Current News

by tim

Just in time for the winter sports season, snow lovers visiting several popular Vermont mountains and ski resorts are expected to experience improved mobile broadband coverage and voice performance as a result of continued investment and innovation by AT&T*. The company announced today that it has completed a key initiative in its ongoing efforts to enhance the wireless capacity and performance of its mobile broadband network throughout the popular ski season towns of Killington, Stowe, Bolton, Ludlow and Wilmington.
The network enhancement adds new layers of frequency, also known as "carriers," to eight cell sites throughout Vermont ski country to more efficiently manage available spectrum and increase mobile broadband capacity. The expansion helps manage ever-growing demand for mobile broadband services by allocating more network resources for AT&T's mobile broadband network.

by [email protected]

BioTek Instruments is pleased to announce a service partnership with Serlabo Technologies in France. Under this contract, Serlabo will provide installation, installation/operation/performance qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), primary training, service, preventative maintenance and service contracts for users of BioTek’s microplate instrumentation.
Serlabo Technologies was privately founded in 2002 and is ISO 9001:2000 certified. In addition to the service agreement with BioTek, Serlabo offers high-quality products and services to private and public sector customers in France.
According to Philippe Vivier, BioTek France Director of Sales, ‘The service agreement with Serlabo in France will ensure that our BioTek customers continue to receive high quality instrument service with reduced downtime, and also benefit from a local, dedicated service technician.’

by tim

The e-Vermont Community Broadband Project is working across Vermont to help communities solve local issues with 21st century tools. On February 16 e-Vermont will host Vermont Communities in a Digital Age to highlight some of the projects taking place and bring leaders and learners together to share what they have discovered so far. Topics include mobilizing community resources during emergencies, a hands-on lab about digital tools for business, a showcase of how technology is expanding the classroom for 4-6th graders, and a preview of how town meetings can reach a wider audience. The all-day workshop takes place at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center.

by tim

Joe Adler, James Lockridge and Justin Hoy To Host Music Industry Gathering
On Saturday, January 14 ‘The 1st Annual Vermont Musicians Summit’ comes to Higher Ground. The event will bring together musicians and professionals from all facets of the Vermont music industry to take part in an array of music-related activities. From 5:30-7pm artists and industry pros alike are invited to come network, share stories, take part in panels and in all ways bring the Vermont music community closer together.
Afterwards, doors open to the public at 8pm for a concert beginning at 8:30 and featuring performances from Kat Wright & The Indomitable Soul Band, Something With Strings, The Human Canvas, The Wind Woods w/ Brett Hughes, and more to be announced, including an all-star jam session with some very special guests.

by tim

Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Congressman Peter Welch (D) on Wednesday announced that the US Department of Transportation is releasing $134.6 million in emergency funds to help Vermont rebuild and repair roads and bridges destroyed or damaged by Tropical Storm Irene and in last spring’s flooding. The total includes $125,651,814 for costs associated with Irene and $8,975,130 for costs associated with the spring floods.
The funding is part of $1.662 billion in new emergency relief funding approved by Congress, signed into law by President Obama in November and released Wednesday by US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. There could be further installments of emergency federal road repair aid as repair work continues.

by tim

Shearer Volkswagen announces their move to 1030 Shelburne Rd., South Burlington (formerly Shearer GMC Cadillac Buick) across from the Olive Garden. This new location will handle new and pre-owned sales, all parts and service as well as an onsite full-service body shop for even greater customer service. SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT, December, 2011

by tim

State officials will visit Killington and Mendon at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, to hold a town-meeting style discussion about how they can assist local communities recover from Tropical Storm Irene. The local visit is part of the statewide Community Recovery Partnership initiative launched by Governor Peter Shumlin, and is designed to not only identify local needs but also connect communities with the support and resources they require for both short- and long-term recovery.

by tim

Fitch Ratings today affirmed the 'A-' Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and 'BBB+' senior debt ratings of NLV Financial Corp. (NLVF), and the 'A+' Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) ratings of National Life Insurance Company (Vermont)(NLIC) and Life Insurance Company of the Southwest (LSW) - collectively known as the National Life Group (NLGroup). A complete list of ratings follows at the end of this release. The Rating Outlook for all ratings is revised to Negative from Stable.
The rating affirmation reflects an updated review of NLGroup's credit related investment losses, which continued to decline in 2010 and through the first nine months of 2011. The investment portfolio as a whole was in a net unrealized gain position of approximately $300 million at Sep. 30, 2011.

by tim

Online advertised job vacancies in Vermont rose 800 and the nation as a whole increased by 93,800 in December to 3,951,000, according toThe Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine®(HWOL)Data Seriesreleased today. The December increase offset the dips of 76,000 in November and 14,000 in October. The Supply/Demand rate stands at 3.45, indicating there were 3.5 unemployed for every online advertised vacancy in November, the latest monthly data available for unemployment.

by tim

Vermont Public Television and Vermont Public Radio will collaborate on live web coverage of Governor Peter Shumlin’s state of the state address from the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, January 5, at 2 pm. Viewers will find it at VPT’s website,www.vpt.org, and VPR’s website,www.vpr.net.
VPR hosts Jane Lindholm and Bob Kinzel will provide audio commentary.
VPT will also broadcast the address at 7 pm Thursday on the VPT World channel, which is VPT’s fourth channel for over-the-air viewers. VPT World is also on Comcast cable channel 321 and other Vermont cable systems.
It will be archived as video on demand on VPT’s website.

by tim

There’s a lot of commotion about the deals, events, snow and celebrations happening in Vermont this month. It’s all true: there’s family fun served up for the heartiest of skiers, riders and revelers alike. In addition to the launch of www.RideVermont.com, Ski Vermont has the $29 Learn To Ski & Ride Month promotion, free Nordic ski and snowshoeing on Winter Trails Day and ski resorts are fully equipped to please - from first chair to bed hair.
Plus, with Vermont's unrivaled snowmaking process, resorts have the power to deliver with a combined snow gun capacity to lay a foot of snow on 60 acres in an hour - that's like filling Gillette Stadium with 40 feet in just one hour.
Here’s Martin Luther King Holiday and January deals and happenings:
Bolton Valley is Like Recess, Only It Lasts All Day and Into the Night

by tim

St Albans Town Resident Joe Sinagra declared his intentions to run for the State Senate from Franklin County, a formal campaign kickoff will occur in the Spring. Sinagra said, ‘Franklin Countyand Vermont are at a cross roads, we are one of the oldest states in the county and we continue to export our young people, as a State Senator I will focus on improving our local and state economy withoutraising taxes.’
Former Lt. Governor and Fairfield resident Brian Dubie said, ‘I have known Joe for more than 10 years, he is the type of person we need in the State Senate. I am proud to fully support Joe’scampaign and I will be proud to call him my State Senator.’