Archive - May 2012 - News Article
May 22nd
HOLLAND – All three members of the Holland Select Board are opposed to the proposed Derby Wind project and will hold a vote of the board on Monday, June 4, during the select board’s regular meeting. The meeting will take place at the Holland Elementary School to accommodate a potentially large turnout.
May 21st
Editor’s note: Filmmaker and arts presenter Jay Craven recently completed filming of his newest picture, "Northern Borders," based on a novel by Irasburg writer Howard Frank Mosher. This tribute was written for the occasion of a recent Burlington Book Festival which was dedicated to Mosher. Because of his work adapting Mosher novels into films, Craven was asked to deliver the dedication speech. The following is the first of two installments of Jay’s tribute.
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DERBY, VT - The Dandelion Festival could not have picked a more beautiful weekend in which to celebrate our area's magnificence.
Canadian marathoner Christian Vachon from Magog, Quebec, was the winner of the half-marathon, completing the course in a time of 1:23:49, well ahead of the competition. Christian's closest competitor was Russell Primeau, who finished second with a time of 1:29:14.
It was a befitting victory for Vachon, considering the generous donation his charity, the Christian Vachon Foundation, made to IROC and the event.
JAY – Expansion and improvements continue at Jay Peak at lightning speed.
The Jay Planning Commission has approved plans for the renovation of the Austria Haus at Jay Peak Resort and is considering plans for the construction of a new learning center on the state side of the mountain.
The proposed learning center would have a primary function of teaching children age two to six how to ski, explained Peter Fina, chair of the Jay Planning Commission. It would also house a café.
May 20th
MORGAN – A couple hundred youngsters from five area elementary schools left their classrooms and went down to the farm for the Conservation and Farm Field Day Friday.
The Orleans Country Natural Resources Conservation District sponsored the annual event at the Haywood Farm. The students learned many hands-on techniques.
“The hands-on experience really takes the kids out of the classroom,” said Dayna Cole, manager for the conservation district. “It lets them see it, feel it, do it and get an understanding for it.”
DERBY LINE – An online petition is circulating geared to show the scale of opposition to the Derby Line Wind project. More than three hundred people have already signed the petition, according to the site change.org.
The petition was created by “Citoyens de Stanstead,” and is called “Stop the Derby Line Wind Project.”
EAST MONTPELIER - Friday Gov. Peter Shumlin signed three energy bills.
One would make it easier to develop small scale hydro projects and another authorized a fund to help pay for delivery of telephone services to rural parts of Vermont, such as the Northeast Kingdom.
Present for that signing was Vermont Senator Vince Illuzzi, at the podium, who sponsored the small hydro and telephone bills.
The bills included provisions for promoting the development of alternative energy supplies and allowing citizens with health or privacy concerns to opt out of having smart meters without paying a fee.
May 17th
NEWPORT CENTER – Newport Center officials want to rejuvenate a well that has been off line for more than a decade. But first they need to deal with arsenic levels higher than permitted by the federal government.
Putting the old well on line will ease concerns about water issues during the summer months, when town officials ask 150 or so homes on the systems to conserve water.
DERBY – Tuesday, the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) revised the schedule for the proposed Derby Line Wind project with hearings now set for the end of August.
The project, which involves the construction of two 420 foot plus turbines on farms in Derby Line, near the US-Canadian border is highly contentious and is generating international controversy.
The developer, Encore Redevelopment of Burlington, failed to notify adjoining property owners to one of the projects as required under PSB rules. Stanstead was not officially notified, either, when other surrounding towns were.
NEWPORT, VT - Â The 2012 Dandelion Run kicks off this year with The Dandy Dinner, Friday evening between 6 and 9:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend, there is a charge but it includes a post-dinner and a live music show.
Reckless Breakfast, a terrific contemporary Bluegrass band from the Hanover area, will be playing. Those who caught their performance at last year's festival, are likely not to miss their return.
