Current News

​Vermont Business Magazine Gifford Health Care’s Menig Nursing Home in Randolph Center has an overall Five-Star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), according to the latest reports published by the federal agency. Created to “to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and to help identify areas about which [they] may want to ask questions,” the CMS rating system publishes reports on the Nursing Home Compare page at medicare.gov. The most recent ratings incorporate data reported through September 30.

by John McClaughry The Vermont Digger headline a day after the elections well captured the enthusiasm of the newly elected legislative majorities: “Democratic supermajority comes with sky-high expectations.” The final House tally was 102 Democrats and Progressives, 43 Republicans, and five independents. The Senate will be 24-6. Both chambers now have the 2/3 majorities needed to override any veto by Republican Governor Phil Scott.

Vermont Business Magazine AARP has announced the launch of a major new advocacy campaign urging Congress to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry and protect seniors from any attempts to raise patient drug costs by reversing the Medicare Part D doughnut hole deal. AARP will release two national television ads, as well as radio, digital and print ads and video of real patients struggling with high drug costs. The ads will run in Washington, DC, and a number of battleground states around the country.

Vermont Business Magazine As snow sports enthusiasts and members of the community surrounding Stratton Mountain, many of us can directly relate to the importance of having a state of the art medical facility in our back yard. The Carlos Otis Clinic is equipped for everything from runny noses to catastrophic emergencies and we are all extremely fortunate to be able to call upon their services should the need arise.

The Carlos Otis Clinic in turn, counts on the community for support. Right now, the exciting new addition to the Carlos Otis Clinic is a state of the art ambulance! In an effort to support this new, and much needed ambulance we are asking you to join TPW Real Estate and TPW Management’s effort to close the gap of the final $25,000 needed to defray the overall cost of $250,000.

Vermont Department of Health Thanksgiving is about more than the food – okay, it’s mostly about the food. But it’s also a day of enjoying family and friends. Be sure to check these tips to guarantee a healthy, food-safe holiday.

Department of Finance and Management Commissioner of Finance & Management, Adam Greshin, has announced a public forum for comment on FY 2020 State budget development. Pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 306(d) the governor is required to develop a process for public participation in the development of goals and a general prioritization of spending and revenue initiatives.

Vermont Business Magazine With a dip in temperatures and the help of more than 10 inches of natural snow, southern Vermont’s highest peak is opening for its 57th season on Wednesday, November 21. Lifts at Stratton Mountain Resort will begin spinning at 9 am for the 2018-19 winter season. Opening day trails open include favorites like Frank’s Fall Line, Black Bear and Polar Bear, as well as Runaway to Yodeler. All terrain accessed from the summit and Ursa lift is recommended for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders only. Intermediate terrain can also be accessed from American Express. Beginner terrain and terrain park features will be accessible from the Cub Carpet.

Stratton file photo by Hubert Schriebl.

Vermont Business Magazine Mobius, Vermont’s Mentoring Partnership is excited to announce that, effective immediately, the organization has changed its name to MENTOR Vermont. This refresh of name and logo are intended to more clearly express the mission of the organization, which remains to provide resources and support to youth mentoring programs in Vermont so they can meet the needs of young people in their communities.

“Changing our name to MENTOR Vermont was a great opportunity for our organization and the mentoring field in the state of Vermont,” said Chad Butt, Executive Director of MENTOR Vermont. “We remain an independent non-profit, and now our new name will enable us to better clarify our role and the work we do.”

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University officials have named the new $1.6 million Cybersecurity War Room located in the recently dedicated Mack Hall the Thaddeus Buczko ’47 Cyber War Room in honor of retired civil servant and prominent Massachusetts Judge Thaddeus Buczko, in a dedication ceremony held on Saturday, November 10.

Vermont Business Magazine For the first time, farmers growing fresh fruits and vegetables have a new resource to better understand Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) requirements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued comprehensive draft guidance that includes recommendations and examples on how to comply with PSR requirements in a newly released document. Vermont’s Produce Program at the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is asking farmers, producers, educators and service providers to contribute.

“As we work to grow the Vermont produce industry, we encourage farmers, educators and service providers to take a look at the draft guidance provided by the FDA and weigh in. This will be an important tool to help our farms comply with the requirements of the Produce Safety Rule,” said Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food & Markets, Anson Tebbetts.

Vermont Business Magazine Erin Fernandez, executive director of Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, the nationally recognized year-round organization offering daily adaptive sports programs to people with any disability, announced today that the organization is officially underway with the final phases of its Home Sweet Home Permanent Homes Campaign and plans to break ground on a new state-of-the-art $1.7 million adaptive sports facility at Mt Ellen at Sugarbush Resort in Spring 2019.

Vermont Business Magazine Ship-builder Austal USA delivered the Expeditionary Fast Transport ship USNS Burlington (EPF 10) to the US Navy during a ceremony onboard the ship at the company’s headquarters in Mobile, AL, on Thursday, November 15, according to a press release. This is the fourth ship Austal has delivered to the Navy this year. The EPF program provides the Navy with a high-speed intra-theater transport capability. The 338-foot long Burlington is an aluminum catamaran capable of transporting 600 tons, 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots, and is designed to operate in austere ports and waterways, too shallow and narrow for the larger ships in the surface fleet, providing added flexibility to US warfighters worldwide. The ship's flight deck can also support flight operations for a wide variety of manned and unmanned aircraft, including a CH-53 Super Stallion.