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| Frost home vandals taken to class Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Using "The Road Not Taken" and another poem as jumping-off points, Frost biographer Jay Parini hopes to show the vandals the error of their ways -- and the redemptive power of poetry. |
| Motorcycle rumble drowns out message Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Once again, Vermont Thunder supporters and participants are angry at the next-to-nothing coverage they received. |
| Mother works for son, others with autism Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Linda Luxenberg hopes to expand Ellie's Place into a group home, with on-site vocational training and opportunities available individuals with autism as they enter adulthood. |
| Temporary bridge planned in Middlesex Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST The rusted-out truss bridge on U.S. 2 at the Middlesex/Moretown line will be torn down and replaced with a temporary, one-lane bridge. |
| Wine sale draws crowds to South Burlington store Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:25:00 EST Once the doors were unlocked, shoppers scurried around the store's basement wine floor, searching for deals. |
| Vt. offers new business loans Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Plan is aimed at stimulating economic growth |
| Today's recipe Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:06:00 EST Strawberry recipes |
| Young and not so young Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:47:00 EST Trip to the grocery store provides both |
| First with Kids: Roller shoes Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST What Dr. First says about 'heelies' |
| Shop smart: Strategies and secrets Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:37:00 EST How to combat rising food prices that are putting the squeeze on Vermont pocketbooks |
| June Family Calendar Mon, 26 May 2008 07:44:00 EST Click here to download and print; Web resources, too |
| Kid quotes Wed, 28 May 2008 10:22:00 EST When your children make you giggle |
| Table Talk: Digging up a berried treasure Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST How to make a strawberry shortcake worthy of its name. |
| Tuesday's Horoscope Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Here are today's predictions. |
| Editorial: Come hear the music at Discover Jazz Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:18:00 EST The festival defines jazz in the broadest sense, from the familiar standards to a diverse range of the variations within the genre. |
| Letters to the Editor Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST The Free Press publishes thousands of letters to the editor every year. Here are today's letters: |
| My Turn: How to meet the oil challenge Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:51:00 EST Oil, metals, foods -- take your pick -- the crunch is only beginning. |
| College Honors Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST As reported to the Free Press Sports Department: |
| Youth clubs secure soccer crowns Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Nordic takes 12 of 16 titles |
| Vermont scores Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Monday's results and Tuesday's schedule |
| Quit now Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST You may have received a card in the mail from the Vermont Department of Health with information about the Vermont Quit Network. If you are a smoker, pay attention. State health officials and smoking cessation groups in Rutland and elsewhere around the state are working to help you quit. ... |
| From bad to verse : Robert Frost house vandals get penance in a classroom Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:45:00 EST MIDDLEBURY -- After more than two dozen young people trashed a former residence of poet Robert Frost during a drinking party, the dilemma was how to punish them. ... - By JOHN CURRAN The Associated Press |
| DPW contract features pay raise Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST A new contract between Rutland's Public Works union and the city has higher pay raises for the workers offset by unprecedented medical premium payments and the removal of riders from most winter maintenance operations. ... - By BRENT CURTIS Herald Staff |
| Center Street gallery to close Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST When it opened nearly three years ago, Center Street Artisans represented a new retail niche for the downtown -- a store stocked with beautiful, high-end, handmade furniture and crafts by artisans from Vermont and New England. ... - By BRUCE EDWARDS Herald Staff |
| EPA criticizes Vt. on Champlain pollution Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST MONTPELIER -- The feds may require Vermont wastewater treatment plants be beefed up unless the state takes action, according to a letter from the Environmental Protection Agency, because the state's work so far to control pollution flowing into Lake Champlain "has not reduced enough phosphorous to meet the load reduction requirements." ... - By LOUIS PORTER Vermont Press Bureau |
| Middlebury board slates school paper discussion Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST MIDDLEBURY -- A high school teacher said he hopes to spark discussion on how to best supervise the student newspaper. ... - By GORDON DRITSCHILO Herald Staff |
| Board gets look at budget plan Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:39:00 EST At first glance, Mayor Christopher Louras' proposed $25,003,495 city budget does not look ominous compared to other spending plans in recent years. ... - By BRENT CURTIS Herald Staff |
| City man missing from his furlough Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Authorities are looking for a Rutland man missing from his furlough. ... |
| New hunger film at Rutland library Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST The Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger will show "Every Child. Every Day" at the Rutland Public Library on Wednesday. ... |
| Police ask for help to find missing man Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Vermont State Police are requesting help in their search to find a missing man from Cuttingsville. ... |
| Smart shopper Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:54:00 EST Alexis Ross of Rutland browses jewelry made by Stacie Minches Designs of Middlebury at the recent opening of the Brandon Farmers' Market. ... |
| Vt. keg party old hat for N.J. teens Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:43:00 EST DOVER -- Police are still investigating a post-prom underage drinking party Friday night with more than 100 New Jersey teenagers that took six law enforcement agencies eight hours to process. Sometime on Friday, the Randolph Township Police Department in New Jersey began to receive reports that the high school students who were traveling to Dover for a post-prom party would be drinking, said Randolph Township Police Chief Dean Kazaba. Kazaba called Vermont State Police, who in turn called Dover Police. "This information sharing among law enforcement happens all the time, especially after 9/11," Kazaba said. Kazaba said that he received tips from multiple sources, including students, parents and the school resource officer at Randolph Township High School, who initially estimated that as many as 250 students would be traveling to Dover. In fact, 110 students made the trip, and Dover Police called in mutual aid from Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, Wilmington, state police and the Windham County Sheriff's Department, said Robert Edwards, Dover's Chief of Police. At about 10 p.m., police served a search warrant and began to process the teens for drinking, which took 14 officers about eight hours. Edwards said while it was initially reported that police had cited 62 teens for drinking, with five different agencies issuing citations the exact number will not be confirmed until a multi-agency meeting later this week. Edwards said police recovered 16 bottles of vodka, six cases of beer and 18 kegs of beer. Excluding the vodka and the cases of beer, there was enough beer in the kegs for each of the 110 teens to have 27 beers each. "They could have run a bar for a month with the amount of alcohol that was there," Edwards said. Police also found a substantial amount of marijuana, but it had been scattered on the ground and could not be linked to any one person, Edwards said. Police are still investigating where the alcohol came from, and on Monday, Edwards was uncertain if it was purchased in Vermont or New Jersey, or by whom. Edwards said that through interviews with the teens it appears that some of them drove to Vermont while others rode a chartered bus, but whether they transported 18 kegs -- which together weigh 3,150 pounds -- is still unknown. What is known is that the three vacation homes were rented by teens and not their parents, said George Lair, who operates Vermont Private Vacation Homes. Lair confirmed the three houses --- which sleep 18, 22 and 24 people -- were rented by people between 18 and 19 years old and not by their parents. Lair said he did not know if the people who had rented the houses were among those who had been cited, but presumed they were. "In the state of Vermont, anyone 18 or over can rent a house," Lair said. Chief Edwards said his department has responded to underage drinking incidents at Lair's properties in the past. Some of those who traveled to Vermont came on a bus rented by parents who said they were unaware of the planned booze party. The thought of their 17-year-old daughter and her friends driving nearly five hours to a post-prom party in Vermont unsettled Donald and Lisa Shauger of New Jersey. So the Randolph parents rented a bus for them and watched 29 teens board for what they thought would be a booze-free weekend at three rented homes in West Dover. Then came a phone call Saturday morning. Vermont police crashed the party and seized kegs of beer, vodka and other alcohol. "When I got the call about what happened, I was appalled," said Donald Shauger, who went to Vermont to play golf and stayed nearby the teens' party spot. "We are 100 percent against underaged drinking. When they loaded onto the bus there was no alcohol, no kegs on that bus." Donald Shauger said his daughter was one of the students who did not get in trouble. He expected the kids to have a good time, without alcohol. "After our prom we went to the Jersey Shore but what happened here goes against all of our values," Shauger said. Edwards said initial reports that the teens' parents were staying in the area were unsubstantiated. The father of one teenage girl came to Dover after he had heard from his daughter, but that was after the raid on the party, Edwards said. All of the teens had left Dover by Sunday, Edwards said. It is still unknown what action -- if any -- the Randolph Township High School will take. On Monday, the school district issued a press release on its Web site stating that the district had no comment and to refer all questions to the Randolph Township Police Department. Superintendent Dr. Max R. Riley and Board of Education President Greg Mark could not be reached for comment. Communication Director Jon Zlock would not comment beyond the press release declining comment. The party might be a topic of discussion at the Board of Education's next meeting on June 11. Chief Kazaba said he had no idea what action the school might take or if the drinking citations might prevent seniors from graduating on June 19. Kazaba said that right now his department was not engaged in an active investigation and was waiting on a report from the Dover Police. Kazaba said that Randolph Township -- located about 35 miles from New York City with a population of about 25,000 -- has not had teen drinking parties of the size seen in Dover. "Usually, when we see an action of that size, it's usually the result of a drug sweep, not a party," Kazaba said. Edwards -- who in addition to being Dover's chief of police has spent the last 10 years giving lectures on the dangers of teen drinking -- said Friday's party was an all-too-common occurrence. "I think this is a prime example where we have adults who don't understand the dangers of teen drinking," Edwards said. "About 110 parents allowed their kids to go off to Vermont unsupervised." The teenagers ticketed have 15 days to decide if they are going to participate in a program that will clear the charges. If they don't participate in the program, they will have to pay a $300 fine. While school officials in New Jersey did not address the incident with students, the school was buzzing yesterday about what happened at the Vermont homes. Mike Guglielmo, a 17-year-old junior, said the trip had become an unofficial annual tradition for the senior class. But he said, "It's never been where it made the news." Bill Swayze of The Star-Ledger newspaper in New Jersey contributed to this report. Contact Josh O'Gorman at josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com. ... - By JOSH O'GORMAN Herald Staff |
| Springfield OKs school consolidation Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:45:00 EST SPRINGFIELD -- Plans for the consolidation of the town's elementary schools have begun, but the fate of Park Street School will be left to the newly appointed building committee. Monday night the Springfield School Board approved a motion to begin consolidation plans, which will move Park Street's kindergarten through fourth-grade pupils to Elm Hill and Union Street elementary schools and move fifth-grade to Riverside Middle School. The approved motion was an amended by board member Larry Kraft and removed all reference to using Park Street for administrative use. Kraft said he wanted to treat the school consolidation and the use of Park Street as two different issues and wanted to allow the building committee to make recommendations to the board for the building's use. Less than half an hour before, the board had voted to appoint a building committee -- composed of board Vice Chairwoman Jeanice Garfield, board member Marilyn Thompson and five members of the community who had expressed written interest -- Scott Adams, Mark Blanchard, James Dunn, Herb Jamison and Kenneth Smith. Blanchard, who was at the meeting, told the board the building committee should be free to consider all uses for Park Street, including relocating the administrative offices to another building owned by the district. While Kraft's amendment to remove language referring to Park Street from the motion passed, he let it be known that he was still against the motion and against the consolidation proposal. "I've let it be known from the beginning that I've been opposed to the supersizing of Elm Hill," Kraft said, referring to enrollment nearly tripling at the school under the proposal. Kraft also noted the potential problems the district might face when it goes before the town's zoning board and the lawsuit against the district by Elm Hill Elementary School neighbor Carrie Patch over the expansion of the school's parking lot. The consolidation plan was not the only issue to divide the board on Monday. Once again, by a 3-2 vote -- with Kraft and board member Samuel Coleman dissenting -- the board approved preliminary footprints for the revised expansions of Elm Hill and Union Street under the consolidation plan. Kraft and Blanchard both argued that the plans should come before the building committee before any vote is made by the School Board. "We've been led down this path -- if we vote to close Park Street, if we have Dore and Whittier as the architect, if we do the school consolidation -- until there's no choice," Blanchard told the board. Under the school consolidation plan, Elm Hill and Union Street schools will each be expanded to hold as many as 300 pupils. Union Street, which houses 240 pupils, will be expanded by 11,770 square feet, adding three classrooms and rooms for art, music and storage. Elm Hill will expand from 120 pupils to 300 and more than double in size from 24,373 square feet to 51,373 square feet. Contact Josh O'Gorman at josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com. ... - By JOSH O'GORMAN Herald Staff |
| Woman held in alleged stabbing Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST BENNINGTON -- A Foster Drive woman is being held in prison on $1,000 bail after police said she stabbed her former brother-in-law in the chest on Monday. Chrystyna P. Pasbrig, 24, of Bennington, pleaded innocent to a felony charge of first degree aggravated domestic assault with a weapon and a misdemeanor charge of violating the conditions of her release in Bennington District Court on Wednesday. Police said they were called around 5:30 p.m. by Daniel L. Voog, 31, who claimed Pasbrig stabbed him. Voog said he had been living with his brother, Matthew Voog, and Pasbrig, who is Matthew Voog's ex-wife. According to Daniel Voog, Matthew Voog had told him not to let Pasbrig in the house on Monday. When Pasbrig came to the house, Daniel Voog would not let her inside but allowed her son with Matthew Voog to go inside to get Pasbrig's purse, the affidavit said. Daniel Voog told police he looked inside the house at his nephew and when he looked back at Pasbrig, she was holding a knife over her head which she then used to stab him in the chest. Bennington Police Officer Robert Zink said he saw the knife wound and it appeared to be about a centimeter wide and about a half an inch deep. According to Daniel Voog, he knocked the knife from Pasbrig's hand and grabbed an unloaded .45 caliber pistol which he pointed at Pasbrig. "Daniel advised that Pasbrig has been threatening to kill him lately, as she does not like him," the affidavit said. Matthew Voog said he was at a neighbor's house during the alleged incident but heard Pasbrig yelling that Daniel had a gun. Matthew told police he told his brother to go inside and put the gun away. According to Matthew Voog, Pasbrig denied stabbing Daniel Voog. Police said the neighbor with whom Matthew Voog was visiting said she heard Pasbrig tell Matthew he needed to "cover for her." Pasbrig told police Daniel Voog would not let her in the house but denied having a knife or stabbing him. She claimed Daniel Voog had threatened to kill her, according to the affidavit. Zink said he found no blood on Pasbrig, her clothing, the knife or the floor around the knife. After Pasbrig was arrested, she was allowed to use her cellular phone in an attempt to raise bail. Zink said he told Pasbrig she was not allowed to have contact with Daniel Voog but while Zink was completing his paperwork for the case, Daniel Voog contacted him to say Pasbrig had called several times. Daniel Voog said she had asked to speak with his brother and he told her not to call again. Pasbrig told Zink she had called the home but was not trying to speak with Daniel Voog. Pasbrig was charged with violating the conditions of her release for the phone calls. If convicted of the charges against her, Pasbrig could be sentenced to more than 15 years in prison. She is being held in Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland. Police said Pasbrig has no criminal history. Contact Patrick McArdle at patrick.mcardle@rutlandherald.com. ... - By PATRICK McARDLE Herald Staff |
| Heifers set for stroll this weekend Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST BRATTLEBORO -- The Strolling of the Heifers, a celebration of Vermont's dairy and agricultural heritage, will mark its seventh year this weekend with a large heifer-led parade Saturday morning. Organizers say they expect up to 100 flower-bedecked Holstein and Jersey heifers for the signature parade. The event, which runs Friday to Sunday, will also feature a special multimedia tribute to local women in agriculture Friday night at the Latchis Theater, a first-time heifer "beauty contest" for 4-H kids after Saturday's parade and a special Live Green Expo to promote a more environmentally friendly way of living. The weekend's events will conclude on Sunday with a Royal Farmer's Feast in the morning and tours of participating Windham County farms. Orly Munzing, executive director of The Strolling of the Heifers, the local, nonprofit group that puts on the celebration, said that close to 50,000 people are expected for the parade, dairy fest and other festivities on Saturday. Munzing said the Live Green Expo at the Brattleboro Commons would feature close to 50 different vendors, all with the theme of living more gently on Earth. "In order to protect agriculture, we have to protect the environment," she said. "The whole 'Live Green' theme is to give people simple steps to protect the environment." Recycling will be a theme, she said. "We are good at educating the public and we wanted to help the community to live more 'green,'" said Munzing, who is credited with coming up with the idea of the regional tribute to dairy farmers, and a light-hearted take on the famous Running of the Bulls in Spain. "Toyota is bringing its whole hybrid show, which I'm told is an event itself," she said. To further the green theme, she said the Stroll organization had worked closely with the regional waste project to promote recycling. Students will be helping to educate the public with specially built recycling receptacles, she said. There will also be information about green cleaning materials, she said. She said also new this year is a Literacy Pavilion, which will feature many nationally known children's authors and illustrators who write about and draw animals, including Scott Nash, David Elliott, Jarrett Krosoczka, Suzy Becker, Lori Korcheck and Marshall Taylor. The Brattleboro Retreat petting zoo will be moved to the literacy event for the day, she said. "Their characters will be coming to life," Munzing said. There will also be pavilions with Vermont chefs and Vermont cheeses, and the traditional dairy fest and marketplace will take place on the Brattleboro Retreat grounds. Also new is the "Miss VerMOOOOnt Beauty Pageant," which is open to the 4-H club members who participated in Saturday morning's parade. Munzing said local actress Nan Mann, a Joan Rivers-lookalike, will provide some tongue-in-cheek commentary on the bovine beauty content, which will be judged by a celebrity panel of judges. Prizes for "Most Beautiful Heifer," and "Most Congenial Heifer," will be given. As always, she said, there will be the popular Celebrity Milking Contest, with Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., fresh from the Washington rigors of the 2008 Farm Bill, expected to compete. Peter Stickney, the farm manager for the Putney School who organizes the heifer end of the parade, said he expected up to 100 heifers to participate, representing 15 different farms in Vermont and New Hampshire. He said three 4-H clubs, which represent children from several different farms, would be participating in the parade, which starts at 10 a.m. Parade goers are urged to come early and use provided parking areas at Exit 1 and 2 of Interstate 91, and use available transportation. Valerie Stuart, spokeswoman for the weekend celebration, said that Friday evening's tribute to women in agriculture at the Latchis is a collaboration of the Brattleboro Area Women's Chorus, the Vermont Jazz Center, the Brattleboro Music Center and the Brattleboro School of Dance. The Friday tribute runs from 7:30 to 9 p.m., and is open to the public. She said Friday's celebration coincides with Brattleboro's Gallery Walk, and there will be a reception for the local agriculture women at the Gibson River Garden from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. before the tribute. Later that evening, Zabap, an Afro-Caribbean avant-garde jazz group, featuring local artists, will perform starting at 9 p.m. at the River Garden. For more information, check the group's Web site at www.strollingoftheheifers.com. Contact Susan Smallheer at susan.smallheer@rutlandherald.com. ... - By SUSAN SMALLHEER Herald Staff |
| Man denies assaulting woman for 8 hours Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST WHITE RIVER JUNCTION -- A Bellows Falls man with a criminal record stretching back more than two decades across four states denied charges Friday of repeatedly assaulting a woman over a nearly eight-hour period. Britt W. McLain, 44, pleaded innocent in White River Junction District Court to two felony counts of first-degree aggravated assault with a weapon and two misdemeanor counts of domestic assault. McLain is facing 32 years in prison and $60,000 in fines if convicted on all charges. McLain was charged on Jan. 31 but police could not locate him, and on Feb. 4 Judge M. Kathleen Manley issued a warrant for his arrest. Police arrested McLain on Thursday for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest at a campground in Newfane. Police learned of the warrant for his arrest and McLain was lodged at Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield on $50,000 bail until his arraignment Friday. During his arraignment, Deputy State's Attorney Eric Lopez noted McLain's criminal history, which includes 12 convictions in Vermont, including felony convictions for aggravated assault and marijuana possession as well as convictions in New York, New Jersey and New Hampshire. McLain violated his parole in 1990, 1993 and 1998 and in 2001 received a felony conviction of bail jumping in New Hampshire, Lopez told Judge Theresa S. DiMauro. "All of this suggests that Mr. McLain may not have ties to Windsor County," Lopez said as he asked DiMauro to continue McLain's $50,000 bail. McLain's attorney Rebecca Cummings told DiMauro that McLain has a brother in Bellows Falls, an uncle in Brattleboro and his parents reside in Charlestown, N.H. If released without bail, Cummings said, McLain would reside in his cabin in Brookline, which is about 7 miles east of Townshend. According to an affidavit filed with the court, on Jan. 23, a Chester woman went to the state police barracks in Rockingham to complain that McLain had assaulted her the night before. Because the alleged incident occurred in Chester, state police transferred the case to the Chester Police Department. According to the affidavit, when McLain picked up the woman from work, he saw her walking out with her employer and accused her of having an affair. When they arrived at the woman's home in the early evening McLain began to assault her. The woman told police that McLain struck her in the face several times with his hands and struck her in the head with a saw, court records stated. Later, police said, McLain smashed the woman's property in her house with a hatchet. "McLain kept making (the woman) choose what he was going to smash next with the hatchet, or he was going to smash (her) with the hatchet," Chester Police Sgt. Mark C. Phelps wrote in his affidavit. "In speaking with (the woman) she advised that she was in fear for her life at that point, because she was sure that McLain would attack her with the hatchet." McLain also struck the woman in the shoulder with a small log he had picked up from the woodpile, police said. "This cycle of violence went on until about 1 a.m. when McLain finally fell asleep," Phelps wrote in his affidavit. Judge DiMauro noted that given the lengthy prison sentence McLain is facing combined with the fact the police being unable to locate him for nearly three months and his felony conviction for bail jumping in New Hampshire she felt there was a significant risk for McLain to not appear for his next court date. DiMauro continued McLain's $50,000 bail requirement and McLain returned to prison in Springfield. Contact Josh O'Gorman at josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com. ... - By JOSH O'GORMAN Herald Staff |
| VEDA to release low-interest small business loans Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST MONTPELIER -- The Vermont Economic Development Authority announced Monday that starting next month it would begin releasing low-interest capital loans aimed at small businesses in the state looking to expand during shaky economic times. The low-interest loans provided through VEDA and banks in the state are part of the economic stimulus package passed by the Vermont Legislature and signed into law by Gov. James Douglas earlier this year. Douglas, who announced the release of the loans during a Monday press conference at his downtown Montpelier office, said he hopes businesses will quickly take advantage of the loans to buy land, equipment, buildings and other forms of economic expansion. "It's important to do it now when our state economy is under some stress," Douglas said. "But I believe we can be the first to emerge from the economic downturn." Joining him at the announcement was Jo Bradley, the chief executive officer of VEDA, an economic development finance lender created by the Legislature 28 years ago. She said the authority will use $1.25 million in funds allocated this year to essentially create $18 million worth of loans through local banks. The loans through VEDA could come as low as 2 percent, she said, and will likely be coupled with loans through banks, which would charge the typical Wall Street Prime amount. For example, if the loan application was for $1 million, VEDA might cover about $400,000 with a half-million dollar loan through the bank and another $100,000 in equity. Bradley called the possibility of 2 percent capital offered by VEDA to be "unprecedented." The loans begin July 1 and will sunset at the end of June 2010. "It's going to be first come first serve," she said Monday. "We expect the loans to go quickly." The low-interest VEDA loans are part of the economic stimulus package that Douglas and lawmakers wrangled over during the final weeks of this year's legislative session. Other portions of the stimulus package also include homeownership and mortgage assistance programs, an affordable housing package, job creation tax credits and investments in the state's transportation infrastructure. Douglas said the challenge was putting together a stimulus package that didn't rely on huge economic demands from the state budget. He said there is not a specific way to measure if the low-income capital loans will be successful, but estimates that it could impact thousands of jobs across the state. Rep. Mark Larson, D-Burlington, worked on the compromise between Douglas and lawmakers over the stimulus package. The final proposal featured a combination of pieces from the executive and legislative branches, he said. "We saw this as a way to reposition businesses in this tight-credit time and give them the opportunity to get moving again," Larson said. Duane Marsh, the president of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, said he is excited about the low-interest loans and will begin spreading the word to members over the next several weeks. Downturns in the economy can even cause healthy businesses to question expansions, he added, and these loans could make the difference for entrepreneurs and business owners who otherwise may not take the financial gamble on an expansion. "These times can make businesses cautious," Marsh said. "But I think people will see these loans as an opportunity to say yes to the expansion of their business." When asked about the overall state of the country's economy, Douglas said he is "concerned, but optimistic." "There are lots of states in much worse shape than Vermont," he said. "I have faith that our diverse economy and the rugged, independent spirit of Vermont will get us through." Contact Daniel Barlow at Daniel.Barlow@timesargus.com. ... - By DANIEL BARLOW Vermont Press Bureau |
| Author to appear at book discussion Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST QUECHEE -- Today, the Green Mountain Civil War Round Table will host author Robert Bonner, who will discuss his book, "The Soldier's Pen: Firsthand Impressions of the Civil War," which compiles written accounts of the war from 16 Civil War veterans, including one from the Upper Valley. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. today at the Black Angus Steakhouse on Route 4. Participants can attend a dinner prior to Bonner's lecture for $16 or can attend the lecture only. Admission to the lecture is $2 for members of the Green Mountain Civil War Round Table and $4 for non-members. Dinner reservations must be made by 7 p.m. Sunday. To make reservations or for more information, call Mary Davis at (603) 448-3472 or e-mail her at mary.b.davis@valley.net. -- Staff reports ... |
| Two charged with DUI during 'Click It' Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST BENNINGTON -- Police in Bennington County netted a pair of drunken driving arrests during the Click It or Ticket campaign this weekend. On Friday, Bennington Police were working the campaign when they received a call of a drunken driver who had struck a fence while trying to leave Chili's Restaurant on Northside Drive. Police said that Diane S. Long, 50, of Bennington, struck a split rail fence as she drove away from the restaurant. Police later met Long at her Branch Street residence and said that Long admitted having too much to drink but said she didn't recall hitting the fence. Police transported Long to the police department, and while there learned that her license was suspended for a previous drunken driving conviction and she had an active warrant for her arrest in Windham County. Long was lodged at Marble Valley Correctional Facility in Rutland. Meanwhile police said a Cuttingsville man with seven prior drunken driving convictions was once again arrested for drunken driving Saturday afternoon. During the Click It or Ticket campaign on Route 7A police saw Raymond Niles, 38, driving a pick-up truck without an inspection sticker or front license plate. Police said that when they spoke to Niles they could smell alcohol on his breath and a field sobriety exercise showed him to be under the influence. Police said Niles admitted that his license was suspended for a prior drunken driving conviction and subsequent investigation revealed he had seven prior drunken driving convictions between Vermont and New York and his license was suspended for life. Police said Niles was lodged at Marble Valley Correctional Facility because this most recent arrest was a violation of his parole. ... |
| Sharapova upset by Dinara Safina Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST PARIS -- Maria Sharapova did not go quietly. ... - By HOWARD FENDRICH The Associated Press |
| Pierce, Bryant stick it out and make NBA finals Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST WALTHAM, Mass. -- Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant were playing pickup basketball in a UCLA gym last summer, a couple of frustrated NBA stars trying to sweat away the memory of a disappointing season. Talk soon turned to trades. ... - By JIMMY GOLEN The Associated Press |
| Patching of hoof to be delayed Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST NEW YORK -- Big Brown's cracked left front hoof won't be patched until Friday, the day before he races in the Belmont Stakes for a shot at Triple Crown history. ... - By BETH HARRIS The Associated Press |
| Tony Stewart can't seem to shake his hard luck Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Boy, could Tony Stewart use a little fun right now. ... - By JENNA FRYER The Associated Press |
| Love makes his 18th consecutive U.S. Open field Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio -- After playing four difficult days at the Memorial, Davis Love III made it through 36 holes on Monday to qualify for his 18th consecutive trip to the U.S. Open. ... - By RUSTY MILLER The Associated Press |
| Orioles rally, overcome homer by Ramirez Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST BALTIMORE -- Adam Jones broke a tie with a three-run double in the eighth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles overcame another home run by Manny Ramirez to beat the Boston Red Sox 6-3 on Monday night and avoided a four-game sweep. ... - The Associated Press |
| Terriers pull past Slaters in the 10th Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Monday's softball game between Bellows Falls and Fair Haven had a little bit of everything: good pitching, clutch hitting, great defense, bad defense and even a little bad luck. When all was said and done, the visiting Terriers came out with a 4-2, 10-inning decision in Fair Haven. ... - Staff Reports |
| Todd Stone wins feature at Devil's Bowl Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST WEST HAVEN -- Todd Stone picked up his first win of the season Sunday night at Devil's Bowl Speedway and his crew earned a Good Samaritan award as well. ... - Staff Report |
| Kids camp loses home Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:57:00 EST A summer program for children with cancer is seeking a new home with news that Vermont's Catholic Church may sell Camp Holy Cross in Colchester. ... - Staff Report |
| Authorities: No Murder Investigation in Lempster The Sullivan County Attorney's Office say a father and son found dead in Lempster - were not murdered. |
| NEK Men Ride Their Bikes to the Big Easy Two young men from Barton are taking one big bike ride. |
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