WVTK Local & State News September 16, 2011

A major Vermont road that has been closed since Irene swept through the state reopened yesterday. VTrans says Route 4 has two lanes open from Rutland to Bridgewater Corners. They say the plan is to have the rest of the road up and running this morning.

The city of Rutland is once again connected to Mendon Brook, but the city Department of Public Works still wants residents to conserve water. Commissioner Alan Shelvey says conservation measures need to remain in effect because there is still work to be done on the connection. Heavy rainfall could render the brook temporarily unusable and the reservoir needs to refill.

Vermont's House speaker has appointed a Lincoln lawmaker to head the House Committee on Health Care. State Rep. Michael Fisher succeeds former Rep. Mark Larson, who stepped down from the Legislature last spring. House Speaker Shap Smith announced the appointment Thursday. He says Fisher is a leader whose expertise on health care issues is vast. Fisher, who joined the Legislature in 2001, represents Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton and Starksboro.

The major Buttolph Drive project here in Middlebury might not be completed this fall as originally scheduled due to delays from Tropical Storm Irene. This includes the paving and new sidewalks, water and sewer mains, and storm drains. The project’s main contractor, Markowski Excavating has devoted much of its manpower and equipment to dealing with storm damage in the Brandon and Pittsford areas. The good news for Buttolph Drive residents is that the new water main is in place and has been chlorinated. Its water is undergoing testing now, and the main should be on line soon. Officials also say the sewer line would be done and underground before winter.

The Bristol Planning Commission will meet next Tuesday and publicly unveil a new draft of the proposed town plan for the first time since its previous proposal was voted down in March 2010. At a hearing on the 20th at 7:30PM in Holley Hall, planners will explain the draft and field comments from local residents.

After two Bristol Zoning Board of Adjustment meetings, the future permitting of the mixed-use residential park “Bristol Works” remains up in the air. Owners of the property plan to use the 5.5-acre site to host a range of uses, including office space for the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union, a prospective health center, and manufacturing space for energy technology and value-added food products.

The Town of Shoreham is king of the hill when it comes to apple orchards. And this year, in spite of local hailstorms, torrential rains, and a tropical storm, the apple harvest is better than most growers expected. At Champlain Orchards in Shoreham they are reporting that the 2011 harvest was above average. In Rutland County, the harvest story was different. At Mendon Mountain Orchards Tropical Storm Irene didn’t help matters in what was already a bittersweet season. They are calling it a light harvest this year however their shop is open with lots of goodies and pick-your-own apple time is underway now.

The Middlebury Partnership has hired its new Marketer. Graphic designer and self-employed businesswoman Elizabeth J. Bartlett is set to assume the mantle of the Better Middlebury Partnership’s marketing director with high energy, new ideas and a growing love of the Middlebury area.

The closing of Middlebury’s Bakery Lane at its northern entrance which was due to begin this past Monday has been put off, most likely until next spring. The closure of the downtown street to accommodate repairs to the brick façade of the Dyer Block was announced last Friday. The Middlebury Development Review Board Administrator said the town was happy to hear that building owner would fix the brickwork for safety reasons. The delayed closure has been put off in time for foliage season.

Habitat for Humanity of Addison County is ready to break ground on the town of Cornwall’s first-ever affordable housing subdivision. The project off DeLong Road will eventually accommodate four families. The Co-chair of Habitat’s capital campaign said the project should begin within the next couple of weeks.

Lars Hubbard has acquired a 6,000-square-foot office building in Middlebury and is turning it into a distillery, cheese-making facility and headquarters for his small firm, known as The Friday Group LLC. He has made his living in a multitude of ways throughout the years, including as a chef, executive, entrepreneur and software designer.

Essex County Treasurer Michael Diskin of Ticonderoga recently attended the 2011 National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers, and Finance Officers annual conference in Portland, OR. While there he was selected by his peers to become the first vice president of the association for 2011-2012. Diskin had been serving as second vice president for them in 2010-2011.

A dozen Vermont National Guard soldiers are departing for yearlong missions in Africa and Kosovo. Officials say eight members of the Guard's Operational Support Airlift Detachment will leave for Fort Benning, GA today. They will eventually report for duty in Africa, where they will conduct flying operations, transporting passengers and cargo. The Guard says four other members will leave for Kosovo in October, where they will help with public affairs operations for the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Team.

Governor Peter Shumlin says Vermont's policy on undocumented farm workers is to "look the other way as much as we can." The governor clarified his position Thursday after ordering an immediate investigation into a controversial State Police traffic stop earlier in the week that resulted in the detention of two migrant farm workers from Mexico. Shumlin says Vermont farms can't survive without the undocumented workers. Some estimates put half of the state's dairy farms relying on foreign labor.

A debate is growing in Montpelier over whether state workers be entitled to double-pay after being displaced by Irene. Flood waters wiped out the state office complex in Waterbury. Hundreds of state workers were asked to report to alternate locations because of the damage, and the Vermont state employees association now says language in the union contract entitles those employees to emergency double pay. The Shumlin administration disagrees with the union's definition of an emergency. They say the actual emergency only lasted one day when all state offices were closed because of Irene.

There's no question that Tropical Storm Irene devastated many businesses across Vermont and put a lot of people out of work. However, we're now seeing another impact in Irene's wake. The storm is creating jobs. Governor Peter Shumlin says repairing the damage left behind by Irene will create countless job opportunities. Bridges have to be rebuilt, as well as homes, businesses and roads. That's why the Vermont Department of Labor is urging workers and potential employers to contact their local resource centers. There, they can be matched up based on what they are looking for.

Gov. Peter Shumlin says he's asking Washington for a public assistance declaration for Grand Isle County that would result in federal aid for repairing roads, bridges and other infrastructure damaged by Tropical Storm Irene. Damage estimates finalized Wednesday exceed the amount needed to meet the threshold for the declaration. If granted, all 14 of Vermont's counties will have qualified for federal financial help to fix public infrastructure.

In the weeks before Irene hit, Vermont's economy was running strong, pushing state revenues into the black through the first two months of the fiscal year. General fund tax collections for August were just over $90 million, almost $11 million ahead of target. That puts the state at $176 million for the fiscal year so far. That is 7.6 percent better than this same time last year and 12 percent better than two years ago.

Vermont utility companies will install smart meters in 2012, and the companies say the meters come with several advantages, including making it easier to monitor how much power you use. However you can opt out if you don’t want a meter installed but it may cost you. For example CVPS wants the Public Service Board to approve a $10 monthly fee for people who refuse smart meters. The Public Service Board has not approved any "opt out" surcharges yet. You will see utilities start installing smart meters in 2012.

Next week, after a two-year hiatus, Jaime Laredo will pick up his baton and his Stradivarius and lead the Vermont Symphony Orchestra in a tour across his home state. The VSO will embark on its 18th annual “Made in Vermont” Festival Tour, visiting eight cities and towns September 23rd through October 3rd and performing music of Haydn, Mozart, Sibelius and Honegger. The program will also feature a premiere by Robert Paterson, the Vermont Youth Orchestra’s composer in residence, written for this tour. You can catch them here in Addison County at the Vergennes Opera House on Saturday September 24th at 7:30PM. For more info just visit VSO Dot Org.

Proctor Free Library will hold its 130th Birthday Celebration from 1 to 4 tomorrow afternoon. Residents are invited to take a trip down memory lane beginning with 1881. Please bring library stories and memories to share. There will be 130 flower bulbs planted in honor of the library's birthday. There will also be a library trivia contest and refreshments.

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals announced the band would play a benefit concert on Sunday, October 9th for people impacted by Tropical Storm Irene. The concert at the Flynn Theatre is called "Goodnight Irene: Flood Relief Benefit Featuring Grace Potter & The Nocturnals with Special Guests." The band says the doors with open at 6:15PM and the concert will start at 7:00PM. Tickets range in cost from $30 to $250. They will go on sale Tuesday (the 20th) at 10:00AM either online, by phone or in-person at the Flynn.