Current News

by Mark Crow, President, Tenth Crow Creative Relatively recently, I learned that the state of Vermont (so, we taxpayers) is incurring vast and ever increasing amounts of liability for obligations the state undertook to fund retirement plans for teachers and state workers; plans that include pension and retirement healthcare benefits. As of June 30, 2017, the state owes approximately $4.5 billion to these plans, which is an increase of $900 million from just the previous fiscal year. That’s approximately $18,750 per Vermont household (based on 240,000 households). And, for a variety of complicated reasons, based on the structure of the plans, this amount will only continue to increase.

Vermont Business Magazine The Weather Channel meteorologist and Lyndon State College graduate Jim Cantore will speak May 20 at the college’s 106th commencement, at which about 265 associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees are expected to be conferred. The 11 am ceremony will be held on the college’s soccer field. The event is free and open to the public, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Atmospheric Sciences major G. Mitchell Most of the Class of 2018 also will speak. After the ceremony, the public is invited to a coffee and dessert social at Stannard Gymnasium.

Cantore received a Lyndon State Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999 and was inducted as an inaugural member into the Vermont State Colleges Hall of Fame in 2016.

by Erin Forbes, DVM Vermont Veterinary Medical Association April is Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month. Most people have heard of Lyme disease and know how prevalent it is in Vermont, but may not know much about it. Lyme disease is spread through deer tick bites and caused by a bacteria called borrelia burgdorferi. This disease can cause your dog to be lame, lethargic, and not want to eat. In more severe cases, it can lead to kidney disease and rarely death. Preventing Lyme disease through vaccines and preventatives is the best way to keep your dog healthy.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) introduced two amendments to the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 under consideration Tuesday in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Sanders' first amendment failed 8-15 and his second amendment failed 11-12.

Vermont Business Magazine The Leapfrog Group, a Washington DC-based organization aiming to improve health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers, today released the new Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. Rutland Regional Medical Center was one of 750 awarded an ‘A’ for its efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the U.S. The Safety Grade assigns an A, B, C, D or F grade to hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms among patients in their care. Rutland Regional is the only hospital in Vermont to receive an “A” rating for this spring.

Vermont Business Magazine Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc (NYSE: BHLB) reported first quarter 2018 net income of $25 million, which was a 63% increase over 2017 first quarter results of $15 million. This reflected the ongoing benefit of the Company's growth and expansion, together with the benefit of a lower federal tax rate resulting from federal tax reform near the end of 2017. Based in Pittsfield, MA, Berkshire Hills Bancorp is the parent of Berkshire Bank, which has branches in southwestern Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine NBT Bancorp Inc (NASDAQ: NBTB) has reported record net income and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $26.0 million, up from $17.6 million for the prior quarter, which included the $4.4 million estimated one-time, non-cash charge recorded in the provision for income taxes related to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Reform”), and $20.3 million for the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $0.59, as compared with $0.40 for the prior quarter ($0.50 excluding Tax Reform) and $0.46 for the first quarter of 2017.

Vermont Business Magazine Copley Hospital celebrated with Richard Page on Friday, April 20, 2018, as he became the first person to receive a total ankle replacement at Copley Hospital. Dr Bryan Monier, a foot and ankle specialist at Copley’s Mansfield Orthopaedics, led Mr. Page’s surgical team. Dr Monier joined Copley Hospital in October. Dr Monier treats problems of the foot and ankle as well as lower extremity trauma, including arthritis, bunions, fracture fixation, foot reconstruction, ankle instability, and sports related injuries of the foot and ankle.

Vermont Business Magazine The Alzheimer’s Association is pleased to announce Tammy Johnson, Director of Sales and Marketing at FoodScience Corporation will be honored with the 2018 Community Leadership & Activist Award on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at the 9th Annual Reason to Hope Dinner at the Hilton Burlington. The Alzheimer’s Association annually presents the Community Leadership & Activist Award to a community leader in recognition of their civic and humanitarian efforts. It is given to individuals who have had a distinguished professional career, who are involved in and committed to community affairs, who are leaders among peers and who lead by example. It is given to those who strive to improve the quality of life today and create a better world tomorrow.

Vermont Business Magazine More Vermonters are snowshoeing, doing yoga and participating in sports and exercise classes, thanks to $15,000 distributed by The Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. The grants, called Exercise Is Medicine Community Wellness Grants, support local organizations in developing new initiatives for improving health and fitness. The application process is competitive: Of the 14 groups that applied, only four were selected to receive funds this year.

A young Vermonter learns how to ice skate at the local hockey rink as the result of the Exercise is Medicine Community Wellness Grants.

Vermont Business Magazine People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, Monday announced that it awarded $134,629 in Vermont during its first grant cycle of 2018. Funding was allocated to 18 nonprofit organizations in support of activities that ranged from basic needs services and affordable housing initiatives, to education and workforce development programs.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC), in partnership with Efficiency Vermont, Liebert Engineering, Inc. and Control Technologies Inc., will unveil an interactive energy kiosk that graphically displays CVMC’s energy usage and costs in a real-time dashboard. The kiosk will also help staff, homeowners, tenants and businesses discover ways to reduce energy consumption and costs at home and at work.

The free public event, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 25, takes place in CVMC’s main lobby at 130 Fisher Road. Free Efficiency Vermont refrigerator thermometers will be available to all attendees.