Current News
by tim
Seeking to prevent tragedy and raise awareness of improper heating
systems, local Concord Group Insurance Companies is giving $500,000 to
their policyholders for the purchase of home heating fuel this winter
season. Thousands of individuals and families across the state of
Vermont are eligible for Concord Group's one-time "A Warm Hand:
Policyholder Heating Lottery" program.
According to Joseph A. Desmond, Chairman and CEO of Concord Group, "We
recognize the unique challenge the economy causes for many families this
holiday season. We have seen our policyholders through the Great
Depression, oil embargo and other economic challenges. This is one of
the ways we can show our policyholders - in a way that touches their
lives - how we value their trust."
All Concord Group Insurance homeowner and mobile homeowner policyholders
of record as of October 31, 2008 are eligible in the state of Vermont.
by tim
Vermont's State Historic Preservation Officer has announced she is retiring from her post after 33 years of serving state government.
Jane Lendway, who has led the Division for Historic Preservation since 2003, will step down on December 31.
Jane has been a dedicated public servant and the results of her efforts can be seen in preserved barns in our fields and historic buildings in our downtowns and villages, said Governor Jim Douglas. On behalf of the people of Vermont, I extend my gratitude for more than three decades of excellent work.
Lendway, 57, of Montpelier, joined the Division for Historic Preservation, part of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, in 1975.
She served as a National Register and survey programs supervisor; federal and state preservation grants administrator; tax credit project reviewer; Certified Local Government coordinator, and preservation planner.
by tim
A Sears Authorized Retail Dealer Store has opened at 383 Exchange Street, Middlebury. The store is owned and operated by the Harrington familyMike, Kym, Ashley, Chad, Jared, Michaela and Sethall of Leicester, Vermont.
There are five additional employees, other than family members, and the Harringtons hope to add more local jobs in the future. Owner Kym Harrington stated, "We wanted to offer the Middlebury community something it really needed, and with a name like Sears, how could we go wrong?"
The store carries appliances, electronics, tools, lawn and garden equipment, exercise equipment, vacuums, snow blowers, generators and much more. Customers will be able to place orders at www.sears.com and have them delivered free of charge to the Exchange Street location. This service is available for any product sold by Sears.
by tim
VEOC Board of Directors Elects New Leadership
Burlington, Vermont (November 24, 2008) The Vermont Employee Ownership Center's Board of Directors has elected new officers for the coming year.
Paul Millman is the newly elected Board President. Millman is the president and co-founder of Chroma Technology Corporation (Rockingham, Vt.) and has served on the VEOC board since 2002, previously as Board Vice President. He brings a wealth of knowledge of Vermont's business community and has worked tirelessly to promote employee ownership.
"I am excited to take on the important job of steering the Vermont Employee Ownership Center over the next year," said Millman. "I look forward to working with the VEOC board, staff, and the entire business community to increase the number of Vermont employee-owned companies," he said.
by tim
WINOOSKI FALLS NAMED WINNER OF THE
2008 LIVABLE COMMUNITIES AWARD
BURLINGTON, VT - The Winooski Falls project and its developers HallKeen, The Braverman Company and New Boston Fund will receive the 2008 Livable Communities Award for forward thinking in the field of home and community design. The Livable Communities Award, cosponsored by AARP and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), honors builders, developers and remodelers that create attractive, well-designed homes and communities, which are safe, comfortable and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. This year, HallKeen, The Braverman Company and New Boston Fund is one of four winners nationally.
by tim
BED to Hold Off on Rate Increase
Burlington Electric Department, which had received approval from the Electric Commission to seek up to a 5.9 percent rate increase, has agreed to withdraw the request at this time.
by tim
Chittenden Bank Delivers $20,000 Check to CVPS Shareheat
Rutland, Vermont In a continuing effort to assist Vermonters in need during these tough economic times, Chittenden Bank recently donated $20,000 to the CVPS Shareheat Fund. For over 20 years, Shareheat has provided emergency home heating assistance to residents within the Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) territory. This resource is used primarily when low-income Vermonters find themselves ineligible for other programs, beyond their eligibility, or applying for assistance for the first time.
Funds for Shareheat are raised from the general public and matched dollar for dollar by CVPS shareholders. In July CVPS kicked off its annual Shareheat campaign five months earlier than usual. CVPS pledged $100,000 in matching funds for incoming donations, and combined with the Shareheat Business Partnership Program that amount has increased to $185,000 for this heating season.
by tim
KELLY BRUSH FOUNDATION AWARDS SKI RACING SAFETY GRANTS
STOWE AND ASPEN SKI CLUBS AMONG RECIPIENTS
BURLINGTON, Vermont (Nov. 24, 2008) Just as ski resorts are opening for the season, the Kelly Brush Foundation kicked off its 2008/2009 Ski Racing Safety is No Accident Campaign with the announcement of over $20,000 in grants to ski racing clubs and programs across the country. The grants are part of a campaign to promote and improve ski racing safety.
Among the recipients are some of the most prestigious racing programs in the nation including the Mount Mansfield Ski Club at Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont and the Aspen Valley Ski Club at Aspen in Colorado. Each club won a $10,000 grant earmarked for enhancing safety on the trails where their young racers train and race.
by tim
Vermont delegation seeks to stimulate economy with transportation waiver
by tim
Vermont Receives nearly $800,000 in Byway Grants
MONTPELIER (November 24, 2008)- The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) announced today that three Vermont byways have received $797,000 in federal grants to help promote some of the Green Mountain State's most celebrated roadways.
The grants come at a particularly opportune time as this fall Vermont joined most of the other states across the country and began actively marketing its five designated byways.
"Byways are created and maintained at the local level, and they provide a community or state region with a vehicle to tell their story to visitors." said John LaBarge, Vermont's program manager for byways. "The local residents decide what stories about their regions to share with visitors. In the process, many of them discover even more about how special their home really is."
by tim
Wark Appointed Communications Director
Montpelier, Vt. -- Governor Jim Douglas has announced the appointment of Stephen Wark as his director of communications.
"It is a pleasure to welcome Steve to the senior staff," Governor Douglas said. "His breadth of experience, communications skills and life-long commitment to public service will be a valuable asset and bring a unique perspective to the important work ahead of us."
Wark, 45, of Colchester, is currently the director of consumer affairs and public service with the Department of Public Service, as well as the director of the Governor's Fuel and Food Partnership. He is an Eagle Scout and a graduate of the University of Vermont, Champlain College and Vermont Technical College. He served for twenty years with the Burlington Police Department, and retired in 2006 as deputy chief. He and his wife Wendy have two daughters, Caitlin and Amanda.
by tim
Waterbury, VT (November 21, 2008) - Secretary of Human Services Rob Hofmann Announces the Appointment of Susan W. Besio, Ph.D., as Director of the Office of Vermont Health Access.
Newly appointed Secretary of Human Services Robert D. Hofmann announced today the appointment of Susan W. Besio, Ph.D., as the new Director of the Office of Vermont Health Access (OVHA), effective December 8, 2008. She replaces Joshua Slen, Director at OVHA since August 2003, who is leaving state government.