About 100 people showed up to a community meeting in Townshend on Thursday to show support for Grace Cottage Hospital, the smallest hospital in the state.
Grace Cottage was one of the four hospitals specifically cited in a recent statewide report that calls for a major restructuring of Vermont’s hospital system.
The report says Grace Cottage should consider shifting all of its inpatient beds to mental health, geriatric psychiatry or memory care, and close down its emergency department, utilizing the beds at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, which is about 20 miles away.
But at the meeting Thursday, Grace Cottage CEO Olivia Sweetnam said the hospital was not interested in voluntarily accepting the report’s suggestions.
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“These are recommendations, not mandates,” Sweetnam said. “Green Mountain Care Board, [Agency of Human Services], does not have the ability to say, ‘You are now a psychiatric facility.’”
More from Vermont Public: How can Vermont’s next Legislature, governor mend a broken health care system?
The report was commissioned by the Legislature to address years of financial losses among the state’s hospitals, and to “reduce inefficiencies, lower costs, improve population health outcomes, reduce health inequities and increase access to essential services.”
These are recommendations, not mandates. Green Mountain Care Board, AHS, does not have the ability to say, “You are now a psychiatric facility.”
Olivia Sweetnam, CEO, Grace Cottage Hospital
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Grace Cottage Hospital was one of four hospitals — along with Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, North Country Hospital in Newport and Springfield Hospital — the report named as being at risk due to their minimal growth potential and poor financial position.
The author of the report admitted recently that some of the data was inaccurate, and so far all of the hospitals have been pushing back on the report’s conclusions.
More from Vermont Public: About 200 Vermonters showed up at a meeting to say they want Newport’s hospital to stay
“I think it appeared clear to everyone that these were kind of copy-and-paste recommendations,” Sweetnam said. “The major restructuring group kind of got the same recommendations across the board.”
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Howard Weiss-Tisman
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Vermont Public
The Townshend meeting follows a similar meeting in Newport, where supporters of North Country Hospital also spoke out against the 144-page Act 167 report.
Sweetnam admitted that Grace Cottage Hospital loses money every year, and the hospital only stays afloat due to local donations, which are by far the most in the state as a percentage of the hospital’s total budget.
Local donations made up about 8% of the hospital’s revenue in 2023.
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A number of former patients spoke up at the meeting about the importance of having Grace Cottage in the West River Valley.
If we cut back those hours and have a medical emergency, and can’t come here, it could be 40 or 45 minutes to get to Brattleboro. So as a person who’s been served by your emergency department, I’m really concerned about that. That could cost a life.
Bill Dunkel, Windham resident
“If we have a medical emergency, a life-threatening emergency, it’s possible to get to Grace Cottage in 20 minutes, maybe a little bit less,” said Bill Dunkel, who lives in nearby Windham. “If we cut back those hours and have a medical emergency, and can’t come here, it could be 40 or 45 minutes to get to Brattleboro. So as a person who’s been served by your emergency department, I’m really concerned about that. That could cost a life.”
The Agency of Human Services, which will lead the restructuring efforts, is planning an online public meeting to discuss the hospital report.
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WEST RUTLAND, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – A man has died after he was hit by a car in West Rutland, but police say the vehicle involved has not yet been identified.
According to Vermont State Police, Devin Pierro, 30, of West Rutland, was found dead off Main Street, near its intersection with Whipple Hollow Road and an underpass crossing U.S. Route 4. This was at about 5:25 a.m. on Friday. He reportedly had been walking west when a vehicle driving in the same direction struck him and continued without stopping.
Police say that Pierro was found in the grass off the north side of the road, but all details about the vehicle that reportedly hit him are unknown at this time.
The investigation of the crash is continuing, and anyone who may have information about it can call Cpl. Joseph Duca of Vermont State Police at (802) 773-9101 or joseph.duca@vermont.gov. Tips can also be submitted anonymously at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
ARLINGTON — The Preservation Trust of Vermont has officially presented The Arlington Common and Nick Albert of Albert Construction with a 2026 Preservation Award at the annual Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference.
The Preservation Awards recognize outstanding contributions to the preservation and revitalization of Vermont’s historic buildings and community spaces. The Arlington Common was selected for its “exceptional impact on community gathering and historic stewardship.”
The success of The Arlington Common relies heavily on the dedication of local partners who brought the vision to life. Among the key honorees was Albert Construction, led by Nick Albert, whose exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to historic integrity were vital to the project’s completion.
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“Preserving historic structures requires more than just standard construction; it demands a deep respect for original materials, architecture, and community legacy,” said Don Trachte, Head of the Buildings and Grounds Committee and Arlington Common Board Member. “Nick Albert and the team at Albert Construction went above and beyond to ensure that every detail honored the past while engineering a space that will serve Arlington for generations to come.”
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Vermont Lottery offers several draw games for those willing to make a bet to win big.
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Those who want to play can enter the MegaBucks and Lucky for Life games as well as the national Powerball and Mega Millions games. Vermont also partners with New Hampshire and Maine for the Tri-State Lottery, which includes the Mega Bucks, Gimme 5 as well as the Pick 3 and Pick 4.
Drawings are held at regular days and times, check the end of this story to see the schedule.
Here’s a look at June 25, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Gimme 5 numbers from June 25 drawing
13-14-18-21-22
Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
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Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 25 drawing
Day: 2-1-4
Evening: 0-7-1
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 25 drawing
Day: 5-4-4-9
Evening: 5-5-1-1
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Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 25 drawing
03-13-14-34-45, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
For Vermont Lottery prizes up to $499, winners can claim their prize at any authorized Vermont Lottery retailer or at the Vermont Lottery Headquarters by presenting the signed winning ticket for validation. Prizes between $500 and $5,000 can be claimed at any M&T Bank location in Vermont during the Vermont Lottery Office’s business hours, which are 8a.m.-4p.m. Monday through Friday, except state holidays.
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For prizes over $5,000, claims must be made in person at the Vermont Lottery headquarters. In addition to signing your ticket, you will need to bring a government-issued photo ID, and a completed claim form.
All prize claims must be submitted within one year of the drawing date. For more information on prize claims or to download a Vermont Lottery Claim Form, visit the Vermont Lottery’s FAQ page or contact their customer service line at (802) 479-5686.
Vermont Lottery Headquarters
1311 US Route 302, Suite 100
Barre, VT
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When are the Vermont Lottery drawings held?
Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
Pick 4 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
Pick 3 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
Pick 4 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
Megabucks: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily
What is Vermont Lottery Second Chance?
Vermont’s 2nd Chance lottery lets players enter eligible non-winning instant scratch tickets into a drawing to win cash and/or other prizes. Players must register through the state’s official Lottery website or app. The drawings are held quarterly or are part of an additional promotion, and are done at Pollard Banknote Limited in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Vermont editor. You can send feedback using this form.
