Current News
by tim
Average retail gasoline prices in Vermont have fallen 3.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.86/g yesterday. This compares with the national average that has fallen 6.8 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.80/g, according to gasoline price website VermontGasPrices.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Vermont during the past week, prices yesterday were 51.7 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 2.8 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 6.3 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 39.8 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.
Source: www.VermontGasPrices.com. Vermont, VT, May 24, 2010
by tim
It was announced today that Simon Pearce, Vermont Flannel and Vermont Teddy Bear are among the Made in the USA Foundation's inaugural recipients of its Hall of Fame Awards. Awards are presented to companies whose ongoing commitment to manufacturing goods in the United States reflects their support of creating local jobs and upholding fair trade standards throughout the world.
"The Foundation is proud to announce the creation of the Made in the USA Hall of Fame," says Foundation Chairman Joel D.Joseph. "We have
considered hundreds of worthy nominees, but have selected only 20 based on the following criteria:
Companies that have remained steadfast and refused to outsource;
Companies that have strived to export;
Companies that have continued to improve quality.
by tim
The owners of the Gracey's Store gas station and convenience store on Williston Road in South Burlington, Slimain Handy's Convenience Stores, will pay a $35,000 penalty to the State as a result of a gasoline leak from an underground storage tank that contaminated the soil and groundwater at the station. "We take the enforcement of our environmental laws seriously, particularly when it involves a release of a hazardous substance like gasoline", Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell said. "Because even a small amount of gasoline can cause serious environmental harm, owners of underground storage tanks must be vigilant in monitoring their tanks", Sorrell added.
Under the court approved settlement, Slimain Handy's Convenience Stores will pay the State $35,000 stemming from the release of gasoline from the store's underground storage tanks in October 2006. The leak contaminated the soil and groundwater at the corner of Williston and Hinesburg Roads.
by tim
A May 14, 2010 radiochemical analysis of soil samples taken on March 17 from the Advanced Off-Gas (AOG) pipe tunnel excavation shows the presence of strontium-90 (Sr-90). Vermont Yankee shared these results with the Vermont Department of Health on May 20.
Sr-90 is a metal by-product of the fission of uranium in nuclear reactors, and is found in waste from nuclear reactors. The finding of Sr-90 in this area may be the result of fuel failures that occurred at Vermont Yankee in the 1970s.
by tim
In light of a favorable weather forecast for Sunday, May 23, the University of Vermont's 206th commencement ceremony will take place on the University Green. The location is the University Green located between University Row and South Prospect Streets. Although the likelihood of precipitation is low according to the latest reports, Vermont weather in May means that showers are always a possibility; guests are encouraged to come prepared for rain or shine. See the 2010 Commencement Website for more information about the day: http://www.uvm.edu/commencement
Source: UVM. 5.21.2010
by tim
The Vermont Department of Labor announced today that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April 2010 was 6.4 percent, down two tenths from the revised March rate and down eight tenths from a year ago.
by tim
Green Mountain Power, owner of the only operating wind generation farm in Vermont, filed today with state regulators for permission to build a second wind generating plant, up to 63 megawatts, in Lowell, Vermont. The $150 million investment in the Northeast Kingdom will provide jobs and significant economic benefits, in addition to increasing the state's renewable energy generation.
This is the most significant renewable energy project proposed in Vermont since the 50 MW McNeil wood generating plant was built in the 1980s. Green Mountain Power, Vermont Electric Cooperative and VELCO are working together on the project to provide customers of the two distribution utilities stably priced, renewable energy.
by tim
The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles announced today that DMV Express, Vermont’s online vehicle registration renewal service, recently exceeded 500,000 vehicle registration renewals processed over the Web.
"With more than a half million renewals online, and almost 100,000 more processed through IVR (phone) and kiosks, we have made great strides in providing Vermont drivers with alternative ways to renew their vehicles - whether, cars, boats, or snowmobiles,” said Robert Ide, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles.
by tim
Union Bankshares, Inc (Nasdaq:UNB) today announced the results of voting at the company's annual meeting of stockholders held on May 19, 2010 at the banking offices of the Company's subsidiary, Union Bank, in Morrisville, Vermont. Approximately 83 percent of the company's outstanding shares of common stock were represented at the meeting. Incumbent directors Cynthia D. Borck, Steven J. Bourgeois, Kenneth D. Gibbons, Franklin G. Hovey, II, Robert P. Rollins, Richard C. Sargent, John H. Steele and Schuyler W. Sweet, were reelected to a one-year term. Also elected to a one-year term on the Company's board was new nominee Cornelius J. Van Dyke, who has served on the board of Union Bank since November, 2009. Election of directors was by plurality vote.
The stockholders also ratified the selection of the firm of Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker as the company's external auditors for 2010.
by tim
By James Dwinell. Vermont Business Magazine. May 20, 2010 -When the widows and orphans of Vermont opened the annual report from their home town bank, they may have read something similar to the letter to shareholders of the Randolph National Bank, a $160,000,000 bank founded in 1875 and headquartered in that town. Chairman John Osha wrote, To help fund the massive losses and risks throughout the nation, the FDIC dramatically increased (our) deposit insurance premium ¦from $14,000 in 2008 to more than $330,000 in 2009.
Given the interest rate environment and the difficult economy, we would have been reasonably pleased with our earnings if they were not significantly diminished by the FDIC assessment (and thereby reducing our earnings by 54 percent).
To ensure that this was not an aberration, we called Mark Young, President of the First National Bank Orwell, a $40,000,000 bank founded in 1832.
by tim
By Art Edelstein. Vermont Business Magazine. May, 20, 2010 _ A multi-part health care bill (Senate 88) passed both houses of the Vermont Legislature on May 11, the last day of the 2010 session. The legislation would support aspects of the state's ongoing attempt to keep health care costs in check. However, two provisions of the bill irked Governor Jim Douglas enough to cause him to threaten a veto.
As of today, the Legislature had not sent the bill to the governor. It is expected to be sent over tomorrow (Friday). Once that happens, the governor has five days to sign it into law or veto it. If he does neither, the bill becomes law without his signature at the end of the five days.
by tim
Several Vermont firms were recently recognized for their strong commitment to effective workplace safety at the Annual Vermont Workplace Safety Conference. The Governor’s Award for Workplace Safety, presented by Governor Jim Douglas, went to IBM in the Large Business Category and to Long Trail Brewery in the Small Business Category.
In presenting the awards, Governor Douglas also noted IBM’s earlier recipient of Vermont OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program and the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) designation for Long Trail Brewing by the Vermont Department of Labor.
Vermont Labor Commissioner Patricia Moulton Powden explained that the awards are the most prestigious awards given to a company in recognition of their workplace safety and health achievements.