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Vermont Business Magazine Average gasoline prices in Vermont are $3.37/g, down 1 cent per gallon from last week's $3.38/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $3.21/g while the highest was $3.59/g, a difference of 38.0 cents per gallon. The national average price of gasoline has risen 6.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.57/g today. The national average is up 17.1 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 0.8 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy

by Devon Green, VP of Government Relations, VAHHS Happy Eclipse Day! With all the school closures and traffic warnings, I’ve heard folks joke that this feels a lot like Y2k—a whole lot of concern over nothing. The thing about Y2k is that the “nothing” was the ultimate success story. There was a lot of preparation that went into ensuring that everything transitioned seamlessly. Similarly, hospitals have been working with the state and other emergency management resources to prepare for the influx of extra people in Vermont. Emergency departments and EMS personnel have done tabletop exercises on alternate routes if roads are impassable. They have practiced using ham radios to ensure that communications run smoothly during emergencies if our cell service is overloaded. You can read more about it in the Axios article below, featuring Jonathan Billings from Northwestern Medical Center. Hospitals prepare for the foreseeable and unforeseeable every day. We hope you get an incredible astrological sight today and a whole lot of nothing else, but we’ll be here if you need us. 

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement following the resignation of his good friend and mentor, Senator Richard T. Mazza, after 42 years of service in Montpelier, including the last 39 representing Colchester and Grand Isle County in the Vermont Senate. In part, Senator Mazza said: "Due to health reasons, I am unable to provide the quality of service and dedication I have always given to my constituents and the State of Vermont." He is stepping down today. See Mazza's resignation letter below. Scott said: “It would be difficult to find a Vermonter who has been more impactful, committed or dedicated to public service over the past four decades than Senator Dick Mazza."

Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies When David and Jane Sandelman relocated to Vermont in 2001, their first entrepreneurial endeavor was putting their spin on the classic Bob Newhart experience. Having spent several decades immersed in the corporate world in New York, the couple decided to purchase and restore an 18th-century farmhouse in Weathersfield, opening it as the Inn at Weathersfield. They developed the B&B and restaurant during the emergence of Vermont’s farm-to-table movement and made connections with local farms to source their meat, cheese, and produce. Through conversation with local cheesemakers, David learned that one was struggling to control the humidity level in his aging room. A natural tinkerer with expertise in control solutions, he devised “Vaportrol”, a technology leveraging vapor pressure to sustain optimal conditions for drying and curing cheese. When David and Jane gave their Vaportrol technology to a friend to test dry a cannabis flower, they were told they would ‘never get it back’ – it worked that well.

Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets If you're looking for a fun and authentic experience in Vermont, then you won't want to miss out on the state's Fairs & Field Days. These events are a celebration of Vermont's agricultural heritage, showcasing the best local produce, livestock, crafts, and entertainment. With dozens of events taking place throughout the state, you're sure to find a fair or field day that fits your schedule and interests. Whether you're interested in carnival rides, agricultural exhibits, live music, or simply sampling delicious local food and drinks, Vermont's Fairs & Field Days have something for everyone.

Vermont Business Magazine Vickie Gratton’s students can demonstrate for you exactly how the moon will cover the sun during the total eclipse on Monday—using hand puppets representing each celestial body. The preschoolers are lucky enough to finish up their two-week space unit during an historic time in the Vermont skies. “They can understand big things,” Gratton exclaimed. “It’s important to teach them about things that are going on around them so that they can see they’re part of a bigger world. It’s not just them; it’s bigger than them. The eclipse can be scary, but I want them to know what’s happening, what they need to do to see it.” Video available here. Gratton is finishing up her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education (ECE) using Vermont State University’s (VTSU’s) all-online program. She graduates in May. She’s not new to childcare, however, having taught and cared for children for 25 years.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Shant Soghomonian (also known as Michael Soghomonian), 35, previously of Northridge, California, was arrested on April 7, 2024, pursuant to a federal criminal complaint charging him with using fire to damage the building at One Church Street in Burlington, Vermont – a building used in interstate commerce and as a place of activity affecting interstate commerce and the office of US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont). “I am deeply grateful to the swift, professional, coordinated efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement in response to the fire at my Vermont office on Friday," Sanders said Sunday. "I am also thankful that none of the many people who were in the office building at the time of the fire were injured. I appreciate the outpouring of support and well-wishes for me and my staff. We are proud to be able to continue to serve Vermonters during these challenging times.” 

by Kate Kampner, Community News Service Bruce Hennessey and Beth Whiting were used to fending off flooding at Maple Wind Farm in Richmond. The couple have been in business for 25 years, and for the past 10 they’ve dealt with floods that have put hayfields underwater and torn up their barn. But all their preparation and experience didn’t seem to save them from the damage they endured last July, when historic floodwaters wracked Vermont. Maple Wind, which raises cattle, poultry and pigs, lost 400 turkeys and 700 broiler chickens in the flood, along with a tractor the couple tried using to save their animals. In early December, Vermont’s two senators joined their counterparts from Massachusetts to introduce a federal bill that could help farmers like Hennessey and Whiting facing future floods and other disasters. 

Vermont Business Magazine Ahead of Monday’s total solar eclipse, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, shared eye safety tips from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Northern Vermont will be one of the best places in the nation to see the total solar eclipse. You can find the exact time of ‘totality,’ or the moment the moon crosses directly in front of the sun, by inputting your zip-code into NASA’s interactive Eclipse Explorer tool.  

Vermont Business Magazine The annual River Valley Employment Fair will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2024, from 3 – 6 pm at Riverside Middle School in Springfield VT.  The Employment Fair provides an opportunity for job seekers to learn more about available positions from several regional employers. There also will be a raffle for attendees and Jamaican Jewels will be on site with their food truck as well. The Job Seeker raffle will feature ten potential raffle prizes each worth $50. For every employer table that job seekers visit they will receive a raffle ticket which they can then enter for any of the ten featured prizes.

by Kristin Clouser, Monica Hutt, Rebecca Kelley, Julie Moore and Kendal Smith As members of Governor Scott’s cabinet and senior staff, we were part of the team who interviewed candidates for our next secretary of the Agency of Education. All five of us are also moms of kids currently in, or graduated from, Vermont’s public school system. Each of us had the chance to interview the three finalists selected by the State Board of Education and provide input to the Governor as he made his decision. And we are looking forward to the opportunity to work with incoming Secretary Zoie Saunders. More than that, we are optimistic and excited to see how she can strengthen education in Vermont, benefiting our own children and communities.

Vermont Business Magazine Bromley Mountain’s 21st annual “Mom’s Day Off” fundraiser set a record on March 1, raising $12,000 to benefit breast cancer care at the Dartmouth Cancer Center at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC). Bromley donated more than $7,600 in proceeds from lift ticket sales, which are sold at a discounted rate of $30 for the day. The Wild Boar Tavern at Bromley also donated 50% of its food sales to the cause, totaling $2,257. Participants and community members made additional donations on Mom’s Day Off, including a $2,000 gift from the Women of Willard, which brought the grand total this year to $11,988.