Archive - News Article
December 28th
BRIGHTON, VT - The white vinyl siding that enveloped the Brighton Municipal Building in Island Pond for a couple of decades is currently being removed so architects and engineers can assess the historical features hidden beneath it.
The work is the very first phase of a weatherization and historical preservation project funded mostly by grants totalling just over a half million dollars.
DERBY - Developers who want to construct two industrial size wind turbines just east of Derby Line applied earlier this month for two Certificates of Public Good (CPG) with the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB).
Encore Redevelopment, with its partners, has filed for the CPGs for Grandview Farm, owned by the Davis family, and Smugglers Hill Farm, owned by Jayne and Jonathan Chase. The turbines would be more than 400 feet tall at the tip of the blade and are expected to generate 2.2 Mw of power.
The project is under the state’s SPEED program.
NEWPORT CITY – Someday commercial property in the designated downtown may be worth more than the buildings that sit on it.
During the Dec. 19 Newport City Council meeting, City Manager John Ward Jr. said he, Mayor Paul Monette and Zoning Administrator Paul Dreher met with University of Vermont Professor Gary Flomenhoft to engage with a preliminary study of the potential positive impacts of a Land Value Taxation system as an alternative to the conventional municipal taxation system.
At the meeting, the council gave the okay for the free study to continue.
December 27th
WESTFIELD – Fourth to sixth grade students from the Jay/Westfield School take time from their busy schedule every week to visit with residents of the Scenic View Residential Home. Last Thursday, the students presented each resident with a holiday gift packet, which included greeting cards, popcorn and ornaments. The students also played bingo with the residents.
“We do this so the children have a chance to get out and do something nice in the community,” explained Eva Lemieux, after school site coordinator from the Jay/Westfield School. “They (the students) also learn social skills.”
DERBY - The Derby Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) upheld a decision on Thursday, Dec. 22, on a change of use permit issued by the town’s Zoning Administrator Bob Kelley. The change is from office to retail and office space designation.
The ZBA’s decision can be appealed to Environmental Court within the 30 days following Thursday’s decision.
The change allows for the adult novelty store Good Stuff to open a store at 4267 Route 5 next to Roaster’s Café.
NEWPORT CITY - Spates the Florist & Garden Center donated 158 wreaths, valued at $10 each plus labor, to the Newport Rotary Club to place on the graves of area veterans just before Christmas.
NEWPORT CITY – A tip from a watchful neighbor lead to the conviction of two men and a teenager. However, it was not before the trio caused over $1,000 of damage to a vacant home in Newport City.
On Friday, Dec. 22, Glen Boule, 19, of Newport City, entered pleas of guilty to a felony charge of unlawful mischief greater than $1,000 and a felony charge of unlawful trespass of a residence. The state dismissed a felony charge of burglary.
December 26th
NEWPORT CITY – The aroma of turkey and stuffing filled the air Sunday as 200 or so area residents enjoyed a free holiday dinner at the American Legion Post 21 on Christmas Day. This was just one of the many dinners held across the region.
Tim Daley, who hosted the 28th annual Reynold and Esther Choinere Christmas Dinner, put a lot of time, money and effort into organizing the event.
“This is my personal Christmas,” said Daley, who doesn’t purchase presents or send cards. “I put all my money into this dinner.”
CHARLESTON – Christmas is over for most people, but for Pauline and John Broe the holiday of peace, love and joy hangs around all year. The Broes, from the Vermont Reindeer Farm, own the only reindeer in the state. The names of their reindeer are, appropriately enough, Comet and Prancer.
ST. JOHNSBURY, VT - A Brighton woman who was found guilty of disorderly conduct and attempted assault by menace was sentenced by Judge Robert Gerety last week.
Mary J. Taylor, 68, of Island Pond, was given 40 hours community service and a suspended sentence of 6-12 months with three day's credit for time served.
