Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Join Champlain College and the US Department of Justice for a free one-day conference outlining key current cyber threats to businesses, nonprofits, and organizations of all sizes, as well as what tactics you should be using to prepare and to respond to those threats. The conference will also include guidance on how to proceed when you are targeted - and conversations about real-life scenarios in Vermont and lessons learned from organizations across the country.

Presenters will include representatives from local organizations as well as government experts from the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice and Vermont investigators, as well as Vt. Gov. Phil Scott and Burlington Electric CEO Neale Lunderville.

What: Understanding Digital Threats:A Cybersecurity Briefing for Businesses and Non-Profits
When: Friday, March 10, 2017

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) is alerting Vermont residents that a scam usually aimed at distribution utility customers has grown to now include VELCO - the electric transmission grid operator. Callers claiming to be representing VELCO have targeted at least one Vermont business demanding credit card information to pay an account balance or face disconnection.

As the owner and operator of the electric transmission grid, VELCO does not manage accounts for any residential, commercial or industrial customers. Those customers are instead served by local electric distribution companies. Further, Vermont utilities do not demand credit card information or other payment mechanisms over the phone or in person. Anyone receiving such a call should not give out personal information, including account or credit card numbers and should contact the police.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General Thomas J Donovan, Jr, filed a motion to intervene as a party in the Vermont Public Service Board’s review of the sale of Vermont Yankee. Entergy is requesting the Board to authorize the sale of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant and its decommissioning trust fund to New York based NorthStar Group Services, Inc.

The Attorney General’s filing identifies significant environmental and financial issues that are at stake in this case. The sale impacts not only ratepayers, but all Vermonters, given the magnitude of the clean-up required to restore Vermont Yankee to unrestricted use. The filing also notes the Attorney General’s Office current litigation against Entergy’s use of the nuclear decommissioning trust fund before the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Vermont Business Magazine On March 3, his final day as Vermont’s health commissioner, Harry Chen, MD released the Health Department’s "Healthy Vermonters 2020" midterm report card. The report summarizes where we’ve made significant progress (eg, lower smoking rates, insurance coverage), what challenges we still face (eg, teen suicide plans, maternal weight, drug use), and where we’ve met our targets.

by Harold Dauerman, MD, UVM You may have a leaking heart if your mitral valve is damaged. What is the mitral valve you ask? It’s located between the left atrium (where blood enters the heart from the lungs) and the left ventricle of the heart (which pumps the blood to your entire body). Mitral valve regurgitation means that your mitral valve is letting blood leak backward into the atrial chamber of the heart.

Vermont Business Magazine Between February 27th and March 3rd, 2017, members of the Vermont Drug Task Force conducted arrest operations in Windham County after a several months of investigation. The Vermont Drug Task Force was assisted by the Westminster State Police Barracks, and the Brattleboro Police Department while executing these arrests. This enforcement action took place following numerous drug investigations into the distribution of heroin and cocaine.

Defendants were processed at both the Brattleboro Police Department and Westminster State Police barracks and issued criminal citations to appear at the Windham Superior Court of Vermont, Criminal Division on the dates and times noted above. Two defendants were lodged on Federal arrest warrants.

Vermont Business Magazine Norwich University presents the first lecture of the spring 2017 Todd Lecture Series with “Junior Officers Leading in the Fleet,” a presentation by Admiral Phil Davidson, Commander, US Fleet Forces Command, on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at 7 pm in Plumley Armory. This event is free and open to the public and is the second Todd Lecture in Norwich University’s “Year of Leadership” of the bicentennial countdown.

Vermont Business Magazine The opioid crisis is well known here in Vermont and nationally. Opioid-related deaths have reached an all-time high in the United States. More than 47,000 people died in 2014, then 33,000 people in 2015. AIGA Vermont has decided to ask our community, “How does it impact day-to-day lives? And how can the creative community respond?”. We want to invite the community to a free event where they can listen to a moderated diverse panel consisting of individuals sharing their personal and professional experiences.

Vermont Business Magazine OneDigital Health and Benefits, a leader in the employee benefits space, has been named a “Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” by the National Association for Business Resources. OneDigital has also been awarded Business Insurance’s “Best Places to Work,” placing seventh in the medium employer category.

Vermont Business Magazine Johanna Beliveau, BSN, MBA, RN has been named Director of Quality, Patient Safety, and Compliance at Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC). The newly created position is part of the Hospital’s Senior Leadership Team, reporting directly to Dr. Joseph Perras, CEO. As director, Beliveau will be responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of quality and patient safety initiatives, and ensuring compliance with state and federal healthcare regulations.

MtAscutney Hospital and Health Center Announces Johanna Beliveau, BSN, MBA, RN as Director of Quality, Patient Safety, and Compliance.Photo courtesy of MtAscutney Hospital and Health Center:

Vermont Business MagazineNational Life Group and Heartworks Preschools will celebrateon Wednesdaythe reopening of a day care on National Life’s campus. National Life has renovated the building at 24 Mountain View Street in Montpelier to make it more appropriate for modern day care. After seeking requests for proposals, National Life granted a lease to Heartworks to operate the Loveworks Child Care Center, which is already serving 21 children.

What:Celebration of opening of Loveworks Child Care Center

Where:National Life lobby, 1 National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT 05604; followed by tours of Loveworks, 24 Mountain View St., opposite the main parking lots at National Life.

When:Wednesday, March 8, 9:30 am.

Who:National Life Senior Vice President Sean Woodroffe and Lisa and Paul Zengilowski of Heartworks.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) released the following statements Monday after President Donald Trump signed a new executive order blocking immigration from six majority-Muslim countries and suspending admittance of all refugees.