ANWSD spending up, but taxes seen falling

VERGENNES — The Addison Northwest School District Board this week adopted a $22,327,585 spending plan for the next school year. If backed on Town Meeting Day, it would increase spending by 3.35% over the currently approved level. Despite the proposed higher spending, the latest estimates say property tax rates would drop in all five ANWSD communities in a range of between about 1.7 and 7 cents if voters support that budget on March 1. The board on Jan. 19 also voted to ask residents to back a plan to use $1 … (read more)

A simmering disagreement over how much Ferrisburgh should pay Vergennes for its fire department to be the first responder for much of its town has erupted into a serious dispute between leaders of the two communities.

“Given the prevalence and virility of the current Covid strain in our community, we felt it was best to keep the Vergennes Opera House dark for a few more weeks,” said Gerianne Smart.

Thanks to Turning Point Center of Addison County, Vergennes Police Department officers this week have new tools at their disposal that can help citizens in need — two iPads.

If city officials’ and consultants’ optimism about grant support is rewarded, most Vergennes sewer users would see an annual increase over the next few years from $500 to $850 to fund bond payments, according to official estimates.

Vergennes police have linked drug dealing to their Jan. 5 charge that a 28-year-old New Jersey man had attempted murder and arson in the city.

Two pieces have popped up repeatedly in downtown Middlebury over the past six months, sometimes accompanied by the letters “EMSWID.”

VERGENNES — In a week in which Vergennes police, with help from Middlebury and Vermont state police, made a major arrest for attempted murder and arson (see story), they also handled other incidents, several of which involved calming frayed nerves and ups … (read more)

Should Vergennes form a community panel to help city officials oversee and work with the police department? For the second time in 17 months the local committee charged with studying the question said “yes.”

VERGENNES — Vergennes police on Wednesday arrested a 28-year-old New Jersey man on suspicion of attempted murder and arson following a pre-dawn fire at a duplex and nearby vehicles in the Booth Woods neighborhood in the city’s southern end. In Addison Sup … (read more)

The Addison Northwest School District board has confirmed its commitment to a $22.08 million budget that would increase spending by about $480,000 and preserve all programs, while devoting enough of a major surplus to keep the district tax rate increase t … (read more)

The Vergennes Lions Club reports that over 250 children of all ages received at least two toys at their Toys for Kids Shop, held this December thanks to Long Trail on the Falls Physical Therapy owner Michael DiPalermo and administrative assistant Lynn Bri … (read more)

Slip on your ice skates. Vergennes Parks & Recreation late last week announced that the city ice rink was open.

On behalf of the Vergennes Partnership, I’d like to give a public shout out of thanks to Neat Repeats. Their recent grant given to the Partnership included the purchase of four fire pits to share with the city’s Parks & Recreation Department.

Kaitlyn Little, daughter of Chrystal Little of Vergennes, has received this year’s DAR Good Citizen’s Award.