News

(Updated) Barnes seeks to lift order banning him from entering property, removing personal items

UPDATED: 2/28/19
WILMINGTON- The court-appointed Hermitage receiver has issued a notice against trespass barring Hermitage Club founder James Barnes from entering Hermitage properties in receivership.
According to the notice, signed by Alan Tantleff of FTI Consulting, Barnes is “not...

The Professional Building in Wilmington on Wednesday, boarded up.

Developer boards up building after review board calls for plan changes

WILMINGTON- The former Professional Building is boarded up after the development review board issued a permit denying the owner’s plan to restore the building to its original 1930s facade.
Outraged building owner Eric Silverstein says he has no plans to appeal the decision or submit a...

Committee reviews membership changes

WILMINGTON- At a meeting of the bi-town economic development committee on Thursday, February 7, the committee reviewed proposed new bylaw language for committee membership requirements.
At a recent meeting, Vicki Capitani, who serves on the committee as a representative from the Dover...

Benefit helps Dot’s rise from ashes

DOVER- When Betsey’s Dot’s of Dover went up in flames in the early morning of Sunday, January 20, not only did the valley lose a popular eatery, owner Betsey Reagan and the Dot’s staff lost their livelihood. The fire took a physical toll on the building, but also took its toll on everyone who...

The Dover Forge restaurant and One More Time billiards parlor in Dover. The property is at the center of a lawsuit between its owner and the North Branch Fire District over sewer gallonage allocations.

Business owner files $700K suit over lost sewer district gallonage

DOVER - Andirons owner Rich Caplan has filed a lawsuit and an application for preliminary injunction against North Branch Fire District #1 for allegedly revoking sewer gallonage from Andirons unlawfully and without notice. This week, Caplan’s attorney James Valente referred to the potential...

Hermitage Club email hints at bankruptcy

WILMINGTON- In an email message to Hermitage Club members sent last week, Hermitage founder Jim Barnes and president Harper Sibley hinted that the company is planning to file for bankruptcy.
“We have been working with highly experienced work out advisers, our tax partner, and our corporate...

Officials in Dover are considering a reappraisal of the town’s business properties, which would include many in the Mount Snow base area.

Town to explore business reappraisals

DOVER - At its meeting on Tuesday, the Dover Selectboard gave the go-ahead to town assessor Linda Sherman and town appraiser Jeremiah Sund to create a request for proposals for a reappraisal of the town’s commercial properties. The board also OK’d a contract for sign-on bonuses for certified...

Plan to renovate historic buildings

WILMINGTON- The owner of two former Lorista properties on East Main Street met with the development review board Monday evening in a hearing on his application to renovate and restore the two historic buildings.
Eric Silverstein, a Wilmington homeowner, purchased the former “Professional...

Act 250 changes, pot sales, Act 46 among issues discussed by legislators

By Lauren Harkawik
DOVER - On Monday, February 4, the Southern Vermont Deerfield Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a legislative breakfast. Sen. Becca Balint, Sen. Jeanette White, Rep. John Gannon, and Rep. Laura Sibilia were in attendance.
Matters discussed were wide-ranging and...

Developer claims Barnes misrepresented finances

RUTLAND- A New York developer has filed a suit against James Barnes and his Hermitage Inn Real Estate Holding Company in US District Court in connection with a $2.6 million purchase of Stag’s Leap lots.
In a five-count complaint, Shaun P. Golden, owner of Golden Wealth Properties, claims...