News/Business
Inflation Reduction Act money is starting to flow in NH
By MARA HOPLAMAZIAN
The federal Inflation Reduction Act, which marked a first-of-its-kind investment in climate solutions, was signed one year ago. But much of the funding from that law is still in the beginning stages of making its way to Granite Staters. The law...
Dan Fraser steps down as manager at family-owned Dan & Whit’s in Norwich
By JOHN LIPPMAN
NORWICH — Dan Fraser, whose warm smile, bright shirts and colorful shoes are familiar to customers of Dan & Whit’s General Store in Norwich, has stepped down from running the family-owned store, his father, George Fraser, confirmed to the Valley News...
Quechee Club hits members with surprise bill after flood damage
By JOHN LIPPMAN
QUECHEE — With a ski hill, tennis courts, a swimming pool, 36 holes of golf, a clubhouse restaurant and its own private lake, Quechee Lakes has always been an pricey place to live. Now as a result of the July storms that flooded its golf course, the...
Vermont Law and Graduate School steps in to offer legal help to flood-affected businesses
By MAX SCHEINBLUM
Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Entrepreneurial Legal Laboratory is offering free legal assistance to Vermont businesses trying to recover from last month’s floods.The school has coordinated with volunteer attorneys across the state to provide up...
Council rejects proposed solution to Lebanon trail dispute
By PATRICK ADRIAN
LEBANON — The City Council has rejected a proposed settlement to an ongoing dispute between the city and owners of a family farm over the status of recreation trails that cross the family’s property.Under the settlement, the city would have...
Advance Transit adding evening, nighttime bus routes
By LIZ SAUCHELLI
WILDER — Expanded public transportation options are coming to the Upper Valley next month.Beginning Sept. 11, Advance Transit will offer weekday evening service on four of its bus routes, according to a news release from the nonprofit...
Pick-your-own apples in short supply following late May frost
By FRANCES MIZE
PLAINFIELD — In 2001, hail battered the apple crop in Paul Franklin’s orchard at Riverview Farm.With his own apples bruised beyond repair, he headed to Poverty Lane Orchards in Lebanon, where owner Steve Wood filled Franklin’s boxes with fruit from...
River Park developers seek exceptions to ease path for West Lebanon project
By PATRICK ADRIAN
WEST LEBANON — Developers of a long-delayed mixed-use project are asking the city for more flexibility when it comes to required infrastructure improvements so they have more leeway to bring on potential financial partners.The city Planning Board held...
Hartford chamber executive director to depart
By JOHN LIPPMAN
HARTFORD — PJ Skehan, an ever-present voice in the Hartford business community, has announced he will retire as executive director of the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce at the end of year, saying it is time “to bring new energy and enthusiasm” to...
A season of torment for farmers who rely on hay
By FRANCES MIZE
NORWICH — “Make hay while the sun shines” reads more like a taunt than turn-of-phrase wisdom for farmers this summer.Hay could soon be in short supply, with growers saying it’s the worst season for the crop in memory. Flood waters in early July...
New London financial adviser ordered to repay over $11M to clients after high-risk investments collapsed
By JOHN LIPPMAN
NEWPORT — Alleged financial mismanagement by a New London-based financial adviser has upended the lives of scores of elderly retirees, some who have had to return to work in their 70s at entry-level wages to make ends meet. Others report the financial...
Jonathan Hunt leads non-profit working to revitalize Whaleback Mountain ski area
By DAVID BROOKS
When Jonathan Hunt came on board at Whaleback Mountain, which like many independent ski areas had repeatedly flirted with failure for 20 years, he knew that it would take more than speeding up the chairlift to keep things going.“Immediately my job was...
A Look Back: Farm auctions reflect Upper Valley’s changing way of life
By STEVE TAYLOR
There’s a measure of melancholy that always surrounds a farm auction. Chances are it is bringing down the curtain on a life’s work, an ending compelled by bodies aging out, debts that can’t be covered by cash flow or plain old bad luck. The effects...
Upper Valley large animal vet is a rare breed
By ALEX HANSON
The first call of the day, to vaccinate a treasured cow and her calf, exemplifies what Taylor Hull loves about her job.Anna Poulin, one of the daughters in Poulin and Daughters Family Farm in Randolph, plans to take her cow Peaches and her calf to the...
Her number’s being called: Longtime La Salette Shrine gamerunner eyes new Enfield bingo hall
By LIZ SAUCHELLI
ENFIELD — When Vicki Pellerin turned 18 and could finally join generations of her family for a weekly bingo night at La Salette Shrine, she considered it a rite of family.“We would have two whole tables of just my relatives,” Pellerin recalled in a...
Over Easy: You bet your life
By DAN MACKIE
I have never had much interest in gambling, other than in matters like eating dicey leftovers from the fridge. “I have an iron stomach,” I tell my wife and chief risk assessment officer, Dede, who does not always approve.As for sports gambling, which...
Wage relief available for employees of flooded Woodstock businesses
WOODSTOCK — The Town of Woodstock is set to direct $45,000 in wage relief to employees of Woodstock-based businesses who lost wages, or will continue to lose wages, due to the recent flooding and subsequent water shutdown.The money comes from the...
Still recovering from flood-related losses, Quechee Gorge businesses look ahead to construction
By PATRICK ADRIAN
QUECHEE — The restoration of Quechee Gorge Bridge starts soon, and businesses that will be affected by the anticipated traffic congestion are still recovering from the July flood.Owners of retail shops and restaurants on Route 4 in Quechee said they...
Vermont cannabis retailer group rolls out ‘A Higher Calling’ to help relieve industry’s pains
By MAX SCHEINBLUM
MONTPELIER — In front of a newly gutted Capital Cannabis store Tuesday afternoon, the Cannabis Retailers Association of Vermont outlined a plan to raise money for the industry, members of which expect to lose tens of millions of dollars as a result of...
Hanover seeks vibrancy as downtown businesses shift from retail to service
By JOHN LIPPMAN
HANOVER — When the owner of the downtown Hanover apparel and jewelry store Traditionally Trendy folded up shop after 31 years in business, Kayla Brannen made a beeline to the vacating store’s landlord.Brannen, who has worked as a stylist for 20 years...
