Current News

LIVE GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE KICKS OFF VPR'S 2008 DEBATE SERIES
Vermont Public Radio will broadcast a live debate among the major party candidates for Vermont Governor Wednesday, September 24, at 7 p.m. The debate will include Republican Jim Douglas, Democrat Gaye Symington, Independent Anthony Pollina, and Liberty Union candidate Peter Diamondstone.
VPR's Bob Kinzel and Jane Lindholm will moderate the debate before a live audience at the Main Street Landing Film House at Burlington's waterfront. Listeners may suggest questions for the candidates at VPR.net or by calling 1-800-258-1619. Seats in the audience are free and open to the public, but reservations are required; an RSVP form is at VPR.net.
The gubernatorial debate is the first of the 2008 VPR Debates. The series continues Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. throughout October with debates from VPR Studios:
October 1: Chairs of Political Parties

October 8: Attorney General Candidates

38 States Hit All-Time GSP Highs 2008Q2

Economic research firm e-forecasting.com on September 22, 2008, announced
the release of their second quarter estimates of quarterly
gross state product, with Texas leading the nation in GSP
growth.

Following an increase of US GDP by 3.3 percent to $11,740
billion in the second quarter of 2008, 23 states matched or
surpassed this growth, with Texas GSP swelling 7.6 for the
quarter. The change is recorded as an annual percent
change from the previous quarter in GSP at 2000 chained
dollars.

Champlain Finalizes Agreement for Woodbury Institute
Students See Little Change as Woodbury Programs Move to New Home
BURLINGTON, VT (Sept. 22, 2008) -- Plans to transfer the academic programs of Woodbury College to Champlain College have been completed following more than two months of negotiations by officers of both institutions. The acquisition was finalized Friday afternoon by a vote of the Board of Trustees at both Champlain College and Woodbury College.

Under the agreement, nearly a dozen Woodbury staff members will move to Champlain in January to support The Woodbury Institute. The agreement also keeps Woodbury's $350,000 endowment intact to support the transferred programs.

Eating With Grace" creator, Anya Raven Hunter, LICSW, offers womens therapy groups and other services (individual counseling and coaching, phone and email consults, consultation and referral) to individuals over 18 who struggle with food, weight and body image issues. Anya also gives talks to community organizations and other health care providers about compulsive overeating.
The Eating with Grace website also offers information about eating disorders and contact information for other Vermont and national resources.
Anya Raven Hunter is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Body-Mind Psychotherapist in Montpelier, Vermont. She has been in private practice since 1986.

Governor Announces Vermont Castings and New England Precision Expansions

New International Program Expands Semester Abroad Choices for Juniors
BURLINGTON, VT - Champlain College is expanding its international study abroad program with the fall opening of Champlain College Dublin, a new program that will offer juniors the chance to spend a semester studying in the heart of Irelands economic, administrative and cultural center.

The official grand opening of Champlain College Dublin is Sept. 22 and will be marked by a reception attended by Champlain College President David F. Finney, members of the Colleges Board of Trustees, students, local officials and Dublin dignitaries.

"This is another way to offer Champlain students an international perspective and prepare them to be global professionals," said Dr. Lynda Reid, director of recruiting for Champlain Abroad. The program also offers a similar program in Montreal, which opened in September 2007.

Businesses give Shareheat major boost, but CVPS issues urgent plea
RUTLAND, Vt. - A handful of leading Vermont businesses has stepped forward in an effort to head off potential heating crises, boosting the CVPS Shareheat matching fund to a record $187,000, but CVPS has issued an urgent plea for donations to the crisis heating program.
"CVPS has pledged $100,000 to Shareheat this year, and through the Shareheat Business Partnership Program, we've now added $85,000 to that pool," President Bob Young said. "The funds will be used to match customer contributions dollar for dollar and given to local community action agencies to help Vermonters in need this winter. The need will undoubtedly be tremendous."
Shareheat Business Partners include Chittenden Bank, National Life Group, Merchants Bank, Passumpsic Savings Bank, Carris Reels, Entergy Nuclear-Vermont Yankee, Omya, Vermont Country Store and Weidmann Electrical Technology.

Williston, VT - DEW Construction Corp. held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Open House at its newly constructed LEED Registered Corporate Headquarters onsite at on September 18, 2008.
"We're happy to introduce our state-of-the-art green facility to both the public and those who helped bring this project to fruition," said Don Wells, President. "DEW is proud to be the first Williston office building that is environmentally responsible and a healthy place to work."
Governor Jim Douglas was on hand to assist in the ribbon cutting. "We are delighted Governor Douglas joined our celebration. Our dream of constructing this facility was made possible in part by Governor Douglas and his support of all Vermont businesses," said Don Wells, President. Williston Town Manager, Rick Maguire also spoke briefly at the ceremony, congratulating DEW and thanking them for keeping their business in Williston.

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. - Ecopixel, LLC, a Web development and visibility firm in Essex Junction, Vt., announced that it now offers Eco-Positive Hosting (TM) for business and nonprofit clients.
Ecopixel client Web sites and e-mail accounts are now hosted on energy-efficient servers that are 110 percent carbon offset through reforestation. Ecopixel achieves its carbon-offsetting goals through reforestation campaigns operated by American Forests, a nonprofit organization that is a world leader in planting trees for environmental restoration. Not satisfied with being carbon neutral, at 110 percent these Web servers are 'climate positive.'

Governor Announces $400,000 Training Grant
Funds Will Help 1,000 Vermonters Improve Skills
BURLINGTON, Vt. - Governor Jim Douglas has announced the award of more than $400,000 in training funds to help Vermont workers improve their skill and make their employers more competitive.
At a ceremony celebrating Vermont Business Magazine's 5 x 5 x5 Growth Awards yesterday, Douglas announced the Vermont Training Program contract with the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center for $409,150.
"This money will help train 1,000 employees in 'lean' techniques for both manufacturing and healthcare," Douglas said. "This kind of investment in Vermont's workforce will help them access high-skill, high-wage jobs; it will help employers be more competitive in the global marketplace; and it will help contain health care costs."

Merchants Bank donates $50,000 to help Vermonters heat homes
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT -Thomas S. Leavitt, Executive Vice President for
Merchants Bank has announced that Merchants Bank and Merchants Bank Foundation are providing a total of $50,000 to support fuel assistance programs in Vermont. Fifteen thousand dollars will be granted to the CVPS SHARE HEAT program and $35,000 will be granted to Vermont's six Community Action Agencies. The contribution is part of an effort by Merchants Bank to help Vermonters heat their homes this winter and rise to the challenge of higher fuel costs.

Alain Brizard of Essex Junction
Saint Michael's physicist receives $50,000 US Dept of Energy grant to support his research in plasma dynamics
Alain Brizard, associate professor of physics at Saint Michael's College, has received a $50,000 research grant from the US Department of Energy, under the program Theoretical Research in Magnetic Fusion Energy Science, to support his research activities during his sabbatical leave from October 2008 to June 2009.