Current News
by tim
Stantec has announced solid results for the second quarter of 2011, with gross revenue increasing 11.1% to C$412.3 million from C$371.1 million in the second quarter of 2010, net revenue increasing 12.7% to C$342.3 million from C$303.8 million, net income increasing 8.0% to C$25.7 million from C$23.8 million, and diluted earnings per share increasing 7.7% to C$0.56 from C$0.52. Stantec has about 50 employees in its South Burlington office and nearly 400 employees across New England.
‘Our performance in the second quarter of 2011 was in line with our expectations at the end of the first quarter,’ says Bob Gomes, Stantec president and chief executive officer. ‘Thanks to the continuing support of our clients and staff, we are on track and expect consistent performance during the remainder of the year.’
by intern
In an effort to reduce the city’s environmental footprint, including greenhouse gas emissions, traffic and air pollution, and improve employee health and wellbeing, the City of Burlington is pleased to announce membership in the CCTA Smart Business Program. Through the program, the City ‘ along with other participating employers, can purchase CCTA bus passes for staff to be used on CCTA local or commuter buses. CCTA Smart Business also includes an emergency ride home service for those who commute by bus. Called ‘SureRide’, this emergency ride home program reimburses staff for a taxi ride home in the event of an unplanned emergency when they commute to work via CCTA. The most recent benefit added to the program is that after every 5 months of continuous participation, the 6th month is free thereby saving employers money while being socially responsible.
by tim
Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE: CV) reported consolidated earnings of $9.2 million, or 67 cents per diluted share of common stock, for the first six months of 2011 compared to $5.6 million, or 46 cents per diluted share of common stock, for the same period in 2010. Second-quarter earnings were $0.7 million or 5 cents per common share, 6 cents lower than in 2010. The improved earnings overall were driven in part by increases in operating revenue and decreases in operating expenses and storm restoration costs compared to the first six months of 2010, reduced in the second quarter by costs associated with the company's pending sale to a subsidiary of Gaz Metro Limited Partnership, Northern New England Energy Corporation, which also owns Green Mountain Power Corporation, the second largest utility in Vermont.
Year-to-date earnings of $9.2 million, or 67 cents per diluted share, 21 cents higher than 2010
by tim
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 117,000 in July, and the unemployment
rate was little changed at 9.1 percent, down from 9.2 percent in June, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today. Job gains occurred in health care, retail trade, manufacturing,
and mining. Government employment continued to trend down. The drop in the unemployment rate is attributed mostly to a reduction in the labor force, as fewer people were looking for work, but there was some modest gains in jobs.
Household Survey Data
The number of unemployed persons (13.9 million) and the unemployment rate (9.1
percent) changed little in July. Since April, the unemployment rate has shown
little definitive movement. The labor force, at 153.2 million, was little
changed in July, with a gain of 117,000.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men(9.0 percent),
by tim
Vermont-born global economist David Hale will appear on the EAI platform for the seventh time on Monday, August 29, at 7 pm in the University Amphitheatre at the Sheraton Burlington Conference Center.
David and his wife Lyric are the editors of a just released book, What's Next? Unconventional Wisdom on the Future of the World Economy (Yale University Press).
by tim
Joe Tymecki, chair of the Mount Mansfield Collocation Association technical committee, announced that antenna and tower maintenance work is planned for Sunday, August 7, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., weather permitting.
The work will require power to be reduced or turned off at times and will affect TV reception for some Vermont viewers, as well as reception of the two radio stations that transmit from the site.
Television stations affected will be Vermont Public Television, WCAX, WPTZ, WVNY and WFFF, as well as WEZF-FM and Vermont Public Radio’s 107.9.
by tim
Vermont's Fuse, LLC, a marketing agency that helps brands target teens and young adults, today was named to Outside magazine’s fourth annual ‘Best Places to Work’ list. Fuse was ranked number 26 out of 50 selected companies. The full list and related story will be published in the September issue of Outside magazine, available on newsstands August 16, 2011.
by tim
Terry Bicycles’ CEO, Liz Robert (formerly CEO of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company) is trading in her business suit for bike shorts and turning into a new kind of traveling sales rep. Robert is loading her backpack with samples and sales catalogs and riding from bike shop to bike shop in metro locations around the country to meet shop owners and managers and learn about their business, and to introduce them to the Terry line of cycling gear. All the while, she is testing Google’s beta Bike Maps and the developing bike infrastructure of our cities and towns.
Robert (pronounced ro-BEAR) recently pedaled through San Diego and neighboring coastal towns, and along the Rail Trail of Westchester County, NY. Her next bike tour is set for the Greater Boston area on Thursday, August 11 and Friday, August 12. She plans to ride from Natick to Cambridge and then along the Northshore from Marblehead to Manchester visiting independent bicycle dealers.
by tim
On August 3, 2011, the Vermont District Court approved the Dean Foods Settlement involving the price of Grade A milk produced and sold in the Northeast. The class action antitrust lawsuit brought by a class of northeast dairy farmers against Dean, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) and Dairy Marketing Services (DMS) was filed in August of 2009. The farmers reached a settlement agreement with Dean Foods Company in December 2010, including $30 million in monetary damages. The final settlement had to be approved by the federal court, which has taken over 7 months.
by tim
Dealer.com (www.dealer.com), the global leader in automotive internet marketing solutions, has been named one of ‘America’s Best Places to Work’ by Outside magazine. Out of a total of 50 companies who made the 2011 list, Dealer.com ranked No. 14. The full list and related story will be published in the September issue of Outside magazine, available on newsstands August 16, 2011.
‘We are incredibly honored to be listed on Outside’s Best Places to Work in America,’ said Mark Bonfigli, CEO of Dealer.com. ‘At Dealer.com, our commitment to the wellness and happiness of our employees has always been a top priority. But there is also great value in providing our team with these unique benefits. Our employees are enthusiastic about their work and consistently provide excellent customer service, develop innovative products and build forward-thinking digital marketing solutions for our clients.’
by tim
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be closing its temporary assistance office in Chittenden County and reducing hours at those in Washington and Caledonia counties as it begins to wind down some of its flood recovery efforts.
The disaster recovery center in Colchester will close Friday, August 12 at 6 p.m., while the centers in Barre and St. Johnsbury will remain open but with reduced hours. Individuals can visit these centers or call FEMA's Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362).
The remaining disaster recovery centers remain open, but Barre will no longer be open on Sundays, instead opening Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The St. Johnsbury center will be open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. Previously, it had opened at 8 a.m. Sundays.
Current DRC locations in Vermont and hours:
Mallett's Bay Fire Station
844 Church Road
Colchester, VT 05446
by tim
Over 30 local restaurants and caterers are joining the fight to end senior hunger by supporting the Top Chef of the Champlain Valley. The Top Chef benefits CVAA’s Meals on Wheels and Case Management programs. Over 235,000 Meals on Wheels are delivered each year to homebound seniors in the Champlain Valley. The Top Chef of the Champlain Valley, an Iron Chef Experience will be held at UVM's Davis Center on August 8 at 6pm.