Current News

The Windham Foundation of Grafton, Vermont has announced it has established a Grafton Relief Fund totaling $50,000 to serve residents in the Grafton and immediate surrounding area who were directly affected by the Tropical Storm Irene. The Foundation has partnered with two fellow nonprofits, Grafton Cares and Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) to administer the funds.
The fund was primarily established through donations from members of the Windham Foundation board of trustees, and was supplemented by members of the Grafton community and guests of the Grafton Inn.
When Tropical Storm Irene hit Vermont, the Grafton area was heavily damaged with flooding. While the historic village of Grafton has recovered at an astonishing speed and all businesses are fully operational, there are several families in the region that are still in need of working through damage on their homes and land.

The mobile home de-construction team headed by Lt. Governor Phil Scott and Secretary of Commerce and Community Development Lawrence Miller gathered this morning at Weston's Park in Berlin for the delivery of the first new mobile home since the flood.
Today's delivery marks a significant step forward for the park, where 70 homes were substantially damaged by Irene. The team headed by Lt. Gov. Scott and Secretary Miller removed 30 of those homes over the past two weeks at no cost to the homeowners. By working with contractors, community organizers and state officials, the team substantially reduced the cost of removal by lining up several homes for on-site demolition in the same park at the same time. Individual mobile home disposal typically involves trucking the unit out of the park and, when done one at a time, can cost upwards of $3,500.

Seventh Generation, a leading maker of non-toxic and renewable household and personal care products, has announced that a radical new reformulation of its best-selling laundry liquids has received one of the first ever USDA BioPreferred labels. The innovation responsible for this distinction is a brand new surfactant derived entirely from plant-based materials that's been developed by the company and its partners at Rhodia, member of the Solvay group.

The Vermont Department of Labor announced today the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for October 2011 was 5.6 percent, a decrease of two-tenths of a percent from the September rate. Compared to a year ago, the rate is lower by three-tenths of a percentage point. The current comparable national rate is 9.0 percent which reflects a decrease of one-tenth of a percent from the previous month.

Vermont Labor Force Statistics

Seasonally Adjusted

Change to
October 2011 from

October
2011
September
2011
October
2010
September
2011
October
2010

Total Labor Force
362,700
362,100
360,400
600
2,300

The Green Mountain Club today unveiled a first-in-the-state, wood-burning heat and hot water system. This small-scale, exterior system is part of the club’s new 100 percent on-site renewable energy portfolio for its Waterbury Center campus.
‘As the stewards of the Long Trail, its important that the Green Mountain Club walks the walk in promoting efficiency and small-scale renewable energy,’ said Will Wiquist, executive director of the club. ‘We must take responsibility for our own impacts on the environment if we are going to expect others to help protect Vermont’s hiking trails and the mountains and forests they cross.’

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA is funding projects to harness wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric power to reduce energy costs for farms and small business across rural America. Funding was also announced to conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy systems. Funding is made available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill. Rural Development Deputy Under Secretaries Doug O'Brien and Dallas Tonsager made the announcements on the Secretary's behalf.

The challenges of 2011, from barn fires to epic floods, revealed much about the strengths and vulnerabilities of Vermont’s farms. It also presented a lot of questions ‘ namely, what’s the best way to create a stronger, more resilient food system? How can farms plan for the increasingly severe weather that we are likely to see? How do home gardens and homesteads fit in? What is the role of consumers and communities as farmers take risks and try new ideas?
These are some of the questions that will be tackled at the 30th annual Winter Conference put on by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) this February. As the largest agricultural gathering in Vermont, the Winter Conference has long been a key opportunity for farmers, gardeners, homesteaders, and localvores to increase their skills and knowledge.

The University of Vermont and United Academics, the union representing fulltime faculty, announced today that they had reached a collective bargaining agreement, subject to ratification by the United Academics membership.
In response to the news of an accord between the parties at the bargaining table, Interim President John Bramley said, "I am very pleased that we were able to get this done. The process has not always been easy, and I want to thank everyone involved for their persistence, creative thinking, and willingness to work tirelessly to reach a workable agreement. These are challenging times, to be sure, and I think that everybody recognized that in finding reasonable approaches to resolve differences. I congratulate all involved at the bargaining table for their efforts."

Everybody knows the outlandish combination of chunks and swirls that put Ben & Jerry’s on the map over 30 years ago but few people correctly guess the first flavor the two real guys ever churned out. Mint with chocolate cookies? Cherry Garcia? Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough? The answer may surprise you.
Co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield knew there needed to be a creamy, delicious ice cream that could stand on its own before adding any chunks and swirls. Since 1978 the duo stirred up every imaginable flavor combination ‘ many that had never been tried before. Still, Greenfield and Cohen are quick to point out that the first flavor an ice cream maker must perfect is the one without any chunks or swirls whatsoever. That’s why their first flavor was: Vanilla.

More very low-income senior citizens in Vermont will have access to affordable supportive housing thanks to $4,885,200 in housing assistance announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This grant will help Cathedral Square Corp., a non-profit organization produce accessible housing, offer rental assistance, and facilitate supportive services for the elderly.
VERMONT GRANT
Section 202 - Supportive Housing for the Elderly
Project Location : Burlington, VT
Non-Profit Sponsor : Cathedral Square Corp.
Capital Advance : $4,543,800
Three-year rental subsidy : $341,400
Number of units : 28

The holidays make December all the more enticing in Vermont's snowy mountains with festivals, events and good natured cheer emanating from the resorts. Here is a sampling of some of the resorts' holiday packages, events and deals.
Holidays at Stratton are Spectacular
Enjoy traditional celebrations like the Gobble Gobble Wobble 5K, feasting and fireworks and partake in events you won’t find anywhere else, such as Snowboard Celebration Week and Stratton’s Fiftieth... Read More
Jay Peak Resort Invents Weather-Proof Ski Vacation
The team at Jay Peak Resort has invented a weather-proof winter vacation for your holiday pleasure. Using a quarter of a billion dollar investment, the resort began working on the innovation three years ago announcing various... Read More
The Stowe Points Card Offers Year-round Discounts and Rewards

The mobile home de-construction team assembled by Lt. Governor Phil Scott and Secretary of Commerce and Community Development Lawrence Miller finished up work at Weston's Mobile Home Park earlier this week, and the first new mobile home will be delivered to the park tomorrow.
A major donor will also attend to announce their $50,000 contribution to the project.
DATE: Thursday, November 17
TIME: 9:30 AM
PLACE: Weston's Mobile Home Park, Berlin
(Route 12, 2 miles south of Montpelier)
In addition, several people who have been involved in the rehabilitation of the park will also be there to say a few words:
Ellery Packard (Weston's park owner)
Bob & Patty Goodell (owners of the new mobile home)
Lt. Gov. Phil Scott
Susan Gretkowski (Chair, Berlin Select Board)
Housing Commissioner Jennifer Hollar