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Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..
Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 56F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: July 4, 2026 @ 9:18 am
CCV President Joyce Judy and CCV staff receive a $10,000 check from NSB CEO/President Joe Bator.
Passumpsic Bank’s Mary Cote, left, and Donna Hamilton.
The Weaver Team: Marketing Director Jennie Walker, left, and Real Estate Agent Carolyn Weaver.
Chan
Chan
Klein
Klein Klein
Galfetti
Keysar
Keysar Keysar
Kollmann
Kollmann Kollmann
Chan
Chan
Klein
Klein Klein
Galfetti
Keysar
Keysar Keysar
Kollmann
Kollmann Kollmann
CCV President Joyce Judy and CCV staff receive a $10,000 check from NSB CEO/President Joe Bator.
Passumpsic Bank’s Mary Cote, left, and Donna Hamilton.
The Weaver Team: Marketing Director Jennie Walker, left, and Real Estate Agent Carolyn Weaver.
AROUND VT
Associated General Contractors of Vermont announced support from Northfield Savings Bank Foundation for the launch and expansion of AGC Vermont Leadership Academy, a new workforce development initiative to prepare the next generation of construction leaders, in partnership with Vermont Works for Women.
The Leadership Academy will provide a training experience combining technical construction knowledge and leadership skills, with sessions focused on project leadership, team development, financial fundamentals, and mentorship. Vermont Works for Women will partner in helping connect the Academy’s leadership development goals with efforts to advance gender equity, expand access to career pathways, and strengthen Vermont’s skilled trades workforce.
Beginning with a pilot series of virtual sessions followed by in-person programming this fall, the Academy will feature a mix of instructor-led learning, guest speakers and hands-on group activities that reflect real-world construction challenges.
Vermont Agency of Transportation issued a Request for Qualifications to add qualified electric vehicle charging providers to its shortlist of firms capable of building out Vermont’s charging network to federal and state specifications. Providers selected in the RFQ process will be invited to bid on subsequent Requests for Proposals for the design, construction, ownership, operation, and maintenance of public charging infrastructure along key routes.
Vermont currently has $8 million contracted for the development of nine priority locations. The remaining $13 million is set to be issued through subsequent RFPs, with as many as 12 additional locations anticipated this fall. AOT’s EV Fast Charging Status Map is available as a resource to provide information on existing and planned fast-charging infrastructure throughout the state.
Questions related to the RFQ are due by July 9, and interested parties may submit Statements of Qualifications until 11 a.m. Aug. 13. For more information, visit the Contract Administration Bid Opportunities page on the AOT website or at bit.ly/3QCRwCt.
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has awarded 2026 Career & Technical Education Scholarships to 15 recent high school graduates from northern New England. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to graduates who attended a technical career program as part of their high school curriculum and are planning to attend a college or technical school in the academic year immediately following graduation. The 2026 scholarship Vermont recipients are:
Caden Joslin, of Rutland, is a graduate of West Rutland School and attended Stafford Technical Center. He plans to study welding at Hobart Welding Institute.
Braylee Phelps, of East Corinth, is a graduate of Oxbow High School and attended River Bend Career and Technical Center. She plans to study nursing at the University of Lynchburg.
BARRE — Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice is accepting applications for the agency’s first paid Licensed Nursing Assistant training program. The session will launch in August and be held over two-and-a-half weeks at CVHHH headquarters in Barre.
CVHHH’s LNA Certification Training is designed for early-career candidates or those in career transition who are interested in pursuing healthcare professionally. In addition to hourly compensation, the agency will cover certification fees for trainees. After completing the program and earning certification, participants will have the opportunity to pursue full-time employment at CVHHH.
The first LNA Certification Training session begins Aug. 17. Visit www.cvhhh.org/lna-training-program to learn more and apply.
Community College of Vermont received a $10,000 gift from Northfield Savings Bank to fund its Life Gap Grant program. Life Gap Grants are small scholarships that help students stay in school during unexpected and challenging needs, such as those from food insecurity, transportation, healthcare and childcare.
MORRISVILLE — Copley Hospital is launching the Copley Express Lab, set to open Aug. 3, located at 607 Washington Highway in Morrisville, right next door to Lamoille Health Partners. It was established in response to recent decisions that would route local laboratory services back to out-of-state, for-profit providers. Copley has the expertise, infrastructure and capacity to perform these services locally, and based on available comparison data, at a competitive price. For Medicare and Medicaid patients, out-of-pocket costs are the same regardless of where labs are drawn.
Copley Express Lab offers walk-in service, no appointment needed; parking right at the front door; scheduling by phone or QR code for those who prefer a set time.
MONTPELIER — Cornerstone Caregiving, a senior home care agency, has opened its doors in Montpelier. The expansion extends Cornerstone services to families throughout Washington, Orange and Caledonia counties. The Montpelier branch will offer nonmedical services, including companionship, personal care, hospital recovery, and specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia support. Cornerstone Caregiving is looking to hire individuals from Washington, Orange and Caledonia counties.
To schedule a free face-to-face in-home assessment or to apply for an open caregiving position, call 802-613-9228 or visit the website (www.cornerstonecaregiving.com/locations/montpelier-vt).
Film in Vermont and Vermont Production Collective have officially opened submissions for the Vermont Film Production Economic Impact Pilot Program. This grant program is designed to “bring compelling, local stories to life and to directly stimulate and measure the economic impact” of film production within the state.
The pilot program will award grants of up to $10,000 each to a select number of Vermont-based film projects. To ensure the funding directly benefits the community, priority will be given to projects that utilize funds exclusively for production expenses incurred within the state, that hire local, Vermont-based cast and crew; film in rural or underrepresented regions state-wide; and demonstrate the highest potential economic return relative to their overall budget.
Submissions are open now to July 21. To apply, visit vtproductioncollective.org/impact-grants. For more information, email impactgrant@vtproductioncollective.org. This program is made possible by a donation from the Koopman Fund of Vermont Community Foundation.
RANDOLPH — Gifford Health Care announced the launch of Doorstep by ClearBalance, a new digital billing platform. Beginning July 1, patients receive billing statements by text and email, with a secure link to view their balance and pay instantly from any phone, tablet or computer device. Patients can view itemized statements, track insurance payments and remaining balances, set up payment plans, and manage billing all in one place, from anywhere with an internet connection.
For patients who prefer traditional paper statements, call 802-728-2200, and a member of the billing team will set it up. Paper billing is always available to any patient who requests it.
RANDOLPH CENTER — Part of Gifford Health Care, Strode Independent Living at Morgan Orchards, 89 Tom Wicker Lane in Randolph Center, was recognized for achieving 100% occupancy for 12 consecutive months, earning the Peak Performance Award at Distinctive Living’s Bold Visions, Brave Actions 2026 Leadership Summit.
Strode Independent Living is designed for adults age 62 and older, offering 49 maintenance-free, independent living apartments.
MANCHESTER — In celebration of the U.S. 250th anniversary, GNAT-TV’s Time Stamp presents a program featuring Ties That Bind, a recently digitized 1976 documentary chronicling the nation’s bicentennial celebration across Vermont. Presented by the Manchester Historical Society, the film looks at how local communities marked the nation’s 200th birthday nearly 50 years ago.
Ties That Bind will be available to watch July 4 at gnat-tv.org, on GNAT-TV’s YouTube channel, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and Public Channel 1074 at 12:30, 2:30, 6 and 9 p.m.
MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury College has hired Emily Chan as executive vice president and provost, effective Sept. 1. Chan is currently vice president and dean of the faculty at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. As provost, she will become Middlebury’s chief academic officer.
Pre-applications for the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) Dairy Processor Modernization Grant are now open. This grant helps fund equipment for dairy processing and packaging. A total of $1 million is available to support dairy processors and dairy brands in purchasing specialized equipment to expand processing capacity for local milk, boost efficiency, lower energy consumption, improve existing products, and create new, high-value dairy products for the region.
The pre-application period is now through Aug. 13. Successful pre-applicants will be invited to submit full applications. Grants may range from $15,000 to $250,000, with a 25% match required. Learn more at nedairyinnovation.com/grants/dairy-processor-modernization-grant.
St. JOHNSBURY — Passumpsic Bank announced the graduation of two members of its leadership team, Donna Hamilton, vice president and chief compliance officer, and Mary Cote, senior vice president, head of retail banking and customer support, from the Paul W. Barret Jr. School of Banking in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Barret School of Banking three-year curriculum includes more than 130 hours of advanced coursework for community banking professionals.
MONTPELIER — Stephen Klein, longtime director at the Vermont Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Office, has joined the board of the Public Assets Institute, Vermont’s nonprofit, independent research organization on state budget, tax and economic issues.
Klein joined the staff of the Vermont General Assembly in 1992 as a fiscal analyst and was appointed chief fiscal officer one year later, serving as chief for nearly three decades before retiring in 2021. Previously, he served as a director of the Massachusetts Senate Post Audit and Oversight Bureau, assistant director for the Endowment Fund of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies in Boston, and legislative director and legal counsel for a Massachusetts state senator.
SkillsUSA is a workforce development organization for students to become “skilled professionals, career-ready leaders, and responsible community members.” Career and technical students won awards at its National Leadership & Skills Conference held June 1-5 in Atlanta.
— The following students received a SkillsUSA Championships medal and Skill Point Certificate:
Isabel LaBelle, of Rutland and Stafford Tech Center (Rutland) student, was awarded the high school bronze medal in Action Skills.
Team M consisting of Colby Singsen, Jackson Singsen, Stafford Tech Center (Rutland) students, was awarded the High School Bronze medal in Additive Manufacturing.
— The following students are Skill Point Certificate recipients:
Emma Bernes, of Barre, and Central Vermont Career Center (Barre) student, was awarded a certificate in Nail Care.
Eliza Benware, of Bradford and River Bend Career & Technical Center (Bradford) student, was awarded a certificate in Cosmetology.
Margaret Kingston, of Brandon and Stafford Tech Center (Rutland) student, was awarded a certificate in Facilithon-Leadership in Facility Management.
Lana Karnai, of Florence and Stafford Tech Center (Rutland) student, was awarded a certificate in Nurse Assisting.
Quincy Bruttomesso, of Middletown Springs and Stafford Tech Center (Rutland) student, was awarded a certificate in Electrical Construction Wiring.
Adriana Cataldo, of Rutland and Stafford Tech Center (Rutland) student, was awarded a certificate in Employment Application Process.
Piper Newman, of Rutland and Stafford Tech Center (Rutland) student, was awarded a certificate in Basic Health Care Skills.
PITTSFORD — Sunshine Village Lavender Farm invites the community to its annual Lavender Fest Saturday, July 11, at 2636 Route 7, Pittsford. The single-day event offers “you-pick” harvesting, a local-artisan vendor market, and Vermont-made specialties. Sunshine Village Lavender Farm is an agritourism destination specializing in horticulturally grown lavender.
MONTPELIER — Union Mutual Insurance Co. President/Chief Executive Officer Lisa Keysar will retire Dec. 31, after more than 30 years with the company. Appointed president/CEO in 2020, she became the first woman to lead Union Mutual. Keysar will continue to serve as a director on the N&D/Union Mutual Insurance Group Board.
Jennifer Galfetti will become president of Union Mutual following Keysar’s retirement. Galfetti brings experience across financial and operational functions, along with industry relationships and a leadership track record.
LAS VEGAS — United Laboratories Solutions, an applied safety science company, announced recipients of the inaugural Code Authority Leadership Awards presented June 23 at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay during the National Fire Protection Association Conference and Expo in Las Vegas. The awards program honors “leaders who strengthen public safety by advancing code adoption and enforcement, mentoring the next generation, and helping jurisdictions address emerging technologies and evolving risks.”
The inaugural UL Solutions Code Authority Leadership Award honorees include:
Tonya Hoover, retired fire administrator, U.S. Fire Administration, received the Lifetime Impact on Public Safety Award.
Michael Desrochers, fire marshal, state of Vermont, and president, National Association of State Fire Marshals, received the Excellence in Mentorship and Knowledge Transfer Award.
Tina Parker, provincial fire administrator, Alberta, Canada, received the Rising Leader in Code Development Award.
BURLINGTON — A new award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse will advance a smartphone-based treatment aimed at helping pregnant individuals quit smoking. The multi-phase federal award was granted to University of Vermont Distinguished Professor Stephen T. Higgins, professor of psychiatry and director of the Vermont Center on Behavior and Health at the Robert Larner College of Medicine.
The funds will support further testing of a digital financial-incentives intervention that provides rewards for verified smoking abstinence. Should trial outcomes support effectiveness, the treatment can be designated an FDA-approved digital intervention. Cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of poor pregnancy outcomes in the United States, contributing to serious health risks for both mothers and infants.
Using a smartphone application developed by DynamiCare Health, participants submit videos of themselves completing salivary cotinine tests, which measure nicotine exposure. The system verifies smoking status and delivers money directly to a secure debit card. The card is managed to prohibit spending on non-essential or restricted items such as alcohol, cannabis and firearms.
Previous studies by Higgins and colleagues have shown that incentive-based smoking cessation treatment improved cessation rates among pregnant people. Additional Larner collaborators on this study include Dr. Ira M. Bernstein, Michael J. DeSarno, and Sarah H. Heil, in addition to Donald S. Shepard from Brandeis University.
Vermont Chamber of Commerce and NBT Bank will host an Economic Insights Webinar at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, featuring NBT Wealth Management Chief Investment Officer and Chief Economist Kenneth J. Entenmann.
The discussion will explore interest rates, inflation, consumer spending, labor market trends, AI-driven market activity, and the broader economic outlook. For Vermont employers, these national economic forces have immediate consequences.
Registration is free and open to all at www.vtchamber.com/economic-insights.
BURLINGTON — Vermont Real Estate Co. welcomes The Weaver Team, made up of locally-based agent Carolyn Weaver and marketing director Jennie Walker. Vermont Real Estate Company is a locally owned and operated full-service real estate brokerage with offices in Burlington, Waitsfield and Stowe.
Weaver has 30 years in the Vermont real estate market and was named 2020 Realtor of the Year by the Northwest Vermont Realtor Association. She had the highest closed volume for an individual agent at the previous brokerage in both 2021 and 2023.
Vermont Retail & Grocers Association announced recipients of its 2026 scholarships. Each year, VRGA awards scholarships to several Vermont students entering their first year at an accredited two- or four-year post-secondary school. Recipients are nominated by VRGA members and often work in member stores. This year’s winners:
Nalah Desjardin works for Shaws in Berlin as an e-commerce shopper. She will attend the University of Vermont to get a BS in mathematics.
Daxton Redmond works as a produce manager at Woodstock Farmers Market. He will attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Tyler Bedortha, nominated by River Bend Farm Market, plans on attending Saint Michael’s College to study business administration.
Addie Baker is an employee of Myer’s Bagels. In the fall, she will attend the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.
Brody Griffiths, nominated by Baker Distributing, plans to attend the University of South Carolina to study business administration.
Sherry Kollmann has officially begun her tenure as president of Vermont State University. She succeeds David Bergh, president from 2023 until his retirement in 2026.
Previously serving as chancellor of New Mexico State University Global Campus, Kollmann brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education, business and public service to her new role, including time at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, where she led the development and implementation of statewide education and training programs. She also served as senior associate dean of business programs at Southern New Hampshire University and vice president of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at New England College.
In addition to her appointment as president of Vermont State University, Kollmann will serve as vice chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System alongside Community College of Vermont President Joyce Judy and under the leadership of Vermont State Colleges System Chancellor Elizabeth Mauch.
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Chan
Chan
Klein
Klein Klein
Galfetti
Keysar
Keysar Keysar
Kollmann
Kollmann Kollmann
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