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| May 7, 2009 |
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| Tribune Deadlines Deadline for advertising, letters to the editor, news stories, photos, announcements, and features is Tuesdays by 5 p.m. All e-mail submissions should be sent to: sseitz@blackrivertribune.com. Many thanks. |
Firefighters:
Ignore the Robocalls
by Stephen Seitz
SPRINGFIELD -- The Professional Fire Fighters of
Vermont want the public to understand that the robocalls
from a group calling itself Citizens for Fire Safety, asking
them to urge Vermont House Speaker Shap Smith to
block passage of Bill S.109, are being paid for by
chemical companies.
The bill would ban a certain family of chemicals,
known as DECAs, from being sold in Vermont after July
of next year. The chemicals are used as fire retardants in
TV sets, computer monitors, and electrical equipment.
"They are chemical companies," said Mike Vinci,
who is the president of the PFFV. "They've testified to
that. However, S.109 is a bill that would protect
firefighters all across Vermont."
The problem with DECA chemicals is that though
they slow fires down, they are not burnproof. When these
chemicals burn, Vinci said, they release toxic gases that
have been shown to cause lung, heart and cancer problems
for the firefighters exposed to them as well as the general
public. Even if the DECAs don't burn, sooner or later they
are released slowly over time and still find their way into
the environment.
"It's been found in dust on computer monitors,"
Vinci said. "It's been found in animals and in breast milk.
They've found it on the beaches of Maine and in the
Arctic."
Capt. Sean Foulois of the Springfield Fire
Department recently recorded a public service
announcement about the robocalls for broadcast on area
radio stations.
"Every firefighting organization in Vermont supports
this bill," Foulois said. "It protects the firefighters and it
protects the general public."
For its part, the Citizens for Fire Safety Web site
says the organization opposes removing current fire
retardant chemicals without replacing the protection they
provide, and claims to have a number of fire safety
professionals in its membership. The Web site does not
list a physical address or identify its membership except in
general terms.
It does list its arguments against S.109, however,
claiming that not using the DECA chemicals will cause
more deaths in electrical fires.
Their Web site may be found at www.cffsi.org.
Ignore the Robocalls
by Stephen Seitz
SPRINGFIELD -- The Professional Fire Fighters of
Vermont want the public to understand that the robocalls
from a group calling itself Citizens for Fire Safety, asking
them to urge Vermont House Speaker Shap Smith to
block passage of Bill S.109, are being paid for by
chemical companies.
The bill would ban a certain family of chemicals,
known as DECAs, from being sold in Vermont after July
of next year. The chemicals are used as fire retardants in
TV sets, computer monitors, and electrical equipment.
"They are chemical companies," said Mike Vinci,
who is the president of the PFFV. "They've testified to
that. However, S.109 is a bill that would protect
firefighters all across Vermont."
The problem with DECA chemicals is that though
they slow fires down, they are not burnproof. When these
chemicals burn, Vinci said, they release toxic gases that
have been shown to cause lung, heart and cancer problems
for the firefighters exposed to them as well as the general
public. Even if the DECAs don't burn, sooner or later they
are released slowly over time and still find their way into
the environment.
"It's been found in dust on computer monitors,"
Vinci said. "It's been found in animals and in breast milk.
They've found it on the beaches of Maine and in the
Arctic."
Capt. Sean Foulois of the Springfield Fire
Department recently recorded a public service
announcement about the robocalls for broadcast on area
radio stations.
"Every firefighting organization in Vermont supports
this bill," Foulois said. "It protects the firefighters and it
protects the general public."
For its part, the Citizens for Fire Safety Web site
says the organization opposes removing current fire
retardant chemicals without replacing the protection they
provide, and claims to have a number of fire safety
professionals in its membership. The Web site does not
list a physical address or identify its membership except in
general terms.
It does list its arguments against S.109, however,
claiming that not using the DECA chemicals will cause
more deaths in electrical fires.
Their Web site may be found at www.cffsi.org.
Steve
Has
His Own
Radio Show!
Don't miss the Magical Music
Museum Sunday nights between 10
p.m. and midnight on Springfield's
Variety, WCFR, 1480 AM and 106.5
FM, streaming live at
http://springfieldsvariety.com. Join
Steve's listeners as he they tour the
strange, amusing, and obscure
recordings to be found in Steve's
vast vault.
Has
His Own
Radio Show!
Don't miss the Magical Music
Museum Sunday nights between 10
p.m. and midnight on Springfield's
Variety, WCFR, 1480 AM and 106.5
FM, streaming live at
http://springfieldsvariety.com. Join
Steve's listeners as he they tour the
strange, amusing, and obscure
recordings to be found in Steve's
vast vault.
News Highlights
Gathered from Various Published Reports
Chester, Andover, Cavendish voters decided to accept the new version of the 2009-2010
budget for Green Mountain Union High School. The first proposal did not sit well the first
time around on town meeting day; after it failed, the GMUHS board trimmed an additional
$88,000, bring the budget down to about $5.5 million. In the end, the total vote on May 5
was 404 in favor to 250 against.
Ludlow Village will receive a loan of $1,974,800 from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Rural Development Agency in order to upgrade the water lines. According to a
May 4 statement from Vermont's ag department, the money will be used to "upgrade
undersized and critical water lines, construct a new storage tank and replacement of pressure
reducing valves. The added storage capacity and new lines will increase the needed system
pressure and bring the village in compliance with fire flow requirements."
Springfield High senior Ashley Fountain was crowned the 53rd Apple Blossom queen
at the annual Cotillion, held in the Riverside Middle School gymnasium May 2 this year.
The event is one of the biggest fundraisers for the Springfield Hospital Foundation, which
uses the money for scholarships to support students seeking a career in health care.
Springfield gets a special postmark on May 7, when the popular animated TV stars The
Simpsons appear on U.S. postage stamps. To celebrate, the U.S. Postal Service created a
special postmark featuring Homer Simpson to be used only on that day. Due to winning a
contest to host the Simpsons Movie premiere, Springfield, Vt. is considered the Simpsons'
official home. To see what the postmark looks like, visit http://www.seitzbooks.com.
On April 27, Gov. Jim Douglas went to the Rockingham VTrans garage to officially
mark the beginning of the annual traffic delay-- er, road construction season. Douglas said
that, thanks to federal stimulus money, Vermont would spend about $100 million on road
construction this season. One of the first projects is resurfacing nine miles of road between
Rockingham and Chester.
Gathered from Various Published Reports
Chester, Andover, Cavendish voters decided to accept the new version of the 2009-2010
budget for Green Mountain Union High School. The first proposal did not sit well the first
time around on town meeting day; after it failed, the GMUHS board trimmed an additional
$88,000, bring the budget down to about $5.5 million. In the end, the total vote on May 5
was 404 in favor to 250 against.
Ludlow Village will receive a loan of $1,974,800 from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Rural Development Agency in order to upgrade the water lines. According to a
May 4 statement from Vermont's ag department, the money will be used to "upgrade
undersized and critical water lines, construct a new storage tank and replacement of pressure
reducing valves. The added storage capacity and new lines will increase the needed system
pressure and bring the village in compliance with fire flow requirements."
Springfield High senior Ashley Fountain was crowned the 53rd Apple Blossom queen
at the annual Cotillion, held in the Riverside Middle School gymnasium May 2 this year.
The event is one of the biggest fundraisers for the Springfield Hospital Foundation, which
uses the money for scholarships to support students seeking a career in health care.
Springfield gets a special postmark on May 7, when the popular animated TV stars The
Simpsons appear on U.S. postage stamps. To celebrate, the U.S. Postal Service created a
special postmark featuring Homer Simpson to be used only on that day. Due to winning a
contest to host the Simpsons Movie premiere, Springfield, Vt. is considered the Simpsons'
official home. To see what the postmark looks like, visit http://www.seitzbooks.com.
On April 27, Gov. Jim Douglas went to the Rockingham VTrans garage to officially
mark the beginning of the annual traffic delay-- er, road construction season. Douglas said
that, thanks to federal stimulus money, Vermont would spend about $100 million on road
construction this season. One of the first projects is resurfacing nine miles of road between
Rockingham and Chester.
Finalists Chosen for Business Plan Competition
SPRINGFIELD -- The finalists for the Southern Windsor County Incubator business plan contest have been announced.
The eventual winner will receive $10,000. The competition is intended to raise awareness of small business and
entrepreneurship, and to encourage new business development by developing proper business plans.
The finalists are:
Julie Baker & George Belt of Weathersfield - Expansion of Posie’s Place to allow for sale of local agricultural products.
Christine Balch of Ludlow - Expansion of Summit Soapworks, a retailer and manufacturer of soap and personal care products.
Deborah J.M. Brown of Chester - Expansion of MacLaomainn’s Scottish Pub to allow for additional capacity.
Shawn Cunningham & Cynthia Prairie of Chester - Pardonfield Farm, to establish production of artisanal vinegars.
Cloe Milek of Windsor - Creation of Gold Leaf Market, a whole foods retailer.
Dan Willey of Cavendish - Expansion of Global E Industries into energy audit services for commercial and residential properties.
The finalists now must prepare a final, complete business plan for submission in late May as well as a formal presentation of
their plan at the final competition on June 4. Each submission will be reviewed and judged, based on such criteria as: likelihood of
success, potential for job creation, influence on the local economy, leadership quality, and financial clarity.
SPRINGFIELD -- The finalists for the Southern Windsor County Incubator business plan contest have been announced.
The eventual winner will receive $10,000. The competition is intended to raise awareness of small business and
entrepreneurship, and to encourage new business development by developing proper business plans.
The finalists are:
Julie Baker & George Belt of Weathersfield - Expansion of Posie’s Place to allow for sale of local agricultural products.
Christine Balch of Ludlow - Expansion of Summit Soapworks, a retailer and manufacturer of soap and personal care products.
Deborah J.M. Brown of Chester - Expansion of MacLaomainn’s Scottish Pub to allow for additional capacity.
Shawn Cunningham & Cynthia Prairie of Chester - Pardonfield Farm, to establish production of artisanal vinegars.
Cloe Milek of Windsor - Creation of Gold Leaf Market, a whole foods retailer.
Dan Willey of Cavendish - Expansion of Global E Industries into energy audit services for commercial and residential properties.
The finalists now must prepare a final, complete business plan for submission in late May as well as a formal presentation of
their plan at the final competition on June 4. Each submission will be reviewed and judged, based on such criteria as: likelihood of
success, potential for job creation, influence on the local economy, leadership quality, and financial clarity.
| In This Issue: Local News Briefs: SEVCA Celebrates Its Achievements Business Plan Finalists Announced Sherlock Page: Philip K. Jones discusses Col. Sebastian Moran. |
Nancy Boone, of the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (DHP) will be at
the Black River Academy Museum (BRAM) Friday, May 8 at 1 p.m.
Boone will discuss the the Vermont barn census being conducted by DHP. She
oversees the DHP grant program dealing with Vermont's historic agricultural buildings
(barns, corn cribs, silos, grist mills, etc.).
The census is a project of the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation,
University of Vermont Historic Preservation Program, Historic Windsor's Preservation
Education Institute, Save Vermont Barns, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board,
and Preservation Trust of Vermont.
Mrs. Heidi Beitz 6th grade class from Ludlow Elementary School will be attending
the presentation since the census program encourages the participation of elementary
and high school students.
The meeting is open to the public.
the Black River Academy Museum (BRAM) Friday, May 8 at 1 p.m.
Boone will discuss the the Vermont barn census being conducted by DHP. She
oversees the DHP grant program dealing with Vermont's historic agricultural buildings
(barns, corn cribs, silos, grist mills, etc.).
The census is a project of the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation,
University of Vermont Historic Preservation Program, Historic Windsor's Preservation
Education Institute, Save Vermont Barns, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board,
and Preservation Trust of Vermont.
Mrs. Heidi Beitz 6th grade class from Ludlow Elementary School will be attending
the presentation since the census program encourages the participation of elementary
and high school students.
The meeting is open to the public.
2009 State House Conversations Guests
"State House Conversations," a Falls Area Community Television (FACT) public access show featuring Vermont state
government guests, co-hosted Suzanne Groenewold and Rep. Michael J. Obuchowski, will originate live from the Bellows Falls
FACT studio every other Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. starting May 19 on channel 10 of the Bellows Falls area cable system.
The May 19 show will feature Rep. Mike Mrowicki. Shows will be rebroadcast throughout the next two weeks; please check
listings.
Listen to "State House Conversations" on WOOL-FM 100.1 Bellows Falls Saturdays and Sundays at 8 a.m. and Mondays
at 7 a.m.
State House Conversations scheduled guests include:
5/19 Rep. Mike Mrowicki (D-Putney); 6/2 Sen. Jeanette White (D-Windham); 6/16 Rep. David Deen, (D-Westminster); 6/30
Peter Shumlin, President pro tem (D-Windham); 7/14 Tom Salmon, Vt. State Auditor; 7/28 Rep. Carolyn Partridge
(D-Windham); 8/11 Sen. Doug Racine (D-Chittenden); 8/25 To Be Announced; 9/8 Deb Markowitz, Vt. Secretary of State; 9/22
Bill Sorrell, Vt. Attorney General.
"State House Conversations," a Falls Area Community Television (FACT) public access show featuring Vermont state
government guests, co-hosted Suzanne Groenewold and Rep. Michael J. Obuchowski, will originate live from the Bellows Falls
FACT studio every other Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. starting May 19 on channel 10 of the Bellows Falls area cable system.
The May 19 show will feature Rep. Mike Mrowicki. Shows will be rebroadcast throughout the next two weeks; please check
listings.
Listen to "State House Conversations" on WOOL-FM 100.1 Bellows Falls Saturdays and Sundays at 8 a.m. and Mondays
at 7 a.m.
State House Conversations scheduled guests include:
5/19 Rep. Mike Mrowicki (D-Putney); 6/2 Sen. Jeanette White (D-Windham); 6/16 Rep. David Deen, (D-Westminster); 6/30
Peter Shumlin, President pro tem (D-Windham); 7/14 Tom Salmon, Vt. State Auditor; 7/28 Rep. Carolyn Partridge
(D-Windham); 8/11 Sen. Doug Racine (D-Chittenden); 8/25 To Be Announced; 9/8 Deb Markowitz, Vt. Secretary of State; 9/22
Bill Sorrell, Vt. Attorney General.