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$250,000
for Library Addition
by Amy Kolb Noyes
MORRISVILLE –
The Morristown Centennial Library received an anonymous gift
the week before Christmas – a check for a quarter-million
dollars.
Librarian Mary West commented, “We were totally
surprised and rather dazed by the receipt of it. We are
extremely appreciative. This gives us a big boost toward
reaching our goal in the near future.”
West said the check arrived with a letter from a bank
in Boston stating the check was an anonymous gift from an
individual donor. The letter stated the bank’s client is “a
friend of libraries and literacy” and the donor “has become
aware of your expansion project and wishes to help make it
possible.”
J.B. McKinley, chair of the library board of trustees,
added, “The trustees have long been aware that a sizable
donation such as this can make all the difference in
reaching the final amount to be raised for our project. It
is said that benefactors are far more likely to come forward
if they can already see a significant level of support. I
was thrilled that our project is finally getting the support
it deserves.”
The Morristown Centennial Library renovation and
expansion project began as a stand-alone project, but plans
now call for the project to happen in conjunction with a new
town offices facility. The combined project has been
christened the Morristown Centennial Center. Voters in
Morristown will be asked to bond for the project at Town
Meeting, in March. The construction bond amount has yet to
be announced.
Belvidere Buyout
by Amy Kolb Noyes
The Town of Belvidere will be tearing down a vacant house in
the center of the village and turning the lot into a
publicly-owned space in the village, thanks to an award of
federal Flood Mitigation Assistance Funds. Belvidere, last
week, was awarded $26,250 in Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) money to purchase the Kneen house. The house
is located in the floodway of the North Branch of the
Lamoille River, right in the heart of the village, across
from Tallman’s Grocery Store.
The Kneen house has been unoccupied and for sale for
about two years, according to Myrna Tallman. Local officials
have been trying to secure FEMA buyout funds since the house
first went on the market. The house, built in 1885, has been
flooded at least a dozen times since 1912.
“The removal of this house from the floodway will be
the first project to be implemented under Belvidere’s
recently adopted Disaster Mitigation Plan, designed to
reduce risks prior to natural and man made disasters,”
stated Lamoille County Planning Commission Executive
Director Michele Boomhower. Belvidere has been working with
LCPC and Vermont Emergency Management to secure the FEMA
buyout funds.
Belvidere will contribute a 25% match of $8,750 in
in-kind assistance and will partner with LCPC to implement
the project. Boomhower credited Belvidere’s Emergency
Management Director Hugh Tallman as instrumental in the
development of the project.
L:ooking
Back at 2005
January
1/6 The Town of Morristown hires as administrator, “Tag”
Taginski, a hire that proves controversial later in the
year.
The circa 1870 barn owned by Robert Barnes, of Hyde Park,
burned to a charred skeleton at about five o’clock in the
evening of December 29, 2004.
1/13 Morse’s Dairy sold December 30, 2004 to David and
Melissa Greene, of Wolcott. The Morse family started and ran
the business for 42 years. In fact David drove for them for
19 years!
1/20 Copley Health Systems announced that the past year was
financially the strongest in its history. The company posted
$2.3 million in profits.
Long time Hyde Park selectman Ken Harvey announced after 24
years that he would not run for selectman again.
The state announces the Morristown office of the state
Department of Employment and Training will be closed.
The paper publishes a three page spread wishing Charlie
Company of our National Guard a bon voyage. Mostly they’re
headed first for training in Mississippi, but they are
ultimately to be deployed overseas.
1/27 The Green Mountain Technology and Career Center
announce the FCC approval of WYTCC, a low powered FM radio
station. It is the only license ever awarded in Vermont to a
high school for a 100 watt station.
The late John and Georgina Hurd bequeath $12,600 to the
Morristown Centennial Library Building Fund. Georgina and
her mother had both served on the library’s board.
February
2/3 It’s reported that the Lamoille Union High School/Middle
School budget for the coming year will be up 10.7%. The
kindergarten through high school budget in Morristown will
be up over six percent.
Meanwhile, in Wolcott, after public discussion during
January, the Wolcott School Board warns for a second bond
vote for its proposed school and library expansion.
2/10 More news of proposed budgets rising is published:
GMTCC, up 3.5%; Town of Morristown, up 11%; Lamoille County
Sheriff’s Department, up 20%.
2/17 CREW decides to pull a controversial request that is
Article 10 on the Morristown Warning for a $15,000
appropriation for temporary property tax relief.
At the Johnson Winter Carnival, a dark horse competitor,
Parker & Stearns, upset the previous top two Tug of War
teams, Vermont Electric Co-op and the Johnson Fire
Department!
2/24 More proposed budget news suggests Eden’s overall
education costs may be up over 15%. Johnson’s town budget
will rise 10.7% and Waterville’s education budget is up
around 10%.
Another headline warns of mold found at the old School
Street Wolcott School.
Chris Moll is hired as Lamoille County’s deputy state’s
attorney.
March
3/3 A Town Meeting round-up shouts the passing of the
Lamoille Union and GMTCC budgets. Wolcott voters spent a
long six and a half hours in conclave and decided to expand
to a five member selectboard and pass all binding articles!
Citizens and county organizations honored outgoing Hyde Park
Selectman Ken Harvey at Town Meeting. Johnson got a new
Conservation Commission. Elmore will buy a grader. Belvidere
passed its budget by two votes and several towns gave their
selectmen a raise. In Stowe, deeply dissatisfied voters
turned down the school budget.
3/10 Architectural firm Black River Design, with input from
Northern Architects, has issued an independent comparison,
solicited by the Town of Morristown’s ad hoc Municipal
Facilities Committee, that identifies the expanded “library”
site less expensive by nearly a half million dollars than
the “Union Carbide” site for locating new town offices and
expanding the library.
PA nordic skiers, Hannah Dreissigacker, Ben Hickory and
Jennie Bender win medals at 2005 Junior Olympics.
3/17 Rep. Bernie Sanders announces a million dollars in
federal monies for Smuggler’s Notch highway improvements and
over $7,000,000 for the Lamoille Valley Railroad rail trail
project.
Shaun Bryer is chosen to chair the Morristown Selectboard,
after the retirement of Brian Greenia after 26 years of
service to his town.
Northfield Police arrest a young Johnson man for allegedly
stealing books from Norwich University and Johnson State
College. He was allegedly selling them on the internet.
3/24 A draft study of the Morrisville Rt.1-A/12 intersection
produced by consultants suggested five alternatives,
including traffic lights, road realignments – even a
roundabout!
It is announced that work will begin again in about a month
on Brooklyn Street in Morrisville, this time on sidewalks,
paving and some stormwater work.
3/31 Johnson State College lands $2 million over the next
five years to transform the curriculum and academic support
systems to improve student outcomes and retention.
The Green Mountain Club bought 72 acres, from Bill Bissell
in Johnson, to move a piece of The Long Trail.
Cambridge Elementary School prepares to move in modules for
10 classrooms during its $8 million remodeling project by
DEW Construction.
April
4/7 Thursday, March 31, Howard “Skip” Godfrey was arraigned
in Hyde Park for the long unsolved 1991 murder of Patricia
Scoville. DNA evidence triggered Godfrey’s arrest. After
working for 14 years to advance the cause of DNA evidence in
Vermont, Patricia’s parents attended the arraignment.
Melben’s Restaurant, of Morrisville, re-opens in a new
location the renovated former St. J & LC Railroad station.
4/14 Nick Buckalew, 17, of Morristown, is arrested and
charged with three felonies associated with graverobbing
from an above ground vault.
Thirty-four homes in Waterville will get a new water line
and treatment facility.
In Morristown, the Municipal Facilities Committee recommends
the town site a new town hall at the “Union Carbide” site.
Chairman Paul Griswold felt this would satisfy 75% of
Morristown’s people.
4/21 Rivers Arts, nonprofit arts providers and promoters,
hires its first paid executive director and plans to
purchase and move into the historic Lamoille Grange building
on Pleasant Street in Morrisville.
The North Side Merchants, an organization to promote and
build businesses through community activities, holds it
second meeting at the Plaza Hotel in Morristown.
Maple sugarmakers around Lamoille County are interviewed and
allow that for most it was an overall low producing sugar
season. Individual sugarbushes ranged from producing about a
half an average “crop” to two-thirds, or in one case a full
crop.
Johnson firemen and many officials broke ground for the
town’s new fire station Monday, April 4.
4/28 After four years of applying and waiting to receive
FQHC, or Federally Qualified Health Care, status, Copley
officials are ready to apply for “Lookalike” status. This
will allow Copley Health Systems to let its Copley
Professional Services Group affiliate go completely
independent and provide healthcare consumers a number of
important benefits – importantly saving money!
A tragic collision at a bad intersection in Cambridge claims
the life of 11 year old Annah Tilton, of Waterville .
Pleasant View Cemetery Association, caretaker of
Morristown’s largest cemetery, has governance and financial
problems.
May
5/5 Lamoille County officials are reassured by state Agency
of Transportation officials that though now listed at the
“back of the book” the Morrisville alternative truck route,
or bypass, is still slated for construction starting in
2008.
Some controversy arose around a requested Act 250 permit
amendment requested at the G.W. Tatro gravel pit on the Back
Road in Belvidere. Nearby residents voiced concerns over
dust, noise and compliance issues.
Wolcott Fire Department announced the receipt of its new
International tanker truck.
5/12 Copley Health Systems President Warren West announced
that Copley Hospital earned glowing scores in patient
satisfaction for the third year running.
Union Bank President Ken Gibbons announced his company will
build a new full service branch office in Littleton, NH.
Fingerprinting is computerized at the Lamoille County
Sheriff’s Department.
5/19 Jim Mahoney is sworn in as Lamoille County Probate
Judge, replacing Phil Fitzpatrick who served on the bench
since 1988.
After literally years of suspense, it is announced that a
Big Lots store will eventually occupy most of the long empty
former Ames Store space in the Morrisville Plaza.
Sightseers and landowners have noticed for quite some time
that the rails and ties all along the former Lamoille Valley
Railroad are being pulled up. Charlie Miller, Vermont state
rail operations manager says the salvage of the rail
materials will be finished by fall and the rail trail open
for snowmobilers.
5/26 Bill Rossmassler, Lamoille County Planning Commission
assistant director, announced the county has $200,000 to
study brownfields in our 10 towns. It’s expected nine of the
10 towns are the site of one or more brownfields that may
need to be cleaned up.
The Morristown Selectboard chose to pursue a joint town
hall/library addition sited on land, on or adjacent to the
existing library building.
The Johnson Cold Spring is closed due to the needed repairs
and testing.
June
6/2 About 20 people attended an Act 250 informational
meeting that largely addressed questions surrounding a
recent application concerning the G.W. Tatro Belvidere
gravel pit. Act 250 operates on voluntary compliance
explained Ed Stanak, District 5 coordinator. He also
stressed citizen participation.
The Morristown Selectboard refused to continue employing its
newly hired Town Administrator Francis “Tag” Taginski.
6/9 Retired Morristown Administrator Paul McGinley returns
to Morristown until someone can be found to fill the now
empty town administrator position.
An all new Wolcott School Building Committee meets to
produce a proposal that voters will support – after two
proposals have already gone down to defeat.
The Peoples Academy girls track team brought home the third
consecutive Division III championship.
Morristown Alliance for Culture and Commerce distributes 90
blooming planters all around Morristown’s business
districts.
6/16 Katherine Bradley, co-owner of Excel Physical Therapy
in Jeffersonville, established the Sheila Darrah Memorial
Scholarship to go annually to a deserving Lamoille Union
High School senior with a love of physical education.
6/23 Lamoille Union held its 37th graduation ceremonies in
the gym with an overflow crowd watching it on TV in the
auditorium. Peoples Academy also held its graduation
ceremonies, for the 157th time, in the gym.
Our local Guards, of Charlie Company, were briefly home from
their training in Camp Shelby, MS, before their immediate
departure for Iraq.
Duncan Hasting, Johnson municipal administrator, announces
that with volunteer donations of materials and labor by HOK
Masonry, Inc., owned by Buzz Osgood, the Johnson Cold Spring
is back in business and as good as new.
The all local Lamoille Area Cancer Network raised over
$72,000 after the proceeds of the third annual cancer walk
were totalled. All the money is distributed locally.
Two Holsteins from Hooter Holsteins, the farm of Debora
Wickart and Stan Biasini, are selected as part of a group of
Vermont cows that will be exported to Cuba as part of an
agreement brokered by Vermont Lieutenant Governer Dubie.
LVT Coaches Go Green!
Lamoille Valley Transportation (LVT), a Vermont motorcoach
charter-company with headquarters in Morrisville, has
announced a partnership with the University of Vermont (UVM)
Extension, Rubenstien School for the Environment and Natural
Resources, Vermont Tourism Data Center, and the Vermont
Biofuels Association.
This partnership launchs the world’s first research and
certification program linking biodiesel and other
alternative fuels with the motorcoach industry.
Exemplifying its commitment, LVT has begun operating its
entire fleet of charter motorcoaches and school buses on a
blend of biodiesel, a cleaner-burning diesel fuel made from
natural, renewable sources such as vegetable oils. As a
partner in this groundbreaking environmental initiative, LVT
will receive technical assistance from UVM and derive
benefits from a UVM driven “Green Coach” marketing and
certification program, and a “Biodiesel User” logo which can
be placed on the sides of the company’s buses, letterhead,
and marketing materials.
With a philosophy of caring and a seasoned team of
drivers and mechanics, owners Norm and Noreen Prive have
helped grow the school bus company they started in 1986 into
one of the most respected operators of luxury motorcoaches
in New England.
Norm said, “Although this fuel costs a little more, the
switch to biodiesel demonstrates our commitment to
preserving the environment. It says to the many groups we
transport throughout Vermont and New York, that we care.”
Prive also noted the new fuel will help keep his engines
clean, reduce the need for oil changes, and decrease harmful
emissions. In addition, “if our environmental philosophy
attracts more customers, that is also good for business!”
Dave Kestenbaum, senior program manager for the
University of Vermont’s Tourism Data Center stated, “We here
at UVM, the ‘Environmental University’, are consistently
looking for ways to help businesses protect the environment
while creating jobs and improving their bottom-line. By
developing integrated programs like this biodiesel
initiative, we are helping Vermont businesses reduce
dependence on imported fossil fuels and make the statement
that they are stewards of the environment.” Because
biodiesel is a product that can be produced by farmers both
inside and outside of the Champlain Valley this project can
connect, support, and create new economic opportunities in
rural areas. Once demand for biodiesel grows, the landscape
that draws people to the region may also be used to grow
crops that provide fuel for their vehicles. One day
tourists might stop at a farm, fill up their tanks and take
a tour of a biodiesel production facility to learn how the
fuel is produced.
Kestenbaum believes Vermont’s rich farming
history, strong tourism economy, and environmentally
conscious businesses make Vermont the ideal starting point
for this program. During 2006, Kestenbaum envisions
expanding the program to motorcoach operators nationwide,
with UVM and Vermont as the leaders.
The American Bus Association (ABA), the nation’s
foremost motorcoach industry trade association, has already
taken notice. “During a time when the bus industry has seen
fuel prices soar, LVT’s commitment to conserve fossil fuel
is a step in the right direction,” stated ABA President
Peter Pantuso.
For more information about the biodiesel program or to
make a booking for a biodiesel school bus or luxury
motorcoach please call UVM’s Tourism Data Center toll free
at 1-866-318-9516.
Buying Biodiesel
by Amy Kolb Noyes
As an emerging technology, biodiesel is not always easy to
come by. However, supply is stepping up to meet the
increasing demand, according to Pat Mayo of Jack F. Corse,
Inc., the company that supplies Lamoille Valley
Transportation’s biodiesel.
LVT owner Norman Prive said, so far, “supply seems to
be a problem.” Prive explained Minnesota recently passed a
law requiring all diesel fuel sold in that state be at least
two percent vegetable oil. That, he said, has caused much of
the nation’s supply of biodiesel to be funneled to
Minnesota.
Jack F. Corse, Inc.’s Pat Mayo said any supply pinch
felt so far should be relieved by the end of January, due to
two new biodiesel facilities coming online. Mayo said most
of the country’s biodiesel is currently made in Minnesota.
Mayo added JFC, Inc. is purchasing its biodiesel from New
Hampshire, but said he does not know where the product
originated.
By mid- to late-January, Mayo said there will be two
new biodiesel facilities in the region. One will be located
in Montreal and the other in Albany, NY.
“It will be readily available,” Mayo told the
News & Citizen. “I don’t see any shortages at all.”
Mayo added he believes biodiesel will serve to
relieve the nation’s dependence on foreign oil while
providing a new cash crop for American farmers.
“I think it’s going to be a big commodity,” said
Mayo.
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