WVTK Local & State News May 17, 2011

The National Weather Service continues its Flood Watch for Addison & Essex Counties through this afternoon. The Weather Channel Says: More Showers Today – High Around 60.

Various area school votes are taking place today:

The two-town revote on Addison Northwest Supervisory Union: Polls are open in Vergennes from 9AM – 7PM at the City’s Green Street Fire Station. In Addison you can cast your ballot from 7AM – 7PM at the Town Clerk’s Office.

The Moriah Central School budget vote takes place from 1 to 8 PM in the school's main lobby.

Crown Point Central School’s budget vote take place Noon to 1:30 PM in the school foyer and 1:30-8 PM in the school cafeteria.
And the Ticonderoga Central School District budget vote takes place from Noon to 8 PM at the Ticonderoga High School lobby and the Hague Community Center.

Essex County wants people to report flood damage right away so it can be assessed. Anyone in Essex County with personal or business flood damage must get the assessment forms from town and village offices and have them filled out and returned by Wednesday morning so an assessment team can look at their damage.

FEMA is trying to figure out how much all of the flooding will cost the State of Vermont. Its preliminary estimate on how much damage the flooding will cost in Vermont is at more than $4 million. That is only for public property, roads, and bridges. The cost estimate is important because that is the number Governor Peter Shumlin will use to ask the Federal Government for money. FEMA will also evaluate damage to private property in Vermont.

It may come as no surprise but The National Weather Service says this spring has been the wettest spring on record in Burlington. As of 4:30 yesterday afternoon, 15.49 inches of rain had fallen in Burlington, which is considered to run from March 1 through May 31. That's slightly above the previous record of 15.46 inches that fell in 1983. Meanwhile, Lake Champlain has receded about a foot from its record high, but it still remains more than two feet above flood stage, meaning low-lying homes and camps areas around the lake are still flooded.

There is some good news on the flooding front. The state transportation agency says it has completed most of its efforts to repair flood-damaged roads. Highway crews worked for 18-straight days at over a dozen sites along Lake Champlain. More than 125 state employees were involved, along with 60 private contractors. They installed 375 jersey barriers and used 50-thousand cubic yards of riprap to shore-up roads. They also responded to 14 landslides along rivers and streams.

Help for businesses and non-profit organizations impacted by the closure of the Lake Champlain Bridge are still available. The Lake Champlain Bridge Recovery Community Revolving Loan Program is being administered by the Essex County Industrial Development Agency. Applications and program guidelines can be found on the Essex County IDA website: www.essexcountyida.com.

The Middlebury Fire Department responded to the Bio-Mass building at Middlebury College yesterday morning in response to a fire at one end of the plant. The fire was contained to one portion of the building and did not spread. After a scene examination and interviews this fire has been found to be attributed to accidental causes within the exhaust and filtration system of the wood fired boiler system. There were no injuries as a result of this fire.

The Hannaford Supermarket chain announced it is buying Lantman's in Hinesburg. Hannaford first approached Lantman’s back in November when they submitted plans for a 36-thousand square foot store off Commerce Street. The store's owner says he agreed to sell his business to the regional grocer, but not the building. Hannaford officials hope the new Commerce Street site will allow them to attract business from surrounding communities like Monkton, Starksboro and Huntington.

The Vermont Principals’ Association has announced that Vergennes Union High School Co-Principal Ed Webbley has been chosen as the organization’s Robert F. Pierce Vermont Secondary Principal of the Year. He becomes the second VUHS principal in the past decade to earn that honor. Peter Coffey received the same award in 2002.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation has decided to completely replace the Sand Hill Bridge on Route 125 in East Middlebury. VTrans will not pursue a temporary span to allow through-traffic during construction, which slated for 2014 at the earliest.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is estimating a three-week delay in planting for some producers due to the recent wet weather. Many of the large-scale grain and corn farmers in Addison County hope to begin spreading manure on their fields on April 1st each year before crops are planted. If the fields don’t continue to dry up, farmers will likely have to concentrate on corn or hay fields as they exist, and push the new alfalfa plantings off to late summer. For smaller vegetable operations the prognosis is not as bad. Judy Stevens of Golden Russet Farm in Shoreham estimated that her crops were running only about a week behind, especially since many of the plants were started in the greenhouse.

The Dorr Drive Bridge in Rutland is open again. City officials closed the bridge Friday pending a state inspection. The inspector approved the reopening of the bridge and said the city should enforce the three-ton weight limit on the bridge. The bridge has been slated for replacement by the state since 1994, but permitting issues have led to a variety of delays.

A woman charged with defrauding the developmentally disabled people she worked with in Rutland is expected to plead guilty to federal charges against her later this month. Donah Smith pleaded innocent in March to two federal charges of fraud. But the former caseworker for ARC Rutland is scheduled to change her plea to guilty during a hearing on May 25th at U.S. District Court in Rutland.

Burlington Police have received reports of three assault and robberies in just seven days, all taking place just one block from Church Street in the Old North End. While police continue to investigate whether or not they are connected Burlington residents question their safety. Police say in order to prevent these incidents to never walk alone, and to tell people when they should expect you so if you are late they know something may be wrong, and if something does happen to report it immediately.

May marks the start of the farmers' market season in Vermont. Many markets opened the first week of May with others opening throughout the month, offering seedlings for gardens, greens, preserved foods, and last winter's winter storage crops. The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont says gross sales from Vermont's farmers' markets in 2010 totaled nearly $8 million, up from $7 million in 2009. And more markets are able to accept food stamps as 37 will accept 3 SquaresVT/SNAP benefits this season. Vermont has the highest number of farmers' markets per capita in the country with more than 85 markets.

Vermonters are getting a different perspective on the 2011 legislative session. House Republicans stepped forward in response to comments made by the Senate President and House Speaker. Minority Leader Don Turner says democrats controlled what was introduced and, ultimately, passed. He says many issues fell through the cracks that should have been at the top of the priority list like the cost of living and jobs. Others believe the biggest failure was the $24 Million in new taxes and there or concerns over healthcare reform. The only subject both parties seem to agree on is that any tax increase in 2012 should be a last resort.

Two officials briefed on the plan say New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will soon announce his proposal for a new, less generous pension system for future state, local and school employees. They say Cuomo's plan would save taxpayers $93 billion over 30 years.

Otter Valley Union High School’s Night of Excellence will be held at 7PM on May 24th in the school’s auditorium. The ceremony recognizes student achievements in academics and in the community as volunteers. Juniors who have earned prestigious scholarships and book awards to colleges as well as 9th to 12th grade students who have made improvements and or excelled in their academics are acknowledged.

Just in time for the spring, the King's Garden on the grounds of Fort Ticonderoga will hold its annual pre-season plant sale this Saturday from 10AM – 2PM. You will enjoy the first blooms of the season while browsing the many unique perennials available within the garden walls. Staff and volunteers will be available to answer questions and dig your selections.