Current News

Some 15 Post Offices across Vermont, plus two service centers, will be spared elimination, saving 245 jobs, at least foSenator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joined senators from around the country today to announce that the US Postal Service voluntarily agreed to their request for a five-month moratorium until May 15 on closing postal facilities.
The moratorium would give Congress more time to consider postal reform legislation, including a bill introduced by Sanders.

A contractor and a homeowner will pay the State of Vermont a total of over $87,000 to resolve the Attorney General’s claims for the cleanup of an illegal and unpermitted discharge of hazardous waste.
‘Contractors must follow Vermont law when disposing of hazardous waste,’ said Attorney General William Sorrell.
In the spring of 2010, Travis Smith, a contractor based in Granville, New York, discharged water containing home heating oil into soil near Tinmouth Pond. When a nearby resident noticed an oily sheen in the water and shore of the pond, he contacted the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, which undertook an immediate and full cleanup of the area. The matter was then referred to the Attorney General’s Office.

The word ‘giving’ means a lot in Vermont; it's a way of life. Individual citizens, communities, businesses and families work to help one another in creative, often inspiring ways. The rally of Vermonters for Vermonters during post Irene efforts was a clear example of our people’s natural sense to lend a hand. This willingness to help is not new; at Vermont ski resorts, the pursuit of prosperity for others has been exhibited for decades through on-mountain fundraisers, charitable giving and volunteer events.
Vermont resorts give nearly 11,000 complimentary tickets/passes and several thousand deeply discounted tickets to school children annually. There are also incentives for kids to hit the books as well as the slopes, as many resorts offer season passes to academic achievers.

TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site, today launched its inaugural TripIndex Ski ‘ a cost comparison of 20 popular ski destinations across the United States and Canada. Salt Lake City is the most affordable spot in the nation, Vail is the most expensive, and the Northeast is generally the most affordable region, with Colorado being the costliest.
Top Skiing Steals and Deals

Salt Lake City, Utah is the most affordable ski destination, with a total TripIndex Ski cost of $239.
North Conway, New Hampshire is the least expensive ski destination in the Northeast, coming in on TripAdvisor's TripIndex Ski at $240.
Taos, New Mexico topped the list for the cheapest ski destination for travelers looking to enjoy America's western slopes ($250).
Banff, Alberta came out on top for the best-value Canadian destination for winter sports enthusiasts, with a total TripIndex Ski cost of $287

Most Expensive Winter Escapes

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) has been awarded a $30,000 Community Investment grant from TransCanada, an energy infrastructure company with operations throughout North America including eight hydroelectric stations in Vermont. The grant has been awarded to support VINS’ conservation and environmental education programs and boost the organization’s fundraising for program outreach in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene.
Through its Community Investment program, TransCanada supports local associations and organizations that serve as community assets in empowering individuals, building strong communities, and creating effective citizens.

Education Networks of America (ENA) and Sovernet Communications reported today that they have finalized an agreement to provide broadband Internet connectivity services to schools in southern, central and northeastern Vermont. The agreement allows ENA, which was recently awarded a statewide contract by the Vermont Department of Education to provide managed connectivity and communication services to Vermont’s public and private K’12 schools, to use Sovernet’s local fiber assets to help deliver the next generation of connectivity and communication services to public and private K-12 schools included in the Vermont FiberConnect project. The ENA-Sovernet agreement leverages each organization’s strengths to offer improved quality and value to potentially over 100 Vermont schools that ENA and Sovernet may jointly serve.

Vermont’s congressional delegation ‘ Senators Patrick Leahy, Bernie Sanders and Representative Peter Welch ‘ today announced that St Albans has been awarded a $2,088,496 federal grant for its ongoing streetscape project. The grant, awarded by the Department of Transportation, will fund continued downtown improvements.
The multi-phased project includes the comprehensive redesign of Main Street and its sidewalks; replacement of street lights, traffic signal arms, and traffic lights; replacement of street trees to better manage storm water; and the construction of signage. Street and traffic lights will be replaced with energy efficient LED lights.

Bullhorn, a national recruiting software company based in Boston, issued its Job Opportunity Report today, which found that Vermont is leading the United States in job openings. Year over year, Vermont experienced a 62 percent increase in job openings. Kentucky, North Dakota, Kansas and Oklahoma rounded out the top five. In New England, Maine had an increase of 21 percent, New Hampshire had an increase of 20 percent, Connecticut had an increase of 19 percent, Massachusetts had an increase of 11 percent, and Rhode Island came in at 6 percent.

JELD-WEN, Inc has signed a long-term lease renewal for 212,340 square feet of industrial space at 36 Precision Drive in North Springfield, Vermont, from Winstanley Enterprises. A global window and door maker based in Klamath Falls, OR, JELD-WEN utilizes the site for product manufacturing for the New England region.
In the transaction, the company was represented by Bo Mills, Mark Detmer, Will Strong, and Jackie Orcutt of the Phoenix office of Cushman & Wakefield, and Thomas Farrelly of the firm's Manchester, N.H. office. Landlord WE 36 Precision Drive LLC, an affiliate of Winstanley Enterprises, was represented by Arthur Ross of Hart Corp.
"With its prime location near I-91, this facility is well-suited for JELD-WEN for serving its regional market," said Mills. "Recently renovated, this industrial property works well for the company's window and door business."

The Vermont Arts Endowment Fund and the Concert Artists Fund, two component funds of the Vermont Community Foundation, announced that together they have awarded a total of $85,028 to 26 organizations and individuals across the state.
The Vermont Arts Endowment Fund awarded grants totaling $38,528 to support the creation and production of new work by Vermont artists and arts organizations, and provide technical assistance for arts organizations. The Concert Artists Fund awarded $46,500 to support performances of classical music in Chittenden County.
Grants funded by the Concert Artists Fund
Bella Voce Women’s Chorus of Vermont, Essex Junction
$1,000 to support the production and performance of "A Christmas Flourish."
Burlington Chamber Orchestra, Burlington
$2,000 to support 2011-2012 performances in the McCarthy Arts Center Recital Hall at St. Michael's College.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Green Mountain Section presented Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) with the Service of the Year award during their annual meeting banquet dinner held on December 2 at the Inn at Essex. One of nine awards presented during the evening, recognized VEC for its role in driving improvements to the state of the art of smart grid technology and services.

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: SWHC), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp, a US-based leader in firearm design and manufacturing, today announced that it has received contracts from the Massachusetts State Police and the Vermont State Police for new duty firearms from the M&P Pistol Series. The Massachusetts State Police has selected the M&P45 pistol, while the Vermont State Police has adopted the M&P40 pistol as its new service firearm. Both of the statewide law enforcement agencies have initiated the transition process and Troopers are currently using the M&P pistol in the field.
Vermont State Police