Island Pond

ISLAND POND — Lt. Col Mark C. Biron was posthumously honored with an Individual Achievement Award by the Vermont Historical Society.

Every year the Vermont Historical Society presents the League of Local Historical Societies & Museums Achievement Awards.

These awards recognize the exceptional work being done by individuals and community heritage organizations throughout the state to collect, preserve and share Vermont’s rich history.

Biron’s award was one of three individual awards presented this year at the Vermont Historical Society Annual Meeting held September 29 in Montpelier.

Individual Achievement awards honor a person’s work and commitment to local history over an extended period of time.

Biron served as president of the Island Pond Historical Society twice.

Once for a period of twelve years, and the second time for one year before he passed away.

In 2007, Biron served in Afghanistan but still remained president of the society.

While in Afghanistan, Biron thwarted a nighttime Taliban raid on his remote mountaintop compound and was able to rouse the other U.S soldiers.

A huge firefight broke out, but all American lives were saved. He received an award and was promoted to Lt. Col.

At the age of 15, Biron got involved with the historical society through his interest in photography.

Early on he realized the importance of preserving the history of the NEK, and so since his twenties served the Island Pond Historical Society in various ways.

He worked as the newsletter editor, writer, photographer, as well as secretary, treasurer, website creator, and president.

He loved the idea of retiring from all his previous roles to become the curator in the museum, and he managed to complete a lot of work during this time.

He arranged displays and drove all over Vermont with his wife Sharon to collect unwanted display stands from other museums.

Biron had a strong vision for the Island Pond Historical museum. He wanted the museum to be fully interactive, to have light and sound, not just static exhibits.

Sharon was made president only twenty days before Mark died in an airplane crash in Island Pond.

Sharon immediately got to work at making sure Biron’s vision for the museum continued.

He wanted the museum to transform into a learning center, and Sharon has been working with Craig A. Goulet to see this through.

Despite the massive tragedy of Biron’s death, they have kept the museum running, developing outreach programs, and have succeeded in strengthening the society, enlarging it, attracting more members, and turning it into a high profile success with a massive NEK presence.

ISLAND POND — Island Pond will be hosting its Farewell to Summer Celebration August 30 – September 1, in beautiful downtown Island Pond.

The weekend kicks off on Friday, August 30, with Friday Night Live featuring one of Vermont’s hottest bands, the Party Crashers starting at 6:00 p.m.

The committee is excited to be welcoming back Catamount Arts mobile stage to the park for this week’s concert. The Catamount stage was an incredible addition to this year’s Independence Day Celebration and the committee is excited to have it back for this weekend.

Friday Night Live is part of the getNEKedVT “In Tune Tour.” The getNEKedVT campaign will be giving away free t-shirts and stickers at this week’s concert.

Saturday morning, August 31, kicks off Island Pond’s biggest Market Day ever at 9:00 a.m. in Lakeside Park.

With over 20 vendors already signed up, visitors are sure to find many treasures to take home.

The Farewell to Summer Car Show will be held at the American Legion Brighton Post 80 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Starting at noon, A Flock of Waa Waas will be performing on the Catamount Stage in Lakeside Park.

The VFW Post #2309 will get your Sunday started with their hearty Public Breakfast at 8:30 a.m.

The 13th Annual Pond-a-Thon Fun Run hits the pavement at 9:00 a.m., registration starts at 7:30 a.m. at the town beach.

The Great Island Pond Canoe Race starts at noon at the town beach followed by the Human Foosball Tournament starting at 1:00 p.m.

The weekend ends on a more mellow note with a Wine Tasting at The Hearth & Home Country Store featuring six specially selected wines to enjoy.

Detailed event information can be found at www.VisitIslandPond.com.

The celebration is a joint venture of the Island Pond Renewal Committee, Island Pond Chamber of Commerce, Brighton Community Forum, Brighton Recreation, Town of Brighton and Catamount Arts.

ISLAND POND — Authorities say they have identified the pilot who was killed in a plane crash that took place in Island Pond on Saturday.

The victim has been preliminarily identified as Mark Biron, 60, of Brighton.

Biron’s single-engine aircraft went down at about 3:45 p.m. near the small John H. Boylan Airport in Island Pond.

Initial 911 reports came in of a large fire approximately 100 yards from the airport runway.

Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board sent investigators to the crash scene to determine the cause of the fatal accident.

There has been no update from investigators at this time.

A funeral service for Biron is scheduled for Friday at 1:00 p.m. at St. James Catholic Church.

ISLAND POND — Police are investigating a fatal airplane crash near the John H. Boylan Airport in Island Pond.

At about 3:45 p.m. this afternoon, 911 reports came in of a large fire approximately 100 yards from the airport runway.

Emergency crews responding to the scene discovered a small single-engine aircraft that had been badly burned.

The sole occupant of the plane was found deceased.

Police say they are working to confirm the identity of the victim.

Investigators from the FAA and the NTSB are expected to arrive tomorrow to start an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Police say they will remain on scene overnight to secure the location.

NEWPORT — Peter Alexander may have retired from his physical education work at North Country Union High School, but he certainly hasn’t retired from helping people stay fit.

Alexander joined the Northeast Kingdom Learning Services (NEKLS) team to run a group of outdoor activities for NEKLS staff and students. He has already set up and run volleyball, kickball, frisbee golf, and most recently a biking trip.

The turnout has been good for a first attempt at getting staff and students together for fitness.

“There are nineteen or so staff and students that have been taking part,” Alexander said. “It creates an opportunity for staff and students to be healthy, and to bond.”

Connie Miner, of Island Pond, has joined NEKLS as the operations support administrator.

Miner said her prior positions at the MSA Helmet Factory and the Island Pond Health Care Center prepared her well for something as wide-reaching as helping in the administrative offices of NEKLS’s many programs.

“I had experience multitasking, with scheduling, inventory control, receiving, purchasing, covering government contracts, shipping, confidentiality, phones, helping people.”

ISLAND POND — Vermont State Police say that the body of Quincy O’Gorman, 23, was recovered today at around 10 a.m.

During a search of area properties by local residents, searchers found O’Gorman deceased within the Lightning Brook in Brighton, also known as the Clyde River, in an area ¼ mile southwest of where he went missing.

He was last seen on New Year’s Eve, at around 11:45 p.m. Police say he fled after being pulled over for allegedly running a stop sign.

At around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, police were alerted that O’Gorman was still missing by family members. Search and rescue teams had been searching for O’Gorman since.

The Vermont State Police, Brighton Fire Department, and Lyndon Rescue responded to the scene to remove his body from the water and he was transported to the roadway via a rescue sled.

The body has been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Burlington for autopsy.

Police say the investigation is on-going, pending the results of the autopsy.

ISLAND POND — The Vermont State Police continued their search for Quincy O’Gorman, the 23-year-old man from Island Pond who went missing after he fled the scene during a traffic stop on New Year’s Eve.

Today, members of the Vermont State Police Dive Team searched the brook and marsh in the area it was believed he may have gone.

A ground search in the area was also conducted by game wardens, New England K9, and the Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team.

Authorities say none of these efforts led to O’Gorman’s whereabouts.

Police are now asking residents in and around Island Pond to check their abandoned properties, outbuilding and old vehicles they may have.

“Searchers will continue their efforts based on any new information supplied, but at this time no new ground searches are planned,” a statement issued by police reads.

O’Gorman is 23-years-old, 5’10”, and approximately 200 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Derby State Police barracks at 802-334-8881.

ISLAND POND — Crews are still searching for a 23-year-old man from Island Pond, who went missing after he fled during a traffic stop on New Year’s Eve, police say.

On Tuesday, the Vermont Scuba team was called in to search a brook and swamp area surrounding Island Pond village. VAST trails in the area were also searched.

At approximately 11:43 p.m. New Year’s Eve, a trooper made a motor vehicle stop in Island Pond after the vehicle failed to stop at a posted stop sign.

Upon stopping, police say four people inside the vehicle immediately exited and began to run.

The trooper was able to detain two passengers. The driver and third passenger continued to flee to the rear of a nearby residence, police say.

The Brighton Police Chief says he learned through talking with the passengers that O’Gorman was the driver.

His whereabouts were still unknown, and a K9 was brought to the scene to conduct a track. Based on this track police say they believe that O’Gorman crossed a small brook and continued on foot in and around Island Pond Village.

Brighton Police, Essex County Sheriff’s deputies, and State troopers continued to try and locate O’Gorman, but were unsuccessful.

On January 2, family members reported that O’Gorman was still missing.

O’Gorman is 23-years-old, 5’10”, and approximately 200 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information regarding O’Gorman’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Derby State Police barracks at 802-334-8881.

A ground search is underway today.