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CEO, President and Board Chair of Community Bancorp. and Community National Bank Stephen P. Marsh has announced the bank’s plans to close two office locations in Caledonia County. At the close of business on Friday, July 17, 2015, the bank will permanently close the Broad Street office in Lyndonville and the Federal Street office in St. Johnsbury.

Mr. Marsh stated, “We have conducted an extensive analysis of our branch network with a particular focus on branch usage. This work led us to a more thorough examination of our four Caledonia County offices and their proximity to one another. Given the number of our customers that are choosing to bank with us electronically, we felt that a consolidation of our Caledonia County offices was warranted, and the decision was made to close two locations. We do not anticipate additional office closures at this time.”

by Elizabeth Hewitt vtdigger.org According to the secretary of the administration, fewer than 50 Vermont state employees may be laid off under the proposal cut $10.8 million in labor and personnel costs in the fiscal year 2016 budget. The labor savings target was first proposed by Governor Peter Shumlin in January, and was approved by members of the House when the body passed H490, the budget bill, last month.

“My best guess is, I doubt it will be higher than 50 and it could be lower,” Johnson said Thursday. Paul Heintz of Seven Days first reported Johnson’s revised estimate.

The Office of the Attorney General is distributing over $118,000 in settlement funds to more than 1300 Vermonters who were Medicaid beneficiary customers of McGregor’s Medicine-on-Time pharmacy in Winooski, Vermont, from 2004 through 2012. The average distribution is $85.

The distribution is the result of a settlement agreement between the State and McGregor’s that resolved allegations of Medicaid fraud. The State set aside a portion of the settlement funds to distribute to McGregor’s former Medicaid beneficiary customers who may have been improperly charged a monthly service fee or excessive copayments. The amount distributed to each beneficiary was determined based on the number of Medicaid pharmacy claims that McGregor’s submitted in the beneficiary’s name from 2004 through 2012.

Individuals receiving correspondence from the Office of the Attorney General should open the letter immediately as it may contain a check.

Source: VtAG 4.24.2015

First Congregational Church at Thetford Hill, VT, the oldest meeting house in continuous service in the state of Vermont, has become the one thousandth customer connected to ECFiber’s network. To celebrate the occasion, ECFiber Chairman Irv Thomae presented a commemorative certificate to Rona Kinsley, Interim Pastor at the church.

First Congregational Church Interim Pastor, Rona Kinsley, receives a certificate of recognition and appreciation from Irv Thomae, Chairman of ECFiber. From left to right, Terry Barker, Church Secretary, Kinsley, Thomae, David Hooke, Chair of the church Board of Trustees, Stan Williams, CEO of ECFiber.

Champlain College has been recognized for the second time as winner of the Professional Award for Best Cybersecurity Higher Education Program at the 2015 SC Awards. The award was presented Tuesday during the 2015 SC Awards Gala held in San Francisco.

"We are honored that SC Magazine has again recognized our distinctive technology degree programs and the people who helped build this program," said Champlain College President Donald J. Laackman. "The Leahy Center for Digital Investigation and our other Centers of Excellence provide Champlain students the opportunity to work on real-world projects in supervised environments. The students working in the LCDI increase the digital forensic capacity of Vermont law enforcement."

John Snell was recently honored by the Rotary Club of Montpelier with the Capital Award as Citizen of the Year. A number of friends and colleagues shared stories about John’s extraordinary volunteer work and business successes including David Harrison, who has known John for 60 years, Bev Hill, Kim Bent for Eric Love, Rob Spring -- John’s business partner for 20 years, John’s wife Liz Snell, Nancy Sherman read greetings from Michael Sherman, and Paul Hartman.

Montpelier Mayor John Holler read a proclamation which read in part, “Whereas, John Snell has lived the values of service above self by giving abundantly of himself and by inspiring others to share their skills and talents with the Montpelier community.”

The Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF) has been awarded a $5,000 grant by Granite State Economic Development Corporation (GSDC). The Vermont Community Loan Fund is a nonprofit, mission-driven alternative lender dedicated to creating healthy communities and financial stability for all Vermonters. VCLF’s lending creates opportunities for low-income, low-wealth Vermonters, creating and preserving quality jobs for the small businesses that are the foundation of the state’s economy.

At the invitation of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey will visit Vermont Friday, April 24. Together, Leahy and Comey will tour the digital laboratory – the Leahy Center for Digital Investigation – at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. Champlain College President Don Laackman will join Leahy and Comey on the tour, which will be followed by a press availability.

Green Mountain Power is inviting customers to an open house at its Energy Innovation Center (EIC) in Downtown Rutland on Saturday, May 2, 2015 beginning at 9 am. The public can learn about GMP’s line of comprehensive energy efficient products and services that will empower customers to take control of their energy use and save money. This is the third open house GMP has offered in partnership with Efficiency Vermont and Neighborworks of Western Vermont to feature new products and services. With spring finally here, now is the time to consider home improvements like heat pumps, water heaters and more.

The Joint Commission (TJC), the nation’s leading accreditation and certification organization for hospitals and healthcare organizations, has renewed the Brattleboro Retreat’s Accreditation status for a period lasting up to January 2018. Accreditation from TJC is recognized as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting or exceeding a variety of performance standards.

The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization, accredits and certifies more than 20,000 healthcare organizations across the country. TJC accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.

Four winners in Vermont were recognized Wednesday at EPA’s 2015 Environmental Merit Awards ceremony. The environmental leaders were among 27 recipients across New England honored for helping to improve New England’s environment. Each year EPA New England recognizes individuals and groups in the six New England states who have worked to protect or improve the region’s environment in distinct ways. The Vermont winners were Jacob Park of Green Mountain College, Poultney; DELTA T-90 Students at Norwich University, Northfield; Mountain Meadow Farm, Sudbury; and Green House Gas Use Reduction Projects at IBM Vermont, Essex Junction. Justin Johnson, newly appointed secretary of the Vermont Agency of Administration, was also recognized.

The merit awards, given out since 1970, honor individuals and groups who have shown particular ingenuity and commitment in their efforts.

Drivers need to be alert and cautious because moose are on the move, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Moose are more likely to be crossing roadways at this time of year, especially after dark or early in the morning as they move from wintering areas to spring feeding locations.

More moose are hit by motorists in the spring than at any other time of the year. There is another peak of activity in September and October, the breeding season for moose.

“Motorists hit 64 moose on Vermont highways during 2014,” said Col. Jason Batchelder of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. “We are asking drivers to be especially careful and for people to enjoy watching moose from a distance. Moose can be unpredictable and dangerous if you get too close and they feel cornered or get irritated.”