Much is going on in the world of healthcare and healthcare legislation. Keeping up with the changes is a challenge for legislators and hospital administrators. On Monday, January 17, North Country Hospital’s President and CEO Claudio Fort met with one of the newest members of the Vermont House and of the House Committee on Healthcare, Representative Vicki Strong of Albany. Rep. Strong is the only representative from the Northeast Kingdom who serves on this important committee which is responsible for study and forming healthcare legislation.

Paul Poquette Realty Group welcomes Renee Patterson to our firm. A Grand Isle County, Vermont Native, Renee is thoroughly knowledgeable about the Islands, as well as the Saint Albans area. Renee resides along with her family in Alburgh, Vermont. A licensed Realtor, Renee recently joined Paul Poquette Realty Group, LLC after working for Coldwell Banker, Islands Realty. Her in-depth knowledge of Grand Isle County Communities is an excellent asset to our office, and will enhance the services we continue to provide throughout the Champlain Islands Region.

Executive Director Sarah Carpenter announced Brenda Howley of South Burlington has joined Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) as Legal Coordinator. Howley assists VHFA's General Counsel in performing legal functions for the Agency, including oversight of corporate records management, program and procedure review and closings of multifamily mortgage loans for construction, acquisition and rehabilitation, preservation, and ownership transfer involving multiple lenders, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, bond financings and other sources of funding.

This week Chuck Ross, Secretary of Agriculture, announced the appointment of Diane Bothfeld as Deputy Secretary of Dairy Policy, Director of Administrative Services and Agriculture Development. Bothfeld has served as interim Deputy Secretary of the agency for the past year.

With her 20th anniversary as the Executive Director of the United Way of Chittenden County (UWCC) just six months away, Gretchen Morse today announced that she plans to retire by the end of June, 2011. In a letter to the Board of Directors of United Way, she said, "It is with a strong sense of humility and gratitude that I announce my retirement from the United Way of Chittenden County. I am fortunate to work with an amazing board and staff who are faithful stewards of United Way's mission.

Teisha Francis of Grand Isle, VT has been awarded the Alumni Association Next Generation Scholarship from New England Culinary Institute. Ms. Francis, who attended Essex High School, is in the Associate's degree program, studying Baking and Pastry Arts at NECI. She began her studies in January 2011.

“We’re very proud of Teisha's achievement,” said Heather Hansen,

Financial Planner “and we continue to seek individuals who are interested in bringing their culinary skills to the next level.

Lori A. Bass, a legal secretary in Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC's Burlington office, was named the winner of the Diane R. Lynch Distinguished Service Award at the firm's holiday party in December.

Established in 2000 to honor the firm's 50th anniversary and in memory of Lynch, the award is given each year to a former or current employee who has demonstrated loyalty, dedication, energy, drive, selflessness, good nature, humor and commitment. A Burlington resident, Bass graduated from Mt. Mansfield Union High School. She began working at DRM as a legal secretary in 1984.

Following up on a hugely successful 2010 Anniversary Season- The Dorset Theatre Festival has just completed an extensive search for a new Business Manager to join the team of Dina Janis- Artistic Director and Michael Giannitti- Producing Director and is pleased to announce the appointment of Kit Wallace as Business Manager effective for the 2011 season. A resident of Dorset with long family ties to this community, Kit has most recently served as Interim Executive Director and Director of Development at Smokey House Center in Danby.

Laurie Cantus, ACSM Certified Personal Trainer and TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor. Laurie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Vermont. Following a new career path, she joins the RehabGYM as a Personal Trainer and Golf Fitness Instructor with certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine and the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI). Her interests lie in Functional Movement Screening used to determine the cause of physical dysfunction, and the alleviation of limitations through exercise.