Archive - Nov 29, 2010 - Page
MIDDLEBURY — The town of Middlebury is applying for a $15,000 federal grant to plan for a local, passenger rail station in anticipation of ramped-up train service along the western part of the state.
Middlebury Town Manager Bill Finger said making progress toward a passenger rail station would also likely enhance the community’s chances for landing federal aid to replace the two railroad underpasses on Main Street and Merchants Row. Those two underpass projects have been on the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s to-do list for several years.
MONTPELIER — Patti Casey traces her musical inspiration back to her teenage years, when she watched folk acts like Banjo Dan take the dusty stage at Addison County Fair and Field Days.
“At the time, I was star struck,” she said.
MIDDLEBURY — An ad hoc committee studying the feasibility of a major retail-commercial-residential project on town- and college-owned land behind Middlebury’s Ilsley Public Library will update the public on its work early next year.
At issue is an “Economic Development Initiative (EDI)” being crafted by the town and Middlebury College. It’s a project intended to complement the recently completed Cross Street Bridge and the new entrepreneurial opportunities the new downtown structure could present.
MIDDLEBURY — The ID-4 Second Language Committee is recommending that Mary Hogan Elementary School begin offering a Spanish program beginning next fall — initially to students in grades K-2, but ultimately to all grades by the 2015-2016 academic year.
The recommendation, made to the ID-4 school board on Nov. 22, comes after almost a year of study following a petitioned request by more than 90 residents seeking resumption of world language instruction at Mary Hogan. The school dropped French classes several years ago, primarily due to financial reasons.
CHARLOTTE — Three Mexican farm workers who earlier this month complained to the Vermont Department of Labor that a Charlotte dairy farm hadn’t paid them have found new jobs at an Addison County farm.
Cheryl Connor, co-convener of the Addison County Migrant Farm Worker Coalition, said that there has been an outpouring of community support for the three workers, who filed a claim for $4,494 in unpaid wages in recent months from their former employer, dairy farmers Robert Jr. and David Mack of Charlotte.
ADDISON COUNTY — Although none of the local girls’ high school soccer teams finished above .500, all four had fine moments and benefited from outstanding individual contributions that are recognized here in the 2010 Addison Independent Girls’ Soccer All-Star Team.
Coach Dwight Irish’s Vergennes squad had the most success, compiling a .500 regular season and earning a home playoff game. They were sparked by, among others, high-scoring junior Kenadi Dattilio, the 2010 Addison Independent Player of the Year, and three other Commodores who are recognized here.
VERGENNES — Vergennes aldermen on Nov. 16 in a 5-0 show of hands backed creating a discount for seniors on their annual sewer bills, but officials acknowledged it would probably be a year before the rate break could take effect.
Men’s hockey splits at Shootout
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — The Middlebury College men’s hockey team split two games in the Primelink Great Northern Shootout in Plattsburgh this past weekend. The 1-3 Panthers will return to action this weekend with games at Southern Maine and the University of New England.
On Saturday, Middlebury picked up its first win, 2-1 over St. John’s (2-8) in the Shootout consolation game. The Panthers outshot St. Johns, 41-22.
