Current News

Today, Seventh Generation, a leading brand of non-toxic and renewable bio-based household, baby and personal care solutions, announces its acquisition of the Gamila Products, LLC business. Gamila's Impress Coffee Brewer and Teastick products will be folded into Seventh Generation Ventures as part of the bobble® brand portfolio. bobble is on a mission to reduce the outrageous waste of single serve water bottles through its reusable bottle that blends style and function, filtering water while you drink.

Green Mountain Power customers can now choose to repay home energy efficiency loans on their monthly GMP electric bill, thanks to a partnership with NeighborWorks of Western Vermont. This partnership leverages GMP’s billing system with nonprofit NeighborWorks’ revolving loan fund. The on-bill service allows GMP customers to make energy improvements to their homes with the help of a loan from NeighborWorks and make their monthly payments when they pay their GMP bill. The program is available to all GMP customers.

“We are so pleased to partner with NeighborWorks to make it possible for customers to make energy improvements to their homes with this unique partnership,” said Mary Powell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Mountain Power. “Helping customers make their homes more efficient with renewable and alternative energy technology is an important step forward as part of our mission to provide a reliable, clean and cost-effective energy future.”

by Katie Jickling vtdigger.org After an initial postponement, the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules unanimously passed the 360-page revision of Vermont’s health care regulations. The rules went before LCAR two weeks ago, but the committee postponed the vote to settle a disagreement in the interpretation of a section of the rules between the state and Vermont Legal Aid. Vermont Legal Aid, a nonprofit that provides free legal services to Vermonters, argued that the new set of rules would exclude a small number of people from getting Choice for Care coverage, a Medicaid-funded program. The state claims that the rule is consistent with previous policy.

Nearly 6,000 registered cyclists, walkers, rowers, and golfers (and 1,300 volunteers) gathered in Hanover, NH, Saturday for The 33rd Annual Prouty, northern New England’s largest charity fundraiser. People from all over the country come together every July to fight cancer, while spending the day in activities that promote their own health. Sunshine and comfortable summer temperatures contributed to the festive mood as participants walked or cycled through neighborhoods and roads in New Hampshire and Vermont, rowed on the Connecticut River, or took to the links at the Hanover Country Club.

Vermont Trophy & Engraving has acquired the Engraving Bench and Fine Gifts of Essex Jct as of July 11. Vermont Trophy & Engraving has focused on developing the business-to-business market since Steve and Margi Swett bought the company in 1996. With the purchase of the Engraving Bench they will now add to their company a well established customer base that they will serve with the same professionalism they have with Vermont Trophy customers for years.

“This is a natural expansion for us,” Margi Swett, owner of Vermont Trophy & Engraving said. “As Steve Shover, owner of the Engraving Bench and Fine Gifts is looking to retire. We feel we can easily assimilate his customers into ours pretty seamlessly. Vermont Trophy & Engraving is dedicated to serving the Engraving Bench customers with the same integrity and dedication we have with our own customers all these years,” Swett said.

Mt Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) employee Melanie Sheehan was presented with a Prevention Champion award during Prevention Works! VT’s annual Prevention Day event held at the Vermont State House. Sheehan is MAHHC’s Director of Community Health Outreach and Chair of Mt Ascutney Prevention Partnership (MAPP), serving the towns of Windsor, West Windsor, Hartland and Weathersfield, Vermont.

Sheehan was honored by Prevention Works! VT, a network of coalitions and community organizations working to decrease the prevalence of tobacco use, drug use, underage drinking and high-risk drinking in Vermont among youths and young adults. The Prevention Champion award recognizes those who help provide support for a healthier life in the community by reducing risk factors for alcohol and drug abuse.

Vermont Business Magazine Respondents to a questionnaire conducted by the Vermont Attorney General's office concerning labels for genetically engineered foods do not want the disclaimer “the Food and Drug Administration does not consider foods produced from genetic engineering to be materially different from other foods” added to the label. Governor Shumlin signed the GE (aka, GMO) food labeling bill into law in May. The state faces substantial legal opposition from the food industry before labels will actually start to appear. But as part of the state's process of developing rules to implement the first-in-the-nation GE Food Labeling Law, Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell prepared a public questionnaire on how the labeling should appear. He issued preliminary results from the questionnaire Monday. The questionnaire, which was open from June 4 through June 30, 2014, received over 2,200 responses.

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The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Compliance and Enforcement Division (CED) today announced that it has settled environmental violations involving Maple Glen, Inc. The company owns and operates a communal campground in Sheldon, Vermont. The settlement includes a $28,750.00 penalty and compliance and permitting requirements.

A CED and Natural Resources Board investigation revealed numerous violations including of wastewater, wetlands, solid waste, Act 250, water supply, and open burning regulations at the campground. The company hired an engineer to help it address all these issues. The company corrected the solid waste, wetland, and burning issues during the pendency of the investigation. The company also obtained a wastewater system and potable water supply permit and installed one of two approved systems, and has decided to re-design the uninstalled system. The company also submitted an Act 250 permit application which is under review.

The University of Vermont Foundation set new records in its fundraising activities on behalf of the university during fiscal 2014, surpassing the previous historic milestones for both commitments and receipts from donors. New fundraising commitments broke the $55 million mark for the first time in UVM history. Total commitments to UVM reached $55,248,575 as of June 30, 2014, compared with $44,523,540 in the same period a year ago, an increase of 24 percent. The previous record of $45,067,395 was set in FY12. Commitments include new gifts, new pledges, and new bequests documented during the year.

At Congressman Peter Welch’s press conference Monday morning, the Vermont Agency of Transportation provided a list of the most critical Vermont transportation projects that are in jeopardy if Congress fails to reauthorize the Highway Trust Fund. You can find that list here. The House is expected to take up a short-term reauthorization early this week.

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc (NASDAQ: NHTB), the holding company for Lake Sunapee Bank, fsb, with 18 offices in Vermont, has reported consolidated net income for the six months ended June 30, 2014 of $4.5 million, or $0.53 diluted earnings per common share, compared to $3.8 million, or $0.52 diluted earnings per common share, for same period in 2013, an increase of $638 thousand, or 16.58%. For the quarter ended June 30, 2014, we reported consolidated net income of $2.3 million, or $0.28 diluted earnings per common share, compared to $1.8 million, or $0.25 diluted earnings per common share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, an increase of $544 thousand, or 30.27%.

On July 17, from 7 pm to 7:30 pm, Bennington, Vermont, will officially launch its public downtown Wi-Fi zone, which is free for residents and visitors. The zone was funded, developed, and implemented by the Vermont Digital Economy Project and the Vermont Telecommunications Authority, with local support from the Town of Bennington and the Better Bennington Corporation. The launch is part of a celebration called “Midnight Madness,” during which downtown stores are open late and many have special discounts. There will be live music on the Town Office Lawn. A cable-cutting ceremony, a photo-sharing activity, and an explanation of the zone’s uses will all take place on the Town Office Lawn at 7 pm.