Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On Saturday, October 24th, locals shopped till they dropped, and raised more than $22,000 to fight hunger in our area. During the 10th annual Charity Sale, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel and customers collectively raised $22,283 for the Vermont Foodbank and JCEO Plattsburgh Foodshelf.

Chittenden Solid Waste District Here at the Chittenden Solid Waste District, we geek out on recycling. As municipal solid waste managers, it’s literally our job to be the local experts on how our community can first reduce, then reuse, and finally manage all the stuff we buy, use, and toss out in the most environmentally and economically responsible manner. We’ve steered through all kinds of waters in our 33 years fulfilling that mission: smooth, choppy, and even downright stormy. Through recessions, global market contractions, and now a worldwide pandemic! It’s amazing that recycling continues to happen at all.

Vermont Business Magazine Berkshire Bank, with locations in Southern Vermont and throughout New England, New York and the Mid-Atlantic, today announced enhanced protections that will provide its 1,500 employees with paid and protected leave to manage the consequences of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Berkshire Bank has partnered with FreeFrom, a non-profit creating pathways to financial security and long-term safety for survivors of gender-based violence, to increase its existing leave policies to benefit its employees.

Vermont Business Magazine On November 17, UVM Medical Center will close its operating rooms located on the Fanny Allen campus. As it was previously, the decision was made out of an abundance of caution for patient and staff safety after staff members reported symptoms including dizziness and nausea, and some employees once again reported an odor in the area of the operating rooms even after extensive investigation and upgrades. All employees who experienced symptoms since last fall have been treated and recovered, and patients have not reported symptoms at any time. Air quality data continues to be normal, and has been within normal and safe levels during each incident.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Public Safety is seeking public and stakeholder feedback to shape and refine the state’s continuing work to modernize policing across Vermont. This opportunity for comment and feedback is part of Governor Scott’s Public Safety Reform Initiative, created through Executive Order 03-20, which directed the commissioner of public safety to “actively engage with communities, particularly those communities that have been historically marginalized or harmed by policing, as we develop and deploy best policing practices.”

Vermont Business Magazine Seeking to honor a leading Vermont environmentalist and the legacy of a legendary wildlife advocate, Green Mountain Power (GMP) is calling for nominations for the 12th annual GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award. Named for famed osprey advocate Meeri Zetterstrom, the award is given to one person, business, group or non-profit that has made a significant contribution to Vermont’s environment. The award includes a $2,500 donation to the winner’s environmental cause.

Vermont Business Magazine Kingsbury Companies (KCOS) LLC, a general contractor and biological waste management company nestled in the heart of Central Vermont, is driving full steam ahead at leading the construction industry in sustainability by focusing on environmental stewardship and off setting their carbon footprint. The ecologically savvy company maintains central headquarters in Middlesex as well as a satellite office, maintenance shop and earthen material recycling yard in Waitsfield.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife An online harvest reporting option is now available to hunters to report their deer. The online reporting option was initiated to prevent and slow the spread of the COVID virus. The department also is asking hunters who get a deer during the November 14-29 regular season to provide an incisor tooth from their deer. The deer’s age can be determined from the tooth, and results will be available on the Fish & Wildlife website in the spring.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger announced that the City will offer free COVID-19 testing on Thursday and Friday at the Robert Miller Community and Recreation Center in the New North End. Wastewater monitoring in that part of the City has indicated that Covid-19 may be on the rise, and wastewater detection of the virus can occur as much as 3-7 days before increased prevalence becomes apparent through positive tests.

Vermont Business Magazine Shelburne Farms has announced the launch of a special fundraising challenge to strengthen the Farm’s resiliency for the future, including offsetting lost operating revenue due to COVID-19. If the nonprofit can raise $500,000 in new and increased gifts by December 31, 2020, the Robert W. Wilson Trust will contribute an additional $250,000.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Mayor Weinberger has called the first meeting of the Reparations Task Force, which will take place today, November 11, at 5 pm.

Vermont Business Magazine S&P Global Ratings has affirmed the State of Vermont’s AA+ general obligation and AA- moral obligation bond ratings. The affirmation includes a revised outlook from stable to negative. As noted by S&P, Vermont’s demographics and historic population trends have not been favorable. Additionally, the State’s retirement liabilities have grown, despite ongoing reforms and the General Assembly’s sustained efforts to meet or exceed actuarially determined contribution levels. While the rating has not changed, the negative outlook is an additional wake-up call that we need to address both our demographic changes and pension liabilities.