Current News

Fuse, a marketing agency that helps brands reach teens and young adults, is proud to announce the launch of an annually occurring Service Grant Program. Fuse will donate $25,000 in services to a to-be-selected charity program within the action sports community.
"In the past fifteen years, Fuse has supported many great non-profits through donations and by providing pro bono or discounted work. It has been a rewarding experience and we are now excited to expand our community involvement through this new grant program," said Brett Smith, Partner at Fuse. "This project will provide a substantial grant to a deserving non-profit and allow Fuse to continue its dedication to community service."
Existing non-profit programs within the action sports community, as well those with new charity ideas connected to action sports, are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is October 15, 2011.

The Vermont State House, all federal and state facilities around the state and public buildings and grounds around the state will lower their flags to half staff from Friday to Monday, per order of Governor Peter Shumlin, to honor Chief Petty Officer Brian Bill, 31, of Virginia Beach, VA, who died on August 6, 2011, while serving with the United States Navy in Afghanistan. He was a graduate of Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont.
Where the flags will be lowered:
The Vermont State House, all Federal and State Facilities around the state and public buildings and grounds around the state.
Which flags will be lowered:
The U.S flag, Vermont State flag, POW flags, and any other flag*
Date the flags are to be lowered: (at sunrise):
Friday, August 19, 2011
Date flags are to return to full staff: (at sunset):
Monday, August 22, 2011
Name of person being honored/Reason to Lower Flag(s):

Governor Peter Shumlin today announced that a new manufacturing company will be locating in Manchester and will initially employ just over 100 people. The company, WCW, Inc, is a family-owned manufacturer of premier bedding used in the medical and hospitality sectors, with plans to expand to retail customers.
WCW’s decision to relocate to Manchester from its Hoosick Falls, NY, facilities was based on a combination of incentives, location and support from the governor's office and Vermont economic development officials. It was approved for more than half-a-million dollars in state incentives.
"Vermont did an excellent job of presenting a competitive incentive package and providing assistance to us from the Shumlin administration - including the governor himself ‘ as well as from the Bennington County Industrial Corporation and local representatives," said WCW chairman John Wilkinson. "My family and I very much look forward to our future in Vermont."

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.’