Current News

by Bruce Edwards, Vermont Business Magazine Rutland Regional Medical Center was prepared for the worst - a surge in patients infected with the Covid-19 virus. It was a surge that for now hasn’t materialized but the hospital was ready just the same, closing one of its specialty procedure suites and converting it into a 10-bed, negative pressure COVID ward.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health today reported that there were 12 new cases of COVID-19 since Saturday and a total of 15 new cases since Friday, for a total case count of 1,159. There are no new deaths, which are holding at 56 total statewide. There is no one hospitalized with COVID-19. ​

Vermont Business Magazine The Northfield Savings Bank Foundation (NSBF) invested $300,000 over the past two years between two impactful projects: one to help Vermont PreK-12 educators meet financial literacy standards through the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College (Center); and a second to help build resiliency and social-emotional learning skills in local youth through Vermont Afterschool. As these partnerships conclude with the end of their funding terms, NSBF celebrates the accomplishments of each organization.

Vermont State Police On 6/20/2020, at approximately 1321 hours, Vermont State Troopers responded to a fatal two vehicle crash on US Route 2 in Kirby, VT near the St. Johnsbury/Kirby Town line. Investigation revealed that the operator, Larry Bowman (64), was travelling east on US Route 2 when he lost control of his motorcycle on a curve in the roadway and entered the westbound lane.

Credits designed to reduce carbon emissions, boosts water heater credit

Vermont Business Magazine If you've been thinking about investing in cleaner, more efficient space or water heating for your home or business and you are a Vermont Electric Co-op (VEC) member, now might be a good time to consider cold climate heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. VEC is doubling the bill credit incentive offered for the purchase of cold climate heat pumps from $300 to $600 per outdoor unit. VEC is also boosting the incentive for heat pump water heaters from $150 to $250. The higher incentives are available for purchases made on or after June 1, 2020.

“As the co-op works to help Vermont reach the state’s energy goals, we continually refine our incentives to make it easier financially for members who want to move their energy use from fossil fuels to cleaner electricity,” said Jake Brown, energy services planner at VEC.

“I am determined to keep telling the reality of nuclear war ... to realize a world without wars and nuclear weapons.” —Taniguchi Sumiteru

Vermont Business Magazine Rootstock Publishing, a Montpelier-based publisher and an imprint of Multicultural Media, Inc., is honored to publish the English language translation of The Atomic Bomb on My Back: A Life Story of Survival and Activism by Taniguchi Sumiteru.

On August 9, 1945, the United States dropped its second atomic bomb on the port city of Nagasaki, where Taniguchi lived. That bomb killed 73,884 people—about half as many as had died three days earlier in Hiroshima. Six days later, Japan surrendered, ending World War II.

Leonine Public Affairs The Senate passed H.961, which provides funding for state government for the first quarter of the fiscal year beginning on July 1. The Senate adopted an amendment that Senate Pro Tem Tim Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) offered that mandates that the Commissioners of the Departments of Public Safety and Mental Health submit a plan to the Legislature in August for embedding mental health clinicians in every Vermont State Police barrack. The Public Safety Commissioner is charged with recommending to the Legislature a funding mechanism for the program.

Vermont Department of Tourism Governor Phil Scott announced Friday that effective June 26, arts, culture, and entertainment venues, as well as restaurants, can expand capacity for events and dining to 50% of approved occupancy size with new maximum gathering sizes for 75 people for indoor events and 150 people for outdoor events.

Vermont Business Magazine Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing residents will begin accepting visitors at the Berlin facility under strict health guidelines beginning on Sunday. Woodridge Facility Director Allen Yearick will also be on-site to answer questions. Residents will meet with loved ones in person for the first time since Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing closed to visitors in March.

When: Begins Sunday, June 21
10:00-10:30 am, 1:00-1:30 pm, 2:00-2:30 pm, 3:00-3:30 pm (by appointment only)
*scheduled visits continue June 22 - 23

Where: 142 Woodridge Rd, Berlin, VT 05602

Why: Nursing home residents have relied on video visits to stay in touch with their loved ones, but it is not quite the same as seeing them in person.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott announced Friday that effective June 26, 2020, arts, culture, and entertainment venues, as well as restaurants, can expand capacity for events and dining to 50% of approved occupancy size with new maximum gathering sizes for 75 people for indoor events and 150 people for outdoor events. ACCD has also updated its Drive-in Operation guidance (Section 5.2)to make clear firework displays and parades can move forward as drive-in viewing events.

Vermont Business Magazine In commemoration of Juneteenth, 2020 the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont Diversity and Inclusion Council announced today that the non-profit will match the proceeds of an employee-led fundraiser for Black Lives Matter of Greater Burlington and the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont said in a statement today that they condemn racism and systemic oppression and stands in solidarity with other local Vermont institutions and organizations to proactively disrupt the status quo.

Vermont Business Magazine The Winooski outbreak saw its numbers jump nearly 20 as some cases thought to be unrelated are now attributed to cases related to a network of people, mostly in Winooski and Burlington. There are not deaths associated with the outbreak and the average age is relatively young, with 40 percent of the 101 cases in children. Otherwise, the data continues to show Vermont trending in the right direction. In fact, as of today we had the lowest percent-positivity rate in the USA - fewer than 1% of COVID-19 tests were positive this week.