Current News

Average retail gasoline prices in Vermont have fallen 4.7 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.81/g yesterday. This compares with the national average that has fallen 0.2 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.73/g, according to gasoline price website VermontGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Vermont during the past week, prices yesterday were 25.7 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 11.9 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 18.6 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 14.3 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.
Source: VermontGasPrices.com 6.7.2010

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has announced that $120,000 has been awarded to establish community gardens at 40 schools throughout Vermont.
This project addresses two major issues confronting not just Vermont but the entire nation, Sanders said. It will help students learn the importance of good nutrition and a healthy diet. It also will broaden the school curriculum and help make learning fun.
The grant to the Vermont Community Foundation was secured by Sanders from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Working through the Friends of Burlington Gardens, the hands-on educational program will provide material and supplies such as topsoil, compost, raised beds, fencing, hoses, rakes, hoes and trowels.
Each school will be linked to the Vermont Master Gardener program at the University of Vermont with experienced and trained gardeners to provide expert advice and assistance.

With ever more science majors and a new Environmental Studies program, Saint Michael's College needed to expand its science laboratory space. The college learned last week that it was the recipient of a grant for $182,700 from the George I. Alden Trust of Worcester, Mass., which will enable the college to move forward quickly with renovations to the SMC Cheray Science Hall. Completion of the work is expected over the summer of 2010.
It s difficult to find foundations that are willing to fund infrastructure, said Dr. Karen Talentino, SMC vice president for academic affairs. For an institution our size, this grant can have a major impact for our students; we are really thrilled with to receive this, she added. Alden has been very supportive of Saint Michael s in the past, and we are grateful for their understanding of the needs of liberal arts colleges, said Dr. Talentino.
Upgrade bio labs, turn physical science spaces into labs, create two offices

Governor James H Douglas and Secretary of State Deb Markowitz will host the opening of the renovated and expanded Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA) building in Middlesex on Thursday, June 10th at 1:30 p.m. The event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony and remarks by Governor Douglas, Secretary Markowitz, and others who worked together to create not only the new facility but also a modern archival and records management program for the state.

A new exhibit at Shelburne Museum features the legendary American wilderness photography of Ansel Adams contrasted with Edward Burtynsky’s contemporary images of global industrialization. Ansel Adams and Edward Burtynsky: Constructed Landscapes includes over 60 extraordinary photographs and is the museum’s first exhibit of photography. The exhibit opens on Saturday, June 19.
“Constructed Landscapes offers visitors two powerful artistic perspectives of the landscape. Ansel Adams’ iconic 20th-century work presents seemingly undisturbed nature in black and white. Edward Burtynsky’s photographs capture the industrialized world in striking color. Both are beautiful and provocative -- in dramatically different ways. Both offer a timely reminder of the consequence of human impact on the planet,” Jost said.

Inc. magazine and Winning Workplaces today announce the winners of the 2010 Top Small Company Workplaces competition the best small and mid-sized places to work in the country in Inc.'s June issue. The magazine features the 20 winners, which range from the New York Jets professional football team to A Yard and a Half landscaping company to Patagonia, the outdoor clothing designer and retailer. A list of the 20 finalists also is included.
This is the eighth consecutive year that Winning Workplaces, the Evanston, IL-based nonprofit organization, has recognized those firms that attribute much of their business success to their commitment to exemplary people practices and outstanding workplace cultures.

Utilizing federal stimulus bonding capacity provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), VEDA preliminarily approved $92.3 million in Recovery Zone Bond Financing to several large business projects throughout Vermont. Additional VEDA program financing of $5.4 million was also approved to farm, technology and small business projects.
Vermont was allocated $135 million in federal tax-exempt bonding capacity to be committed by December 31, 2010, said VEDA CEO Jo Bradley. To date, VEDA has preliminarily committed its entire allocation, although it remains to be seen whether or not all of these projects can get all of their other pieces in place to close by year-end. We are continuing to take applications on a first-come-first-served basis in case any of the current projects are unable to proceed. We are trying hard to utilize all of our capacity in the allotted time frame.

In his first major reorganization in more than 11 years, Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer J. Wayne Leonard has named Entergy leaders to new roles effective as early as June 14.

Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR; http://www.marriott.com) opened the 67-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in White River Junction, VT on Friday, June 4, 2010. Located at 102 Ballardvale Drive, the Fairfield Inn & Suites White River will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Butson Hotel Investments of Williston, VT.
Located with easy access to I-89, I-91, Route 4 and Route 5, the hotel offers guests convenient access to Dartmouth College, Upper Valley Aquatic Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the VA Medical Center. Rates begin at $139 per night.

Governor Jim Douglas today signed the last three bills into law, marking the culmination of the 2009-2010 legislative biennium. As this is Governor Douglas’ last session as governor, today’s final bill signing of H. 781, An Act Relating to Renewable Energy, represents the last bill that will become law under his signature.
“It is a tremendous responsibility knowing that, as Governor, my signature has the power to turn an idea into the law of the State of Vermont,” said Governor Douglas. “In the past eight years, I’ve signed over 750 Acts and Charter Changes – and vetoed a few others. That the renewable energy bill is the final bill is fitting. It not only reaffirms Vermont’s deeply held environmental ethic, it builds on the close friendship we share with our neighbors in Quebec – a friendship that Quebec Premier Jean Charest and I have worked hard to cultivate over the past eight years.”

The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation has announced that 19 trail projects across the state will be receiving $531,119 from Vermont’s Recreation Trails Program (RTP).
Vermont’s RTP is a matching grant program of the Federal Highway Administration for the acquisition, development, rehabilitation and maintenance of trails, trailhead facilities, trailside amenities, and trail-related educational projects for non-motorized, motorized, and multiple compatible recreational use.
“RTP funds provide enjoyable opportunities with trails close to home, close to schools, in our parks, in our forests, and on our mountains,” says Sherry Winnie, Vermont’s RTP Administrator, “Vermont’s trails and trail systems connect people to places, promote healthy active living, and conserve the natural landscape of Vermont we love.”

Governor Jim Douglas announced Thursday that he would allow H. 66, An Act Relating to voluntary school district merger, virtual merger, supervisory union duties, and including secondary students with disabilities in senior year activities and ceremonies, to become law without his signature.
“While I support finding efficiencies through consolidation of school governance structures, I do not believe H. 66 is a meaningful step to achieve that end,” said Governor Douglas. “Not only does H. 66 fail to recognize the immediacy of our need to control property taxes in Vermont, it will, frankly, do little to encourage consolidation of districts. I cannot endorse this timid approach with my signature and hope future Legislatures will finally act on meaningful education reforms to rein in property taxes.”
A bill sent to the governor becomes law if it is not signed or vetoed within five days of reaching his desk.
A copy of the Governor’s message is below.