Current News

by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First, Vermont Business Magazine Veteran prosecutor Bram Kranichfeld, who was passed over to head the Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office in 2017 by Governor Phil Scott, has been tapped by the chief executive to take command of the troubled Franklin County State's Attorney's office. Scott is scheduled to swear in Kranichfeld today as the Interim Franklin County State's Attorney to replace embattled prosecutor John Lavoie, who was facing an impeachment inquiry by a special House Committee until he resigned last month. One of Kranichfeld's primary tasks will be restoring peace and civility to the Franklin County State's Attorney's Office, which had some employees actively opposing Lavoie's campaign last year when longtime boss Jim Hughes announced he was retiring.

Vermont Business Magazine Most of Vermont’s forests are young, having been cleared within the last 200 years, and the old forests once dominated Vermont’s landscape are extremely uncommon. Besides being rare, old forests are diverse, resilient, and provide important habitats for wildlife. Join Ethan Tapper, the Chittenden County forester, this week for a talk about what old forests are like (it may surprise you!), why they’re important, and how forest management can help make Vermont’s young forests more like old forests, creating many of the unique conditions and habitats found in old forests centuries sooner than they would naturally occur.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement on commemorating Labor Day: “Today, we pay tribute to and recognize the workers of America who built our nation, support our communities, and power our economy. America has risen to be the envy of the world in no small part because of the ingenuity, determination, and work ethic of the American worker."

Vermont Business Magazine Student reporters in university-managed reporting programs produced more than 7500 news stories last year, with more than seven million views, according to just-released data from the Center for Community News. In its first national study of the extensive reach of student reporting, CCN captured the growing role that students are playing to fill news gaps in the US today. This study is the culmination of a productive pilot year for the Center for Community News, a nonpartisan nonprofit at the University of Vermont that is helping to grow university-led journalism around the country. It was inspired by the success of UVM’s own Community News Service and the demand for more coordination and support for these programs nationally.

Vermont Business Magazine Enosburgh residents will soon be able to enjoy a much-desired community playground for children ages 2 through 12 at the Enosburgh recreation fields thanks to a recently launched crowdfunding campaign. The campaign is sponsored by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development’s Better Places program and offered through the crowdfunding platform developed by Patronicity. The campaign is led by the Town of Enosburgh. If the campaign reaches its $10,000 goal by October 31st, 2023 the “Bring a Community Playground to Enosburgh!” campaign will receive a matching grant of $20,000 from DHCD’s Better Places program.

by Emily Bradbury “There’s something larger going on here than bagging greens,” said Karin Bellemare, owner of The Roots Farm Market in Middlesex. “There's a community connection. We’re in an old-school general store, but new…maybe the next phase of the general store? It may seem kind of ‘new-age’, but there are different ways of doing business that are rooted in kindness and respect for the earth and other human beings. That’s what I’m working to cultivate here.”

Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of September 4, 2023. Most crews will be off for Labor Day on Monday and resume work on Tuesday. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.   

Vermont Business Magazine The who's who of Vermont's ski and snowboarding world will gather at Killington’s new K1 Lodge on Saturday, October 14th to celebrate the Induction of the class of 2023 into the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. The event, hosted by the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe, will also honor the recipients of the Paul Robbins Journalism Award and First Tracks. One of the highlights of the event will be the premier of short biographical films created for each inductee shown before their acceptance speeches.

Vermont Business Magazine While the Vermont Legislature has been debating creating a mandatory paid family and medical leave program, Governor Scott launched on July 1st of this year Phase 1 of a voluntary paid family and medical leave program, potentially pre-empting any action by the legislature to mandate such a program. Phase 2 includes open enrollment for all Vermont businesses on July 1st, 2024, and the Administration is seeking to engage with employers who might be interested in extending this coverage to their employees at an affordable cost. 

The Vermont State Police has arrested a suspect on murder charges arising from the deaths of two people whose bodies were found Friday night inside a home in Whitingham. The victims are identified as Michael Garvin, 52, and his mother, Lucy Garvin, 79, both of whom lived in the home at 2173 Vermont Route 8A where the incident occurred. Through investigation, the Vermont State Police identified a suspect and learned that Michael Garvin’s truck was missing. Members of the Brattleboro Police Department located the vehicle Friday night, conducted a traffic stop and ultimately detained the driver, 54-year-old Christopher Ellis. 

Northeastern Vermont Development Association Funding is still available! The $20 million dollar Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program through the Department of Economic Development is for businesses, nonprofits, and landlords that suffered physical flood damage. The grant funds are to help businesses reopen their doors, bring employees back to work, and help displaced Vermonters return to their rental housing. It's not too late to apply. 

Vermont Business Magazine VMEC invites your business to join CONNEX™ Vermont, our newest service offering, an online platform that connects all Vermont Manufacturers, Buyers, and Suppliers in a Single, Searchable Supply-Chain Solution. It's easy and FREE and you have great support from the VMEC staff who can explain its many benefits. Join VMEC in September and October for an hour-long introductory session where we can answer all your questions and even help you get your account set up. All sessions will be presented via Zoom and are FREE.