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by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First, Vermont Business Magazine Former longtime State Sen. Richard T. Mazza, D-Colchester/Grand Isle, who resigned last month due to health issues, died at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester on Saturday. Mazza built a lifelong reputation for honesty, kindness, ethics, humor and philanthropy – often behind the scenes and unknown to many. There are no visiting hours. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Malletts Bay. A celebration of life will be held immediately after at the Miller Building at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. 

VermontBiz Bellows Falls’ rich industrial history and vision for the future will be celebrated in the dedication of the recently installed Robertson Paper Mill Historic Interpretive Kiosk, presented by Bellows Falls Area Development Corporation (BFADC) and Town of Rockingham. The public is warmly invited to the dedication which will take place on Wednesday, June 5th at 5:00 pm at the former location of Robertson Paper at 21 Island Street on the island in Bellows Falls.

Coinciding with the 2024 Vermont Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference held in Bellows Falls, the brief dedication will highlight a marker dedicated to the history of “Robbie Paper,” assembled almost entirely from materials reclaimed from the demolition of the mill in 2019. The event will also feature an installation of paper lanterns decorated by town residents with paper salvaged from the mill. The effort shines a light on the powerful, storied past and bright potential economic development future for this prime location.

by Cathy Solsaa The debate over educational equity in Vermont, particularly around the implementation of Act 127 and the Pupil Weighting Factors Report, touches deeply on the state's social and economic disparities. This conflict is starkly illustrated by the historical and current attitudes of certain towns towards neighboring communities, especially in the context of educational funding reforms. Historically, some towns have shown a preference for maintaining their educational and socio-economic exclusivity. This was evident when Vermont officials, in an effort to balance educational resources statewide, proposed merging smaller districts to create more equitable educational opportunities. The opposition from wealthier towns to merging with less affluent towns was perceived by many as a move to protect local interests and maintain a homogenous, affluent educational environment, rather than integrate with and support more economically diverse communities.

VermontBiz Windham County’s economy has a little bit of everything from large manufacturers such as Sonnax or wholesalers such as G&S Wholesale, so smaller startups, artisan food products, arts organizations, and higher education. Here, a few business owners and nonprofit leaders share their experiences working in the Southeastern Vermont economy.

VermontBiz Windam County’s shifting, transitioning and eclectic economy has claimed another victim: Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, a multigenerational business in downtown Brattleboro, closed its flagship store at Flat and Main streets in April, just seven months after M&T Bank shuttered its nearby branch at the corner of Elliot and Main

But the news isn’t all bad. Several other long-running businesses, including Burrows Specialized Sports, Everyone’s Books and Mocha Joe’s Coffee House, have found new ownership and will live to see another day.

At a fundamental level, said Adam Grinold, executive director of Brattleboro Development Credit Corp, the local economy remains strong. Employers large and small across the county are seeking to add more employees and continue to grow.

Vermont Business Magazine Switchback Brewing Co, home to Vermont’s iconic Switchback Ale, faced a unique challenge when the COVID-19 pandemic forced bars and restaurants across the nation to close their doors. With thousands of gallons of beer brewed in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day Weekend at risk of going to waste, the innovative teams at Switchback and Appalachian Gap Distillery embarked on a new venture, partnering to create Essential Spirits. The process began by distilling approximately 1,500 kegs, equivalent to 250,000 cans of Switchback Ale at Appalachian Gap Distillery. After distillation, the whiskey is aged for at least three years in oak barrels in App Gap’s facility in Middlebury, VT, developing a beautiful amber hue, herbaceous notes and a warm, caramel whiskey body.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Lake Monsters are pleased to announce the continuation with Two Brothers Tavern in Middlebury as the first "Official Outpost of the Vermont Lake Monsters," which will include a kick-off event on Saturday, June 8th and watch parties of the Future League ballclub throughout the summer. As the Addison County Outpost for the Lake Monsters, Two Brothers Tavern will hold a season "kick-off" event on Saturday, June 8th at noon in its special event space, Notte, with free food, and featuring Champ and several Lake Monsters players. Two Brothers Tavern will also offer seasonal Lake Monsters kids menu items during the 2024 baseball season, with $1 from every one of Two Brothers Tavern's Lake Monster Children's menu items going to UVM Children's Hospital.

Vermont Business Magazine Comedian Don McMillan will be headlining the Go For Gold Comedy Fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics Vermont at Essex High School June 20. What do you get when you cross an engineer with a stand-up comedian? You get Don McMillan. This former chip designer has been doing his one-of-a-kind, PowerPoint-Driven comedy show for audiences for over 20 years. His show is packed with graphs & charts & laughs. He also was a finalist on America's Got Talent.

Vermont Business Magazine We take time this Memorial Day to remember of the ultimate sacrifice made by so many members of the United States military in defense of our nation’s freedoms, values and ideals. The day also marks the unofficial start of summer, which can bring unique risks from both climate-related hazards and outdoor recreation.

Vermont Business Magazine Waterbury will soon open its first ReStore. The store will be owned and operated by Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity. According to store manager Harold Blake, its grand opening is scheduled for June 7th. The nonprofit has brought one full-time position, one part-time position, and will bring one additional part-time position to the area. The new store will be located at 149 South Main Street in Waterbury in the former Kinney Drug location next to Subway. It features approximately 3,500 square feet of retail space and is already stocked with a mixture of appliances, furniture, and home decor as Habitat for Humanity’s principal aim is to serve its community’s home needs. 

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Public has been honored with five Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for its journalism in 2023 from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). The winning coverage includes: Continuing Coverage: Three Students of Palestinian Descent Shot in Burlington; Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Black Birth: Laboring for Justice; and Excellence in Innovation: But Why: Adventures | Northeast Nature. "To have our work recognized in these categories is an honor, and a testament to the incredible range of skill and expertise on our content team" said Angela Evancie, senior vice president of content. "From of-the-moment news and fearless investigative reporting to candid conversations about race and innovative educational video, these entries demonstrate that public service journalism and storytelling can take many shapes, and all of them serve our audience in important ways.”

Vermont Business Magazine University of Vermont Health Network and the Association of Africans Living in Vermont (AALV) partnered to bring global public health advocate Deogratias “Deo” Niyizonkiza to Vermont for a visit this week. Deo is the founder of Village Health Works. His dedication to community organizing, women’s and maternal health and healing in Burundi have made him a key voice in global health. Deo grew up in the mountains of Burundi, and survived a civil war and genocide before seeking a new life in America. In New York City he lived homeless in Central Park before finding his way to Columbia University. Deo opened the first Village Health Works outpatient clinic in 2007 – and it has expanded to include offerings around health care, education and food security.