Current News

Rutland, VT: Seven Rutland-area organizations have been selected to receive financial grants to help improve the health of their employees through their worksite wellness programs.
Community Care Network, Green Mountain College, The Humane Society, OMYA Industries, Rutland High School, Rutland Regional Medical Center, and the Vermont Achievement Center all will receive grants from the Rutland County Community Advisory Board (RCCAB) of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT). The grants, which range from $200 to $750, will be distributed at an awards ceremony on June 29th at the South Station Restaurant in Rutland.

People's United Financial to acquire Chittenden Corp for $1.9B
People's United Financial, Inc (Nasdaq: PBCT), of Bridgeport, CT, the holding
company for People's United Bank, announced June 27, 2007, a definitive
agreement to acquire Chittenden Corporation (NYSE: CHZ), based in Burlington, in
a stock and cash transaction valued at $1.9 billion. Consummation of the
agreement is subject to the approval of the shareholders of Chittenden, as well as
various regulatory agencies. The acquisition is expected to close in the first
quarter of 2008.

Paul Perrault, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Chittenden
Corporation said in a prepared statement that Chittenden will receive two seats on
the People's board. Chittenden Bank nameplate will continue, as will the local
nameplates and boards of directors of the several other banks around New
England owned by Chittenden Corp.

Sale of Local Golf Course Complete: New Ownership Shares Plans
NORTH CLARENDON, VT (June 13, 2007) - Stonehedge Golf Course announced today that the course has been purchased by Richard "Dick" Bendig and his two sons, Shawn and Chriss. The 9-hole course, Rutland County's only par-3 golf offering, features 1,107 yards of rolling fairways and well-manicured greens. The course was designed and operated by Robert Matson since 1995.

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
Montpelier, VT . . . The Department of Labor reminds Vermont employers and employees that on
June 7, 2007 Senate bill S.27 became law. Effective July 1, 2007 this bill will change the definition
of a "service or tipped" employee. Currently the law defines service or tipped employees as ... all
those, in hotels, motels, tourist places or restaurants who customarily and regularly received more
than $30.00 a month in tips. As of July 1, 2007 a tipped employee will be anyone customarily and
regularly receiving more than $120.00 a month. The change in definition means any employee who
customarily and regularly receives less than $120 per month in tips must be paid the regular
minimum wage.

Montreal, QC- Ship2Save announced today that California-based Megatrux, Inc. has extended its logistics offering with a cutting-edge asset management and tracking system using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and Ship2Save's Operation Management System. The multi-dock deployment has enabled Megatrux to automate operations and provide added value services to its clientele.

Colchester VT- As summer settles in and temperatures rise, consumers looking for their favorite frozen treat no longer have to wait for the sound of the ice cream truck. Now, frozen and perishable goods can come to their homes on demand, thanks to MyWebLink and NetGrocer.com, the online provider of "Groceries and more, delivered straight to your door."
NetGrocer.com, a leading online grocery store for 11 years, now provides next day delivery to customers East of the Mississippi of perishable and frozen food orders over $35.00. "Now, customers can order anything they want from the grocery store without leaving their home," said Drew Vitulano, General Manager of NetGrocer. "Our customers have always loved the time-saving convenience of online ordering, and this new service completes the picture."

NORTH CLARENDON, VT (June 13, 2007) - Stonehedge Golf Course announced today that the course has been purchased by Richard "Dick" Bendig and his two sons, Shawn and Chriss. The 9-hole course, Rutland County's only par-3 golf offering, features 1,107 yards of rolling fairways and well-manicured greens. The course was designed and operated by Robert Matson since 1995.
"We are very pleased to have completed the sale and excited about the possibilities this course has to offer local golfers," said Richard Bendig, President of Stonehedge. "The real beauty of the course lies in its versatility. For the accomplished golfer, we offer an affordable way for them to improve their short game. For the senior golfer, we provide a 9-hole course that can be easily walked or ridden in just over an hour. And, finally, for the younger/novice golfer, we strive to create an atmosphere that allows them to learn the game at their own pace."

"Our grocery customers are very excited about the MyBaby platform because, it gives them a comprehensive set of tools that help them engage their consumers in online conversations--to listen and to be heard" said Alec Newcomb, Vice President of MyWebLink.
Traditional advertising media are finding it harder to reach the mass audiences of the past. But at the same time, in cyberspace, consumers are gathering in different groups unified by common interests, said Rebecca Roose, Marketing and Account Manager for MyWebLink. "MyWebLink is reaching these audiences on behalf of our clients through innovative products like MyBaby.com."
MyBaby.com differs from other parenting social networking sites by offering the full range of social networking tools such as: local events, blogging, photos and video sharing, recipes, and message boards to Retail Grocers and Consumer Product Goods Companies.

BURLINGTON, Vt.--The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this month the designation of Champlain College as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAEIAE).
The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education Program provides "increased availability of learning in information assurance education through a network of leading institutions and authorities in Information Assurance (IA) education." The designation recognizes academic programs related to computer security and IA as well as an institution's overall commitment to solid IA practices. Champlain joins a group of 86 colleges such as Carnegie Mellon University, Boston University, Ohio State University, Norwich University and Pennsylvania State University in being recognized with this designation.

Burlington, VT - FreshTracks Capital II, L.P. ("FreshTracks"), a Middlebury-based venture capital fund with primary interest in Vermont investments, announced that it has invested $400,000 in ISIS of Burlington. This is the first investment in FreshTracks' second fund. ISIS designs, produces and markets outdoor apparel which is made by women and made exclusively for women, with its product being carried by top national retailers including REI, Title IX, and Orvis. The transaction was structured to accelerate the sales and marketing efforts of ISIS, as the company executes the next phase of its growth strategy, and considers raising additional expansion capital.

Three employees of TPW Management, Inc. attended a Professional Management Development course held in Mass. last week. Daniel T. Riley, Portfolio Manager, Adam Kimball, Board Liaison, and Susan Van Horn, Customer Service Manager, attended a communications course provided by Community Associations Institute.

800response (www.800response.com), the leading provider of vanity 800 numbers and web-based call tracking and recording services, announces today that Michael Bedell is joining the company as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
Bedell brings more than fifteen years of leadership and management skills in sales and marketing to the Burlington, Vermont based company. Prior to joining 800response, Bedell served as President and CEO of Synapse Retail Ventures, a subsidiary of Synapse Group, Inc., where he successfully launched a national retail channel of business for the company. Before leading their retail channel, Bedell served as Vice President of the media company's inbound phone group where he managed account service, marketing, and partnership programs. Bedell has also held senior level positions at IPG and Omnicom agencies, and served as Chief Marketing Officer at MedAvant Healthcare Solutions.