SVHC Foundation Welcomes Andrew King to its Leadership

Print Story | Email Story
BENNINGTON, Vt. — Andrew King, of Manchester Center, has joined the Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) Foundation Board of Directors.
 
"The SVHC Foundation relies on its highly experienced and deeply compassionate members to support our mission of delivering exceptional care and comfort to the people we serve," said Leslie Keefe, SVHC's vice president of corporate development. "We are so pleased to have found these qualities in abundance in Andrew and grateful that he has accepted the opportunity to join us."
 
King was born and raised in Manhattan and spent winter weekends at Stratton Mountain. He attended the Buckley School and the Taft School before attending the University of Vermont for resort management. He worked for Vail Associates in Colorado and for The Equinox Hotel in Manchester, VT. In 1999, he started in real estate sales for Stratton Real Estate, where he quickly became the director of sales and marketing. He currently works as the company's general manager and principal broker.
 
"I have always thought that health care was a great area of focus for anyone who wants to make a valuable contribution to their community," King said. "This position on the Board of Directors for the SVHC Foundation will allow me to give back to the southern Vermont area that I love so much."
 
The SVHC Foundation Board of Directors consists of 20 members. Directors are nominated by members of the board. The SVHC Foundation's mission is to engage in development and fundraising activities exclusively for the support of the Southwestern Vermont Health Care Corporation

Tags: svhc,   SVMC,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Fish and Wildlife Department: Take Down Birdfeeders, Secure Food from Bears

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has begun to receive reports of bears coming out of their dens and is urging Vermonters to remove their birdfeeders and take additional steps now to prevent conflicts with bears over the spring and summer.
 
"Do not wait to take down your birdfeeders and bearproof your yard until a bear comes to visit," said Jaclyn Comeau, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's Bear Biologist.  "You need to act now to head off bear conflicts over the spring and summer, even if you have never had a bear visit your property before."
 
Bear incidents have been on the rise over the past several years.  Officials believe this trend is a result of Vermont's healthy black bear population learning to associate people and food over multiple generations.  Even with a steady increase in the number bears harvested by hunters in recent years—including a record harvest in 2024—Vermont's bear population has been stable over the past two decades and shows signs of growth over the past five years.
 
Shorter winters also mean that bears are emerging from their dens earlier in the spring.  In recent years bear activity has begun in mid-March.  This is roughly two weeks earlier than what is traditionally considered the start of "bear-aware season" in northern New England.
 
"Preventing bears from having access to human-related foods is key to successful coexistence with these long-lived and intelligent animals," said Comeau. "Bears can be found in every corner of Vermont other than the Champlain islands.  Put bluntly, most Vermonters live in bear country."
 
The department asks Vermonters to take the following proactive steps for coexisting with bears: 
 
  • Take down birdfeeders between mid-March and December.
  • Store garbage in bear-resistant containers or structures, trash cans alone are not enough.  
  • Follow the steps on our web page for composting in bear country. 
  • Use electric fences to keep chickens and honeybees safe. 
  • Request a bear-resistant dumpster from your waste hauler. 
  • Feed your pets indoors. 
  • Never feed bears, it is illegal.
 
"Deep snow may delay some bears from emerging from winter dens until April, but mid-March is the time for Vermonters to prepare for the early risers by taking down our birdfeeders, making sure garbage is secure, and protecting backyard chickens and bees with an electric fence," said Comeau.  "This will help teach bears that our yards and neighborhoods are not good places to search for food, but it will only work if everyone does their part."  Taking these precautions will also help reduce the chance of attracting other wildlife species such as raccoons, skunks and rodents.
View Full Story

More Vermont Stories