Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Ledyard Financial Group, Inc (ticker symbol LFGP), the holding company for Ledyard National Bank, today reported quarterly earnings for the third quarter of 2016. Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, was $1,073,721 or $1.06 per share compared to $1,032,884 or $1.01 per share for the same period in 2015, an increase of $40,837 or 4%. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $3,141,198 or $3.07 per share compared to $3,174,165 or $3.11 per share for the same period in 2015, a decrease of $32,967 or 1%. Ledyard National Bank has an office in Norwich, Vermont.

Vermont Business Magazine For the 6th consecutive year, The University of Vermont Medical Center is being recognized as a top performer among leading academic medical centers participating in the annual Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, recognized as the most rigorous and credible analysis of its kind. Vizient, Inc. is the largest member-driven health care performance improvement company in the country.

Vermont Business Magazine Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) is proud to announce that Barbara M. Richardson, MSN, RN-BC, CCRN, is one of five nurses named as a 2016 American Nurses Credentialing Center National Magnet Nurse of the Year®. The award was bestowed for Richardson’s commitment to structural empowerment, one of the five tenants of the Magnet model. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont state Auditor of Accounts Doug Hoffer last week released the latest on a series of audits on how state government operates and the costs associated with it. As regards the funding of the state’s many websites, the audit concludes that there is neither clear oversight of the fees, nor is there clear legislation on how that oversight should take place and how the user fees should be determined. Not all the fees charged have been approved as required by legislation, he says in the report. However, the department heads involved believe not all fees need prior approval.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims rose last week for the third week. Most sectors were up across the board, except for Manufacturing, which was down after spiking the week before. After running at a very low level during the latter part of the summer, overall claims have increased steadily the last two weeks. For the week of October 22, 2016, there were 618 claims, up 47 from the previous week's total and 8 more than than they were a year ago.

Altogether 3,400 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 221 from a week ago, and 12 more than a year ago.

The Department processed 0 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08).

Vermont Business Magazine The website “RealClearPolitics” reports that 76.3 percent of Americans disapprove of the job that the United States Congress is doing. It really doesn’t matter which political party controls Congress — the disapproval rating always remains high. Americans are fed up with Congress and how it conducts its business. They want change. But if the results of this upcoming election are similar to other elections, then nearly 96 percent of incumbent members of Congress will be re-elected. It’s unlikely that significant change will occur. After all, these are the same politicians that have perpetuated gridlock.

Vermont Business Magazine Campaign for Vermont Prosperity (CFV) announced the results from a statewide canvassing of legislative candidates on topics that matter to Vermonters. Candidates were asked a series of seven questions related to the economy, health care, education, and government ethics. “We were pleased by the breadth of responses,” said Executive Director Ben Kinsley. “A number of key legislators weighed in and there was representation from all three major parties.” CFV distributed the questionnaire to give candidates a platform to share their ideas with CFV’s network of nearly 20,000 Vermonters and to foster a more informed and engaged electorate.

Vermont Business Magazine Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) partnered with Mamava of Burlington, Vt. to support breastfeeding moms who shop and work at the University Mall. On September 12 the two companies held a successful launch event to unveil the University Mall’s first Mamava suite, a modular suite designed to offer a quiet and clean space to pump or breastfeed.

Vermont Business Magazine On November 19th, the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum will induct four pioneers in Vermont's long ski and ride history into the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. The special "Schuss" celebration honoring them will be held at the Stoweflake resort in Stowe, Vt. and feature a silent auction as well as tributes to the inductees. Tickets and further information are available on the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum website, www.vtssm.com.

The Paul Robbins Journalism Award will be presented to Mary McKhann, editor of The Snow Industry Letter at the event as well.

Vermont Business Magazine An army of GMP line crews, tree crews, and contract crews are making repairs following a wet, heavy snowstorm Thursday night that brought down trees and power lines mostly across southern Vermont and central parts of the state. Crews have restored power to more than 27,300 already but approximately 3,000 remain without power as we head into the weekend. Crews will be working around the clock to complete repairs, which could take in the hardest hit areas until Saturday evening. In addition to help from Burlington Electric Department, and Vermont Electric Co-op, contract crews from around the region and Canada are working with GMP to restore power.

Halifax snow early Friday. GMP photo.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Vermont’s eight city mayors who make up the Vermont Mayors Coalition announced they have endorsed TJ Donovan in his bid to become Vermont’s next Attorney General. The Coalition and Donovan share many priorities, including investing resources in crime-prevention and public safety measures, increasing drug and mental health treatment programs, protecting the state’s waterways, and ensuring policing protocols employ the best practices in coping with the realities of modern public safety challenges.

TJ Donovan, center, with representatives of the Vermont Mayors Coalition: left to right, Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon, Vergennes Mayor Bill Benton, Donovan, St Albans Mayor Liz Gamache, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, and Montpelier Mayor John Hollar. Courtesy photo.

Vermont Business Magazine US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that the St Albans Cooperative Creamery will receive a $250,000 federal grant that will expand the Cooperative’s powdered milk market. The grant caps off USDA’s celebration of National Cooperative Month, an annual recognition of the important role played by cooperatives in bolstering the rural economy. The St Albans Cooperative Creamery will use the $250,000 grant to process and package one ton powdered milk totes.