BRADFORD—In the mid-1980s, an 18-acre parcel in Bradford Center near the Waits River, was donated to the Green Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America by longtime Bradford resident, Charles A. Kenyon.
The land has been used by local Scouts for nearly 40 years, but could be sold to help the national organization satisfy its creditors after declaring bankruptcy in 2020 amidst a deluge of lawsuits related to alleged sexual abuse.
NEWBURY—Lyme Green Heat’s plan to produce wood pellets on the former Newman Lumber property in the Newbury Industrial Park has been approved by the Newbury Development Review Board.
The DRB unanimously approved the site plan application last week after a public hearing was held on Dec. 30.
“We’ve been thinking about this project for a while,” said Steve Whipple of Mainely Environmental, the engineering firm consulting with Lyme Green Heat, at the hearing.
BRADFORD—COVID-19 and a labor crunch have dashed plans to resurrect a full-time summer camp in 2022.
At a meeting on Dec. 21, Bradford Selectboard members instead agreed to a concept proposed by the Bradford Parks and Recreation Commission to hold short-term programming and a series of clinics rather than a full-time camp next summer.
NORTH HAVERHILL—The Haverhill Cooperative School Board has moved the location of its next meeting to the Haverhill Cooperative Middle School.
The meeting is on Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. Masks will be on the agenda after the board’s decision in December to repeal its targeted masking policy drew criticism, including from the local teachers union.
MONTPELIER—Vermont officials said in a Dec. 28 press conference that the state expects an increase in COVID-19 cases due to holiday gatherings and the omicron variant.
The omicron variant, a relatively new mutation of the coronavirus, was first identified in South Africa in November, and is more contagious than previous variants. It has already been detected in Vermont.
ORFORD—At the Orford Selectboard meeting on Dec. 22, a proposal to purchase property was an item being considered as a warrant article for the March 2022 town meeting agenda.
Looking ahead to Orford’s future growth, the selectboard is putting forth a plan to purchase a property rich with sand to meet the town’s current and future needs and, at some point, after the sand has been exhausted, provide space upon which to build a municipal complex to house town offices.
NEWBURY—An overnight fire destroyed the Sillycow Farms building in the Newbury Industrial Park.
“We’re in crisis mode right now,” said Sillycow Farms CEO Keith Lemnios on Tuesday afternoon.
There were no injuries. Nobody was working inside the building at the time of the fire, but Lemnios said the fire came at the worst time of year for the hot chocolate company.
FAIRLEE—The Fairlee Selectboard opted against a mask mandate after discussion on Monday night. Instead, town officials said they will recommend that businesses ask patrons and employees to wear a mask in public indoor settings.
After a special legislative session in November, Gov. Phil Scott signed a law permitting municipalities to require face coverings and masks in public indoor settings to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The mandate remains in effect for 45 days unless the selectboard or city council renews the measure for 30-day increments.
EAST TOPSHAM—Abby Driscoll, daughter of Steve and Deb Smith, grew up around cows and spent hours in the barn alongside her father.
As she grew, so did her herd of 20 cows that she would one day relocate from Vermont to Florida.
It all began a little over 20 years ago when, at milking time, Steve placed the infant Abby in a swing so she could watch the milking process.
VERSHIRE—After decades of study and funding uncertainty, the long-awaited cleanup of the Ely Mine appears to be closer .
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that $1 billion in funding from the first distribution of the infrastructure bill signed into law by President Biden in November will be used to clear the backlog of 49 previously unfunded Superfund sites across the country, including the former copper mine in Vershire. The other Superfund site in Vermont is in Williston.