Current News

Foliage is nearing peak color in the Northeast Kingdom and in higher elevations across the state.
Vibrant foliage will continue to develop around Vermont, and most areas of the state will be displaying multiple stages of colorful foliage throughout the week. Foliage is close to peak color in the Northeast Kingdom and in higher elevations, including sections of the Green Mountains. Look for bright color between Jay Peak and St. Johnsbury, Stowe and Pittsfield, and Killington and Wilmington.
‘Expect brilliant color in most locations this weekend, with peak color at the highest elevations,’ said Orange County Forester David Paganelli. ‘The lower elevations and southern areas should be peaking during the middle or end of next week.’
The foliage progression will continue to unfold around Vermont over the next several days.

Work can officially begin on the Burlington Waterfront North Project as the result of a signed agreement between the US Department of Transportation and the City of Burlington for $3.15 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today.
‘Recovery Act dollars are helping make Burlington a better place to live and work,’ said Secretary LaHood. ‘Here in Burlington, as in so many cities and communities across the country, Recovery Act projects are strengthening our infrastructure and creating well-paying jobs.’
The project involves the rehabilitation and reconstruction of a section of Lake Street, the principal north-south access roadway servicing the downtown Lake Champlain waterfront, and the realignment and improvement of the Waterfront Bike Path.

Effective September 15, having successfully completed its integration into Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB), the firm's Vermont office will no longer be marketing itself as ‘VHB Pioneer.’
The merger of the two firms that took place in January 2008 was built on an existing relationship between VHB and ‘Pioneer Environmental Associates LLC’ of Vermont. For nearly three years, VHB has benefited from the excellent reputation of the Pioneer name in Vermont as the office continued to integrate transportation and land development services with environmental consulting expertise, strengthening the firm’s regional prominence in Vermont and Northern New England. The North Ferrisburgh office now has a staff of over 30 professionals, and offers a full suite of services to better serve clients in the region.

FairPoint Communications technicians in Vermont are driving new vehicles. FairPoint will purchase almost $6 million new vehicles throughout northern New England. These vehicles are in addition to the $15 million FairPoint spent on vehicles and customization in 2008.
FairPoint technician Marc Sancibrian, left, joins Mike Smith, FairPoint’s Vermont state president, with one of the company’s new bucket loaders.
About FairPoint
FairPoint Communications, Inc. is an industry leading provider of communications services to communities across the country. Today, FairPoint owns and operates local exchange companies in 18 states offering advanced communications with a personal touch, including local and long distance voice, data, Internet, television and broadband services. Learn more at www.FairPoint.com.
Source: FairPoint Communications. SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (September 24, 2010)

To continue to stay ahead of rising demand for wireless voice, 3G multimedia and Internet access in Addison County, Vermont, Verizon Wireless has expanded its local network.
New cell site provides increased wireless voice and 3G data coverage for the town of Vergennes and portions of Route 7 and Route 22A, as well as the surrounding area.
Source: Verizon Wireless. VERGENNES, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-

Vermont began its apple harvest about ten days earlier than usual and producers expect to wrap up the 2010 season early as well -- by late October. Despite a few problems through the season -- ranging from late frosts to labor shortages and hail, most growers are optimistic that this will be a good year. They are finding prices holding steady or increasing slightly in response to the national crop forecast, which is down about six percent from 2009. Vermont’s 2010 crop is expected to be 786,000 bushels, a 17 percent drop from last year, and a 14 percent drop from the state’s five-year average.

Plasan, a key provider in survivability and combat-proven armor solutions for vehicles, airborne platforms and personal protection, will showcase its latest survivability solutions and armor technologies at the Modern Day Marine Expo September 28-30 in Quantico, Virginia.
Dan Ziv, CEO of Plasan, said: "Plasan is proud of our long relationship with the USMC, and we are pleased to showcase our latest innovations at Modern Day Marine. Plasan's designers and engineers are combat veterans, using our hands-on experience to deliver survivability solutions."
Since 2004, Plasan has been working with the Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corporation to deliver armor and survivability solutions to the U.S. Marine Corps. This includes delivery of crew cab and cargo armor for the USMC MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV), the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) Standard Cargo vehicles and the Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR).

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $68 million in grants to help seniors, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers better understand and navigate their health and long-term care options. A total of $636,104 in grants has been awarded in Vermont.
‘We know how difficult it can be for individuals and caregivers to deal with a sudden illness or chronic disease while at the same time trying to navigate through a complex health care system to figure out where to go to get appropriate help. The Affordable Care Act seeks to give people more control over their own care, while lowering health care costs and improving quality,’ said Secretary Sebelius.

The blending of old and new into a state of the art facility to serve prospective and current students at Champlain College was celebrated Friday at the Roger H Perry Hall on South Willard Street.

US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Saturday secured a commitment that virtually all Vermonters will have affordable access to broadband Internet service within three years.
‘When we talk about infrastructure in the year 2010, we are talking about the need to make quality, affordable broadband available to every community in the state,’ Sanders told more than 300 people who attended the town meeting that he hosted at Vermont Technical College.
The Vermont Telephone Co., which won the biggest slice of $172 million of federal stimulus funds to bring broadband service to Vermont, pledged to help bring 21st century computer access to Vermont businesses, schools and hospitals. Michel Guite, the VTel CEO, pledged to the three-year timeline. He also said the broadband services would be affordable, costing $10 for a basic package and for $35 for a faster-speed service.

Peter Shumlin, the Democrat running for governor of Vermont, today released his list of assets. The total net comes to $10,674,934, with much of it in his business, Putney Student Travel, and real estate holdings in Windham County. Shumlin also included a detailed list of his investments and called upon Brian Dubie, his Republican opponent, to meet the same higher level of transparency. Dubie's financials listed his net worth at $1.2 million, most of which was in family real estate. Dubie's campaign had chided Shumlin for not releasing his assets sooner. Financials are below and attached.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Congressman Peter Welch (D) report that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Friday made it official that the Rutland Free Library will receive $663,000 in federal support for repair of the library’s roof. The funding -- a $200,000 grant and $463,000 loan -- comes through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Facilities Program as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, enacted last year to promote economic recovery from the recession that began in 2008. The funds will also address the drainage issues of the building, as well as de-humidifying the basement.
The award for the Rutland Library rehabilitation project was the second largest nationwide of the investments awarded by USDA on Friday. Collectively, 129 projects in 30 states were funded to build and enhance libraries in rural communities across the nation.