Current News

Vitamin Shoppe, Inc today announced that the company has entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) with the Oregon Attorney General and an Assurance of Discontinuance (AOD) with the Vermont Attorney General regarding products that may contain BMPEA, a substance that does not meet the statutory definition of a dietary ingredient.

The Vermont Attorney General has entered into a settlement with nutritional product retailer Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. that permanently bans the sale of products that contain BMPEA. BMPEA is a synthetic amphetamine-like substance which may be found in supplements sold for the purpose of performance enhancement or weight loss. Under the settlement, Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. will not sell products containing, or that are at risk of containing, BMPEA. Products at risk of containing BMPEA include those whose product labels list acacia rigidula as an ingredient.

The Vermont Senate today gave final legislative approval to S108, a bill that supports the 2013 End of Life Choice law. During the legislative process the House and Senate both rejected proposals to repeal the law.

Dick Walters, President of Patient Choices Vermont, said, "I'm proud to live in a state that respects the right of terminally-ill people to have end of life choice. After 12 years of grassroots advocacy in favor of this law, we can now say with real confidence that the debate is over and this law is here to stay."

Linda Waite Simpson, the Vermont director of Compassion and Choices, said, "Today marks a victory for Vermonters who overwhelmingly believe in the option of death with dignity for people who face unbearable suffering at the end of their life. By preserving the first death-with-dignity law enacted by a legislature, our elected leaders have affirmed that it is the right law with the right balance of freedoms and protections for Vermont."

Vermont PBS, Vermont’s statewide public television service, has just received four New England Emmy Award nominations for its local productions. Each year, the regional Emmy competition honors top local productions from television stations across New England. In addition to the Emmy nominations, the station was also recently selected as an Official Honoree in the 19th annual Webby Awards, the online equivalent of the Emmy Awards.

Vermont PBS executive producer, Joe Merone, said, “We’re honored by these nominations. From outdoor recreation to historical documentaries to unveiling unique cultural opportunities, the nominated programs highlight Vermont PBS’s ongoing work to chronicle the best of our region.”

Vermont PBS productions receiving Emmy nominations:

Outdoor Journal

Category: Lifestyle Program/Special – Neil Hilt, Producer/Videographer

Vermont Public Radio has elected four new members to its Board of Directors to serve three-year terms: Charlie Browne of Barnet, Dr Peggy Williams of Johnson, Nancy Rowden Brock of Waterbury, and Wayne Granguist of Weston.

Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice presented its Community Partnership Award to National Life Group at the nonprofit’s volunteer appreciation reception recently. The award is in recognition of the long standing support National Life Group and its Foundation have provided to CVHHH.

“National Life Group supports the work of CVHHH in many ways, through volunteer time, by sponsoring our annual fashion show, which is a major fundraiser for our organization, and through grants that help fund our telemonitoring program,” said CEO Sandy Rousse at the event.

Accepting the award were Beth Chenette, Director of Digital Marketing and CVHHH volunteer, and Beth Rusnock, President of the National Life Group Foundation.

“We’re so proud to accept this award on behalf of the company,” said Rusnock, “And we want to thank all of you for the work you do. It’s a critical service you provide to our community.”

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has started its annual fish stocking work, an effort that will ultimately put over 1,000,000 adult fish, fry and fingerlings - including over 18,000 trophy trout, into Vermont waters in 2015.

"Our fish culture and stocking program is designed to help maintain and restore fisheries, while also increasing angling opportunities," said Adam Miller, fish culture operations manager with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. "The entire effort is critical to supporting local fisheries and to promoting the sport of fishing in Vermont."

"We'll be stocking nearly 18,500 large, two-year old trout across Vermont, and anglers will have the opportunity to fish over 34 miles of rivers and 28 lakes and ponds that are designated as trophy water," said Miller. "This means excellent fishing opportunities and an even better chance for anglers to catch the fish of a lifetime."

Vermont Business Magazine Average Vermont gasoline prices have now fallen below the US average. Vermont gas prices are up 4.7 cents for the week to an average price of $2.651 per gallon. Average retail gasoline prices in Burlington have risen 6.7 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.66 per gallon, according to GasBuddy's daily survey. These results compare with the national average that has increased 8.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.662, according to GasBuddy's gasoline price website vermontgasprices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Burlington during the past week, prices prices this week were 111.5 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 14.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 22.7 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 105.6 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

The numbers are in and Sugarbush Resort has seen significant reductions in energy and waste since last year. Last summer the resort invested in 351 Snow Logic, HKD, and Ratnik low-energy snowguns to help reduce energy consumption. During the season the resort purchased another 63 low-energy snowguns as well. This is in addition to the 80 low-energy snowguns purchased in 2013. These improvements helped the resort reduce snowmaking energy consumption by 15% and save close to 1400 Megawatt hours. These energy savings equated to dollar savings of around 19% when compared to last year.

The Vermont Attorney General’s Office has sued Burlington landlord Soon Kwon for violations of Vermont’s lead and consumer protection laws. Vermont’s lead law requires landlords to perform essential maintenance practices (known as EMPs) in all pre-1978 rental housing. Annually, an EMP compliance statement certifying completion of EMPs must be submitted to the Vermont Department of Health, to the owner’s insurance carrier, and to all tenants of the property.

The lawsuit alleges that Kwon failed to perform EMPs and filed false affidavits claiming that he performed EMPs for two properties. The lawsuit also alleges that Mr. Kwon violated a settlement agreement that he reached with the Vermont Department of Health in March 2014. In that agreement, Mr. Kwon agreed to comply with the lead law and ensure that all of his properties were in compliance.

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc (Keurig) (NASDAQ: GMCR) has announced that it will webcast a Keurig® KOLD™ presentation for investors and financial analysts on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 4pm ET at www.keuriggreenmountain.com in the "Investors" section under "Events and Presentations."

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc (Keurig) (NASDAQ: GMCR), a leader in specialty coffee, coffee makers, teas and other beverages with its innovative brewing technology, announced today that Peter G. Leemputte will join the company in June 2015 and will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer effective August 17, 2015. He will succeed current Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Fran Rathke, who will continue to serve in the role until that date. As previously disclosed, to ensure a smooth transition, Rathke will then become Senior Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and will remain with the Company through September 2015.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine A lowered expectation for revenues this year because of its new brewing system is causing shares in Vermont's largest company to fall. Keurig Green Mountain, Inc (NASDAQ: GMCR), a leading coffee company based in Waterbury, Vermont, today announced its business results for the 13 weeks ended March 28, 2015. Results were greeted negatively by investors in after-hours trading, as the report was released after markets closed. Shares were down more than 10 percent immediately after the announcement. The high for Wednesday was nearly $112, with shares falling to $94.50 by the time markets opened on Thursday (52-week range: $90.35-$158.87). Trading volume has been heavy as shares moved up closer to $100 in early trading Thursday.