Current News

byMike SmithParents, teachers, mentors and others who touch the lives of our teens and young adults try to instill certain qualities meant to help them succeed as they transition into adulthood. These attributes include such things as honesty, respect, humility, persistence and hard work. These are the keys to success, we often tell our children. But then they are confronted with another path to success, and that path is much different from what we have preached to them.

by Joyce Marcel Vermont Business Magazine It takes a village to revitalize a village. It also takes positive leadership and the willingness to take risks. St Albans’ mayor, Elizabeth “Liz” Gamache, has won high praise for the way she uses her political skills to lead the revitalization of her city. Gamache, 53, is one of the very few female mayors in Vermont’s long history — and shame on you, Vermont! Since 2012, she has been elected mayor of St Albans three times; one indication of the respect she’s earned is that she’s always run unopposed. Her current two-year term is up next year and she plans to run again.

Vermont Business MagazineMayor MiroWeinberger and the co-op Keep Burlington Telecom Local have released the following statements regarding the failure of Ting from Toronto and KBTL to reach an agreement on a potential collaboration last Friday. The Burlington City Council was deadlocked on deciding between the two bidders November 6 and asked the two finalists to find a way to collaborate. The Council is expected to re-vote on November 27 as an end-of-the-year deadline approaches. Two other firms who were initially finalists before they were pared to two,ZRF Partners from New Jersey and Schurz Communications from Indiana, could potentially also be back in therunning. The Council will reconsider the issue Monday night.

​Vermont Business MagazineThe University of Vermont will host its fifth annual Legislative Summit onMonday, November 13in the Davis Center. The topic is water quality. UVM faculty in a range of disciplines will present the results of their cutting-edge research to inform legislators on subjects they will likely confront during the coming session.

Vermont Business Magazine A Vermont-based consulting team led by Optimal Energy, Inc of Hinesburg, with partners Cx Associates and Energy Futures Group, has played a key role in helping Massachusetts to be the top ranked state in the nation by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). ACEEE's recently released 2017 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which rates states based on energy efficiency policy and programs, has placed Massachusetts first for the seventh year in a row.

Vermont Business Magazine Home Care Assistance of Greater Burlington announcedtoday that it has received the 2017 Best of Home Care – Provider of Choice Award fromHome Care Pulse. The Provider of Choice Award is granted only to the top-ranking home care providers,based on clientsatisfaction scores gathered by Home Care Pulse, an independent satisfaction research firm for home care.Home Care Assistance of Greater Burlingtonis now ranked among a select few home care providers across the country who have proven their ability to provide outstanding care.

Vermont Business Magazine Marie Houghton of Colchester has been appointed State President of AARP Vermont, a volunteer position working closely with both staff and volunteers throughout the state to help AARP achieve its mission in Vermont. Her responsibilities include serving as primary volunteer spokesperson, chairing the AARP Vermont Executive Council, building networks and community partnerships and recruiting volunteers.

by Randolph T Holhut/The Commons On a sunny Friday afternoon in Randolph Center, the mortal remains of Sergeant Charlotte Ann Marcy of Guilford were laid to rest at Vermont Veterans Cemetery. “It didn’t bring closure, but it brought peace,” her mother, Therese Marcy, said of the October 27 graveside service. “She is in a well-deserved resting place with her fellow soldiers.” Marcy, a member of the Vermont Army National Guard who served two combat tours in Iraq, died by suicide on September 30, 2016. She was 32.

Vermont Business Magazine The Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties (VNA) Board of Directors voted unanimously on Thursday, November 9, to affiliate with the University of Vermont Health Network, of which the UVM Medical Center is the largest member. The partnership takes effect onJanuary 1, 2018. The VNA said in a statement that the affiliationrecognizes the importance of greater integration and collaboration among health care providers across the full continuum of care, and will benefit patients by responding to the increasing demand for home health and hospice services. VNA will be the first affiliate to provide post-acute, community-based care. UVMHC will have eight partners going forward, including three Vermont hospitals and three in upstate New York.

Vermont Business MagazineWeekly unemployment claims rose again last week and faster. Claims had been falling steadily since early July until early October. Claims are still lower than they were the same time last year, which has been the case for most weeks in 2017. This trend should reverse itself when holiday hiring begins shortly. For the week of November 4, 2017, there were 677 claims, 195 more than than they were last week and 56 fewer than they were a year ago.Altogether 3,230 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 346 from a week ago, but 560 fewer than a year ago.

Vermont Business Magazine Buying local just got easier. Local First Vermont recently released the 8^th edition of the Buy Local Coupon Book and Mobile App. With coupons at more than 250 locally-owned, independent Vermont businesses, the resource makes it easier to learn about and support those businesses that routinely reinvest 45 percent back into Vermont’s economy. Print versions of the book are available at more than 50 retailers throughout the state, and the mobile app is available to download through both Google Play and Apple’s The App Store.

Vermont Business Magazine A diverse group of organizations, businesses, and institutions today announced the formation of a new coalition to advocate for a more sustainable, accessible, and affordable transportation system in Vermont. Currently, 47 percent of Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, and gasoline and diesel represent more than 35 percent of all energy consumed in Vermont. T4VT has proposed replacing inefficient diesel school or transit buses with electric buses proven in cold climates. Diesel transit buses get only 4.5 miles per gallon and emit diesel exhaust that is dangerous for children, drivers, and passersby.