Current News

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont today announced a new collaboration with Choice Care Card of Waterbury, Vermont to offer employer-funded medical reimbursement arrangements used to cover out-of-pocket health care-related expenses.
The collaboration with Choice Care Card will allow Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont’s group customers to integrate their Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) with their health plan, according to company officials.

Highline Financial recently released its quarterly bank performance report. Northfield Savings Bank was rated a ‘Best Performing Institution.’
The Highline Rating is calculated on a quarterly basis using four key ratios (capital adequacy, asset quality, earnings strength and liquidity) and encompasses both current and historical data. It compares banks on a national and regional basis, and by asset size. In addition to rating banks, Highland ranks the states in terms of the overall quality of the banks domiciled in each state. Vermont was ranked as one of the top four states nationally, along with Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Nebraska.

To continue to stay ahead of rising demand for wireless voice, 3G multimedia and Internet access in Caledonia County, Vermont, Verizon Wireless has expanded its local network. Earlier this year the company earned recognition from J.D. Power and Associates for ‘Highest Call Quality Performance among Wireless Cell Phone Users in the Northeast."
New cell site provides increased wireless voice and 3G data coverage in St. Johnsbury, along I-93 and I-91, as well as the surrounding area.
Source: ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-Verizon Wireless. 9.28.2010

Dr Richard Kujawa, Saint Michael's College professor of geography, earned the top Saint Michael’s teaching award, the Joanne Rathgeb Teaching Award, for 2010, as selected by his faculty colleagues and presented at the Academic Convocation September 24 in the McCarthy Arts Center on the college campus.
In presenting the award, last year’s recipient, Dr. Lorrie Smith, said, “The teaching award at Saint Michaels College is presented annually to a faculty member in memory of Joanne Rathgeb, professor of fine arts. Joanne had a passion for teaching, unwavering fidelity to high standards and creativity, a quirky sense of humor, and a willingness to go any distance to ensure that all students learn, which are all principles embraced by this year’s recipient of the teaching award, Dr. Richard Kujawa.”

A new 50-state analysis of state income taxes by Public Assets Institute shows that Vermont ranks in the middle of states compared to the rest of the country. While much has been made of Vermont’s high tax rates, the amount taxpayers actually pay in Vermont is lower than in many other states because of deductions and other adjustments and the state’s progressive rate structure. This analysis looked at the total income taxes paid in each state in 2008 and divided it by the total adjusted gross income (AGI) - that is, income before deductions and other adjustments.

Using this ‘effective tax rate’ measure, Vermont was 23rd among states when they were ranked highest to lowest. Forty-three states levy a personal income tax; seven do not. Vermont also ranked 23rd in per capita income.

US Representative Peter Welch and Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Roger Allbee on Tuesday reacted to an announcement by Pinnacle Foods that the company has agreed to remove caramel color from its Log Cabin ‘All Natural Syrup.’
Welch and Allbee wrote the Food and Drug Administration earlier this month, calling on the FDA to investigate whether the brand violates its guidelines by marketing as ‘natural’ a product containing added colors, flavors or artificial substances.
In a statement released to the media, Pinnacle Foods announced that it was changing its ingredients in an effort to comply with FDA guidelines.
Welch and Allbee called the move a step in the right direction, but said that Pinnacle’s labeling does not make clear that the table syrup product is not, in fact, all-natural maple syrup.

US Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that HUD will provide $58,568 to the Vermont State Housing Authority to provide permanent housing for 10 homeless veterans in the state. The funding is provided through The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), a coordinated effort by HUD, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and local housing authorities to provide permanent supportive housing for veterans experiencing homelessness.
‘Our veterans deserve something better than a life on the streets,’ said Richard A. Walega, HUD New England Regional Administrator. ‘President Obama has given us very clear marching orders that, as a nation, we must end the curse of homelessness especially for those who answered their country’s call to serve.’

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)-