Current News

by Susan Green, Dartmouth On Saturday morning, May 28, the Geisel School of Medicine’s 99 graduates joyously gathered with family and friends outdoors on Dartmouth’s Class of 1978 Life Sciences Center lawn to celebrate the close of their academic studies and the beginning of their careers as physicians.

Vermont Business Magazine Berkshire Bank, a leading socially responsible community bank with office locations in New England and New York, will host Xtraordinary Day (X-Day) on Wednesday, June 8. All branches and offices across five states – MA, NY, VT, CT, and RI will close from 12pm - 4pm for concurrent day of service events. Closing the entire Company for the afternoon will harness the collective power of over 1,000 Berkshire employees to make a positive impact and strengthen the communities where we live, work, and raise families.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network – Home Health & Hospice has announced that Cindy Bruzzese, MPA, MSB, and Allan Ramsay, MD, are the recipients of the Madison-Deane award for Excellence in End-of-Life Care for 2020 and 2021, respectively. The Excellence in End-of-Life Care award was established in 2017 and is presented annually to a Vermont individual, group, or organization that exemplifies the vision of Dr. James Madison and Dr. Robert Deane, who sought to transform end-of-life care in Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Bank will support local food pantries and food banks in honor of National Hunger Awareness month by collecting non-perishable food items and donations. Community Bank holds food donations annually to support local food banks and food pantries in its four-state footprint which includes New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Locally, Vermont region branches will be donating and contributing to local food pantries, food banks, and food shelves of their choice

​Vermont State Police Members of the Vermont State Police in conjunction with the Springfield Police Department are investigating a suspicious death reported Monday afternoon, June 6, 2022, in Springfield. The investigation began when Springfield police received a call at 12:18 pm. Monday from a resident who lives in the area of Greeley Road reporting that what appeared to be the body of a deceased adult man was found alongside the road, in the area of 99 Greeley Road. Springfield police requested assistance from the Vermont State Police at about 1:10 p.m. Monday.

Vermont Business Magazine A gathering today of grantees and program officials helped recognize an historic investment in the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative this fiscal year and the historic and future impacts of the program. Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Legislature committed $5.2 million dollars to the program this fiscal year, facilitating grants to 59 Vermont businesses. This marks the most significant investment in the 10 years of the program, with a total investment of over 12 million since 2012. Today’s gathering included a number of grantees since 2020 to highlight the programs important reach and impact despite the effects of the pandemic.

Vermont Business Magazine The winners of the 2022 Vermont Writers’ Prize are Ann Cooper of Middlebury for her poem ‘The Cusp,’ and Gail Elizabeth Wind of Newark for her essay ‘Twenty-Eight & Counting.’ The Vermont Writers’ Prize recognizes the work of an author focused on an aspect of Vermont. Winners receive $1,250 and their works appear in the summer issue of Vermont Magazine, which is available now.

Vermont Business Magazine The Chittenden Solid Waste District has been awarded a grant worth $106,849 by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to help cover costs for providing facilities and education for the proper disposal of hazardous waste generated by residents and qualifying businesses. The grant is part of a solid waste assistance fund provided by the state to help towns and solid waste planning entities implement their solid waste plans, as required by state law. The grant is awarded annually by the DEC, an arm of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

Vermont Business Magazine More than 100 Vermonters and representatives of agricultural organizations gathered at the West Monitor Barn in Richmond on Saturday to thank US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) for his years of advocacy on behalf of farms and farmers. Leahy, who announced last November that he will not seek re-election to a ninth term in the Senate, said, “I am honored and humbled. I’ve been saying that a lot lately, but that’s because it’s true. Marcelle and I deeply appreciate the kind words of the speakers and the chance to visit with old friends.” The event was organized by Organic Valley, a dairy cooperative, in partnership with 13 other agricultural businesses and organizations.

Vermont Business Magazine Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean has endorsed Brenda Siegel to be Vermont’s next governor. Incumbent Republican Governor Phil Scott announced in May that he would seek a fourth term. Brenda Siegel, from Newfane, is a housing and drug policy advocate, small business owner and founded a large ongoing project in response to Tropical Storm Irene to help rebuild the local economy. She teaches leadership, civic engagement and social justice in schools.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Every year the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets Farm to School Program helps hundreds of students, children, educators and care professionals through its three unique grant programs: the Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant, the Community Supported Agriculture Grant, and the Farm to School Vision Grant. These programs provide a variety of financial and technical support to help advance goals related to food access and nutrition security, agricultural literacy, economic development and community engagement. This past winter and spring, VAAFM awarded over $190,000 in grants to 37 organizations throughout the state.

Vermont Business Magazine The Community College of Vermont (CCV) held its graduation ceremony Saturday at Norwich University’s Shapiro Field House. More than 450 students received associate degrees. Students representing all 14 Vermont counties graduated, along with students from 14 states and 13 countries. The youngest graduate is 17 and the oldest is 69. Also among the graduates are 43 veteran and military-connected students.