Current News

Tomorrow is the big day for the Northeast Kingdom Chamber's big move to the Green Mountain Mall. We just wanted to alert you that our phones have already been turned off, so e-mails will be the only way to contact the chamber office today.
You may contact us today at:
Darcie McCann - [email protected]
Jenn Garand - [email protected]
Rick Provan - [email protected]
We look forward to serving you in our new location and hope you drop by sometime soon. Our new offices are located between Radio Shack and Union Bank, directly across the mall entrance to the JC Penney store.
Our address will change, but please note our phone numbers and e-mail addresses will not. Our new address is:
Northeast Kingdom Chamber
2000 Memorial Drive - Ste. 11
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819

Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) today indicated that it expects fourth quarter 2011 as-reported earnings of approximately$0.86per share and operational earnings of approximately$0.93per share. Results for fourth quarter 2010 were$1.26per share on an as-reported basis and$1.30per share on an operational basis. Entergy also affirmed its previously issued operational earnings guidance for 2012.
As-reported results are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and are comprised of operational earnings (described below) and special items. Special items were reflected in both periods arising out of the following:

expenses for outside services in connection with the proposed divestment and subsequent merger of Entergy's electric transmission business into ITC Holdings Corp. announced onDec. 5, 2011and
expenses associated with the previously planned spin-off of the non-utility nuclear business incurred in fourth quarter 2010.

People's United Financial, Inc (NASDAQ: PBCT) today announced net income of$43.0 million, or$0.12per share, for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to$32.0 million, or$0.09per share, for the fourth quarter of 2010, and$52.9 million, or$0.15per share, for the third quarter of 2011. Operating earnings were$58.7 million, or$0.17per share, for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to$36.7 million, or$0.10per share, for the fourth quarter of 2010 and$67.3 million, or$0.19per share, for this year's third quarter. Included in the quarterly results are merger-related expenses and one-time charges (after-tax) totaling$15.7 millionin the fourth quarter of 2011,$4.7 millionin the fourth quarter of 2010 and$14.4 millionin the third quarter of 2011.

By Alan Panebaker vtdigger.org The Shumlin administration and the Green Mountain Care Board introduced road maps Thursday for how they plan to implement health care reform.
The board’s annual report and the administration’s Strategic Plan for Vermont Health Reform shed light on the specifics of how the state will maneuver to a health benefits exchange in 2014 and into a single-payer system in 2017.
Download theGMCB Annual Report
Last week the board approved its work plan, identifying high priorities for 2012. Anya Rader Wallack, chair of the Green Mountain Care Board, fielded questions from legislators Thursday that have become somewhat of the norm: How will the board maintain its independence from the Shumlin administration and how is a reformed system going to control costs?

The 2012 Farm Show, which runs from Jan. 24th-26th at the Champlain Valley Expo, will be the largest in Vermont’s history. The Essex Junction venue will be filled with 277 booths, representing 168 vendors. The show was relocated to the fairgrounds this year from its former home in Barre to accommodate steadily increasing attendance from both vendors and visitors in recent years.
For a full list of Farm Show exhibitors, visit http://www.vtfarmshow.com/exhibitors.html
Farm Show Schedule
Hours for the Farm Show are as follows
Tues., Jan. 24th: 9 a.m. ‘ 5 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 25th: 9 a.m. ‘ 8 p.m.
Thur., Jan. 26th: 9 a.m. ‘ 4 p.m.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Pat McDonald announced today that she would be stepping down at Chair of the Vermont Republican Party at the end of this month, but would be continuing to assist the VT GOP in communications and outreach.
Below is her statement:
"The past year has been one of the most exciting and rewarding times of my career. I have immensely enjoyed serving as Chair of the Vermont Republican Party, and I'm very proud of what we have been able to accomplish in positioning the VT GOP for the opportunities that lie ahead.
"Make no mistake, the ground is fertile for big changes in Vermont in 2012. The people of Vermont have grown weary of politics as usual, and they have little patience left for politicians who make promises they can't keep. They are looking for leaders to take them in a new direction: leaders who will help grow our economy, create new opportunities for the people that live here, and bring about a new age of prosperity in Vermont.

Formalizing agreements related to the impending sale of Central Vermont Public Service and its merger with Green Mountain Power, GMP signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Rutland to ensure a strong relationship and significant benefits for Rutland in the years ahead. The MOU settles the city's intervention in the state's review of the sale and merger proposal, and explicitly states the city's support for the merger.
Rutland City Mayor Christopher Louras and GMP President and CEO Mary Powell signed the MOU after the Rutland Board of Aldermen authorized its execution Thursday evening.
"Rutland will play a critical role in the future of the post-merger combined GMP/CVPS company, and the post-merger combined company should continue to play a prominent role in Rutland as well, much as CVPS has done," the parties said in the MOU, which will be filed with the Vermont Public Service Board.

In a keenly awaited step along Vermont’s path to recovery from Irene, Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I), Congressman Peter Welch (D) and Governor Peter Shumlin (D) Friday announced that the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is releasing $21.6 million in community rebuilding funds to Vermont from a newly enacted appropriations bill.

The State of Vermont cannot force the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant to close on March 21, 2012. In a ruling released late Thursday afternoon, United States District JudgeJ Garvan Murtha ruled in favor of VY owner Entergy over the state, and in particular Governor Peter Shumlin. Murtha order said the state has no right to preempt the Atomic Energy Act and stand in the way of Entergy seeking a certificate of Public Good to extend the license of the plant for 20 years, nor could the state require Entergyt to seek additional state approval to store spent fuel on-site after March 21, 2012, nor could it require Entergy to sell electricity to Vermont below market rates.

We’re pleased with the decision, which Judge Murtha issued after a thorough review of the facts and the law. The ruling is good news for our 600 employees, the environment and New England residents and industries that depend on clean, affordable, reliable power provided by Vermont Yankee.

The third largest gift ever made to Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC’s) endowment will fund efforts to enhance primary care physician recruitment and support nursing recruitment and retention within the health system. The gift comes from Helen Dixon Kunzelmann who died in June. The amount was not disclosed.
‘Southwestern Vermont Health Care is extremely grateful to Mrs. Kunzelmann and her family for supporting us,’ said Thomas A. Dee, president and CEO. ‘Recruiting talented clinical personnel in the fields of primary care and nursing is a top strategic initiative for SVHC. Mrs. Kunzelmann wanted to make life better for people in the Bennington area. To her, that meant having quality primary care and nursing care available. By giving to our endowment, Mrs. Kunzelmann’s legacy will continue to help our health system for years to come.’

Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBVT), the parent company of Merchants Bank, announced that its Board of Directors declared today, January 19, 2012, a dividend of 28 cents per share, payable February 16, 2012, to shareholders of record as of February 2, 2012. This quarter represents our 61st consecutive quarterly dividend payment and our 25th consecutive quarter at the current payout level.
Merchants also announced the extension, through January 2013, of its stock buyback program, originally adopted in January 2007. Under the program Merchants may repurchase 200,000 shares of its common stock on the open market from time to time, and had purchased 143,475 shares to date. Although Merchants did not repurchase any of its shares during the fourth quarter of 2011, and does not expect to repurchase shares in the near future, Merchants wanted to preserve the flexibility of an active buyback program.