Current News

by Rob Roper On the morning of April 15, after weeks of discussion and just hours before they voted 4-1 to advance legislation that would saddle Vermonters with a radical, economy transforming “clean heat standard” for home heating fuels, senators on the Natural Resources & Energy Committee asked a remarkable question: “What do you get to do with a [clean heat] credit when you buy them?” They did not know. They could not really explain.

Leonine Public Affairs Governor Phil Scott drew a not-so-surprising line in the sand this week on both the FY2023 budget and the plan to reform the state’s pension program. On Tuesday the governor issued statements criticizing both bills, saying the legislature focused too much on growing government in the budget and that his input was not considered in formulating S.286, the pension bill. He did not use the word “veto”, but the implication was clear - he will veto both bills if his concerns are not addressed before they reach his desk.

Vermont State Police Following continuing investigation into the shooting incident that occurred at about 6 p.m. Friday, April 22, 2022, on Adams School Road in the town of Grand Isle, the Vermont State Police has developed additional information and is seeking the public’s assistance. Investigators have determined the shooting involved a drug-related dispute between two groups of people who were known to each other. Police learned that one group of individuals was traveling on Adams School Road in a Volkswagen sedan with New York plates when they encountered the second group of individuals driving in the opposite direction in a vehicle described as a silver or gray Range Rover with Pennsylvania license plates.

​Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont for the week of April 25. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.

Vermont Business Magazine Historic Hotels of America have some of the most magnificent and beautiful storybook gardens. Multigenerational guests select a historic hotel, resort, or inn to explore, experience, and discover their own ever-blossoming memories in beautiful gardens where multigenerational hosts have cared for gardens over the centuries. Many the hotels feature grounds designed by legendary landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and his son, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. In Vermont, the Basin Harbor in Vergennes and Castle Hill Resort & Spa in Cavendish were among those on the 25 Most Magnificent Gardens list.

Vermont Business Magazine The Quechee Hot Air Balloon Craft and Music Festival, the longest running hot air balloon festival in New England, will celebrate its 42nd anniversary in 2022 when thousands are expected to flock to central Vermont, June 17 - 19, 2022 (Father’s Day weekend). Twenty balloonists headline the event with five flights slated throughout the weekend and additional tethered rides during the day. Attendees can visit with 50 craft vendors, indulge in a variety of fare from 16 food vendors and sit back and enjoy dozens of entertainers for all ages, over the three-day extravaganza. Children’s activities include Bubble Machines, Rock Climbing wall, Bounce House and more. A variety of festival favorites and new food offerings with local healthy options and a beer and wine garden are planned.

Vermont Business Magazine HGTV has announced the winner of the HGTV Dream Home 2022 is Karey Wolstenholm of Overland Park, Kansas. The prize package is valued at over $2.4 million and includes the brand-new approximately 3,090-square-foot home, consisting of three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms, as well as all of its furnishings. The prize package also includes an All-New 2022 Grand Wagoneer and $250,000 from Rocket Mortgage. The home in Warren, Vermont, was designed by Dylan Eastman, constructed by builder Big Country Built with interior design by Brian Patrick Flynn.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine While refunds kept the vital personal income tax from posting an even stronger month, corporate, gasoline and rooms and meals taxes pushed monthly state revenues well ahead of targets for March. Secretary of Administration Kristin Clouser today released monthly and YTD tax revenue collections. They show the General Fund, Transportation Fund, and Education Fund receipts were a combined $239.9 million, or 8.9%, above upwardly revised monthly consensus expectations.

Vermont Business Magazine The executive director of Vermont Legal Aid (VLA), Eric Avildsen, will retire at the end of October 2022. Avildsen has been executive director since 1988, when he moved to Vermont from Massachusetts. Under his direction, the size of staff and breadth of legal work undertaken has increased significantly. And VLA now has a staff of 89, organized into 11 projects and has an annual budget of over $9.5 million dollars.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today is reporting 331 cases of COVID-19 for Thursday (341 Wednesday, 332 Tuesday,151 Monday, 150 Sunday, 261 Saturday, 313 Friday, 263 Thursday, and 327 Wednesday.) The VDH reported three additional deaths, for 629 statewide. April, with 8 to date, but is still on track to have the fewest COVID-related fatalities since last July. Hospitalizations have been elevated in April and today were 57 (up 7).

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group (Ticker Symbol: LFGP) announced a regular quarterly dividend of $0.21 payable May 27, 2022, to shareholders of record as of May 13, 2022. Ledyard Financial Group, Inc., headquartered in Hanover, New Hampshire, is the holding company for Ledyard National Bank. Ledyard National Bank, founded in 1991, is a full service community bank offering a broad range of banking, investment, and wealth management services.

Vermont Business Magazine As part of its Earth Day celebrations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New England regional office is now accepting nominations to recognize New England people, organizations, government entities or businesses for environmental achievements during the past year. EPA New England will accept nominations for the 2022 Environmental Merit Awards until Monday, May 16, 2022.