New Business

2004

December

Vermont Newsclips

Guy Page of Cambridge, formerly the publisher of the Colchester Chronicle, has launched Vermont Newsclips, providing comprehensive clipping of about 70 Vermont media outlets. Other services include free media consulting and media contact information. Clients include advocacy organizations, state agencies, colleges and lobbyists. Page has worked in Vermont journalism, public relations and advocacy for 25 years. P.O. Box 10, Cambridge 05444. 644-5066. newsclips@msn.com .

Vermont Mystic Pie Co.

David Barash of Stowe has launched Vermont Mystic Pie Co. in collaboration with Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the founders of Ben & Jerry's Homemade. The pies are made at the Vermont Food Venture Center, a food business incubator in Fairfax, frozen and delivered to more than 70 stores in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Recipes, developed with the help of bakers from the New England Culinary Institute and King Arthur Flour, use Vermont apples grown at Champlain Orchards in Shoreham, which uses earth-friendly agriculture. 253-3743; www.vermontmysticpie.com .

November

University Mall Stores

Finard & Co. LLC of Burlington, Mass., announced that seven permanent stores have opened at University Mall. They are: After Hours Formalwear (men's fashion); Christopher & Banks (women's fashion); Deb & Deb Plus (teen fashion); Hannoush Jewelers; Herban Stylz (men's, women's and teen's fashion); Northern Reflections (women's fashion); and O'Brien's Salon. University Mall is managed and leased by Finard & Co. LLC, a commercial real estate service based in Burlington, Mass., with regional offices in New England, upstate New York and Tennessee.

Human Hand

Human Hand, an art gallery and glass studio, has opened in Ferrisburgh in the old Ferrisburgh Depot building. It features the work of more than 20 local artists in a variety of disciplines. Founders Carol Schreiber and Karla Van Vliet hope to make art more accessible to everyone in the community through a touchable environment. Human Hand also offers classes such as glass bead-making and flameworking, jewelry-making workshops and after-school programs, plus supplies for bead artists. Hours are Monday and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday > 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 5359 Route #7, Ferrisburgh. 877-3333.

Varsity New England

Triad Design Service Inc. in Williston has launched Varsity New England magazine, a subscription-based, full-color, glossy magazine for high school student athletes, coaches, parents and those who love sports. Matthew Bunting, publisher and director of business development, and David Grenier, the director of creative development, collaborated several years ago to produce College Street Magazine. Amie Crosby is director of sales. Craig Austin is Triad's president and CEO. > 864-7790, ext. 351

October

Vermont Mobile Pet Groomers

Joel and Jennifer English of St. Albans are the founders of Vermont Mobile Pet Groomers, an on-location dog-grooming business performed from a specially equipped van that includes a table, pet tub, high-velocity forced-air dryer, water heater, holding tanks, pump and shopvac. The company uses only biodegradable shampoos with natural ingredients. Jennifer has completed 600 hours of hands-on training at the International Academy of Pet Design in Alpharetta, Ga., and has been a groomer in a veterinarian's office. She is also trained to do dog CPR. 524-1400. jnjenterprise@surfglobal.net.

Vermont Tours to Go

Patricia Arajo has launched Vermont Tours to Go, which offers an audio tour showcasing historic sites and stories about the people and events that shaped Vermont. Her CD tour includes 21 sites around Burlington, following a four-mile route starting at Lake Champlain and winding through the business district, residential areas and UVM campus. Concentrating on the history of the buildings, the people who lived in them and the events that shaped Burlington, the tour can be walked, biked or driven. The CDs are available at gift and book shops in the area. VermontToursToGo@yahoo.com .

Comfort Suites

Opechee Construction Corp. of Belmont, N.H., recently completed construction of a 68-room, 38,278-square-foot Comfort Suites hotel at the intersection of interstates 89 and 91 for Creative Hotel Associates of Rockville, Md. Amenities include a complete exercise facility, two meeting/function rooms and a business center. Each suite includes a microwave oven, coffeemaker, 25-inch remote TV with cable, sleeper sofa, iron and ironing board, two phones with data ports, voice mail and a mini refrigerator.

September

The Leadership Group

Leadership Management Inc. of Waco, Texas, announced the establishment of a franchise in Burlington. The Leadership Group, headed by Charles Kail, will help to develop leaders and organizations using LMI's strategic development process. LMI has more than 500 franchises around the world. 238-7971; ckail@4cmk.com .

Women Writing for (a) Change

Local poet Sarah Bartlett has opened Women Writing for (a) Change, a creative writing center for women in Williston. Bartlet facilitates classes "to encourage and support women's beginning, growing or deepening writing practice." Classes are modeled on those of the school of the same name in Cincinnati, through which Bartlett completed a certification and licensure program. 899-3772. www.womenwriting.org . _·Danforth Pewter

Danforth Pewter

Fred and Judi Danforth, owners of Danforth Pewter in Middlebury, announced the opening of a store at 111 Church St. in Burlington. The store, whose facade was designed to respect the building's historic Art Moderne style, features the full line of Danforth products plus exhibits that instruct shoppers on pewter-making and Danforth's history. Above, Fred Danforth spins a pewter oil lamp on the lathe.

August

Lake Champlain Chocolates

Lake Champlain Chocolates has opened a shop featuring ice cream, sorbet, shakes and hand-whipped copper-kettle fudge inside a gazebo at The Vermont Teddy Bear Co. The store is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 7. Colleen Clifford, a University of Vermont student, is manager.

Mullen Insurance

David Schramm and Tom Heins of Mullen Insurance in St. Albans, have opened a new location at 72 Helena Drive in Williston to better serve the greater Burlington community. The office shares an address with the Nationwide Insurance claims office near Taft Corners. 527-0121.

Fli-Rite Aviation

Shirley Chevalier has launched Fli-Rite Aviation, an aerial photography business based at Burlington International Airport. Chevalier was public relations manager at the airport in the 1980s when she worked with the airport's first manager, Grace Pugh, to compile a pictorial history. As an honor to Pugh, Chevalier named her company Fli-Rite, the name of the business Pugh once ran with her husband, Harold, in the early 20th century. Chevalier flies her completely renovated 1959 American Champion airplane, "Champ." Champ99E@aol.com 878-4432.

Hot Potato Concepts

Spencer Newman, formerly CEO of Adventurous Traveler and director of the TastyGram division of Vermont Teddy Bear Co., has founded Hot Potato Concepts. The company's product line, Market Stand Family Meal Kits, features individual packages of ingredients combined and cooked to create a family-style entrée in 20 minutes or less. Market Stand is available in 34 retail and corporate locations in Vermont and New Hampshire. Founding partners with Newman are Jim Romanoff, associate food editor at Eating Well, and former food concept developer Susan Buchanan, a recipe tester at Eating Well. P.O. Box 5672, Burlington. 355-0699. snewman@hotpotatoconcepts.com .

Cafe Provence

Chef Robert Barral, known for his work with the New England Culinary Institute, opened his own restaurant, Cafe Provence, in the Howe Scale Block in Brandon, which was recently reconstructed by The McKernon Group. Cafe Provence serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The eclectic menu featuring Mediterranean-influenced cuisine will change seasonally. A French-born chef who has been the executive chef for both campuses of NECI, Barral will remain affiliated with the institute in a senior advisory capacity. Cafe Provence features an outdoor terrace. Barral and his wife, Line, will operate the restaurant full-time. 11 Center St., U.S. 7.

July

Traveling Wonders

Passionate reptile hobbyists Julie and Justin Williams have opened central Vermont's first traveling mini-zoo. Traveling Wonders will visit schools, birthday parties, summer camps or any location with an assortment of lizards, snakes and exotic insects. The business caters to all ages and operates year-round. 209 Congress St., Morrisville. 888-1601. www.baskingwonders.com/traveling .

Independence Air

Starting July 17, Burlington joins 34 other cities being serviced by Independence Air, a new, low-fare air service with daily non-stop flights to Washington Dulles International Airport and connections to cities across the country.

Epsilon Imaging

Brenda Amadon, a former employee at Omega Optical, has opened Epsilon Imaging in West Dummerston. The company provides restoration and preservation of old and transient images through high-quality digital enlargements of old or new photographs in sizes from wallet to 12-by-18 inches. Images for printing can also be retrieved from film, APS, CD, floppy disk and digital camera memory cards. 182 West St., P.O. Box 492. www.epsilonimaging.com .

Dolce Design

Belinda Darcey has opened Dolce Design, a firm doing graphic and Web design, in Malletts Bay. She has clients in Manhattan and throughout New England. 835 East Lakeshore Dive, #3, Colchester. 872-8996. darcey@dolcedesign.com

June

TransParent Office Center

TransParent Office Center has opened a second store in Swanton. TransParent is a sales and service computer center, an authorized UNICEL agent, an authorized pack-and-ship outlet for UPS and Airborne, and sells business and office supplies. www.tpofficecenter.com .

Vermont Gay Tourism Association

The Vermont Gay Tourism Association, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote Vermont to gay and lesbian travelers, has been formed. Officers are: Jeff Connor of Grunberg Haus, president; Darrick Pitstick of Timberholm Inn, vice president/marketing; Willie Docto of Moose Meadow Lodge, treasurer; and Jeanne Matthews of Graphic Services, secretary. Any individual, business or group that serves the gay and lesbian market may join. The organization has 30 members. www.vermontgaytourism.com .

Native Tongue Pottery

The Vermont Women's Business Center announced the grand opening of Native Tongue Pottery in Brandon. Potter Susan Benedict is the owner. 247-8214. scb@sover.net.

Majestic 10 Cinema

The Majestic 10 Cinema opened at 190 Boxwood St. in Maple Tree Place in Williston. Starwood Ceruzzi of Fairfield, Conn., is the project's developer. Operated by Merrill Jarvis of Merrill Theatres and Harold Blank of HLB Entertainment, it features three ticket-selling stations, a 50-foot concession stand and a game room, plus stadium seating with high-back rocker seats in its 10 auditoriums. John J. Rao III and Steve Donahue of Pomerleau Real Estate were the listing agents for the 32,000-square-foot space.

The Heart of New England.com

Freelance writer and New Hampshire resident Marcia Passos Duffy has launched a monthly online magazine, The Heart of New England.com . It is a free publication celebrating the people, places and products of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Visitors can receive a free subscription to a companion weekly e-newsletter that includes a calendar of events, bed and breakfast specials, contests and gardening tips. www.theheartofnewengland.com .

Murphy Sullivan Kronk

Liam Murphy, Brian Sullivan and Catherine Kronk have formed the law firm of Murphy Sullivan Kronk in the Peck House in Burlington. MSK's focus is on transactions, permitting and litigation in real estate, land development and commercial law. Murphy was with Langrock, Sperry and Wool; Sullivan was with Burak Anderson & Melloni; and Kronk was with Paul Frank & Collins. Jeremy Farkas, formerly of Burak Anderson & Melloni, is an associate. 275 College St., Burlington. 861-7000.

Stride Creative Group

Catherine McIntyre and Terri Parent, formerly of PDI Creative Communication in Burlington, have launched Stride Creative Group, specializing in print design, Web design and advertising. 1135 Sunset Hill Road, Williston. 879-9339. www.stridecreative.com .

Rock of Ages Visitors Center and Memorial Studio

Rock of Ages Corp. has opened the Rock of Ages Visitors Center and Memorial Studio in Graniteville, its first in Vermont. The Visitors Center is adjacent to the Rock of Ages Craftsman Center and is housed in a dramatic new building that combines glass, wood and granite in a warm but contemporary look. The building was designed by Gossens Bachman Architects of Montpelier. Interior design of the Memorial Showroom is based on a design by Horst Design International of Cold Spring harbor, N.Y. The center houses computer exhibits, the Swenson Family Theatre and a gift shop offering Vermont-made granite gifts. The studio features a professionally designed showroom with lighted displays, crafted memorials and stunning graphics. 558 Graniteville Road. 476-3119 or toll-free > (866) 748-6877.

May

Kohl's Department Store

Kohl's, a specialty department store offering moderately priced national brand name apparel, shoes, accessories and home products, has opened at University Mall in South Burlington.

SunBurgers Snackbar

Gary and Patty Sundberg have opened a seasonal snack bar at 205 U.S. Route 2 in Grand Isle. SunBurgers is a take-out restaurant featuring home-made quarter-pound square burgers and hand-cut fries with 16 flavors of hard ice cream and 84 flavors of creemees. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., May through September. 372-5630.

Great Bay Consulting

Greg Marchand announced the opening of Great Bay Consulting LLC in Lyndon Center. The company offers consulting services in ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and integrated management systems. Marchand was business consultant, technical specialist and ISO 14001 management representative for Toyota Motor Sales USA. His team member, John French, was director of environment, health and safety registration for international registrar BVQI. P.O. Box 401, Lyndon Center. 272-2773. gmarchand@greatbayconsulting.com .

iParty

iParty, New England's largest party retailer, has opened a 9,000-square-foot store in Maple Tree Place. It is the Boston-based company's 39th store, and it offers party supplies for all occasions. www.iParty.com .

Follow the Leader

Jill Halstead, a Certified Dog Trainer and behavior counselor, has opened Follow the Leader Dog Training Services in Richmond. Halstead stresses methods that show dogs "what we want them to do as opposed to how to avoid pain and fear," she says. She studied at the San Francisco SPCA Dog Trainer Academy's Training and Counseling Program. She is the author of the books Culture Clash and Dogs Are From Neptune. 434-6402. Cell: 578-9722. ftldogtraining.com .

The Body Center

Mindy Cohen, MSPT, Kate Kennedy, PT, CST-D, and David Tomlinson, CST-D, RMT, have opened The Body Center at 11 Kilburn St. in Burlington. The Body Center offers various services, including craniosacral therapy, somato-emotional release, physical therapy, resonant kinesiology, massage, Reiki and yoga. 865-9500.

VTeens

Dan Breault, Hallie Bernstein, Jay McPeters and Matt Willis, seniors from Mount Mansfield Union High School working on an independent study project through Advanced Business Management/Entrepreneurship, launched VTeens, a nonprofit business and association for youths. VTeens will coordinate with other high schools and technical centers to showcase and market arts and crafts of students around the state. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce's Business-Education Project offered space at the Business and Industry EXPO. The contact is Laurel Ann Butler, faculty adviser, at MMU. 899-4690, Ext. 201.

April

Meineke Car Care Center

Key Leads

Paul Engels has launched Key Leads, a business development company designed to generate sales leads for businesses. 15 Orchard Road, South Burlington. 862-5428; www.key-leads.com .

Steez

Kyle Thompson and Jordan Boyea have opened Steez, a retail shop featuring hard-to-find urban products, including Steez's own line of T-shirts and clothing from brands such as LRG and Mixwell, select underground DJ-mix CDs and original paintings and prints. Steez was founded as an on-line company in 2002. 161 Main St., Burlington. 238-2460.

Moms in Print

Brigitte Thompson of Williston has launched Moms in Print, a publishing company focusing on the work of mothers who write. The first book, Misadventures of Moms by Kerri Charette, is planned to be released in April. Thompson is also the president of Datamaster Accounting & publishing Service LLC. 288-8040.

Courtyard by Marriott

An 89-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel was just completed in Middlebury the first new hotel to be built there in 176 years. Opechee Construction Corp. of Belmont, N.H., was the contractor. The hotel was developed by Creative Hotel Associates of Rockville, Md., with Butson Investment Partnership. Amenities include free high-speed Internet service, an indoor heated pool, spa, exercise room, meeting room, executive boardroom, guest laundry, library and lounge. The Courtyard Cafe serves a full breakfast seven days a week, and The Market is open 24 hours a day offering sandwiches, salads, snacks and beverages.

Party Playce

Megan Hill has opened Party Playce, a child development service, in Williston. At three-hour morning and afternoon sessions build on theme-based programs like play parties and birthday parties, and at pajama parties Friday evenings to give parents a night off, children enjoy music, movement, stories and crafts. A snack keeps with each session's theme, and party-goers carry home their craft creations. Party Playce is not a day-care facility that accepts regularly scheduled clients. Reservations are recommended for each session and are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Hill has more than 10 years' experience as a caregiver and teacher in the private and public sectors. 205 Cornerstone Drive, Taft Farms Village. 879-9200.

March

The Knitting Studio

The Vermont Women's Business Center announced that Scottie Harrison has opened The Knitting Studio, a full-service yarn shop, at 7 Main St. in Montpelier. 229-2444; scottie@vtgospel.com .

Nonna Luna

Joseph Forziati and Trisha Jarrett, owners of Nonna Luna of Vermont, a gourmet Italian food specialty company, announced the arrival of their introductory pasta sauces, Marinara, Roasted Garlic and Sweet Roasted Red Pepper, to supermarket shelves. They can be found at Shelburne Supermarket, Sam Mazza's Farmstand & Bakery, Healthy Living, Net Result, Five Corner Beverage, Apple Mountain, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Cabot Annex Store, Mac's Market and Mehuron's Supermarket. P.O. Box 1265, Burlington. 655-6800 (phone and fax); sauce4u@msn.com .

Key Bank

KeyCorp announced that KeyBank will open a KeyCenter in the spring at 300 Interstate Corporate Center in Williston. The office complex at Taft Corners, owned by Peter Judge, will be renamed KeyBank corporate Center. Jeff Nick of J.L. Davis Realty represented KeyBank in this transaction.

Bear Creek Environmental

The Vermont Women's Business Center announced that Mary Nealon has opened Bear Creek Environmental, a business to help rivers and lakes meet today's water quality standards. 297 E. Bear Swamp Road, Middlesex. 223-5140; bearcrk@sover.net. >

Mascoma Savings Bank

Mascoma Savings Bank has opened a 44,000-square-foot bank/operations center in White River Junction. The full-service retail portion of the bank offers a larger lobby, new safety deposit boxes and three drive-up teller lanes, including a 24-hour ATM and night depository. The finance, accounting, information technology, deposit and loan operations, and business development offices were joined into the remaining space of the three-story building. Engelberth Construction was the general contractor; Banwell Architects of Lebanon, N.H., designed the $6.0 million brick veneer facility.

Jackson Gore Inn

Jackson Gore Inn at Okemo Mountain has received a Certificate of Occupancy. Russell Construction Services of Rutland managed the building of the 250,000-square-foot condominium hotel complex, which includes 117 residential units, fitness center with indoor/outdoor pool, ski lodge and other amenities.

ONE YEAR AGO

Island Pond Woodworkers

Gov. James Douglas and the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund celebrated the first birthday of Island Pond Woodworkers Inc. in February at the employee-owned company's 15,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Island Pond. IPW, which creates custom-designed and crafted furniture, was formed by a group of former Ethan Allen employees after Ethan Allen closed its plant there. The company is producing library furniture for Middlebury College, the first contract with a large institution. The company employs 14 full-time and two part-time workers, up from nine a year ago, and has plans to hire up to five more people in the next year.

February

Jeff Snyder has launched Above Reality Inc., a hot air balloon company. The business grew from an idea created during a class at Penn State. Snyder subsequently interned with a balloon company in Colorado Springs, Colo., and its sister company in Phoenix, Ariz., while earning his FAA commercial pilot's license. He is a graduate of Essex Junction High School and has a bachelor's in recreation management from Penn State. In addition to passenger flights, mostly in Essex, Milton and Jericho, Above Reality does tethered rids and aerial advertising. P.O. Box 75, Jericho 05465. 899-4007.

Greater Falls Pharmacy and Scrapbook Nook

The Greater Falls Pharmacy and Scrapbook Nook opened in Bellows Falls with a ribbon-cutting Jan. 19. Store manager Annette Jewell said the shop will carry a wide selection of gift items such as high-quality cards and gift wrap, plus everything needed for the popular pastime of scrapbooking. The pharmacy provides hard-to-find services and products, prescription compounding and custom-fit compression stockings. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

January

Russell M. Blodgett, Certified Accountant

Russell M. Blodgett, Certified Public Accountant, opened his practice serving the accounting and income taxation needs of small business and individual clients. 3240 Shelburne Road, Shelburne. 985-5570.

Promo Pavilion

Delta Business Systems launched a subsidiary company, Promo Pavilion. Business partner Cathy Houston will promote a business or event with imprinted merchandise and embroidered wearables. The showroom is on James Brown Drive in Williston. Online store is at www.promopavilion.com .

Upstairs Imports

Ben Bergstein and April Werner opened Upstairs Imports on the second floor of 191 Bank St. in Burlington. The retail shop will sell products they have collected for their wholesale division, Volga River Trading Co., from Russia and around the world. Items include unusual gifts such as Vietnamese lanterns, African masks, Spanish pottery, Bolivian sweaters, silk quilts from Thailand and felt products from Kyrgyzstan, as well as traditional Russian items. 863-6686 or 639-4309.

Main Wellness Works

Heather Main has launched Main Wellness Works LLC, providing health promotion presentations on behavioral health issues such as workplace stress management, exercise motivation, weight management and smoking cessation. The service is available throughout Vermont. 38 Knoll Circle, South Burlington. 865-9899. heathermain@earthlink.net.

Everywear for Everybody

Everywear for Everybody, a Vergennes store specializing in an eclectic array of women's clothing, has opened a second location in Brandon. The owner is Liz Markowski. At the Brandon location, business partner Patty Paul, who also owns Second Star Toys & Gifts, will add infant, baby and maternity apparel and gifts to the shop. 17 Center St., Brandon.

Champlain Valley Urgent Care

Champlain Valley Urgent Care has opened a second location in South Burlington at 620 Hinesburg Road. The occupational health coordinator is Andrew A. Conte. 865-3655.