Northern Company Newsline

Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew welcome three new attorneys

Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, PC a business and litigation law firm with offices in Burlington and Plattsburgh, NY announced that three attorneys have joined the firm. Linda J Cohen, Esq has joined the firm of counsel. She is a health care attorney who advises clients on a variety of regulatory, transactional and litigation matters. Amy Wood is a litigation attorney advising clients on a variety of regulatory and litigation matters. David Gurtman practices with the firm's business group with an emphasis on real estate and corporate transactions. The firm is one of the largest law firms serving Vermont and the northern tier of New York. The firm was founded in 1917 by Warren R Austin, a pre-eminent trial lawyer who later became a United State Senator and the first Ambassador to the United Nations.

EPA honors Winooski with national award for Smart Growth

The city of Winooski's Downtown Redevelopment Project has won a prestigious federal award for community revitalization and fighting sprawl. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named Winooski as one of five winners of a 2006 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. Winooski Mayor Clem Bissonnette accepted the award at a ceremony at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC recently. Municipalities were recognized for innovative approaches to development that strengthens community identity and protects the environment in five categories. The City of Winooski was given the award for Small Communities. The Winooski Downtown Redevelopment Project revitalized the city with new development that respects the city's character and history, preserving or restoring nearly 100 acres of natural habitat, returning vacant properties to productive use, creating several neighborhood parks, and building the pedestrian-friendly RiverWalk.

EatingWell magazine sees record gains in 2006

EatingWell, the award-winning magazine of food and health, is growing in all directions with a redesign, a new editorial team and significant circulation growth in the past 12 months. Lisa Gosselin, the former editor-in-chief of Islands, Audubon and Bicycling, joined the EatingWell media group last June as editorial director, overseeing the magazine, book division and website content. In the past three months she has expanded the editorial team, working with new art director Mike Balzano on restructuring and redesigning the magazine. Balzano came to EatingWell after serving as promotion art director for Gourmet and has 8 years' experience as a graphic designer, illustrator and art director with Rolling Stone, Men's Journal, US Weekly and GQ. Rounding out EatingWell's editorial team is new senior editor Nicci Micco. Micco has held staff positions at SELF and More and as a freelance journalist, she has contributed nutrition, health and psychology features to Cooking Light, Men's Health, Fitness, Ladies' Home Journal and Family Circle. Senior food editor Jessie Price, whose recipes and stories have been a backbone of EatingWell's food coverage over the past two years, has been promoted from associate food editor and will now oversee food features and departments. A story on her family recipes for a delicious, fail-proof holiday meal is featured in the December issue.

For many magazines 2006 was a challenging year. Not so for EatingWell. EatingWell, "Where Good Taste Meets Good Health," finished 2006 with record gains in paid circulation, newsstand and advertising growth. In 2006, Folio named EatingWell as a finalist for Best Epicurean Magazine. EatingWell was also a finalist for two James Beard Foundation journalism awards this year. From June 2005 to June 2006, EatingWell's paid circulation grew from 225,000 to 315,000. A recent issue of Capell's circulation report listed EatingWell as one of the 10 fastest growing titles, along with such publications as Body & Soul and Best Life. The internet is an area of growth, with their online audience, more than doubling this past year with more than 100,000 unique visitors coming to http://www.eatingwell.com each month.

LCRCC recognizes community stars at 96th annual dinner

The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce presented six awards at its 96th Annual Dinner recently. The awards recognize the community's most active members and its emerging talent and leadership. The six awards were presented in four categories: Community Excellence, Rising Star, and Business of the Year - and a new award unveiled in honor of A Wayne Roberts, who is retiring after 20 years of dedicated leadership. The A Wayne Roberts Entrepreneurial Spirit Award was named in his honor for his commitment to Vermont businesses. The Rising Star award was presented to Damon Brink for his devotion to doing business in Vermont and area non-profit organizations. Two Community Excellence Awards were presented this year, to Molly Lambert, for her work through out the community in various organizations, and to Ron Manganiello, for his dedication to the Local Motion's Bicycle Recycle Vermont initiative. Two Business of the Year Awards were presented: the over 100 employees award was presented to Fletcher Allen Health Care; the second for under 100 employees, was given to Top Hat Entertainment. The A Wayne Roberts Entrepreneurial Spirit Award was presented to Gardener's Supply for their dedication to doing business and growing their business in Vermont.

KSV wins "Best of" at MITX Awards

Kelliher Samets Volk (KSV) won two honors for its 8outof10.com web site at the 2006 MITX Awards in Boston recently. The annual MITX Awards is the largest awards competition in the country to recognize achievements in the development and implementation of interactive technologies. Winners were announced in 25 categories, one of which KSV took home. The ceremony was attended by more than 800 industry professionals. KSV won the Nonprofit & Government/Utilities award for 8outof10.com and the Best Engagement award for 8outof10.com. 8outof10.com was designed on behalf of the Vermont Department of Health and its anti-tobacco campaign aimed at young teens. Additionally, KSV received three honors at the 2006 WebAwards, an international competition recognizing innovative work in digital media. Founded in 1977, the firm employs more than 60 people at its offices in New York City and Burlington.

WEC members vote to expand generating plant

Washington Electric Cooperative’s members have given overwhelming approval to a proposed expansion of the utility’s generating plant at the state’s largest landfill in Coventry. The vote was 1,670 in favor and 51 opposed. The plant has been operating since July 2005 and has been producing a third of the electricity used by WEC’s 10,000 member households and businesses. It is expected to eventually provide half of the Co-op’s energy over a period of over 25 years at stable, below market cost. The expansion will add a fourth engine to the three presently at the plant, bringing the plant’s generating capacity to 6.4 megawatts. WEC had always planned to add additional generating capacity as the volume of methane gas created by the landfill increased. The expansion had been approved by the Vermont Public Service Board. Work on installing the fourth engine will commence immediately and the engine is expected to be operating before the end of the year.

Green Mountain Power releases third quarter report

Green Mountain Power Corporation (NYSE: GMP) has announced consolidated earnings of $0.54 per share of common stock, diluted, for the third quarter of 2006 compared with consolidated earnings of $0.48 per share of common stock, diluted, for the same period in 2005. Year to date earnings for 2006 are $1.60 per share, diluted, compared with earnings of $1.50 per share, diluted, for the first nine months of 2005. Earnings increased in the third quarter of 2006 primarily as a result of lower power supply costs and transmission expenses, which were partially offset by a reduction in retail revenues of $3.3 million consistent with a restriction on earnings required in the rate agreement approved by the Vermont Public Service Board in 2003 in the Company’s last retail rate case. This earnings restriction calculation is reviewed by the Vermont Public Service Board and is subject to change. The Company’s regulated earnings are capped at its allowed rate of return on equity of 10.5 percent for 2006. Costs that are not allowed for rate setting purposes reduce the company’s earning potential under the rate agreement and limit the company’s ability to achieve its allowed rate of return on equity for its operations as a whole. Retail operating revenues for the third quarter of 2006 decreased by $3.0 million compared with the same period in 2005, reflecting the effects of the $3.3 million restriction on earnings and milder summer weather. This was partially offset by an increase in sales of utility services to other municipalities and utilities, a 0.9 percent rate increase that took effect in January 2006 and an increase in the number of customers. Total retail megawatt hour sales of electricity decreased by 3.9 percent in the third quarter of 2006 compared with the same period in 2005. Sales to residential, small commercial and industrial, and large commercial and industrial customers decreased by 3.6, 4.8 and 3.2 percent, respectively, compared with the third quarter in 2005, which was affected by last year’s unusually hot weather.

Renewable Energy Vermont honors Co-op

Renewable Energy Vermont, the trade association advocating for developed of renewable energy sources, has honored Washington Electric Co-op with its Renewable Energy Industry Champion Award. The award, which was presented at REV’s conference in Burlington in October, recognized the Co-op and also general manager Avram Patt for developing new renewable generation at the Coventry landfill, and for advocating for responsible development of commercial scale wind generation in Vermont.

Eye on the Night Sky kiosk to open in Burlington

Eye on the Night Sky, an innovative program partnered by the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium and Vermont Public Radio (VPR), guides stargazers to planets, stars, constellations and other night sky phenomena. This multi-faceted program glows with engaging opportunities to learn about astronomy in communities throughout Vermont. The core of the program is a newly designed Eye on the Night Sky kiosk, a freestanding interactive exhibit designed to bring people up close and personal with objects visible only in the night sky. The portable kiosk is traveling to 20 libraries across the state, and opened in Chittenden County at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington at the end of November 29 where it will be available for public exploration through January 22. Mark Breen, meteorologist and director of Vermont's only public planetarium at the Fairbanks Museum, will host a series of workshops along with the kiosk.

Maple Tree Place wins award

Vermont's Maple Tree Place was recognized for marketing excellence by the 35th annual MAXI Awards program of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Maple Tree Place won a merit award in the public relations category at the ICSC Fall Conference in Chicago, IL. This year's winners were selected from a field of 292 entries, with 164 finalists in the MAXI Awards competition. The winning program, "Make a Green Come True," was a multi-faceted public relations campaign featuring a contest among local landscaping companies in an effort to create a new center green for Maple Tree Place. Maple Tree Place is owned by Inland Retail Real Estate Trust and managed by Inland US Management, LLC. Recognition for the award went to Lindsey Burke, marketing manager, Cherilyn Megill, SCMD, national director of marketing, Steven Yee, CPM, CCIM, assistant vice president, Sandra Wilkins, senior property manager and Richard Golder, RPA, assistant vice president.

Bristol Bakery and Café reopens

The Bristol Bakery & Café has re-opened under the ownership of Amy Caffarel from Shelburne and Jenn Parker from Essex Junction. The bakery has undergone major renovations over the past three months, which included walls being knocked down and pushed back allowing for more counter space and displays. The bakery is back to baking bagels, breads and pastries of all varieties, as well as doughnuts. The menu changes often but will always include homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries, as well as vegan and gluten free baked goods. The bakery also offers a hot, fresh and one of a kind coffee blend made special for the bakery by the folks at Vermont Coffee Company. Caffarel was the bread baker at Bristol Bakery and Café three years ago, and was the head chef for Catering by Dale. Parker was previously working at City Market in Burlington as their community outreach coordinator. She brings her knowledge of vegan and gluten free baking to the bakery. Bristol Bakery & Café is open seven days a week, Monday through Friday 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

PEOPLE

Brianne Towne has been promoted to the position of account executive at Paul Kaza Associates. Towne previously was an account coordinator supporting both the public relations and advertising account teams. In her new role, Towne will have the lead contact role for Kaza's New Hampshire and New York based clients in the financial and tourism sectors.

Becky Beaucage, has been hired as an administrative assistant at Maple Leaf Farm. Becky brings more than 20 years of experience and organizational skills to the position.

Little & Cicchetti, PC a business, estate planning, and litigation law firm with offices in Burlington, announced today that Brian K Valentine has joined the firm. Valentine brings over sixteen years of litigation and transactional experience to the firm. Prior to joining the firm, he was a senior associate with Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC and its Schoenberg Family Law Group

Flip Brown, owner of Business Culture Consultants, was invited to attend the First International Seminar on Interventions for Focused Change in the Workplace, held in Lyon, France recently. The event was hosted by the European Commission and the French National Agency for the Improvement of Workplace Conditions (ANACT). One hundred and eighty sponsored participants were chosen via Internet research, and represented fifteen countries. Topics presented included public-private organization development partnerships, changing workplace demographics, health and safety trends, productivity enhancement, and team dynamics.

Daniel A Webster has joined The Bulfinch Group, an insurance and investment firm headquartered in Needham, MA with additional offices in Wakefield, MA as financial representative. Webster is president of Webstone Financial in South Burlington, and will be operating as a satellite office of The Bulfinch Group. The office will specialize in wealth accumulation and protection, using a comprehensive planning method which integrates and coordinates all aspects of personal economies.

Chittenden Insurance Group recently hired Alexis G Pomerleau as commercial account executive. Alexis's responsibilities include, risk analysis and review, risk placement and sales for commercial customers throughout Vermont and New England. She joined Chittenden Insurance group in 2005, as operations coordinator prior to her current position.

They were recently puttin' on the dog with the grand opening of Small Dog Electronics flagship retail store at 100 Dorset Street in South Burlington. It's a bumper year for Macs and they will all be on display at Vermont's first retail store to feature the full line of Apple computers, software, peripherals and accessories. To celebrate this event, Small Dog Electronics opened its doors with ten days of events each with its own theme, full of prizes, guest appearances and daily specials.

With the recent promotion of Tessa Vande Griek to print production director and the appointment of Keith Williamson to senior production manager, Jager Di Paola Kemp’s design production department will stay on the cutting edge of new techniques and technologies. Tessa joined JDK in 2005 as a senior production manager. With Vande Griek’s promotion, she will oversee the print- and digital-production departments of all three JDK offices, as well as manage her own client assignments. Williamson comes to JDK with more than 20 years of print-production and advertising experience. Most recently, he was the senior print-production manager at Eisner Communications in Baltimore, MD, where he worked with such clients as US Airways, Capital One and Voice of America.

Lake Champlain Chocolates has introduced their limited-edition, premium Chocolate Obsession gift box line. The new line is available from November through December 2006, while supplies last. The next time they will be released will be for Valentine's Day 2007.