Current News

2010 Best Places to Work in Vermont awards ceremony held in Burlington
Wells River Savings Bank and Merchants Bank were the top winners at a ceremony held last night to honor the top employers in the state. The ceremony was held at the Main Street Landing Film House in Burlington to reveal the 2010 Best Places to Work in Vermont rankings and honor the recipients. A joint project of Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the awards went to 15 companies from around the state.

Friday, April 9, 10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.>, at the Shapiro Fieldhouse at Norwich University , the Physical Education Instructors representing the class of 2010 Vermont elementary schools, and PE Majors from Norwich University will receive their introduction, training, equipment and curricula for The Vermont First Tee National School Program Initiative. Vermont PGA Professionals representing the golf clubs that will offer the First Tee students transitional golf opportunities will join in the training.
The hands-on nature of the event will give the media interview, photo and video opportunities.

Governor Jim Douglas today announced that 30 Vermont communities in 2010 will receive a combined $3.8 million for transportation enhancement projects.
Since 1995, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) has awarded enhancement grants to communities and non-profit organizations for a wide range of federally-eligible projects such as restoring historic buildings, rebuilding and extending sidewalks, enhancing the environment, improving hiking and biking trails, purchasing scenic easements and repairing historic bridges. Since the programs inception, more than 330 grant awards have been made to Vermont communities totaling over $45 million.
These grants provide seed money so communities can complete important transportation projects they otherwise might not be able to afford, Governor Douglas said. The projects not only improve our existing transportation system, but they provide a significant contribution to the state s economy.

Comcast, a leading provider of entertainment, information and communications, today announced that it has completed a 300-mile network expansion in Vermont, bringing more than 6,000 additional homes and businesses in 25 communities access to the cost savings, innovative features and reliability of Comcast’s digital TV, high-speed Internet and voice services. Four of the communities – South Hero, Grand Isle, North Hero and Brookline – had not previously had access to Comcast’s advanced broadband services prior to the extension of the company’s fiber-optic network. With the recent additions, Comcast has extended its fiber-optic network by more than 1,200 miles since arriving in Vermont in 2006.

The Vermont Community Foundation awarded a total of $10.6 million in grants in 2009, including $281,250 made at the end of the year to 60 organizations as part of the Foundation’s Community Fund grant program. The program awards grants to organizations that support Basic Human Needs (children, elderly and family services, housing, food and shelter, health); Successful Communities (civic engagement, diversity and equity, education); and Sustainable Communities (arts, humanities and cultural heritage, environment, economic development).
All grants were made for general operating support.
Statewide

Project WorkSAFE, Vermont’s Occupational Safety and Health Consultation Program, is pleased to announce that Long Trail Brewing of Bridgewater Corners has successfully completed and met the requirements of the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).
The company and the Vermont Department of Labor’s, Project WorkSAFE Program began working on the certification process over 12 months ago.
“We applaud the employees and management of Long Trail Brewing in this accomplishment, especially in these tough economic times” said Scott Meyer, Manager of Project WorkSAFE.
“We are excited about Long Trail’s continued leadership as a Vermont based brewer”, said Brian Walsh, President of Long Trail Brewing. Walsh went on to emphasize, “The SHARP recognition is an extension of the company’s passion to make award winning beer, but with emphasis on a safe and healthy environment for our brewing team.”

On March 24, Lund clients, staff, legislators, trustees and friends joined together in the Cedar Creek Room at the Vermont State House, to celebrate Lund Family Center’s services to families throughout Vermont at the kick-off celebration honoring Lund’s 120th Anniversary Year. Event Co-Chairs Jeanne Kennedy and Kit Stone cut the congratulatory cake and served it to the large group of supporters and friends gathered in tribute to Lund’s mission and accomplishments. A resolution had been adopted earlier in the day in the Vermont House of Representatives to recognize Lund’s dedication to strengthening families and helping children thrive. The resolution was sponsored by Rep. Johanna Leddy Donovan of Burlington, a former member of the LFC Board of Trustees, and co-sponsored by over sixty House members, who represented a full spectrum of legislators.

Average retail gasoline prices in Vermont moved just 0.3 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.85/g today. This compares with the national average that has stayed flat, moving just 1.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.79/g, according to gasoline price website VermontGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Vermont during the past week, prices today are 83.7 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 7.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 10.3 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 76.6 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.

The Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s 13th annual Radio Auction over the stations of the Radio Vermont Group raised $22,550 to support the VSO’s statewide performances and educational presentations. Over the lifetime of the event, presented by the Central Vermont Friends of the VSO, the Radio Auction has raised $205,474.

Dr. Helen Caldicott, internationally renown for her work to educate the public about the medical hazards of the nuclear age and the necessary changes in human behavior to stop environmental destruction, will be in Vermont March 29-31. This visit is timely and relevant as our state decides the future of Vermont Yankee.
Media is invited to a press conference with Dr. Caldicott TODAY, March 29th, 3:30-4:00 pm at Main Street Landing UNION STATION in Burlington (in the lobby area).
Additionally, Dr. Caldicott will speak at three (free) public events:
¢ Monday, March 29th, 6:00 pm, McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michael s College, off Rte. 15, Colchester (Contact: Edmundite Center for Peace and Justice, 802-654-2205).
¢ Tuesday, March 30th, 7:00 pm, Big Picture Theater, 48 Carroll Rd., Waitsfield (Contact: Green Mountain Global Forum, gmgf.org or 802-496-4566).

Lyndon State College is announcing a new degree. The Bachelor of Science in Performing Arts Management will first be offered in the fall of 2010. Students majoring in Arts Management can select among three concentrations: artist management, venue management and theater operations management.
The Performing Arts Management degree will prepare students to serve in administrative, managerial and leadership positions in an area related to music and performing arts. Core courses include Financial Accounting, Introduction to Business, Introduction to Business Software, Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, Business Ethics, Fiscal Management, Event Management and Promotion, Strategic Media Communication and Introduction to Media Communication. All students will also complete Lyndon's General Education requirements, which are specifically designed and intended to provide a basis of liberal arts for all Lyndon students.

Saint Michael's College, a liberal arts college with an excellent track record of training science graduates, and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS), which provides a professional doctoral program in the field of pharmacy, have signed an agreement establishing a Dual Degree Program. With both Saint Michael’s and ACPHS’ newly opened campus being in Colchester, Vermont, the ease of cooperation is enhanced.
Upon successful completion of the program, students will earn a bachelor’s degree in biology (or related field) from Saint Michael’s, and a doctor of pharmacy degree from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Students will normally complete the program in seven years, spending three years at Saint Michael’s and the remaining four years at ACPHS-Vermont.