Woodstock Early Bird Because the early bird gets the worm! email: EARLYBIRDTIPS@yahoo.com

From Vermont State Police:

Springfield, VT – 06/19/13 – Today, June 19, 2013, Operation Precision Valley was activated in Springfield, VT. The operation is one in another large arrest sweeps in Vermont employing over 100 officers attempting to take into custody multiple defendants for the distribution and sale of illicit drugs.

“The Vermont State Police are pleased to be coordinating with multiple state, local, county, and federal agencies to combat the growing drug problem in Vermont,” said Colonel Tom L’Esperance, director of the Vermont State Police.

Very interesting news release Birds with the passage and signing of these bills.

What THIS Bird finds most potentially significant to Woodstock is the part about communities and protection from Brownfields liability…and more monies for petroleum clean-up and rail yard redevelopment.

Let’s buy Woodstock’s tainted properties and get the grants to clean them?

Do read on…and enjoy thinking about Brownfields lemonade?

For Immediate Release
June 18, 2013

Office of Gov. Peter Shumlin

(BURLINGTON – Gov. Peter Shumlin, EPA New England Brownfields Director Carol Tucker and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, along with representatives from Vermont’s congressional delegation, launched a new program today that will advance the redevelopment of brownfields, former industrial or commercial properties that are contaminated from historical uses making it difficult or impossible to put them to new uses.

In addition, six Vermont organizations redeveloping brownfields were awarded funding for that work from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The program, called the Brownfield Economic Revitalization Alliance (BERA), will be jointly administered by Vermont’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), and Agency of Natural Resources (ANR). BERA was created to quickly and efficiently move complex brownfield projects to redevelopment, fostering new economic opportunities as a result.

Three sites were selected by a team of public and private sector representatives as the first BERA projects.

The first is the former Fonda property in St. Albans, the second is the Railyard Enterprise Project in Burlington, and the third is the 453 Pine Street parcel in Burlington.

In addition, Gov. Shumlin signed H.226, which extends the Petroleum Clean-up Fund and strengthens Vermont’s brownfield laws. Among the most significant aspects of the new law is a provision giving Regional Development Corporations and Regional Planning Commissions liability protection when they take ownership of brownfield properties.

“The redevelopment of these brownfield sites makes good economic sense and it is good environmental stewardship,” Gov. Shumlin said.

“Today’s unveiling of our new coalition, the signing of H. 226 and the announcement of the recipients of EPA funding are extremely positive steps toward achieving these goals.”

“Vermont is taking a big step in helping to advance their Brownfields program, and EPA is excited to be a part of the process,” said Director Tucker. “The Brownfields program has proven to be an important vehicle for communities to get under-utilized properties assessed and cleaned up and back into productive use.”

EPA funding has been critical to redevelopment projects throughout Vermont and the strong partnership between the state and federal governments has been facilitated by U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch.

“Vermont communities have hundreds of former industrial sites that remain unused because of development obstacles such as pollution,” Leahy, Sanders and Welch said in a joint statement. “These grants help these communities turn lemons into lemonade, turning underused industrial sites into community assets where people can work, live and play.”

The event was hosted at the Vermont Rail System property in Burlington – part of the Railyard Enterprise Project that was selected for inclusion in the BERA program.

“Coming up with creative solutions for multifaceted projects that involve brownfields will greatly benefit the City of Burlington,” Mayor Weinberger said. “I am very appreciative of the fact that the BERA team selected two sites in the City and also want to thank EPA for the assessment funds.”

Each of the BERA sites needs specific expertise to ensure that the goal of redevelopment is achieved. Increased collaboration between state agencies and outside partners will help these projects move more quickly toward completion.

“Many Vermont communities include properties that were contaminated as a result of historical use. These properties are generally difficult to redevelop and slowly deteriorate, becoming unsightly and dangerous,” Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz said. “The EPA grants we celebrate today, the kick-off of our new Brownfields program, and the signing of Act 55 will all make redevelopment of these sites possible. We hope it will also encourage the redevelopment of similar sites in communities across the state,” she added.

Organizations awarded grants from EPA:

City of Burlington: A $200,000 grant to enable the City of Burlington to work with the community and other stakeholders to develop an area-wide plan and implementation strategy for the Railyard Enterprise brownfield area.

New England Youth Theater, Brattleboro: Two $200,000 grants totaling $400,000 to clean up two adjoining sites, 100 Flat Street and 56 Elm Street.

Northwest Regional Planning Commission, St. Albans: Two $200,000 assessment grants totaling $400,000 for use across Franklin and Grand Isle Counties to help communities complete environmental site assessments in preparation of clean up.

Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission, Windsor: A $200,000 assessment grant which will be used across Southern Windsor County to complete environmental site assessments and to create clean up plans.

Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Montpelier: Two $200,000 assessment grants totaling $400,000 for use statewide to complete environmental site assessments and to create clean up plans.

Windham Regional Commission, Brattleboro: Two $200,000 grants totaling $400,000 to conduct environmental site assessments in Windham County.

Photo Courtesy of: The Hartland Diner hartlanddiner.com

Doesn’t get much more exciting than this in Hartland. A good old-fashioned demolition.  At Jessar’s Common, on the corner across from Damon Hall, intersection of Rt. 12 and Rt. 5.  Gone. New bank building going up. A Woodstock Early Bird on the scene (someone who has a permanent listening post there)  reports that the ATM is gone but all other bank business can be conducted in a lovely 70′s era trailer with faux wood paneling across the parking lot there.  We hear that a special bank safe is going to be transported “Down South”  Speaking of Hartland…Woodstock Early Bird’s pick event for the weekend is the Hartland Jazzfest on Sunday 12-8.  Be there!

Knotty, knotty, knotty…A person or persons has weeded out their riverbank knotweed and OMG thrown it in the river…not just any river, but our own Kedron Brook.

As fate would have it, this was a definite “poking of the moose” (stirring up trouble!) from upstream since these piles of knotweed have come downstream and ended up in the brook abutting Woodstock Knotweed Patrolman Bob Pear’s backyard.

We just had a knock on the door and faced a visibly shaken Pear with an industrial sized garbage bag.

We joked, “Let us guess: That’s for knotweed!” We thought it was a joke.  Apparently it isn’t.

Pear responded, “I’ve called the police and told Joe Swanson I’m going in with my seal suit and snorkel to get it out.”

Alarmed, Woodstock Early Bird put on her black rubber boots and followed since she has never been on scene for a knotweed removal operation by a Knotweed Patrolman.

We arrived to find a pile of plant material on the Mechanic Street footbridge which had been plucked out by Mrs. Pear who stood with her husband, Mr. Pear, who was brandishing roots.

The point is this (We are not biologists but we get it): If you cut this stuff down BAG IT, REMOVE IT. One leaf with stem and you have a gonzo invasive nightmare.

Throw knotweed in the stream and you have just helped its propagation. Which will cause a disturbance in Woodstock Early Bird land. Do KNOT cause a disturbance in Woodstock Early Bird land.

Weed, eradicate, what have you but our message of the evening is carry it out.

And now as we remove our rubber boots…A sprig of knotweed there to garnish your evening mojito?

For those Woodstock Early Birds looking for a charge, this new initiative provides vehicle charging stations at Burlington Airport, Montpelier and at Vermont Law School in So-Ro as well as a few points South.

This press release from Gov. Shumlin’s office:

For immediate release
June 17, 2013

MONTRÉAL- Gov. Peter Shumlin and Québec Premier Pauline Marois today unveiled the first sites of the Vermont-Québec Electric Charging Corridor.

The corridor is the result of an agreement between Drive Electric Vermont and the Québec-based Electric Circuit.

The corridor will initially link Burlington and Montréal and – thanks to the more than 20 charging stations installed along the route – will give electric vehicle drivers assurance that they can charge when needed along the route between Vermont and Québec.

The number of charging stations is expected to increase with the signing of new partnership agreements.

Construction of the stations is progressing smoothly, and the 138 mile corridor which includes I-89 and Highway A-10, Rte 104 and Rte 133, is expected to open this fall.

“Alternative fuel vehicles lower our reliance on gasoline, helping both our environment and our energy independence. With the number of alternative energy vehicles growing at tremendous rates, these stations, along with websites identifying their location, will support visitors and residents as they use this clean and efficient mode of transportation,” said Gov. Shumlin.

“Using electricity rather than gasoline will mean clean transportation for the region at a lower cost. I am pleased to join Premier Marois in announcing the significant progress that has been made on the Vermont-Québec Electric Charging Corridor”

“Electrification of transport is a priority of the Government of Québec,” said Premier Marois. “The partnership between Vermont and Québec is a long one filled with many issues of common interests.

Today’s announcement outlining the installation of the electric charging network is a concrete example of our shared leadership in the field of sustainable development and clean energy use.”

In addition to announcing the initial corridor, the agreement also envisions continued cooperation towards installing similar corridors on other cross-border routes, including Magog-Sherbrooke-St. Johnsbury.

The initiative is the result of discussions that began at the most recent Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG-ECP) and provides a powerful example of what cross-border cooperation can produce.

The State of Vermont, Québec, and a group including Hydro-Québec, Green Mountain Power Corporation, the Burlington Electric Department, and Drive Electric Vermont, are currently looking into other ways to bolster public infrastructure for electric cars.

The official opening of the corridor will take place this fall.

Vermont

St-Albans
· Maplefield’s Mobile (2 chargers)

Colchester
· St. Michael’s College (2 chargers)

Burlington
· Lakeview Garage (4 chargers)
City Market (1 charger)
Chittenden Superior Court (1 charger)

South Burlington
· Burlington International Airport
· Healthy Living Market and Café (2 chargers)

Waterbury
· Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Visitor Center (2 chargers)

Montpelier
· Lost Nation Theater (2 chargers)
· Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services (2 chargers)

Vergennes
· DR Power Equipment (2 chargers)

Middlebury
· Addison County Regional Planning Commission (4 chargers)

South Royalton
· Vermont Law School (4 chargers)

Manchester
· Hand Chevrolet (1 charger)

South Londonderry
· Mountain Energy of Vermont (2 chargers)

A reminder that Woodstock Town residents with questions or comments on issues not related to agenda items may ask to speak under “Citizen Comments.”

Note that issues related specifically to Village life may be addressed at Village Trustees meetings, also under citizen comments – WEB

SELECT BOARD
June 18, 2013
7:00 P.M.
A G E N D A

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. CITIZEN COMMENTS

III. OLD BUSINESS

A. Report of Ambulance Service
L.D. Sutherland, Jr.

IV. NEW BUSINESS

A. Approve Basic Emergency Operations Plan

B. Consider Locating a Village Highway Storage Trailer at E.S.B.

C. Review Purchasing Policy

D. Review Bids for Engineering Services
Cox District Road Culvert Fletcher Hill Road

V. BOARD OF SEWER COMMISSIONERS

A. Applications for Sewer Connections

VI. OTHER BUSINESS

VII. REVIEW EXPENSE WARRANTS

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BURLINGTON VT
1253 PM EDT MON JUN 17 2013

VTZ009-011-012-018-019-171745-
EASTERN ADDISON VT-EASTERN RUTLAND VT-WESTERN ADDISON VT-
WESTERN RUTLAND VT-WINDSOR VT-
1253 PM EDT MON JUN 17 2013

…A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE THROUGH
RUTLAND…SOUTH CENTRAL ADDISON AND WESTERN WINDSOR COUNTIES…

AT 1247 PM EDT…A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED NEAR
WEST HAVEN…MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE ARE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM. DANGEROUS LIGHTNING IS ALSO OCCURRING.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO…
HYDEVILLE…CASTLETON…CENTER RUTLAND…WEST RUTLAND…RUTLAND…
NORTH CLARENDON…KILLINGTON…GIFFORD WOODS STATE PARK…WEST
BRIDGEWATER…PLYMOUTH…

GET TO SAFETY IMMEDIATELY WHEN THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES

Many Eagle-Eyed Woodstock Early Birds not falling off their branches from the mellifluous intonations of Mr. Brad Pitt’s voice over have noticed that a certain Vermont “Main Street” shows up in a new Benjamin Moore paint commercial.

To involve the public and increase publicity (as we are doing), the “Paint What Matters” campaign seeks the public’s input as to which town should get a Benjamin Moore makeover. We find this hilarious — but possible —  as we are not sure that Benjamin Moore “artistes”  would make it past the Woodstock Design Review Board unless ALL historic colors are approved first through a series of meetings which are likely to last a year as all suggestions must then be taken up by the Woodstock Development Review Board,Woodstock Planning Commission and then voted on by the Village Trustees. We may have missed a review board in there. In any case, herewith the video and associated links. Yes, why not give it a try,  you can vote for your favorite “Main Street” here:

paintwhatmatters.com

We are pleased to see that three of our longest operating businesses, Unicorn, Woodstock Pharmacy as well as Nick Ferro Jewelers are featured.

One Woodstock Early Bird notes there does not seem to be a link for Woodstock, but that is up to Early Birds to do something about, if they wish. We are simply giving you the tools (and literary paintbrush) to go forth…

Other info on this ad here.

Thanks to the generosity of  Town of Woodstock taxpayers as well as individual donors, the Woodstock Town Hall Theater is about to enter the digital age. At the most recent 2013 Town Meeting, voters approved $60K in funds to assist Pentangle Council on the Arts with the purchase of a completely new and up-to-date digital projection system. 

We received the following press release (WEB edited) from Pentangle,  a Woodstock Early Bird sponsor. We encourage you to enjoy movies here at the Town Hall — especially this weekend when we get 3-D and Free Popcorn….

On Friday, June 21^st, the Town of Woodstock and Pentangle Arts Council will celebrate the launch of the long-awaited Digital Cinema System that will take the Town Hall Theater, a historic entertainment space,  into a new era and ensure its survival as a popular movie house for the region.  For the first time ever, Town Hall Theatre movie-goers will experience not only the enhanced quality of the digital format, but also the visual magic of 3D.

After a short closure for construction and installation of the new equipment, the Grand Re-Opening Weekend will take place June 21-24 and will feature the summer blockbuster Star Trek: Into Darkness in 3D.  “It’s the perfect, fun movie to introduce audiences to the new technology,” says Pentangle executive director Sunni Fass, “When you’re talking about digital and 3D, there’s nothing better than a film that has big-screen appeal and larger-than-life special effects.”

During a lively Town Meeting in March 2013, supporters rallied to the cause and participated in a healthy debate about the economic, social, and artistic importance of preserving movies at the Town Hall Theater.

Their efforts resulted in overwhelming passage of a Special Article providing $60,000 in town funding for the purchase of digital equipment.

Pentangle Arts Council, which currently runs the movies as a non-profit endeavor, also raised additional funds from private donors to support the ongoing maintenance and operation of the new system.

A cutting-edge Christie Solaria One Plus 9000-lumen projector will provide a dramatically brighter viewing experience, and Christie IMB server will enable the use of the new industry-standard “DCP” (Digital Cinema Package) film format. Processed by hard drive movies exhibited with the DCP format have a higher frame rate and are always “like new” no matter how many times shown, unlike 35mm which can become scratchy over time.

Pentangle will also be able to use this new system for superior BluRay presentations, as well as special live and recorded HD events including the launch of the renowned “National Theatre Live from London” series starting in Fall 2013.

Pentangle Arts is donating its 35mm projector and platter system to the Randall Drive-In Theater in Bethel, for back-up use when they show older films such as “creature-feature” B-movies from the 1950s-1970s. “The equipment is still in great working order,” explains Pentangle director Fass. “It was a priority for us to find a new home for it, where it could continue to be used for the enjoyment of movie lovers, rather than becoming a museum piece.”