Current News

BioTek Instruments, Inc., will highlight their newest microplate instrumentation technologies at BIOTECHNICA 2011, Hall 9, Stand D69 from October 11-13, 2011 at the Hannover Exhibition Grounds, Hannover, Germany.
The exhibition marks the European debut of BioTek's high performance, high value Eonâ ¢ Microplate Spectrophotometer. This monochromator-based absorbance reader provides shaking, temperature control to 65°C, flexible, filter-free 200-999 nm wavelength selection in 1 nm increments, and spectral scanning in 6- to 384-well microplates. An optional cuvette port expands functionality and aids in assay miniaturization to microplates or the 2 µL volumes used with BioTek's Take3â ¢ and new Take3 Trio Micro-Volume Plates.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (Vtrans) announced the reopening of two (2) major east west routes for two lane traffic today. Bridge # 9 on Route 9 had been restricted to one lane after a second round of inspections found damage that had been hidden by debris. Route 11 in Chester was also reopened to two (2) lane traffic today after being reduced to one lane in late September.
While both Routes are open and traffic is flowing well, Vtrans is asking drivers to be very careful as they drive through towns where the local recovery effort is still underway.
VTrans 10.4.2011

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce announces the highly anticipated 2012 Top Ten Summer and Fall Events. Each year, a panel of independent judges chooses Vermont’s best activities, selected for their diversity, wide appeal, and consistency with Vermont's brand.
Vicky Tebbetts, Vermont Chamber Senior VP, noted, ‘Vermont is known for being a destination in which to relax, reconnect with friends and family, get outdoors, and get back to basics. This year's Vermont Chamber Top Ten Summer and Fall Events feature time-honored traditions as well as contemporary experiences from all regions of the state.’
The Vermont Chamber Top Ten Summer Events take place from April through August 2012, and the Fall Events take place September through October 2012.
The winners in chronological order include:
Top 10 Summer Events:
46th Annual Vermont Maple Festival
St. Albans, April 27 ‘ 29, 9 am ‘ 5 pm with some evening events.

Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos announces he will conduct a 12 stop tour to discuss Vermont’s public records and open meeting laws with municipal and state employees and citizens who serve on local government boards. The public is invited and encouraged to attend these events.
After a presentation there will be time for Q&A and a general discussion with the audience. This is a great opportunity to address specific issues that you may have questions about, and to discuss the nuances of these laws.
Secretary Condos stated, ‘Open and transparent government is good government! Vermont’s citizens deserve accountability in their government.’

FairPoint Communications has announced its release of Carrier Ethernet products specifically designed for the wholesale market.
FairPoint's E-Line service is now available to its wholesale customers who are authorized to provide services in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. FairPoint has made its new E-Line services of Ethernet Private Line (EPL) and Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL) possible by significantly investing in its communications infrastructure and technology to bring these and other broadband services to northern New England. FairPoint's new fiber-based, high-capacity network ‘ called VantagePoint(SM) ‘ offers its wholesale customers a better, faster way to connect to their customers.

At the recent VT Fine Furniture & Woodworking Festival the
finest wood craftsmen in Vermont exhibited their design entries in the
Vermont Woodworking Design Competition.
The entries were displayed not only
for the judges, but for the public to give them an opportunity to see, first
hand, the broad scope of work designed and created by the state's many
artisans. The panel of prestigious judges included Mark Schofield of Fine
Woodworking Magazine, Dan Faia of North Bennett Street School, and James
Murray from Simon Pearce Glass. Judges enjoyed the day with their clipboards
on hand, making notes that would help them decide who would walk away with
the 1st place awards in the various categories offered. Four professional
categories were offered for Custom or Studio Furniture, Production
Furniture, Custom Woodenware, and Carvings or Sculptures, in addition to one

The foliage change appeared to slow to a near standstill during the misty, atmospheric weather of this past weekend. But with a frosty night or two before the coming weekend and sunny weather forecast through Monday, near-peak to full color change is expected along the spine of the Green Mountains and will begin to emerge in the mountain valleys.
Ray Toolan, who reports from Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, observes a variety of foliage in the area. ‘Not a great deal of change from last week, most likely due to the wet weather. Still, we have a lot of variation, with the best colors in the higher elevations and around swamps and wetlands. In many places mid-slope forests are still in early stages while other areas are at or just past peak. Pretty much any of the paved roads in Lamoille and Orleans counties are showing nice color,’ Toolan says.

McGraw-Hill Construction today reported on August contracts for future construction in the state of Vermont. Contracts showed an increase of 68 percent over August 2010, but down 14 percent for the year to date. Meanwhile, New Hampshrie was down 27 percent for the month and 33 percent for the year. In both cases, commercial construction continued to be a drag on the industry. Residential building also struggled in Vermont, while all sectors in New Hampshire were down. These numbers do not reflect any Tropical Storm Irene data.
VERMONT

NEW HAMPSHIRE

An authority on the construction market, the firm produces Dodge Reports and Sweets Catalog Files. According to the Research and Analytics unit of McGraw-Hill Construction.
New York, New York -- McGraw-Hill

With school back in session and farmers throughout the state struggling to get back on their feet after Tropical Storm Irene, Rep. Peter Welch today introduced legislation to allow Vermont to use federal funds to buy local produce for schools.
Vermont schools currently receive produce from a regional distribution center in Rhode Island under the Department of Defense (DOD) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The program ‘ a joint partnership between the DOD and Department of Agriculture ‘ was created in 1994 and uses the DOD's existing food distribution network.
Welch's Fresh and Local School Foods Act would create a three-state pilot program that would allow participants to opt-out of the DOD program and spend those funds instead on local fruits and vegetables.

Commissioner Elizabeth Miller has announced that the newly revised Residential Building Energy Code is in effect as of October 1, 2011. Miller states, ‘As new building construction and renovations in existing buildings take place in Vermont, the new Residential Building Energy Codes will help ensure we are continuing to move to more efficient and sustainable homes. Building new homes to the 2011 Residential Energy Code will yield increased energy savings of 10-20% over the previous Energy Code. This means less energy consumption, fewer emissions, and lower energy bills for Vermonters.’ Commissioner Miller expects a similar, if not greater, impact with the new Commercial Energy Code which is on track to take effect in early January 2012.

Vermont's mortgage foreclosure and delinquency rates remained unchanged in August, but the state slipped one spot to 10 as Virginia's mortgage situation improved. The August Mortgage Monitor report released by Lender Processing Services, Inc. (NYSE: LPS) shows that foreclosure starts were up in August by nearly 20 percent compared to July 2011 results, with first-time foreclosure starts reaching 2011 highs.
Overall, foreclosure starts remained down more than 12 percent from this time last year. At the same time, of the approximately 4 million loans that are either 90 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure, the number in the 90 or more days category has shrunk to levels not seen since 2008. The August data also showed that, of loans that were current six months prior, 1.4 percent had become seriously delinquent, a rate of less than half of the peak of 2.9 percent in 2009.

US Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Monday announced they now have 61 Senate cosponsors of their latest ‘Guard Empowerment’ effort, the National Guard Empowerment and State-National Defense Integration Act of 2011 (S.1025), which Leahy and Graham introduced in May.