Lt. Rick Hopkins of the Vermont State Police

The Vermont State Police, along with representatives from more than two dozen other departments, announced on Monday that four Vermont men were arrested on several counts of burglary and other pending charges.

Two other suspects are in custody in New Hampshire while a seventh suspect is still wanted and remains at-large.

A joint investigation involving nearly 30 police agencies has identified seven men in connection to roughly 100 burglaries spanning five states in the past year.

“These crimes have not only affected the businesses that were the victims, but have caused entire communities to be concerned about safety and security.” – Lt. Rick Hopkins Commander Rockingham Station Vermont State Police

“The investigation is involved and far-reaching, so much so that the burglary investigations are still in progress and crimes continue to be linked to this series of crimes every week,” Hopkins added.

Police arrested Criscenzo Ruggiero, 20, of Westminster, Travis Noyes, 20, of Saxtons River, Lance Thomas, 18, of Rockingham, and Christopher Goldschmidt, 18, of Athens, on Saturday after the extensive investigation.

All four men were cited to appear in the Windham Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court on March 13 to answer multiple counts of burglary, unlawful mischief and unlawful trespassing.

Two suspects, 20-year-old Cody Loewe, of Bellows Falls, and Dillon Lange, 20, of Alstead, N.H., are currently in custody

in New Hampshire on burglary charges.

Logan Critchfield, 21, of Walpole, N.H., is wanted in connection with these crimes and is believed to be in the region.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Vermont State Police at 802-875-2112.

According to Hopkins, police are hesitant to release further information at this time because much of the investigation is ongoing.

Critical information was developed from the joint investigation and police learned the burglaries not only spanned the Connecticut River into New Hampshire, but there were similar incidents connecting the suspects to crimes in other states as well.

There is no definitive number of incidents known at this time, but police are confident more than 100 burglaries are involved in the joint investigation.

On September 17, Brattleboro Police stopped a vehicle on Main Street, driven by 43 year old Timothy J. Levesque. Levesque failed to yield at a stop sign. The officer found him to be intoxicated. Levesque was arrested and taken to the Brattleboro Police Department for processing. Levesque was cited to court for a later date.

The next day, just before 2am, Brattleboro Police stopped Christina Baxter for a traffic violation. Baxter was seen to be impaired and she was arrested for DUI and transported to the Brattleboro PD. She was released with a citation to appear in the Criminal Division Windham County Superior Court, on 10/04/11.

Today, on September 23, again around 2am, 31 year old Brian D. Dixon and 28 year old Shane J. Eskra were arrested after Police were called to a fight in the Harmony Parking Lot. A knife was used and both men sustained minor injuries.

On investigation, Dixon was arrested for DUI #3, unlawful mischief, and disorderly conduct. Eskra was arrested for assault and an outstanding warrant for domestic assault and interference with access to emergency services. After being taken to the PD, Dixon was held until he was sober. Eskra was held on $1500.00 bail. Both men were ordered to appear at Windham District Court on November 1st, to answer their charges.

The Brattleboro police have been aggressive lately due to the increase of disturbances and illicit activities.

The Good Food Awards recognize the top responsible artisan producers in the country and promotes awareness of the sustainable food movement across the nation. Nearly 800 entries were organized into seven categories (beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, coffee pickles, and preserves). The nearly 800 entries were narrowed down to just 130 finalists spread across the seven categories. When final selections were made, Cabot Clothbound was among the eight winning cheeses.

“Cabot Clothbound Cheddar is a marvel of milk, master cheese making and artful aging,” said Cabot cheese maestro Marcel Gravel. Made one vat at a time, from the milk of purely Holstein cows, the result is a singular, Old World style cheddar. A special, proprietary blend of cheese cultures gives an unpasteurized note to this pasteurized milk cheddar.

Cabot Clothbound is a handsome natural rinded traditional cheddar. Bandaged with muslin and skillfully aged a minimum of 10 months at Cellars at Jasper Hill, it has all the characteristic texture of an English-style cheddar with the sweet caramel and milky flavors that sets it apart from all others on the counter.

Traditional hooping and clothbound curds are just the beginning of this vanguard, Vermont collaboration. After creation by Cabot’s cheesemakers, the wheels journey north along the Revolutionary War-era Bayley-Hazen Road into the care of Andy and Mateo Kehler, fellow Vermont cheesemakers and affineurs, and owners of The Cellars at Jasper Hill. “Here, the cave-aged wheels benefit from spa-like pampering and controlled, mold-ripened maturing to develop their beautiful, natural rind,” said Mateo Kehler, co-owner of Jasper Hill Farm. “It’s all about spruce boards, hand turning and tender brushing.”

In addition to selection as a winner of the Good Food Award, Cabot Clothbound has also won the coveted blue ribbon in the “Bandaged Cheddar-Sharp to Aged” category at the biennial World Cheese Championship Cheese Contest in 2010 in Madison, WI, and was also awarded “Best Of Show” at the 2006 American Cheese Society competition and a gold medal at the 2009 World Cheese Awards in London.

- Amanda M. Farace, of Windham, was arrested Jan. 5 for operating a vehicle with a criminally suspended license. She was stopped on Route 30 by a member of the Windham County Sheriff’s Department for an expired inspection sticker. She was cited to appear in the Windham Criminal Division of the Vermont Superior Court at a later date.

- Shawn Hoisington, 33, of West Lebanon, N.H., was cited by the Vermont State Police for giving false information to a police officer after investigation revealed he lied about two subjects being held at gunpoint against their will inside their vehicle Nov. 21.

Just before 1 a.m., police were dispatched to Route 5 in Dummerston for a report of the subjects being held at the Exit 4 Sunoco.

The vehicle was later located traveling north on Interstate 91. Hoisington was issued a citation to appear in court Feb. 28 to answer to the charge.

- Joshua Maiocco, 42, of Saxtons River, was stopped by Vermont State Police, of the Rockingham Barracks, for a motor vehicle violation on Vermont Route 121. His license was found to be criminally suspended, and he had an active arrest warrant, according to police.

He was transported to Southern State Correctional Facility and held on $1,000 bail. He was issued a citation to appear in court on Feb. 28.

- Brooke A. Shaughnessy, 20, of Uxbridge, Mass, was arrested for driving while intoxicated Jan. 6 by the Windham County Sheriff’s Department. She was cited to answer to that charge and the charge of giving false information to a law enforcement officer and will appear in the Windham Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court at a later date.

According to the sheriff’s department, Shaughnessy’s vehicle was pulled over for minor motor vehicle violations just before 9 p.m. on Westminster Heights Road. Investigation revealed that she was under the influence of alcohol, and she was lodged at the Southern State Correctional Facility until sober.

The Canal St. Rite Aid was held up at around 4 p.m. by a man demanding OxyContin. He then drove away from the store with an unknown amount of the pills. The suspect is described as in his late teens to early 20s, 6 feet tall, slender build and weighing around 150-170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark cap, coat and pants. The store closed up early and police scoured the neighborhood in hopes of finding the man.

Police are offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the man’s arrest. Anyone with information pertaining to the robbery is asked to contact the Brattleboro Police Department at 802-257-7950, or the TIPSLINE at 802-251-8188.

This is just one of a few robberies that have occurred over the holidays in Brattleboro – the Canal St. Circle K and the Colonial Motel on Putney were robbed, however the suspect in those robberies was caught. Continuing the futility on Canal St., the Mobil gas station and Sonny’s Getty were also robbed in late December.

Again, anyone with information on any of these crimes is urged to contact the Brattleboro Police Department at 802-257-7950, or the TIPSLINE at 802-251-8188.

“New Year’s Eve is such a versatile Holiday because there are so many ways to celebrate,” says Candace Karu, Cabot Creamery’s Lifestyle Commentator and Favorite Foodie.  ”Here are a few ideas to help you have a happy, healthy New Year’s Eve:

• If you’re entertaining and are strapped for time to prepare hors d’oeuvres, a beautifully constructed cheese tray is easy and elegant.  You can offer your guests a variety of cheeses, along with tasty accompaniments: fresh fruit like apples, pears, or grapes and dried fruits like apricots or cranberries pair beautifully with many kinds of cheese, as do nuts like almonds or hazelnuts.  Add a crusty sliced baguette or an assortment of crackers and your ready for the countdown.

• No matter where you plan to party, it’s always fun to play “Guess the Resolution.”  Have each guest write down his or her resolution and put it in a bowl.  Read each resolution aloud and have everyone guess who might have made it.

• Will children be part of your New Year’s Eve festivities?  How about planning a special meal that everyone can help prepare?  There are lots of great family-friendly recipes at http://www.cabotcheese.coop/recipes.  Afterward, games like Scrabble or Pictionary or motion-control games like Wii or Kinect can help make it a party everyone will love.

• Make a playlist for your party and dance the night away or sing along to oldies or Broadway show tunes.

• If you do decide to go out, celebrate responsibly.  Try to drink a glass of water between each cocktail. You’ll feel better all night and wake up happier, too.  Don’t forget to designate a driver before the party starts.

• Not everyone’s a night owl.  Don’t feel bad if you want to head off to bed early.  Why not begin the New Year by taking the family for a run, walk or hike?  Gathering at home for a celebratory brunch will add a festive air to the start of 2011.

“If you plan to pot-luck this year, Cabot has you covered with two unique and tasty recipes,” continues Candace.  ”For a new take on a perennial favorite, treat your guests to our savory, sweet and spicy Butternut Squash, Cranberry and Cabot Habanero Cheddar Wontons.   Or, for a more traditional – and extremely delicious – finger food, try our Asparagus-Prosciutto Rolls with Cabot Tomato Basil Cheddar Cheese.  But most important, as you look around the room and see your family and friends enjoying the great food and holiday celebration, remember to count your blessings on the countdown to the New Year.”

For loads of awesome recipes, visit http://www.cabotcheese.coop/recipes.

TWO’s founder, Wayne Besen, chose Burlington to cut operating costs, but also considered the location highly desirable, geographically convenient and believed that the well-educated population was ideal in assisting with the organization’s important work. Besen first began thinking about the move in 2009 after he spoke at the University of Vermont.

“Burlington is a charming college town situated on a magnificent lake with smart people who can help us monitor anti-gay religious extremism,” said TWO founder and Executive Director Wayne Besen. “By moving to Burlington, we will significantly cut costs in tough economic times. While Burlington is not a large city, it is in a great location because it is only a short flight from Boston, New York City, Chicago, or Washington.”

Truth Wins Out is a small organization that has had a major impact. TWO has been featured in media such as: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Rachel Maddow Show, The O’Reilly Factor, NBC Nightly News, Hannity and Colmes, CNN, The New York Times, The Advocate Magazine, The Associated Press, The Daily Beast, and The Wall Street Journal.

In 2006, Besen was recognized in The Advocate Magazine’s “People of the Year” issue. In 2009, he was named in Instinct Magazine as a “Leading Man.” In 2010, Besen was awarded the “Visionary Award” at the Out Music Awards for organizing the American Prayer Hour, an event which shined a spotlight on the role American evangelicals played in the introduction of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

On a daily basis, TWO studies the “ex-gay” industry and often exposes its leaders as frauds. In 2003, Besen wrote the book, “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth” (Haworth).

TWO’s new address is Post Office Box 96, Burlington, Vt. 05402

“TWO looks forward to prospering in its new home,” said Besen. “We are excited about meeting interesting people and enjoying this wonderful, energetic city.”

The accident happened around highway marker 23 between the exits to Putney and Westminster just after 4 p.m. The bus was carrying a number of UMass students to a skiing lodge in Quebec for the weekend when it skidded and flipped over. The driver pulled over after feeling sick, and says the next thing he knew, the bus was in a ditch. Police say that judging by the lack of skidmarks on the road and in the grass, he didn’t hit the brakes while pulling over and fell into the ditch on the opposite side of the highway.

Putney Fire, Vermont State Police, Rescue Inc. and the Vermont Agency of Transportation all responded quickly and began getting the injured to local hospitals. There were no critical injuries as feared at first, and the only one remaining in the hospital after Friday was the driver, who is being checked to find out how he passed out. Edward Blaguszewski, a spokesman for UMass, is commending the responders on their calm and intricate handling of the situation, telling the Brattleboro Reformer “”This was a situation that was disconcerting and time sensitive. We thought the responses of the Vermont State Police and the regional hospitals were outstanding.”

Putney Fire Chief Tom Goddard, who as one of the leaders of the rescue effort, also praised the responders, saying “Everyone worked together. It was a tremendous effort by everyone who reported to the scene. At first we did not have a clear picture of what was going on and everyone worked together to make sure the victims received the care they needed.”

More information will be released as it becomes available from Vermont State Police.

Hinsdale police stopped a car for a routine traffic violation when they learned that the bold kids stole the car from Hillwinds Road, where they did most of their dirty work. Incriminating the audacious kids further were items reported stolen from cars on that same road Saturday morning in their possession.

The troubled teens were taken into custody and turned loose upon their parents. Arrests will most likely be made.

Those that protested said they read a letter in the November 3 Brattleboro Reformer by a man who claimed he was denied a haircut because he is black. In the letter, Darryl Fischer, a physician from Silver City, New Mexico, walked into Mike’s and asked for a haircut. He witnessed two men sitting down playing cards, and they said the barber wasn’t in. When he came back, the same man that said the barber wasn’t in was cutting a white man’s hair. For this incident, Fischer says he will not be relocating to the city.

The town is trying to beat back claims that as a whole they are racist based on one man’s actions. The barber, Mike Aldrich, is not denying that he was inconsistent with the man, but denies that it was a racially charged decision. The Brattleboro Reformer reports the man as saying “I was trying to avoid cutting his hair without embarrassing him or myself. For five years I tried (to cut African American hair). I ordered special equipment and everything; their hair is entirely different.”

He says he has had instances where African Americans have came in and understood why he couldn’t cut their hair, and that this is being blown out of proportion. So far, his business hasn’t taken a hit, and many customers joke about the outcome of the letter for the misunderstanding.

Still, the dozen or so protesters outside of the 50 year old barbershop are determined to prevent this from happening again. Aldrich acknowledges his mistake, and the town is now intent on proving they are not a reflection on his actions.