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Every summer at Marlboro Music, an international, multi-generational community forms anew, comprised of some 80 professional musicians, as well as staff members, spouses, and children. For seven decades, it has been Marlboro's mission to mentor emerging artists, to provide nearly unlimited rehearsal time and artistic freedom, and to create a nurturing community with a joyful and loving spirit, surrounded by the verdant beauty of Southern Vermont. Known worldwide as an institution devoted to artistic excellence and to developing new leaders who illuminate all areas of music, Marlboro is where the concept of having master artists play together with exceptional young professionals was born—initiating a dynamic, collaborative approach to learning. Under the artistic direction of pianists Mitsuko Uchida and Jonathan Biss, the artists form more than 60 chamber music ensembles each week, working together intensively for seven weeks from late June until mid August.

Leonine Public Affairs House Speaker Jill Krowinski and other House leaders announced their intention on Thursday to form a special committee to investigate the conduct of two Vermont elected officials. Democratic Franklin County State’s Attorney John Lavoie is facing allegations of harassment and discrimination in his office. Republican Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore is facing charges for assaulting a person in custody last year. The impeachment process is very rare in Vermont, and the announcement that the House will move forward with an investigation adds an unexpected spin to the end of the 2023 legislative session. According to an analysis by House Clerk BetsyAnn Wrask, the last time the General Assembly conducted impeachment proceedings was in 1976, when the House impeached Washington County Sheriff Malcolm Mayo for multiple infractions, including allegedly falsifying records and assaulting someone in the Thrush Tavern in Montpelier.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has a rich tradition of community engagement with public land management. Recreation trails within our state parks and forests would not be the resource many enjoy without the efforts of countless non-profit organizations and volunteers. With over 250 miles of trails in Orange, Washington, and Lamoille counties, the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation’s (FPR) is seeking the public’s support in maintaining trails. Currently, over 43 miles do not have a trail maintainer to support general trail maintenance. The trails available to help are primarily in Little River State Park, Elmore State Park, the Worcester Range, and Spruce Mountain. Trail maintainers are asked, at minimum, to visit their trail twice a season - spring and fall.

Vermont Business Magazine When you're tired of #adulting, Ben & Jerry's newest pint flavor is a sure thing to bring you back to simpler times spent sipping from the hose, mowing lawns for money and summer skies full of stars. Say hello to Ice Cream Sammie, inspired by the classic ice cream sandwich of your youth, and, there's a "no sticky fingers guarantee" at no extra charge. The flavor focuses on the simple vanilla and chocolate combination of the classic ice cream sandwich. It features Ben & Jerry's rich and creamy vanilla ice cream with chocolate sandwich cookies and chocolate cookie swirls.

Vermont Business Magazine Lawson’s Finest Liquids, the Vermont craft brewery with a commitment to quality and sustainability, is expanding its lineup and bringing 19.2 oz cans of its flagship, award-winning Sip of Sunshine to coolers across the Northeast ahead of the summer holidays. Lawson’s Finest’s flagship Sip of Sunshine (8% ABV) is a lupulin-laden India Pale Ale packed with juicy tropical fruit character, bright floral aromas and delectable layers of hop flavor. Fans can find this tropical vacation in a can in a new grab-and-go format at convenience stores, grocers, and entertainment venues throughout Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Vermont Business Magazine Earlier this week, The Vermont Flannel Co. announced the grand opening of their permanent location at 96 Depot St. in Manchester, Vermont. A week-long celebration is taking place from Saturday, May 6 through Saturday, May 13, culminating with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 12, and a Sip & Shop experience on Saturday, May 13. The press and public are invited to celebrate the occasion and to experience the beautiful new store for an authentic Vermont Flannel experience. Through Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14, customers can take 10% off Stadium Blanket purchases in-store with code MOMSDAY10. The ribbon cutting ceremony, hosted in partnership with the Southwestern Chamber of Commerce and Manchester Business Association, will begin on Friday the 12th at 5:30 pm. Smugglers’ Notch Distillery will be offering tastings of their Vermont-made spirits. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served.

Vermont Natural Resources Council A coalition of business, environmental, and equity-focused organizations today called on the Vermont Legislature to override Governor Phil Scott’s veto of S.5, the Affordable Heat Act. This veto comes right on the heels of the Scott Administration’s release of the latest Vermont Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast. This report projects Vermont will miss its legally required 2030 emissions reductions by nearly two thirds. The data shows the largest portion of that shortfall will be driven by a lack of action in the thermal sector — one of the central components of the Affordable Heat Act.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s Universal School Meals bill has reached another essential milestone toward being enacted, with the Senate giving preliminary approval to the bill with a voice vote Friday. If enacted, H.165 will continue access for more than 80,000 students to school breakfast and lunch, at no charge to their families. According to the Vermont Agency of Education, an average of 38 percent of students across all supervisory unions during the 2019–2020 school 12 year qualified for free or reduced-price lunch. The bill now returns to the House for final approval before heading to the desk of Governor Phil Scott.

Vermont Business Magazine Gravel & Shea has announced the closing of a $43 million land transaction between SP Land Company, LLC and a Toronto-based developer, Great Gulf. Great Gulf’s acquisition includes 1,095 acres of land, including the future home to the Six Peaks Village at Killington Resort. In March of 2023, Killington voters passed Article 5 on Vermont’s Town Meeting Day. The $47 million bond paved the way for a multi-phase infrastructure and development project including the introduction of municipal water and a redesigned & reconstructed Killington Road. The first residential offering will encompass more than 200 condominiums and townhomes, and extensive retail, restaurants, and amenities for year-round use at Killington Resort.

Climate Solutions Caucus Despite overwhelming Senate and House support and the addition of a “check-back” mechanism per his request, Governor Scott vetoed S.5, the Affordable Heat Act on Thursday. Recently, in just over a year, the price of fuel oil rose by $2 per gallon, and for the first time in Vermont's official tracking history, the thermal sector, which includes residential, commercial, and industrial fuel use, produced the highest amount of climate pollution of any sector tracked in Vermont’s official greenhouse gas inventory. The reality is: for both people and the planet, business as usual doesn’t work.

Vermont State Police Following next of kin notifications, the Vermont State Police is identifying the parties involved in the triple fatal car crash in Albany on Thursday afternoon as the following: June Cleveland of Albany, Linda Major of Albany and Jason Sanville of Albany were all killed; Cricket Santamore, the passenger in vehicle 2, survived and is at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in stable condition. At this stage in the investigation, it appears seatbelts were worn. The circumstances of this crash are still under investigation; however, the primary cause is considered to be vehicle 1 leaving its lane and entering oncoming traffic.