Archive - Mar 2010
March 4th
VERGENNES — The future of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant and the state’s budget crunch continue to dominate the Vermont Legislature’s agenda, local lawmakers announced as they began their weeklong break on Monday for town meetings.
You gotta love Town Meeting.
Even if 90 percent of the discussion is about budget numbers that are as dry as a speech by Gov. James Douglas, there’s a certain Kabuki-like quality to the charmingly ornate process of gathering to discuss the town’s business.
And speaking of Gov. Douglas, he was again absent from his role as moderator, out of Vermont on state business. He’s now missed one-third of the town meetings going back to 2005, but Douglas ran again this year for the town moderator spot. It’s apparently the one office to which he knows he can still get re-elected.
On Town Meeting Day 2010, Orwell residents gathered at the town hall to vote on the town and school budgets, a bond for school heating system repairs, several contested elections for town positions and a new town truck.
The Independent was there to capture some shots of the day, and to hear town select board member Carla Ochs and a number of other town residents weigh in on the day's significance.
March 2nd
Addison County Independent: Breaking News
ADDISON COUNTY — Join Addison Independent reporters online tonight for live coverage of Town Meeting Day 2010.
We'll be collecting town meeting results from around the county, and we'd love for you to join us in our first-ever online chat as we discuss the issues on the ballot in your town. To participate in the live chat, visit www.addisonindependent.com between 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. tonight, March 2, and click on the chat in the upper right corner of the Web site.
You can also visit the Web site any time today to set up an e-mail reminder for the event.
View Full Article Online
March 1st
MIDDLEBURY — Skihaus is back.
Long-time employees of the Alpine Shop, Barb Nelson and Anna Boisvert, closed on the purchase of the prominent Main Street business last Friday morning and by mid-afternoon sold their first items under their new name: Skihaus of Vermont.
NEW HAVEN — Stepping into his new position as the commander at the Vermont State Police barracks in New Haven last week, Lt. Gary Genova’s career came full circle.
The 47-year-old began his career with the VSP more than 20 years ago at the former Middlebury barracks just down the road. An Addison County resident, Genova said he’s pleased to return to the barracks where his career with the state police started, and looks forward to reviving his partnerships with longstanding public safety officials in the region.
MIDDLEBURY — The hijab, or head scarf, is one of the more recognized — and at times, controversial — symbols of the Muslim faith. For some, it represents female oppression; for some, modesty; for some, faith.
For most Americans, the hijab is simply a mystery.
So when three Muslim students at Middlebury College spoke about their reasons for wearing hijab last Thursday, the hall was packed with people sitting on the floor and craning in through the doors to catch some of the conversation.
VERGENNES — Vergennes aldermen at their Tuesday meeting last week released funds that will help the planning commission update the city’s zoning laws to reflect changes called for in the municipal plan adopted last fall. That update would not take effect until after a public process.
Aldermen said they would take $3,000 out of the city’s Tower Fund, which is funded by cell phone companies who lease space for antennas on the water tower behind City Hall.
