Current News
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Commissioner Trims Rate Increases in Establishing 2007 Hospital Budgets
Montpelier -- The Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Health Care Administration (BISHCA) administers the annual binding budget program for all Vermont hospitals in an effort to understand and contain hospital costs. The annual budget process includes an analysis by the Department and testimony by the hospitals at public hearings held before Commissioner John Crowley and the Public Oversight Commission. The hearing process took place over a three-day period, August 22, 23 and 24, 2006. The Vermont hospital fiscal year for 2007 runs from October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007.
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The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Tom Shampnois is the new Vermont Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Travel & Tourism.
Shampnois is the former Vermont Chamber Director of Advertising Sales and Marketing. In his new capacity he will manage the Vermont Chamber tourism department and the Vermont Hospitality Council, a division of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. His duties will include publication management and legislative advocacy.
I am delighted to take the reigns in this position at the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Shampnois commented. I look forward to continuing to build upon my experience with the Vermont Chamber, its members, and Vermont businesses.
Vermont Chamber President Duane Marsh stated, We are delighted to welcome Tom to our executive team. His broad knowledge of the businesses throughout the state will allow us to continue to form strong relationships with our Vermont employers.
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Champlain College Lauded for Improving Air Quality and Reducing Traffic Congestion
Burlington, Vermont Today, Champlain College was designated one of the Best Workplaces for CommutersSM by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
Best Workplaces for CommutersSM, a voluntary partnership program designed to cut traffic congestion and traffic-related air pollution, recognizes employers that provide environmentally friendly commuter benefits to employees. Offering these commuter benefits identifies Champlain College as an organization committed to reducing pollution, commuting costs, traffic congestion, and employee stress caused by single-occupant vehicle commuting.
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BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF VERMONT ANNOUNCES DISTINGUISHED EMPLOYEE FOR MAY AND JUNE 2006
Berlin, VT Becky Law, a resident of Northfield, VT, and Rus Franswick, a resident of Johnson, VT have been chosen as distinguished employees for the months of May and June 2006 respectively.
Ms. Law is a mail/micrographics processor II in the mail and micrographics unit and has been with Blue Cross and Blue Shield since 2002. She is cited for her leadership qualities, her dedication, and her willingness to help her co-workers. A co-worker states, She takes the time to make sure everybody knows what they are doing and that everything is running smoothly.
Mr. Franswick is a communications specialist in corporate communications. He has been employed at Blue Cross and Blue Shield since 1988. He is cited for his extensive knowledge, his dependability, and his outgoing personality. A co-worker states, Rus is dependable, reliable and constant.
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The American Bus Association (ABA) announced Sept. 6 that the Champlain Valley Fair, has been designated as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2007 by an elite tourism industry selection committee. It is the only Vermont event included on the list. Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine, indicates that Vermont's largest annual event offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, said ABA.
With the release of the American Bus Association's 2007 Top 100 Events in North America, ABA celebrates 25 years of the Top 100 Events. What began as a way for motorcoach operators to incorporate new product into their itineraries has grown to one of the most sought-after lists by travel professionals, motorcoach operators and the general public.
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Here's a look ahead at some of the events coming to the Champlain Valley Exposition in 2006 and 2007. For more details, visit www.cvfair.com
Exposition Schedule of Events
Sept. 16, Vermont Grocers Association Expo, Opening Ceremony 10:45 a.m., Open 11 a.m. 4 p.m.
Sept. 16, Snow, Skate & Lifestyle Show, Admission: Adult $5; Senior $4 65 & Over; children 6 and under free
9 am to 10 pm
Sept. 16, POW/MIA Day, Ray Cota -- 879-7301 or Jim Gometz
Sept. 16 & 17, Whole Health Expo, Body, Mind & Spirit, Hours: Saturday 9:30 - 7pm, Sunday 9:30 6 pm, Admission:$12 for both days, $2 Discount coupon from newspaper or ad available
September 22-24,NSRA Northeast Street Rod Nationals, Friday: 8:30 5:30; Saturday: 8:30 5:30; Sunday: 8:30 3:00 pm. Admission: Adults -- $12; 6-12 -- $3; Five under Free
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CVPS, DPS reach rate agreement
RUTLAND –
Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE-CV) and the Vermont Department of Public Service
have reached a settlement in the company’s pending rate case, agreeing to
a 3.73 percent increase effective Jan. 1, 2007. CVPS had filed for a 6.15
percent increase last spring, to be effective Feb. 1, 2007. A settlement agreement has been filed with the Vermont Public Service Board,
which must review and approve the settlement before it can become effective.
“This
settlement provides the company with adequate cash flows and an opportunity to
earn a fair return, while keeping rates very competitive,” President Bob
Young said. “With utilities seeking double-digit rate hikes across the
Northeast, we are proud of our ability to control costs and provide our
customers comparatively low rates, and a high level of service.”
Under the settlement,
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Burlington, VT Responding to customer feedback and retailer comment, Burlington Town Center is getting a facelift.
A combination of market research and anecdotal customer comments made it evident that visitors thought the mall was hidden from view and needed a new look. The unassuming entrance to Burlington Town Center, located on the Church Street Marketplace, effectively disguised the larger-than-expected 300,000 square-foot shopping center within. Many visitors did not enter the malls doors because they did not know that behind them were some of the nations most popular retailers including Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Coldwater Creek, J.Crew, Ann Taylor LOFT and, soon, Macys, which opens Sept. 9.
When completed in mid-September, the facelift will feature attractive new graphics and signage, making the center more visible to customers downtown, while still maintaining the classic integrity of the Church Street Marketplace.
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Shelburne, VT: Exterus Technology for Business is excited to announce the launch of their new web site, exterusbusiness.com. Exterus provides hardware, software and service for all of your business information technology needs. Located in Shelburne, Vermont, Exterus is also a Premier Xerox Authorized Sales Agent with a mission to provide up-to-date technology, consulting, service and support to our customers to enable them to lower their cost of doing business.
The new site offers information on the products, services, support and supplies that Exterus offers. Visitors are also able to sign-up for Exterus TechTalk, a monthly technology newsletter. 4750 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482. 802-658-8225. For more information, visit www.exterusbusiness.com.
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University of Vermont Extension Names Associate Directors
University of Vermont Extension recently announced that Gary Deziel has become the new associate director for statewide Staff Support and Operations and Rick LeVitre has become the new associate director for statewide Faculty Support and Evaluation. Deziel will concentrate on expanding the viability and impact of local University of Vermont offices, aligning Extension staff and programs to enhance efficiency of operations that will support programs focusing on emerging and critical issues facing Vermont. He will also be facilitating organizational and individual staff development. UVM Extension has local offices in 11 of 14 counties in Vermont, with the state office located at UVM.
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Pre-Tech Precision Machining Hires New Human Resource Administrator
August 30, 2006 Williston, VT Pre-Tech Precision Machining, is pleased to announce the addition of Heather E. Streeter as Human Resource Administrator. Ms. Streeter was most recently the Branch Manager at Manpower in South Burlington and previously worked for the Department of Labor (formerly the Department of Employment & Training) as an Employer Resource Consultant. Ms. Streeter was also the Executive Director of the St. Albans Area Chamber of Commerce. She has served on numerous committees and boards and is a member of both the Franklin County and Burlington Business & Professional Women. In 2002, Ms. Streeter received the Presidents Alumni Leadership Award from Champlain College, Burlington, VT.