WVTK Local & State News May 25, 2012

Beginning Monday the 28^th through Friday June 29^th Seymour Street will be closed to through traffic at Main Street and at Elm Street. Seymour Street will be reconstructed from Main Street north past the Fire Station. The street and sidewalks will be lowered. Pedestrians are asked to please use caution. Access to businesses and residences north of the Fire Station will be via the Elm Street End.

This coming Memorial Day our very own Hobbes will make Vermont history by becoming the first canine to become a Police Dog in Two Cities! Vergennes Police Chief George Merkel will officially add him to the Vergennes Police Department as an honorary canine police officer. The honor will mark the second city to honor our four-legged friend. Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley added Hobbes to the Middlebury Police Department in February 2011. In adding Hobbes to his department, Chief Merkel cited the dog’s work with children and the work he has done with his co-host Bruce Zeman to make Vermont a better place. The appointment will take place during a ceremony following the Vergennes Memorial Day Parade. The Vergennes Police Chief is looking forward to having a new canine member on the force noting that his story is an “inspiration and is exciting for Vergennes and Vermont as a whole.” As for the duo’s future plans, their first book, “Hobbes Goes Home,” is scheduled to be released in the Fall of 2012.

A family’s cat was lost in a fire at a Brandon home yesterday morning and their dog had to be revived by emergency personnel.  Brandon Fire Chief Eric Mallory said the dog was in a sealed crate during the fire and had to be revived using an oxygen mask. He said the dog was taken to a Rutland veterinary and would be fine.  Firefighters responded to a single-family home on Barlow Avenue in Brandon just before ten yesterday morning.  The owner, Steve Bissette, was not home at the time the fire stated.  Chief Mallory said they had the Vermont State Police fire investigators on the scene who determined it was not suspicious and it had started in a room near a computer.

Visitors to a popular swimming hole in Clarendon may have trouble finding a place to park their cars.  A town ordinance prohibits parking on Gorge Road and anyone who violates the ordinance risks a ticket. Board members indicated the town had passed an ordinance banning parking along Gorge Road to reduce illegal and unwanted activities ranging from drug use to nude swimming.


Wallingford residents will have to answer a $100,000 question next month.  The Wallingford Select Board has scheduled a special meeting in June to seek voter approval for a low-interest loan to be used for a Route 140 West bridge project.  The loan of up to $100,000 would enable the town to secure a $400,000 state transportation grant to paint and repair the historic truss bridge spanning Otter Creek.

The Essex County Ethics Committee issued a decision reprimanding Keene's supervisor for using town gas.  Its findings came yesterday after a six-week review, saying the committee believes Bill Ferebee's use of 14 gallons from the town fuel pumps did "present the appearance of impropriety, which violates the ethical principles of Essex County and the Town of Keene."  But his action in freely admitting the gas use and paying for it the next day "proves he had no intent to defraud the town."  The decision ruled "there is no evidence of fraud or official misconduct."

The Hannaford supermarket chain says all seafood sold in its 181 stores in the Northeast is now documented as sustainable.  The Maine-based chain says under its new policy, it documents all seafood products as coming from fisheries governed by effective, science-based management plans. Hannaford's George Parmenter said the policy has resulted in the removal of about 50 seafood products from its stores, all from overseas suppliers. He said other suppliers have improved their harvesting practices to come in line with company standards.

The federal government has introduced its Secure Communities immigration enforcement policy in Vermont, despite the state's so-called bias-free policing policy.  Vermont officials say they won't make any changes to their policy despite the shift at the federal level. Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn says there's nothing in the new federal immigration policy that will affect how Vermont State Police work in this state.

Republican candidate for governor Randy Brock and a team of policy advisors are fine-tuning a free-market alternative to Gov. Peter Shumlin’s single-payer health care proposal.  At the GOP’s convention last Saturday, Brock revealed the rough outlines of his conservative take on health care reform. Less government intervention, not more, Brock said, will allow market forces to work their cost-containment magic.

A new Vermont law will help save lives and it started with one influential 8th grader.  In February Williston Central School 8th grader Tommy Watson set out to train 100 people in CPR.  Watson trained Governor Peter Shumlin right before he signed a new law that would give every Vermont student the opportunity to learn CPR before they graduate from High School.   That means thousands of people will be trained each year.   Watson says it's important because hundreds of thousand of people suffer from sudden cardiac arrest.

Vermont is withdrawing their application for a flexibility waiver for the No Child Left Behind Act.   The Vermont Department of Education has been negotiating for flexibility with the United States Education Department since August 2011.  The press release says the U.S. Education Department is insisting on using a single test to determine accountability and using that test to evaluate teacher performance.  Vermont will not lose any money from withdrawing. The Vermont Department of Education says they will continue to operate under the existing federal law.   The state board voted unanimously to stop work on the waiver. Congress is expected to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which would void any new system formed under the flexibility waiver.

Former Republican Lt. Gov. T. Garry Buckley has passed at age 89.  Buckley's family says he died peacefully of old age on Wednesday in Stowe, where he lived with his wife.  Buckley became lieutenant governor in 1977 despite losing the general election. No candidate received a majority in the 1976 race for lieutenant governor, so the state Legislature had the power to pick. It chose Buckley over Democrat John Alden in a 90-87 vote.  Buckley served until 1979.

Burke Mountain has been sold to Bill Stenger, Jay Peak's president, and his long-time partner Ari Quiros.   Officials say there will be cross-promotional activities between the two resorts as early as next winter.  This is just the latest in a string of big moves by the owners of Jay. Last year, the park opened its indoor water-park.  New plans are also in the works to build new hotels and additional ski lifts.   The price of the deal is not being released and Jay obtained ownership of the Burke Mountain Resort on Tuesday.

The Agency of Natural Resources is dealing with a "gift" that keeps on giving courtesy of Tropical Storm Irene.  It's called Japanese Knotweed, which is an invasive plant spread by the storm last year.  It's considered problematic because it spreads by its shallow roots.  In other words, if you try to dig it up when it's already well established, you may just be creating more plants.  Japanese Knotweed looks like red asparagus and is often referred to as "bamboo."

Former Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss wants to stay in politics, but this time as a state senator.  He announced Thursday he's running as an independent, but still has to collect the 100 signatures needed to get on the ballot.  Those are due June 14th.  The primary election is August 28th, but by running as an independent he would not be involved in that.  Kiss says his six years serving in the Vermont House followed by six years as Burlington's mayor are both assets as he goes after one of six seats in the Chittenden district.  One of the six incumbents, Democrat Hinda Miller, is retiring.

Camp Johnson has just undergone a $1.8 million expansion.  The new building will primarily be used for recruitment purposes as well as marketing efforts and license distribution. The building is more than 8,000 square feet and has been in the works for six years. Funding for the project came from the U.S. Military construction budget.

New York State has a hotline this prom and high school graduation season to help keep young drivers off the road if they've been drinking.  State officials set up 1-866-UNDER21 to report underage drinking, thinking it could help stop young people from driving under the influence of alcohol. Calls go to the state police, who forward them to local agencies. The anonymity of callers is protected. State officials say drivers under 21 represent about 5 percent of licensed drivers, but are involved in more than 12 percent of fatal crashes.

Brandon Music on Country Club Road in Brandon will host the Swing Noire Trio this Friday at 7:30PM.  Tickets are $15 per person. Based in Vermont, Swing Noire plays Gypsy Jazz in the tradition of the world-famous Hot Club of France. Their sound is reminiscent of the early days of jazz.  Then on Sunday as part of the weekly jazz series at Brandon Music get ready to take in the sounds of Jazz Vocalist Sharon Jones in the Music Café at 7PM. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $18 at the door. Brandon Music offers an Early Bird dinner special, which includes a ticket for the Sunday jazz performance, for $25 per person.  Get details about both concerts right now at www.brandon-music.net.

The Beatles tribute band, “Tomorrow Never Knows” will perform at 7:30PM on Saturday at the Brandon Town Hall.  The band, which just played two sold out shows at the Middlebury Town Hall Theater, covers nearly every phase of The Beatles’ catalog, often in the form of the albums being played track-by-track in their entirety. They aim to replicate the Beatles’ music.  The performance will benefit the town hall. Tickets are $15. Tickets for seniors and students are $13 and can be purchased at Carr’s Florist and Gifts or at the door.

Clare Whitney, a student at Schroon Lake Central School, met many hungry children during a Mission of Hope visit to Nicaragua in February and she came home determined to help.  That’s the reason’s she’s planning a 5-kilometer race Saturday, June 16^th.  With your help her goal is to raise $10,000 by the end of the year and she’d like to raise half of that with this race alone. Whitney says this money will pay for the lunches of a little more than 130 children for one school year. The race will be held at Schroon Lake Central School. There will be a children’s fun run at 9AM with the 5K-race beginning at 9:30. Runners can contact Whitney at 532-9222 or Email her at clare.whitney95@yahoo.com to register.

From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News:

Vermont Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan says this summer's job outlook appears far better than last year.  "We're feeling very confident about employment numbers for hiring this summer. And we're seeing that and we're hearing that from the Vermont employer communities," Noonan said.  Noonan says the construction industry is getting stronger and so is manufacturing. CareerBuilder.com reports that 45 percent of the country's manufacturers plan to bring on summer hires.  "And leisure and hospitality, even though it had a decline because of the seasonal lay-offs at the end of the ski season, we are starting to see those numbers pick up and they are hiring," Noonan said.  Noonan says there is one more industry that is picking up steam and it could keep you employed permanently. It is professional and technical services.  "Professional services include things like architecture, legal counsel, accounting, pay-roll, graphic design engineering," Noonan said.

We have an update to a story from earlier this week where American flags stolen from 2 Winooski homes.  Turns out u-s senator Patrick Leahy saw the story and decided to help.  He sent both homeowners replacements.  Not just any flags...but ones that once flew over the US capitol.  As you can imagine both homeowners were surprised...and grateful for the gifts.  “We didn't expect it at all and it's an honor to get that...that people care and they would think about getting us a flag and when we get a pole it will be flying."   Winooski police have not made any arrests.  If you know anything about the thefts...you're asked to give them a call.

A holiday weekend, a marathon, and good weather. That's a mix that could make for a busy weekend in Burlington and it's a big change from a year ago as the city and businesses struggled with historic flooding.  The tables were out and Breakwater Cafe & Grill in Burlington was ready for customers Thursday.  "It's about 34 days earlier than last year and with a lot less work and a lot less stress," says Al Gobeille, owner.  Gobeille still has a hard time thinking back to last spring.  "It was two months of four-feet of water where we are standing right now," says Gobeille.  When Lake Champlain poured into his restaurant, Gobeille saw money drain out.  He says between lost sales and repairing damage, flooding cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars.  "It was a survival summer. It was hard to complain because there were homeowners that were forced from their homes," says Gobeille.  While it's been a year since the lake flooded, some of the damage has not been repaired. That was a concern to organizers of the Key Bank Vermont City Marathon.  Race Director of Communications Leandre Waldo-Johnson says there were detours last year because of the flooding.  She says thankfully the damaged parts of the route have recently been repaired.  "The Public Works' crew and the Department of Parks and Recreation have done an exceptional job getting the course ready for us," says Waldo-Johnson.  Waldo-Johnson expects some 8,000 runners and 30,000 spectators for the 24th annual marathon Sunday.  She says they could pump up to $3.5-million into the area.  "We are so excited. It's going to be a great event," says Waldo-Johnson.  There are going to road closures Sunday morning because of the marathon.  Organizers say drivers should prepare for long delays near the course.