WVTK Local & State News December 9, 2011

The UD-3 school board will continue to refine a 2012-2013 budget draft for Middlebury Union Middle and High schools this month. The current draft reflects a 4.1-percent increase in spending just to cover contracted teacher salary raises and benefits, projected hikes in energy costs, and a rise in special education transportation expenses.

A land-use zone prohibiting resource extraction is one of the key elements in the Bristol Planning Commission’s proposed town plan update. Due to this zone’s importance and a recent discrepancy over its exact boundaries, the commission has decided to revisit this part of the plan at a special meeting on January 3rd.

Replacing two bridges in Bristol has been on the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s to-do list since the early ’80s. VTrans officials met with the Bristol select-board earlier this week and said the timetable for completing that work would be pushed back six months from the timeframe they gave in March. The South Street Bridge and the Route 116 “Stoplight Bridge” is in need of replacement.

The after-effects of Tropical Storm Irene continue to challenge human service agencies trying to raise money right now. United Way of Addison County is one of several United Way branches statewide reporting slower-than-usual progress in their annual fund drives for money to support local nonprofits serving people in need. Last year at this time, United Way of Addison County had raised 44 percent of its $750,000 goal, the same target as this year. But as of Monday the agency was around $35,000 short of last December’s tally.

Middlebury College’s Nordic ski center in Ripton has completed a new five-kilometer ski trail and enhanced its ski shop. It’s a major step forward in the effort to make Addison County a better draw for those interested in winter sports and recreation. The new trail has been certified for national and international competition, and was one of the key elements that helped Middlebury solidify its bid to host the NCAA Skiing Championships in 2013.

Town officials in Ticonderoga are beginning a door-to-door canvas of the community’s water districts seeking the return of income surveys that may hold the key to grant funding for a comprehensive drinking water project. The confidential income surveys were sent to water customers in October. The information is needed to seek grant money for a $13.8 million water project. To date about 50 percent of the surveys have been returned. To be eligible for the grant funding, 65 percent of the surveys must be completed.

Stalled by the construction of the new Lake Champlain Bridge, a Port Henry marina project is gearing up to move forward. The Adirondack Park Agency approved a series of variances last January, clearing the way for the renovation and expansion of Velez Marina on Lake Champlain. The project, which local officials consider vital to future economic development, was put on hold while the arch for the new bridge was constructed at the site. With the new bridge complete, the marina project is now scheduled to begin in the spring.

The Rutland Recreation Committee voted to trim $20,000 out of the budget and some aldermen said arguments over that department’s bottom line would continue when the full board reviews the budget next week. The one cut made this week was to a $30,000 line item for playground equipment at White Park.

A fire destroyed the Hinesburg Jiffy Mart on Ballards Corner Road in March of this year. Now a new convenience store with a full fuel service station is well under construction. The new Jiffy Mart is 20 percent larger. It includes North Woods Cafe, a Subway sandwich shop, and gasoline and diesel pumps.

Police now say a suspicious death in Shelburne was actually a suicide. Family found 72-year old James Knights dead in his home on Penny Lane Wednesday. He had not been seen since Sunday. Police were not initially sure what happened, so they treated the investigation as a possible homicide. But an autopsy conducted Thursday revealed that Knights took his own life.

Senator Bernie Sanders is proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution in hopes of reining in campaign spending by corporations and interest groups. In a landmark ruling two years ago, the Supreme Court said those entities have the same first amendment free-speech rights as individuals. The effect of the ruling is unlimited spending on political campaigns, and Sanders says that is endangering Democracy.

The annual fight is underway in Congress for home heating assistance. The Obama administration cut funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program in half this year. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is sponsoring legislation that would restore the program to last year's level. In a speech on the Senate floor, Sanders read letters he received from Vermonters worried about how they will afford to heat their homes this winter. The Obama administration has approved 11-million dollars in home heating assistance for Vermont this year. About half what the state got last year.

Sarah London, an assistant attorney general, will become Gov. Peter Shumlin's legal counsel. London will replace Beth Robinson, who has become Vermont's next Supreme Court justice. London focused on consumer protection and antitrust efforts in her work in the public protection division of the attorney general's office. Shumlin said yesterday that London is an exceptional lawyer who understands the legislative process and has great judgment.

The Vermont Supreme Court is going to decide whether the Hartford Police Department should be required to release records of a case in which a man from their community was forcibly handcuffed inside his home. The news web site vtdigger.org asked the court yesterday to require the police department to release the information.

The man who police say is one of Vermont's most dangerous criminals is back behind bars. Harley Breer was back in court yesterday, accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend. Breer was on probation for a previous kidnapping charge. Now, he could face life in prison if he is convicted on these new charges.

New York's second major income tax increase in two years will charge millionaires more, but give 4.4 million middle-class residents a rare break worth $200 to $400 a year. Under the plan backed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which the state Senate passed 55-0 Wednesday night and the Assembly approved 130-8 early yesterday, those tax breaks will go to most households with annual earnings of $40,000 to $300,000, or single filers making $20,000 to $150,000 a year.

According to New York Troopers, a “hoax” e-mail is going around that appears to be from New York State Police or the Los Angeles Department of Motor Vehicles. The subject line of the e-mail may contain the title, "Uniform Traffic Ticket." Troopers advise that anyone receiving the e-mail delete it without clicking on the link. They also advise that if you did open the e-mail attachment, you should update and run antivirus software.

Vermont State Police say three people have died in a collision between a propane truck and vehicle in Moretown. Police say the driver and two occupants of the vehicle were killed in the crash on Route 100B yesterday. The driver of the propane truck was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Police say the names of the victims are being withheld until their families are notified. Part of Vermont Route 100B in Moretown was closed until about 11PM Thursday.

Middlebury College’s Lessons and Carols service is celebrating its 40th anniversary this Sunday in Mead Chapel. There will be two services one at 4PM and the other at 7PM It will feature a special guest reader, former Gov. Jim Douglas, who, as a Middlebury College senior in 1971, read from the Gospel according to Luke at the first local Lessons and Carols service. The service draws visitors from around the county and state.

A Vergennes Union High School student has been selected as a youth ambassador. It is considered an honor to be chosen for HOBY, the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership. That’s why students at Vergennes Union High School are excited for classmate Stephanie Anderson. The second-year student was just selected as an ambassador to the 2013 HOBY World Leadership Conference. According to HOBY officials, Anderson was nominated and selected for the honor based on her demonstrated and potential leadership skills and traits at VUHS.

The Westport Library has a new director. Dan Van Olpen, a former AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and current board member of Literacy Volunteers of Essex-Franklin Counties, has taken the role of director. The Library Association President said he is proficient in computer skills, has a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in education from the University at Albany.

New Haven artist Tami Crupi-Zeman has another title to add to her already impressive resume, that of award-winner. On December 1st, the Chaffee Arts Center of the Rutland Area Art Association, awarded Zeman the prestigious, "Dr. Ralph Seeley Best in Show Award" for its' current exhibit, "Enduring Traditions: Winter All Members Exhibit." Zeman's entry, "Sisters," was chosen over hundreds of other entries in the exhibit, which runs through January 7th, at the Center. Several other pieces of Zeman's award-winning work are currently featured at a number of Addison County Businesses, including "Jackson's on the River," in Middlebury, along with the WVTK Studios in the Marble Works.