Current News

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.

Attorney General William H Sorrell announced that the Plaintiffs who are seeking to invalidate Act 120, Vermont’s law requiring the labeling of food produced with genetic engineering (GE or GMO), are now asking the federal appeals court in New York City to rule on their request to halt the Vermont law. On April 27, 2015, the United States District Court for the District of Vermont denied Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction in its entirety. Today, Plaintiffs appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit seeking to overturn the District Court’s decision.

No briefing schedule for the appeal has yet been set. However, it is likely that Plaintiffs will pursue some acceleration of the usual process. The normal timeframe for parties to complete their briefing and the court to schedule a date to hear oral argument at the appellate level can run from 7 to 9 months.

Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce have selected the three finalists for the Deane C Davis Outstanding Business of the Year Award: Bond Auto Parts, Champlain Cable Corporation, and S.D. Ireland. One of these impressive finalists will be named the Deane C. Davis Outstanding Vermont Business of the Year on Thursday, May 21 in an awards presentation ceremony that kicks off the 31^st annual Vermont Chamber Business & Industry EXPO. The award winner will be announced at 10 am in the foyer of the Sheraton Burlington Conference Center.

This year’s finalists exemplify the resourcefulness, innovation and success of Vermont’s statewide businesses. They all share a dedication to their employees, communities and Vermont’s natural environment. Each represents a unique story of vision, commitment and growth.

The Department of Buildings and General Services will be auctioning a large assortment of State vehicles and equipment to the general public beginning at 10 am on Saturday, May 9, 2014. The May 9 physical auction of State vehicles is expected to be very well attended. The auction will be held at the Agency of Transportation Central Garage located at 1756 US Route 302, in Berlin, Vermont (05602), across from the Wayside Restaurant.

“This is an ABSOLUTE auction with no reserves. All vehicles will be sold to the highest bidder rain or shine,” said Terry Lamos the State’s Surplus Property Coordinator. “This auction is on many calendars across New England and Quebec. It has become a destination event for many who come year after year in hopes of obtaining a good deal on a vehicle or piece of equipment,” said Lamos. State officials are hopeful that a portion of the equipment and vehicles being offered finds their way back into service in Vermont communities.

by Governor Peter Shumlin Even as Vermont’s economy continues to show signs of progress, the message I hear from Vermonters is that they don’t feel the economic recovery is reaching their pocket books. While we have the 6th lowest unemployment rate in America and Vermont employers have thousands of job openings, incomes and wages for working Vermonters have not recovered fast enough from the depths of the Great Recession. This is a national trend from which Vermont is not immune, and it’s why I am so focused on making this economy work for every single Vermonter. As the legislative session comes to a close, I am very concerned about proposed income tax hikes that will make it even harder for working Vermonters to get ahead. In my view, we need to make every effort to cut spending before we ask middle class Vermonters to pay higher taxes.