Current News

2006 Expo Special Events Calendar
Gives Advance Look at Fun Events
Fall Antique Show on VT Chambers
Top 10 List for Second Year
ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt.- A new special events brochure, outlining the dates of more than 50-plus major shows and festivals at the Champlain Valley Exposition, is now available.

PCC Ranked #1 in Survey of Healthcare Technology Vendors
(Winooski, VT) Physicians Computer Company (PCC) has received the highest overall score earned by any company in any category in the 2005 rankings of healthcare information technology (HIT) vendors published by industry-leading research firm KLAS Enterprises (www.healthcomputing .com). PCCs scores were almost 20 points higher than the average of other vendors.
With an overall score of 96.98 (of 100), PCC ranked first in the Ambulatory Specialty Market Segment of the 2005 Best in KLAS Top 20 Report. For its software capabilities and support services, PCC scored 8.73 of a possible 9, the highest Performance Indicator result recorded in this years survey, and 98% of PCC clients interviewed called the company their best vendor.

Springfield Vermont January 5, 2006 LOVEJOY Tool Company, Inc. introduces a new series of products to make it easier for a manufacturer to select the proper milling tools to solve their machining needs and machine a variety of materials with this all purpose tooling!
Applications: The XTRF Xtreme Series Face Mills use the OECH style inserts for the maximum in cutting edges acheiving 8 times the insert life!
Special Information: The finish that is produced by the XR Xtreme Series Face Mills is extremely good and you can get it all from LOVEJOY Tool Company. This tooling can be used to machine ALL materials with the proper selection of insert grades!
Products: LOVEJOY offers multiple diameter tools for these OECH inserts.
* XTRF Xtreme Series Face Mills - currently offered as a 3 inch dia. only

Revet Long Term Care Agency, LLC has added to their individual offerings by adding a new product to help business owners protect their company. Using pretax dollars you can own a long term care policy that will protect you and your company against the cost of long term care.
With the roll out of this new product line we are offering a free consultation and needs analysis for you and your business. Learn how you can save up to 40% off the price of your long term care insurance policy.
Mark & Lisa Revet have over 20 years combined experience in the long term care industry. Lisa having grown up in Bennington, Vt and now living in nearby Hoosick Falls, NY is helping businesses protect themselves, their families, and their businesses from the threat of long term care.

State of Vermont
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
2006 State of the State Address
MAKING VERMONT AFFORDABLE FOR VERMONTERS
The Governor’s Affordability Agenda
Mr. President, Madame Speaker, Members of the General Assembly, distinguished guests, fellow Vermonters:

BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF VERMONT ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF BENEFITS FOR NICOTINE REPLACEMENT PRODUCTS
State's Largest Insurer Leads New Tobacco Cessation Effort
Berlin, Vt. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) announced today that it will extend access to low or no cost nicotine replacement products to all its members in an expanded effort to encourage smokers to quit.
"Tobacco-related medical conditions contribute greatly to the high cost of health care, not to mention the personal cost to patients suffering from a preventable illness," explained BCBSVT Corporate Medical Director Stephen Perkins, M.D. "Extending this program will help more of our members who want to quit smoking."

GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER 0.9 PERCENT RATE INCREASE APPROVED
COLCHESTER, VT...Green Mountain Power (NYSE:GMP) received approval from the Vermont Public Service Board to increase its rates by 0.9 percent for electricity used beginning January 1, 2006. This is the final part of a three-year rate stabilization agreement between the State and Green Mountain Power, which included a rate freeze in 2004, a 1.9 percent increase in 2005 and the 0.9 percent increase in 2006.

For Immediate Release
December 30, 2005
Contact: David Mace
Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
(802) 828-5229
GOVERNOR DOUGLAS ANNOUNCES TAX CREDITS FOR BUILDING REPAIRS IN BRATTLEBORO, BENNINGTON
MONTPELIER Governor Jim Douglas announced today that the Vermont Downtown Development Board has awarded $265,000 in tax credits to make building improvements in Brattleboro and Bennington.
"These tax credits will help support new investment in our historic downtown properties, provide crucial affordable housing, and bring businesses and life to our downtowns," Gov. Douglas said. "We are pleased to help these downtowns - which have seen so much improvement over the past few years - in their ongoing revitalization efforts."
The awards were made at a meeting last week of the Vermont Downtown Development Board, which is chaired by Kevin Dorn, Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 29, 2005
Contact: David Mace
Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
(802) 828-5229
GOVERNOR DOUGLAS AWARDS OVER $301,000 TO CITY OF MONTPELIER FOR BROWNFIELDS CLEANUP AND HOUSING PILOT PROJECT
MONTPELIER Governor Jim Douglas announced over $301,000 in Community Development Program grants to the City of Montpelier, including the first grant designed to help clean up and develop contaminated property.
Over half of this amount, $194,336, is the first award of Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP) funds for the Governors Vermont Brownfields Initiative.
"I am very excited that these projects will help clean up a contaminated site for redevelopment within the downtown and create much needed affordable housing," Governor Douglas said.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robert Meyer
Rob Meyer, AIA named Regional Chair of NECARB

Gubernatorial Appointments
> Made in September and October
> Montpelier, Vt.- Governor Jim Douglas today released the list of
> appointments made in September and October, 2005.
> Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council
> David O'Brien, Bennington
> Patrick Martin, Rutland
> Vermont Board of Architects
> Janet Stackpole, Burlington
> Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities
> Harriet Hall, Newport
> Vermont Enhanced 911 Board
> Heather Dale Porter, North Hyde Park
> Vermont Center for Geographic Information
> Kevin Behm, South Burlington
> Laurence Becker, Middlesex
> Michael Gilbar, East Barre
> Dana Dean, Randolph
> Vermont Housing Finance Agency
> Bartlett Frisbie, Colchester
> Natural Resources Board
> Elizabeth Wilkel, Walden
> New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board

BURLINGTON, Vt.--This winter, Champlain College is launching an online MBA that turns the traditional MBA curriculum on its ear.
While many institutions are scrambling to incorporate real-world applications into their MBA curricula, the Champlain MBA was designed from the ground up on the following premise: the challenges faced at work are truly intertwined with what is learned in class. This intentional integration is at the heart of Champlains innovative program, according to program director Dr. Don Haggerty.
The Champlain MBA is designed specifically for career-minded people looking to benefit from integrating their coursework with their work-based challenges, he said. This integrated process will form the core of a students learning and will serve as a springboard toward better job performance. Integration can be applied across many career fields and industries, such as marketing, accounting and health care.