Current News
by tim
Vermont Files Suit Against FDA Over Drug Reimportation
Montpelier, Vt. - The State of Vermont this afternoon (Thursday Augst 19, 2004) formally filed suit
against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in U.S. District Court in
Burlington, Vermont, becoming the first state in the nation to challenge
the FDA's legal arguments for blocking reimportation proposals.
"Vermont will not sit back and watch as the cost of health insurance and
prescription drugs continues to rise. Nor are we content to simply ignore
the law," Governor Douglas said. "Real leadership means challenging those
laws and policies you oppose, and working within our systems to change
them. It is our hope and expectation that Vermont's leadership will result
in a legal precedent that benefits every Vermonter, and every American."
Governor Douglas acknowledged that the cost of prescription drugs is but
by tim
CHROMA NOMINATED FOR A NATIONAL BUSINESS ETHICS AWARD
Chroma Technology, Corp of Rockingham has been nominated to receive a Business Ethics Award from Business Ethics Magazine.
The nationally-known magazine's mission is to "promote ethical business practices and serve the growing community of professionals striving to work and invest in responsible ways."
Employee-owned Chroma has been nominated in the category of "Living Economy," which seeks to reward companies that are "locally based, human scale, stakeholder-owned, democratically accountable, life-serving, and which seek fair profits rather than maximum profits," according to the award criteria.
by tim
The 5th Annual Breastfeeding Friendly Business Awards, sponsored by the Washington County Maternal Child Health Coalition, will take place Thursday August 19 at 4 PM in the lobby of the Central Vermont Hospital in Berlin. The awards will be presented by Kathryn Saunders, of Central Vermont Midwifery.
The awards are given to area businesses that support new mothers returning to work who wish to continue to breastfeed their babies. Vice President of Communications Vicky Tebbetts will accept the award on behalf of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Vermont Chamber President Duane Marsh stated: A happy baby is a happy Mom and a happy Mom is a better employee. Everybody wins when the employer can be flexible and allow its employees the privilege to continue breastfeeding as they return to work after the birth of a child.
by tim
FAIRLEE, Vt. Norwich University has received a gift of $1.1 million from Allen Doyle, a 1971 graduate who is a now a professional golfer on the PGA Champions Tour, and his wife Kate.
Fred Haynes '58, the vice-chairman of the Norwich University Board of Trustees announced the gift this evening at a banquet as part of the festivities for the Fifth Annual Allen Doyle Golf Classic, a charity golf tournament played at Lake Morey Country Club that benefits the Norwich University Blue Line Club and hockey team.
by tim
Jeffords Announces $2 Million in EDA Funding
For High-Speed Internet Link in Northern Vermont
WASHINGTON D.C. -- U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords, I-Vt.,
today announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration will
award $2 million to support the North Link fiber optic network, a project
that will connect six northern Vermont counties to high-speed Internet
access. The counties include Caledonia; Essex; Franklin; Grand Isle;
Lamoille and Orleans.
The North Link project is the brainchild of the Economic
Development Council of Northern Vermont (EDCNV), working with Vermont
Electric Coop.
"Broadband access is so critical to our economy, and the
North Link project will allow these counties to operate on a level playing
field wth more densely populated, urban areas. It is truly an innovative
by tim
Vermonter Produces Top Radio Spot In National
Competition
(Montpelier, VT) An independent audio producer and
voice-over talent from Montpelier recently produced a
sixty- second radio commercial for Vanguard Records
that earned "Best Radio Spot" in a national
competition. The National Association of Radio
Merchandisers (N.A.R.M.) awarded the prize to
Vanguard Records for the commercial promoting their
artist Mindy Smith. The spot was produced and voiced
by Jody Petersen.
Petersen says "The N.A.R.M. award means a lot,
considering the competition. These are big time music
people judging the ads- Im just thrilled that
Vanguard hired me to produce a spot for an artist like
Mindy Smith." N.A.R.M. is a not for profit trade
association who's nearly 400 member companies
represent retailers, wholesalers, and distributors of
prerecorded music in the United States. Its mission is
by tim
Governor & Attorney General to Sue FDA Over Drug Reimportation
Montpelier, Vt. -- Governor Jim Douglas and Attorney General William
Sorrell announced August 10 that Vermont will file suit against the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) in U.S. District Court over the issue of
importing drugs from Canada. Vermont is the first state in the nation to
sue the FDA for blocking a responsible reimportation proposal.
Vermont had sought a waiver from the FDA authorizing a legal drug
reimportation plan. The goal of the pilot project was to demonstrate how
a plan could be safely implemented, and ultimately serve as a model for
other states to implement similar programs.
Douglas and Sorrell agreed the suit was necessary, saying the federal
government's grounds for denying the waiver request are illegitimate.
"Vermont presented a legal and responsible plan to import prescription
by tim
The John A. Russell Corporation Opens New York Facility
Rutland, Vermont- The John A. Russell Corporation recently opened a
specialty metal fabrication shop in Glens Falls, New York thus creating
Russell Industrial Services of New York, a wholly owned subsidiary.
With a staff of 15 talented fabricators Russell Industrial Services of New
York offers a full range of specialty metal fabrication services to
commercial construction clients as well as heavy industrial clients in
mining, paper, food processing, power generation, and general industry.
The John A. Russell Corporation, Vermont's oldest general contractor, has
been the innovative leader for construction and industrial services since
1934. Russell Construction Services offers Design/Build, Construction
Management and General Contracting services throughout the northeast.
Russell Industrial Services offers industrial repair, maintenance and
by tim
BURLINGTON, Vt.Champlain College has named Robert Lee Edwards, JD, of Colchester as the new director of the Criminal Justice program.
Edwards brings more than 32 years of experience in international, urban and rural law enforcement, as well as roles as an attorney and college professor. Most recently, Edwards has been a member of the Independent Judicial Commission in Bosnia and Herzegovina as the head of office in Tuzla. His team investigated complaints of misconduct of judges and prosecutors, verified applications for appointment to judicial posts, and reviewed proposed legislation relating to judicial procedure.
This was fulfilling, history-making work that was highly appreciated by the citizens, Edwards said. The courts had been ethnically cleansed and politicized and we reversed a substantial portion of that sad piece of the history of Bosnia.
by tim
State Seeks Additional Partners In Major Marketing Venture
MONTPELIER, Vt. - A total of 15 Vermont businesses and the Vermont
Department of Tourism & Marketing (VDTM) are making plans to head south
to
tap into one of the world's most lucrative consumer venues and they are
looking for more partners to join them.
Beginning October 1 and running through November 15, these businesses
will
display their products and services at the 9th Annual Epcot
International
Food and Wine Festival at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando,
Florida.
The event is expected to draw between 1.5 and 2 million people during
its
45-day run. State officials say they still hope to attract a few more
businesses to join this effort.
"We're very pleased with the response we've received so far from a wide
variety of Vermont businesses," said Tourism & Marketing Commissioner
Bruce
by tim
DATE: August 9, 2004
CONTACT: Kenn Sassorossi Housing Vermont, 863-8424
John Powell Lake Champlain Housing Development Corporation, 863-5248
Waugh Opera House Rehabilitation Construction Begins
- Senator Leahy Visits Site -
[St. Albans, VT] A historic, four-story building located in the heart of downtown St. Albans is undergoing a complete rehabilitation. When completed, twenty affordable apartments will be constructed on the top three floors of the former Waugh Opera House on Main Street, also known as the Doolin Building. Co-partners Housing Vermont and the Lake Champlain Housing Development Corporation are leading the $3.7 million renovation.
US Senator Patrick Leahy joined developers and funders today in a tour of the Waugh Opera House property. Leahy was instrumental in obtaining federal HUD funding for the project. Senator Leahy was joined by City of St. Albans Mayor Peter Delauriers and City Manager Brian Searles.
by tim
Vermont Sees Mixed Results, Positive Indicators From DNC
MONTPELIER, Vt. - Unpredictable weather appears to have had a dampening
effect on the expected surge of visitors from the Boston area to Vermont
during the Democratic National Convention (DNC), but state officials say
there are many positive indicators showing that the Vermont message was,
and
continues to be, well received.
"Weather has clearly been a factor all summer, and has particularly
impacted
those events and attractions that are weather dependent and we suspect
this
was true during the DNC as well," said Vermont Tourism and Marketing
Commissioner Bruce Hyde. Hyde said that the good news is that people
appear
to be responding to the state's marketing efforts and that Vermont's
overall
tourism economy continues to perform well in relation to many other
states.