An FBI spokesman says there's little new that can be released in the investigation of a double homicide at a Coast Guard air station on Kodiak Island. Eric Gonzalez said Monday agents are not releasing details because it could affect the integrity of the investigation. The FBI is the lead agency in the shooting deaths of 41-year-old Petty Officer 1st Class James Hopkins and 51-year-old Richard Belisle. Hopkins was an electronics technician from Vergennes. Belisle was a retired Coast Guard chief petty officer that worked at the base as a civilian employee. Gonzales says he can't comment on whether investigators have recovered a weapon or why law enforcement officials continue to say there is no direct threat to the community even though no suspect is in custody.
The executive director of the Vermont Folklife Center is leaving to accept a position at Western Kentucky University. Brent Bjorkman is stepping down at the end of April to be Public Folklorist/associate research professor at the university's Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology. His wife, Ann Ferrell, is an assistant professor of Folk Studies there and he had completed his graduate work at the university. Bjorkman has been executive director of the Vermont group for five years.
A family of six lost their house yesterday around 6:30PM from a fire on Hollister Road in Florence. No one was hurt in the blaze and firefighters were able to save the other buildings, including owner Travis Bovey’s garage where he runs an automotive repair business. The Pittsford Fire Chief said he contacted the American Red Cross to provide the family assistance. The closest fire hydrant to the home was more than two miles away, prompting the Pittsford chief to call for firefighters and tanker trucks from departments in Proctor, Rutland Town and Chittenden. The cause of the fire remains unclear. No one was inside the house when the fire began, however the fire didn’t appear suspicious.
The local project manager for the waterline and road project on Route 7 in Brandon provided an update to town officials on Monday on what they are working on within the next several months to move the project forward. They plan to expedite the waterline project for downtown Brandon in hopes of completing it during this year’s construction season. The waterline project would reroute the village’s waterline to run through the Brandon Inn, behind the buildings and reconnect to the Neshobe River near West Seminary Street. Town Manager Keith Arlund said their goal is to complete the rerouting of the waterline before the reconstruction of Route 7. A public forum to further discuss the project and update the larger Brandon community will be at 7PM on April 30th at the Brandon Congregational Church.
This Saturday morning beginning at 9 the Vergennes Lions, in partnership with Boy Scout Troop 539, will kick off “Happy Cans.” This is a curbside pickup concept for redeemable cans and bottles. They’ll cover the entire Vergennes area including the City of Vergennes, Waltham, Ferrisburgh, Panton, Addison, New Haven, and Bristol. This is a great way to get rid of those growing piles of empty containers and to do a good turn for the community. Put your redeemable containers ONLY at the curb in front of your house by 9AM Saturday. The Lions - Boy Scout team will pick them up, turn them in for redemption, and then split the proceeds.
Middlebury’s popular 5K Otter Creek Mud Run was held last Saturday. The race started and finished at the Otter Creek Child Center. Over 90 runners came out to run in the second Mud Run. This year the course started and finished at Otter Creek Child Center. Proceeds from the Mud Run will support Otter Creek Child Center, a year round, full day, non-profit early care and education center, in Middlebury. Otter Creek Child Center has been serving children and families in and around Addison County since 1984.
The Westport Town Council is looking at some options that might solve its highway-garage problem. Space and drainage are among the issues that prompted the town to try twice to join forces with the Westport Fire District and Westport Central School to build a structure that would have housed a DPW garage, fire station, multi-agency fueling center and town offices. One short-term solution could be a small submersible pump that would put the discharge into a holding tank, to later be taken to a treatment facility.
The Ticonderoga First 250 Years Committee is looking for someone to design, develop and host a website that will promote its activities. The committee wants to receive proposals to create a website maintained by the developer or committee through the end of 2014. The goal is to have the website up and running with full functionality by year's end. Website proposals are due by 3PM Thursday, May 2nd.
New York homeowners are reminded that a statewide burning ban remains in effect until May 15th. With temperatures beginning to fluctuate to mild ranges, the State Department of Environmental Conservation suggests that precautions be taken to protect homes that lie alongside forested and open lands. The department suggests using non-flammable materials for roof and exterior walls, fire retardant finish on exterior wood, and double-paned or tempered windows during home construction and maintenance. Keeping gutters clean and roofs free of twigs, leaves and pine needles is another safety precaution. For more information on wild-land fire safety, visit www.newyorkfirewise.org.
Lawmakers this week are taking a closer look at the proposed merger of Central Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power. And a group of state senators worries that most of the savings from the merger would come from eliminating jobs just as the state tries to recover from the recession. GMP officials say a key part of their merger with CVPS is the $144 million in savings that consumers will benefit from over the next 10 years. A GMP Spokesperson said the largest savings would come from a having a reduced work force. The goal is to eliminate roughly 120 jobs, but says these reductions won't come in the form of layoffs. That pledge doesn't satisfy Senate President John Campbell. He said the net result is that Vermont will lose more than 100 good-paying jobs.
Vermont public employees who don't join the unions representing them could soon have to pay to support those groups anyway. The state Senate is to take up legislation affecting teachers, state and municipal workers who don't join the unions representing them, but still benefit when pay or benefits are improved. Sen. Vincent Illuzzi says the non-union employees would be required only to pay for the cost of negotiating and defending the contract, not for other union activities. Opponents say the so-called agency fees charged to union nonmembers are often an important bargaining chip in negotiations and shouldn't be automatic.
Police say a body has been found in the St. Albans city pool. A city staff worker found the body Monday as crews were starting to prepare the pool for the summer swimming season. Police say they do not believe that the public is in danger. Police have not released the identity of the body. Authorities have been looking for 22-year-old Christopher Davis of Swanton. He's been missing since the end of March and was wanted for questioning in connection with an armed robbery of a Swanton convenience store.
The state's general fund and education tax receipts in March exceeded expectations. But the figures released Monday by Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding showed that the transportation fund receipts were off. Spaulding says general fund revenues were 9.3% ahead of expectations. The fund brought in $7.45 million more than expected.
It's officially Spring in Vermont: Route 108 through Smuggler's Notch has reopened. The Vermont Agency of Transportation announced the opening on Monday afternoon. The steep windy road between Stowe and Jeffersonville is closed during the fall and winter. The agency plans to keep the road open this spring, barring an inclement weather, and until snow returns to the gap in the fall.
Vermont's lone member of the U.S. House says he has a plan to head off the scheduled doubling of student loan interest rates. Rep. Peter Welch, a Democrat, is pushing for the passage of legislation that would extend the 3.4 interest rate for Stafford student loans. He said Monday that the rate will doubled to 6.8% on July 1 if Congress doesn't act, which he said would be a real threat to middle class families already struggling to send their kids to college. Concerned students and families and representatives of the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation joined Welch at a press conference.
The South Burlington Police Department is investigating a rash of daytime burglaries. Police say they've received a number of complaints about people entering homes and stealing cash, electronics, jewelry and other items. In one case, authorities say someone stole a .22 caliber handgun. Police believe the burglaries are taking place between the hours of 12PM and 3PM. They're reminding residents to lock their doors and windows. Anyone with any information on the burglaries is urged to contact South Burlington police.
It's a big week for New York State's elementary school students - and their teachers. For three days beginning today, students in grades 3 to 8 will take the state standardized tests in English Language Arts. Next week, they'll tackle standardized math assessments. Under a new state law, student performance on the tests will now account for as much as 40% of annual reviews for certain teachers. The tests will also include for the first time potential questions for future tests, which after this year will incorporate new "common core" standards. The standards are intended to better prepare students for college and careers. Results are expected in July.
Dartmouth College President Jim Yong Kim will run the World Bank. Kim was approved Monday by the World Bank board. He was nominated by President Obama at the White House back in March. Several nations waged an unsuccessful challenge to Kim, a physician and pioneer in treating HIV and tuberculosis in the developing world. Kim starts his new job July first. No word on who will replace Kim at Dartmouth.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Parks & Trails New York are teaming up for a project called I Love My Park Day that will take place at more than 30 parks and historic sites Saturday, May 5th. Volunteers can register online to sign up to help with cleanup, improvement and beautification events that include sprucing up beaches, planting trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitat, and removing invasive species. To find an event and/or sign up to volunteer, visit www.ptny.org/ilovemypark.
Vermont's largest newspaper has been honored as a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing for its campaign to reform the state's access to public records laws. The Pulitzers were announced on Monday, and The Burlington Free Press was chosen as 1 of 3 finalists in the editorial writing category, along with Bloomberg News and Florida's Tampa Bay Times. The judges did not choose a winner from among the finalists. The judges praised the Free Press for an editorial campaign that resulted in the state's first reform of open government laws in 35 years, reducing legal obstacles that helped shroud the work of government officials.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
WVTK Local & State News April 16, 2012
With no rain in the forecast, the danger continues that fires could start in our area and grow out of control. Experts say people who want to burn part of their land need to be smart and careful. In Addison, on Friday, flames as high as 25 feet raced across the wildlife area known as Dead Creek. David Sausville who is a state wildlife biologist said the burn was planned out. They prepped fire lines and watched weather conditions. He said twenty-people were needed to carefully watch this fire burn 45 acres and that the fire is a good thing for the wildlife area. Officials are reminding you that you need to ask for a permit before burning on your own land.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber Of Commerce this Thursday for the next after hours business mixer, which is being held at Art on Main in Bristol. Mingle with fellow business people in Art On Main’s store, share hors d’oeuvres, drinks, door prizes and a chance to win the Pot of Gold—now valued at $950! Plus, they’ll be helping to celebrate their 10th anniversary. The mixer takes place from 5 – 7PM at 25 Main St. in Bristol. For more information and to RSVP to Sue Hoxie please click HERE.
The One-World Library Project will host “Lessons From Zambia: Volunteering with Mothers Without Borders”, a talk and slideshow by Jo LaFontaine this Thursday from 7-8:30PM at the Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol. She first went to Zambia in 2008 as part of a team of 25 volunteers for Mothers Without Borders, a national organization formed in response to the global orphan crisis due to AIDS. The volunteers work at the MWB orphanage, bring desperately needed food and medical supplies to remote villages, visit the local hospital and support the families and children in any way they can. For more information just visit www.oneworldlibraryproject.org.
The City Of Rutland is in talks with manufacturer AllEarth Renewables in Williston to install $750,000 worth of solar panels on the old poor farm property off Woodstock Avenue. The panels would generate an estimated 205,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, powering several municipal buildings and netting the city an estimated $2,050 a year. The proposal is before the city’s Community and Economic Development Committee, which has scheduled a hearing for April 25th.
FEMA money is starting to arrive in Rutland. Mayor Christopher Louras said last week that the city had received three checks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency totaling $229,719. That included the federal share and some of the state share of Rutland’s damages from Tropical Storm Irene. The city is also expecting insurance money for damage to the inlet house and associated electronic components and pump stations.
Crown Point Supervisor Charles Harrington would like to see the town have a public beach again. The one that had been located at the Crown Point State Historic site was closed several years ago. At a recent meeting, he told Essex County Board of Supervisors members that many more people are coming to Crown Point State Park, which includes the Historic Site and the State Campground across the road. He wants the state to operate it. The board has also called for creation of a Champlain Bridge Bi-State Park that would include Crown Point State Historic site and the campground, along with the Chimney Point Historic Site in Vermont.
The head of the cemetery commission in Rochester where more than 50 sets of remains were washed out by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene says that seven months after the storm 25 sets of remains are still missing, having been swept downstream by the floodwaters. Saturday marked the first day of Vermont's trout season and people will be in the river. It's possible that anglers or people out will find some of those missing remains for spring walks along the river. Still, repairs to the cemetery are getting under way and cemetery head Sue Flewelling says she hopes to rebury the recovered remains by the anniversary of the storm.
The Internet combined with the explosion of “Smartphones” is changing the state’s tourism marketing strategy. It’s a strategy that is allowing the state to collect a database of consumer information, targeting visitors based on their specific interests. This winter the Department of Tourism and Marketing used South Station in Boston for a marketing campaign to drive would-be visitors to www.pathtovermont.com. It included daily text-to-win giveaways. In all, the state received nearly 6,000 text message entries. Meanwhile the summer campaign is geared toward driving visitors to the state’s travel site, www.VermontVacation.com.
A state lawmaker wants to expand Vermont's bottle-deposit law so it includes all non-dairy containers. The Burlington Free Press reports Republican Senator Joseph Benning's proposal would include all beverage containers except dairy and dairy alternatives such as soymilk. Benning's bill goes to the Senate this week.
After ending last week with a second day of digging, authorities are saying little about the disappearance of Bill and Lorraine Currier from Essex. They were both seen leaving work last June, but vanished without a trace. Last Thursday and Friday, Vermont State Police along with Essex police excavated a site along Route 15, carefully digging up and sifting mounds of dirt at the foundation of an abandoned home. No word as to whether they found anything, or what led them to choose that location.
More than 1,000 people turned out on the Brattleboro town green over the weekend for another protest against the continued operation of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Gov. Peter Shumlin are calling for the 40-year-old Vernon reactor to be shut down.
A tough issue facing lawmakers as they enter the final weeks of the session is whether Vermont should get rid of a philosophical exemption for parents who don't' want their children vaccinated. The Vermont Senate has passed a bill aimed at removing the exemption, while leaving medical and religious exemptions.
Waterbury and Duxbury are launching an effort they hope will double the number of solar-power projects in the towns. Officials say 52 solar hot water and electricity generating systems already are in use. Local solar dealers say they're ready to step up and help the towns double that number.
A Massachusetts advocacy group opposed to measures that they say would make suicide a medical option is hailing a recent vote by the Vermont Senate to block a bill allowing physician-assisted suicide. The Massachusetts Alliance Against Doctor-Prescribed Suicide says the bill has a high potential for abuse.
The Lamoille County Sheriff's Department is sponsoring a self-defense course for women. The Rape Aggression Defense System or R.A.D. course includes lecture, discussion and self-defense techniques for women of all abilities. The minimum age to participate is 16. Classes start on Thursday, April 26th and run one night a week for five weeks at the Hyde Park Elementary School.
Governor Cuomo announced that nearly $1.8 million in final bids were received from the first round of state vehicle reductions. According to a press release, the Office of General Services (OGS) eBay sale received final bids totaling $1,648,074 for 454 state vehicles for sale on eBay.
Sen. Charles Schumer wants to see the adoption process for retired military dogs get streamlined. Schumer held a homecoming celebration at his office Sunday for Sgt. Rex, a German shepherd wounded in Iraq, and the dog's handler, former Cpl. Megan Leavey, who was injured in the same incident in 2006. Leavey had been trying to adopt Rex for five years but was stymied by bureaucracy until Schumer intervened. The New York senator is pushing a bill that would speed up the adoptions.
Elizabethtown Community Hospital and its auxiliary are offering scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic year, aimed at students planning a career in health care. The Holly Estus Memorial Scholarship for Nursing was created in memory of a dedicated young nurse who worked at Elizabethtown Community Hospital. This year, the fund will award $500 to a student enrolled in a nursing program. Applicants must reside within the Elizabethtown, Keene, Moriah, Westport, Willsboro or AuSable Valley school districts in order to be eligible. Scholarship applications may be downloaded from the hospital's Web site at www.ech.org and must be submitted by May 31st.
North Hudson’s award-winning Jellystone Park opens for its twentieth season on Friday April 27th. Located off 1-87 exit 29 between Lake George and Lake Placid, it is the only Jellystone Park in the Adirondacks. As a great alternative to a cruise or air vacation, Jellystone Park is now taking reservations for their season. Each weekend will be a different themed activity, and all information is listed at www.paradisepines.com.
Youngsters who can cluck, yelp and do the kee-kee run with their turkey calls will show off their skills at an annual contest in Pawlet. This coming Saturday's competition is in memory of the late Bart Jacobs, a Pawlet man who manufactured his own turkey calls. Oxbow Mountain 4-H Shooting Sports is sponsoring the turkey calling contest at the Pawlet Fire House, where first, second and third place prizes will be awarded in age groups 9, 10-14 and 15-18. Registration costs $15 at the competition, which starts at 10 AM on Saturday.
The founder of the rock band Phish led roughly 1,600 cowbell-clanging participants in a challenge to the world record for the largest musical ensemble. Drummer Jon Fishman of the Vermont-based group led what was billed as the "World Record Breaking Event Band" Saturday afternoon. The standing Guinness World Record “certified largest ensemble” was 640 people, who played in September 2009 in Switzerland. The Guinness World Record staff will review the Burlington event to see if it sets a new record.
You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber Of Commerce this Thursday for the next after hours business mixer, which is being held at Art on Main in Bristol. Mingle with fellow business people in Art On Main’s store, share hors d’oeuvres, drinks, door prizes and a chance to win the Pot of Gold—now valued at $950! Plus, they’ll be helping to celebrate their 10th anniversary. The mixer takes place from 5 – 7PM at 25 Main St. in Bristol. For more information and to RSVP to Sue Hoxie please click HERE.
The One-World Library Project will host “Lessons From Zambia: Volunteering with Mothers Without Borders”, a talk and slideshow by Jo LaFontaine this Thursday from 7-8:30PM at the Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol. She first went to Zambia in 2008 as part of a team of 25 volunteers for Mothers Without Borders, a national organization formed in response to the global orphan crisis due to AIDS. The volunteers work at the MWB orphanage, bring desperately needed food and medical supplies to remote villages, visit the local hospital and support the families and children in any way they can. For more information just visit www.oneworldlibraryproject.org.
The City Of Rutland is in talks with manufacturer AllEarth Renewables in Williston to install $750,000 worth of solar panels on the old poor farm property off Woodstock Avenue. The panels would generate an estimated 205,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, powering several municipal buildings and netting the city an estimated $2,050 a year. The proposal is before the city’s Community and Economic Development Committee, which has scheduled a hearing for April 25th.
FEMA money is starting to arrive in Rutland. Mayor Christopher Louras said last week that the city had received three checks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency totaling $229,719. That included the federal share and some of the state share of Rutland’s damages from Tropical Storm Irene. The city is also expecting insurance money for damage to the inlet house and associated electronic components and pump stations.
Crown Point Supervisor Charles Harrington would like to see the town have a public beach again. The one that had been located at the Crown Point State Historic site was closed several years ago. At a recent meeting, he told Essex County Board of Supervisors members that many more people are coming to Crown Point State Park, which includes the Historic Site and the State Campground across the road. He wants the state to operate it. The board has also called for creation of a Champlain Bridge Bi-State Park that would include Crown Point State Historic site and the campground, along with the Chimney Point Historic Site in Vermont.
The head of the cemetery commission in Rochester where more than 50 sets of remains were washed out by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene says that seven months after the storm 25 sets of remains are still missing, having been swept downstream by the floodwaters. Saturday marked the first day of Vermont's trout season and people will be in the river. It's possible that anglers or people out will find some of those missing remains for spring walks along the river. Still, repairs to the cemetery are getting under way and cemetery head Sue Flewelling says she hopes to rebury the recovered remains by the anniversary of the storm.
The Internet combined with the explosion of “Smartphones” is changing the state’s tourism marketing strategy. It’s a strategy that is allowing the state to collect a database of consumer information, targeting visitors based on their specific interests. This winter the Department of Tourism and Marketing used South Station in Boston for a marketing campaign to drive would-be visitors to www.pathtovermont.com. It included daily text-to-win giveaways. In all, the state received nearly 6,000 text message entries. Meanwhile the summer campaign is geared toward driving visitors to the state’s travel site, www.VermontVacation.com.
A state lawmaker wants to expand Vermont's bottle-deposit law so it includes all non-dairy containers. The Burlington Free Press reports Republican Senator Joseph Benning's proposal would include all beverage containers except dairy and dairy alternatives such as soymilk. Benning's bill goes to the Senate this week.
After ending last week with a second day of digging, authorities are saying little about the disappearance of Bill and Lorraine Currier from Essex. They were both seen leaving work last June, but vanished without a trace. Last Thursday and Friday, Vermont State Police along with Essex police excavated a site along Route 15, carefully digging up and sifting mounds of dirt at the foundation of an abandoned home. No word as to whether they found anything, or what led them to choose that location.
More than 1,000 people turned out on the Brattleboro town green over the weekend for another protest against the continued operation of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Gov. Peter Shumlin are calling for the 40-year-old Vernon reactor to be shut down.
A tough issue facing lawmakers as they enter the final weeks of the session is whether Vermont should get rid of a philosophical exemption for parents who don't' want their children vaccinated. The Vermont Senate has passed a bill aimed at removing the exemption, while leaving medical and religious exemptions.
Waterbury and Duxbury are launching an effort they hope will double the number of solar-power projects in the towns. Officials say 52 solar hot water and electricity generating systems already are in use. Local solar dealers say they're ready to step up and help the towns double that number.
A Massachusetts advocacy group opposed to measures that they say would make suicide a medical option is hailing a recent vote by the Vermont Senate to block a bill allowing physician-assisted suicide. The Massachusetts Alliance Against Doctor-Prescribed Suicide says the bill has a high potential for abuse.
The Lamoille County Sheriff's Department is sponsoring a self-defense course for women. The Rape Aggression Defense System or R.A.D. course includes lecture, discussion and self-defense techniques for women of all abilities. The minimum age to participate is 16. Classes start on Thursday, April 26th and run one night a week for five weeks at the Hyde Park Elementary School.
Governor Cuomo announced that nearly $1.8 million in final bids were received from the first round of state vehicle reductions. According to a press release, the Office of General Services (OGS) eBay sale received final bids totaling $1,648,074 for 454 state vehicles for sale on eBay.
Sen. Charles Schumer wants to see the adoption process for retired military dogs get streamlined. Schumer held a homecoming celebration at his office Sunday for Sgt. Rex, a German shepherd wounded in Iraq, and the dog's handler, former Cpl. Megan Leavey, who was injured in the same incident in 2006. Leavey had been trying to adopt Rex for five years but was stymied by bureaucracy until Schumer intervened. The New York senator is pushing a bill that would speed up the adoptions.
Elizabethtown Community Hospital and its auxiliary are offering scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic year, aimed at students planning a career in health care. The Holly Estus Memorial Scholarship for Nursing was created in memory of a dedicated young nurse who worked at Elizabethtown Community Hospital. This year, the fund will award $500 to a student enrolled in a nursing program. Applicants must reside within the Elizabethtown, Keene, Moriah, Westport, Willsboro or AuSable Valley school districts in order to be eligible. Scholarship applications may be downloaded from the hospital's Web site at www.ech.org and must be submitted by May 31st.
North Hudson’s award-winning Jellystone Park opens for its twentieth season on Friday April 27th. Located off 1-87 exit 29 between Lake George and Lake Placid, it is the only Jellystone Park in the Adirondacks. As a great alternative to a cruise or air vacation, Jellystone Park is now taking reservations for their season. Each weekend will be a different themed activity, and all information is listed at www.paradisepines.com.
Youngsters who can cluck, yelp and do the kee-kee run with their turkey calls will show off their skills at an annual contest in Pawlet. This coming Saturday's competition is in memory of the late Bart Jacobs, a Pawlet man who manufactured his own turkey calls. Oxbow Mountain 4-H Shooting Sports is sponsoring the turkey calling contest at the Pawlet Fire House, where first, second and third place prizes will be awarded in age groups 9, 10-14 and 15-18. Registration costs $15 at the competition, which starts at 10 AM on Saturday.
The founder of the rock band Phish led roughly 1,600 cowbell-clanging participants in a challenge to the world record for the largest musical ensemble. Drummer Jon Fishman of the Vermont-based group led what was billed as the "World Record Breaking Event Band" Saturday afternoon. The standing Guinness World Record “certified largest ensemble” was 640 people, who played in September 2009 in Switzerland. The Guinness World Record staff will review the Burlington event to see if it sets a new record.
Friday, April 13, 2012
WVTK Local & State News April 13, 2012
Middlebury Police report they received numerous reports of Addison County residents receiving scam phone calls. According to Police, the phone call tells the potential victim their debit cards are locked. The message then asks for the account number to unlock the debit card. Police say none of the complainants provided their account information to the callers. The recordings each call identified the bank as the Vermont Federal Credit Union, New England Federal Credit Union, or Key Bank. In some cases, the potential victims had an account with one of the banks. Police are reminding the public never to provide personal information over the telephone unless they are able to identify the caller. The calls have originated from the following telephone numbers, (813)-381-5251 or (303)-557-0153.
The new 116 Commuter Bus Route between Middlebury and Burlington begins Monday through Friday service on Monday, April 23rd. This new bus route, operated jointly by CCTA and ACTR, connects Chittenden and Addison Counties in Middlebury, Bristol, Starksboro, Hinesburg, South Burlington and Burlington along the Route 116 corridor. For more information about ACTR and other routes and schedules offered, visit actr-vt.org.
The next Addison County Chamber Of Commerce Mixer is coming up on April 19th at Art on Main in Bristol. The Chamber will be helping to celebrate Art on Main’s 10th anniversary, along with the usual food, drink, door prizes and a chance to win the Pot of Gold. There was no winner of the pot in March. So, on April 19th there will be a drawing for $950. The mixer takes place from 5 – 7PM. For more information and to RSVP to Sue Hoxie just visit www.addisoncounty.com.
The Ticonderoga Area Chamber Of Commerce will hold their mixer on Wednesday April 25th from 5:30 – 7:00PM at Sugar and Spice Country Shoppe. The great networking opportunity will include door prizes from George Sperry Marine Survey, McDonald’s and Wagon Wheel Restaurant. For more information just visit www.ticonderogany.com.
Teachers and school boards in Tinmouth, Wells, Poultney and Middletown Springs have reached a “fair” agreement, according to head negotiator for the boards Clarence Haynes. A previously agreed upon salary raise of 10.5 percent for each teacher over the next four years was not touched during a 12.5-hour bargaining session Wednesday night. What has changed however, is language in the new, merged contract that defines work conditions like the length and structure of the workday and personal leave time. Officials said they could not specify what the exact conditions were until the contract is ratified by all parties April 23rd. A deal was reached at about 4:30 yesterday morning and classes have resumed.
Mayor Christopher Louras announced yesterday that the Rutland police commission would get two new members. Louras will nominate Castleton State College Professor Luther Brown and Berkshire Bank vice president and regional manager Michelle Fairbrother. The names will go before the Board of Aldermen for confirmation Monday.
The Vermont Department of Health is reporting widespread flu activity late this flu season. According to a press release, there have been confirmed cases and outbreaks in long-term care facilities in Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Lamoille, Rutland, Windsor and Chittenden Counties. Older people, young children, pregnant women, health care workers and anyone with a serious chronic illness are vulnerable to complications from the flu. The Health Department says vaccination is always the best protection against the flu. Even though it's late in the season, vaccines may still be available.
The Vermont Air National Guard will perform the flyover at the Boston Red Sox opening day ceremonies today. The Guard’s four F-16s will perform the flyover at the beginning of the game between the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. It’s the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park this year. The Vermont Air National Guard has made regular appearances performing flyovers for Opening Day at Fenway Park for the last several years.
The battle over what to do with $21 million owed to Central Vermont Public Service customers is heating up in the House. An amendment that would force the Public Service Board to require that payback directly to customers has made its way into the House Commerce Committee. They will hear testimony next week. The governor is strongly opposed to lawmakers getting involved in the GMP-CVPS merger, but House Speaker Shap Smith is letting the process play out. Proponents of the merger say forcing the return of $21 million could kill the deal.
Verizon Wireless, the country's largest cellphone company, says it will start charging $30 every time a subscriber wants to upgrade to a new phone. Other phone companies have introduced similar fees. Competitor AT&T Inc. raised its fee from $18 to $36 this year. Verizon says it will start charging the fee on April 22, and it will help fund customer support and online educational tools.
State and Essex police officers are excavating an area off Vermont Route 15 in a search for William and Lorraine Currier, the Essex Junction couple who disappeared last June. Police suspect foul play. The Burlington Free Press reports police are using a backhoe yesterday to excavate the area and a state police dog is examining the soil as it is being removed from the ground.
The couple accused of killing a Vermont prep school teacher have waived a court hearing that would have reviewed their bail status. The Burlington Free Press reports Allen and Patricia Prue have been ordered held without bail in the March 25th death of Melissa Jenkins.
The Vermont House is set to take up one of the most hotly debated issues of this year's legislative session: whether the state should continue to allow parents a "philosophical exemption" from the requirement that their children be immunized in order to attend school or child care. The Senate has already passed a version of the bill that would end the philosophical exemption.
The Vermont Senate has defeated an effort to bring up and pass a bill allowing what backers call death with dignity and opponents call physician-assisted suicide. Senators voted against a legislative rules suspension that would have allowed the measure to be considered. The bill had been bottled up in the Judiciary Committee. This week the Health and Welfare committee added it to a separate bill regulating tanning beds.
The town of Colchester is asking a judge to reconsider a ruling that struck down its new property tax methodology. During a town wide reappraisal last year, the town added a new assessment for the land and amenity value of camps on leased land along Lake Champlain. Forty-four camp owners appealed, saying the new assessment amounted to double taxation, since the landowners were also being taxed for the value of the land. The board has not yet decided if it will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.
While Bigfoot remains a popular legend, there's word some are seeing him now in Vermont. The most recent sightings of the creature some say is seven feet tall with red glowing eyes and resemblance to a gorilla are coming in across the state, from Bennington to Colchester. It's enough recently to bring the Animal Planet network to Rutland Saturday with its show "Finding Bigfoot," with producers selecting stories from local residents to air.
As many as two-thousand anti-nuclear demonstrators are expected this weekend in Brattleboro, the location of Entergy's corporate offices. Expected to attend the weekend rally are Governor Peter Shumlin, Attorney General Bill Sorrell and Senator Bernie Sanders. The state moved last year to shut the plant down when it's license expired, but a federal judge overruled the decision, saying the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's renewal of the license trumped the state's decision.
The family of a missing New York teenager is looking for volunteers to help search for their son. 18-year-old Colin Gillis disappeared a month ago after leaving a party in Tupper Lake. He was last seen walking along Route 3. Authorities found two personal items near the road but have no firm leads on what happened to college freshman. The police search has been scaled back, but Gillis' family is planning a search of their own this weekend, and they need volunteers.
Spring days can be perfect for taking a hike in the mountains. The NCSPCA's innovative fundraising program, Peaks for Pets, is a great way to support our local shelter while taking advantage of the beauty of budding foliage and enjoy the crisp mountain air. Peaks for Pets' website, www.peaksforpets.org, allows you to sign up for a hike and request that family and friends sponsor you by making a donation in your name.
Brandon Music on Country Club Road in Brandon will present blues artist Charlie Hilbert this Sunday at 7pm. The concert is a part of the year-round weekly “Sunday Jazz” series, hosted in the intimate Brandon Music Café. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $18 at the door. Doors open at 6:15. Blues artist Charlie Hilbert has played music for forty years. His performances have taken him to all parts of the United States, and overseas to Europe. Get more information and view the complete “Sunday Jazz” Series schedule at www.brandon-music.net.
Vermont Actors Repertory Theatre has taken Yvonne Daley's book and adapted it for the stage. ”Vermont Writers … in Play,” premieres tonight and Saturday at Rutland's Paramount Theatre. Performances are at 7:30 this evening, 2 and 7:30PM on Saturday. It will be performed with the audience on stage, limiting seating to 150 per performance. For more information just visit www.paramountvt.org.
The new 116 Commuter Bus Route between Middlebury and Burlington begins Monday through Friday service on Monday, April 23rd. This new bus route, operated jointly by CCTA and ACTR, connects Chittenden and Addison Counties in Middlebury, Bristol, Starksboro, Hinesburg, South Burlington and Burlington along the Route 116 corridor. For more information about ACTR and other routes and schedules offered, visit actr-vt.org.
The next Addison County Chamber Of Commerce Mixer is coming up on April 19th at Art on Main in Bristol. The Chamber will be helping to celebrate Art on Main’s 10th anniversary, along with the usual food, drink, door prizes and a chance to win the Pot of Gold. There was no winner of the pot in March. So, on April 19th there will be a drawing for $950. The mixer takes place from 5 – 7PM. For more information and to RSVP to Sue Hoxie just visit www.addisoncounty.com.
The Ticonderoga Area Chamber Of Commerce will hold their mixer on Wednesday April 25th from 5:30 – 7:00PM at Sugar and Spice Country Shoppe. The great networking opportunity will include door prizes from George Sperry Marine Survey, McDonald’s and Wagon Wheel Restaurant. For more information just visit www.ticonderogany.com.
Teachers and school boards in Tinmouth, Wells, Poultney and Middletown Springs have reached a “fair” agreement, according to head negotiator for the boards Clarence Haynes. A previously agreed upon salary raise of 10.5 percent for each teacher over the next four years was not touched during a 12.5-hour bargaining session Wednesday night. What has changed however, is language in the new, merged contract that defines work conditions like the length and structure of the workday and personal leave time. Officials said they could not specify what the exact conditions were until the contract is ratified by all parties April 23rd. A deal was reached at about 4:30 yesterday morning and classes have resumed.
Mayor Christopher Louras announced yesterday that the Rutland police commission would get two new members. Louras will nominate Castleton State College Professor Luther Brown and Berkshire Bank vice president and regional manager Michelle Fairbrother. The names will go before the Board of Aldermen for confirmation Monday.
The Vermont Department of Health is reporting widespread flu activity late this flu season. According to a press release, there have been confirmed cases and outbreaks in long-term care facilities in Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Lamoille, Rutland, Windsor and Chittenden Counties. Older people, young children, pregnant women, health care workers and anyone with a serious chronic illness are vulnerable to complications from the flu. The Health Department says vaccination is always the best protection against the flu. Even though it's late in the season, vaccines may still be available.
The Vermont Air National Guard will perform the flyover at the Boston Red Sox opening day ceremonies today. The Guard’s four F-16s will perform the flyover at the beginning of the game between the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. It’s the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park this year. The Vermont Air National Guard has made regular appearances performing flyovers for Opening Day at Fenway Park for the last several years.
The battle over what to do with $21 million owed to Central Vermont Public Service customers is heating up in the House. An amendment that would force the Public Service Board to require that payback directly to customers has made its way into the House Commerce Committee. They will hear testimony next week. The governor is strongly opposed to lawmakers getting involved in the GMP-CVPS merger, but House Speaker Shap Smith is letting the process play out. Proponents of the merger say forcing the return of $21 million could kill the deal.
Verizon Wireless, the country's largest cellphone company, says it will start charging $30 every time a subscriber wants to upgrade to a new phone. Other phone companies have introduced similar fees. Competitor AT&T Inc. raised its fee from $18 to $36 this year. Verizon says it will start charging the fee on April 22, and it will help fund customer support and online educational tools.
State and Essex police officers are excavating an area off Vermont Route 15 in a search for William and Lorraine Currier, the Essex Junction couple who disappeared last June. Police suspect foul play. The Burlington Free Press reports police are using a backhoe yesterday to excavate the area and a state police dog is examining the soil as it is being removed from the ground.
The couple accused of killing a Vermont prep school teacher have waived a court hearing that would have reviewed their bail status. The Burlington Free Press reports Allen and Patricia Prue have been ordered held without bail in the March 25th death of Melissa Jenkins.
The Vermont House is set to take up one of the most hotly debated issues of this year's legislative session: whether the state should continue to allow parents a "philosophical exemption" from the requirement that their children be immunized in order to attend school or child care. The Senate has already passed a version of the bill that would end the philosophical exemption.
The Vermont Senate has defeated an effort to bring up and pass a bill allowing what backers call death with dignity and opponents call physician-assisted suicide. Senators voted against a legislative rules suspension that would have allowed the measure to be considered. The bill had been bottled up in the Judiciary Committee. This week the Health and Welfare committee added it to a separate bill regulating tanning beds.
The town of Colchester is asking a judge to reconsider a ruling that struck down its new property tax methodology. During a town wide reappraisal last year, the town added a new assessment for the land and amenity value of camps on leased land along Lake Champlain. Forty-four camp owners appealed, saying the new assessment amounted to double taxation, since the landowners were also being taxed for the value of the land. The board has not yet decided if it will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.
While Bigfoot remains a popular legend, there's word some are seeing him now in Vermont. The most recent sightings of the creature some say is seven feet tall with red glowing eyes and resemblance to a gorilla are coming in across the state, from Bennington to Colchester. It's enough recently to bring the Animal Planet network to Rutland Saturday with its show "Finding Bigfoot," with producers selecting stories from local residents to air.
As many as two-thousand anti-nuclear demonstrators are expected this weekend in Brattleboro, the location of Entergy's corporate offices. Expected to attend the weekend rally are Governor Peter Shumlin, Attorney General Bill Sorrell and Senator Bernie Sanders. The state moved last year to shut the plant down when it's license expired, but a federal judge overruled the decision, saying the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's renewal of the license trumped the state's decision.
The family of a missing New York teenager is looking for volunteers to help search for their son. 18-year-old Colin Gillis disappeared a month ago after leaving a party in Tupper Lake. He was last seen walking along Route 3. Authorities found two personal items near the road but have no firm leads on what happened to college freshman. The police search has been scaled back, but Gillis' family is planning a search of their own this weekend, and they need volunteers.
Spring days can be perfect for taking a hike in the mountains. The NCSPCA's innovative fundraising program, Peaks for Pets, is a great way to support our local shelter while taking advantage of the beauty of budding foliage and enjoy the crisp mountain air. Peaks for Pets' website, www.peaksforpets.org, allows you to sign up for a hike and request that family and friends sponsor you by making a donation in your name.
Brandon Music on Country Club Road in Brandon will present blues artist Charlie Hilbert this Sunday at 7pm. The concert is a part of the year-round weekly “Sunday Jazz” series, hosted in the intimate Brandon Music Café. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $18 at the door. Doors open at 6:15. Blues artist Charlie Hilbert has played music for forty years. His performances have taken him to all parts of the United States, and overseas to Europe. Get more information and view the complete “Sunday Jazz” Series schedule at www.brandon-music.net.
Vermont Actors Repertory Theatre has taken Yvonne Daley's book and adapted it for the stage. ”Vermont Writers … in Play,” premieres tonight and Saturday at Rutland's Paramount Theatre. Performances are at 7:30 this evening, 2 and 7:30PM on Saturday. It will be performed with the audience on stage, limiting seating to 150 per performance. For more information just visit www.paramountvt.org.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
WVTK Local & State News April 12, 2012
Teachers of the Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union reach a tentative agreement to end a 6 day strike. According to a press release, the deal came after 12 hours of talks with a federal mediator. Details will be released once the agreement is finalized by teachers and the school boards in Poultney, Wells, Middletown Springs and Tinmouth.
The Middlebury Select Board nominated candidates to a number of appointed boards and commissions on Tuesday night and will make the appointments at its next meeting. The Board appointed Town Manager Bill Finger as the Town's representative to the Addison County Solid Waste Management District and as the Town's Service Officer. There are several openings on the Recreation Advisory Board and no applicants for these positions. Interested individuals should contact the Town Manager's Office.
John Tenny was appointed Tuesday as a representative of the Town on the Middlebury’s Business Development Advisory Board. Select Board Member Nick Artim, the Town's other representative on the Board, was appointed at the last Select Board meeting. Middlebury College recommended, and the Select Board appointed, Patrick Norton and David Donahue to serve on the Advisory Board as the College's representatives. These initial four members of the Advisory Board will meet in the next couple of weeks to develop a recommendation to the Select Board for a candidate for appointment to the fifth position on the Advisory Board. If you are interested in serving on the Business Development Advisory Board you should submit a letter of interest and a brief summary of your qualifications and experience to the Town Manager not later than Friday, April 20th.
At Tuesday’s Select-Board meeting the Board approved the signature of the proposed contract with Bread Loaf for the construction portion of the contract and authorized the Town Manager to execute any documents necessary to purchase the Community Cottage property for the expansion and rehabilitation of Fire Station #1 on Seymour Street. Permits for the project are in hand and work on the Seymour Street Station will begin in late April. The roadwork on Seymour Street will be take place this summer.
A reminder that the Middlebury Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed Flood-Fluvial Erosion Hazard Regulations at the East Middlebury Methodist Church this Monday the 16th at 7:00PM.
Nick Artim reported this week on a recent meeting of the Economic Development Initiative Committee and briefly reviewed the history of the effort to work with the College to consider development of the Town and College owned parcels between the Ilsley Library and the Otter Creek, to the immediate north of the Cross Street Bridge. The Board will hold a public information meeting to solicit input on the potential development of this important piece of property in the center of the downtown. A slide presentation on the project given at a public meeting in early 2011 is available on the Town's website.
Middlebury storyteller Malcolm Parker pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges stemming from a federal case of defrauding investors for the movie “Birth of Innocence.” Parker and business partner Lou Soteriou were charged earlier this year with a decade-long scheme that defrauded hundreds of investors out of millions of dollars. While Soteriou has denied those charges, Parker pleaded guilty after accepting a plea deal from prosecutors. Parker, who has been free pending his court date, remained free after his plea. He is scheduled to be sentenced in July.
Former Addison County schoolteacher Will J. Parini was sentenced yesterday to almost three years in jail for downloading hundreds of images of child pornography onto his computer. The judge said she decided to sentence him to 35 months in jail to send a message to anyone else thinking about pursuing pornographic images of children. He has been behind bars since he pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of child pornography six months ago. He has already surrendered his teaching license, according to court records.
There was some good news for towns and cities in New York's North Country still struggling to recover from Irene yesterday. Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state will pick up the tab not covered by the federal government. 61-million dollars will go to 25 New York counties to relieve local costs from last year’s storms. The state is able to cover those costs through money lawmakers set aside last fall. More importantly, that money will enable cash-strapped communities to begin recovery efforts immediately.
Four years after it abruptly closed, the Ticonderoga Dunkin' Donuts will be open for business again. The 11-41 Wicker St. franchise will open under new ownership tentatively May 20th. The new proprietor operates nine Dunkin' Donuts franchises in the Burlington area and two in New Hampshire. Hiring for the 30 or so full- and part-time employees the store needs will start in early May and they'll announce it in advance. The old store, which was the only Dunkin' Donuts in southern Essex County, closed on April 2, 2008, with the then-owners citing financial problems as the cause.
The special backup batteries for the Essex County 911 center are dying and replacing them in the $150,000 system is expected to cost about $26,000. County Manager Daniel Palmer said the batteries are critical to the 911 operation. Although the County Public Safety Building, where the 911 center is located, has a generator, there is a lag after a power failure before it kicks on. The purchase gets a final vote at the board's May meeting.
A Ticonderoga woman faces various charges after allegedly possessing stolen, forged checks. Amber R. Crowe was arrested by Ticonderoga police April 2nd and charged her with two counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument and two counts of petit larceny.
Plans are underway to replace a historic covered bridge that fell victim to the wrath of Tropical Storm Irene. A video of the Bartonsville Bridge crashing downstream went viral on the Internet last summer. An engineer now says the final replacement plans are nearly finished, with the new bridge costing about one-point-six-million dollars to replace. A bid for the project is expected to be awarded in May, with construction taking until the end of the year.
Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos is helping the state's business community protect itself from identity theft. On Wednesday, Condos announced a new online resource designed to serve as a critical resource to help business owners understand and protect themselves from business identity theft. The resource can be found at the website www.BusinessIDTheft.org.
Concerns over volatile milk prices brought legislators and members of Vermont's farming community together yesterday morning. Last year, Vermont dairy farmers earned about $1.81 per gallon for their milk. Leaders in the state's dairy community say that amount could drop to roughly $1.51 this year. The dramatic decline comes as production and feed costs are staying flat or are on the rise. Participants acknowledged that there was little state leaders could do to help with the fluctuating milk price numbers. But they continue to support federal efforts to support an economic safety net for farmers. That current safety net known as the milk income loss subsidy program is scheduled to expire later this year.
The owners of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant are telling federal regulators they don't have to update a report on the plant's decommissioning fund, because they have no plans to close the Vernon reactor within the next five years. Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules require that plants expecting they might have to close within five years file regular reports with the NRC on how much money they have in a fund set aside for decommissioning and dismantling the reactor.
A Vermont inmate is facing charges of sending threatening letters to Gov. Peter Shumlin. Vermont State Police say 21-year-old Dakota Gardner of Springfield has been cited to appear in court on three counts of disorderly conduct. Police said yesterday that they were notified on Jan. 26 of a threatening letter that had been sent to Shumlin's office from an inmate at the Springfield prison. Police say they discovered that Gardner had sent several letters threatening violence against Shumlin and his family while he was in prison after a 2009 arrest in Brattleboro for aggravated assault.
The Addison County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a change in ownership of Almost Home Market in Bristol. The new owners are Beth Marr and Gary Smith, residents of Vergennes and Bristol, respectively. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Sunday, April 8th to celebrate Almost Home’s new ownership. Gary, a long-time Bristol resident, is an excellent chef, gardener and wine buyer. Beth is a southern transplant, now living in Vergennes, and brings 20+ years of wedding planning and conference sales experience influenced by her flair for southern hospitality. Both Beth and Gary have worked in the hospitality arena for more than 20 years and both are in love with great food.
The United Way of Addison County will hold its annual UWAC Community Celebration on Wednesday, May 2nd at 5:30PM in the New Haven Town Hall. The main focus of this free, family friendly event is thanking and honoring the people who help our friends and neighbors achieve better lives. UWAC will present awards to individuals and businesses that have gone above and beyond to support the community and the United Way Campaign. The high point of the evening is the presentation of Youth Service Volunteer Awards given to volunteers’ age 21 and younger. You may nominate youth volunteers by downloading the nomination form from their website www.UnitedWayAddisonCounty.org.
Champlain Area Trails is holding two Earth Day Projects on Saturday, April 21st and invites everyone to participate. The morning project starts at 9AM at the Cheney Mountain Trail in Moriah and the afternoon project begins at 1PM at the new Woods and Swale Trail in Westport. For more details, visit www.champlainareatrails.com, call 962-2287 or email champlaintrails@gmail.com.
The 29th annual Vermont Travel Industry Conference will be held today and tomorrow at the Killington Grand Hotel. The conference will feature sessions, a keynote speaker, a silent auction, which runs both days, a luncheon, and an interactive dinner. The conference begins at noon today. Sessions will be held throughout the day to help answer businesses’ questions and help cultivate ideas to bring tourism to Vermont and specific businesses.
The Middlebury Select Board nominated candidates to a number of appointed boards and commissions on Tuesday night and will make the appointments at its next meeting. The Board appointed Town Manager Bill Finger as the Town's representative to the Addison County Solid Waste Management District and as the Town's Service Officer. There are several openings on the Recreation Advisory Board and no applicants for these positions. Interested individuals should contact the Town Manager's Office.
John Tenny was appointed Tuesday as a representative of the Town on the Middlebury’s Business Development Advisory Board. Select Board Member Nick Artim, the Town's other representative on the Board, was appointed at the last Select Board meeting. Middlebury College recommended, and the Select Board appointed, Patrick Norton and David Donahue to serve on the Advisory Board as the College's representatives. These initial four members of the Advisory Board will meet in the next couple of weeks to develop a recommendation to the Select Board for a candidate for appointment to the fifth position on the Advisory Board. If you are interested in serving on the Business Development Advisory Board you should submit a letter of interest and a brief summary of your qualifications and experience to the Town Manager not later than Friday, April 20th.
At Tuesday’s Select-Board meeting the Board approved the signature of the proposed contract with Bread Loaf for the construction portion of the contract and authorized the Town Manager to execute any documents necessary to purchase the Community Cottage property for the expansion and rehabilitation of Fire Station #1 on Seymour Street. Permits for the project are in hand and work on the Seymour Street Station will begin in late April. The roadwork on Seymour Street will be take place this summer.
A reminder that the Middlebury Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed Flood-Fluvial Erosion Hazard Regulations at the East Middlebury Methodist Church this Monday the 16th at 7:00PM.
Nick Artim reported this week on a recent meeting of the Economic Development Initiative Committee and briefly reviewed the history of the effort to work with the College to consider development of the Town and College owned parcels between the Ilsley Library and the Otter Creek, to the immediate north of the Cross Street Bridge. The Board will hold a public information meeting to solicit input on the potential development of this important piece of property in the center of the downtown. A slide presentation on the project given at a public meeting in early 2011 is available on the Town's website.
Middlebury storyteller Malcolm Parker pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges stemming from a federal case of defrauding investors for the movie “Birth of Innocence.” Parker and business partner Lou Soteriou were charged earlier this year with a decade-long scheme that defrauded hundreds of investors out of millions of dollars. While Soteriou has denied those charges, Parker pleaded guilty after accepting a plea deal from prosecutors. Parker, who has been free pending his court date, remained free after his plea. He is scheduled to be sentenced in July.
Former Addison County schoolteacher Will J. Parini was sentenced yesterday to almost three years in jail for downloading hundreds of images of child pornography onto his computer. The judge said she decided to sentence him to 35 months in jail to send a message to anyone else thinking about pursuing pornographic images of children. He has been behind bars since he pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of child pornography six months ago. He has already surrendered his teaching license, according to court records.
There was some good news for towns and cities in New York's North Country still struggling to recover from Irene yesterday. Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state will pick up the tab not covered by the federal government. 61-million dollars will go to 25 New York counties to relieve local costs from last year’s storms. The state is able to cover those costs through money lawmakers set aside last fall. More importantly, that money will enable cash-strapped communities to begin recovery efforts immediately.
Four years after it abruptly closed, the Ticonderoga Dunkin' Donuts will be open for business again. The 11-41 Wicker St. franchise will open under new ownership tentatively May 20th. The new proprietor operates nine Dunkin' Donuts franchises in the Burlington area and two in New Hampshire. Hiring for the 30 or so full- and part-time employees the store needs will start in early May and they'll announce it in advance. The old store, which was the only Dunkin' Donuts in southern Essex County, closed on April 2, 2008, with the then-owners citing financial problems as the cause.
The special backup batteries for the Essex County 911 center are dying and replacing them in the $150,000 system is expected to cost about $26,000. County Manager Daniel Palmer said the batteries are critical to the 911 operation. Although the County Public Safety Building, where the 911 center is located, has a generator, there is a lag after a power failure before it kicks on. The purchase gets a final vote at the board's May meeting.
A Ticonderoga woman faces various charges after allegedly possessing stolen, forged checks. Amber R. Crowe was arrested by Ticonderoga police April 2nd and charged her with two counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument and two counts of petit larceny.
Plans are underway to replace a historic covered bridge that fell victim to the wrath of Tropical Storm Irene. A video of the Bartonsville Bridge crashing downstream went viral on the Internet last summer. An engineer now says the final replacement plans are nearly finished, with the new bridge costing about one-point-six-million dollars to replace. A bid for the project is expected to be awarded in May, with construction taking until the end of the year.
Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos is helping the state's business community protect itself from identity theft. On Wednesday, Condos announced a new online resource designed to serve as a critical resource to help business owners understand and protect themselves from business identity theft. The resource can be found at the website www.BusinessIDTheft.org.
Concerns over volatile milk prices brought legislators and members of Vermont's farming community together yesterday morning. Last year, Vermont dairy farmers earned about $1.81 per gallon for their milk. Leaders in the state's dairy community say that amount could drop to roughly $1.51 this year. The dramatic decline comes as production and feed costs are staying flat or are on the rise. Participants acknowledged that there was little state leaders could do to help with the fluctuating milk price numbers. But they continue to support federal efforts to support an economic safety net for farmers. That current safety net known as the milk income loss subsidy program is scheduled to expire later this year.
The owners of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant are telling federal regulators they don't have to update a report on the plant's decommissioning fund, because they have no plans to close the Vernon reactor within the next five years. Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules require that plants expecting they might have to close within five years file regular reports with the NRC on how much money they have in a fund set aside for decommissioning and dismantling the reactor.
A Vermont inmate is facing charges of sending threatening letters to Gov. Peter Shumlin. Vermont State Police say 21-year-old Dakota Gardner of Springfield has been cited to appear in court on three counts of disorderly conduct. Police said yesterday that they were notified on Jan. 26 of a threatening letter that had been sent to Shumlin's office from an inmate at the Springfield prison. Police say they discovered that Gardner had sent several letters threatening violence against Shumlin and his family while he was in prison after a 2009 arrest in Brattleboro for aggravated assault.
The Addison County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a change in ownership of Almost Home Market in Bristol. The new owners are Beth Marr and Gary Smith, residents of Vergennes and Bristol, respectively. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Sunday, April 8th to celebrate Almost Home’s new ownership. Gary, a long-time Bristol resident, is an excellent chef, gardener and wine buyer. Beth is a southern transplant, now living in Vergennes, and brings 20+ years of wedding planning and conference sales experience influenced by her flair for southern hospitality. Both Beth and Gary have worked in the hospitality arena for more than 20 years and both are in love with great food.
The United Way of Addison County will hold its annual UWAC Community Celebration on Wednesday, May 2nd at 5:30PM in the New Haven Town Hall. The main focus of this free, family friendly event is thanking and honoring the people who help our friends and neighbors achieve better lives. UWAC will present awards to individuals and businesses that have gone above and beyond to support the community and the United Way Campaign. The high point of the evening is the presentation of Youth Service Volunteer Awards given to volunteers’ age 21 and younger. You may nominate youth volunteers by downloading the nomination form from their website www.UnitedWayAddisonCounty.org.
Champlain Area Trails is holding two Earth Day Projects on Saturday, April 21st and invites everyone to participate. The morning project starts at 9AM at the Cheney Mountain Trail in Moriah and the afternoon project begins at 1PM at the new Woods and Swale Trail in Westport. For more details, visit www.champlainareatrails.com, call 962-2287 or email champlaintrails@gmail.com.
The 29th annual Vermont Travel Industry Conference will be held today and tomorrow at the Killington Grand Hotel. The conference will feature sessions, a keynote speaker, a silent auction, which runs both days, a luncheon, and an interactive dinner. The conference begins at noon today. Sessions will be held throughout the day to help answer businesses’ questions and help cultivate ideas to bring tourism to Vermont and specific businesses.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
WVTK Local & State News April 11, 2012
The Addison County Humane Society is looking for your help with a wonderful cat that was brought into the shelter yesterday morning. His name is Murphy and he is a beautiful black and white tuxedo male approximately 2 years old. He was brought to ACHS after being hit by a car. He’s been tested for Feline AIDS and Leukemia and he is negative. They then immediately took him to the animal hospital for x-rays. The x-rays show that he has a broken pelvic socket, which will require surgery to repair. The medical costs are estimated to be approximately $800, which is more than they have in their general funds for any single animal. He’s stolen the hearts of everyone at the Shelter as he is super friendly and will make a wonderful addition to someone’s family. They are asking for donations to help cover the costs associated with his medical care. Donations can be sent directly to ACHS with note in the memo section “For Murphy” or can be made directly through their website through PayPal at www.addisonhumane.org.
Several new jobs are coming to Porter Medical Center. The Middlebury hospital has hired seven new family practice physicians to try and counteract a shortage of doctors in the county. The hospital currently has 40 primary care providers.
The city of Vergennes is deciding whether allowing a nativity scene in the city park during the Christmas holiday is constitutional. The issue includes the separation of church and state and last night, Vergennes City Council members discussed a possible compromise on a more than 70-year tradition. Mayor Michael Daniels said one citizen noted that they weren't following the constitution by proper signage and he wants to make sure they are following it. The mayor says Tuesday's meeting was only to draft policy and a decision will not be made until later.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services presented 38 citizenship candidates to the Vermont District Court during a special venue naturalization ceremony at the Beeman Elementary School in New Haven on Monday. According to spokeswoman Anita Moore of the USCIS, naturalization ceremonies in Vermont are judicial ceremonies and with court approval the ceremony was held at the Beeman Elementary School to increase public awareness of the U.S. citizenship process and to enhance the schools curriculum.
The on-again, off-again reports that IHOP is coming to Rutland are on again. Sam Handy, whose family owns the IHOP on Dorset Street in South Burlington, said that he’s looking at a couple of sites in Rutland, including the Midway Diner property on South Main Street. Handy Family Enterprises received an Act 250 permit more than three years ago to build an IHOP adjacent to their Ponderosa restaurant on Route 7 in Rutland Town but Handy said at that time it took so long to receive the permit that the project was put on hold.
Small bakers and gymnasiums may soon come off the rooms, meals and entertainment tax in Rutland City. The Charter and Ordinance Committee voted to recommend bringing the city’s 1 percent tax in line with the state’s rooms and meals tax by adding language exempting licensed home bakers with gross sales averaging less than $125 a week and to remove gym memberships and fitness classes from the list of items considered “entertainment.” Both votes were unanimous.
The Moriah Central School Board will hold a budget meeting at 6PM next Tuesday the 17th to present and adopt a proposed budget for the 2012-13 school year. The regular monthly School Board meeting will follow the session, both in the High School library.
Two out of three potential purchasers of Essex County's Horace Nye Nursing Home have put in higher bids. The new figures, released yesterday, show Eliot Management Group of Monsey bid $4,100,000 and Centers for Specialty Care of New York City put in a bid of $4,050,000, while the third original bidder, Gerald Woods, CPA, of Baldwin, declined to submit another offer. County Manager Daniel Palmer said a sale may not ultimately be to the highest bidder but to the one the board believes would be best for Essex County residents.
Even dollar stores can fall victim to embezzlement. Police arrested Sabra Notte of Rutland, for allegedly stealing $10,000 from the Dollar General Store in Fair Haven. Police say she used her position as manager to steal the money over a two-month period.
After a much warmer than usual winter and early spring, snow finally returned to Vermont. Monday and Tuesday mountain ski resorts received more than a foot of fresh snow, which was much appreciated by snowboarders and skiers. Forty trails and two lifts are currently open at Killington Mountain, while at Jay Peak 37 trails and four lifts are open.
A Vermont legislative panel is hearing today from farmers and agriculture officials about ways to increase the price Vermont dairy farmers are paid for their milk. Members of the Vermont Senate's Agriculture Committee are worried about a decline in milk prices projected for the coming months, as well as changes to federal farm programs that most farmers won't find favorable. The hearing is to address the steps dairy cooperatives are taking to ensure that Vermont dairy farmers receive the highest price possible for their milk, and what the Legislature can do to help.
Vermont's annual Green Up Day is taking on an extra challenge this year. The annual spring-cleaning ritual has drawn thousands of Vermonters to roadsides and stream banks over the years. The 2012 edition, taking place May 5, is expected to involve some extra work, due to debris left by the flooding from Tropical Storm Irene. Green Up organizers are working with local long-term recovery committees to coordinate efforts and focus on areas that still need cleanup from Irene.
Striking teachers and school administrators in the Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union are expected to head back to the bargaining table today. The teachers are entering their seventh day of a strike. Negotiations between the teachers and boards of the Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union broke down last week over work rules.
Two Vermont House committees have heard from utility executives, business leaders and a former state regulator that it would be a bad idea for the Legislature to intervene in the Public Service Board's deliberations over a proposed merger between Vermont's two largest power companies. At issue in yesterday’s hearing before the House committees on Commerce and Natural Resources and Energy is a plan for the merged company to refund $21 million to CVPS ratepayers through energy efficiency measures.
Vermont State Police are looking for a Swanton man who they say is a person of interest in an armed robbery of a Swanton convenience store last month. Police are asking for the public's help in finding 22-year-old Christopher Davis, who has been missing since March 27th. Family members reported him missing three days later.
Vermont State Police say a male nurse is facing charges he sexually exploited a female inmate at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Center in South Burlington, the state's prison for women. 36-year-old Thomas Njuguna of Colchester was arrested Tuesday and processed at the Williston State Police barracks. He is due in court May 8. Police say he is no longer employed by the Department of Corrections.
Three University of Vermont students are pleading not guilty to burglary charges in what police say was a break in and vandalism at a residence hall under construction on the Burlington campus. The project's developer estimates damages could range from $25,000 to $50,000 for broken windows, roof repairs and cleanup. They said toilets awaiting installation was thrown out windows. The Burlington Free Press reports the incident happened April 3rd and UVM police arrested the three on the premises.
It's that time, late in the Vermont legislative session, when lawmakers begin making what might appear to be strange combinations of bills to get stalled legislation passed. On Tuesday, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee decided to attach right-to-die legislation to a bill that would bar tanning salons from offering their services to anyone younger than 18. The more hotly debated of those two measures is the legislation allowing doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to terminally ill patients who want to end their lives. The fate of the measure looks uncertain at best.
One week after a court ruling, Colchester's select-board members said they still haven't decided if they'll appeal. If the result stands, the town may be forced to pay back millions to cottage and camp owners. Cottage and camp owners won a lawsuit against the town of Colchester last week. A judge agreed with their double-taxation claim, and has ordered them repaid. At Tuesday's select-board meeting, Colchester residents wanted to know how that would affect the books. The town is likely to makeup for lost funds by increasing the property tax on area landowners in the future.
An environmental group is appealing a decision by the U.S. Forest Service that would allow the construction of 15 wind turbines in the towns of Searsburg and Readsboro. The appeal by the group Vermonters for a Clean Environment says the Deerfield Wind project would hurt the wilderness and the quality of the water. The group plans to file a formal complaint in federal court after an appeal to the Forest Service was denied in February.
The state of Vermont is still looking for a buyer for an Essex office building it has never used. The state bought the former IBM building in the Saxon Hill Industrial Park nearly five years ago with the idea of locating the State's forensic and health department labs there. The $40 million renovation price tag stalled the plan. With FEMA set to move out of the building this summer, it's back on the market with a $7 million price tag. State officials say poor lighting and other problems make the offices ill suited for relocating workers displaced by Irene.
An All-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast is set for this Sunday, from 7-11 AM at the Addison Fire Station located at the junction of Routes 17 and 22A in Addison. Admission price is $6 for adults, $4 for youth under age 12. This event will benefit of the Addison Volunteer Fire Department. The menu includes plain and blueberry pancakes, sausage, bacon, home fries, coffee, hot chocolate, and orange juice. Funds will be used to purchase equipment. This will be their last breakfast until the autumn.
One of the best-kept secrets in television history has been unmasked, with "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening revealing the Springfield in Oregon is the basis for the hometown of his characters. The admission came in an interview with Smithsonian Magazine online yesterday. Groening says he was inspired by the television show "Father Knows Best," which took place in a place called Springfield. Springfield, OR is 100 miles south of Groening's hometown of Portland.
Several new jobs are coming to Porter Medical Center. The Middlebury hospital has hired seven new family practice physicians to try and counteract a shortage of doctors in the county. The hospital currently has 40 primary care providers.
The city of Vergennes is deciding whether allowing a nativity scene in the city park during the Christmas holiday is constitutional. The issue includes the separation of church and state and last night, Vergennes City Council members discussed a possible compromise on a more than 70-year tradition. Mayor Michael Daniels said one citizen noted that they weren't following the constitution by proper signage and he wants to make sure they are following it. The mayor says Tuesday's meeting was only to draft policy and a decision will not be made until later.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services presented 38 citizenship candidates to the Vermont District Court during a special venue naturalization ceremony at the Beeman Elementary School in New Haven on Monday. According to spokeswoman Anita Moore of the USCIS, naturalization ceremonies in Vermont are judicial ceremonies and with court approval the ceremony was held at the Beeman Elementary School to increase public awareness of the U.S. citizenship process and to enhance the schools curriculum.
The on-again, off-again reports that IHOP is coming to Rutland are on again. Sam Handy, whose family owns the IHOP on Dorset Street in South Burlington, said that he’s looking at a couple of sites in Rutland, including the Midway Diner property on South Main Street. Handy Family Enterprises received an Act 250 permit more than three years ago to build an IHOP adjacent to their Ponderosa restaurant on Route 7 in Rutland Town but Handy said at that time it took so long to receive the permit that the project was put on hold.
Small bakers and gymnasiums may soon come off the rooms, meals and entertainment tax in Rutland City. The Charter and Ordinance Committee voted to recommend bringing the city’s 1 percent tax in line with the state’s rooms and meals tax by adding language exempting licensed home bakers with gross sales averaging less than $125 a week and to remove gym memberships and fitness classes from the list of items considered “entertainment.” Both votes were unanimous.
The Moriah Central School Board will hold a budget meeting at 6PM next Tuesday the 17th to present and adopt a proposed budget for the 2012-13 school year. The regular monthly School Board meeting will follow the session, both in the High School library.
Two out of three potential purchasers of Essex County's Horace Nye Nursing Home have put in higher bids. The new figures, released yesterday, show Eliot Management Group of Monsey bid $4,100,000 and Centers for Specialty Care of New York City put in a bid of $4,050,000, while the third original bidder, Gerald Woods, CPA, of Baldwin, declined to submit another offer. County Manager Daniel Palmer said a sale may not ultimately be to the highest bidder but to the one the board believes would be best for Essex County residents.
Even dollar stores can fall victim to embezzlement. Police arrested Sabra Notte of Rutland, for allegedly stealing $10,000 from the Dollar General Store in Fair Haven. Police say she used her position as manager to steal the money over a two-month period.
After a much warmer than usual winter and early spring, snow finally returned to Vermont. Monday and Tuesday mountain ski resorts received more than a foot of fresh snow, which was much appreciated by snowboarders and skiers. Forty trails and two lifts are currently open at Killington Mountain, while at Jay Peak 37 trails and four lifts are open.
A Vermont legislative panel is hearing today from farmers and agriculture officials about ways to increase the price Vermont dairy farmers are paid for their milk. Members of the Vermont Senate's Agriculture Committee are worried about a decline in milk prices projected for the coming months, as well as changes to federal farm programs that most farmers won't find favorable. The hearing is to address the steps dairy cooperatives are taking to ensure that Vermont dairy farmers receive the highest price possible for their milk, and what the Legislature can do to help.
Vermont's annual Green Up Day is taking on an extra challenge this year. The annual spring-cleaning ritual has drawn thousands of Vermonters to roadsides and stream banks over the years. The 2012 edition, taking place May 5, is expected to involve some extra work, due to debris left by the flooding from Tropical Storm Irene. Green Up organizers are working with local long-term recovery committees to coordinate efforts and focus on areas that still need cleanup from Irene.
Striking teachers and school administrators in the Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union are expected to head back to the bargaining table today. The teachers are entering their seventh day of a strike. Negotiations between the teachers and boards of the Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union broke down last week over work rules.
Two Vermont House committees have heard from utility executives, business leaders and a former state regulator that it would be a bad idea for the Legislature to intervene in the Public Service Board's deliberations over a proposed merger between Vermont's two largest power companies. At issue in yesterday’s hearing before the House committees on Commerce and Natural Resources and Energy is a plan for the merged company to refund $21 million to CVPS ratepayers through energy efficiency measures.
Vermont State Police are looking for a Swanton man who they say is a person of interest in an armed robbery of a Swanton convenience store last month. Police are asking for the public's help in finding 22-year-old Christopher Davis, who has been missing since March 27th. Family members reported him missing three days later.
Vermont State Police say a male nurse is facing charges he sexually exploited a female inmate at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Center in South Burlington, the state's prison for women. 36-year-old Thomas Njuguna of Colchester was arrested Tuesday and processed at the Williston State Police barracks. He is due in court May 8. Police say he is no longer employed by the Department of Corrections.
Three University of Vermont students are pleading not guilty to burglary charges in what police say was a break in and vandalism at a residence hall under construction on the Burlington campus. The project's developer estimates damages could range from $25,000 to $50,000 for broken windows, roof repairs and cleanup. They said toilets awaiting installation was thrown out windows. The Burlington Free Press reports the incident happened April 3rd and UVM police arrested the three on the premises.
It's that time, late in the Vermont legislative session, when lawmakers begin making what might appear to be strange combinations of bills to get stalled legislation passed. On Tuesday, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee decided to attach right-to-die legislation to a bill that would bar tanning salons from offering their services to anyone younger than 18. The more hotly debated of those two measures is the legislation allowing doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to terminally ill patients who want to end their lives. The fate of the measure looks uncertain at best.
One week after a court ruling, Colchester's select-board members said they still haven't decided if they'll appeal. If the result stands, the town may be forced to pay back millions to cottage and camp owners. Cottage and camp owners won a lawsuit against the town of Colchester last week. A judge agreed with their double-taxation claim, and has ordered them repaid. At Tuesday's select-board meeting, Colchester residents wanted to know how that would affect the books. The town is likely to makeup for lost funds by increasing the property tax on area landowners in the future.
An environmental group is appealing a decision by the U.S. Forest Service that would allow the construction of 15 wind turbines in the towns of Searsburg and Readsboro. The appeal by the group Vermonters for a Clean Environment says the Deerfield Wind project would hurt the wilderness and the quality of the water. The group plans to file a formal complaint in federal court after an appeal to the Forest Service was denied in February.
The state of Vermont is still looking for a buyer for an Essex office building it has never used. The state bought the former IBM building in the Saxon Hill Industrial Park nearly five years ago with the idea of locating the State's forensic and health department labs there. The $40 million renovation price tag stalled the plan. With FEMA set to move out of the building this summer, it's back on the market with a $7 million price tag. State officials say poor lighting and other problems make the offices ill suited for relocating workers displaced by Irene.
An All-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast is set for this Sunday, from 7-11 AM at the Addison Fire Station located at the junction of Routes 17 and 22A in Addison. Admission price is $6 for adults, $4 for youth under age 12. This event will benefit of the Addison Volunteer Fire Department. The menu includes plain and blueberry pancakes, sausage, bacon, home fries, coffee, hot chocolate, and orange juice. Funds will be used to purchase equipment. This will be their last breakfast until the autumn.
One of the best-kept secrets in television history has been unmasked, with "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening revealing the Springfield in Oregon is the basis for the hometown of his characters. The admission came in an interview with Smithsonian Magazine online yesterday. Groening says he was inspired by the television show "Father Knows Best," which took place in a place called Springfield. Springfield, OR is 100 miles south of Groening's hometown of Portland.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
WVTK Local & State News April 10, 2012
The Town of Middlebury will hold its regular Select board Meeting this evening in the Town Offices Conference Room at 7. Items on the agenda include Citizen Comments, Nominations and Appointments to Town Boards and Commissions, Appointments to the Business Development Fund Advisory Board and Approval of the Phase II contract with Breadloaf for the Fire Facilities. Full details are available on the Town Of Middlebury’s Website.
Last Friday evening Vermont State Police conducted a check on a vehicle parked off of Old Jerusalem Road in Leicester. The State Police seized the vehicle and applied for a search warrant that was granted by a judge. During the execution of the warrant on the vehicle, marijuana, beer, a hacksaw, and a stolen street sign were found in the vehicle. All of the vehicle's occupants were under 21 years of age. The passengers were Brandon and Leicester area residents Dominick Popp, Brandyn Walsh and Kimberly Walsh. They were cited into the Addison Criminal Division for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Stolen Property. All teens were issued Notice of Violations for Possession of Alcohol as well.
Vermont State Police are investigating an auto accident that involved a single-vehicle crash on Richville Road, in the area of Shoreham Depot Road that occurred after 10 on Saturday evening. Police said the occupants of the vehicle were observed leaving the scene soon after the accident in another vehicle. The vehicle was apparently traveling westbound on Richville Road and for some reason went off of the westbound shoulder into the front yard of private property causing damage. The vehicle collided with a large tree on the property and overturned. State Police are looking for other eyewitness who may have knowledge of the accident.
Vergennes is drafting rules for holiday displays in the city-owned park. The move comes after a resident raised concern about a nativity scene that appears every December. The City Council has decided to draft a policy saying that private groups must file permits for displays on the green. And they must post a sign saying that the City doesn't endorse or oppose the display. The Vergennes City Council will discuss the draft policy at a meeting this evening at 7 at the Vergennes Opera House.
Once a story about a rash of stolen antiques appeared in the "Burlington Free Press," it didn't take long to reunite the stolen items with owners. The problem was, many were taken from second homes, so not all the owners were aware yet of the thefts. Many had been recovered from the home of a suspect and from a dealer who purchased a lot of stolen pieces. Once word of the break-ins to seasonal homes in Charlotte, Monkton, Hinesburg, North Ferrisburgh and New Haven got out, owners checked their homes and contacted police if they had missing antiques.
Police arrested a German resident for excessive speed in New Haven, Vermont Sunday. According to police, 23-year-old Bianca Maria Fassbender was traveling 94 mph in a 40 mph zone. She had 3 passengers in the car and was traveling through a busy business area with a major intersection. She was booked and was expected to appear in court yesterday.
Three dozen businesses have signed a letter asking state and utility leaders to support the proposed Fair Haven Energy Center project to be located along Route 4 near the State of Vermont’s Fair Haven Welcome Center. The businesses have come together to support the project because they understand that the two-year construction phase of the project will bring 1000 jobs to the area, as well as $1.1 million in annual property taxes. In addition $32 million/year is projected for annual operational spending. The project will also bring 50 jobs at the plant, 180 jobs in the woods, and hundreds of “multiplier” jobs throughout the community.
The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce will host OneWorkSource and the InternetXpress @ Your Library services open house at the chamber office on Wednesday, April 18th from 10 – 3. For more information about the open houses at the chamber office visit www.ticonderogany.com.
Nearly 1,500 checks, totaling $1.4 million in grants, have been mailed to non-profit organizations receiving Stewart’s Holiday Match funds. The money, contributed by customers and the company, will assist local children’s charities in the 30 counties where there are Stewart’s Shops. Since 1986 Stewart’s has been collecting customer donations from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day. Stewart’s matches the donations with 100 percent of the funds returning to the communities in which the shops are located.
Teachers in a striking Vermont school district and school administrators are headed back to the bargaining table. Representatives of the 70 teachers and the five schools are going to meet Wednesday with the help of a federal mediator. Monday marked the fourth day of the strike. Negotiations between the teachers and boards of the Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union broke down last week over work rules, such as the time teachers spend with students.
It will take a month before the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union School Boards ratify the new teachers’ union contract. The supervisory union and teachers’ union agreed to a tentative contract and averted a strike last Tuesday. The teachers’ union approved the contract the following day but the details won’t be released until the supervisory union boards also approve it.
A Rochester business hit hard by tropical storm Irene is celebrating its progress months after the storm. Advanced Illumination produces LED lights and when Irene rolled through town it flooded out portions of the company's facility. Storm damage led the company to fast track plans that were already in the works to move the tech business into a new nearby space. Through the storm, recovery and relocation, the company was able to keep its roughly 40 employees on the payroll. Yesterday A-I held an open house to show off its new space and reaffirm its commitment to the community.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Gov. Peter Shumlin and the Vermont Department of Public Service hosted a Vermont Clean Energy Investment Summit yesterday. The goal of the conference was to determine how the state could become a model for the nation in moving more aggressively toward energy efficiency and developing sustainable sources of clean energy. Sanders said Vermont could become a showcase for the best ways to address climate change. He focused on two ways to reverse global warming and create good paying jobs in the process by bolstering investments in energy efficiency and sustainable energy.
The state is creating smoke-free areas outdoors at New York state parks and historic sites, including around playgrounds and pools. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation says Monday the smoke-free zones will be around recreation areas, including beaches and picnic shelters. Parks officials say that will protect children and others from the dangers of secondhand smoke and reduce litter from discarded cigarettes. Smoking is already prohibited in all buildings at state parks and historic sites under New York's Clean Indoor Air Act.
New York's Liquor Authority has posted an online map of about 55,000 licensed bars, restaurants and stores selling alcohol statewide, including their disciplinary history and pending applications. The interactive map launched this year also shows where the establishments fit within police precinct boundaries and whether schools and churches are nearby. The website doesn't list pending complaints for violations like selling alcohol to minors until cases are concluded.
A regional hardware chain has given the Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance a hefty contribution to do its work. Aubuchon Hardware Stores officials were in Ticonderoga recently to present alliance CEO Justin Woods with $25,000. The funds will go toward start-up capital for the alliance and its partners to develop and implement a comprehensive economic-development strategy. PRIDE of Ticonderoga Executive Director Sharon Reynolds said Aubuchon has always supported the community. Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Matthew Courtright praised the firm's contribution to the alliance. The Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance is a non-profit, local development group whose mission is to restore economic prosperity in the Ticonderoga region.
Vermont Lottery officials announced Monday that a 250-thousand Mega Millions Lottery ticket was sold in Barre for last Friday's draw. The ticket was sold at the Brookside Country Store. The winning numbers were 02-19-20-24-33 and the Mega Ball was 39. The winner has yet to come forward. Lottery officials say three Vermonters have won the Mega Millions 250-thousand prize in the past two weeks.
If you still have the urge to slap on the skis there is still plenty of winter left in the mountains. Killington ski resort received more than seven inches of fresh snow since Sunday. Despite the mild and dry winter, Killington has now been open for 164 days and they plan to stay open through the end of April.
The growth of small dairies nationwide is creating opportunity for entrepreneurs. Major manufacturers long ago gave up producing equipment for small dairies, which seemed to be a thing of the past. But with small dairies opening to meet the demand for locally produced food, the market for equipment for five-cow, 10-sheep and 20-goat operations is seeing a resurgence. A Maryland entrepreneur has developed a small-scale milk pasteurizer that has been sold in about 30 states and a number of other countries. A Vermont farmer has created another small-scale pasteurizer that his company hopes to get approved for sale this summer.
The Central Vermont Hospital in Berlin has received a $1.4 million payment from the federal government because its electronic medical records system has met the requirements of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The standards help hospitals implement medical record systems that will improve patient safety, quality of care and efficiency. The payment is an incentive for meeting the so-called "Meaningful Use" standards. Central Vermont also received $520,000 from the State of Vermont for achieving its Medicaid electronic health record criteria.
The cost of housing in Vermont declined in 2011. According to the Vermont Economy Newsletter's annual housing affordability analysis, the share median family income needed to finance payments on a median priced home in Vermont fell to 13.1% in 2011. The press release states that the housing price used in this analysis is the median price of more than 5,000 residential houses sold in Vermont in 2011. The study does not include vacation homes.
Last Friday evening Vermont State Police conducted a check on a vehicle parked off of Old Jerusalem Road in Leicester. The State Police seized the vehicle and applied for a search warrant that was granted by a judge. During the execution of the warrant on the vehicle, marijuana, beer, a hacksaw, and a stolen street sign were found in the vehicle. All of the vehicle's occupants were under 21 years of age. The passengers were Brandon and Leicester area residents Dominick Popp, Brandyn Walsh and Kimberly Walsh. They were cited into the Addison Criminal Division for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Stolen Property. All teens were issued Notice of Violations for Possession of Alcohol as well.
Vermont State Police are investigating an auto accident that involved a single-vehicle crash on Richville Road, in the area of Shoreham Depot Road that occurred after 10 on Saturday evening. Police said the occupants of the vehicle were observed leaving the scene soon after the accident in another vehicle. The vehicle was apparently traveling westbound on Richville Road and for some reason went off of the westbound shoulder into the front yard of private property causing damage. The vehicle collided with a large tree on the property and overturned. State Police are looking for other eyewitness who may have knowledge of the accident.
Vergennes is drafting rules for holiday displays in the city-owned park. The move comes after a resident raised concern about a nativity scene that appears every December. The City Council has decided to draft a policy saying that private groups must file permits for displays on the green. And they must post a sign saying that the City doesn't endorse or oppose the display. The Vergennes City Council will discuss the draft policy at a meeting this evening at 7 at the Vergennes Opera House.
Once a story about a rash of stolen antiques appeared in the "Burlington Free Press," it didn't take long to reunite the stolen items with owners. The problem was, many were taken from second homes, so not all the owners were aware yet of the thefts. Many had been recovered from the home of a suspect and from a dealer who purchased a lot of stolen pieces. Once word of the break-ins to seasonal homes in Charlotte, Monkton, Hinesburg, North Ferrisburgh and New Haven got out, owners checked their homes and contacted police if they had missing antiques.
Police arrested a German resident for excessive speed in New Haven, Vermont Sunday. According to police, 23-year-old Bianca Maria Fassbender was traveling 94 mph in a 40 mph zone. She had 3 passengers in the car and was traveling through a busy business area with a major intersection. She was booked and was expected to appear in court yesterday.
Three dozen businesses have signed a letter asking state and utility leaders to support the proposed Fair Haven Energy Center project to be located along Route 4 near the State of Vermont’s Fair Haven Welcome Center. The businesses have come together to support the project because they understand that the two-year construction phase of the project will bring 1000 jobs to the area, as well as $1.1 million in annual property taxes. In addition $32 million/year is projected for annual operational spending. The project will also bring 50 jobs at the plant, 180 jobs in the woods, and hundreds of “multiplier” jobs throughout the community.
The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce will host OneWorkSource and the InternetXpress @ Your Library services open house at the chamber office on Wednesday, April 18th from 10 – 3. For more information about the open houses at the chamber office visit www.ticonderogany.com.
Nearly 1,500 checks, totaling $1.4 million in grants, have been mailed to non-profit organizations receiving Stewart’s Holiday Match funds. The money, contributed by customers and the company, will assist local children’s charities in the 30 counties where there are Stewart’s Shops. Since 1986 Stewart’s has been collecting customer donations from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day. Stewart’s matches the donations with 100 percent of the funds returning to the communities in which the shops are located.
Teachers in a striking Vermont school district and school administrators are headed back to the bargaining table. Representatives of the 70 teachers and the five schools are going to meet Wednesday with the help of a federal mediator. Monday marked the fourth day of the strike. Negotiations between the teachers and boards of the Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union broke down last week over work rules, such as the time teachers spend with students.
It will take a month before the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union School Boards ratify the new teachers’ union contract. The supervisory union and teachers’ union agreed to a tentative contract and averted a strike last Tuesday. The teachers’ union approved the contract the following day but the details won’t be released until the supervisory union boards also approve it.
A Rochester business hit hard by tropical storm Irene is celebrating its progress months after the storm. Advanced Illumination produces LED lights and when Irene rolled through town it flooded out portions of the company's facility. Storm damage led the company to fast track plans that were already in the works to move the tech business into a new nearby space. Through the storm, recovery and relocation, the company was able to keep its roughly 40 employees on the payroll. Yesterday A-I held an open house to show off its new space and reaffirm its commitment to the community.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Gov. Peter Shumlin and the Vermont Department of Public Service hosted a Vermont Clean Energy Investment Summit yesterday. The goal of the conference was to determine how the state could become a model for the nation in moving more aggressively toward energy efficiency and developing sustainable sources of clean energy. Sanders said Vermont could become a showcase for the best ways to address climate change. He focused on two ways to reverse global warming and create good paying jobs in the process by bolstering investments in energy efficiency and sustainable energy.
The state is creating smoke-free areas outdoors at New York state parks and historic sites, including around playgrounds and pools. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation says Monday the smoke-free zones will be around recreation areas, including beaches and picnic shelters. Parks officials say that will protect children and others from the dangers of secondhand smoke and reduce litter from discarded cigarettes. Smoking is already prohibited in all buildings at state parks and historic sites under New York's Clean Indoor Air Act.
New York's Liquor Authority has posted an online map of about 55,000 licensed bars, restaurants and stores selling alcohol statewide, including their disciplinary history and pending applications. The interactive map launched this year also shows where the establishments fit within police precinct boundaries and whether schools and churches are nearby. The website doesn't list pending complaints for violations like selling alcohol to minors until cases are concluded.
A regional hardware chain has given the Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance a hefty contribution to do its work. Aubuchon Hardware Stores officials were in Ticonderoga recently to present alliance CEO Justin Woods with $25,000. The funds will go toward start-up capital for the alliance and its partners to develop and implement a comprehensive economic-development strategy. PRIDE of Ticonderoga Executive Director Sharon Reynolds said Aubuchon has always supported the community. Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Matthew Courtright praised the firm's contribution to the alliance. The Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance is a non-profit, local development group whose mission is to restore economic prosperity in the Ticonderoga region.
Vermont Lottery officials announced Monday that a 250-thousand Mega Millions Lottery ticket was sold in Barre for last Friday's draw. The ticket was sold at the Brookside Country Store. The winning numbers were 02-19-20-24-33 and the Mega Ball was 39. The winner has yet to come forward. Lottery officials say three Vermonters have won the Mega Millions 250-thousand prize in the past two weeks.
If you still have the urge to slap on the skis there is still plenty of winter left in the mountains. Killington ski resort received more than seven inches of fresh snow since Sunday. Despite the mild and dry winter, Killington has now been open for 164 days and they plan to stay open through the end of April.
The growth of small dairies nationwide is creating opportunity for entrepreneurs. Major manufacturers long ago gave up producing equipment for small dairies, which seemed to be a thing of the past. But with small dairies opening to meet the demand for locally produced food, the market for equipment for five-cow, 10-sheep and 20-goat operations is seeing a resurgence. A Maryland entrepreneur has developed a small-scale milk pasteurizer that has been sold in about 30 states and a number of other countries. A Vermont farmer has created another small-scale pasteurizer that his company hopes to get approved for sale this summer.
The Central Vermont Hospital in Berlin has received a $1.4 million payment from the federal government because its electronic medical records system has met the requirements of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The standards help hospitals implement medical record systems that will improve patient safety, quality of care and efficiency. The payment is an incentive for meeting the so-called "Meaningful Use" standards. Central Vermont also received $520,000 from the State of Vermont for achieving its Medicaid electronic health record criteria.
The cost of housing in Vermont declined in 2011. According to the Vermont Economy Newsletter's annual housing affordability analysis, the share median family income needed to finance payments on a median priced home in Vermont fell to 13.1% in 2011. The press release states that the housing price used in this analysis is the median price of more than 5,000 residential houses sold in Vermont in 2011. The study does not include vacation homes.
Monday, April 9, 2012
WVTK Local & State News April 9, 2012
The Town of Middlebury will hold its regular Select board Meeting tomorrow evening in the Town Offices Conference Room at 7. Items on the agenda include Citizen Comments, Nominations and Appointments to Town Boards and Commissions, Appointments to the Business Development Fund Advisory Board and Approval of the Phase II contract with Breadloaf for the Fire Facilities. There will also be discussion on a possible transfer of Town land to the northwest of the Cross Street Bridge for development in partnership with the College. Full details are available on the Town Of Middlebury’s Website.
No negotiation meeting has been scheduled between Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union teachers and school board members, and as of today, schools in Wells, Tinmouth, Poultney and Middletown Springs are closed to 650 students and 65 teachers. Any missed days, now a total of four, will have to be made up before the end of the school year, in accordance with state law. The fight is over an unresolved teacher contract and the language about working conditions in it.
Two men from Brandon have been arrested for a pair of weekend holdups in Rutland. The Rutland Herald reports Rodd Bussino and Michael Howe both are due to appear in court today after the robberies of a gas station and convenience store.
Ilsley Public Library Board of Trustees has announced that Library Director David Clark will retire March 15, 2013. Officials said over the last 16 years, David has approached all aspects of library operations with confidence, a high-level of competence and a desire to provide excellent library services for the Middlebury community and beyond. Clark began his career in 1973 in Maryland, then worked in Telford, PA and finally as a regional librarian for the Vermont Department of Libraries before assuming his current position in 1996. The trustees will appoint a selection committee to find a new director.
The Vermont Folklife Center’s Summer Institute, Discovering Community: Students, Digital Media, and Place-Based Learning, brings together educators for an intensive five-day program June 25–29 in Middlebury. The institute offers participants basic hands-on experience learning the methods of community-based research, the process of making a mini documentary, and the skills of working with digital media in a school setting. For registration, tuition, or other information about the Discovering Community Summer Institute and their nationally recognized faculty visit www.discoveringcommunity.org.
An extensive road improvement project affecting the Towns of Castleton, Fair Haven, Ira and West Rutland will begin April 30th and be completed in late August of this year. The scheduled improvements to Route 4A and Route 30 include the changing of guardrails, drainage improvements, some new signage and markings. In addition, milling and paving of Route 4A will begin one mile east of the intersection of Route 4A and Route 30 and will continue east of Castleton Village for approximately 6 miles to the Town of West Rutland. Milling and paving is also scheduled for Route 30, beginning at the Route 4A intersection, heading north for approximately 3.6 miles.
Essex County has honored the four police officers that apprehended a man accused of trying to burn down Mountain Lake Services in Port Henry. Sheriff Richard Cutting presented commendations this week to Deputies William Allen and Erin MacDougal and State Police Troopers Scott Tart and Michael Flaherty for helping protect firefighters just before midnight on January 1st.
Village leaders in Port Henry have produced a tentative budget that's up only about $21,000 but raises taxes 4.4 percent. The 2012-13 tax levy is at $517,580, about $21,880 more than the $495,690 collected last year. The Village Board previously voted to exceed the state's 2-percent tax cap, and the new budget would increase the amount raised by property taxes by 4.4 percent. The budget public hearing is at 7PM April 16th in the Village Hall, with a vote on the spending plan to follow.
The Ticonderoga Best Fourth In The North Committee, which is dedicated to providing area residents and visitors with the best 4th of July experience in the North Country, has recently joined forces with the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership. The celebration each year does cost between $25,000-$30,000 which includes the magnificent fireworks display. The Town of Ticonderoga does provide support for the 4th of July celebration, but much of the funding is raised through the work of the Best Fourth in the North committee. All donations now made to the Best Fourth in the North Celebration will be tax deductible as the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership is a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization.
Proctor High School reopened around 11:45 a.m. after "lockdown" at 11:15AM on Friday. The school had closed briefly due to an angry adult at the school. An eyewitness at the school said that an adult was upset over a child custody battle with a spouse. No weapons were involved and Vermont State Police troopers escorted the person from the school.
College officials said Castleton’s $13 million project is on track to be completed by June 1st. The project, which broke ground last year, included tearing down the college’s old tennis courts and facilities building and the construction of a 12,000-square-foot facilities barn, a 162-bed residence hall and an 8,000-square-foot green pavilion area with space for up to 3,000 people. The college is looking to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification. They have incorporated recycled materials, water-use reduction in sinks, showers and toilets and will install 120 solar panels on the building’s roof.
Police in Fair Haven are continuing to look for the driver they say hit a man and then took off. The victim is 31-year-old Bradley Fleming, who was walking along 22-A Friday night when he was hit. Witnesses told police the car was speeding, passing cars at the time when it struck Fleming and took off. He's now in stable condition in the hospital with hip and leg injuries. The car is described as a four-door silver sedan, possibly a Honda or Subaru with damage on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Vermont State Police say they have the stolen goods, as well as the man who admitted to taking them. The problem is they can't find all the owners yet of dozens of stolen antiques. State Police say the items were found at the home of Charles Pickett in North Ferrisburgh last month, and he admitted to stealing them out of home in Monkton. There are various pieces of furniture, clocks, jewelry and more, filling rooms at the Williston State Police barracks. People with second homes are urged to check the property to see if anything is missing.
The Vermont Senate's Agriculture Committee has set a hearing for this week on what may be tough times coming for dairy farmers on the prices they get for their milk. Committee members are worried about a decline in milk prices projected for the coming months, as well as changes to federal farm programs that most farmers won't find favorable. The hearing is to address the steps dairy cooperatives are taking to ensure that Vermont dairy farmers receive the highest price possible for their milk, and what the Legislature can do to help. The session is set for 9 to Noon on Wednesday April 11th in Statehouse Room 10.
Vermont health officials say the number of Lyme disease cases from exposure to ticks is on the rise. More than 600 cases were reported in Vermont last year. The Health Department says a growing population of infected ticks and more testing may account for the record high number. The disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics if caught early. But if it's not treated, it can affect the heart and nervous system. Some measures people can take to prevent tick exposure is to wear long pants, long sleeves and long socks, avoid wooded brushy areas with high grass and a lot of leaf litter and to checks themselves, children and pets daily for ticks. Insect repellents with up to 30 percent DEET also are effective.
Seven months after Tropical Storm Irene farmers are still grappling with what the flood waters left behind: rocks, trees, gravel and sand. The composition of their soil will affect yields. So some farmers are paying for excavators and bulldozers to remove the debris and scrape off the silt. They're also plowing under sand and adding nutrients and paying for seed to reseed crops. The USDA Farm Services Agency in Vermont has $4.7 million set aside to reimburse farmers for work to restore their land to productive use, including removing debris, grading and shaping fields. The grants will cover up to 75% of the cost of the work, which must be done first.
The Appropriations Committee in the Vermont House is considering legislation that would call for $1.9 million in refunds to businesses that have paid sales tax on so-called cloud computing in the past six years. The bill also clarifies that starting this July, the tax will be charged.
A Vermont couple has been indicted by a federal grand jury for three bank robberies in Vermont and New York. The Rutland Herald reports the indictment charges 31-year-old John Maynard and 30-year-old Jill Ludwig with conspiracy to rob banks in Rutland and Poultney and in Granville, New York.
Leaders in the renewable energy and energy efficiency fields are to gather with lenders, elected officials and others for what's being billed as a summit aimed at promoting green energy in Vermont. Today’s event in the Filmhouse at Burlington's Main Street Landing is designed to bring together Vermont's renewable energy and energy efficiency businesses, credit unions and community banks, utilities, state and federal officials, regional and national clean-energy organizations and others.
In 2011 450 Vermonters installed solar hot water systems in their homes—and one quarter of those Vermonters live in Addison County. What makes solar systems so attractive in Addison County? One reason is that Vergennes is home to the headquarters of Sunward, Vermont’s leading brand of solar hot water system. Another reason Addison County is quickly embracing solar hot water systems are the simplicity and economics of ownership. In many northeast households, the cost of heating the water for showers, laundry and washing dishes amounts to as much as 30% of the overall household heating bill. That can be hundreds of dollars a year washed down the drain. A solar hot water system is a great way to reduce that expense. Visit the Sunward Systems’ website (www.GoSunward.com) for more solar hot water information and to find qualified installers in Vermont and across the country.
There’s a new face at the Rutland Area Food Co-op. Paul Hoffman, a veteran of the co-op business, has taken over as general manager of the Wales Street store. He replaces Mike Muller, who ran the 3,000-member nonprofit for three years. Hoffman has extensive experience. He spent 17 years with the Hanover Consumer Co-op in New Hampshire.
Bells tolled throughout Vermont as Christians of all denominations headed to church Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of their Lord. A recent Gallup poll found Vermont to be the least religious state in America, with New Hampshire a close second. Only 23 percent of Vermont and New Hampshire residents label themselves as "very religious." On the opposite end of the spectrum, 59 percent of Mississippi's residents say they attend services regularly and that religion is an important part of their life.
The ice is out on Joe's Pond in West Danville. The clock stopped on the annual contest at 5:25 Sunday night when the cinder block fell into the water. Many had speculated that the contest would end earlier than ever this year. Slush and puddles surrounded the cinder block in mid-March, but 2010 still holds the record for the earliest ice out. The contest ended on April 5 that year. This year's winner has yet to be announced.
No negotiation meeting has been scheduled between Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union teachers and school board members, and as of today, schools in Wells, Tinmouth, Poultney and Middletown Springs are closed to 650 students and 65 teachers. Any missed days, now a total of four, will have to be made up before the end of the school year, in accordance with state law. The fight is over an unresolved teacher contract and the language about working conditions in it.
Two men from Brandon have been arrested for a pair of weekend holdups in Rutland. The Rutland Herald reports Rodd Bussino and Michael Howe both are due to appear in court today after the robberies of a gas station and convenience store.
Ilsley Public Library Board of Trustees has announced that Library Director David Clark will retire March 15, 2013. Officials said over the last 16 years, David has approached all aspects of library operations with confidence, a high-level of competence and a desire to provide excellent library services for the Middlebury community and beyond. Clark began his career in 1973 in Maryland, then worked in Telford, PA and finally as a regional librarian for the Vermont Department of Libraries before assuming his current position in 1996. The trustees will appoint a selection committee to find a new director.
The Vermont Folklife Center’s Summer Institute, Discovering Community: Students, Digital Media, and Place-Based Learning, brings together educators for an intensive five-day program June 25–29 in Middlebury. The institute offers participants basic hands-on experience learning the methods of community-based research, the process of making a mini documentary, and the skills of working with digital media in a school setting. For registration, tuition, or other information about the Discovering Community Summer Institute and their nationally recognized faculty visit www.discoveringcommunity.org.
An extensive road improvement project affecting the Towns of Castleton, Fair Haven, Ira and West Rutland will begin April 30th and be completed in late August of this year. The scheduled improvements to Route 4A and Route 30 include the changing of guardrails, drainage improvements, some new signage and markings. In addition, milling and paving of Route 4A will begin one mile east of the intersection of Route 4A and Route 30 and will continue east of Castleton Village for approximately 6 miles to the Town of West Rutland. Milling and paving is also scheduled for Route 30, beginning at the Route 4A intersection, heading north for approximately 3.6 miles.
Essex County has honored the four police officers that apprehended a man accused of trying to burn down Mountain Lake Services in Port Henry. Sheriff Richard Cutting presented commendations this week to Deputies William Allen and Erin MacDougal and State Police Troopers Scott Tart and Michael Flaherty for helping protect firefighters just before midnight on January 1st.
Village leaders in Port Henry have produced a tentative budget that's up only about $21,000 but raises taxes 4.4 percent. The 2012-13 tax levy is at $517,580, about $21,880 more than the $495,690 collected last year. The Village Board previously voted to exceed the state's 2-percent tax cap, and the new budget would increase the amount raised by property taxes by 4.4 percent. The budget public hearing is at 7PM April 16th in the Village Hall, with a vote on the spending plan to follow.
The Ticonderoga Best Fourth In The North Committee, which is dedicated to providing area residents and visitors with the best 4th of July experience in the North Country, has recently joined forces with the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership. The celebration each year does cost between $25,000-$30,000 which includes the magnificent fireworks display. The Town of Ticonderoga does provide support for the 4th of July celebration, but much of the funding is raised through the work of the Best Fourth in the North committee. All donations now made to the Best Fourth in the North Celebration will be tax deductible as the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership is a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization.
Proctor High School reopened around 11:45 a.m. after "lockdown" at 11:15AM on Friday. The school had closed briefly due to an angry adult at the school. An eyewitness at the school said that an adult was upset over a child custody battle with a spouse. No weapons were involved and Vermont State Police troopers escorted the person from the school.
College officials said Castleton’s $13 million project is on track to be completed by June 1st. The project, which broke ground last year, included tearing down the college’s old tennis courts and facilities building and the construction of a 12,000-square-foot facilities barn, a 162-bed residence hall and an 8,000-square-foot green pavilion area with space for up to 3,000 people. The college is looking to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification. They have incorporated recycled materials, water-use reduction in sinks, showers and toilets and will install 120 solar panels on the building’s roof.
Police in Fair Haven are continuing to look for the driver they say hit a man and then took off. The victim is 31-year-old Bradley Fleming, who was walking along 22-A Friday night when he was hit. Witnesses told police the car was speeding, passing cars at the time when it struck Fleming and took off. He's now in stable condition in the hospital with hip and leg injuries. The car is described as a four-door silver sedan, possibly a Honda or Subaru with damage on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Vermont State Police say they have the stolen goods, as well as the man who admitted to taking them. The problem is they can't find all the owners yet of dozens of stolen antiques. State Police say the items were found at the home of Charles Pickett in North Ferrisburgh last month, and he admitted to stealing them out of home in Monkton. There are various pieces of furniture, clocks, jewelry and more, filling rooms at the Williston State Police barracks. People with second homes are urged to check the property to see if anything is missing.
The Vermont Senate's Agriculture Committee has set a hearing for this week on what may be tough times coming for dairy farmers on the prices they get for their milk. Committee members are worried about a decline in milk prices projected for the coming months, as well as changes to federal farm programs that most farmers won't find favorable. The hearing is to address the steps dairy cooperatives are taking to ensure that Vermont dairy farmers receive the highest price possible for their milk, and what the Legislature can do to help. The session is set for 9 to Noon on Wednesday April 11th in Statehouse Room 10.
Vermont health officials say the number of Lyme disease cases from exposure to ticks is on the rise. More than 600 cases were reported in Vermont last year. The Health Department says a growing population of infected ticks and more testing may account for the record high number. The disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics if caught early. But if it's not treated, it can affect the heart and nervous system. Some measures people can take to prevent tick exposure is to wear long pants, long sleeves and long socks, avoid wooded brushy areas with high grass and a lot of leaf litter and to checks themselves, children and pets daily for ticks. Insect repellents with up to 30 percent DEET also are effective.
Seven months after Tropical Storm Irene farmers are still grappling with what the flood waters left behind: rocks, trees, gravel and sand. The composition of their soil will affect yields. So some farmers are paying for excavators and bulldozers to remove the debris and scrape off the silt. They're also plowing under sand and adding nutrients and paying for seed to reseed crops. The USDA Farm Services Agency in Vermont has $4.7 million set aside to reimburse farmers for work to restore their land to productive use, including removing debris, grading and shaping fields. The grants will cover up to 75% of the cost of the work, which must be done first.
The Appropriations Committee in the Vermont House is considering legislation that would call for $1.9 million in refunds to businesses that have paid sales tax on so-called cloud computing in the past six years. The bill also clarifies that starting this July, the tax will be charged.
A Vermont couple has been indicted by a federal grand jury for three bank robberies in Vermont and New York. The Rutland Herald reports the indictment charges 31-year-old John Maynard and 30-year-old Jill Ludwig with conspiracy to rob banks in Rutland and Poultney and in Granville, New York.
Leaders in the renewable energy and energy efficiency fields are to gather with lenders, elected officials and others for what's being billed as a summit aimed at promoting green energy in Vermont. Today’s event in the Filmhouse at Burlington's Main Street Landing is designed to bring together Vermont's renewable energy and energy efficiency businesses, credit unions and community banks, utilities, state and federal officials, regional and national clean-energy organizations and others.
In 2011 450 Vermonters installed solar hot water systems in their homes—and one quarter of those Vermonters live in Addison County. What makes solar systems so attractive in Addison County? One reason is that Vergennes is home to the headquarters of Sunward, Vermont’s leading brand of solar hot water system. Another reason Addison County is quickly embracing solar hot water systems are the simplicity and economics of ownership. In many northeast households, the cost of heating the water for showers, laundry and washing dishes amounts to as much as 30% of the overall household heating bill. That can be hundreds of dollars a year washed down the drain. A solar hot water system is a great way to reduce that expense. Visit the Sunward Systems’ website (www.GoSunward.com) for more solar hot water information and to find qualified installers in Vermont and across the country.
There’s a new face at the Rutland Area Food Co-op. Paul Hoffman, a veteran of the co-op business, has taken over as general manager of the Wales Street store. He replaces Mike Muller, who ran the 3,000-member nonprofit for three years. Hoffman has extensive experience. He spent 17 years with the Hanover Consumer Co-op in New Hampshire.
Bells tolled throughout Vermont as Christians of all denominations headed to church Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of their Lord. A recent Gallup poll found Vermont to be the least religious state in America, with New Hampshire a close second. Only 23 percent of Vermont and New Hampshire residents label themselves as "very religious." On the opposite end of the spectrum, 59 percent of Mississippi's residents say they attend services regularly and that religion is an important part of their life.
The ice is out on Joe's Pond in West Danville. The clock stopped on the annual contest at 5:25 Sunday night when the cinder block fell into the water. Many had speculated that the contest would end earlier than ever this year. Slush and puddles surrounded the cinder block in mid-March, but 2010 still holds the record for the earliest ice out. The contest ended on April 5 that year. This year's winner has yet to be announced.
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