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Hinesburg’s Chuck Ross named Vt. Agriculture Agency secretary.
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Armenian pianist to play classics at Middlebury College Jan. 21.
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Serving Addison and Chittenden Counties
January 15, 2011
School contract reaches stillwater Teachers feel angry, under appreciated By Alice Dubenetsky newmarketpress@denpubs.com
The 12th annual “Face Off Against Breast Cancer” hockey tournament will take place Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 22 and 23 at the Memorial Sports Center in Middlebury. Pictured are some of the ladies from this year’s Middlebury Otters and Mystix teams.
Hockey tourney set for Jan. 22-23 in Middlebury MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury Otters and the Middlebury Mystix, two women’s community ice hockey teams, will host the 12th annual “Face Off Against Breast Cancer” hockey tournament on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 22 and 23 at the Memorial Sports Center in Middlebury. The tournament brings 12 women’s hockey teams from all over Vermont, competing in games in competitive, recreational and novice divisions. There’s even a “Friends and Family” division for men, kids, and co-ed groups. Ongoing hospitality and refreshments will be served in the Warming Hut. Visiting teams include: Burlington Ice Breakers, Green Mountain Thunder, Vermont Vixen, Burlington Tsunamis,
Waterbury Wicked, Rutland Cutting Edge, Burlington Black Ice, Barre 32 Degrees, and Burlington Code Blue. The tournament weekend includes a fun-filled benefit concert and after-party on Saturday night, Jan. 22 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Local favorites, The Horse Traders, will play covers and original rock tunes at Two Brothers’ Tavern on Main Street in downtown Middlebury. The Horse Traders and Two Brothers’ Tavern will donate the performance, all the proceeds from the cover charge that night, and 10 percent of all the sales at Two Brothers’ upstairs restaurant and downstairs lounge to the Face Off Against Breast Cancer.
BRISTOL — Talks between the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union (ANESU) school boards and the teachers union have stalled, and there are no positive signs that either side will soon return to the negotiating table. The impasse is the result of an intense contract negotiating process that left both sides dissatisfied with the outcome. At issue were teacher salaries, automatic pay increases (or “step increases”) the percentage that teachers contribute to their health insurance plan, and a requirement that teachers work an extra hour per week to attend staff meetings. The school boards represent five town elementary schools and Mt. Abraham Union Middle/High School. At the start of the negotiating process, the school boards proposed a 3.5 percent decrease in teacher salaries, in line with the cuts imposed on state workers this year. They also proposed to end step increases, which are not currently negotiated as part of the compensation package, and they asked teachers to increase their contribution to their health insurance plans to 20 percent, up from 10 percent, in line with what the State of Vermont has requested of school districts statewide. They also asked for an additional hour of work time per week to attend meetings. The teachers union originally proposed a 5.5 percent salary increase, continuing step increases, no changes to the 10 percent insurance contribution and no extra work/meeting time. Compromises were hammered out and the final contract offer from the school board reduced the health insurance contribution from 20 percent to 15 percent, with an average wage increase of 2.5 percent this year, the elimination of automatic step increases in the future, and a half hour of extra work time. The union declined, and all six district boards
See CONTRACT, page 5
See FACE OFF, page 11
Nameplates change on governor’s desk Gov. Douglas delivers farewell address on Jan. 5 By Andy Flynn andy@denpubs.com MONTPELIER — On Wednesday, Jan. 5, Gov. Jim Douglas (R) delivered his farewell address to a joint session of the General Assembly, reflecting on the accomplishments of his administration and thanking Vermonters for the opportunity to serve. Douglas also prepared “The Douglas Years: Dedicated to Vermonters,” a brief look back on the ideas, proposals, initiatives, issues, successes and challenges that marked his eight years as governor. “Thirty-eight years ago, in this very
chamber, I was sworn in as the new member from Middlebury — humbled by the confidence of voters, motivated to represent my community and inspired to strengthen Vermont,” Douglas said. “Over the years I have been blessed to serve the people of this great state in different ways — and in different eras — culminating with the honor, and profound responsibility, of the governorship.”
See DOUGLAS, page 6
Gov. Shumlin delivers inaugural address on Jan. 6 By Andy Flynn andy@denpubs.com MONTPELIER — On Jan. 6, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) delivered his inaugural address to a joint session of the General Assembly and special guests, including his parents, thanking the previous administration and outlining his plans for fiscal responsibility, job creation, health care reform, education, agriculture, entrepreneurial support and tax relief. “Thank you, Gov. Douglas, for 38 years of exemplary public service to the Green Mountain state. We are grateful for your
hard work and sacrifice on our behalf and to Dorothy and your family for sharing so much of your life with us.” Shumlin began his speech with a story from his childhood, how one teacher spent countless hours after school teaching him how to read. “In the warm weather we sat on her lawn; in the cold weather we huddled around the wood stove; and slowly and creatively she
See SHUMLIN, page 5
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