Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier this week the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) was notified of a hemp crop theft that occurred on Pony Farm Road in Moretown, Vermont. In the early morning hours of Monday September 7th, the hemp field of Fancy Plants adjacent to Austin Heights Road was accessed by unknown individuals who cut down and removed 50 hemp plants. Signage was visible at the field indicating that the crop was Hemp/CBD. The theft appears to have been premeditated and involve more than one individual, utilizing shearing tools and large vehicles to remove the 500 pounds of hemp. The 50 plants comprised the entire hemp crop of the Fancy Plants business.

Vermont Business Magazine A novel study suggests that the behavior public officials are now mandating or recommending unequivocally to slow the spread of COVID-19—wearing a face covering—should come with a caveat. If not accompanied by proper public education, the practice could lead to more infections. The finding is part of an unique study, just published as a preprint in SSRN, that was conducted by a team of health economists and public health faculty at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine in partnership with public health officials for the state of Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine Maine Governor Janet Mills, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and Vermont Governor Phil Scott are calling on President Donald Trump to reverse the re-imposition of a 10 percent tariff on imports of non-alloyed unwrought aluminum from Canada, citing the negative impact on manufacturers and supply chain businesses in northern New England. About half of all trade for Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine companies is conducted with Canada.

Vermont Business Magazine The Best Western Plus Waterbury-Stowe has been recognized for a second year in a row with the brand’s most prestigious honor, the M.K. Guertin Award, for exceptional levels of service, quality, value, and commitment to guests. Framed within the COVID crisis this year, Best Western President and CEO David Kong noted that the staff’s commitment to superior guest service has been a grounding force to the brand.

The Best Western Plus Waterbury-Stowe is one of only a handful of select properties across North America to receive this honor, named after the brand's founder, M.K Guertin.

The hotels must also meet other Best Western standards and membership requirements, such as scoring in the top 5% of brand assessments.

The award includes a plaque as well as a monetary prize, which Best Western Plus Waterbury-Stowe General Manager Melissa Moore will distribute among staff.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Tuesday announced the launch of a new online system for temporary registrations and license plates for private vehicle sales.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott said that as students returned to school Tuesday, things would look and feel much different. Governor Scott reiterated today that Vermont is the safest state in the nation, with the fewest cases, the lowest positivity rate (now down to 0.3 percent) and the lowest pre capita rate. There also has not been a COVID-related death since July 28, which are holding at 58.

Vermont Business Magazine After a fire tore through the Vermont Timber Works building, the timber frame company in North Springfield is celebrating the reopening of their new building one year later. In September 2019, the building located at 16 Fairbanks Road in North Springfield caught fire and was ultimately destroyed. After the fire, the building was determined to be unsalvageable and most tools, equipment, trucks, and current projects were lost. Since that time, owners Doug Friant, and Dan Kelleher have been working hard to build a new Vermont Timber Works in the original location. Almost exactly one year after the fire, Vermont Timber Works is ready to reopen their new building on September 18.

Vermont Business Magazine Open Road Ski Company and legendary trail-map artist James Niehues have partnered with Mad River Glen for a Kickstarter project to fund a striking all-new hand-painted image of the iconic mountain, with plans to use it for trail maps and mountain signs. Building on the success of their Kickstarter-funded book, The Man Behind the Maps, Open Road Ski Company has turned toward crowd-sourced funding to raise money for new Mad River Glen trail maps and signs, with proceeds going to the Stark Mountain Foundation.

Vermont Business Magazine The Buy Local Vermont Program begins today. A rush of consumers looking for bargains and looking to help local businesses stalled the system when it went live at 11 am. In the first hour about 10,000 consumers signed up online. But it shortly got back on track. It is designed to maximize the effect of local consumer spending, including at restaurants, retail stores, entertainment and performing arts venues, lodging and tourism-related businesses to support businesses in Vermont that have suffered economic harm due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Over 1,300 local Vermont businesses have signed up to offer discounts. The $30 discount for consumers is funded by $500,000 in federal CARES Act money.

by John McClaughry The pending Global Warming Solutions Act (H.688) has become the must-pass Holy Grail of Vermont’s climate activists. During his six year tenure (2011-2016) Gov. Peter Shumlin enthusiastically signed numerous bills, mostly aimed at forcing electric utilities to rely more on renewable electricity, less on fossil fueled grid power, and none from Vermont’s nuclear plant.

Vermont Business Magazine In Vermont, 26.4% of high school students used e-cigarettes in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Vaping harms developing lungs and overall health and may place people at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Now, when protecting lung health is more important than ever, the American Lung Association today announced a broad plan to end youth vaping.

Vermont Business Magazine For patient convenience, the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) Breast Health and Imaging Center will offer screening mammograms 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. on eight Saturdays this fall. The special Saturday dates include September 12 and 19; October 3, 10, and 24; and November 7, 14, and 21. The American College of Radiology recommends beginning screening mammograms at age 40 and continuing annually thereafter.