WVTK Local & State News December 2, 2011

Many local shop owners are cautiously optimistic about the holiday shopping season that they say kicked off strong last weekend. The strong local sales over the weekend after Thanksgiving follow a national trend. Preliminary estimates from the National Retail Federation show that retailers nationwide posted record Thanksgiving-weekend sales of $52.4 billion. Reputable consumer confidence indexes also showed a promising economic outlook heading into the holiday season. WVTK reminds you to shop local this season! Some great local discounts wait right now on our website, click HERE!

With a terrific line-up of talent and tunes, the Vergennes Opera House is preparing for its annual Broadway revue benefit show, “Broadway Direct”. This year’s show will be held this Sunday at 4PM and will once again be hosted by Vergennes resident and Broadway veteran Bill Carmichael. Proceeds from the “best-of-Broadway” show go to benefit the non-profit group Friends of the Vergennes Opera House who are responsible for the restoration and operation of the historic 1897 theater above the Vergennes City Hall. Tickets are available at the Opera House, Classic Stitching in Vergennes, or online at www.vergennesoperahouse.org.

Bristol Planning Commission Chair Tom Wells resigned on Wednesday after eight years serving on the commission and four years heading it. His decision comes after he missed the past three meetings for work-related reasons. It also comes after the Commission’s Vice-chair potentially violated the state open meeting law when he refused to let a member of the public ask a question.

A vision for Middlebury’s new municipal building currently exists as rough lines on paper. Over the next few months’ town officials are asking local residents to fill in those lines by offering input on a project that could be ready for construction by the spring of 2013. You can get more details by visiting the Town’s Website: www.middlebury.govoffice.com.

New England Quality Service LLC is seeking zoning permission to acquire a large metal shredding device for use at its Wyre Wheel Route 7 location. The shredder will allow them to recycle metal debris, including cars and washing machines, more quickly and efficiently. Some residents have spoke up and told the Middlebury Development Review Board that they want to make sure the new equipment doesn’t bring more noise and traffic to the area.

Bristol-area school administrators are looking for people who are interested in their schools’ food systems and wish to see more local foods in public schools or think food education is important. Addison Northeast Supervisory Union administrators are seeking input from all members of the public as the Union aims to restructure the food system of all six of its schools.

A new exercise option is coming to Middlebury Union High School. School officials are hoping students will get off to a running start with their classes beginning this Monday thanks to the launch of a voluntary “Zero Hour” fitness program aimed at getting participants healthier and in a better mindset for learning. Zero Hour was started by the Coordinated School Health Team, and is based on the premise that working out can lift people’s moods, sharpen their minds, improve their self-esteem, and help them get ready to learn.

The town of Killington’s latest reassessment caused a drop in the Grand List of $13 million but the town has the hit to municipal tax revenue covered. The drop is the result of more than 200 homeowners winning appeals on what their homes and properties were worth according to appraisers. It will cause a loss of $37,000 to municipal coffers in taxes. And that number may rise to about $44,000 after the state considers anywhere from two to eight more appeals.

The Rutland School Board approved a contract for about 110 teachers’ aides and nonexecutive secretaries in the district Tuesday night that provides them with an average 2.93 percent salary increase over the next three years. The Board unanimously approved the contract for the Rutland School Staff Association after a brief executive session.

Crown Point has hired a sole assessor. Richard Maxwell of Syracuse-based of Maxwell Appraisal Service was appointed by the town board during a special meeting November 30th. He’ll assume his duties January 1st. The sole assessor will have office hours in Crown Point two days a week throughout the year with additional hours in the spring leading up to Grievance Day. State law mandates a sole assessor must spend a minimum of 384 hours a year in a municipality.

Some of Vermont's veterans want to help fellow vets who are suffering after Tropical Storm Irene. Staff at the state VFW has raised tens of thousands of dollars and are ready to write checks. But first they need proud veterans to ask for help. The VFW is not sure how many veterans were affected by the storm. But the VFW knows they are out there and they hope those veterans hear this message; there is money to help you. To apply just contact the Vermont VFW.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says Vermont's statewide school property tax rates should remain at 87 cents per $100 of value for primary homes and $1.37 per $100 for commercial and other non-homestead properties. December 1st is the day when state law requires the administration to issue its recommendations for the tax rates for the coming year. Shumlin says Vermont's declining school enrollment numbers mean the tax rates can remain flat, even if per pupil costs rise slightly.

The Church Street Marketplace in Burlington once used by Borders Bookstore is about to get a new tenant. City Sports, a Boston-based athletic gear retail chain, will be moving in. It sells not only sporting goods, but also equipment for cyclists and those training for road races and triathlons. City Sports currently has stores in 21 other cities including Boston, Providence and New York City.

There’s another big honor for a Vermont music star. Grace Potter has been nominated for a Grammy Award for her duet with country star Kenny Chesney called "You and Tequilla." The pair was nominated in the Best Country Duo category. Their music video recently received top honors at the Country Music Awards.

A state panel now says a Vermont state police trooper may have discriminated against two illegal immigrants during a traffic stop. During the September traffic stop, Trooper Jared Hatch asked the two Mexican passengers for identification. And eventually turned the men over to federal agents. According to the Burlington Free Press, the Vermont Human Rights Commission voted last night to support the complaints of the two men. The decision comes seven weeks the state police advisory commission ruled the trooper did nothing wrong. Supporters of the two men say the ruling means the complaint could still end up in court.

WCAX-TV’s very first Rutland reporter has died. John Gladding passed away at the hospital in Rutland Wednesday. Gladding is best known for standing up for his first amendment rights as a reporter. In 1973 he was subpoenaed to give up his sources in a drug raid story, but he refused. The Vermont Supreme Court sided with Gladding -- and that ruling has been used in other first amendment cases since. Gladding was 70 years old.

Five maple syrup producers in Vermont and one in Michigan will get federal grants to make their operations more energy efficient and competitive. The funding from the Rural Energy for America Program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture will allow the sugar makers to install reverse osmosis systems. Those systems remove water from the sap before it's boiled down into syrup, reducing the amount of energy used.

Vermont's emergency management chief has a new job. Michael O'Neill is going to become the executive director of the Vermont Division of Fire Safety, within Emergency Management. The change was announced Thursday by Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn. He starts December 12th. Emergency Management's Deputy Director of Operations Peter Coffey will become interim director.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation announced it is now accepting nominations for the Citizen Service Before Self Honor award in Vermont. The award recognizes and honors those ordinary Vermonters who become extraordinary through their indomitable courage and selflessness. Citizens may submit an eligible nominee by completing the nomination form online via the Citizen Service Before Self Honors website at www.CitizenServiceBeforeSelfHonors.org. The nomination period runs through Friday, Feb. 10, 2012.

Vermont’s long road to recovery following Tropical Storm Irene began Aug. 29. The cleanup and the mending of broken lives continue into the Christmas season. An important fundraising event for the over 7,000 flood victims in the state will be held December 10th at 8PM in Haybarn Theatre on the Goddard College campus in Plainfield. Thirteen professional Vermont-based choreographers and dance companies will come together to support relief efforts with an uplifting show titled, “Rising Above Water: A Vermont Irene Benefit Performance”. Tickets for the show are a $20 suggested donation and can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/209122

The popular community-wide Hinesburg Artist Series will present the annual Community Christmas Concert Sunday, December 11th at 4:30PM at St. Jude Church in Hinesburg. The concert will feature the South County Chorus and the Hinesburg Artist Series Orchestra under the direction of Rufus Patrick. Admission to the concert is free although donations are appreciated. Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable item for the Hinesburg Food Shelf.

The annual Tiny Tim Christmas Concert will be held Friday, December 9th at 7PM at the First United Methodist Church on Wicker Street. The concert, featuring the Ticonderoga Community Band, raises money for the Tiny Tim Christmas Wish Program, which provides Christmas gifts to needy children in the area. The Ticonderoga High School Sentinel Big Band and the school a-cappella choirs have been invited to participate. The Tiny Tim Christmas Wish Program serves needy children of the Ticonderoga Central School District, including Putnam and St. Mary’s schools. Children ages 1 to 16 are eligible.