Current News

Vermont Business Magazine City Market, a Member-owned cooperative, has declared their annual Patronage Refund to Members, one of the tangible benefits of Co-op Membership. Member purchases totaled over 68% of Co-op sales in fiscal year 2016, and the City Market Board of Directors has voted to return over $656,000 in cash to Members as this year’s Patronage Refund. On November 10, the Co-op mailed checks to 11,450 Members, with an average check of $57. Over 2.4 cents of every dollar eligible Members spent is being refunded. City Market started issuing Patronage Refunds in 2009; with this year’s checks City Market has in total circulated more than $5.4 million back into the local economy with Patronage Refund checks.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Railway announced today that the Shelburne Transload Facility is now fully operational with the first railcars of salt being unloaded this morning. Construction of the facility was completed in early November and Vermont Railway received its final permit authorizations on Monday.

Vermont Business Magazine Thirty-two Vermonters who were deceived into purchasing nearly worthless memberships in the “Member Choice” travel club will receive partial refunds from some of the companies involved in the unfair and deceptive membership sales. The Vermonters paid a total of nearly $130,000 to become members of the discount travel club, which was claimed to offer steep discounts on travel services. The travel club ultimately provided its Vermont members a total of less than $3,000 in discounts. Vermont consumers who purchased the travel club memberships will receive checks in the mail providing partial restitution for the cost of the membership purchases. The amount paid to each Vermonter will be approximately 10 percent of the initial purchase price, or 10 cents on the dollar.

Vermont Business Magazine On Tuesday, November 22, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) teamed up with Congressman Peter Welch, Montpelier Mayor John Hollar, Montpelier Alive and other business leaders to emphasize the importance of shopping locally. In his remarks given at The Shoe Horn in downtown Montpelier, Welch said “We’re lucky to live in Vermont where small business all over the state sell original and extraordinary products. And, the owners of these small businesses are our neighbors, our kids’ soccer coaches, and our friends—and most importantly they reinvest their profits right back into our communities. It’s important to support these Vermont businesses with by shopping locally, especially during the busy holiday season.” After the press conference, Rep. Welch was true to his word and did some of his own holiday shopping — locally, of course.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine United States District Judge Darrin P Gayles in Miami on Monday issued a preliminary injunction against Jay Peak owner Ariel Quiros, while also denying Quiros’ motion to dismiss the SEC complaint against him. The two rulings thus keep in place the federal receiver, forbid Quiros from being involved in any of the related businesses and continue to freeze most of Quiros’ assets. Quiros is charged by the Securities & Exchange Commission of defrauding foreign investors in an EB-5 scheme involving Jay Peak and Burke Mountain resorts and the intended biomedical facility, called AnC Bio, in Newport. Some $200 million was allegedly diverted from projects funded by foreign investors.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Congressman Peter Welch issued the following statements related to the announced deployment of the 158th Fighter Wing to the Central Command Area of Operations. Several hundred Vermont Air National Guard volunteers will reportedly deploy to the Middle East or Africa. WCAX-TV reported that the deployment will happen in the next few weeks and last for several months.

by Bruce Edwards Vermont Business Magazine Michael Goldberg is the court-appointed receiver overseeing the assets of the EB-5 program run by Ariel Quiros of Miami and his partner, Jay Peak President William Stenger. On April 12, at the request of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the US District Court in Miami appointed Goldberg receiver. The SEC alleged in its 81-page civil complaint that investors in various EB-5 projects had been defrauded, with $200 million of the more than $440 million raised diverted for other purposes. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Governor Peter Shumlin announced that the first phase in final design for water line extensions to PFOA-impacted drinking water wells in North Bennington and Bennington has begun. Point-of-entry filtration systems are currently installed on impacted homes, providing clean water. The costs associated with the first phase of final design are estimated at $444,000 and will be paid for by the State of Vermont. Negotiations with Saint-Gobain, the potentially responsible party, continue.      

“While negotiations continue, we are not waiting to start the process of getting an acceptable long-term drinking water solution for impacted residents in Bennington County,” Shumlin said. “The people of Bennington County who have been affected by this crisis have shown incredible patience and perseverance. Until a long-term solution is in place, we will continue to be there every step of the way.”

Vermont Business Magazine The sale of Magic Mountain Ski Area in Londonderry, Vermont to SKI MAGIC LLC officially closed Monday night, marking a critical turning point in the future sustainability and prosperity of Magic which was originally founded in 1960. The ski area, under the unified ownership and operating company of locally-based SKI MAGIC LLC, will be executing a series of capital improvement projects over the next several years designed to improve the quality, efficiency and consistency of Magic’s product and operating profile. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

“Magic has been one of Vermont’s best kept secrets,” said the President of SKI MAGIC LLC Geoff Hatheway, “but it’s time to let a few more people know about this alternative, some say ‘counter-cultural’, ski experience here which hearkens back to an era when Vermont skiing originally began to take off.”

Vermont Business Magazine Today the State of Vermont settled all claims with two companies and an individual who were bilking consumers who donated to charities through online obituaries. Vermont will receive over $15,000 in penalties for violations of Vermont’s laws on charitable solicitations and consumer protection.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) leaders and staff gathered Tuesday, November 1 at the Mount Anthony Country Club to honor employees for their service to the organization’s mission. One award every year is presented for each of the organization’s five core values: quality, empathy, safety, teamwork, and stewardship. The employees who received the awards are noted standard bearers and role models within the organization.

Vermont Business Magazine Thanksgiving food, family and fun may start with a hundred items on your to-do list, but there are only four things you need to remember to guarantee a food safe holiday – CLEAN, SEPARATE, COOK, CHILL. “Every year millions of people in the US become ill, sometimes seriously, from foodborne illness,” said Elisabeth Wirsing, food and lodging chief at the Vermont Department of Health. Foodborne illness or “food poisoning” ranges from slight discomfort to serious infections that require hospitalization. Infants and young children, pregnant women and older adults are at greatest risk for serious complications or death.

“Raw poultry can contaminate everything it touches, and bacteria thrives in the “Danger Zone” between 40˚ and 140˚ Fahrenheit, when cooking temperatures are too low or food is left at room temperature for too long,” said Wirsing. “We can be thankful that it is easy to avoid the risk of illness.”