Archive - Feb 2013 - Page
February 21st
MIDDLEBURY — Local lawmakers served notice on Monday that they will need to raise revenues and cut some programs in order to draft and pass a responsible fiscal year 2014 state budget.
At a Legislative Breakfast at the American Legion in Middlebury, Rep. Willem Jewett, D-Ripton, said this is the toughest financial year he has seen since being elected to the House 10 years ago. The House majority leader noted the federal government was able to cushion some of the financial blow of the recession through millions of dollars in stimulus funds.
MIDDLEBURY — Following months of charged discussion among students and administrators about the possibility of divesting the college’s endowment from fossil fuels and weapons companies, seven students presented the case for divestment at the February board of trustees meeting this past Saturday. No decisions were made, but officials lauded the students for their presentation.
MIDDLEBURY — When most people think of “first aid,” they think of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the Heimlich maneuver and other emergency measures to keep someone alive during a physical crisis.
Now the Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC) wants people to be able to dispense first aid to people suffering from what might be less overt, but very serious mental health ailments.
MIDDLEBURY — There was continued controversy at Monday’s Legislative Breakfast surrounding Gov. Peter Shumlin’s proposed surcharge on break-open tickets. The 10-percent surcharge on the $1 tickets — sold by many local nonprofits to raise money for charitable causes — is designed to raise what Shumlin projects as $6 million for weatherizing Vermont homes.
Shumlin has stated that the surcharge would apply to the producers of the tickets and not on the proceeds raised from the nonprofit agencies who sell them, such as local American Legion posts.
MIDDLEBURY — Gov. Peter Shumlin’s proposed redirection of $17 million from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program to help expand early child education programs drew some criticism at Monday’s Legislative Breakfast at the American Legion Post in Middlebury.
Shumlin’s proposal has come under fire from those who contend that reduction in the EITC benefit will hit low-income recipients the hardest.
VERGENNES — Round Two also went to the Commodores.
The host Vergennes Union High School boys’ basketball team on Tuesday scored the final 12 points of the fourth quarter as VUHS remained undefeated with a 52-36 victory that gave them a season sweep of the Middlebury Union High School Tigers.
The 19-0 Commodores have clinched the top seed for the upcoming Division II post-season tournament, and they will try to complete a 20-0 regular season on Friday at Missisquoi Valley (12-7).
BRANDON — Brandon can boast great community spirit, the best water in the state, and now, the first Ironjack.
Brandon native Garrett Gregorek, son of Derek and Liz Gregorek, won the first Collegiate Ironjack World Championships last month, a test of lumberjack skills hosted by the LumberJack Feud in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
VERGENNES — Posting two of its strongest routines of the winter at Saturday’s championship competition at Vergennes Union High School, the Middlebury Union High School dance team finished second in each of its disciplines and third overall by a margin of just 2.75 points.
Mount Mansfield edged South Burlington for the overall title, 480.50-480.25, with the Tigers right behind at 477.75.