Entomologists raise concerns over stink bug sighting in Vermont

BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. — A stink bug sighting is causing some concern among farmers and entomologists in a Vermont town.
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug was spotted on Dec. 19 in a Bellows Falls apartment.
This species of stink bug has been prolific in at least 33 states, but not in Vermont. The bug can harm crops during the growing season.
The Brattleboro Reformer reports (http://bit.ly/sisBMG) entomologists hope it’s an isolated case and they’re trying to find out if the woman who lives in the apartment recently traveled out of state.
Vermont is home to several other species of stink bugs. The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug has a geometric pattern on its lower abdomen and two white bands on its antennae.

Classical New Years Eve in Manchester tomorrow

MANCHESTER — The soaring strains of Tchaikovsky and Grieg along with Broadway tunes, tangos and waltzes will fill Manchester Village on Saturday, Dec. 31 when the Manchester Music Festival presents two New Year’s Eve concerts at First Congregational Church on 7A in Manchester Village, across from the Equinox Hotel.

19-year-old Guilford girl crashes into moose

A 19-year-old Guilford girl landed in the hospital Thursday morning after crashing into a moose that was trying to cross the interstate.

Police say Ashley Helander was wearing her seatbelt when the moose tried to cross I- 91 south near the 10/40 mile marker at dawn, around 6:20 a.m.

The 2001 Subaru Helander was driving was totaled.

The girl was taken to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital for minor injuries.

Vt. EB-5 international investment program wins second award

MONTPELIER – The Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s EB-5 Regional Center has received the EB-5 Regional Center of the Year Award for the second year in row from the Artisan Business Group.
The Artisan Business group is one of the largest EB-5 brokers in the world, dealing primarily with the Chinese investor marketplace.
In making the award, the Artisan group noted that as the only government-run regional center in the country, Vermont stands out with its strong governmental support, including direct involvement in the program from Gov. Peter Shumlin and U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy. 
The primary focus of Vermont’s involvement in EB-5 is job creation.
 “These investments require job creation, so becoming the industry leader nationally not only provides significant investment capital for Vermont businesses, but also creates jobs for Vermonters,” said Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lawrence Miller.
The Vermont EB-5 Regional Center was created in 1998 and is managed by the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
The federal program gives a green card benefit to investors who invest at least $500,000 in an approved project, and who then show the investment creates at least 10 direct and indirect jobs.
Since 1998, more than $250 million have been invested in Vermont by EB-5 investors in various companies, including Jay Peak Resort, Sugarbush Resort, Country Home Products, and Seldon Technologies.
An estimated $100 million was invested in 2011 in Vermont projects. With almost 200 regional centers in the country, the investment represents nearly 15 percent of all EB-5 investment nationally for the year.

Vt. man charged in Tractor Supply holdup

SWANTON, Vt. (AP) — A Highgate man has been charged with trying to hold up a Tractor Supply store Swanton three months ago.
The clerk was able to wrestle the weapon away from the masked man, who ran out of the store.
WCAX-TV (http://bit.ly/vK6XJV ) now reports that 24-year-old Travis Hemingway has been charged with armed robbery in the case.
He was already in custody in a fraud when he was charged.

Man arrested on assault charge

NORTHFIELD — A Northfield man was arrested on simple assault charges after police investigated an unrelated incident.
Kevin Lacillade, 21, was arrested Dec. 20 by police who were investigating an unrelated complaint and discovered he had allegedly accosted a man earlier in the day.
Police said they collected statements during an interview with Lacillade, who reportedly admitted he assaulted a Middlesex resident who was in Northfield visiting a friend. Police said Lacillade admitted to pushing and punching the man several times in the back and in the back of the head.
Lacillade was cited to appear in Barre criminal court in late January to answer the charge.

Plymouth update from the Plymouth Press

Margo Marrone writes updates for a blog in Plymouth, the Plymouth Press:

I guess we were spoiled by those warms temps, so the single digits were quite a shock to my system! I have to admit that dusting of snow the other night made it look more like Christmas, but I was glad it didn’t happen last Thursday & impede our Christmas carol singing around Tyson & at the Gill Home.

In speaking with Missy Lynds, she said all of their trails are repaired & just waiting for snow! I understand that the connecting road to Shrewsbury is still out, so it will be a long way around for those wanting to head in that direction.

Read the full post >>

Central Vermont towns get planning grants

BARRE — Three central Vermont communities have received state grants for municipal planning projects.
Barre and Montpelier each received maximum grants of $15,000 for their respective $18,000 projects, and Waterbury received $11,000 for its $12,500 municipal plan update, officials announced.
Noelle Mackay, commissioner of the Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development, announced Wednesday that 42 grants were awarded statewide, totaling $409,532. Municipalities have 18 months to complete their planning projects with the grant monies.
The Municipal and Regional Planning Fund was established in 1988 to support municipal planning and development. 

Woman cited for DUI in crash

DORSET – Police said a Miami, Fla., woman was driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding when she crashed her Jeep on Dorset West Road about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Cornelia L.K. Lowerre, 24,  was cited for leaving the scene of a crash, careless and negligent driving and driving under the influence of alcohol, according to a press release from Trooper Lewis Hatch.
Hatch said police believe Lowerre, who was the only occupant of the Jeep, drove off the road and hit a concrete barrier. According to police, Lowerre left the scene of the crash before they arrived but she was located several hours later.
Hatch did not say if Lowerre took part in a breath test to measure her blood alcohol level but said she showed signs of impairment.
A witness told police the Jeep was traveling at a high rate of speed and passing unsafely on Dorset West Road before the crash.
Lowerre was cited to appear in Bennington criminal court Jan. 17.

Bob Engel to Speak on “Citizen Science” at Putney Mountain Assoc. Annual Meeting

From iPutney.com:

Putney Mountain Association is excited - and fortunate - that Bob Engels will be speaking on the subject of Citizen Science at our annual meeting on January 8th. The meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. in the Putney Library. All are invited.

PMA has been involved in "citizen science" projects for over a decade; we look forward to Bob's insight and helpful hints. Bob will speak on the value of citizen science, and its strengths and weaknesses. “There is nothing magical about science; anyone can do it with a decent premise and attention to method.”

Recently retired, Bob Engel taught biology at Marlboro College for many years. With his uncanny ability to keep audiences captivated regardless of the subject matter, Bob most recently enthralled an overflow OSHER crowd with his six session lecture series on Birds this past spring. By popular demand, he will be returning to present another series in a future OSHER session.