Current News

Green Mountain Care Board Wednesday, May 31, 2023: Board Meeting (1:00pm): VITL FY24 Budget – GMCB Staff Presentation – Potential Vote; OneCare Vermont Guidance – GMCB Staff Presentation – Potential Vote.

Vermont Business Magazine VITL, which securely delivers health data for Vermonters, announced May 26 that vice president of finance and chief financial officer, Robert “Bob” Turnau, will retire after seven years with the organization and a career in finance spanning nearly 40 years. VITL has named Cara Callanan as the organization’s new chief financial officer (CFO).

Vermont Business Magazine Whether it is during a sporting event, a recreational outing with friends and family, or an everyday activity like yard work or driving to the store, knowing how to both spot the signs of life-threatening bleeding and what you can do to STOP THE BLEED, can help save lives in an emergency. Dillon said that no matter how rapidly emergency responders arrive on-scene at an accident or in response to a traumatic injury, bystanders are almost always able to make a positive impact.

by Lauren Norford, LICSW Miriam knew she should be happy about her recent birth and healthy baby. She had been edgy and irritable throughout the pregnancy, and the birth of her baby should have been cause only for celebration. Yet Miriam felt a sense of dread as she cared for her baby. She felt “imposter syndrome,” had bouts of crying and sadness, and wondered if her feelings would be discovered by someone.

Sometimes she had trouble eating and sleeping due to her mood. Miriam began to doubt herself more and more and was afraid to talk to anyone about what she was feeling.

Monique was 30 weeks pregnant and in a state of constant worry. Despite her doctor’s reassurance, she always felt like something bad was going to happen to her baby. Sleep at night was difficult, and she struggled to eat enough during the day. Monique felt her anxieties must be what all pregnant parents experience, so she didn’t speak up to her providers.

Vermont Business Magazine The Gary Residence in Montpelier has recently adopted the groundbreaking Best Friends method for caring for people with memory loss by adding a Best Friends Certified Master Trainer (BF-CMT) to their staff. Dawn Palowski, Executive Director of The Gary Residence, recently completed her BF-CMT certification, demonstrating a commitment to providing high quality memory care.

Vermont Business Magazine Three nurses, two nursing assistants (LNAs) and one medical assistant (MA) at Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) were recently recognized for providing extraordinary patient care with DAISY and PETALS Awards, respectively, by the DAISY Foundation, an international organization founded to celebrate nurses. The DAISY Foundation award program’s nursing professional development and recognition council awarded Operating Room Nurse Manager Wendy Tetrault, RN, CNOR, the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Tetrault supervises the operating room and same-day surgery programs.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott on Saturday vetoed the state budget and a voter change in Brattleboro, while letting one charter change in Burlington become law without his signature, while vetoing another. The Legislature has already set aside a "veto session" for June 21 in anticipation of the governor vetoing at least some bills. There are still several bills, including the childcare bill, upon which he has not acted. 

Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth issued the following statement on Saturday regarding the veto: "At this point, Phil Scott has issued far more vetoes than any Governor in Vermont history, an increasingly unsettling aspect of his tenure.  And this veto of H.494 has to be the most flawed and harmful of any in recent memory. With one-time money subtracted, the Legislature's budget and the Governor's differ by about three percent -- with nearly all of that difference flowing to mental health, adult-days and other critical service providers. But more crucially, this veto also freezes expanded emergency funding to municipalities and agencies being asked to provide the actual transition plans for those exiting the General Assistance housing program. 

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets If you are a Vermont farm that rotationally grazes ruminant livestock, the VAAFM Farm Agronomic Practices (FAP) program may be right for you. The FAP program provides funding to help Vermont farms implement soil-based agronomic practices that improve soil quality, increase crop production, and reduce erosion and agricultural waste discharges. The program pays farmers $30 per acre for rotational grazing. 

The Middlebury College Class of 2023, whose first year of college was dramatically altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrated their graduation on a picture-perfect May morning on the main quad. The College conferred degrees to 610 students, including those who graduated in February. President Laurie Patton welcomed the graduates, families and friends, congratulating the senior class for raising more than $100,000 in support of student access through the Seizing Opportunities Fund and the Student Emergency Fund. The funds ensure all students have access to the full Middlebury experience and help them to navigate through difficult times, regardless of their personal circumstances.

Vermont Business Magazine Today, The Vermont Flannel Company announced the Grand Opening of a new retail store in Freeport, Maine. Located in a charming brick building on 47 Main Street, Vermont Flannel’s first-ever Maine location will be open for business beginning Saturday, May 27, 2023, with current retail hours of Monday - Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 11-5. Visit the beautiful new store for an authentic Vermont Flannel experience. The public is invited to celebrate the occasion with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 31. The event will be held from 5:30-6:30 pm. Matt Bigelow, President of The Vermont Flannel Company, will kick off the ceremony. Vermont Flannel will be joined by the Freeport Chamber of Commerce as well as Ben & Jerry’s, who will be serving up the flavor of Vermont with scoops of their delicious Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream.

Vermont Business Magazine Fans across the US shout out: visit Smugglers’ Notch Distillery for the best vodka, specialty spirits, and incredible tasting room experiences. For the sixth year in a row, Smugglers’ Notch Distillery has been chosen by enthusiasts across the country in the USA Today 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards, this year in three categories including top four Best Distillery Tasting Rooms in the US.