WVTK Local & State News March 1, 2011

The New York State Department of Transportation has agreed to give Flatiron Construction a 65-day schedule adjustment in which to complete the new Champlain Bridge in view of harsh winter weather and underwater debris that have hampered work progress. Meanwhile officials say they are confident that Flatiron will still be able to get the new bridge completed by the previously targeted deadline of October 9th. The New York State Department of Transportation is considering bringing in additional equipment at added expense to help expedite work.

There was a surprising sight in New Haven yesterday. A telephone pole was on fire. It sparked and smoldered for about 15 minutes before a fire crew arrived. The fire caused the power line to snap. There were no injuries.

Some results from various Town Meetings so far include Proctor residents passing their school and town budgets. The overwhelming support for the budgets made for a short meeting. In Wallingford residents approved the town budget. They approved a request to raise over half-million dollars in property taxes.

A large cardiology practice in the state is closing its doors and apparently, health care reform is to blame. Champlain Valley Cardiovascular Associates has offices in South Burlington, Middlebury and Rutland. In a letter sent out to 28,000 patients the doctors say, "changes in local and national health care policy have forced us to take this action." Eight of Champlain Valley's cardiologists will now be practicing at nearby hospitals. The ninth doctor is retiring.

Enthusiasm for small, diversified farming operations in the state has left some farmers here in Addison County feeling left out. That was the key message a group of Addison County farmers gave to legislators when they traveled to the Statehouse last Wednesday. Many of those farmers represented the dairy industry, which, according to the recently introduced Farm-to-Plate plan, accounted in 2007 for 73 percent of the total market value of Vermont farm products. Many large-scale farmers in Addison County are struggling to see how Farm-to-Plate and the local consumption goals that the plan sets will apply to them.

On the agenda at today’s town meeting in Orwell, voters will decide how to pay off legal fees of just over $128,000 from a town-zoning lawsuit that began in 2007. In January the Vermont Supreme Court ruled against the town in a case over Orwell zoning bylaws. Although the town does was not assessed damages, it does have to pay legal fees in the case.

Addison planners have agreed to recommend to selectmen that changes to town zoning made last summer be reversed until the planning commission goes over them again and warns them publicly. Planners also said the changes made to setbacks and waiver procedures late last summer and early last fall reflected their work and intent, and were not made by select-board chairman Jeff Kauffman.

Coming up Thursday evening Panton residents will have a chance to learn more about and even weigh in on amendments and updates to the town’s plan that was last adopted in 2005. The hearing on the changes to the plan will take place at the Panton Town Hall at 7 PM.

A month after he was born in a schoolhouse, Maxten Smith was recognized by the State House. He was recognized last week by Vermont lawmakers who passed a resolution commemorating Max’s January 21st birth inside a second-grade classroom at the Whiting Grade School. Proposed by Whiting Rep. Will Stevens and co-sponsored by two Castleton representatives, the one-page resolution memorializes the unforeseen turn of events that forced his mother to give birth at the school rather than the hospital.

Gas prices continue to climb and could hit record highs because of unrest in the Middle East. VermontGasPrices.com says the average cost of regular unleaded in Vermont is now $3.41 a gallon, that's seven cents above the national average. Prices have been rising steadily since last Fall and jumped 18 cents in just the last week.

Vermont's congressional delegation is hailing President Obama's announcement saying he supports amending the federal health care law to let states to seek a federal waiver three years early. At a meeting yesterday with governors in Washington, D.C., Obama said state likes Vermont should be allowed to design plans that are as comprehensive and affordable as the federal law.

Governor Peter Shumlin is back after a trip to Washington D.C., and he says his plan to bring universal health care to the state is getting a lot of support from President Barak Obama. Shumlin was in Washington for the National Governor Association's meeting, but he also got some private time with the president.

A man from New York was arrested in his home state Monday night, and held pending extradition back to Vermont. Martin Morales is suspected of trying to kill his girlfriend in Winooski early yesterday morning. She managed to escape and was treated at Fletcher Allen Health Care for cuts to her neck, feet, back and right hand. She told police she recognized his voice, adding she had a restraining order against him since this past fall.

A threatened copyright enforcement has blocked the showing of children's films during family nights at the Ticonderoga Best Western Inn and Suites. Once the announcement was made that recent films such as "Toy Story 3" would be presented, the hotel received a call from commercial distributor Swank Motion Pictures. Swank representatives wanted a fee of $1,000 per showing, plus half of any admission collected.

Laurentian Aerospace Corp. is expected to announce this morning that it has closed the deal on its financing. The $175 million project to build a two-hangar facility for maintenance, repair and overhaul of wide-body aircraft at Plattsburgh International Airport is expected to initially employ 200 to 300 people once construction is complete.

A huge senior housing project in Willsboro overcame its last hurdle yesterday when Essex County lawmakers gave it a tax break. The payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement already had the OK from the Willsboro Town Council and Willsboro School Board. The $7.4 million assisted-living project will turn the old school into 74 senior apartments. It is expected to create 30 new jobs with an annual payroll of $1 million.

Today is Town Meeting Day in Vermont. One thing all communities will have in common is the Doyle Poll. For the 42nd straight year, Washington County Senator Bill Doyle is distributing his Town Meeting Day survey for voters to consider. It's not official or scientific, but it takes the pulse of voters on hot issues, many of which are before the legislature. Some of the issues include the future of Vermont Yankee, doctor-assisted suicide, mandatory sentences for repeat drunk drivers and expanding Vermont's bottle law.