Current News

Vermont Business Magazine Recently published findings from the VA Disrupted Care National Project (DCNP) revealed the number of vascular surgeries performed across the United States continued to decline even after large drops during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research study was published in the Annals of Vascular Surgery, investigating how the pandemic has impacted patients’ ability to receive critical care for blood vessel problems. The White River Junction VA Medical Center led a multi-institutional team of researchers to analyze 21,031 vascular surgeries of three common procedures from 2019 to 2023 using Medicare claim data. There was a dramatic drop of 47% at the beginning of the pandemic, but while rates of care recovered partially another drop of 34% occurred during the Omicron wave of the pandemic in early 2022.

Vermont Business Magazine For National Breastfeeding Month in August, Mamava and Medela are sharing the results of the annual State of Breastfeeding Survey. The industry-leading brands surveyed nearly 7,000 parents to learn more about breastfeeding journeys, challenges and support systems. Survey findings emphasize a critical need for increased access to breastfeeding support and infrastructure in workplaces and public spaces. According to the CDC, breastfeeding provides many health benefits for both babies and mothers. Despite federal and professional guidelines that recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life, 60% of mothers do not breastfeed as long as they intend to. 

Vermont Business Magazine On September 13, 2024, the annual Vermont Suicide Prevention Symposium will return to an in-person format in Randolph - promoting learning, hope, and action on this critical issue for all Vermonters. The day-long conference on the Vermont State University Randolph campus will include presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities featuring leading voices in the field from Vermont, New England, and beyond. The focus of the event is equitable, sustainable, and comprehensive suicide prevention education with sessions designed for mental health clinicians, peer support workers, advocates & families, individuals with lived experience, healthcare providers, educators, and community members. 

Vermont Business Magazine Brattleboro Retreat (Brattleboro, VT) has signed to deploy MEDITECH’s Expanse EHR using the company’s cloud-hosted MEDITECH as a Service model. This private, not-for-profit, psychiatric hospital offers comprehensive services designed to meet the mental health needs of its rural and urban communities. The MaaS subscription-based platform will enable Brattleboro Retreat to expand its services by offering an innovative, mobile, and scalable solution. The Brattleboro Retreat team will work with MEDITECH to connect communities and reshape access to mental health services. 

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Mental Health (DMH) has secured an extension to continue the Starting Over Strong Vermont flood recovery outreach program. This initiative, staffed by trained outreach workers, provides anonymous, free support including resource referrals and education. Other services include group and individual sessions focused on stress management techniques and coping strategies for disaster recovery. The extension is designed to help individuals affected by the July 2023 flooding who may be experiencing an increase in mental health impacts due to recent flooding events. Starting Over Strong Vermont is designed to reduce barriers to accessing mental health support through strengths-based, short-term assistance tailored to the unique needs of those affected by disasters. Program staff are available to provide both door-to-door outreach and through events at community locations, offering individual and group assistance.  

Vermont Business Magazine Mercy Connections is seeking women to join its Vermont Women’s Mentoring program aimed at supporting incarcerated women to successfully reenter the community. The mentorship program recruits women+ volunteers (mentors) in Vermont who wish to make a lasting impact on the lives of other women (mentees). It requires a five-week training course at the Mercy Connections center in Burlington, to be held on September 11 to October 9 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Mentors are then matched with a woman who is seeking a mentor. Mercy Connections’ Justice & Mentoring program will be holding an information session online on Wednesday, August 14th at 6:00PM. Interested volunteers may contact Joanne Nelson to register.

Vermont Business Magazine Removal of the derelict Wainwright Mill Dam (also known as Halnon Pond Dam) on Tributary #10 in Salisbury, VT (south side of Lake Dunmore Road) will begin this week.  The dam is in poor condition and no longer functional for its original purposes of powering a sawmill (constructed in 1805) and later as an ice pond.  The concrete structure is approximately 56 feet long, 7 feet tall, and 2 feet wide. The project work includes construction of site access and staging, implementation of flow bypass and erosion control measures, removal of the concrete dam, removal of impounded sediment behind the dam, restoration of the stream channel and floodplain, and habitat features (wood additions) throughout approximately 770 linear ft of stream channel and over 1.6 acres of floodplain.  

Vermont Business Magazine August 16th is Bennington Battle Day, a Vermont state holiday commemorating the American victory over the British on August 16, 1777. To celebrate this Revolutionary War victory, admission is free on Friday August 16th at the Bennington Battle Monument, Chimney Point (Addison), Mount Independence (Orwell), Hubbardton Battlefield, President Calvin Coolidge (Plymouth) State Historic Site, and Justin Morrill (Strafford) State Historic Site. There are also events planned throughout the three-day weekend at the Bennington Battle Monument, President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, and Mount Independence including all sorts of activities and reenactments. 

Vermont Business Magazine U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Rules and Administration and Senate Judiciary Committees, joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chairwoman of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in urging the Department of Justice to take further action to counter threats targeting election workers ahead of the upcoming election. The letter to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco was also signed by 19 of their colleagues. 

Vermont Business Magazine Today, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak announced Ingrid Jonas as the Mayor’s Senior Advisor on Community Safety. The position was included in the Mayor’s fiscal year 2025 budget, which was approved unanimously by the City Council on June 24, 2024 and took effect July 1. Jonas brings decades of law enforcement and victim advocacy experience to the City. She retired from the Vermont State Police (VSP) in 2021, having been the first woman to attain the ranks of captain and major with the VSP. During her time with the State Police, Jonas served for more than ten years as a Detective in the Northwest and Chittenden Special Investigations Units. She also held multiple leadership positions, including Director of the Internal Affairs Unit, Director of Fair & Impartial Policing and Community Affairs, and Division Commander of the Support Services Division.  

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that USDA and Vermont are offering approximately $1 million in equipment-only grants through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Vermont is accepting applications for equipment-only projects from August 28 through October 1, 2024. Grants range from $30,000 - $100,000 and have no match requirement. Today’s announcement is part of the $3.2 million USDA awarded to Vermont through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program to fund innovative projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems.  In April, VAAFM announced with USDA approximately $2 million available in Infrastructure Grants for projects within the state. Awards for these Infrastructure Grants will be announced in the coming months.

Vermont Business Magazine Butterworks Farm, a beloved gem in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, proudly announces its acquisition by Anthony Calderaro, Ania Kuniej, and Joseph Calderaro. This exciting transition marks a new chapter for the farm, a pioneer in grass-fed organic dairy farming since its founding by Jack and Anne Lazor in 1976. Renowned for its 100% grass-fed organic dairy products made from the buttery, protein-rich, creamy milk of its Jersey cows, Butterworks Farm has earned a loyal customer base through its commitment to both quality products and sustainable farming practices. The farm benefits from a dedicated team of employees and a commitment to the longevity of its vibrant farm ecosystem.