Current News

Vermont Public Radio has launched the Public Post, a local digital news service that gives Vermonters access to their town and city minutes, and a place to connect around local news and common issues.
Public Post collects minutes from city councils and town select boards as a primary source of information about local communities. Vermonters can browse the database of these municipal minutes, post headlines, and start discussions about what’s going on in their towns.
‘We strongly believe the people on the ground in Vermont’s communities are in the best position to let us know what’s happening and what really matters in their town,’ said Kirk Carapezza, Public Post’s editor and reporter. ‘We want to harness that knowledge on Public Post and to provide a forum for discussion. It's an innovative way to continue VPR's tradition as a trusted and relevant statewide news source."

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management services company based in Rutland, Vermont,, will host a conference call on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 to discuss its financial results for the company's first quarter fiscal year 2012, which ended July 31, 2011.
The company will release its financial results after the close of the market on Monday, August 29, 2011. The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. ET. Individuals interested in participating in the call should dial (877) 548-9590 or (720) 545-0037 at least 10 minutes before start time. The call will also be webcast; to listen, participants should visit Casella Waste Systems' website at http://ir.casella.com and follow the appropriate link to the webcast.

By Brian Dubie, Chair of the Vermont Aerospace and Aviation Association.
Vermont may be a state small in size, but we take great pride in knowing that we are the largest producer of Maple Syrup of all the fifty states, and that we are the 14th largest dairy-producing state.
Many Vermonters would be surprised to know that Vermont also ranks 14th in the nation as an aerospace cluster, according to a new study being released this month by Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and Embry-Riddle University. Caledonia County companies like Mobile Medical and Franklin County companies like Superior Technical Ceramics and Liquid Measurement Systems contribute to our high ranking, along with other Vermont companies, such as Mansfield Heliflight, Aviatron, General Electric, Goodrich, GS Precision and Vermont Composites and many more.

US Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined Senator Patrick Leahy in Vermont Monday to announce several new Interior Department initiatives in Vermont aimed at boosting recreation-related economic development and advancing the President’s American’s Great Outdoors initiative. During the visit, Salazar and Leahy were also briefed on key land and wildlife conservation projects.

Vermont Technical College will open its state of the art clinical learning and simulation center at its Brattleboro campus on Thursday. The additional 1,000 square feet of educational space is possible thanks to a $600,000 grant awarded to VTC through the efforts of Senator Patrick Leahy.
Clifford LaPlante, nursing site director of the Brattleboro campus, is pleased and grateful for the new addition, "It enhances the entire educational experience. We can now teach things we wouldn't otherwise be able to."

ARC Mechanical Contractor’s president and owner, Wil Buskey, announced significant changes to the company’s corporate structure. With retirement approaching, Wil has redefined the management team that will steer ARC to a future without him. For nearly 45 years, Wil has been involved in nearly every aspect in the heating, cooling, and refrigeration business; and for the last 12 years, has been the driving force behind ARC.
Wil’s new role as Chief Executive Officer allows him to continue to guide the company’s direction, but the day-to-day operations of ARC will now be handled by Jody Perkins, ARC’s current service manager and new president. Jody’s role as service manager will not change for the immediate future.

With an eye toward traditional renewable projects as well as cutting-edge studies, Central Vermont Public Service has proposed funding a variety of projects to further clean energy development in Vermont.
‘From improvements to existing projects to forward-thinking projects with great potential, we hope to improve and expand Vermont’s renewable energy options,’ CVPS spokesman Steve Costello said. ‘In proposing funding for these projects, we hope to make new strides in energy production.’
The CVPS proposals, filed with the Vermont Public Service Board, include funding for nine renewable and carbon-reduction projects and studies for a total award of about $340,000. In a letter to the PSB, CVPS noted the proposals would be funded from an insurance rebate related to the company’s former ownership in Vermont Yankee.

Vermont patients are beginning to see results from a $27 billion federal program that offers incentives for physician practices and hospitals to use electronic health records systems, according to US Senator Patrick Leahy. Those benefits include Vermonters receiving more reminders about important preventive care.
Senator Leahy spoke during a visit to Middlebury Family Health Friday, the first Vermont physician practice to meet all of the federal program's criteria for improving patient care using its electronic health records system.

The US Department of Education today announced that the Vermont Family Network will receive $189,052 in a special education Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) grant to help parents ensure that their children receive a free, appropriate public education as guaranteed by federal law. The Education Department will award a total of $5.3 million for 2011 to operate 19 special education PTI centers in 13 states and Puerto Rico.
‘Parent Centers help families better understand their child’s disability and can often connect them to important local, state and national resources,’ said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. ‘These centers will play a vital role in empowering parents and families to learn about appropriate early interventions and special education services.’

The Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce announced the coveted Best Taste and Best Display Awards presented at the 30th Annual RRCC Winter In August Celebration sponsored by Rutland Herald, which was held on August 9, 2011 at the Diamond Run Mall. Best Taste Award was presented to South Station Restaurant and Best Taste Runner Up award went to American Legion Post 31; the Best Display Award was presented to Killington Grand Resort Hotel and Best Display Runner Up was presented to South Station Restaurant.
Nearly 400 people including Congressman Peter Welch, Governor Peter Shumlin and Lt. Governor Phil Scott to help recognize the positive economic impact that the ski industry has on the Rutland region and Vermont. Twenty area restaurants and businesses provided delicious food for attendees to enjoy while the businesses marketed their establishments.

The Brattleboro Retreat has entered a relationship with Black River Produce, a Vermont-based distributor of local produce, through which the hospital’s food service vendor, Sodexo, is able to purchase its produce and cheese provisions with first priority given to Vermont-sourced goods. The move comes in response to internal surveys and staff suggestions strongly in favor of supporting local, sustainable agriculture.
‘We’re a rural community in a green state,’ explained Vareen O’Keefe-Domaleski, MSN, Ed.D., senior vice president for Patient Care. ‘The Brattleboro Retreat wants to support our local farmers and also provide our patients, staff and guests with the very best in healthy, fresh, high-quality produce.’

In a court document filed today, Casella Waste Systems, Inc., agreed to pay $1 million to resolve a multi-year investigation of the company’s violations of a 2002 settlement with the Attorney General. Casella issued over 2,400 contracts for residential and commercial waste hauling services that violated the 2002 agreement.
‘When a business makes a promise to correct certain behavior, we hold them to that promise,’ said Attorney General Sorrell. ‘Consumers and businesses alike expect that our consumer protection and antitrust settlements will be vigorously enforced ‘ and they are.’