Some classic boats gave Lake Champlain a little extra sparkle Saturday. The annual small boat festival pulled into port this weekend at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. Highlights include classic crafts, restoration courses and competitions. Presenters say it's easy to get sucked in to the hobby of collecting wooden boats.
The Addison County Chamber Of Commerce invites you to join them this Wednesday for an introduction to Google AdWords. Presented by Matt Henderson, Google's Vermont field marketing representative, you'll get an introduction to online advertising and Google AdWords. It will be helpful if you bring a laptop computer with you to this session, and if you don't already have one, create an account with Google, which is free. The session will take place from 8 – 9:30AM at the Ilsley Library. For details and to RSVP visit www.addisoncounty.com.
Last Wednesday around 4PM Vermont State Police responded to a theft report from Dick's Sporting Goods Store in Rutland Town. Witnesses told the Trooper that two unidentified white males stole approximately $90 of merchandise. The subjects left the area in a silver truck, bearing Vermont registration number 102-A-864. One of the suspects was described as having a tattoo on his neck and facial hair. The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicle shows that this registration, which has expired, belongs to a Red Ford pickup truck owned by Wright Myrick of Bridport. If anyone has any information about the theft or Myrick, contact the Vermont State Police Rutland Barracks. (802-773-9101)
The Town of Middlebury will hold their regular Select Board meeting tomorrow at 7PM at the Russ Sholes Senior Center. Items on tomorrow’s agenda include the approval of the FY2013 Water & Wastewater budgets and rates, the award bid for the Green Mountain Place Utility Upgrade Project along with and update on the Fire Facilities Project. Reports will be presented by the Middlebury Business Fund Advisory Board, the Recreation Meeting, the Community Center Steering Committee and the Downtown Improvement District Commission including a recommendation for the parking study bid award. Additional information about most Agenda items is available through the Town's website, www.middlebury.govoffice.com, on the Select Board page.
One Essex County lawmaker wants to restart holding a public prayer before every Board of Supervisors meeting. The practice was discontinued recently after County Attorney Daniel Manning III told supervisors they needed a policy to cover the prayers, which should be nondenominational in nature. But Supervisor Ronald Moore tried to move a motion this week to resume Christian prayer at the board’s regular monthly meetings. His resolution was tabled so Manning could provide them with more information on how to legally go about it.
Cornell University’s Willsboro Research Farm held a field day in which organic wheat production; milling and baking were the focal points. Throughout the day, there were presentations from the Crown Point Bread Co., Champlain Valley Milling, the University of Vermont and Farm Manager Michael Davis. In addition to discussions on organic grain experimentation, a tour of the farm’s research projects included cold-hardy wine grape varieties, grass bio-fuel production, canola oilseed trials and season-extension using high tunnels.
The 20th Annual Ticonderoga Area Car Show will be held Sunday, August 5th in Ticonderoga’s Bicentennial Park from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. There will be 27 classes with awards in each class. Being added to this year’s events for the Car Show the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce has organized promotions and specials to offer to visitors and community members on Saturday, August 4th and Sunday, August 5th. Car Show promotion participants will be open until at least 6:00 PM on Saturday. Promotions are available based on hours of operation per business. You must mention car show or have the promotions flyer to present to each participating business. Flyers and more details are available at the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, by visiting www.ticonderogany.com or the Chambers Facebook page.
The Ticonderoga Alumni Association will present their annual award in a special ceremony at the Ticonderoga Best Western Plus Inn and Suites this Friday. Receiving Distinguished Alumni Awards will be Cari Boyce and Dr. Marilyn Meserve. This award is given to alumni who have distinguished themselves in their careers and service to their communities. The event will begin at 5 PM with a hors d’oeuvres reception followed by the awards ceremony beginning at 5:45. This eighth annual event, which will take place in the Best Western’s Banquet Room, is free and open to the public. Friends and family of the awardees are encouraged to attend.
State officials will meet this week with towns that are still trying to get federal money to pay for recovery from Tropical Storm Irene. The session comes on the heels of news that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's delays could affect the amount and timing of federal assistance to the state. The state says it's learned that FEMA is just beginning to go through paperwork that will determine how much the state can expect from the federal government. And FEMA delays could also affect Vermont towns as well. So Irene Recovery Officer Sue Minter and other key state officials from the Agency of Transportation and Vermont Emergency Management will hold a conference call for town officials this Thursday. Minter says she wants to make sure towns have all the information they need to get the maximum amount of reimbursement.
A grocery store chain in Vermont and New York has been sold. Tops Friendly Markets has purchased 21 Grand Union Supermarkets in the two states. The stores will not change names. None of the 600 employees are expected to be laid off.
Nearly a year after an 11-year-old girl vanished from her northern New Hampshire home and was found dead in a river a week later, no arrests have been made and few details about her death are public. The anniversary of Celina Cass' disappearance and death has brought media back to West Stewartstown, but locals say the fear and anxiety never subsided. New Hampshire prosecutors say the investigation remains active. Celina's body was retrieved from the Connecticut River on August 1st near the borders of Canada and Vermont and less than a quarter-mile from her home. Prosecutors say she was killed but haven't revealed how she died. A memorial service will be held Thursday in the same small park where candles once burned alongside prayers for Celina's return.
Vermont's Norwich University says the military college has raised more than $68,000 to help fund a scholarship in memory of a Navy Seal alumnus who was killed in Afghanistan. Last month a golf tournament was held at the Sterling Farms Golf Course in Stamford, Conn., to raise money in memory of Brian R. Bill, of Stamford, CT who graduated from Norwich in 2001. Bill was a highly decorated combat veteran who won numerous awards and commendations. The Brian R. Bill Memorial Scholarship will be awarded for the first time in the coming academic year. It will benefit children of members of the U.S. military's Special Forces as well as students interested in the Special Forces.
Top management at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters recently reinforced a company stance that its patents are not crucial to its success, but that it will continue to sue others to defend its copyrights. Certain patents of K-Cup portion packets for Keurig coffee brewing machines will expire in September. CFO Fran Rathke wrote in a letter, posted online by the federal Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this month, that the company intends to “vigorously defend its intellectual property rights” and that risks are mitigated because of the company’s diverse product range, innovations, and status as the founding company on the market.
Discount retailer Costco is complaining to Senator Bernie Sanders that it's being blocked by Vermont's environmental permit process from offering cheap gasoline at its store in Colchester. Costco Vice President Joe Portera says some of those opposing the permits are owners of other area gas stations.
An international work group has been set up to develop a study of last year's spring flooding in the Lake Champlain Basin and Richelieu River and ways to mitigate future damage. Public hearings are scheduled for August 7th in Quebec and August 8th in North Hero.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo already has a massive campaign fund two years before he runs again, while Senate and Assembly majorities also have strong fundraising advantages. Cuomo reports $19.3 million in his account, after raising $5.7 million in the last six months from his usual sources of real estate developers and big corporations. In 2010, he spent just over $20 million to win the office, and now he has the power of incumbency to disperse state money and grab media exposure. In the races for 213 legislative seats this fall, money for staffing and reaching voters is critical for challengers. In the fight for control of the Senate, now held by Republicans, GOP campaigns have a total of $20.3 million compared to the Democrats' $3.8 million.
State Attorney General Bill Sorrell has held his
job for 15 years and is running for re-election. This time, however, he's doing it without the support of his
party. The Vermont Democratic
State Committee met Saturday in Montpelier, and failed to come up with the
two-thirds needed for the endorsement.
One member says many are upset with Sorrell's decision to use a
non-union company to make his campaign materials. Sorrell is running against Chittenden County State's
Attorney T-J Donovan in the primary for the Democratic nomination.
When Carlton Smith's home exploded Wednesday, no
people were inside at the time, but her two cats were. It was assumed both died in the blast,
which leveled the home on Grafton Road in Townshend. But, late Friday night, friends of Smith say both of her
cats not only survived, but lived for days in the wreckage. The male cat was found hiding in a
front corner of what had been the second floor, and the female cat was found as
well. As for the cause of the
blast, Smith had been having propane issues in the house, and witnesses and
rescue crews smelled propane at the scene after the explosion.
One black bear is said to the cause of a five-car
pileup on Interstate 91. It
happened late Saturday night at the southern end of the highway in Vernon near
the Welcome Center. Witnesses and
drivers say the bear was crossing the highway when it was struck by one
car. Four more hit the carcass
after that. Luckily, all the
drivers and passengers were wearing seat belts so no people were hurt, but all
five vehicles had significant damage.
State Police are warning drivers that while Vermont is proud to be one
of the most rural states with that benefit comes the risk of wildlife getting
on the highways.
Gov. Peter Shumlin is asking Vermonters to share
their best photographs of Vermont since Tropical Storm Irene to celebrate the
state's recovery. Shumlin and the
Department of Tourism have launched a photo contest called "Build Up
Vermont." People will be
allowed to post their pictures, view others and vote for their favorite shot on
the web site www.BuildUpVT.com. The winner of the contest will get free
tickets to see Vermont musician Grace Potter perform at the Grand Point North
Festival at Burlington's Waterfront Park in September. Shumlin says what better way to reflect
the hard work and remarkable spirit of Vermonters than by promoting images of
the progress the state has made in the last 11 months.
From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News – Your Voice in Vermont & New York:
It was all smiles as 32 members of the National Guard returned from their five-day humanitarian civic assistance mission in Senegal, Africa. For Nurse Richard Lamb it was the teeth of 400 Senegalese he focused on fixing even though he had little training in dentistry. "I saw the need so I jumped in and helped out best I could," Lamb said. The help was needed since some of these infections were lethal. Nurse practitioner Monica Ploof helped treat other deadly diseases not often seen in the United States- like malaria and dysentery. "You know I think there were lots of times we did save some lives while we were there," Ploof said. Members of the mission were glad to grab their bags and head home but they're also happy about what they left behind. "We brought over hundreds of tooth brushes we handed those out and they were gone within a couple of hours. And we held little classes for the children on how to use the tooth brushes," Lamb said. They also left thousands of dollars worth of medication with Senegalese medical providers. Supplies that Ploof says are easily accessible at Fletcher Allen hospital where she works but she enjoyed this assignment in a place with far less resources. "I was very happy to be there. It was a lot of hard work the hours were long but it was very gratifying and the people there were so happy and willing and accepting of us," Ploof said. The 1800 Senegalese treated were lucky to have such outstanding professionals working with them. But so are we for having access to them every day.
Yesterday was the fourth annual Vermont cheesemakers festival at Shelburne Farms. Tickets sold out about six weeks before the event. People couldn't wait to get ahold of things like beer, wine, bread, jams, chocolate, and of course homemade cheeses! Over 90 vendors and 40 cheesemakers were accessible to the public to get their hands on the homemade goodies. "This is a perfect opportunity to do that. Most all of their producers are very connected with their product. They are maybe milking their own animals or they know exactly where their milk comes from and they get the opportunity to share that with the public" organizers are already planning for the 5th annual cheesemakers fest scheduled for next July.
