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Vermont Business Magazine Lippa’s Estate and Fine Jewelry of Burlington, VT has crafted a custom, breathtaking diamond engagement ring for Super Bowl champion Taylor Rapp of the L.A Rams. The over 3 carat cushion cut diamond is set in a gorgeous 18 karat yellow gold ring. Lippa’s and Rapp had been working together to find the perfect diamond and create a setting for the custom ring.

by Jared Duval When my family moved to Montpelier in late 2014, we found ourselves in a situation many other Vermonters can relate to: living in an old house that was cold and inefficient. That first winter in our new home we had to use over 1,000 gallons of fuel oil to keep warm, at a cost of about $2,400—and that was with the thermostat set to only 65 degrees.

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine Lamoille County’s economy is performing better than expected. Early in 2020, the state’s “stay home, stay safe” pandemic emergency measures closed the hotels and restaurants at the core of the county’s tourism economy. Information from the state Department of Labor shows the county has a higher concentration of food and hospitality businesses than the rest of the state. It is also home to the four-season resorts of Stowe Mountain Resort and Smugglers’ Notch Resort.

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine All of a sudden, everyone is talking about adding traffic lights in Stowe, explained Town Manager Charles Safford. “I said to my wife, it's gonna take me a little longer to get home at night because I’ve got to go around taking a bunch of rights instead of taking any lefts,” he joked. Lighthearted comments about traffic aside, since the pandemic started in 2020, Stowe has seen its population increase. Last September, the Stowe Reporter published an article outlining an increase in Stowe’s year-round population of 4,314 in 2010 to 5,223 in 2020.

by Olga Peters, Vermont Business Magazine Parking along Smugglers’ Notch is the Wild West. People seeking to soak up the scenery along the narrow pass, hike the nearby trails, or photograph the 1,000-foot cliffs park their cars ad hoc along the road. In the process, cars end up in small stream beds or squishing rare plant species under their tires. These parking practices harm the very alpine environment visitors come to enjoy and pose safety issues for motorists and pedestrians. They may also contribute to phosphorus levels in Lake Champlain.

by Ken Gornstein, VermontBiz Before Bernie Sanders rode a populist wave into the Burlington mayor’s office, before Ben and Jerry dished out their first scoop of ice cream from a renovated Burlington gas station, before Trey Anastasio and Phish played their first gig at UVM’s Harris Millis cafeteria, there was Vermont Business Magazine. And this year, we turn 50.

Vermont Business Magazine In response to decreased demand for COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s (SVHC) COVID Resource Center vaccination hours will reduce hours starting Monday, February 21. The center will be open for vaccinations 8 am–noon Friday and Saturday through March. Vaccines will be available 1–5 pm Monday through Wednesday and 8 am–noon on Thursday at SVMC ExpressCare/Respiratory Evaluation Center at 120 Hospital Drive in Bennington.

Vermont Business Magazine As the world faces the third year of the coronavirus pandemic and a growing crisis in schools around the country, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Wednesday evening held a virtual student town meeting to hear directly from young people about the challenges they are experiencing today and how the federal government can begin to address their needs.

Leonine Public Affairs It is officially crunch time in the Vermont legislature as committees begin the final push to pass legislation in time for crossover. The last two weeks in February can be the most dynamic of the entire legislative session with the crossover crunch, in part because everything is still in play. The last few weeks of the session - usually in May or June - are the most critical because that is usually when legislation either passes or dies. However, by that point the bills still in play have been winnowed down significantly, and from a pure volume standpoint things are simpler.

​by Dawn Schneiderman Among the many healthcare proposals being considered in the Legislature this year is a policy that is deceptively appealing. At first glance, it seems like a great idea, but when we do the numbers, it is clear that this would significantly increase Vermonters’ retirement healthcare costs. A pair of bills in the Senate and House, S.239 and H.282, would allow an annual open enrollment period each year for Vermonters to buy a Medicare Supplement plan or to switch plans with no financial penalty. While this seems like a positive idea, neighboring states that offer rolling enrollment periods are accompanied by staggering premium increases.

by Katie Keszey, Community College of Vermont Grace Brown was in a Starbucks store two years ago when she watched, dismayed, as a barista struggled to help a customer who was deaf. Finally, Grace found a pen and paper and helped the stranger place their order. “I was very frustrated for them,” she said. Before the person left, they signed something to her, which she later discovered meant “thank you.” The encounter inspired the Burlington High School senior to start learning American Sign Language (ASL). Last spring, she took ASL I as a dual enrollment class offered by CCV at BHS—a free college course that gave her college credit as well as credit toward high school graduation.