You can’t outrun the radio
FAIR HAVEN— Andrew J. Sipowicz, 21, of Granville, N.Y., learned he couldn’t outrun the reach of police radios Jan. 15. He fled from an officer who saw a man leave the Granville Cumberland Farms with two packages of beer soon after midnight, confirmed that the beer was stolen, and chased the truck Sipowicz was driving through Granville and Hampton, N.Y.
Granville Police Sgt. Ryan Pedone told the Rutland Herald that the truck’s occupants were throwing full bottles of beer at the police car as they fled east at speeds up to 80 mph. The pursuing patrol car broke pursuit at the state line.
Seemingly not realizing that Pedone was following in his personal vehicle, Sipowicz pulled into a Scotch Hill Road driveway, turning off his lights, while a passenger jumped out and ran into the woods. Pedone pulled in behind, detaining the driver and a female passenger.
Later, the Fair Haven Police Chief William Humphries said they had received a call for a “suspicious guy waving cars down” at 3:40 a.m. on South Main St., Fair Haven Police. He remains unidentified, although police have a first name and security footage, Pedone said. Once captured, he will face larceny and reckless endangerment charges.
Sipowicz has refused to identify the man who stole the beer. On his arrest, he had a 0.107 blood alcohol level (over the 0.08 legal limit) and had had his driver’s license suspended from a previous DUI; he was charged in Vermont with DUI and driving without a license.
Released on the Vermont citation, Sipowicz was arrested again in New York the following evening at the Cumberland Farms where the initial incident began. Pedone spotted him pulling into the parking lot, intending to bring him in on an outstanding Warren County, N.Y., charge of missing a DUI hearing. Another N.Y. DUI charge awaits him for the chase in New York, plus several traffic violations and attempting to elude a police officer.
Climate control system preserves artifacts, archives
EAST POULTNEY— The East Poultney Schoolhouse got a new climate control system in November, thanks to a $12,325 Cultural Facilities grant through the Vermont Arts Council. The Hills and Hollows fund of the Vermont Community Foundation and the Town of Poultney matched the grant on a 1-to-1 basis. The new system’s four energy-efficient heat pumps will control temperature and humidity in the building regardless of the season, while providing a better environment to protect the artifacts and archives that document Poultney’s history. The building contains clothing, books, genealogical records, photographs, glass plate negatives, and farm equipment.
Excel Plumbing and Heating of Mendon installed the wall units, powered by a pad-mounted 60,000-BTU condenser unit behind the Schoolhouse.
The 2-1/2 story Queen Anne-style building served as a public grade school until 1966. It is a contributing building to the East Poultney Historic District. Excel worked carefully to assure that the climate control system did not compromise any historical elements of the structure.
Fair Haven electric car charger not being used
FAIR HAVEN— The Town of Fair Haven may request a rate reduction or removal of the electric car charger at the south end of the town green. It “went live” Aug. 7, 2015, Green Mountain Power spokesperson Kristin Carlson told the Rutland Herald.
In the two-plus years since the charger was installed, it has generated only one $20 credit, but Green Mountain Power charges the town $69 a month, interim town manager Jonas Rosenthal told the Select Board Jan. 2. He plans to speak with Jenn Cortez, innovation champion for GMP, about either reducing the monthly rate or removing the charger completely.
The town had signed a three-year contract with the utility company, which gave Fair Haven the option of ending the contract with 60 days’ notice after the charger had been installed for a year. When it was installed, Cortez said its “ideal user” was someone who was passing through the community, who would stop to charge his or her vehicle and shop or eat in Fair Haven while waiting for the 240-volt, level-2 EV charging station to complete its task.
GMPs map of EV charging stations also lists the Hampton Inn and West Street park (107 West St.) in Rutland; one at 11 Cottage St., Rutland; Green Mountain College’s Dunton Hall, 1 Brennan Cir., Poultney; and Castleton University. Solvingev.com includes stations at Garvey Nissan in Rutland; Killington Pico; and several sites in Manchester.
Stone Valley Arts seeks tax exempt status
POULTNEY— Stone Valley Arts was gathering petition signatures for a tax exemption to be on the town meeting ballot. Supporters hope to rehab and repurpose the building in the next few years, David Mook announced in Front Page Forum. Currently, some weekly classes and events are paused until April or are temporarily in warmer buildings. The structure will be 200 years old in 2022.
Benson names January hero
BENSON— Assistant Town Clerk Fran Bowen is the town’s unsung hero for January, the town newsletter declared. She has held the assistant clerk position “since the Town Office was in the creamery building,” and currently is a trustee of public funds. She helps run the Benson Museum and volunteers time to the United Church. In the past, she was a Benson Village School volunteer, and a library commissioner.
