Current News

The University of Vermont College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has named Rachel K. Johnson, PhD, RD, the inaugural Robert L. Bickford, Jr. Green and Gold Professor ‘ the first endowed professorship in that college. Dr. Johnson has been a member of the college's faculty since 1991 and served as its dean from 2001 to 2008. Her appointment as the Bickford Green and Gold Professor begins July 1, 2011.
The Bickford Green and Gold Professorship is named in honor of Robert L. Bickford, Jr., a 1943 graduate of the university's College of Agriculture and former chair of both the UVM Board of Trustees and the Board of Advisors for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Bickford and his wife, Oletha Bickford, established the Bickford Green and Gold Professorship through their estate plans. Following her husband's death in January 2007, Oletha Bickford arranged to inaugurate the professorship in conjunction with the college's centennial observance on May 14, 2011.

The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) presented VIT with the 21st Century Award for Best Practices in Distance Learning. This award is presented annually to a demonstrated pioneer in the field of distance learning, for developing innovative approaches to the delivery of distance learning programs and for demonstrating a capacity to adjust to the evolving nature of the field.
VIT has been delivering distance learning services to Vermonters since 1988 and continues to expand its infrastructure to stay ahead of technological advancements, and to give Vermonters the best distance learning tools available.
Barbara Grimes, long time Chair of the VIT Coordinating Council noted, ‘VIT pioneered this technology in Vermont and as the award demonstrates, VIT continues to be a leader in distance learning.’ She added, ‘VIT’s technical and operational expertise gives Vermonters access to quality opportunities worldwide.’

Governor Peter Shumlin announced today that Preliminary Damage Assessment teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are in Vermont this week to help determine if the state qualifies for federal disaster assistance for individuals and families affected by the flooding.
The teams will be in the field on Wednesday to visit many homes that have reported damage to Vermont 211. The Governor urged anyone who has suffered damage to their home to call 211 to report those problems.
‘We need a reliable estimate of individual damage,’ Gov. Shumlin said. ‘The state needs to show significant damage to primary residences to qualify for an Individual Assistance declaration to help homeowners who suffered damage by the floods of the past month.’

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $4.9 million in new and continuing grants to support the Family-to-Family Health Information Centers, primarily non-profit organizations run by and for families with children with special health care needs, including Vermont Family Network. Funding for the centers was extended through 2012 by the Affordable Care Act.
Created in 2005, the centers are state-wide, family-led organizations that provide information, education, training, outreach, and peer support to families of children and youth with special health care needs and the professionals who serve them.

Governor Peter Shumlin today announced the formation and first meeting of the Vermont Climate Cabinet, a group of senior officials in his administration charged with leading the state toward reduced greenhouse emissions and from reliance on fossil fuels.
‘At a time when few if any states are focusing on climate change, Vermont is committed to doing everything possible to mitigate the threats and impacts,’ the governor said. The wild weather caused by climate change impacts the state at many levels, including increased snowfalls and flooding, unpredictable storms and more, he said.
The changes are leading to financial challenges as Vermont struggles to keep up with road and property damage increasingly linked to climate change, among other problems. The environmental threat is also critical.

Governor Peter Shumlin on Wednesday will take part in the Agency of Transportation’s ‘Safety Day’ events, which include a golf cart texting course, a vehicle rollover crash display, and more.
Date: May 18, 2011
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: The National Life campus; Montpelier
The day will be filled with safety demonstrations, exhibits, information and presentations, reminding employees and the public that safety is integral VTrans’ mission, and also the responsibility of every individual to be informed and to stay ‘focused of safety.’
Initiated by Vtrans employees, and working in partnership with partner Agencies from the Governor’s Highway Safety program to Department of Public Safety, the day will feature demonstrations throughout the National Life campus, as well as activities to education and inform, including:

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin will sign into law a bill promoting renewable energy development and clean energy jobs in Vermont on May 25 in South Burlington.
H.56, The Vermont Energy Act of 2011 continues Vermont’s efforts to promote a green economy and energy independence. It expands and improves Vermont’s successful net metering program which allows Vermont ratepayers to generate their own energy with renewable systems and run their meter backwards when producing excess power. Recognizing the peak power savings of net metered solar, the new bill creates a financial incentive to catalyze more net metered solar by requiring utilities to offer a 20¢ credit to solar net metering customers for the energy they produce.

Governor Peter Shumlin today announced that the state surplus vehicle and equipment auction, which is traditionally held every Spring in Berlin and allows Vermonters to personally inspect everything from dump trucks to tools, will continue to be held in future years.
‘I met a number of Vermonters at the auction earlier this month,’ the governor said, referring to the May 7 auction that was held at the Agency of Transportation’s Central Garage on the Barre-Montpelier Road. ‘Many came up to me and said they look forward to the auction and to having a chance to inspect the vehicles up close. They can kick the tires and make up their mind which vehicle they will bid on. Physical auctions are truly a Vermont tradition.’

At a hearing in Washington Tuesday, Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy pressed the top official with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to work with state officials to help restore important Amtrak service from Vermont to Montreal.
The Commissioner of CBP, Alan Bersin, testified at a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing focused on security and commerce along the northern border and at ports of entry. Amtrak service from Vermont to Montreal was suspended in the 1980s, and Vermont officials, including Governor Peter Shumlin, have made it a priority to reestablish the rail service. A discussion of the major challenges preventing restoration of the services, including passenger screening concerns, is expected at a cross-border transportation conference in Burlington on May 25.

Two student teams from Browns River Middle School, both coached by math teacher Suzanne McDevitt, won the spring 2011Vermont Stock Market Game competition. The winning elementary school team was sixth graders Jacob Cann, Michael Phalen, and Cameron Main and the middle school team was seventh graders Connor Morway and Easton Baker. All five of the students are from Jericho.
Teams start with $100,000 and buy and sell stocks for ten weeks, learning how to analyze financial statements, graph stock prices, and research company history and information. The elementary school team ended $103,394 and the middle school team ended the competition with $122,543.
An awards presentation will be held at Browns River Middle School on Wednesday, May 18 at 11:50 am for the elementary school team and 12:35 pm for the middle school team.

Former Vermont Governor James H Douglas has been elected to the Board of Directors of National Life Group. National Life is Vermont's largest domiciled company. It is based in Montpelier.
‘Governor Douglas is a man of unquestioned integrity who brings sound judgment, strong values and broad executive experience to our board,’ said Mehran Assadi, president and chief executive officer.

‘I am honored to be joining the board of National Life Group,’ said Douglas, who stepped down as governor earlier this year after serving eight years in office. ‘National Life has a storied history of delivering on its promises to millions of Americans for 162 years.’

James H. Douglas served as governor of Vermont from 2003-2011. Prior to his election as governor he served 12 years as Vermont's secretary of state and eight years as state treasurer. He also served in the state House of Representatives and as executive assistant to Gov. Richard Snelling.

On May 2nd, Vermont-based Pete's RV Center, based in South Burlington, officially assumed ownership of Rollin-On RV in Schererville, IN.
Located just 34 miles from Chicago, Rollin-On served thousands of customers in Southern Illinois, Indiana and surrounding states since opening its doors in 1977.
Pete's RV co-owner and treasurer Dave McGinnis explained the acquisition was an amicable one, "We've had a great, longstanding relationship with Rollin-On RV over the years. There's lots of similarities in how we run our dealerships including being family operated. With owner Paul Craven looking to step out of the business after nearly 35 successful years, it definitely piqued our interest when the opportunity arose to buy Rollin-On."