Current News

Governor Jim Douglas has appointed Kenneth Bishop of
Springfield and Norman Wright of Putney to serve on Vermont's Connecticut
River Watershed Advisory Commission.
Bishop, a lifelong dairy farmer, is president of the 550-member Windsor
County Farm Bureau, and chairman of the Windsor County Agricultural Fair,
which is held annually in Springfield. Bishop reports that his parents and
grandparents acquired 200 acres of prime agricultural land in Springfield
after construction of the Bellows Falls Dam, and the family has farmed
there ever since. Bishop sold his herd in 1990.
"I've worked all my life next to the Connecticut River as a farmer,"
Bishop observes. "I have already learned a lot more about the river since
being appointed."
Norman Wright, a former state representative and commissioner of the Fish
and Wildlife department, served until last year as chief executive

Green Mountain Power said it was pleased with the opportunity to stabilize electric rates for its 90,000 customers as a result of a Vermont regulatory order issued Monday.
"This is very positive news for our customers as it allows a very stable rate path between now and 2007," said Green Mountain President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher L. Dutton. Green Mountain last increased its electric rates in January 2001, so the new rate order provides customers with a six-year period of rates that have been essentially flat.
The Vermont Public Service Board issued an order Monday that:
· Allows Green Mountain Power to raise rates 1.9 percent, effective January 1, 2005; and 0.9 percent effective January 1, 2006, if the increases are supported by cost of service schedules submitted 60 days prior to the effective dates.

Green Mountain Power (NYSE: GMP) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 300 announced today that the Company’s 104 union employees voted to ratify a new four-year contract.
The contract provides for wage increases of four percent, four percent, 3.5 percent and 3.5 percent over four years; includes some one-time wage increases for certain jobs to bring them more in line with the market; improves some benefits to employees, such as increasing the Company’s contribution to the 401k program by one-half a percent up to a 4.5 percent; and establishes safe guidelines for one-person work to significantly improve operations and to respond better to customer needs.
The new contract was developed under a new “mutual gain” process, where management and union members worked together to identify issues, research data and develop solutions.

The competition is stiff; the judges, discerning! Vermont’s Top Ten Winter Events begin next week. Chosen from dozens of entries for their ingenuity, creativity, and special Vermont flavor, visitors and locals alike will enjoy Vermont’s blue-ribbon “Top Ten” events.
Even Scrooge could not resist the holiday spirit with Christmas at the Farm in Woodstock, The Vermont Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Tour, and New Year’s Eve “First Night” in the capital city of Montpelier.
As winter settles into full swing, the Stowe Winter Carnival, True Companion Sled Dog Race in Craftsbury, Brookfield Ice Harvest, and 82nd Annual Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition in Brattleboro stimulate winter’s body and soul.

CyberSkills/Vermont and Northern New England Tradeswomen are running their third class of Step IT Up, a joint venture to give women the skills for a career in Information Technology.
The first two classes were held at Dale Correctional facility and prepared women for careers in Web Site development. The current class prepares the ten participants for jobs in the growing desktop publishing arena.
Step IT Up consists of two main components: computer instruction, from basic MS Office to Quark Express delivered by CyberSkills/Vermont in partnership with KnowledgeWave; and Women's Resources, the job-readiness element crucial to the success of the program, provided by NNETW. The women will receive coaching on resume writing, interviewing, customer support, and conflict resolution. Both CyberSkills/Vermont and Northern New England Tradeswomen will be working with employers to find internships and jobs for the graduates of this program.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce will hold a press conference in Room 10 at the State House on Monday, December 15 at 10:30 AM to release the Top Five Economic Development Initiatives for 2004.
Paving the way to job creation and retention, the initiatives focus on: permit reform, competitive business climate, tax policy to ensure business investment, energy costs and taxes, and travel and tourism.
Recognizing that the legislative climate is ripe for compromise, Vermont Chamber Board Chair Kevin O’Donnell of The Old Tavern at Grafton and Vermont Chamber Government Affairs Committee Chair Jim Pratt of Cabot Cooperative Creamery will confirm the need for the Chamber initiatives, based on experience and business member feedback.
The new President of the Vermont Chamber, Duane Marsh, will be available, as well as Vermont Chamber Board Members, Government Affairs Committee members, and senior Chamber staff.

The Vermont Symphony Orchestra announces the hiring of Patrick Keogh as
Sales and Marketing Director for the statewide, non-profit organization.
Keogh graduated from Champlain College with a degree in marketing
Management and recently held the position of Sales and Marketing Director for
Thrifty Car Rental of Vermont.
Primarily, Keogh will be responsible for
carrying the message of the VSO throughout the state, and ensuring strong ticket
sales throughout the communities in which the VSO performs.
Under the leadership of internationally acclaimed violinist and conductor
Jaime Laredo as Music Director and Anthony Princiotti as the Orchestra’s first
Associate Conductor., the Vermont Symphony Orchestra produces nearly 50
orchestra concerts, nearly 200 educational presentations and dozens of ensembles
performances annually throughout the state.

The Stern Center for Language and Learning has made some changes in their
management team. Mary Allen Stifler, M.A.T., formerly Director of
Development has moved to a newly created position as Vice President for
Program Administration. The Development Department has been restructured
with Megan Cluver, B.A., taking the position of Development/Community
Relations Coordinator.
New to the organization are Laurie Caswell Burke,
Ed.M. and William Billings, B.S. Ms. Caswell Burke, formerly Giving World
Coordinator for the April Cornell Giving World Foundation, is the Stern
Center’s Development Officer. Mr. Billings is the new Marketing
Director.
He comes to the Stern Center from L3 Communications in the Boston area
where is was the Marketing and Sales Director.
Also joining the Stern
Center management team is Earl Walters, B.S., replacing John Connell as

Vermont businesses were recognized recently by the Vermont Travel Industry Conference (VTIC) for marketing and business excellence in promoting travel to and within Vermont. The award winners were also acknowledged for their efforts in gaining exposure for the wealth of activities to experience in our state.
The Awards Selection Committee, comprised of members of the tourism industry, selected the winners for their commitment to the Vermont economy, as well as respect for the environment and achieving exceptional levels of customer service. Recognizing that the travel and tourism industry is a critical factor in our state economy, the committee selected the winners based on effectiveness, creativity, innovation, and results.
Marketing Excellence award winners include:
Co-op Marketing (an effort using pooled resources promoting a common product or experience): Killington Chamber of Commerce and Topnotch Resort

Barbara G. Ripley has joined the law practice of Eggleston and Cramer, Ltd in Burlington. Ripley has experience in both public and private law.
She previously served the State of Vermont as Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources and Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry. Over the past 4 years, Ripley has been an attorney at Wilson & White in Montpelier, where she focused on environmental and land use matters as well as stakeholder process facilitation and mediation.
At Eggleston and Cramer Ms. Ripley specializes in assistance with environmental and utility regulatory and government relations; and negotiation, collaboration, and problem solving in environmental, municipal, and nonprofit affairs.

Burlington architecture firm Freeman French Freeman’s leadership in sustainable design has lead to staff member Jesse Robbins receiving LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification. Robbins attended the LEED Training Workshop at the University of New Hampshire and the GreenBuild Conference in Pittsburgh before taking and passing the exam.
The United States Green Building Council has established a point system that rates the overall energy efficiency of new and renovated construction. Approximately 5% of current construction projects in the U.S. are LEED-registered.. While no mandatory regulations stipulate that buildings be designed and built to LEED standards, FFF uses the system to promote sustainable design.

Colin Schmidt and Tom Wright started Saffire Mortgage, Inc. in November, 2002 in a closet with one telephone, one computer and one dream: Provide customers the highest-possible level of service and most competitive home mortgage rates.
One year later, Saffire’s 5,000 square foot office houses 15 employees with more than 80 years experience in the financial sector, 20 computers and some pretty impressive awards. In 2003, the company closed more than $100 million in residential home mortgages; achieved mortgage broker licensures in 15 states; was selected as a mortgage broker for 10 lending institutions; been recognized for “Great Leadership in Online Mortgage Origination” as a member of the Homecomings Financial E-Partner program, and; awarded Mortgage 101’s 3rd Quarter Customer Service Award as one of the top 3 (of two thousand brokers listed on the Mortgage 101 website) for customer satisfaction.