‘Turkey talk’

BARRE — Michael Boutin showed up at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting carrying a sack full of turkeys that were literally as light as a feather.
That’s because Boutin’s life-size birds — nearly a dozen in all — were made of colorful balloons that he carefully twisted and tied until each bore a surprisingly striking resemblance to a turkey.
It isn’t a skill Boutin learned overnight. In fact, the Ward 2 city councilor says his first brush with balloon sculpting dates back to his days as a student at Spaulding High School.
Seems veteran history teacher Jerry Desmaris knows a thing or two about making balloon animals and is responsible for teaching Boutin how to make a mouse, dog, swan, bird and sword.
However, Boutin says it wasn’t until he hooked up with a clown named “Buddy” that he was able to take balloon-sculpting to a new level and tackle more intricate animals like, well, turkeys.
Asked for his turkey recipe, Boutin, who brought the birds as gifts for his City Council colleagues, happily obliged.
“It is made out of seven balloons,” he said. “One white, two red, three brown, and one orangish color.”
That’s where he lost us, because unless you’ve studied with someone like “Buddy,” it’s all uphill from there.
“It is made with one apple twist, two ear twists, and a whole lot of regular twists,” Boutin explained. “The average time for me to make one is about 15 to 20 minutes.”

Blow: ‘No snow?’

BARRE TOWN — Maybe it was just wishful thinking on his part, but Select Board Chairman Jeff Blow sure sounded like he meant it when he issued a “no snow” forecast this week.
Speaking to all who were listening Blow defied the rest of the meteorological world, when he predicted the town’s plow drivers could rest easy, and its salt supply wouldn’t need to be tapped in the run up to Thanksgiving.
That was Tuesday night.
By Wednesday morning, it was pretty clear that Blow better stick to selling envelopes because (as much as we were pulling for him to be right) he’s really not much of a weatherman.

Bishop made call to close Barre day care

BARRE — The St. Monica’s Early Enrichment Center on West Street will be closing its doors for the last time this evening. Two weeks ago, the parish announced its decision to close the day care center, which has been open since 2006, providing its services to low-income families. According to the Rev. Leopold Bilodeau, the pastor at St. Monica, the decision was set in motion about two months ago. That’s when Bishop Salvatore Matano learned that the center had started caring for babies. At that time, he told Bilodeau that the center needed to meet the high bar set by the National Catholic Daycare Association.

Read the full story by Jenna Pizzi in the Times Argus>>

Barre teachers take their labor dispute to Spaulding board

BARRE — A lingering labor dispute involving two local teachers unions and three school boards was the subject of a brief public discussion Monday night.
Nearly 20 members of the Barre Education Association paid a visit to the board responsible for running Spaulding High School to express their concerns over stalled negotiations.
It lasted all of five minutes and ironically ended in agreement — something union spokesman John Lewis lamented can’t be said about a protracted negotiation process. On that front, all has been quiet since a marathon mediation session failed to produce a settlement in September.

Read the full story by David Delcore in the Times Argus >>

Montpelier, Barre police investigating drug-related shooting

BARRE - The Montpelier Police Department, the Barre City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating a drug-related shooting incident on Baldwin Street that occurred Sunday afternoon.
According to a press release, police were called to the scene just after 4:30 p.m. near Baldwin Street and Bailey Avenue, after receiving reports of an argument followed by “a loud bang that sounded like a gunshot.”
Upon arrival, police found a man who said he had been shot at but was not wounded, officials said. There was evidence that a firearm had been discharged at the scene. The victim appears to have been targeted by the suspects, according to police.
Evidence and statements indicate that the shooting reportedly involved the use and sale of narcotics in the apartment complex at 15 Baldwin Street, according to police. Officials believe this was an isolated incident.
Police were told that three suspects fled the area after the incident, two of whom displayed firearms.
Anyone who may have witnessed the shooting is asked to contact the Montpelier Police Department at 802-223-3445.

Times Argus offices re-open for business

After 122 days of cell phones, temporary workstations, cleanup, mud, reconstruction, recovery, (and a second flood) we had our fire inspection this morning and have moved back downstairs at the Times Argus Barre office and are OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!!!

The front desk is set up and ready to go...

Here's the Newsroom:

 

And a look back at where we came from, back in May:

 

Vermont's Carhartt company donates clothing to flood victims

By Jenna  Pizzi
Staff Writer
BARRE – Carhartt clothing company has donated 18,000 jeans, jackets, gloves and tops to Lenny’s Shoe and Apparel to help Vermonters who lost clothing in the flooding from Tropical Storm Irene.
Mark McCarthy, the owner of Lenny’s, said he is grateful that Carhartt would make such a major donation. He wants to ensure that the items go to people adversely impacted by the destructive floodwaters.
“We want this stuff to go to those families and people who have had major issues,” said McCarthy.
Once all the clothing, which comes in men’s and women’s sizes, is sorted, McCarthy said he will begin to reach out to communities, starting close to home in places such as Waterbury, Northfield and Rochester, before going further south to other needy communities.
McCarthy said he is certain that there will be plenty of clothing to help all those in need, but added that he is having some difficulty finding efficient and effective ways to distribute the clothing.
“The challenge has been calling all of these municipalities,” he said.
Because the flood damaged so many roads and bridges, transporting the clothes is a significant obstacle. Getting anywhere in southern Vermont can be a challenge at the moment, especially in a large delivery truck.
Anyone who wants to help deliver the clothes directly to those in need is encouraged to call the Barre store at 802-476-7446 during regular business hours and ask for Mark McCarthy.

Barre fire under investigation

BARRE – The Barre City Fire Department was called to the scene of a fire in a multi-family home on the corner of Summer Street and Merchant Street on Friday night.
The fire is currently under investigation by the Barre City Fire Department and the Barre City Police Department.
Capt. Joe Kelly of the Barre City Fire Department would not say if anyone was harmed or what caused the fire. Kelly said no further information is available at this time.
There did not appear to be any damage to the exterior of the building and a small cabinet was smoldering on the sidewalk out front of the house just after 10:40 p.m.

-Jenna Pizzi

Celebration at Aldrich next week for new Paterson book

Katherine and John Paterson will debut their new book The Flint Heart at Aldrich Public Library in Barre on September 14 at 6:30 p.m. The book’s illustrator, John Rocco, will also appear at the celebration.
The evening will include presentations by the authors and illustrator, along with music and refreshments. The Flint Heart is based on Eden Philpott’s 1910 fantasy novel The Flint Heart. It tells of an ambitious Stone Age man who demands a talisman that will harden his heart and allow him to take control of his tribe. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. The event is free, open to the public, and suitable for all ages.

Katherine Paterson won the Newbury Medal for her books Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob I Have Loved, and has received many other awards and accolades for her children’s books. Her husband John has collaborated on several books and is the retired minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Barre, where they live.

For more information on the Aldrich Public Library, click here for the website.

Former Barre police officer charged with DUI

MONTPELIER -- Zak Winston, 34, of Montpelier, was charged with driving under the influence of drugs Saturday evening.

According to the police report, Winston was pulled over near the intersection of Elm and School streets where he registered a blood alcohol content of 0.022 percent. The legal alcohol limit to drive is 0.08 percent. Winston wasn't charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, but rather drugs.

Winston is a former Barre City police officer. In January, he surrended in his badge after Montpelier police alleged that he broke into a neighbor's Elm Street apartment and stole her flat screen television.

Winston pleaded not guilty to felony charges of burglary and unlawful trespass, as well as two misdemeanor charges of unlawful mischief greater than $250 and resisting arrest.

That case is still active with a status conference scheduled for Dec. 5. No court date has been set for Winston's DUI charge.

-- Keith Vance, Staff Writer