WVTK Local & State News March 26, 2012

Tomorrow night the Town of Middlebury will hold its regularly scheduled Select Board Meeting at 7PM in the Town Offices Conference Room. Highlights on the agenda include comments from local citizens, an update on the Middlebury River Planning & Restoration Project, a report on the final meeting of Group of Five with recommendations on Tasks & Schedules going forward and the award bid for design of the Grit Drying Bed for the Wastewater Treatment Facility. The public hearing to consider the proposed conveyance of a strip of Middlebury Town Property to Edgewood Property Holdings, LLC, for merger with its existing property on Mill Street, originally scheduled for March 27th as part of this meeting's agenda, HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Complete details can be found on the Town Of Middlebury’s Website.

The former superintendent of the Addison-Central Supervisory Union is suing the central office for firing him without a cause and breaching his contract. According to the suit, filed in federal court Tuesday by William Lee Sease’s attorney, the contract required the Supervisory Union Board to vote to not rehire him in the first year of the contract before Town Meeting Day or it would be automatically extended for another school year. The first day of Sease’s employment was July 1, 2009 and it was to end June 30, 2011. His employment was to be contractually extended until June 30, 2012 if the board didn’t act by March 2, 2010.

Vermont state police are looking for a New York man they say stole a large sum of cash from a family he was living with in Charlotte. Police say a man identifying himself as John Balsamo of Long Island arranged to live with the family and work on their horse farm in December. But the man disappeared on March 5 along with an undisclosed amount of cash. Vermont investigators they've identified the man as 47-year-old Anthony John Balsamo of Saratoga Springs and have issued a warrant charging him with grand larceny. Police say Balsamo has a lengthy criminal record. He is approximately 5'11", 220 pounds, with dark brown hair, and brown eyes.

During the past few months the Vermont State Police as well as officers from the Hinesburg and Williston Police Departments have been investigating numerous burglaries of antiquities in the area. In most cases the burglar targeted barns, second homes, and homes of recently deceased people often returning more than once. The suspect has been identified by police as Charles Pickett of North Ferrisburgh. Last Tuesday members of the Vermont State Police met with Pickett at his residence and subsequently recovered a large quantity of antiques from his residence. He was arrested for burglary and lodged at the Marble Valley Correctional Facility for violating his furlough. Pickett is scheduled to appear in Chittenden Superior Court on June 26th to answer to the charge of Burglary and Violation of Furlough.

The annual budget hearing for Crown Point Central School District, which includes the towns of Crown Point, Moriah and Ticonderoga, will be held at the district library at 7PM on Tuesday, May 8th. A copy of the proposed 2012-13 spending plan may be obtained by any taxpayer in the district during the 14 days immediately preceding the annual budget hearing will be available at the superintendent's office. Voting on the budget and School Board will take place May 13th at Crown Point Central School from Noon to 8PM.

Tony Peffer has been promoted to the position of Academic Dean of Castleton State College. He returned to Vermont as the associate academic dean and then as dean of undergraduate studies at Castleton State College in 2007. Now in his fifth year at the college, he will become the college’s new Dean of Academics following the retirement of current acting dean Joseph Mark.

Two paintings and a sculpture have disappeared from the Chaffee Art Center. Rutland City Police said Friday they are looking for information on the thefts. The thefts of the paintings took place sometime between 10:30AM and Noon March 17th. The Chaffee Executive Director said the gallery was having a children’s event at the time but was not crowded. She said the paintings were each valued in the $200 range. The Director noted this was only the most recent time that art had walked out of a Vermont gallery in recent weeks, citing incidents at Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury and Artisan’s Gallery in Waitsfield. Anyone with information on the theft at the Chaffee is asked to call police at 773-1816.

Literacy Volunteers of Essex / Franklin Counties has been awarded a grant of $1,000 from the Evergreen Fund, a component of Adirondack Community Trust. According to Director Maria Burke the grant will be used for Literacy Volunteers educational programs in Essex and Franklin Counties. Literacy Volunteers of Essex and Franklin Counties currently have about 100 students and offers free, confidential tutoring on a one-to-one basis and in small groups to anyone older than age 16.

The Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership’s Enterprise Committee is at work planning StreetFest 2012. StreetFest is the annual community celebration of arts and crafts, shopping, food, fun, entertainment, and family activities to bring people to Ticonderoga’s historic Montcalm Street district. New events are being included this year. StreetFest 2012 is set to take place Saturday, July 28th from 10AM to 3PM. Vendors are still being recruited and past vendor participants are encouraged to join in this year’s festivities. Interested vendors should go to the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership website.

An investigation into bidding practices at the Essex County Clerk's Office has concluded with a finding of no criminal intent. The report released last week did hit on possible ethical violations in the bidding process for document scanning software and equipment, but said they didn't rise to the level of criminality. The case started in 2010, after the county received a request for emails related to a contract with Info Quick Solutions Inc. of Liverpool. Members of the County Board of Supervisors have also referred the case to the County Ethics Board.

St. Johnsbury and Vermont State Police are looking for 33-year-old Melissa Jenkins of St. Johnsbury who was reported missing Sunday. Police say they found her vehicle near her house with her 2-year-old daughter inside. The child was handed over to a family friend. Police believe Jenkins' disappearance is suspicious and are looking to speak with any who was traveling on Goss Hollow road in St. Johnsbury on Sunday evening between the hours of approximately 7:00 PM and 11:30 PM. Jenkins is described as a white female, approximately 5'4" tall, about 130 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with information should call the Vermont State Police in St. Johnsbury at (802)-748-3111.

The budget is now in the hands of the state Senate, after passage Friday in the House. The final vote there was 99 to 41, and it's coming under sharp criticism from the Republicans over a six-percent increase and five-billion dollars in total spending. There is also criticism for an increase in fees such as licenses and registrations. It should take a few weeks for the budget to make it through the Senate.

Police in Winooski say a man is dead after a fall from the Winooski Bridge. It happened late Friday night, with police saying they believe the victim fell some 70 feet. At this point his name has not been released, but police believe he's a 41-year-old homeless man. The investigation is continuing to determine if his death was an accident or not.

While many of the ski areas are closed for the season, that's not the case for Jay Peak. A blast of cold air is expected over the next 36 hours, and the ski area is preparing to fire up the snow guns. A spokesperson for the resort says Jay Peak has always been known for spring skiing, and sales this season are actually up nearly 35-percent, despite the recent warm weather.

Today marks the beginning of the first gay pride week at Norwich University. The school is the nation's oldest private military academy, and the gay pride week comes six months after the U.S. military ended its "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy. On Saturday, Governor Peter Shumlin is scheduled to speak prior to a university Prom. Officials are expecting many alumni to return for the dance.

A new round of funding opportunities from the Northern Border Regional Commission is available to assist in the region's development and economic recovery. U.S. Rep. Bill Owens said grants would be awarded to organizations seeking to enhance regional health care, renewable-energy sources, tourism, job training and basic infrastructure. The commission was created by Congress to spur economic development in a 36-county region throughout New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. In New York, this region includes Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties.

Vermont's top math and science students have a chance to win college scholarships at the annual Vermont State Science and Mathematics Fair to be held at Norwich University. Organizers say 5th through 12th graders who have won local competitions will display projects that address questions in science, technology, engineering and/or math. The students will compete for more than $8,000 in cash and prizes, $13,000 in trip awards and expenses, and $900,000 in scholarships to Vermont colleges. The fair will be held this Saturday from 7:30AM – 4:00PM.

A drawing created by New Haven resident Veronica Huber was selected as a finalist in a national high school drawing competition. She is currently a senior at Rice Memorial High School. The competition was offered by the New Hampshire Art Institute in Manchester. From hundreds of entries from across the country, Huber's drawing entitled, ‘Storyboard’ was one of seven drawings chosen from the Catholic high school for show in the school’s gallery and as a finalist in the competition. She is a student in advanced drawing and painting at Rice.

The “heARTs of Rutland!” community street-art project began as an idea of local artists to bring attention to the people, places and businesses in Rutland and our region. The project was officially recognized by the Mayor Christopher Louras at a recent Board of Alderman meeting. After the Tropical Storm Irene disaster, heARTs! evolved into a community street art project to showcase how the local community comes together. The project also celebrates local residents and their pride in the region. The street-arts effort will kick off with a series of talented local artists who will paint oversized hearts that will be unveiled later this spring. The ‘hearts’ will be on display in Rutland and around the region from late spring through fall. In fall, there will be a live auction of the hearts with the profits benefitting victims of disaster in the Rutland Region and children’s art education.

The Adirondack Marathon is growing. Race officials have announced the addition of a four-person relay to the race, which already features a two-person relay and full marathon along with a half marathon. The 2012 Adirondack Marathon, half marathon and relay will be held Sunday, September 23rd. Last year nearly 1,000 runners took part in the event, which also features 5 and 10-kilometer road races in Chestertown the day before. The weekend is billed as the Adirondack Marathon Distance Festival. It also includes a children’s kilometer run, a race expo and a pasta dinner on Saturday. Registration for the 2012 Adirondack Marathon is now open online.

Some lucky towns in Vermont were bombarded by a 'Cash Mob.' Saturday, dozens of people gathered in Waitsfield to give a boost to the local retail shops. It was part of what's called a 'Cash Mob,' where people pick a town to spend at least $20 dollars at local shops. It's all an effort to give businesses an economic boost while enjoying shopping. Peggy Potter, part owner of Artisan's Gallery in Waitsfield, welcomed the mob, "It's fabulous, it's invigorating. You know it's stimulating the economy and people seem to be really excited to be here." Saturday was national Cash Mob day, so a mob also invaded Barre, VT earlier in the day. For more information on the cash mob just visit: www.cashmobvermont.org.

It's an early start to the mud season in Vermont and experts are reminding hikers to stay off the slushy and high elevation trails. Rain and snowmelt keep many of the high elevation trails soggy and if you walk on them, it can cause damage to the trails and the surrounding vegetation. The Green Mountain Club has a list of Hikes that are in the lower elevations in their website.

Here's another sign that winter is over: Whiteface Mountain ski center in the Adirondacks is closing for the season. The Olympic Regional Development Authority says the ski center is closed as of Sunday. Whiteface was a site of the 1980 Winter Olympics based in nearby Lake Placid.