Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Each year, VSECU members direct $20,000 to Vermont charities through the member directed giving program, We Care 2. Now through the end of the month, VSECU, a credit union for everybody in Vermont, is accepting We Care 2 applications from organizations seeking funding to help impact issues of food, shelter, heat, or financial education for Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine Six months after signing the historic education reform law known as Act 46, Governor Peter Shumlin today highlighted its early success in sparking local conversations statewide about how to enhance educational quality for Vermont’s kids. The governor made the announcement at Essex High School a week after voters from the towns of Essex, Essex Junction, and Westford voted to streamline their governance structure, forming one unified district to serve 10 schools in the three communities. The unification was the first under Act 46 and reduces the number of schoolboards from five to one and superintendents from two to one.

The governor was joined for the announcement by House Speaker Shap Smith, Chairman of the House Education Committee Dave Sharpe, Essex Rep. Tim Jerman, Education Secretary Rebecca Holcombe, local schoolboard members, students, and others.

Vermont Business Magazine Moody’s Investors Service on Monday upgraded the Burlington Electric Department’s credit rating to Baa1 from Baa2, citing BED’s renewable and reliable power supply, energy efficiency measures, and proactive strategic planning by BED management as important factors for the boost.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Teddy Bear Company, the nation’s largest producer of handcrafted teddy bears, is adding a homemade sweet treat to its successful line of gift-giving offerings. Vermont Teddy Bear Company recently acquired Vermont Brownie Company, bakers of award-winning gourmet delectables, including the famous Dark Chocolate Chevre brownie that beat world renowned chef Bobby Flay on Food Network’s Throwdown! with Bobby Flay.

by Mike Smith Wednesday is Veterans Day. We normally celebrate by thanking a veteran or current military member. But when you think of it, we really need to say thanks to more than just the veteran. Most of us never experience the long, sometimes dangerous, time away from home and family that military members endure. It creates hardships that few of us understand, even if we can sympathize. It’s extraordinarily difficult for servicemen and women to be gone for long periods of time. Missing holidays, milestones and the daily life of our families can be unbearable, even with technology that helps keep families connected. Beyond the obvious danger, contemplating how life back home moves ahead without you is simultaneously comforting and concerning.

Vermont Business Magazine A new study published online November 5 in the American Journal of Psychiatry casts a shadow on light therapy’s status as the gold standard for treating SAD, or seasonal affective disorder. While the treatment is effective at addressing acute episodes of SAD, a SAD-tailored version of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is significantly better at preventing relapse in future winters, the study found. Led by University of Vermont psychology professor Kelly Rohan and funded with a $2 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, it is the first large scale study to examine light therapy’s effectiveness over time.

Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Area Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice (RAVNAH) has announced that it has been named a Top Agency of the 2015 HomeCare Elite, a recognition of the top-performing home health agencies in the United States. Now celebrating its 10th year, the HomeCare Elite™ identifies the top Medicare-certified agencies. Winners are ranked by an analysis of publicly available performance measures in quality outcomes, best practice (process measure) implementation, patient experience (Home Health CAHPS®), quality improvement and consistency, and financial performance.

RAVNAH is one of only two home care agencies in Vermont to achieve the distinguished designation in 2015, and is the only homecare agency in Rutland County to receive such recognition.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont was only one of four states to earn an "A" for low preterm birth rates, according to a national report. Portland, OR, had the best preterm birth rate of the top 100 cities with the most births nationwide, while Shreveport, Louisiana has the worst, as reported in the 2015 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, which for the first time graded cities and counties around the nation and revealed persistent racial, ethnic and geographic disparities within states.

The report also looked at six Vermont counties (see chart below). Chittenden, Rutland and Windsor received "A" grades, Franklin received a "B" and Washington and Windham got "Cs."

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Representatives Kesha Ram (D-Burlington), Corey Parent (R-St. Albans), and Diana Gonzalez (P/D-Winooski) announced on Monday the formation of the Vermont Future Caucus, becoming the ninth state to join the Millennial Action Project’s (MAP) State Future Caucus network. Through this partnership, Vermont will join a nationally recognized coalition of young elected officials determined to break through partisan gridlock in order to govern cooperatively and revitalize our democracy. Ram has announced she is running for lieutenant governor next year.

“There is too much at stake for the next generation to let partisanship trump progress,” said Ram. “Young people need real solutions to address the cost of higher education, the ability to afford having a family, and access to meaningful job opportunities. I am glad to have partners from all sides of the aisle recognize the importance and urgency of this work.”

Vermont Business Magazine On Saturday, October 24, locals shopped till they dropped – and raised more than $22,000 to fight hunger. During the 6^th annual Charity Sale, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel and its customers collectively raised $22,790 for the Vermont Foodbank and JCEO Plattsburgh Foodshelf. On Monday, Lenny’s owners Mark and Todd McCarthy presented a check for $17,450 to Vermont Foodbank CEO John Sayles. Wednesday, Lenny’s will present a check for $5,340 to the JCEO Plattsburgh Foodshelf.

“What an incredible donation!” said Sayles. “We are deeply grateful to Lenny’s and their loyal customers for their years of partnership. Together we are ensuring that our neighbors have the food they need during times of great need.”

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center recently announced the appointment of Doug Gentile, M.D., to the position of chief medical information officer. In this position, he will oversee the information services (IS) teams who work on projects in the clinical areas of the medical center. He will also serve as the liaison between medical center providers and IS staff who work on the electronic medical record. Prior to accepting this position, Dr Gentile served as the medical director for clinical information systems, overseeing staff who develop computer information systems for applications such as clinical decision-making, electronic imagery, clinical documentation and provider order entry systems.

Vermont Business Magazine In May, VEC reached its annual cap on net metering installations. To control the cost of the net metering program, the VEC Board of Directors voted not to exceed the annual cap, and VEC asked the Public Service Board (PSB) if VEC could continue accepting net metering applications in 2015 to count towards the 2016 annual cap. In September, the PSB gave its approval for this request. The PSB ruled that projects that submitted applications since June can construct in 2015 and even interconnect with VEC’s permission. Net metering is the program that allows members to install small-scale renewable generation such as solar panels and wind turbines.