Top Stories for Tuesday May 1, 2007

Fire Ravages Vermont Field Sports On Route 7 In Middlebury
By Mike Cameron
   Vermont Field Sports, the landmark outdoor store that had served area sportsmen and women for over two decades, burned to the ground on Thursday night, April 26, 2007 during an intense blaze that rapidly swept through the entire structure from ceiling to floor.
   Fire investigators were at the scene on Friday morning interviewing witnesses to the blaze, comparing notes with firemen, digging through charred rubble and examining the debris.  The Voice has learned that the fire is believed to have begun in a storage room in the northwest corner of the building.
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A&W To Open With New Owner
By Mike Cameron
    Like many of us, Tony and Nancy Neri remember the ‘good-ole-days’ when frosty mugs of frothy, tasty, A&W Root Beer could quench a hot summer thirst while washing down a tasty burger basket stuffed full of savory french fries.  
    The music coming out of the speakers of that 57 Chevy was vintage Top-40’s Rock and Roll.  
    D.J.’s like ‘Wolf Man Jack” and “Cousin Brucie Morrow,” were in their prime and ‘car hops’ could make a nice weeks pay waiting on your vehicle at curb-side. 
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17 Years- Neat Repeats Grants Total $1.3 Million
By Bridget Dorman
    Neat Repeats, located on Bakery Lane in downtown Middlebury, recently completed its seventeenth year in business.  To date, 2047 grants have been awarded, totaling $1.3 million.  Neat Repeats directors, Linda Waterman and Diane Howlett have seen first hand what these dollars have provided for Addison County and the effect it has had on many local individuals and organizations that have benefitted from these grants.
    Linda was one of the founders of the shop in 1990; Diane came on board in 1994 as a volunteer and became a director in 2002.  Both take pride in the fact that community support through donations contribute to the shop’s ability to sell quality items in order to improve others’ quality of life.  [ more ]