This Week in HIstory

10 years ago
A lone suspect robbed the People’s United Bank in Wilmington. The bank, located on East Main Street, is just yards from the Wilmington Police Station, and Wilmington Police Chief Joe Szarejko said officers were on the scene within 47 seconds. According to security footage, the suspect had already fled the scene when police arrived. Royal J. Palin, of Burlington, was arrested several months later, after he robbed the Heritage Credit Union in Bennington, stuffed cash in his pockets, and fled on a bicycle – dropping hundreds of dollars as he pedaled away. Palin later pleaded guilty to several robberies, including the one in Wilmington, and was sentenced to 70 months in prison.
15 years ago
Dover voters sent a clear signal on a proposal to locate a cell tower on land owned by Dover School. Voters had approved the use in September, and voted again after a petition for a reconsideration. They reconfirmed the original decision in a 65-41 vote.
The Wilmington Selectboard sought party status to Mount Snow’s master plan Act 250 permit process. Board members were concerned about proposals to develop affordable housing at Howe Farm on Route 100, parking on Howe Field at the same location, and impact on roads and traffic. Board members said they weren’t opposed to Mount Snow’s proposals, they just wanted a seat at the regulatory table.
20 years ago
Kelly Pawlak was promoted to managing director of Mount Snow by American Skiing Company CEO B.J. Fair. Pawlak replaced Stan Hansen, who had recently been named ASC senior vice president of real estate.
Wilmington School Board Chair John Conlon resigned following the resounding defeat of a bond vote for a proposed new high school facility. Conlon said he saw the defeat as a “vote of no confidence” in the school board. He also said he couldn’t remain on the board after the public indicated, in his opinion, “that doing nothing is a viable option.” Conlon had been on the board for more than eight years, and helped guide the school through Act 60, Act 68, and the Twin Valley merger process.
Education consultant Richard Stewart told Whitingham School Board members their special education costs were 263% higher than the statewide average. “What’s alarming here is that 25% of your budget is spent on special needs students,” Stewart said. He recommended the district get a handle on costs by serving more special needs students in the school, rather than by placing them in programs outside the school.
25 years ago
Bennington Potters opened a retail store in Wilmington, hoping to cash in on what Bennington Potters President Paul Silberman said was Wilmington’s imminent “revitalization.”
Wilmington school board and Selectboard members brainstormed legal ways to circumvent Act 60. Among the suggestions was a municipal takeover of athletic fields and playgrounds. Subsequently, the town began compensating the school for municipal use of its facilities for Town Meeting, recreation, and other uses.
35 years ago
Halifax School Board members got the go-ahead to build an addition to Halifax School. In a close 136 to 117 vote, town residents approved the expenditure of “not more than $775,000” for the town’s share of the $1,069,000 construction cost. The construction was necessary in order for the school to comply with state school standards.
The District II Environmental Commission contemplated requiring that local businesses that contribute to traffic congestion pay a fee to fund a solution to the problem. Mount Snow Vice President of Skiing John Redd said it was “blatantly unfair” for the state to force businesses to pay for the agency of transportation’s failure to address transportation infrastructure needs in the valley.
40 years ago
Bob North announced plans to develop the area around his Mount Snow Airport with the construction of about 48 single-family houses. The development was to be named “Partridge Run, an Air Park/Golf Course Community.”
Haystack owner Don Tarinelli awarded a weeklong trip to Hawaii to two of his employees in recognition of their dedication and “longtime service to Haystack.” Art Wright and Wallace Lowe, both of East Dover, joined Haystack Corporation in 1964, when the resort was still a dream. Both men were instrumental in cutting the first trails, and installing the first T-bars and chair lifts.
45 years ago
After winning approval for a high school renovation project by a two-to-one margin, school board members were dismayed when the project was delayed by a negative vote on an “interest rate technicality.” When the project was originally approved six months earlier, interest rates were estimated at 8%. Just a few months later, the prime lending rate was hovering around 20%, and bond rates had risen well above the estimated 8%. Bond banks declined to accept Wilmington’s proposal with an interest rate ceiling of 8%.
50 years ago
The valley was celebrating 2 feet of snow that fell within a four-day period, just in time for the holiday period. The snow meant Haystack, Hogback, Carinthia, Burrington Hill, and Dutch Hill – all independent ski areas – would be open in time for the vital holiday period. Mount Snow also took advantage of the snowfall to open with a full slate of holiday activities.
55 years ago
The region was digging out from a snowstorm that dumped more than a foot of the white stuff, and bracing for another storm that was predicted to deliver “heavy snow.” Mount Snow was open to the top of the mountain, and Haystack was getting ready to open for the season, along with Hogback in Marlboro and Burrington Hill in Whitingham. Police reported dozens of cars off the road, but few injuries.
According to state colleges provost Robert Babcock Jr., the state might be forced to increase the tuition at UVM from $450 per year for Vermonters. Out-of-staters paid $1,150 per year.
Wilmington Auto Sales was offering 100 extra blue stamps with each fill-up of their Getty gas.