Archive - 2006
July 18th
By JOHN FLOWERS
ADDISON COUNTY — Some lawmakers are learning about dairy farmers’ financial problems during debates and meetings in the Vermont Statehouse and in the nation’s capital.
But Sen. Harold Giard, D-Bridport, said one doesn’t need to go beyond the local supermarket to get a vivid picture of the issues plaguing farmers and what is needed to get them back on their feet.
While walking in the dairy section in one of Middlebury’s chain supermarkets last week, Giard — a former dairy farmer and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee — gestured to gallons of milk lined up in a long cooler.
He noted a price of $3.13 per gallon for the milk, of which only $1.03 is ending up in farmer’s pocket, due to the many deductions and price adjustments that take place as the product makes its way from the farm to the supermarket.
July 13th
By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — Town officials in Middlebury have abandoned the notion of establishing a local mosquito control program this year and will instead survey residents next Town Meeting Day to determine whether there is enough interest to pursue the idea in 2007.
Selectmen made that decision on Tuesday after learning it could cost the town $50,000 to $100,000 to run an effective mosquito control program this year — and that’s with the summer well under way, and with the prime insect hatching period just about over.
“I would not expect we would be able to do this, this year,” Middlebury Town Manager Bill Finger said.
An increasing number of residents in town have asked selectmen to look into ways of putting a dent in the mosquito population, which they say has soared with recent wet weather. The county already includes two insect control districts — the Brandon-Leicester-Salisbury-Goshen district and the Lemon Fair district (covering Bridport and Cornwall). Weybridge voters on July 25 will decide whether they want to contract for mosquito control services.
By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — In a grassroots effort to help reduce global warming a citizens’ group has asked Middlebury selectmen to endorse a plan aimed at reducing the community’s greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent by the year 2012.
The Middlebury Area Global Warming Action Committee (MAGWAC) on Tuesday presented selectmen with a 43-page report on the extent to which Middlebury, its residents and commuters are generating greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide), and how those gases could be reduced.
MAGWAC members Steve Maier and Peg Martin urged selectmen to adopt four major recommendations within the Middlebury Area Climate Action Plan, including:
• That the town set an example in reducing greenhouse gases on a municipal level by using biodiesel and other alternative fuels for its vehicles and heating; by encouraging public transportation, walking and less driving; by considering “building efficiency standards” for new construction; and by developing a plan to reduce town government-related greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2012.
By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — After 15 years of service as Vermont’s lone representative in the U.S. House, independent Bernard Sanders hopes voters this November will give him a new role in Washington, D.C. — as a United States senator.
Sanders, 64, is seeking to fill the spot being vacated by longtime Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt. The fiery progressive congressman and former Burlington mayor faces competition from IDX Systems founder Richard Tarrant, a Colchester Republican.
During a far-ranging interview on July 7 at the Addison Independent, Sanders shared his views on such issues as the war in Iraq, farming, job creation, the federal deficit and health care.
As usual, he did not mince words.
July 10th
By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury selectmen on Thursday set a fiscal year 2006-2007 residential tax rate of $2.2103 per $100 in property value, an increase of approximately 7 cents compared to the current residential rate of $2.1397.
Middlebury overall rate for non-residential properties (business and second homes) was set at $2.055 per $100 in property value.
The new tax obligation reflects a municipal rate of 73.6 cents per $100, which includes 2 cents for the fire equipment replacement fund and 1 cent for the land conservation fund. The previous municipal rate was 69 cents per $100.
Also reflected in the new rate is an education property tax rate of $1.474 per $100 for residents and a non-residential school property tax rate of $1.32 per $100.
By JOHN FLOWERS
FERRISBURGH — Former Rep. Tom McGrath of Ferrisburgh has thrown his hat into an already bustling ring of candidates for the two House seats representing Addison-3, a move that will trigger a Republican primary contest in the Vergennes-area district.
McGrath’s entry into the race sets up a GOP primary in which he will compete against incumbent Rep. Greg Clark of Vergennes and former Vergennes Mayor Kitty Oxholm. The top two finishers will move on to the general election, where they will face Vergennes Democrat Diane Lanpher and current Vergennes Mayor April Jin, who is running under the Progressive Party banner.
The Addison-3 district includes the communities of Ferrisburgh, Vergennes, Panton, Addison and Waltham. Longtime incumbent Rep. Connie Houston, R-Ferrisburgh, will not seek re-election.
By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — Otter Creek Brewing’s award-winning beer is getting greener and greener.
No, we’re not talking about a build-up to a special St. Patrick’s Day promotion.
The green, in this case, symbolizes the many environmentally friendly processes the Middlebury-based brewery is using in production of the more than 30,000 barrels of beer it ships out annually to 22 states.
“It’s not one big thing we’re doing, but a lot of small things that add up,” Otter Creek Brewing President and owner Morgan Wolaver said during a Thursday tour that meandered around imposing steel vats, humming machinery and busy employees at Otter Creek’s Exchange Street plant.
