Free!
72
374
Take One
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS P.O. BOX 338 ELIZABETHTOWN, NY 12932 POSTAL CUSTOMER
Vol. 4 No. 4 • January 25, 2012
Community News, Sports, Arts, Entertainment and Food for Rutland and Southern Vermont
Tibetan lama plans Two die in Route return visit to Vermont 4 crash By Lou Varricchio newmarketpress@denpubs.com
By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com B R I D G E WAT E R — The Vermont State Police are investigating a twocar motor vehicle crash on U.S. Route 4 in Bridgewater Jan. 15. As a result of this crash, Christopher Raleigh, 56, and his 10-year-old son, Travis, sustained fatal injuries and were both pronounced dead at the scene. All parties were transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire except for the six-monthold infant who was not injured and was secured in a child safety seat. Members of the Dartmouth Hitchcock air rescue team, Bridgewater Fire Department, Killington Fire Department, and Windsor County Sheriff's Department all responded to the scene along with the state police. All parties had to be extricated from both vehicles by the fire department prior to being transported to the hospital. Members of the Vermont State Police Crash Reconstruction Team were on scene reconstructing the crash. Initial investigation shows that the vehicle crossed over the center line hitting Raliegh head on. Alcohol or drugs do not appear to have played a role in this crash. It appears that Travis Raleigh, who was seated in the rear of the vehicle, was wearing his seat belt. Christopher Raleigh and Anastasia Raleigh were not wearing their seat belts. The crash remain under investigation and more information will be released when available.
SPRINGFIELD — History and fate are full of twists and turns, and there’s no better example than the inspiring life of Tibetan Lama Pema Wangdak. This quiet holy man also has a Vermont connection, so the twists and turns brought his spiritual footsteps back to Springfield. The lama returned to Springfield’s Studio Time and Space last weekend. The visit was part of a mission to the west the lama embarked on beginning in 1982. The holy man is the first of a new generation of Tibetan teachers teaching in America from the ancient Buddhist Sakya School. Starting at a Lama Pema Wangdak young age, Pema has been guiding western students in Buddhist practices for nearly three decades. According to Tom Lauritsen, of Springfield, who with his wife Kathleen have arranged the special visit, Lama Pema escaped Tibet with his parents in 1959, the only child among his siblings to survive the relocation to India. “Nearly 30 years ago his teacher, the head of the Sakya lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, sent Lama Pema to New York to lead and instruct the Sakya community in the Northeast United States,” Lauritsen said.” Having spent half of his lifetime within the Tibetan culture, and half within the American culture, his combined experience presents a rare view into the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. His style of teaching is readily accessible to newcomers, and is highly valued by experienced meditators.” See LAMA, page 9
ON THE ROCKS — Vermonters joined residents of nearby states at historic Mill Pond to try their hand at 19th-century style ice harvesting. In the days before refrigeration, New England ice was a prized cash crop that was shipped all over the world. Old-time ice expert Dennis Picard, in period costume, showed visitors how to handle the saws and haul ice. Picard is featured in the upcoming repeat broadcast of the PBS-TV Nova documentary, “Absolute Zero: The Conquest of Cold”. Photo by Ann Lindblad
A victory for nuclear power U.S. judge rules in favor of Vermont Yankee
By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com BRATTLEBORO — The Shumlin administration and the anti-nuclear movement in New England was dealt a major setback with a federal judge’s ruling Jan. 20. U.S. District Court Judge J. Garvan Murtha ruled that Entergy, the Louisiana-based operator of Vermont’s sole atomic power plant, is permitted to continue operating the Vermont Yankee power plant past March 21; the state had hoped it would get its way and shut down the plant on that date. According to the judge’s ruling, Vermont Acts 74 and 160 were struck down in the case. The judge said that Entergy is not required to ask the Vermont General Assembly permission to store waste on site.
Murtha ruled that the U.S. Atomic Energy Act preempts state and local laws. “Plaintiffs have demonstrated they would be irreparably harmed by Vermont Yankee’s closure under preempted laws if Defendants enforced Act 160, or the preempted provision in Act 74, or if Defendants conditioned approval of a petition for continued operation on the existence of a below-market power purchase agreement with Vermont utilities,” Murtha ruled. “Entergy has not been a trustworthy partner with the state of Vermont,” Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) said in a statement following Murtha’s ruling. But at least one state official was pleased with the judge’s decision. Vermont State Auditor Tom Salmon (R) said that the state’s decisive loss in the Vermont Yankee case was predictable and very costly to Vermont taxpayers. “It is my hope that Gov. Shumlin, Attorney See VERMONT YANKEE, page 9
A pro-nuclear power poster displayed around Vermont during the recent federal court hearing. Image courtesy of SVY
THIS WEEK Police Seek Authority ....3 Opinion ........................4 Local Flavor ..................5 Sports ..........................7 37471
Classifieds....................11 Auto Zone ....................12
Visit Us Online at www.gmoutlook.com • S ubscribe to our eEdition, simply go to www.denpubs.com/eEditions
Follow us on Facebook