Current News

Essex Junction, VT - There's a new way to buy advance ticket sales for the 2007 Champlain Valley Fair. The new ticket booth at the Champlain Valley Exposition's Yellow Gate is located off Pearl Street (across from McDonald's) and offers convenient pull-in parking. It will open Monday, Aug. 13 and will be open Monday through Friday, 11am to 6 pm, through Aug. 24. The Fair opens Saturday, Aug. 25 at 10 am.
Advance discounts tickets will include the 10-Day Ultimate Fun Admission Pass for $35; the 3-Day Admission Fun Pass for $18; Single day $7 Adult admission (save $3); Single day $4 Child (5-12) admission (save $1); and the new Pay-One-Price, Midway Ride-a-Thon tickets for $19 (save $3). All advance purchase tickets are good for use any day of the Fair, which runs Aug. 25-Sept. 3. Visa, MasterCard or cash only are accepted.

Berlin, VT : Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) announced recently that Ingrid Temer has been promoted to Senior Account Manager in the Sales and Service Department.
Temer will assume additional responsibilities for advancing client-centric projects and initiatives that increase employer satisfaction with the health plan's products and services. As the department's Senior Account Manager, Temer will also serve a pivotal role as a resource for other account managers and sales and service representatives.

Vermont Native Jane Lindholm to Host New Daily Newsmagazine
Vermont Public Radio is breaking new ground this August 13th. The state-wide public radio service is launching a daily news magazine, Vermont Edition, with new host Jane Lindholm. The new program, airing weekdays noon-1 p.m., has grown out of the weekly Vermont Edition which VPR began in 2005.
"Listeners have been asking for a daily regional news program for a long time," says VPR President and General Manager Mark Vogelzang. "We took small steps, first launching the five minute Midday Report, then a weekly version of Vermont Edition. We're very excited about providing listeners with a robust daily mid-day news magazine."
The daily Vermont Edition will bring listeners more news and conversation about issues affecting their lives, plus a bit of the unexpected. The program will be broad-reaching, covering issues, art, culture and music in Vermont and the surrounding region.

Microdesign Consulting Inc. of Colchester, VT in collaboration with the Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science of the University of Vermont has won a Phase II Small Business Innovation and Research grant from the National Institutes of Health for further development of their TV set-top box which enables home-bound patients to participate in group exercise classes and follow-up health care consultation.
"Our system offers the benefits of a group exercise class", says Larry Keyes of Microdesign, "even though participants are physically standing in their own living rooms and don't need to leave their own homes. Participants don't need a computer and exercise in front of their own TV sets. The instructor can see and hear all participants, and each participant can see and converse with the instructor, as well as with each other."

BURLINGTON, Vt.--Champlain College is responding to changing needs in the marketplace with a newly reformulated Software Development program through its continuing education division, which was recently renamed the Division of Continuing Professional Studies.
Working adults and career changers may enroll in the new program to earn a bachelor's degree, associates degree or a professional certificate--on campus or online.
The last few years have brought significant changes in the nature and complexity of information systems development. "We reorganized our program to combine a solid knowledge of software development and Web development, because you really cannot separate them anymore," said software program architect John Lavallee of the Division of Continuing Professional Studies.

July 30, 2007
Verizon Wireless To Acquire Rural Cellular Corporation,
Expand The Nation's Most Reliable Wireless Network
Acquisition Will Expand Coverage In Rural Markets In 15 States
Basking Ridge, NJ ­-- In a move to expand its wireless service coverage in
rural markets, Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications
(NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD), announced today that it has
entered into an agreement to acquire Rural Cellular Corporation
(NASDAQ:RCCC), for approximately $2.67 billion in cash and assumed debt.
The acquisition will further enhance Verizon Wireless¹ network coverage in
markets adjacent to its existing service areas. The combination will
increase Verizon Wireless coverage by 4.7 million licensed POPs
(population), and increase its customer base by more than 700,000.
"Verizon Wireless continually looks for opportunities to enhance our

Colchester, VT May July 26, 2007Life for new parents just got a little easier, and customer communication just improved for the customers of Lowes Foods supermarkets. MyWebGrocer of Colchester, VT and Lowes Foods of Winston-Salem, North Carolina announced the arrival of www.Lowesfoods.MyBaby.com , the first grocery social networking site for parents. A place they can organize, share, discuss, and find things to do with their kids. Lowe's Food Stores is launching lowesfoods.mybaby.com July 25, 2007.
"We're really excited about LowesFoods.MyBaby.com because, as anyone who's been a parent knows, information and advice are critical, especially when you have an infant," said Rebecca Roose, Marketing and Account Manager for MyWebLink. "LowesFoods.MyBaby.com gives parents the power and support they're looking for. Plus, it's full of awfully cute pictures."

The Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy is launching the first Corporate Conservation Council of Vermont to bring together and recognize the business community's outstanding commitment to conservation. Participating members can turn their interest in the environment into real impact by supporting on the ground conservation work. Since 1960, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 170,000 acres of Vermont's finest forests, wetlands, and shores with teh support of 7,000 members, foundations, and corporations. To learn more about how to become a member of the Corporate Conservation Council of Vermont visit www.nature.org/vermont.

23rd Annual Tennis Tournament Scheduled for August
South Burlington -- The 23rd Annual Jeff Stone Memorial Tennis Tournament will be held August 17-19, 2007 at the Burlington Tennis Club. The tournament supports the Stern Center for Language and Learning and the Jeff Stone Foundation.

This year's featured players are Bud Schultz, who was recently inducted into the New England Tennis Hall of Fame, Krassi Atanasov, the defending mens singles champion, and Larry Turville, who is currently ranked #2 in the world in men's 55 an over singles division.

July 18, 2007 : WILLISTON - Edward R. Wilkens, Ed.D., has been named the Development Director for the Stern Center for Language and Learning in Williston. VT.
Dr. Wilkens began his education career teaching high school English for five years. He then was a public school principal for eleven years, served the US Department of Education as a policy consultant and technical assistance provider for six and then returned to serve eight more years as a principal in Vermont. Since September 2006 Dr. Wilkens has been the Stern Center's Community and Educational Liaison and Interim Development Director. His duties as Development Director begin September 1, 2007.
The Stern Center for Language and Learning is a non-profit literacy center, based in Williston, Vermont with a satellite facility in White River Junction. For more information, please call the Stern Center at 878-2332 or visit their website at www.sterncenter.org.

Prep Traveler actively promotes, and is involved in youth group travel, a possibility for one and all! Prep Traveler can help arrange high-quality tours for culture, exchange, band and unique performance programs, graduation trips, spring break trips, youth missions or athletic team travel or sports tournaments. The open source efforts of Prep Traveler have resulted in exceptional travel experiences.
Moreover, groups can share their travel experiences, mentioning area attractions and facilities for the benefit of aspiring explorers and vacationers. Once you've decided on your travel destination, Prep Traveler plans the perfect student group trip for you, without any hassles!

D-oh! Vermont means businesses! Over the past week the Vermont Hospitality Council of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce has served as a clearinghouse, offering opportunities to the business community to market Vermont and their products by rallying around the Simpsons premiere. The Vermont Chamber Hospitality Council reached out to the business community to secure donations for gifts for the premiere, and companies to exhibit at the premiere street fair. The Vermont Chamber supported the Springfield Regional Chamber in their immediate needs to raise funds for security, safety, and sanitation.