SPRINGFIELD — The family that owns the Ellis Block in downtown Springfield said Monday they were waiting for their insurance company before they could hire someone to stabilize and clean up the burned-out building.

Hilarie Tolstoi and her mother, Daryl Wisch of Chester, said they wanted to clean up what remained of the building before it was overtaken by mold and mildew.

"We don't know enough on how to assess the damage," said Wisch, who along with U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Springfield and regional officials, toured the site Monday afternoon.

"We want to stabilize it and clean it out," Wisch said.

Tolstoi said the structural engineer they hired determined that the building, which was severely damaged by fire the night of July 8, did not have to be demolished.

"He believes it's structurally sound," she said, while noting that one wall had developed a bow to it.

But she said a key problem is the alley between the Ellis Block and the Lincoln Block, which is owned by B.J. Crowley, and houses Penelope's Restaurant and several apartments.
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SPRINGFIELD — Southern State Correctional Facility Superintendent Kevin Ashburn has left the prison less than three years after taking the job, according to Vermont Department of Corrections Commissioner Robert Hofmann.

Hofmann said he couldn't discuss Ashburn's reasons for leaving the job because it was a personnel matter, but said Ashburn's departure was not planned.

While the state looks for someone to fill the job, Ashburn's former duties are being performed by the prison's two assistant superintendents, according to Hofmann.

Ellen McWard, who is primarily responsible for the prison's programs, has taken over as acting superintendent assisted by Dominic Damato, who primarily handles security at the facility.
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On the evening of Saturday, July 12, 2008 former Vermont Public Radio commentator Nick Boke will present a program entitled "Another Innocent Abroad: Contemplating the US from Africa and the Middle East." The event, which begins with a reception at 6:00 p.m. and ends with dessert, will be held at the First Universalist Parish of Chester, Route 103/North Street in the Stone Village. Admission is $20.  Proceeds will benefit the Building Fund of the church.

Mr. Boke, a former minister of the church, has spent much of the past five years working in Lebanon, Sudan, Tanzania, Congo, Kenya and Guinea. His work has taken him into urban slums and rural villages, and has allowed him to chat with former child soldiers, local journalists, rebel leaders, government ministers, missionaries, and hundreds of teachers and students who try to go about their business in the most trying of circumstances.

Through it all, Boke has kept an eye on events and trends in the US. He will offer reflections on how we appear from a thatched hut in Southern Sudan, from a one-room schoolhouse in rural Guinea, and from a ladies aid picnic just north of the Israeli border.

Mr. Boke is also a former resident of Weathersfield, Vermont.

SPRINGFIELD – Townspeople celebrated their hometown and life in school Saturday with a gala parade up Main Street that featured dozens of antique cars and not-so-antique alumni of Springfield High School.

This year, the theme of the parade was "So Many Books, So Little Time," and classes built floats with that in mind.

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LUDLOW — Modern construction will allow more visitors a glimpse into the past when the Black River Academy Museum breaks ground on a new project this spring.

Wright Construction of Mount Holly will begin construction of a three-story tower that will be attached to the south face of the museum. The tower will contain a set of fire stairs and eventually an elevator to make the building handicapped accessible, said Anita Alic, capital campaign chairwoman.

"Phase one is the construction of the tower and the stairs, with phase two being the installation of the elevator," Alic said.

The decision to build a tower outside the museum rather than trying to incorporate it within the building was simply a matter of space.

"If we tried to do it within the confines of the building it would restrict our exhibit space," Alic said.

To walk through the Black River Academy Museum is to step back in time to view the history of the state and 19th century education.
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SPRINGFIELD — Silvestre "Sly" Gallegos loves to eat, and that's why he became a chef.

The owner of "The Golden Egg," a homey restaurant in Saxtons River, has reopened the Springfield Royal Diner, and added a few words to its name and a lot of items to its menu.

The 1955 Mahoney diner, which was moved to Springfield in 2002, is now called The Springfield Royal Diner and Pancake House.

The original pink and chrome interior is still intact, as well as the original décor of dusty pink vinyl booths and Formica counters.

On the menu, besides hamburgers, hand-cut French fries and eggs over-easy, are three-egg omelets, sweet or savory crepes and six different kinds of pancakes, as well as what Gallegos calls "skillets" — combination meals based around eggs and sausage. read more (259 words)

Preferred Building Systems will take on many workers

ARCHIE MOUNTAIN
Managing Editor

CLAREMONT - Preferred Building Systems of Claremont will be hiring many of the 120 employees who lost their jobs Friday with the closing of Custom-ized Structures Inc.

"We will be hiring some immediately and by the end of 2008 expect our work force to reach 75 or 80 employees," said Harold LaValley, chairman of the board of LaValley Building Supply Inc., headquartered in Newport. Presently, Preferred Building Systems (PBS) employs 23 full-time workers at its Twistback Road location.

"I hope we can bring in some of their people, probably a substantial number," LaValley said during a telephone interview late Friday afternoon.
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Gov. Lynch files court action demanding 60-day severance package

Five days before Christmas, a former bright spot in the city's economic future announced it's closing its doors, and in the process got itself sued by the governor.

Customized Structures Incorporated, a mobile and modular home and building manufacturing and distribution company on River Road, informed its 120 employees Thursday afternoon that as of Saturday, they will be out of work because the company is closing.

In a letter to Mayor Scott Pope dated Thursday, the company said "as you know, 2007 has been a very difficult year for companies in the residential home building industry ... the Company must notify you that, at present, it has scheduled to close this facility and lay off substantially all employees, effective December 22."

Founded in 1984, the company was purchased in 2003 by Watermill Ventures and moved to the former Tambrands building on River Road in 2004 from its Plains Road location.
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New home will feature Simpsons’ memorabilia

Dan Bustard
Staff Reporter

SPRINGFIELD - Fans of the animated television show "The Simpsons" and visitors interested in finding out about Springfield and the region will soon have a new place to check out both - at the new downtown home of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber is preparing to move from its corner office in the building at the corner of the Community Center Bridge into the Bank Block, doubling its space and providing a new home for The Hand and other memorabilia associated with Springfield hosting the world premiere of "The Simpsons Movie" in July.

"It's going to be a great move to be downtown," said Executive Vice President Patty Chaffee. She hopes the new chamber office will become more of a destination spot along with being the prime source for local information.

The new location is expected to boost traffic, and the chamber will increase promotion for areas along Vermont's borders, along with hitting Internet Simpsons' fan sites to draw more people to Springfield.

Read the Full story at the Eagle Times