Current News

Vermont Business Magazine In 2012, Procter & Gamble, one of the world's largest and most profitable consumer-goods companies, entered the US nutritional supplement market by acquiring Brattleboro-based New Chapter, founded by Paul and Barbi Schulick. New Chapter is known for its healing-driven mission and one-of-a-kind vitamin and herbal formulations. After six years of working with P&G, the Schulicks announced today that as of July 1, 2018, they have parted ways with the company they launched more than thirty-five years ago, citing essential differences in vision and strategy.

Until now, Paul Schulick has led innovation and formulation of the 60+ products in the New Chapter formulary, staying firm to his codified principles that respect nature's wisdom and herbal synergy. A pioneer in whole food fermentation and supercritical extraction, Schulick has been a leading figure in the Natural Products Industry

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health has updated its health advisory for drinking water of 20 parts per trillion (ppt) to cover five per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s. Exposure to certain PFAS may affect different systems in the human body.

The previous health advisory of 20 ppt for PFOA and PFOS combined was issued in 2016 following the discovery of PFOA in private drinking water wells in Bennington and a public drinking water supply well in Pownal, Vermont.

Vermont Health Advisory for Drinking Water = 20 parts per trillion

The health advisory for PFAS in drinking water now includes three more PFAS in addition to PFOA and PFOS. Added together, the levels of these PFAS may not exceed 20 parts per trillion (ppt):

Vermont Business Magazine A law to help small businesses, which was championed by Attorney General T.J. Donovan, went into effect on July 1. Act 4, “an Act relating to regulating finance leases for credit card terminals,” regulates leases of credit card terminals to smaller merchants. These terminals often cost a few hundred dollars to purchase, but are leased for thousands of dollars by predatory finance leasing companies. The leases are not cancellable and extend for 4 years. Act 4 puts protections in place to curb unfair practices by finance leasing companies. Specifically, the new law will give small businesses more, and clearer, information about lease terms and will allow cancellation within 45 days of entering into a credit card equipment lease.

Vermont Business Magazine At the end of the 2018 Vermont legislative session, a number of bills important to the state’s agricultural community became law. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets worked closely with the legislature and administration to bring attention to Vermont’s important rural economy. These new laws help make Vermont more affordable, take care of the most vulnerable, and grow the Vermont economy.

Below is a partial list of these new laws.

H.16 - An act relating to making appropriations for the support of government, financing education, and vital records.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Life Group Foundation has granted $200,000 to the Champlain Housing Trust to fund the renovation of the Old North End Community Center. The Center is a historic building that currently houses several nonprofits from across Northwest Vermont. The current tenants include Robin’s Nest Children’s Center, the Family Room, Burlington Parks & Recreation Department, and AALV.

Vermont Business Magazine Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing, a certified 153-bed facility, recently received top marks—a deficiency-free certification survey—during its annual reinspection by the state’s Agency of Human Services, Division of Licensing and Protection. The unannounced on-site certification survey, conducted June 11-13, found Woodridge meets federal and state requirements for skilled nursing facilities participating in Medicare/Medicaid programs. Woodridge, part of The University of Vermont - Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC), is located at 142 Woodridge Drive on the CVMC campus. It provides long- and short-term care to individuals in need of nursing and rehabilitation services.

Vermomnt Business Magazine The VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) has been recognized with four awards from the New England Society for Healthcare Communications (NESHCo) to honor achievements in healthcare marketing, public relations and communications.

Vermont Business Magazine For the second year running, The University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC) has been named one of the nation’s Top 20 Rural & Community Hospitals by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).

The ranking is based on indices including quality (such as the median time from emergency department arrival to hospital admission), clinical outcomes (including rates for 30-day heart failure, pneumonia and hospital-wide readmissions), and patient perspective on the care and services they receive.

Rural & Community Hospitals are defined as short-term, acute care, non-specialty, non-federal hospitals with fewer than 200 beds in ZIP codes designated rural by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. This study examined 811 rural and community hospitals nationwide.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch issued the following statements Monday after President Donald Trump announced he is nominating Brett Kavanaugh to be an associate justice on the US Supreme Court.

Vermont Business Magazine The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) will hold hearings open to the public concerning the proposed 2019 Vermont Health Connect insurance rates on Monday, July 23^rd (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont) and Tuesday, July 24^th (MVP Health Plan, Inc.) in Room 11 of the Vermont State House beginning at 9:00 a.m. each morning.

Vermont Business Magazine In partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Avera Health, a national leader in telemedicine services, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) will launch eICU CARE, an around-the-clock monitoring service for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The new capability will allow patients with certain conditions that would have required a transfer to larger medical centers to be treated here.

“Our hospitalists and Magnet nurses provide excellent care for intensive care patients,” said Trey Dobson, MD, SVMC’s chief medical officer and medical director of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians. “With additional support from these partners, we will be able to expand the options available to patients experiencing serious illnesses in our community.”

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Family Network (VFN) is pleased to announce the election of three new members to its Board of Directors. Kevin Kelleher, UVM Medical Center and Tom Borys, OneCare VT were elected onto the Board in January 2018, and Vasanthi Meyette, Champlain Valley School District, was elected at the organization’s Annual Meeting last Thursday, June 14. The following VFN Board members were unanimously elected to Executive Committee roles: President; Ellen Zeman, Champlain College, Vice-Chair; Craig Giles, Husky, Secretary; Kim Keiser, Turrell Fund, Treasurer; Tom Stretton, McSoley and McCoy.

Laurie Gunn, UVM Medical Center, stepped down after six years of service on the VFN Board, and was recognized for her many contributions to the organization as Board Secretary.

Vermont Family Network is a state-wide non-profit organization that empowers and supports all Vermont families of children with special needs.