Current News
by tim
In response to the recent Champlain Bridge closure, New York Governor David A. Paterson and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas today announced transportation alternatives so that residents can cross Lake Champlain. New York and Vermont have reached an agreement with the Fort Ticonderoga Ferry operator to offer free ferry service between Ticonderoga, New York and Shoreham, Vermont and with Lake Champlain Transportation to offer free ferry service at the Essex/Charlotte crossing. Also, starting tomorrow, free express bus service will bring commuters to three major employers in Vermont. In addition, pedestrian ferry service has been established north of the Lake Champlain Bridge between Westport, New York and Basin Harbor, Vermont.
by tim
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Vermont Agency of Transportation will host two public information meetings regarding available transportation alternatives for crossing Lake Champlain and the plan to repair and reopen the Lake Champlain Bridge spanning from Crown Point, New York, to Chimney Point, Vermont.
The first meeting will be held Tuesday, October 27, at the Addison Central School located at 121 Vermont Route 17W, Addison, Vermont. The second meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 28 at the Moriah Central School located at 29 Viking Lane in Port Henry, New York, and will be attended by representatives from New York s State Emergency Management Office. Both meetings will begin at 7 pm.
by tim
Hansen Beverage Company and Rock Art Brewery today issued the following statement in connection with a recent trademark issue: Hansen Beverage Company and Rock Art Brewery have reached an amicable agreement under which both companies' respective products will be protected -- Hansen's Monster Energy(R) line of energy drinks and Rock Art's Vermonster beer products.
* Rodney Sacks, Hansen's chief executive officer, said: "We are pleased that we were able to resolve this matter expeditiously and put the concerns that had arisen behind us so that both parties can concentrate on their day-to-day businesses, selling their respective high-quality products. Our intent in this matter was simply to protect Hansen's trademarks and prevent any likelihood of confusion arising in the future through potential product extensions and was not to prevent Rock Art Brewery from selling their Vermonster beer."
by tim
Two-hundred and sixty women are registered to attend the Eighth Annual Key4Women Forum featuring former healthy food entrepreneur and cookbook author Nadja Piatka. After her 20-year marriage abruptly ended, Piatka was left with debt, no job skills and two daughters to raise. With a $100 investment, she started a business in her kitchen and grew it to become an international supplier to Subway, McDonalds and Wegmans. She has appeared on Oprah, the Today Show and Canada AM. She recently overcame leukemia. She will share her story and advice on overcoming challenges to achieve your goals.
Prior to Piatka s remarks, Key will present the Achieve Award to Heather Paine, owner of Dragonfly Candles and co-owner of Candles & Creations in South Burlington. Heather was recently named to KeyBank s Key4Women National Advisory Board. The Achieve Award recognizes a successful woman business owner who is actively involved in her community.
by tim
FairPoint Communications, Inc, which provides most of Vermont's landline telephone and DSL internet services, today announced it has reached agreement on a comprehensive financial restructuring plan with creditors and will file for bankruptcy protection. The company assured the public that service will not be interrupted. The debt-for-equity deal makes the creditors the de facto owners of FairPoint, while reducing the debt service significantly. The company also said it is negotiating a deal with bond holders to further stabilize its liabilities. A bankruptcy filing has been expected since summer.
by tim
No one anticipated that the capstone event of 2009 s Lake Champlain Quadricentennial would be the closing of the Champlain Bridge, though in retrospect it was bound to happen sometime in the near future.
Anyone who had seen pictures of its rusting riveted steel, plugged roadway drains, and other deferred maintenance knew there was a chance that the 1929 metal truss bridge would have to be replaced completely. What New York State s bridge inspectors didn t know (under a signed agreement, New York had responsibility for maintaining the bridge at Crown Point while Vermont takes care of the one in the north at Rouse s Point) was what lay beneath the summer s high water levels.
by tim
In the week since New York Department of Transportation officials deemed the Champlain Bridge connecting Chimney Point, Vermont to Crown Point, New York unsafe for vehicle or pedestrian traffic, federal, state and local officials have been hard at work pinpointing and addressing the wide-range of challenges created by the bridge closure. Governor Jim Douglas today spoke with his staff via conference call from Seoul, South Korea to hear the latest update on the situation. At Governor Douglas direction, members of his cabinet have been coordinating efforts to ensure the needs of Vermonters, beyond the immediate transportation crisis, are being adequately addressed.
by tim
On their first full day in Asia, Governor Douglas and Commerce Secretary Kevin Dorn finalized plans with Jay Peak Resort President Bill Stenger and his partners, South Korean company AnC Bio Inc, to designate its new subsidiary, AnC Bio VT, LLC as an official Vermont EB-5 Regional Center Project. AnC Bio VT is now raising money for a planned new facility in Orleans County that will lead to the creation of over 200 new jobs.
by tim
Senate Finance and Senate Natural Resources will hold a joint committee meeting next Monday, October 26 to discuss potential issues around nuclear waste storage. The committee members will hear from Professor Michael Wilson regarding his evaluation of the geological suitability of the ENVY Spent Nuclear Fuel storage site in Vernon for the storage of spent nuclear fuel from the Entergy Vermont Yankee facility.
Professor Wilson's full report can be found at: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/jfo/VY%20Legislative%20Briefing/Geologic%20Is....
by tim
During Fiscal Year 2009 – VEDA’s 35th year in operation – the Vermont Economic Development Authority experienced an all-time high in loan activity, closing a staggering 315 financings totaling $94.4 million. These investments in Vermont’s manufacturing, agriculture, small business and service sectors more than doubled the $46.4 million in financings closed by the Authority during the prior year.
VEDA’s year-end figures will be presented today at the Authority’s 35th Annual Meeting in Burlington. Nationally-recognized Economist Hugh Johnson will be guest speaker at the event.
“The heightened importance of VEDA’s programs in difficult economic times was demonstrated by the Authority’s extremely high volume of lending activity during the current, deep national recession,” said Jo Bradley, VEDA’s Chief Executive Officer. “Without VEDA financing during this period, it is safe to say that many projects might never have gone forward.”
by tim
Below is the latest list of confirmed free Button Up Vermont workshops, sorted by county. These are all hosted by local committees, as part of the Button Up Vermont network. Attend a free Button Up Vermont home energy savings workshop and learn how to save money and fuel while having a more comfortable house.
Addison
Bristol and Lincoln
11/3/09
Holley Hall
7:00 PM
Sue Kavanagh and Stephen Taylor
Bristol & Lincoln Energy Committees
[email protected]
802-443-2322, 802-453-7976(h)
Caledonia
St. Johnsbury
11/3/09
Morse Center, St. J Academy
6:30 PM
Jim Wuertele or Tom Manges
St. Johnsbury Academy and Tech. Center
[email protected] [email protected]
802-748-8813, TM - 751-2312
Caledonia
Hardwick
by tim
US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a member of the veterans committee, today hailed President Barack Obama s signing of legislation establishing advanced funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the department s recent acceptance of the connection between Agent Orange and devastating diseases. President Obama signed legislation today providing health care funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) one year in advance to better plan and manage their facilities including the ability to hire and train the right number of staff to take care of our veterans.