WVTK Local & State News November 8, 2011

Traffic is flowing over the new Lake Champlain Bridge between Crown Point and West Addison! New York Lt. Gov Robert Duffy and Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin cut a ceremonial ribbon yesterday afternoon and once again opened a road link over the narrow straight at the lake's southern tip. It's been two years since the original 80-year-old span was closed and demolished because it was no longer safe. The new bridge brings relief to area business owners who've lost customers and commuters who had to wait in line for the 24-hour ferry service started after the bridge was shut down. Meanwhile, the Lake Champlain Bridge Community is planning a huge celebration for next May!

The re-opening of the Champlain Bridge will mean faster commutes for many and along with it, an end to temporary ferry service. Some commuters are happy to say farewell to the ferry, others say they have grown accustomed to their new normal, and kind of liked it. The free ferry service cost more than 20-million dollars in state and federal tax dollars to keep afloat, bringing temporary jobs to the area. Lake Champlain Transportation took on upwards of 70 employees to run the temporary ferry.

VTrans officials said Vermont Route 125 will close for culvert replacement in Hancock November 19th and 20th. The work will repair damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene. You will need to find alternate routes during construction.

Woodchuck Hard Cider faced financial troubles and near bankruptcy back in 2003. But with savvy marketing, the Middlebury-based business has grown to become a major player in the hard cider beverage industry. And they're celebrating 20 years with a new product that's made in Vermont. The company just started crafting an alcoholic drink made completely out of apples from Addison County called Farmhouse Select. Woodchuck Hard Cider is now the largest hard cider producer in the U.S. As Woodchuck continues to grow they plan to open a new 20-million dollar facility next spring in the Middlebury area.

East Middlebury residents and local officials are concerned about future flooding along the Middlebury River. Officials are looking to strike a balance between the natural powers of a river with interests of local residents. The Middlebury select-board will begin developing a committee at their meeting today. The group will focus on creating a plan for dealing with the Middlebury River. River scientist and East Middlebury resident Amy Sheldon along with Town Planner Fred Dunnington shed light on this issue from a planning, science and history perspective, and they take a look at how the town might proceed.

It looks like voters in the Addison Central Supervisory Union school district will likely be asked to approve a bond issue next year to help pay for re-roofing the Middlebury Union Middle School building. The UD-3 school board has agreed to solicit bids for the work, which an architect has already estimated will roughly cost over $634,000 for a new asphalt roof and just over $960,000 for a metal roof. A tentative timetable calls for the UD-3 board to narrow down a financing plan in December. The board would review contractor bids in January, then potentially approve a warning for a bond vote on Town Meeting Day.

Addison County State’s Attorney David Fenster said Friday that he would not prosecute the driver of an Addison County Transit Resources bus that struck and fatally injured a Washington, D.C., resident. The accident occurred in downtown Middlebury back on August 10th.

Recovery from Tropical Storm Irene in Killington is nearly complete, and now the town has to pay for it. More than 50 roads in town have been fully or partially rebuilt with a few left to be done by the start of winter or next spring. All town roads are open with the exception of East Mountain Road and Rim Road. The latest report shows 2011 Irene expenses have reached a projected year-end estimate of $997,808. Town manage Seth Webb estimates that number will be anywhere between $1 million and $2 million when all is said and done.

Essex County lawmakers have OK'd a controversial agreement with a national broker for sale or lease of Horace Nye Nursing Home. The 13-to-5 vote by the County Board of Supervisors gave the broker authority to market the 100-bed facility after conditions have been set. Once the County Attorney and County Manager have worked out contract stipulations with the Chicago office of the brokerage firm, one more vote will be required before marketing can begin. A $4.5 million sale price has been suggested.

The head of the Vermont Democratic Party is coming under fire by the state workers union. VSEA is criticizing the chair's decision not to take steps to show support for employees who were displaced from their jobs after Tropical Storm Irene. Recent statements by Governor Peter Shumlin are prompting some members of the Vermont Democratic Committee to rally in support of state workers. The employees argue they are entitled to an extra $1 million after the Waterbury State Office Complex was flooded.

In Burlington's city council meeting last night, councilors say they retained their right to digital free speech. A proposal was on the agenda banning the use of social media devices like cell phones, laptops, and tablets during meetings. But shortly after the vote councilor Ed Adrian tweeted that measure failed by a vote or 7-6.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state's new property tax cap is working. Beginning with the next budget year, all local and school governments must keep the growth in the property-tax levy to 2-percent a year. Local officials said the measure is crippling their budgets and limiting services. But Cuomo says local property taxes are simply out of control. Cuomo says when you compare property taxes to home values, New York has the 15 highest taxed counties in the country. He says historic spending reforms are working in Albany, but must be matched by cuts at the local level.

The State Department's inspector general says he will review the Obama administration's handling of a Canadian company's request to pipe oil from western Canada to Texas. The review will center on whether the State Department and the company followed all U.S. laws and regulations related to the Keystone XL project. More than a dozen lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, requested the review, saying they were disturbed by media reports that a company that performed an environmental review on behalf of the State Department had listed pipeline developer TransCanada as a "major client."

People who are currently serving our country, or have in the past, could get a huge help this winter with the cost of heating their homes. Pyrofax Energy Company is offering active military personnel and veteran’s discounts on heating oil, propane, and kerosene. The program is called Return The Favor. It starts immediately and doesn't currently have an expiration date. This program is open to veterans and active military in northern New York as well. For more information, call 1-888-PYROFAX.

Ski industry officials are looking forward to a healthy season, despite concerns about negative publicity following Tropical Storm Irene. The President of the Vermont Ski Areas Association says there were initially concerns that tourists might stay away from Vermont, following news reports of extensive damage to the state. But he says that most roads leading to ski resorts are now open, and that preliminary reports reflect a successful fall foliage season. Visitors to the state spend about $700 million annually during the winter ski season.

Vermont state police have a new crime-fighting tool in their arsenal: a bulletproof vehicle. The $255,000 purchase was paid for by homeland security grants and money seized from convicted drug dealers. It will be used during dangerous situations to rescue injured or wounded people without putting the lives of officers at risk. Vermont is the last of the New England states to obtain an armored vehicle.

The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf in Burlington is seeking donations of Thanksgiving turkeys. Food Shelf Director Rob Meehan says the Burlington-based organization is hoping to help provide turkeys for more than 2,700 needy families in Chittenden County this year. But as of Monday, the Food Shelf had no turkeys.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, or EAS, at 2PM tomorrow (Wednesday). The test will interrupt regularly scheduled television and radio shows. Viewers and listeners are reminded that the 2PM test will not be a real emergency and that you should not call 911 or other emergency services based on the test.

Several Addison County restaurants are supporting United Way this year. Proceeds raised by participating restaurants on specific days will benefit United Way Addison County. The following eating establishments have devoted specific days to help raise funds for the community organization:
• Nov. 14: Green Peppers, all day, Middlebury, 802-388-3164
• Nov. 15-17: Storm Cafe, lunch and dinner, Middlebury, 802-388-1063
• Nov. 9, Noonie Deli, all day, Middlebury, 802-388-0014
• Nov. 9-10, 16-17, Tourterelle, dinner, New Haven, 802-453-6309
• Nov. 10 and 17: Mr. Ups, lunch and dinner, Middlebury, 802-388-6724.
• Nov. 23, Bobcat Café, dinner, Bristol, 802-453-3311
• Nov. 28, Jackson’s on the River, lunch and dinner, Middlebury, 802-388-4182.
• Dec. 13, American Flatbread, dinner, Middlebury, 802-388-3300

Middlebury College senior Jeremy Cline will present his thesis dance “Climbing on the World Tree” at 7PM on Friday and Saturday, November 18th and 19th, at the Mahaney Center for the Arts Dance Theatre. A joint major in dance and religion, Cline focuses his work on elements of ritual performance and investigates the nature of our relationships with spirit. Tickets are $12 for the general public; $10 for Middlebury College faculty, staff, alumni, and other ID card holders; and $6 for students.