New bridge construction complete with police escorts shakes things up .
Officials hope recently installed solar panels will better educate people about the benefits of renewable energy.
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November 28, 2009
Feds crackdown on Vermont dairy farms U.S. ICE serves 4 dairy farms By Lou Varricchio newmarketpress@denpubs.com MIDDLEBURY — Vermont farmers have justified hiring so-called undocumented foreign workers as farmhands for years, but now it appears federal officials are getting tough on the practice. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, also known as ICE, raided the farm of Clement Gervais in Enosburg Nov. 19. The raid started what ICE observers said will be a series of raids on selected area farms. It’s common knowledge that Vermont farmers hire illegal aliens to work as farmhands. Gervais employs 22 farm hands including nine Mexicans. It is uncertain if Gervais’ Mexican workers are legal or illegal. He told officials all of his workers are “legal” but he can’t be certain that their documentation is accurate. Vermont Agriculture Commissioner Roger Albee said four dairy farms—in Franklin County and Orleans County—received federal subpoenas Nov. 20. More will follow. According to an anonymous source, ICE will make surprise visits to 87 Vermont farms over the next few weeks. While not specifically mentioned, Addison County farm owners may find themselves in the fed’s crosshairs.
Ferry work to start ADDISON — Construction is likely to start the week before Thanksgiving on a new Lake Champlain ferry crossing between Vermont and New York. The ferry will replace the now-closed Lake Champlain Bridge between Addison and Crown Point. The 80-year-old bridge was closed last month after it was deemed on the verge of collapse. It is scheduled for demolition before the end of the year. John Zicconi of the Vermont Transportation Agency said a construction team will build access roads to the edge of the lake. When that phase is completed, “the in-lake portion” of the ferry project will commence. According to Zicconi, state and federal permiting is on the fast track and must be in place before the project begins. The two states are hoping a ferry can replace the bridge until a new one can be built. No opening date for the new ferry has been determined.
Santa is star attraction in downtown Middlebury MIDDLEBURY — This December on each Saturday before Christmas, between 10 a.m. and noon, families will have an opportunity to visit Santa Claus at the following Middlebury locations: Dec. 5 - Middlebury Community House Dec. 12 - Maple Landmark Woodcraft Dec. 19 - Danforth Pewter
PASSIONATE FARMER — Dairy farmer Mike Eastman of Mike’s Farm in Addison, Vt., finds time between haying, weeding, milking, marketing, and everything else Vermont farmers do—from sun up until sun down—to be an activist farmer and board member of Rural Vermont. Eastmen is featured in a new photo exhibit about activist farmers at the Salisbury Free Public Library. See story inside. Photo by Corey Hendrickson
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