Current News

Omega Optical Opens Doors At New World Headquarters
Omega Optical has just moved into its new 30,000 square foot world
headquarters and manufacturing facility on the Delta Campus in
Brattleboro. The company, a leading worldwide supplier of optical
filters for scientific research and instrumentation, is unifying its
operation in a state-of-the art building while adding capacity and
capabilities to satisfy growth in a variety of markets.
The new facility, designed from the ground-up specifically for the
manufacture of optical filters, has provided the company with the
opportunity to reengineer and plan every step of the manufacturing process
for efficient flow, with the resulting quality improvements and
cost-savings. Omega has also seen the move as an opportunity to make
major capital equipment improvements that will result in increased

Tom Torti to Become Secretary of Natural Resources
Montpelier - Governor Jim Douglas today announced that Tom Torti would
become Vermont's next Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources,
effective January 24, 2005.
Torti, 50, of Essex, is a veteran state manager and currently Douglas'
Commissioner of Buildings and General Services (BGS). He steps in for
long time Douglas confidant Elizabeth "Wibs" McLain who is stepping down
to spend more time with her family, especially her 8 grandchildren.
Douglas said he is very confident in Torti's ability to lead the agency.
"Tom shares my commitment to improving and protecting Vermont's natural
resources and working landscape," the Governor said. "He has a proven
commitment to energy efficiency and resource management, has spearheaded
our fleet management and renewable energy programs, will continue to

NORTHFIELD SAVINGS BANK ADDS BOUNCE TO HALFTIME AT CATS GAMES

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT -- Coretomic, an Internet software corporation announces that Champlain College has integrated ColligoNet into the curriculum of its Internet, Information & Business course. Coretomic donated the software which has a retail value of $1 million, to Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont.
ColligoNet is a web management platform that enables companies to build, deploy and manage full Digital Business Centers. With this powerful tool websites become the hub for a company for marketing and sales, managing employees, managing the sales channel, and providing secure locations for customer orders and interaction. To learn about Digital Business Centers and how they can help you, please visit : http://www.Coretomic.com .

Chittenden Bank Announces the Retirement of President and CEO Lawrence
W.
DeShaw
BURLINGTON -- Chittenden
Corporation
(NYSE: CHZ) has announced that Lawrence W. DeShaw, President and CEO of
Chittenden Bank, will retire at the end of the first quarter of 2005,
after 34 years of dedicated service.

"This decision did not come easy, after 34 years of service to
Chittenden.
Chittenden Bank means a great deal to me and I will truly miss everyone I
have worked with over the years. I have chosen to make this transition at
a time when Chittenden is strong and stable. The senior management team
is knowledgeable and fully committed to our customers. Our Board of
Directors is engaged and experienced in all of the facets of business in
the communities we serve," said DeShaw.

Next Step Consulting, LLC Formed
Dr. Daniel J. Fleming, a veteran of more than 25 years as a manager, corporate officer, and Corporate Director in semiconductor and semiconductor equipment companies, has established Next Step Consulting, LLC to provide technical and management consulting services to technology companies. Prior to this, Dan was COO of JMAR Technologies (South Burlington, VT), CEO of SAL (South Burlington, VT), VP Engineering and Customer Support at SVGL (Wilton, CT), and an executive with IBM MicroElectronics.

Vermonts minimum wage rate will rise to $7 per hour as stated below.
Note: Effective since July 1, 1989, "if the minimum wage rate established by the U.S. Government is greater than the rate established for Vermont for any year, the Vermont minimum wage rate shall be the rate established by the U.S. Government".)
MINIMUM WAGE, effective thru 12/31/2004: $6.75 per hour worked
MINIMUM WAGE, effective 01/01/2005: $7.00 per hour worked.
Employers engaged in the hotel, motel, tourist place and restaurant industry shall receive a tip credit for tips actually earned and retained by *service or tipped employees. For service and tipped employees the basic wage rate** will be:
Minimum Base Rate ...... Maximum Tip
Credit Allowed

Current Rate, eff. 1/1/2004: $3.58/hr. ...... $3.17/hr.

Karen Kunz has joined Otter Creek Awnings & Patio Rooms as a marketing and customer service representative. Most recently, Kunz was a marketing representative for Total Care, a health insurance company in Syracuse, New York. Kunz will be responsible for assisting with the companys marketing and providing service for customers throughout Vermont and sections of New York and New Hampshire. Kunz earned her bachelors degree from Plymouth State University.
Laura Bent of Otter Creek Awnings & Patio Rooms has been promoted to oversee the sales and design of Otter Creeks new product, custom closets. In addition to custom closet sales and design, Bent is responsible for solar screen and residential awning sales. Bent has been with Otter Creek for four years and earned her bachelors degree from Iowa State University. Otter Creek designs and installs custom awnings, sunrooms and closets for homes and businesses throughout Vermont.

Polhemus of Colchester, the industry leader in 3D position tracking and digitizing systems, eye-tracking systems and handheld 3D scanners, has recently provided state-of-the-art motion tracking and scanning tools to Champlain College in Burlington.
Champlain students will learn to use the LIBERTY" and PATRIOT" Motion Tracking Systems, and two FastSCAN" 3D scanners as part of the Colleges innovative, high-tech degree programs. These products are invaluable tools in complementing the offered courseware.
In the Electronic Game & Interactive Design and Multimedia & Graphic Design programs, faculty members will integrate this equipment into a lab where students will use it to create high-end 3D animations. These tools have been used in blockbuster movies such as "The Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter III."

Governor James H. Douglas
Second Inaugural Address
"A Common Purpose"
January 6, 2005
Mr. President, Madame Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the General Assembly, distinguished guests, fellow Vermonters:
I am deeply honored to stand before you again and am humbled by the trust placed in me. I am proud to share this day with my family and especially my loving wife, Dorothy, and I thank them for their support throughout the years. I also want to thank Lt. Governor Dubie for his friendship, his leadership and his service to Vermont.
No person ever stands here alone. Even as I rose in this chamber for the first time, thirty-two years ago, as a freshman legislator, and raised my hand to take the oath of office, I stood tall on the shoulders of our ancestors.

Lyndonville Savings Bank Announces Transfer to
OTC Bulletin Board

LYNDONVILLE, VT-- Lyndonville Savings Bank
has announced that, effective January 4, 2005, the Bank's common stock will
trade on the OTC Bulletin Board. Previously, the common stock was quoted
on the "Pink Sheets". The Lyndonville Savings Bank common stock will
continue to trade under the symbol "LYSB". The new trading venue is
expected to provide more visibility for the bank's stock. Lyndonville
currently has about 255 stockholders with 1,055,126 shares outstanding.
The stock has recently traded in the $16.50 to $17.50 range and is
currently paying a dividend at the rate of $0.56 annually.
The Lyndonville Savings Bank is a $154 million state-chartered
commercial bank headquartered in Lyndonville, VT with 6 full
service offices throughout northern Vermont.

Lyndonville Savings Bank Increases Dividend,
Achieves 26% Increase in Net Income in 2004
LYNDONVILLE, VT-- Lyndonville Savings Bank has announced that the Bank will pay a dividend of $0.14 per share on January 11, 2005 to stockholders of record December 22, 2004. This represents a 7.6% increase in the quarterly dividend reflecting continued strength in the banks earnings, and the sixth increase in the quarterly dividend in the past two years.
Net income for the full year ended December 31, 2004 was $1,372,599 (un-audited) compared to $1,085,335 for 2003, a 26% increase. The annualized return on average assets was 0.92 in 2004 compared to 0.76 in 2003.
Total assets were $154,176,429 as of December 31, 2004 compared to $146,981,491 as of December 31, 2003.