Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Ask Kimberley Diemond about the benefits of youth mentoring, and excitement registers in her voice. She answers by recounting some of the many success stories she’s witnessed as Executive Director of nonprofit mentoring organization and Loan Fund borrower Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermont (BBBSVT).

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment fell modestly last week. After a long period of very low numbers, claims have higher over the last month. Meanwhile, the upcoming holidays typically bring with them wild swings in claims, as retailers hire and then fire seasonal workers.

Vermont Business Magazine Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are asking the Department of Justice’s Office of Pardon Attorney what role it played in President Trump’s extraordinarily controversial decision to pardon US soldiers charged or convicted with serious war crimes. In light of U.S. military leaders’ vocal opposition to President Trump’s interventions in these cases, Leahy and Whitehouse are seeking answers about what advice the President received – and from whom – in making this decision to exercise his clemency powers.

Vermont Business Magazine New data released from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that despite an overall decrease in fatal vehicular crashes, the number of people killed while walking and biking has increased – a trend that Vermont health and transportation officials want thrown into reverse. 6,283 pedestrians were killed in the US during 2018 while walking – the highest number since 1990. In Vermont, nine pedestrians were struck and killed while walking along roads in 2017, and 133 pedestrians and 179 bicyclists were hospitalized or went to an emergency department after a crash involving a vehicle.

Vermont Business Magazine In an ongoing effort to identify and support the most vital water quality projects in the region, the Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) will assist the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation in collecting and cataloging data from area municipalities in the Rutland Region between now and August 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine Castleton University has received a $100,000 grant from the Bowse Health Trust to support the Early Childhood and Special Education Initiative. The initiative pairs Castleton's new Bachelor of Arts and dual major in Early Childhood Education and Special Education with a public childcare center and learning lab, which will launch in July 2020.

Vermont Business Magazine During this year’s open enrollment season, many older Vermonters will be seeing and hearing more radio and internet ads than ever with offers of various kinds of “Medicare” coverage. The department issued a Consumer Alert that explains the varying types of Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplemental insurance.

“Our goal is to help older Vermonters protect themselves against scams and deceptive advertising when determining the health insurance coverage that is best for them,” said Commissioner Michael Pieciak.

Vermont Business Magazine Nothing is more powerful than love, especially when it’s given away. The Subaru Share the Love event is back, and Rutland Subaru is excited to be one of the many retailers participating nationwide.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) and Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) are proud to announce that each of its five primary care practices in Vermont—SVMC Deerfield Valley Campus in Wilmington, SVMC Internal Medicine in Bennington, SVMC Northshire Campus in Manchester, SVMC Pediatrics in Bennington, and SVMC Pownal Campus in Pownal—have achieved recognition for providing personalized, effective, and efficient primary care. The medical practices have been re-designated as Patient Centered Medical Homes by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Miro Weinberger announced today the appointment of Fire Chief Steven Locke as the acting Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Chief Locke has served as the Burlington Fire Chief since February 2016 and prior to that appointment, served as the Interim Town Manager of Hartford, Vt. Mayor Weinberger has asked Chief Locke to serve in this role through January 2020 while the City searches for a permanent CAO. Chief Locke will continue to serve as Fire Chief during this period.

Burlington Chief Steven Locke

Vermont Business Magazine Kevin M Eschelbach, of Barre, has been elected president of the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The appointment was announced today by board chair Joseph L Choquette III. Eschelbach is currently a senior district executive in the northeast quadrant of Vermont for the Boys Scouts of America. He will officially join the Chamber on December 9.

“We talked to qualified candidates from throughout the country, but we found the right candidate in our own back yard,” Choquette said. “Kevin’s strengths include leadership, working with volunteers and organizing events. He grew up in Vermont and knows the people and issues well. We think this is the right combination to guide the Central Vermont Chamber into the 2020s.”

“I’m excited for the opportunity to work with the business and professional community in central Vermont,” Eschelbach said. “There’s a lot we can do together. I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Vermont Business Magazine Sugarbush Resort will host the Swiss Alpine Ski National Team Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning for training sessions ahead of the Audi FIS Women's Ski World Cup at Killington this weekend.