Current News

A local design team modernized a student center that was slated for demolition and received a first place Education Design Award for the project this spring. Two members of the design team from Burlington, New England Floor Covering and Freeman French Freeman architects, were recognized at the Starnet Worldwide Commercial Flooring Partnership awards ceremony in Marco Island, Florida.
“We are fortunate to have design partners who strive for and meet the high standards of our clients,” said Berglind Davis, Senior Interior Designer for Freeman French Freeman. “New England Floor Covering did an exceptional job helping us achieve our sustainable goals for this project that was once slated for demolition.”

(Photo: Jim Westphalen)

As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced mobile devices and applications, AT&T* today announced the activation of three new 3G cell sites in Ludlow. The new sites will enhance wireless coverage for area residents and businesses along Routes 100 and 103 as well as near the Okemo Mountain Resort, the Okemo Valley Golf Club, and the surrounding inns and shops in Ludlow center. With 3G speeds, AT&T customers can surf the Web, download files faster, and enjoy the very latest interactive mobile applications.
The new cell sites are part of AT&T's ongoing effort to drive innovation and extend its 3G wireless network the fastest in the nation, according to independent testing. It is also part of AT&T's ongoing investment to build the broadband networks that will fuel economic growth and create jobs, and enable its customers to quickly access the content, applications and services that matter most to them.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the highly anticipated 2010 – 2011 Top Ten Winter Events. The 2010 - 2011 award recipients display a wide variety of unique Vermont activities that will provide something fun for everyone in all corners of the Green Mountain State. The winners, in chronological order are: Vermont Holiday FestivalKillington, December 9 - 12Enter into a world of magical holiday fun! Take in the smell of fresh balsam and create special memories with family and friends. Events include the Festival of Trees, where more than 100 themed trees decorated by local businesses will be on display for viewing, horsedrawn sleigh rides, and Santa’s workshop, a satellite workshop of the North Pole, where children can help Santa build toys. Fees vary by event.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) today introduced legislation to restore the federal estate tax. The proposal would bring in at least $264 billion over a decade to help lower the national debt.
“This legislation would ensure that the wealthiest Americans in our country, millionaires and billionaires, pay their fair share while exempting 99.7 percent of Americans from paying any estate tax whatsoever,” Sanders said.
The estate tax was abolished this year as a result of tax law changes signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2001. For the first time since 1916, heirs to multi-million and billion dollar fortunes may receive their entire inheritance free of any federal taxes, a giveaway that will cost the US treasury at least $14.8 billion in lost revenue this year alone.

Hunger Mountain Coop in Montpelier is exploring the feasibility of adding a store in downtown Waterbury by the end of 2010. The Coop Council agreed to explore this opportunity over the summer to see if it is in The Coop’s best interest to pursue. If The Coop’s research indicates that moving forward on this location makes sense, The Coop’s Member-Owners would need to vote on a proposal before it could be approved.
The Coop was approached by Pomerleau Realty to see if it is interested in leasing the 20,000 square foot space now filled by RJ’s Friendly Market in downtown Waterbury. Ernie Pomerleau, President and CEO, recently negotiated a similar arrangement with the Hanover Co-op for a storefront in White River Junction and is excited about the prospect of Hunger Mountain taking over the Waterbury space. RJ’s owner Robert George is considering retirement and will help The Coop as it explores this option.

Fitch Ratings affirms the education loan revenue bonds of the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) issued under the 2008 Trust Indenture, dated September 1, 2008. The Rating Outlook remains Stable.
The ratings of the bonds are based on the support provided by a direct-pay letter of credit (LOC) issued by Lloyds TSB Bank plc (Lloyds). Lloyd's long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) is currently 'AA-', and its short-term IDR is 'F1+.' Lloyds is obligated to make payments of interest and principal on the bonds upon maturity, acceleration and redemption, as well as the purchase price for tendered bonds.
The collateral supporting VSAC's 2008C bonds consists entirely of federally guaranteed student loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). FFELP loans are guaranteed at least 97% of principal and accrued interest, depending on the loan origination date. The loans are serviced by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation.

Revision Eyewear, leading developer of ballistic protective eyewear for military and law enforcement forces worldwide, has won a Silver Telly Award, presented under the sales film/video category, for their trade show video. This sales and marketing video was produced and edited by Metro Productions, a full-service film, video and multimedia production company located in Richmond, VA. Since 1978, the Telly Awards have been recognizing creative and innovative television programming and commercials, as well as films and videos created for the web, worldwide.
"We are a fast-paced, dynamic company committed to developing the ultimate eye protection for battlefield use," commented Linda Watson, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications at Revision. "The video shows Revision's eyewear in extreme conditions demonstrating the ballistic and environmental capabilities of our products." The award winning video can be viewed on the Revision website and YouTube page.

The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Vernon declared an unusual event at 2:25 p.m. today. The declaration was made after a seismic event was felt at the site. Per the US Geological Survey, the seismic epicenter was located 33 miles north of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It was also felt in the Burlington area as a slight shaking.
Surrounding states were notified of the Vermont Yankee declaration at 2:39 pm. There has been no radioactivity released, related to this event. The Plant continues to run normally at 100% power and there has been no damage based upon an ongoing walk down of station equipment.
An unusual event is the lowest of four emergency classifications of events that apply to nuclear power plants as defined by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
More information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.

Source: Vermont Yankee. 6.23.2010

The U.S. Department of Labor today released $596,525,000 in funds to continue support for 74 state, territory and national grantees of the Senior Community Service Employment Program for program year 2010. Vermont will receive $3.2 million. These funds will enable income and training support for 61,900 individuals ages 55 and older, who have low incomes or are unemployed. At least 75 percent of SCSEP funds will go to provide these individuals with part-time, paid community service-based job training program opportunities throughout the country.

A group of municipal, regional and statewide planning and conservation organizations sent a letter to Governor Douglas this week urging him to reconsider a decision to eliminate a position with the Department of Fish & Wildlife responsible for overseeing the Department’s Community Wildlife Program.
The letter (SEE BELOW), sent by 34 organizations of various sizes from across Vermont, says that that program has been “instrumental in building community-level public awareness, appreciation, and action for Vermont’s wildlife resources in recent years, and we fear this important progress will be lost if this position is eliminated.” The letter also notes that the position is funded by a combination of federal funds and hunting and fishing license sales, and therefore has no effect on the general fund budget.

Vermont Law School will use a $250,000 energy efficiency grant to help convert an historic building into a vibrant new center for legal advocacy. The grant was the largest of 14 grants totaling $1.7 million that the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund gave out to colleges, hospitals and other non-profits on June 16.
VLS will use the grant to completely renovate 190 Chelsea Street, a two-story building overlooking the South Royalton town green. The building will be historically preserved and upgraded to high standards of energy efficiency using best green building practices.

For the week of June 19, 2010, there were 1,103 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance, an increase of 409 from the week before. Altogether 10,211 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 489 from a week ago and 4,084 fewer than a year earlier. The Department also processed 3,301 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 151 more than a week ago. In addition, there were 1,930 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program, which is a decrease of 163 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