You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber Of Commerce next Thursday for the after hours business mixer which is being held at Bristol Financial Services in Bristol. Plenty of great door prizes plus a chance to win the Pot of Gold, which is back to its starting value of $500! The mixer takes place from 5 – 7PM. For more information or to RSVP to Sue Hoxie just visit www.addioncounty.com.
The Vergennes Select Board has agreed to continue the city's farmers' market on the City Green from June through September of this year. Town officials say they won't continue to pay for advertisement in the future, but thought it necessary at this time until the event is established.
The groundwater in the town of Brandon is the best in the state of Vermont, according to a designation recently awarded to the town’s water district. Brandon’s Fire District #1 is now classified as a Class II water system by the state Agency of Natural Resources, the first and highest water-quality protection designation given to a water district in the state. The state of Vermont classifies drinkable groundwater under four classes ranging from Class IV (the lowest) to Class I (the highest), under the Groundwater Protection Rule and Strategies.
Ninety-nine homes destroyed in last year's flooding have been approved for buyouts by the state. The approval is one step in the federal hazard mitigation program. Now FEMA will review the applications. That process is expected to be completed next month. Some of the nearby towns where the ninety-nine homes are located include Brandon, Burlington, Clarendon, Granville, Richmond and Rochester.
Five creative summer camps for kids ages 7 to 18 will take place this summer at the Willowell Foundation. Willowell is hosting experienced educators to lead 8 weeks of camp, starting June 11. After the popularity of Coyote Clan Wilderness Adventure Camp increased steadily over several years, Willowell decided to expand its camp offerings in 2012. The combination of art, education, and environment is central to Willowell’s mission to build healthy community in Addison County. For more information and to register, visit www.willowell.org to download and print registration forms.
On Monday afternoon the Vermont State Police responded to a motor vehicle and bicycle accident, which occurred on Route 30 at the intersection of Hortonia Road in Hubbardton. Castleton and Fair Haven Police assisted with the investigation that is still on going. The operator of the motor vehicle, Rose Harve of Orwell was not injured during the crash. The cyclist, Matthew Currie of Benson, suffered head and shoulders injuries.
A proposed solar power project is heading back to the Community and Economic Development Committee. Last week, the committee unanimously recommended that the Rutland Board of Aldermen authorize the mayor to sign a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with AllEarth Renewables, which would allow them to pursue financing for the project before coming back to the city with a proposed contract. On Monday, the full board voted to send the proposal back to committee after a number of aldermen raised objections that had not come up during the two meetings during which the committee discussed the proposal.
The assessment battle in Crown Point continues. The latest move in the on-going fight is a lawsuit filed by two members of the Crown Point Board of Assessment Review whose appointments were rescinded after the new town board took office in January. The suit, filed in State Supreme Court of Essex County, asks that Glenn Russell and Ronald Clarke be restored to the board of assessment review and that the appointments of two new members who took their places be nullified.
Beer will not be sold at the Essex County Fair after all. Allowing beer sales at the annual fair in Westport was defeated, 11 to 6, by the County Board of Supervisors on Monday. The request was downed by increasing opposition from some supervisors, along with the Substance Abuse Prevention Team of Essex County, County Sheriff Richard Cutting and District Attorney Kristy Sprague. It had passed two committee votes, but too much backlash had built up by the time the full board voted Monday morning.
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. says it has removed its chairman and another board member from their leadership roles after a drop in the company's stock price forced them to sell shares in violation of internal policies. The coffee company's stock price has plunged in the past week. That triggered a margin call for Green Mountain's founder and chairman Robert Stiller and its lead director, William Davis, and forced the pair to sell a total of more than 5.5 million shares. Some of those sales occurred in a time period that violated company policy and Green Mountain said Tuesday that it has forced both Stiller and Davis to relinquish their leadership positions. The company also has mandated that Stiller and Davis settle all outstanding margin loans by the end of 2012.
State Police say the driver killed along with his girlfriend and infant son in a head-on collision Monday should not have even been behind the wheel. Jason Potvin, who was 29 and from Williamstown, had a suspended license, plus he was driving with a cast on his right foot according to police. Investigators are trying to determine what caused him to veer across the median of Interstate 89 Monday morning, right into the path of an oncoming pickup truck. Potvin was killed, along with April Otis and the couple's seven-month-old son. Neither adult in the car was wearing a seat belt, nor was the baby's car seat installed improperly.
A newly released report compiled by US News & World Report revealed Vermont has one of the highest graduation rates in the nation, at roughly 90-percent. The Best High Schools report also compared the nearly 22-thousand public high schools across the country, looking at how well students performed on state assessments and then college readiness. Over all, Stowe High School was the highest ranked Vermont school in the national report, ranking 285th nationally. Within the state, Stowe placed first, while Essex was second, South Burlington, Mount Mansfield Union High School in Jericho and Colchester High School rounded out the top five.
One in seven Vermonters doesn't know how they will pay for their next meal. According to the Vermont Foodbank, there's a 15% increase in demand, while supply is on the decline. At the annual Hunger Conference in Burlington, a room full of people joined the conversation geared toward tackling the growing problem of hunger. Out of the 280 food shelves in the state, 40% of the people who rely on them for their source of food, have jobs, but just aren't making ends meet. Meanwhile 97,000 Vermonters rely on the 3SquaresVT program, formerly known as food stamps.
A top Vermont utility regulator is heading to Washington to argue in a court hearing that the license renewal given last year by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant was issued improperly. Elizabeth Miller, commissioner of the Department of Public Service, says she'll tell a federal court that Vermont Yankee lacked the renewed water quality certificate it needed before the NRC could issue its new license.
Police are looking for a suspect in an early morning stabbing and assault in Burlington. Police say a man was stabbed and a woman assaulted at the Red Maple Lane apartment complex around 4 Tuesday morning. Authorities are looking for 26-year-old Anthony Davis, who was last seen wearing a red sweatshirt and dark pants. Police say the man and woman were treated at the hospital and released. Two children who were in the apartment at the time were uninjured.
The Founders Memorial School in the Vermont town of Essex is closed because of a leaky roof. The school's website says the Essex Town fire chief pronounced the school unsafe and the students were transferred yesterday afternoon to the middle school where they were either bused home or picked up by their parents. The Founders School includes grades 3, 4 and 5 and has about 400 students. Officials say the school will be closed Wednesday so state and local fire officials can assess the situation. Parents will be notified today if the school will reopen on Thursday. All other Essex schools will be operating normally.
Hydroelectric advocates are touting a bill that was approved by the Legislature and is now heading to the governor's desk. The measure would expedite permitting for small-scale hydroelectric projects. Hydroelectric projects are regulated under the federal Clean Water Act because they involve damming U.S. waters. Skeptics of the renewable energy say it's still too costly for cities and towns and will only leave them in the red. The bill, which Governor Shumlin is expected to sign in the coming weeks, would require the commissioner of public service to enter into an agreement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. It's modeled after similar legislation in Colorado, where lawmakers have simplified the authorization of small-scale hydropower projects.
A new index ranks Vermont number one in its commitment to raising and eating locally grown food. The ranking is based on the number of farmers' markets and community-supported agriculture programs per resident. According to the Strolling of the Heifers Locavore Index, Vermont has 99 farmers' markets and 164 CSAs. The other top states on the list are Iowa, Montana, Maine and Hawaii. Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, Arizona and Florida ranked at the bottom.
Metal thieves hit two Vermont businesses in the last few days. Police say $3,000 worth of copper cable was stolen from FairPoint Communications in Milton. In Williston, roughly $8,000 worth of copper wire was taken from a construction company. Vermont's Commissioner of Public Safety, Keith Flynn, says it all links back to drug addiction. "Taking these non-ferrous metals and converting them into cash, it becomes one avenue of coming up with a financing tool that continue to support that habit," Flynn said. However, there is a new bill, which just passed the Vermont legislature that cracks down on scrap metal processors. "If someone comes in with a non-ferrous metal such as copper for instance, they're going to have to get identification from this person. And they're going to have to get a source as to where this person got the scrap metal from," Flynn said. The bill will take effect starting July 1. If metal processors do not report people who sell metal without an ID, they could face a $1,000 fine.
A 60-year-old Shelburne man is facing charges in a crash that killed a pedestrian in Burlington. Michael Sears of Shelburne has been charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle. He was also given a $214 civil ticket for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Burlington police say Sears hit 60-year-old Bruce "Sam" Lapointe of Winooski with his pickup truck as he was turning left off Colchester Avenue. Lapointe died nine days later of injuries from the crash. Authorities have said Sears was not speeding or intoxicated. Sears is due in court on Thursday.
Brandon Music will present Gerry Beaudoin with special guest Rich Lataille this Sunday at 7pm. The concert is a part of the year-round weekly Sunday Jazz series. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $18 at the door. Brandon Music offers an Early Bird dinner special, which includes a ticket for the jazz performance, for $25 per person. Enjoy the chef’s award-winning chili and cornbread as well as dessert before listening to world-class jazz. Reservations are required for dinner. For Tickets and Dinner Reservations just visit www.brandon-music.net/sundayjazz.
Next Tuesday at 7:30PM, “Vermont Public Television's Outdoor Journal” will feature fishing at Burr Pond in Sudbury. Another story in the program looks at how fisheries biologists for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, work in Vermont and New York year-round to control sea lampreys on Lake Champlain. The program will also air May 19th at 10AM and be available on demand on www.vpt.org.
People in the town of Barnard, Vermont will no longer be able to go somewhere that has been around for 180 years. That's the town's general store. Its owners decided to close the historic store but not without a big send off. Hundreds of people crammed into the Barnard General Store Tuesday one last time after 180 years of business. "Everybody knows we put our heart in this and this outpouring of love is the best possible way we could have left," said part owner Kim Furlong. She was overwhelmed by the support she and her business partner Carolyn DiCicco received. "The love we've felt in the past four days has been the most remarkable experience for a lifetime," said Furlong. Francis Bean has been a customer since the late 1960's. It's not easy for him to see it go, "It feels like a piece has been ripped out." Established in 1832, the Barnard General Store has been a gathering place for news, food and connections. It was last year’s unusual weather took a toll on their bottom-line, DiCicco says, "No foliage business after the hurricane and with no snow this winter it just left us in a really bad spot, and we said enough." Tuesday night, the store went out with a bang. A burger night so successful hundreds of people wanted to see a piece of history, become history.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
WVTK Local & State News May 8, 2012
The Vermont Attorney General's office and the Addison County state's attorney say a state police trooper who shot and wounded a man during a domestic dispute in Salisbury last fall was justified in firing his weapon. The investigation into the November 17th incident determined that 52-year-old Gerald "Dusty" Woodburn committed suicide by shooting himself after he had been wounded in the arm and abdomen by a shot fired by Trooper Lewis Hatch. When troopers arrived to investigate the domestic they saw Woodburn pinning a woman to a wall. Woodburn was shot after he pointed a handgun at the troopers. He then retreated to another room where he took his own life.
The next Town Of Middlebury Select Board Meeting will take place this evening at 7 in the Town Offices Conference Room. Items on this week’s agenda include Nominations & Appointments to Town Boards and Commissions that include the Development Review Board and River Task Force. There will also be an update on the Fire Facilities Project and year to date results as of April 30th from the FY2012 Budget. Additional information about most Agenda items is available on the Town's website, www.middlebury.govoffice.com, on the Select Board page.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber of Commerce tomorrow for a presentation on "Federal and State Health Care Reform: Major Changes and Impacts Coming Soon for Employers and Employees” The event runs from 8 – 9:30AM in the Community Room at the Ilsley Public Library. Cost is only $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. Coffee and pastries will be provided. Get more information and RSVP to Sue Hoxie by clicking HERE.
Vermont State Police are currently investigating the report of a Burglary from an unsecured residence in the Town of Addison on Mountain Road. Approximately $1,000 in gold jewelry was stolen from inside the home while the homeowner was away. Anyone with information should contact the Vermont State Police Barracks in New Haven (1-802-388-4919). Vermont State Police are encouraging you to secure your homes while away to deter this type of criminal activity.
A public forum on the state’s ongoing efforts to implement a single-payer universal health care system will be held today in Rutland. Hosted by the state Agency of Administration, the hearing, part of a series of “listening sessions” is designed to gather public input on what health benefits should be included in the proposed health care system. The event, held in the Fox Room at the Rutland Free Library will run from 6 to 8PM.
Julie Berg of Middlebury won a national Rachael Ray-hosted Car Care Center Sweepstakes sponsored by Parts Plus/Sanel Auto Parts through County Tire Center on Seymour Street here in Middlebury. Berg’s grand prize includes airfare for two from Vermont to New York City, round-trip ground transportation, hotel accommodations, and dinner reservations.
In celebration of their town's 250th Anniversary, community leaders in Bristol have planned over two weeks of special events from June 9th through July 4th. The celebration will commence with Pocock Rocks on June 9th and culminate with the well-known Bristol Independence Day festivities on July 4th. These two celebrations will bookend a series of events to mark the long history of the town known as the Gateway to the Green Mountains. In addition to these special events, there will also be ongoing opportunities to learn about Bristol and its history.
Brandon Music Café in Brandon, Vermont, has been recognized as a 2012 “Editors’ Choice” winner in Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England, on newsstands now. Termed the “newest British invasion” by Yankee Magazine, Brandon Music Café is open for lunch and afternoon tea from 11:30am to 5:30pm every day, except Tuesday. In addition, the Café now offers an Early Bird dinner special on Sundays, which includes a ticket for the Sunday Jazz series, for $25 per person. Enjoy the chef’s award-winning chili and cornbread as well as dessert before listening to world-class jazz. Reservations are required. Visit www.brandon-music.net for more information or to make a reservation.
Essex County lawmakers are being asked to OK a new low bid for a sprinkler system at Horace Nye Nursing Home. That price is $397,600 for both buildings at the county-owned facility, from Albany Fire Protection. The previous bid was from RBM Guardian Fire Protection of Albany, for $509,897. The county is under an order from the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to install a sprinkler system. The county could lose its authorization to accept Medicare/Medicaid patients if sprinklers are not installed by August 2013.
The Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership’s is recruiting vendors for its 2012 StreetFest! StreetFest is an 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 and excitement is growing as plans come together. Registration is $50 per 10 x 10 space. If you want to join the fun as a vendor, check out the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership website www.timainstreet.org.
Three people were killed in a two-car crash on I-89 yesterday in Bolton. Vermont State Police say the three people who died were all riding in a car that crossed the median and collided with a pickup truck pulling a small trailer. The driver of the pickup truck was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The names of the victims won't be released until their families have been notified. The crash occurred at about 7:30AM Monday. Both southbound lanes of the interstate were closed until about 1PM. The investigation into the cause of the crash is continuing.
If you live in Vermont. get ready to pay more. Lawmakers passed several bills before the end of the session that will cost you more money for everything from driving to enjoying the outdoors. Fox 44's matt Austin has more on the increase in fees. Thanks to Vermont lawmakers if you need something from the state of Vermont you'll soon pay more. Take driving for instance. Registration fees for cars, trucks and motorcycles will go up. For cars, 64 dollars to 69 a year. With license plates, many people like to support a cause or show their personality. But vanity plates, which used to cost 38 dollars, will soon cost 45 a year. For those people who want to enjoy Vermont’s outdoors lots of those hunting and fishing fees are going up. A fishing license will jump from 22 to 25 dollars a year. All these little fee increases are a bit annoying to Vermont state senator Vince Illuzzi. "When you raise a tax or fee that only affects Vermonters, I think that's a bit unfair." Illuzzi says out of staters could help the budget by increases in the income and sales tax. But in this year of fee increases, Illuzzi says one tax is going away. "There's an expression that no good deed goes unpunished." That's because Illuzzi says last year dentists had to start paying sales tax on gifts they gave to patients including toothbrushes. But that tax is set to end later this year. While it means the state will lose about 40-thousand dollars it used to collect Illuzzi says that's a small price. "I think it sends the right message to the dentist who do the right thing. Many of the fee increases start in July. The rest at the end of this year or next year.
The FBI is working with the Vermont State Police and the Essex Police Department to search a Coventry landfill as part of an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of a husband and wife from Essex who have been missing almost a year. The office of Vermont's top federal prosecutor says the search of the landfill owned by Casella Waste Management is a follow up to a search last month of a location on Vermont Route 15 in Essex. Fifty-year-old William Currier worked at the University of Vermont and his 56-year-old wife worked for Fletcher Allen Health Care. They were last seen June 8. Police suspect foul play was involved in their disappearance. The Coventry search is expected to last from one to three weeks.
Construction is set to begin this fall on renovations to the Vermont state office complex in Waterbury. On Monday, Gov. Peter Shumlin signed into law a state building projects bill that includes $12 million to begin the process of bringing up to 900 jobs back to Waterbury. The money is part of an $18 million Irene recovery package. Officials are hoping to add up to another $15 million in state money for the Waterbury project. The plan is to demolish some of the flood-damaged buildings, renovate others and then build a new flood-proof office building. The entire project is expected to cost close to $100 million. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state's insurance carrier are expected to make significant contributions to the final cost.
Voters in the town of Springfield are headed to the polls today to make a final decision on the school budget. The 27-million-dollar plan includes a 41-thousand-dollar reduction in administrative travel, along with cutting out paying for electronic aids such as iPads and Kindles. The proposed budget is about two-percent less than the original one defeated earlier this year at town meeting day.
Attendees at the Vermont Foodbank's annual conference are expected to hear that demand for the services of its anti-hunger programs are up by 15 to 20%. The Foodbank's executive director, John Sayles, says that at the same time, donations of food and money to the Barre-based organization are down. Sayles says food being made available by federal commodity programs has been reduced significantly. The result is the Vermont Foodbank is struggling to serve its network of 280 food shelves, meal sites, senior centers, shelters and afterschool programs. Advocates are gathering today at the Sheraton in South Burlington for the Foodbank's annual hunger conference.
New York's senior senator is hoping to preserve a tax credit aimed at helping the state's microbreweries. New York, like other areas, has seen an explosion in the last few years of small craft brewers. Until now, they have enjoyed an exemption from the state's excise tax. But a recent court decision ruled in favor of an out-of state brewer, that the exemption is unconstitutional. Senator Chuck Schumer says it's important to help the small breweries grow, expand, and make beer that's affordable. He's proposing a cut in federal taxes to offset the new state increase.
The Middlebury Arts Walk returns to our downtown for another season. This free event happens the second Friday of each month, from May to October, from 5 to 7PM. This year participants have a choice of taking a guided tour. Meet around 5PM at 51 Main and an experienced Arts Walk committee member will give a guided tour. Many new and familiar stores and businesses will stay open after regular business hours to support the arts in our downtown district. Walking maps are available at venues and online two days before the event. More information and links to the flyer can be found at www.MiddleburyArtsWalk.com or on the arts Walk Facebook page.
New York Heritage Weekend will be observed in Ticonderoga. The Ticonderoga Historical Society will mark the event during an open house reception Saturday, May 19th from 1 to 3PM at the Hancock House. Admission is free and discounts will be given on select items in the gift shop. New York Heritage Weekend is a statewide event highlighting heritage and cultural destinations throughout the state. Ticonderoga Arts, located downstairs in the meeting room at the Hancock House, will host a gallery preview during New York Heritage Weekend. The official Ticonderoga Arts grand opening will be in June.
The Living Green Expo will take place from 9AM until 4PM on Saturday on Route 7 in East Dorset. The Expo will have hands-on workshops, a plant swap, a community tag sale, a local food market, green games for kids, presentations, green vendors and clubs. The Living Green Expo will be held in the Vermont Renewable Fuels building and all profits will be donated to local charities. Admission is free. More information is available on the website at www.LivingGreen-EXPO.org.
What a difference a year can make. Just 12 months ago, Lake Champlain was at its highest level since records were kept, and that impact was felt hard by Burlington's Community Sailing Center, which had to postpone its opening. The sailing center credits the community for helping to get it back up and running. Organizers say they're confident this year will be a huge success. This year the Lake Champlain sailing center is ready to set sail on time, "We are opening Saturday, May 27th," said Nick Neverisky, Program Director, for the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center. Last year's record spring flooding forced the sailing center to open a month later than usual, "We had to cancel weeks of programming in the spring, we had to spend a lot of money on repairing the facility, reinforcing the shore line from erosion and getting them back in operating condition," said Neverisky. In all, the sailing center had to repair about 75,000 dollars worth of damage. Neverisky says it could have never re-opened without help, "Thanks to truly the support of the community we were able to pull through." The sailing center offers lessons, rentals and summer camps but the main goal is to just get people out on the lake. "Sometimes that's just providing equipment and sometimes that's just involving expertise and so in each case we provide whatever it takes," said Neverisky. The community sailing center will open Memorial Day weekend and plans to stay open until mid October.
The next Town Of Middlebury Select Board Meeting will take place this evening at 7 in the Town Offices Conference Room. Items on this week’s agenda include Nominations & Appointments to Town Boards and Commissions that include the Development Review Board and River Task Force. There will also be an update on the Fire Facilities Project and year to date results as of April 30th from the FY2012 Budget. Additional information about most Agenda items is available on the Town's website, www.middlebury.govoffice.com, on the Select Board page.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber of Commerce tomorrow for a presentation on "Federal and State Health Care Reform: Major Changes and Impacts Coming Soon for Employers and Employees” The event runs from 8 – 9:30AM in the Community Room at the Ilsley Public Library. Cost is only $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. Coffee and pastries will be provided. Get more information and RSVP to Sue Hoxie by clicking HERE.
Vermont State Police are currently investigating the report of a Burglary from an unsecured residence in the Town of Addison on Mountain Road. Approximately $1,000 in gold jewelry was stolen from inside the home while the homeowner was away. Anyone with information should contact the Vermont State Police Barracks in New Haven (1-802-388-4919). Vermont State Police are encouraging you to secure your homes while away to deter this type of criminal activity.
A public forum on the state’s ongoing efforts to implement a single-payer universal health care system will be held today in Rutland. Hosted by the state Agency of Administration, the hearing, part of a series of “listening sessions” is designed to gather public input on what health benefits should be included in the proposed health care system. The event, held in the Fox Room at the Rutland Free Library will run from 6 to 8PM.
Julie Berg of Middlebury won a national Rachael Ray-hosted Car Care Center Sweepstakes sponsored by Parts Plus/Sanel Auto Parts through County Tire Center on Seymour Street here in Middlebury. Berg’s grand prize includes airfare for two from Vermont to New York City, round-trip ground transportation, hotel accommodations, and dinner reservations.
In celebration of their town's 250th Anniversary, community leaders in Bristol have planned over two weeks of special events from June 9th through July 4th. The celebration will commence with Pocock Rocks on June 9th and culminate with the well-known Bristol Independence Day festivities on July 4th. These two celebrations will bookend a series of events to mark the long history of the town known as the Gateway to the Green Mountains. In addition to these special events, there will also be ongoing opportunities to learn about Bristol and its history.
Brandon Music Café in Brandon, Vermont, has been recognized as a 2012 “Editors’ Choice” winner in Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England, on newsstands now. Termed the “newest British invasion” by Yankee Magazine, Brandon Music Café is open for lunch and afternoon tea from 11:30am to 5:30pm every day, except Tuesday. In addition, the Café now offers an Early Bird dinner special on Sundays, which includes a ticket for the Sunday Jazz series, for $25 per person. Enjoy the chef’s award-winning chili and cornbread as well as dessert before listening to world-class jazz. Reservations are required. Visit www.brandon-music.net for more information or to make a reservation.
Essex County lawmakers are being asked to OK a new low bid for a sprinkler system at Horace Nye Nursing Home. That price is $397,600 for both buildings at the county-owned facility, from Albany Fire Protection. The previous bid was from RBM Guardian Fire Protection of Albany, for $509,897. The county is under an order from the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to install a sprinkler system. The county could lose its authorization to accept Medicare/Medicaid patients if sprinklers are not installed by August 2013.
The Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership’s is recruiting vendors for its 2012 StreetFest! StreetFest is an 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 and excitement is growing as plans come together. Registration is $50 per 10 x 10 space. If you want to join the fun as a vendor, check out the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership website www.timainstreet.org.
Three people were killed in a two-car crash on I-89 yesterday in Bolton. Vermont State Police say the three people who died were all riding in a car that crossed the median and collided with a pickup truck pulling a small trailer. The driver of the pickup truck was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The names of the victims won't be released until their families have been notified. The crash occurred at about 7:30AM Monday. Both southbound lanes of the interstate were closed until about 1PM. The investigation into the cause of the crash is continuing.
If you live in Vermont. get ready to pay more. Lawmakers passed several bills before the end of the session that will cost you more money for everything from driving to enjoying the outdoors. Fox 44's matt Austin has more on the increase in fees. Thanks to Vermont lawmakers if you need something from the state of Vermont you'll soon pay more. Take driving for instance. Registration fees for cars, trucks and motorcycles will go up. For cars, 64 dollars to 69 a year. With license plates, many people like to support a cause or show their personality. But vanity plates, which used to cost 38 dollars, will soon cost 45 a year. For those people who want to enjoy Vermont’s outdoors lots of those hunting and fishing fees are going up. A fishing license will jump from 22 to 25 dollars a year. All these little fee increases are a bit annoying to Vermont state senator Vince Illuzzi. "When you raise a tax or fee that only affects Vermonters, I think that's a bit unfair." Illuzzi says out of staters could help the budget by increases in the income and sales tax. But in this year of fee increases, Illuzzi says one tax is going away. "There's an expression that no good deed goes unpunished." That's because Illuzzi says last year dentists had to start paying sales tax on gifts they gave to patients including toothbrushes. But that tax is set to end later this year. While it means the state will lose about 40-thousand dollars it used to collect Illuzzi says that's a small price. "I think it sends the right message to the dentist who do the right thing. Many of the fee increases start in July. The rest at the end of this year or next year.
The FBI is working with the Vermont State Police and the Essex Police Department to search a Coventry landfill as part of an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of a husband and wife from Essex who have been missing almost a year. The office of Vermont's top federal prosecutor says the search of the landfill owned by Casella Waste Management is a follow up to a search last month of a location on Vermont Route 15 in Essex. Fifty-year-old William Currier worked at the University of Vermont and his 56-year-old wife worked for Fletcher Allen Health Care. They were last seen June 8. Police suspect foul play was involved in their disappearance. The Coventry search is expected to last from one to three weeks.
Construction is set to begin this fall on renovations to the Vermont state office complex in Waterbury. On Monday, Gov. Peter Shumlin signed into law a state building projects bill that includes $12 million to begin the process of bringing up to 900 jobs back to Waterbury. The money is part of an $18 million Irene recovery package. Officials are hoping to add up to another $15 million in state money for the Waterbury project. The plan is to demolish some of the flood-damaged buildings, renovate others and then build a new flood-proof office building. The entire project is expected to cost close to $100 million. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state's insurance carrier are expected to make significant contributions to the final cost.
Voters in the town of Springfield are headed to the polls today to make a final decision on the school budget. The 27-million-dollar plan includes a 41-thousand-dollar reduction in administrative travel, along with cutting out paying for electronic aids such as iPads and Kindles. The proposed budget is about two-percent less than the original one defeated earlier this year at town meeting day.
Attendees at the Vermont Foodbank's annual conference are expected to hear that demand for the services of its anti-hunger programs are up by 15 to 20%. The Foodbank's executive director, John Sayles, says that at the same time, donations of food and money to the Barre-based organization are down. Sayles says food being made available by federal commodity programs has been reduced significantly. The result is the Vermont Foodbank is struggling to serve its network of 280 food shelves, meal sites, senior centers, shelters and afterschool programs. Advocates are gathering today at the Sheraton in South Burlington for the Foodbank's annual hunger conference.
New York's senior senator is hoping to preserve a tax credit aimed at helping the state's microbreweries. New York, like other areas, has seen an explosion in the last few years of small craft brewers. Until now, they have enjoyed an exemption from the state's excise tax. But a recent court decision ruled in favor of an out-of state brewer, that the exemption is unconstitutional. Senator Chuck Schumer says it's important to help the small breweries grow, expand, and make beer that's affordable. He's proposing a cut in federal taxes to offset the new state increase.
The Middlebury Arts Walk returns to our downtown for another season. This free event happens the second Friday of each month, from May to October, from 5 to 7PM. This year participants have a choice of taking a guided tour. Meet around 5PM at 51 Main and an experienced Arts Walk committee member will give a guided tour. Many new and familiar stores and businesses will stay open after regular business hours to support the arts in our downtown district. Walking maps are available at venues and online two days before the event. More information and links to the flyer can be found at www.MiddleburyArtsWalk.com or on the arts Walk Facebook page.
New York Heritage Weekend will be observed in Ticonderoga. The Ticonderoga Historical Society will mark the event during an open house reception Saturday, May 19th from 1 to 3PM at the Hancock House. Admission is free and discounts will be given on select items in the gift shop. New York Heritage Weekend is a statewide event highlighting heritage and cultural destinations throughout the state. Ticonderoga Arts, located downstairs in the meeting room at the Hancock House, will host a gallery preview during New York Heritage Weekend. The official Ticonderoga Arts grand opening will be in June.
The Living Green Expo will take place from 9AM until 4PM on Saturday on Route 7 in East Dorset. The Expo will have hands-on workshops, a plant swap, a community tag sale, a local food market, green games for kids, presentations, green vendors and clubs. The Living Green Expo will be held in the Vermont Renewable Fuels building and all profits will be donated to local charities. Admission is free. More information is available on the website at www.LivingGreen-EXPO.org.
What a difference a year can make. Just 12 months ago, Lake Champlain was at its highest level since records were kept, and that impact was felt hard by Burlington's Community Sailing Center, which had to postpone its opening. The sailing center credits the community for helping to get it back up and running. Organizers say they're confident this year will be a huge success. This year the Lake Champlain sailing center is ready to set sail on time, "We are opening Saturday, May 27th," said Nick Neverisky, Program Director, for the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center. Last year's record spring flooding forced the sailing center to open a month later than usual, "We had to cancel weeks of programming in the spring, we had to spend a lot of money on repairing the facility, reinforcing the shore line from erosion and getting them back in operating condition," said Neverisky. In all, the sailing center had to repair about 75,000 dollars worth of damage. Neverisky says it could have never re-opened without help, "Thanks to truly the support of the community we were able to pull through." The sailing center offers lessons, rentals and summer camps but the main goal is to just get people out on the lake. "Sometimes that's just providing equipment and sometimes that's just involving expertise and so in each case we provide whatever it takes," said Neverisky. The community sailing center will open Memorial Day weekend and plans to stay open until mid October.
Monday, May 7, 2012
WVTK Local & State News May 7, 2012
Work on Castleton-West Rutland Route 4A Area Improvement Project Continues this week. Milling will be done on Route 4A from Castleton heading west to West Rutland. Drainage structures will be added on Route 30 as well as Route 4A and excavation of ditches will take place on 4A From Castleton to West Rutland. Work will also begin at the railroad crossing on Castleton State Highway as well. For your safety and the safety of the construction workers please abide by the signs, watch for flaggers and drive at appropriate construction zone speeds.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber of Commerce this Wednesday for a presentation on "Federal and State Health Care Reform: Major Changes and Impacts Coming Soon for Employers and Employees” The event runs from 8 – 9:30AM in the Community Room at the Ilsley Public Library. Cost is only $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. Coffee and pastries will be provided. Get more information and RSVP to Sue Hoxie by clicking HERE.
Ilsley Library looking for book sale Volunteers. The monthly used book sale sponsored by Friends of Ilsley Library is their major fundraising effort to support the library’s programs and outreach. The Friends invite persons who would like to help run these sales to an organizational meeting Wednesday, May 16th from 4-5 PM at the library. If you would like to help but can’t make it that day, contact Ray Hudson at rhudson@together.net
On Friday, Vermont State Police responded to a suspicious complaint located on 84 Galvin Road in Whiting. Further investigation revealed the barn was broken into. Entry was gained through the side door of the barn. A container of fuel and several power tools were taken. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Vermont State Police New in New Haven. (802-388-4919)
The next Town Of Middlebury Select Board Meeting will take place tomorrow evening at 7 in the Town Offices Conference Room.
Items on this week’s agenda include Nominations & Appointments to Town Boards and Commissions that include the Development Review Board and River Task Force. Reports will be heard from meetings of the Business Development Review Board and the River Task Force. There will also be an update on the Fire Facilities Project and year to date results as of April 30th from the FY2012 Budget. Additional information about most Agenda items is available on the Town's website on the Select Board page.
A civilian dispatcher for the Vermont State Police is facing charges after being arrested for marijuana possession while attending classes at the Vermont Police Academy. Police say 26-year-old Michelle Bachand of Lyndonville was arrested Friday while she was attending dispatcher training courses at the academy in Pittsford. Police say they found a small amount of marijuana in her car. Bachand was hired as a temporary dispatcher in February, but was let go following her arrest.
Last Thursday marked an annual event, known as Middlebury Bike Safety Fair, which has been held for over a decade at Mary Hogan Elementary School. Geared toward all ages this year’s fair had something for everyone including free bike tune-ups worth $35, fancy new safety helmets, homemade baked goods and exciting raffle prizes. Mary Hogan students, as well as a few students from other nearby elementary schools such as St. Mary’s, were able to increase their bicycling and safety knowledge.
The start of the Route 7 road reconstruction project through downtown Brandon is still at least two years away, but the local business community is letting people know that Brandon will be open for business despite future disruptions. Officials say the details of the marketing campaign are still in the beginning stages, but emphasized the importance of communication among all parties to make sure people know that although there will be disruptions because of construction in the downtown, the town’s businesses will still be open.
A Schroon bridge will be repaired as part of a new state program. The Rogers Brook Bridge on Route 9 in Schroon will get $319,500 for rehabilitation. The Grove Brook Bridge in Port Henry will receive $191,700 for deck replacement. Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced a $45 Million investment for 49 projects that will repair 345 miles of roads and 11 bridges in the North Country. The money is part of the state’s NY Works program.
The Ticonderoga Chamber of Commerce 10th Annual Fundraiser Dinner and Auction will be held on Friday, June 15th at Silver Bay YMCA. The event will take place in Silver Bay’s Gullen Lounge located within the main Inn starting at 6:00 PM with appetizers followed by dinner at 7:00. Early reservations are suggested, as seating is limited. Contact the TACC office at 518-585-6619 or chamberinfo@ticonderogany.com today! Tickets are $42.00 per person and include appetizers, buffet, beer, wine, dessert, and gratuity.
Nearly 50 tickets were issued in the tri-county area during the State Police's second Operation Hang Up campaign. From April 23 to 29, State Police and other local law-enforcement officials across New York blanketed the roads to target drivers using their cellphones and other handheld electronic devices while behind the wheel. It was an attempt to prevent crashes by changing driver behavior. Twenty people in Clinton County were issued tickets during the campaign, 11 were given tickets in Essex County, and 16 were ticketed in Franklin County. Statewide, 3,172 tickets were issued.
Fort Ticonderoga has received national recognition as it prepares to open for its 103rd season May 18. The historic site was named as the top destination in the Adirondacks by USA News Travel, which said Fort Ticonderoga connects visitors to a place and time that defined a continent, a nation and a continuing legacy. This season will feature new programs, living history weekends, events, exhibits, botanical gardens and a six-acre corn maze in the shape of the fort. Learn more right now by visiting www.fortticonderoga.org.
The lawyer for a woman charged in the killing of a prep school teacher is considering whether to seek a separate trial. Allen and Patricia Prue of Waterford are charged with second-degree murder in the March 28 death of Melissa Jenkins of St. Johnsbury. Patricia Prue's attorney told a judge that he'd discussed with the state's attorney the possibility of splitting the proceedings into two cases. Patricia Prue has denied being involved.
The Legislative session is finally over, adjourning at last on Saturday night. It was one members say was marked by chaos, creativity and compromised, and that's what ended up saving the 2012 session, they say. House Speaker Shap Smith tells the "Burlington Free Press" civil discourse prevailed, and much was accomplished despite some old-fashioned brawls. Governor Peter Shumlin, in his adjournment speech told the Senate "Mission accomplished."
A Vermont couple managed to walk away from a plane crash over the weekend. It happened in Cambridge, New York, as Bruce Faller of Pownal was taking off from the Chapin Field Airport. Instead of lifting off, the plane flipped over, landing on its roof. The pilot and his wife somehow managed to walk away without any injuries, while a passenger from New Jersey suffered a shoulder injury.
The town of Waterbury's historic train station will be hosting Vermont's celebration of National Train Day. The event takes place this Saturday. Passengers in Essex Junction will board historic passenger cars provided by the Vermont Rail System and pulled by locomotives from the New England Central Railroad. The train is expected to arrive in Waterbury 35 minutes later for the celebration, which will be attended by Governor Peter Shumlin, Amtrak and Vermont Rail System officials as well as members of the governor's administration and the state legislature. Several speakers will give brief remarks followed by a slideshow of repairs to Vermont railroads damaged by Tropical Storm Irene.
Across Vermont, many communities that were hit by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene are working to get their athletic fields back in shape. For many schools, their fields are on flat land next to rivers, just the areas that were hit the hardest by the flooding in August. In Bethel, parts of the fields that are used by the Whitcomb High School and the community were under 18 inches of silt and littered with other debris such as hot water and propane tanks. Parts of the fields are ready for use. But some won't be ready until next year. Athletic director Willy Walker says the $80,000 repair was paid for with a combination of insurance, federal and state assistance and local fundraising.
Around one hundred protesters from both sides of the border, Canada and Vermont, rallied at the border in defense of their towns. People from Derby Line, Holland, Derby, and Quebec want the proposed project of 430-foot wind turbines built a top a hill within a mile of neighborhoods to be disregarded. The plan is to build two towers to start with, then build more. All towns involved voted against the project, but the Vermont public service board has the final say in the matter.
There are now more than 100,000 pages of old newspapers available digitally, online and for free. Thanks to a nearly $400,000 grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the University of Vermont, with its partner iArchive and with assistance by the Library of Congress, is scanning the microfilm of Vermont newspapers from 1836 to 1922. It’s called the Vermont Digital Newspaper Project. So far the project’s librarian at UVM Tom McMurdo, said that approximately 104,000 pages have been digitally archived. And when this round of funding runs out in September, he said, they expect to have more than 131,000 pages digitized. To view the newspapers, visit the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America website at chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Vermonters can fish for free one day next month. On Saturday, June 9th residents and nonresidents can go fishing without a fishing license in the state. Fish and Wildlife officials say Vermont has 284 lakes and more than 7,000 miles of streams in which to fish. The department will host a special event in Grand Isle for kids on Free Fishing Day. Organizers say the free kids' event will offer basic fishing instruction and the chance for kids to hook a big trout in a pond next to the hatchery. The event will be held from 9 to 3 at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station.
Hundreds of people gathered for the 12th annual weekend of hope in Stowe. It’s a retreat for those who've ever been touched by cancer in their lives. ABC 22's Jenny Day attended the closing ceremony. A room full of people who share a common thread..."I was stage two in 94", "I’m in the one percentile for still being here", "we've lost a number of people in our family.", "and because far too many people have a story and everyone needs some support, many people started this weekend as strangers and are leaving with lifelong friends.", "I want them to leave with a connection that they can keep, and they can know that they're not alone." In addition to making friends, the weekend enabled brain cancer survivor Jane Merchant to cross horseback riding off of her bucket list. There were also workshops and discussions about recent advances in treatments and a closing ceremony filled with dancing, motivational speeches, singing and a moment of silence for those who lost their battle. But many say it was still truly a weekend filled with hope. "We had 450 cancer survivors this year, that's a record year."
Vermont likely looks greener after Saturday. An estimated 15-thousand volunteers spent the day picking up garbage, painting and planting flowers. ABC 22's Jenny Day explains. "We’re happy to have some sunshine." Sunshine, a far different forecast from last august-- so in many ways, this green up day symbolizes a fresh start for survivors of the storm. "Kinda hard starting over at our age- but we're, we're gonna make it." "Donna and glen French had been living in this mobile home for three years up until Irene hit- then they were forced to move out because the inside was filled with four and a half feet of water and although today does mark new beginnings, it also brings back emotions from that dreadful day." "It’s a little bit traumatic for them, so we wanted to take the opportunity to brighten it up and make it more home for them." Governor Shumlin even got down- and dirty this green up day. Mulch was spread- and flowers were planted to make the Weston’s mobile home park in Berlin - once a tropical storm target- a little brighter. "I’m grateful to be the governor of a state where Vermonters pull together and help out." UVM junior Katherine Reynolds is a student in a class called "rebuilding Vermont." with her hometown being Waterbury- she's been involved with Irene clean up since day one-- and so far, hasn't stopped. "If any state can come back- and come back stronger, it's definitely Vermont." In the statewide effort to improve the look of Vermont- these recovery efforts are proof that it did - and ultimately it's getting people back in their homes. Jenny Day ABC 22 news.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber of Commerce this Wednesday for a presentation on "Federal and State Health Care Reform: Major Changes and Impacts Coming Soon for Employers and Employees” The event runs from 8 – 9:30AM in the Community Room at the Ilsley Public Library. Cost is only $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. Coffee and pastries will be provided. Get more information and RSVP to Sue Hoxie by clicking HERE.
Ilsley Library looking for book sale Volunteers. The monthly used book sale sponsored by Friends of Ilsley Library is their major fundraising effort to support the library’s programs and outreach. The Friends invite persons who would like to help run these sales to an organizational meeting Wednesday, May 16th from 4-5 PM at the library. If you would like to help but can’t make it that day, contact Ray Hudson at rhudson@together.net
On Friday, Vermont State Police responded to a suspicious complaint located on 84 Galvin Road in Whiting. Further investigation revealed the barn was broken into. Entry was gained through the side door of the barn. A container of fuel and several power tools were taken. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Vermont State Police New in New Haven. (802-388-4919)
The next Town Of Middlebury Select Board Meeting will take place tomorrow evening at 7 in the Town Offices Conference Room.
Items on this week’s agenda include Nominations & Appointments to Town Boards and Commissions that include the Development Review Board and River Task Force. Reports will be heard from meetings of the Business Development Review Board and the River Task Force. There will also be an update on the Fire Facilities Project and year to date results as of April 30th from the FY2012 Budget. Additional information about most Agenda items is available on the Town's website on the Select Board page.
A civilian dispatcher for the Vermont State Police is facing charges after being arrested for marijuana possession while attending classes at the Vermont Police Academy. Police say 26-year-old Michelle Bachand of Lyndonville was arrested Friday while she was attending dispatcher training courses at the academy in Pittsford. Police say they found a small amount of marijuana in her car. Bachand was hired as a temporary dispatcher in February, but was let go following her arrest.
Last Thursday marked an annual event, known as Middlebury Bike Safety Fair, which has been held for over a decade at Mary Hogan Elementary School. Geared toward all ages this year’s fair had something for everyone including free bike tune-ups worth $35, fancy new safety helmets, homemade baked goods and exciting raffle prizes. Mary Hogan students, as well as a few students from other nearby elementary schools such as St. Mary’s, were able to increase their bicycling and safety knowledge.
The start of the Route 7 road reconstruction project through downtown Brandon is still at least two years away, but the local business community is letting people know that Brandon will be open for business despite future disruptions. Officials say the details of the marketing campaign are still in the beginning stages, but emphasized the importance of communication among all parties to make sure people know that although there will be disruptions because of construction in the downtown, the town’s businesses will still be open.
A Schroon bridge will be repaired as part of a new state program. The Rogers Brook Bridge on Route 9 in Schroon will get $319,500 for rehabilitation. The Grove Brook Bridge in Port Henry will receive $191,700 for deck replacement. Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced a $45 Million investment for 49 projects that will repair 345 miles of roads and 11 bridges in the North Country. The money is part of the state’s NY Works program.
The Ticonderoga Chamber of Commerce 10th Annual Fundraiser Dinner and Auction will be held on Friday, June 15th at Silver Bay YMCA. The event will take place in Silver Bay’s Gullen Lounge located within the main Inn starting at 6:00 PM with appetizers followed by dinner at 7:00. Early reservations are suggested, as seating is limited. Contact the TACC office at 518-585-6619 or chamberinfo@ticonderogany.com today! Tickets are $42.00 per person and include appetizers, buffet, beer, wine, dessert, and gratuity.
Nearly 50 tickets were issued in the tri-county area during the State Police's second Operation Hang Up campaign. From April 23 to 29, State Police and other local law-enforcement officials across New York blanketed the roads to target drivers using their cellphones and other handheld electronic devices while behind the wheel. It was an attempt to prevent crashes by changing driver behavior. Twenty people in Clinton County were issued tickets during the campaign, 11 were given tickets in Essex County, and 16 were ticketed in Franklin County. Statewide, 3,172 tickets were issued.
Fort Ticonderoga has received national recognition as it prepares to open for its 103rd season May 18. The historic site was named as the top destination in the Adirondacks by USA News Travel, which said Fort Ticonderoga connects visitors to a place and time that defined a continent, a nation and a continuing legacy. This season will feature new programs, living history weekends, events, exhibits, botanical gardens and a six-acre corn maze in the shape of the fort. Learn more right now by visiting www.fortticonderoga.org.
The lawyer for a woman charged in the killing of a prep school teacher is considering whether to seek a separate trial. Allen and Patricia Prue of Waterford are charged with second-degree murder in the March 28 death of Melissa Jenkins of St. Johnsbury. Patricia Prue's attorney told a judge that he'd discussed with the state's attorney the possibility of splitting the proceedings into two cases. Patricia Prue has denied being involved.
The Legislative session is finally over, adjourning at last on Saturday night. It was one members say was marked by chaos, creativity and compromised, and that's what ended up saving the 2012 session, they say. House Speaker Shap Smith tells the "Burlington Free Press" civil discourse prevailed, and much was accomplished despite some old-fashioned brawls. Governor Peter Shumlin, in his adjournment speech told the Senate "Mission accomplished."
A Vermont couple managed to walk away from a plane crash over the weekend. It happened in Cambridge, New York, as Bruce Faller of Pownal was taking off from the Chapin Field Airport. Instead of lifting off, the plane flipped over, landing on its roof. The pilot and his wife somehow managed to walk away without any injuries, while a passenger from New Jersey suffered a shoulder injury.
The town of Waterbury's historic train station will be hosting Vermont's celebration of National Train Day. The event takes place this Saturday. Passengers in Essex Junction will board historic passenger cars provided by the Vermont Rail System and pulled by locomotives from the New England Central Railroad. The train is expected to arrive in Waterbury 35 minutes later for the celebration, which will be attended by Governor Peter Shumlin, Amtrak and Vermont Rail System officials as well as members of the governor's administration and the state legislature. Several speakers will give brief remarks followed by a slideshow of repairs to Vermont railroads damaged by Tropical Storm Irene.
Across Vermont, many communities that were hit by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene are working to get their athletic fields back in shape. For many schools, their fields are on flat land next to rivers, just the areas that were hit the hardest by the flooding in August. In Bethel, parts of the fields that are used by the Whitcomb High School and the community were under 18 inches of silt and littered with other debris such as hot water and propane tanks. Parts of the fields are ready for use. But some won't be ready until next year. Athletic director Willy Walker says the $80,000 repair was paid for with a combination of insurance, federal and state assistance and local fundraising.
Around one hundred protesters from both sides of the border, Canada and Vermont, rallied at the border in defense of their towns. People from Derby Line, Holland, Derby, and Quebec want the proposed project of 430-foot wind turbines built a top a hill within a mile of neighborhoods to be disregarded. The plan is to build two towers to start with, then build more. All towns involved voted against the project, but the Vermont public service board has the final say in the matter.
There are now more than 100,000 pages of old newspapers available digitally, online and for free. Thanks to a nearly $400,000 grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the University of Vermont, with its partner iArchive and with assistance by the Library of Congress, is scanning the microfilm of Vermont newspapers from 1836 to 1922. It’s called the Vermont Digital Newspaper Project. So far the project’s librarian at UVM Tom McMurdo, said that approximately 104,000 pages have been digitally archived. And when this round of funding runs out in September, he said, they expect to have more than 131,000 pages digitized. To view the newspapers, visit the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America website at chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Vermonters can fish for free one day next month. On Saturday, June 9th residents and nonresidents can go fishing without a fishing license in the state. Fish and Wildlife officials say Vermont has 284 lakes and more than 7,000 miles of streams in which to fish. The department will host a special event in Grand Isle for kids on Free Fishing Day. Organizers say the free kids' event will offer basic fishing instruction and the chance for kids to hook a big trout in a pond next to the hatchery. The event will be held from 9 to 3 at the Ed Weed Fish Culture Station.
Hundreds of people gathered for the 12th annual weekend of hope in Stowe. It’s a retreat for those who've ever been touched by cancer in their lives. ABC 22's Jenny Day attended the closing ceremony. A room full of people who share a common thread..."I was stage two in 94", "I’m in the one percentile for still being here", "we've lost a number of people in our family.", "and because far too many people have a story and everyone needs some support, many people started this weekend as strangers and are leaving with lifelong friends.", "I want them to leave with a connection that they can keep, and they can know that they're not alone." In addition to making friends, the weekend enabled brain cancer survivor Jane Merchant to cross horseback riding off of her bucket list. There were also workshops and discussions about recent advances in treatments and a closing ceremony filled with dancing, motivational speeches, singing and a moment of silence for those who lost their battle. But many say it was still truly a weekend filled with hope. "We had 450 cancer survivors this year, that's a record year."
Vermont likely looks greener after Saturday. An estimated 15-thousand volunteers spent the day picking up garbage, painting and planting flowers. ABC 22's Jenny Day explains. "We’re happy to have some sunshine." Sunshine, a far different forecast from last august-- so in many ways, this green up day symbolizes a fresh start for survivors of the storm. "Kinda hard starting over at our age- but we're, we're gonna make it." "Donna and glen French had been living in this mobile home for three years up until Irene hit- then they were forced to move out because the inside was filled with four and a half feet of water and although today does mark new beginnings, it also brings back emotions from that dreadful day." "It’s a little bit traumatic for them, so we wanted to take the opportunity to brighten it up and make it more home for them." Governor Shumlin even got down- and dirty this green up day. Mulch was spread- and flowers were planted to make the Weston’s mobile home park in Berlin - once a tropical storm target- a little brighter. "I’m grateful to be the governor of a state where Vermonters pull together and help out." UVM junior Katherine Reynolds is a student in a class called "rebuilding Vermont." with her hometown being Waterbury- she's been involved with Irene clean up since day one-- and so far, hasn't stopped. "If any state can come back- and come back stronger, it's definitely Vermont." In the statewide effort to improve the look of Vermont- these recovery efforts are proof that it did - and ultimately it's getting people back in their homes. Jenny Day ABC 22 news.
Friday, May 4, 2012
WVTK Local & State News May 4, 2012
Police and search crews found the body of the missing Monkton man early Friday morning. Police say, after searching through the night, a New England K9 Search and Rescue unit located the body of 65-Year-Old Ralph Meader in the water around 4:30. His body was found approximately 50 feet from the shoreline in a swamp off the east side of the Bristol Road. Police do not believe Meader's death is suspicious and his body is being sent for an autopsy. Meader was reported missing after he didn't return home Thursday night from a walk. He was an avid hiker and nature enthusiast.
The Middlebury Maple Run “The Sweetest Half” is coming up this Sunday morning here in Middlebury! Online registration is now closed. You may register in person tomorrow from 4 to 7 PM at the Middlebury Inn or race morning, from 7:30 to 8:45 AM. Payment must be made by cash or check only, as they will not accept credit cards. Now in its fourth year, the Middlebury Maple Run - The Sweetest Half has earned a reputation as being well organized and friendly. Please be aware there will be some traffic delays this Sunday morning around the racecourse, for the safety of our runners, volunteers and guests your patience is much appreciated! Get the inside scoop about the Half Marathon and Two Person Relay by clicking HERE!
Businesses in the town of Brandon will be open later hours the first Friday of every month throughout the summer. Starting today, the First Friday initiative by the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce, will keep the lights on and doors open until 9 this evening. Chamber president and downtown merchant Beth Carr said they recognize that many people who work out of town all week do not have the chance to shop locally. They hope with the longer hours it will attract more customers to the downtown to shop and get something to eat. For more information, contact the Brandon Area of Chamber of Commerce at 247-6401 or email info@brandon.org.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber of Commerce next Wednesday for a presentation on "Federal and State Health Care Reform: Major Changes and Impacts Coming Soon for Employers and Employees” The event runs from 8 – 9:30AM in the Community Room at the Ilsley Public Library. Cost is only $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. Coffee and pastries will be provided. Get more information and RSVP to Sue Hoxie by visiting Addison County Dot Com.
The Chittenden County Transportation Authority and Addison County Transit Resources will be hosting a ribbon-cutting event for the 116 Commuter bus route at the Hinesburg Town Hall Park and Ride on Monday, May 14th from 7:30 – 8:30AM. At 7:30, coffee and donuts will be served. There will be a drawing for a free 10-ride commuter pass at 7:59. Then at 8AM, the official ribbon cutting ceremony will begin with Secretary of Transportation Brian Searles cutting the ribbon followed by several transportation officials sharing a few words about the unique collaboration that brought this route to life and public transit in Vermont. The event will also officially kick off the Way to Go! Commuter Challenge week and include a proclamation from the Governor.
The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce May “After Business Mixer” will be held on Thursday, May 24th at Fort Ticonderoga from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Sponsors providing door prizes will be Christopher Chevrolet, George Sperry Marine Survey and the Wagon Wheel Restaurant. The Chambers “After Business Mixers” provide a networking forum for area business people in addition to showcasing the site of the host as well as promoting the door prize sponsors. All area chamber members, business people and their employees are invited to attend. Get all of the details at www.ticonderogany.com.
The head of the Essex County Prevention Team voiced his concern over the return of a beer tent to the Essex County Fair in Westport. Director Doug Terbeek said that while his organization was not about doing away with alcohol, they felt the fairgrounds was not an appropriate place to operate a beer tent. He started his comments by commending the board for their approach to the subject. The Ways and Means Committee passed a resolution to allow the return of a beer tent on a one-year trial basis at the fair, which will be voted on by the full board at its May 7 meeting.
Ticonderoga residents are being reminded that Section 8 of the animal control law requires any owner or custodian of an animal, to dispose of any waste in a safe and sanitary manner. The law provides for a fine of $25 to $50 for a first offense and fines of $50 to $100 for repeat offenses. The Ti dog control officer and the Ti Police Department have been directed to enforce the law. The Ticonderoga law bans pets from Bicentennial Park, Veterans Park and the Black Point beach. Pets are allowed on other public properties but must be leashed at all times. Meanwhile Ticonderoga will host a rabies clinic for local pets 6 to 7 PM on Tuesday, May 15th at the Armory. Pets attending must be either leashed or caged. Tonya Thompson, Ticonderoga town clerk, has also announced plans for a dog enumeration this summer. She noted all dogs, 3 months and older, must be licensed. Licenses cost $5 for neutered or spayed dogs and $15 for others. Licenses will be on sale during the May 15th rabies clinic.
Green Up Day is the name and greening up Vermont is the goal. More people than ever plan to participate in the annual event. An estimated 15,000 people will fill thousands of green garbage bags with trash that's found on the side of the road this Saturday. The main reason for the additional volunteers is because of damage still seen from Tropical Storm Irene. Green Up Vermont is partnering with the Governor's Irene recovery team for the annual clean up event. Find out how you can get involved by clicking HERE!
High school teams from around Vermont will be tested on their financial literacy and knowledge of economics. The Vermont Treasurer's office, along with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, is holding the quiz-show style contest today in Montpelier, to pick a champion to compete this fall in the Reserve Cup Challenge in Boston.
Parents in Vermont can continue using a philosophical exemption to avoid having their kids get the vaccine shots normally required to attend school or child care. The Vermont House yesterday overwhelmingly approved a conference committee recommendation that rejects what had been attempts to boost vaccination rates by ending the philosophical exemption.
Vermont House and Senate negotiators have agreed on a budget for fiscal 2013, likely clearing the way to wrap up their business for the year by Saturday. The House Majority Leader told her House colleagues on Thursday evening that they would have 24 hours to review the conference committee agreement before taking final action on the budget late today. Agreement was reached after the Senate agreed to drop two policy issues it added to the $5 billion spending plan, a measure allowing child care workers to unionize and another directing the Public Service Board on how to handle ratepayer repayments connected with a merger of Vermont's two largest power companies. Lawmakers still need to agree on a tax bill.
Vermont lawmakers appear to be at an impasse over Gov. Peter Shumlin's proposal to let police get information from the Health Department's prescription drug database without first getting a search warrant. A House-Senate conference committee has met repeatedly over the past two days, with the House side insisting on search warrants and senators saying they'll make the process too cumbersome for police.
There were some scary moments for about 7-hundred workers in Saint Albans Yesterday after a suspicious package was found inside the US immigration office. The bomb squad was called in to investigate and turns out a musical card was to blame. Fox 44's Nick Natario has more. What may have looked like a training session at the u-s immigration building in Saint Albans, Vermont Thursday.... was not. Alarms alerted about 7 hundred employees to get out of the building...while police and other agencies guarded the entrances. All because one of the mailroom workers noticed something wasn't right with a package. "There was an x-ray of the package and the x-ray lead it to be a suspect package." Suspect because of the electronic pieces inside. "I don't know, it's a package that's supposed to be documents. We got wires, we got a circuit board, we have a battery. "Another reason police say they acted so quickly is because this building was on heightened alert just days after the 1 year anniversary of the killing of Osama bin laden.” The employees were sent home before the state bomb squad and HAZMAT crews arrived. Dressed in protective gear...they used this robot inside to examine the package. After more than three hours of waiting...we finally found out what caused all the chaos. A musical greeting card. "You have to be safe 100% of the time so I don't apologize that we aired on the side of caution.” The building re-opened later in the day. US immigration officials say the card was attached to a visa application.
They're tiny, but they carry a potentially devastating disease. We're talking Lyme Disease. Experts say you need to be aware that ticks are a lot more prevalent this year...thanks to the early warm up last month. Symptoms to look for include a rash, flu-like illnesses, and swollen joints. About 600 cases of Lyme Disease are reported each year in Vermont. Using repellent, tucking your pants into your socks - and doing daily head to toe tick checks can prevent bites. But if you do find one, it should be removed quickly. Just use a fine-point tweezers and grasp the tick as close as possible to your body and then gently and steadily pull up. State epidemiologist Erica Berl also suggests showering and washing and drying clothes on high heat immediately to kill off any hitchhikers.
A Vermont teacher is facing grand larceny charges that he sold 125 pounds of copper wire that he had taken from the science department at Bellows Free Academy high school in St. Albans. City police say 39-year-old Ian Smith has been a teacher at the school for the last nine years. Police say that in mid-February Smith sold the copper to a Moretown recycling company.
Shares of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters plunged Thursday following a second quarter earnings report that failed to meet the company's estimates. Late Thursday morning, shares in the Waterbury Company had fallen nearly 46 percent to $26.89 a share on volume of 30 million shares.
Governor Cuomo announced FreshConnect grants to help provide low-income and underserved communities with New York farm products. FreshConnects grants to 34 projects around the state and increases access to NY farm products for residents in low-income and underserved areas.
The Official Event Program marking the Grand Celebration of the new Lake Champlain Bridge is coming! Available at the event and for sale in advance at selected businesses the official event program includes a full schedule of events and performers, site maps, and listings of all the food and craft vendors. The cost is $3 and a portion of the proceeds goes to help fund the celebration. The program is loaded with photos and feature articles about the new bridge. Learn more about this incredible weekend of celebration coming up May 19th & 20th by clicking HERE!
Brandon Music will present the Jonathan Lorentz Trio, this Sunday at 7PM. The concert is a part of the year-round weekly "Sunday Jazz" series and is a benefit for the new Compass Music and Arts Center. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Lorentz will perform at Brandon Music with bassist Anthony Santor and drummer Gabe Jarrett. Get more information on CMAC and reserve tickets today by visiting www.brandon-music.net!
Rutland's 43rd annual Loyalty Day Parade will be held downtown at 2PM this Sunday. The annual event is Vermont's largest parade and is sponsored by the Rutland Veterans of Foreign Wars. Rutland's parade began in 1959 although the first Loyalty Day was celebrated in 1921 as a response to the communist's International Workers Day. It is officially observed on May 1st. It was made a legal holiday by the U.S. Congress on July 18, 1958. Vermont National Guard Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie will be the Marshall of this year's downtown parade.
The Marble Valley Players will present the Agatha Christie whodunit, “The Mousetrap,” Today through the 12th at the West Rutland Town Hall Theater. This year marks the 60th anniversary of “The Mousetrap,” which opened in London’s West End in 1952. For details and tickets just visit www.paramounttickets.org.
The Middlebury Maple Run “The Sweetest Half” is coming up this Sunday morning here in Middlebury! Online registration is now closed. You may register in person tomorrow from 4 to 7 PM at the Middlebury Inn or race morning, from 7:30 to 8:45 AM. Payment must be made by cash or check only, as they will not accept credit cards. Now in its fourth year, the Middlebury Maple Run - The Sweetest Half has earned a reputation as being well organized and friendly. Please be aware there will be some traffic delays this Sunday morning around the racecourse, for the safety of our runners, volunteers and guests your patience is much appreciated! Get the inside scoop about the Half Marathon and Two Person Relay by clicking HERE!
Businesses in the town of Brandon will be open later hours the first Friday of every month throughout the summer. Starting today, the First Friday initiative by the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce, will keep the lights on and doors open until 9 this evening. Chamber president and downtown merchant Beth Carr said they recognize that many people who work out of town all week do not have the chance to shop locally. They hope with the longer hours it will attract more customers to the downtown to shop and get something to eat. For more information, contact the Brandon Area of Chamber of Commerce at 247-6401 or email info@brandon.org.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber of Commerce next Wednesday for a presentation on "Federal and State Health Care Reform: Major Changes and Impacts Coming Soon for Employers and Employees” The event runs from 8 – 9:30AM in the Community Room at the Ilsley Public Library. Cost is only $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. Coffee and pastries will be provided. Get more information and RSVP to Sue Hoxie by visiting Addison County Dot Com.
The Chittenden County Transportation Authority and Addison County Transit Resources will be hosting a ribbon-cutting event for the 116 Commuter bus route at the Hinesburg Town Hall Park and Ride on Monday, May 14th from 7:30 – 8:30AM. At 7:30, coffee and donuts will be served. There will be a drawing for a free 10-ride commuter pass at 7:59. Then at 8AM, the official ribbon cutting ceremony will begin with Secretary of Transportation Brian Searles cutting the ribbon followed by several transportation officials sharing a few words about the unique collaboration that brought this route to life and public transit in Vermont. The event will also officially kick off the Way to Go! Commuter Challenge week and include a proclamation from the Governor.
The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce May “After Business Mixer” will be held on Thursday, May 24th at Fort Ticonderoga from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Sponsors providing door prizes will be Christopher Chevrolet, George Sperry Marine Survey and the Wagon Wheel Restaurant. The Chambers “After Business Mixers” provide a networking forum for area business people in addition to showcasing the site of the host as well as promoting the door prize sponsors. All area chamber members, business people and their employees are invited to attend. Get all of the details at www.ticonderogany.com.
The head of the Essex County Prevention Team voiced his concern over the return of a beer tent to the Essex County Fair in Westport. Director Doug Terbeek said that while his organization was not about doing away with alcohol, they felt the fairgrounds was not an appropriate place to operate a beer tent. He started his comments by commending the board for their approach to the subject. The Ways and Means Committee passed a resolution to allow the return of a beer tent on a one-year trial basis at the fair, which will be voted on by the full board at its May 7 meeting.
Ticonderoga residents are being reminded that Section 8 of the animal control law requires any owner or custodian of an animal, to dispose of any waste in a safe and sanitary manner. The law provides for a fine of $25 to $50 for a first offense and fines of $50 to $100 for repeat offenses. The Ti dog control officer and the Ti Police Department have been directed to enforce the law. The Ticonderoga law bans pets from Bicentennial Park, Veterans Park and the Black Point beach. Pets are allowed on other public properties but must be leashed at all times. Meanwhile Ticonderoga will host a rabies clinic for local pets 6 to 7 PM on Tuesday, May 15th at the Armory. Pets attending must be either leashed or caged. Tonya Thompson, Ticonderoga town clerk, has also announced plans for a dog enumeration this summer. She noted all dogs, 3 months and older, must be licensed. Licenses cost $5 for neutered or spayed dogs and $15 for others. Licenses will be on sale during the May 15th rabies clinic.
Green Up Day is the name and greening up Vermont is the goal. More people than ever plan to participate in the annual event. An estimated 15,000 people will fill thousands of green garbage bags with trash that's found on the side of the road this Saturday. The main reason for the additional volunteers is because of damage still seen from Tropical Storm Irene. Green Up Vermont is partnering with the Governor's Irene recovery team for the annual clean up event. Find out how you can get involved by clicking HERE!
High school teams from around Vermont will be tested on their financial literacy and knowledge of economics. The Vermont Treasurer's office, along with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, is holding the quiz-show style contest today in Montpelier, to pick a champion to compete this fall in the Reserve Cup Challenge in Boston.
Parents in Vermont can continue using a philosophical exemption to avoid having their kids get the vaccine shots normally required to attend school or child care. The Vermont House yesterday overwhelmingly approved a conference committee recommendation that rejects what had been attempts to boost vaccination rates by ending the philosophical exemption.
Vermont House and Senate negotiators have agreed on a budget for fiscal 2013, likely clearing the way to wrap up their business for the year by Saturday. The House Majority Leader told her House colleagues on Thursday evening that they would have 24 hours to review the conference committee agreement before taking final action on the budget late today. Agreement was reached after the Senate agreed to drop two policy issues it added to the $5 billion spending plan, a measure allowing child care workers to unionize and another directing the Public Service Board on how to handle ratepayer repayments connected with a merger of Vermont's two largest power companies. Lawmakers still need to agree on a tax bill.
Vermont lawmakers appear to be at an impasse over Gov. Peter Shumlin's proposal to let police get information from the Health Department's prescription drug database without first getting a search warrant. A House-Senate conference committee has met repeatedly over the past two days, with the House side insisting on search warrants and senators saying they'll make the process too cumbersome for police.
There were some scary moments for about 7-hundred workers in Saint Albans Yesterday after a suspicious package was found inside the US immigration office. The bomb squad was called in to investigate and turns out a musical card was to blame. Fox 44's Nick Natario has more. What may have looked like a training session at the u-s immigration building in Saint Albans, Vermont Thursday.... was not. Alarms alerted about 7 hundred employees to get out of the building...while police and other agencies guarded the entrances. All because one of the mailroom workers noticed something wasn't right with a package. "There was an x-ray of the package and the x-ray lead it to be a suspect package." Suspect because of the electronic pieces inside. "I don't know, it's a package that's supposed to be documents. We got wires, we got a circuit board, we have a battery. "Another reason police say they acted so quickly is because this building was on heightened alert just days after the 1 year anniversary of the killing of Osama bin laden.” The employees were sent home before the state bomb squad and HAZMAT crews arrived. Dressed in protective gear...they used this robot inside to examine the package. After more than three hours of waiting...we finally found out what caused all the chaos. A musical greeting card. "You have to be safe 100% of the time so I don't apologize that we aired on the side of caution.” The building re-opened later in the day. US immigration officials say the card was attached to a visa application.
They're tiny, but they carry a potentially devastating disease. We're talking Lyme Disease. Experts say you need to be aware that ticks are a lot more prevalent this year...thanks to the early warm up last month. Symptoms to look for include a rash, flu-like illnesses, and swollen joints. About 600 cases of Lyme Disease are reported each year in Vermont. Using repellent, tucking your pants into your socks - and doing daily head to toe tick checks can prevent bites. But if you do find one, it should be removed quickly. Just use a fine-point tweezers and grasp the tick as close as possible to your body and then gently and steadily pull up. State epidemiologist Erica Berl also suggests showering and washing and drying clothes on high heat immediately to kill off any hitchhikers.
A Vermont teacher is facing grand larceny charges that he sold 125 pounds of copper wire that he had taken from the science department at Bellows Free Academy high school in St. Albans. City police say 39-year-old Ian Smith has been a teacher at the school for the last nine years. Police say that in mid-February Smith sold the copper to a Moretown recycling company.
Shares of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters plunged Thursday following a second quarter earnings report that failed to meet the company's estimates. Late Thursday morning, shares in the Waterbury Company had fallen nearly 46 percent to $26.89 a share on volume of 30 million shares.
Governor Cuomo announced FreshConnect grants to help provide low-income and underserved communities with New York farm products. FreshConnects grants to 34 projects around the state and increases access to NY farm products for residents in low-income and underserved areas.
The Official Event Program marking the Grand Celebration of the new Lake Champlain Bridge is coming! Available at the event and for sale in advance at selected businesses the official event program includes a full schedule of events and performers, site maps, and listings of all the food and craft vendors. The cost is $3 and a portion of the proceeds goes to help fund the celebration. The program is loaded with photos and feature articles about the new bridge. Learn more about this incredible weekend of celebration coming up May 19th & 20th by clicking HERE!
Brandon Music will present the Jonathan Lorentz Trio, this Sunday at 7PM. The concert is a part of the year-round weekly "Sunday Jazz" series and is a benefit for the new Compass Music and Arts Center. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Lorentz will perform at Brandon Music with bassist Anthony Santor and drummer Gabe Jarrett. Get more information on CMAC and reserve tickets today by visiting www.brandon-music.net!
Rutland's 43rd annual Loyalty Day Parade will be held downtown at 2PM this Sunday. The annual event is Vermont's largest parade and is sponsored by the Rutland Veterans of Foreign Wars. Rutland's parade began in 1959 although the first Loyalty Day was celebrated in 1921 as a response to the communist's International Workers Day. It is officially observed on May 1st. It was made a legal holiday by the U.S. Congress on July 18, 1958. Vermont National Guard Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie will be the Marshall of this year's downtown parade.
The Marble Valley Players will present the Agatha Christie whodunit, “The Mousetrap,” Today through the 12th at the West Rutland Town Hall Theater. This year marks the 60th anniversary of “The Mousetrap,” which opened in London’s West End in 1952. For details and tickets just visit www.paramounttickets.org.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
WVTK Local & State News May 3, 2012
Mary Hogan School will be hosting a Bike Fair this afternoon from 3:15 – 5. Stop by to test your bike skills and knowledge of current rules of the road through their obstacle course. Give away your old bike gear including locks, reflectors, racks and more! There are also some free helmets and others at reduced cost available. Get the details now by visiting www.maryhoganschool.org.
Westport Central School Board will hold a budget hearing and regular meeting starting at 5:50PM today in the cafeteria. The agenda will also include Committee on Special Education recommendations and tenure appointments. Board meetings are open to the public.
Vermont State Police are currently investigating another Shoreham Burglary. This one took place on Shacksboro Road yesterday. Suspects entered the unoccupied residence and only stole jewelry and it appears they were in the home for a very brief time. If you have information regarding this incident or any of the recent Addison County break-ins please call the Vermont State Police – New Haven Barraks. (802-388-4919)
The Official Event Program marking the Grand Celebration of the new Lake Champlain Bridge is coming! Available at the event and for sale in advance at selected businesses the official event program includes a full schedule of events and performers, site maps, and listings of all the food and craft vendors. The cost is $3 and a portion of the proceeds goes to help fund the celebration. The program is loaded with photos and feature articles about the new bridge. Learn more about this incredible weekend of celebration coming up May 19th & 20th by clicking HERE!
If you love show tunes, you’ll love “Scenes and Songs: A Sampling of Musical Theatre from Opera to Broadway” at Middlebury College. The student-produced showboat of hits will be held Saturday, May 12th at 8PM in the Mahaney Center for the Arts Concert Hall. Talented music students will present a lively evening of musical theater from opera to Broadway. The event is free to the public and sponsored by the Department of Music.
Speaking during Monday’s Ways and Means Committee meeting, Westport Supervisor Daniel Connell said that he did not expect a request from the Agricultural Society to bring back a beer tent at the Essex County Fair for a one-year trial would be “so controversial.” Supervisors voted 11-5 to move the request for a beer tent to the full board meeting May 7, where it will be brought to a weighted vote. He said that the tent and the liquor license had already been purchased for the beer tent, adding that the county had previously adopted a policy for alcohol use, which the fair would fall under.
Protesters gathered on Strongs Ave. near downtown Rutland on Tuesday to advocate against a wind farm project proposed for Rutland County. About 28 people wearing T-shirts that read, “Don’t flat line our Green Mountains,” gathered at the Howe Center. They were referring to Manchester-based wind developer Reunion Power that has proposed a 20-turbine wind farm on the Grandpa Knob ridgeline. The project, which is expected to cost more than $100 million, would be able to produce up to 50 megawatts and touches West Rutland, Castleton, Hubbardton and Pittsford.
A woman at the forefront of efforts to restore endangered peregrine falcons in Vermont was honored Wednesday with an award named for one of the state’s most famous bird lovers. Margaret Fowle was presented with the 2012 CVPS-Zetterstrom Environmental Award for years of work to repatriate peregrine falcons, which grace Vermont’s conservation license plates and represent one of the state’s most successful conservation efforts. The award was accompanied by a $2,500 donation to Audubon Vermont to help continue its avian programs. The award is named for Meeri Zetterstrom, a CVPS customer known as Grandma Osprey, who instigated a recovery effort to restore ospreys in Vermont.
Vermont Senate and House conferees are continuing to disagree on whether police should be able to search a Health Department database on Vermonters' drug prescriptions without a warrant. House conferees on Wednesday stuck to their position that a search warrant should be required for drug investigators to search the database for signs of doctor shopping or other abuses. Senators are pushing for four specially trained drug investigators to have access to the information. Conferees met Wednesday afternoon, agreeing on parts of the bill but not the warrant issue. A Health Department official meanwhile says Vermont is facing an epidemic of prescription drug abuse. Reports on the department's website show prescription drug abuse steady or declining in the state in recent years, with drug related deaths down since 2006.
A legislative conference committee has agreed to make Vermont the first state to ban a hotly debated method for drilling natural gas. Geologists say there appears to be little if any natural gas under Vermont, but lawmakers have been pushing to get a handle on a technique called hydraulic fracturing anyway. The Senate passed a ban on the practice, in which water and chemicals are injected into the ground at high pressure to split layers of rock apart and release gas. The House voted for a 3-year moratorium. But now conferees from the two bodies on Wednesday agreed to an outright prohibition on hydraulic fracturing, and a study by the state's environmental agency. The measure still needs final votes in the House and Senate before going to Gov. Peter Shumlin.
Vermont's governor has allowed a ban on the use of tanning beds by young people to become law without his signature. Governor Peter Shumlin said Wednesday that he did not approve of the legislation because of concerns about how it would be enforced. Owners of establishments with tanning beds who are caught allowing people younger than 18 to use them would face fines.
Federal authorities say a New York City man who recruited people to come to Vermont and sell crack-cocaine and heroin has been sentenced to over 18 years in prison as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. The U.S. Attorney's office says 40-year-old Todd Jarvis of the Bronx, NY pleaded guilty last fall to conspiring to distribute crack-cocaine. Court records say he ran a large-scale crack and heroin distribution ring in central Vermont from 2006 through 2009.
A project to help heat Vermont state offices and a number of private buildings in downtown Montpelier with a new biomass system is getting a $1.75 million boost with a federal grant and loan. The nearly $20 million project is being funded with a variety of funding from the state, city and federal governments.
The New York State Senate's Republican majority provided almost $10 million more in school aid Tuesday night, but only to school districts represented by Republican senators this election year. In one of the most heated floor fights in recent years in the sharply partisan chamber, Senate Democrats called the unexpected extra school aid nothing more than pork-barrel spending, which was supposed to be eliminated in the budget adopted in March. The debate also ignited an upstate versus downstate fight in the chamber where Republicans have a 32-30 majority.
Brandon Music will present the Jonathan Lorentz Trio, this Sunday at 7PM. The concert is a part of the year-round weekly "Sunday Jazz" series and is a benefit for the new Compass Music and Arts Center. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Lorentz will perform at Brandon Music with bassist Anthony Santor and drummer Gabe Jarrett. Get more information on CMAC and reserve tickets today by visiting www.brandon-music.net!
Rutland's 43rd annual Loyalty Day Parade will be held downtown at 2PM this Sunday. The annual event is Vermont's largest parade and is sponsored by the Rutland Veterans of Foreign Wars. Rutland's parade began in 1959 although the first Loyalty Day was celebrated in 1921 as a response to the communist's International Workers Day. It is officially observed on May 1st. It was made a legal holiday by the U.S. Congress on July 18, 1958. Vermont National Guard Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie will be the Marshall of this year's downtown parade.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Parks & Trails New York are teaming up for I Love My Park Day, a statewide event to improve parks and historic sites. Online registration is now available for volunteers to sign up for improvement projects taking place at more than 30 parks and historic sites Saturday. To find an event or sign up to volunteer, visit www.ptny.org/ilovemypark.
A few clicks could help land a Vermont student's artwork on the front page of Google. Milton 4th grader Kaziah Vaughn will represent Vermont in the "Doodle 4 Google" competition. "I was proud and shocked at the same time," says Kaziah. As hundreds of students shuffled into the Milton Elementary School gym Wednesday, only one was headed to a national competition. Google says about 114,000 students across the United States entered this competition. Students across the country designed a new logo for Google's homepage. Kaziah says she spent about two-weeks on the watercolor. The competition's theme was “where would you like to travel to.” Kaziah picked a trip to the 14th century. "I have always wanted to see knights, jousters, see castles towering in the sky," says Kaziah. Cricket Cobler is Kaziah's art teacher and has watched her develop since kindergarten. "She's always coloring. She's always doodling," says Cobler. "If you give her something, she always takes it two or three steps further." Kaziah's design is up against the artwork of students from every state. Later this month Kaziah will find out if her medieval watercolor won a spot on Google's homepage. "I'd be busting in air like a rocket," says Kaziah. Now Kaziah still has to get to the final round. To do that, she needs you to vote for her design. CLICK HERE TO VOTE! Google will then pick the winner from the top five.
Westport Central School Board will hold a budget hearing and regular meeting starting at 5:50PM today in the cafeteria. The agenda will also include Committee on Special Education recommendations and tenure appointments. Board meetings are open to the public.
Vermont State Police are currently investigating another Shoreham Burglary. This one took place on Shacksboro Road yesterday. Suspects entered the unoccupied residence and only stole jewelry and it appears they were in the home for a very brief time. If you have information regarding this incident or any of the recent Addison County break-ins please call the Vermont State Police – New Haven Barraks. (802-388-4919)
The Official Event Program marking the Grand Celebration of the new Lake Champlain Bridge is coming! Available at the event and for sale in advance at selected businesses the official event program includes a full schedule of events and performers, site maps, and listings of all the food and craft vendors. The cost is $3 and a portion of the proceeds goes to help fund the celebration. The program is loaded with photos and feature articles about the new bridge. Learn more about this incredible weekend of celebration coming up May 19th & 20th by clicking HERE!
If you love show tunes, you’ll love “Scenes and Songs: A Sampling of Musical Theatre from Opera to Broadway” at Middlebury College. The student-produced showboat of hits will be held Saturday, May 12th at 8PM in the Mahaney Center for the Arts Concert Hall. Talented music students will present a lively evening of musical theater from opera to Broadway. The event is free to the public and sponsored by the Department of Music.
Speaking during Monday’s Ways and Means Committee meeting, Westport Supervisor Daniel Connell said that he did not expect a request from the Agricultural Society to bring back a beer tent at the Essex County Fair for a one-year trial would be “so controversial.” Supervisors voted 11-5 to move the request for a beer tent to the full board meeting May 7, where it will be brought to a weighted vote. He said that the tent and the liquor license had already been purchased for the beer tent, adding that the county had previously adopted a policy for alcohol use, which the fair would fall under.
Protesters gathered on Strongs Ave. near downtown Rutland on Tuesday to advocate against a wind farm project proposed for Rutland County. About 28 people wearing T-shirts that read, “Don’t flat line our Green Mountains,” gathered at the Howe Center. They were referring to Manchester-based wind developer Reunion Power that has proposed a 20-turbine wind farm on the Grandpa Knob ridgeline. The project, which is expected to cost more than $100 million, would be able to produce up to 50 megawatts and touches West Rutland, Castleton, Hubbardton and Pittsford.
A woman at the forefront of efforts to restore endangered peregrine falcons in Vermont was honored Wednesday with an award named for one of the state’s most famous bird lovers. Margaret Fowle was presented with the 2012 CVPS-Zetterstrom Environmental Award for years of work to repatriate peregrine falcons, which grace Vermont’s conservation license plates and represent one of the state’s most successful conservation efforts. The award was accompanied by a $2,500 donation to Audubon Vermont to help continue its avian programs. The award is named for Meeri Zetterstrom, a CVPS customer known as Grandma Osprey, who instigated a recovery effort to restore ospreys in Vermont.
Vermont Senate and House conferees are continuing to disagree on whether police should be able to search a Health Department database on Vermonters' drug prescriptions without a warrant. House conferees on Wednesday stuck to their position that a search warrant should be required for drug investigators to search the database for signs of doctor shopping or other abuses. Senators are pushing for four specially trained drug investigators to have access to the information. Conferees met Wednesday afternoon, agreeing on parts of the bill but not the warrant issue. A Health Department official meanwhile says Vermont is facing an epidemic of prescription drug abuse. Reports on the department's website show prescription drug abuse steady or declining in the state in recent years, with drug related deaths down since 2006.
A legislative conference committee has agreed to make Vermont the first state to ban a hotly debated method for drilling natural gas. Geologists say there appears to be little if any natural gas under Vermont, but lawmakers have been pushing to get a handle on a technique called hydraulic fracturing anyway. The Senate passed a ban on the practice, in which water and chemicals are injected into the ground at high pressure to split layers of rock apart and release gas. The House voted for a 3-year moratorium. But now conferees from the two bodies on Wednesday agreed to an outright prohibition on hydraulic fracturing, and a study by the state's environmental agency. The measure still needs final votes in the House and Senate before going to Gov. Peter Shumlin.
Vermont's governor has allowed a ban on the use of tanning beds by young people to become law without his signature. Governor Peter Shumlin said Wednesday that he did not approve of the legislation because of concerns about how it would be enforced. Owners of establishments with tanning beds who are caught allowing people younger than 18 to use them would face fines.
Federal authorities say a New York City man who recruited people to come to Vermont and sell crack-cocaine and heroin has been sentenced to over 18 years in prison as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. The U.S. Attorney's office says 40-year-old Todd Jarvis of the Bronx, NY pleaded guilty last fall to conspiring to distribute crack-cocaine. Court records say he ran a large-scale crack and heroin distribution ring in central Vermont from 2006 through 2009.
A project to help heat Vermont state offices and a number of private buildings in downtown Montpelier with a new biomass system is getting a $1.75 million boost with a federal grant and loan. The nearly $20 million project is being funded with a variety of funding from the state, city and federal governments.
The New York State Senate's Republican majority provided almost $10 million more in school aid Tuesday night, but only to school districts represented by Republican senators this election year. In one of the most heated floor fights in recent years in the sharply partisan chamber, Senate Democrats called the unexpected extra school aid nothing more than pork-barrel spending, which was supposed to be eliminated in the budget adopted in March. The debate also ignited an upstate versus downstate fight in the chamber where Republicans have a 32-30 majority.
Brandon Music will present the Jonathan Lorentz Trio, this Sunday at 7PM. The concert is a part of the year-round weekly "Sunday Jazz" series and is a benefit for the new Compass Music and Arts Center. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Lorentz will perform at Brandon Music with bassist Anthony Santor and drummer Gabe Jarrett. Get more information on CMAC and reserve tickets today by visiting www.brandon-music.net!
Rutland's 43rd annual Loyalty Day Parade will be held downtown at 2PM this Sunday. The annual event is Vermont's largest parade and is sponsored by the Rutland Veterans of Foreign Wars. Rutland's parade began in 1959 although the first Loyalty Day was celebrated in 1921 as a response to the communist's International Workers Day. It is officially observed on May 1st. It was made a legal holiday by the U.S. Congress on July 18, 1958. Vermont National Guard Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie will be the Marshall of this year's downtown parade.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Parks & Trails New York are teaming up for I Love My Park Day, a statewide event to improve parks and historic sites. Online registration is now available for volunteers to sign up for improvement projects taking place at more than 30 parks and historic sites Saturday. To find an event or sign up to volunteer, visit www.ptny.org/ilovemypark.
A few clicks could help land a Vermont student's artwork on the front page of Google. Milton 4th grader Kaziah Vaughn will represent Vermont in the "Doodle 4 Google" competition. "I was proud and shocked at the same time," says Kaziah. As hundreds of students shuffled into the Milton Elementary School gym Wednesday, only one was headed to a national competition. Google says about 114,000 students across the United States entered this competition. Students across the country designed a new logo for Google's homepage. Kaziah says she spent about two-weeks on the watercolor. The competition's theme was “where would you like to travel to.” Kaziah picked a trip to the 14th century. "I have always wanted to see knights, jousters, see castles towering in the sky," says Kaziah. Cricket Cobler is Kaziah's art teacher and has watched her develop since kindergarten. "She's always coloring. She's always doodling," says Cobler. "If you give her something, she always takes it two or three steps further." Kaziah's design is up against the artwork of students from every state. Later this month Kaziah will find out if her medieval watercolor won a spot on Google's homepage. "I'd be busting in air like a rocket," says Kaziah. Now Kaziah still has to get to the final round. To do that, she needs you to vote for her design. CLICK HERE TO VOTE! Google will then pick the winner from the top five.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
WVTK Local & Sate News May 2, 2012
Vermont’s first community health center facility in Addison County will be built while an Essex County site will be refurbished with $2.2 million in new Affordable Care Act grants that the Vermont congressional delegation announced on Tuesday. The Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region was awarded $1.3 million to construct an office in Shoreham. The new Addison County facility is to be built on a site where a 2010 fire destroyed the 200-year-old building that housed the office of the community’s only physician. The satellite office will be the first Federally Qualified Health Center site in the rural county of 37,000 residents. Open to everyone, the centers care for patients covered by Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance, as well as those who have no insurance. Payments are on a sliding scale, so people with low or moderate incomes can afford the services.
Mary Hogan School will be hosting a Bike Fair tomorrow afternoon from 3:15 – 5. Stop by to test your bike skills and knowledge of current rules of the road through their obstacle course. Give away your old bike gear including locks, reflectors, racks and more! There are also some free helmets and others at reduced cost available. Get the details now by visiting www.maryhoganschool.org.
Westport Central School Board will hold a budget hearing and regular meeting starting at 5:50PM on Thursday in the cafeteria. The agenda will also include Committee on Special Education recommendations and tenure appointments. Board meetings are open to the public.
On Saturday, May 12th from 6:30-10PM, you can help celebrate the centennial of the Bixby Memorial Library at their annual gala to be held at Basin Harbor Club on Lake Champlain in Ferrisburgh. Fine food, music, dancing demonstrations, a silent auction, and raffle items will be part of the evening festivities. According to the library, this year’s gala theme will be “Happy Birthday, Bixby Library”. The event kicks off a yearlong centennial. Bixby Gala tickets are available in Vergennes at the library as well as at Linda’s Apparel and at People’s United Bank in both Vergennes and Middlebury.
Four Winds Nature Institute is a non-profit organization that has been around since 2006 and is designed to advance the understanding, appreciation and protection of the environment through community-based natural science education. However the Bristol program is in danger of closing. Approximately 34 volunteers are needed in order for every class at Bristol Elementary School to have the program. But even if every class couldn’t have the program they still need at least 24 volunteers to even be able to continue. Currently they have eight regulars. There’s still hope for the program but in-class volunteers are needed to sustain it. If you are interested please contact program coordinator Carolyn Knight. (802-453-7166)
The Holiday Inn in Rutland is being put up for auction by its owner C-III Capital Partners of Irving, Texas. The property is being sold at auction this month, 18 months after the Wolfe and McLaughlin families turned the keys over to their major creditor. According to the listing on Auction.com, online bidding for the property begins May 15 and ends May 17. Bidding starts at $900,000 with a bid deposit of $10,000.
Two Rutland police officers who had been on paid administrative leave pending an investigation are now apparently out altogether. Sergeant John Johnson had worked for the Rutland City police department for nearly 30 years but is now retired, while Officer Earl Post, who was close to his ten-year anniversary, has resigned. The investigation into their actions took four months, and although no criminal misconduct was found, the chief cannot talk about the results. The department is now eight officers short and a city hiring freeze is in effect.
After 28 years with the same leader, College of St. Joseph in Rutland has a new president. Richard Lloyd comes to the college from Nebraska, but has experience working at a private, religion-affiliated college. Lloyd was chosen after a nine-month search for a successor to Frank Miglorie. Lloyd will become the college’s fifth president, assuming his post on July 1st.
Businesses in the town of Brandon will be opened later hours the first Friday of every month throughout the summer. Starting this Friday, the First Friday initiative by the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce, will keep businesses open until 9PM the first Friday each month. Chamber president and downtown merchant Beth Carr said they recognize that many people who work out of town all week do not have the chance to shop locally. They hope with the longer hours it will attract more customers to the downtown to shop and get something to eat. For more information, contact the Brandon Area of Chamber of Commerce at 247-6401 or email info@brandon.org.
Brandon Music will present the Jonathan Lorentz Trio, this Sunday at 7PM. The concert is a part of the year-round weekly "Sunday Jazz" series and is a benefit for the new Compass Music and Arts Center. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Lorentz will perform at Brandon Music with bassist Anthony Santor and drummer Gabe Jarrett. Get more information on CMAC and reserve tickets today by visiting www.brandon-music.net!
On Monday, Vermont State Police New Haven responded to a report of a burglary at home on Route 30 in Cornwall. Entry was gained through the front door of the residence. Several pieces of jewelry were taken from the property. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Vermont State Police – New Haven Barracks. (802-388-4919)
Vermont State Police are searching for a man believed to have been behind the wheel of a stolen truck that crashed into two cars parked alongside Route 30. Police were called to 39-82 Route 30 in Sudbury at about 5:20 Monday morning after residents at the home were awakened by the sound of a crash outside. The truck the man was driving, a 2004 Ford F-550, was reported stolen earlier that night from the Garden Time Shop on Route 7 in Rutland Town. Anyone with information about the crash or the theft of the truck is asked to call Vermont State Police in Rutland. (802-773-9101)
Parents of Clarendon Elementary School students are meeting Thursday to discuss their concerns over certain teachers not being replaced and the possibility of increased class sizes. According to Superintendent Dana Cole-Levesque, the Clarendon Elementary School Board is studying a draft plan to not replace at least two teachers, one in sixth-grade and a second in fifth-grade, and move toward a more co-teaching model, where special educators, paraeducators and teachers work with one another in the same classroom.
The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce will be having their spring Five Hundred Dollar Friday raffle. Tickets will be available throughout the month of May. For a $20.00 donation you can receive a ticket for a chance to win $500.00, which will be given away every Friday in June. For more information contact the Chamber office. Meanwhile they are set to host their Spring Open House next Wednesday, May 9th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. The open house is open to all Chamber members who what to learn more about their benefits and any businesses or organization interested in becoming a TACC member. Get all of the details right now at www.ticonderogany.com.
Vermont state police say the man who was shot and killed by a trooper in Cambridge yesterday...wanted to die. Police say 40-year-old Jonathan Martel broke into a home and fled from police. After they tracked him down... They say Martel threatened a trooper...and the trooper opened fire. A bullet hit Martel... And he died on the way to the hospital. Fox 44's Nick Natario explains. Less than 24 hours after Vermont state police told us a trooper had shot and killed a man...they finally released more information surrounding what happened. Abc 22 learned several new pieces of information Tuesday...during a news conference. First...the suspect's name...it's 40-year old Jonathan Martel. Police say around noon Monday, he was the one who broke into this Johnson, Vermont home. After police arrived they say Martel took off. They tracked him down to Cambridge. Police say Martel ran into the woods...where trooper Dustin Robinson followed him. They say Robinson asked Martel to stop. He didn't. Police say instead...Martel held up a metal object and acted like he was going to shoot. That's when trooper Robinson fired seven shots...all of them missing Martel. But they say he turned toward Robinson again...and Robinson fired one more shot. It hit Martel in the back. During the near half hour news conference...many of us questioned how he was shot in the back...if he was facing the trooper. "They turn that presents a smaller target frame if you will for the shooter and there are many times where the bullet will lodge, would enter in an extremity or another portion. Not straight on." what's more...that metal object Martel was holding...was *not* a weapon. "Trooper Robinson noticed Martel was holding a cell phone and ask Martel why he pointed that at him. Martel responded, I wanted to die. Nick Natario Fox 44 news. The trooper has been placed on leave while state police and the attorney general determine whether the shooting was justified.
Vermont House and Senate members are set to decide whether to accept a conference committee's compromise on childhood immunizations. The House wanted to maintain a philosophical exemption for parents who don't want to have their kids get the roughly 20 shots required before entering kindergarten. The Senate wanted to get rid of that exemption, saying doing so would boost immunization rates, which are a key public health measure. Now a conference committee has proposed allowing the philosophical exemption unless the immunization rate falls below 90 percent for a given vaccine, in which case no further philosophical exemptions would be approved. For that measure to become law, both the House and Senate need to approve the compromise, and prospects for that are uncertain.
Vermont lawmakers have completed the arduous process of redrawing legislative district maps for the next 10 years. The Burlington Free Press reports Burlington is gaining a House seat, while Rutland County is losing one. Other changes are being made as well. The object of the process is equal representation, meaning each House and Senate member is supposed to represent about the same number of Vermont residents.
The Vermont Senate has voted against taking any more action to pass a campaign finance reform law, meaning the issue is dead for this year. The Senate voted 19-9 on Tuesday afternoon to send a bill that would have set limits on donations to people running for state offices to the Judiciary Committee. Sen. Richard Sears, the Bennington Democrat who chairs the committee, says there isn't time to act on the measure before lawmakers adjourn this weekend. The bill was approved by another Senate committee more than a year ago and had been awaiting action since then. The bill's demise means Vermont faces another election cycle relying on an old campaign finance law deemed back in effect after a U.S. Supreme Court decision struck down a more recent law.
Yesterday Vermont’s house of representatives sent a clear message that the federal government should consider allowing gay men to donate blood. Right now gay men are banned for life from donating blood. That's because of concerns about HIV. But Vermont lawmakers say with new HIV testing those men should be able to donate after a waiting period. Yesterday the Vermont house almost unanimously passed a resolution to support changing the rule. Rep. Matthew Trieber: "No one has been able to point to an instance where a legislative body at a state level has decided to actually take a stance on this particular issue. So i think we could be the forefront of this." The American Red Cross also supports eliminating the lifetime ban. Later this month, the FDA will hold a hearing about the policy.
With the fiscal 2013 Vermont budget in a legislative conference committee and other bills falling into place, Vermont lawmakers say they're optimistic they'll be able to wrap up their business for the year by this weekend. Last-minute snags still could push the 2012 session into next week, including Senate add-ons to the budget bill that House conferees have labeled non-starters. Among them: a measure that effectively would tell the Public Service Board to require two utilities that want to merge to make $21 million in payments to ratepayers as a condition for getting the board's approval. But another possible sticking point has been resolved, with House and Senate approval and Gov. Peter Shumlin's signature on a plan for reapportionment of legislative districts in keeping with the 2010 census.
Hundreds of demonstrators paraded through Vermont's capital city on May Day calling for health care for all, environmental justice and an end to corporate greed. In a "put people first" rally on the Statehouse lawn, activists chanted "We are the 99%." Participants included members of the Occupy movements in Vermont, the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Care Professionals, the Vermont Workers' Center, Rural Vermont and others. May Day protests across the world Tuesday drew tens of thousands of demonstrators into the streets from the Philippines and Pakistan to Greece and Spain.
Mary Hogan School will be hosting a Bike Fair tomorrow afternoon from 3:15 – 5. Stop by to test your bike skills and knowledge of current rules of the road through their obstacle course. Give away your old bike gear including locks, reflectors, racks and more! There are also some free helmets and others at reduced cost available. Get the details now by visiting www.maryhoganschool.org.
Westport Central School Board will hold a budget hearing and regular meeting starting at 5:50PM on Thursday in the cafeteria. The agenda will also include Committee on Special Education recommendations and tenure appointments. Board meetings are open to the public.
On Saturday, May 12th from 6:30-10PM, you can help celebrate the centennial of the Bixby Memorial Library at their annual gala to be held at Basin Harbor Club on Lake Champlain in Ferrisburgh. Fine food, music, dancing demonstrations, a silent auction, and raffle items will be part of the evening festivities. According to the library, this year’s gala theme will be “Happy Birthday, Bixby Library”. The event kicks off a yearlong centennial. Bixby Gala tickets are available in Vergennes at the library as well as at Linda’s Apparel and at People’s United Bank in both Vergennes and Middlebury.
Four Winds Nature Institute is a non-profit organization that has been around since 2006 and is designed to advance the understanding, appreciation and protection of the environment through community-based natural science education. However the Bristol program is in danger of closing. Approximately 34 volunteers are needed in order for every class at Bristol Elementary School to have the program. But even if every class couldn’t have the program they still need at least 24 volunteers to even be able to continue. Currently they have eight regulars. There’s still hope for the program but in-class volunteers are needed to sustain it. If you are interested please contact program coordinator Carolyn Knight. (802-453-7166)
The Holiday Inn in Rutland is being put up for auction by its owner C-III Capital Partners of Irving, Texas. The property is being sold at auction this month, 18 months after the Wolfe and McLaughlin families turned the keys over to their major creditor. According to the listing on Auction.com, online bidding for the property begins May 15 and ends May 17. Bidding starts at $900,000 with a bid deposit of $10,000.
Two Rutland police officers who had been on paid administrative leave pending an investigation are now apparently out altogether. Sergeant John Johnson had worked for the Rutland City police department for nearly 30 years but is now retired, while Officer Earl Post, who was close to his ten-year anniversary, has resigned. The investigation into their actions took four months, and although no criminal misconduct was found, the chief cannot talk about the results. The department is now eight officers short and a city hiring freeze is in effect.
After 28 years with the same leader, College of St. Joseph in Rutland has a new president. Richard Lloyd comes to the college from Nebraska, but has experience working at a private, religion-affiliated college. Lloyd was chosen after a nine-month search for a successor to Frank Miglorie. Lloyd will become the college’s fifth president, assuming his post on July 1st.
Businesses in the town of Brandon will be opened later hours the first Friday of every month throughout the summer. Starting this Friday, the First Friday initiative by the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce, will keep businesses open until 9PM the first Friday each month. Chamber president and downtown merchant Beth Carr said they recognize that many people who work out of town all week do not have the chance to shop locally. They hope with the longer hours it will attract more customers to the downtown to shop and get something to eat. For more information, contact the Brandon Area of Chamber of Commerce at 247-6401 or email info@brandon.org.
Brandon Music will present the Jonathan Lorentz Trio, this Sunday at 7PM. The concert is a part of the year-round weekly "Sunday Jazz" series and is a benefit for the new Compass Music and Arts Center. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Lorentz will perform at Brandon Music with bassist Anthony Santor and drummer Gabe Jarrett. Get more information on CMAC and reserve tickets today by visiting www.brandon-music.net!
On Monday, Vermont State Police New Haven responded to a report of a burglary at home on Route 30 in Cornwall. Entry was gained through the front door of the residence. Several pieces of jewelry were taken from the property. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Vermont State Police – New Haven Barracks. (802-388-4919)
Vermont State Police are searching for a man believed to have been behind the wheel of a stolen truck that crashed into two cars parked alongside Route 30. Police were called to 39-82 Route 30 in Sudbury at about 5:20 Monday morning after residents at the home were awakened by the sound of a crash outside. The truck the man was driving, a 2004 Ford F-550, was reported stolen earlier that night from the Garden Time Shop on Route 7 in Rutland Town. Anyone with information about the crash or the theft of the truck is asked to call Vermont State Police in Rutland. (802-773-9101)
Parents of Clarendon Elementary School students are meeting Thursday to discuss their concerns over certain teachers not being replaced and the possibility of increased class sizes. According to Superintendent Dana Cole-Levesque, the Clarendon Elementary School Board is studying a draft plan to not replace at least two teachers, one in sixth-grade and a second in fifth-grade, and move toward a more co-teaching model, where special educators, paraeducators and teachers work with one another in the same classroom.
The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce will be having their spring Five Hundred Dollar Friday raffle. Tickets will be available throughout the month of May. For a $20.00 donation you can receive a ticket for a chance to win $500.00, which will be given away every Friday in June. For more information contact the Chamber office. Meanwhile they are set to host their Spring Open House next Wednesday, May 9th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. The open house is open to all Chamber members who what to learn more about their benefits and any businesses or organization interested in becoming a TACC member. Get all of the details right now at www.ticonderogany.com.
Vermont state police say the man who was shot and killed by a trooper in Cambridge yesterday...wanted to die. Police say 40-year-old Jonathan Martel broke into a home and fled from police. After they tracked him down... They say Martel threatened a trooper...and the trooper opened fire. A bullet hit Martel... And he died on the way to the hospital. Fox 44's Nick Natario explains. Less than 24 hours after Vermont state police told us a trooper had shot and killed a man...they finally released more information surrounding what happened. Abc 22 learned several new pieces of information Tuesday...during a news conference. First...the suspect's name...it's 40-year old Jonathan Martel. Police say around noon Monday, he was the one who broke into this Johnson, Vermont home. After police arrived they say Martel took off. They tracked him down to Cambridge. Police say Martel ran into the woods...where trooper Dustin Robinson followed him. They say Robinson asked Martel to stop. He didn't. Police say instead...Martel held up a metal object and acted like he was going to shoot. That's when trooper Robinson fired seven shots...all of them missing Martel. But they say he turned toward Robinson again...and Robinson fired one more shot. It hit Martel in the back. During the near half hour news conference...many of us questioned how he was shot in the back...if he was facing the trooper. "They turn that presents a smaller target frame if you will for the shooter and there are many times where the bullet will lodge, would enter in an extremity or another portion. Not straight on." what's more...that metal object Martel was holding...was *not* a weapon. "Trooper Robinson noticed Martel was holding a cell phone and ask Martel why he pointed that at him. Martel responded, I wanted to die. Nick Natario Fox 44 news. The trooper has been placed on leave while state police and the attorney general determine whether the shooting was justified.
Vermont House and Senate members are set to decide whether to accept a conference committee's compromise on childhood immunizations. The House wanted to maintain a philosophical exemption for parents who don't want to have their kids get the roughly 20 shots required before entering kindergarten. The Senate wanted to get rid of that exemption, saying doing so would boost immunization rates, which are a key public health measure. Now a conference committee has proposed allowing the philosophical exemption unless the immunization rate falls below 90 percent for a given vaccine, in which case no further philosophical exemptions would be approved. For that measure to become law, both the House and Senate need to approve the compromise, and prospects for that are uncertain.
Vermont lawmakers have completed the arduous process of redrawing legislative district maps for the next 10 years. The Burlington Free Press reports Burlington is gaining a House seat, while Rutland County is losing one. Other changes are being made as well. The object of the process is equal representation, meaning each House and Senate member is supposed to represent about the same number of Vermont residents.
The Vermont Senate has voted against taking any more action to pass a campaign finance reform law, meaning the issue is dead for this year. The Senate voted 19-9 on Tuesday afternoon to send a bill that would have set limits on donations to people running for state offices to the Judiciary Committee. Sen. Richard Sears, the Bennington Democrat who chairs the committee, says there isn't time to act on the measure before lawmakers adjourn this weekend. The bill was approved by another Senate committee more than a year ago and had been awaiting action since then. The bill's demise means Vermont faces another election cycle relying on an old campaign finance law deemed back in effect after a U.S. Supreme Court decision struck down a more recent law.
Yesterday Vermont’s house of representatives sent a clear message that the federal government should consider allowing gay men to donate blood. Right now gay men are banned for life from donating blood. That's because of concerns about HIV. But Vermont lawmakers say with new HIV testing those men should be able to donate after a waiting period. Yesterday the Vermont house almost unanimously passed a resolution to support changing the rule. Rep. Matthew Trieber: "No one has been able to point to an instance where a legislative body at a state level has decided to actually take a stance on this particular issue. So i think we could be the forefront of this." The American Red Cross also supports eliminating the lifetime ban. Later this month, the FDA will hold a hearing about the policy.
With the fiscal 2013 Vermont budget in a legislative conference committee and other bills falling into place, Vermont lawmakers say they're optimistic they'll be able to wrap up their business for the year by this weekend. Last-minute snags still could push the 2012 session into next week, including Senate add-ons to the budget bill that House conferees have labeled non-starters. Among them: a measure that effectively would tell the Public Service Board to require two utilities that want to merge to make $21 million in payments to ratepayers as a condition for getting the board's approval. But another possible sticking point has been resolved, with House and Senate approval and Gov. Peter Shumlin's signature on a plan for reapportionment of legislative districts in keeping with the 2010 census.
Hundreds of demonstrators paraded through Vermont's capital city on May Day calling for health care for all, environmental justice and an end to corporate greed. In a "put people first" rally on the Statehouse lawn, activists chanted "We are the 99%." Participants included members of the Occupy movements in Vermont, the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Care Professionals, the Vermont Workers' Center, Rural Vermont and others. May Day protests across the world Tuesday drew tens of thousands of demonstrators into the streets from the Philippines and Pakistan to Greece and Spain.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
WVTK Local & State News May 1, 2012
Seymour Street here in Middlebury will be closed to through traffic today from 7AM until 5PM. It will be closed at Main Street and at Elm Street for water main work at the Fire Station. Access to businesses and residences north of the Fire Station will be via the Elm Street End.
Addison County Sheriff James B. Coons’ life was celebrated during a memorial service yesterday at Middlebury College. Family and friends gathered in Mead Memorial Chapel, joined by former colleagues and local and state officials to remember and honor Coons’ dedication to his family, community and state throughout his life. He passed away on April 16th at his home following a brief battle with cancer at 59. The Middlebury native began is career with the Middlebury Police Department in 1972, serving for 10 years including as acting chief. He was elected sheriff in 1982 to become the longest-term sheriff currently serving in the state when he died.
Two families must decide if and how to continue their businesses after a devastating fire. That fire heavily damaged a Ferrisburgh building, which housed a boat store and a farm repair shop. Both families have run their businesses for decades. While both say they have insurance, they say it's unclear what will be covered as they try to rebuild. At this point, the fire chief says he believes the fire started in the back of the building and thinks it might be accidental. He says it does not appear to be suspicious.
On Monday Vermont State Police responded to a report of a burglary on Shacksboro Road in Shoreham. Entry was made to the residence by forcing a window open in the rear of the house. Nothing was taken from the residence. Meanwhile a suspect entered a residence on Richville Road in Shoreham through an unlocked door while the owner was at the local post office. The suspect rummaged through the residence and stole several pieces of jewelry and left through another door prior to the homeowner returning. Anyone with information on either of these two Shoreham break-ins is encouraged to contact Vermont State Police at the New Haven Barracks.
Sometime Sunday evening a suspect entered an unlocked vehicle on Horton Road in Orwell and discovered that the keys were in the vehicle. The suspect then stole the vehicle. The owner did not discover it stolen until approximately 8AM the following day. The vehicle was stolen with approximately three quarters of a tank of fuel. If you have information regarding this theft, please call the New Haven State Police Barracks. (802-388-4919)
Green Up day occurs in several communities around Addison County this Saturday. The annual tradition began in Vermont during the 1970s. In Middlebury, bags are available at the Municipal Building and at Otter Creek Brewery. You can drop off your filled bags Saturday and Sunday at the brewery. Also municipal trucks will be parked at the Middlebury Recreation Park, Municipal Gym and at the East Middlebury Fire Station. A cook out will be held at Otter Creek Brewery Saturday from 11:30AM - 1:30PM. For Green Up schedules in other Addison County towns contact your local town clerk’s office for litter pick-up times.
The Owner and President of Paw Print & Mail and Catamount Marketing, Tom Brassard, has joined the Champlain Valley Association for the Aging Board of Directors. He is a native of Burlington. He serves on the board as vice chairman for the Burlington Business Association and is a longtime supporter of CVAA. He was a major supporter of CVAA's Driving Force Event previously held each February in Quebec featuring go-kart racers that raced to end senior hunger.
The price of trash disposal in Ticonderoga is going up. The town board has approved a rate increase from the present 10 cents a pound to 15 cents a pound. The increase will be effective as soon as new trash tickets are received from a printer. All previously sold trash tickets will be honored at the town trash transfer station. New trash tickets will be sold in $6, $15 and $30 increments. It’s the first increase in the price of garbage disposal since the town opened its transfer station more than 20 years ago.
Runners will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as part of the grand opening celebration for the new Lake Champlain Bridge. “The New York/Vermont 5K Champlain Bridge Run,” a 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) road race, will be held at 3PM Sunday, May 20th. The course, which will start at the Crown Point State Historic Site, will traverse the bridge into Vermont, return across the bridge and run through the New York State campsite on Lake Champlain before finishing back at the historic site. The LaChute Road Runners Club of Ticonderoga is sponsoring the race and you can register online at active.com.
The New York Assembly is cracking down on a legal drug that has been linked to seizures, heart attacks, even death. On Monday, the New York Senate passed a bill that would make it illegal to sell or possess synthetic marijuana. Synthetic marijuana is a mix of herbs and synthetic chemicals. New York and the Federal government already banned some of those chemicals but producers of the drug found new ones. This bill would criminalize all synthetic marijuana. High school student, Sarah Sandberg, who experienced negative health effects from the drug, says this bill is much needed. "All I remember is taking the first hit and I woke up in the hospital with heart monitors and everything strapped to me,” Sandberg and a group of other outspoken teens from Essex County New York held a rally Monday in support of the Senate. They hope that the Federal government will soon criminalize all synthetic marijuana as well.
An informational meeting on a public vote that will decide to keep the existing form of town government or change it is being held Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the town offices. The public vote is May 7 by paper ballot from 7AM to 7PM. Killington town officials met Monday morning to finalize a letter that will be sent to the voting public, informing them of the implications of not having a town manager.
The Downtown Rutland Partnership wants motorists on Route 7 know just what the city has to offer. New way-finding signs are scheduled to go up June 1, replacing the marble ones that sit at the corners of Main Street and Center, West and Washington streets, with a fourth sign going up on Madison Street. The signs double as street signs and offer a generalized list of attractions. All four let travelers know “shopping” and “dining” can be found downtown.
Passenger service at the Vermont state airport that serves the Rutland area is being suspended this week so crews can install a long-awaited instrument landing system. The 88 travelers who had been booked on the Cape Air flights out of the Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport in North Clarendon this week have been offered refunds or seats on flights out of Lebanon, New Hampshire.
A House and Senate panel now have a compromise on the controversial immunization issue. Currently parents can "opt out" of having their children vaccinated for religious, health, or philosophical reasons. The philosophical objection was in danger of being eliminated. The compromise reached Monday afternoon acknowledges there is a public health risk if rates of certain vaccines fall below 90-percent, and if that happens, then the Health Department could automatically rescind the philosophical exemption.
Using MRIs to map out brain activity, looking for patterns of certain behavior, is considered "cutting edge" research in the field of neuro-psychology. Two researchers from the University of Vermont are part of an international study using MRIs to look at teenagers prone to use drugs or alcohol. What's new about this latest study out of Europe is it reveals distinct networks in a 14-year-old's brain linked to risky behavior. Robert Whelan and Hugh Garavan at UVM are involved in the study as well as the follow up now underway, looking at the same group of kids who are now 16.
The 2012 CVPS-Zetterstrom Environmental Award will be presented tomorrow morning at 11 in the Cedar Creek Room of the Vermont Statehouse. The third annual award is named for famed osprey advocate Meeri Zetterstrom, and is designed to honor her legacy while recognizing Vermonters and Vermont organizations that continue to work on behalf of Vermont’s environment. The winner’s story is a great example of dedication and perseverance on behalf of Vermont.
Vermont State Police say a trooper shot a suspect in a home burglary after a police pursuit. The suspect died on the way to the hospital. Police say they were on the lookout for a suspect and the suspect's vehicle that had been involved in a burglary at a residence in Johnson on Monday when the vehicle was spotted in Cambridge. Troopers found the vehicle, a black Volkswagen Jetta, with Florida plates but it was unoccupied. Police say they were setting up a perimeter and deployed a search dogs when a trooper found the suspect. Vermont State Police say the trooper discharged his weapon, injuring the suspect. The suspect died on the way to the hospital.
Vermont lawmakers say they hope to wrap up the 2012 legislative session this week. House Speaker Shap Smith says it really depends on passing a state budget. Legislators worked Saturday and expect to again this weekend. Although Smith wants the session to end by Saturday, he's not 100% certain it will happen. Smith says the state is covered if lawmakers have to stay in Montpelier beyond the weekend because the session is budgeted for another two weeks.
Vermont is working to protect the state's ash trees from an invasive and destructive pest. The state's Agency of Agriculture and the USDA Department of Animal and Plant Inspection Service are hanging purple box traps from trees to detect the emerald ash borer. The traps do not catch the beetle but detect whether they are present. The metallic green beetle has destroyed ash trees in 15 states, but to date hasn't been found in Vermont. But this month researchers in New York announced that the insect has been found east of the Hudson River for the first time, marking its closest known threat to New England.
Congressman Peter Welch is compiling stories about student debt. Welch was at the University of Vermont yesterday where he met with students, some of whom are working multiple jobs and studying full time as they accumulate student loan debt. In Vermont, almost 70% of college graduates have an average of $30,000 in debt.
Police say a missing 12-year-old boy has been found about 1.5 miles from his home in the southern Vermont town of Winhall after a five-hour search. Members of the Winhall police department, U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Forest Service and Vermont game wardens searched for about five hours before a search dog found Conor Marcellus in the woods on Sunday. His parents reported him missing Sunday afternoon. Police say he had walked away from his home.
A Vermont produce company is working to install solar panels with the goal of cutting its utility bill in half. Black River Produce of Springfield sells fruit, vegetables and seafood, and is expanding its meat processing and shipping. The Eagle Times reports a Windsor-based company has won a $1.3 million bid to handle the project. It's called Prudent Living. The 3-year-old company has completed multiple solar projects, including one near Black River Produce. Company Vice President Tim Biebel believes the Black River system would be the largest privately owned solar network in Vermont.
It's opening day of Vermont's spring turkey hunting. Hunters are allowed to get two bearded turkeys during the season, which runs through May 31. Shooting hours are one half an hour before sunrise until 12 noon daily. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says last year hunters took more than 4,700 turkeys in both the youth and regular seasons.
Addison County Sheriff James B. Coons’ life was celebrated during a memorial service yesterday at Middlebury College. Family and friends gathered in Mead Memorial Chapel, joined by former colleagues and local and state officials to remember and honor Coons’ dedication to his family, community and state throughout his life. He passed away on April 16th at his home following a brief battle with cancer at 59. The Middlebury native began is career with the Middlebury Police Department in 1972, serving for 10 years including as acting chief. He was elected sheriff in 1982 to become the longest-term sheriff currently serving in the state when he died.
Two families must decide if and how to continue their businesses after a devastating fire. That fire heavily damaged a Ferrisburgh building, which housed a boat store and a farm repair shop. Both families have run their businesses for decades. While both say they have insurance, they say it's unclear what will be covered as they try to rebuild. At this point, the fire chief says he believes the fire started in the back of the building and thinks it might be accidental. He says it does not appear to be suspicious.
On Monday Vermont State Police responded to a report of a burglary on Shacksboro Road in Shoreham. Entry was made to the residence by forcing a window open in the rear of the house. Nothing was taken from the residence. Meanwhile a suspect entered a residence on Richville Road in Shoreham through an unlocked door while the owner was at the local post office. The suspect rummaged through the residence and stole several pieces of jewelry and left through another door prior to the homeowner returning. Anyone with information on either of these two Shoreham break-ins is encouraged to contact Vermont State Police at the New Haven Barracks.
Sometime Sunday evening a suspect entered an unlocked vehicle on Horton Road in Orwell and discovered that the keys were in the vehicle. The suspect then stole the vehicle. The owner did not discover it stolen until approximately 8AM the following day. The vehicle was stolen with approximately three quarters of a tank of fuel. If you have information regarding this theft, please call the New Haven State Police Barracks. (802-388-4919)
Green Up day occurs in several communities around Addison County this Saturday. The annual tradition began in Vermont during the 1970s. In Middlebury, bags are available at the Municipal Building and at Otter Creek Brewery. You can drop off your filled bags Saturday and Sunday at the brewery. Also municipal trucks will be parked at the Middlebury Recreation Park, Municipal Gym and at the East Middlebury Fire Station. A cook out will be held at Otter Creek Brewery Saturday from 11:30AM - 1:30PM. For Green Up schedules in other Addison County towns contact your local town clerk’s office for litter pick-up times.
The Owner and President of Paw Print & Mail and Catamount Marketing, Tom Brassard, has joined the Champlain Valley Association for the Aging Board of Directors. He is a native of Burlington. He serves on the board as vice chairman for the Burlington Business Association and is a longtime supporter of CVAA. He was a major supporter of CVAA's Driving Force Event previously held each February in Quebec featuring go-kart racers that raced to end senior hunger.
The price of trash disposal in Ticonderoga is going up. The town board has approved a rate increase from the present 10 cents a pound to 15 cents a pound. The increase will be effective as soon as new trash tickets are received from a printer. All previously sold trash tickets will be honored at the town trash transfer station. New trash tickets will be sold in $6, $15 and $30 increments. It’s the first increase in the price of garbage disposal since the town opened its transfer station more than 20 years ago.
Runners will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as part of the grand opening celebration for the new Lake Champlain Bridge. “The New York/Vermont 5K Champlain Bridge Run,” a 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) road race, will be held at 3PM Sunday, May 20th. The course, which will start at the Crown Point State Historic Site, will traverse the bridge into Vermont, return across the bridge and run through the New York State campsite on Lake Champlain before finishing back at the historic site. The LaChute Road Runners Club of Ticonderoga is sponsoring the race and you can register online at active.com.
The New York Assembly is cracking down on a legal drug that has been linked to seizures, heart attacks, even death. On Monday, the New York Senate passed a bill that would make it illegal to sell or possess synthetic marijuana. Synthetic marijuana is a mix of herbs and synthetic chemicals. New York and the Federal government already banned some of those chemicals but producers of the drug found new ones. This bill would criminalize all synthetic marijuana. High school student, Sarah Sandberg, who experienced negative health effects from the drug, says this bill is much needed. "All I remember is taking the first hit and I woke up in the hospital with heart monitors and everything strapped to me,” Sandberg and a group of other outspoken teens from Essex County New York held a rally Monday in support of the Senate. They hope that the Federal government will soon criminalize all synthetic marijuana as well.
An informational meeting on a public vote that will decide to keep the existing form of town government or change it is being held Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the town offices. The public vote is May 7 by paper ballot from 7AM to 7PM. Killington town officials met Monday morning to finalize a letter that will be sent to the voting public, informing them of the implications of not having a town manager.
The Downtown Rutland Partnership wants motorists on Route 7 know just what the city has to offer. New way-finding signs are scheduled to go up June 1, replacing the marble ones that sit at the corners of Main Street and Center, West and Washington streets, with a fourth sign going up on Madison Street. The signs double as street signs and offer a generalized list of attractions. All four let travelers know “shopping” and “dining” can be found downtown.
Passenger service at the Vermont state airport that serves the Rutland area is being suspended this week so crews can install a long-awaited instrument landing system. The 88 travelers who had been booked on the Cape Air flights out of the Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport in North Clarendon this week have been offered refunds or seats on flights out of Lebanon, New Hampshire.
A House and Senate panel now have a compromise on the controversial immunization issue. Currently parents can "opt out" of having their children vaccinated for religious, health, or philosophical reasons. The philosophical objection was in danger of being eliminated. The compromise reached Monday afternoon acknowledges there is a public health risk if rates of certain vaccines fall below 90-percent, and if that happens, then the Health Department could automatically rescind the philosophical exemption.
Using MRIs to map out brain activity, looking for patterns of certain behavior, is considered "cutting edge" research in the field of neuro-psychology. Two researchers from the University of Vermont are part of an international study using MRIs to look at teenagers prone to use drugs or alcohol. What's new about this latest study out of Europe is it reveals distinct networks in a 14-year-old's brain linked to risky behavior. Robert Whelan and Hugh Garavan at UVM are involved in the study as well as the follow up now underway, looking at the same group of kids who are now 16.
The 2012 CVPS-Zetterstrom Environmental Award will be presented tomorrow morning at 11 in the Cedar Creek Room of the Vermont Statehouse. The third annual award is named for famed osprey advocate Meeri Zetterstrom, and is designed to honor her legacy while recognizing Vermonters and Vermont organizations that continue to work on behalf of Vermont’s environment. The winner’s story is a great example of dedication and perseverance on behalf of Vermont.
Vermont State Police say a trooper shot a suspect in a home burglary after a police pursuit. The suspect died on the way to the hospital. Police say they were on the lookout for a suspect and the suspect's vehicle that had been involved in a burglary at a residence in Johnson on Monday when the vehicle was spotted in Cambridge. Troopers found the vehicle, a black Volkswagen Jetta, with Florida plates but it was unoccupied. Police say they were setting up a perimeter and deployed a search dogs when a trooper found the suspect. Vermont State Police say the trooper discharged his weapon, injuring the suspect. The suspect died on the way to the hospital.
Vermont lawmakers say they hope to wrap up the 2012 legislative session this week. House Speaker Shap Smith says it really depends on passing a state budget. Legislators worked Saturday and expect to again this weekend. Although Smith wants the session to end by Saturday, he's not 100% certain it will happen. Smith says the state is covered if lawmakers have to stay in Montpelier beyond the weekend because the session is budgeted for another two weeks.
Vermont is working to protect the state's ash trees from an invasive and destructive pest. The state's Agency of Agriculture and the USDA Department of Animal and Plant Inspection Service are hanging purple box traps from trees to detect the emerald ash borer. The traps do not catch the beetle but detect whether they are present. The metallic green beetle has destroyed ash trees in 15 states, but to date hasn't been found in Vermont. But this month researchers in New York announced that the insect has been found east of the Hudson River for the first time, marking its closest known threat to New England.
Congressman Peter Welch is compiling stories about student debt. Welch was at the University of Vermont yesterday where he met with students, some of whom are working multiple jobs and studying full time as they accumulate student loan debt. In Vermont, almost 70% of college graduates have an average of $30,000 in debt.
Police say a missing 12-year-old boy has been found about 1.5 miles from his home in the southern Vermont town of Winhall after a five-hour search. Members of the Winhall police department, U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Forest Service and Vermont game wardens searched for about five hours before a search dog found Conor Marcellus in the woods on Sunday. His parents reported him missing Sunday afternoon. Police say he had walked away from his home.
A Vermont produce company is working to install solar panels with the goal of cutting its utility bill in half. Black River Produce of Springfield sells fruit, vegetables and seafood, and is expanding its meat processing and shipping. The Eagle Times reports a Windsor-based company has won a $1.3 million bid to handle the project. It's called Prudent Living. The 3-year-old company has completed multiple solar projects, including one near Black River Produce. Company Vice President Tim Biebel believes the Black River system would be the largest privately owned solar network in Vermont.
It's opening day of Vermont's spring turkey hunting. Hunters are allowed to get two bearded turkeys during the season, which runs through May 31. Shooting hours are one half an hour before sunrise until 12 noon daily. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says last year hunters took more than 4,700 turkeys in both the youth and regular seasons.
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