Current News

Phil Scott was sworn in this morning as Vermont's 79th Lieutenant Governor. In his remarks to members of the Senate, distinguished guests, and the state of Vermont after taking the oath, Lieutenant Governor Scott focused on a theme of "open doors."
Scott urged his fellow elected officials to find ways to be more accessible to Vermonters, and to solicit participation and input from more citizens. He noted that more than 200,000 registered voters chose not to vote in the November election, and stressed the importance of encouraging everyday Vermonters to participate in the policymaking process.

Peter Shumlin was sworn in this afternoon as the state's 81st governor. His speech hit on the major themes from the long, heated campaign; a campaign in which both the primary and the general election went down to the wire. After thanking many people, including his predecessor, Jim Douglas, who received a rousing standing ovation, Governor Shumlin talked about jobs, his plan on how to get them, keep them and grow them. Among the major points were bringing broadband and cell coverage to every corner of the state by 2013; initiating a single-payer health care system to take the burden of cost off employers; and finally saying that there will not be any tax increase and even going farther by saying that Vermonters are over-burdened already by the level of taxation. He said he will endeavor to change the "patchwork" tax structure: "Our choices about taxes directly impact job growth.

The Vermont Wood Manufacturers Association (VWMA) announces the 2011 Vermont
Fine Furniture and Wood Products Design Competition. The competition is open
to woodworkers with all different skill levels in Vermont and is divided
into three sections: professional, apprentice, and student. The competition
entries will be judged separately in their respective level. The
professional competition will be further divided into submission categories:
Production Furniture, Custom or Studio Furniture, Production Woodenware,
Custom Woodenware, and Carvings/Sculptural. Students will enter as a
Beginner woodworker or an Advanced Woodworker.
The competition will be held at the Union Arena, in conjunction with the 8th
Annual Fine Furniture and Woodworking Festival on September 24-25, 2011.
Woodworkers will bring their piece(s) to the competition and the judges will

Burlington College announced Monday that it has closed on the purchase of the 32-acre North Avenue property from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington for $10 million. The College and the Diocese had signed a Purchase & Sales Agreement last May to close on the property within a year and to make it Burlington College’s new campus.
‘This will be truly transformative for the College,’ said Burlington College President, Dr Jane O’Meara Sanders last May. ‘This new campus will enable us to broaden our academic offerings. We will be able to design editing suites, soundstages and studios for our popular film and photography majors. We will expand our art and music offerings. Our environmental studies, lake ecology and sustainability courses will have a living classroom. We will be able to offer many more events, art openings and guest speakers ‘ all open to the community ‘ on our own campus. The opportunities are limitless.’

Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie offered his farewell remarks in the Vermont State Senate Chamber this afternoon. Dubie served eight years as the state's second in command.
Good Afternoon
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as your Lieutenant Governor for the last eight years.
It has been a privilege to have the opportunity to serve our state in elected office.
I would like to recognize a few special people who are here this afternoon.
My wife, Penny and my daughters, Emily and Casey ‘ my brother, Gen. Mike Dubie -- Gen. Jon Farnham, who has just returned from a year of service in Afghanistan, and Martha Hanson, my Chief of Staff and Only Staff.
And a special salute to Lieutenant Governor-elect Phil Scott. Congratulations, Phil.
# # #

Governor Jim Douglas today delivered his farewell address to a joint session of the General Assembly, reflecting on the accomplishments of his administration and thanking Vermonters for the opportunity to serve. The governor has also prepared a brief look back on the ideas, proposals, initiatives, issues, successes and challenges that marked his eight years as governor. "The Douglas Years: Dedicated to Vermonters" is attached.
The full text of the Governor speech follows:
Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, distinguished guests, my fellow Vermonters:
Thirty-eight years ago, in this very chamber, I was sworn in as the new member from Middlebury ‘ humbled by the confidence of voters, motivated to represent my community and inspired to strengthen Vermont. Over the years I have been blessed to serve the people of this great state in different ways ‘ and in different eras ‘ culminating with the honor, and profound responsibility, of the governorship.

Rob Hewett, Concepts NREC’s Contract Manager, announced that Concepts NREC, based in White River Junction, has been awarded an Army contract valued at between $2.99M and $3.29M, completing a complex nine-month negotiations effort.
The contract, for 16 torque measurement systems (torquemeters) along with an installation option, came out of a multi-year development effort funded through an earlier Army contract as well as production shipments to the Navy in 2009.
Torquemeters provide highly accurate measurements for high-speed torque measurement applications such as those required by gas turbine engine repair facilities. Torquemeters monitor the torque, speed, and output power of turboshaft engines that are performance tested prior to use in an aircraft. Concepts NREC VAROC® dynamometer products, including its new line of field-calibrate-able VHP torquemeters, enable safe pre-flight, ground testing of turboshaft gas turbine engines.

Governor Elect Peter Shumlin today announced the appointment of Dr Susan Wehry as Commissioner of the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, also known as DAIL.
‘I am very pleased to have Susan as part of the Agency of Human Services team,’ Shumlin said. ‘She has an impressive background as a physician specializing in issues affecting the elderly. She also has experience in state government, having served in various capacities in the departments of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living, Corrections, Health, and Mental Health.’
DAIL is part of the Agency of Human Services. The department provides services to Vermonters over 60 and those with a disability.
Wehry, who lives in Burlington, is a geriatric psychiatrist who consults for DAIL, the Delaware Agency of Human Services, and similar offices in Massachusetts and Louisiana. She is also a clinical associate professor at the University of Vermont’s College of Medicine.

ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, is now accepting nominations for an annual awards program created to recognize environmental leaders within the State of Vermont.

The ‘Green Mountain Environmental Leadership Awards’, will celebrate environmental stewards and their initiatives that have shaped inspired and encouraged long-term support of Vermont’s rich and diverse natural environment.

‘There are people, organizations and whole communities accomplishing great work, to the benefit of all Vermonters. These awards are designed to recognize grassroots leadership and to make Vermonters aware of the positive impact these efforts have had’, said ECHO’s Executive Director, Phelan Fretz.

The Stratton Corporation (Stratton) and the Winhall-Stratton Fire District (District) will pay $55,000 in civil penalties and $25,000 to fund a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) under a Consent Order agreed to with the State of Vermont to settle claims that they violated their environmental permits in 2004 and 2008.
Those who receive environmental permits must comply with the terms of those permits,’ said Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell. ‘Ski resorts hold a special place in Vermont’s culture and should be especially aware of the need to protect the Vermont environment that is so critical to their businesses,’ Attorney General Sorrell added.
In the Consent Order entered by the Vermont Superior Court, Civil Division, Windham Unit, Stratton and the District admitted to two separate discharge incidents that violated the conditions of their Indirect Discharge Permits issued to them by the State:

Rock of Ages Corporation (NASDAQ:ROAC) has announced that Institutional Shareholder Services, an independent proxy advisory firm, has recommended that Rock of Ages stockholders vote "For" the proposal to approve the merger agreement by and among Rock of Ages, Swenson Granite Company LLC ("Swenson Granite") and Granite Acquisition, LLC, a limited liability company wholly owned by Swenson Granite, at Rock of Ages' special meeting of shareholders scheduled for January 18, 2011. Under the terms of the merger agreement, shareholders of Rock of Ages' Class A and Class B common stock (other than those shareholders contributing their shares to Swenson Granite prior to the merger or properly asserting dissenters' rights under the Vermont Business Corporation Act) will have their common stock converted into the right to receive $5.25 per share in cash without interest.

Governor-Elect Peter Shumlin today announced several staff appointments, including naming Susan Spaulding as Director of Constituent Services and Appointments to Boards and Commissions.
Spaulding co-founded WNCS-FM radio station in Montpelier in 1977 with her husband Jeb, and has spent the past 25 plus years involved in public protection and public advocacy through medical licensure, continuing medical education, accreditation of medical schools in the United States and Canada. She lives in Montpelier. Jeb Spaulding previously was named by Shumlin to be his Secretary of Administration.
Lisa Kunin has been named Executive Assistant to the Governor. Kunin served as an aide to former U.S. Sen. James Jeffords for 12 years, ultimately serving as Jefford’s Education Coordinator. She resides in South Burlington.