The re-opening celebration of the new Lake Champlain Bridge is this weekend! There will be activities on both sides of the lake with most of them occurring on the grounds or nearby the Chimney Point State Historic Site and the Crown Point State Historic Site. There will be crafters, artisans, food vendors, musicians, performers, tours and more all weekend and it’s all FREE! More than 10,000 attendees are expected throughout the weekend. The bridge will be closed ONLY during the parade, which starts at 11AM on Saturday. Expect the closure to last 60 to 90 minutes—depending on the number of parade participants. This is the only traffic restriction during the weekend. Join Bruce, Hobbes and myself tomorrow morning at the Bridge Restaurant for a special edition of the “Wake-Up Crew”!
According to the Vermont State Police a May 15th accident during a heavy rainstorm on Route 7 in Waltham, was caused by an intoxicated truck driver. The accident occurred on the south slope of Woodman Hill south of Vergennes. Troopers said a tractor-trailer rig operated by Michael J. Duplin of Cliffwood Beach, NJ, brought down a Green Mountain Power utility pole. The accident disrupted power as well as telephone and data lines locally. A VSP investigation revealed Duplin was under the influence of alcohol. He was processed for DUI.
Public transportation users are applauding the opening this week of the Route 116 commuter bus line between Middlebury and Burlington. The route has stops in Bristol, Starksboro and Hinesburg. Chris Cole is the director of policy, planning and intermodal development for VTrans. He says the new route is just one part of Vermont's public transportation plan, and that it's important to balance a variety of transportation needs. Most recently, VTrans applied for an additional 53 spaces at the Park and Ride lot in Richmond. Cole says the state's public transit system must be inter-dependent, maintaining what is currently in place, while building to meet future needs.
The Vermont Software Developers’ Alliance is pleased to announce the first winners of the Bentley Awards. The projects recognized will help to honor the spirit of invention and ensure students are prepared for a future of constantly changing technology and advancements in science. The three winning applicants are Mt. Abraham Union High School Integrated STEAM project, Hinesburg Community Middle School Astronomy classes, and Grafton Elementary School Geo-caching. The Winning Proposals were Mount Abe’s Integrate physics, industrial technology and CAD and Hinesburg Community School’s iPads to teach astronomy. The program was initiated in memory of 12-year-old Bentley Davis Seifer who passed away in 2011.
The City of Rutland has choice between adding a filter or changing disinfectants in the municipal water supply. The Department of Public Works has completed its study on dealing with disinfectant byproducts in the drinking water. The final report, available on the city website, presents two options: a filtration system estimated to cost $3.3 million or a shift to a new disinfectant at an expected cost of about $100,000.
An unidentified buyer placed the winning bid of roughly $2.8 million for the Holiday Inn in Rutland during an online auction yesterday afternoon. Owner C-III Capital Partners of Irving, Texas, placed the 151-room hotel on the website auction.com. The building and 14-acre parcel are assessed at $5.6 million. The website’s procedures say the buyer will have to sign a contract and make payments before closing the sale.
Paul Brown recently learned that Rutland County is the only county in Vermont that does not have an active Habitat for Humanity chapter. The Pittsford resident is now part of a countywide group that is working on revitalizing the chapter that closed almost 10 years ago. An informational and planning meeting is scheduled for 1PM Sunday at the Fellowship Hall at Grace Congregational Church in Rutland. Dick Malley, executive director of the Bennington Area Habitat for Humanity, will be speaking at the meeting.
NRG Systems of Hinesburg is letting go 18 employees, reducing its workforce to about 100. The company makes equipment for testing potential wind power sites. Company officials say external forces are hampering the wind power industry, including an uneven playing field for U.S. energy subsidies, the looming expiration of the Production Tax Credit for wind, and abnormally low natural gas prices. The workers will get severance pay, unemployment benefits and access to NRG's employee assistance program. NRG chief executive Jan Blittersdorf says she's sad to have to make the move, but needs to do so to secure the company's long-term future.
The Willsboro Central School Board will hold a board meeting/retreat at 8:30 Saturday morning in the conference room. Goals for next year will be discussed. No action will be taken during the meeting. The public is welcome to attend.
Fort Ticonderoga offers visitors a new exhibit this season. “Bullets & Blades: The Weapons of America’s Colonial Wars and Revolution” is now available for view at the historic site. It features more than 150 weapons from the museum’s collection. The exhibit explores the weapons used in America from the early 1600s through the end of the American Revolution. For more details visit www.fortticonderoga.org or call 585-2821.
Ticonderoga Arts is preparing for another season. The local artists gallery will open Thursday, June 7th. The gallery is located in the Hancock House at Moses Circle. Ticonderoga Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting local artists by promoting education, exhibitions and sales. It was established in 2008. The group plans to again collaborate with the Ticonderoga Heritage Museum this summer on a series of children’s arts programs. Ticonderoga Arts has also joined forces with other local groups, such as the Ticonderoga Historical Society and Ticonderoga Central School.
The mail processing plant operated by the U.S. Postal Service in White River Junction has dodged a bullet, with the announcement that the facility will remain open, saving 245 jobs. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch announced yesterday that the Postal Service plant, which earlier had been threatened with closure, will remain open under legislation the Vermont delegation championed. Sanders says keeping the center open also will help ensure good postal service in Vermont.
Vermont's governor made a mistake when he said 25,000 of the ‘Vermont Strong' license plates were sold. As of yesterday, the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicle said just over 7,800 plates have been sold, not 25,000. In April, the governor held a celebration for what was thought to be the halfway point in the quest to sell enough plates to raise $1 million for the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund. The fund was created over a year ago following the spring flooding. According to the governor's office, Gov. Shumlin thought he was buying the 25,000 plate sold, but it was actually the 25,000 plate made. The governor's office said they obviously made an error and apologizes.
A standoff in Cavendish ended peacefully yesterday. Police say, Douglas Thompson of Chester arrived at a residence on Chubb Hill Road with several firearms. The resident did not know Thompson and told police he had made statements about wanting to confront police and appeared to be preparing for an armed confrontation. The resident then contacted State Police. No one was injured as a result of this incident. Thompson has not been charged with a crime and no charges are expected as a result of this incident.
Gov. Peter Shumlin announced today he vetoed a bill that would have required a study related to Adult Protective Services. The administration is embroiled in a lawsuit with advocates for vulnerable adults, who say Adult Protective Services has failed to investigate reports of abuse cases as quickly as state law requires.
Vermont’s attorney general says Vermont will share in a settlement with a footwear company over unsubstantiated health claims about its shoes. Skechers USA Inc. will pay $40 million to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission that the company made unfounded claims that its Shape-ups shoes would help people lose weight and strengthen their butt, leg and stomach muscles. Consumers who bought the shoes will be eligible for refunds. Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell said Wednesday that Skechers would pay 43 states and Washington, D.C., a total of $5 million for deceptive advertising, of which Vermont will get $70,000.
Prosecutors and police are remaining silent about two simple assault cases filed against a former state trooper. Both are in connection with an on-duty incident, but Attorney General William Sorrell says he doesn't want anyone in his office or state police giving out details about the case against former Senior Trooper Eric Howley. He'll appear in superior court in Brattleboro next month. BurlingtonFreePress.com reported earlier this week Howley had resigned earlier in the day while a criminal investigation was underway into unspecified conduct.
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From Foxx 44 and ABC 22 News:
A top Verizon Wireless official announced that the company is ditching its unlimited data plan, Wednesday. It was first reported by Fierce Wireless that Verizon CFO Fran Shammo made the announcement at an industry conference. The news went viral, and other news outlets, including CNN and ABC jumped on board. This is not a new message from Shammo. According to a video from May 2011 by Reuters, he set up the end of unlimited back then. "More and more people are going to be downloading video to their handsets so unlimited doesn't work anymore," Shammo said. To be clear, last July, Verizon announced that all new customers could not get an unlimited data plan. However, it allowed any previous customers with data to continue to get unlimited. That means Wednesday's announcement would get rid of unlimited plans for all Verizon customers. The message seems loud and clear from Shammo. But, Verizon released a vague news release, Thursday saying, "we will share details of the plans and any related policy changes well in advance of their introduction." We reached out to a Verizon spokesperson to clarify. They responded saying,” I don't think there is a story - nothing has changed - no announcement has been made." Shammo does not appear to be on the same page. "You're going to have to pay for your usage cause it's not going to be economical," Shammo said last May. Verizon is not the only major company to talk about the end of unlimited. AT&T has already gotten rid of the option and reports are that Sprint will as well. One option that remains is straight talk, a prepaid wireless service that does not require long-term contracts.
Jean Britt sat quietly taking notes Thursday as Vermont law enforcement agents spoke about a new phone scam affecting millions of Americans. It's a scam Britt knows all too well. "They are so good at what they do," said Britt. Nearly three weeks ago the Castleton woman got a call that her grandson was in trouble. She then wired money to what she thought was his attorney. "Coming home from sending the last payment that's when I said, "Oh Jean you've been scammed," said Britt. And not for a little bit of money. "I lost thousands," said Britt. Britt then wondered if she'd ever get it back. "What to do I do now? Who do I call," said Britt? Questions the Vermont attorney general, Rutland Police and Fair Point Communications are answering. First thing first, according to Attorney General William Sorrell, if you see the area code 876 pop up on your phone do not answer. It's usually a scammer, and get this numbers with that code call the United States 300,000 times a day. In Vermont he says at least a thousand people have fallen victim to the scam over the past two years. "If you're victimized by a phone scam they money you wire is gone," said Sorrell. There are some things you can do to protect yourself. Sorrell says make sure you have caller ID on your phone. Also, have the phone company block international calls. Another thing Sorrell says don't be embarrassed to tell someone. For Britt, she's glad she's learning more to protect herself in the future. "First thing I'm doing is getting caller ID," said Britt.
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Coming up this Sunday Brandon Music will be featuring Israeli Born tenor saxophonist Benny Sharoni in the Music Café! 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. Visit www.brandon-music.net for details!
The Wilson Castle in Proctor kicks off the summer 2012 season May 25th with an Open House from 5 to 7PM with free admission, food and refreshments, music, and more. The Castle opens daily May 26th. “Murder Mysteries Live!” returns on June 16th. A donation includes full tour, light dinner, refreshments, music, and mystery and surprises. Castle ghost hunt events return this year as well.
Vermont Lake Monsters 2012 Tickets are on sale now!! It's going to be an action-packed summer!! Get your tickets today and make sure you don't miss out on the fun! The boys of summer are back in town starting June 18th, and tickets are going fast. Grab your glove, your favorite Lake Monsters hat and catch tomorrow's star. For tickets and a season schedule visit www.vermontlakemonsters.com.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
WVTK Local & State News May 17, 2012
On Route 22 in Willsboro traffic will flow in a single line in alternating directions from the Willsboro/Essex line to the Chesterfield/Willsboro line due to road construction that will occur until further notice. Meanwhile Titus Road in Moriah will have crews continue paving the bridge on Titus Road. Traffic in that area will be controlled by flaggers.
Drivers who use Ferry Road in Charlotte were forced to take a detour yesterday morning. Shortly after 10AM an 80,000-pound crane traveling between Lake and Greenbush roads hit a low shoulder. State police say the inexperienced driver lost control of the vehicle and it flipped onto its side in an abutting field. The stretch of road was shut down for more than three hours as a number of heavy trucks were called in to get the crane back up on the road.
The long awaited re-opening celebration of the new Lake Champlain Bridge is this weekend! There will be activities on both sides of the lake with most of them occurring on the grounds or nearby the Chimney Point State Historic Site and the Crown Point State Historic Site. There will be crafters, artisans, food vendors, musicians, performers, tours and more all weekend and it’s all FREE! More than 10,000 attendees are expected throughout the weekend. You can get the complete schedule, with times and locations of performances, by purchasing the official program. Pick one up at the Addison County Chamber office for $3/each or purchase one the day of the event. The bridge will be closed ONLY during the parade, which starts at 11AM on Saturday. Expect the closure to last 60 to 90 minutes—depending on the number of parade participants. This is the only traffic restriction during the weekend.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber Of Commerce this evening 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 just visit www.addioncounty.com.
The Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes will be holding an event entitled "Festival of Fidos" on June 2nd from 10 - 4 to benefit the Addison County Humane Society. The event is an all day, dog-friendly celebration with lots of activities plans for people and their dogs. The event will include Cani-Cross - A 5K race with or without your dog, Live Demonstrations with the Northern Magic Agility Dogs, Green Mountain Dock Dogs, Supernova Dog Works, By the Dozen Dogsledding and Peace Pups Dog Sledding. There will be Doggie and Pet Supply Vendors, Food Vendors along with Arts and Craft Vendors. Plus entertainment from Tim Berry and Friends, Dux the Balloon Guy and More! You won’t want to miss the Dog Costume Parade or one of the Narrated Lake Cruises! The entrance fee for the Festival is $8 for adults and $4 for kids ages 3 - 14. For additional information and a schedule of event activities, please visit www.basinharbor.com/fido or www.addisonhumane.org. Additionally, if you would like to stay at the Basin Harbor Club that weekend, contact them at 1-800-622-4000 for a reservation (they are pet friendly).
The Town of Middlebury is seeking candidates for appointment to a position on the newly expanded Middlebury Business Development Fund Advisory Board. If you are interested in serving on the Board, you should submit a letter of interest and a brief summary of your qualifications and experience by tomorrow to Town Manager Bill Finger. Learn more at www.townofmiddlebury.org.
Rep. Peter Welch hosted the 31st Annual Congressional Art Competition for high school students at The Gallery at Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier on Monday. Katelyn Mullis, who attends Vergennes Union High School, was honored with the Congressman Welch’s Choice award for her piece, “Hot Pepper Study.” Welch said he was so impressed by the talent and creativity of the young Vermont artists. This year’s competition featured artwork from 158 Vermont high school students from 34 schools throughout the state. Former Rep. Jim Jeffords initiated the competition in 1981 as a way to celebrate the artistic talent of the nation. The winning artwork from each congressional district throughout the country is displayed in the US Capitol for one year.
Ticonderoga, Schroon Lake, Moriah, Crown Point and Putnam residents approved area school district budgets for 2012/13 during voting on Tuesday. All the area budget plans meet the new state tax cap. The 3.5 percent tax increase is well below the state tax cap for Ticonderoga, which is 9 percent. Ticonderoga started the 2012/13 - budget process with a deficit because of the loss of nearly $1.7 million in “one shot” funding that was used in the current spending plan. Helping Ti close its deficit and meet the tax cap are concessions by Ticonderoga teachers, administrators and staff. A salary freeze will save the district $728,000.
Recent statistics published by the state Department of Environmental Conservation give Schroon Lake a Class AA rating, which means the lake is fit for drinking, swimming, boating, fishing, aquatic life and aesthetics. Phosphorus levels in Schroon Lake are at very healthy levels thanks to the efforts of many people, organizations and local government entities in this region. The major areas of concerns for any lake in New York are invasive species and unhealthy levels of nutrients, such as phosphorus, which can result in growth of blue-green algae.
Police say one person was hurt while she was biking and hit by a car. The crash happened on Williston Road on the I-89 overpass in South Burlington Wednesday afternoon. Police say the bicyclist was riding on the sidewalk when for some reason the driver drove up on the sidewalk and hit the bike. Police say the road, while busy, is usually safe. Police were forced to temporarily shut down one lane of Williston Road. They say the biker appeared to be seriously hurt and believe the car driver might have had issues related to their mental health, which contributed to the crash.
Everyone is okay, but it's a bit of an embarrassment for former Governor Howard Dean. After all, how many former Vermont governors are in a car accident while in the process of giving a radio interview? That's what happened to the former governor Tuesday while speaking in Montreal with station C-J-A-D. Dean was in town attending a luncheon where he talked about the presidential race. He told the radio station they had just gotten hit by a car, but everybody was apparently fine.
This is the day Vermont will learn the fate of the mail-processing center in White River Junction. The U-S Postal Service will make the announcement around noon, according to a union rep for the National Postal Mail Handlers' union. On Tuesday, a self-imposed moratorium on possible closures within the mail-processing network ended, and the closing and consolidation of plants begins on July 1st. The Postal Service has already said it intends to keep rural offices open, but is shortening the hours at 13-thousand post offices nationwide.
The last dairy farm in the community of Plainfield has closed. The MacLaren Farm first opened in 1939, and owner Michael McLaren says it was a gut-wrenching decision to auction off the equipment. The family decided to do this while they were still young enough to do the things they want to, adding the price of oil is one of the factors driving them to close the dairy part of the farm. The oil prices for fuel and feed are higher than ever. The McLarens are retaining over 180 acres of land, and are still going to farm crops, but will stay out of the milking business.
The health care bill is two inches thick, and with the stroke of his pen, the governor turned the legislation into law. It creates a consumer marketplace Exchange where individuals, and businesses with fewer than 50 employees, will be required to buy their policies beginning in 2014. Several hundred million dollars in federal subsidies will be available to make the policies more affordable. Shumlin said the bill is a major component of his overall economic development strategy.
Vermont has become the first state to ban a controversial natural gas drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Governor Peter Shumlin signed the ban into law on Wednesday. He said the ban was needed, even though Vermont doesn't have much of the shale rock targeted by energy companies for natural gas extraction.
Fletcher Allen Health Care has a new trial procedure that is saving lives. It uses a catheter to place a special device inside a broken valve in the heart. The catheter is fed up through a patient's artery. This procedure is an alternative to open-heart surgery, which doctors say is too dangerous for elderly or fragile patients. Without it, doctors say these patients would be left with no other option. Doctors at Fletcher have treated six patients with the procedure since February and they anticipate that number will continue to grow.
At a special town meeting Tuesday night in Northfield, voters gave their overwhelming support to the idea of merging the town and village in hopes of streamlining municipal operations and avoiding small-town political squabbling. Most of Northfield's population lives in the village. The town is still reeling from Tropical Storm Irene damage, and supporters of merging the two municipalities say such a move would be cost effective and efficient.
The Cuomo administration has proposed regulations to limit spending by state contractors, including a $199,000 executive salary cap that can only be exceeded using money not from the state. The proposals by 13 agencies cover contractors - many providing social services - that receive more than $500,000 in state support annually representing at least 30 percent of their total. The regulations released Wednesday are subject to 45 days of public comment before taking effect.
Coming up this Sunday Brandon Music will be featuring Israeli Born tenor saxophonist Benny Sharoni in the Music Café! 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. Visit www.brandon-music.net for details!
The Neshobe Sportsman Club’s Annual Kids Fishing Derby for ages 3 – 14 will take place on Saturday. Registration is from 8 - 10 AM with the derby from 10 - 12:30 at Camp Thorpe in Goshen. Two lifetime fishing licenses will be awarded. There’ll be lots of family fun including a free hot dog lunch for the kids in the derby, contests, games, a 50/50 raffle and Chinese auction along with a bake sale and cakewalk!
The Saratoga & North Creek Railway will return to the rails with an expanded daily schedule for summer and fall 2012. For the first time in its history, the railway will offer service seven days a week to its seven flag stops throughout the First Wilderness Corridor when the new season begins on Saturday, May 26th. The Saratoga & North Creek Railway’s summer excursion follows the inaugural run of the Gore Mountain Snow Train and precedes the return of the enormously popular Polar Express during the holiday season. From Saturday, May 26 through Monday, May 28, all active duty military and veterans will receive free round-trip and one-way rides. Additionally, passengers are encouraged to bring an item to donate to Operation Adopt-a-Soldier.
The Wellness Center at Castleton State College wanted to try something new this year to help students cope with stress during final exams. For a couple hours a day on Monday and Wednesday of this week, the student lounge at the college’s library opened its door to several therapy dogs. Although a first at Castleton, therapy dog sessions have been a rising trend at college campuses in the last several years. Anywhere between 50 to 70 students participated at each session, some coming in even if they did not have an exam and wanted to hang out with the dogs.
Drivers who use Ferry Road in Charlotte were forced to take a detour yesterday morning. Shortly after 10AM an 80,000-pound crane traveling between Lake and Greenbush roads hit a low shoulder. State police say the inexperienced driver lost control of the vehicle and it flipped onto its side in an abutting field. The stretch of road was shut down for more than three hours as a number of heavy trucks were called in to get the crane back up on the road.
The long awaited re-opening celebration of the new Lake Champlain Bridge is this weekend! There will be activities on both sides of the lake with most of them occurring on the grounds or nearby the Chimney Point State Historic Site and the Crown Point State Historic Site. There will be crafters, artisans, food vendors, musicians, performers, tours and more all weekend and it’s all FREE! More than 10,000 attendees are expected throughout the weekend. You can get the complete schedule, with times and locations of performances, by purchasing the official program. Pick one up at the Addison County Chamber office for $3/each or purchase one the day of the event. The bridge will be closed ONLY during the parade, which starts at 11AM on Saturday. Expect the closure to last 60 to 90 minutes—depending on the number of parade participants. This is the only traffic restriction during the weekend.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber Of Commerce this evening 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 just visit www.addioncounty.com.
The Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes will be holding an event entitled "Festival of Fidos" on June 2nd from 10 - 4 to benefit the Addison County Humane Society. The event is an all day, dog-friendly celebration with lots of activities plans for people and their dogs. The event will include Cani-Cross - A 5K race with or without your dog, Live Demonstrations with the Northern Magic Agility Dogs, Green Mountain Dock Dogs, Supernova Dog Works, By the Dozen Dogsledding and Peace Pups Dog Sledding. There will be Doggie and Pet Supply Vendors, Food Vendors along with Arts and Craft Vendors. Plus entertainment from Tim Berry and Friends, Dux the Balloon Guy and More! You won’t want to miss the Dog Costume Parade or one of the Narrated Lake Cruises! The entrance fee for the Festival is $8 for adults and $4 for kids ages 3 - 14. For additional information and a schedule of event activities, please visit www.basinharbor.com/fido or www.addisonhumane.org. Additionally, if you would like to stay at the Basin Harbor Club that weekend, contact them at 1-800-622-4000 for a reservation (they are pet friendly).
The Town of Middlebury is seeking candidates for appointment to a position on the newly expanded Middlebury Business Development Fund Advisory Board. If you are interested in serving on the Board, you should submit a letter of interest and a brief summary of your qualifications and experience by tomorrow to Town Manager Bill Finger. Learn more at www.townofmiddlebury.org.
Rep. Peter Welch hosted the 31st Annual Congressional Art Competition for high school students at The Gallery at Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier on Monday. Katelyn Mullis, who attends Vergennes Union High School, was honored with the Congressman Welch’s Choice award for her piece, “Hot Pepper Study.” Welch said he was so impressed by the talent and creativity of the young Vermont artists. This year’s competition featured artwork from 158 Vermont high school students from 34 schools throughout the state. Former Rep. Jim Jeffords initiated the competition in 1981 as a way to celebrate the artistic talent of the nation. The winning artwork from each congressional district throughout the country is displayed in the US Capitol for one year.
Ticonderoga, Schroon Lake, Moriah, Crown Point and Putnam residents approved area school district budgets for 2012/13 during voting on Tuesday. All the area budget plans meet the new state tax cap. The 3.5 percent tax increase is well below the state tax cap for Ticonderoga, which is 9 percent. Ticonderoga started the 2012/13 - budget process with a deficit because of the loss of nearly $1.7 million in “one shot” funding that was used in the current spending plan. Helping Ti close its deficit and meet the tax cap are concessions by Ticonderoga teachers, administrators and staff. A salary freeze will save the district $728,000.
Recent statistics published by the state Department of Environmental Conservation give Schroon Lake a Class AA rating, which means the lake is fit for drinking, swimming, boating, fishing, aquatic life and aesthetics. Phosphorus levels in Schroon Lake are at very healthy levels thanks to the efforts of many people, organizations and local government entities in this region. The major areas of concerns for any lake in New York are invasive species and unhealthy levels of nutrients, such as phosphorus, which can result in growth of blue-green algae.
Police say one person was hurt while she was biking and hit by a car. The crash happened on Williston Road on the I-89 overpass in South Burlington Wednesday afternoon. Police say the bicyclist was riding on the sidewalk when for some reason the driver drove up on the sidewalk and hit the bike. Police say the road, while busy, is usually safe. Police were forced to temporarily shut down one lane of Williston Road. They say the biker appeared to be seriously hurt and believe the car driver might have had issues related to their mental health, which contributed to the crash.
Everyone is okay, but it's a bit of an embarrassment for former Governor Howard Dean. After all, how many former Vermont governors are in a car accident while in the process of giving a radio interview? That's what happened to the former governor Tuesday while speaking in Montreal with station C-J-A-D. Dean was in town attending a luncheon where he talked about the presidential race. He told the radio station they had just gotten hit by a car, but everybody was apparently fine.
This is the day Vermont will learn the fate of the mail-processing center in White River Junction. The U-S Postal Service will make the announcement around noon, according to a union rep for the National Postal Mail Handlers' union. On Tuesday, a self-imposed moratorium on possible closures within the mail-processing network ended, and the closing and consolidation of plants begins on July 1st. The Postal Service has already said it intends to keep rural offices open, but is shortening the hours at 13-thousand post offices nationwide.
The last dairy farm in the community of Plainfield has closed. The MacLaren Farm first opened in 1939, and owner Michael McLaren says it was a gut-wrenching decision to auction off the equipment. The family decided to do this while they were still young enough to do the things they want to, adding the price of oil is one of the factors driving them to close the dairy part of the farm. The oil prices for fuel and feed are higher than ever. The McLarens are retaining over 180 acres of land, and are still going to farm crops, but will stay out of the milking business.
The health care bill is two inches thick, and with the stroke of his pen, the governor turned the legislation into law. It creates a consumer marketplace Exchange where individuals, and businesses with fewer than 50 employees, will be required to buy their policies beginning in 2014. Several hundred million dollars in federal subsidies will be available to make the policies more affordable. Shumlin said the bill is a major component of his overall economic development strategy.
Vermont has become the first state to ban a controversial natural gas drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Governor Peter Shumlin signed the ban into law on Wednesday. He said the ban was needed, even though Vermont doesn't have much of the shale rock targeted by energy companies for natural gas extraction.
Fletcher Allen Health Care has a new trial procedure that is saving lives. It uses a catheter to place a special device inside a broken valve in the heart. The catheter is fed up through a patient's artery. This procedure is an alternative to open-heart surgery, which doctors say is too dangerous for elderly or fragile patients. Without it, doctors say these patients would be left with no other option. Doctors at Fletcher have treated six patients with the procedure since February and they anticipate that number will continue to grow.
At a special town meeting Tuesday night in Northfield, voters gave their overwhelming support to the idea of merging the town and village in hopes of streamlining municipal operations and avoiding small-town political squabbling. Most of Northfield's population lives in the village. The town is still reeling from Tropical Storm Irene damage, and supporters of merging the two municipalities say such a move would be cost effective and efficient.
The Cuomo administration has proposed regulations to limit spending by state contractors, including a $199,000 executive salary cap that can only be exceeded using money not from the state. The proposals by 13 agencies cover contractors - many providing social services - that receive more than $500,000 in state support annually representing at least 30 percent of their total. The regulations released Wednesday are subject to 45 days of public comment before taking effect.
Coming up this Sunday Brandon Music will be featuring Israeli Born tenor saxophonist Benny Sharoni in the Music Café! 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. Visit www.brandon-music.net for details!
The Neshobe Sportsman Club’s Annual Kids Fishing Derby for ages 3 – 14 will take place on Saturday. Registration is from 8 - 10 AM with the derby from 10 - 12:30 at Camp Thorpe in Goshen. Two lifetime fishing licenses will be awarded. There’ll be lots of family fun including a free hot dog lunch for the kids in the derby, contests, games, a 50/50 raffle and Chinese auction along with a bake sale and cakewalk!
The Saratoga & North Creek Railway will return to the rails with an expanded daily schedule for summer and fall 2012. For the first time in its history, the railway will offer service seven days a week to its seven flag stops throughout the First Wilderness Corridor when the new season begins on Saturday, May 26th. The Saratoga & North Creek Railway’s summer excursion follows the inaugural run of the Gore Mountain Snow Train and precedes the return of the enormously popular Polar Express during the holiday season. From Saturday, May 26 through Monday, May 28, all active duty military and veterans will receive free round-trip and one-way rides. Additionally, passengers are encouraged to bring an item to donate to Operation Adopt-a-Soldier.
The Wellness Center at Castleton State College wanted to try something new this year to help students cope with stress during final exams. For a couple hours a day on Monday and Wednesday of this week, the student lounge at the college’s library opened its door to several therapy dogs. Although a first at Castleton, therapy dog sessions have been a rising trend at college campuses in the last several years. Anywhere between 50 to 70 students participated at each session, some coming in even if they did not have an exam and wanted to hang out with the dogs.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
WVTK Local & State News May 16, 2012
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber Of Commerce this 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.
Public displays telling the story of the old Lake Champlain Bridge have been installed at each end of the new span that connects New York and Vermont. The two states have launched their commemoration program of the original 1929 Lake Champlain Bridge, which was replaced by a new span last fall. Interpretive displays have opened at the Lake Champlain Visitors Center just off the Crown Point end of the bridge and at the Chimney Point State Historic Site in Addison. A big 2-State community celebration takes place this weekend for the new bridge!
An overturned tractor-trailer caused traffic delays on Route 7 yesterday afternoon. State police say no one was seriously injured as a result of the crash just south of the intersection with Route 22A. However, police said shortly after 4PM that the traffic on the north-south artery slowed for about two to three hours while crews worked to clear the accident.
An informational Select Board meeting with the developers of a 20-turbine wind farm on the Grandpa’s Knob ridgeline was held Monday night at the West Rutland Town Hall. Protesters gathered outside of the West Rutland Town Hall prior to the meeting holding signs while residents’ and concerned people voiced their disapproval of the project. Reunion Power is proposing a wind farm with up to 20 turbines that would produce at most 50 megawatts of energy. It would be located just south of Grandpa’s Knob to Biddie Knob in the towns of West Rutland, Hubbardton, Castleton and Pittsford.
The Rutland City Police Department has been focusing on its goals. Interim Police Chief James Baker said the department recently completed new mission and vision statements. Condensed into single sentences, the mission statement reads “The Rutland City Police Department is dedicated to protecting and serving our citizens through professionalism, courtesy, compassion and community partnerships,” while the vision statement reads, “As a leader in law enforcement, the Rutland City Police Department will work collaboratively to build a bias-free community where everyone feels safe and secure.”
The Best Fourth In The North Committee, which is now a subcommittee of the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership will host a Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball Tournament on June 2nd and 3rd. The tournament will be held at the recreation field in Putnam, NY. The committee is looking for the participation of at least 10 teams. Teams must consist of 10 players with a minimum of three females on each team. The event is a double elimination tournament. There is a $180.00 registration fee for each team. To register call 518-321-4246. It is recommended to leave a message if there is no answer. Team play times will be drawn the Thursday before the Tournament.
Coming up this Sunday Brandon Music will be featuring Israeli Born tenor saxophonist Benny Sharoni in the Music Café! 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. Visit www.brandon-music.net for details!
New York Trooper Lawrence Gleason was killed in the line of duty more than a decade ago, but his memory was alive as a group recently worked in his honor to clean up a section of highway near the new Lake Champlain Bridge. Active and retired state police, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts and others worked on the Bridge Road. The first mile of road in New York is named in Gleason’s memory. Trooper Gleason gave his life trying to protect a woman in Crown Point on February 11, 2002. He worked out of the Schroon Lake state police station and a memorial to Gleason now stands at the station.
Plans to make minimum wage higher in New York is now off the table. The session ends June 21, and higher minimum wage is not on the agenda anymore. The assembly is the only one to pass it. The proposal included raising minimum wage to $8.50/hour from the current $7.25/hour.
Customers of Vermont's largest electric utility could see their monthly bills go up to help pay the costs of recovering from Tropical Storm Irene. If approved, beginning on July 1, customers of the Central Vermont Public Service Corp., would see their bills increase by 1.4%. Typical residential customers who use 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month will see their bills increase by $1.20. CVPS is asking for authorization to increase its rates 2.2% to pay for storm repairs, but the larger increase would be offset by lower-than-expected power supply costs. CVPS has about 160,000 customers throughout Vermont. The utility-regulating Public Service Board must still approve the proposed rate increase and the increase would remain in effect for a year.
The operator of New England's electric grid says the falling price of natural gas has helped push down the average price of wholesale electricity. ISO-New England said in its annual report Tuesday the average price of wholesale electric energy fell 6% in the region last year. It said decreased demand and more hydroelectricity production also were factors. Falling wholesale prices don't necessarily translate into exactly the same drop in retail price. The reduced demand was due to milder weather last year, the weak economic recovery and improved conservation and efficiency.
Green Mountain Power's Lowell wind project is facing a potential $11 million cost increase because of transmission upgrades requested by the operators of the New England electric grid. GMP spokesman David Coriell says the turbines will be producing power by the end of the year. GMP estimates the project will cost about $150 million. But the price may jump by about 7 percent because of a recent decision by ISO-New England. ISO studied the impact of the Lowell project on the transmission network and concluded that GMP will need to invest in a new voltage control system.
Vermont Congressman Peter Welch is leading an effort to stop Afghanistan from assessing taxes on American aid. Even as the U.S. is preparing to end its decade-long military mission, billions of dollars in aid continue to be poured into the country for rebuilding and development. The Afghan government has been sending tax bills to U.S. contractors working in the country, even threatening arrest if the contractors refuse to pay. Welch calls that "absurd," and he has authored a bill that would bar future assistance to the Afghans unless the American contracts are exempt from taxation. Welch's bill is scheduled for floor action in the House today.
A former salesman accused of helping to embezzle more than $500,000 from a Colchester mobile home dealer says he got involved in the scheme to feed his opiate addiction. The Burlington Free Press reports that 32-year-old Patrick Cortright of Milton pleaded guilty yesterday to one charge of embezzlement from a federal program.
The man responsible for ensuring that Vermonters are able to keep in touch with the state's history is retiring. State Archivist Gregory Sanford started working for the state in 1982 as the editor of state papers. As archivist he's responsible for the safekeeping of all state documents, some of which predate the creation of the state of Vermont.
A Vermont state trooper resigned Tuesday amid controversy and a possible criminal investigation. Senior Trooper Eric Howley has been on administrative leave since April. Officials won't say why. The case is being handled by the Attorney General's office. Howley has been a trooper since 2005, and has been in hot water before accused of excessive force the same year he was hired.
Vermont and New Hampshire will soon be sharing more than a border. From May 23rd through the first of December, all-terrain-vehicles registered in one state can operate in the other without having to register in that state as well. New Hampshire operators, however will still need a Vermont ATV Sportsmen Association trail pass and proof of having completed an approved ATV safety class for operators younger than 18 if riding on a Vermont trail.
From Fox 44 & ABC 22 News:
Vermont State Police are looking for a man who held up a Swanton convenience store with a crow bar. Police say the man threatened the clerk at the Champlain Farms Shell gas with a crow bar at 2:45AM Tuesday morning and made off with an undisclosed amount of money and four to five packs of cigarettes. The suspect was last seen wearing blue jeans, an insulated blue plaid shirt over a blue hooded sweatshirt and a dark colored winter hat, gloves and a ski mask covering his face. Police say this is the second robbery at the store in less than two months. The previous one was on March 29th.
Wearing a red shirt that highlighted her survival from a heart attack, Bessy Robertson stood out. But the Burlington woman hasn't just survived heart issues. "I wasn't physically abused on the outside, I was mentally abused," said Robertson. For 32 years Robertson says her husband abused her. During that time she turned to work as an escape. But as the violence escalated her ability to concentrate decreased. "It affected my productivity a lot," said Robertson. Robertson isn't alone. A recent Vermont study shows victims of abuse lose more than 1,800 dollars a year. 46% pay attention less at work and worse more than 15% either quit or get fired. Those numbers are part of the reason why Governor Peter Shumlin implemented a plan Tuesday to help state employees. Workers in state offices will now get training, learning what to do if they find out someone is being abused and if people need time off they won't lose money. Shumlin also challenged private companies to follow the state's lead. "I hope beyond hope that private sector employers will join the state in adopting policies similar to this," said Governor Shumlin. It's a plan Robertson says that could have saved her from more than three decades of abuse. "I think so. I know so. I can't say I think so, I know so," said Robertson! A message Robertson says she hopes sticks with others who find themselves in a similar situation. Domestic violence help: www.whbw.org.
More protections are now in place to help senior citizens who are abused. Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin signed a bill Tuesday in Shelburne that allows victims to go after people or institutions in civil court. This means a lawsuit can be filed and victims could end up getting money in return for crimes committed against them. Prior to this, state leaders say people could be held accountable in criminal court and face jail time. But very few cases ever went to civil court. That's something Attorney General William Sorrell says will help protect seniors.
Public displays telling the story of the old Lake Champlain Bridge have been installed at each end of the new span that connects New York and Vermont. The two states have launched their commemoration program of the original 1929 Lake Champlain Bridge, which was replaced by a new span last fall. Interpretive displays have opened at the Lake Champlain Visitors Center just off the Crown Point end of the bridge and at the Chimney Point State Historic Site in Addison. A big 2-State community celebration takes place this weekend for the new bridge!
An overturned tractor-trailer caused traffic delays on Route 7 yesterday afternoon. State police say no one was seriously injured as a result of the crash just south of the intersection with Route 22A. However, police said shortly after 4PM that the traffic on the north-south artery slowed for about two to three hours while crews worked to clear the accident.
An informational Select Board meeting with the developers of a 20-turbine wind farm on the Grandpa’s Knob ridgeline was held Monday night at the West Rutland Town Hall. Protesters gathered outside of the West Rutland Town Hall prior to the meeting holding signs while residents’ and concerned people voiced their disapproval of the project. Reunion Power is proposing a wind farm with up to 20 turbines that would produce at most 50 megawatts of energy. It would be located just south of Grandpa’s Knob to Biddie Knob in the towns of West Rutland, Hubbardton, Castleton and Pittsford.
The Rutland City Police Department has been focusing on its goals. Interim Police Chief James Baker said the department recently completed new mission and vision statements. Condensed into single sentences, the mission statement reads “The Rutland City Police Department is dedicated to protecting and serving our citizens through professionalism, courtesy, compassion and community partnerships,” while the vision statement reads, “As a leader in law enforcement, the Rutland City Police Department will work collaboratively to build a bias-free community where everyone feels safe and secure.”
The Best Fourth In The North Committee, which is now a subcommittee of the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership will host a Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball Tournament on June 2nd and 3rd. The tournament will be held at the recreation field in Putnam, NY. The committee is looking for the participation of at least 10 teams. Teams must consist of 10 players with a minimum of three females on each team. The event is a double elimination tournament. There is a $180.00 registration fee for each team. To register call 518-321-4246. It is recommended to leave a message if there is no answer. Team play times will be drawn the Thursday before the Tournament.
Coming up this Sunday Brandon Music will be featuring Israeli Born tenor saxophonist Benny Sharoni in the Music Café! 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. Visit www.brandon-music.net for details!
New York Trooper Lawrence Gleason was killed in the line of duty more than a decade ago, but his memory was alive as a group recently worked in his honor to clean up a section of highway near the new Lake Champlain Bridge. Active and retired state police, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts and others worked on the Bridge Road. The first mile of road in New York is named in Gleason’s memory. Trooper Gleason gave his life trying to protect a woman in Crown Point on February 11, 2002. He worked out of the Schroon Lake state police station and a memorial to Gleason now stands at the station.
Plans to make minimum wage higher in New York is now off the table. The session ends June 21, and higher minimum wage is not on the agenda anymore. The assembly is the only one to pass it. The proposal included raising minimum wage to $8.50/hour from the current $7.25/hour.
Customers of Vermont's largest electric utility could see their monthly bills go up to help pay the costs of recovering from Tropical Storm Irene. If approved, beginning on July 1, customers of the Central Vermont Public Service Corp., would see their bills increase by 1.4%. Typical residential customers who use 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month will see their bills increase by $1.20. CVPS is asking for authorization to increase its rates 2.2% to pay for storm repairs, but the larger increase would be offset by lower-than-expected power supply costs. CVPS has about 160,000 customers throughout Vermont. The utility-regulating Public Service Board must still approve the proposed rate increase and the increase would remain in effect for a year.
The operator of New England's electric grid says the falling price of natural gas has helped push down the average price of wholesale electricity. ISO-New England said in its annual report Tuesday the average price of wholesale electric energy fell 6% in the region last year. It said decreased demand and more hydroelectricity production also were factors. Falling wholesale prices don't necessarily translate into exactly the same drop in retail price. The reduced demand was due to milder weather last year, the weak economic recovery and improved conservation and efficiency.
Green Mountain Power's Lowell wind project is facing a potential $11 million cost increase because of transmission upgrades requested by the operators of the New England electric grid. GMP spokesman David Coriell says the turbines will be producing power by the end of the year. GMP estimates the project will cost about $150 million. But the price may jump by about 7 percent because of a recent decision by ISO-New England. ISO studied the impact of the Lowell project on the transmission network and concluded that GMP will need to invest in a new voltage control system.
Vermont Congressman Peter Welch is leading an effort to stop Afghanistan from assessing taxes on American aid. Even as the U.S. is preparing to end its decade-long military mission, billions of dollars in aid continue to be poured into the country for rebuilding and development. The Afghan government has been sending tax bills to U.S. contractors working in the country, even threatening arrest if the contractors refuse to pay. Welch calls that "absurd," and he has authored a bill that would bar future assistance to the Afghans unless the American contracts are exempt from taxation. Welch's bill is scheduled for floor action in the House today.
A former salesman accused of helping to embezzle more than $500,000 from a Colchester mobile home dealer says he got involved in the scheme to feed his opiate addiction. The Burlington Free Press reports that 32-year-old Patrick Cortright of Milton pleaded guilty yesterday to one charge of embezzlement from a federal program.
The man responsible for ensuring that Vermonters are able to keep in touch with the state's history is retiring. State Archivist Gregory Sanford started working for the state in 1982 as the editor of state papers. As archivist he's responsible for the safekeeping of all state documents, some of which predate the creation of the state of Vermont.
A Vermont state trooper resigned Tuesday amid controversy and a possible criminal investigation. Senior Trooper Eric Howley has been on administrative leave since April. Officials won't say why. The case is being handled by the Attorney General's office. Howley has been a trooper since 2005, and has been in hot water before accused of excessive force the same year he was hired.
Vermont and New Hampshire will soon be sharing more than a border. From May 23rd through the first of December, all-terrain-vehicles registered in one state can operate in the other without having to register in that state as well. New Hampshire operators, however will still need a Vermont ATV Sportsmen Association trail pass and proof of having completed an approved ATV safety class for operators younger than 18 if riding on a Vermont trail.
From Fox 44 & ABC 22 News:
Vermont State Police are looking for a man who held up a Swanton convenience store with a crow bar. Police say the man threatened the clerk at the Champlain Farms Shell gas with a crow bar at 2:45AM Tuesday morning and made off with an undisclosed amount of money and four to five packs of cigarettes. The suspect was last seen wearing blue jeans, an insulated blue plaid shirt over a blue hooded sweatshirt and a dark colored winter hat, gloves and a ski mask covering his face. Police say this is the second robbery at the store in less than two months. The previous one was on March 29th.
Wearing a red shirt that highlighted her survival from a heart attack, Bessy Robertson stood out. But the Burlington woman hasn't just survived heart issues. "I wasn't physically abused on the outside, I was mentally abused," said Robertson. For 32 years Robertson says her husband abused her. During that time she turned to work as an escape. But as the violence escalated her ability to concentrate decreased. "It affected my productivity a lot," said Robertson. Robertson isn't alone. A recent Vermont study shows victims of abuse lose more than 1,800 dollars a year. 46% pay attention less at work and worse more than 15% either quit or get fired. Those numbers are part of the reason why Governor Peter Shumlin implemented a plan Tuesday to help state employees. Workers in state offices will now get training, learning what to do if they find out someone is being abused and if people need time off they won't lose money. Shumlin also challenged private companies to follow the state's lead. "I hope beyond hope that private sector employers will join the state in adopting policies similar to this," said Governor Shumlin. It's a plan Robertson says that could have saved her from more than three decades of abuse. "I think so. I know so. I can't say I think so, I know so," said Robertson! A message Robertson says she hopes sticks with others who find themselves in a similar situation. Domestic violence help: www.whbw.org.
More protections are now in place to help senior citizens who are abused. Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin signed a bill Tuesday in Shelburne that allows victims to go after people or institutions in civil court. This means a lawsuit can be filed and victims could end up getting money in return for crimes committed against them. Prior to this, state leaders say people could be held accountable in criminal court and face jail time. But very few cases ever went to civil court. That's something Attorney General William Sorrell says will help protect seniors.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
WVTK Local & State News May 15, 2012
Teachers in the Addison Northeast Supervisory district are still working without a negotiated contract, and Monday night staged an informational picket. The demonstration was to put pressure on school boards, since teachers in Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton, New Haven and Starksboro have been without a contract for nearly two years. While school boards agreed a month ago for negotiations to resume, board members say talks are now halted at the teachers' request. A strike last year was called off at the last minute.
The statewide Way to Go Commuter Challenge kicked off in Hinesburg yesterday, as transportation and legislative officials officially launched the new bus service along Route 116. Way to Go Week is a statewide initiative that encourages Vermonters to find an alternative to commuting alone in a car. The goal is to share rides, ride a bike, or use public transportation like the new bus route that will ferry passengers between Middlebury and Hinesburg, and Hinesburg and Burlington. Way to Go Week lasts through Friday. Last year, organizers say they had more than 3,000 participants and saved more than 350,000 pounds of carbon dioxide.
Former, current and aspiring office holders sang Wendy Wilton’s praises as she formally announced her candidacy for state treasurer yesterday. About 60 people were at Rutland City Hall, including former governor and former State Treasurer Jim Douglas who praised Wilton’s commitment to transparency. Mayor Christopher Louras said that Wilton had been reliable both for accurate, up-to-date budget numbers as well as bond schedule analysis and health care projections.
Concerns about the bee population in Maine are reportedly not being experienced in Vermont. Honeybee populations around the country have been hard hit by mysterious colony collapses in recent years. This spring in Maine and in northern New York, beekeepers have reported seeing an explosion in the population of mites that infest hives and cause large die-offs. But experts at Champlain Valley Apia are not seeing that problem. They say their hives look strong and they have not heard any bad reports about bee health in other parts of Vermont.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber Of Commerce this 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 Lake Champlain Bridge Community Auction closes tonight at 11:59. If you've got your heart set on a special item you still have time to win! You can still bid on any of the special items in the auction right up to the final seconds of this exciting event. This may be your last chance to win that special item or to grab a great bargain. So don't miss out, BID NOW! Proceeds will help underwrite the cost of this weekend’s celebration activities!
CVAA would like to invite you to end senior hunger in the Champlain Valley by becoming a sponsor of the 6th Annual Top Chef of the Champlain Valley. This event has become one of the most eagerly anticipated culinary events in Northern Vermont. This event attracts over 400 people including those in the restaurant business, young professionals, and many upwardly mobile baby boomers. If your organization is looking for a way to give back to your community while getting some great exposure for your business this is a great opportunity for you. There is a package for every size business from $250-$2500! For more information contact Sarah Lemnah at 802-865-0360 or sarah@cvaa.org.
Excitement is building for Ilsley Public Library’s 2012 Summer Reading program. Summer Reading encourages local youth to read all summer long and to participate in the many programs and resources the library offers. Research shows that kids who participate in summer reading programs at public libraries are better prepared when they return to school in the fall. Last year, over 400 children participated in Ilsley’s program. As part of Summer Reading, the Library offers prize drawings and incentives that award reading. Younger kids choose a small prize when they complete a reading punch card. Older kids are invited to enter their completed cards in weekly drawings for slightly larger prizes. This year, Ilsley is asking local businesses to donate small prize items or gift certificates as reading incentives. Please feel free to contact Sarah Lawton at sarah.lawton@ilsleypubliclibrary with any questions about Summer Reading or to make a contribution.
The Best Fourth In The North Committee, which is now a subcommittee of the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership will host a Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball Tournament on June 2nd and 3rd. The tournament will be held at the recreation field in Putnam, NY. The committee is looking for the participation of at least 10 teams. Teams must consist of 10 players with a minimum of three females on each team. The event is a double elimination tournament. There is a $180.00 registration fee for each team. To register call 518-321-4246. It is recommended to leave a message if there is no answer. Team play times will be drawn the Thursday before the Tournament.
A rabid raccoon was running loose in Elizabethtown and was reported to State police by a local homeowner. According to Essex County Public Health Director Linda Beers no one got bit. It was the second confirmed rabies case in the county this spring, and Beers reminded residents to avoid contact with wild animals and any stray dogs and cats seen wandering around. Preventive Services Director Kathy Daggett said anyone bitten by a suspected rabid animal should contact a veterinarian for medical care and call Public Health at 873-3500. Additional rabies vaccination clinics have been scheduled for pets as a result of the Elizabethtown incident. The next one is from 6 to 7PM next Tuesday the 22nd at the Westport firehouse.
“A Royal Affair” is the theme of the 10th annual Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce fund raising dinner and auction that will be held Friday, June 15th at the Silver Bay YMCA’s Gullen Lounge. “A Royal Affair” will begin with appetizers at 6PM followed by a buffet dinner at 7, a silent auction, a limited live auction, music and dancing. Tickets are $42 a person. Early reservations are suggested since space is limited. Assisting in this year’s event as the auctioneers for the evening will be our very own Bruce and Hobbes from “The Wake Up Crew!” For more information and reservations visit www.ticonderogany.com.
Incumbents Fred LaVallie, John Lenhart and James Wells hope to keep their seats on the Ticonderoga Central School Board and Mary Meserve hopes to win one. The school election is from Noon to 8PM today at Ticonderoga Elementary-Middle School and Hague Community Center, with the proposed 2012-13 school budget also on the ballot. Ticonderoga is a bi-county school district that includes the towns of Ticonderoga in Essex County and Hague in Warren County.
According to the U.S. Attorneys Office A New York man who fired a gun during a failed hold-up at a Rutland motel was sentenced to serve 100 months in jail on a federal firearms violation. Following his plea of guilty to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, Sean Miller of Bronx, NY, was sentenced to jail on Friday by federal Judge William Sessions who also imposed three years of supervised release following his release from jail.
Chittenden County State's Attorney T.J. Donovan has announced he has the support of the Vermont Democratic Party in his campaign for attorney general but incumbent William Sorrell also expects to get the party's backing. Sorrell says the backing at Saturday's meeting is a way to eliminate candidates who are not legitimate Democrats. He says he expects to get the party's endorsement as he has in the past. Donovan, who is running against Sorrell in the primary, said he was "honored to get the party's endorsement" and is "happy to have such a strong showing" for his candidacy.
Burlington city leaders are struggling with how to handle the Occupy Vermont movement. On Friday, a handful of Occupy members camped in Pomeroy Park in the Old North End. Police say they were aware of the campers, but decided to allow them to stay, despite the fact that they were breaking city ordinances. This comes after former Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss allowed Occupy members to camp in City Hall Park last fall. Police shut that encampment down after a man took his on life in one of the tents.
Gov. Peter Shumlin said yesterday that Tropical Storm Irene will not be the last natural disaster to hit Vermont, and signed a bill aimed at better preparing for the next one. Shumlin signed S.202, the “rivers bill,” which establishes state regulation of flood hazard areas in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program and allows towns to adopt more stringent requirements than the state ones. He signed it at Williams Farmstead Gardens on Route 7, in front of a field that flooded during the storms. Uprooted trees from the storm still line the bank of East Creek.
Canadian and U.S. officials have reached several key agreements aimed at ending delays on trains between Montreal and New York City. For years, Amtrak trains traveling from Montreal south into the United States have at times been held up for as long as two hours at Rouses Point for inspection and screening. Following a recent meeting with officials in Quebec Sen. Charles Schumer announced that Quebec is building prescreening facilities at the Montreal train station. And after the facilities are built and operational, Amtrak has agreed to end the Rouses Point stop.
The Vermont Attorney General's office has received approval to hire a special investigator to target child pornography cases. Cindy Maguire of the attorney general's office tells the Bennington Banner that person will be devoted to building cases against people generating or sharing child pornography over peer-to-peer networks.
The Vermont attorney general's office has reached settlements with four companies accused of bill some consumers for unauthorized or misleading services on their telephone bills. The companies will pay over $230,000 to more than 1,300 Vermont consumers and businesses. The attorney general's office said yesterday that Bizzfinders.com, LLC and Ebizz, LLC charged more than 500 Vermont businesses over $150,000 for web site support and other services. The office says the two other companies - Member's Edge, LLC and Residential Voice Mail, Inc. each charged hundreds of consumers tens of thousands of dollars for email and/or voice mail services. Each company will pay the state $10,000 in penalties and costs for the so-called "cramming."
The state of Vermont is on track to record a small surplus at the end of the current fiscal year. But there are some troubling employment signs that could signal that the economic recovery in the coming months could be slow. According to the latest revenue report, the state's General Fund increased little more than 6 percent last month and this growth helped erase a shortfall from previous months. Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding said the new report shows that Vermont's economy is experiencing some mild growth. But he's concerned that there are indications that there may be some weaknesses in the state's employment picture. He said he wouldn’t know until next month if these losses were the result of a disappointing ski season or an indication that the state's recovery is slowing down.
The attorneys general of New Hampshire and Vermont are reaffirming the border between the two states. New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney and Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell met yesterday at the center point over the Connecticut River on the bridge between Norwich, Vermont, and Hanover, New Hampshire. State laws require the attorneys general to meet to reaffirm the border every seven years.
From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News:
Hundreds of people turned out for the public discussion on F-35A jets possibly being based in Burlington. The auditorium inside South Burlington High School was packed Monday night. "I think it's more of a human rights issue," said a member of the audience. People came here to voice their opinion about Burlington being considered as a possible home to the F-35A jets. "F-35A is all wrong for a civilian neighborhood," said Joe Randazzo, who is against the jets coming to Burlington. One of the main issues folks have here is the noise; in fact they were handing out packets saying say no to deaf-35."It will be twice as loud as the F-16 and to have this flying in and out of civilian areas is just unacceptable," said Randazzo. Rod Williams lives right near the airport, "When the F-16s take off we can see the after burners from our house, it is loud and it takes about 30 seconds and it's gone. "The Vermont Air National Guard says if the city were chosen, Burlington would receive an economic boost. "Maintaining the relevancy of this air national guard absolutely we become part of the community and will be remain part of that community for decades to come," said Brigadier General Steve Cray, with the Vermont Air National Guard. There are six total cities in the running, but Burlington is considered a preferred location. Williams says he supports the basing of the jets, "They are here to protect our country. If you don't like the noise, don't move by the airport." If chosen, the first delivery of the up to 24 jets could be as early as 2015. The selection process is still in the beginning stages. The air force is expected to have a decision by the end of the year.
Verizon spokesperson Michael Murphy showed off the company's latest Internet service Monday in Burlington. 4G long-term evolution, or LTE, has been around for about a year. It allows users wireless access to the Internet wherever they get a phone signal. On Thursday it finally comes to Northern Vermont. It's ten times faster than 3G, which is the most commonly used, and provides a service similar to broadband Internet. Murphy says converting to 4G wasn't easy in the Green Mountain State. "The process of getting LTE in Vermont has gone from planning stages throughout 2010 and 2011 into actually building and putting investments into the ground," said Murphy. The faster Internet will be used in smart phones, tablets and help people who don't have access to broadband. "Imagine an antenna on your house that takes our LTE signal and then transmits it throughout your house through wifi," said Murphy. Just because you have a Smartphone or tablet doesn't mean you'll be able to access the 4G networks. That's because many of the devices weren't made with that newer technology. If you have an iPhone you're out of luck, none of them have it and only some of the tablets, including the new iPad, are 4G ready. As for the rest of Vermont: "We anticipate bringing 4G LTE to Southern Vermont where we have our 3G coverage area in the future. No timeline to share yet, but it's something that's certainly in the works," said Murphy. 4G has some real practical uses too. For example, it allows users to upload high-resolution photos and access larger documents faster.
The statewide Way to Go Commuter Challenge kicked off in Hinesburg yesterday, as transportation and legislative officials officially launched the new bus service along Route 116. Way to Go Week is a statewide initiative that encourages Vermonters to find an alternative to commuting alone in a car. The goal is to share rides, ride a bike, or use public transportation like the new bus route that will ferry passengers between Middlebury and Hinesburg, and Hinesburg and Burlington. Way to Go Week lasts through Friday. Last year, organizers say they had more than 3,000 participants and saved more than 350,000 pounds of carbon dioxide.
Former, current and aspiring office holders sang Wendy Wilton’s praises as she formally announced her candidacy for state treasurer yesterday. About 60 people were at Rutland City Hall, including former governor and former State Treasurer Jim Douglas who praised Wilton’s commitment to transparency. Mayor Christopher Louras said that Wilton had been reliable both for accurate, up-to-date budget numbers as well as bond schedule analysis and health care projections.
Concerns about the bee population in Maine are reportedly not being experienced in Vermont. Honeybee populations around the country have been hard hit by mysterious colony collapses in recent years. This spring in Maine and in northern New York, beekeepers have reported seeing an explosion in the population of mites that infest hives and cause large die-offs. But experts at Champlain Valley Apia are not seeing that problem. They say their hives look strong and they have not heard any bad reports about bee health in other parts of Vermont.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber Of Commerce this 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 Lake Champlain Bridge Community Auction closes tonight at 11:59. If you've got your heart set on a special item you still have time to win! You can still bid on any of the special items in the auction right up to the final seconds of this exciting event. This may be your last chance to win that special item or to grab a great bargain. So don't miss out, BID NOW! Proceeds will help underwrite the cost of this weekend’s celebration activities!
CVAA would like to invite you to end senior hunger in the Champlain Valley by becoming a sponsor of the 6th Annual Top Chef of the Champlain Valley. This event has become one of the most eagerly anticipated culinary events in Northern Vermont. This event attracts over 400 people including those in the restaurant business, young professionals, and many upwardly mobile baby boomers. If your organization is looking for a way to give back to your community while getting some great exposure for your business this is a great opportunity for you. There is a package for every size business from $250-$2500! For more information contact Sarah Lemnah at 802-865-0360 or sarah@cvaa.org.
Excitement is building for Ilsley Public Library’s 2012 Summer Reading program. Summer Reading encourages local youth to read all summer long and to participate in the many programs and resources the library offers. Research shows that kids who participate in summer reading programs at public libraries are better prepared when they return to school in the fall. Last year, over 400 children participated in Ilsley’s program. As part of Summer Reading, the Library offers prize drawings and incentives that award reading. Younger kids choose a small prize when they complete a reading punch card. Older kids are invited to enter their completed cards in weekly drawings for slightly larger prizes. This year, Ilsley is asking local businesses to donate small prize items or gift certificates as reading incentives. Please feel free to contact Sarah Lawton at sarah.lawton@ilsleypubliclibrary with any questions about Summer Reading or to make a contribution.
The Best Fourth In The North Committee, which is now a subcommittee of the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership will host a Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball Tournament on June 2nd and 3rd. The tournament will be held at the recreation field in Putnam, NY. The committee is looking for the participation of at least 10 teams. Teams must consist of 10 players with a minimum of three females on each team. The event is a double elimination tournament. There is a $180.00 registration fee for each team. To register call 518-321-4246. It is recommended to leave a message if there is no answer. Team play times will be drawn the Thursday before the Tournament.
A rabid raccoon was running loose in Elizabethtown and was reported to State police by a local homeowner. According to Essex County Public Health Director Linda Beers no one got bit. It was the second confirmed rabies case in the county this spring, and Beers reminded residents to avoid contact with wild animals and any stray dogs and cats seen wandering around. Preventive Services Director Kathy Daggett said anyone bitten by a suspected rabid animal should contact a veterinarian for medical care and call Public Health at 873-3500. Additional rabies vaccination clinics have been scheduled for pets as a result of the Elizabethtown incident. The next one is from 6 to 7PM next Tuesday the 22nd at the Westport firehouse.
“A Royal Affair” is the theme of the 10th annual Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce fund raising dinner and auction that will be held Friday, June 15th at the Silver Bay YMCA’s Gullen Lounge. “A Royal Affair” will begin with appetizers at 6PM followed by a buffet dinner at 7, a silent auction, a limited live auction, music and dancing. Tickets are $42 a person. Early reservations are suggested since space is limited. Assisting in this year’s event as the auctioneers for the evening will be our very own Bruce and Hobbes from “The Wake Up Crew!” For more information and reservations visit www.ticonderogany.com.
Incumbents Fred LaVallie, John Lenhart and James Wells hope to keep their seats on the Ticonderoga Central School Board and Mary Meserve hopes to win one. The school election is from Noon to 8PM today at Ticonderoga Elementary-Middle School and Hague Community Center, with the proposed 2012-13 school budget also on the ballot. Ticonderoga is a bi-county school district that includes the towns of Ticonderoga in Essex County and Hague in Warren County.
According to the U.S. Attorneys Office A New York man who fired a gun during a failed hold-up at a Rutland motel was sentenced to serve 100 months in jail on a federal firearms violation. Following his plea of guilty to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, Sean Miller of Bronx, NY, was sentenced to jail on Friday by federal Judge William Sessions who also imposed three years of supervised release following his release from jail.
Chittenden County State's Attorney T.J. Donovan has announced he has the support of the Vermont Democratic Party in his campaign for attorney general but incumbent William Sorrell also expects to get the party's backing. Sorrell says the backing at Saturday's meeting is a way to eliminate candidates who are not legitimate Democrats. He says he expects to get the party's endorsement as he has in the past. Donovan, who is running against Sorrell in the primary, said he was "honored to get the party's endorsement" and is "happy to have such a strong showing" for his candidacy.
Burlington city leaders are struggling with how to handle the Occupy Vermont movement. On Friday, a handful of Occupy members camped in Pomeroy Park in the Old North End. Police say they were aware of the campers, but decided to allow them to stay, despite the fact that they were breaking city ordinances. This comes after former Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss allowed Occupy members to camp in City Hall Park last fall. Police shut that encampment down after a man took his on life in one of the tents.
Gov. Peter Shumlin said yesterday that Tropical Storm Irene will not be the last natural disaster to hit Vermont, and signed a bill aimed at better preparing for the next one. Shumlin signed S.202, the “rivers bill,” which establishes state regulation of flood hazard areas in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program and allows towns to adopt more stringent requirements than the state ones. He signed it at Williams Farmstead Gardens on Route 7, in front of a field that flooded during the storms. Uprooted trees from the storm still line the bank of East Creek.
Canadian and U.S. officials have reached several key agreements aimed at ending delays on trains between Montreal and New York City. For years, Amtrak trains traveling from Montreal south into the United States have at times been held up for as long as two hours at Rouses Point for inspection and screening. Following a recent meeting with officials in Quebec Sen. Charles Schumer announced that Quebec is building prescreening facilities at the Montreal train station. And after the facilities are built and operational, Amtrak has agreed to end the Rouses Point stop.
The Vermont Attorney General's office has received approval to hire a special investigator to target child pornography cases. Cindy Maguire of the attorney general's office tells the Bennington Banner that person will be devoted to building cases against people generating or sharing child pornography over peer-to-peer networks.
The Vermont attorney general's office has reached settlements with four companies accused of bill some consumers for unauthorized or misleading services on their telephone bills. The companies will pay over $230,000 to more than 1,300 Vermont consumers and businesses. The attorney general's office said yesterday that Bizzfinders.com, LLC and Ebizz, LLC charged more than 500 Vermont businesses over $150,000 for web site support and other services. The office says the two other companies - Member's Edge, LLC and Residential Voice Mail, Inc. each charged hundreds of consumers tens of thousands of dollars for email and/or voice mail services. Each company will pay the state $10,000 in penalties and costs for the so-called "cramming."
The state of Vermont is on track to record a small surplus at the end of the current fiscal year. But there are some troubling employment signs that could signal that the economic recovery in the coming months could be slow. According to the latest revenue report, the state's General Fund increased little more than 6 percent last month and this growth helped erase a shortfall from previous months. Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding said the new report shows that Vermont's economy is experiencing some mild growth. But he's concerned that there are indications that there may be some weaknesses in the state's employment picture. He said he wouldn’t know until next month if these losses were the result of a disappointing ski season or an indication that the state's recovery is slowing down.
The attorneys general of New Hampshire and Vermont are reaffirming the border between the two states. New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney and Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell met yesterday at the center point over the Connecticut River on the bridge between Norwich, Vermont, and Hanover, New Hampshire. State laws require the attorneys general to meet to reaffirm the border every seven years.
From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News:
Hundreds of people turned out for the public discussion on F-35A jets possibly being based in Burlington. The auditorium inside South Burlington High School was packed Monday night. "I think it's more of a human rights issue," said a member of the audience. People came here to voice their opinion about Burlington being considered as a possible home to the F-35A jets. "F-35A is all wrong for a civilian neighborhood," said Joe Randazzo, who is against the jets coming to Burlington. One of the main issues folks have here is the noise; in fact they were handing out packets saying say no to deaf-35."It will be twice as loud as the F-16 and to have this flying in and out of civilian areas is just unacceptable," said Randazzo. Rod Williams lives right near the airport, "When the F-16s take off we can see the after burners from our house, it is loud and it takes about 30 seconds and it's gone. "The Vermont Air National Guard says if the city were chosen, Burlington would receive an economic boost. "Maintaining the relevancy of this air national guard absolutely we become part of the community and will be remain part of that community for decades to come," said Brigadier General Steve Cray, with the Vermont Air National Guard. There are six total cities in the running, but Burlington is considered a preferred location. Williams says he supports the basing of the jets, "They are here to protect our country. If you don't like the noise, don't move by the airport." If chosen, the first delivery of the up to 24 jets could be as early as 2015. The selection process is still in the beginning stages. The air force is expected to have a decision by the end of the year.
Verizon spokesperson Michael Murphy showed off the company's latest Internet service Monday in Burlington. 4G long-term evolution, or LTE, has been around for about a year. It allows users wireless access to the Internet wherever they get a phone signal. On Thursday it finally comes to Northern Vermont. It's ten times faster than 3G, which is the most commonly used, and provides a service similar to broadband Internet. Murphy says converting to 4G wasn't easy in the Green Mountain State. "The process of getting LTE in Vermont has gone from planning stages throughout 2010 and 2011 into actually building and putting investments into the ground," said Murphy. The faster Internet will be used in smart phones, tablets and help people who don't have access to broadband. "Imagine an antenna on your house that takes our LTE signal and then transmits it throughout your house through wifi," said Murphy. Just because you have a Smartphone or tablet doesn't mean you'll be able to access the 4G networks. That's because many of the devices weren't made with that newer technology. If you have an iPhone you're out of luck, none of them have it and only some of the tablets, including the new iPad, are 4G ready. As for the rest of Vermont: "We anticipate bringing 4G LTE to Southern Vermont where we have our 3G coverage area in the future. No timeline to share yet, but it's something that's certainly in the works," said Murphy. 4G has some real practical uses too. For example, it allows users to upload high-resolution photos and access larger documents faster.
Monday, May 14, 2012
WVTK Local & State News May 14, 2012
On Friday afternoon Vermont State Police were notified of a missing 5-year-old boy who had been on a hiking excursion with his mother along with other friends and family members. He was separated from the rest of the hiking party at the top of the Silver Lake trail near the lake and dam area. Members from The Salisbury Fire Department, Middlebury Fire Department/Technical Rescue Team, Brandon Rescue Squad, Middlebury Rescue Squad, U.S. Forest Service, and VT Fish and Wildlife Department were called in to assist Police. K9 teams were also called in from Vergennes Police Department as well as The Shelburne Police Department. The boy was located approximately forty-five minutes to an hour after the time of the initial call. The young boy was tired but did not require medical attention.
Work will continue this week on the Castleton – West Rutland Improvement Project. Milling will continue on Route 4A from West Rutland heading west to Castleton and will begin on Route 30 from the intersection of Route 4A and Route 30 heading north for 1 mile. Work on the drainage structures in the Village of Castleton and ditch excavation on Route 4A east of the Village of Castleton will resume. Rail-work excavation at intersection of VT Route 4A and E. Hubbardton Road will begin and Paving of Route 4A will begin in West Rutland heading west to Castleton.
You are invited to join the Way to Go Commuter Challenge this week by walking, biking, carpooling and riding the bus instead of driving. In addition to saving money and gas, when participants register for the challenge on-line, you'll be entered to win great prizes, including a Burton snowboard, an iPod or the Grand Prize, the prestigious Carbon Cup. Many local events are planned. Look for posters with dates, times and details hanging around town.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber Of Commerce this 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 Lake Champlain Bridge Community Auction closes tomorrow night at 11:59. If you've got your heart set on a special item you still have time to win! You can still bid on any of the special items in the auction right up to the final seconds of this exciting event. This may be your last chance to win that special item or to grab a great bargain. So don't miss out, BID NOW! Proceeds will help underwrite the cost of this weekend’s celebration activities! Get the scoop by clicking HERE!
The Vergennes American Legion Auxiliary has selected three junior girls from Vergennes Union High School to attend Green Mountain Girls’ State this year. The auxiliary will sponsor Marissa Jochum, Casey Jones, and Mary Langworthy, as they spend the week of June 17th at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. The purpose of Girls’ State is to provide citizenship training for girls of high school age. This also gives them an opportunity to live together as self-governing citizens and to inform them about the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship so that they may understand and participate in the functioning of government.
Fort Ticonderoga recently received a grant from Stewart’s Foundation supporting a new King’s Garden program in 2012. The new program will encourage young visitors to learn about different vegetables, flowers and insects. The funds will specifically support the development of four new themed areas within the Children’s Garden. The King’s Garden is open June 1st through October 8th and offers a wide variety of horticulture programs throughout the season. To learn more about Fort Ticonderoga’s King’s Garden and its programs in 2012 visit www.fortticonderoga.org or call 518-585-2821.
Residents to be disconnected from Proctor’s public water supply in Pittsford at the end of the year will be able to tap into a new revolving loan fund set up to help them build personal wells. Gov. Peter Shumlin signed a bill into law last Tuesday that will loan up to $200,000 to municipalities for the design and construction of private wells for homes that have been involuntarily disconnected from a public water supply system.
Rutland Central Supervisory Union Superintendent Debra Taylor and members of the Rutland Town School Board recently announced Sarah Tetzlaff has been appointed as assistant principal of Rutland Town School, beginning July 1. She will join the staff at Rutland Town School, including Aaron Boynton, who will transition from assistant principal to principal on July 1. Tetzlaff grew up in Middlebury and graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and a minor in Nutrition and Food Science. She earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Castleton State College-Woodruff Institute.
The Rutland Farmers’ Market kicked off the 2012 season Saturday with farmers from all over the area displaying their produce, foods, pottery and artwork, and colorful flowers on Mother’s Day weekend. According to organizers and farmers, the new outdoor season looks promising and things are off to a great start. The Rutland Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 9 to 2 at Depot Park in downtown Rutland. The outdoor farmers’ market will run until October 26th.
The New York Farm Viability Institute is accepting proposals for grant funding for projects that assist New York farmers in improving profitability. They may represent various production sectors, farm sizes, production practices and geographic locations. Farmer groups, researchers, educators, nonprofit groups and privately owned businesses may apply for funds. The requests for proposals for grant programs are available at www.nyfvi.org.
Officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will be in Vermont later this month to talk about their annual safety assessment of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. NRC officials will be on hand to talk with members of the public one-on-one in what they're calling an open house beginning at 5:30PM on May 23rd at Brattleboro Union High School.
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will hold two public hearings on deer management. The topics will include the 2011 hunting results and recommendations for an antlerless permitting and youth season this year. The first hearing will be held today at the St. Albans Town Educational Center. The other will be tomorrow in Springfield at the Riverside Junior High School cafeteria. Both run from 7-8:30 PM.
One person lost their life and another person is hospitalized following a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 89 in Vermont. State police say the northbound car crashed in Royalton early Saturday afternoon. The 21-year-old driver, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the crash site. The passenger, 29-year-old Steven Pierre of Manchester, NH was taken to Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Police say the crash is under investigation, but that witnesses reported that the car was traveling at high rate of speed before the accident.
Worries about health effects, privacy and cost are fueling growing opposition to wireless, digital "smart meters" that utilities around the country are installing on homes and businesses and touting as key energy conservation and grid reliability tools. Vermont appears poised to take an unusually aggressive stance. While several states have allowed utilities to charge a fee to customers who want to opt out of smart meters, Vermont's governor is expected soon to sign legislation that would allow customers to say no without paying anything extra.
One of Vermont's leading tourist destinations opened for the season over the weekend. Shelburne Farms is a 1,400-acre working farm on the shores of Lake Champlain that uses its historic landscape and buildings to teach the stewardship of natural and agricultural resources. It offers activities ranging from wagon and walking tours of the property to meals and lodging at its inn.
Vermonters wishing to get their high school diploma credential by passing the battery of GED tests now will have the option of taking the tests on computer. Online registration and scheduling for computerized GED testing will began today, and the tests begin being administered tomorrow in Newport. Test takers can register online, but still must travel to the test center to take the test. Northeast Kingdom Learning Services in Newport is the first making the switch from paper to computerized GED administration. Officials say they hope to expand the service to other locations in the state later. Those wanting to learn more can go to www.GEDtestingservice.com or education.vermont.gov.
Rutland's Chaffee Art Center will exhibit the Vermont Doodle-4-Google 2012 finalists. Entries were submitted from all across Vermont and these finalists represent the top submissions in each age group. The exhibit finalists will coincide with the Summer Members' Exhibit and the Vermont Pastel Society's Annual Juried Show taking place May 25th through July 7th. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, June 2nd from 4-7PM with music by John Lyons. Doodle-4-Google encourages creativity of young people by asking students to create their own Google doodle.
The Town Of Lincoln's 23rd Annual Town Wide Lawn Sale will be held in town on Saturday, May 26th from 9AM to 3PM. The event takes place rain or shine and is sponsored by Weathervane United Elderly Housing. Maps will be available to guide you to sales all over town. There will be food for sale by the Lincoln Volunteer Fire Company. The Lincoln Library will have a plant, and book sale as well. For information call 453-4280.
The Town of New Haven will host a town-wide lawn and garage sale during the weekend of May 26th and 27th. The New Haven Annual Lawn and Garage Sales will be held throughout town from 9AM to 4PM. Maps of various sale stands will be available at the New Haven Town Office, public library, Village Green Market, and Jiffy Mart beginning May 21st. For details or copies of maps, call Suzy Roorda at 453-5978.
A lot of people turned out over the weekend all for the sake of a toddler from St. Johnsbury. Two-year-old Ty Jenkins lost his mom earlier this year when Melissa Jenkins life was taken. All thoughts were positive Saturday with about 200 golfers showing up for a charity tournament in New Hampshire. The tourney was called "Tee it Up for Ty," and that's just what they did. Many are strangers, never knowing Melissa Jenkins or her son but still wanting to help. There was also a silent auction as well with donations from celebrities. While the money is still being totaled up it's anticipated to be in the thousands of dollars.
Work will continue this week on the Castleton – West Rutland Improvement Project. Milling will continue on Route 4A from West Rutland heading west to Castleton and will begin on Route 30 from the intersection of Route 4A and Route 30 heading north for 1 mile. Work on the drainage structures in the Village of Castleton and ditch excavation on Route 4A east of the Village of Castleton will resume. Rail-work excavation at intersection of VT Route 4A and E. Hubbardton Road will begin and Paving of Route 4A will begin in West Rutland heading west to Castleton.
You are invited to join the Way to Go Commuter Challenge this week by walking, biking, carpooling and riding the bus instead of driving. In addition to saving money and gas, when participants register for the challenge on-line, you'll be entered to win great prizes, including a Burton snowboard, an iPod or the Grand Prize, the prestigious Carbon Cup. Many local events are planned. Look for posters with dates, times and details hanging around town.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber Of Commerce this 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 Lake Champlain Bridge Community Auction closes tomorrow night at 11:59. If you've got your heart set on a special item you still have time to win! You can still bid on any of the special items in the auction right up to the final seconds of this exciting event. This may be your last chance to win that special item or to grab a great bargain. So don't miss out, BID NOW! Proceeds will help underwrite the cost of this weekend’s celebration activities! Get the scoop by clicking HERE!
The Vergennes American Legion Auxiliary has selected three junior girls from Vergennes Union High School to attend Green Mountain Girls’ State this year. The auxiliary will sponsor Marissa Jochum, Casey Jones, and Mary Langworthy, as they spend the week of June 17th at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. The purpose of Girls’ State is to provide citizenship training for girls of high school age. This also gives them an opportunity to live together as self-governing citizens and to inform them about the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship so that they may understand and participate in the functioning of government.
Fort Ticonderoga recently received a grant from Stewart’s Foundation supporting a new King’s Garden program in 2012. The new program will encourage young visitors to learn about different vegetables, flowers and insects. The funds will specifically support the development of four new themed areas within the Children’s Garden. The King’s Garden is open June 1st through October 8th and offers a wide variety of horticulture programs throughout the season. To learn more about Fort Ticonderoga’s King’s Garden and its programs in 2012 visit www.fortticonderoga.org or call 518-585-2821.
Residents to be disconnected from Proctor’s public water supply in Pittsford at the end of the year will be able to tap into a new revolving loan fund set up to help them build personal wells. Gov. Peter Shumlin signed a bill into law last Tuesday that will loan up to $200,000 to municipalities for the design and construction of private wells for homes that have been involuntarily disconnected from a public water supply system.
Rutland Central Supervisory Union Superintendent Debra Taylor and members of the Rutland Town School Board recently announced Sarah Tetzlaff has been appointed as assistant principal of Rutland Town School, beginning July 1. She will join the staff at Rutland Town School, including Aaron Boynton, who will transition from assistant principal to principal on July 1. Tetzlaff grew up in Middlebury and graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and a minor in Nutrition and Food Science. She earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Castleton State College-Woodruff Institute.
The Rutland Farmers’ Market kicked off the 2012 season Saturday with farmers from all over the area displaying their produce, foods, pottery and artwork, and colorful flowers on Mother’s Day weekend. According to organizers and farmers, the new outdoor season looks promising and things are off to a great start. The Rutland Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays from 9 to 2 at Depot Park in downtown Rutland. The outdoor farmers’ market will run until October 26th.
The New York Farm Viability Institute is accepting proposals for grant funding for projects that assist New York farmers in improving profitability. They may represent various production sectors, farm sizes, production practices and geographic locations. Farmer groups, researchers, educators, nonprofit groups and privately owned businesses may apply for funds. The requests for proposals for grant programs are available at www.nyfvi.org.
Officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will be in Vermont later this month to talk about their annual safety assessment of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. NRC officials will be on hand to talk with members of the public one-on-one in what they're calling an open house beginning at 5:30PM on May 23rd at Brattleboro Union High School.
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will hold two public hearings on deer management. The topics will include the 2011 hunting results and recommendations for an antlerless permitting and youth season this year. The first hearing will be held today at the St. Albans Town Educational Center. The other will be tomorrow in Springfield at the Riverside Junior High School cafeteria. Both run from 7-8:30 PM.
One person lost their life and another person is hospitalized following a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 89 in Vermont. State police say the northbound car crashed in Royalton early Saturday afternoon. The 21-year-old driver, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the crash site. The passenger, 29-year-old Steven Pierre of Manchester, NH was taken to Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Police say the crash is under investigation, but that witnesses reported that the car was traveling at high rate of speed before the accident.
Worries about health effects, privacy and cost are fueling growing opposition to wireless, digital "smart meters" that utilities around the country are installing on homes and businesses and touting as key energy conservation and grid reliability tools. Vermont appears poised to take an unusually aggressive stance. While several states have allowed utilities to charge a fee to customers who want to opt out of smart meters, Vermont's governor is expected soon to sign legislation that would allow customers to say no without paying anything extra.
One of Vermont's leading tourist destinations opened for the season over the weekend. Shelburne Farms is a 1,400-acre working farm on the shores of Lake Champlain that uses its historic landscape and buildings to teach the stewardship of natural and agricultural resources. It offers activities ranging from wagon and walking tours of the property to meals and lodging at its inn.
Vermonters wishing to get their high school diploma credential by passing the battery of GED tests now will have the option of taking the tests on computer. Online registration and scheduling for computerized GED testing will began today, and the tests begin being administered tomorrow in Newport. Test takers can register online, but still must travel to the test center to take the test. Northeast Kingdom Learning Services in Newport is the first making the switch from paper to computerized GED administration. Officials say they hope to expand the service to other locations in the state later. Those wanting to learn more can go to www.GEDtestingservice.com or education.vermont.gov.
Rutland's Chaffee Art Center will exhibit the Vermont Doodle-4-Google 2012 finalists. Entries were submitted from all across Vermont and these finalists represent the top submissions in each age group. The exhibit finalists will coincide with the Summer Members' Exhibit and the Vermont Pastel Society's Annual Juried Show taking place May 25th through July 7th. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, June 2nd from 4-7PM with music by John Lyons. Doodle-4-Google encourages creativity of young people by asking students to create their own Google doodle.
The Town Of Lincoln's 23rd Annual Town Wide Lawn Sale will be held in town on Saturday, May 26th from 9AM to 3PM. The event takes place rain or shine and is sponsored by Weathervane United Elderly Housing. Maps will be available to guide you to sales all over town. There will be food for sale by the Lincoln Volunteer Fire Company. The Lincoln Library will have a plant, and book sale as well. For information call 453-4280.
The Town of New Haven will host a town-wide lawn and garage sale during the weekend of May 26th and 27th. The New Haven Annual Lawn and Garage Sales will be held throughout town from 9AM to 4PM. Maps of various sale stands will be available at the New Haven Town Office, public library, Village Green Market, and Jiffy Mart beginning May 21st. For details or copies of maps, call Suzy Roorda at 453-5978.
A lot of people turned out over the weekend all for the sake of a toddler from St. Johnsbury. Two-year-old Ty Jenkins lost his mom earlier this year when Melissa Jenkins life was taken. All thoughts were positive Saturday with about 200 golfers showing up for a charity tournament in New Hampshire. The tourney was called "Tee it Up for Ty," and that's just what they did. Many are strangers, never knowing Melissa Jenkins or her son but still wanting to help. There was also a silent auction as well with donations from celebrities. While the money is still being totaled up it's anticipated to be in the thousands of dollars.
Friday, May 11, 2012
WVTK Local & State News May 11, 2012
Vermont Sate Police responded to Market Road in Bridport for a report of a home burglary early Friday morning. Darby Crum reported that several guitars and musical equipment was missing from the residence. Vermont State Police ask that anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Trooper Armstrong at the New Haven Barracks.
Route 7 in Charlotte was closed yesterday afternoon because of a house fire. The blaze broke out in an addition on the back side of a home at around 2PM. Firefighters found flames and smoke pouring from the house when they arrived. It took about 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze. The extent of the damage is unknown at this time, but it appears the quick work of firefighters kept the flames from spreading. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Route 7 reopened at about 6PM.
The week at the Middlebury Select Board meeting the board appointed Rick Emilo to the Development Review Board, John McIntyre as an alternate member of the DRB and Pete Diminico to the River Task Force. Meanwhile at its meeting on Monday, the Business Development Fund Advisory Board voted to recommend to the Select Board that the Middlebury Business Development Advisory Board expand to group of seven. The Select Board voted to add two members to the Advisory Board. Letters of interest in appointment to the board should be submitted to Town Manager Bill Finger no later than Friday, May 18th.
Town Manager Bill Finger said this week that the Fire Facilities project is on track. Seymour Street will be closed for one more day in May for storm sewer work and then road will be closed between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July for lowering of the road.
The Middlebury Select Board learned this week that as of April 30th, 10 months of the way through fiscal year 2012, overall expenditures and receipts are on-target, and current year-end projections are favorable.
The River Task Force met on April 27th and reviewed a request for proposals for engineering services for analysis of the river, which is necessary to develop a management/repair plan for the Middlebury River. Although the funding is for the analysis that is anticipated from FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the award of the grant hasn't been finalized, so the RFP is on hold until the grant is awarded and a grant agreement is signed. Given the current projected timeline, engineering proposals would be due in early to mid July.
You are invited to join the Way to Go Commuter Challenge in coming up next week by walking, biking, carpooling and riding the bus instead of driving. In addition to saving money and gas, when participants register for the challenge on-line, you'll be entered to win great prizes, including a Burton snowboard, an iPod or the Grand Prize, the prestigious Carbon Cup. Many local events are planned. Look for posters on dates, times and details around town.
Vermont State Police are investigating the theft of property from a camper at Kampersville in Salisbury and the subsequent vandalism to an R.V. at the camp. Two propane tanks were stolen which are worth approximately $300 and two doors to the R.V. were damaged by someone attempting to force entry. The value of the doors is approximately $1,000. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to contact VSP in New Haven. (Trooper Andrew Leise at 1-802-388-4919)
Vermont Smoke and Cure and Green Mountain Organic Creamery will become the first occupants of the former Saputo Cheese factory in Hinesburg. A fire heavily damaged the plant in September 2008. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be on Saturday, May 19th, at 1PM followed by an open house from 1:30 – 4:00. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy will speak at the opening. Vermont Smoke and Cure was established in 1962 in South Barre. Green Mountain Organic Creamery is a start-up company run by the owners of Kimball Brook Farm in North Ferrisburgh. Only five or six jobs will be created at the site but Hinesburg officials said they hope that at least 25 jobs will be created at the facility in the future.
Another not-for-profit group will benefit from the North Country Triathlon. The Hague race has been so successful in meeting its goal of charitable giving; organizers have added another beneficiary. The Lake George Land Conservancy joins the Hope Lodge of Burlington and the Hague Volunteer Fire Department as groups receiving donations from the event. Organizers expect more than 500 athletes for the sixth annual event on Saturday, June 30th, in Hague. For more information just visit www.northcountrytri.com.
Crown Point will keep tradition alive when it hosts its 144th annual Memorial Day celebration and observance. Events will be held on Sunday and Monday, May 27th and 28th. The theme for this year’s celebration and observance is “Memories.” The 2012 Crown Point Memorial Day celebration and observance will begin on Sunday with an ecumenical church service at 11AM in Veterans Park. On Monday Crown Point’s annual Memorial Day parade will begin at 2PM at Ferry Road and proceed north on Main Street, ending at Veterans Park.
The North Country SPCA would like to announce an exciting upcoming event! The Lake Placid Center for the Arts will be hosting “Artists for Animals,” an art show to benefit our shelter, from June 1st through June 16th. The show’s theme is “works of art with animals in mind,” and will feature paintings, drawings, sculpture, and other media by national and local artists. All art will be for sale, and proceeds will go to the North Country SPCA’s Capital Campaign to build a new shelter for the needy dogs and cats of Essex County. Get more information by visiting www.LakePlacidArts.org.
The Essex County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to install a new sprinkler system at the Horace Nye Nursing Home. Board members voted earlier this week to accept an offer of $397,600 for the sprinkler system from Albany Fire Protection. County Manager Daniel Palmer said that the board had to make a decision on the matter and could not wait to find out about the future of the Horace Nye Nursing Home as a county entity.
Peter Bauer is returning to Adirondack Park advocacy after leading the Fund for Lake George for five years. Bauer has been hired as executive director of Protect the Adirondacks, which is trying to block the largest development project in the history of the 6 million-acre Adirondack Park. The environmental group is suing the Adirondack Park Agency over its approval of a permit for the Adirondack Club and Resort project in Tupper Lake.
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has asked the president to increase the state's federal reimbursement for damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene from 75 to 90%. The Brattleboro Reformer reports the governor sent President Barack Obama the request after storm damage costs exceeded the $79.4-million threshold that triggers the higher Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement rate.
President Barack Obama has appointed the head of the Vermont National Guard to be the next deputy commander of the U.S. military's Northern Command based in Colorado. Authorities say Major General Michael Dubie will resign his post at the National Guard. The Northern Command was created following the 9/11 attacks to protect U.S. territory and provide military support for civil authorities in the event of a national emergency.
Verizon Wireless is introducing a new, higher-speed communications network in about 30 Vermont communities. The company says its 4G Long Term Evolution network will have speeds up to 10 times as fast as those available on the 3G networks that are now the norm with many carriers. It says the service will be available starting next Thursday. Some of the cities and towns to be served initially include Burlington, Ferrisburgh, Middlebury, Shelburne, South Burlington, Vergennes and Williston.
Vermont 8th graders scored above the national average in science. But just 43% of them are proficient or better in the topic. That's according to the National Assessment of Education Progress results. Vermont had an overall score of 163 out of 300 compared to a national average score of 151.
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From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News:
Vermont State political races are around the corner and yet, they have not showed up much in the media. Republican State Senator Randy Brock announced he was challenging Democrat incumbent Peter Shumlin last December for the position of Governor. But political science professor, Garrison Nelson says, the reason why we have not heard much about it is because the current governor is likely a shoe-in for a second term. "Knows where the money is. Knows how to get it," Nelson said of Governor Shumlin. And that is despite the fact that Shumlin has not even formally announced his re-election. In contrast, Nelson says Brock is running a slow-moving campaign, partly because he knows he has little chance of victory. "Sometimes you take one for the team. And this maybe taking one for the team," Nelson said. But, where the gubernatorial race lacks drama, the match-up for attorney general has plenty. That is because Chittenden County State's Attorney and Democrat T.J. Donovan is taking on incumbent democrat, Bill Sorrell. Both men are popular and very politically connected. "I think the people who really admire T.J. are kind of not as encouraging as they might have been that he's making this run against a long-term, popular incumbent," Nelson said. Nelson says he cannot call this race. In fact, he will not say anything with 100 percent certainty. "Vermont is a State which defies easy categorization and will continue to do so," Nelson said. Another Republican, Roy Newton, entered the race for Governor in April. And, Rutland treasurer and Republican, Wendy Wilton, announced Thursday that she will run for State treasurer. More names could show up. The deadline to file for the primary is June 14.
More than eight months ago Tropical Storm Irene caused a Plainfield, Vermont brook to rise and sweep away anything in its path including rocks and trees. But Darlene Covey says that's not all it took. "I looked down and I was sort of surprised and I said to my husband, "My goodness a lot of the tires are gone," said Covey. Covey says prior to Irene, her neighbor's property extended further into the river but was washed away. For months she wondered what happened to the tires until she saw our Wednesday night broadcast. In the story we reported thousands of tires had been picked up along the Winooski River during "Green Up Day." A report that clicked with Covey and her husband. "I looked at him and he looked at me and he said to me, "Geez I wonder where they came from," said Covey? Covey contacted us. We learned the brook does connect to the Winooski River. But to reach Waterbury, where the tires were found, would have had to travel about 25 miles. We asked Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz if that was possible. She says it's unlikely. Markowitz says the weight of the tires wouldn't have brought them more than a dozen miles. As for people being allowed to keep tires on a riverbank, Markowitz says there's nothing wrong with it. Although Covey hopes another storm doesn't wash away hundreds more. "The good point is we'll get rid of them. The bad point is someone else is going to have our problem," said Covey.
------------
New York is moving toward banning indoor tanning for anyone under 18 years old, pushed by advocates who blame booths for a dramatic rise in skin cancer among teenagers. The bill backed by powerful sponsors in the Assembly and Senate comes at prom time - a peak time for using the booths. The American Cancer Society reports a 72 percent increase in melanoma in 10 years. The industry has countered by saying tanning beds can be used safely and provide necessary vitamin D.
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.
The Vergennes Opera House hosts a performance by Grammy Award winner Will Ackerman tonight at 8 as part of its Acoustic Encounters benefit concert series, sponsored by Vintage Fitness. Proceeds from this special event benefit the Friends of the Vergennes Opera House. Tickets for the performance are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors & students and under 10 are Free. Tickets are available at the Opera House, Classic Stitching in Vergennes, and online at www.vergennesoperahouse.org. Seating is general admission.
A special exhibit on quilts made by men since the Civil War highlights the new season of Vermont's Shelburne Museum. Quilt-making has traditionally been a woman's art, but the quilts on display include some made by soldiers who were injured in the Civil War, and from boys who were sick in childhood and learned how to quilt from their mothers.
Route 7 in Charlotte was closed yesterday afternoon because of a house fire. The blaze broke out in an addition on the back side of a home at around 2PM. Firefighters found flames and smoke pouring from the house when they arrived. It took about 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze. The extent of the damage is unknown at this time, but it appears the quick work of firefighters kept the flames from spreading. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Route 7 reopened at about 6PM.
The week at the Middlebury Select Board meeting the board appointed Rick Emilo to the Development Review Board, John McIntyre as an alternate member of the DRB and Pete Diminico to the River Task Force. Meanwhile at its meeting on Monday, the Business Development Fund Advisory Board voted to recommend to the Select Board that the Middlebury Business Development Advisory Board expand to group of seven. The Select Board voted to add two members to the Advisory Board. Letters of interest in appointment to the board should be submitted to Town Manager Bill Finger no later than Friday, May 18th.
Town Manager Bill Finger said this week that the Fire Facilities project is on track. Seymour Street will be closed for one more day in May for storm sewer work and then road will be closed between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July for lowering of the road.
The Middlebury Select Board learned this week that as of April 30th, 10 months of the way through fiscal year 2012, overall expenditures and receipts are on-target, and current year-end projections are favorable.
The River Task Force met on April 27th and reviewed a request for proposals for engineering services for analysis of the river, which is necessary to develop a management/repair plan for the Middlebury River. Although the funding is for the analysis that is anticipated from FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the award of the grant hasn't been finalized, so the RFP is on hold until the grant is awarded and a grant agreement is signed. Given the current projected timeline, engineering proposals would be due in early to mid July.
You are invited to join the Way to Go Commuter Challenge in coming up next week by walking, biking, carpooling and riding the bus instead of driving. In addition to saving money and gas, when participants register for the challenge on-line, you'll be entered to win great prizes, including a Burton snowboard, an iPod or the Grand Prize, the prestigious Carbon Cup. Many local events are planned. Look for posters on dates, times and details around town.
Vermont State Police are investigating the theft of property from a camper at Kampersville in Salisbury and the subsequent vandalism to an R.V. at the camp. Two propane tanks were stolen which are worth approximately $300 and two doors to the R.V. were damaged by someone attempting to force entry. The value of the doors is approximately $1,000. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to contact VSP in New Haven. (Trooper Andrew Leise at 1-802-388-4919)
Vermont Smoke and Cure and Green Mountain Organic Creamery will become the first occupants of the former Saputo Cheese factory in Hinesburg. A fire heavily damaged the plant in September 2008. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be on Saturday, May 19th, at 1PM followed by an open house from 1:30 – 4:00. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy will speak at the opening. Vermont Smoke and Cure was established in 1962 in South Barre. Green Mountain Organic Creamery is a start-up company run by the owners of Kimball Brook Farm in North Ferrisburgh. Only five or six jobs will be created at the site but Hinesburg officials said they hope that at least 25 jobs will be created at the facility in the future.
Another not-for-profit group will benefit from the North Country Triathlon. The Hague race has been so successful in meeting its goal of charitable giving; organizers have added another beneficiary. The Lake George Land Conservancy joins the Hope Lodge of Burlington and the Hague Volunteer Fire Department as groups receiving donations from the event. Organizers expect more than 500 athletes for the sixth annual event on Saturday, June 30th, in Hague. For more information just visit www.northcountrytri.com.
Crown Point will keep tradition alive when it hosts its 144th annual Memorial Day celebration and observance. Events will be held on Sunday and Monday, May 27th and 28th. The theme for this year’s celebration and observance is “Memories.” The 2012 Crown Point Memorial Day celebration and observance will begin on Sunday with an ecumenical church service at 11AM in Veterans Park. On Monday Crown Point’s annual Memorial Day parade will begin at 2PM at Ferry Road and proceed north on Main Street, ending at Veterans Park.
The North Country SPCA would like to announce an exciting upcoming event! The Lake Placid Center for the Arts will be hosting “Artists for Animals,” an art show to benefit our shelter, from June 1st through June 16th. The show’s theme is “works of art with animals in mind,” and will feature paintings, drawings, sculpture, and other media by national and local artists. All art will be for sale, and proceeds will go to the North Country SPCA’s Capital Campaign to build a new shelter for the needy dogs and cats of Essex County. Get more information by visiting www.LakePlacidArts.org.
The Essex County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to install a new sprinkler system at the Horace Nye Nursing Home. Board members voted earlier this week to accept an offer of $397,600 for the sprinkler system from Albany Fire Protection. County Manager Daniel Palmer said that the board had to make a decision on the matter and could not wait to find out about the future of the Horace Nye Nursing Home as a county entity.
Peter Bauer is returning to Adirondack Park advocacy after leading the Fund for Lake George for five years. Bauer has been hired as executive director of Protect the Adirondacks, which is trying to block the largest development project in the history of the 6 million-acre Adirondack Park. The environmental group is suing the Adirondack Park Agency over its approval of a permit for the Adirondack Club and Resort project in Tupper Lake.
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has asked the president to increase the state's federal reimbursement for damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene from 75 to 90%. The Brattleboro Reformer reports the governor sent President Barack Obama the request after storm damage costs exceeded the $79.4-million threshold that triggers the higher Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement rate.
President Barack Obama has appointed the head of the Vermont National Guard to be the next deputy commander of the U.S. military's Northern Command based in Colorado. Authorities say Major General Michael Dubie will resign his post at the National Guard. The Northern Command was created following the 9/11 attacks to protect U.S. territory and provide military support for civil authorities in the event of a national emergency.
Verizon Wireless is introducing a new, higher-speed communications network in about 30 Vermont communities. The company says its 4G Long Term Evolution network will have speeds up to 10 times as fast as those available on the 3G networks that are now the norm with many carriers. It says the service will be available starting next Thursday. Some of the cities and towns to be served initially include Burlington, Ferrisburgh, Middlebury, Shelburne, South Burlington, Vergennes and Williston.
Vermont 8th graders scored above the national average in science. But just 43% of them are proficient or better in the topic. That's according to the National Assessment of Education Progress results. Vermont had an overall score of 163 out of 300 compared to a national average score of 151.
------------
From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News:
Vermont State political races are around the corner and yet, they have not showed up much in the media. Republican State Senator Randy Brock announced he was challenging Democrat incumbent Peter Shumlin last December for the position of Governor. But political science professor, Garrison Nelson says, the reason why we have not heard much about it is because the current governor is likely a shoe-in for a second term. "Knows where the money is. Knows how to get it," Nelson said of Governor Shumlin. And that is despite the fact that Shumlin has not even formally announced his re-election. In contrast, Nelson says Brock is running a slow-moving campaign, partly because he knows he has little chance of victory. "Sometimes you take one for the team. And this maybe taking one for the team," Nelson said. But, where the gubernatorial race lacks drama, the match-up for attorney general has plenty. That is because Chittenden County State's Attorney and Democrat T.J. Donovan is taking on incumbent democrat, Bill Sorrell. Both men are popular and very politically connected. "I think the people who really admire T.J. are kind of not as encouraging as they might have been that he's making this run against a long-term, popular incumbent," Nelson said. Nelson says he cannot call this race. In fact, he will not say anything with 100 percent certainty. "Vermont is a State which defies easy categorization and will continue to do so," Nelson said. Another Republican, Roy Newton, entered the race for Governor in April. And, Rutland treasurer and Republican, Wendy Wilton, announced Thursday that she will run for State treasurer. More names could show up. The deadline to file for the primary is June 14.
More than eight months ago Tropical Storm Irene caused a Plainfield, Vermont brook to rise and sweep away anything in its path including rocks and trees. But Darlene Covey says that's not all it took. "I looked down and I was sort of surprised and I said to my husband, "My goodness a lot of the tires are gone," said Covey. Covey says prior to Irene, her neighbor's property extended further into the river but was washed away. For months she wondered what happened to the tires until she saw our Wednesday night broadcast. In the story we reported thousands of tires had been picked up along the Winooski River during "Green Up Day." A report that clicked with Covey and her husband. "I looked at him and he looked at me and he said to me, "Geez I wonder where they came from," said Covey? Covey contacted us. We learned the brook does connect to the Winooski River. But to reach Waterbury, where the tires were found, would have had to travel about 25 miles. We asked Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz if that was possible. She says it's unlikely. Markowitz says the weight of the tires wouldn't have brought them more than a dozen miles. As for people being allowed to keep tires on a riverbank, Markowitz says there's nothing wrong with it. Although Covey hopes another storm doesn't wash away hundreds more. "The good point is we'll get rid of them. The bad point is someone else is going to have our problem," said Covey.
------------
New York is moving toward banning indoor tanning for anyone under 18 years old, pushed by advocates who blame booths for a dramatic rise in skin cancer among teenagers. The bill backed by powerful sponsors in the Assembly and Senate comes at prom time - a peak time for using the booths. The American Cancer Society reports a 72 percent increase in melanoma in 10 years. The industry has countered by saying tanning beds can be used safely and provide necessary vitamin D.
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.
The Vergennes Opera House hosts a performance by Grammy Award winner Will Ackerman tonight at 8 as part of its Acoustic Encounters benefit concert series, sponsored by Vintage Fitness. Proceeds from this special event benefit the Friends of the Vergennes Opera House. Tickets for the performance are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors & students and under 10 are Free. Tickets are available at the Opera House, Classic Stitching in Vergennes, and online at www.vergennesoperahouse.org. Seating is general admission.
A special exhibit on quilts made by men since the Civil War highlights the new season of Vermont's Shelburne Museum. Quilt-making has traditionally been a woman's art, but the quilts on display include some made by soldiers who were injured in the Civil War, and from boys who were sick in childhood and learned how to quilt from their mothers.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
WVTK Local & State News May 10, 2012
After many months of planning the Lake Champlain Bridge Community looks forward to hosting its two-day Grand Celebration which celebrates the re-opening of the Lake Champlain Bridge and re-connecting the New York and Vermont communities that surround it. The Grand Celebration will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 19th and 20th. Saturday’s events begin at 9AM with an opening ceremony and end at approximately 10PM after a street dance. Sunday’s events begin at 6AM with a sunrise ecumenical service and close with a fireworks show at dusk. All events will take place at or near the Chimney Point State Historic Site in Addison and the Crown Point State Historic Site. All of the weekend’s events are free and will take place rain or shine. Get the scoop and schedule of events HERE!
The “Way To Go! Commuter Challenge” Kick-Off Ride will take place this afternoon at 4 at the Middlebury Town Gym. Join fellow cyclists in mass for a fun, safe 20-minute ride through downtown to show support for Bike Friendly Middlebury initiatives and announce the “Way to Go! Commuter Challenge.” Next week marks the “Way To Go! Commuter Challenge” week. Look for activities planned throughout the week sponsored by ACTR and ACRPC including ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Monday to celebrate the new ACTR shuttle bus route along Route 116 and new ACRPC electric car charging station.
Habitat for Humanity of Addison County is inviting you to the ground breaking of their four-lot subdivision on Delong Road in Cornwall next Wednesday the 16th at 5:00PM. This is a huge event for Vermont, Addison County, the Town of Cornwall and also for our future Habitat families. At a time when the economy is soft and hard working Addison County residents are having a tough time buying affordable housing there will be four affordable houses for sale to working residents of Addison County to be built by Habitat of Humanity of Addison County volunteers. This is only possible because decisions made by the Cornwall Select Board and Cornwall Planning Commission who planned for the future and for the residents that live and work in Addison County.
An 81-year-old Middlebury woman has been honored as the Vermont winner of the Home Instead Senior Care® network’s Salute to Senior Service SM award. Ruth Barenbaum is being recognized for her dedicated community service, including her work at the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging and Meals on Wheels. The Salute to Senior Service program was launched this year by the Home Instead Senior Care network to honor seniors’ commitments to their causes and communities. As one of 50 state winners, Barenbaum earned a spot in the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame on the www.SalutetoSeniorService.com website where her nomination story also has been posted.
A routine traffic stop resulted in a big discovery last night in Rutland. Police found 400 bags of heroin inside the vehicle. Authorities arrested a passenger, 25-year-old Samuel Forde of Castleton. He's now facing drug charges. The drugs have an estimated street value of over $13,000 dollars.
Rutland City Treasurer Wendy Wilton confirmed yesterday she will run for state treasurer. The office is currently held by former deputy treasurer Beth Pearce, who was appointed to the position by Gov. Peter Shumlin after elected treasurer Jeb Spaulding left to become Shumlin’s secretary of administration. Wilton, who has held the local office since 2007, plans a formal announcement at 9AM on Monday in Rutland City Hall.
Central Vermont Public Service Corp. reported yesterday first quarter earnings of $9.2 million, or 67 cents per share. The results exclude merger-related costs after-tax of $300,000, or 2 cents per share. Including merger-related costs, earnings were $8.9 million, or 65 cents per share of common stock, compared to $8.4 million, or 62 cents per share for the same quarter last year.
On Monday afternoon at 5:00, Eddie's Restaurant in Ticonderoga is hosting an Alliance Steering Board Meeting and Public Reception. Through the generosity of Town Council and Board Members Hors D'oeuvres and an open bar reception will take place from 5:00 to 5:45. From 6:00 to 7:00 the Alliance will provide an overview of its activities for the past 6 months, its plan for the next 6 months, and will ask the Steering the Board to nominate several new Board members. RSVP Requested: jcunningham@ticonderoga-alliance.org
The Essex County Fair will go forward. The County Board of Supervisors' contract with the Essex County Agricultural Society to run the fair was rescinded in order to remove beer sales at the end of this week's meeting. But a new contract is on its way. The contract was pulled back because it included beer sales, drawn up pending Board of Supervisors approval.
Police now say the driver who was killed along with his girlfriend and infant son on Vermont's Interstate 89 in Bolton had a cast on his left foot, not his right. The Burlington Free Press reports state police say Jason Potvin's cast wasn't on his right foot as originally reported. The newspaper says Potvin's license was suspended in October.
Rural post offices in Vermont and across the country will remain open after all. The U-S Postal Service announced a new strategy to keep the thousands of small centers open, after catching a lot of flak from the public over it. While they will remain open, the hours will be reduced, with service during peak times when most of the customers are there. The Postal Service estimates the reduced hours combined with voluntary early retirement of 21-thousand employees will save half a billion dollars annually.
Peerless Clothing International is expanding its current operations in St. Albans. The company, which is based in Montreal, is the largest men's suit manufacturer in North America. The company already has three large commercial buildings in St. Albans, and is now building 280-thousand square feet of distribution and warehouse space in the town industrial park. It's expected to open by the end of the year. It currently employs about three-hundred people, and is one of northwestern Vermont's largest employers.
A new state office building has opened in Bennington to replace one that was closed five years ago amid health concerns. Governor Peter Shumlin, state workers and state and local officials attended a ribbon cutting yesterday at the new Bennington court and state office building.
The leaders of the Vermont House and Senate say they're pleased with the accomplishments of the just completed legislative session. But Speaker Shap Smith and Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell continue to disagree about something that didn't happen this year - giving police the ability to get without a search warrant information from a Health Department database of prescription drug records. Campbell supports that; Smith doesn't. Smith and Campbell - both Democrats - say the Legislature did a good job handling recovery from Tropical Storm Irene and revamping the state's mental health system. As for business left for next year, Smith says he wants to push tax reform including a sales tax that would be broadened to cover services but on which the 6% rate would be lowered.
A federal appeals court weighing a water quality permit for the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant wants lawyers to provide it with written arguments on another type of water quality permit. Vermont Public Service Commissioner Elizabeth Miller says that was one result from a hearing yesterday before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She says the three-judge panel asked for arguments relating to a second permit also required under the Clean Water Act. Briefs are due in 10 days.
The founder of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, who was ousted from the company's board leadership for a stock sale that violated company policy, has also dumped his $50 million stake in Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. A filing made with the Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday shows Robert Stiller sold his 8 million shares of the doughnut company at a price of $6.15 each.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making $1 million available this summer to some Vermont farmers as part of a program aimed at reducing pollution in streams. The farmers are in the Missisquoi River watershed. A recent study has identified farm fields in the area as being at the highest risk of polluting nearby streams. The federal government says it will pay some farmers 100 percent of the cost of making changes to the way they manage their fields. One round of grant applications is due May 18th and a second round is due June 15th.
Vermont's two largest utilities have lost the fight on smart meters. Vermonters who don't want wireless smart meters on their homes or businesses can now opt out of the technology for free. CVPS & GMP had wanted to charge customers $10 a month if they declined to have the new meters installed. But the Legislature said customers don't have to pay. The fee was meant to cover the cost of reading the old-style analog meters manually.
A dark blue Ford Crown Victoria looks a lot like an undercover police cruiser. It has a spot light outside the driver's side door and there's a decal on the back that says police interceptor. But it is not a police car. It once was, but was auctioned off and New York State Police say fell into the hands of 23-year-old Kyle Wyman. They say Wyman used the car and a fake outfit to pull over a teenage driver last week. "He was wearing a blue shirt with a fake badge on it and a shoulder patch," said Sr. Investigator Tracy Eggleston. State police say after asking for the driver's information Wyman let the man go. But the disguise was so good the teen didn't realize Wyman wasn't an officer. "Days later he was with another friend and they recognized the vehicle and saw him and the friend knew that person not to be a police officer," said Eggleston. Officers arrested Wyman for criminal impersonation and took him to the Clinton County jail. We went there and requested an interview with Wyman, but he declined. We wanted to know what rights you have as a driver if you get pulled over and you don't think it's an officer. State police say you want to pull over to a well-lit area and as the officer approaches and asks for your information you have every right to ask for theirs. Then call 911 to verify the badge number. As for Wyman, he's been in trouble before. State police say last year he used a radio to call in license plate numbers to the Colchester, Vermont police. State police say Wyman has taken police classes in the past, and enjoys pretending to be a law enforcement member. He's due back in court Thursday.
North Country Congressman Bill Owens says big oil companies need to keep crude oil home instead of shipping it overseas in order for gasoline prices to drop. Owens told reporters recently that he believes plenty of crude oil is being produced in North America, but it is being sent out of the country, which increases prices at the pumps for Americans. He is in favor of the Keystone XL pipeline project, which would bring oil down from northern Canada to the United States.
Nathaniel Peterson of Middlebury, a junior majoring in chemical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, recently completed an intensive, applied research project in Bangkok for C-Term. The project was titled Historical Building Conservation. Peterson was required to complete a research-driven, professional-level project that addresses a problem at the intersection of science, technology, social issues, and human needs.
We know Tropical Storm Irene was responsible for a lot of damage and destruction. What you may not realize is that the flooding Irene produced also washed away thousands of old tires. Many of those tires are now on the way to a recycling center...thanks dozens of volunteers. Organizers say a lot of those tires washed up along the Winooski River in Waterbury. “They’re good nesting areas for mosquito's and they're a breeding ground and that's a problem, not to mention the esthetic problem of tires being where they don't belong.” A company in Maine will recycle the tires.
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.
The “Way To Go! Commuter Challenge” Kick-Off Ride will take place this afternoon at 4 at the Middlebury Town Gym. Join fellow cyclists in mass for a fun, safe 20-minute ride through downtown to show support for Bike Friendly Middlebury initiatives and announce the “Way to Go! Commuter Challenge.” Next week marks the “Way To Go! Commuter Challenge” week. Look for activities planned throughout the week sponsored by ACTR and ACRPC including ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Monday to celebrate the new ACTR shuttle bus route along Route 116 and new ACRPC electric car charging station.
Habitat for Humanity of Addison County is inviting you to the ground breaking of their four-lot subdivision on Delong Road in Cornwall next Wednesday the 16th at 5:00PM. This is a huge event for Vermont, Addison County, the Town of Cornwall and also for our future Habitat families. At a time when the economy is soft and hard working Addison County residents are having a tough time buying affordable housing there will be four affordable houses for sale to working residents of Addison County to be built by Habitat of Humanity of Addison County volunteers. This is only possible because decisions made by the Cornwall Select Board and Cornwall Planning Commission who planned for the future and for the residents that live and work in Addison County.
An 81-year-old Middlebury woman has been honored as the Vermont winner of the Home Instead Senior Care® network’s Salute to Senior Service SM award. Ruth Barenbaum is being recognized for her dedicated community service, including her work at the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging and Meals on Wheels. The Salute to Senior Service program was launched this year by the Home Instead Senior Care network to honor seniors’ commitments to their causes and communities. As one of 50 state winners, Barenbaum earned a spot in the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame on the www.SalutetoSeniorService.com website where her nomination story also has been posted.
A routine traffic stop resulted in a big discovery last night in Rutland. Police found 400 bags of heroin inside the vehicle. Authorities arrested a passenger, 25-year-old Samuel Forde of Castleton. He's now facing drug charges. The drugs have an estimated street value of over $13,000 dollars.
Rutland City Treasurer Wendy Wilton confirmed yesterday she will run for state treasurer. The office is currently held by former deputy treasurer Beth Pearce, who was appointed to the position by Gov. Peter Shumlin after elected treasurer Jeb Spaulding left to become Shumlin’s secretary of administration. Wilton, who has held the local office since 2007, plans a formal announcement at 9AM on Monday in Rutland City Hall.
Central Vermont Public Service Corp. reported yesterday first quarter earnings of $9.2 million, or 67 cents per share. The results exclude merger-related costs after-tax of $300,000, or 2 cents per share. Including merger-related costs, earnings were $8.9 million, or 65 cents per share of common stock, compared to $8.4 million, or 62 cents per share for the same quarter last year.
On Monday afternoon at 5:00, Eddie's Restaurant in Ticonderoga is hosting an Alliance Steering Board Meeting and Public Reception. Through the generosity of Town Council and Board Members Hors D'oeuvres and an open bar reception will take place from 5:00 to 5:45. From 6:00 to 7:00 the Alliance will provide an overview of its activities for the past 6 months, its plan for the next 6 months, and will ask the Steering the Board to nominate several new Board members. RSVP Requested: jcunningham@ticonderoga-alliance.org
The Essex County Fair will go forward. The County Board of Supervisors' contract with the Essex County Agricultural Society to run the fair was rescinded in order to remove beer sales at the end of this week's meeting. But a new contract is on its way. The contract was pulled back because it included beer sales, drawn up pending Board of Supervisors approval.
Police now say the driver who was killed along with his girlfriend and infant son on Vermont's Interstate 89 in Bolton had a cast on his left foot, not his right. The Burlington Free Press reports state police say Jason Potvin's cast wasn't on his right foot as originally reported. The newspaper says Potvin's license was suspended in October.
Rural post offices in Vermont and across the country will remain open after all. The U-S Postal Service announced a new strategy to keep the thousands of small centers open, after catching a lot of flak from the public over it. While they will remain open, the hours will be reduced, with service during peak times when most of the customers are there. The Postal Service estimates the reduced hours combined with voluntary early retirement of 21-thousand employees will save half a billion dollars annually.
Peerless Clothing International is expanding its current operations in St. Albans. The company, which is based in Montreal, is the largest men's suit manufacturer in North America. The company already has three large commercial buildings in St. Albans, and is now building 280-thousand square feet of distribution and warehouse space in the town industrial park. It's expected to open by the end of the year. It currently employs about three-hundred people, and is one of northwestern Vermont's largest employers.
A new state office building has opened in Bennington to replace one that was closed five years ago amid health concerns. Governor Peter Shumlin, state workers and state and local officials attended a ribbon cutting yesterday at the new Bennington court and state office building.
The leaders of the Vermont House and Senate say they're pleased with the accomplishments of the just completed legislative session. But Speaker Shap Smith and Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell continue to disagree about something that didn't happen this year - giving police the ability to get without a search warrant information from a Health Department database of prescription drug records. Campbell supports that; Smith doesn't. Smith and Campbell - both Democrats - say the Legislature did a good job handling recovery from Tropical Storm Irene and revamping the state's mental health system. As for business left for next year, Smith says he wants to push tax reform including a sales tax that would be broadened to cover services but on which the 6% rate would be lowered.
A federal appeals court weighing a water quality permit for the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant wants lawyers to provide it with written arguments on another type of water quality permit. Vermont Public Service Commissioner Elizabeth Miller says that was one result from a hearing yesterday before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She says the three-judge panel asked for arguments relating to a second permit also required under the Clean Water Act. Briefs are due in 10 days.
The founder of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, who was ousted from the company's board leadership for a stock sale that violated company policy, has also dumped his $50 million stake in Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. A filing made with the Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday shows Robert Stiller sold his 8 million shares of the doughnut company at a price of $6.15 each.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making $1 million available this summer to some Vermont farmers as part of a program aimed at reducing pollution in streams. The farmers are in the Missisquoi River watershed. A recent study has identified farm fields in the area as being at the highest risk of polluting nearby streams. The federal government says it will pay some farmers 100 percent of the cost of making changes to the way they manage their fields. One round of grant applications is due May 18th and a second round is due June 15th.
Vermont's two largest utilities have lost the fight on smart meters. Vermonters who don't want wireless smart meters on their homes or businesses can now opt out of the technology for free. CVPS & GMP had wanted to charge customers $10 a month if they declined to have the new meters installed. But the Legislature said customers don't have to pay. The fee was meant to cover the cost of reading the old-style analog meters manually.
A dark blue Ford Crown Victoria looks a lot like an undercover police cruiser. It has a spot light outside the driver's side door and there's a decal on the back that says police interceptor. But it is not a police car. It once was, but was auctioned off and New York State Police say fell into the hands of 23-year-old Kyle Wyman. They say Wyman used the car and a fake outfit to pull over a teenage driver last week. "He was wearing a blue shirt with a fake badge on it and a shoulder patch," said Sr. Investigator Tracy Eggleston. State police say after asking for the driver's information Wyman let the man go. But the disguise was so good the teen didn't realize Wyman wasn't an officer. "Days later he was with another friend and they recognized the vehicle and saw him and the friend knew that person not to be a police officer," said Eggleston. Officers arrested Wyman for criminal impersonation and took him to the Clinton County jail. We went there and requested an interview with Wyman, but he declined. We wanted to know what rights you have as a driver if you get pulled over and you don't think it's an officer. State police say you want to pull over to a well-lit area and as the officer approaches and asks for your information you have every right to ask for theirs. Then call 911 to verify the badge number. As for Wyman, he's been in trouble before. State police say last year he used a radio to call in license plate numbers to the Colchester, Vermont police. State police say Wyman has taken police classes in the past, and enjoys pretending to be a law enforcement member. He's due back in court Thursday.
North Country Congressman Bill Owens says big oil companies need to keep crude oil home instead of shipping it overseas in order for gasoline prices to drop. Owens told reporters recently that he believes plenty of crude oil is being produced in North America, but it is being sent out of the country, which increases prices at the pumps for Americans. He is in favor of the Keystone XL pipeline project, which would bring oil down from northern Canada to the United States.
Nathaniel Peterson of Middlebury, a junior majoring in chemical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, recently completed an intensive, applied research project in Bangkok for C-Term. The project was titled Historical Building Conservation. Peterson was required to complete a research-driven, professional-level project that addresses a problem at the intersection of science, technology, social issues, and human needs.
We know Tropical Storm Irene was responsible for a lot of damage and destruction. What you may not realize is that the flooding Irene produced also washed away thousands of old tires. Many of those tires are now on the way to a recycling center...thanks dozens of volunteers. Organizers say a lot of those tires washed up along the Winooski River in Waterbury. “They’re good nesting areas for mosquito's and they're a breeding ground and that's a problem, not to mention the esthetic problem of tires being where they don't belong.” A company in Maine will recycle the tires.
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.
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