Current News

by Jeff Tieman, President and Chief Executive Officer, VAHHS I met my friend Mark Glaze when I was a senior in high school and he was a senior in college. He hosted me on a visit to my prospective campus in Colorado Springs. Right away I knew Mark was wicked smart. He was charming. He was student body president and his charisma told me he would be so much more. And he was. Mark went on to do amazing things. As an attorney and advocate, he led work on campaign finance reform and same-sex marriage, among other important issues. But it was his pioneering and brave work in the space of gun safety that made him a hero to so many.

Vermont Business Magazine This morning, via video announcement, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean endorsed Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray for Congress. Governor Dean served six terms as Vermont’s Governor from 1991 to 2003. He was a democratic candidate for President in 2004 and went on to serve as Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Vermont Research News Although the mastodon remains from Mount Holly were discovered in 1848, successful dating of the remains was stymied until scholars from the university of Delaware performed radiocarbon dating on a rib bone this February. The data suggest that the mastodon was alive during the Younger Dryas and it's life may have coincided with the arrival of the first humans in the area. Judging by the bone’s low nitrogen content, researchers believe it lived during a period of climate warming, forcing it to consume a wider variety of foods to survive, including lichen, spruce, and alder.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets There are lots of great options for food, farm, and forestry businesses looking for support! The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board's Farm & Forest Viability Program offers programs to support eligible farmers, agriculturally-related businesses, forest products enterprises, and forest landowners.

by Graydon Stevens, VOGA The fact that recreation is a major contributor to Vermont's economy and contributes to the healthy lifestyle of an active public is well known. That said, one of the more problematic issues regarding recreation in Vermont is posted land. Landowners in Vermont have the option to post land if they are concerned about privacy, property damage, liability issues or any other reason that might arise by letting the public access their property for recreational activities. Information for legally posting your land is readily available to the public.

by C.B. Hall, VermontBiz Having faced down a pandemic and its side-effects for two full years, all of Vermont's downhill skiing areas remain open – and they've done it with a wide variety of business models: For-profit, non-profit, mega-corporations, mom-and-pops (literally), private or community-run. SkiVermont anticipates that Vermont will regain its status as the number four largest ski state.

by Richard Davis The February 19 edition of the Vermont Business Magazine carried a piece written by Dawn Schneiderman, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, claiming that if Vermonters are allowed to enroll in Medicare supplemental plans after their initial six month eligibility period costs will rise for everyone else. I disagree. To make this issue real, look at the current cost of a Vermont Medigap Blue Plan G policy for someone initially enrolling during the initial six month window. It will cost that person $152.33 a month. If that person wants to enroll in that same plan after the six month window it will cost them $268.91 for the same coverage under Vermont Blue 65 Plan G.

Vermont Business Magazine Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is celebrating its 135th anniversary as a leader in banking, financial services, and wealth management in Northern New England. The Bank was incorporated on March 4, 1887, in Bar Harbor, Maine, where it is still headquartered. Bar Harbor has branches in Central Vermont and the Upper Valley.

Vermont State Police Interstate 89 northbound in Milton re-opened at about 12:45 am Saturday, nearly nine hours after a multi-vehicle crash occurred during heavy snow Friday afternoon. Crews from the Vermont State Police, the Agency of Transportation, numerous first response agencies and wrecker services worked together to clear the interstate between exits 17 and 18 and to ensure the roadway was safe for the resumption of vehicular traffic. Both northbound lanes were closed after the crash was reported shortly before 4 p.m. Friday. The man who was killed in the crash is identified as Stephen Ahearn, 44, of Highgate.

Leonine Public Affairs The House policy committees finalized their FY2023 budget recommendations this week, providing the House Committee on Appropriations with direction on the spending decisions they will need to make over the next few weeks. These recommendations address spending proposals made by the governor in January (in some cases supporting them, in some cases not) and additional priorities added by the policy committees. The House Committee on Appropriations is scheduled to approve the FY2023 budget by March 18. In addition to finalizing budget recommendations, committees worked to refine their priorities in time to meet crossover for policy bills, which is March 11. With the legislature on break next week for Town Meeting Day, the mid-session deadlines are fast approaching.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Fallen Heroes will receive a renewed salute following completion of a project headed by The Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Department of Buildings & General Services’ Vermont Information Centers Division, and Shadows & Light Design. This project was initially established by Floyd Moody some years ago with individual photos of Vermont fallen veterans at numerous visitor centers.

by Danny Monahan, Small Business Administration Vermont District Office Every new year millions of Americans vow this is the year they are going to lose weight, join a gym and workout every day, and yet every year in the middle of February about 80% of Americans who made a New Year’s resolution abandoned it, according to a recent study. However, the owners of a South Burlington based fitness studio think the year 2022 may be the exception because there is still a waitlist for their classes eight weeks into the new year.