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Solar power coming to Hidden Springs
PUTNEY -- Prudent Living, an Upper Valley company offering services, strategies and products is installing a large solar power system for Hidden Springs Maple Syrup’s new headquarters in Putney.
Hidden Springs is a family-owned and operated producer of pure maple syrup, selling its products online across the U.S.
The new photovoltaic system will generate electricity and offset electric utility costs. The new PV system uses 72 235-watt solar modules; the 17-kilowatt system generates enough energy to completely power three average homes.
The new post-and-beam Hidden Springs headquarters is heated and cooled primarily by geo-thermal energy.
The system is projected to save as much as 70 to 80 percent on electricity costs, depending upon usage.
"They’ve set themselves up for levelized energy costs," said Prudent Living Vice President Tim Biebel. "Every year for the next 25 years they’ll know what their electricity costs will be. They are immune to electricity cost increases, thanks to this new PV system."
HCRS welcomes
new staff
BRATTLEBORO -- Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont (HCRS) recently welcomed the following new employees: Shawn Scott - residential specialist in Springfield; Lisa Pachla - residential specialist in Springfield; Mary Emery - program manager in Springfield; L. Renae White
CircusYoga opens doors in Brattleboro
BRATTLEBORO -- As a hybrid, CircusYoga is neither circus, nor yoga. Since its beginning in 1997, Erin Maile O’Keefe and her husband Kevin O’Keefe have been offering this workshop-based opportunity to join in an enlivening experience of facilitated group play and discovery to participants of all ages. Over the years they have incorporated elements of dance, movement, circus, acrobatics, clowning, yoga, community building, collaborative process, human developmental patterning, interactive art, systems theory, and nature awareness into the mix.
Erin Maile O’Keefe travels all over to present CircusYoga community workshops, teacher trainings and in-school residencies. Since moving to Brattleboro in 2003, she is starting to focus her efforts locally. A free event -- "Human Art of Play" -- was held on the Brattleboro Common on June 24 and Erin is establishing a week-long kid’s summer camp July 23-27.
"CircusYoga is looking to build a tribe," she said of her local effort to build a community of "playtitioners."
This year’s summer camp offering at Hilltop Montessori School’s newly built campus will run from July 23-27 and is the first of what is hoped to be many extended, local and regional offerings. Focused for kids ages 7-14, the week will end with a spectacular presentation and shared celebration for the whole family to take part in.
Anyone wishing to know more about what it means to have CircusYoga in town can find more information at www.circusyoga.com.
Windham Child Care Association receives donation from Vt. Energy Investment Corp.
BRATTLEBORO -- Windham Child Care Association and its Windham Evening Care Program recently received the donation of a Dell computer and monitor from the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation by way of a unique on-line game called Vermontivate.
Vermontivate is a five-week long community energy game which began on May 14. Participating towns throughout Vermont earn points by completing small energy challenges called Jumplines. The winning team receives a grand prize of a town-wide Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Party on June 30.
Windham Evening Care’s teachers and students joined the Brattleboro team and have earned their points by implementing simple conservation solutions in their classroom such as composting, using rain water for their indoor plants and remembering to turn off their power strips at night.
Their success and participation was threatened recently when their computer went down, leaving them without access to the game. When the game host Kathy Blume noticed their online post about the problem, she was inspired to help.
"We were so impressed by (the teacher and students’) spirit and energy in the program that we wanted to do anything we can to help" she said.
Blume succeeded in finding a new computer through Nick Lange at The Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. The computer was made available immediately which allowed the children and teachers to continue participating in this fun and educational activity.
Windham Child Care Assoc. makes new hire
BRATTLEBORO -- Windham Child Care Association recently hired Rebecca Salem as Director of Development and Casey McKenzie as Eligibility and Referral Specialist.
Salem has been working within the non-profit sector as an ecologist, educator and administrator since 1998. She joins the team at Windham Child Care Association with a keen interest in putting her past experience to work in support of Windham County’s young children and families.
"Having once been a single mother," Rebecca says, "I have an intimate understanding and appreciation of early childhood education and child care services as a vital community resource, a lifeline for anyone who is in need of getting to work in support of their children."
Salem, who is an aspiring writer and an experienced yoga instructor, lives in Chester with her husband and two sons.
As Eligibility and Referral Specialist, McKenzie will assist families applying for Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance Program. She’ll also provide referrals to families who are seeking child care for children. A native of Michigan, McKenzie graduated with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences. Most recently, she’s provided child care services and volunteers as a birth doula.
"I’m looking forward to serving my community," she said.
For more information, visit www.windhamchildcare.org.
Engelberth promotes Dummerston man
BRATTLEBORO -- Engelberth Construction, Inc. with offices in Colchester and Keene, N.H., recently announced that five Foremen -- Ron Ashley, Phil Bissonette, Corey Cook, Terry Lafland and Eric Palmer -- have been promoted to Project Superintendents/Supervisors.
Lafland, of Dummerston, joined Engelberth in 2000. Also based out of the Keene office, his most recent work includes several Dartmouth College projects, King Arthur Flour Expansion, miscellaneous Brattleboro Retreat projects and is currently at working at the Hannover Inn Renovation project.
Cook works from the Keene, office and has been with the company for more than 10 years. His experience includes most recently working as a supervisor at Brattleboro Retreat Osgood Building Renovation. He has also worked on projects at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Kendal at Hanover and Keene State College, which is where he currently is working on the Technology, Design and Safety Center. Cook lives in Keene.
Palmer lives in Waitsfield, Ashley lives in South Royalton and Bissonette lives in Hinesburg.
Members 1st board celebrates at annual meeting
BRATTLEBORO -- Members of the Member’s 1st Credit Union Board of Directors; "the credit union with a big heart," attended the annual meeting of the Association of Vermont Credit Unions held at the Woodstock Inn the weekend of May 18, 19 and 20. Those attending were Bill Harvey, Board President and his wife Edie; David Cotton, Vice President and his wife Pricilla; Betty Chamberlin, Board Treasurer; Steve Farrington and his wife Carol; Rick Chapin, CEO and his wife Catherine; and Gretchen White, Director of Marketing for the Credit Union.
The Association of Vermont Credit Unions hold this event each year in the spring at different locations around Vermont. It gives board members of each of the 31 credit unions a chance to attend seminars that inform them of the latest developments in credit union management, as well as to compare notes that will offer ideas that can help improve their service to the members of their credit unions back home.
Friday night of the convention is the time when those attending it can visit the booths of various vendors, who offer services to credit unions. It is also the time when door prizes and cash prizes are drawn to award those attending the trade show.
This year several members of Members 1st Board made out quite well. Farrington won a $100 American Express Gift Card, Chamberlin won tickets to the Red Sox June 23 game, Harvey won a set of Bose Speakers that will go with the Bose Radio he won two years ago, and his wife won the grand cash prize of $500.
Honora in the running for grant
JACKSONVILLE -- Honora Winery & Vineyard has applied for a chance to be awarded a "Mission: Small Business" Grant from Chase and Living Social. The program, which will award up to 12 individual grants of $250,000, was developed to provide small businesses with capital and innovative marketing resources needed to make a positive impact on their business.
Demonstrating their ongoing commitment to small businesses, Chase and LivingSocial launched "Mission: Small Business," a new grant program offering up to $3 million to small business owners nationwide. Chase and LivingSocial also obtained the support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help announce the program and drive small business engagement and participation.
"The program aims to find innovative small business owners and provide them with the capital to help execute a business plan for growth."
Through June 30, Chase and LivingSocial invite small business owners who have been in business for at least two years and have less than 100 employees to visit missionsmallbusiness.com to enter the program. Each business will be required to answer questions about why their business is unique, outline a proposed plan for utilizing the grant to grow their business and describe how the business is involved with its community. Full program rules can be found at www.missionsmallbusiness.com/pages/program-rules.
Consumers can get involved by clicking the "Support" button at missionsmallbusiness.com and voting for their favorite registered small businesses. Honora Winery & Vineyard has hope that the consumers will support them in their quest of the grant in order to be able to follow their dream as well as continue to help the local communities.
"We were excited when we found out about this opportunity," said Patricia Farrington, CEO of Honora Winery & Vineyard. "It means a lot that organizations such as Chase, Living Social and the US Chamber of Commerce are helping to bring awareness to small businesses across the country."
For each pledge of support. Chase will add $5 to the grant pool, up to $3 million, and businesses must receive at least 250 votes to be considered for a grant. The voting period is open from May 7 through June 30.
