Current News
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine Shelburne Museum will be closed to the public on Tuesday, July 12 for the filming of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. The filming of this sold-out antique appraisal event will take place all day throughout the museum campus.
Only those who hold tickets issued by ANTIQUES ROADSHOW will have access to the museum campus that day. Aside from those who already have tickets for the event, there is no public access to the museum. Around 3,000 pre-ticketed visitors are expected to be at the museum on timed intervals throughout the day to have their prized antiques appraised and for a chance to be on the show. ANTIQUES ROADSHOW will produce three one-hour episodes from the event at Shelburne Museum that will air on public television in 2023.
Produced by GBH, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is PBS’s most-watched ongoing series and is seen by around 6 million viewers each week, airing Mondays at 8/7c p.m. on PBS.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine by M. Kathleen Shaw DVM, Vermont Veterinary Medical Association With pandemic restrictions easing, most people are anxious to get away on a vacation and want to include their pets. Bringing along your pet can be stressful though- for both of you. Advance planning, proper restraint, and helping them with their motion sickness and anxiety surrounding travel can help. (Speak to your physician about YOUR anxiety.)
First, contact your veterinarian for a copy of your pets’ medical and vaccination records at least a week in advance to allow the veterinary team to get the documents and any needed refills prepared. You can’t predict emergencies, even for short trips, so it’s a good idea to have a copy of the medical records. Health certificates, if required, must be done no sooner than 10 days in advance of travel, so plan ahead scheduling this with your veterinarian.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott has appointed Kevin Gaffney as commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) and Emily Brown as the Department’s deputy commissioner of insurance.
The Department of Financial Regulation is charged with protecting consumers while ensuring industry partners in the areas of banking, insurance, securities and captive insurance operate responsibly, and can access information and guidance to do so in Vermont.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine In June, more than 85 Community Bank branches joined together to host a food drive in honor of National Hunger Awareness Month to collect nonperishable food items for local food pantries and food banks across its four-state footprint, which includes New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Massachusetts.
Throughout the month, donations poured in from bank staff, customers and community members. In total, the participating branches collected over 5,600 nonperishable items and over $360 in donations to support more than 100 food pantries and food banks.
“We’ve seen firsthand the difference that food pantries and food banks make in the communities we live and work in,” Corporate-Wide Culture & Diversity Officer Monticia Prather said. “It’s been an incredible experience to deliver the items to each organization and hear the impact the donation will have on our neighbors in need.”
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine US Route 2 at the temporary drawbridge is open to two lanes of traffic. The contractor is generally working from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Saturday.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Miro Weinberger issued the following statement on Burlington’s first homicide this year, which occurred Thursday night near Luck Street.
“Last night’s shooting and murder is Burlington’s first homicide in more than two years. Yet it is one of many recent gunfire incidents, part of a very disturbing trend that has dramatically increased since 2020.
“The Burlington Police Department has begun the hard work of identifying, finding, and apprehending the shooter, and we offer condolences to the victim’s family and those mourning him.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine More Vermonters will be exempt from paying state taxes on their Social Security benefits, thanks to new legislation signed by Gov. Phil Scott. The law, backed by AARP Vermont, will raise the Social Security tax income exemption threshold from $45,000 to $50,000 for single filers and from $60,000 to $65,000 for joint filers, meaning more residents will be able to receive their benefits without paying state taxes.
The law also creates a tax exclusion for the first $10,000 of retirement income earned each year from military pensions and certain retirement programs for low- and middle-income Vermonters. We were active in pushing the bill over the finish line, encouraging Vermont residents to reach out to their elected officials to voice support for the bill.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine New unemployment claims increased slightly week-over-week on June 27, but were still 96% below the peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. To help add some context to these statistics, WalletHub just released updated rankings for the States Whose Unemployment Claims Are Recovering the Quickest, along with accompanying videos and audio files.
Key Stats:
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine The Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce distributed its annual State of the Commerce survey to its business and nonprofit members recently. The purpose of the State of the Commerce Survey was to hear from regional businesses and nonprofits about how they were doing in the current economy, what their current attitudes were in relation to economic vitality, and what new small business trends they saw emerging.
The survey was distributed to 320 representatives in the regional chamber of commerce and 84 participants completed it or 26%.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine On July 6, Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) and Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) co-hosted a virtual candidate forum with the five candidates who are competing for three seats in this summer’s Democratic primary in the newly redrawn Washington County State Senate district. (This district now includes all of Washington County, plus the towns of Stowe, Braintree, and Orange.)
Steven Pappas, the Publisher & Executive Editor of The Times Argus/Rutland Herald, moderated a lively and engaging conversation with Senate candidates Ann Cummings, Jared Duval, Jeremy Hansen, Andrew Perchlik, and Anne Watson.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine Unlike screenings for breast, prostate, and other cancers, which have a long history and are routine procedures, examining non-symptomatic patients for signs of lung cancer is relatively new. Lung cancer screening for at-risk patients became a standard recommendation covered by insurance only in 2013, after research showed it saved lives, and is still much less utilized than screening for other cancers.
The discrepancy comes at a high price. Absent a regular screening protocol, lung cancer is often detected late, after it has spread, and is the number one cause of cancer death in Vermont and the country. Lung cancer kills more Vermonters, and more Americans, than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined.
by katie
Vermont Business Magazine Reconciled is excited to announce the acquisition of HRbiz, welcoming accounting professionals and clients of the local Chattanooga accounting and HR consulting firm. Reconciled, the online bookkeeping firm for entrepreneurs, continues to expand nationally. HRbiz’s customers will continue with the same great support and service that has made HRbiz a success, but with the added value of Reconciled’s accounting team and resources.
Founded in 2015 in Burlington, VT, Reconciled has served entrepreneurs across the country. This acquisition is part of Reconciled's strategic growth plan to offer improved accessibility of its award-winning bookkeeping services to businesses across the United States.