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by Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos As Vermonters we should be proud. The November General Election saw Vermonters voting in record numbers, exercising our civic duty both safely and securely during circumstances that are anything but ordinary. Much of the conversation nationally is focused on the results of the election. I think it’s equally important to discuss the hard work done by local election officials administering our democratic process.

Vermont Business Magazine Commissioner of Finance & Management, Adam Greshin, has announced a public forum for comment on FY 2022 State budget development. Pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 306(d) the governor is required to enable public participation in the development of goals and in the general prioritization of spending and revenue initiatives.

Vermont Business Magazine Community Health's diabetes education program has been accredited by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES), a professional organization whose vision is “to drive optimal outcomes through the integration of diabetes clinical management, education, prevention and support.” This recognition of Community Health’s quality diabetes education program coincides with American Diabetes Month, an annual spotlight on the risks faced by those with diabetes, and a time to learn about resources and education for paths to wellness and how to live with diabetes.

Vermont Business Magazine Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel has joined the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity to support people experiencing homelessness by donating 145 pairs of warm winter boots. When the pandemic began earlier this year, much of Chittenden County’s homeless population was moved from traditional homeless shelters, where social distancing is nearly impossible, to the Holiday Inn Emergency Shelter managed by CVOEO

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Elder Protection Initiative (EPI) and the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) announced the release of a help guide for older Vermonters experiencing abuse or exploitation. The guide, “Finding Help: Abuse, Exploitation and Neglect in Later Life,” explains the different kinds of elder abuse and exploitation that can occur. It also describes the different kinds of nonprofit programs and services available in Vermont to support older individuals experiencing abuse/exploitation. Lastly, it provides a how-to on reporting elder abuse/exploitation for government investigation and response.

Vermont Business Magazine The Born to Run Foundation made its 10th prosthesis donation, a running blade, to amputee David Hiler of Brattleboro, Vermont, at the outdoor waterfront Bier Garten at Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery in Brattleboro on Thursday, November 5. At the event, Hiler also announced the creation of a special-label craft brew, RUN, that will support the Foundation’s mission of providing specialized athletic prostheses to amputees to help them lead active lives.

by John McClaughry This turbulent election season is now over, at least for Vermont. It’s a good time to peruse a menu of election law reforms that the next legislature should seriously consider.

We should universally require that registering to vote be a solemn civic act. Every new voter should appear before a clerk or justice and take the Freeman’s Oath, promising to act as a citizen “to conduce to the best good of the [State of Vermont], as established by the Constitution, without fear or favor of any person.” Repeal the repugnant Motor Voter law, where a driver casually checks a box on a form to become a voter.

Only registered voters should be eligible to run for election to an office. No showboating 15 year olds, green card foreigners, or persons illegally in our country.

Vermont Business Magazine March of Dimes, the nation's leader in the fight for the health of all moms and babies, has issued its new 2020 Report Card amid the coronavirus pandemic and calls for racial justice, shining a spotlight on factors that contribute to maternal and infant health. The U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth and it's even more dire for women and babies of color. The Report Card shows that for the fifth year in a row, the U.S. preterm birth rate increased to 10.2% of births, earning the nation a "C-" grade compared to last year's "C" grade. Four states earned the highest grad, a "B+" (New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Washington).

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) proudly presents Advances in Total Joint Replacement 4 – 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 9 over video conferencing software. It is free and open to the public. The event is appropriate for any person who experiences joint pain, along with members of their families.

Vermont Business Magazine With a record high cases of COVID-19 reported today (122) and spikes in Washington and Orange Counties, Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, said that Scott Administration will be holding meetings with town and elected officials in the two counties to organize and mobilize efforts to reduce the number of new cases in their communities, including by promoting greater compliance with state health requirements and the Governor’s Executive Orders. In addition, Dr. Levine is calling on all of us to join these stepped-up efforts by adapting our personal behaviors and actions to better protect ourselves and prevent the spread of the virus.

Vermont Business Magazine Due to the recent increase in coronavirus infections in Chittenden County and throughout the region, the University of Vermont is making the following several adjustments, including offering an early departure option for undergraduate students. Students can now leave before the last day of in-person classes, which is on Tuesday, November 24. Students are being urged to get an additional coronavirus test 48 hours prior to their departure, and to wait to receive a negative result before heading home.

Vermont Business Magazine With Orange and Washington Counties accounting for nearly 40 percent of the COVID-19 cases in the state in the last two weeks, health officials are calling on residents to join stepped-up local efforts to stop the spread of the virus. The Department of Health on Monday reported 122 new cases of COVID-19, the highest daily number since the start of the pandemic, and the latest in a run of record-breaking case reports in the state. There have been 789 cases reported in the last two weeks in Vermont. Of those, 68 are in Orange County for an incidence rate of 23.5 per 10,000 people – twice the state incidence rate of 12.6. In Washington County there are 233 cases for an incidence rate of nearly 40 cases per 10,000 people – over three times the state rate.