Current News

Tuesday morning Republican Kurt Wright announced that he would be a candidate for mayor of Burlington, Vermont. Wright made the announcement on the Channel 3 Morning News and on the Charlie & Ernie & Lisa Show on WVMT 620-AM.
Wright said, ‘After much discussion, thought and encouragement I’ve decided to run for mayor of Burlington. I can tell you that job number one for me will be to restore fiscal responsibility to the city and restore our credit rating.
"This race is not about party politics," he said, "It will be about who the people of Burlington think can do the best job. Voters will choose the best person who can restore trust and credibility to the City of Burlington and I think I’m that person.
"I love Burlington and my candidacy will be offering big ideas and real solutions over the next few months.’

John Curran, a writer for the Associative Press of Montpelier, died on this past Saturday after suffering from a heart attack. John was only 54 years old and his death came as a shock to many. Governor Peter Shumlin made the following remarks after learning of John’s passing:
"Like so many Vermonters who knew John Curran, I am shocked and saddened by his death. John was an award-winning journalist who was thoughtful, thorough, and fair. My staff and I enjoyed working with John, and we mourn his loss. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and co-workers - John will be impossible to replace."

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, announced President Barack Obama has signed a proclamation declaring September 18 ‘ 24, 2011 as National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week.
In the 10 years of continuous military operations since September 11, 2001, employers across the Nation have remained committed to supporting their employees who serve in the military. National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week is a time to honor those who serve in the Guard and Reserve while giving thanks to their employers, whose support is a critical component of our national defense.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation today opened a two-lane temporary bridge along Route 105 in Brighton. The temporary bridge restores traffic along Route 105 in Brighton, which has been severed since Tropical Storm Irene hit Vermont. While open, the bridge is unpaved. Crews plan to pave Wednesday, weather permitting. When paving is underway, Route 105 in Brighton will experience delays. Motorists should leave additional time to reach their destination.
Source: Vermont Agency of Transportation

The Vermont Department of Education announced grants awarded to six Vermont high schools to engage in 21st century innovative programming today.
The six schools will be the first Vermont cohort inducted into the New England League of Innovative Schools, sponsored by the New England Secondary School Consortium (NESSC). The six schools presented their projects, linking them to the practices to which they have committed and by demonstrating 21st century innovative programming.
Members of Vermont’s first League of Innovative Schools (LIS) cohort include BFA (Dennis Hill, Principal), Cabot (Karen Stewart, Principal), Montpelier (Peter Evans, Principal), Essex (Rob Reardon, Principal), Williamstown (Scott Lang, Principal), and South Burlington (Patrick Burke, Principal).The LIS is a new collaboration-driven support network for New England’s secondary schools.

People’s United Bank and VPT Team Up to Help Vermont Disaster Relief Fund.
When Vermont Public Television holds its fall fundraising campaign later this month, people who contribute to VPT will, at the same time, be helping the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund that has been set up in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene.
A contribution in any amount will support the programs and services that VPT provides throughout the region and will spark a matching donation from People’s United Bank to the local fund.
The effort will be on the air during VPT’s live fundraising evenings Sept. 24, Sept. 27 and Oct. 1.

Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company announced today that it has closed on its $2.5 million Series A Preferred Stock financing round, bringing total funds raised to date to $3.1 million. Proceeds from the financing have been used to retire a mortgage on the Company’s property in South Woodstock, Vermont and improve and expand its operations. Although the Company has only been producing cheese since January 2011, Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company products are now sold in 168 stores in six states and have earned 11 awards in four separate national cheese competitions since June 2011.
Vincent Galluccio, Chairman of Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company, stated ‘Completing this round of financing is yet another in a long list of milestones we have accomplished in a very short period of time. With these secured funds we can focus on expanding our market presence and growing our revenues.’
About Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company:

Green Mountain Power is pleased to announce that Northlands Job Corps of Vergennes has been selected to host the first wind turbine installation of the Green Mountain Power & Northern Power Systems Community Wind Partnership to promote local wind power.
"This is just the first of what we hope to be many Vermont-made community-scale wind turbines in our state," said Mary Powell, president and chief executive officer of Green Mountain Power. "Distributed generation, where customers and communities produce their own electricity, is going to play an increasingly important role in our energy future. We want to help our customers realize this future in the easiest and most cost effective way possible."

Rick and Wanda Bogin, proprietors of Plymouth Travel in New Hampshire, and Scott Milne, President of Milne Travel American Express, today announced that Plymouth is merging its retail travel business into Milne Travel’s family of agencies. Rick and Wanda Bogin will continue to operate their very successful group, school, and choir tour business, independent of the Milne merger.
‘We have a great deal of respect for Rick & Wanda Bogin and the travel business that they have built in New Hampshire,’ said Scott Milne. ‘Once we complete the integration, our intent is for business and vacation clients of Plymouth Travel and other travelers in Central New Hampshire to become delighted clients of Milne Travel.’
‘We are thrilled that our clients will be well taken care of by the professionals at Milne Travel,’ stated Rick Bogin, ‘and that Wanda and I will be able to focus more of our energy arranging and leading our group tours to destinations worldwide.’

As more roads and bridges are reopened across Vermont, an integrated, online map showing road status, attractions, resorts, and the state’s information center locations has been prepared by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing in collaboration with partner organizations, Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT), Ski Vermont, the Vermont Attractions Association, and the Vermont Information Centers Division.
‘With the foliage season approaching, we felt it will be most helpful to visitors and tour operators to have all the essential information available on one map. It can be readily linked from www.VermontVacation.com and, we expect, from the websites of our partners,’ said Tourism Commissioner Megan Smith.

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened a Business Recovery Center in Springfield, Vermont. Businesses affected by Tropical Storm Irene between Aug. 27 and Sept. 2, should come to the Center to apply for disaster assistance.
The Center opened Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the Office of the Springfield Development Corporation, 14 Clinton Street, Springfield, VT 05156. The operating hours are from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. closed on Sundays, until further notice.
The space being utilized for the Business Recovery Center was obtained through a coordinated effort by the Vermont District Director and the Executive Director of the Springfield Regional Development Corporation, Bob Flint.

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP has announced that a class action has been commenced in the United States District Court for the District of Vermont on behalf of a proposed class of Central Vermont Public Service Corp CV +0.21% shareholders who held CVPS shares during the period beginning May 30, 2011 through and including the closing of the proposed acquisition of CVPS by Gaz Metro Limited Partnership ("Gaz Metro").