Current News

Today, renewable energy advocate Tom Weis completed his 10-week "Ride for Renewables" at the Jefferson Memorial after traversing 11 states in his futuristic-looking "rocket trike." He is promoting 100% renewable electricity for the U.S. in ten years, a goal first proposed by former Vice President Al Gore.
"Almost everyone I met during this ride wants to see a modern day, green energy moon shot for America," said Tom Weis, President of Climate Crisis Solutions. Citing massive unemployment, energy dependence, economic turbulence and climate instability as top concerns driving this public desire, he said, "The solution is an American-led green industrial revolution."
Ride backer Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and author of Eaarth, said, "Politicians won't lead until we build a citizens movement powerful enough to challenge the might of the fossil fuel industry. That's what this ride is building towards."

Northern Power Systems, Inc, a leading manufacturer of next-generation direct-drive wind turbines, has announced a few key highlights and milestones achieved in its Community Wind business in 2010.
‘This past year has continued to demonstrate the strength of the on-site wind industry and our own Community Wind business, in particular’ said Parthiv Amin, President of Community Wind at Northern Power Systems. ‘This year we more than doubled our orders and installed base and now have over 60 cumulative years of field operating experience across our fleet.’ We now have Northern Powerâ ¢ 100 customers in 24 U.S. states and four countries, with global exports increasing to 40% of our business as we continue to grow our network of sales, installation, service and financing partners across North America and Europe.’
Additional 2010 Northern Power Community Wind highlights included the following:

What do the Northfield Savings Bank, Johnson Woolen Mills, and the National Life Group have in common? All three were recipients of the Vermont Centennial Business Award. This program is a joint project of the Secretary of State’s office, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and the Vermont Business Magazine and honors businesses that have operated in Vermont for at least 100 years.
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz said, ‘We are currently seeking nominations for the 2011 ceremony. Any business that has been in operation in Vermont for 100 years or more can participate by filling out an application and providing verification of its business start date." Vermont's centennial businesses will be presented with a plaque at an awards ceremony in the spring.

As President Obama took to the airwaves Monday night to announce a deal to extend President George W Bush's tax cuts, Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) called the plan ‘fiscally irresponsible’ and ‘grossly unfair.’ US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) comments were even stronger, calling it a "moral outrage."
Sanders issued the following statement today on the agreement announced Monday between the White House and congressional Republicans:

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR), a leader in the specialty coffee and coffee maker industry, today announced that the Company plans to announce financial results for its fiscal 2010 fourth quarter and full year via press release following the close of the financial markets on Thursday, December 9, 2010.
In conjunction with this announcement, GMCR will publish management’s prepared remarks on its quarterly and annual results. These prepared remarks will be provided via a Current Report on Form 8-K and also posted under the events link in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.GMCR.com.
The Company will host a conference call with investors and analysts on Thursday, December 9th at 5:30 p.m. ET. As a result of publishing prepared remarks in advance of the live call, the conference call will include only brief remarks by management followed by a question and answer session.

The Paramount Theatre announced today that nationally prominent humorist, satirist, and iconic National Public Radio personality, Garrison Keillor is bringing his solo Christmas Special to the Paramount Theatre, in a creative partnership with The Rutland Herald on Monday, December 13, 2010 at 8 pm. Keillor is making his second appearance at The Paramount following his sold-out engagement in February of 2009.
Best known as the host of A Prairie Home Companion (on the national airwaves since 1974), the show features guest musicians and a cadre cast doing musical numbers and comic skits complete with elaborate live sound effects. His weekly monologue, News From Lake Wobegone, is woven into the national consciousness and is heard by millions of listeners each week. A Prairie Home Companion regularly goes on the road and is broadcast live from popular venues around the United States, often featuring local celebrities and skits incorporating local color.

The City of Burlington announced today that it has received the 2nd annual Home Depot Foundation Award of Excellence for Sustainable Community Development, in partnership with the Champlain Housing Trust. The award recognizes cities that are incorporating real-world sustainability initiatives into their day-to-day operations, with a focus on efficient use of municipal budget funds while increasing the livability of the community for all residents. Burlington won the ‘small city’ award and joins Tacoma, Washington, winner of the large city award, as one of two national winners of this prestigious honor. Mayor Bob Kiss and Sustainability Coordinator Jennifer Green accepted the $75,000 award ‘ to be shared between the City and Champlain Housing Trust ‘ at the National League of Cities ‘Congress of Cities’ December 3 in Denver, Colorado. A video was produced for each winner and presented with the award.

Governor-elect Peter Shumlin today announced the appointments of Vermont’s next Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources and Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation. Deb Markowitz will be Secretary of ANR; David Mears will serve as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation. Markowitz is one of three political rivals Shumlin has appointed to key posts in his administration. The two others who also sought the Democratic nomination for governor are Doug Racine, who will head Human Services, and Susan Bartlett, who is a special assistant brought in to help write the new budget.

The owners of Bolton Valley Resort, big mountain skiing and riding less than 30 minutes from Burlington, have engaged Mike Krongel of Mirus Resort Capital, a New England investment banking firm, to identify and evaluate growth opportunities for the resort. Bolton Valley is owned by partners Doug Nedde and Larry Williams of Redstone, a Vermont commercial real estate development company in Burlington.
‘Future development plans at Bolton Valley include improvements to the existing base area, lift upgrades and expansion of snowmaking capacity,’ said Williams. ‘There are plans to create a sustainable primary and second home community, a canopy tour, zip rider, mountain biking, and the installation of a second wind powered turbine capable of producing more than five million kWh of energy per year. We are looking to Mirus Resort Capital to advise us on how to best move Bolton Valley forward.’

Health Leaders Media released its annual HealthLeaders 20 list of individuals who make health care better and Governor Jim Douglas was among those recognized for his positive efforts to improve the American health care system.
Health Leaders Media credited Douglas’ ability to bridge the partisan divide in health care, whether in Washington or in Montpelier, citing his work as chairman of the National Governors Association, the Vermont Blueprint for Health and Vermont’s 2006 Health Reform bill as examples of his leadership. The article notes that ‘In striking contrast to Congress, Vermont provides a great example of what Republicans and Democrats can achieve in healthcare when they agree upon a common goal. And perhaps no one better embodies that bipartisan spirit in the Green Mountain State than long-serving Republican Gov. Jim Douglas.’

Burlington-based Da Capo Publishing, dba Seven Days, has purchased Kids VT, Vermont’s monthly parenting publication. The February issue will be the first one published by the new owners.
Kim Kropf started Kids VT in 1994, when her own kids were young, and Susan Holson, too, raised children while growing the business which consists of a newspaper, website, a family resource guide and an annual camp and school fair. Sixteen years later, with their kids heading off to college, Holson and Kropf were looking for a change. They approached Seven Days.
‘We have great confidence that we are leaving our ‘baby’ in the best possible hands, and that the Seven Days team will nurture it and steward it through its next great growth phase,’ says Holson, Kids VT’s editor and co-publisher. Kropf served as the publication’s co-publisher and ad director.

A new partnership between several Vermont financial institutions and Champlain College hopes to increase financial literacy in classrooms across Vermont, ensure college students graduate with the skills to make sound decisions about spending, credit and investments, and help adults navigate difficult financial situations like buying a home and saving for retirement.
John Pelletier of Stowe, Director of the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College, announced the details of the new center which is designed to promote and develop financial literacy skills in K-12 students, college students, teachers (K-12 and college) and adults. The Center will also advocate for more financial education opportunities at the local, state and national level.