Current News
by tim
U.S. Army Awards General Dynamics $166 Million Contract to Produce Hydra-70 Rockets
The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products a contract worth $166.4 million for the production of 2.75-inch Hydra-70 rockets. The award is part of a five-year requirements contract signed in 2005 that has a total potential value of more than $900 million if all options are exercised. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
General Dynamics Hydra-70 rockets provide U.S. forces with effective firepower that is versatile, affordable and has proven extremely successful against area suppression-type targets, said Russ Klein, vice president and general manager of weapon systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. Our team in Camden, Ark., is proud to manufacture this rocket system to help protect the men and women who protect us.
by tim
FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS REACHES
TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH IBEW & CWA UNIONS REPRESENTING 2,500
MEMBERS
PORTLAND, MAINE
(March 24, 2008) - FairPoint
Communications, Inc. (NYSE:FRP) today announced it has reached tentative
agreements with the T-9 Council of the International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers (IBEW) and Communications Workers of America (CWA), the two unions
representing the approximately 2,500 employees
who will be continuing employment after
FairPoint's acquisition of Verizon Communications' landline and certain related
operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The transaction is expected to
close on March 31, 2008.
All parties involved
in the negotiations were able to come to acceptable terms on a number of key
provisions, including wage and pension increases for active employees,
by tim
Networking, Marketing & Business Development
by tim
Green Mountain Video Marks 25 Years in Business
Green Mountain Video, Inc. a media production company based in Williston, has reached the milestone of 25 years in business. Since 1983, Green Mountain Video, owned and operated by Jim and Grace Heltz, has been creating high-quality award winning films, public service announcements and commercials for local and national non-profits, educational institutions, corporations and government agencies.
"Working with a variety of clients keeps me excited about my work. One day I am filming in a chocolate factory and the next day I am on the film set with actors making a public service announcement. I am especially proud of the work I have created for the non-profits like the United Way of Chittenden County, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Kids Count and NeighborKeepers," said Heltz "To be able to help the community and to do what I love to do, which is to visually tell stories, has been very satisfying."
by tim
Hannaford sued over security breach
Two law firms have filed lawsuits against Hannaford Brothers Company after the grocery chain reported a data security breach of its computer systems that has left its millions of customers vulnerable to credit card theft. The Philadelphia based law firm Berger and Montague, and Bangor based attorney Samuel W. Lanham Junior have filed class action lawsuits against the company in Portland and Bangor, respectively. The lawsuits were filed on behalf of all customers whose credit or debit card information was stolen as a result of Hannafords negligence towards maintaining its computer datas security system.
by tim
Passport To Wealth | Ultimate Tools For Success
by tim
Speaker decides against capital gains tax increase
Democratic House speaker Gaye Symington disapproved any steps towards changing the current exemption from taxation that Vermont allows on the first 40 percent of taxpayers capital gains. Symington explained her decision was due to the growing uncertainty in the financial world, and asked the House Ways and Means Committee to find an extra $3 million to $5 million in state revenues without enforcing a new tax fee.
Symingtons decision ended the legislative session on three proposals for using the $21.4 million that was generated by eliminating the 40 percent exemption in new state revenues, which included her own initial plan. Her suggestion involved dividing the revenue three ways: $4.2 for targeted property tax relief, $8 million for the town highway and bridge program and $7 million to repay part of the $55 million owed by the state for school construction projects.
by tim
Majority
of Vermonters Favor Four-Year Term for Governor
In testimony March 20, 2008, before the Government Operations
Committee of the Vermont Senate, Charlie Smith,
President of the Snelling Center for Government, presented the findings from 15
months of survey and outreach work on the question of whether Vermonts elected leaders should have
four-year terms of office. How we choose to be governed is a very
serious matter, Smith said. Should we place higher value on the
close accountability afforded by a two-year term? Or should we strive for the
possibility of more effective long term planning that might come with a
four-year term.
Smith said, Our primary conclusion is that more
than 58% of Vermonters favor a four-year term for the governor and statewide
elected officials. Further, Smith said, Support for changing the
by tim
Governor Jim Douglas on Aviatron
Governor Jim Douglas congratulates a Vermont aviation firm, Aviatron of South Burlington, for landing a $6.2 million aircraft maintenance contract.
by tim
New method helps Vermonters improve local internet accessibility
The Vermont Telecommunications Authority has launched a mechanism that allows Vermonters to help cover wireless access for their neighborhoods. Available on the VTA website (http://www.telecomVT.org), residents can sign up to offer their property silo, top of their barn, roof of their home or office, hilltop, and church steeple to an internet or service provider. Several farmers have already signed up and are offering use of their silos, and the Legislature has listed all of Vermonts public properties. Each site must match and maintain certain criteria, which is available in detail on the companys website. Once registered, an interested service provider will contact the lister directly to organize details. The sites can be offered for free, as public service, or for a lease fee. The new initiative is expected to dramatically increase internet access across the state.
by tim
Over $209,000 awarded to preserve local agricultural buildings
Governor Douglas will award 23 barns $209,000 in Historic Preservation Barn grants to preserve their facilities and land. The grant program was orchestrated by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and offers up to $10,000 in matching funding to owners of agricultural buildings for roof, foundation, walls, and sills repairs and maintenance. Over the past 20 years the program has provided more than 200 historic agricultural buildings with $1.3 million. Some locations to receive the funding are historic Von Trapp Dairy Farm, the Grand Isle Harman Noble Barn, and Bettys Barn in Chittenden.