Current News

BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF VERMONT HOSTING A FREE
MEDICARE PART D EDUCATIONAL FORUM
Berlin, VT Free educational forums for anyone interested in learning about the benefits of the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program (PDPs) will be held by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) on the following dates:
Tuesday, April 11, 2006 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Black Bear Inn
St. Johnsbury, VT
Tuesday, April 11, 2006 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Eastside Restaurant
Newport, VT
Thursday, April 13, 2006 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Comfort Inn
St. Albans, VT
Friday, April 14, 2006 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center
Burlington, VT
Wednesday, April 19, 2006 from10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Holiday Inn
Rutland, VT
Thursday, April 20, 2006 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont

The nations premiere provider of vanity 800 phone numbers is pleased to announce 1st Place Champions in the First Annual Bulls-Eye Ad Awards (http://www.800response.com/bullseye.html) contest.
Five Champions:
Executive Glass Company, Hall Nissan, Willey Honda, Beeren & Barry Investments, Inc., and Basement Experts of America are 1st Place Champions in the 2005 Bulls-Eye Ad Awards, with Executive Glass Company placing first in two of the six categories. The winning creative artwork is available on www.800response.com.
1st Place Champion Details:

1. Hall Nissan of Virginia Beach, VA - Best use of a Custom 800 Number in Print Advertising

2. Willey Honda of Bountiful, UT - Best use of a Custom 800 Number in Radio Advertising

3. Basement Experts of America of Maumee, OH - Best use of Custom 800 Number in Television Advertising

Labor
Commissioner to Retire
Governor Praises Her Commitment to Public Service

Montpelier, Vt. — Vermont’s
labor commissioner Patricia McDonald will retire from state government
effective May 31, the office of Governor Jim Douglas announced April 3, 2006.

McDonald, who has worked in state government for more than 13 years,
has served three governors in a total of seven appointed positions.

“Pat has had a remarkable career,” Governor Douglas said.
“She has served the state in so many ways; as commissioner of both the
Departments of Human Resources and Motor Vehicles, as secretary of the Agency
of Transportation, and most recently she undertook for me the challenge of
merging the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Employment
and Training.” The merger is one which had been discussed for
years, but Douglas credits McDonald’s

CTC Communications and Choice One Communications, which on February 10, 2006 announced their agreement to merge, today announced they are jointly acquiring Conversent Communications, Inc., an integrated communications provider with significant facilities and customers in the Northeast as well as in West Virginia. On a combined basis, the three companies currently generate about $800 million in annual revenue and provide telecommunications services to over 150,000 business customers representing more than 1.3 million access lines equivalents. The combined company, which will be privately held, will be the second largest competitive communications provider in the U.S., with a heavy regional focus in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest regions. Its network will include 10,000 route miles of fiber and approximately 700 unique collocations.

SIGN*A*RAMA, the worlds leading sign franchise, has added 800response, provider of premiere vanity 800 phone numbers (ex: 1-800-NEW-SIGN), to their line up of Strategic Alliance partners.
The collaboration of these two companies will benefit small business owners and marketers across the country. The partnership agreement, signed in January, allows both SIGN*A*RAMA (www.signarama.com) and 800response (www.800response.com) to provide local businesses with the opportunity to take advantage of several cost effective marketing tools creative signs featuring memorable and trackable vanity 800 phone numbers.

Unicel Announces Wireless Vehicle Tracking System
GPS-Based System Gives Business Owners Greater Control of Mobile Workforces

Central Vermont Public Service
March 30, 2006
The Ultimate in Recycling: Four more farms plan CVPS Cow Power" generators, receive grants
RUTLAND CVPS Cow Power" is on the moooove, with four Vermont farms receiving CVPS Renewable Development Fund grant offers totaling $666,000 to defray the cost of building new farm based electric generating systems to support the states largest renewable energy program, Central Vermont Public Service announced today.

Farms in Sheldon, Fairlee, West Pawlet and St. Albans will receive the grants from the CVPS Renewable Development Fund, set up in 2004 to encourage farm owners to develop new renewable generation and provide new manure management options.
These grants will help develop about 8,400 megawatt-hours of clean renewable energy right here in Vermont, CVPS President Bob Young said. Thats enough energy to supply 1,395 average homes using 500 kWh per month.

The Martin Agency welcomes Bambi Shanahan
As a Licensed Real Estate Sales associate to our Team.
Century 21 The Martin Agency 195 Pearl Street, in Essex Junction is pleased to welcome Bambi Shanahan of South Burlington to its sales team headed by Broker John Workman and Co-owner Jay Stevens. Each office is independently owned and operated.
Bambi is available to assist with listings and as a buyers respresentative, expanding the resources available to new and existing clients.

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Wall, Bullard receive SBA honors

John Wall, President, Wall/Goldfinger, Inc, Northfield, Vermont, has been named the
U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 2006 Vermont Small Business Person of
the Year. Nominated by Richard Angney, Executive Vice President, Central Vermont
Economic Development Corporation, Wall was selected for outstanding leadership related
to his company’s staying power, employee growth, increase in sales, innovative ingenuity,
response to adversity and contributions to the community.

BURLINGTON, VT - Laura A. Bowe, Chair of the First Night Burlington Board of Directors, announced today that Julie Maslack of Essex has joined the staff at First Night Burlington, Inc. as the Director of Development.
Maslack is the primary contact for fund raising and media relations and is responsible for partnering with local, regional and national organizations and groups to fund and promote First Night Burlingtons annual New Years Eve celebration. Before joining First Night Burlington, Ms. Maslack was with Rural Cellular Corporation as part of their project management team and worked extensively with local, regional and corporate-wide groups within RCCs holdings. She brings with her a broad background in customer relations, systems management and product development.

High Mowing Seed Company Hires New Director of Sales
High Mowing Seed Company, a certified organic farm and seed catalog company selling vegetable, flower, and herb seeds to commercial growers and home gardeners, based in Wolcott, Vermont, has hired Stephen Woodward as Director of Sales.
Stephen Woody Woodward will serve as the new Director of Sales for High Mowing Organic Seeds in Wolcott, Vermont. Woody previously served as the project coordinator for the Medicinal Herbs for Commerce Project at North Carolina State University. He also worked as a commercial seedsman with Johnny's Selected Seeds of Albion, Maine, for nearly ten years.

High Mowing Seed Company Hires New Marketing Manager/Sales Associate
High Mowing Seed Company, a certified organic farm and seed catalog company selling vegetable, flower, and herb seeds to commercial growers and home gardeners, based in Wolcott, Vermont, has hired Alex Chamberlain as Marketing Manager/Sales Associate.
Growing up on a working farm in Southern Ohio, Alex has learned the value of honest agriculture. She served as the former Director of Sales for The Farmers Diner, and worked in production and marketing for the documentary film, The Opportunity Crisis. Early in her career she was named the top Account Executive for the medical diagnostic company, Cytyc Corporation. At High Mowing Seeds, Alex will be involved in sales to wholesale and commercial grower accounts and managing the companys advertising and marketing efforts.