Current News

by Anne Galloway, www.vtdigger.org May 18, 2011 Thanks to technology, consumers are keenly self-aware. The Internet tracks our purchases, our favorite websites and our ‘friends.’ The web gives us constant updates on the weather, sports events and instant access to the intimate musings of complete strangers via Facebook and Twitter.
What if you could track your electricity use in real time? Would you be more apt to turn off the lights and power down your computer if you knew it would save you a couple of bucks each day? Would information about just how much juice it takes to run the clothes dryer spur consumers to hang their laundry on a drying rack?
Those are the kind of hypothetical questions interdisciplinary energy scientists and utilities are attempting to answer as part of an initiative yet to be implemented known as ‘smart grid’ technology.

When Rick Cochran was working with five employees in his basement in Walden, Vt., his dream was to find a way to provide advanced medical care to underserved areas, and build a company that could deliver it. Today, the Vermont manufacturer of state-of-the-art mobile healthcare and diagnostic units was named 2011 National Small Business Person of the year by Karen Mills, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Mills made the announcement during ceremonies at SBA’s celebration of National Small Business Week in Washington, DC.
First runner-up is Deborah Carey, president and founder of the New Glarus Brewing Company, in New Glarus in southwestern Wisconsin. Second runner-up is Leigh Kamstra, owner and chef of Roma’s Ristorante in Spearfish, S.D., north of the Black Hills.

At the I-89 northbound Williston welcome center today, Governor Peter Shumlin addressed the future of the Circumferential Highway project and the EPA’s recent decision to veto the administration’s current plans.
‘The Circ, as originally conceived 30 years ago, will not be built,’ the Governor said at a news conference. ‘Let’s face the reality while also recognizing that significant transportation problems exist in this region that need to be addressed. By bringing together stakeholders in the spirit of collaboration, I believe we will find more cost effective and modern solutions to our current challenges.
‘I have asked the Agency of Transportation and the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization to take a fresh look at the Circ to see if there is a better way to solve the transportation problems in our four towns that are on the path of the project,’ he added.

US Senator Patrick Leahy announced today that Deputy Assistant Secretary Don Graves, one of the US Department of Treasury’s top policy advisors on small business finance and community development and the executive director of President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, will speak at the Vermont Business and Industry EXPO’s Leahy Business Breakfast Wednesday, May 25 at 8 am.
Leahy invited Graves to Vermont to speak about the Treasury Department’s efforts to create jobs across the country and in Vermont. Leahy noted that as the executive director of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competiveness, Graves will also give Vermont businesses a chance to share their vision for economic prosperity with a top member of President Obama’s job creation team.

Legislation passed by the 2011 session of the Vermont Legislature and signed into law by Governor Peter Shumlin expands Vermont’s captive laws, to include allowing cells within a sponsored cell captive to be formed as incorporated protected cells. The bill was signed into law before a group of industry supporters on May 11.
‘This bill is testimony to our commitment to keep pace with the changing needs of this industry,’ said Governor Peter Shumlin. ‘I commend the Legislature for their hard work and commitment to keeping Vermont ‘the gold standard’ for captive domiciles.’

The Vermont Department of Labor announced today the seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for April 2011 was 5.3 percent. This reflects a decrease of one-tenth of one percentage point to the statewide rate from the previously reported March level of 5.4 percent. Compared to a year ago (April 2010), the statewide unemployment rate has trended down by 1.2 percent.

by Anne Galloway, www.vtdigger.org May 18, 2011 Not long ago the notion of going to Waterbury was shorthand for a journey into the stigmatizing world of mental illness. For decades, the small burg near the posh ski town of Stowe was identified with the sprawling campus of the Vermont State Hospital. At one point, the facility housed about 1,400 psychiatric patients.
In the 1970s, as the deinstitutionalization movement took hold and community mental health services became the mainstay of psychiatric treatment in Vermont, the hospital discharged hundreds of patients. By the early 1980s, about 200 patients resided at the facility.
Eventually, the Victorian era brick buildings with slate roofed-turrets and stately facades were transformed from psychiatric units into office spaces for departments and agencies of state government.

Governor Peter Shumlin today signed into law a bill requiring manufacturers of mercury-containing lamps to establish and finance a recycling program for spent bulbs from residents and small businesses. With today's signing at Nelson Ace Hardware in Barre, Vermont becomes the third state in the country to establish such an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program.
The Governor said the new law is an important environmental measure, key in helping protect Vermont's waterways and natural environment from the problems associated with mercury pollution. Under the new law, recycling costs will be paid by the manufacturer, consistent with other product stewardship legislation enacted in Vermont and around the country.

This past winter, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) received a two-year, $45,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to be directed to the management of invasive plants throughout the Ottauquechee Watershed. These management efforts will be led by VINS in conjunction with the recently formed Ottauquechee Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (OCISMA). The OCISMA comprises a group of concerned citizens, municipalities and businesses led by a steering committee that includes representatives from the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the VT Agency of Natural Resources, the Vermont Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the Ottauquechee Natural Resources Conservation District as well as Randolph-based invasive species pioneer Mike Bald.

The second annual Saint Michael's College Community Service Day has drawn some 119 employees volunteering to do a variety of service activities for the day, Wednesday, May 25, both on and off the Colchester-based campus. Participants were encouraged to join in the ‘opportunity to come together with your colleagues and to give back to your community.’
Staff Awards
Service activities from 9 a.m. to 12 noon will be followed by lunch and Annual Staff Awards Ceremony in Alliot Hall that will honor six employees for their commitment, service and dedication. The six to be honored were nominated by their colleagues, and will be identified for the first time at the ceremony.
‘This project celebrates the Saint Michael’s community by doing good work together,’ said Angela Irvine, director of foundation relations and service-day team member.

Team registration is now open for the Citizens Bank Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival. This year’s festival is Sunday, August 7th at Burlington's Waterfront Park. Each team is comprised of 21 paddlers who race head to head in 41 foot long dragon boats over a 300 meter course. Festival organizers encourage everyone to join together with your co-workers, friends, and family and form a team. No paddling experience is necessary, it’s all for fun, friendly competition, and raising money to fund programs to help friends and neighbors living with a cancer diagnosis. Online registration is easy. Just visit www.ridethedragon.org for complete festival information and registration details. Every team gets a free one hour practice session in July. Space is limited so organize your team right away.

State and local law enforcement in Vermont will receive more than $8.5 million in federal grant assistance to help with prevention and preparedness, US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced Thursday. The grants will be released Thursday by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
‘Police officers, fire fighters, emergency medical technicians and a long list of other first responders keep criminals off the street, protect our communities, and help secure our borders,’ said Leahy. ‘Safety, security and preparedness must continue to be high priorities as further waves of budget cuts are negotiated in Washington. The officers who work every day to keep our communities safe deserve our support and our commitment. These funds are important to Vermont’s readiness.’
Vermont will receive grant awards under three different DHS programs: