Current News

by Anne Galloway, www.vtdigger.org May 9, 2011 Democratic lawmakers compromised with little difficulty on their few disagreements over specific expenditures in the capital bill last week. The sticking points ‘ money for a Montpelier biomass plant, funding for replacement plans for the Vermont State Hospital and a commitment to give the Vermont Telecommunications Authority significant funding for broadband ‘ came down to details, all of which were easily surmountable.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., (NASDAQ: GMCR), a leader in specialty coffee and coffeemakers, announced today that is has closed its underwritten public offering of 9,479,544 shares of its common stock, which includes 1,290,000 shares purchased by the underwriters pursuant to an overallotment option. Certain stockholders also sold an aggregate of 410,456 shares of common stock in the offering.
On May 11, 2011, the Company also completed a sale of 608,342 shares of its common stock to
Luigi Lavazza S.p.A
. ("Lavazza"), pursuant to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement entered into between the Company and Lavazza on May 6, 2011, which was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on May 6, 2011.

Accompanied by advocates for disabled Vermonters, Governor Peter Shumlin today signed S.90, a bill designed to ensure the state’s statutes, policies and other documents use respectful language when referring to people with disabilities.
The bill creates a working group to, among other tasks, identify words that should not be used in Vermont statutes and regulations, and suggest words that reflect a positive view of people with disabilities. In addition, the report will identify specific statutes related to respectful language that should be addressed by lawmakers.
‘In addition to being respectful in our day-to-day language, we need to review our official documents and policies and remove the words that are hurtful and demeaning toward our disabled friends, family members and neighbors,’ Gov. Shumlin said.

The Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and Green Works, Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association have joined forces in a new initiative called PlantWise Vermont. Through PlantWise, horticultural businesses are encouraged to sign on to a Voluntary Code of Conduct to stop selling and using invasive terrestrial plants. Green Works has issued a letter to its 180 members urging them to join the effort and 58 horticultural professionals throughout the state have already signed on.
A number of non-native exotic plants can still be legally sold in Vermont, including burning bush, Norway maple, Japanese barberry, common barberry, yellow iris and all cultivars of these species. Green Works is asking its members to voluntarily stop the sale and use of these invasives.

Martin Wolf of Seventh Generation in Burlington, Vermont will be honored tomorrow in Boston’s Faneuil Hall as part of EPA’s annual Environmental Merit Awards for 2011.
As director of product sustainability and authenticity at Seventh Generation in Burlington, Wolf brought lasting change to the cleansing products industry. He developed frameworks for environmental product design, while educating co-workers, customers and consumers about the environmental impacts of such products.

Northeastern Vermont Development Association is distributing free ‘How-To’ Guides for small scale renewable energy systems specifically written for installation in Vermont. The publications include helpful information about five specific energy technologies: solar electric and solar hot water; small scale wind; wood pellets and firewood; and geothermal ground source heat pumps.
Authored by Lyndon State College Professor Benjamin Luce, Ph.D., the integrated guides provide essential information about area natural resources, regional services, local providers, regulations, cost estimates, payback periods, and financial incentives for homes, farms and businesses. The guides contain diagrams and photos and are structured in a step-by-step format with short sections and appendices.
â ¢ How-to Go Solar in Vermont
â ¢ Powering Your Home or Business with a Small Wind Energy System in Vermont
â ¢ Heating Your Home or Business in Vermont with a Geothermal System

American Forests will plant 13,618 trees in Northern California resulting from Woodchuck Hard Cider s Facebook Global ReLeaf campaign. Woodchuck Cider committed to planting two trees for every Facebook fan gained during Earth Week 2011 by donation to Global ReLeaf American Forest s tree planting initiative. Woodchuck Cider s eco-friendly Facebook and Twitter fan bases embraced the tree planting efforts and Earth Week saw 6,809 new Woodchuck Cider Facebook fans.
Woodchuck Cider, located in Middlebury, Vermont, first collaborated with American Forests during Earth Week 2010 resulting in 8,432 trees planted in Northern California. This year 13,618 trees will be planted.

Now among the hundred miles of cross country mountain bike trails, Kingdom Trails will now offer lift served mountain biking at Burke Mountain Ski Area and the addition of a new downhill bike park. Burke Mountain will open the Sherburne Express chairlift from the Base Lodge beginning mid June, on weekends and holidays until mid October. The chair lift will access four already established, but improved and re-routed single track trails, and the new premier jump trail, Knightslayer, featuring world class table tops, step ups, step downs, rollers and sky high berms. "Collaborating with Burke Mountain to offer a variety of downhill mountain bike trails for all abilities will keep us as a premier mountain bike destination." says CJ Scott, KTA Trail Manager.
A special grand opening date is tentatively set for June 25, 2011.

A better quality of light, an increased ability to accomplish tasks, and a reduction in energy use are just some of the benefits resulting from energy-efficiency improvements made by Kaytec, a Richford-based manufacturer that produces insulated vinyl siding.
Following an energy audit, Kaytec decided to replace more than 250 high-bay and T12 fluorescent lights with energy-efficient high-performance T8 (HPT8) lamps. Compared to older T12 lighting, HPT8 light fixtures save up to 50% percent in energy, last up to twice as long, and provide better quality light. The company also installed motion detectors that automatically turn off lights in unoccupied areas of the building.
Kaytec hired a full-time electrician to make all of its energy-efficiency upgrades, and called in Efficiency Vermont to provide technical assistance.

US Senatpr Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced Monday that he introduced legislation to provide health care for every American through a Medicare-for-all type single-payer system.
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) filed a companion bill in the House to provide better care for more patients at less cost by eliminating the middle-man role played by private insurance companies that rake off billions of dollars in profits.
The twin measures, both called the American Health Security Act of 2011, would provide federal guidelines and strong minimum standards for states to administer single-payer health care programs.

EatingWell Media Group, publisher of EatingWell Magazine, EatingWell books and EatingWell.com, won an unprecedented three James Beard Awards on Friday, May 6, in New York City.
It was the only magazine publisher to win three awards, dubbed the ‘Oscars’ in food journalism, from the James Beard Foundation. EatingWell, based in Charlotte, Vermont, earned two journalism awards and one book award. Three books from Ten Speed Press won and New York Magazine won two awards, one for an article and one for its Grub Street blog.
The Simple Art of EatingWell (Countryman Press) by Jessie Price and the Editors of EatingWell took the Cookbook with Healthy Focus award. The 520-page compendium of tips, techniques and recipes for healthy eating was up against finalists The Very Best Recipes for Health from The New York Times’s Martha Rose Shulman and Clean Start: Inspiring You to Eat Clean and Live Well by Terry Walters.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is continuing to protect the roads from flooding effects, particularly around Lake Champlain and the Islands. While lake levels have crested and are beginning to recede, strong winds from the north are now continuing to affect some roads. VTrans is monitoring the situation, and taking immediate action when needed to shore up the roads affected. Traffic controls are also in place to assist construction vehicles for road improvement operations that continue throughout the day in some areas. Delays can be expected along Route 2 between Milton and the Islands. Travelers are cautioned to please drive slowly and, if possible, to avoid the area during commuting times. Road work is expected to continue throughout the area until at least Wednesday.
Road Updates as of Monday, 4 pm:
Ongoing Areas of Concern: