Current News

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Free clinics are open to people of all ages and levels of experience, including those who are completely new to fishing. Equipment will be provided, but participants should dress for the weather as the programs will take place outside. 

Vermont Business Magazine Northfield Savings Bank (NSB) announces changes to its Board of Trustees. The Bank is grateful to outgoing Board member Lauren Wobby for 18 years of dedicated service and pleased to welcome Kyle Dodson. Wobby, of Northfield, joined the Board in 2001 after serving as a Corporator since 1998. The Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer at Norwich University, Wobby carries on as a Corporator after completing her term on the Board this month. 

“Lauren’s tenure on our Board has corresponded with an era of robust growth for our company.  Her impact has been central and her example an inspiration to all of us at Northfield Savings Bank,” said Thomas Leavitt, President & CEO of Northfield Savings Bank.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJ Donovan announced  today that his Office has reviewed the police-involved shooting incident that occurred on the morning of January 7, 2019 in Arlington, Vermont.  The Attorney General’s Office is declining to prosecute Vermont State Police Trooper Raymond Witkowski for charges related to discharging his firearm at Matthew Novick.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Vermont House of Representatives passed S.49, a bill that regulates polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water and surface waters in Vermont on a vote of 135-1. Representative Amy Sheldon (D-Middlebury), Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish, and Wildlife, said, “This bill is integral in creating a healthier and safer environment for all Vermonters. PFAS are found in everyday products such as non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, and cosmetics. These substances can be toxic to humans in extremely small concentrations and unfortunately have been found in public and private water supplies in Vermont. This bill establishes regulatory monitoring of Vermont drinking waters to ensure that Vermonters remain safe and manufacturers are held accountable for their waste.”

Vermont Business Magazine Marlboro College has always provided a wealth of interdisciplinary coursework, including courses drawing important links between the humanities and sciences. Now, with the support of a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant, the college is positioning itself to offer a new undergraduate Data Humanist Certificate Program, making these links even more explicit and demonstrating students’ preparedness for the workplace.

“There is an obvious utility in a student being able to say to a prospective employer, ‘I did some relevant data work,’” said Adam Franklin-Lyons, history professor and one of the faculty members who applied for the grant. “They might have studied literature, but they also worked with a state agency or nonprofit on a data project. If they are applying to do something similar, I think that’s a no brainer.”

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, April 17, officials at Castleton University were alerted of a potential threat. Castleton Director of Public Safety Keith Molinari reviewed a recording of a current nursing faculty member making specific threats of violence against targeted members of the Castleton community. The recording is suspected to be up to two weeks old. The Castleton community was alerted of the potential threat through the University's emergency alert system on Wednesday afternoon. Castleton's Emergency Management Team is coordinating a response with regional law enforcement, who are further investigating.

Source: CASTLETON, VT (04/17/2019) 2:15 pm

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal (GI) illness at Norwich University after more than two dozen students and staff reported being sick. Health officials say the administration at Norwich is cooperating in the investigation. Based on the symptoms and length of illness reported, norovirus is suspected but has not yet been confirmed through laboratory testing.

Norovirus is a common cause of gastrointestinal illness. Symptoms often include diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. People who are ill from a norovirus may also experience headaches, body aches and fever.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) has released an additional 259,315 pages of records related to the EB-5 and Jay Peak fraud. These newly-released documents are available now for download at eb5.vermont.gov/public-records. This marks the end of DFR records related to EB-5 and Jay Peak fraud. Per the Governor’s document disclosure plan, approximately a half million pages of documents from other agencies and departments, including the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, are being prepared for release and will be posted on a rolling basis.

Vermont Business Magazine LaunchVT has selected the eight Vermont startups that will be participating in its 2019 Accelerator Cohort. This is the seventh cohort of startups to come through LaunchVT’s acceleration program. Over the past six years LaunchVT has provided business development support, strategic coaching, and over $550,000 in cash and services to accelerate 43 Vermont startups.

Vermont Business Magazine Mach7 Technologies Inc, a Burlington company specializing in innovative data management solutions for healthcare providers, has been contracted by Virginia's Sentara Healthcare for its Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) modernization project. Financial terms were not disclosed. Sentara Healthcare is looking to modernize their PACS through a reconstructed architecture that will utilize Mach7's Enterprise Imaging Platform, which was implemented as part of a previous contract, as well as Mach7 Diagnostic Studio and Client Outlook's eUnity diagnostic viewer.

Vermont Business Magazine BioTek, a Winooski-based life science instrumentation firm has been granted $96,887 from the State‘s Vermont Training Program. BioTek will work with the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) to develop and deliver the Lean Fundamentals (Lean 101) and Improving Workplace Communication curriculum.  The first training will incorporate classroom, simulation, and selection of real opportunities faced by those diverse teams from BioTek. The second training will be utilized to help support and sustain improvement in communication, so a culture of collaboration emerges, and productivity can be enhanced.

Vermont Research News Vermont has the lowest unemployment rate in the U.S. at 2.4 percent (tied with three other states), according to new data from the Public Assets Institute.  The report also found that Vermont wages grew faster than any state in New England, except New Hampshire in the last quarter. Yet the state still has the second lowest average wage in New England, at $19.70. Half of workers earn more than the median wage and half earn less.