Archive - Feb 2010
February 11th
VERGENNES — After almost a year of discussion, on Tuesday the Vergennes city council voted unanimously to accept a total of about 8.6 acres from the Vergennes ID school board, land that consists of two parcels near Vergennes Union Elementary School and is home to the city’s recreation facilities, including its swimming pool.
The transfer will become effective on June 30, when the ID board is set to dissolve per a March 2009 vote by Vergennes residents.
MIDDLEBURY — United Way of Addison County (UWAC) officials are organizing an impassioned donation pitch to reinvigorate a 2009-2010 fund-raising campaign that has been sorely tested by the sluggish economy.
UWAC officials knew at the outset of the campaign that raising funds during the current economic climate would pose an extra challenge. And while organizers didn’t set a specific goal at the outset, they hoped the drive would net as much as last year: $775,000, funds distributed among many human service agencies throughout the county.
BOSTON — The Addison Independent staff was honored with four New England Newspaper and Press Association awards at the organization’s annual banquet on Saturday, including recognition for reporter Kathryn Flagg as the NENPA Weekly Rookie of the Year and first place for Jessie Raymond in the Weekly Class 2 Humor Columnist competition.
The Independent staff as a whole also earned second place for General Excellence in Weekly Class C, while Flagg also earned second place in Weekly Class 2 Business/Economic Reporting.
MIDDLEBURY — Officials in the UD-3 school district on Tuesday gave an update on how they are responding to a petition seeking to boost academic excellence at Middlebury Union High School, and pledged to consider additional changes as curriculum is developed for the 2010-2011 school year.
At issue is a citizens’ petition submitted to the UD-3 school board last year by a group of parents and community members. The petition, signed by more than 400 people, raised concerns about the extent to which students are academically challenged at MUHS.
MONTPELIER — The Vermont Principals’ Association’s Activities Standards Committee on Friday approved a cooperative agreement between Mount Abraham and Vergennes union high schools, paving the way for students from both schools to suit up for the Eagle football team next fall.
Both the Mount Abe and VUHS school boards had signed off on the agreement last fall on the recommendation of the schools’ athletic directors.
MIDDLEBURY — In a strongly worded motion, lawyers for Addison storyteller and entertainer Malcolm “Mac” Parker have asked the Washington County Superior Court to dismiss a suit by state securities regulators that alleges Parker violated the Vermont Uniform Securities Act.
MIDDLEBURY — The prospect of an open seat on the Middlebury selectboard is generating interest among some eleventh-hour candidates, including resident Brian Bauer, a former Vermont House candidate who last week confirmed he will wage a write-in campaign for selectman.
Resident Travis Forbes also confirmed that he will also mount a write-in campaign for the board (See story, this page).
VERGENNES — The Vergennes Union High School girls’ basketball team on Tuesday earned a key victory in its quest for a home Division II playoff game, 52-39 over visiting D-I Colchester.
The 6-13 Commodores, the No. 8 team in the D-II standings, now have a six-point lead over No. 9 U-32 (5-13). The Raiders will have to defeat Lyndon, No. 3 in D-II, and Northfield, No. 3 in D-III, to catch the Commodores, who end their regular season at South Burlington on Thursday.
