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Vol. 3 No. 22 • June 8, 2011
Community News, Sports, Arts, Entertainment and Food for Rutland and Southern Vermont
Shumlin signs legal pot bill By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com
Rutland artist Kathryn Palmer-Wiegers created a giant mural for the Downtown Rutland Partnership. The mural, which pictures a Vermont farm truck, was erected on a brick wall at West and Evelyn streets, at the Rutland Area Food Co-op, and above the Community College of Vermont parking lot last week. Photo by Lou Varricchio
Giant mural unveiled By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com RUTLAND — In a move to spr uce up Rutland’s seamier side, the Downtown Rutland Partnership was happy to unveil a stunning urban mural on the side of the three-storyhigh, west-facing Rutland Area Food Co-op building at the corner of West and Evelyn str eets in downtown Rutland last week. The giant mural was painted by local folk artist Kathryn Palmer-Wiegers. Other murals like it are planned by the Downtown Partnership. The painting shows a classic 1955 Chevrolet pickup tr uck carrying local pr oduce along a V ermont backr oad. On the horizon of the for ced perspective image, viewers on the sidewalk below can see the Rutland skyline. Planned for the summer of 2012 is a photo mosaic image of over 2,000 photographic tiles, 16 inches square. The partnership hopes to raise funds by See MURAL page 12
MR & MRS. GREEN THUMB — Beverly and Tom Sabatini, owners of Pinewood Gardens in Brandon, kicked off their 31st season with a colorful selection of healthy, locally grown flowers, shrubs, trees, and shade plants. The local business boasts a cozy greenhouse. Hostas are Tom’s passion along with custom planters and window boxes arranged by Beverly. Despite a wet start, the planting season is now—pardon the pun—in full bloom. Pinewood is located a half-mile north of Otter Valley Union High School on U.S. Route 7. Photo by Lou Varricchio
Poultney struggles with cemetery vandalism By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com POULTNEY — Vermont’s small r ural cemeteries are not immune fr om the kinds of vandalism seen in lar ger, mor e urban resting places. In the case of the historic Poultney Cemetery, the cemetery’s board of trustees are discussing the problem. The Poultney Cemetery Association is also addressing winter and spring storm damage and the clean up needed. Poultney Cemetery is a scenic property located
within Poultney on Beaman Street, adjacent to St. Raphael’s Catholic Cemetery. The cemetery is owned by the association and its landowners. Association Pr esident L ynn McGann said, “We’ve r eviewed vandalism and pr operty thefts that have occurred during the winter and spring season at the pr operty as well as general spring clean up matters, road damage due to the extre me wet spring and seasonal lawn care matters.” McGann said the thefts at the cemetery included the metal military marker flag stands which are the property of the American Legion.
May 27 flood damaged property, roads
By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com MONTPELIER — For many central Vermont residents, Friday, May 27, 2011, is a date that will live in infamy. As if flooding in the Champlain Valley r egion earlier in the month wasn’t enough to test the resolve of local residents, last Friday’s violent thunderstorms in the state’s capital region pushed some ar eas untouched by earlier spring flooding into crisis mode.
During the early morning hours of May 27, a series of powerful, tr opical-like thunderstorms moved through Vermont’s mid section. The ensuing heavy rain water, falling and accelerated downslope by steep, narr ow mountain valley walls, created the flash flood emergency. The W inooski River and its feeder str eams quickly r eached flood levels. Many owners of homes, farms and businesses i n t he g reater M ontpelier, Barr e, Waterbury ar ea—especially those in the W inooski River Valley—awoke May 27 to rising water and evacuations. See FLOOD page 12
Auto Zone ....................15
Photo by Lou Varricchio
ALL MAKES
Key Bank donation ........3
Classifieds....................13-14
A flooded mobile home in Montpelier, May 27.
WE HAVE IT ALL!
THIS WEEK Local Flavor ..................5
“A clean up pro ject was reviewed and approved for immediate removal is that of a lar ge decayed tree,” he said. McGann also said that the boar d reviewed the marker r estoration w ork n eeded a nd a pproved that restoration of markers located in the historic Beaman Str eet section shall be the Association’s first priority as restoration funds are available. Poultney Cemetery Association T rustees include L ynn D. McGann, pr esident, Pat Davenport, secretary/treasurer, Trevor Hughes, James See VANDALISM page 10
Capital region assesses flood damage
Guiding Eyes ................2 Opinion ........................4
MONTPELIER — Gov . Peter Shumlin signed a medical marijuana bill into law that will cr eate several medical marijuana dispensaries in V ermont in the coming year or two. The Legislature passed the bill even though there was fierce opposition fr om the state law enforcement of ficials and antidrug groups. Medical marijuana has been permitted in Vermont since 200. Patients and their caregivers are permitted to gr ow small amounts of hemp. Some critics say the dispensaries will open themselves up to criminal activity by announcing their locations. Legislators See POT page 2
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