20140111 theeaglevt

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January 11, 2014

PSB approves gas pipeline From news & staff reports newmarketpress@ denpubs.com MIDDLEBURY  — Vermont  is  one  step  closer  to  begin  construction  on  the  natural gas project after receiving approval from state  regulators. The  notice  of  approval  came  on  Dec.  23  after  Vermont  regulators  reviewed  thousands  of  pages  of  evidence  and  testimony  from  nearly  50  witnesses.  The  Public  Service  Board  agreed  that  Phase  1  of  the  Addison-Rutland  Natural  Gas  Project  is  in  the  public  good. Phase  1  of  the  project  will  extend  the  Vermont  Gas  transmission  network  further  south  into  Middlebury,  bringing  natural  gas  service  to  towns  including  Monkton, Ferrisburgh, Vergennes,  Bristol,  New  Haven,  and  more.  The  project  will cut heating costs in half  for  nearby  homeowners  and  businesses  and  reduce  greenhouse  gas  emissions,  said Vermont Gas.  “We  are  very  pleased  the  Vermont  Public  Service  Board’s thorough review of  the  project  has  found  it  to  be  in  the  public  interest,”  said  Don  Gilbert,  President  and  CEO  of  Vermont  Gas.    “This  decision  will  make  it  possible  to  extend  the  same  economic  and  environmental  benefi ts  of  natural gas service to more  Vermonters  in  Addison  County.      We  look  forward  to  helping  more  Vermonters to cut their heating bills  in  half  and  reduce  their  greenhouse  gas  emissions,  as  we  have  in  Chittenden  and  Franklin  counties  for  almost 50 years.” In  the  ruling,  the  Public  Service Board said the project “will create substantial  CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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Fire destroys Bristol farm

YEAR ENDING FIRE

By Lou Varricchio newmarketpress@denpubs.com  BRISTOL — A  fi re  at  the  Choiniere  farm  in  Bristol  destroyed  most  of  the  operation’s buildings during the afternoon hours of Jan. 4. Only a single silo  survived the fi re, according to eyewitnesses;  the  confl agration  was  fueled  by 200 bales of combustible hay. Barn  animals are safe according to a fi re department report. Retired  owner  Mark  Choiniere  and  current  owner  Paul  Choiniere  told  news  reporters  that  several  generations  of  the  family  worked  the  land at the farm site. A large barn constructed  during  the  1950s  was  completely  destroyed.  Bristol  Assistant  Fire Chief Brett LaRose told reporters  that  Choiniere  saw  a  small  fi re  in  the  back  of  the  farm  and  called  911.  The  fi re  spread  quickly  before  fi refi ghters  could do much. Five  fi re  departments  from  surrounding  Addison  and  Chittenden  counties  included  55  fi refi ghters  to  battle  the  confl agration.  Cold  and  wind were also factors hampering the  effort.  The  fi re  was  not  considered  to  be deliberately set.

Owen Stolarcyk took this photograph of a big barn fire along the Whiting-Shoreham Road on Monday, Dec. 29, 2013, at 11 a.m. The fire was the last large barn fire of the year for the area. Photo by Owen Stolarcyk

German glider maker mulls Middlebury airport site By Lou Varricchio newmarketpress@denpubs.com

Middlebury airport officials hope to lure Stemme, a German-based glider manufacturer, to the area. The goal is to create a local assembly, sales, and maintenance facility at the Middlebury State Airport and create a partnership with the foreign company along the East Coast. The company’s S-10 glider retails at approximately $259,000. Photo provided

MIDDLEBURY — Vermont  State  Airport  6B0— also known as the Middlebury State Airport—might  be seeing some improvements in the next few years.  Jamie Gaucher, director of the Middlebury Offi ce  of Business Development and Innovation, has been  working  closely  with  Mike  Vincent,  owner  of  J&M  Aviation of Middlebury, on the project, which aims  to bring a German-based glider manufacturer to the  area.  The  goal  is  to  create  a  local  assembly,  sales,  and  maintenance  facility  at  the  Middlebury  State  Airport and create a partnership with the overseas  company along the East Coast. While  the  name  of  the  company  has  not  been  released,  some  are  speculating  that  the  newcomer  may  be  Stemme,  a  Strausberg-based  motor  glider  manufacturer.  The  company’s  S-10  glider  retails  at  approximately $259,000. Gaucher could only confi rm that the company has  another venue in San Diego, Calif., which is true for  Stemme.  Middlebury Airport Manager Brian Pinsonault  CONTINUED ON PAGE 10


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