Current News

July 30, 2007
Verizon Wireless To Acquire Rural Cellular Corporation,
Expand The Nation's Most Reliable Wireless Network
Acquisition Will Expand Coverage In Rural Markets In 15 States
Basking Ridge, NJ ­-- In a move to expand its wireless service coverage in
rural markets, Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications
(NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD), announced today that it has
entered into an agreement to acquire Rural Cellular Corporation
(NASDAQ:RCCC), for approximately $2.67 billion in cash and assumed debt.
The acquisition will further enhance Verizon Wireless¹ network coverage in
markets adjacent to its existing service areas. The combination will
increase Verizon Wireless coverage by 4.7 million licensed POPs
(population), and increase its customer base by more than 700,000.
"Verizon Wireless continually looks for opportunities to enhance our

Colchester, VT May July 26, 2007Life for new parents just got a little easier, and customer communication just improved for the customers of Lowes Foods supermarkets. MyWebGrocer of Colchester, VT and Lowes Foods of Winston-Salem, North Carolina announced the arrival of www.Lowesfoods.MyBaby.com , the first grocery social networking site for parents. A place they can organize, share, discuss, and find things to do with their kids. Lowe's Food Stores is launching lowesfoods.mybaby.com July 25, 2007.
"We're really excited about LowesFoods.MyBaby.com because, as anyone who's been a parent knows, information and advice are critical, especially when you have an infant," said Rebecca Roose, Marketing and Account Manager for MyWebLink. "LowesFoods.MyBaby.com gives parents the power and support they're looking for. Plus, it's full of awfully cute pictures."

The Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy is launching the first Corporate Conservation Council of Vermont to bring together and recognize the business community's outstanding commitment to conservation. Participating members can turn their interest in the environment into real impact by supporting on the ground conservation work. Since 1960, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 170,000 acres of Vermont's finest forests, wetlands, and shores with teh support of 7,000 members, foundations, and corporations. To learn more about how to become a member of the Corporate Conservation Council of Vermont visit www.nature.org/vermont.

23rd Annual Tennis Tournament Scheduled for August
South Burlington -- The 23rd Annual Jeff Stone Memorial Tennis Tournament will be held August 17-19, 2007 at the Burlington Tennis Club. The tournament supports the Stern Center for Language and Learning and the Jeff Stone Foundation.

This year's featured players are Bud Schultz, who was recently inducted into the New England Tennis Hall of Fame, Krassi Atanasov, the defending mens singles champion, and Larry Turville, who is currently ranked #2 in the world in men's 55 an over singles division.

July 18, 2007 : WILLISTON - Edward R. Wilkens, Ed.D., has been named the Development Director for the Stern Center for Language and Learning in Williston. VT.
Dr. Wilkens began his education career teaching high school English for five years. He then was a public school principal for eleven years, served the US Department of Education as a policy consultant and technical assistance provider for six and then returned to serve eight more years as a principal in Vermont. Since September 2006 Dr. Wilkens has been the Stern Center's Community and Educational Liaison and Interim Development Director. His duties as Development Director begin September 1, 2007.
The Stern Center for Language and Learning is a non-profit literacy center, based in Williston, Vermont with a satellite facility in White River Junction. For more information, please call the Stern Center at 878-2332 or visit their website at www.sterncenter.org.

Prep Traveler actively promotes, and is involved in youth group travel, a possibility for one and all! Prep Traveler can help arrange high-quality tours for culture, exchange, band and unique performance programs, graduation trips, spring break trips, youth missions or athletic team travel or sports tournaments. The open source efforts of Prep Traveler have resulted in exceptional travel experiences.
Moreover, groups can share their travel experiences, mentioning area attractions and facilities for the benefit of aspiring explorers and vacationers. Once you've decided on your travel destination, Prep Traveler plans the perfect student group trip for you, without any hassles!

D-oh! Vermont means businesses! Over the past week the Vermont Hospitality Council of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce has served as a clearinghouse, offering opportunities to the business community to market Vermont and their products by rallying around the Simpsons premiere. The Vermont Chamber Hospitality Council reached out to the business community to secure donations for gifts for the premiere, and companies to exhibit at the premiere street fair. The Vermont Chamber supported the Springfield Regional Chamber in their immediate needs to raise funds for security, safety, and sanitation.

KidSafe Collaborative of Chittenden County is pleased to announce the election of its new Board Officers.

President, Penrose Jackson, Community Health Improvement at Fletcher Allen Health Care;

Vice President, Jay Fayette, Pizzagalli Construction Company;

Treasurer, Kurt Liebegott, Problem Knowledge Coupler (PKC);

Secretary, Suzanne Koch, Howard Center.

KidSafe Collaborative engages agencies, community groups and individuals to work together to improve our community's response to child abuse and neglect. For more information about KidSafe and its programs, please contact us at 863-9626.

TPW Management Inc., a Manchester, Vermont-based community association management and consulting company celebrates its 20th anniversary. Founded in 1987, TPW Management is a family-owned business that was formed to respond to the needs of southern Vermont communities seeking professional management services.
"When we started our company, we had no idea that the demand for professional services like those we provide would be in such high demand," said Paul T. Carroccio, President and CEO. "Now, after twenty years in business and nearly ten focusing on community management, we have come to realize that knowledgeable homeowners in community associations demand the type of services we provide." The company has since grown to five locations across the state, including Stratton Mountain, Manchester, Okemo, Killington, and Burlington and was a "Best Places to Work in Vermont" winner for 2006.

The Manchester, VT based firm of Ramsay Gourd Architects has recently opened a satellite office in Burlington. The new office, located in the Hall Block, at the corner of College & South Winooski Streets provides the firm with the opportunity to expand their service territory to the north, while maintaining a personal connection with their client base.
Founded in 1996, Ramsay Gourd Architects is a small practice with a strong portfolio of residential and small-scale commercial and hospitality projects to its credit. "We see the Burlington office as providing us with an opportunity to reach a more diverse client base. While we currently have projects in Boston and New York, it's great to do work in your backyard." said Ramsay Gourd. "We are just expanding our backyard."

LYNDON CENTER, VT.-- Lyndon State College has secured a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) that will help the Newport-Derby area grow new businesses and respond to the changing economic climate. The RGEG project, dubbed an Incubator without Walls, will help businesses identify the most effective ways to respond to the addition of big box stores in the area and other challenges. The total cost of the project is $322,059. Lyndon State and the collaborative partners will contribute a total of $59,695 towards the project, in addition to the grant.

What do chiropractors, bankers, doctors, and entrepreneurs all have in common? They come from diverse professions and educational backgrounds, but on the evening of June 13, they all gathered at UVM's Waterman Hall to celebrate a common milestone. For the second year since its inception, graduates of UVM's Vermont Business Center Leadership and Management Professional Certificate Program celebrated completion of the yearlong program.
Program director Daniel Van Der Vliet launched the program in 2004 and 9 students completed it this year. Designed to provide an MBA "toolkit", the program provides topical highlights from the University of Vermont's MBA curriculum. Students choose seminars from 4 core areas: leadership, strategy implementation, sales and marketing, and finance.