Current News

by Jill Olson, VNAs of Vermont The holiday season provides us with an important opportunity to reflect, and to give gratitude for the home health and hospice workers who allow us to be with our loved ones in their homes during this special time. Home health and hospice workers around Vermont care for our family members, friends, and neighbors at a time when their need for comfort is at its greatest.

Vermont Business Magazine Howard Center is partnering with the Center for Health and Learning to provide Vermont businesses and community members with up-to-date information on suicide prevention. Year after year, Vermont has more suicides than the national average. In response, Howard Center continues to work to reach underserved populations, expand prevention programming and enhance intervention efforts. Howard Center is also expanding the availability of tools and best practices employed in the response after a suicide death or other tragedy to support healing and recovery.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) leaders and staff gathered last month to honor employees for their service to the organization’s mission. One award every year is presented for each of the organization’s five core values: quality, empathy, safety, teamwork, and stewardship. The employees who received the awards are noted standard bearers and role models within the organization.

Vermont Business Magazine Age Well has announced that it has been included in the Network Development Track of the Community Care Hub National Learning Community (NLC) in partnership with Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Age Well is one of 58 organizations selected for participation in the Community Care Hub National Learning Community (NLC). The organizations, representing 32 states, will engage in one of two learning tracks to bring together organizations serving as Community Care Hubs that are either in development or interested in expansion.

by Joyce Marcel, Vermont Business Magazine What's it like to make history? “A moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life was waking up the morning after the election, on very little sleep, and hearing my wife say, 'Good morning, Congresswoman,'” our new Democratic Congresswoman-elect, Rebecca A. “Becca” Balint, 54, told me after the election. The enormity of what she's accomplished is still sinking in.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Senate Committee on Committees has made the following appointments to the newly formed Environmental Justice Advisory Committee: Environmental Justice Advisory Council: Mobile Home Park Representative: Gayle Pezzo of Colchester. Environmental Justice Advisory Council: Social Justice Organization Representative: Britaney Watson of North Springfield. Environmental Justice Advisory Council: Municipal Government Representative: Zoraya Hightower. The Senate Committee on Committees appointed Esther Charlestin of Bridgeport to the Vermont Commission on Women. The Senate Committee on Committees also appointed Kellie Campbell of Georgia.

Sunil “Sunny” Eappen, MD, President and CEO, UVMHN I’m excited and humbled to be the UVM Health Network’s new President and CEO. I want to take a moment to introduce myself, and to offer my commitment to you, your family and your community: Our health system exists for you, and to serve you. I’ve spent more than 30 years in health care, both as a physician and as a leader. I’m here because I believe in and care deeply about the work this health system does to provide great care in Vermont and northern New York.

Vermont Business Magazine As the world continues to deal with the realities of climate change, countries are increasingly turning towards renewable energy sources. Here in the U.S., the Biden administration has set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent by 2030, but progress varies by state. According to a new report by The Motley Fool, which looks at renewable energy stats by state, Vermont ranks #3 in terms of percentage of total electric power generated by renewable energy sources. Iowa generates the most and Kentucky the least.

Vermont Business Magazine Roundup of news from November 2022: Hickok & Boardman Insurance to receive 2022 Outstanding Business of the Year Award; Favorites win big in 2022 General Election; Tax revenues continue on strong pace despite inflation; VSECU members approve merger with NEFCU; Vermont’s unemployment rate increases to 2.3% in October; Vermont Electric Cooperative files 8.19% increase in 2023 rate request; Worker Relocation Incentive Program application now open; CityPlace construction begins in Burlington: and more.

Senator Leahy: “The Atomic Energy Commission’s decision in 1954 to revoke J. Robert Oppenheimer’s security clearance was based on a manifestly unjust and unethical hearing that would be resoundingly condemned today. Robert Oppenheimer was a brilliant scientist whose indispensable role in leading the Manhattan Project is beyond dispute. He served this country in a time of great peril as no other person could have, and he remained steadfastly loyal to this country until his death. I commend Secretary Granholm for taking this important step in the interest of justice and fairness.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Animation Festival has announced Oscar-nominated animation directors Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata will be the keynote speakers for the Eighth Annual Vermont Animation Festival. Hosted by Northern Vermont University in partnership with Catamount Arts, the festival will be held March 24 and 25 on the NVU-Lyndon campus. Porter and Kuwahata specialize in mixed-media narratives and the pair have been working together as Tiny Inventions (tinyinventions.com) since 2008. Their work often combines handcrafted art, CG animation, drawn animation, stop-motion, and photographic effects and they have directed and produced TV commercials, music videos, PSAs, and independent films. Negative Space, their 90th Oscar-nominated film, has won 128 awards at 320 film festivals worldwide.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) announced this week the Good Spirits Café has officially opened its doors to incarcerated individuals and staff at Southern State Correctional Facility (SSCF). The café is an innovative small business venture created by incarcerated individuals of the SSCF honor unit—a special residential housing unit with increased independence and behavior contracts—with assistance from DOC staff.