The Barre Town Elementary 3rd grade class recently raised $455.68 for the National Life Cancer Treatment Center in honor of their teacher, Valerie Collins who underwent cancer treatment this past year. CVMC’s President & CEO Judy Tarr visited the class to thank the students for their fundraising efforts. Ms. Collins has been an inspiration to all those around her, always greeting her students with a smile during this difficult year. The National Life Cancer Treatment Center is currently under construction and is set to open in October 2009.

Pragmatic Technologies, Inc. has announced their continued growth in adding two new talented employees. The company now numbers 10 full time employees, and plans to see increased business throughout 2009.

Donald Haviland of Colchester recently joined Attacca Realty of South Burlington as a Realtor specializing in residential properties, retiring & downsizing clients, and second homes throughout the local 6 counties.

Nicole Cook of South Burlington recently joined Attacca Realty of South Burlington as a Realtor specializing in green building and green real estate. Nicole services both buyers and sellers in Chittenden and the 5 surrounding counties.

Neville Companies welcomes Robert Lestage to its maintenance team. Bob has been assigned to manage the senior housing complex known as Northern Meridian, located on Lime Kiln Road in South Burlington. He joined Neville after his most recent employment providing maintenance services for Lane Press, an 188,000 SF manufacturing facility. His experience and skills include a wide range of maintenance and repairs for interior and exterior building systems which translate well into his new position with Neville Companies.

The Vermont Specialty Food Association has elected Kim Crosby as president. Crosby owns and operates Vermont Roots, a distributor of Vermont specialty foods in Rutland. Also elected were George Gooss of Catamount Specialties as vice president and Bob Christoffel of Creative Labels as secretary-treasurer.

In addition, the following people were elected or re-elected to serve on the organization’s board of directors: Roger Myers of Lake Champlain Chocolates, Jack Gilbert of Candeleros, Whitney Lamy of Castleton Crackers and Steve Andrews of American Flatbread.

The Community College of Vermont (CCV) recently recognized four faculty members for their excellence in teaching. The awards were presented as part of at the College’s Faculty Summer Institute, a professional development day sponsored by the College. Faculty were nominated by staff and students and selected by a committee of CCV faculty. The faculty award recipients were Charles Emond, Eleanor Wilson, Heather Woodworth, and Greg Matses.

This year's annual Tri-State Tournament was held at Hanover Country Club, Hanover, NH on June 22 and 23, 2009. The tournament is a team competition among Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont with each state sending a 30-person team. Maine won this year's competition defeating a charging Vermont team by a narrow 6 point margin. Maine, who had an 11.5 point lead at the close of the first day of competition, ended with a total of 149 points. Vermont was second with 143 points, and New Hampshire finished in third with 113 points. This is Maine's first win since 2001.

Since arriving at North Country Hospital in 2006 to head up the North Country Hospital Oncology and Hematology Clinic Dr. Leslie Lockridge has earned the respect of his patients and peers. The cancer specialist’s dedication to his profession, and his depth of knowledge, has attracted the attention of the American Cancer Society. Dr. Lockridge recently learned he has been appointed to the New England Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society. There is only one other Vermonter serving on the board. He will step into his new position in September.

Many people dread going to work as they yearn longingly for their retirement years. Sue (Ward) Morin of Newport, a registered nurse in North Country Hospital’s Maternal Child Department is not one of those people. She loves her job helping bring babies into the world, and she has no dreams of retirement in the foreseeable future. “I love what I do; I just love it,” she said. “It is such a very intimate, private moment. I feel so privileged to be there.

At the pinning ceremony at Castleton State College in May, eight Lyndon State nurses who completed the joint nursing program received their pins. Pins have been presented to new nurses since the Renaissance and earlier as a welcome to the profession and to note the school from which they graduated.