WVTK Local & State News October 20, 2011 (Afternoon Update)

A local family is looking for their LOST DOG named EMMA:

• BROWN / BLACK ROTTWEILER, LAB MIX

• ABOUT 45 LBS, WEARING A BROWN LEATHER COLLAR

• LOST ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18TH IN ORWELL ON CHIPMAN POINT ROAD.

IF YOU SEE HER, OR HAVE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL GINA 802-989-5444, THE FAMILY IS HEART BROKEN

The FDA announced a recall of more than 3,000 cases of various salad blends produced by Taylor Farms. They may be contaminated with salmonella. The products were sold in super markets across the United States. The recall involves about a dozen different types of salad blends, salad kits and bagged greens. If you bought any Taylor Farms product, you are urged to throw it away. So far, no illnesses have been reported in connection to the products.

The town wide efforts to raise money for Tropical Storm Irene victims by the town of Pittsford has surpassed $45,000 and more is still coming in. The town began fundraising at the beginning of October to help surrounding communities that were heavily affected by the August 28th storm. The initial goal was to raise around $25,000. The town's fire department will also be donating a portion of the proceeds of this year's Haunted House starting this weekend and continues next weekend.

It was at this time last year that the $16 million Cross Street Bridge project was completed in downtown Middlebury with hopes that it would clear Main Street traffic jams and provide a vital, second crossing of the Otter Creek as an insurance policy for emergency vehicles. So far, those hopes seem to be fulfilled as early supporters and detractors alike are touting the project as an aesthetic and functional asset to the community. It also appears that the local option taxes have not discouraged people from doing business in Middlebury.

The Bristol Planning Commission completed its draft of the town plan and has sent it to the select-board for its review and two further public hearings. After hours of deliberation on public comments and concerns submitted via letter and voiced at the September 22nd public hearing, the planners made many revisions to the draft. They unanimously agreed, however, that there were “no substantial changes to the town plan,” which means the document is ready for the select-board.

Users of Moriah Town Water District 3 are going to get a big price hike next year because their water comes from the Village of Port Henry. The town buys the water from Port Henry and passes the cost on to residents of the south-end district. The Village of Port Henry water rates will rise 39 percent, from $3.89 per 1,000 gallons to $5.40. Village officials say the increase is necessary because their water system is losing money. The new rate will take effect May 1, 2012. A public hearing on the rate increase for Water District 3 is set for 5:40PM on Thursday, November 10th in the new Moriah Town Courthouse on Park Place.

A 19-year-old woman was stabbed several times by her boyfriend in a home on Lincoln Avenue in St. Albans this morning. Police say Steven Fairbanks, 26, of St. Albans, attacked Avonlea Perretta, also of St. Albans, around 8AM. She was able to escape and ran to a neighbor for help. Police had to bust into the house in order to arrest Fairbanks. She is receiving treatment at Fletcher Allen Hospital. Fairbanks was sent to Northwest Medical Center for self-inflicted stab wounds.

Talks between striking teachers and the school boards in southwestern Vermont have resumed on the second day of the strike. The two sides failed to reach agreements in two prior meetings Tuesday and Wednesday, prompting teachers to walk the picket line. The Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union and the union representing teachers started meeting again this morning. Stephanie Peters, president of the Southwestern Vermont Education Association, says they are making progress.

Five companies that charged Vermont consumers and businesses for services on their telephone bills without permission have agreed to refunds. The Vermont Attorney General's office said today that the five firms billed more than 3,600 consumers and businesses more than $280,000, all of which must be refunded. In addition, each company will pay the state $10,000 in penalties and costs.

Gov. Peter Shumlin says Vermont has no plans to send mental health patients back to the former state hospital in Waterbury. Today Shumlin outlined a four-part plan to replace the state hospital. He said the state is close to nailing down a permanent agreement with the Brattleboro Retreat to house 15 of them. He said the state would create two additional "step-down" facilities for patients who don't need the most acute care. The state also will rely on more community-based placements for some patients and will continue to search for an additional facility for 15 additional acute care beds.

Organizers estimate enough money has been raised to remove the remaining mobile homes destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene at no cost to the owners. The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity mobile home project estimates that between 100 and 130 trailers still need to be removed from mobile home parks. The offices of the secretary of commerce and lieutenant governor and the Vermont Community Foundation have been successful reaching out to private donors to try to bring that cost down.

A New Hampshire auto dealer will pay an $8,500 penalty to the state of Vermont for misleading ads saying consumers could buy cars at employee or dealer prices. The Vermont Attorney General's office says Subaru of Keene ran radio and newspaper ads in 2010 offering Vermont consumers offering the cars at the special prices. However, the office found there was no such pricing and that employees and consumers negotiated the sale price for their car with no special reductions. The dealer also did not disclose the dealer rebate received on car sales. Attorney General William Sorrell says Subaru of Keene has cooperated fully with the investigation.

There will be a benefit for the Hancock Hotel and the Vermont Home Bakery, which have been a community center for not only Hancock, Ripton, Rochester, Granville and Warren, but also a stop along the way on Routes 100 and 125. The purpose of the benefit is to assist with short-term expenses related to not having a working well and boiler and thus no income since Hurricane Irene. The hotel plans to fix the problems and reopen, but needs the help of surrounding communities. There will be a benefit concert and potluck at noon Saturday.