| Home| News | Money | Sports | Entertainment | Food | Lifestyle | Travel | Health | Politics | Technology | Science | Opinion | Garden | Youth | Community | Video | |
| Lip service Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST Following the end of the legislative session, some lawmakers bemoaned the fact that they had not done anything significant to curb the rise of property taxes. ... |
| Relevance of Postman Sun, 04 May 2008 23:53:00 EST He never achieved the literary fame of George Orwell or Aldous Huxley, who are best remembered, respectively, for "1984" and "Brave New World," but Neil Postman nevertheless merits our attention even now, almost five years after his death, because of the immediate relevance of two of his most famous books, "The Disappearance of Childhood" and "Amusing Ourselves to Death." ... |
| Boys, girls share living space on campus Mon, 05 May 2008 14:16:00 EST In the Woodstock era, the advent of coed dorms caused a stir, with Life magazine proclaiming the development "an intimate revolution on campus." Coed floors came along over the next two decades, giving college students immediate proximity to each other. The next step, coed suites and bathrooms, brought the sexes even closer together. ... - By PETER SCHWORM Boston Globe |
| Rescuers pull horse from well Tue, 06 May 2008 13:06:00 EST PITTSFORD -- Keeping its head above water was a matter of life and death for a horse who fell into a well on Monday night. ... - By SARA-MEGAN WALSH Herald Staff |
| Simple Elegance closes Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST Simple Elegance, a restaurant and catering business known for its international cuisine, closed its doors Friday after eight years in business. ... - By BRUCE EDWARDS Herald Staff |
| Group's creative juices flowing Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST The Rutland Creative Economy demonstrated its growing vitality within the city at the Board of Aldermen meeting Monday. ... - By SARA-MEGAN WALSH Herald Staff |
| No-shows halt Danby progress Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST DANBY -- No quorum means no motions, no discussions and no decisions. ... - By SANDI SWITZER Herald Correspondent |
| Life's pleasures spun in Clarendon poet's book Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST CLARENDON -- Observations about life's simple pleasures fill the pages of Carroll Buffum Sr.'s latest book of poetry. ... - By SANDI SWITZER Herald Correspondent |
| Crash sends one man to hospital Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST A two-car collision on the wet roads of Hubbardton Sunday morning sent a Castleton man to Rutland Regional Medical Center. ... |
| Honored police dog dies after ceremony Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST BURLINGTON -- A Burlington police dog named Stoney died on the way home from being inducted into the Vermont Police Canine Hall of Fame. ... |
| Safe recovered in Green Up cleanup Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST Vermont State Police are looking for the owner of a safe found by volunteers taking part in the Green Up Day cleanup effort Saturday in Ira. ... |
| Civilians at war: A survivor recalls childhood in the London Blitz Mon, 05 May 2008 23:11:00 EST It was a German plane, of that I was sure. As a young child, growing up in London during World War II, I learned to distinguish between the sounds of British and German aircraft. Theirs were bigger and heavier, creating a deep rumbling sound accompanied by an intermittent thud. Now, one was rapidly approaching our house. Momentarily it would be overhead. I struggled to get out of bed, not fully awake, feet tangled in sheets and blankets, heart racing, my whole body shaking. ... - By IVY ALLAN FREEMAN Herald Correspondent |
| City puts loyalty on display Mon, 05 May 2008 08:48:00 EST Camels, bagpipers, unicycles and mini-monster trucks came together in a unique show of pride and loyalty that is a Rutland trademark. ... - By SARA-MEGAN WALSH Herald Staff |
| Winter success boosts market Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST Why did the downtown Rutland business cross the road? ... - By BRENT CURTIS Herald Staff |
| Chaffee exhibit depicts horrors of war Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST Nearly 63 years later, some people are afraid the world's memories of the devastation caused by nuclear weapons are fading into history. ... - By SARA-MEGAN WALSH Herald Staff |
| Cell tower planned in Poultney Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST If all goes according to plan, a person will soon be able to drive through Poultney without losing cell service along the way. ... - By DAWSON RASPUZZI Herald Staff |
| Pepsi cuts 15 jobs in Vermont Mon, 05 May 2008 09:29:00 EST A North Carolina company that purchased the Pepsi franchise in Vermont last year has laid off 15 workers including three at its North Clarendon distribution center. ... - By BRUCE EDWARDS Herald Staff |
| With $4 gas, lifestyles will change Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST ATLANTA -- Paying $4 a gallon for gasoline will do more than lighten your wallet and raise your blood pressure. ... |
| School merger tops talk of night Mon, 05 May 2008 22:59:00 EST SPRINGFIELD - Residents got a glimpse of what school consolidation would mean for them - both architecturally and financially - during a pair of presentations delivered during Monday night's school board meeting. Superintendent Dr. Frank S. Perotti guided audience members through a PowerPoint presentation that outlined the district administration's belief that Park Street Elementary School should be closed and the students consolidated into Elm Hill and Union Street elementary schools. Perotti made the argument that school consolidation makes financial sense. In November 2006, voters passed a $32.8 bond to improve the town's three elementary schools. Of that amount, $13.5 million was earmarked for Park Street repairs. Perotti said that current estimates to bring Park Street up to code are closer to $22-25 million. Instead, Perotti has advised using the Park Street funds to expand Elm Hill and Union Street elementary schools and send fifth graders to Riverside Middle School. Perotti outlined the potential savings - while saying they were still estimates - as follows: The District will receive an additional $4.3 million in state aid for the project as state aid increases from 30 to 50 percent: n $193,000 in bond interest the first year n $42,500 in maintenance costs for East School n $101,000 in administrative costs with the reduction of one principal and several secretaries n $270,000 in reductions to staff n $113,000 in not having to rent space for off-site programs that could be housed in Park Street Perotti said that consolidation would result in overall savings of $935,000 during the first year. Following Perotti's presentation, Lee Dore of Dore and Whittier Architects, Inc. presented preliminary consolidation plans for the three elementary schools. Under the school consolidation plan, Elm Hill and Union Street schools would each be expanded to hold as many as 300 pupils. Plans for Union Street, which currently houses 240 pupils, would be expanded by 11,770 square feet, adding three classrooms and rooms for art, music and storage. Elm Hill would receive the most dramatic expansion, from 120 pupils to 300 and more than doubling in size from 24,373 square feet to 51,373. Dore said that financially speaking, the expansions could be performed with Park Street money. Dore said there is still $12,650,000 left in Park Street funds, while the estimated cost of the expansions to Elm Hill and Union Street to allow consolidation would be $12,581,000. Fifth grade would be moved over to Riverside, which has the available classroom space and would not need to be expanded, Dore said. Some residents at the meeting expressed concern that fifth-grade pupils would be mingling with seventh and eighth graders at Riverside. Perotti noted the proposed fifth-grade classrooms at Riverside are on the first floor while seventh and eighth graders would be on the second floor. Jonni Nichols, principal of Elm Hill, said the older students might not be such a negative influence. "We're not giving our seventh and eighth graders enough credit," Nichols said. "They will rise to the occasion and be role models if we give them someone to be role models for." Consolidation plans are contingent upon the May 13 vote in which residents will decide the fate of Park Street Elementary School. If residents vote to close Park Street as an elementary school, the board will pursue the two-school plan while also being free to consider other alternatives. If voters decide to keep Park Street open, Perotti said, the two-school plan will be taken off the table. "The people of Springfield will decide," Perotti said. "Not the school board and certainly not me." Contact Josh O'Gorman at josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com. ... - By JOSH O'GORMAN Herald Staff |
| Suspect still not allowed on iMac Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST BRATTLEBORO -- A district judge has refused former Bellows Falls village trustee Stewart Read access to a computer to run his businesses and write his "sexual autobiography" after a police investigator found more than 100 images of child pornography and 44 images of adult pornography on one of his family's computers. Windham County Deputy State's Attorney David Gartenstein urged District Judge Karen Russell Carroll Monday to maintain conditions that Read not use computers or the Internet, as part of his pre-trial conditions of release. "I'm not going to modify conditions of release," said Carroll, after hearing from Read himself, his wife, and a close friend who is a computer expert and examined the iMac in question. Read has been on probation for two years for two misdemeanor convictions of possession of child pornography dating back to a 2005 incident, but he recently was arraigned on two new felony charges of possession of child pornography after he failed a polygraph administered by his probation officer. Police and probation officers searched his home in December as a result of the polygraph, and found four child pornography pamphlets, as well as other materials. Read's attorney, Jesse Corum of Brattleboro, put Read's wife, Dorothy, on the stand Monday in Brattleboro District Court to say the iMac computer that contained the pornographic images was hers, and that she kept it on her desk in their kitchen. Dorothy Read said she once saw a guest at the couple's bed and breakfast inn using her computer, and that person could be responsible for the images and not her husband. Dorothy Read said before her husband's charges, they routinely let guests use a computer to access their e-mail. "Most guests would ask," she said, but one man used her personal computer without permission "and he gave me a really creepy feeling." Dorothy Read said since Read first was arrested in April 2005 on charges of possession of child pornography, he voluntarily hasn't used the Internet or a computer. The couple has occasionally worked together on the computer, and Dorothy Read said the burden falls on her to print out her husband's e-mail, give it to him, and send responses. Read said it was difficult for her to do all the computer work for the couple's businesses, and she also said her husband needed to use a computer to write his "sexual autobiography," which her husband is writing under the direction of his therapist. Corum maintained the pornographic images were either the result of a guest at the Readmore Inn using Dorothy Read's computer that she kept in the kitchen, or police investigators failed to find when the same computer was examined back in 2005. Three computers and three hard drives that were taken from the Read home last fall were examined by Brattleboro Police Detective Erik Johnson, who found that only Dorothy Read's iMac had pornographic images on it. Johnson, in a report filed with the court, stated he was unable to determine when the images were downloaded to the computer. Gartenstein said Read's probation officer didn't want the conditions of release altered that prohibited the use of the Internet and computers. Corum put a Bellows Falls man, David Dexter McNeil, a computer expert and a close friend of the Reads, on the stand to testify he had examined the iMac back in 2006 when it was returned to the Reads the first time and found no pornographic images on it at that time. McNeil said the Reads wanted the iMac examined back then because they were afraid someone had planted something in the computer. McNeil noted the older computer operating system on the iMac would be particularly susceptible to SPAM, and that pornography could have been downloaded onto the computer just by SPAM being delivered through e-mail. McNeil said it was "very possible" the newly discovered images had been on the computer prior to 2006. Stewart Read admitted he had previously used the computer and Internet to access child pornography. After the court hearing, Corum said Stewart Read had voluntarily stopped using the Internet and computer because of fear of "what has just happened." "He was afraid of something exactly like this," said Corum. Contact Susan Smallheer at susan.smallheer@rutlandherald.com. ... - By SUSAN SMALLHEER Herald Staff |
| Manchester makes $200K trade : State swaps utility project funds for road maintenance Mon, 05 May 2008 23:00:00 EST MANCHESTER -- With the stroke of a pen on Monday morning, Gov. James Douglas helped to advance a local project in a way that will benefit taxpayers throughout the state as well. Douglas came to the Northshire Bookstore to sign a bill which authorizes a swap between Manchester and the Vermont Agency of Transportation. The town will take over 2.8 miles of state highway, which Vermont maintained, and the state is providing a one-time payment of $200,000 for a project that aims to bury utility wires in Manchester's downtown. "(This) may not on the surface appear to be a landmark piece of legislation but (it's) very important to help the community achieve a goal that it has had for many years," Douglas said. "I think beyond that it's a real example of a win-win arrangement between a state and a municipality." Douglas referred to the budget created during the recent legislative session as a sign that this was a "tough time" for Vermont economically but said the deal arranged with Manchester provided advantages for both sides. "It saves us money over the long run, it provides some dollars in the short term for the town to accomplish what I now know is a 30-year goal and I think is the kind of creative financing and creative arrangement that could indeed be a model for our relationship with other communities around the state. We're always open to these kinds of innovative financial approaches so I'm really pleased we've been able to work this out," he said. John Zicconi, spokesman for the Vermont Agency of Transportation, said on Monday the state believes it will see a net sum gain in a few years from the arrangement with Manchester. Zicconi confirmed that Manchester was the first municipality to make such an arrangement with the agency but Monday's event was also a first in another way. Manchester Select Board Chairman Ivan Beattie, who has been on the board for more than 20 years and whose father Orrin Beattie served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1968 to 1978, said he doesn't believe any other governor had ever come to Manchester to sign a bill into law. The state's $200,000 will be added to another $255,000 that had already been contributed toward the project and $462,500 approved by voters at Town Meeting 2007 from a fund the town had created out of a legal settlement payment. The intent is to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the upcoming replacement of the intersection of Routes 1-1/30 and 7A, known as "Malfunction Junction," with a roundabout. That road work will include some sidewalk replacement and other work downtown. As the roads are dug up, it becomes easier to bury or "backlot" utility wires and poles to create a more attractive streetscape for tourists and visitors to Manchester's downtown. Wires that are "backlotted" would stay above ground but be re-routed to less visible areas. Lee Krohn, Manchester planning director and zoning administrator, who has been the local leader on the project, estimated the total cost of removing the wires at around $1.2 million. An application has been submitted to the federal government's highway improvement program for the balance of the funding needed. Under the arrangement made with the state, Manchester will take over maintenance on about a mile of Routes 1-1/30, from Highland Avenue to Dufresne Pond Road, and about 2 miles of Route 7A, from Barnumville Road to Beech Street. On Monday, Vermont Sen. Richard Sears, D-Bennington, pointed out that the bill signed by the governor was the first one passed by the Senate in the recent Legislative session. Sears also congratulated Manchester Town Manager John O'Keefe, who came up with the idea for the "swap." "Every now and then somebody comes up with an idea that ought to be modeled all across the entire state," Sears said. Contact Patrick McArdle at patrick.mcardle@rutlandherald.com. ... - By PATRICK McARDLE Herald Staff |
| Judge gives suspended sentence to man who crashed into restaurant Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST WHITE RIVER JUNCTION -- A Chinese immigrant was given a suspended sentence Monday after an incident last year in which he drove his employer's van through the side of a restaurant and struck a seven-year-old girl. On Monday, Yu Ni, 37, pleaded no contest in White River Junction District Court to negligent operation and operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent. He received a six- to 12-month suspended sentence. Both his public defender Elizabeth A. Kruska and an interpreter to translate between English and Yu Ni's native Mandarin accompanied Yu Ni, who does not speak English. A second translator, who was present via a telephone that sat on the bench of Judge M. Kathleen Manley, served as the official translator for the proceeding. Yu Ni, Kruska and Yu Ni's personal interpreter approached the bench as Manley spoke to Yu Ni and the official translator relayed her questions to Yu Ni in Mandarin. "Do you understand the plea agreement?" Manley asked Yu Ni. The official translator relayed the question to Yu Ni, who answered in Mandarin. The translator then told Manley that Yu Ni understood. The difficulty of communication caused the change of plea and sentencing to stretch on for nearly 90 minutes. Yu Ni pleaded no contest to an incident on July 22 in which he drove the van belonging to the China Moon Restaurant in White River Junction where he worked. According to a police affidavit filed with the court, he told police he was practicing his driving in the parking lot when he "accidentally pinned the accelerator with his foot and crashed into the building." Police said the van drove completely through the south-facing wall and out the west wall into the parking lot, but not before striking seven-year-old Eleanor Boule, who was dining out with her parents and was in the restroom at the time. Victim's Advocate Pamela Weigel read a statement from Eleanor as Yu Ni listened to the translation from the jury box. "I have terrible nightmares and I jump out of bed and I scream and mom and dad jump out of bed and they tell me it's OK, go back to bed," Weigel read on behalf of Eleanor. "I'm afraid to go to the girl's bathroom by myself." Eleanor was not in court, but her parents were. Donald Boule, Eleanor's father, addressed not just the court but Yu Ni directly as he recounted the event. "I heard a screeching piercing holler that I'll never forget and I'll remember it for life," Boule said. According to court records, Eleanor was transported to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center with neck injuries, head trauma and a deep cut on her leg. She was treated and later released, court records stated, but Donald Boule said his daughter still suffered. "She is so scared of eating out and scared of going to sleep at night. Her wishes are for the man who did this to go to jail," Boule said. "She's my daughter and I love her to pieces and I would love to see that myself ... I do believe the state is going too lightly on this case." Deputy State's Attorney Heidi H. Woessner expressed compassion for the Boule family while at the same time defended her office's decision to offer the plea agreement. "The state does not want to minimize the pain and suffering the victim has been through," Woessner said. "The state wants to commend the Boules for being such strong advocates for their daughter." Woessner then said it was important for the Boules that the case be closed without their daughter having to testify. Woessner also noted there was no evidence that Yu Ni had intended to crash through the wall of the restroom and hurt Eleanor. Before Judge Manley imposed sentence, Yu Ni addressed the court through the official interpreter. "I don't have much to say but I am very sorry to the little girl and her parents," Yu Ni said. "No matter what sentence is imposed, it will never make your daughter whole in terms of suffering the effects of an accident," Manley said. "It's hard to imagine how you would feel when you are in a safe place and a car comes through the wall." Yu Ni was placed on probation with the conditions that he participates in a restorative justice program, not drive a motor vehicle and participate in a victim-offender meeting at the request of the victims. Contact Josh O'Gorman at josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com. ... - By JOSH O'GORMAN Herald Staff |
| Rockingham library closed for inventory Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST ROCKINGHAM -- The Rockingham Free Public Library will be closed May 13-17 for inventory. During that time, library patrons may return materials to the book drop in front of the library. The library will reopen May 19. -- Staff and wire reports ... |
| Police identify man found in West River Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST BRATTLEBORO -- Brattleboro Police say they've identified the body found Friday in the West River as that of a 41-year-old Newfane man. Police say there is nothing suspicious about the death of Woodrow Wilson Swain. Police say they believe Swain's death is an accidental drowning. The body was found about 12:30 p.m. Friday. It's unclear how long the body had been in the water. ... |
| Man faces DUI, drug charges after stop Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST WOODSTOCK -- A Woodstock man is facing charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, drunken driving and possession of marijuana paraphernalia after a traffic stop Friday night. Shortly after 11:30 p.m., state police stopped Jeremy L. Guerin, 27, on Route 4 for a minor motor vehicle violation. Investigation revealed Guerin had been drinking and was in possession of a marijuana pipe, police said. Police charged Guerin with resisting arrest after he refused to be put in the back of the police cruiser and had to be physically forced into the front seat to be transported to the Woodstock Police Department, police said. When they got to the police station, police said Guerin was uncooperative and refused to listen to verbal commands. As a result, police took Guerin to the ground and when Guerin began to yell and use profanity, police charged him with disorderly conduct, police said. Guerin was processed and released with a citation to appear in White River Junction District Court on May 20. ... |
| Okemo's May spray Mon, 05 May 2008 23:07:00 EST Eric Comstock sprays off the winter grime from the walkway at the Okemo Ski Area on Monday. ... |
| Poking fun at politics Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST MANCHESTER -- In the middle of a presidential campaign season, it can be difficult to remember that the candidates were once people who the country could laugh with and not at. But now a reminder has arrived in the form of CBS News anchor Charles Osgood's new book, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House." The book is easily described by its sub-title, "Humor, Blunders and Other Oddities from the Presidential Campaign Trail." Osgood, who will be appearing at the Equinox Hotel on Friday as a guest of the Northshire Bookstore to promote the book, assembled it from the last 60 years of presidential elections. "This book is not about the issues. It will not solve any of the country's problems. It does suggest there's a certain amount of humor to be found in presidential campaigns when you take a look at the candidates or the situations," Osgood, 75, said in a recent phone interview. Osgood, the anchor of CBS Sunday Morning and winner of three Emmy Awards and three Peabody Awards, said he was looking forward to making public appearance like Friday's in Manchester to hear what people think of the recently published book. Osgood starts with the 1948 election when Harry S. Truman trumped the favored Thomas E. Dewey, repeating lines like Truman's paraphrase of Mark Twain, "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a Republican. But I repeat myself." The last chapter, devoted to the 2004 re-election of George W. Bush over John F. Kerry, includes this Kerry quote: "The president goes around the country speaking Spanish. The only Spanish he speaks when it comes to jobs is, 'Hasta la vista.'" One of the most striking things about reading the collection of quotes is how many came from the candidates and other politicians in past decades and how many come from late-night comedians in more recent years. "I think it says something about the way the candidates are so managed now. They have handlers and managers watching over everything they say," Osgood said. Osgood said the American people seem to believe a candidate with a witty sense of humor is not someone who is serious even though some of America's most beloved presidents, like Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, were known for their wit. In "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House," Osgood quotes Reagan's willingness to joke about his age -- "It was easier to run for president when I was a boy. Back then, there were only 13 states." -- and his ability to take on an opponent with a joke -- "Depression is when you're out of work. A recession is when your neighbor's out of work. Recovery is when (incumbent President Jimmy) Carter's out of work." -- on the campaign trail. Osgood said he believed no president had been as comfortable using humor as Kennedy, who could be funny even discussing serious topics. That kind of charisma can help a candidate get elected, Osgood said. "The reason that people like to see a candidate cracking jokes or seeming at ease is that we have the experience that people like that are more graceful, have more personal charm and so it will be easier for them to do more of the things that will come across their desk," he said. On the other hand, candidate Adlai Stevenson was a much warmer, funnier public speaker than Dwight Eisenhower but while Stevenson mocked Eisenhower as an "egghead," he lost the 1952 election by 442-89 electoral votes. "Laughing is one thing. Liking is another," Osgood said. Tickets to Osgood's appearance at the Equinox are $26 and include a copy of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House." They can be purchased at the Northshire Bookstore or at the store's Web site at www.northshire.com. Contact Patrick McArdle at patrick.mcardle@rutlandherald.com. ... - By PATRICK McARDLE Herald Staff |
| SVMC's $12M project pushing ahead Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST BENNINGTON -- South western Vermont Medical Center is planning to begin construction this year on an almost $12 million project to replace their existing heating and cooling equipment with a central plant for boiler, chiller and electric systems. Kevin McDonald, vice president of marketing and planning for the Southwestern Vermont Health Care, said on Thursday that SVHC was working to secure a certificate of need from the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration which must approve any hospital project in the state budgeted at more than $3 million. In February, the hospital announced it was halting all capital projects in an effort to cut costs, but McDonald said he believed by the time the new building project was ready to begin, the hospital would be ready to lift the restriction. The money for the project will come from contributions to the hospital and loans, McDonald said. McDonald said he hoped to have the certificate by the summer so construction of the estimated $11.8 million project could begin in September to meet the target completion date of October 2009. Plans call for the building to be about 80 feet by 90 feet and about 30 feet high. It will be on the campus grounds used by the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center on the east side. The grounds chosen for the plant are next to a garage, surrounded by trees and about 750 feet from the nearest private house. Within the building, there will be three boilers, two high-efficiency electric chillers, an emergency generator and electrical switching equipment. It will have enough space for an additional two chillers and will eventually house three emergency generators which will be relocated to the plant as they are replaced at the end of their life cycles over the next 15 years. Hospital officials say they need to replace the hospital's three-existing boilers because they are out-of-date and inefficient. They were installed between 1966 and 1985. Steve Clayman, vice-president of Lavallee Brensinger Architects of Manchester, N.H., said another of the hospital's problems was very common. Over time, as the hospital has expanded, the building around the boiler room has been built up and sealed off which makes it harder to replace or remove large equipment. The solution is to move the equipment outside of the hospital to its own site, Clayman said. Project Manager Brian Sallisky said the project shared its basic concept with efforts made recently by Rutland Regional Medical Center to move its heating and cooling systems into their own facility. While SVHC officials are not expecting the plant to be disruptive for neighbors, they hosted their first public meeting on Thursday to let people know about their plans. Kevin Robinson, communications director for the health care system, said the replacement of the boiler systems was probably more important than people realize. "The boiler is pretty much the lifeblood of a hospital. Without it we couldn't sterilize instruments or do laundry or operate the cafeteria in the normal fashion," he said. Sallisky said chillers also serve a valuable medical function, adding enough humidity to prevent static electricity but removing excess humidity to prevent bacteria from growing. Both the heating and cooling elements allow staff and patients to stay in the hospital in comfort and in good health which is essential in an operation which doesn't shut down during parts of the day and from which people couldn't be easily sent home while a problem is fixed. The new equipment, in fact, will provide redundancies that allow heating and cooling to continue while one particular chiller or boiler is shut down for maintenance or repair. SVHC officials estimate the new equipment will reduce carbon emissions by about 60 percent. While some scientists still question the theory of global warming, others believe burning carbon fuels is contributing to a detectable and dangerous increase in the temperature of earth. According to Sallisky, systems like geothermal and wood-pellet burners were considered but weren't found to be practical given the hospital's needs and footprint. As the health care organization moves forward with this project, Robinson is accepting comments and questions and can be reached at 447-5003. Contact Patrick McArdle at patrick.mcardle@rutlandherald.com. ... - By PATRICK McARDLE Herald Staff |
| Dog summit targets control issue Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST NEWFANE -- Windham County Sheriff Keith Clark is convening a "dog summit" for area towns to get together and talk about bad dogs, lost dogs, noisy dogs and unlicensed dogs -- and the cops who have to deal with them. Clark said he wanted towns to adopt a uniform dog and animal control ordinance, so when and if his deputies go to pick up a stray, they don't have to research what could be towns' conflicting ordinances. "I would like one model ordinance that all the towns could adopt," Clark said. Clark said the sheriff's department has contracts or agreements with several towns to handle dog complaints or problems, and while he wasn't looking for more dog business, he realized some law enforcement agency had to do it. But he stressed the sheriff's department was not the defacto county dogcatcher. Westminster Town Manager Sonia Alexander said she was thrilled Clark was taking the dog by the collar, so to speak, and doing something about what is a pesky problem in many towns. Alexander said Westminster did have its own animal control officer, a town constable. But the constable has a full-time job elsewhere, and isn't always available to pick up a stray dog or a problem dog. "We have a constable that writes tickets, but she has a job and oftentimes she's not in town," said Alexander. "We are hoping the sheriff can put something together." Rockingham Town Manager Jim Mullen said Rockingham was very interested in Clark's idea. Rockingham currently doesn't have a contract with Clark for dogs, but it's the sheriff's department that police call when there's a dog problem. "We get a bill from them once a month," Mullen said, noting that Select Board member Ann DiBernardo would be attending the May 19 meeting at Clark's Newfane offices on behalf of the town. "The Select Board would like to explore having a dedicated animal control officer," said Mullen, noting it's very inefficient to have a police officer trained and equipped to handle maybe one complaint a week. "It really should be county-wide," said Mullen. Mullen said that Brattleboro, which does have a full-time animal control officer, still only worked 40 hours a week, and that didn't cover weekends, nights and holidays. Clark said there was an active misperception in the law enforcement community as well that the sheriff's department was in charge of every stray dog in the county. He recalled a recent case where a Vermont State Police trooper saw a dog by the side of the road in Townshend, and radioed to the sheriff's department to come pick it up. He should have stopped and asked someone if anyone knew the dog or its owner, he said. "He really thought we were the dog catcher," Clark said. "I don't want to be and my patrol deputies don't want to be. "More and more towns are having issues with dogs, and animals in general," he said. "The question is how to pay for it. "If a dog is barking at night or there's a stray, everybody calls us," he complained, good-naturedly. "I say, 'if you can catch it, call us.'" Clark said he already had a commitment from the six towns the sheriff's department contracts with to attend the session, as well as Brattleboro, which has its own animal control officer. The sheriff's department also is the defacto animal control officer in the towns of Dummerston and Whitingham. The meeting will be held at the sheriff's department on Monday, May 19 at 4 p.m. Contact Susan Smallheer at susan.smallheer@rutlandherald.com. ... - By SUSAN SMALLHEER Herald Staff |
| Putney General store 'a total loss' in fire Mon, 05 May 2008 09:20:00 EST The third-floor Putney General Store went up in flames late Saturday night. According to Fire Chief Tom Goddard, Putney Fire & Rescue received a phone call at 9:52 p.m. about a fire at the store. Fire departments from West Dummerston, Putney, Brattleboro, Westminster, Guilford, Vernon and Bellows Falls responded to the scene. Several fire departments from New Hampshire also worked on the fire. Suppressive efforts of the coordinated response were able to stop the fire from spreading to adjacent and attached businesses, Detective Sgt. James Cruise said in a release. There were no reported injuries. Reports state the roof was destroyed with heavy water damage to the first and second floor of the store, and call the building "a total loss." Upon investigation Sunday, Cruise said the cause of the fire is unknown. The investigation continues. Putney General Store, on Kimball Hill Road, was originally built in 1769, and started being used as a store in 1843. It is currently owned by Erhan Oge, who also owns Putney Village Pizza. Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call Detective Sgt. Cruise at 773-9101 or the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program (VATAP) at (800) 32-ARSON. ... |
| Bennington woman convicted of fraud Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST A Bennington woman is heading to prison for conviction on a federal criminal charge in connection with a fraudulent real estate transfer, according to federal prosecutors. Laura Zipprich, 41, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Rutland to one month in prison and three months of home confinement for wire fraud. After completing her prison sentence and home confinement, Zipprich will serve three years of supervised release. She will begin serving her sentence on July 22. She was also ordered to pay restitution totaling nearly $55,000. According to court documents, on May 12, 2004, Zipprich used the identity of a family member to obtain a $10,000 loan from BankNorth. The bank did not know that Zipprich was obtaining the loan without the family member's knowledge. Zipprich made few payments on the loan. When the bank learned of the fraud, the balance of the loan was more than $9,900, according to prosecutors. In September 2004, Zipprich transferred a residence in Winhall to the same relative and without telling the relative she obtained a mortgage on the property totaling $135,200. When the closing took place, she received more than $54,000, court records stated. -- Staff reports ... |
| Attempted-murder suspect faces obstruction of justice Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST BENNINGTON -- A man who police said stabbed a 17-year-old woman last summer is now facing charges that he tried to persuade her not to testify against him according to court papers which imply the two now plan to marry. Vincent C. Wilson, 19, was charged with a felony count of second-degree attempted murder in June 2007 but now a felony charge of obstruction of justice has been added in that case. Bennington County Chief Deputy State's Attorney Christina Rainville said the state also planned to modify the charges against Wilson to add a felony count of attempted voluntary manslaughter. Wilson was also charged on Wednesday in Bennington County District Court separately with two misdemeanor charges of violating an abuse prevention order based on the same allegations that led to the obstruction of justice charge. Wilson has pleaded innocent to all the charges. Police said Wilson picked up a kitchen knife on June 26, 2007 in the Manchester home of Kristen Boudreau and stabbed her in the chest, abdomen and back after they argued about her relationship with another man. Wilson fled with the couple's 8-month-old daughter and was arrested in Dorset later the same day. In July 2007, Bennington County Family Court ordered Wilson not to have contact with Boudreau or their daughter until November 2024 or until the court modifies the order. Investigator Gary Briggs, who is assigned to the Bennington County State's Attorney's office through the county's sheriff department, said in an affidavit that he retrieved recorded conversations made by Wilson from Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland through a subpoena. Briggs described one conversation he said took place on Feb. 28. In that conversation, Briggs said a woman who he didn't know told Wilson that his "future wife" was there and put Boudreau on the phone. Briggs said he had spoken to Boudreau and knew her voice. According to the affidavit, Wilson told Boudreau the state would "have no case" and "he could get off with no strings attached," if she left the area instead of testifying against him. Briggs said Boudreau and Wilson spoke twice more the same day. In the second conversation, Wilson told her that the consequences of perjury would be a $100 fine and 30 days in prison. The affidavit described another conversation between Wilson and a relative. Briggs said Wilson asked his relative if she could raise some money which he would use to send Boudreau away. "I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. The way I could get off ... it's kind of complicated. It would be with a mistrial. It would be the only way I could get off, if Kris doesn't show up," the affidavit quoted Wilson as saying. Briggs said he met Boudreau on March 25 and she admitted to speaking with Wilson after Briggs let her hear the recorded conversations. Boudreau told Briggs that she was no longer speaking with Wilson, according to the affidavit. However, Boudreau was in court on Wednesday and sat with a group of people in the court room directly behind Wilson. At one point, Wilson turned around and spoke with people in the group until sheriff's deputies interrupted. The charge of obstruction of justice carries a penalty of up to five years in prison while both violations of abuse protection orders are punishable by up to a year in prison. Contact Patrick McArdle at patrick.mcardle@rutlandherald.com. ... - By PATRICK McARDLE Herald Staff |
| Last stores standing Local hardware outlets outlast Home Depot Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 EST BRATTLEBORO -- When a Home Depot set up shop across the street, Fireside True Value hardware store owner Wayne St. John knew it would probably take some of his customers away. He and his brothers, who've operated their store for 35 years, had heard the stories about big-box stores and their low prices driving competitors into the ground. So the store stuck to what it does best -- good customer service, competitive prices and a willingness to stock that hard-to-find part folks never seemed to find at the big building with the orange roof. Four years later, it's Fireside True Value that's still standing. "I've had a lot of customers come in and say 'You guys put them under,'" said St. John. In truth, many factors played a role in the closing of Home Depot store No. 4552 and in the Atlanta-based home improvement giant's decision to close 14 other "underperforming" stores whose annual sales averaged about $11 million, far below the $36 million desired by the company. Among them: Opposition from grass-roots groups that succeed in stirring up boycotts and bad publicity even when they don't stop the stores from opening. "We've seen big-box stores defeated in over 200 communities in the last two years," said Stacy Mitchell, author of "Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses." "Campaigns are proliferating and even if they don't succeed, the public education they do often has a significant impact on people's shopping choices after the store opens," Mitchell said. In Brattleboro, an artsy southern Vermont town (pop. 11,741) known for its left-leaning sensibilities, Home Depot was a public enemy before it even opened the store in a former Ames' department store 1-1/2 miles from downtown. Small by Home Depot standards at 60,000 square feet, it was sandwiched in between two other Home Depots -- one across the river in Keene, N.H., the other in nearby Greenfield, Mass. -- within a 30-minute drive. BrattPower, a citizens' group, fought to keep the home improvement retailer out, saying its bargain prices and sheer size would siphon business from local businesses. "This is not an orange-blooded town," said Al Norman, an anti-sprawl activist who has spearheaded campaigns against Wal-Mart and Home Depot in dozens of communities. "Yes, it's a bad housing market. Yes, it was a bad location. Yes, it was a small location. But it was also in hostile territory." Loyalty to existing businesses also played a role. Brown & Roberts, a family-operated Ace Hardware store downtown beloved by locals for its creaky wooden floors, peg-board displays and attentive personal service, couldn't compete with Home Depot's prices on some products, but many customers continued going there anyway. "That first year, business was flat," said manager Paul Putnam, 59, who runs it along with seven other family members. "We haven't had a banner year in their four years here, but we've managed to make it. Good customer service, having friendly, knowledgeable employees, that's always been our strong point." Neither store changed its merchandising strategy or price structure to compete with the new store in town, believing that customers would stick with them. For the most part, they did. "Last week, I had to get a part for my kitchen overhead vent," said Dan Rubchinuk, 26, of Putney, shopping for gloves and a coffee press Friday at Brown & Roberts. "I call here and they spend five minutes on the phone with me. I call Home Depot and spend 15 minutes on hold while the person tries to figure out what I'm talking about." Home Depot spokeswoman Jean Niemi wouldn't comment on the common traits shared by the towns where the stores will be closed. She said the lackluster sales were the bottom line. "There were a number of things we looked at, but it came down to that," she said from company headquarters in Atlanta. "We regularly look at the financials of stores throughout the company. Those were the 15 that just weren't meeting the return." On Friday, arriving customers were chagrined to find a sign saying the store was closed in preparation for a liquidation sale to begin Saturday. Dave Ingalls, 47, of Brattleboro, came looking to buy indoor-outdoor carpeting for his childrens' play area. He said he'll miss the store. "It's closeby and they have a lot of stuff that's right there and right on display that you don't find at every hardware store. You don't have to drive all over town looking for this or that," he said. Others will, too. About 80 jobs will be lost in the closing. "I fear more and more of these closures," said Mitchell. "To the extent that these stores hurt when they opened, they'll do a second round of damage when they close." ... - By JOHN CURRAN The Associated Press |
| Photos from the NIE Golf Tournament: 10:22 a.m. Tue, 06 May 2008 10:28:00 EST View photos from the May 3, 2008 NIE Golf Tournament ... - http://rutlandherald.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=511047 |
| Three Red Sox HRs lead to 6-3 win Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST DETROIT -- Mike Lowell hit one of Boston's three homers for his first RBIs this season, and the Red Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 6-3 Monday night behind a wild Daisuke Matsuzaka. ... - The Associated Press |
| Bloomer blasts a double in seventh to lift Raiders Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST WHITE RIVER JUNCTION -- The Rutland baseball team was looking at 11 days off and dearly wanted a win against the Hartford Hurricanes. ... - By CHUCK CLARINO Herald Staff |
| Cosmos on the way back, win second straight Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST SPRINGFIELD -- The Springfield baseball team, after starting the season at 0-6, won its second straight game Monday with a 10-2 Marble Valley League triumph over Woodstock in a game played a Riverside Park. ... - By POODY WALSH Herald Correspondent |
| Bellows Falls uses timely hitting, pitching to tip Colonels Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST In Westminster, Brattleboro got solid pitching but too many mistakes and some timely Bellows Falls hitting spelled doom as the Terriers took a 4-3 victory in Marble Valley League baseball on Monday. ... - Staff Reports |
| LeBron comes to Boston to try to knock off Celtics Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST WALTHAM, Mass. -- Doc Rivers got a chance to see another side of LeBron James in February, when the Celtics coach was running the Eastern Conference All-Star team and the Cavaliers forward was winning the game's MVP award for the second time. ... - By JIMMY GOLEN The Associated Press |
| Trainer defends jockey Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The trainer of euthanized filly Eight Belles adamantly defended the way jockey Gabriel Saez handled the Kentucky Derby runner-up. ... - By JEFFREY McMURRAY The Associated Press |
| Saints marching off to regionals Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST The College of St. Joseph softball team won't be intimidated when it takes the field Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Canton, Ohio for its first game of the double-elimination NAIA Regional Tournament in Canton, Ohio. That is because the Fighting Saints made the trip to Ohio for the same tournament last year. ... - By TOM HALEY Herald Staff |
| Busch becomes Public Enemy No. 1 for wrecking Earnhardt Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST CONCORD, N.C. -- Three security guards followed Kyle Busch around Lowe's Motor Speedway, where his safety was presumably still in danger from a victory-starved "Junior Nation" incensed over the late-race accident that cost Dale Earnhardt Jr. a victory. ... - By JENNA FRYER The Associated Press |
| OV nips Terriers Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EST BRANDON -- K's were wild in Otter Valley's 3-2 extra-inning victory over Bellows Falls in Monday's Marble Valley League softball game. Otter Valley junior pitcher Ashley Sanderson struck out 17, Bellows Falls' Sarah Harmon fanned nine more and catcher Kelsey Knapp delivered the winning hit in the bottom of the ninth. ... - By TOM HALEY Herald Staff |
| Shriners kick off 2008 Sugar Bowl Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST LEBANON, N.H. -- Something old, something new could have been the theme at the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl's banquet as the Vermont and New Hampshire teams met as a group for the first time here Sunday. ... - By TOM HALEY Herald Staff |
| A study in courage: Beauchamp honored by Foundation Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST MIDDLEBURY -- It wasn't a running back who piled up 2,000 yards last fall or a quarterback who threw 25 touchdown passes who got the biggest ovation at Sunday's night's banquet of the Vermont Chapter of the National Football Foundation. ... - By TOM HALEY Herald Staff |
| Upshall goal lifts Flyers Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST MONTREAL -- Scott Upshall scored with 3:04 remaining in the third period and the Philadelphia Flyers advanced to the Eastern Conference final with a 6-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. ... - The Associated Press |
| Youkilis, Lester lift BoSox to sweep of Tampa Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST BOSTON -- Kevin Youkilis had four RBIs and Jon Lester pitched six innings to lift Boston over Tampa Bay 7-3 on Sunday, spoiling the return of Rays ace Scott Kazmir. ... - The Associated Press |
| Celtics finally finish Hawks Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EST BOSTON -- Kevin Garnett took a behind-the-back pass from Paul Pierce, slammed in the dunk to give Boston a 36-point, third-quarter lead and then slashed his hand across his throat to signal what the Atlanta Hawks already knew. ... - By JIMMY GOLEN The Associated Press |
| Marijuana law debate moves to state panel Mon, 05 May 2008 23:44:00 EST MONTPELIER -- Lawmakers shied away from making major changes to the state's marijuana laws this year, but the Vermont Sentencing Commission -- a body consisting of police, judges, prosecutors and public defenders -- will soon pick up that conversation. ... - By DANIEL BARLOW Vermont Press Bureau |
| Vermont tries to lure Florida's sunbirds north Mon, 05 May 2008 22:52:00 EST Every winter, the chilled masses of New England flee to Florida, as if drawn by a magnetic force. Vermont is hoping to spark a reverse-migration this year, enticing residents of the Sunshine State with one thing they do not have -- a cool summer. ... - By SARAH SCHWEITZER The Boston Globe |
| 1 2 3 4 Next |
Copyright © Andanh.com 2008
Chinese Dir