WVTK Local & State News November 7, 2012

President Obama is returning to the White House for another four years.  Addressing thousands of supporters in Chicago, the President said the task of perfecting our union moves forward, because of the people.  Obama said he looks forward in the weeks ahead to sitting down with Mitt Romney and discussing how to move the country forward.   Earlier, Republican challenger Romney conceded the race, and congratulated the President.  Obama won key battleground states including Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Nevada on his way to the victory.

Touting single-payer health care and an aggressive renewable energy policy, Gov. Peter Shumlin won a second two-year term Tuesday by an overwhelming margin.  In his inaugural bid for the office in 2010, the Democrat had to wait until the morning after the election to claim his narrow victory.  But this year news outlets had declared Shumlin the winner before even 1 percent of precincts were reporting.   With about half the vote counted Tuesday night, Shumlin was up by 21 points over Republican challenger Randy Brock.

Vermont voters shined on their incumbents Tuesday, renewing the terms of all the sitting statewide officeholders. And in what was by far the closest race of the night, Doug Hoffer looked poised to pick up a key post for Democrats by winning the open auditor’s post. With about 89 percent of the vote counted, Hoffer held a more than 6-point edge over Republican Vince Illuzzi. In a closely watched race for treasurer incumbent Beth Pearce defeated Republican challenger Wendy Wilton, who conceded by phone at about 11 PM. Lt. Gov. Phil Scott was the lone bright spot for Republicans, picking up a second term by a comfortable margin. With 89 percent of the vote tallied, Scott held a 17-point lead over Progressive/Democratic challenger Cassandra Gekas.  Meanwhile First-term Secretary of State Jim Condos was uncontested.

In Addison County results from Fox 44 & ABC 22 News are showing Claire Ayer with 46% and Christopher Bray with 36%.  In Addison-2 Willem Jewett has 66%, in Addison-3 Diane Lanpher had 43% and in Addison-5 Harvey Smith was showing 51%.  In Rutland County; Rutland-2 saw Dave Potter with 30%, Rutland-5-2 Cooper Cupoli was on top with 53%, in Rutland 5-3 Herb Russell had 66%, in Rutland 5-4 Douglas Gage was on top with 57% and in Rutland-6 Butch Shaw led with 41%.  You can view the complete rundown by visiting Fox 44 & ABC 22 News.

Bill Owens has defeated Matthew Doheny in the New York U.S. House District 21 race.

Police say 31-year-old Jessica Flanders of Fair Haven has been located and taken into protective custody in Dixon, Missouri. Jessica was contacted on a traffic stop in Dixon. Jessica is alive and well. Contact has been established with Jessica’s family, advising them of the development. Arrangements are being made to return Jessica to family and her legal guardians in Vermont.  As last night’s press release no criminal charges have been filed; however the case is considered open and under investigation.   The Rutland County Sheriff, Vermont State Police, and cooperating agencies appreciate the help and support of the media and community in this matter.

Washington Street Extension to Painter Road will be closed again today from 8 AM to 5 PM at Grey Ledge Road.  This work is for installation of a water main across the road.

Dan Conant of SunCommon will visit the Salisbury Free Library this evening to talk about going solar in Addison County.  He will talk about solar energy for hot water heaters and solar electricity for the whole house.  SunCommon has a program to set up Salisbury residents with solar electricity that will cost no more than a resident's current electricity bill.  Come ask questions, get information, and find out how to sign up and when Dan is here today at 6:30 PM at the library.

Various meetings are set to go this week here in Middlebury.  Coming today the Middlebury Energy Committee meets at 7:30AM and the Business Development Advisory Board meets a 2:00PM.  The advisory board will discuss the results of fundraising to date and the next steps along with the recruitment of the Business Development Director.  Both of those meetings will be held at the Town Offices.  Tomorrow night the Vermont Gas Systems – Town Of Middlebury Public Information Meeting will be held.  That takes place at 7:00PM at the VFW on Exchange Street here in Middlebury.  The Public Works Committee is set to meet Friday morning at 7:30 in the Town Offices. Agenda items include a continued review of the FY14 Capital Budget and status reports on current and upcoming capital improvement projects.  Stay up to date on all meetings and view complete agendas by visiting the Town’s Website. 

An Election Day earthquake rattled the Northeast at 4:05 yesterday morning.  The event was centered about four miles from Hawkesbury, Ontario.  Situated about 113 miles from Plattsburgh, Hawkesbury is halfway between Montreal and Ottawa.  The U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colorado registered the trembler at 3.7 on the Richter scale, using data from 32 seismic stations.  Some residents in the Plattsburgh area felt the rumble caused by this quake.

The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce held their annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, November 1^st at the Best Western Plus Ticonderoga Inn & Suites.  The Volunteer Appreciation Dinner and Awards Ceremony gave the Chamber & community members a chance to honor and thank all those who give of themselves for the betterment of the community and the area. Over 125 people were in attendance.  Ti Chamber Executive Director Matthew Courtright thanked the many businesses, committees, organizations, and individuals who work so diligently to provide opportunities, growth, support, and events for the Ticonderoga area.  Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward was the Chambers special guest for the event. She also received a TACC Appreciation Award for her service to the Ticonderoga Area, the North Country and for attending the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner and Awards Ceremony for the last several years.

Temperatures dropped into the teens Monday night and that was plenty cold to make snow at the Gore Mountain ski center.  Opening day is coming up on Friday, November 23^rd and crews at Gore Mountain began making snow this week in hopes of creating a deep enough base to give them an edge when warmer temperatures arrive.  Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington also began making snow this week.  The Olympic Regional Development Authority based in Lake Placid operates both facilities.

Winter will be embraced in downtown Ticonderoga this season.  The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce will join with the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership, PRIDE of Ticonderoga and the Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance to create a “winter wonderland” in the business district. According to the Ti Chamber Executive Director, Matthew Courtright, Merchants are being asked to create winter-theme displays for their storefronts. The displays will remain in place throughout the winter. People who would like to display a product or information on a business can email chamberinfo@ticonderogany.com or call 585-6619 for more information.  

A book about Tropical Storm Irene written and compiled by Mendon residents won an award last Friday.  The Mendon Historical Society received an “Award of Merit” from the League of Local Historical Societies at its annual meeting held in Woodstock.  The award, in the category of Publications/Oral History, commended the book “Irene Storms through Mendon: You CAN Get There from Here.”  The 50-page book with 60 full color photographs is available for purchase at the Mendon Town Office and several stores and bookshops in the area.

A local Brother and Sister will discuss their transcontinental bike trek next week. Molly Reed of Middlebury, and her brother Skip Darrell, set out on bicycles in early June from Astoria, Oregon to spend over 58 days scaling the Rocky Mountains and traveling through the Great Plains to St. Louis.  The pair will discuss their bike trek on Tuesday morning from 10:30 - 11:30 at Ilsley Public Library here in Middlebury.

This Thursday evening’s jazz concert at BrandonMusic on Country Club Road in Brandon with pianist Lenore Raphael has been cancelled.  The weekly jazz series will resume next Thursday.    For more information call (802) 465-4071 / info@brandon-music.net. 

Middlebury College’s favorite celebrity faculty member, François Clemmons is coming to Middlebury this month. During the 1970s, Clemmons entertained us as Officer Clemmons on PBS-TV’s “Mister Rogers' Neighborhood”.  A singer, performer, playwright and university lecturer, he is best known for his appearances on entertainer Fred Rogers’ popular show.  Clemmons will perform at Middlebury College, Friday November 16^th at 8 PM in the Mahaney Center for the Arts Concert Hall. Clemmons will present a joyful evening of songs with sass and soul. The event is free.