The Middlebury Planning Commission will hold the
second of two public hearings on the proposed 2012 Town Plan this evening. The hearing will begin at 7PM in the
Ilsley Library Meeting Room. The
Town Plan affects all of the Town of Middlebury. The full plan with maps can be viewed at the Planning &
Zoning Office in the Town Offices as well as on the Town’s Website.
Sam Cutting IV, second-generation owner of Dakin
Farm, and Darcy Morter, marketing manager, will give an overview of their
marketing programs complete with an explanation of their new collaborative
efforts with Cabot Cheese on Wednesday, June 13th from 8 – 9:30AM. The presentation will take place in the
Community Room at the Ilsley Public Library. Darcy will introduce some newer
email marketing concepts, as well as public relations and social media, to
announce the new collaboration.
For details and to RSVP to Sue Hoxie just visit www.addisoncounty.com.
The special Westport Town Council meeting at 6PM
Tuesday, June 12th to discuss Town Hall repair options. The regular meeting
will immediately follow that. Both
are open to the public.
The Castleton Planning Commission will host an
informational hearing on the proposed Ridgeline Development energy project this
Thursday beginning at 7PM at the Jeffords Center auditorium at Castleton State
College. Reunion commercial wind
power is proposing a project for the Taconic Range ridgeline from Grandpa's
Knob going north through the territories of Castleton, West Rutland, Pittsford
and Hubbardton. Organizers are
interested in citizen thoughts and opinions; all interested citizens from the
effected communities or beyond are welcome and will be heard.
Vermont State Police are investigating a burglary
at Rockydale Pizza in Bristol. Police
say, an unknown number of individuals entered the pizzeria and stole a 15 pound
bag of pepperoni topping; and a 10 pound bag of beef, bacon and sausage
toppings. The estimated value of pizza toppings combined is $150. Anyone with information is asked to
contact the Vermont State Police New Haven Barracks. (802)-388-4919
Vermont State Police are currently investigating
the theft of a 1987 Gray/Silver Audi Sedan from Ethan Allen Highway Storage in
New Haven. The car was allegedly stolen in May of last year, however the theft
was not reported until June 1st of this year, as the owner was unable
to locate the paperwork and VIN for the car. The estimated value of the car is
$1,200.00. Anyone with information is asked to contact The VSP New Haven
Barracks. (1-802-388-4919)
Vermont State Police are currently investigating a
Burglary complaint, which took place at a private residence on West Shore Rd.
in the Town of Salisbury sometime over the past two months. The owner said that
someone stole a fireplace and a wood furnace from the unsecured home, which is
currently for sale. They also
reported that unknown individuals are also dumping trash on the property. The
estimated value of the stolen fireplace and wood furnace is $3,500.00. Anyone
with information is asked to contact The VSP New Haven Barracks. (Senior
Trooper Andrew Leise 1-802-388-4919)
Essex County lawmakers have agreed to sell Horace
Nye Nursing Home to a New York City corporation. By a split vote of 12 to 6, the County Board of Supervisors
voted yesterday to sell the county-owned Nursing Home to the Centers for
Specialty Care of the Bronx. Some of the 136 Horace Nye staff members and
others connected with the home opposed the sale on the grounds it might reduce
wages and the quality of care. A
seven-person visitation subcommittee toured facilities run by the three bidders,
recommending the Centers for Specialty Care as the best choice.
The Ticonderoga Best Fourth In The North Committee
is seeking participants for the 2012 Best Fourth In The North Parade and Bed
Race. The Theme for the 2012 Parade will be “A Salute To Community Volunteers”.
The Bed Race will begin at 1:45 PM beginning in front of the Ticonderoga Fire Department.
The parade will begin at 2:00 PM. Parade and Bed Race applications as well as
rules and regulations are available at www.best4thinthenorth.com or at the
Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce office. Parade applications must be
returned by June 25th, 2012.
The Best Fourth In The North Committee is pleased
to announce that the Annual Montcalm Mile will take place in Ticonderoga on Wednesday,
July 4th as part of the Best Fourth In The North Celebration. The race is
organized by the LaChute Road Runners.
Join in the time honored celebration in historic Ticonderoga to
celebrate the Fourth of July with the annual parade, celebration, and the
running of the Montcalm Mile. The race is run on Montcalm Street, through
Ticonderoga’s main business district, a downhill course which precedes the
annual 4th of July Parade, guaranteeing a course lined with spectators and good
performances. For additional information or a registration form visit www.best4thinthenorth.com
or contact the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce.
Labor and human rights groups are teaming up to form
the "Vermont Fair Food Campaign." Similar to the international fair
trade movement, the campaign plans to ensure that workers who plant, harvest,
process and sell Vermont-grown foods are treated humanely.
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the city of
Burlington from fired waterfront manager Adam Cate. The city investigated
allegations he'd improperly read another employee's e-mail and embezzled city
money. No evidence of embezzlement was found, but Cate acknowledged reading an
e-mail exchange between other city officials.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to lower the
penalty for public possession of "a small amount" of marijuana. The
penalty would be reduced from a misdemeanor to simply a violation. If pot is
burning in the public view, the penalty is a misdemeanor, which leads to an
arrest.
The LaChute Road Runners Club will again present
the Duane Crammond Memorial Scholarship.
The $1,000 award will go to a Ticonderoga High School graduate who
participated in varsity cross-country and/or track & field who attends
college full-time. Scholarship
applications are available at the Ticonderoga High School guidance office, by
contacting Matt Karkoski, scholarship chairman, at 585-7206, and online at http://www.lachute.us/misc_PDF/Scholarship.pdf
Application deadline is June 20.
The Rutland Free Library launches its 2012 Summer
Reading Club today. Children of
all ages are eligible and those who join will get a colorful membership packet.
The packet includes a “reader’s record” usable for children who are reading
independently as well as those who are being read to. Participants record the books they read through the summer
and earn stickers, ice cream coupons and a book. They can also enter a drawing
for additional prizes and add a star to the library’s sky display.
Vermont's state pension problem has a little
problem: more like a big problem, actually with a pending shortfall of
three-billion dollars. That's how
much the state cannot afford to pay out as pension and health care benefits for
retiring state employees and teachers in Vermont. As of a year ago, the unfunded pension for state employees
and teachers was just over a billion, with unfunded health benefits totaling
nearly two billion, putting the state behind three million dollars. One lawmaker says the result could be
increased taxes and maybe a loss of state-run programs.
Luckily no kids were on it at the time, but their
playground at a Barre daycare center is currently in shambles. That's because a high-speed police
chase plowed through it. Officers
in Barre say it started early Tuesday morning when another officer spotted two
men in a stolen car, and tried to stop it. The chase was on until the driver lost control, barreling
through the Greenbrier Academy's fence, playhouse and jungle gym. The men took off and so far only one
has been found. The daycare says
damage is in the thousands, and it may be a while before the kids can play
outside again.
St. Michael's College is about to break ground on a
new project. The college announced
Tuesday it's building a new student center with an adjoining 105-bed residence
hall. The complex, known as Quad
Commons, will have its groundbreaking ceremony at 5PM on Friday, with an
opening scheduled for fall of 2013.
The 30-million dollar project was approved in March by the college's
board of trustees.
From
Fox 44 and ABC 22 News:
The decision whether to charge the homeowner
involved in a deadly home invasion will be up to the Chittenden County State's
Attorney. It's a big decision but
T.J. Donovan says he will simply apply the facts of the case to the law. Officially it's called Justifiable
Homicide. The law is short, vague
and hasn't been applied a lot in Vermont.
Last week, police say Ryan Morton-Lane broke into an Essex Junction home
and was stabbed to death by the homeowner. Police are investigating to see if that homeowner should be
held responsible for Morton-Lane's death.
"What's happened in Vermont is these tend to be very case by case
kind of analysis," says Cheryl Hanna, a Vermont Law School professor. Hanna says there have few cases like
this one in Vermont. "I think
self defense law is made for exactly this kind of situation. You are in your
home, somebody breaks-in, they have a weapon, they are threatening you, and you
are going to defend yourself and your family," says Hanna. Vermont law allows you to kill someone
for two reasons. The first is to protect you or your loved ones. The second is
to stop someone committing a violent crime. But even those have limits. "We essentially have a reasonable
standard. What would a reasonable person have done?" says Hanna. Now police and prosecutors must decide
if the homeowner, Shawn Garrett, was justified for killing Morton-Lane. "We need to know the sequence of
events," says Donovan. Donovan
says it could take weeks to finish the investigation and decide whether charges
will be filed against the homeowner.
If they are, Hanna says prosecutors could face a tough challenge in
court. "I think most jurors
who look at this case will probably say I would have done the exact same
thing," says Hanna. An
autopsy found that Morton-Lane had injuries consistent with a struggle and he
died of a stab wound to his chest.
Police say the homeowner was also hurt, though not seriously.
Last year, Vermont became one of the first states
to approve the creation of businesses that will grow and sell marijuana for
medical purposes. This week the
Green Mountain State took a step toward opening four dispensaries after the
department of public safety released a five-page application. Those businesses will provide the drug
to people with chronic illnesses only after it's been prescribed from a doctor. Vermont Criminal Information Center
Director Jeffrey Wallin says his agency has also developed a process to make
sure no one cheats the system. "Checking
to make sure a equals b, everything lines up will be both financially auditing
them as well to make sure that they money coming in is the money going
out," said Wallin. Here's
another catch, just because Vermont says it's legal, doesn't mean the federal
government agrees. "It's
really a question of whether the federal authorities decide it's worth their
resources to prosecute these cases," said Vermont Law School Professor
Michele Martinez Campbell. Last
year the US attorney in Vermont warned lawmakers that the dispensaries broke
federal law. We reached out to him
for comment Tuesday, but our calls weren't returned. The US Department of Justice did send us a statement saying,
"It's focusing on significant drug traffickers, not people who comply with
state law". But law experts
say that could always changes and people could find themselves in big trouble. "Certainly we're talking about a
period of years in jail, even at relatively low quantities. I mean federal drug
sentences are pretty severe," said Martinez Campbell. Not to mention the loss of a
$30-thousand dollar annual fee to operate. People have until June 22nd to apply. After that, police aren't sure when
they'll approve which places will get the business.
Vermont state leaders have decided where to
re-locate the state psychiatric hospital.
They've picked Berlin. They
chose a site next to the Central Vermont Medical Center. Secretary of Administration Jeb
Spaulding says that's an ideal site because of the proximity to the hospital. Last summer, Tropical Storm Irene
flooded the state hospital in Waterbury.
Spaulding says even though those jobs aren't returning, they weren't
meant to be permanent. "I
mean Irene didn't change the long-term plan for the replacement of the state
hospital it just sped it up and put a real sense of urgency on it," said
Spaulding. Spaulding says the
project will cost $25-million dollars; the majority of that money will come
from the federal government. Construction
should begin next spring.
