Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Woodchuck Hard Cider, the brand that started the American cider revolution in 1991, is pleased to announce the arrival of its Brunch Box. The Brunch Box variety pack features four innovative ciders: existing core Woodchuck styles Pearsecco, Mimosa, along with the addition of two new innovations, Paloma and Bellini. All ciders are 12oz cans, 3 cans of each style per 12-pack, 5.5% alc.vol., apart from Pearsecco, a bubbly dry cider, at 6.1% alc./vol. The Brunch Box will be available year-round, with a a PTC range of $17.99 – 18.99.

Vermont Business Magazine The Board of Directors of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) announced today the appointment of Christopher J Dougherty as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer, effective May 9, 2022. He succeeds outgoing CEO Steven R Gordon, who will retire in April, and who has been at the forefront of BMH’s innovative progress, financial strength, and hospital expansion since 2011. Dougherty comes to BMH from Shriners for Children Medical Center in Pasadena, CA, where he has served as Administrator since 2018.

The Vermont State Police has collected more than 100 body-armor vests donated by law-enforcement agencies and members of the public since announcing the initiative last week. More vests are expected to arrive before the donation deadline of next Wednesday, March 23. The used and expired vests rated level III or higher still offer protection from gunfire. The Vermont State Police will coordinate sending the donated body armor to military units in Ukraine.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 141 cases of COVID-19 for Thursday, down from 161 on Wednesday. There were no additional deaths, which stand at 611 statewide. There have been four fatalities since March 5. Vermont is averaging 119 cases over the last 7 days. Cases are down 94% since the Omicron peak. UVM will end its mask mandate tomorrow. It has achieved a 100% vaccination rate for students and staff.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today filed a federal lawsuit against a California-based company, Telecom Carrier Access doing business as TCA VOIP, and its owner, Dominic Bohnett, for knowingly bringing thousands of robocalls into Vermont. The Attorney General’s Office began its investigation after receiving reports of a robocall displaying an 802-area code, impersonating the Social Security Administration. A traceback investigation, conducted with assistance from the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, revealed TCA VOIP to be the source of the call.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington and Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin filed to request mid-year adjustments from the Green Mountain Care Board to their FY22 budgets, which went into effect on October 1, 2021. The hospitals said inflation since that approval would require a 20 percent rate hike. They are requesting a 10 percent increase.

Vermont Business Magazine The 27th Annual Burlington & Cool Schools Penguin Plunge was held on Saturday, March 12th at the Burlington Waterfront. Over 800 people braved the snowstorm and plunged into the frigid waters of Lake Champlain to show their support for Special Olympics athletes in Vermont. The Penguin Plunge is the largest fundraising event for Special Olympics Vermont, and this year, over $500,000 was raised to support sports training and competition opportunities across local and school programs, health screenings, and leadership opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine A growing team of co-creators join EmpowR to build anti-racist culture centered in humanity, equity, and belonging for collective liberation. Rae Carter, EmpowR founder, announces the following Vermont change makers to the EmpowR co-creator team who each bring dynamic lived experiences and backgrounds to the arc of personal, organizational, and cultural transformation:

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan today released 2021 statistics from the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC) which show an increase in the number of reported internet crimes against children. In 2021, VT-ICAC received 452 CyberTips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, resulting in a sharp increase from the 376 CyberTips received in 2020. Investigations conducted by VT-ICAC resulted in 42 prosecutions statewide in 2021. The Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Vermont State Police, and other county and municipal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies are affiliated with VT-ICAC.

Vermont Business Magazine Beginning today, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) in Bennington, part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), has expanded its visitor policy to one visitor at a time—as opposed to one visitor per day, as had been indicated most recently—for many areas. The change follows a substantial decrease in the prevalence of COVID-19 in our region. Visiting hours remain 11 am – 7 pm daily.

​Vermont State Police Advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy have helped the Vermont State Police identify the source of DNA found as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Brianna Maitland. No suspect in the case has been identified, but as the 18th anniversary of her disappearance arrives, the case remains an open and active investigation. Brianna, 17, was last seen on the evening of March 19, 2004. She clocked out from the Black Lantern Inn where she worked as a dishwasher and was headed to a friend’s house where she was living at the time. She never made it.

Vermont Business Magazine Erik Weihenmayer, one of the most renowned adventurers of the 21st century, best known as the first blind person to summit Mount Everest, has been selected as the University of Vermont’s 2022 commencement speaker. Weihenmayer, along with Meghan Walsh Cioffi, Robert Cioffi, Rick Dalton, and Steven Grossman (see bios below) will receive honorary degrees during the university’s main commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 22. This year’s commencement is especially significant, as it signals a return to a pre-pandemic, traditional schedule of ceremonies.