WVTK Local & State News September 21, 2012

The New Haven Fire Department Will be Holding Their Annual Chicken Barbecue tomorrow at the Fire Station on Main Street - and While This Event Is Always Popular, This Year  - In Addition To Raising Money For The Fire Fighters - The Event Has Added Significance - As the Department Will Announce a Historic First. For The First Time in their storied 45-year history - the New Haven Fire Department will have an official "Fire Dog" - and that dog will be none other, than our very own "Hobbes."  Assistant Chief Dean Gilmore announced yesterday the honor would be bestowed on the town's favorite canine at a ceremony during the barbecue, and said the work Hobbes has done helping other animals, and people, is the perfect example of what a "Fire Dog" should be.  The accolade is the latest accomplishment for Hobbes, who has already made history, by being named a Police K-9 in two Vermont communities - Middlebury and Vergennes.  As for the barbeque - it gets started at 5 pm, and will continue until the meals are sold out.  The menu features Misty Knoll Chicken, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Rolls and Drinks.  Tickets are $10 a person, and all proceeds benefit the Fire Department.  For more information, people can call 802-373-4198!

Coming up tomorrow you have the opportunity to get Fido shined up and ready for autumn!  The Brandon Police Explorers Post will be hosting their second annual dog wash at Blue Seal Feeds on Union Street in Brandon.  This event will take place rain or shine.  Explorer Tristan Parmelee says that all proceeds will directly support the Brandon Post… “The department formed this program to provide experiences for us that will help us become responsible caring adults.”  “It also gives a chance to become involved in community service while gaining first hand experience of modern police operations, so we really appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you on Saturday!”  The Dog Wash will run from 10AM – 2PM at Blue Seal Feeds in Brandon tomorrow!  And if you want to learn more about Brandon’s Police Explorers Program you can contact Office Anne Bandy at the Brandon Police Department. 

The Middlebury Select Board held the first of two required public hearings on the proposed Town Plan at its meeting on Tuesday. The Board received feedback from citizens and board members on the plan and invited written comments on the plan to be submitted by today. The Board will review comments received and discuss its strategy and timeline for revising the Town Plan at its next meeting on Tuesday. At a minimum, one more public hearing on the proposed Town Plan must be held before the Board adopts it. Written comments should be submitted to the Select Board in care of Town Planner Fred Dunnington at fdunnington@townofmiddlebury.org.  For more information just visit the Town’s Website.

The Vermont Health Department will be checking in monthly with an elementary school dealing with a rat infestation.  A state health inspector visited Sudbury Country School on Wednesday. State sanitation chief Al Burns says the inspector found rat droppings in the school's boiler room and other evidence of an infestation.  He said the situation is under control and students are safe. The school has brought in an exterminator, put out bait boxes along the building's exterior and put all food in containers.  The exterminator will visit the school twice a week until the problem is completely solved.

USDA Farm Service Agency County Executive Craig Miner reminds local producers that the deadline to sign-up for the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program is September 30^th.  The MILC Program financially compensates dairy producers when domestic milk prices fall below a specified level. MILC payments are made monthly when the milk price falls below the established price per hundredweight. For more clarification on the MILC Program, please contact your local Farm Service Agency office. (68 Catamount Park /Middlebury / 802-388-6748)

Addison County Transit Resources was recently awarded two grants totaling $100,000 by the Hoehl Family Foundation of Burlington. The first grant, for $75,000, contributes towards the 20% local match requirements of a $2.85 million Federal Grant previously awarded to ACTR for the construction of the Community Transportation Center.  The second grant, for $25,000, is in recognition of the impact of ACTR’s Dial-A-Ride volunteer driver services.  Meanwhile ACTR plans to be operating out of the new Community Transportation Center by May 2013, after reaching its 20th anniversary of service to the community in the fall of 2012. To learn more about ACTR’s services, and/or contribute to the capital campaign for the Community Transportation Center, visit www.actr-vt.org or call 388-1946.

Tomorrow is the day for the annual Bristol Harvest Festival, co-hosted by the Addison County Chamber and Bristol Recreation Department. The festival will kick off with a 5K road-race at 7:30 AM.  Other activities are scheduled to begin at 10 AM when the village green will come alive with 60+ crafters, vendors, and bandstand entertainment.  You will be able to sample food from several of the local eateries all located under one tent and offering the foods for which they’re best known. There will also be a yard sale by the Bristol Police Department. The children’s area will offer all sorts of activities including pony rides, face painting, crafts and a bouncy house. This event wouldn’t be complete without an apple pie contest and live music on the bandstand. All events are free and family friendly.  For more information on the Bristol Harvest Festival visit the website at www.bristolharvestfest.com or contact Marguerite at the Addison County Chamber of Commerce at 388-7951.

Gardner Stone and his family are about to make their Hollywood debut. The owner of G. Stone Motors in Middlebury is appearing in eight episodes of the upcoming Game Show Network television series, titled “Family Trade”.  The new series will follow Stone around the area as he barters for business.  The television production crew that includes producers, technicians, and a makeup artist will be in Addison County during the coming week.  Gardner got the attention of GSN executives when they learned that he doesn't always take credit or cash when selling autos and trucks. The show will be broadcast nationally on GSN in early 2013.

While the final votes are still three months away, Essex County Manager Daniel Palmer took time to prepare members of the Board of Supervisors for budget time.  The manager said that the process would include the input from each of the department heads in the county before going to the full Board of Supervisors.  His process of preparing and drafting a budget would remain the same.  Currently the fund balance is around $10.3 million.

The Relay for Life of Crown Point will meet or surpass all its goals.  Event organizers had hoped to have 150 participants and raise $25,000 during their cancer benefit. To date they have more than 200 participants registered and more than $20,000 contributed.  The Relay for Life of Crown Point will be held October 6th and 7th at Crown Point Central School.  The event will feature teams walking on a track at the school from 7 PM Saturday the 6th to 7 AM Sunday the 7th. Walkers raise money — through pledges, find-raising events and other activities — to be donated to the American Cancer Society. People interested in taking part can call Anita Johnson at 597-9339 or Carrie Pertak at 216-4111. Information is also available on line at www.relayforlife.org and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RelayForLifeOfCrownPoint

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is drawing new competition in the single-serve coffee market.  Starbucks will start selling its new single-serve Verismo brewer online this week for $199. The Verismo uses a high-pressure system to make lattes and other espresso-based drinks, along with brewed coffee.  Starbucks' move comes roughly a year after it struck a deal with Waterbury based Green Mountain to make coffee pods for Keurig machines. Starbucks says it will continue to sell its pods for Keurig machines.  Green Mountain's patent on its Keurig K-cup technology expired this month, spawning copycat versions of coffee pods for Keurig machines.  In a statement, Green Mountain says it has built a strong customer base for the Keurig system, and notes it is on track to introduce its own high-pressure espresso system in time for the holiday season.

A lab manufacturing methamphetamine is discovered in a small field in the woods off of Old Center Road in St. Johnsbury.  Police say they've found chemicals and other materials, and federal authorities have made two arrests, Thaddeus Gordon and Shawn Greenwood also live in St. Johnsbury and were arrested in the apartment on Bagley Street.  Federal authorities have now taken over the investigation.

A sweep through Rutland by federal ATF agents nabbed ten people in a round up on gun and drug charges.  Federal authorities say this is just the first wave of arrests after an investigation, which has been ongoing for months, called Operation FED-Up.  State and local agencies are working with the Feds.

New York State regulators say they've fined an insurer $665,000 for failing to explain health plan coverage to members, including ways to challenge claims they believe were improperly denied. Oxford Health was cited for approximately 300,000 instances of not providing required statements about service plans and appeals.

It's not a bad day when your boss tells you to go outside and pick apples.  That's what many workers at Woodchuck Hard Cider participated in National Hunger Action Month by partnering with the Vermont Foodbank.  The program "Pick for your Neighbor" involves participants picking an extra bag of apples as a donation to the Vermont Foodbank.  Woodchuck employees spread out among the orchards, and picked a total Thursday of 104 bushels of apples for the Foodbank.

Vermont State Police have released the name of the trooper who shot and wounded a man accused of making threats over a school bus radio in Danville.  Sgt. Brian May, a patrol commander at the St. Johnsbury barracks, remains on administrative leave, which is customary.  Suspect William Mahoney remains in stable condition at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH following the Tuesday night shooting in the Danville school parking lot.  Police say Mahoney had taken a friend's car and crashed it and broken into a home before hiding on a school bus and making threats over the town radio.  Police say May shot Mahoney after he refused to comply with police orders and made movements toward a holster he was wearing and toward the trooper.

Forty years of Air Force presence in Plattsburgh came to an end Wednesday.  That’s when the final 732-acre parcel of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base was ceremoniously transferred to Clinton County.   The commemoration took place in the meeting room where Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corp. has helped guide reuse of the property.

The New Yorkers for Better Libraries PAC has released its 2012 voter’s guide: “The Library Advocate’s Guide to the Voting Records of the New York State Legislature.”  The voter’s guide, published since 2010, grades New York state legislators on their voting records concerning library funding and legislative issues.  It gives library supporters throughout the state the opportunity to see how their elected officials are voting. Find the guide at www.newyorkersforbetterlibraries.org and www.nyla.org.

Can you believe it?  Summer is slipping away and fall is upon us!  That means it's time for Maple View Farm's annual fall open house!  Located in Brandon, Maple View Farm Alpacas and the Vermont Fiber Mill & Studio will be open to visitors from 11 AM – 4 PM this Saturday and Sunday.  Join them for a fun weekend on the farm!  Over 30 alpacas will greet you, including 7 babies (cria) born over the late spring and summer.   These wonderful animals will entertain you as they romp and play (the alpacas love these cooler days).  Ed and Debbie Bratton have been raising alpacas for 10 years at their 100-acre farm in Brandon. For more information, visit the website at www.mapleviewfarmalpacas.com or Facebook at Maple View Farm Alpacas or Vermont Fiber Mill & Studio. The farm is located at 185 Adams Rd, Brandon, VT. Contact mvfalpacas@earthlink.net or 802.247.5412 for more information.

In concert with this weekend’s autumnal equinox, colorful foliage will continue to unfold and invigorate Vermont’s scenic landscape. Early yet, colors are showing in the higher elevations of the Northeast Kingdom and in moist, low-lying areas with varying shades of orange, yellow and red.  Best Bets: In general, higher elevation areas in the northernmost regions will offer the most panoramic views of emerging color across the valleys, and many low-lying marsh areas will offer some of the most vivid and varied early season change. Route 108 through Smugglers’ Notch between Stowe and Cambridge is showing color, as is Routes 242 and 100 near Jay Peak; plus Routes 16 and 5A in the Lake Willoughby area. The Worcester Range and Mount Elmore along Route 12 north of Montpelier are tinged with early color, as are views from Route 14 in the Hardwick and Craftsbury region.  Stay Tuned: Rutland County Forester Chris Stone notes Route 103 is revealing 5-20% early stages. “Trees are just starting to lose some green and hints of yellow and orange are starting to show at higher elevations. Some scattered individual red maples are turning at higher elevation wetlands. While the color has yet to really show, there is a hint of fall on the hillsides.”  Sam Schenski, the Windham and Windsor County Forester also suggests Rte. 106 through Perkinsville; Tyson Rd. from Reading to Plymouth and East Hill Rd. in Andover – all of which, he notes are in early stages of foliage.  Visit www.vermontvacation.com/fall to plan Vermont Fall Foliage travel.

A chorus of choruses will perform Saturday at Grace Congregational Church in Rutland.  The church will host six regional choral groups starting at 4 PM Saturday for the “Sing for Peace” concert, organized by Counterpoint and its founder, Robert De Cormier. Admission to the event is free, but donations to Volunteers for Peace will be accepted.  Rip Jackson has been involved in the concert in Burlington in previous years. He said it was moved to Rutland to involve more southern and central Vermont choral groups and to expand the audience. 

A local historian will offer a trek back in time to the French and Indian War when the Schroon Lake-North Hudson Historical Society hosts a program on the famed “Battle on Snowshoes.”  Bob Bearor and his wife, Holly, will present “Stepping Back in Time” Sunday, September 30^th at 3PM at the Strand Theatre in Schroon Lake. Admission is $5 for adult and $3 for children. Bearor is a noted authority on the battle, which was fought in Ticonderoga in 1758. He wrote the book “Battle on Snowshoes,” which was made into a film. Adirondack folksinger Chris Shaw did the music, which is available on cassette and CD.

From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News – Your Voice in Vermont & New York:

There's no doubt universal health care is coming to Vermont.  Lawmakers are working on plans and talking to insurance companies about what type of coverage will be offered in 2013.  What we don't know is if those plans will include dental coverage for adults.  If they do, it would cost taxpayers as much as $90-million dollars a year.  At minimum, $17 million which will cover two annual cleanings.  On Thursday, a state board was set to vote on that, but then backed off.  "This is a weighty decision that I think just takes some more time on our part," said Green Mountain Care board member Karen Hein.  "If we defer this, that the board keeps a totally open mind as we move forward because it is an essential service," said Green Mountain Care board member Con Hogan.  Vermont's Health Care Reform Director Robin Lunge has urged the state board not to include dental.  But many others disagree.  Over the past few weeks board members say they have heard from nearly 2,000 people, both for and against.  And now they need at least another week before they make a decision that could cost the state millions of dollars.  "I don't think we've had sufficient time to observe some of the details and the richness of those suggestions," said Hein.  Unlike medical, the federal government has said it won't cover dental insurance.  That means if state leaders add it, taxpayers have to pick up the bill. "They wanted to discourage state's from adding benefits," said Lunge.  If the board doesn't approve the dental plan, it doesn't mean it won't be offered.  There will be separate plans that people will be able to get that include that service.

The City of Burlington has a plan for a new access point to the waterfront that is getting a lot of support from Mayor Weinberger and others.  "A new consensus about the future of this part of Burlington," Mayor Weinberger said.  The Railyard Enterprise Project would connect Pine Street and Battery Street at the intersection of Kilburn Street It would cut right through the train tracks and bring a different type of traffic to the area.  "There's a lot to like in the new project and a lot of the people were hopeful the city and state would go in this direction," Mayor Weinberger said.  The plan is still in a conceptual stage and has to be approved by the city council. 80% of funding would come from a federal grant, ten percent would be from Burlington and 10% from the state of Vermont. The Vermont Agency of Transportation has helped negotiate the funding plan but it still has to be approved by the Vermont state legislature in January. The city also needs to nail down a deal with Vermont Railway, who owns the railyard.  "There's no way to have an agreement today we have to start the process," Mayor Weinberger said.  Battery Street currently dead-ends at the railyard. City officials hope connecting it with Pine Street would help expand the city southward.  "As it is now we're sort of out of the way," Maglianero Café manager Madelyn Feldman said.  The Maglianero Café is located right in the railyard. Feldman believes more passer-by’s will result from connecting Pine Street and Battery Street, which would bring more business.  "It would be very positive for us business wise and bring a lot of attention to the café," Feldman said.

WVTK Local & State News September 20, 2012

The Town of Middlebury will be hosting a reception for retiring Town Manager Bill Finger! You are cordially invited to stop by Two Brothers Tavern Lounge this afternoon between 3:30 and 6:00 PM to wish Bill well as he starts this next adventure.

You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber of Commerce today for their September After Hours Mixer from 5 – 7 PM.  This month’s Mixer is being hosted by the Middlebury College Museum of Art and the Mahaney Center for the Arts.   There will be appetizers, a cash bar, and arts-oriented door prizes!  The Pot of Gold is up to $500! Join them for a special Chamber members’ preview of the Mahaney Center for the Arts’ 20th anniversary season, and viewing of the fall exhibitions.  For more information or to RSVP to Sue visit the Chamber's Website.

Fort Ticonderoga recently received a grant from the Walter Cerf Community Fund of The Vermont Community Foundation supporting school outreach programs in Vermont’s Addison County during this school year.  The grant will enable ten schools in Addison County to bring an historic interpreter from the fort into the classroom to share the experience of being a soldier on the Lake Champlain frontier during the American Revolution.  During the program, Addison County students will learn about the daily life of soldiers. Funding will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for schools in Addison County. Teachers interested in learning more about school programs, including outreach programs, should contact Rich Strum at rstrum@fort-ticonderoga.org or 518-585-6370.

Police are seeking a registered sex offender living in Clarendon who failed to come to court Monday to answer to a new criminal offense involving a 14-year-old girl.  Charles L. Baker IV was scheduled to appear in Rutland criminal court Monday to answer to a felony charge of lewd and lascivious conduct. When he didn’t appear, the judge ordered a warrant for his arrest with bail set at $10,000.

The Village of Port Henry Board of Trustees has scheduled a special meeting for 7 this evening at the Village Hall on Main Street.  The board will pass the required resolutions for the lease agreements and schedule a public hearing to extend the moratorium on street-level residential development.   All meetings are open to the public.

The Westport Central School Wall of Distinction Committee will host the annual induction dinner ceremony at 6 PM. Saturday, October 6th at the Westport Hotel & Tavern.  The committee is an organization working to establish recognition and honor for individuals who have been involved at Westport Central School as employees or students who have excelled.  Reservations for the event are available for $25 per person. For reservations, call 962-8244 by October 1^st.  The Wall of Distinction inductees are Ed Card, Alice LaRock, Tom Beauvais, Lara Davis, Julie Moore and Ryan Sherman.

The second annual Moriah Classic Car and Truck Show is set to take place on Saturday, October 6^th at the Port Henry Knights of Columbus.  The car show will be held from 9 AM to 3 PM. There is free admission for spectators and a $10 registration fee for cars wishing to compete for prizes. Trophies will be awarded at 2 PM that day.  The Port Henry Knights of Columbus will have a chicken barbecue starting at 11:30 AM. Tickets are $9 each. There will also be a bake sale.

It's a problem no school ever wants, and few prepare for.  Sudbury's Country School is in the middle of a rat infestation.  The school superintendent quickly brought in an exterminator, which put bait boxes outside the building along the wall.  All food in the school was also put into containers.  The infestation is considered pretty much over with at this time.

The solar city initiative could mean more than $100,000 a year in tax revenue for Rutland.  Brennan Duffy, executive director of the Rutland Redevelopment Authority, offered that estimate to the city’s Community and Economic Development Committee this week.  The committee also endorsed a resolution of support for Green Mountain Power’s effort to make Rutland the “solar capital” of New England and voted to send an inquiry to the Development Review Board about solar panels in design control districts.

Car dealerships around Vermont are partnering with the group Drive Electric Vermont to celebrate National Plug In Day by encouraging Vermonters to learn more about the electric vehicles.  As part of the effort, Gov. Peter Shumlin has declared September 22 and 23 Vermont Plug In Weekend.  Showrooms around the state are planning to let the public learn about and test drive plug-in electric vehicles that are currently available for purchase. Officials say electric vehicles are already registered in more than 50 Vermont communities.

Bennington College President Elizabeth Coleman announced yesterday that she would retire after the current academic year, the 25th year of a tenure that saw great controversy and strong growth at the college.  Coleman, Bennington’s ninth president, is among the longest-serving college presidents in the country, with a tenure more than three times the national average. A 2112 report by the American Council on Education said the average tenure for a college president is seven years.

The Republican nominee for governor of Vermont says he disagrees with presidential nominee Mitt Romney's remarks about 47% of Americans being dependent on government.  But Vermont State Sen. Randy Brock says the comments that Romney made at a Florida fundraiser in May, made public on Monday, won't affect his support for the presidential candidate.  Brock says he agrees with 80 to 85% of Romney's positions on issues, and says that's good enough to warrant supporting a candidate.

Medical malpractice reforms and rewarding healthy behaviors with lower insurance rates are among the ideas being promoted by Vermont Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Brock to curb the rising cost of health care.  Brock held a news conference Wednesday outside the Central Vermont Medical Center where he outlined a 25-point plan for cutting health care costs.  Among the other steps Brock is promoting: encouraging doctors to reduce the number of unnecessary tests they're ordering, and cutting Medicaid payments to out-of-state health care providers.  While he wants to create incentives for healthy behaviors, Brock says he would not support a new tax on junk food.

The Vermont attorney general's office is suing a dairy farm in Coventry accusing it of violating the state's water pollution laws.  The lawsuit filed in Vermont Superior Court in Orleans County says Richard Nelson's farm is discharging agricultural runoff from its bunker silos into a stream.  The lawsuit is seeking an injunction against Nelson and civil penalties.  The attorney general's office says Nelson has not responded to the allegations. Nelson says he is no longer operating the dairy farm.

Vermont State Police say a trooper shot a man in Danville after the man said he had a bomb and threatened to kill people.  Police say 36-year-old William J. Mahoney of St. Johnsbury is in stable condition at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH following the incident Tuesday night.

Hundreds of University of Vermont employees have voted in favor of union representation but haven't given a clear majority to either union on the ballot.  Technicians, research and library support staffers and other workers voted Tuesday and Wednesday on whether they wanted to organize and, if so, whether they wanted to join a union affiliated with the Vermont NEA teachers' union or a group based at UVM called United Staff. The votes were counted Wednesday night.  UVM vice president Richard Cate says the vote for union representation was 339-278. A runoff election needs to be scheduled to decide which union or neither union.  The NEA received 183 votes. United Staff received 168 votes. The option of neither union received 260 votes.  Voter turnout was high. Of the 777 employees eligible, 618 voted. That's 80% participation.

Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo say he wants two Republican senators who cast deciding votes for gay marriage a year ago to win their so far too-close-to-call primaries. Cuomo says he also may endorse Senators Stephen Saland and Roy McDonald should they advance to the general elections against Democrats.

Brandon Music, on Country Club Road in Brandon will present Sayon Camara & the Landaya African Rhythm Ensemble this evening at 7:30 in the Music Cafe. General Admission is $12. Sayon will perform in Brandon with the Landaya African Rhythm Ensemble, led by the award winning musician and composer, Dave “the Kobra” Kobrenski.  For details and ticket information just visit www.brandon-music.net.

Can you believe it?  Summer is slipping away and fall is upon us!  That means it's time for Maple View Farm's annual fall open house!  Located in Brandon, Maple View Farm Alpacas and the Vermont Fiber Mill & Studio will be open to visitors from 11 AM – 4 PM this Saturday and Sunday.  Join them for a fun weekend on the farm!  Over 30 alpacas will greet you, including 7 babies (cria) born over the late spring and summer.   These wonderful animals will entertain you as they romp and play (the alpacas love these cooler days).  Ed and Debbie Bratton have been raising alpacas for 10 years at their 100-acre farm in Brandon. For more information, visit the website at www.mapleviewfarmalpacas.com or Facebook at Maple View Farm Alpacas or Vermont Fiber Mill & Studio. The farm is located at 185 Adams Rd, Brandon, VT. Contact mvfalpacas@earthlink.net or 802.247.5412 for more information.

Coming up this Saturday you have the opportunity to get Fido shined up and ready for autumn!  The Brandon Police Explorers Post will be hosting their second annual dog wash at Blue Seal Feeds on Union Street in Brandon.  This event will take place rain or shine.  Explorer Tristan Parmelee says that all proceeds will directly support the Brandon Post… “The department formed this program to provide experiences for us that will help us become responsible caring adults.”  “It also gives a chance to become involved in community service while gaining first hand experience of modern police operations, so we really appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you on Saturday!”  The Dog Wash will run from 10AM – 2PM at Blue Seal Feeds in Brandon this Saturday!  And if you want to learn more about Brandon’s Police Explorers Program you can contact Office Anne Bandy at the Department.

From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News Your Voice in Vermont & New York:

You don't have to be Italian to celebrate the newest flavor at Ben and Jerry's.  "Cannoli" ice cream is being sold in limited batches.  It features Mascarpone cheese in the ice cream with fudge covered cannoli pastry shell chunks.  They're hoping it sells better than a discontinued 1990's flavor called "Holy Cannoli" that was made with Ricotta cheese.  The new flavor will be on store shelves within the next few days.

A local non-profit wants tuna off the daily school lunch menu.  "The Mercury Policy Project" says it found high levels of mercury in some of the canned tuna it tested, and too much mercury can be dangerous.  Others argue the fish has health benefits kids need.  It's called brain food because of the health benefits fish has on our bodies, but the non-profit says too much tuna can be harmful because of the amount of mercury the fish can absorb.  "If your child is one of a hundred that's getting served tuna surprise or tuna casserole in school, it's Russian roulette," Michael Bender, Director of Mercury Policy Project said.  Bender says it's a game because out of the canned tuna that was tested in schools across eleven states, mercury levels were inconsistent.  "Just within one 66 ounce can, there was a 10-fold variation in the amount of mercury in each of the bites," he said.  The non-profit wouldn't tell me which schools were in the study, but did say that none of the schools tested in Vermont served tuna with mercury levels above the Food and Drug Administration's guidelines. The Mercury Policy Project recommends that children shouldn't eat tuna more than twice a month.  "Kids do get into, we call them food jags, where they'll eat the same food day in and day out," Fletcher Allen Healthcare Clinical Dietician Cathy McIsaac said.  But the Health Commissioner says the bigger issue here is that kids aren't getting enough seafood, and thinks tuna in moderation is healthy.  "I think fish is a wonderful source of protein," Commissioner Harry Chen said.  So parents, just be aware of how many times tuna's on the menu.  Shark and swordfish also have higher levels. Shrimp, salmon and sardines have lower levels.

Miro Weinberger walked up to his first legislative hearing Wednesday in Montpelier as Burlington's mayor and took some heat from state lawmakers.  "I'm perplexed by this whole audit," said State Senator John Campbell.  Campbell wasn't happy about a recent report showing Burlington did not pay its share of taxes on a piece of property, the amount, roughly $1-million dollars.  The land was supposed to be fixed up under Mayor Bob Kiss' administration, through a program called TIF.  The program is a way for municipalities to spruce up an area, without paying state taxes.  That's supposed to increase the property value and bring businesses or housing to town.  And the increased value will in turn bring the state more money, once it's taxed again.  The problem in Burlington's case, the property was never spruced up.  Fox44 asked Campbell how this could even happen?  "They were probably sloppy in how they met the regulations. The reporting was certainly at a minimum," said Campbell.  After learning about the problem, Weinberger wants to work with legislators to make sure this doesn't happen again.  "There's some real complexity to it and ambiguity, particularly some of these older districts," said Weinberger.  State lawmakers feel the same way.  Despite a call from Governor Peter Shumlin asking lawmakers to expand the program to include Barre and South Burlington, they want to take a step back, to make sure the program is working properly.  "If the foundation of the program is deficient then I certainly don't think it's in Vermont's best interest to go forward and expanding the cap," said Campbell.  As for those million dollars, Weinberger says city taxpayers won't have to pay it.  But Senator Campbell says the attorney general is considering going after the city for that million dollars.

WVTK Local & State News September 19, 2012

High winds have caused power outages in parts of Vermont.  Just over 1,000 utility customers remained without power early this morning. On Tuesday evening, about 9,000 customers were in the dark.  The outages are mostly in Bennington, Rutland and Windsor counties.

According to the Vermont Health Department the first man to contract the deadly eastern equine encephalitis, Scott Sgorbati, of Sudbury, passed away Tuesday morning.  He was 49.  Sgorbati’s death marks the second fatality in Vermont attributed to EEE, a rare virus contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito that affects only about six Americans a year.  Health Commissioner Harry Chen expressed his condolences to the man’s family in a press release sent Tuesday evening.  The second man to contract EEE in Vermont, Richard Hollis Breen of Brandon, died September 4th after contracting the virus five days earlier.

Road construction taking place throughout the week in Essex County includes work on Route 9N in Port Henry.  Traffic will be reduced to a single lane in alternating directions from Bridge Road to County Route 2 due to road construction over Grove Brook at Island Way.  Also Amy Hill Road in Crown Point.  Crews are paving the roadway this week.  Meanwhile town-wide road construction is taking place in Ticonderoga.  Crews are performing various paving projects throughout the town. Please slow down and use extra caution these and other construction zones.

Former Vermont Deputy Attorney General Chester Sawyer "Chet" Ketcham passed away on Sunday. He was a resident of the Lodge at Otter Creek retirement community in Middlebury. He divided his time between Vermont and Florida. Chet was born Dec. 6, 1927 and hailed from one of Vermont's oldest families; the Ketcham family first arrived in the former independent republic in 1785.  He attended elementary school in Salisbury and graduated Brandon High School in 1945. He later attended the University of Vermont and Yale University Law School. 

According to Vermont State Police Traffic lights were shot out on the one-lane Route 116 Bridge in Bristol. Two of the bridge's south bound, timed signal lights were destroyed.  Drivers coming from both directions must stop for traffic crossing the narrow, one-lane bridge.  Witnesses in the area reported a grey Toyota truck might be involved.  The incident occurred sometime around 12:30 AM on Tuesday.  Troopers received a report of gunshots in the wooded vicinity of the bridge.  The one-way bridge has been the scene of ongoing vandalism and traffic accidents.

According to a Vermont State Police an investigation into a Benson arson that took place on August 16th has led to two suspects, 17-year-old Jordan McCoy of Brandon and 15-year-old Brandon Yandow of Leicester.  As a result of the state investigation, Yandow and McCoy have been issued citations to appear in Rutland District Court October 29th to answer to the charges of arson second degree.  Anyone with any information regarding this fire is asked to contact the Vermont State Police at 773-9101 or the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program at 1-800-32-ARSON (1-800-322-7766).

The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce September “After Business Mixer” will be held today at the Best Western Plus Ticonderoga Inn & Suites from 5:30 to 7 PM.  Sponsors providing door prizes include George Sperry Marine Survey, The Martin Agency and the Wagon Wheel Restaurant.  The chamber’s “After Business Mixers” provide a networking forum for area business people in addition to showcasing the site of the host as well as promoting the door prize sponsors. All area chamber members, business people and their employees are invited to attend.  For more information just visit www.ticonderogany.com.

There’s a new energy in Ticonderoga and you are invited to come hear more about it at the Steering Board reception next Monday the 24th at Eddie's Restaurant on Rte 9N in Ticonderoga. Find out how you can get involved.  While mingling with other guests, there will be appetizers starting at 5:00 with a cash bar and a presentation starting at 6:00 PM.  Please join them and hear more about what's happening in Ti. 

A county bridge in Jay had emergency work due to suspected structural damage.  The Essex County Public Works Committee learned this week that Rolling Mill Hill Bridge was closed two days last week for engineering assessment.  The County Department of Public Works Superintendent said engineer’s detected structural deficiency in the span, stemming from floods after Tropical Storm Irene last year. Fierce river currents undercut the riverbed around the western abutment. The Department of Public Works is awaiting engineering studies to determine the extent of damage and what next steps to take to fix the bridge structure.

A new report compiled by the Trust for America's Health, an obesity advocacy group says obesity is a growing health problem for the country, and it's projected to get much worse over the next 18 years.  The study ranks states with Number One being Mississippi, having the highest percentage of obese adults in the nation at 35-percent.  On that list Vermont fared well, ranking 45th with 25-percent of the adult population considered obese.  By 2030, that number could nearly double at 49-percent.  The lowest state in the survey is Colorado, with an adult obesity rate of just over 20-percent.

The trustees of the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington are going to begin planning for a future without funding from the federal government.  Last week the trustees revealed that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would stop paying for the care of veterans at the home due to deficiencies that included failure to report abuse in a timely manner and improper dressing of a wound.  Another inspection is set for September 28. If the deficiencies are not corrected, funding will end September 30.

The Vermont man who lost the state's Republican primary to run for the U.S. Senate is asking a court to strike President Barack Obama's name from the state's November election ballot. The lawsuit by H. Brooke Paige, of the town of Washington, claims Obama is "not a natural born citizen" because both of his parents were not born in the United States.

A Vermont judge has ruled that Martha Abbott is the winner of the Progressive Party primary election for governor. Abbott has withdrawn and won't run in the general election. But under Vermont law, that doesn't throw the race to the second-place finisher, write-in candidate Annette Smith.

The ongoing investigation into the overtime charged by a former Vermont State Police trooper has found that he wrote 973 traffic tickets over 12 years that were never given to a motorist or filed with the court. That conclusion is among the latest findings in an investigation into alleged time-sheet padding by Sergeant Jim Deeghan, a former state police patrol commander in Chittenden County.

A Vermont man charged with driving a tractor over seven police vehicles and crushing them is facing another charge.  The Orleans County court says Roger Pion was arraigned Tuesday on a charge of driving with a suspended license.  Pion already faced 14 criminal counts after police say he drove his dad's tractor over six cruisers and a van at the county sheriff's department in Derby on August 2nd.

A Toronto-based airline is expanding its seasonal service to Vermont during the ski season this winter. Porter Airlines will offer four roundtrip flights weekly between Toronto and Burlington starting on December 15th, up from two weekly flights last season. Governor Peter Shumlin announced the renewed partnership on Tuesday at the Burlington International Airport.

A major piece of federal funding for an expansion of Plattsburgh International Airport has been approved.  Three grants totaling $6,554,491 has been awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration. The money will go toward finishing the design phase of the terminal expansion, for a water-and-sewer project to serve the larger facility and for runway rehab. Construction on the terminal expansion is scheduled to begin next spring.

State officials are set to unveil New York's latest installment of the Civil War battle flag exhibit at the Capitol. The head of the state parks system and representatives from the Division of Military and Naval Affairs plan to open the new exhibit, titled "1862: Red, White and Battered," this afternoon.

Brandon Music, on Country Club Road in Brandon will present Sayon Camara & the Landaya African Rhythm Ensemble this Thursday at 7:30pm in the Music Cafe. General Admission is $12. Sayon will perform in Brandon with the Landaya African Rhythm Ensemble, led by the award winning musician and composer, Dave “the Kobra” Kobrenski.  For details and ticket information just visit www.brandon-music.net.

Life wasn’t always difficult at 18th Century Fort Ticonderoga. Sometimes, things were very sweet.  A “Chocolate Covered History” symposium will be held at the fort Friday and Saturday, October 12th and 13th. It’s billed as a celebration of chocolate, wine and spirits. The symposium will feature presentations on the role chocolate played throughout history, including its 18th century use at outposts like Fort Ticonderoga.  For more information just visit www.fort-ticonderoga.org.

From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News – Your Voice in Vermont & New York:

Whooping cough is on the rise in Vermont!  2-hundred-72 cases have already been reported this year.  That's 3 times the number *all* of last year!  People whooping cough, also called "pertussis", have severe coughing fits, which can last for weeks.  It's particularly dangerous for children under one. But health officials say everyone should be vaccinated.  “For older teenagers and adults who are going to be near children if you've never had a pertussis vaccine you can get one right now” children should also get a pertussis booster shot around the age of 11.

A hot topic that has many in the county of Lamoille divided. It's over the decision of whether or not to say the pledge of allegiance before every school board meeting. The Lamoille Union School Board meeting started with the pledge of allegiance, but that sound of people reciting it, in unison, is one you won't again hear at every meeting. It was a decision that had many get up from their seats and walk out.  "The pledge of allegiance means something to me," said, Everett Demerick, who served in Korea 52 years ago.  He feels the decision is appalling, "This is the blackest mark on American history in Lamoille County."  After hearing comments from the crowd of more than a dozen in support of saying the pledge, the board voted. The outcome was 3-3 with chair of the board, Steve Reber breaking the tie and voting against the motion. Some members on the board who voted against it say, it was because of a feeling of being forced.  "I consider myself a great patriot and I'm willing to say the pledge but I don't want to feel obligated," said a member of the school board who voted down the motion.  And the superintendent of the district, who is ineligible to vote, says he understands both sides and hopes somehow they can find common ground, "I think the vote has been taken and now we do our work and see where it goes," said Joe Ciccolo, Superintendent of Schools.  But Demerick has other ideas on how to solve the problem, "I want to see 2/3 of the board replaced."

WVTK Local & State News September 18, 2012

The Vermont Health Department says efforts to control mosquitoes in Brandon and Whiting are working, but it doesn't eliminate the threat of Eastern Equine Encephalitis.  Earlier this month the state used aircraft to spray pesticides in Whiting and Brandon and the number of mosquitoes captured in traps in the area has been cut in half.  But Health Commissioner Dr. Harry Chen says that while the risk of EEE infection in Vermont has been reduced, there is no way to kill enough mosquitoes to eliminate the threat.

A reminder that the Middlebury Select Board's first public meeting on the Town Plan will take place this evening at 7 at the Ilsley Public Library. Copies of the Town Plan are available at the Ilsley Public Library and the Sarah Partridge Library and the Plan is posted on the Town's website.  Other meetings today include the Community Center Finance & Fundraising Task Force will meet this morning at 9 followed by the Community Center Steering Committee at 11.  Both meeting will take place in the Small Conference Room at the Town Offices.  Also the Ilsley Public Library Board of Trustees will hold their monthly meeting at the Library in the Vermont Room at 6:30 this evening.

You are invited to join the Addison County Chamber of Commerce this Thursday for their September After Hours Mixer from 5 – 7 PM.  This month’s Mixer will be hosted by the Middlebury College Museum of Art and the Mahaney Center for the Arts.   There will be appetizers, a cash bar, and arts-oriented door prizes!  The Pot of Gold is up to $500! Join them for a special Chamber members’ preview of the Mahaney Center for the Arts’ 20th anniversary season, and viewing of the fall exhibitions.  For more information or to RSVP to Sue visit the Chamber's Website.

The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce September “After Business Mixer” will be held this Wednesday at the Best Western Plus Ticonderoga Inn & Suites from 5:30 to 7 PM.  Sponsors providing door prizes include George Sperry Marine Survey, The Martin Agency and the Wagon Wheel Restaurant.  The chamber’s “After Business Mixers” provide a networking forum for area business people in addition to showcasing the site of the host as well as promoting the door prize sponsors. All area chamber members, business people and their employees are invited to attend.  For more information just visit www.ticonderogany.com.

The Public Service Board has approved a plan by Green Mountain Power Corp. to phase-in electric rates for former Vermont Marble Power Division commercial customers. The plan is designed to help soften the rate shock from GMP’s higher rates.   The Vermont Marble Power Division changed ownership this year when Green Mountain Power Corp. completed its purchase of Central Vermont Public Service Corp. Last year, CVPS purchased the Vermont Marble Power Division from Omya Inc.

Coming up this Thursday at 7 PM at the Sheldon Museum author Polly Darnell will present a lecture, entitled “Visualizing Middlebury's Industrial Revolution: Isaac Markham & his Drawings.”  Only a remnant remains of Middlebury’s cotton mill, one of the most technologically advanced textile mills in the country in the 1800s, but Isaac Markham’s machine drawings survive in the collections of the Sheldon Museum, the earliest known manuscript drawings of textile machines in the country. 

Local historians will offer a program that takes you across the new Lake Champlain Bridge on foot with a narrative of the region’s history. It’s set for Sunday, September 30th at 1 PM.  You should meet at the Crown Point State Historic Site museum entrance. The fee is $5 for adults. Children younger than age 15 will be free.  Tom Hughes, manager of the Crown Point State Historic Site, and Elsa Gilbertson, manager of the Chimney Point Historic Site, will lead the tour.

If you have a four-legged friend in Ticonderoga there’s still time to license a dog before the town takes action.  The town is now conducting a dog census. A form has been mailed to every household in the community seeking information on dogs and providing information on how to properly license a pet. Ticonderoga residents were asked to respond to the census by August 31st. That deadline has been extended until October 31. After that date the town will begin a random check of dogs to determine if the pets have been licensed. State law requires all dogs 4 months old or older to be licensed in the community where they are kept. Unlicensed dogs are subject to tickets and fines, according to state law. 

Whether Essex County needs a local law restricting where convicted sex offenders can live is something county lawmakers will discuss at a special session.  The public meeting is planned for 10 AM Monday, October 22^nd and will be held in the Old County Courthouse at Elizabethtown.  Essex County Board of Supervisors Chair Randy Douglas said he’s also inviting officials from Franklin and Clinton counties to discuss a possible joint law. Essex County District Attorney Kristy Sprague and Sheriff Richard Cutting have both said they would support a sex-offender residency law.

Essex County has made up for the loss of winter tourism dollars.  Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism/Lake Placid Visitors Bureau Executive Director James McKenna reported to members of the Essex County Economic Development, Planning and Publicity Committee meeting last week that through the month of July, occupancy tax revenue had matched the 2011 totals.  And he expects the revenue generated from people vacationing in the Adirondacks for multiple days to be ahead of 2011 totals once August figures are calculated.

The Afterschool Alliance announced yesterday that Dr. Carrie Becker, Director of Rutland South Supervisory Union Afterschool, has been selected to serve as a 2012-2013 Afterschool Ambassador.  She is one of just 12 local leaders from across the country to be chosen for the honor this year.  Each Afterschool Ambassador will continue directing or supporting a local afterschool program while also serving the one-year Afterschool Ambassador term organizing public events, communicating with policy makers, and building support for afterschool programs. RSSU’s afterschool program is funded through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, and offers more than 400 students from Wallingford, Clarendon, Shrewsbury, Danby, Tinmouth, and Middletown Springs quality afterschool, before school, and summer learning opportunities.

A proposed $2.7 million fire station will go before Rutland Town voters in November.  The estimate, officially announced by the Select Board last week, is the result of the $9,000 feasibility study and needs assessment the voters approved last year. Board Chairman Stanley Rhodes III said the first public meeting on the proposal is tentatively scheduled for 7 PM on October 15th in the Rutland Town School cafeteria.

It looks like no more spraying for mosquitoes for now in Vermont, but people are being warned to continue to take precautions.  Spraying was done over three counties a week ago, and health officials say the risk of contracting Eastern equine encephalitis is low but still there.  They say more spraying may not be needed simply because the cold weather is coming.  Only two cases of triple-E were reported in Vermont this summer.

As the nation marked Constitution Day yesterday, 25 people became new U.S. citizens in a ceremony on the steamship Ticonderoga. Federal Judge William Sessions presided over the ceremony, which is 1 of more than 150 ceremonies this week welcoming more than 32,000 new U.S. citizens.

State elections head Kathy Scheele intends to press lawmakers to move up Vermont's state-office primary, from late August to May or June. Scheele notes this year marks the second straight election cycle where a recount in the governor's race has raised fears Vermont wouldn't make a federal ballot deadline.

Officials say a 19th century anchor from a Lake Champlain freighter has been found off a Vermont beach and it will likely be transported to a deeper, shipwreck preserve.  Adam Kane of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum says the rusty anchor, which is covered with marine growth, probably came from 1 of the canal boats that carried cargo on the lake in the 19th century.  The anchor was found off Burlington's North Beach. The museum will deposit the anchor in about 40 feet of water at the wreck site of the canal boat General Butler, at the south end of the Burlington breakwater.

A Vermont judge says a recount has confirmed the original results of Progressive Party gubernatorial primary. Washington County Superior Court Judge Robert Bent says the recount found that Party Chairwoman Martha Abbott received 381 votes while her write-in challenger Annette Smith received 340.

The Caledonia County Sheriff's Department and St. Johnsbury Police Department are going to teach young Vermont drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. The Caledonian Record reports the departments have been awarded an educational grant through Vermont Governor's Highway Safety Program and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

One of Vermont's eight community health centers is expanding in Plainfield to house mental health services and yoga classes.  The $1.2 -million expansion at the Health Center will house counselors and psychiatrists and provide space to store a mobile dental program.  The 5,000-square-foot building was paid for by $988,000 in federal stimulus funding and about $200,000 raised locally.  The federally qualified community health center offers medical, dental and other services to about 9,000 people in surrounding rural communities.  Sen. Bernie Sanders said yesterday at a dedication ceremony for the new building that the Health Center is a model for what primary health care, especially in rural areas of America, should be.

Democratic Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has passed the million-dollar mark in campaign fundraising and in the last month has raised more than two and a half times as much as his Republican rival.  Campaign finance reports show Shumlin has amassed just over $1 million in his re-election bid, including $25,000 left over from his last campaign and $1,700 in non-monetary contributions. He has most of the money he's raised - $883,000 - still on hand.  Republican state Sen. Randy Brock has raised $647,000 toward his campaign, including a $300,000 loan to the campaign from his own funds. In the past month, he's raised about $62,000 to Shumlin's $160,000.

Brandon Music, on Country Club Road in Brandon will present Sayon Camara & the Landaya African Rhythm Ensemble this Thursday at 7:30pm in the Music Cafe. General Admission is $12. Sayon will perform in Brandon with the Landaya African Rhythm Ensemble, led by the award winning musician and composer, Dave “the Kobra” Kobrenski.  For details and ticket information just visit www.brandon-music.net.

Fall officially begins this weekend and the leaves are starting to change here in Vermont! In concert with this weekend’s autumnal equinox, colorful foliage will continue to unfold and invigorate Vermont’s scenic landscape. Early yet, colors are showing in the higher elevations of the Northeast Kingdom and in moist, low-lying areas with varying shades of orange, yellow and red.  Best Bets: In general, higher elevation areas in the northernmost regions will offer the most panoramic views of emerging color across the valleys, and many low-lying marsh areas will offer some of the most vivid and varied early season change. Route 108 through Smugglers’ Notch between Stowe and Cambridge is showing color, as is Routes 242 and 100 near Jay Peak; plus Routes 16 and 5A in the Lake Willoughby area. The Worcester Range and Mount Elmore along Route 12 north of Montpelier are tinged with early color, as are views from Route 14 in the Hardwick and Craftsbury region.  Stay Tuned: Rutland County Forester Chris Stone notes Route 103 is revealing 5-20% early stages. “Trees are just starting to lose some green and hints of yellow and orange are starting to show at higher elevations. Some scattered individual red maples are turning at higher elevation wetlands. While the color has yet to really show, there is a hint of fall on the hillsides.”  Sam Schenski, the Windham and Windsor County Forester also suggests Rte. 106 through Perkinsville; Tyson Rd. from Reading to Plymouth and East Hill Rd. in Andover – all of which, he notes are in early stages of foliage. Visit www.vermontvacation.com/fall to plan Vermont Fall Foliage travel.

From Fox 44 and ABC 22 News – Your Voice in Vermont & New York:

With hunting season right around the corner, some people living near the Berlin pond are concerned with hunters gaming so close to their homes. Monday, the town select board held a meeting with the Vermont Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife to see if there were ways to regulate not only hunting of waterfowl but also ice fishing in the winter months.  There was a mix of opinions at Monday night's Berlin Select Board meeting.  "How are you going to prevent people from getting hurt if you've got guns firing at people from every direction?" asked a concerned woman who frequently walks near the pond.  "Well you’re assuming that guns will be firing over the road or at people," responded Patrick Berry, Vermont Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife.  "I'm making the assumption guns are shooting wherever," the woman responded.  Some residents are concerned with hunters shooting on Berlin pond but Commissioner Patrick Berry doesn't feel any lives are in danger, "I think there are lot of preconceived notions and misinformation about what the potential impacts would be, that really aren't based on a whole lot of information."  I spoke with the Berlin Town Administrator, Jeff Schulz, before the meeting who says it's not just duck hunting but ice fishing and the concern of shanties and spills that have some on edge, "There's concern because that is a water supply, it's probably not appropriate to have folks out on the pond."  Yet, Commissioner Berry says that is not a health concern, "If folks are looking for a safety reason, a biological impact, an ecological impact, to prohibit lawful uses of the pond, for hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, they just don't exist."  While the meeting was intended to come up with ways to regulate recreational use on the pond, Commissioner Berry says, "We just don't have really the kind of conflicts that I think people are expecting will happen."  Vermont is one of a few states that guarantee the right to hunt and fish by state constitution and the commissioner noted that people generally work together and find a way to share the state's natural resources.

Plans for a methadone clinic near two south Burlington schools could be on hold.  That's because the school board filed an appeal.  The clinic is slated for an office complex, off Dorset Street not far from south Burlington middle and high schools.  The superintendent says he is in favor of a clinic but the location is a concern for his 15-hundred students.  ”I’m paid and here to serve and try to help ensure children can travel to and from school or after school activities where they can be as safe as possible, and that's a big charge."  A methadone clinic helps people with heroin and opiate addictions.  The district's appeal will be heard in front of the developmental review board, next month.