Current News

Founded in 1963, the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association (VFDA) represents more than 100 independent heating fuel dealers in the state, that have first hand experience with the growing need for fuel and heating assistance in our communities. The Patch Chit/Neighbor-in-Need Program has responded to emergency home fuel situations statewide for over 20 years, and serves as a "safety net" for Vermonters who do not qualify for state sponsored heating assistance programs, but find themselves in dire need. The Patch Chit Program was created in honor of the late David Patch, the owner of Patch's Petroleum, who was a dedicated and generous community servant. Currently underway is the "Split the Ticket" campaign, which shares the cost of the fuel delivery ticket 50/50 with the participating Patch Chit/Neighbor-in-Need Program fuel dealer. VFDA members who take part in this program agree to donate a delivery of up to 150 gallons of heating oil, kerosene or propane to one of their own custome

RANDOLPH - Gifford Medical Center has been awarded an Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund grant for the eighth consecutive year. The only hospital in the state to receive the national award, Gifford has been granted $40,000 for 2009 to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer.
The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund supports community-based, non-profit breast health programs across the country. Gifford was selected as one of 144 grant recipients nationwide. Organizations are chosen based on their ability to effectively reach women, particularly minority, low-income and older women, who are often medically underserved.
In 2008, Gifford, through the Avon Foundation's generosity, reached 4,285 women during educational visits, a total estimated audience of more than 200,000 with the help of the media, and scheduled 571 women for mammograms - all numbers that significantly exceeded prior years.

Fletcher Allen Health Care and CIGNA HealthCare announced today that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow individuals served by CIGNA HealthCare to continue to receive services at in-network rates from Fletcher Allen. Both organizations described this as a significant step that will extend their contractual relationship without interruption to patient care. The new contract will run from February 1, 2009 through January 31, 2011, replacing the current contract which would have expired the end of this month.

Executive Vice President Thomas S. Leavitt is pleased to announce that the newest office of Merchants Bank will open on January 20. The branch at 929 Shelburne Road in South Burlington replaces the current branch that has operated at that location since 1974. The newly constructed facility offers full lobby service and three drive-up lanes, including one dedicated to an ATM.
The new interior space features teller stations, private office space, a conference room for onsite, private loan closings and customer meetings, and ADA-compliant accommodations. A green space will occupy the site of the previous bank building, with work scheduled for completion in the spring. The facility is adjacent to the K-Mart Plaza.
The public is invited to a Grand Opening Celebration, scheduled for Friday, February 27. Remarks by bank officials will be delivered at 11:30 a.m. Visitors will be able to enjoy refreshments and tour the new branch during all hours of operation that day.

BioTek Instruments, Inc., continues their global expansion in the microplate-based technology market with the establishment of BioTek Instruments Ltd. in the United Kingdom. The new organization will focus on growing BioTek's brand and direct customer base in the UK while supporting the efforts of Thermo Fisher UK related to BioTek's microplate instruments and technologies.
Mr. Mike Todd and Mr. Colin Fallowfield, co-founders of Northstar Scientific Ltd. (Leeds, UK), have been associated with BioTek for over 10 years, and have been named as Directors of BioTek Instruments Ltd. Each will apply extensive scientific market experience to their new positions. Under their leadership, UK customers will receive a superior level of product knowledge, pre- and post-sale technical support and application assistance at the local level.

Vermont's three-largest electric utilities have received dozens of new energy sales proposals in response to a comprehensive market request issued late last fall.
"We are pleased with the variety, number and range of potential options we have received," Central Vermont Public Service, Green Mountain Power and Vermont Electric Cooperative said in a joint statement. "There are dozens of bids, ranging in duration from a year to two decades, representing a wide range of electricity sources, with a mix of costs and attributes.
In November, the three companies, looking to diversify their power supplies and plan for the expiration of major contracts with Vermont Yankee and Hydro-Quebec between 2012 and 2016, issued two solicitations, the first of several staggered RFPs they plan over the next couple of years.

Secretary of Administration Neale F. Lunderville today released General Fund revenue results for the month of December, the sixth month of Fiscal Year 2009. General Fund revenues were essentially on target for the month as compared to the consensus revenue target revised the previous month. The General Fund revenues of $99.85 million for the month of December 2008 were +$0.05 million or +0.05% above the $99.80 million consensus revenue forecast for the month. Cumulatively, General Fund revenues were $555.70 million or +0.30 million (+0.05%) above the consensus revenue forecast for FY 2009.

NEW YORK - January 11, 2009 - Olympic gold medalist Shaun White won the men's superpipe finals and hometown hero and fellow gold medalist Kelly Clark won the women's event Sunday in the second stop of the inaugural Winter Dew Tour at Mount Snow Resort in West Dover, Vermont.
White's winning run included a backside rodeo 720, a backside 900, back-to-back 1080's into a 720. He finished with an alley-oop rodeo and scored 96.25.
"The first run was really good but I knew I could go a little bigger than I did in that first run," White said. "It was a weird run. My glove was kind of iced over and we had to add these marks to my board so I'd make sure I grabbed it. I went through that second run there and it just all fell together."
Steve Fisher of Breckenridge, Colo., was second at 92.75 and Kevin Pearce of Norwich, Vt., was third at 90.00.
White now holds the lead in season standings in both the superpipe and slopestyle disciplines.

AT&T Mobility today announced that it will launch iPhone(TM) 3G at company-owned retail stores in Vermont.
The launch of iPhone 3G is made possible by AT&T Mobility's December 2008 acquisition of Unicel assets in Vermont. The company has been installing its systems and training employees at its ten legacy Unicel stores across the state to begin offering the full slate of AT&T Mobility products and services -- including the highly anticipated iPhone 3G -- on January 15.
"iPhone 3G will arrive for AT&T Mobility customers in Vermont on January 15th," said Steve Krom, vice president and general manager of the company's New England operations. "We are committed to offering the most innovative products and services to our customers, and we are pleased to be part of this great milestone in our market."

(January 8, 2009) Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, distinguished guests, my fellow Vermonters: One hundred seventy three years ago farmers, businessmen, and lawyers from across Vermont met here for the 1836 session of the General Assembly. Among them, a minister and headmaster of the Orleans County Grammar School took his seat as the member from Brownington.
Alexander Twilight was a pioneer. A native of Corinth, Twilight's life was devoted to public service as a preacher, educator and legislator. When he took his oath so many years ago, Twilight made quiet history as the first African-American to serve in a state legislature.

(Rutland, Vermont, 8 January 2009) The First Tee National School Program and the Vermont Golf Association, Vermont Golf Association Scholarship Fund, Vermont Golf Course Superintendent's Association, Vermont Golf Industry Committee, Vermont Professional Golfers Association, Vermont Senior Golf Association, and the Vermont State Women's Golf Association, have today announced that 37 additional local elementary school physical education programs will participate in the 2009 The First Tee National School Program. The 37 new schools join the 15 schools that entered into the program in 2008.

In an effort to help build business in these uncertain economic times, the Downtown Rutland Partnership has launched a new initiative that will offer Free Rent for a Year in Downtown Rutland to one new or relocating business into downtown.
Applicants must represent a NEW business to Downtown Rutland. Relocation of pre-existing downtown businesses does not qualify for the Free Rent for a Year program.
Applicants must include a complete business plan and pro-forma. The new business must be located in a first floor, ground level and vacant space within the Downtown Rutland District. Retail businesses will be given special consideration for this program as they help drive foot traffic that in turn will support other business downtown.
The program award will be $1,000 per month for rental assistance. Finally the award winner must sign a Three (3) year lease with their property owner.
Feel free to call the Downtown Rutland Partnership for more info at