Current News

Vermont Business Magazine iSun, Inc (NASDAQ: ISUN), a leading solar energy and clean mobility infrastructure company with 50 years of experience accelerating the adoption of innovative electrical technologies, today announced that Jeffrey Peck, Chairman and CEO, and John Sullivan, Chief Financial Officer, have each purchased 50,000 shares of iSun common stock on the open market, thus together buying 100,000 shares at a total price of $52,808, or an average cost of $0.53 per share, reinforcing, they said, their confidence in the company’s progress and opportunities ahead.

Vermont Business Magazine The National Life Group Do Good Fest has added Fastball and lovelytheband to the July 15 benefit concert lineup, bringing together bands with number one hits in three different decades. These bands round out the bill along with headliner, two-time Grammy nominated American Rock Band Plain White T’s and Vermont favorite, All Night Boogie Band. Formed in 1994 in Austin, Texas, Fastball combined a fondness for melodic, Beatles-inspired pop with the alternative aesthetic of late-'90s mainstream rock. In 1998, Fastball’s “The Way” peaked at number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and remained there for seven weeks.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Lake Monsters are pleased to announce a partnership with Two Brothers Tavern in Middlebury, naming it as the first "Official Outpost of the Vermont Lake Monsters." As the Addison County Outpost for the Lake Monsters, Two Brothers Tavern will hold a season "kick-off" event on Saturday, June 3 at noon, with a free buffet, Champ and several Lake Monsters players. Two Brothers Tavern will also unveil its signature seasonal Lake Monsters menu item: the Lake Monsters Hot Dog. During the upcoming baseball season, $1 from every hot dog sold at Two Brothers Tavern will be donated to the UVM Children's Hospital.

Vermont Business Magazine As boaters visit Vermont’s lakes and ponds this summer, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) offers tips to stay safe and protect natural resources.

“Vermont’s lakes offer great places to fish, boat, swim, and enjoy being outside,” said DEC Commissioner John Beling. “These lakes also provide important habitat for wildlife and drinking water for many Vermonters. Balancing recreational use with natural resource conservation is a constant goal.”

In 1994, the State of Vermont created the Use of Public Waters Rules (bit.ly/use-pw-rules) so that everyone can use and enjoy public lakes and ponds in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. The DEC suggests that boaters follow these tips before, while, and after boating:

Before boating:

Vermont Business Magazine EmpowR Transformation received a $2000 grant to offer eight community dialogue circles this summer at Grandmother Cherry Sanctuary in Plainfield, Vermont. The grant was awarded by The Circle Way, a global equity and justice facilitation organization and practice. Four White Women Accountability Circles will be held for white-identifying women (cis/trans), femmes, and non-binary/trans people who were socialized as women to support staying engaged in transformative justice and processing emotionally charged racialized situations without putting labor on People of Color. Facilitated by EmpowR Transformation founder, Rae Carter, space will be held to integrate deeper layers of equity commitments through processing personal antiracism work in community. White Diversity/Equity/Inclusion/Belonging (DEIB) facilitators, equity consultants, trauma practitioners, advocates, and educators are encouraged to attend to also cultivate relationship building in movement work. Circles take place on June 8, July 12, August 10, and September 13 from 5:30-8:30 pm. Pre-registration is required.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott and his senior staff today again reiterated the reasons why the General Assistance "Hotel/Motel" program serving some 3,000 homeless needs to transition to the next phase. Scott said along with the obvious cost of the program ($8 million a month or about $145 a day per room), the hotel/motel program was instituted to help people stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Without the federal funding the state can not afford to support it as is. As a transition, they have extended eligibility to for the temporary program to include families with children up 18 years old, from 6, along with the pre-pandemic eligibility that will remain in place (disabled, third trimester of pregnancy, and over 65). The clock will be reset and they will receive another 28 days. The other problem, the governor pointed out, is that the hotel/motel program did not offer services nor did it require individuals to seek services. About 800 individuals are scheduled to come off the current program on June 1 and another 2,000 or so will come off July 1. Again, some number of those will be eligible for the extended benefits.

Vermont Business Magazine Saint Michael’s College trustees recently selected Lewis Thayne — a veteran college leader with proven strengths in fundraising, strategic planning, marketing, and enrollment — to serve as interim president. He will start this summer and serve until a formal search process leads to a permanent president sometime in early 2024. Lorraine Sterritt, the Saint Michael’s president for the past five years, has announced her June 30 retirement. Trustees decided that, rather than rush the selection of a permanent new president, they would contract with an organization called The Registry, which offers “senior interim leadership in higher education.”

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday, surrounded by numerous community leaders and supporters, Mayor Miro Weinberger announced his intention to bring the appointment of Chief Jon Murad to the Burlington City Council for confirmation at their June 5th meeting. This is the second confirmation attempt. Murad was appointed acting chief in 2020, but Progressives block his confirmation as permanent chief in 2022. This came on the heels of the "defund police" movement, following the murder of George Floyd, and the cutting of police positions in Burlington. Murad's temperament has also been questioned by detractors, especially following an incident with an emergency department doctor at the University of Vermont Medical Center last August. But the composition of the Council swung away from Progressives since that last vote, in part because of the defund movement, and Democrats are in a stronger position. Mayor Weinberger is also lauding Murad's steadfastness and accomplishments over the last few years during what has been a difficult public safety period for the city.

Vermont Business Magazine The Attorney General’s Office announced that Robert Bivens, 54, and Andrew Sollace, 41, both of Montpelier, Vermont, were arraigned yesterday on multiple counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. Mr. Bivens was arraigned on two felony counts and three misdemeanor counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. Mr. Sollace was arraigned on four felony counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. The charges brought against Mr. Bivens and Mr. Sollace are the result of a criminal investigation, including the execution of search warrants into the shared residence of Mr. Bivens and Mr. Sollace and online data accounts, by the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (VT-ICAC), which included personnel from the Attorney General’s Office, Montpelier Police Department, Randolph Police Department, Burlington Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Vermont Business Magazine The United States Supreme Court issued a decision this week in Sackett vs. EPA that substantially narrows the Clean Water Act (CWA) by ruling that only wetlands with a continuous connection to larger bodies of water are protected under federal law. The decision will leave many ecological important wetlands unprotected throughout the country and rolls back protections that have safeguarded our waters for more than 50 years. Even with Vermont’s stronger protections for wetlands, we all should be troubled by this Supreme Court ruling. The decision sides with anti-regulatory organizations who pushed to strip the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to protect vital natural resources and clean up our country’s waters.

Vermont Business Magazine Eighteen Southern Vermont Emerging Leaders were recognized on May 23 during the Southern Vermont Economy Summit. With sponsorship from the Community College of Vermont, the Southern Vermont Young Professionals and the Shires Young Professionals conducted the annual recognition event, which celebrates young people from the Bennington and Windham regions. Individuals were nominated based on their work as community leaders and volunteers, and for their professional accomplishments and commitment to serving the region. Once nominated, each Emerging Leader was asked to submit an application describing their career and community service accomplishments. Many responses were characterized by a desire to cultivate healthier, more welcoming communities, recognizing the incremental nature of change.

Vermont Business Magazine For the 2023 running of the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay, sponsor M&T Bank and organizer RunVermont are preparing to welcome thousands of runners, volunteers, and spectators to Burlington for the weekend-long celebration, marathon, and relay. As the largest sporting event in Vermont, the marathon provides an annual economic impact of over $3.5 million to the Burlington area. The 34th M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay will take place in Burlington on May 28, consisting of a full marathon and two- and five-person relays. The events will welcome an estimated 4,400 runners from across New England, the US, and beyond. The course, which winds through Burlington and along Lake Champlain, has long been considered one of the nation's best mid-sized marathons and counts towards qualification for the Boston Marathon.