Current News

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) is pleased to announce it will package and distribute a new green tea in a K-Cup® portion pack made with paper.
Celestial Seasonings® Honey Lemon Ginseng Green Tea is the first beverage to be offered in the new paper-based K-Cup, which is designed for use in the Keurig® Single-Cup Brewing System. The K-Cup contains authentic green tea and delicate Bai Mu Dan white tea ‘ one of the rarest and youngest of teas ‘ creating a smooth, balanced cup with a pleasantly mild flavor.

Jim Glanville, general manager of The Essex Resort & Spa in Essex (Burlington), Vermont, received the prestigious Borden E. Avery Innkeeper of the Year award from the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The award was presented at the Chamber’s annual Hospitality Gala Tuesday night.
According to the Chamber’s press release, ‘The Borden Avery award is the Vermont hospitality industry's most prestigious award, designed for individuals who have held long time, high profile positions in the state's tourism industry.’
Glanville, a career hotelier and native of Baltimore Maryland, moved to Vermont in 1995 to further his career in Hospitality, raise a family and realize his childhood dream of living in the Green Mountain State. In 2003, he became Vice President & General Manager of The Essex Resort, and he helped turn the once-boutique country hotel into the Burlington area’s only AAA 4-Diamond Resort.

On Thursday, September 23, 2010, Chef John Folse will attempt to break the Guinness world record for the largest macaroni and cheese using Cabot Creamery Cooperative’s award-winning cheddar cheese to cook 2,100 pounds in a giant cast iron kettle on Fulton Square from 11:30 am to 2 pm.
“We chose to partner with New Orleans’ nonprofits to celebrate all of the powerful work these organizations have contributed to the city,” said Roberta MacDonald, Senior Vice President of Cabot Marketing. “We hope our involvement will assist these organizations in their future efforts towards positive change.”

Statewide science assessment results for Spring 2010 were released by the Vermont Department of Education today. The results are from the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) Science assessments, given to Vermont public school students in grades 4, 8 and 11 in May 2010. This is the third year of administration of the NECAP Science Assessment.
Fifty-four percent of Vermont fourth graders assessed were proficient or higher in science, up two percentage points from last year. In grade eight, 29 percent were proficient or higher, up five points. In grade 11, 28 percent were proficient or higher, up 1 point from 2009.

The newly released Early Care and Education--Investing in Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers highlights the long-term value of high-quality early care and education, the issues parents and providers face, and what still needs to be done to assure that all of Vermont’s children are given the best start possible. It was produced by The Permanent Fund for the Well-Being of Vermont Children, the A.D. Henderson Foundation, and the Vermont Community Foundation and is the latest topic to be explored for the Understanding Vermont series.
Science shows that brain development peaks from birth to five, forming the behaviors and skills that will prepare children for success in school, the workplace, and the community. Where and how the youngest Vermonters spend these first few years has an enormous affect on their future.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) has approved $33.5 million in financing assistance to Vermont businesses undertaking commercial and manufacturing expansion projects throughout the state. Also included is financing to support agricultural, real estate development, and business technology projects.

"VEDA is pleased to offer financing support to these projects," said VEDA Chief Executive Officer Jo Bradley. ‘Jobs are being retained or created in a variety of economic sectors, and that is good news for Vermont.’ Projects approved by the Authority for financing assistance are:

For the week of September 18, 2010, there were 659 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance, a decrease of 15 from the week before. Altogether 7,337 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 41 from a week ago and 2,351 fewer than a year earlier. The Department also processed 2,737 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 56 more than a week ago. In addition, there were 1,403 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is an increase of 18 from the week before. The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/. Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc

The Public Service Board (PSB) has announced it will conduct a hearing on the Lowell wind project on Thursday September 23 at the Lowell Graded School at 52 Gelo Park Road, Lowell, VT at 7 pm. The hearing is the Board’s first in the process to determine whether the project will receive a Certificate of Public Good (CPG).
The project, proposed by Green Mountain Power, needs the CPG to begin construction. Green Mountain Power proposed the 21-turbine project last year, and hopes to have it built by 2012 to take advantage of expiring federal tax credits.

Jennifer Lawson, a middle school language arts and social studies teacher at Vergennes Union High School in Vergennes, was named by the State Board of Education as the 2011 Vermont Teacher of the Year at a ceremony held today at the school.
Also honored were:

Alternate Kathy Bennett, a high school French teacher at Enosburg Falls Middle and High School in Enosburg Falls.
Finalist Maria Dana Dezotell, a high school science teacher at Missisquoi Valley Union High School in Swanton.

The Vermont Department of Labor announced today the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August 2010 was unchanged from the previous month’s report holding steady at 6.0 percent. Compared to a year ago, the August unemployment rate is lower by 0.9 percent.
‘The momentum behind the national recovery seems to be waning. While we are encouraged by the local economic indicators available to us ‘ such as early taxable receipts data and a stable, low unemployment rate relative to the current environment ‘ the economic recovery remains uneven and uncertain. We continue to watch the national front for indications, as well as trends here in Vermont,’ said Valerie Rickert, Acting Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Labor.

Analysis of Job Changes by Industry

Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), and Congressman Peter Welch (D) on Tuesday announced that the Vermont Department of Health will receive $1.1 million in federal support for public health programs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding will support a new five-year program to link Vermont’s Blueprint for Health with existing public health data, support local public health programs and combat chronic disease. The Vermont grant is part of a $42.5 million nationwide investment in public health made possible by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590).

The Vermont Ski Museum is inducting four new members into its Hall of Fame. Larry Damon, Bob Gray, Hilary Engisch Klein and Johannes von Trapp will be inducted at a ceremony in Stowe on October 24.

Hall of Fame Induction 2010
Tickets are selling QUICK!
Please join us for a very special evening as we honor four of Vermont's most influential skiers: Larry Damon, Bob Gray, Hilary Engisch Klein and Johannes von Trapp.