Press Release

For Immediate Release:         Immediately

Submitted by:                          Francine Perkins
                                                Project Outreach Coordinator

Dated:                                    6/9/15

Walden VT 15 Bridge Replacement Project Construction Dates Postponed

Construction to replace the Walden VT 15 Bridge 83, located over Joe’s Brook approximately 5 miles southeasterly of the Hardwick/Walden town line has been postponed.

Originally, construction was scheduled to begin this week with the closure period starting June 22^nd.  The contractor has postponed the closure dates due to coordination with a supplier for bridge components that are needed during the closure period.  The contractor has a window of time between June 22^nd and August 21^st to close the bridge for 28-days.  New construction dates have not been confirmed and will be released as soon as they become available. 

Crews will mobilize equipment and perform light preparation work for the next few weeks. 

The project will replace the existing bridge, which has a sub-standard width and is in poor condition, with a new bridge that meets current design standards.  The new bridge will be 58 feet in length and 34.25 feet wide including two 11 foot travel lanes and 4’4” shoulders.  Accelerated Bridge Construction methods will be used, which will expedite construction. 

During the bridge closure period, a traffic detour will be in effect and marked with directional signs.  Motorists wanting to travel to Hardwick on VT 15 from US 2 West will continue on US 2 West to VT 215 Marshfield and follow VT 215 to VT 15 in Walden.  Motorists traveling from VT 15 in Walden to US 2 East will take VT 215 to Marshfield to US 2 East. 

After the closure period ends, work will continue on the bridge with daily lane closures.  Traffic control personnel will be present to assist in maintaining traffic flow.  The project completion is October 16, 2015. 

Work updates and press releases will be issued and distributed to various media sources.  Information will also be available on www.roadworkupdates.com.

Francine Perkins of FRP Enterprises, LLC has been assigned as Project Outreach Coordinator to work with the Vermont Agency of Transportation and J.A. McDonald on this project.  Anyone with questions or concerns about this project, should contact Francine Perkins at 802-479-6994.

Loon Report

Evelyn Richer wrote tonight:
The family is nesting here in the Cabot nest.  They are sitting on 2 eggs again this year.  They were a little bit late to lay them. The first egg arrived on the 19th of May (the second one on the 22nd), and they should hatch any day after this Saturday June 13th.  We do ask that folks steer clear of the nesting site especially this year, as the barrier island has a broken cable and it is not giving them the protection that they are used to. Ray cannot repair it now that they are nesting. Thankfully, the nest is pretty well developed with foliage, so they aren't as exposed as you might think.

We have had frequent visits from the eagles, one immature and one mature eagle.  The loons have also had some intruder loons stopping by to make their jobs of protecting the eggs a real challenge.

Thanks to all for being great about giving them their space while they incubate.  We'll be sure to announce the arrivals when they come.

As for the West Danville pair, we had seen some interest in the old nesting site, but nothing has developed there as of yet. There may be another site somewhere, but it has not been confirmed.  --Evelyn

Thanks Evelyn - good to know we may have two chicks.  I've seen what appears to be an immature eagle soaring overhead a few times this spring.  Life is not easy for wild creatures - let's be sure to remind visitors who may not be familiar with loons and/or other wildlife to keep away from the nest and after the eggs have hatched, watch from a distance and give the family plenty of space and the best possible chance to survive.

We just found out that there is a very nice stray kitty hanging out on Barre Avenue.  Beth Ward has been letting it in every night and said it appears to be a well-taken-care-of cat.  It is yellow, with no collar.  Beth will be leaving on Tuesday and is concerned about the cat being left on it's own.  If you are missing a cat of this description, swing by Barre Avenue and perhaps you will be able to reunite with your pet.  Beth has no phone available, so you cannot contact her.  The Ward cottage is the first one on Barre Ave., and while this may appear to be a stray, it could also belong to one of the nearby neighbors.  We hope it will be ok.  Cats have a way of making it on their own very well, at least until very cold weather.

Steve and Bev Allen just sent me a couple of pictures of a different sort of visitor they had at their camp at Meadow Lane.  They wrote:  "This young buck joined us for breakfast and maybe a boat ride at Joe's Pond this morning - oops, I guess not!"  

I guess he just wanted a cool drink and perhaps a dip to get away from such pests as black flies, but probably decided the cedar woods was safer and retreated back up the hill.  He looks like a healthy specimen. Thanks, Bev and Steve for sharing the photos.

T

Here's a real treat for bluegrass music fans:  Bramblewood will be at the Cabot Library on July 21st.  Mark it on your calendar.  To hear samples of their music, click HERE and you'll find some sample tracks on the right of the page.  

It should be a fun event.  Take the family and enjoy.

We've had some much-needed rain over the past few days, and things are beautiful and lush now the sun is back with us.  Someone told me the black flies were gone - but I found out yesterday afternoon that isn't so.  At least, there are still plenty of them around our house.  They found me right away, and I had to give up any idea of working in the gardens or any other job that required being still.  I got a little mowing done, but even that wasn't without some moments with those little pests hitching a ride in my hair or on any exposed skin.   Today should be better with the wind very brisk - keeps them off balance.

So now I'm going out to climb Jamie and Marie's driveway, so I'll put my theory to the test and hope it's too windy for black fly flight.

KAS Yard Sale

This yard sale is always very well attended and is one of the big fund-raisers for Kingdom Animal Shelter.  If you have any items you would like to donate to the yard sale, call Helen at 563-2488.  We discourage exercise equipment, old electronics, clothes, older video tapes.
                                             Helen Morrison, W. Shore Rd.

We had our younger granddaughter with us on Tuesday.  It was an unusually active day for us, but it was Woody that got a real workout.  Tangeni says he's her best friend, and her face lights up when she's petting him.  He was patient as always, but took lots of "bathroom breaks" outdoors.  Tangeni has a hard time understanding that he would rather be outdoors sometimes, but accepts that he has to go to the "bathroom" outside.  She had a hard time accepting that he jumped up onto Grandpa's lap at one point instead of playing with her - but she solved that, as you can see here.  Woody has been resting up today - and so have we!  It is always great fun to be with her - but you can see by Woody's expression he was just being a gentleman and probably wasn't enjoying lap time as much as he'd hoped.  Three's a crowd!

Needed: Volunteer(s) to do Water Clarity Testing

Gina and Marty Talbot have been checking the water for clarity for several years and now wish to take a break.  This came from Gina Kurrle today: 

We need someone to do the "water checking" for the state.  I got the box the other day with all the stuff in it---since they still have me as the contact person.  There must be a "retired" person who wants to do this once every 10 days (although all they use the data for is comparing to clarity of the water over the years.....)--takes about 30 minutes if you have two people doing it.             GINA

You can get in touch with Gina at 802-563-9905.  She will give you details.