway. Blue trails, also known as blueways or water trails, connect communities, promote health and recreation, and safeguard clean water.
Opponents of smart meters rallied in Montpelier yesterday. The meters are designed to help manage electricity use. Protesters are concerned about privacy where the meters would be installed. Vermont's two largest utilities, Central Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power, are both getting ready to install smart meters in place of the traditional ones. Vermont utility companies say installing the meters will save money. Those opposed can opt out, but there's a monthly fee for doing so.
The State of Vermont is holding on to tens of millions of dollars, some of which could belong to you. According to Treasurer Beth Pearce Fifty-six million dollars in unclaimed money is sitting at the state treasurer's office in Montpelier. It might be un-cashed checks, insurance proceeds, bank accounts or refunds. This morning the state treasury is releasing hard copies of roughly 6-thousand names added to its unclaimed property list in the last year. For more information on finding unclaimed property click HERE.
Now that Halloween is over and your kids are still candy-eating zombies, you may want to get the sugary temptations out of their sight, and yours. So what do you do with the leftover treats? Here are some ideas. Freeze it: Candy, especially chocolate, keeps well in the freezer. Donate it: Nursing homes, doctor’s offices, women’s shelters and even the troops overseas may appreciate your sweet treats. Just check with the organization first. Cook with it. Craft with it: Leftover Tootsie Rolls and M&Ms make for great gingerbread house decorations. Or do what we do here at WVTK, Make your co-workers eat it: Bring a bucket of leftover candy to the office and watch it disappear in a flash!
A vintage diner in Colchester that’s been a fixture for more than 20 year has been sold, but the new owners don’t plan to keep it open. Karen Griffin, who owned Libby’s Blue Line Diner, said the business closed Monday. She declined to name the new owner. Griffin told the Burlington Free Press that the decision to close came a few weeks ago. She said she didn’t know if Libby’s might open at a new location.
The regular Westport Town Council meeting scheduled for November 8th has been changed to Wednesday November 9th with the preliminary-budget public hearing at 6:30PM. The board meeting will follow. The meetings are at the Town Hall and are open to all.
Rutland Mayor Christopher Louras’ proposed 2012-13 budget would pay for two new police officers and three new trucks. The $18.3 million budget is up 5.37 percent from last year. Along with the budget, Louras has sent the Board of Aldermen $579,000 worth of suggested cuts. The police department would get $135,000 to hire two new police officers to focus on drug enforcement. The Board of Aldermen has already voted to refer the budget to the appropriate committees and hearings should begin in the coming weeks.
Power has been restored to most of the Vermont households and businesses that lost service during the weekend's snowstorm. Just a handful of customers were still in the dark Tuesday evening. Officials say about 7,500 lost power at some point during the October storm. Areas devastated in August by remnants of Hurricane Irene reported 13 inches of snow.
Amtrak's Vermonter and Lake Shore Limited trains are still seeing disruptions from the weekend snowstorm as crews work to clear debris from tracks. Amtrak says Vermonter trains today will originate and terminate in Springfield, MA, with no alternate transportation provided. Lake Shore Limited trains 448 and 449 are canceled between Albany and Boston today with alternate bus transportation provided. A determination on Thursday's operations will be made sometime today. Passengers who have paid for travel on canceled trains can contact Amtrak to receive refunds without penalty.
Vermont's largest utility is proposing a 4.8% rate increase. Central Vermont Public Service Corp. said Tuesday that it's asked the Vermont Public Service Board to authorize the increase, which would take effect in January if approved. Chief Executive Officer Larry Reilly says the rate change is being driven by a variety of factors, including new power contracts at competitive, slightly higher costs, and investments to improve reliability for customers. If the change were approved, the bill for a residential customer using 400-kilowatt hours of electricity a month would rise from $82.26 to $86.22.
New projections by the state of Vermont say a public, universal health care system would cost between $8.2 billion and $9.5 billion a year by 2020, but that sticking with the current system based on private insurers would cost even more. That amounts to roughly $13,000 to $14,000 per person. Either way, costs for health care in the state are expected roughly to double in the current decade. But a report by Gov. Peter Shumlin's administration and legislative researchers says what would be most costly would be for Vermont to stick with its current health care system. Still unresolved is how to pay for the new system.
Officials say the U.S. Senate has approved a transportation bill that includes emergency funding that will help repair roads and bridges in Vermont damaged by the remnants of Hurricane Irene. The bill includes $1.9 billion in emergency assistance for the Federal Highway Administration. Sen. Patrick Leahy says the bill includes waivers that will allow the state to be reimbursed for more than the current $100 million state limit on federal emergency highway repair funds. It would also allow the state to receive 100% reimbursement for permanent repairs if the damage is more than twice the state's annual federal highway funding. A House bill will now go to the House Appropriations Committee before it gets to the full House.
A litigation trust made up of former FairPoint Communications creditors is blaming Verizon Communications for FairPoint's bankruptcy. In a $2 billion fraudulent transfer lawsuit filed in North Carolina, the FairPoint litigation trust claims FairPoint went bankrupt because of its "disastrous" $2.3 billion purchase of Verizon's landline and Internet operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont in 2008. FairPoint filed for bankruptcy 18 months after the acquisition. Verizon is calling the lawsuit meritless.
A Vermont judge says protesters can be arrested if they refuse to leave private property before Green Mountain Power contractors set off explosives while building a road that is part of a wind power project in Lowell. Superior Court Judge Martin Maley issued the order Tuesday as part of an ongoing dispute between GMP and the protesters who object to the construction an industrial wind farm atop the mountain. GMP says delays caused by the protesters are increasing the costs of its 21-turbine project.
Vermont 8th graders improved their performance on national math and reading tests this year. Results of National Assessment of Educational Progress tests show 46-percent of 8th graders are proficient or above in math. That's up three percentage points from the last test in 2009. It's also well above the national proficiency rate of 34-percent. In reading, 44-percent of Vermont 8th graders are proficient or above. Again that is up 3-points from the last test and compares to the national rate of 32-percent. Vermont fourth graders saw their scores hold steady in reading and drop two points in Math.
New national test scores show New York is the only state to see math scores fall for fourth graders over the past two years. Overall, the report shows the state's progress is mostly stagnant. The National Assessment of Educational Progress found New York's fourth graders who took the math test in the spring had a lower average score than the national average. New York's 8th grade math score was also lower than the national average and showed no significant improvement since 2009.
The Vermont Transportation Agency says a short stretch of Route 14 in East Montpelier has been reopened after repairs to damage caused by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene. The stretch near the village of East Montpelier was restricted to one land on September 26th and then closed on October 6th after a section began sliding into the Winooski River.
Students in Bennington and surrounding communities did something yesterday they haven't done in more than a week: they went to school. A tentative deal in the nine-day-old teachers' strike was reached Monday afternoon and evening. The final contract sorted out more than a hundred different issues, and exact details are still not available. Union officials say both sides met in the middle over health care premiums, while teachers got a modest salary increase but had to compromise on the issue of allowing administrators more control of their time.
A flock of birds are creating some big problems at the Burlington Airport. Airport officials tell the Burlington Free Press that planes have struck birds on at least eight occasions over the last month. Officials say the birds represent a serious safety issue and a threat to aircraft operations at the airport. A St. Michael's College compost area is being blamed for some of the problems. The airport is now working on a plan to mitigate the problem.
Russian piano sensation Alexander Melnikov makes his Middlebury College Performing Arts Series solo debut with an all-Shostakovich concert program on Friday, November 18th at 7PM in the Mahaney Center for the Arts Concert Hall. He will play Shostakovich’s 24 Preludes and Fugues, op. 87, a tour de force set of works in every major and minor key. This rarely performed masterpiece pays homage to the genius of Bach. Tickets are $25 for the general public. For more info and ticket prices click HERE.
Vermont Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources Deb Markowitz announced last week that two Vermont projects would be included in President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. The two projects chosen for Vermont include the Winooski River Watershed Project and the Connecticut River Blueway. Blue trails, also known as blueways or water trails, connect communities, promote health and recreation, and safeguard clean water.
Opponents of smart meters rallied in Montpelier yesterday. The meters are designed to help manage electricity use. Protesters are concerned about privacy where the meters would be installed. Vermont's two largest utilities, Central Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power, are both getting ready to install smart meters in place of the traditional ones. Vermont utility companies say installing the meters will save money. Those opposed can opt out, but there's a monthly fee for doing so.
The State of Vermont is holding on to tens of millions of dollars, some of which could belong to you. According to Treasurer Beth Pearce Fifty-six million dollars in unclaimed money is sitting at the state treasurer's office in Montpelier. It might be un-cashed checks, insurance proceeds, bank accounts or refunds. This morning the state treasury is releasing hard copies of roughly 6-thousand names added to its unclaimed property list in the last year. For more information on finding unclaimed property click HERE.
Now that Halloween is over and your kids are still candy-eating zombies, you may want to get the sugary temptations out of their sight, and yours. So what do you do with the leftover treats? Here are some ideas. Freeze it: Candy, especially chocolate, keeps well in the freezer. Donate it: Nursing homes, doctor’s offices, women’s shelters and even the troops overseas may appreciate your sweet treats. Just check with the organization first. Cook with it. Craft with it: Leftover Tootsie Rolls and M&Ms make for great gingerbread house decorations. Or do what we do here at WVTK, Make your co-workers eat it: Bring a bucket of leftover candy to the office and watch it disappear in a flash!
A vintage diner in Colchester that’s been a fixture for more than 20 year has been sold, but the new owners don’t plan to keep it open. Karen Griffin, who owned Libby’s Blue Line Diner, said the business closed Monday. She declined to name the new owner. Griffin told the Burlington Free Press that the decision to close came a few weeks ago. She said she didn’t know if Libby’s might open at a new location.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
WVTK Local & State News November 1, 2011
The Route 74 Bridge is has reopened. State transportation officials say the project to restore the bridge in Shoreham went faster than traditional projects and cost less because the bridge was closed during the project. The Transportation Secretary says closing the bridge inconvenienced the public by requiring users of Route 74 to detour. But he says repairing the bridge using more traditional construction techniques that include a temporary bridge or maintaining one lane of traffic likely would have added between $100,000 to $300,000 to the cost of the project.
Vermont State Police are investigating a burglary where copper piping, copper heaters and a chainsaw were taken from a house and small secondary cabin on Lincoln Road in Ripton. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the New Haven Barracks.
A recent meeting in East Middlebury was held in response to citizen concerns and a state review and a federal investigation of river work done by the town in an East Middlebury stretch of the Middlebury River just after Tropical Storm Irene. Both Town administrators and the select-board have repeatedly said they were under the impression that a general permit issued by the federal government was sufficient for this work and thought they were following the emergency regulations stipulated by the state. Going forward officials are In search of a solution to protect the town from future flooding.
A winter parking ban is in effect starting November 1st until April 1st 2012 in Brandon. No vehicle may be parked on any roadway, public parking area or town right of way from 12:01AM to 6:00AM. This parking ban assists town highway crews with snow removal from roadways, parking lots, and sidewalks. Violations of the parking ban are subject to a $5 fine and removal of the vehicle at the owners’ expense.
Panton Town Hall’s cupola will soon be removed to allow badly needed new roofing to be installed on the historic building. Meanwhile a major donation has offered more hope that the cupola can be eventually put back in place. Panton selectmen accepted not only a $35,000 bid from the McKernon Group to remove the cupola and repair the leaky roof on the 1857 structure, but also a $10,000 anonymous gift toward the cupola’s restoration and hoping it can be returned to the Town hall roof. The $10,000 will not fund the entire cost of restoring the cupola and returning it to its historic home, but officials say it is a strong start that would create momentum for the project.
The town of Lincoln last week drew one step closer to funding a 60-kilowatt solar installation with taxpayer dollars. The select-board and about 40 residents gathered at Lincoln’s Burnham Hall to discuss a proposal with the Williston-based company AllEarth Renewables. According to the town moderator there was unanimous support from those that attended the meeting.
After more than a decade of failed attempts at moving, the Brandon Police Department will open for business at its new home on Forest Dale Road this week. The 3,600-square-foot, two-floor building was the former home of an insurance company and doesn’t look like a police station from the outside. But inside, contractors have converted the space into squad rooms, holding cells, a booking area and an entry foyer complete with bulletproof glass. The renovations are expected to be completed this week and department staff will begin moving in on November 4th.
As many as 50 interested parties might respond to a lease offering for Essex County's Horace Nye Nursing Home, according to an agent for a national real-estate marketing firm. With the county-owned Nursing Home posed to lose $4.1 million next year, the County Board of Supervisors is considering a lease or even sale of the 100-bed facility.
Graduate students from New York University’s Preston Robert Tish Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management are partnering with Fort Ticonderoga as part of their work in a Cultural Heritage Tourism class. The students are developing a concept for the Fort Ticonderoga’s learning campus as part of the fort’s comprehensive plan. As part of the project the students and their professor visited Fort Ticonderoga recently to learn about the fort’s history, programs, marketing plan, partnerships and educational opportunities as a year-round learning campus.
Critics of health care reform say moving to a single-payer system in Vermont would create huge budget deficits. Vermonters for Health Care Freedom is pointing to a new analysis by Rutland City Treasurer Wendy Wilton that suggests the state will need to implement a new payroll tax of 14.5-percent. But even with that new tax, the state is likely to run budget deficits of 300-million dollars a year, in part because Wilton believes the Shumlin Administration is over-estimating the cost savings a single-payer system will deliver. The administration has so far not given its own estimates about the overall cost of a single-payer system or proposed a source of funding.
State officials say they're ready to release cost estimates for the universal health care system the state is planning to put in place. When lawmakers passed ambitious health reform legislation earlier this year, it called on the Legislative Joint Fiscal Office and the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration to issue a cost report by November 1st.
Amtrak service remains at a standstill throughout much of New England. Several trees fell across the tracks during this weekend's storm. 68 Passengers on Amtrak's Vermonter line were stranded during the storm when the train hit a downed tree near Amherst, Massachusetts. The Vermont and Massachusetts portions of that route remain closed to rail traffic.
New Yorkers are being reminded that Monday is the deadline for New Yorkers to register for FEMA aid in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene. The deadline to register for Tropical Storm Lee aid in New York is November 14th.
Vermont state officials have dramatically lowered their estimates of the costs of repairs to roads, bridges and culverts following Tropical Storm Irene. State officials as recently as mid-October had thought the costs of those repairs could reach $620 million. Gov. Peter Shumlin and his aides said Monday that the costs are expected to range from $175 million to $250 million. Deputy Transportation Secretary Sue Minter says initial estimates were higher because they were made with standard construction practices in mind, rather than emergency ones. Officials say the work has gone much faster than expected, and praised transportation workers and others for their efforts.
Cities and towns across the state are trying to give some flexibility to people still reeling from Tropical Storm Irene who are currently having trouble paying their taxes. In Killington, voters have overwhelmingly agreed on a 40-day grace period before imposing an 8-percent commission on delinquent taxes. Steve Jeffrey is the executive director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. His office is recommending that towns give taxpayers displaced by the storm the benefit of the doubt, or even consider abating penalties altogether. Statewide, Governor Peter Shumlin has allowed education property taxes to be abated under certain circumstances.
The state of Vermont and FairPoint Communications say they believe a $1.6 million settlement is a good way to resolve a series of complaints about the company’s service after it took over the landline telephone and Internet system in the state. The Public Service Department’s James Porter says the company has fixed many of the problems, such as customers receiving wrong bills. The settlement money would be used to further expand broadband service in Vermont.
Teachers in southwestern Vermont say they have reached a tentative deal with their Bennington county school boards that would end a 9-day-old teacher strike. Union spokesman Darren Allen said late Monday afternoon teachers are ready to go back to school today. The issues that separated the two sides were salaries, health care benefits, and how much time teachers will be in contact with students during the day.
Vermont's education commissioner says the 9-day old teacher strike in the Bennington area prompted him to revive a proposal to ban teacher strikes and prevent school boards from imposing contracts on teachers' unions. The Commissioner says he hopes the strike in the Bennington Southwest Supervisory Union will give a boost to the idea, which has been on his desk for two years.
Senator Patrick Leahy says he hopes protesters in the Occupy Wall Street movement in the United States will play a prominent role in the 2012 elections. The protests have spread around the country and the world and one of their goals is to highlight the growing economic disparity between the top 1% of the population and the remaining 99% of all workers. Leahy says the protesters are raising important issues that need to be considered.
Residents in Bethel say they will begin videotaping Select Board meetings and broadcasting them via YouTube, after a series of disagreements over how the town has - or has not - responded to Tropical Storm Irene. A group of citizens say town officials have failed to follow-up with their public requests for aid and demands to increase transparency. The Secretary of State's office says the group is within its rights, as long as the videotaping does not disrupt town business.
The Ticonderoga High School Yearbook staff is offering students a new alternative. In the past, students or parents who wished to order a yearbook would bring a check or cash to school. This year, there is an additional option. The 2012 yearbook can be ordered online with a credit card. There is no additional fee for using a credit card. Interested parents can find the link by going to the district web page www.ticonderogak12.org.
There’s been a lot to celebrate recently at the Whiting Community Church, including some unexpected anonymous donations. Also the church’s 200th birthday bash drew more than 200 people and raised $600. People turned out on October 1st to eat, compete in three-legged races and a crosscut saw tournament, attend services, bob for apples, and watch the fireworks.
Food is more expensive than last year by about four percent. One of the biggest increases can be found in something that most of us have in our cupboards at home, peanut butter. Popular peanut brands like JIF, Skippy and Peter Pan are all going up about 40 percent. To put it in perspective, if the current price is $2.59, soon you could be paying $3.62. The spike is blamed on a hot dry summer, delaying peanut farmers from planting. The Vermont Health Department ensures that the price will not affect the Women's, Infant and Children program that give food to families in need.
Vermont State Police are investigating a burglary where copper piping, copper heaters and a chainsaw were taken from a house and small secondary cabin on Lincoln Road in Ripton. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the New Haven Barracks.
A recent meeting in East Middlebury was held in response to citizen concerns and a state review and a federal investigation of river work done by the town in an East Middlebury stretch of the Middlebury River just after Tropical Storm Irene. Both Town administrators and the select-board have repeatedly said they were under the impression that a general permit issued by the federal government was sufficient for this work and thought they were following the emergency regulations stipulated by the state. Going forward officials are In search of a solution to protect the town from future flooding.
A winter parking ban is in effect starting November 1st until April 1st 2012 in Brandon. No vehicle may be parked on any roadway, public parking area or town right of way from 12:01AM to 6:00AM. This parking ban assists town highway crews with snow removal from roadways, parking lots, and sidewalks. Violations of the parking ban are subject to a $5 fine and removal of the vehicle at the owners’ expense.
Panton Town Hall’s cupola will soon be removed to allow badly needed new roofing to be installed on the historic building. Meanwhile a major donation has offered more hope that the cupola can be eventually put back in place. Panton selectmen accepted not only a $35,000 bid from the McKernon Group to remove the cupola and repair the leaky roof on the 1857 structure, but also a $10,000 anonymous gift toward the cupola’s restoration and hoping it can be returned to the Town hall roof. The $10,000 will not fund the entire cost of restoring the cupola and returning it to its historic home, but officials say it is a strong start that would create momentum for the project.
The town of Lincoln last week drew one step closer to funding a 60-kilowatt solar installation with taxpayer dollars. The select-board and about 40 residents gathered at Lincoln’s Burnham Hall to discuss a proposal with the Williston-based company AllEarth Renewables. According to the town moderator there was unanimous support from those that attended the meeting.
After more than a decade of failed attempts at moving, the Brandon Police Department will open for business at its new home on Forest Dale Road this week. The 3,600-square-foot, two-floor building was the former home of an insurance company and doesn’t look like a police station from the outside. But inside, contractors have converted the space into squad rooms, holding cells, a booking area and an entry foyer complete with bulletproof glass. The renovations are expected to be completed this week and department staff will begin moving in on November 4th.
As many as 50 interested parties might respond to a lease offering for Essex County's Horace Nye Nursing Home, according to an agent for a national real-estate marketing firm. With the county-owned Nursing Home posed to lose $4.1 million next year, the County Board of Supervisors is considering a lease or even sale of the 100-bed facility.
Graduate students from New York University’s Preston Robert Tish Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management are partnering with Fort Ticonderoga as part of their work in a Cultural Heritage Tourism class. The students are developing a concept for the Fort Ticonderoga’s learning campus as part of the fort’s comprehensive plan. As part of the project the students and their professor visited Fort Ticonderoga recently to learn about the fort’s history, programs, marketing plan, partnerships and educational opportunities as a year-round learning campus.
Critics of health care reform say moving to a single-payer system in Vermont would create huge budget deficits. Vermonters for Health Care Freedom is pointing to a new analysis by Rutland City Treasurer Wendy Wilton that suggests the state will need to implement a new payroll tax of 14.5-percent. But even with that new tax, the state is likely to run budget deficits of 300-million dollars a year, in part because Wilton believes the Shumlin Administration is over-estimating the cost savings a single-payer system will deliver. The administration has so far not given its own estimates about the overall cost of a single-payer system or proposed a source of funding.
State officials say they're ready to release cost estimates for the universal health care system the state is planning to put in place. When lawmakers passed ambitious health reform legislation earlier this year, it called on the Legislative Joint Fiscal Office and the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration to issue a cost report by November 1st.
Amtrak service remains at a standstill throughout much of New England. Several trees fell across the tracks during this weekend's storm. 68 Passengers on Amtrak's Vermonter line were stranded during the storm when the train hit a downed tree near Amherst, Massachusetts. The Vermont and Massachusetts portions of that route remain closed to rail traffic.
New Yorkers are being reminded that Monday is the deadline for New Yorkers to register for FEMA aid in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene. The deadline to register for Tropical Storm Lee aid in New York is November 14th.
Vermont state officials have dramatically lowered their estimates of the costs of repairs to roads, bridges and culverts following Tropical Storm Irene. State officials as recently as mid-October had thought the costs of those repairs could reach $620 million. Gov. Peter Shumlin and his aides said Monday that the costs are expected to range from $175 million to $250 million. Deputy Transportation Secretary Sue Minter says initial estimates were higher because they were made with standard construction practices in mind, rather than emergency ones. Officials say the work has gone much faster than expected, and praised transportation workers and others for their efforts.
Cities and towns across the state are trying to give some flexibility to people still reeling from Tropical Storm Irene who are currently having trouble paying their taxes. In Killington, voters have overwhelmingly agreed on a 40-day grace period before imposing an 8-percent commission on delinquent taxes. Steve Jeffrey is the executive director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. His office is recommending that towns give taxpayers displaced by the storm the benefit of the doubt, or even consider abating penalties altogether. Statewide, Governor Peter Shumlin has allowed education property taxes to be abated under certain circumstances.
The state of Vermont and FairPoint Communications say they believe a $1.6 million settlement is a good way to resolve a series of complaints about the company’s service after it took over the landline telephone and Internet system in the state. The Public Service Department’s James Porter says the company has fixed many of the problems, such as customers receiving wrong bills. The settlement money would be used to further expand broadband service in Vermont.
Teachers in southwestern Vermont say they have reached a tentative deal with their Bennington county school boards that would end a 9-day-old teacher strike. Union spokesman Darren Allen said late Monday afternoon teachers are ready to go back to school today. The issues that separated the two sides were salaries, health care benefits, and how much time teachers will be in contact with students during the day.
Vermont's education commissioner says the 9-day old teacher strike in the Bennington area prompted him to revive a proposal to ban teacher strikes and prevent school boards from imposing contracts on teachers' unions. The Commissioner says he hopes the strike in the Bennington Southwest Supervisory Union will give a boost to the idea, which has been on his desk for two years.
Senator Patrick Leahy says he hopes protesters in the Occupy Wall Street movement in the United States will play a prominent role in the 2012 elections. The protests have spread around the country and the world and one of their goals is to highlight the growing economic disparity between the top 1% of the population and the remaining 99% of all workers. Leahy says the protesters are raising important issues that need to be considered.
Residents in Bethel say they will begin videotaping Select Board meetings and broadcasting them via YouTube, after a series of disagreements over how the town has - or has not - responded to Tropical Storm Irene. A group of citizens say town officials have failed to follow-up with their public requests for aid and demands to increase transparency. The Secretary of State's office says the group is within its rights, as long as the videotaping does not disrupt town business.
The Ticonderoga High School Yearbook staff is offering students a new alternative. In the past, students or parents who wished to order a yearbook would bring a check or cash to school. This year, there is an additional option. The 2012 yearbook can be ordered online with a credit card. There is no additional fee for using a credit card. Interested parents can find the link by going to the district web page www.ticonderogak12.org.
There’s been a lot to celebrate recently at the Whiting Community Church, including some unexpected anonymous donations. Also the church’s 200th birthday bash drew more than 200 people and raised $600. People turned out on October 1st to eat, compete in three-legged races and a crosscut saw tournament, attend services, bob for apples, and watch the fireworks.
Food is more expensive than last year by about four percent. One of the biggest increases can be found in something that most of us have in our cupboards at home, peanut butter. Popular peanut brands like JIF, Skippy and Peter Pan are all going up about 40 percent. To put it in perspective, if the current price is $2.59, soon you could be paying $3.62. The spike is blamed on a hot dry summer, delaying peanut farmers from planting. The Vermont Health Department ensures that the price will not affect the Women's, Infant and Children program that give food to families in need.
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