Current News
by tim
ESSEX JUNCTION If you are looking for a fun evening and some great silent auction bargains from local businesses and merchants, plan on attending the Ambassadors Silent Auction and Taste of the Chamber on Thursday, March 27, from 5:30-8 p.m. at Champlain Valley Exposition (CVE).
Champlain Valley Exposition, a non-profit organization, is home to many of Vermonts biggest events, including the annual Champlain Valley Fair, Everything Equine, Vermont Quilt Festival, Spring and Fall Essex Crafts, Circus Smirkus and Northeast Nationals NSRA Street Rods to name just a few of the dozens of special events planned in 2008.
All these events help us fulfill our mission as a non-profit organization to encourage and support education, agriculture, commerce and entertainment, said CVE General Manager David F. Grimm, CFE.
by tim
Expo officials cite costs and weather as reasons
ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. After two years of less-than perfect conditions for flying, officials at Champlain Valley Exposition announced it will not hold the Vermont Balloon and Music Festival.
The annual event, traditionally held the first weekend of June, began in 2003 and featured about 40 hot-air balloons, a carnival, specialty vendors and concerts at 130-acre Champlain Valley Exposition. The first two years saw nearly perfect weather and many memorable hot-air balloon launches, concerts and a balloon-glow that the balloonists themselves described as one of the best ever.
by tim
Vermont Cheesemaker honored with John C. Finley Memorial Award;
Websterville, VT—At the festive annual banquet that marks the conclusion of the Vermont Farm Show, the Vermont Dairy Industry Association awarded its prestigious John C. Finley Memorial Award to Allison Hooper, co-founder of Vermont Butter & Cheese Company. Hooper, thrilled with the surprise said, “I share this award with my business partner Bob Reese, and our terrific staff who make and sell exceptional cheese everyday. The unsung heroes, of course, are our 17 goat farmers who produce great milk for us, the St Albans Dairy farmers and HP Hood farmers who produce the outstanding cream and milk from which we make our cheese.”
by tim
North Springfield, VT, February 5, 2008 - It took five tractor-trailers to deliver the parts. A crew of eight installers spent six weeks assembling the machinery. At Springfield Printing on Thursday, brothers Bruce and Mark Sanderson watched intently as the console on their new Mitsubishi Diamond 3000 LX printing press lit up and sheets of paper were passed through the unit for the first time.
For the Sandersons, whose family has been managing Springfield Printing since 1967, the installation of the Diamond 3000 LX reflects their ongoing commitment to providing state-of-the-art services to their customers. The new six-unit press was manufactured in Japan and replaces a press that was only 15 years old. The advanced technology of this new press will be a benefit to our customers and improve our business noted Bruce.
by tim
CVPS met all service quality standards for 2007
by tim
Dorset Inn, Vermont's oldest, sold
February 4, 2008
by tim
Fairpoint gets written approval to buy Verizon's Maine lines
Maine Public Utilities Commission on Friday, February 1, 2008, issued a written order approving FairPoints proposed acquisition of Verizons wireline business in Maine. The PUC had previously agreed to the deal and this latest move formalizes its ruling. It stated that it will reserve the right to re-visit its decision based on what the regulators in Vermont and New Hampshrie ultimately rule.
In a joint release at the end of January, FairPoint Communications, Inc and Verizon said they expected transer of ownership of Verizon Communications' 1.6 million landlines in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine for $2.7 billion to be done by February 29.
by tim
Governor Douglas
Awards $1.3 Million In Community Development Grants
Ten
Communities To Receive Funds For Housing, Economic Development Projects
MILTON, Vt. – Creating affordable housing, jobs, and
alternative energy sources in Vermont were on the agenda as Governor Jim
Douglas on Monday announced the award of $1.3 million in community development
grants to ten communities.
“These grants will rehabilitate affordable housing;
create new elderly housing units and adult day care; help plan for responsible
future housing projects and promote job creation in Vermont,” Governor
Douglas said.
The $1,345,498 in Vermont Community Development Program
grants will also leverage $10,152,714 in other private and public resources, he
said during a ceremony in Milton.
A $297,500 grant to Meadowlane Housing Associates and
by tim
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Amanda
Ibey
223-0575 (office) or 802-505-0406 (cell)
Vermont Business
Leaders Deeply Concerned
Over Energy
Pricing, Reliability
New Survey Also
Shows Attention to Efficiency; Strong Support for Vermont Yankee, Wind, Biomass
and Other Energy Options
Montpelier, VT/February 4, 2008 – A new survey of 256 business leaders
throughout Vermont finds strong concerns about energy costs and reliability,
overwhelming support for developing renewable sources of electricity and
approving the license renewal of Vermont Yankee, and that a majority of
respondents currently maintain efficiency and conservation measures in their
business operations.
“Vermont
by tim
LYNDON CENTER, VT. Lyndon State College is pleased to announce a gift of $100,000 from a Normal School graduate who wishes to remain anonymous. This gift will be used to create a new scholarship fund, the Northeast Kingdom Education Endowment, and to encourage increased support of the LSC Annual Fund for Excellence.
Half of the gift, $50,000, will be used to create the Northeast Kingdom Education Endowment fund for NEK students studying to become teachers. This gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar from the Valade Family Trust Endowment Development Fund to give this endowment an opening value of $100,000. The first scholarships from this endowment will be awarded in fall 2009.
by tim
Jim Leddy Named AARP Vermont State President
MONTPELIER, VT, February 1, 2008 - Former State Senator Jim Leddy has been appointed State President of AARP - Vermont, a volunteer position working closely with both staff and volunteers throughout the state to help AARP achieve its mission in Vermont. His responsibilities include serving as primary volunteer spokesperson, chairing the executive council, building networks and community partnerships and recruiting volunteers. Leddy takes over the position held by Nancy C. Lang since 2002. Lang has accepted the position of Regional Volunteer Director with AARP working with state offices throughout the Northeast.
by tim
PSB approves small CVPS rate increase
The Vermont Public Service Board today approved a 2.3 percent increase in Central Vermont Public Service rates, to take effect with bills rendered Feb. 1.
CVPS had initially filed for a 4.46 percent increase last May, but reached agreement with the Department of Public Service on a 2.3 percent increase in November. The PSB approved that increase in a decision today.
"No one likes to increase rates, particularly with the economic pressures Vermonters are facing, but the small rate increase is needed for reliable customer service," CVPS President Bob Young said. "For example, more than a third of the new revenues will pay for expanded tree-trimming and removal programs along power lines to reduce the risk of outages."