Current News

Vermont State Police On Tuesday afternoon, the North Troy Fire Department responded to a reported explosion at 159 Railroad Street in North Troy, Vt. Upon arrival, firefighters located an injured male, Wayne LePage, seated outside who appeared to have sustained burns to his upper body. He was rushed to North Country Hospital by a family member and later UVM Hospital by ambulance.

Vermont Business Magazine The Craft Beer Marketing Awards recently announced the winners from around the globe. There are three Vermont wins in this year’s world-wide competition (Burlington Beer won one and Harpoon won two). The CBMAS is the first of its kind international global competition to recognize the artwork, design and retail marketing efforts behind craft beer. Creative artwork and branding in retail marketing is becoming increasingly critical for business success and competition with the rapid increase in craft breweries around the world. To be timely there were pandemic and human rights categories this year.

Vermont Research News Researchers found that support for working at home has grown with 75% of the respondents saying they expected to telecommute more in the future. Also, a new report from The Energy Action Network examines Vermont’s progress towards meeting energy goals and climate commitments. The report finds that Vermont is making progress towards those goals with greenhouse gas emissions declining. And gypsy moths are back and maple syrup production is down. Both outcomes are blamed on weather that is too dry and too warm.

Vermont Business Magazine Nedde Real Estate in Burlington has announced several recent transactions.

Vermont Business Magazine With more than 80% of eligible Vermonters having received at least one dose of a COVID-19, vaccine, Governor Scott has removed all state COVID-19 restrictions and the State of Emergency will expire at midnight Tuesday. But he did sign an executive order that: Maintains the National Guard’s Active Services status to allow, and ensures continued State agency coordination, for ongoing support and management of the response; Extends Vermont’s access to federal funding for expanded emergency non-congregate housing and feeding programs; Allows bars and restaurants to continue pick-up and delivery of alcoholic beverages for the two-week period between the expiration of the Emergency Declaration and July 1, when recently enacted legislation makes it permanent.

Vermont Business Magazine With the state of Vermont dropping its State of Emergency order and COVID-19 restrictions, The University of Vermont Health Network is updating visitor access policies to reflect the state’s successful vaccination efforts. But masking requirements remain in place at the Network’s Vermont hospitals based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vermont Business Magazine Twenty-four hours after he announced Vermont had reached its goal of 80% of Vermonters receiving at least one dose of vaccine, and lifting all state pandemic restrictions, Governor Phil Scott said the state is “not letting up.” At his Tuesday press conference, the Governor said that although our strategy will evolve as we move into a new phase, “the people we vaccinate tomorrow are just as important as those we vaccinated yesterday.” Scott said his administration’s goal is to continue the work of meeting people where they are, making shots as accessible as possible. The governor said that while the state has rescinded all restrictions, private businesses may still impose a mask mandate on employees or customers. Hospitals also still have some visitation restrictions, so you should call them to check. Also, there are still some federal restrictions on nursing homes and public transportation. So if you're taking a plane or bus or train, bring a mask along just in case. Meanwhile, the VDH is reporting 8 new cases of COVID-19 and no deaths, which are holding at 256. There has been only one fatality in nearly three weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine Element Real Estate, a leading boutique real estate firm in Vermont, expanded into the Stowe and Waterbury markets with the opening of their new office at 254 Mountain Road in Stowe. The expansion comes with Element Real Estate’s purchase of Stowe-based Little River Realty and the addition of former owner Gayle Oberg to the growing boutique firm. Oberg brings over 30 years of valuable experience within the Stowe and Waterbury areas and will be joining Element’s broker-owners, Jessica Bridge and Dan Cypress, at the new location.

Vermont Business Magazine Thanks to the efforts of some 200 dedicated volunteers across the state,Vermonters received $4.4 million in refunds this tax season, as reported by AARP Vermont. Despite serious COVID-related challenges, more than 5,100 federal tax filings were made by AARP Tax-Aide volunteers in this tax season at sites across the state – at no charge to taxpayers. In addition, nearly $730,000 in recovery rebate tax credits were applied to returns.

“Most of these Vermonters come back to us year after year for help with their taxes and the impact for these families and individuals is immense,” said Dave Reville, AARP Vermont communications director. “Most have nowhere to turn for assistance in filing their returns and a free service with highly trained counselors fills a great need. This is one of those stories that often goes untold, but the impact statewide is tremendous.”

Vilsack Tells Leahy The Process Begins TODAY

Vermont Business Magazine This morning (TUESDAY), Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about delivering urgently needed relief to Vermont’s dairy farmers. Leahy asked Vilsack at a hearing by the Appropriations Committee’s Agriculture Subcommittee to review the President’s budget request.

Vermont Business Magazine Pomerleau Real Estate in Burlington has announced several recent commercial real estate transactions.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), earned an ‘A’ for hospital safety from the Leapfrog Group. The national distinction recognizes SVMC’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization driven by employers and other purchasers of health care.