WVTK Local & State News October 27, 2011

We are entering day 2 of Bruce & Hobbes Cash For Paws – “You PAY, we PLAY!” It’s all about raising money for the Addison County Humane Society's expansion and to give animals like Hobbes a new home. As our very own Bruce has said "The creatures that benefit the most from this can't go on the radio or on TV and saving one dog doesn't change the world but it changes it for them.” The humane society already raised 830-thousand dollars in donations toward the project and in the first day of Cash For Paws, with your help we’ve raised 2-thousand dollars so far! To donate click HERE.

State Police responded to a one-car collision on Route 17 yesterday in the Town of Weybridge. The investigation concluded that the 16-year-old driver was “traveling too fast for conditions” and lost control of the vehicle. The New Haven Fire Department and Vergennes Rescue were also called to the scene of the accident. The driver was transported to Porter Hospital and was shortly released with minor injuries.

It will be harder to cut expenses from the Rutland city school budget this year without affecting student programs. More than $1 million in costs were cut from the district’s $45 million budget in fiscal year 2010 with an eye toward this school year. That included 19 positions district-wide, with at least eight teaching positions eliminated, according to a list of cuts provided by the district. But the School Board hasn’t made any decisions yet on what to cut this year, or if any cuts can be made to an already tight budget.

The Moriah Central School Board is holding a special meeting at 8 this morning in the Central Office. This meeting will be held to discuss and approve a bus bond-anticipation note and review and act on special-education recommendations. The meeting is open to all.

Time is running out for people in New York to apply for FEMA assistance after Irene. People in Clinton and Essex counties have until Monday to apply for FEMA aid. Officials say so far more than 1-thousand people have registered for help and FEMA has handed out close to 3-million dollars to residents in the two counties. Officials say it's easy to apply. To apply for FEMA assistance call 1-800-621-FEMA or www.disasterassistance.gov.

Green Mountain College launched a multiyear affordability program that seeks to enhance the college’s commitment to assisting students finance a four-year college education. The Poultney-based College pledged $7.3 million in scholarships and financial aid. The program is designed to offer support to all students. Currently, 94 percent of all Green Mountain College students receive financial aid, with more than 90 percent receiving institutional support, to help offset the tuition costs.

Last year the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $454 million in Better Building Grants to improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses nationwide. Neighborworks of Western Vermont was awarded $4.5 million to improve energy efficiency in 1,000 Rutland County homes over three years. Rutland county homeowners who've had efficiency upgrades see their energy bills drop an average of 35 percent. Officials are optimistic they'll meet their goal of 1,000 households by 2013.

Two members of Vermont's congressional delegation are asking the State Department to investigate whether conflicts of interest tainted the review of a proposed crude oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch joined a dozen other senators and congressmen in citing "serious concerns" about the integrity of the review. They have asked the White House to withhold any decision on the project until the State Department's inspector general has completed a review of the project. The company proposing the Keystone pipeline project, TransCanada, reportedly was allowed to screen private firms competing to perform an environmental impact study on the pipeline.

A 39-year-old music stores business has closed its 12 stores across New England. Daddy's Junky Music shut its doors on Wednesday. A page on the company website with the announcement thanked customers for their business through the years. The closed stores are in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont. The CEO said he could not get into specifics about why the stores closed because of pending legal issues.

It's that time of year again when Vermont food sellers and buyers get together to try to make a match. The fourth annual Local Foods Matchmaker takes place today at Shelburne Farms. Buyers and sellers will get 10-minute sessions to learn about what food is being offered and to work on a purchasing relationship.

If you are looking for firsthand political experience Lt. Gov. Phil Scott is looking for a college student for his Statehouse office beginning in January for a five-month internship. Application deadline is November 14th. For more information just visit the Lt. Governors Website.

The Cuomo administration is distributing an additional $850,000 in aid for more than 100 New York farms impacted by flooding caused by tropical storms Irene and Lee. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the state funds would be distributed among 120 farms. He has said the state will provide at least $15 million to rebuild communities and the agricultural industry in hard-hit areas.

Teachers in southwest Vermont were their sixth day of a strike yesterday. The teachers union said talks were suspended Tuesday after the boards said the salary data they had been using was "deeply flawed" and needed time to correct the information. The boards have not issued a statement since Monday night. Talks were expected to resume Wednesday morning. The issues up for discussion include salaries, health insurance and time spent with students.

Vermont's first commercial wind farm in Sheffield is ready to make power. Developer First Wind hosted dignitaries, state and local officials and others beneath its turbines on Sheffield Heights yesterday where they celebrated the end of the 8-year process that it took to plan and build the project. The 40-megawatt, 16-turbine project is capable of generating enough power for more than 14,000 Vermont homes. The power will be sold to three Vermont utilities.

Green Mountain Power leaders say delays in construction to the Lowell Mountain Wind Project could cost tens of millions of dollars. Those added costs would eventually be passed on to ratepayers. Opponents are claiming success because they say they were able to get close enough to the project that blasting could not happen Wednesday. Also they say no one was arrested despite a court order for them to stay away. A judge right now is working on the order to keep protestors who are on the mountain outside the blast area. GMP says it's working with local law enforcement on how exactly to enforce it.

Burlington police and city leaders are preparing for an overnight protest expected to happen Friday. The group "Occupy Vermont" plans to use City Hall Park as a way to spark conversation on corporate greed and social inequality. The group stems from the "Occupy Wall Street" protests seen happening around the world. So far, Vermont protestors have complied with police.

At its annual meeting last week, the Vermont Rail Action Network celebrated the railroad’s restoration from Irene. David Wulfson, president of the Vermont Rail System, was awarded the Jim Jeffords Award for Community Rail Advocate of the Year in recognition of his commitment to addressing the track issues that had caused timekeeping problems for Amtrak’s Ethan Allen.

The emergency sirens surrounding the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant went off yesterday morning because of a slip up testing the system. Entergy Nuclear spokesman Larry Smith said that one of the company's vendors was supposed to be silently testing the emergency alert system. The sirens ran for their full three-minute course before automatically shutting off.

Vermont motorists who drive electric cars now have a fueling station where they will be able to charge their vehicles at no cost. On Wednesday, Green Mountain Power and Healthy Living Market unveiled the charging station on Dorset Street in South Burlington that will be free for the first year. This charging station is compatible with all electric vehicles on the market today.

Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders are pushing a bill that would make selling fake "maple" syrup a felony with serious penalties for those who would violate The MAPLE Act. Leahy and Susan Collins of Maine introduced the Maple Agriculture Protection and Law Enforcement Act. Sanders is a cosponsor of the legislation.

Volunteers and members of Champlain Area Trails are looking to finish the work needed to bring the complete Cheney Mountain Trail to life. The Town of Moriah is partnering with CATS to develop the trail for families, friends, and lone hikers to go up a short and sometimes steep trail to see amazing views of the Champlain Valley and High Peaks. The Cheney Mountain Trail Day begins at 8:30AM November 5th and will last until about noon.

The Trestle Walking Bridge has opened over the LaChute River adding another length to the historic LaChute River Trail. The entire community is invited to celebrate the new walkway at the trestle’s dedication on Thursday, November 3rd at 4PM. The Trestle Bridge connects Lake George Avenue with Alexandria Avenue and offers a safe alternative for school children attending the Ti Elementary-Middle School. It is closed to motor vehicles but is being used by bicyclists, walkers and the Ticonderoga athletes. The bridge is lit for night use.