Current News

Grimes Named to National Steering Committee
Barbara Grimes, general manager of Burlington Electric Department, has accepted an invitation from the Washington-based Alliance for Climate Action to serve on the steering committee of ACA's new Municipal Clean Energy Project (MCEP).
The MCEP is a 3-year, nationwide initiative of ASE, in close collaboration with the American Public Power Association (APPA), the Large Public Power Council (LPPC) and other partners to promote efficiency and renewable energy as the way to meet this country's energy needs.
"I was very pleased to be asked to join many luminaries in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy from around the country on this steering committee," said Grimes. "With our great work in the field of efficiency and our goal to achieve 100 percent renewable power BED, despite its small size, has a national reputation."

JONATHAN WOOD appointed secretary of natural resources
DOUGLAS THANKS crombie for Service
Montpelier, Vt. - (November 7, 2008) Governor Jim Douglas today announced that Forest, Parks and Recreation (FPR) Commissioner Jonathan Wood has been appointed Secretary of Natural Resources.
Wood replaces George Crombie who, after nearly two years as secretary, is pursuing other opportunities.
Governor Douglas thanked Crombie for his service. "I appreciate the time George dedicated to our state and the work he did to advance my climate change initiatives and the Clean and Clear Action Plan," Governor Douglas said. "I wish him well in his future endeavors."
Governor Douglas said Wood, who he appointed FPR commissioner in 2003, brings a wealth of policy knowledge and management experience to his new post.

Chris Graff: Douglas, Obama produce historic election results
by Chris Graff

VBM Political Coumnist
That Democrat Barack Obama won 67 percent support from Vermonters is stunning. That Republican Jim Douglas fought off the Obama tide to gain 55 percent of the tally in the governors race is amazing.
Obama's win in the state spanned the spectrum:
- Exit polling showed he won 95 percent of Vermont Democrats, 71 percent of independents and 11 percent of Republicans;

- 93 percent of those Vermonters who consider themselves liberal voted for Obama while 65 percent of the moderates and even 32 percent of the conservatives backed his candidacy;

Beginning Farmers Get Support from Federal, State
and Private Agriculture Groups
Montpelier, Vt This week, representatives from Farm Service Agency (FSA), Yankee Farm Credit and the Agency of Agriculture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help beginning farmers get financial assistance to establish viable farming operations.
The MOU solidifies an agreement between the parties to provide cooperation and participation in joint funding between FSA and Yankee Farm Credit with the assistance of the State of Vermont for beginning farmers. Assistance will be provided for qualified beginning farmers through the use of the Down Payment Loan Program or guaranteed loan programs.

Perfect Landing At Harris Hill Ski Jump
Organizing Committee Secures Additional Funds for Construction
BRATTLEBORO, VTAt a Brattleboro Selectboard meeting, Harris Hill Ski Jump Co-Director Pat Howell announced that Harris Hill has received a gift of $188,000, totaling the funds needed to complete the construction of the jump.
"This is more than a gift, it's a miracle," said Howell. "The town of Brattleboro should be very proud of the confidence in our community that this gift represents."

Bridge Managers Optimistic About Improving Bridge Conditions
DES PLAINES, Ill., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the first time
since 2005, highway engineers are optimistic about reducing the number of
structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges. The information
comes from an annual survey of highway professionals in 50 state
Departments of Transportation and the District of Columbia conducted by
Better Roads magazine and sponsored by Contech Bridge Solutions, Inc. The
study, which provides the most current data available on bridge conditions,
shows that increased funding, initiated after the I-35 bridge collapse in
Minnesota, is finally working its way into the system. More than 60 percent
of respondents felt that they would be able to reduce the number of
functionally obsolete and structurally deficient bridges in the next year,
compared to just 40 percent in 2007.

Astronomer/Cosmologist O'Meara, collaborates with 8 other scientists
Saint Michael's physicist receives $300,000 NASA grant to determine how galaxies are born and how they change over time
Assessing data sent to earth by the Hubble Space Telescope, Dr. John O'Meara, Saint Michael's College assistant professor of physics, and eight colleagues at four universities, will study how galaxies are born and how they change with time.
Dr. O'Meara learned last week that his proposal to do this analysis had been funded by the Space Telescope Science Institute of NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Two, two-year grants, one for $158,891 and one for $146, 733, will provide funding to O'Meara, the principal investigator (PI), and colleagues from the University of California, Santa Cruz; Notre Dame, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and the University of Chicago, to explore thorny issues about the galaxy.

Economic development commissioner stepping down
Douglas, Dorn Praise QUINN's Service
Montpelier, Vt. -- (November 6, 2008) Vermont Department of Economic Development (DED) Commissioner Michael Quinn today announced he his stepping down as economic development commissioner.
Quinn said he has enjoyed serving Vermont and Governor Douglas, but is looking forward to returning to the private sector.
"I left the private sector to spend six very rewarding years serving the people of Vermont and working with Governor Douglas to advance his pro-growth, job creation agenda," said Quinn, "but six years is plenty - and longer than I'd told my extraordinarily supportive wife, Froncie - so it's time to make a change."
Governor Douglas praised Quinn for his service.

Central Vermont Reports Third-Quarter Earnings

RUTLAND, VT, Nov 05, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE: CV)

Champlain College to Buy Ethan Allen Club
Members to remain for two years while student housing plans are developed
BURLINGTON, Vt. (Nov. 4, 2008) - Champlain College announced today it has entered into a purchase and sale agreement to purchase the Ethan Allen Club located at 298 College St. The building and location, identified in Champlain's recent master plan, represents an opportunity for Champlain to develop apartment-style housing units for its students, according to officials at Champlain College.
Champlain College President Dave Finney explained the decision, "This property represents a big step towards the College taking responsibility for all of our undergraduate students in Burlington. We currently have more than 1,000 students living in apartments in Burlington neighborhoods and our goal is to house all of them in Champlain housing by 2016."

Week Ending November 1, 2008
There were 1,253 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, an increase of 63 from the week before, according to the Vermont Department of Labor. Altogether 7.545 new and continuing claims were filed, 640 more than a week ago and 2342 more than a year earlier. In addition, the Department processed 1,136 claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008, a decrease of 25 from last week.
The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at:
http://www.vtlmi.info/
Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at:
http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc

Vermont Public Television Wins PBS Award for Excellence, Other Awards
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) recently honored Vermont Public Television with four national awards for innovation and fundraising at the annual Development Conference. VPT was the PBS member station to receive the top award, the Award for Excellence, in the On-air Achievement category. Three other awards recognized VPTs work in Local Corporate
Underwriting, On-air Achievement and Planned Giving.
Staff members who led the award-winning efforts were Lee Ann Lee, vice president for marketing and development; David Donegan, membership manager; Brynn Wikgren, pledge/events coordinator; and Peter Shea, corporate services director.
Vermont's statewide public television network raises 85 percent of its revenue from local sources, most of that directly from local viewers.