Current News

April Cornell, co-owner of Cornell Trading in Williston, Vt., will address Champlain College graduates at this year’s Commencement ceremony on May 8. April’s name graces the storefronts of more than 80 clothing and home furnishing boutiques in America, while more than 30 of her stores in Canada bear the name “La Cache.”
April and her husband Chris Cornell started their international business in Montreal. With a shared passion for travel, they headed east and made their first foray into buying while roaming the bazaars in Afghanistan. When the couple opened their first boutique in Montreal in 1975, the nomadic clothing they saw on their travels were among their best selling items.

GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE a 22-year-old international company is celebrating its one-year anniversary in Vermont. The company, which has been on NBC’s Today Show and has received numerous national awards for quality and service, is a leader in non-medical homecare.
The Burlington based office, which serves the 10 northern counties of Vermont, refers carefully screened Caregivers that assist seniors with non-medical personal care, including: bathing and dressing, as well as light housekeeping, cooking, companionship, assistance with self administered medications, and incidental transportation.
The Director and owner of GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE in Vermont, is Barbara Headrick, who for the past 10 years has wanted to open a GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE office, and is delighted to see that dream coming true.

Reflecting the growing demand for classes that can be completed from a
personal computer anytime or anywhere, the Community College of Vermont is
offering over 120 credit-bearing courses during its summer 2004 session.
Registration for online courses offered during the summer session is held
from April 26 to May 14.
For Vermont college students looking to get a head start on the upcoming
fall semester or looking to complete a degree requirement while away from
their home university for the summer, CCV's online courses provide an
affordable and high quality option for meeting their educational goals.
Credits earned at CCV are readily transferable and, with the convenience
of more than 120 online courses, students can enroll in a CCV course from
anywhere in the world. Vermont residents also benefit from CCV's in-state
tuition rates, the most affordable college tuition in the state.

Chittenden Corporation
(NYSE: CHZ) Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul A. Perrault,
announced earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 of $17.5 million
or $0.47 per diluted share, compared to $16.6 million or $0.49 a year ago.
Chittenden also announced a 10% increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.22
per share. The dividend will be paid on May 14, 2004, to shareholders of
record on April 30, 2004.
In making the announcement, Perrault said, "By and large, most core
businesses are doing well. However, the volatility of market interest rates
and the timing of their movements during the quarter adversely impacted the
mortgage banking business. On the whole, we consider the quarter's results a
little disappointing, though there is cause for optimism. Commercial loan
growth was particularly good during the quarter and accelerated in the month

Third Sector Systems, a provider of organization-wide software solutions for nonprofits announced today that John Crowl, the former Publisher of the Chronicle of Philanthropy and Louis Raffis, Senior Vice President in the Corporate Treasury Group at KeyCorp have joined its Board of Directors.
Crowl said “I’ve been impressed with Third Sector’s integrated software, which solves a longstanding coordination problem that has plagued non-profit organizations. But I have been equally impressed by the company’s management, its vision, and especially its prospects for the future.”

Kathleen C. Hoyt and Dr. Marc A. vanderHeyden, have been nominated to serve on Green Mountain Power’s Board of Directors. The election will take place at the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders in May.
“We very much look forward to having Kathy and Marc serve on Green Mountain’s Board,” said Nordahl L. Brue, Chair of Green Mountain Power. “We welcome the Vermont and national insights and advice that they will bring to our Company as we continue to find new ways to achieve our goal as the nation’s premier electric distribution utility.”
Hoyt was the top cabinet official for Vermont Governor Howard Dean, having previously served in multiple leadership positions in state government. In 1998, she received the National Governors Association Award for Distinguished Service to State Government.

Sooner or later, every growing business will likely need an Act 250 or environmental permits to either move into a new facility, or construct more space. Knowing what to expect, and how to get started are the keys to obtaining your permit as quickly and easily as possible.
The Vermont Small Business Act 250 Fact Sheet is designed for businesses, that are not yet familiar with Vermont's Act 250 process. Created by the Vermont Environmental Assistance Partnership (SBDC, VMEC, VT-ANR, Dept. of Economic Development) in cooperation with the VT Environmental Board.
On the web at: www.veap.org/news.shtml
or by calling 802-728-1423

Hildene has received three grants to help underwrite it¹s premiere
exhibit, Vermont and the North Shire in the Civil War. The Cultural
Facilities Grant Program award of $3,200 will be used to install UV
protective storm windows on the second floor of the house.
It was funded
by the State of Vermont and administered by the Vermont Arts Council on
behalf of the Cultural Facilities Coalition. The remaining portion of the
cost for this project was funded by a gift from David H. and Christina
Nichols and the Nichols Foundation, Inc.
The installation of these
windows will help protect the interior of the building and Hildene¹s
existing collection, as well as, artifacts borrowed from other Vermont
institutions that are highlighted in the exhibit.
The Cultural Facilities
Program assists nonprofit organizations in Vermont to improve facilities

The Horizon Interactive Awards, a leading international interactive media awards competition, announced the 2004 award winners. The annual competition recognizes excellence in interactive media production among firms, individuals and in-house multi-media departments.
Tag New Media was recognized for their excellence in interactive media production with two Silver awards in the Flash™ Category for their latest Rossignol microsites. The microsites for Rossignol’s new Zenith skis and Soft®Light boots can be viewed at www.rossignol.com.
Tag New Media (TNM) is a Web design and development studio based in Burlington, Vermont. Since 1996, TNM has focused on delivering value to their clients through thoughtfully conceived and appropriate interactive design and technology solutions – solutions that address core business objectives.

Dennis O’Connell of North Pomfret, Vt., an International Business student at Champlain College in Burlington, conducted economic and cultural research for Lt. Governor Brian Dubie’s mission to Cuba this week. O’Connell prepared briefing packages to help prepare Dubie and other officials for the international trip.
Dubie was invited by Alimport, a Cuban government-authorized trade group, to attend a Cuban-US agricultural trade fair from April 13 – 16. He was scheduled to address the conference on the opening day. The Cuban Humanitarian Trade Act of 2001 authorizes certain sales of US agricultural and medical products to Cuba, and Cuba has released an extensive list of commodities it is interested in buying. Among them are dairy products, maple products and apples.

United Way of Chittenden County’s 62nd annual dinner and community awards on Thursday, May 6 will celebrate “The Heroes Among Us,” and highlight the organization and its supporters accomplishments in the community.
The super hero-themed evening (tights, capes and secret identities encouraged) will be held at the Wyndham Hotel Burlington’s Adirondack Ballroom beginning with a social hour at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards presentations. Last year’s awards dinner sold-out and space is limited.
“One of the hallmarks of our annual dinner is to do a little ‘fun-raising’ and celebrate the accomplishments of volunteers and organizations that support United Way,” said Stephen Mease, United Way’s director of marketing and communications.

The Vermont Business Roundtable (VBR) announces the selection of twenty-seven Vermont public schools as the 2004 Medallion Quality Public Schools. Designed to recognize outstanding student academic achievement and overall school quality, the Medallion Program is in its 12th year of presenting awards in this highly selective process.
Consistent with VBR's long-standing commitment to support high academic standards, meaningful statewide assessment of student performance, and comprehensive reporting of results, the selection criteria for Medallion Quality Public Schools are based on a review of the statewide public school assessment results for all public schools in Vermont, as published by the Vermont Department of Education.
"Each year the Medallion School review process highlights some fascinating examples of education being delivered in very creative and effective ways. This year is again noteworthy," said Lisa Ventriss, president of the VBR.