A troubled bridge
Gentes Road span to be closed for repairs
The bridge over the railroad tracks at Gentes Road in Essex will be closed for repairs this spring and faces an uncertain future. The Essex Selectboard took the advice of Town Engineer Dennis Lutz and voted Monday to move forward with a short-term fix — a reinforcement of at least one of the concrete abutments that holds the bridge over the tracks. The town will also initiate planning for a complete bridge replacement and attempt to get the $1.1 million project in the pipeline for state and federal funding.
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A place for pooch
West Street dog park signs lease, plans summer opening
When Susan Plunkett-Dunning adopted a 6-year-old greyhound six years ago, she frequented the dog park at Starr Farm Road in Burlington to let the retired racer run.While her dog socialized at the park, she did the same with fellow dog owners. She quickly found out that many were her neighbors in Essex who had driven to Burlington to use the dog park. At the time, Starr Farm was the closest dog park for Essex residents.
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“Unwasted Weekend” getting the red carpet treatment
Essex High School to host premiere showing of MTV video
Essex High School will play host to a red carpet premiere of the Essex Above the Influence’s (ATI) “Unwasted Weekend” video on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. in the school’s auditorium. The two-minute segment is scheduled to air on MTV on Feb. 14 around 10 p.m., during the first segment of the television show, Teen Mom 2. It will also be cut into smaller 30-second clips that will run on MTV throughout the rest of the week.
Schools propose 1.5 percent tax increase and establishment of a capital reserve fund
The Essex Town School District (ETSD) board finalized a $19.6 million budget request for the upcoming fiscal year during its board meeting Monday evening. The proposed budget would result in a tax rate increase of 1.5 percent. “Looking back three years, this is the first year that we are having a projected increase in taxes,” said ETSD Director of Finance Roger George.
Remember when ….
Stories and memories sought on Fleming School’s 100th year
Principal Dan Ryan has always had a keen interest in Thomas Fleming School’s history. What kind of person was the building’s namesake? What was the building like when it opened as Essex Junction’s high school? What stories can some of the school’s alumni relate?
Q&A with Dawn Marie Batchelor
Of Essex Junction
Dawn Marie Batchelor’s book “Juniper Eloise and A Monster in the Garden… With Other Silly Adventures,” published on Jan. 31 of this year; it is full of poems like Sun Kisses — short and sweet reminders of the mysteries and wonder of childhood. As a mother of three — as she calls them her A, B, C girls (Andrea, Brittany and Chelsea) — Batchelor writes from motherhood experience.
Essex, we have a winner
High school group selected as regional finalist in YouTube Space Lab contest
What started out as a student-pitched class project in an AP physics class at Essex High School has now drawn national attention, as Essex High School students Grady Ward, Colin Watts and Charlie Wu were selected as one of the 60 finalists from across the world in the YouTube Space Lab competition.
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