Little City’s ‘Clang-N-Bang’ parades make some noise pg. 3
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May 2, 2020
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Bridge & rail project remains idle
The Lake Champlain Transportation Company is reopening ferry service between Essex and Charlotte on May 1.
File photo
Essex-Charlotte ferry to reopen May 1 By Keith Lobdell CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ESSEX | The southern crossing for the Lake Champlain Transportation Company (LCTC) will be reopening for service at the beginning of May. LCTC announced the Essex to Charlotte ferry boat crossing will resume operations Friday, May 1, while the Cumberland Head to Grand Isle crossing will remain running on a modified, two boat schedule. “I am super pleased for our citizens who we fought for in the first place to have the route reopened so they do not have to take that long ride to the bridge in order to get to Vermont,” said Essex supervisor Ken Hughes. “I am appreciative to LCTC for sticking to their word and reopening as soon as they possibly could.” The southern route closed March 20, while the northern route was limited to two vessels March 23, instead of a usual three vessels. The closure of the southern route led to concern from Hughes and others over getting to Vermont for doctors appointments and other needed services during the COVID-19 pandemic. A petition, started by Hughes to reopen the ferry, received well over the 500 requested signatures it had asked for as a goal. At the time, LCTC officials said the closure was only temporary and the crossing would be reopened at a future time. Nobody wants this, we don’t want this and we will be doing our best to get back there,” said LCTC operations manager Heather Stewart at the time of the closure. “When we can get back there, we will get back there as soon as we can.” ■
Work on Middlebury’s multi-year bridge and rail construction project remains on hold. Pictured: Middlebury’s project liaison Jim Gish (left) talks with a construction worker last summer. Photo by Lou Varricchio
Governor limits work crews to two; not enough for construction work By Lou Varricchio EDITOR
MIDDLEBURY | Middlebury’s multiyear bridge and rail construction project remains on hold during the current COVID-19 pandemic. According to a bulletin released last week by Jim Gish, the town’s official liaison for the project, “it looks as if we need to wait for another ‘turn of the spigot’ before Middlebury’s downtown construction project can start up again.”
Gish noted that while Gov. Phil Scott permitted outdoor work to resume last week, restrictions still in place do not enable restarting a construction project of Middlebury’s size and complexity. Gish also reported that new, relevant language was developed by the Vermont Agency of Commerce, in consultation with the Department of Health and Department of Public Safety. Released in late April as new “work safe” additions to the Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order, “those who exclusively or largely work outdoors (such as civil engineering, site work, exterior construction, skilled trades, public works, energy and utility work, mining, forestry, environmental monitoring, landscaping, painting, tree work, parks maintenance, delivery work, etc.) may resume operations with a maximum of two total workers per location/job.”
But the problem with the new additions is with the “two total workers” order. “If you think about the work we’ve been reporting on these past several months—driving steel sheets along the rail corridor in the north end of the project, excavating and installing large manhole structures between the bridges, receiving and storing 40-ton precast concrete pieces at the Fifield farm marshaling yard—none of these activities can realistically resume with a twoperson crew,” Gish noted in the bulletin. Gish added that the Middlebury operation requires a crew of between four and six workers-plus a supervisor, VTrans inspection staff, and an on-site COVID-19 health officer. “So that leaves us waiting to see what the next turn of the spigot will bring...,” according to Gish. ■
Robust supply of local milk Retail milk limits not encouraged by state By Lou Varricchio EDITOR
MIDDLEBURY | Local consumers will be happy to know that milk in Addison County is in good supply despite some rumored shortages. See MILK » pg. 2
We are writing to assure you that Vermont has ample milk supplies, and request that you remove any limits you may have established on the purchase of milk in your store, as this erroneously signals to consumers there is a dairy shortage.”
Cheerful workers
Even during the current pandemic, employees at Pratt’s Store are busy at the grocery, meat and deli outlet located on Route 22A in Bridport. Pictured here, Jordyn Walker, Emma Larrow, Brendan Wagner and Jacob Brookman wear protective gear while restocking the shelves with precious personal paper products. According to owner Corey Pratt, employees are cheerfully helping customers with needed products, including meats and deli items, during the crisis. Even though they’re wearing facemasks, we’re pretty sure everyone is smiling as they make a difference in the local community.
— Anson Tebbetts, Agriculture Secretary
Photo by Stacey Stone
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