The Shopper 05-02-18
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56 FREE Years We’ve Acquired the Message Treat your ECRWSS PRSRT STD US Postage Mom for PAID Permit #2 North Haverhill, NH See Page 3B POSTAL CUSTOMER Our Contact Information is on Page 6A Independently Owned & Locally Operated MAY 02, 2018 | WWW.VERMONTJOURNAL.COM VOLUME 56, ISSUE 49 Apple Blossom Cotillion See Pages 8A - 10A KMA Publications Inc. Construction on Woolson acquires The Message of the Block building expected to Week start in the fall REGION – Robert Miller of 1970s. “I feel like The Message BY PATRICK ADRIAN include the Springfield Housing Au- “This is a complicated project,” KMA Publications Inc., owner and is home again, back to where it The Shopper thority, Springfield Regional Devel- Morelock told the Select Board. publisher of The Vermont Journal VermontTHE started,” he said. Miller recalled opment Corporation, Springfield on “We’ve been lucky to get partners and The Shopper, announced Fri- feeling the same way when he SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – The Wool- the Move, and several social services in this particular project. If it wasn’t day, April 27, 2018 that he has pur- purchased The Shopper back in son Block building renovation organizations. for [them] we wouldn’t be doing this chased The Message of the Week. 2009, acquiring another paper has come with hurdles, including The amendment, which the Se- project. Nobody would be doing this The sale will merge the newspa- Journal his parents had started years al- revenue shortfalls and added con- lect Board unanimously approved, project.” pers but continue to be published most 57 years ago. “I grew up in struction costs, but despite chal- changes the original loan terms from Needed architectural revisions only under The Vermont Journal & the newspaper business work- lenges developers say they expect repayment over 20 years with a one have resulted in $200,000 additional and The Shopper banners. The ing for my parents. I wanted to construction to begin this fall and percent interest rate to 25 years with spending for youth housing accom- merger will also expand coverage, bring my parent’s early publica- finish in about a year. zero interest. More importantly, the modations, and having to take down helping to strengthen local news tions back into the fold.” “This is a pretty difficult proj- amendment allows the owners to re- the northwest and southwest corners and readership. The Message, as a All inquiries to The Mes- ect,” Springfield Housing Author- pay from its surplus cash, rather than of the building, where additions were separate entity, will cease publica- sage are now automatically be- ity Executive Director Bob Mo- in fixed installments. constructed on faulty foundations. tion immediately. ing forwarded to The Vermont relock told the Springfield Select To illustrate the difference, under Though removing these corners For Miller, the purchase comes Journal and The Shopper office Board on Monday, April 23. “It a traditional loan the owners would opens outdoor space for a potential full circle, owning The Message, The Vermont Journal & The Shopper, locally in Ludlow. For any additional started off at about $5 million [in typically repay a fixed amount of riverside walkway, it also results in a paper that his parents Max and owned and operated papers, have acquired information, contact The Ver- estimated cost]. We’re up to about $8,000 each year, for 25 years, for a one less apartment unit. Odessa Miller had started with The Message of the Week. mont Journal and The Shopper $8.1 million.” total of $200,000. Under the surplus The project also has received less Bill and Joan Johnson in the early PHOTO PROVIDED at 802-228-3600. Morelock’s update came during cash provision, should the owners grant funds than solicited. Devel- the board’s discussion of a loan not have $8,000 in funds from its opers requested $750,000 from the amendment request by the new cash surplus, the owners may pay a state’s Community Development Woolson building owners, the lesser amount that year without pe- Block Grant program but only re- Trustees vote to forgive Woolson Block Limited Partner- nalization. ceived $400,000, and a grant request ship, which would give more flex- The owners still have to pay the for $500,000 from the Federal Home ibility to the owners during repay- remaining loan, Morelock explained Loan Bank was denied completely. ment. in a phone interview. This provision Morelock told the board, however, delinquent bills for the The town loaned $200,000 to just gives them more flexibility with that he expects most of that $850,000 developers to transform the Wool- its repayment schedule. shortfall to be made up in another son Block building into an afford- Based on projected revenue data grants. Also, most of the project’s able housing and commercial for Woolson Block, Morelock said costs are funded through housing Robertston Paper Mill complex, with original plans for 15 he believes the owners will generate and downtown tax credits, which the affordable apartments, four transi- sufficient surplus cash to cover its developers have attained. BY BETSY THURSTON tional housing units for homeless annual payments. The intent is only Developers plan to begin the con- The Shopper youth, and commercial spaces at to give the owners as much flexibility tract bidding and have construction the street level. Project partners and support as possible. underway by September or October. BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. - The Bel- lows Falls Village Trustee meeting April 24 commenced with dis- cussion on delinquent water and Albert Bridge students help wastewater bills. Municipal Man- ager Shane O’Keefe noted that door knockers would be delivered Wednesday and Thursday to re- raise money for Brownsville mind residents with delinquent water and sewer bills to pay as soon as possible to avoid the shut Independence Day celebration offs taking place May 7 though 10. The Bellows Falls Area Develop- BROWNSVILLE, Vt. - The fifth ner, Savannah Underhill. Savannah is Holiday Inn Club Vacations/Mt. As- ment Corp. requested to forgive and sixth graders at Albert Bridge a sixth grader at Albert Bridge School. cutney Resort, Seth Warren Real Es- the delinquent bills for the Rob- School recently took part in an art Patricia Harris, a fifth and sixth grade tate, Leland Company, DLX, 4 Gener- ertson Paper Mill. Built in 1891, contest. The winning artwork will teacher at ABS, coordinated the con- ations, Dark Horse Realty, Kurtzhalz it was the longest living paper be displayed on the front of the of- test. Excavation, Parris Hill Farm Alpacas, mill in the state before closing its ficial Independence Day Celebra- Corporate sponsorship of the two- Tami’s Head Lines, Pizza Chef, Snap doors in the 1980s. The BFADC Robertson Paper Mill. tion t-shirt. The students will be day event is new this year, and the Dragon Inn, and Doolittle’s Print purchased the mill in 2014. It was PHOTO BY JOHN PHELAN selling the shirts to support the generous sponsors to date include: Serve. All the supporting corporate deemed unsafe for occupancy two-day Independence sponsors will be listed and was listed as a brownfield site. Deborah Wright expressed res- delayed. He noted that in three to Day festivities taking on the back of the IDC The BFADC, a nonprofit organiza- ervations on waiving the fees. She five years, the income generated place on July 3 and t-shirts. tion of local individuals who are mentioned she was grateful for the will be a lot more than the fees if 4 that are enjoyed by The Brownsville Inde- not compensated for their time, has time and energy spent by the volun- the site was made more viable for many throughout the pendence Day Celebra- obtained over $1 million in grants teer board, but requested they come developers. region. tion t-shirts will be avail- and loans to demolish and clean up together to help pay the fees. Her O’Keefe informed the Board The concept that the able for purchase starting the property. However, none of the reasoning was that residents don’t that delinquent fees automatically children were to de- on May 1 at the school. funding sources can cover the pay- have the ability to waive their in- place a lien on the property. Fox pict is “West Windsor The shirts will also be ment of the delinquent fees; fur- creasing water bills. Stephen Golec reminded the Board that grants Volunteer Fire Depart- available for purchase at thermore, the delinquencies would concurred with Wright, agreeing require there are no liens on ment – Sixty Years of the Independence Day impact funding. that residents would be signifcantly properties seeking funding. Answering the Call,” celebrations. To pre-or- Development Director Gary Fox, impacted by the present and future Myles Mickle, village president, which is the theme of der shirts or for purchas- one of the BFADC volunteers, re- water bills. called to vote on the motion. The this year’s parade in es after school closes for quested the fees be waived for this Jonathan Wright, resident and motion passed 3 to 1 in favor of honor of these brave summer recess, contact reason. Fox reminded the trustees business owner, agreed with Debo- the town forgiving the delinquent men and women. Linda Ley at Leys@Par- that BFADC’s purpose was to help rah Wright that increased water fees. The IDC Commit- risHillFarm.com. provide infrastructure for economic rates were affecting them all, but he The next Village Trustees meet- tee selected the finalists For more information, development. warned the Board not to be short- ing is Tuesday, May 8 at 6 p.m. and, at their monthly please visit the Inde- Trustee James McAuliffe, also a sighted and to look toward the fu- The Village annual meeting is meeting, members pendence Day Celebra- member of BFADC, recused his vote ture.