Archive - 2006
December 27th
VERGENNES — Addison Northwest Supervisory Union elementary school boards are looking at spending increases of between 4.4 and 5.8 percent for the 2006-2007 school year. Next month those boards are expected to approve those spending plans for voter consideration on Town Meeting Day.
The Ferrisburgh Central School board is looking at the highest increase, a 5.8 percent hike to about $2.64 million.
December 28, 2006
By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — The Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC) is closing in on a $650,000 fund-raising goal as part of a $2.1 million plan to dramatically expand and renovate its mental health facilities in Middlebury.
As of last Thursday, CSAC had raised $491,000 during what had been the “silent phase” of its fund drive, launched more than a year ago. The agency received 125 contributions from area businesses and individuals, some of them in excess of $25,000.
“I’m just thrilled at what we’ve been able to do so far with this capital campaign,” said CSAC Executive Director Robert Thorn. “This was a huge goal for us, and I’m amazed at the response from the community.”
December 28, 2006
By ANDY KIRKALDY
VERGENNES — Vergennes Alderman Michael Sullivan, who served as the first superintendent of the Vergennes-Panton Water District for 34 years, died of an apparent heart attack at his Monkton Road home on Christmas Eve.
Sullivan, 61, was known as a leader and past Commander of the Vergennes American Legion Post 14, a Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, an architect of the effort to bring safe water to the city in the early 1970s, a conservationist, and as an outspoken city council member who was pondering a run for mayor in March.
Despite his often contrary and at times long-winded political opinions, Vergennes Mayor April Jin said Sullivan’s underlying good-heartedness made him popular on the city council as well as in the Vergennes area.
December 21st
December 21, 2006
By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — Several Addison Central Supervisory Union (ACSU) schools are considering new security measures in light of recent acts of violence at schools in Vermont and throughout the country.
Middlebury Union Middle School has already installed a new front-entrance security system, while other schools in the district are considering blinds, alarm systems, reorganized offices that look upon entryways, and/or doors that lock from the inside, as upgrades to better protect teachers and children from would-be attackers.
“We still want people to come to our schools, but we want to ensure their safety at the same time,” said Middlebury School Resource Officer Scott Fisher.
December 21, 2006
By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury residents at their annual town meeting will be asked to contribute $30,000 toward a new youth center, a number that would be sweetened by $25,000 in private contributions and perhaps other smaller donations from six neighboring towns.
Middlebury selectmen voted 6-0 on Tuesday to place the youth center referendum on the town meeting warning after hearing another pitch from youth center boosters and receiving confirmation that two anonymous donors had offered a combined total of $25,000 to help launch the center this year. The donors extended the offer in hopes that Middlebury voters would match the $25,000 at their town meeting, according to resident Emily Joselson, a leader of the Addison County Teens & Friends (ACT) group that is spearheading the teen center effort.
December 18th
December 18, 2006
By JOHN FLOWERS
ADDISON COUNTY — One by one, they trickled into Middlebury’s Triangle Park, a frigid no man’s land hemmed by a crawling din of downtown traffic on this cold December day.
Without fanfare, the 12 men and women exchanged greetings, lit candles, and spoke for a growing population that has been reticent to speak for itself — the homeless of Addison County.
“On one of the darkest days of the year, we are here to try to remind people that there are a lot of homeless people out there who have no roof over their heads and no food to eat,” said Martha Hill, a member of the John W. Graham Emergency Shelter board.
December 18, 2006
By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — Christmas came a little early this year for owners of Werner’s Tree Farm in Middlebury.
Their gift came last week in the form of a brief letter from the Vermont Electric Power Co. (VELCO), stating the company would not be targeting the tree farm for construction of its new transmission line until after the holidays.
The news came as a relief to David and Cheryl Werner, who had seen VELCO mobilize construction equipment at the edge of their property on Painter Road. VELCO owns a substantial right of way through the Werners’ property, which lies squarely within the route of the Northwest Reliability Project, a project building a huge new transmission line from West Rutland to Burlington.
December 14th
December 14, 2006
By ANDY KIRKALDY
FERRISBURGH — Ferrisburgh voters on Tuesday backed the $750,000 purchase of a key 34-acre village parcel, but the margin was not overwhelming: With 24 percent of possible voters turning out, residents supported the deal, which includes $50,000 to finish an in-ground septic system, 242-218.
Ferrisburgh officials recommended the purchase and said they were happy with the yes vote, but that they would have preferred a margin larger than 52.6-47.4 percent.
“I was disappointed it was so close,” said selectboard Chairman Larry Simino. “This is the last chance for the town (residents) to say what will happen in the middle of their community.”
