The Week Ahead: November 12-18, 2012

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Here's what's happening in Vermont news and politics this week. Got a newsworthy event for the calendar? Email us by Friday to submit.

Monday, November 12

• At 10:45 a.m., newly re-elected U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) holds a press conference at his Burlington office to talk "budget deficits" and the fiscal cliff — the main issue facing the lame duck Congress.
• At 11 a.m., Champlain College will celebrate Veterans Day by dedicating a new campus memorial to members of the military, past and present, who attended the school. Newly re-elected Gov. Peter Shumlin and former guv Jim Douglas will speak, as will Provost Robin Abramson, Brigadier General Steven Cray, and Digital and Computer Forensics Assistant prof Cristian Balan, an Afghanistan War veteran.
• At noon, Vermont Public Radio's "Vermont Edition" hosts Vermont Law School professor Greg Johnson and lawyer and Vermont Freedom To Marry founder Susan Murray to discuss what's next for the same-sex marriage rights movement. Listen live.
• At 2 p.m., newly re-elected U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) meets the press at his Burlington office to talk about the farm bill and the fiscal cliff. And how Washington should totally just act more polite. Like Vermonters.

Tuesday, November 13

• Renowned animal welfare advocate Temple Grandin swings through Vermont today. At 11:30 a.m., she's at UVM's Ira Allen Chapel. At 2:30 p.m. she talks about autism at the Essex Cinemas. And from 6 to 10 p.m., she headlines a fundraiser at Shelburne Farms to benefit the Humane Society of Chittenden County.
• At 5 p.m., the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce holds its annual dinner at the Sheraton Burlington. Along with business awards, the speakers will include Shumlin and his just re-elected Lt. Gov. Phil Scott (now Vermont's sole Republican in statewide office).
• At 6:30 p.m., the Vermont Transportation Board holds a public hearing to get feedback about what transportation issues are important to you — at the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, 110 West Canal Street, Suite 202, in Winooski.
• At 7 p.m., the Burlington City Council holds its make-up meeting for the one cancelled by Hurricane Sandy. Among other things, the council takes up a resolution by Councilor Vince Brennan (P-Ward 3) to hire an independent investigator (for as much as $10,000!) to review Burlington police conduct during the July 29 protest that ended in cops firing pepper balls into a crowd of demonstrators.
• Shameless self-promotion alert! At 7:30 p.m., University of Vermont is hosting a panel discussion in the Billings North Lounge titled "Election 2012: The Impact of the Results on Vermont and Vermonters." Middlebury professor emeritus Eric Davis moderates, and the panelists are author and journalist Hamilton Davis, WCAX's Kristin Carlson, Vermont Public Radio's Bob Kinzel, the Burlington Free Press' Sam Hemingway and yours truly representin' Seven Days.

Wednesday, November 14

• Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibilty holds its annual meeting at Mt. Snow in West Dover today from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Don Mayer from Small Dog Electronics keynotes, and state Rep. Bill Botzow (D-Pownal) and state Sen. Anthony Pollina (P/D-Washington) will be honored as VBSR's lawmakers of the year.
• At 11 a.m., Gov. Shumlin holds his weekly press conference in the Pavillion Building. Please, no questions about sex changes this time.
• At 4 p.m., Madeleine Kunin, Vermont's first female guv, gives the keynote address at the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging's annual meeting at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington.

Thursday, November 15

• The next round of candidate fundraising reports are due today — the first since Oct. 15. This will tell us which candidates, PACs and super PACs went on spending sprees in the last two weeks before Election Day. Look for updates on Off Message.

Friday, November 16

• At 10 a.m., the Joint Legislative Corrections Oversight Committee meets in Statehouse room 10 for its first post-election meeting. Among the agenda items: the ongoing problem for Vermont's pre-trial detainee population. Click here for more info.

Saturday, November 17

• At 1 p.m., the Vermont Progressive Party holds its annual convention at the Statehouse to celebrate its electoral victories, lick its electoral wounds and plot next steps.

Sunday, November 18