What do you think of shopping in Middlebury?

Here's a chance to offer your thoughts about shopping in Middlebury town.  The town is running a survey of consumer attitudes, and would like to hear what Riptonites think.

Click here to start the survey.

(thanks to David Disque)

Open house at the Ripton school

Coming up next week are two open house events at the Ripton school.
From the principal's weekly letter:

This Monday the 14th we will be having our New Student Open House at 6:30 pm.  Please tell everyone you know who might be considering enrolling their child(ren) at Ripton Elementary next year about this event...

Tuesday morning, the 15th, from 8:30-10:00 am we will have our Open Classroom for students entering preK through sixth grade and their parents.

The arrival of bears

Have you seen any bear activity yet?
Here's a report of bears moving around in Salisbury:

the west side has a bear, spotted in three locations moving south on Dyer Hill from Middle Road down to West Salisbury Road, and at one location found and got into the bird feeders.

After town meeting

Our 2014 Town Meeting was productive.  As the Ripton town site notes:

Approximately 75 people attended town meeting Monday night, March 3. Articles 1-5 on the school warning passed unanimously by voice vote. Articles 1-5 on the town warning passed unanimously by voice vote, and Article 6 was defeated by paper ballot, 27 in favor, 41 against. 

Detailed ballot results can be found here (pdf).

Robbery in Ripton

From the Addison Independent:

Vermont State Police cited Sergei Draper, 22, of Ripton, for burglary, following investigation of a reported break-in at a home on the Lincoln Road in Ripton on Thursday, Feb. 6. 

State police said it was at around 4 p.m. that the Addison County Sheriffs Department (ACSD) received a complaint about a white male walking in and out of driveways and on private roadways in the town of Ripton. At 5 p.m., VSP received a report of a burglary at a Lincoln Road home. A joint investigation by VSP and ACSD officials led to the arrest of Draper and the recovery of property stolen from the residence, according to authorities. Police said Draper was lodged at the Marble Valley Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail on burglary charges. 

Draper was scheduled to be arraigned in Addison County Superior Court on Friday, Feb. 7.

Riptonites, meet the new superintendent for coffee

Ripton residents can meet the new ACSU superintendent for coffee on January 15th, from 8-9 am at the Chipman Inn.  Peter Burrows will be happy to talk with us.

PS: happy new year!

Ripton man found dead

A Ripton man missing since last month was found dead.  James P. Daignault was discovered on Steam Mill Road.

Vermont State Police were called to the intersection of Route 125 and Steam Mill Road, near the Bread Loaf campus, at 9:20 p.m. Monday night to a report of a vehicle that had gone over an embankment and into the river there. They found the body of James P. Daignault there with his totaled 2001 Plymouth Neon.

Our sympathies go out to his family.