Current News

Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England, on newsstands April 26, has named 39 local establishments in Vermont as ‘Best of New England ‘ Editors’ Choice’ winners for 2011. This designation is awarded by Yankee’s editors and contributors, who name select restaurants, lodgings, and attractions in New England to the exclusive list. This special issue also names 20 ‘Top Events’ in Vermont, for a total of 120 events across New England. For 35 years, Yankee’s Travel Guide has been the most widely distributed and best-selling guide to the six-state region, providing readers with a comprehensive vacation-planning tool and daily reference.

Today, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $1,430,000.00 to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, a grantee of HIV-AIDS housing programs in Vermont. This supportive housing grant will offer critically needed housing and support services to extremely low-income persons living with HIV/AIDs. During each of the next three years, this HUD funding will help provide permanent supportive housing so they can manage their illnesses while receiving critically needed support services.
The funding announced today is offered through HUD’s Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA) and will renew HUD’s support of these previously funded projects in Vermont (see project description below).

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: BHLB) reported a 25% increase in first quarter core earnings to $4.2 million in 2011, compared to $3.3 million in 2010. First quarter core earnings per share also increased by 25% to $0.30 in 2011, compared to $0.24in 2010. Core earnings growth continued to reflect the benefit of positive operating leverage, primarily resulting from 7% revenue growth.
First quarter GAAP net income was $2.8 million in 2011 ($0.20 per share), compared to $3.3 million in 2010 ($0.24 per share). GAAP net income reflected $1.4 million in after-tax non-core merger related expenses. Berkshire completed the acquisition of Rome Bancorp, Inc. on April 1, 2011 and is planning to complete the acquisition of Legacy Bancorp, Inc. in the third quarter of 2011.
FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (revenue and expense comparisons are to the prior year first quarter, unless otherwise noted)

Long heralded as a green alternative to fossil fuel, corn-based ethanol has become a costly distraction that chiefly benefits corporate, political and lobbying interests rather than the American public, the environment, small farmers and rural communities, according to a new report by Vermont Law School’s Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE) and Food & Water Watch, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit.
Titled ‘Crystal Eth: America’s Crippling Addiction to Taxpayer-financed Ethanol,’ the report concludes that corn-based ethanol is unlikely to significantly reduce America’s dependence on imported oil, has a negligible ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributes to environmental degradation in coastal waters and has been an economic boon for agribusiness giants managed in absentia rather than small and medium-size, locally owned farms, farm cooperatives and ethanol refineries.

by Anne Galloway, www.vtdigger.org April 26, 2011 The spirit of order and compromise was upon them. The Vermont Senate passed the universal health care reform bill in a 21-8, largely along party lines on Monday, after just five hours in the Green Room. (Kevin Mullin, R-Rutland, voted aye; Bobby Starr, D-North Troy, voted nay. The senators will take up the bill for third reading on Tuesday.)
The Dems evinced no intra-party dissension on the controversial legislation on second reading. Most of the naysayers, this time, were of the GOP persuasion. And except for an unanticipated, hour-long oratory from freshman Sen. Joe Benning, R-Caledonia, (reminiscent of declamations from his Republican colleague in the House, Rep. Duncan Kilmartin, R-Newport) the Senate floor work seemed to go off without a hitch.

The National Popular Vote bill, which passed the Vermont House of Representatives last week, was signed into law by Governor Peter Shumlin today. The National Popular Vote plan seeks to guarantee the presidency to the winner of the National Popular Vote in all 50 states.
Last year, the National Popular Vote passed the New York Senate with 22 of 27 Republicans and 30 of 32 Democrats voting in favor of the bill. In 2008, candidates spent 98% of their money and campaign visits on just 15 states. Vermont has long been considered a ‘safe’ state, largely ignored by presidential candidates of both parties.’In enacting this bill, Vermont is taking back its voice in the national election’ said Tom Golisano, national spokesperson for National Popular Vote. ‘12 of the 13 smallest states in the union received essentially no attention from either candidate in 2008.’

Thousands of readers have made their choice and selected the ‘Top 125 Golf Resorts’ from around the world, in the 15th Annual Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Poll. From St Andrews to Scottsdale the regional winners are in and Stowe Mountain Resort was named #1 Golf Resort in the Northern United States.

by Anne Galloway, www.vtdigger.org April 23, 2011 A new draft report shows that the state of Vermont could save hundreds of millions of dollars if it adopts the recommendations outlined by H.202, the health care reform bill as passed by the Vermont House of Representatives. (The bill was altered somewhat by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee last week and the legislation, and a number of amendments, was schduled to be taken up by the full Senate at 2 pm on Monday.)

Governor Peter Shumlin announced today that he has made the following appointments to Vermont boards and commissions.
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
Vermont Enhanced 911 Board
APPOINTED: Tom Bodett from Putney
New England Board of Higher Education
APPOINTED: Thomas Green from Montpelier
Community High School of Vermont
APPOINTED: George Cross from Winooski
APPOINTED: Holly Tippett from Middlebury
Vermont Commission on National and Community Service
APPOINTED: Peter Hayward from Brattleboro
APPOINTED: Meredith Whitney from Waterbury
Dept. of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living Advisory Board
APPOINTED: Steven Pouliot from South Burlington
Dept of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living State Rehabilitation Council

The Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing is extending its fuel-themed tourism promotion to encourage visitors and Vermonters to explore the Green Mountain State during the spring and summer months.
‘Vermont Fuels Your Vacation’ offers a $100 gas card giveaway every week. Vermont residents and non-residents can register to win at www.VermontVacation.com/fuel and gas cards may be used at participating gas stations in Vermont.
‘Historically speaking, there is not a strong correlation between gas prices and a consumer’s decision to travel to Vermont for leisure,’ said Tourism and Marketing Commissioner Megan Smith. ‘Still, the ‘Vermont Fuels Your Vacation’ promotion provides a positive twist on this issue and encourages Vermonters and visitors to explore our wonderful state.’
The promotion kicked off in February and has received more than 3,000 entries from the United States and Canada.

The 2011 Hemmings Motor News Great Race which is coming to Vermont for the fist time in its long history has scheduled stops at Cooperstown, NY and Stratton Mountain’s Base Lodge where racers will ride the gondola up to the top of the mountain.
The total race course from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Bennington, Vermont is about 1575 miles through the Appalachian Mountains for a beautiful experience.
Teams from all over the country will be competing with their vintage vehicles. Contact www.greatrace.com to register or find out more information about this event.
Source: Bennington Area Chamber Of Commerce

Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) directors will consider a twenty-year power offer from Entergy to purchase electricity produced at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant at below market prices. One consideration of the proposed agreement with Entergy would require state regulatory approval for the continued operation of the plant in Vermont.
At a regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, April 26, 2011, at noon at VEC headquarters in Johnson, the 12-member VEC board of directors will hear from nuclear industry experts following an overview of the proposed contract by VEC staff. Arnie Gundersen, an independent nuclear engineering and safety expert from Fairewinds Associates, and officials from Entergy will present their respective views and answer questions from the board. The board is expected to vote on the proposal at the meeting.