Current News

by Candy Moot Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) is promoting more wind energy to be built in Vermont. They are calling for “responsibly sited wind projects.” What does that mean? When residents of Morgan learned that industrial wind developer David Blittersdorf bought land on a ridgeline overlooking Seymour Lake, some of us wanted to learn more about what happened in other areas of the state where wind projects were built.

by Christine McGowan, Vermont Forest Industry Network Dave Nelson is on a mission to bring sauna culture to the United States. With his partner, Nicole Sweeney, Nelson founded SAVU in Cambridge, Vermont with the construction of a contemporary sauna nestled in the woods overlooking Smugglers’ Notch. Saunas, also known as sweat baths, have been used for centuries to promote healing—a practice Nelson began to explore as a competitive athlete. But, he says, most sauna experiences are culturally specific, with nods to Turkish, Russian, and Japanese roots, and typically communal, which can be intimidating to the uninitiated.

Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.

Interstates

I-89 Brookfield – Montpelier – A resurfacing project continues in the southbound lanes between Exits 5 and 8. Nightwork and ramp closures at the Exit 6 on and off ramps will occur 07/24 – 07/25.

I-89 Richmond – A culvert repair project is underway. Motorists will encounter a one-mile-long lane closure in both travel directions just south of Exit 11 as southbound traffic is merged to the northbound lane using a crossover. Please pay attention to signage in the area and merge early.

Vermont Business Magazine Two of the most pressing issues of the day – climate change and justice reform – will be discussed when Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) hosts a US House Democratic Primary candidate forum on Monday, July 25. The in-person event is open to the public and will take place at the school’s Chase Center from 6 to 7:30 pm. It will be livestreamed at vermontlaw.edu/live. Candidates Becca Balint and Molly Gray are expected to participate.

by Daniel M French, Vermont Secretary of Education For the last two years, we have endured an incredibly challenging time with the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has impacted all aspects of our society including our PreK-12 education system. During the pandemic, Vermont’s education system was asked to do things it was never designed to do, like providing childcare, using school buses to deliver student meals, toggling between in-person and remote learning, and managing complex public health mitigation strategies like vaccination clinics and rapid testing programs. And throughout the pandemic, our education system rose to the occasion and kept our schools open and safe. The work of our school employees has been heroic, inspiring, and in the highest tradition of public service. They deserve our gratitude and our respect for stepping up in a very challenging moment.

Vermont Business Magazine State tax revenues exceed targets again; State drops charges against Alex Choi, fourth man in EB-5 fraud case; Vermont’s ski Industry reports 6.5% rebound; Vermont employers to see unemployment insurance tax relief; Scott outlines new workforce initiatives to fill available jobs; Record high maple syrup production in Vermont in 2022; VLS to change name, become graduate institution, gets $8 million gift; Champlain College receives $1 million donation; UVM gets $5.5 million to launch integrative health center; Governor Scott appoints Susanne Young Attorney General of Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine The innovative MagicStone brand is the result of a combined effort of two iconic Vermont companies: The Imagination Company and Vermont Soapstone. Developed and patented by CEO Jim Giberti, the new MagicStone Odyssey is a completely unique approach to using cannabis, in both design and experience. Each Odyssey is handcrafted and precision tooled from a single block of soapstone and delivers the benefits of a vaporizer with the simplicity of use of a traditional pipe – no batteries, no pre-heating, and virtually no maintenance. The magic began when Jim, Creative Director of The Imagination Company, got a call from Glenn Bowman, owner of Vermont Soapstone, who was looking for a firm to rebrand his historic company.

Vermont Business Magazine VT Commercial of Burlington has released its second quarter commercial real estate transactions report.

The Crystal Cottage of Vermont relocated its retail store to 176 Battery Street, Burlington. Yves Bradley and Linda Letourneau of V/T Commercial assisted both the landlord, Stern Property LLC, and the tenant.

Yves Bradley of V/T Commercial announced the lease of 1,150 sf of office space at the Innovation Center of Vermont to Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. Bradley represented the landlord, and J.L. Davis Realty represented the tenant.

London Middlebury leased 2,250 sf of office space at 110 West Canal Street, Winooski from Infill Winooski II, LLC. Yves Bradley of V/T Commercial assisted both parties in this lease.

Vermont Business Magazine The Slate Quarry Park Group, Inc. and the Town and Village of Poultney are pleased to announce a Grand Opening of the Slate Quarry Park located at 76 Main Street in Poultney on Friday, July 29, 2022, at 5 PM. A cordial invitation is extended to the public. Speakers at the Grand Opening will include Larry Sullivan, Co-Executive Director of The Slate Quarry Park Group; Paul Donaldson, Poultney Town and Village Manager; and Representative Patricia McCoy, Minority Leader of the Vermont House of Representatives. Carolyn Stellatella, member artist of Stone Valley Arts, will recite her original poem “Poultney Rises” and a performance by the Hermit Hollow String Band will take place at 6 pm.

Vermont Business Magazine East Middlebury, in Addison County, has long been known as the “land of milk and honey” and is one of Vermont’s most verdant agricultural areas. So it is not surprising that chefs grow here too. The Waybury Inn has been a dining and lodging landmark in the town for over 200 years. The dining experience is a leading reason why so many guests return to stay at the Inn some over decades. For a fifth of its history, it has had one head chef. Donna Siebert took over the Inn’s kitchen in 1982 after cooking in it since 1968. Her family owned the inn for many years – Donna recalls she was twelve - and lived across East Main Street. She started cooking after working as a server while she was attending Castleton State College.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Bank is proud to serve as the presenting sponsor of the 2022 Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival for the fourth consecutive year. Established in 2006, this team-based charity event raises money to support local cancer survivors. Since its conception 16 years ago, the Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival has raised and donated over $1 million to benefit cancer survivors in the community. All funds raised during this year’s event will go to support Dragonheart Vermont, a nonprofit breast cancer wellness organization, and its Pledge Partner, Cancer Patient Support Foundation (CPSF). Donations will be allocated for the Emergency Fund, CPSF’s largest program that provides financial support for local cancer patients and their families while they are undergoing treatment.

Public Assets Institute Since the pandemic began, there’s been a lot of talk about people moving to Vermont. New Census Bureau data verify the rumor: Vermont’s population netted a gain of nearly 4,900 via migration between the summers of 2020 and 2021. Newcomers were spread across the Vermont counties, ranging from less than a half a percent of the population in Chittenden County to 2.1 percent in Grand Isle. Although Census estimates for smaller counties tend to be less accurate, a clear pattern of net in-migration emerges statewide.