Current News

Vermont State Police On January 7, 2020, Carmen Thompson was arrested at 21 Grove Street in Proctor. Thompson's arrest came after a drug investigation conducted by the Vermont Drug Task Force. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) assisted the Vermont Drug Task Force during its investigation.

The investigation involved the use of confidential informants who purchased crack cocaine from Thompson at 21 Grove Street in Proctor. [The location is around the corner from the Proctor Junior/Senior High School on Park Street.]

VSP photo of Carmen Thompson

Vermont Business Magazine Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel raised $4,132 for the Vermont Foodbank and JCEO Plattsburgh Foodshelf through a clever fundraising event this holiday season. For the third year in a row, Lenny’s teamed up with Darn Tough Vermont to create a limited-edition sock. The Vermont Barn Sock was released exclusively at Lenny’s in October and sold out by mid-December. In tribute to the Vermont lifestyle, these socks honor the barns that bring our communities together. Lenny’s donated $2.00 from every pair sold to the Vermont Foodbank in Barre and JCEO Foodshelf in Plattsburgh.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Wednesday joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in introducing a Senate resolution condemning President Trump’s threats to attack cultural sites in Iran and demanding the President refrain from violating the laws of armed conflict. The resolution responds to President Donald Trump’s repeated threats on Twitter and in a press conference that the United States would make cultural sites a target of attack if conflict with Iran escalates. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has contradicted the president and said that the Pentagon would not violate the laws of armed conflict by attacking Iranian cultural sites.

Vermont Business Magazine People's United Bank, NA, a subsidiary of People's United Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBCT), announced today that it completed the sale of its Two Burlington Square location in Vermont on December 31, 2019, to Nedde Real Estate. People’s United Bank will continue to maintain its Vermont headquarters at this location, including a full-service branch, drive-up banking services and three floors of office space. This is the former Chittenden Bank headquarters on Bank Street.

Vermont Business Magazine r.k. Miles, Inc., a third-generation, family-owned building materials supplier based in Manchester Center with locations in Vermont and Massachusetts, announced today that the company will be acquiring Allen Lumber, Inc. with locations in Barre, Montpelier, Waitsfield, and St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Allen Lumber Company, a fifth-generation family-owned business since 1888, has a longstanding, proud tradition of providing quality service, hardware and building materials throughout northeastern Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont JumpStart Coalition is partnering with the Vermont Access Network and the Treasurers office to announce an original video contest for youth with the goal to help them better understand the importance of managing money responsibly. The “Making Money Means Making Decisions” contest theme encourages youth to develop videos that will highlight the benefits of saving and spending money wisely, understanding credit and debt or financial decision making. The contest is open to middle school and high school students. Students may submit videos as a team or individually.

The deadline for student submissions is March 1, 2020 and the winning videos will be showcased at the Financial Literacy Award ceremony in Montpelier hosted by Vermont Treasurer Beth Pearce. In addition, the winners of the contest will we awarded $750 for first place and $250 for second place.

Vermont Business Magazine Country Camper has announced the grand opening of a 16,000 square foot service facility in East Montpelier, Vermont. Country Camper is a full-service, family owned and operated RV dealership with locations in Vermont and New Hampshire. The new facility will enhance Country Camper’s rapidly growing business and help advance the company’s mission to provide excellent service before and after the sale.

Morrisville and Johnson residents, community partners join affordable housing group
Vermont Business Magazine Lamoille Housing Partnership (LHP) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of David Ford as the new President of the affordable housing organization’s Board of Trustees, as well as Tess Milner and a Lamoille Community House (LCH) representative who join the Board of Trustees as two new Members at Large.

“I am honored to have been selected and supported by my fellow LHP Board of Trustees, as well as LHP staff, to serve as President of the LHP Board,” says Ford. “I care deeply about the quality of life in local communities, and I’m concerned about the Lamoille region’s increasing need for affordable housing. I view my new role as an important way to help our communities come together to support the housing needs of local residents.”

Vermont Business Magazine In 2019, Vermonters filed 5,447 scam reports with the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP). As old scams persisted, new scams emerged. According to the Attorney General’s list of top 10 most commonly reported scams of the year, the Social Security number phishing scam surpassed the IRS scam, knocking it out of the top spot as the most common scam. This phone scam involves calls claiming that your Social Security number has been compromised, suspended, and/or linked to criminal activity. The phony grandchild is also still popular.

Vermonters filed 1,466 reports of the Social Security number phishing scam. Scam reports total more than 40 percent of all contacts CAP had with consumers in 2019, making scams one of the most common consumer issues affecting Vermonters.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Law School has expanded with the addition of a new immigration clinic and admissions office in Burlington. Located at 162 St Paul Street, the satellite office opened Tuesday morning.

Through its connection to the South Royalton Legal Clinic (SRLC), the new Burlington VLS office will offer legal assistance, particularly on immigration law, through the expanded Vermont Immigration Assistance Clinic. Chittenden County students will also have more opportunity to participate in Vermont Law School’s academic programs through practical, real-world experience gained through workshops and programming.

Public Assets Institute As legislative leaders prepare to tackle pressing issues confronting Vermont, the Scott administration has signaled that they shouldn’t be looking to state government for any more help. If the Legislature wants to combat climate change, expand the availability of high-quality child care, or extend paid family and medical leave benefits, any new investments will have to come from existing programs because state government is doing all it can do.

At least that seems to be the clear implication of the letter sent early last month to House Speaker Mitzi Johnson and Senate President Pro Tem Tim Ashe:

Vermont Business Magazine Members of the Raise The Wage Coalition believe that working Vermonters deserve dignified, equitable working conditions, and anyone working 40 hours a week ought to be able to afford their basic needs. The Legislature convened the second half of its biennium today in Montpelier. The Vermont Raise the Wage Coalition – comprised of more than 30 community groups and statewide organizations – outlined its updated principles and priorities as legislators prepare to increase the state’s minimum wage to livable wage by 2024.

Collectively, Coalition members represent tens of thousands of Vermonters from all corners and regions of the state.