Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Ivette Guttmann, MD, a sports medicine physician with SVMC Orthopedics, part of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) and Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) in Bennington, has something in common with the best athletes in the world; she has a dream to make it to the Olympic Games. Her hope is to serve the athletes as a volunteer physician.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger and Burlington Fire Fighters Association (BFFA) leaders signed a new three-year contract. With the BFFA contract, the Administration completes a twelve-contract run without arbitration over three rounds of bargaining with the City’s four unions: the American Federation of State, County, Municipal, Employees (AFSCME), Burlington Fire Fighters Association (BFFA), Burlington Police Officers’ Association (BPOA), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

Vermont Business Magazine Lawson’s Finest Liquids is continuing its annual tradition of charitable support on Giving Tuesday with donations totaling $10,000 to 59 nonprofit organizations statewide as part of the brewery’s Social Impact Program (SIP). Each donation of up to $5,000 will be made to previous applicants to the brewery’s Sunshine Fund, collectively representing the largest annual contribution by Lawson’s Finest in honor of Giving Tuesday. The funds will support a range of causes across Vermont, from sustainable recreation to mental health advocacy, community development, animal rights and much more.

Vermont Business Magazine Technology for Tomorrow (T4T) has announced a new partnership with the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation to expand its digital literacy education across Vermont. Technology for Tomorrow is a non-profit organization that provides various digital technology training programs to older adults, New Americans, and other local communities. In 2022, it has served over 500+ Vermonters with in-person and remote instruction. The Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation partnership will allow T4T to continue bridging the digital equity gap and double its impact and programming over the next year.

Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.84 per gallon, down 5.4 cents per gallon from last week's $3.90/g. Vermont prices are down 5.6 cents from a month ago and are up 51.4 cents from a year ago. The national average price of gasoline has fallen 13.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.51/g today.

by Anson Tebbetts As autumn winds down and our Green Mountain fields and forests prepare to rest, we give thanks for the bounty of the seasons. In the coming weeks, Vermont food will be at the center the table as many of us celebrate with family and friends. Maybe the meal will begin with an appetizer plate arranged with Vermont’s award-winning cheeses, crackers, pickles, jams, and jellies; perhaps stacks of tasty local vegetables and meats grown and produced by our Vermont farmers and producers.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Killington Resort hosted the women’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup for the sixth time over Thanksgiving Weekend. Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami won the giant slalom under sunny skies on Saturday and in a shocking finale Sunday, Anna Swenn-Larsson (SWE) and Wendy Holdener (SUI) tied for the slalom win. Though she logged the fastest time in run one, five-time Killington Cup champion Mikaela Shiffrin finished the slalom in fifth. After a slow start to the Audi FIS Ski World Cup season, marred with cancellations in Europe, Killington Resort pulled off the impossible by taking the racecourse from grass to FIS snow control approval in a matter of days.

by Christine McGowan, Vermont Forest Industry Network Gathered under an old pine tree at her husband’s family camp in Chelsea Vermont, Katie Babic had a moment of inspiration that would change her life. The family had come together for a celebration of life, which concluded with sending paper lanterns into the night sky above an old pine tree on the property. One of the lanterns caught in the tree’s branches, igniting a moment of concern that the tree might catch fire. It didn’t. But the family realized it was time to take down the beloved pine tree, which had died and become dangerous.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported November 23 that hospitalizations fell 41 from 53 last week, as overall COVID-19 cases fell again to 293 from 385. COVID-19 infections remain at a "Low" level for the fourth week, according to the VDH, after increasing hospitalizations had sent them to "Medium" a few weeks ago (from a low of 30). There were 7 COVID-related deaths last week after zero were reported the previous week, for 11 so far in November and a pandemic total of 770 (the VDH report could be updated as more data becomes available). There were 19 COVID-related fatalities in August, 11 in September and 30 in October. Vermont is tied for the lowest COVID fatality rate in the nation, at 122 per 100,000 population.

by Liz Gamache One the many things I love about living in Vermont is how we take care of each other and value strong communities. As the days get shorter and darker, we are also entering a season of gratitude – a time when many of us reflect on our blessings and ways we can give back. Giving Tuesday, November 29, is an international day of giving – a global movement intended to “unleash the power of radical generosity around the world.” For me, this day is an opportunity to reflect on ways to give back locally; to look at what the needs are in my community and consider what I can do to make a difference in my own backyard. Every person in Vermont benefits, either directly or indirectly, from the mission-driven work of local nonprofits.