Travel conference coming to Killington

KILLINGTON — The 29th annual Vermont Travel Industry Conference will be held  April 12 and 13 at the Killington Grand Hotel. The event will feature a keynote presentation on industry trends, workshops, one-on-one meetings with experts, a presentation by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing highlighting the 2012 marketing initiatives and a trade show.
Two awards and one scholarship will be presented at the event.
The Governor’s Award for Marketing Excellence recognizes a tourism business that has incorporated the Vermont brand into at least one successful marketing strategy demonstrating proven results.
The Vermont Travel Person of the Year Award honors an individual who contributes significantly to making Vermont a memorable and special place to visit. The Vermont Travel Industry scholarship is presented to a full-time undergraduate student with exemplary grades, striving to become a future leader of the travel and tourism industry.
Applications and nominations for the scholarship and awards will be accepted until March 16. 
For more information on participating in the event, submitting an awards nomination, or sponsoring or exhibiting at the conference, visit the Vermont Travel Industry Conference website at www.vtic.org.

Travel conference coming to Killington
KILLINGTON — The 29th annual Vermont Travel Industry Conference will be held  April 12 and 13 at the Killington Grand Hotel. The event will feature a keynote presentation on industry trends, workshops, one-on-one meetings with experts, a presentation by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing highlighting the 2012 marketing initiatives and a trade show.
Two awards and one scholarship will be presented at the event.
The Governor’s Award for Marketing Excellence recognizes a tourism business that has incorporated the Vermont brand into at least one successful marketing strategy demonstrating proven results.
The Vermont Travel Person of the Year Award honors an individual who contributes significantly to making Vermont a memorable and special place to visit. The Vermont Travel Industry scholarship is presented to a full-time undergraduate student with exemplary grades, striving to become a future leader of the travel and tourism industry.
Applications and nominations for the scholarship and awards will be accepted until March 16. 
For more information on participating in the event, submitting an awards nomination, or sponsoring or exhibiting at the conference, visit the Vermont Travel Industry Conference website at www.vtic.org. Travel conference coming to Killington
KILLINGTON — The 29th annual Vermont Travel Industry Conference will be held  April 12 and 13 at the Killington Grand Hotel. The event will feature a keynote presentation on industry trends, workshops, one-on-one meetings with experts, a presentation by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing highlighting the 2012 marketing initiatives and a trade show.
Two awards and one scholarship will be presented at the event.
The Governor’s Award for Marketing Excellence recognizes a tourism business that has incorporated the Vermont brand into at least one successful marketing strategy demonstrating proven results.
The Vermont Travel Person of the Year Award honors an individual who contributes significantly to making Vermont a memorable and special place to visit. The Vermont Travel Industry scholarship is presented to a full-time undergraduate student with exemplary grades, striving to become a future leader of the travel and tourism industry.
Applications and nominations for the scholarship and awards will be accepted until March 16. 
For more information on participating in the event, submitting an awards nomination, or sponsoring or exhibiting at the conference, visit the Vermont Travel Industry Conference website at www.vtic.org.

Three libraries in Vermont rated among nation's best by Library Journal

Every year, Library Journal rates the best public libraries in America - out of 7,513 - in its "Star Libraries" ratings. Three public libraries in Vermont were selected for that top group: Killington, Craftsbury Common, and Putney libraries. The first two are repeats from previous years, and this is Putney's first time. Congrats to all three!

Each library is rated within an expenditure range based on circulation, visits, program attendance and internet use rated on a per capita basis.

See the ratings here >>

From the Putney library:

Congratulations to all our patrons and the entire community that has made our library such a vital, thriving and wonderful place! If you haven't visited the library before or its been a while please stop by let and let us know if we can help you with any of services we offer.

Ski season is just around the corner

KILLINGTON — Up the mountain in Killington, after that first snowstorm of fall dumped 8 inches, the race is on to get ready for ski season, according to the Killington Blog's Mary Furlong and Bill Vines. The couple own and operate the Birch Ridge Inn, and they've been doing everything except think about skiing, the blog says. They've also got a cool snow stake picture feature, so you can check in on snow levels up on the mountain, which you can see by clicking here...

Vyto made it to N.H. on Route 4

Like a lot of you, Rutland Herald photographer Vyto Starinskas has been asking when Route 4 would open. He had to get to Manchester, N.H., today.

As we all know, now, Route 4 is open -- at least from Rutland to Killington. From Killington east, however, has been a bit more of a question mark.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation offers a variety of answers at its 511 page. One map shows the stretch from Bridgewater Corners to Woodstock as "Closed, Authorized Vehicles Only." But another AOT page says that same stretch is "Open at Reduced Levels."

We've heard people who have driven that stretch and others who have been turned away.

But today, at about noon, Starinskas traveled Route 4 all the way to New Hampshire.

"The bottom line is you can get to I-89 from Rutland on Route 4," Starinskas said by cell phone just before yelling in celebration as he crossed the bridge into the Granite State.

But, drivers should expect delays.

Starinskas said the road from Bridgewater to Woodstock features four or five stretches of one-lane road where workers are replacing guardrails because of washouts.

He also noted a couple of bridges in that stretch. One, a covered bridge, he said is still there. But another metal bridge is in the river, mangled.

Meadowlake Drive Bridge to close, Thursday through Friday

The town of Mendon just sent Vermont Today this release; town contact info is below.

MENDON - Sept. 6, 2011 – The bridge on Meadowlake Drive located just off Route 4 will be closed for two days from 6:00 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, until 6:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, to allow giant earthmoving equipment to work in the area.

Traffic will be diverted to the East Pittsford and Chittenden Roads during this time.

If you have questions or need additional information, please call the Mendon town Office at 802-775-1662.

Town of Mendon, 2282 US Route 4, Mendon, VT 05701

(802) 775-1662

(802) 773-9682 Fax

[email protected]

Parade of caskets in Rochester

There was a parade of caskets in Rochester Sunday, according to Chief Photographer Vyto Starinskas. He was there when he saw about a dozen pickup trucks hauling covered caskets. They were from the federal government and they were empty, the cemetary commissioner told him. Last week, in the aftermath of Irene, old and new caskets were swept into a river in the town, dug up by the raging water. The federal government sent these empty caskets into town yesterday to recover the wreckage. It's a Rutland Herald exclusive.

 

Vt flash flood watch issued; hazardous weather outlook for today

Updated report, 1 p.m. Saturday:

On Saturday, the National Weather Service in Burlington issued a flash flood watch for Vermont and all of northern New York.

The flash flood watch is in effect from Sunday evening through Tuesday morning. Vermont can expect to see potentially heavy rainfall throughout Monday and into Monday evening.

The NWS issued the watch because of forecasts indicating widespread rainfall of 1 to 3 inches, with localized rainfall expected to reach 4 inches.

The weather service also issued a separate hazardous weather outlook for Saturday, noting that the threat for showers and thunderstorms will exist Saturday from the daytime hours through tonight.  "Any thunderstorms will have the potential to produce heavy rainfall," the alert said.

According to the NWS flash flood watch release:

“The heavy rainfall will be concentrated over northern New York Sunday night and across Vermont Monday and Monday night. This is a potentially dangerous situation! Areas hard hit by Tropical Storm Irene will be susceptible to more flash flooding given the already wet and eroded ground. It will not take much rainfall to cause flash flooding in this situation.”

The alert noted that the "potential for strong to severe thunderstorms will exist across the north country Sunday afternoon, especially over northern New York."  Gusty winds, hail and heavy rainfall are possible.

The NWS noted that precautionary and preparedness actions should be taken. It advised residents to listen to NOAA weather radio or go to www.weather.gov on the Web for more information.

A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that will lead to sudden flooding.

“Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation,” the release continued. “With so much ongoing response and restoration efforts from Tropical Storm Irene, persons need to stay tuned to later forecasts from the National Weather Service and plan for weather than could significantly impact the area.”

The affected flood watch areas are:

NORTHERN ST. LAWRENCE-NORTHERN FRANKLIN-EASTERN CLINTON-

SOUTHEASTERN ST. LAWRENCE-SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-WESTERN CLINTON-

WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX-SOUTHWESTERN ST. LAWRENCE-GRAND ISLE-

WESTERN FRANKLIN-ORLEANS-ESSEX-WESTERN CHITTENDEN-LAMOILLE-

CALEDONIA-WASHINGTON-WESTERN ADDISON-ORANGE-WESTERN RUTLAND-

WINDSOR-EASTERN FRANKLIN-EASTERN CHITTENDEN-EASTERN ADDISON-

EASTERN RUTLAND-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MASSENA...MALONE...PLATTSBURGH...

STAR LAKE...SARANAC LAKE...TUPPER LAKE...DANNEMORA...

LAKE PLACID...PORT HENRY...TICONDEROGA...OGDENSBURG...POTSDAM...

GOUVERNEUR...ALBURGH...SOUTH HERO...ST. ALBANS...NEWPORT...

ISLAND POND...BURLINGTON...JOHNSON...STOWE...ST. JOHNSBURY...

MONTPELIER...MIDDLEBURY...VERGENNES...BRADFORD...RANDOLPH...

RUTLAND...SPRINGFIELD...WHITE RIVER JUNCTION...ENOSBURG FALLS...

RICHFORD...UNDERHILL...BRISTOL...RIPTON...EAST WALLINGFORD...

KILLINGTON

Killington Resort Fall events update - No events until Sept. 24

From Killington Mountain Resort:

Due to the recovery efforts from tropical storm Irene, all special events at Killington Resort and Pico Mountain have been cancelled or postponed through September 24 including Septemberfest at Pico Mountain. The Pico Ski Club Ski/Snowboard Swap is looking at alternative location options in the Rutland area.

Killington Resort plans to kick off foliage season with our annual Killington Brewfest, October 1. Brewfest tickets are on sale now for $20 and the price will increase to $25 on September 9, 2011.

For the full details on the fall lineup beyond Sept. 24:

http://www.killington.com/winter/beast/blog/authors/tom/killington-resort-fall-event

The Road to Mendon: Route 4 from Killington into Mendon

The locals are either calling this "The Mendon Gap" or the "Wheelerville Gap":

 

Killington feeling less trapped, thanks to contractor

 
A convoy of supplies made it into Killington this morning. Albert J. Marro / Rutland Herald

By Cristina Kumka
STAFF WRITER
KILLINGTON — Craig Mosher looked up the road and saw his next job. It wasn’t one he asked for.
The owner of Mosher Excavating, Inc. on Route 4 in Killington has been lauded by Killington townspeople for his rapid response to historic flooding that washed out a huge section of road just north of his home and business.
Since Monday, Mosher and four of his employees, who rode into work on ATVs, have used the company’s own excavating equipment to completely rebuild the road and redirect a brook into its normal path at the key intersection of Route 4 and River Road.
They’ve worked sunup to sundown.
Because of Mosher, more than 300 out-of-towners got out of Killington Wednesday morning and headed toward Woodstock and the interstate, and food and supplies can be delivered into town from the east.
Because of him, water isn’t flowing into the Kokopelli Inn, Goodro Lumber or into the rooms of houses anymore.
Because of him, the town feels less trapped.
“I’m not a hero, I just own an excavating company,” Mosher said, eating a salad for lunch as he leaned on his bulldozer Wednesday.
Mosher was given the go-ahead by the state to rebuild the road for access and redirect the brook as best as he could.
On Mosher’s own property, near Blackie’s store and the Irving gas station at the Killington four corners, his pasture is gone but his free-range animals are just fine.
“Big and Rib are OK,” Mosher said of his two Scottish Highland cows, spreading a smile.
Mosher gave credit to the other local contractors on the other side of Route 4 doing even more work to rebuild access into and out of town — Belden and Markowski.
On Wednesday, the town of Killington announced that because of diligent road reconstruction, residents would be able to take a one-lane dirt road from Woodstock to Killington between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. and from Killington to Woodstock between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. beginning today and every day moving forward.
Also beginning today, The Bus in Rutland will take Killington residents back and forth to Rutland twice daily from Killington at 8:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m.
Stops in Killington will be the Killington Grand Hotel, Pico Mountain, and Mendon Mountainview/Cortina Inn.
Beginning Sunday, there was no way into town and no way out, the result of raging water that grew in otherwise calm brooks after the area received in upwards of 6 inches of rain in a 24-hour period.
The water rushed downhill to the lowest rivers and streams, taking chunks of pavement and boulders with it.
In Killington’s case, it took feet of roads and a entire house.
At Pico Wednesday, horses seemed calm grazing on the wet hill behind a chair lift, now covered by 3 feet or more of mud.  
Employees of the resort in charge of the horses were the opposite. They were busy figuring out a safe route to get the horses out of Killington because food and water was dwindling.
Across town on the access road, Seth Webb, the town’s economic development director, was leading the charge of town officials planning where to land helicopters with food and water, how to get people medicine and how to help people in other communities like Pittsfield, which remained landlocked.
Suzie Dundas, the town’s marketing manager turned co-emergency coordinator, said she’s never seen a town pull together so much.
“I am shocked by the outpouring of support,” Dundas said. “People have stayed for days helping people they’ve never met.”
Steve Selbo, the developer of the town’s future ski village, said he’ll still invest.
For the latest updates on Killington’s disaster relief, go to killingtontown.com.
[email protected]