WOODSTOCK — The pharmacy inside Ottauquechee Health Center on Pleasant Street is closed as of Friday, along with two other Vermont pharmacies owned by Smilin’ Steves Pharmacies.
The Vermont pharmacy chain announced in a Facebook post just after 2 p.m. Friday that the three locations would be permanently closed at the end of the day. Signs were also posted on the front doors of the stores in Woodstock, Springfield and Ludlow.
Smilin’ Steves’ Rutland pharmacy and High Mountain Home Care LTC Pharmacy, also in Rutland, will stay open.
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The company urged customers to call the Rutland pharmacy at 802-775-2545 to transfer prescriptions to another pharmacy, access records or with any other questions.
“We apologize for the suddenness of this,” one of the companies’ owners, Jeff Hochberg, said in a Monday interview. “This was out of our control and we are trying to do everything we can to help correct the situation here and now and forever as long as we can.”
A sign on the door of the Springfield Pharmacy on Monday, May 18, 2026 in Springfield, Vt. JENNIFER HAUCK / Valley News
While the Facebook post from Smilin’ Steves Pharmacies references “unforeseen circumstances with our wholesaler,” Hochberg declined to provide specific details about the situation that he said arose last week. He described it as a “David-Goliath situation” and “where healthcare meets capitalism.”
“I really can’t speak too much to the circumstances other than that they were totally unforeseen. This was not planned and we did everything we could to try to rectify the situation as quickly as possible,” Hochberg said, adding that the situation is still unfolding and there may be “more to come.”
He also declined to explain why the Rutland pharmacy and home care pharmacy were able to continue operating.
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The Ottauquechee Pharmacy opened inside the Dartmouth Health-run Ottauquechee Health Center in 2021 after the 167-year-old Woodstock Pharmacy closed its doors in 2020.
DH, which had no ownership or oversight of the pharmacy, learned about the closure on Friday, Keith Thomasset, the health network’s chief pharmacy officer, said in a Monday statement.
DH is “committed to ensuring our patients have access to the care they need, including medications,” and has started researching short-term and long-term solutions to address the pharmacy shortage in and around Woodstock, Thomasset said.
But “opening a new pharmacy is not a quick process,” he added.
Options might include “developing a proposed plan to assist with acute care needs while (continuing) to utilize other Dartmouth Health system pharmacy services, such as our own specialty pharmacy and home delivery pharmacy services,” or starting a new DH-owned pharmacy in the area, Thomasset said.
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With the closure, Woodstock joins the growing list of Upper Valley towns without a pharmacy. Amid a bankruptcy case, Rite Aid closed all its locations last summer, leaving Windsor and Bethel without pharmacies.
Pharmacies around Vermont have closed over the last several years, often citing poor margins as a result of low reimbursement rates, according to reporting from VtDigger.
Woodstock residents will have to order prescriptions by mail or travel 25 minutes to pharmacies in Lebanon, including CVS, Hannaford, Price Chopper, Walmart and Walgreens or 35 minutes to Kinney Drugs in Randolph.
For its part, Springfield still has a Kinney Drugs location and the recently-opened North Star Health Pharmacy.
Hochberg encouraged Smilin’ Steves customers to contact the Rutland pharmacy with any questions, adding “the system is designed for situations like this” and customer data is still accessible.
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As for the employees, Hochberg said the company reached out to other pharmacies to see if anyone was hiring immediately. He did not know exactly how many employees were impacted by the closures, but said it is more than 10.
When asked if there is any possibility of reopening the closed locations as the company works to resolve the situation, Hochberg said the “future is very uncertain.”
“There is definitely a possibility of something in the future, pharmacy is not going anywhere, it’s just got to change,” Hochberg said.
Check out the details from the Vermont/New Hampshire All-Star Hockey Classic at the University of Vermont on Saturday, June 27.
Women’s game: Vermont 2 and New Hampshire 1 in overtime.
Vermont stats
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Goalies: Addie Croteau of U32 had 8 saves, and Dahlia Steele of BFA-St. Albans had 5 saves
Goals: Lilliana Fournier of Missisquoi Valley Union scored in the third period at 1:03, unassisted. Just 14 seconds into overtime (3v3), Zoe Zanleoni (Hartford) scored, assisted by Morgan Rivard (Kingdom Blades)
Sportsmanship award: Leah Miller (Essex)
MVP: Zoe Zanleoni (Hartford)
New Hampshire
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Goalie saves: Andy Lindquist 30 saves
Goal: Meagan Rinko scored in the first period, at 14:50, unassisted with a power play goal
Sportsmanship: Sara Forman
MVP: Andy Linquist (Lebanon High School)
Men’s Game NH 1 VT 0
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Vermont
Goalies: Thomas Barnes (CVU) 9 saves, and Ethan Fortin (Spaulding) 12 saves
Sportsmanship: Ethan Fortin (Spaulding)
MVP: Jack Kelly
New Hampshire
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Goalie saves: Jorgen Drent 22 saves
Goals: The lone first-period goal was scored at 12:38 by Chad Lariviere (Concord High School), unassisted
Sportsmanship: Nolan Swiesz (Oyster River High School)
MVP: Jorgen Drent (Concord High School)
Buster Brush Award: Grace Raleigh (Rice High School)
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Sam Caswell Award: Meagan Rinko (Oyster River / Portsmouth)
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 28, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 28 drawing
Day: 3-7-3
Evening: 3-8-8
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Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 28 drawing
Day: 7-2-3-0
Evening: 2-5-9-9
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 28 drawing
04-11-31-54-58, Bonus: 03
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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.
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.
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Vermont Lottery Headquarters
1311 US Route 302, Suite 100
Barre, VT
05641
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.
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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.
The Vermont Chamber has said it, in startlingly emphatic, hey wake-up because it is frightening close to too bloody late challenge, that if listened to, and acted on, could save the Green Mountain State.
The title of the Chamber’s missive which has been printed on various news sites is: “Vermont is in Trouble.” They follow it up with explanations that, if you love this beautiful state you will panic. Which is absolutely the correct reaction. But it is only the correct reaction if you are willing to help do something to solve the myriad pile of problems facing us.
The chamber states the issue this way: “We are aging, shrinking, and pricing out our own children, workers, and entrepreneurs. Schools face consolidation, taxes are climbing, and employers struggle to fill jobs. We’re too dependent on federal funding to support state spending. A housing shortage is driving up prices, slowing economic growth, and leaves young people feeling forced out. Staying the course is not a viable option. It only gets worse from here if nothing changes.”
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They suggest some solutions:
Regulatory Modernization: Move from a culture of “permission” to a culture of “production.”
Fiscal Stewardship: Align our budget with economic reality.
Intentional Growth: Actively recruit and retain a diverse, working-age population.
Accountability: Ensure enacted policies achieve their goals.
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Each of these is elaborated on by the Chamber. They also go on to say: “Vermont has experienced the nation’s largest percent decrease in population last year, becoming the only state losing population to both natural changes and net migration… Let’s choose abundance because Vermonters can no longer afford to choose scarcity.”
It is a Cri du Coeur that should be heard by every legislator, selectboard or city council, every business owner, civic organization, in the state. This isn’t a project for next year. This is a problem that demands immediate action!
In March I wrote a column remembering Governor Phil Hoff’s Vermont marketing campaign known as “Vermont the Becking Country.” The campaign brought thousands of people to the state. The same slogan might well, with an attractive invitation advertising campaign might get noticed by people and companies on the lookout for new opportunities. Newcomers should be happily welcomed. But missionaries from afar won’t solve our problems. This is a job for Vermonters.
The chamber mentions the crying need for new housing and laments that, “For decades, Vermont has treated growth as a threat to mitigate… True equity requires expanding supply rather than fighting over the crumbs of a shrinking economy.”
Their words need to be heeded. Immediately. We have dug ourselves a very deep hole. We aren’t going to climb out of it in a year or two. It is going to take years of constant hard work and a sizable fortune to get Vermont back to growing rather than shrinking. But if our children and grandchildren are going to have Vermont as a viable choice where to live and work, we need to begin making Vermont viable again immediately.
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The Vermont Chamber is correct. They have stated the problem in bold words. They have challenged the government, the business community, the education system, the news media, and every single one of us to step up and begin the hard work of making the Vermont the Beckoning Country once again!
When the legislature returns to Montpelier in the fall, they need to get to work and Governor Scott can’t sit back and wait for the lawmakers to craft a long series of brilliant remedies to fix what is broken. Governor Scott needs to roll up his sleeves and work closely with those writing the bills. He also should gather members from the business world and those from not-for-profit organizations. Getting Vermont back on track is going to take an “All hands-on deck” attitude.
Time is running out for Vermont. The Green Mountain State is too precious to all it to wither away.
Eric Peterson has been contributing columns to various publications for decades. Opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
