Current News

Vermont Business Magazine  Breeze Airways, the airline industry’s only ‘NLCC’, or ‘Nice Low-Cost Carrier,’ reported an operating profit for March, a major milestone for the fast-growing startup airline. Today, Breeze is also currently offering a two-day-only promotion with 40 percent* off all roundtrip base fares when the code ‘UNIQUE’ is used at checkout on the Breeze app or at flybreeze.com. The promotion is available until Wednesday, April 10 at 11:59pm PT for travel from April 28 to June 13, 2024. Breeze flies from Burlington BTV to Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Raleigh/Durham. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Bennington Sheriff’s Department is hosting the Spring 2024 Criminal Justice (CJ) and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) SkillsUSA Vermont competitions on Wednesday, April 10 at 811 US-7 in Bennington, VT. Bennington County Sheriff, James Gulley, Jr., who has headed up this competition for the past two years, as well as representatives of the Vermont Sheriff’s Association and Vermont State Police will be on hand to judge the competitions.

Vermont Business Magazine Children receiving care at University of Vermont Children’s Hospital will benefit from 98.9 WOKO’s annual Big Change Roundup for Kids that raised an impressive total of $353, 484.41, thanks to hundreds of donations from community members, businesses, patients, and families. This year’s fundraising campaign saw high levels of engagement from individual fundraisers known as bandits, fundraising teams known as posses, as well as community groups and volunteers from throughout the region. Major sponsors were also essential to this year’s success. They include Maplefields, New England Federal Credit Union, Med Associates Inc., and SD Ireland. The team at Maplefields raised over $113,000, the largest singular donation in Big Change Roundup history.

Vermont Business Magazine In a recent study published in the American Heart Association (AHA) journal Hypertension, scientists from the Larner College of Medicine explored the intricate relationship between specific inflammatory biomarkers and hypertension—with some surprising results. Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, stands as a serious risk factor for heart disease. Leveraging data from the REGARDS study, a large-scale prospective cohort study involving nearly 2,000 Black and white adults without prior hypertension, the research team shed light on the dynamics between inflammation and hypertension, uncovering notable disparities across racial groups and genders. Findings from the paper suggest that inflammation may serve as a pivotal player in hypertension’s development. By targeting specific inflammatory pathways, Larner researchers predict a promising avenue for preventing or even reversing hypertension—a substantial shift from the conventional approach of simply lowering blood pressure with traditional medications.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is proud to announce Governor Phil Scott has officially declared April 6-12, 2024, as the Week of the Young Child (WOYC) in Vermont. This proclamation recognizes the importance of early childhood education in Vermont. “Vermont is dedicated to fostering an environment that supports and sustains high-quality child care for young children,” cited the proclamation signed by Governor Scott. “Investing in early childhood education not only enhances the lives of our youngest Vermonters but also contributes to the overall prosperity and vitality of our state.” Through the proclamation, Governor Scott encourages local communities across the state to participate in events and activities during the WOYC.

Vermont Business Magazine Today Denise Reilly-Hughes, Vermont’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Secretary of the Agency of Digital Services, announced the appointment of John Toney as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the State of Vermont. As a seasoned Global Chief Information Security Officer, John Toney brings more than two decades of expertise. He served as the first CISO of an enterprise spanning eight countries, specializing in incident response, threat intelligence, and security operations. He has been instrumental in architecting and building global security teams across five continents. 

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.37/g, down 1 cent per gallon from last week's $3.38/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.21/g while the highest was $3.59/g, a difference of 38.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 6.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.57/g today. The national average is up 17.1 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 0.8 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS Happy Eclipse Day! With all the school closures and traffic warnings, I’ve heard folks joke that this feels a lot like Y2k—a whole lot of concern over nothing. The thing about Y2k is that the “nothing” was the ultimate success story. There was a lot of preparation that went into ensuring that everything transitioned seamlessly. Similarly, hospitals have been working with the state and other emergency management resources to prepare for the influx of extra people in Vermont. Emergency departments and EMS personnel have done tabletop exercises on alternate routes if roads are impassable. They have practiced using ham radios to ensure that communications run smoothly during emergencies if our cell service is overloaded. You can read more about it in the Axios article below, featuring Jonathan Billings from Northwestern Medical Center. Hospitals prepare for the foreseeable and unforeseeable every day. We hope you get an incredible astrological sight today and a whole lot of nothing else, but we’ll be here if you need us. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement following the resignation of his good friend and mentor, Senator Richard T. Mazza, after 42 years of service in Montpelier, including the last 39 representing Colchester and Grand Isle County in the Vermont Senate. In part, Senator Mazza said: "Due to health reasons, I am unable to provide the quality of service and dedication I have always given to my constituents and the State of Vermont." He is stepping down today. See Mazza's resignation letter below. Scott said: “It would be difficult to find a Vermonter who has been more impactful, committed or dedicated to public service over the past four decades than Senator Dick Mazza."

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies When David and Jane Sandelman relocated to Vermont in 2001, their first entrepreneurial endeavor was putting their spin on the classic Bob Newhart experience. Having spent several decades immersed in the corporate world in New York, the couple decided to purchase and restore an 18th-century farmhouse in Weathersfield, opening it as the Inn at Weathersfield. They developed the B&B and restaurant during the emergence of Vermont’s farm-to-table movement and made connections with local farms to source their meat, cheese, and produce. Through conversation with local cheesemakers, David learned that one was struggling to control the humidity level in his aging room. A natural tinkerer with expertise in control solutions, he devised “Vaportrol”, a technology leveraging vapor pressure to sustain optimal conditions for drying and curing cheese. When David and Jane gave their Vaportrol technology to a friend to test dry a cannabis flower, they were told they would ‘never get it back’ – it worked that well.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets If you're looking for a fun and authentic experience in Vermont, then you won't want to miss out on the state's Fairs & Field Days. These events are a celebration of Vermont's agricultural heritage, showcasing the best local produce, livestock, crafts, and entertainment. With dozens of events taking place throughout the state, you're sure to find a fair or field day that fits your schedule and interests. Whether you're interested in carnival rides, agricultural exhibits, live music, or simply sampling delicious local food and drinks, Vermont's Fairs & Field Days have something for everyone.

Vermont Business Magazine Vickie Gratton’s students can demonstrate for you exactly how the moon will cover the sun during the total eclipse on Monday—using hand puppets representing each celestial body. The preschoolers are lucky enough to finish up their two-week space unit during an historic time in the Vermont skies. “They can understand big things,” Gratton exclaimed. “It’s important to teach them about things that are going on around them so that they can see they’re part of a bigger world. It’s not just them; it’s bigger than them. The eclipse can be scary, but I want them to know what’s happening, what they need to do to see it.” Video available here. Gratton is finishing up her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education (ECE) using Vermont State University’s (VTSU’s) all-online program. She graduates in May. She’s not new to childcare, however, having taught and cared for children for 25 years.