Vermont sends syrup to soldiers overseas
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Rutland Herald Staff - Published: May 12, 2009
UNDERHILL (AP) — Vermont service members around the world will be getting a taste of home soon as part of "Operation Vermont Maple Sweetness 2009."
Vermont maple syrup, donated by producers across the state, is on its way to troops across the globe.
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture says about 6,000 pints of syrup have been donated by producers from one end of the state to the other.
The syrup was packed in special containers over the last few days at Maple Grove of Vermont in St. Johnsbury and is accompanied by a note telling service members how much the people of Vermont appreciate their efforts.
The state says sending maple products to soldiers started during the Civil War.
Hotel owner sentenced for employing illegal aliens
MONTPELIER (AP) — The owner of two Brattleboro hotels has been sentenced to four months in prison for making false statements to obtain a bank loan and employing illegal aliens.
Prosecutors say 38-year-old Gurdeep Nagra, a Canadian citizen, also must serve three years on supervised release, including four months of home confinement.
Nagra was indicted on Oct. 18, 2007 on charges of harboring and employing illegal aliens at Quality Inn and Hampton Inn in Brattleboro and lying to authorities to gain his own authorization to live in the United States.
He pleaded not guilty to those charges.
A year later he pleaded guilty to making false statements to obtain a bank loan and employing illegal aliens.
In 1 town, frustration grows over FairPoint
SOUTH STRAFFORD (AP) — At Newton Elementary School, problems with FairPoint Communications have hit close to home.
The South Strafford elementary school is located adjacent to a FairPoint substation, but Principal Paul Lowe says the company hasn't made good on its promise to deliver high-speed Internet service to the school.
FairPoint continues to charge the school for the service, and Lowe says they've stopped returning his telephone calls, the Valley News reported.
Beth Fastiggi, a FairPoint spokeswoman in Vermont, says Lowe's troubles reaching FairPoint representatives may be because he was dealing with its regular customer service department, not one of the newly hired account managers who work directly with schools.
State announces summer youth employment rants
BURLINGTON – At the Recycle North Building Materials Center on Monday, Gov. Jim Douglas announced that the Vermont Department of Labor has received $2.9 million dollars in ARRA funds to provide skill training, work experience and summer employment to eligible youth 14-24 years old.
In a release, the governor's office said the funds are part of the Workforce Investment Act that the Department administers.
There are more than 15 grants to schools, businesses and non profits around the state who will be working with Vermont's young people to help them learn much needed skills, according to the release.
Funds are targeted to providing opportunities for at risk youth, out of school youth and low income youth.
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