TownBites: Route 7 Accidents, Stolen Goods Recovered, Disaster Assistance, Devoses Honored and Ag Land for Lease
by Nancy Wood,
August 11, 2011, page 4.....

Caution! Route 7 is perilous
Selectboard member Ed Stone was driving home in his starting-gate truck on Route 7 through Ferrisburgh late Sunday night three weeks ago. A young man headed west on Old Hollow Road drove through the stop sign and onto Route 7, where the two vehicles collided. Luckily, neither driver was seriously injured. Both were wearing seat belts. The other driver’s airbags deployed but Ed’s older truck didn’t have them. He was trapped inside until rescue arrived and pried open the door. Both vehicles were totaled, and Ed is still very sore.

On August 4 a similar accident happened again. It was 4 p.m. and the weather was sunny and dry. Vermont State Police reported a two-car accident that occurred when a driver from Ferrisburgh failed to yield the right of way at the intersection of Old Hollow Rd and Route 7 and pulled into oncoming traffic. Erica Galipeau of Charlotte, who was driving through town on Route 7, tried to swerve but was unable to miss the other car. Again, luckily, there were no serious injuries, but both vehicles were damaged and had to be towed from the scene.

Reports of accidents along Route 7 in North Ferrisburgh are frequent. Stone said he was at Palmer’s garage when the August 4 head on collision occurred. He added, “If a light is not installed someone will die... sooner then you think.”

Stolen goods recovered
There was a rash of thefts from parked cars on Spear Street and Greenbush Roads during the night of June 28, with numerous items stolen including GPS’s, iPods, small electronics and loose change. The State Police urged residents to keep vehicles and homes locked to deter such criminal activity.
Perhaps some of these items are among those recovered after State Police arrested a Winooski man, Daryk Beaulieu, who was speeding in Ferrisburgh on July 15.

Beaulieu, who was intoxicated, tried to outrun the troopers at over 80 mph, and eventually crashed on Rabbit Run Road. After getting a search warrant, the police found narcotics and weapons in the vehicle, which had been stolen in June. They also discovered “thousands of dollars worth of property stolen from unlocked vehicles in Charlotte, Hinesburg and Ferrisburgh.” Police did not say if the thefts were on June 28, but they listed two Charlotte residents among the victims.

The police are continuing to attempt to identify the owner(s) of over $1,000 worth of property. Anyone with information should contact Trooper Dempsey at the New Haven Vermont State Police station, (802)388-4919.

Less than one week left to apply for disaster assistance
Federal and state officials are reminding homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations in Addison, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille and Orleans counties who experienced damage or losses in this spring’s floods that they have less than one week left to apply for financial assistance.  August 15 is the deadline for most Vermonters to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for aid and with U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for low-interest loans for the repair of damage caused by the severe storms and flooding that occurred from April 23 to May 9.

There are several ways to register: online at DisasterAssistance.gov or at FEMA’s mobile website, m.fema.gov. The website helps to reduce the number of forms you have to fill out, shortens the time it takes to apply for aid and allows you to check the progress of your application online. Or call 800-621-FEMA (3362).  For TTY call 800-462-7585.

Kimball Brook Farm named Vermont Dairy Farm of the Year
A North Ferrisburgh farm family that plans to take their certified organic dairy to the next level by bottling and selling their own milk has been named the Vermont Dairy Farm of the Year for 2011.

JD and Cheryl DeVos, who operate Kimball Brook Farm, received this prestigious award for their overall excellence in dairying including their high-quality milk production; outstanding herd, crop and pasture management; and sound conservation practices. The award is presented annually by University of Vermont Extension and the Vermont Dairy Industry Association, in cooperation with the New England Green Pastures Program.

Kimball Brook Farm has been in JD’s family since 1968. They purchased it from his parents, John and Sue DeVos, in 1997, transitioning from a conventional farm to organic six years ago. Today it is one of the largest organic dairy operations in the state. Over 70 acres of the farm are located in Charlotte.

The DeVoses are in the process of establishing Green Mountain Organic Creamery to bottle their organic milk to sell locally. Once viable, they plan to purchase milk from other Vermont organic dairy farms.

Town-owned ag land available for lease on Thompson’s Point 
The Selectboard is interested in leasing crop and hay land on Thompson’s Point. Those interested should contact Ed Stone (425-3277) or Winslow Ladue (425-2275) for additional information.