Category Archives: Burlington

Gun range tells police officers: ‘Keep Out’ after BTV gun vote

Posted on January 17, 2013 by | 1 Comment

BURLINGTON — A Vermont firing range is telling the Burlington Police Department its officers are unwelcome to train after the City Council advanced a measure to ban semi-automatic rifles and large-capacity magazines.
The Burlington Free Press reports (http://bfpne.ws/S5qYEy) a letter from the board chairman of the Lamoille Valley Fish and Game Club says it can no longer support the city with such a “prejudice” against the club and a threat to constitutional freedoms. It has voted to suspend the city’s use of its range for law enforcement.
The City Council voted earlier this month to craft the ban. It would have to go before voters and then legislators.
Burlington Police Chief Michael Schirling said the city’s exclusion from the range likely would affect how and when officers train with firearms.

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Posted in Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont News

University of Vermont bottled water ban begins today

Posted on January 14, 2013 by | Leave a comment

From Vermont Public Radio:

When students at the University of Vermont resume classes on the snow-covered Burlington campus Monday, something will be missing: bottled water. UVM is the latest university to ban on-campus sales of bottled water.

At one of UVM’s recently retrofitted refill stations, students fill up their reusable bottles with tap water. For many of the 14,000 students and staff on this campus, topping off their Nalgene bottles is an old habit.

For the full story on vpr.net, click here.

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Posted in Burlington, Education, Environment

Fire claims woman’s life in South Burlington

Posted on December 14, 2012 by | Leave a comment

A fire Thursday evening claimed the life of a woman in South Burlington, State Police said this morning.

After a neighbor called 911 to report hearing a smoke detector going off in a nearby home, the South Burlington Fire and Police departments responded to 154 Catkin Drive in South Burlington at about 7:15 p.m. on Thursday.

Crews extinguished the fire quickly and found a dead woman inside the home.

The department called in the State Police fire investigation unit to conduct an origin and cause investigation,  which is ongoing.  The South Burlington Police Department is leading the investigation.

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Posted in Burlington, Chittenden County, Fires

Burlington set to talk redistricting

Posted on December 11, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BURLINGTON — The mayor and a special committee of the city council in Burlington are encouraging the public to take part in a meeting about redistricting.
The next meeting will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. in City Hall’s Contois Auditorium.
Mayor Miro Weinberger says he and committee welcome and encourage Burlingtonians to share their thoughts and ideas as the process continues.
Ward boundaries for all seven wards are being redrawn after the city determined that Wards, 1, 4, and 7 are outside the limits for approximately equal representation, based on the 2010 Census. The Committee is considering changing the number of wards, councilors, and school board members.

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Posted in Burlington

Governor to travel to Florida to listen to jet noise

Posted on December 10, 2012 by | Leave a comment

MONTPELIER — Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says he wants to know firsthand how the sound of an F-35 fighter jet compares to an F-16.
The governor will join the mayors of Burlington and Winooski this coming week in traveling to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida so they can listen to the two types of aircraft.
The Air Force is looking into basing F-35s at the Vermont Air National Guard base at the Burlington International Airport. Some area residents have said they’re worried about the noise from the planes.
The Vermont air base already houses F-16s, and Shumlin says he wants to learn how much of a change the newer plane would be. The Vermont group will travel to Florida on Wednesday to hear the planes.

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Posted in Burlington, Chittenden County, News

UVM bans bottled water sales

Posted on December 5, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BURLINGTON — The University of Vermont is preparing to ban the sale of bottled water on its Burlington campus.
The school is holding a “bottled water retirement party” Wednesday that will be highlighted by the unveiling of what’s being called a “monument to waste” eco sculpture made from 3,000 empty water bottles.
The ban takes effect on Jan. 1.
The sculpture took three months to create.
UVM says about 50 schools have imposed full or partial bottled water bans, but it is the first public university in the country to end the sale of bottled water.

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Posted in Burlington, Education, Environment

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Doctor cleared of liability in prescription opiate case

Posted on November 30, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BURLINGTON — The Vermont Supreme Court has ruled that the director of the University of Vermont’s student health center was not legally liable for the actions of a physician assistant who improperly prescribed opiate medications to 12 students.
The Burlington Free Press (http://bfpne.ws/Sibafb ) reports that the court’s decision affirms a ruling by the state Medical Practice Board that cleared Dr. Jon Porter in his oversight of a long-time physician’s assistant.
Porter was accused of failing to supervise Peter Nobes who refilled opiate prescriptions supposedly lost or stolen, and prescribed opiate medications to students without evidence that a physical exam or an in-person visit had occurred.
The board rejected a recommendation that Porter be found guilty of unprofessional conduct but not face any disciplinary action.
The attorney general’s office appealed the decision.

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Posted in Burlington, Health

Man charged with buying stolen gold and jewelry

Posted on November 30, 2012 by | Leave a comment

SOUTH BURLINGTON — A Vermont man who works at a gold-buying store in the University Mall in South Burlington is facing charges he has been buying stolen gold and jewelry.
State Police say the charges against 38-year-old Prasad Durga Dhakal, of Winooski, followed an investigation that began after suspects in other thefts told police they were selling the stolen items at the “Cash for Gold” store in the mall.
Police say that on Thursday Durga Dhakal was seen buying an item known to be stolen.
He was issued a citation to appear in court at a later date.
Police say the penalty for a dealer knowingly purchasing stolen property is the same as stealing the property.

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Posted in Burlington, Court, Crime

Contract awarded for new veterans’ clinic in Burlington

Posted on November 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BURLINGTON — Plans to build a new $2.6 million outpatient clinic for veterans in Burlington, are moving forward.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders said Monday that the Department of Veterans Affairs has picked a contractor — Fortieth Burlington LLC — to build the facility, which will replace a clinic in Colchester that has outgrown its space.

The new clinic on Lakeside Avenue will be nearly twice as large as the Colchester clinic and serve about  4,000 veterans.

It’s expected to be completed in early 2013.  Sanders said the VA now serves about 8,600 veterans at clinics in Colchester, Brattleboro, Rutland, Bennington and Newport, providing primary care, specialty treatment and mental health services.

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Posted in Burlington

Burlington to help 100 homes go lead-free

Posted on November 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BURLINGTON — The mayor of Vermont’s largest city says there’s funding available to help 100 Burlington homes become lead-free over the next two years.
Mayor Miro Weinberger urged property owners to take advantage of the Burlington Lead Program that will distribute the funds on a first-come, first-served basis. Earlier lead abatement projects on city properties have cost between $1,000 and $33,000 each.
Weinberger says lead poisoning can rob children of their full potential and cost taxpayers millions of dollars. He says the city’s lead abatement program helps ensure the safety of children and it will lead to more stable neighborhoods.
The lead program is part of the city’s Community and Economic Development Office. It’s funded largely by the federal government.
Lead paint can still be found in older rental properties.

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Posted in Burlington