Current News

Mt Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) employee Melanie Sheehan was presented with a Prevention Champion award during Prevention Works! VT’s annual Prevention Day event held at the Vermont State House. Sheehan is MAHHC’s Director of Community Health Outreach and Chair of Mt Ascutney Prevention Partnership (MAPP), serving the towns of Windsor, West Windsor, Hartland and Weathersfield, Vermont.

Sheehan was honored by Prevention Works! VT, a network of coalitions and community organizations working to decrease the prevalence of tobacco use, drug use, underage drinking and high-risk drinking in Vermont among youths and young adults. The Prevention Champion award recognizes those who help provide support for a healthier life in the community by reducing risk factors for alcohol and drug abuse.

Vermont Business Magazine Respondents to a questionnaire conducted by the Vermont Attorney General's office concerning labels for genetically engineered foods do not want the disclaimer “the Food and Drug Administration does not consider foods produced from genetic engineering to be materially different from other foods” added to the label. Governor Shumlin signed the GE (aka, GMO) food labeling bill into law in May. The state faces substantial legal opposition from the food industry before labels will actually start to appear. But as part of the state's process of developing rules to implement the first-in-the-nation GE Food Labeling Law, Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell prepared a public questionnaire on how the labeling should appear. He issued preliminary results from the questionnaire Monday. The questionnaire, which was open from June 4 through June 30, 2014, received over 2,200 responses.

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The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Compliance and Enforcement Division (CED) today announced that it has settled environmental violations involving Maple Glen, Inc. The company owns and operates a communal campground in Sheldon, Vermont. The settlement includes a $28,750.00 penalty and compliance and permitting requirements.

A CED and Natural Resources Board investigation revealed numerous violations including of wastewater, wetlands, solid waste, Act 250, water supply, and open burning regulations at the campground. The company hired an engineer to help it address all these issues. The company corrected the solid waste, wetland, and burning issues during the pendency of the investigation. The company also obtained a wastewater system and potable water supply permit and installed one of two approved systems, and has decided to re-design the uninstalled system. The company also submitted an Act 250 permit application which is under review.

The University of Vermont Foundation set new records in its fundraising activities on behalf of the university during fiscal 2014, surpassing the previous historic milestones for both commitments and receipts from donors. New fundraising commitments broke the $55 million mark for the first time in UVM history. Total commitments to UVM reached $55,248,575 as of June 30, 2014, compared with $44,523,540 in the same period a year ago, an increase of 24 percent. The previous record of $45,067,395 was set in FY12. Commitments include new gifts, new pledges, and new bequests documented during the year.

At Congressman Peter Welch’s press conference Monday morning, the Vermont Agency of Transportation provided a list of the most critical Vermont transportation projects that are in jeopardy if Congress fails to reauthorize the Highway Trust Fund. You can find that list here. The House is expected to take up a short-term reauthorization early this week.

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc (NASDAQ: NHTB), the holding company for Lake Sunapee Bank, fsb, with 18 offices in Vermont, has reported consolidated net income for the six months ended June 30, 2014 of $4.5 million, or $0.53 diluted earnings per common share, compared to $3.8 million, or $0.52 diluted earnings per common share, for same period in 2013, an increase of $638 thousand, or 16.58%. For the quarter ended June 30, 2014, we reported consolidated net income of $2.3 million, or $0.28 diluted earnings per common share, compared to $1.8 million, or $0.25 diluted earnings per common share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, an increase of $544 thousand, or 30.27%.

On July 17, from 7 pm to 7:30 pm, Bennington, Vermont, will officially launch its public downtown Wi-Fi zone, which is free for residents and visitors. The zone was funded, developed, and implemented by the Vermont Digital Economy Project and the Vermont Telecommunications Authority, with local support from the Town of Bennington and the Better Bennington Corporation. The launch is part of a celebration called “Midnight Madness,” during which downtown stores are open late and many have special discounts. There will be live music on the Town Office Lawn. A cable-cutting ceremony, a photo-sharing activity, and an explanation of the zone’s uses will all take place on the Town Office Lawn at 7 pm.

Secretary Condos has announced the start of early and absentee voting for the Primary Election. As of July 11, any registered voter may request a ballot from their town clerk, whether in person, by phone or by mail.

“Early voting is a great way to make sure that you have an opportunity to vote. Vermonters are busy people and getting to the polls on Election Day doesn’t fit everyone’s schedule – early voting is a chance to guarantee you make your voice heard.” Secretary Condos stated.

All early and absentee ballot requests must be submitted by 5pm or close of the town clerk’s office on the day before Election Day. To vote in the Primary Election, the deadline for voter registration is 5pm on Wednesday, August 20.

”As always, I urge all Vermonters to remember to take the opportunity to vote, - by early ballot or at the polls on August 26th. Your Vote is your Voice!” added Condos.

Blodgett Ovens has announced the opening of a new facility in Essex to build proprietary steam equipment for the commercial foodservice industry. This new facility, built under the Market Forge brand, will be completed on July 11. The facility's opening follows the Middleby Corporation’s purchase of Market Forge industries’ assets on January 7. The Middleby Corporation, Blodgett's parent, has moved all of the production, sales and engineering from Everett, Mass. to the new Essex location.

“Blodgett is pleased to have the Market Forge operations move to Vermont,” said Gary Mick, President of Blodgett Ovens who also oversees the Market Forge operations. “We are very excited to combine the technologies of two great brands.”

by John Herrick vtdigger.org An environmental group this week appealed Vermont’s decision to withhold documents related to a multistate initiative to improve energy infrastructure in the region. The Conservation Law Foundation in March filed a public records request to all six New England states involved in crafting a plan to attract investments in projects that would bring Canadian hydropower and natural gas to the region. After receiving CLF’s request, Vermont withheld an unknown number of documents. The governor’s office said in a statement that the documents involve political and legal advice and are protected under executive and attorney-client privileges. The infrastructure initiative for the six states would use electric ratepayers’ money to pay for transmission and pipeline projects.

The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday unanimously approved bipartisan legislation authored by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) that would restore the ability of consumers to more easily transfer their cell phones to other wireless carriers. The Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act would reinstate a 2010 rulemaking by the Librarian of Congress so that consumers can transfer, or “unlock,” their cell phones without running afoul of copyright laws. Leahy and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) first partnered on the issue last year, and their modified bill approved by the Judiciary Committee on Thursday puts the focus back on individual consumers.

Governor Peter Shumlin and the University of Vermont will work together to put tomorrow’s leaders to work on the issues of today. The Governor’s Cabinet Graduate Internship Program, administered by the UVM Department of Community Development and Applied Economics Master of Public Administration program, will provide new opportunities for top graduate students to work alongside state officials, doing meaningful work for the state while gaining invaluable experience in the public sector. The program is open to graduate students attending Vermont schools and to Vermont graduate students attending out-of-state schools.

“We want to encourage and support the next generation of public servants here in Vermont,” said Gov. Shumlin. “This program will provide outstanding young people with meaningful, engaging experience in service to our state, while introducing our agencies to these bright, innovative emerging leaders.”