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ATM machine stolen in Troy, attempted ATM theft at Jay Peak

Published on in Jay Peak/Newport/News/Troy

NEWPORT — Police are looking for two suspects who went on a crime spree, attempting to steal local ATM machines.

This morning at around 5:10 a.m. police received a report of a theft at Boutin’s Mini Mart in the town of Troy.

According to police, at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Sunday night, two unknown subjects forced entry into the store and stole the ATM inside.

The subjects were seen driving a Chevrolet Silverado away from the scene with the ATM in the bed of the truck.

Police say it was later reported the same individuals attempted to take an ATM at Jay Peak Resort during the early morning hours this morning.

The ATM at Jay remained on scene but suffered significant damage as a result.

Anyone with information in regards to the theft is asked to contact the Vermont State Police Derby Barracks at 802-334-8881.

Bill Stenger fired by Jay Peak receiver following fraud indictment

Published on in Jay Peak/Newport/News

NEWPORT — Bill Stenger was fired from his job as a consultant working for the receiver overseeing Jay Peak and related properties.

Michael I. Goldberg, the receiver for Jay Peak, made the announcement on Friday.

In a statement, Goldberg said Stenger’s termination should not be interpreted as an indication that “the receiver believes that William Stenger did anything wrong.”

He says the decision to terminate Stenger at this time is simply based on his opinion that it would not be appropriate to continue to retain him in light of the recent indictment.

Last week Stenger was in federal court in Burlington to plead not guilty to criminal charges alleging he conspired in a multi-year wire fraud scheme to defraud immigrant investors seeking green cards through the EB-5 program.

He was released after posting a $100,000 appearance bond.

As a consultant working for the receiver, Stenger was paid at a rate of $50 per hour and was allowed to use of an older model Volvo belonging to Jay Peak.

Goldberg says he wishes Bill Stenger and his family well in this difficult time.

Quiros and Stenger indicted on fraud charges related to Jay Peak EB-5 projects

Published on in Jay Peak/Newport/News/Northeast Kingdom

NEWPORT — U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan was in Newport today to announce that four people were charged with conspiring in a multi-year wire fraud scheme to defraud immigrant investors seeking green cards through the EB-5 program, among other charges.

Ariel Quiros, 63, William Kelly, 70, both of Florida, along with Jong Weon Choi, 58, of South Korea and William Stenger, 70, of Newport, were indicted by the federal grand jury on criminal charges in connection with their management of the Jay Peak Biomedical Research Park EB-5 investment project, also called the AnC Vermont project.

In addition to the wire fraud conspiracy count, the defendants face other charges, including six separate counts of wire fraud and various counts of concealing material facts or presenting false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of a federal agency, namely United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which oversaw the EB-5 process.

Quiros is also charged with two counts of money laundering.

The indictment alleges that the defendants misrepresented facts to the SEC, which investigated the Jay Peak EB-5 offerings while the defendants were seeking new AnC investors.

A civil action by the SEC ended the defendants’ control of the EB-5 projects.

“As alleged in this indictment, this scheme defrauded hopeful immigrant investors in what may be the largest financial crime in our state history,” Nolan stated.

The defendants face a maximum penalty on the most serious charges of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss, and restitution to the victims.

The indictment also alleges forfeiture against the defendants.

“This case is about greed and deceit,” James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation said. “The defendants’ broken business promises have left not only a physical scar on the city of Newport, but also an intangible scar on the promise of economic development for the Northeast Kingdom and on the dreams of many hopeful immigrants.”

The indictment alleges a scheme conceived in 2011 and carried through until the defendants lost control of the project in April 2016.

The AnC project was the seventh EB-5 project managed by Quiros and Stenger, but the first involving a business outside a ski resort.

The defendants designed the project to raise $110 million from immigrant investors in order to build and operate a biotechnology company, AnC Vermont, on a property in Newport.

From 2012 to 2016, the defendants obtained over $80 million from over 160 immigrant investors in the AnC project.

Under the EB-5 program created by Congress, immigrant investors could obtain green cards by investing $500,000 each in a United States business that would create ten jobs per investment.

Pursuant to federal law, the AnC project was regulated and monitored by USCIS and the Vermont Regional Center, a part of state government.

According to the indictment, the defendants’ scheme involved both secret embezzlement of immigrant investor funds and deceit about the AnC project’s jobs and revenue.

The defendants designed the project so that Quiros and Choi, who were secret partners, could siphon millions of dollars in investor funds into their pockets.

As the defendants raised investor money, Quiros used the money for his own purposes instead of using it to build the project.

The defendants then concealed this misuse of funds.

The indictment also charges that the defendants created a fraudulent AnC business plan based on a “party line” conceived to misrepresent the number of jobs that would be created by the project and the business revenue that would be generated from the project.

Marketing the project to immigrant investors depended on job creation and future revenue, since the defendants emphasized their ability to satisfy the job creation standards under EB-5 law and repay immigrant investors.

The indictment charges that the defendants devised job and revenue projections based on the number of jobs needed to obtain project approval from USCIS without regard to a viable plan to actually create those jobs or achieve those revenues.

AnC Vermont would supposedly rent clean rooms, market stem cell therapies, and manufacture artificial organs.

The defendants made fraudulent statements in regard to all three facets of the future business, in particular with regard to how soon the project would generate jobs and revenue.

Rather than disclose that they were creating a start-up business that would need large capital reserves to operate in the early stages, the defendants falsely represented that they had a plan where AnC Vermont would successfully market its products as soon as construction was complete.

In addition to the wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy charges, the indictment charges Quiros with two money laundering counts relating to two transactions where he used AnC investor funds for personal expenses, specifically a $6 million payment to the IRS and the purchase of a vehicle.

Further, the indictment contains five concealment or false statement counts.

First, it alleges that the defendants concealed from the Vermont Regional Center how Quiros used approximately $21 million in investor funds to pay off a loan unrelated to the AnC Vermont project.

Next, the indictment alleges that Quiros, Kelly, and Choi concealed that Choi was being investigated in Korea for financial crimes, and falsely represented that AnC Korea, a company they claimed would supply the technologies that AnC Vermont would market, was not in financial distress.

Finally, the indictment charges Stenger with presenting false documents and statements to the Vermont Regional Center.

One of these counts focuses on a misrepresentation by Stenger that he had followed the Regional Center’s direction to stop marketing the AnC project in mid- 2014.

The other charges as false a written presentation Stenger made to the Regional Center in January 2015 as he was seeking permission to continue recruiting investors for the AnC project.

Quiros, Kelly, and Stenger surrendered to the custody of the United States Marshals Service this morning and appeared for arraignment on the charges in federal court later today.

Choi remains at large.

Second Annual Jay Peak Schlamm Jam starts tomorrow

Published on in Arts and Entertainment/Jay Peak/News

JAY — Jay Peak Resort will be hosting their second annual Schlamm Jam – A Celebration of Community and Spirit, starting tomorrow.

The event, which debuted last spring, is designed to celebrate the surrounding communities and raise money for local causes.

Its name comes from the German word for mud and is being sponsored by the resort’s Flake Foundation.

The event will feature raffles, live music and invited local food vendors. A key attraction is the offer of free lifts tickets for residents of local communities.

Residents will also be offered discounts on waterpark tickets, ski and snowboard rentals at Stateside, and climb times in Clips and Reels.

Two dollars of every lift ticket purchased as well as a portion of the proceeds of everything sold at Jay Peak tomorrow will go to the Flake Foundation.

The resort created the foundation last year as a way to support local causes and events in its backyard.

Since its inception, the foundation has provided monies to local schools and kids’ sports teams to purchase winter gear and athletic uniforms, contributed funds to a non-profit project dedicated to providing low-cost, community-supported mesh internet access to primarily low-income neighborhoods in Newport, and made a donation to help fund the construction of a new spur trail to the Newport-Beebee Bike Path.

Most recently, Jay Peak’s General Manager Steve Wright was a featured “celebrity chef” for the Newport Promise Community’s Celebrity Pizza making party at Lago in downtown Newport.

The annual event helps to raise money for the NPC’s outreach efforts.

The funds raised during this year’s Schlamm Jam will go to the Montgomery and Jay community recreation centers.

“Knowing that Jay Peak has programs and events like the Schlamm Jam designed to support its communities is really reassuring to organizations like ours,” said Peg Doheny, a board member of the Montgomery Recreation Center. “It feels good to know the resort is committed to the vibrancy of all of the towns around it.”

Select Jay Peak EB-5 documents to be released following settlement

Published on in Jay/Jay Peak/Newport/News/Northeast Kingdom

NEWPORT — Today the State of Vermont and VTDigger announced a settlement in the matter regarding two public records requests by the news organization related to Jay Peak’s EB-5 program.

Under terms of the settlement, the State of Vermont agreed to provide VTDigger the originally requested documents as well as additional agreed-upon Jay Peak records.

“VTDigger remains committed to making sure that the story of Jay Peak is told in its entirety,” Anne Galloway, founder and editor of VTDigger, said.

Galloway says the records released on Friday are long overdue to the public.

VTDigger began covering allegations of fraud at the ski area back in 2014, and has been seeking documents on the public’s behalf since that time.

Due to ongoing litigation, only a few hundred records have been released, with disclosure pending on 1.5 million pages of documents between Shumlin administration officials and Jay Peak developers.

VTDigger’s legal team filed a complaint in January seeking official communications between the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service regarding the projects at Jay Peak Resort.

Requests for the records from VTDigger have been repeatedly denied over the past three years.

“It is refreshing to see the State and its citizens cooperate in the release of public documents,” Tim Cornell, VTDigger’s attorney, said. “This brings us a step closer to finding out how the Jay Peak scandal happened.”

In 2014, the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation began an investigation into the fraud at Jay Peak, which ultimately led to federal and state action.

In April 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the State of Vermont charged the developers of Jay Peak Resort with 52 counts of fraud and the misuse of $200 million in foreign investor funds.

The developers’ “Ponzi-like” scheme was perpetrated over an eight-year period from 2008-2016, during which the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development administered the EB-5 program.

Taste of the Kingdom event February 27

Published on in Jay Peak/Newport/News/Northeast Kingdom

NEWPORT — The 11th Annual Taste of the Kingdom, a fundraising event held by Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS), will take place at 6:00 p.m. on February 27, at Jay Peak Resort’s Foeger Ballroom.



Guests will enjoy small plates and sample beverages from over 20 Northeast Kingdom food and drink producers.

This year’s Farm & Food Partners include the Highland Lodge, Barn First Creamery, Goob’s Brews & BBQ, Sterling College’s kitchen and many more.

The evening will also include live music, a silent auction featuring NEK-area businesses, and a raffle for a 2-night stay for 4 people at Jay Peak Resort. 



“This event is an annual celebration of our local food economy,” said Sophie Westover, communications and development coordinator at GMFTS. “It’s a chance to interact with some of our region’s best farmers, chefs, distillers, and brewers, all while supporting GMFTS and our work to connect farms, schools, and communities.”


All proceeds from the event will go to benefit GMFTS and its programming.

Skier killed in accident at Jay Peak

Published on in Jay Peak/News

JAY — A 68-year-old man from Quebec died at Jay Peak Resort this afternoon.

At 12:45 p.m. authorities were notified of a seriously injured skier at the resort.

The skier was identified as Bruce Charron, of West Montreal.

Charron reportedly lost a ski prior to striking trees along the edge of the trail.

He was immediately attended to by emergency responders and extricated from the scene by Jay Peak Ski Patrol.

He later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the resort.

The incident is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call (802) 334-8881.

Police: Drunk skier bites, kicks trooper at Jay Peak Resort

Published on in Jay Peak/Newport/News

NEWPORT — A 22-year-old man from New Jersey will have to face a judge on Monday to answer to numerous charges after an incident at Jay Peak Resort on Saturday.

At around 6:00 p.m. police responded to the resort for a report of an unruly and intoxicated man.

Police met with Jay Peak Security and determined the man, identified as Daniel Syzdek, would be placed into protective custody due to his high level of intoxication and aggressiveness towards those at the resort.

According to the report, Syzdek resisted arrest and during the process of taking him into custody bit a trooper. Police say he also kicked a trooper.

Syzdek was transported to Derby to be processed.

He was lodged at Northern State Correctional Facility and has to appear in court on Monday to answer to charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault on law enforcement.

Police say that the trooper was not injured during the arrest.

Rescue crews locate missing skier near Jay Peak

Published on in Jay/Jay Peak/Westmore

JAY — Search and rescue crews were able to locate a 69-year-old man from Newport this evening after he got lost skiing earlier in the day.

Peter Harris, 66, of Derby, alerted authorities at around 2:45 p.m. that he and a group of three others were skiing the backwoods near the top of Vermont Route 242, by the Long Trail in Jay, when his party lost contact with Robert Staniforth.

A search was carried out on foot and via tracked vehicles by members of Jay Peak Ski Patrol, the Jay and Troy Fire Departments, along with State Police Search & Rescue.

Police say phone contact with Staniforth was intermittent, however, enough contact was made to obtain a GPS coordinate that aided rescuers from Jay Peak Ski Patrol to locate him at approximately 6:30 p.m.

He was located in the deep woods between Jay Peak and Westfield Village.

Once out of the woods, Staniforth was evaluated by medical personnel from Mississquoi EMS and found to be in good health.

The other members of his skiing party were Michael Kiser, 66, of Derby, and Leigh Mallory, 67, of Colchester.

State settles with Stenger and Quiros

Published on in Jay Peak/Newport/News/Northeast Kingdom

NEWPORT – Officials gathered at the Newport waterfront today to announce a settlement in the State’s EB-5 enforcement action.

Ariel Quiros will pay the State $2 million dollars as part of the settlement, which will be satisfied through his transfer to the State of title to five properties located in the Northeast Kingdom.

Stenger will pay $100,000 over the course of four years.

The State of Vermont filed a motion with the Washington Superior Court seeking approval of the settlement. If the Court approves, all of the proceeds of the settlements will be used for economic development in the Northeast Kingdom.

“We see this as another step in the healing process for our community,” said Newport Mayor Paul Monette. “Now that some of the uncertainty has been lifted, we want to continue to build on the momentum created by Newport’s recent centennial celebration and work together as a community to move the city forward.”

In conjunction with the settlements, Attorney General Donovan has asked Auditor Doug Hoffer to perform an audit of the State’s involvement with the EB-5 projects at Jay Peak.

Documents pertaining to the EB-5 program will be delivered to Auditor Hoffer upon the Court’s approval of the Quiros settlement.

“These settlements serve the public interest,” Attorney General Donovan said. “They will allow us to address the loss of trust in state government that has resulted from this fraud by performing a complete audit of the State’s role in the EB-5 projects.”

The settlements resolve the State’s enforcement actions in connection with EB-5 projects.

“With over $2 million dollars the state will receive in this settlement we will be able to help the Northeast Kingdom and Newport in particular with much-needed funding for economic development,” said Governor Scott.

Police: Child sexually abused at Jay Peak

Published on in Jay Peak/News

JAY — Police say a Massachusetts man is accused of sexually abusing a child at Jay Peak Resort over the weekend.

On Saturday, troopers responded to a condo at the resort at around 2 a.m. for a report of a sexual abuse incident.

According to a statement issued by police, investigators learned a female child had been the victim of a lewd sexual act inside the residence by a man she was staying with.

The accused was identified as James Henderson, 29, of Massachusetts.

Henderson was taken into custody and is being held at the Northern State Correctional Facility.

He is expected to appear in Orleans County Criminal Court today at 12:30 p.m.

Guests of last year's Taste of the Kingdom enjoy the array of food, drinks, and fun at Jay Peak Resort.

Green Mountain Farm-to-School hosts 10th Annual Taste of the Kingdom

Published on in Arts and Entertainment/Jay Peak/Newport/Northeast Kingdom

NEWPORT — The 10th Annual Taste of the Kingdom, a fundraising event held by Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS), will take place on February 28th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jay Peak Resort’s Foeger Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale now and are available for purchase online at bit.ly/TOKTickets.

The annual event draws a crowd of over 200 guests who gather to celebrate local food and drink producers in the Northeast Kingdom.

This year, guests can enjoy products from some of the regions most notable farmers, chefs and brewers including Butterworks Farm, Craftsbury General Store, Jasper Hill Farm and St. Johnsbury Distillery.

“This is an opportunity for us to gather with our neighbors and celebrate all of the amazing local producers in the region,” says James Hafferman, Executive Director of GMFTS. “We love connecting with people over local food and drink and providing a platform for businesses to showcase their products.”

Along with a silent auction and live music, this year’s event includes a raffle where anyone, regardless if they attend the event or not, can enter to win an exclusive Jay Peak Resort getaway for four people – lift tickets, water park access and climb time included.

Tickets are $5 each and directions on how to purchase them can be found at bit.ly/RaffleGMFTS

All proceeds from the event and raffle will go to benefit Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) and its programming.

Support from the community will ensure the Newport-based non-profit can continue providing quality programing to over half of the students in the Northeast Kingdom – planting school gardens, offering nutrition education, and serving free meals in the summer months from its Lunchbox food truck.

The event will also ensure GMFTS can continue its work connecting local farms with area schools, restaurants, and institutions through its regional food-hub, Green Mountain Farm Direct – increasing economic viability and opening new markets.

“You get to support Green Mountain Farm-to-School and the work they’re doing to connect communities through food and education all while enjoying some great local food and drinks from some of the region’s top producers,” says Caroline Paige, who has attended the Taste of the Kingdom the past two years. “What more could you ask for?”

For more information on the 10th Annual Taste of the Kingdom, to enter the raffle, or purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/TOK18.

Canadian man hit by car at Jay Peak Resort

Published on in Jay/Jay Peak/Newport/News

JAY — Police say they responded to Jay Peak Resort early Sunday morning after a pedestrian was struck by a 2006 Hyundai.

After an initial investigation, police say a 19-year-old Newport man was leaving work at Jay Peak at around 1 a.m. and traveling on Jay Peak Road.

The pedestrian, a Canadian citizen, was walking along the edge of the roadway and stopped to speak with another Jay Peak employee when he was struck from behind.

The man was transported to North Country Hospital by Newport Ambulance with what police say were “minor, non-life threatening injuries.”

The crash remains under investigation, but police say alcohol or other substances do not appear to be a factor.

$150 million settlement reached to reimburse Jay Peak and Burke Mountain creditors

Published on in Jay Peak/Newport/News

NEWPORT — An announcement was made today involving a $150 million settlement agreement with financial firm Raymond James Financial, Inc., over its role in the alleged fraud relating to EB-5 projects in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.

This sum includes $4.5 million from a settlement VDFR reached in June 2016, and $145.5 million the company agreed to pay in a settlement, executed today.

The settlement agreement will be filed in the U.S. District Court in Miami, Fla., early next week and is subject to final approval by the Federal Court.

“This is significant for the hundreds of businesses, contractors and investors that have been harmed by this alleged fraud,” said Gov. Scott.

Settlement funds will be used to pay approximately 42 contractors, 513 trade creditors and 169 project investors who were financially impacted by the alleged fraud.

The impact in Vermont will be significant, with 241 Vermont-based businesses, nonprofits and municipalities receiving approximately $9.06 million.

Burke Mountain Academy will receive $3 million for a deferred compensation agreement entered when it sold the Burke Ski Resort in 2005, $1 million of which will be used to construct a new ski lift.

An additional $17.5 million will be used to complete cottages, a recreation center and fields as part of the Stateside Hotel at Jay Peak.

Vermont-based DEW Construction will serve as the contractor for these projects.

“DFR is tremendously pleased with Mr. Goldberg’s efforts to achieve this settlement for Vermont businesses and municipalities, and all those impacted in this matter,” said Commissioner Pieciak. “To achieve this type of a settlement – one that fully reimburses all unpaid creditors in a year’s time – is truly unique, and it also represents the largest recovery settlement ever for an EB-5 fraud case.”

All 42 contractors who were owed money for work completed on the Stateside Hotel and Burke Mountain Hotel and Conference Center projects will be fully reimbursed, receiving a total of approximately $5.8 million.

This settlement supersedes a previous repayment arrangement for contractors announced in January 2017, meaning all contractors will be paid 100 percent of their claims. The settlement also repays approximately 513 businesses, nonprofits and municipalities that were owed money for products and services previously provided to Jay Peak, totaling approximately $5.1 million.

Approximately 169 investors in Tram Haus Lodge at Jay Peak and AnC Bio – a biomedical research facility planned for Newport – will receive $81.2 million, representing a full repayment of their investment. An additional $1 million will be used to refund three Burke investors whose I-526 Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur was denied related to an investor-specific matter.

The Receiver will hold $10 million for Burke investors in the event the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – which oversees EB-5 projects at the federal level – determines construction of the hotel does not create sufficient jobs for all investors.

“Repayment of contractors, municipalities and businesses has been a top priority for me, along with ensuring the ongoing viability of the resorts in support of the local economy, and this is an important milestone towards those goals,” said Goldberg.

The settlement agreement was filed on the one-year anniversary of the date securities fraud charges were filed against Jay Peak owner Ariel Quiros and resort President and CEO Bill Stenger.

Bill Stenger no longer working at Jay Peak

Published on in Jay Peak/Newport/News

NEWPORT — In a letter issued to investors and creditors of Jay Peak on Friday, the receiver for the Jay Peak properties announced that Bill Stenger is no longer working at the resort.

“Please be advised that as of Friday, September 2nd, Bill Stenger is no longer an employee of Jay Peak, but instead Bill will provide assistance to the receiver on an as‐needed basis,” the letter, issued by Michael Goldberg reads.

On Thursday Stenger announced that he entered into a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which accused him and his partner of operating a multi-million dollar Ponzi-like scheme.

According to the settlement, Stenger agreed not to admit or deny any allegations that he aided and abetted the alleged fraud.

He may still have to pay a civil penalty.

“We thank Bill for his assistance over the past few months,” Goldberg wrote in the letter.

Jay Peak tram allowed to reopen, closes out Porsche Parade

Published on in Jay Peak/News

JAY — Jay Peak Resort was allowed to reopen its aerial tram Saturday for summer operations after the state had earlier ordered it temporarily shut down.

The resort recently completed a multi-day inspection of the tram. Jay Peak, in cooperation with the state, flew in an aerial tramway specialist and worked with state inspectors to examine the tram and its operating systems.

Inspectors conducted a successful load test designed to ensure that all of the conveyance’s electrical, hauling and braking systems functioned normally under strenuous conditions.

After passing the load test, resort personnel successfully completed and passed an evacuation drill. The team also inspected the tram’s towers and its bolting structures. All were found to be operating normally.

On the last day of the inspection, inspectors found a hairline crack to one of the components on one of the tram carriages. Resort officials say that part was removed and replaced.

State officials certified the tram as operational on Friday.

The resort recently signed a $5 million contract with the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group to conduct custom upgrades to the tram. The Austrian-based company will begin fabricating the enhancements shortly as the improvements are all customized and will take approximately 12 months to complete.

Installation of the upgrades will begin in the spring of 2017.

“The inspection process went really smoothly,” said Steve Wright, Jay Peak’s General Manager. “Our Lift Maintenance team’s efforts, along with the rigor and responsiveness of the state’s inspectors, allowed the process to move efficiently and get the tram open in June, which historically has been our goal. Plus, it was nice to have the tram open when the Porsche Club of America was at the resort.”

The Porsche Club of America’s annual Porsche Parade was held at the resort on June 17. The 10-day event brought in close to 2,000 Porsche owners and attendees from around the country.

State pulls plug on Jay Peak tram until $4.9 million repairs complete

Published on in Jay Peak/News

JAY — The iconic aerial tram at Jay Peak has been ordered shut down by the state until the resort completes a list of repairs, estimated to cost $4.9 million.

In order to protect the public, the state says the tram must not be operated until inspectors are satisfied that the upgrades have been made, and approved by Vermont’s Passenger Tramway Division.

According to the order, issued by J. Stephen Monahan, director of the labor safety division, prior to the start of the 2015-2016 ski season, the department’s tramway inspectors expressed concern over the condition of the tram.

After communicating with Jay Peak and the tram’s manufacturer, it was agreed that if they completed certain work labeled a priority, the tram would be permitted to operate for the winter season, with the understanding that the remaining work be completed at the completion of the ski season.

Tramway inspectors say the resort had not taken any steps to begin the work needed before the tram is permitted to operate again.

Doppelmayr USA, the aerial tram’s manufacturer, is the only company capable of properly repairing the tram.

The lead-time for the equipment and supplies to make the required repairs and modification is estimated to take several months, with up to nine months needed to complete the work. It is estimated that the tram will remain closed until June of 2017.

Michael Goldberg, the court-appointed receiver for Jay Peak, asked in federal court this week to be allowed to immediately start the ordered repairs and upgrades. He says the resort will be able to cover the cost.

According to court documents filed by Goldberg, “Jay Peak Resort is prepared to satisfy its obligations under the contract including all financial and non-monetary obligations.”

The funds for this necessary and required expense will come from Jay Peak Resort operations, existing bank accounts, the sale of certain cell tower rights, settlement with third parties and potential other claims, and, if necessary, through borrowing of any remaining necessary funds.

Failure to comply with the order in completing the upgrades would subject the resort to “per day monetary penalties,” in addition to other legal actions.

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Police looking for snowboard thief

Published on in Jay Peak/News

JAY — Police are seeking public assistance in identifying a man who stole a snowboard from Jay Peak.

The incident took place at the retail store at the resort at around 9 a.m. on Valentine’s Day.

Police say the snowboard was a Never Summer brand, size 156.

On Monday afternoon, the Vermont State Police issued surveillance footage taken from the theft.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect in the photo, or has any information is asked to contact the Vermont State Police Derby barracks at 802-334-8881.

Jay Peak employee has pistol stolen from his vehicle while at work

Published on in Jay Peak/News

JAY — Police are reporting that a pistol was stolen from a vehicle parked in a parking lot at Jay Peak.

According to Trooper Helm of the Vermont State Police, the incident took place sometime between noon and 8 p.m., on April 2.

Joseph Maarawi, 27, of Jay, who is an employee of Jay Peak, notified police that the pistol was stolen from his vehicle. He stated that his vehicle was parked in multiple parking lots throughout the day that the pistol went missing.

The firearm is a black Ruger P95 9mm.

Police are asking that anyone with any information on the whereabouts of the firearm to notify the Vermont State Police, Derby Barracks.

Jay Peak to face tougher pollution control measures

Published on in Jay Peak/Newport/News

Jay Peak Ariel View

NEWPORT — Jay Peak Resort will have to adhere to tougher pollution control measures after signing a settlement agreement between the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation.

For more than a decade construction projects at the resort have caused sediment to flow into streams, leading to violations of state water quality standards. Elevated sediment runoff into streams can impact fish habitat, and habitat of other aquatic organisms.

“We have been concerned that for years these streams have failed to meet Vermont’s Water Quality Standards while land development has continued to discharge additional sediment pollution,” said Kim Greenwood, VNRC’s water program director and staff scientist.

In 2004, the Department of Environmental Conservation found that Jay Branch and Tributary 9 of Jay Branch were “impaired” by sediment pollution, meaning the streams failed to meet applicable minimum state water quality standards for aquatic life. According to their finding, the initial impairment of the Jay Branch was attributed to the failure to comply with applicable Vermont construction and erosion control permits and operational stormwater permits.

Recently, an additional stream, Tributary 3 of South Mountain Branch, was identified as impaired.

Over the past several years, various “Water Quality Remediation Plans” were approved. Despite the implementation of the remediation plans, the streams remain impaired.

In 2014, VNRC, represented by the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic of Vermont Law School, appealed the recent stormwater discharge permits issued to Jay Peak. As a result of the appeal, the parties engaged in settlement discussions to craft a clean-up plan that requires additional measures to provide for attainment of Vermont’s Water Quality Standards within a specified timeframe.

“An innovative part of the plan requires Jay Peak to offset sediment discharges so there is no net increase of sediment into impaired streams,” said Jamey Fidel, General Counsel for VNRC.

The agreement has several provisions, including:

• Jay Peak will follow an aggressive compliance schedule for stream restoration.

• Until all streams are in attainment with water quality standards, permits for new discharges will require no net increase of sediment loading. This will be accomplished through the design of additional remedial (“offset”) projects.

• If Jay Peak does not meet the schedule for cleaning up the streams, Jay Peak will not begin new construction until the streams recover.

• If streams show excessive amounts of sediment after having met water quality standards, Jay Peak will not begin new construction until the streams recover.

• All impaired waters at Jay Peak will be in attainment with water quality standards before beginning construction on the West Bowl (a currently undeveloped area adjacent to the resort).

• Before Jay Peak will apply for any Department of Environmental Conservation permits for development in the West Bowl, Jay Peak will submit a Water Quality Protection Plan that includes detailed scientific information to demonstrate whether the waters will be negatively impacted by new development.

• The Department and Jay Peak Resort will host a meeting once a year to update the public on the progress of restoring the streams.

Jay Peak chefs finish training at New England Culinary Institute

Published on in Arts and Entertainment/Jay Peak

jay peak alice's table

JAY — Following the New England Culinary Institute’s model of hands-on learning, five members of the Jay Peak staff took part in a five day immersion program through the institute. Mostly set in a live production setting, the instructions focused on knife skills, cooking technique, proper sanitation, and station organization.

The classes also focused on Vermont’s food culture, which is centered around locally sourced and seasonal foods, often made from scratch. In the classroom, the cooks worked with New England Culinary (NECI) instructors on the theories behind cooking, and developing a strong sense of professionalism for themselves and their craft.

With over thirty years experience preparing professionals for the food service industry, NECI has built a reputation for producing cooks, bakers, and managers. However, many industry veterans have never received formal training at a culinary school, choosing to learn on the job instead. So instructors at NECI have decided to take their courses on the road.

“Over the years we have run training programs at Middlebury College, Harvard University, Boston College, and several other institutions with large-scale food production,” Lyndon Virkler, Dean of Education at NECI, said. “While we have entry-level cooks, many times the industry workers we train have years of experience, but not all of the foundational skills they need to be successful. The goal for each of these students is to take them to the next level of culinary knowledge and their careers.”

The culinary school plans to continue this type of training here in Vermont, including a trip to Rutland where NECI chef instructors will work with the staff from several local establishments and the Rutland Regional Medical Center. The training will take place at the Stafford Technical Center for eight weeks beginning July 8, covering much of the same fundamentals training the staff from Jay Peak received.

“Unlike Jay Peak, where staff came here for an intense five day training, this will be similar to an internship where staff spend one day each week in class, use that knowledge in their workplace, and return the following week,” said Virkler.

NECI is also developing a curriculum for staff in the front-of-house positions such as managers, servers and bartenders.

“Good service and consistency is important in both the kitchen and the dining room. When one is lacking, the other suffers.”

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