Bournes
Tank Farm
By
Mickey Smith
MORRISTOWN
– After more then 50 years of looking at the same wooden structure holding
their fuel tanks, Bourne’s Inc. has decided to modify their tank farm, on Route
100, south of Morristown.
While
the new storage facility will utilize the same tanks that have sat on the
wooden frame since the early 50s, a new design and some strategic landscaping
will help conceal the tanks a bit more from passing traffic. Two other tanks
have been added over the years – one in 1967 and another in the early 90s.
The
work being done isn’t just for aesthetic reasons, changing federal regulations
and a need for more space have also spurred on the changes.
Bourne’s
Inc. President Peter Bourne said new rules are set to go in effect in 2009, including
a need to have work done on a non-permeable surface. While right now a clay base suffices, moving
the refueling location to a concrete base will allow for easy and quick clean
up of any dripped fuel.
Bourne
said the tanks will be cleaned and checked for any needed maintenance. He explained there haven’t been any major
upgrades in fuel tank designs over the years, so there is no need to replace
the tanks. One upgrade to the system will be the utilization of a computer
monitoring system, which will allow people at the main office to keep track of
fuel levels in the tanks.
The
tanks will be kept at ground level, with a steel refueling station designed to
allow two trucks to refuel at the same time. They will be moved a few feet
north, allowing shrubbery and the current landscape to minimize their
visibility.
“It’s
still a tank farm,” said Bourne, but he added the tanks will be less obtrusive
to neighbors and motorists.
“The
Route 100 corridor will look better with what we are doing,” said Bourne.
By
reconfiguring the placement, they will also be able to bring in up to two more
tanks at some point. Bourne said the
growing demand for biofuels will warrant the need for more tanks in the future. No plans have been made to bring in new
tanks, but Bourne said if and when the opportunity arises to acquire new tanks,
he will now have a place to put them.
Hutch
Crane Service was employed to move the massive tanks, the largest of which
weigh over 15 tons empty. One crane
moved the tanks from the wooden frame to a flatbed, while a second waited on
the other side of the power lines to place the tanks on the ground. A small tractor was used to move the
harnesses from one crane to the other.
Star Construction, of Castleton, has been contracted to build the new structure.
If
the weather cooperates, the new tank farm will be operational around September
1 – just in time for the beginning of the winter heating season. Currently, Bourne’s has transferred the
functions of the Morristown tank farm to their Waterbury facility.
Bourne
said the work will allow the company to be more efficient and incorporate
better handling practices into their regime, while also creating room for
expansion into the biofuel market.
“We’re
trying to evolve with what’s happening,” said Bourne.
Bus
Accident Cause Determined
by
Mickey Smith
JOHNSON
– The Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department has determined the cause of the June
8 bus accident, on Gould Hill, and announced no criminal charges are being
filed.
According
to Lamoille County Deputy Sheriff Kyle Walker, the bus driver looked up into
her mirror to address a student who was standing on a seat and drove off the
road into the ditch. He said speed did
not appear to be a factor, and no tickets were issued.
Fourteen
students were taken to Copley Hospital to be treated, one was kept overnight at
Copley, while another with a fracture to his right leg was transferred to
Fletcher Allen. He was released a few
days later, in time to attend the last day of school.
Open
Garden at Crossview Farm
The
daylilies are about to burst open and the hostas are showing their full
splendor. It must be time for Harold and Leila Cross’ annual Open Garden
weekends! Each summer, the Cross’ open their Crossview Gardens, at 1801 Lower
Elmore Mountain Road, in Morristown, for the public to peruse.
Thanks
to a magazine’s publishing error, the Cross’ have extended their open garden
event an extra weekend. The gardens will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. the
weekends of July 14-15, July 21-22, July 28-29, and August 4-5. The first
weekend was published in error, but the Cross’ decided to open their garden
gate instead of turning folks away those days. Harold warned the daylilies
won’t quite be in full bloom this weekend, but the hostas are in their prime.
Crossview
is home to more than 2,200 registered varieties of daylilies, about 650
varieties of hosta and 175 varieties of fragrant lilies. In the past few years
the Cross’ have added about 40 varieties of Japanese Iris to their collection.
During
the open garden weekends, Crossview has daylilies, a selection of liliums, and
some hosta available for purchase. However, the Cross’ welcome anyone to just
come and browse the garden and take in the diversity in daylilies. One word of
warning: Crossview does not have bathroom facilities, so go before you go!
“Come
take a peek,” said Harold. “See what’s new and interesting in the world of
hostas and the world of daylilies.”
If
you would like to visit, but are not able to make it to one of the open garden
dates, the Cross’ are glad to receive visitors by appointment whenever
possible. Give them a call at 888-2409 or drop an email to
crossviewgardens@wildblue.net if you would like to visit on another date.
Godfrey
Evidence Challenged
by
Mickey Smith
HYDE
PARK – Two days of testimony is expected before Judge Dennis Pearson rules
whether or not DNA evidence and statements accused killer Howard “Skip” Godfrey
made to the police will be admissible in his upcoming trial.
Police
allege Godfrey raped and killed Patricia Scoville in 1991. Scoville went missing in October of
1991. An extensive search ended with her
body being found covered by leaves at Moss Glen Falls, not far from where her
bicycle had been recovered six days earlier.
Over
the next 14 years, DNA was checked from 87 people, in hopes of matching DNA
evidence found on Scoville’s body and clothes.
In late February of 2005, a match was made from DNA evidence Godfrey had
submitted as part of a 1996 arrest for aggravated assault.
Through
strong lobbying by the Scoville family and others, Vermont created a DNA
database for violent offenders, though it took some time, Godfrey’s sample was
checked against the Scoville evidence and a match was made by the FBI in 2005.
In
Vermont District Court, in Hyde Park, this week, Defense Attorney Kerry DeWolfe
made a case suggesting police manipulated Godfrey into making statements after
ignoring his requests for an attorney.
Through questioning Stowe Detective Bruce Merriam, Chief Assistant
Attorney General Cindy Maguire tried to show Judge Pearson Godfrey continued
talking on his own, and while he mentioned a lawyer he never asked for one.
While
on the witness stand, Detective Merriam said the interview ended when Godfrey
stopped asking questions and said he was not talking without a lawyer. It was at this point that Godfrey was
arrested and taken to the St. Johnsbury barracks of the State Police to be
processed. It was while at the St.
Johnsbury station, that Godfrey was read his Miranda rights by State Police
Detective Ed Meslin.
Merriam
admitted to DeWolfe he felt from the evidence collected that Godfrey was
guilty, and while the goal was to gain statements (admissions or denials) from
Godfrey, he hoped Godfrey would say something to help the case.
“I
hoped for a confession,” said Merriam.
Merriam
also said he believed they had enough evidence linking Godfrey to the crime,
and he was going to be arrested at the end of the interview.
DeWolfe
was also arguing Godfrey’s DNA sample should not have been used because Godfrey
was not considered a suspect before the time the DNA match was made. In 1996, though, police received a tip from
the mother of the victim in the aggravated assault case that Godfrey had lived
near Moss Glen Falls, and that lead had remained open.
In
hearings of this nature, the Judge will normally retire to chambers to gather
his findings and make a ruling on the motions at a later date.
LACiNg
Up Nets Over $105K
MORRISVILLE
– Organizers of the fifth annual LACiNg Up for Cancer walk set their highest
goal to date for the June 23 event. They hoped to raise $80,000 for the
Lamoille Area Cancer Network (LACN). When they surpassed the goal, they could
hardly dare to hope to reach $90,000 – that would be nearly double the amount
raised in 2002’s first LACiNg event. But that figure, too, was met and
exceeded.
As
sponsorships reached $24,000, and over 5,000 luminaries sold for $5 each,
committee members still couldn’t imagine the money raised by walking teams
could put them up over the $100,000 mark. But it did. With event-related gifts
continuing to trickle in, the amount raised has reached $105,000.
“We
truly surpassed the goal,” said committee member Jill Baker. “It puts us in a
different situation for next year.”
The
good news is matched, however, by an increasing need for those funds by local
cancer patients. Cancer diagnoses are up in the Lamoille Valley, according to
LACN co-founder Mary Hoisington. In 2006 LACN gave out 575 grants totaling
$156,000 to help cancer patients with expenses.
LACN
was started in 2000 by cancer survivors Hoisington and Margie Dean. The two
held small fundraisers, such as bake sales and yard sales, to earn money to
give to local cancer patients to help with their unexpected expenses, such as
medications, babysitters, travel expenses, home heating fuel, or what have you.
That first year LACN gave small grants to 35 people.
“There’s
no restrictions on how these funds can be used,” explained Baker. “It’s a
gift.”
LACN
is alerted of community members diagnosed with cancer by healthcare providers,
friends and neighbors. LACN then writes the grantee a check, no strings
attached. The entire process is very grass roots. There are no applications to
fill out or receipts to hand in. It is simply a monetary gift in a time of
need. LACN has no paid employees, and postage is pretty much the organization’s
only expense. All the money raised is redistributed to cancer patients.
“There’s
no other group like this one,” Hoisington admitted.
Today,
Hoisington and Dean are joined by fellow cancer survivors Sally Reynolds and
Cindy Lowell to make up the LACN board.
LACiNg
Up for Cancer is a 12-hour event where teams walk around the Peoples Academy
track. It is by far LACNs largest annual fundraiser. The LACiNg committee is
made up of cancer survivors, medical professionals and other community members,
under the guidance of committee chair Kathy Demars.
The
event is more than a fundraiser. It is a magical community gathering,
celebrating the triumph of cancer survivors and the memory of those lost in the
fight. Demars noted it is a family event, where everyone is tied by the common
bond of having cancer invade their lives.
“It’s
like Old Home Day,” said Hoisington. She added, “I think it’s good motivation
for those going through it now – seeing survivors up and about.”
The
event kicks off with an opening ceremony at 11 a.m. and concludes at 11 p.m.
with a fireworks display. In between, teams walk the track, logging mile after
mile. Kids play in the spray of fire hoses. Survivors are treated to a special
lunch. Thousands of luminaries are lit – tea lights in paper bags decorated in
honor or in memory of loved ones.
The
rows of luminaries lining the track are truly a sight to behold.
“The
love they put into these bags is just unreal,” Baker commented.
“I
think it helps with the healing process,” Hoisington reflected.
“The
artwork and the designs – they’re so beautiful,” Demars added.
The
sheer volume of $5 donations each luminary represents is also mind-boggling.
The committee members value each donation – no matter the dollar amount. They
are touched and amazed by the generosity of the community in which they live.
“There’s
a lot of five- and ten-dollar donations,” said Demars. “What people can afford
to give is what they give.”
Those
who can’t afford to give money give their time – as team walkers, or laborers
setting up and cleaning up for the event. Other community groups offer up tents
and necessary commodities.
“We’re
fortunate to live in the community we live in,” said Baker. “They figure out
ways to help.”
And
while diagnoses may be up, so is the number of survivors attending the walk.
Last year 84 survivors graced the track. This year about 140 survivors came.
Hoisington couldn’t be more pleased with the success.
“I’m
speechless,” she admitted. I’ve been on a cloud here for so long.”
But
don’t be fooled into thinking LACiNg Committee members are sitting back and
basking in their success. They’ve already begun planning for next year’s event
on June 21, 2008.
Demars
noted, “It will be here before we know it.”
by
Paul Fink
Last
week I attended the Governor’s Institute of Vermont for Youth Activism and
Current Issues at the School of International Training in Brattleboro. The program lasted twelve days (overnight)
and offered a free thinking environment for some of the State’s and world’s
most intellectually curious high school students (grades 9-12). I would say that attending the Institute was
possibly one of the best experiences of my life.
The
program primarily consisted of workshops on issues affecting the future such
as: Global Warming, the genocide in Darfur (Sudan), sexism/racism, and
alternative fuel options (such as solar power and biodiesel). The workshops were presented by some of
Vermont’s most influential politicians and intellectual thinkers. Some of the speakers included U.S. Senator
Bernie Sanders, Vermont Senate Pro Tem Peter Shumlin, and Carol Bellamy, the
former head of UNICEF, Peace Corps, and member of the New York City
Council.
Along
with workshops there were also many classes to sign up for, which later lead
into a student-run activist project. The
Institute gave us information to form our own opinions and then to actually do
something about it. Some of the
participant’s projects were forming petitions against human trafficking, questioning
the mass media, and pushing for Vermont’s environmental bills.
If
youth activism isn’t one of your interests, or your kid’s interests, there are
also many other Governor’s Institute programs offered throughout the
state. There are art institutes, math
and science institutes, and study abroad programs. All of the institutes are designed around the
interests of the students and the program isn’t all work. The institutes realize that we are kids and
give plenty of time for socializing and outdoor activities.
I
will admit I was reluctant to attend the Institute because I feared it would be
like school, but it turned out to be so much fun. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an
intellectual challenge. Ekta Sampson,
from Morrisville, reflected on the Institute saying, “I really have enjoyed myself here and I
would recommend it to anyone.”
Gabriel
Calza, from Montpelier, said, “The Governor’s Institute was one of the best
experiences of my life.“
To attend one of the institutes
there are only a few simple steps to apply.
The first step would be to talk to the guidance counselor at your high
school and get the information. After
you have chosen the institute you wish to apply to, all you have to do is fill
out a few questions and wait to see if you get in. There is a fee for the camp, $700 for nearly
two weeks, but financial aid is provided if needed. Go ahead and apply when you get back to
school, you will not regret it!
Patashnick Honored for
Work on Behalf of Patients
Helenmarie
Patashnick, of Morristown, attended the Patient Advocate Foundation’s (PAF)
eighth annual Patient Congress, in Washington, D.C. last month, and was
recognized for her contribution to patient advocacy. The Patient Congress
educates participants on current healthcare topics and empowers individuals to
take action to make a difference in the nation's healthcare system. It was held
June 24-26. Over 200 attendees came from 49 states and the District of
Columbia to participate in advocacy skills workshops, attend a White House
briefing on healthcare, and meet with their members of Congress.
Patashnick,
serving as a volunteer State Policy Liaison for Vermont, was recognized by
Nancy Davenport-Ennis, CEO & president of the National Patient Advocate
Foundation, (NPAF), for her contributions to patient advocacy. NPAF’s
Volunteer State Policy Liaison program trains and supports individuals who work
on health policy at the state government level, advocating for improved access
to healthcare – focusing on groups such as children and the uninsured who are
diagnosed with cancer.
“We
applaud Helenmarie for her work on behalf of NPAF and Vermont’s patient
population. It is through the work of our volunteer State Policy Liaisons
that NPAF is able to provide a collective voice for all patients
nationwide," said Nancy Davenport-Ennis, president and CEO of NPAF.
Patashnick
moved to Lamoille County earlier this year when her husband, Mel, took over as
CEO of Copley Hospital. Prior to coming to Vermont, she served as a State
Policy Liaison in California.
NPAF
is a national lobbying group that represents the interest of the Patient
Advocate Foundation. PAF is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to
safeguarding patients’ access to care through effective mediation, maintenance
of employment, and preservation of financial stability by providing free
assistance and mediation for access to care, job retention, and relief from
medical debt crises. PAF also offers a co-pay relief program to provide direct
co-payment assistance for pharmaceutical treatments to those who financially
and medically qualify. PAF hosts the annual Patient Congress every year in
Washington, D.C. in June. From June 30, 2005 – July 1, 2006, PAF handled more
than six million contacts from patients
throughout the United States.
Patashnick
explained PAF works to eliminate the barriers to health insurance coverage and
provides case management services to uninsured patients. She has been involved
with the organization for nearly five years.
“When
people get into financial difficulty, sometimes they fall through the cracks,”
Patashnick explained. She said of PAF, “They will try and help you through all
that horror.”
Patashnick
is, herself, a two-time cancer survivor. She said she felt the need to help
others after recovering from her own illness.
“If
you’re a survivor you kind of have extra time,” Patashnick explained. “What do
you do with that? You go on with your life, but you’re very different.”
Patashnick
decided to use her extra time and energy educating and influencing lawmakers on
cancer and health-related issues. She said she chose this avenue because it is
a way to impact a large number of people’s lives.
Attendees
to the Patient Congress also participated in a private briefing at the White
House on the Administration’s healthcare priorities by White House personnel,
including a presentation given by Julie Goon, special assistant to the
President for Economic Policy and Herb Kuhn, Acting Deputy Director, Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Additional keynote speakers during
the conference were members of Congress including the Honorable Debbie Stabenow
(D-MI), United States Senate, the Honorable Robert C. Scott (D-3rd, VA), United
States House of Representatives, the Honorable Sue Myrick (R-9th, NC), cancer
survivor and member of the United States House of Representatives; the
Honorable Allyson Schwartz (D-13th, PA), sponsor of HR 2842 Children’s
Health Protection Act of 2007 and member of the United States House of
Representatives and the Honorable Capri Cafaro (D-32nd ), Ohio State Senate.
As well, Lillie Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, Administrative director, Johns
Hopkins Breast Center and author of, Stealing Second Base, shared the humorous,
yet inspirational story of her own diagnosis and subsequent treatment for
breast cancer.
As a
State Policy Liaison for Vermont, Patashnick keeps an eye on decisions being
considered by Vermont lawmakers. She also makes the trip each June to the
annual Patient Congress, in Washington, D.C. She invites others to join her in
that capacity.
“Anybody
who wants to volunteer – who wants to come along with me on this trip – please
call,” said Patashnick. “It’s very empowering.”