Current News

by John McClaughry Once again, following the horrific shooting in Orlando, the advocates of gun control are in full voice. Congressional Democrats have even conducted an unprecedented sit-in and shoutfest to stop the workings of the House of Representatives. The difficulty the Democrats face is that, stripped of the emotion and politically driven posturing, their legislative demands either flagrantly violate the Constitutional rights of law abiding citizens, or are hopelessly ineffective and unenforceable against would-be terrorists and mass murderers.

Take the Universal Background Check. Omar Mateen, the ISIS-supporting Muslim who killed 49 at an Orlando nightclub, purchased his weapons lawfully by passing a background check. The Democrats say we need to find lots more reasons to disqualify “people who shouldn’t have guns”, and require checks for every transfer, without exception.

Vermont Business Magazine The 158^th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG), in coordination with the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds," is extending their Hometown Hero Recognition Flight nomination. The extended deadline is Sunday, July 10, 2016, to nominate a deserving individual from Vermont for a chance to fly along in an F-16 with one of the world’s premier precision aerial demonstration squadrons, the USThunderbirds.

Thunderbirds calypso passing manuever. USAF photo.

Vermont Business Magazine Below is the full statement by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) today on the Senate’s "fast-track" attempt to preempt state laws over GMO labeling. Vermont's law went into effect Friday, July 1: "It has been just two weeks since negotiators released what can only be called a farce of a proposal to require the labeling of genetically engineered foods. Less than a week after it was released – without any Committee action, any testimony or recorded feedback from proponents or opponents – the Senate Majority Leader filed cloture on a privileged vehicle to fast-track the bill.

Vermont Business Magazine Oak Hill Capital Partners announced today that it will acquire Oxford Networks, a leading fiber-optic bandwidth infrastructure services provider operating in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Oak Hill will acquire Oxford from its current private equity owners, Novacap and Bank Street Capital Partners. At the closing of the transaction, Oak Hill intends to combine the operations of Oxford with FirstLight Fiber, with operations in Vermont. FirstLight is another Northeastern US fiber provider for which Oak Hill announced an agreement to acquire from its current owner, Riverside Partners, in March 2016, subject to prior regulatory approval. Novacap, BSCP and Riverside are expected to continue as minority partners alongside Oak Hill in the holding company for FirstLight and Oxford.

by Mike Faher/The Commons At a gubernatorial debate in Brattleboro last week, Republican Phil Scott declared that the economy “should be the issue of this campaign.” He likely didn’t need to convince an estimated crowd of 170 jammed into Brattleboro American Legion Post 5. Three Democrats and two Republicans spent most of their morning here talking about economic initiatives, affordability, and small businesses. They pitched some specific ideas for southern Vermont in light of a recent report on the area’s economic problems. And they jostled on statewide issues including taxes and raising the minimum wage, a topic that came up repeatedly throughout the forum sponsored by Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Vermont State Colleges (VSC) Chancellor Jeb Spaulding confirmed today that Lyndon State College President Joe Bertolino has accepted the presidency of Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). The move will bring him closer to his family in New York and New Jersey. The VSC Board of Trustees is likely to appoint an interim president for Lyndon State College within the month. Bertolino has been president of LSC since 2012. He told VBM late last year that he felt his time in Lyndon was drawing near its end and that he wanted to be closer to the New York City area. He previously had been a vice president at Queens College/City University of New York.

Vermont Business Magazine Agrilab Technologies Inc, (AGT) the leader in compost heat-recovery technology, announced today the recent installation of a unique next-generation compost heat recovery system at Vern-Mont Farm in Vernon, Vermont. The Drum Dragon 200™ system generates continuous combustion-free hot water from the aeration exhaust of an aerobic rotary drum compost system, reducing propane use on the farm for milk-parlor washing.

Vermont Business Magazine Recent reports of spiny water fleas becoming snagged on fishing gear used on Lake Champlain have prompted officials to urge anglers and boaters to take appropriate steps to prevent the spread of this and other harmful aquatic invasive species. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department fisheries biologist Shawn Good said it’s critical that anglers thoroughly inspect their boats and gear after a day of fishing. 

Vermont Business Magazine Many Vermonters saw the dramatic photos in 2011 documenting the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene. The Neshobe River overflowed and swept through downtown Brandon with such force that the flood closed the state highway and damaged several businesses and other structures. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Representative Peter Welch (D-Vermont) said the State of Vermont, local officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are continuing to act on lessons learned from Irene’s devastation. On Thursday they announced that the Town of Brandon has been awarded a Hazard Mitigation grant of $1,346,411 from FEMA to minimize damage from future storms. The new grant will fund construction of a super-size culvert crossing under US Route 7, and related work.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) today announced that after a thorough national search its Board of Trustees has named Jeffrey Tieman as the organization's new president and CEO. Tieman, currently Chief of Staff of the Catholic Health Association in Washington, DC, will join the team in late August. Tieman has been with the Catholic Health Association since 2004. Prior to serving as chief of staff, he led advocacy work regarding health care reform and the Affordable Care Act.

Jeffrey Tieman

by Carolyn Shapiro Wetlands and floodplains protected Middlebury, Vermont, from as much as $1.8 million in flood damage during Tropical Storm Irene, a new University of Vermont study finds. The study is the first to calculate the economic benefits that river wetlands and floodplains provided during the major storms that have struck the US East Coast in recent years. Researchers analyzed 10 flood events to estimate the value of the Otter Creek floodplain near Middlebury. According to the study, the natural barrier saves the town an average of $126,000 to $450,000 per year, or up to 78 percent of potential damages.

Vermont Business Magazine Another landmark Northeast Kingdom Vermont business is going solar. North Country Engineering of Derby and AllEarth Renewables, a Vermont-based solar tracker manufacturer and developer of local solar projects, have announced a partnership that will provide the machine facility solar energy from a 150kW Vermont solar orchard. North Country Engineeringruns a full service, 18,000-square-foot machining facility for the manufacturing of precision machined parts and assemblies. They service the aerospace, valve and pipe line, industrial pump, precision electric motor, and other component industries. They anticipate that they will benefit from a new solar array by saving money on their electric bills and by greening their energy use.