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Your Local Community Newspaper FEBRUARY 20, 2019 | WWW.VERMONTJOURNAL.COM VOLUME 57, ISSUE 38 Talc of Vermont files for bankruptcy protection

BY SHARON HUNTLEY carcinogen linked to mesothe- since the early 1970s. the best interests of our stake- The Vermont Journal & The Shopper lioma and ovarian cancer. Imerys maintains, however, holders to litigate these claims According to Bloomberg that its product is safe and that in perpetuity and incur mil- LUDLOW, Vt. – Imerys Talc Press, “Under Chapter 11 of the Chapter 11 filing is the best lions of dollars in projected le- of Vermont, along with Imerys the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the way to protect the company gal costs to defend these cases. Talc America and Imerys Talc units can set up a trust to deal moving forward. By deciding to file for Chapter Canada, have filed for Bank- with the current talc cases and “This is an important, mean- 11 protection, we have laid the ruptcy Chapter 11 protection any future claims. It will also ingful, strategic step for our groundwork to efficiently re- Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. Ac- corral the cases under a single business. After carefully eval- solve our historic talc-related cording to the company press judge and allow Imerys to pres- uating all possible options, liabilities and focus on our con- release, the Chapter 11 process sure plaintiffs to accept lower we determined that pursuing tinued success in the industry.” will allow the filing companies settlements.” Chapter 11 protection is the A spokesperson from Imerys the time and protection to ne- Bloomberg Press cites that best course of action to ad- Talc America confirmed that gotiate a global agreement with “Johnson & Johnson faces dress our historic talc-related the filing will have no impact creditors, primarily represen- more than 11,700 claims that liabilities and position the fil- on company operations or tatives of current and future its baby powder causes can- ing companies for continued their employees. “Imerys Talc claimants in cosmetic talc-re- cer…and in 2019, there are at growth. The safety of talc has America and all of its locations, lated litigation, while defining least 21 trials on court calen- been confirmed by dozens including its operations in Ver- a path forward for the impact- dars targeting J&J over tainted Imerys Talc files for bankruptcy protection. of peer-reviewed studies, as mont, will continue to operate ed talc businesses. talc, according to data com- STOCK PHOTO well as regulatory and scien- as usual throughout this pro- Imerys Talc is a key supplier piled by Bloomberg, including tific bodies, and the litiga- cess. Employees shouldn’t see of talc for Johnson & Johnson more than 15 in California’s $4.69 billion to 22 women who dom of Information Act, dis- tion is entirely without merit,” any changes to their roles or Powder. Johnson & Johnson courts and one in Georgia set blamed the talc-based product covered internal documents commented Giorgio La Motta, wages and benefits as a result of is currently facing multiple to start in March.” for causing their ovarian can- revealing that Johnson & John- president, Imerys Talc Ameri- the Chapter 11 filing, and our billion-dollar lawsuits over al- Making headlines last year, cer. Particularly damning to son executives were concerned ca, Imerys Talc Vermont, and company is continuing to pro- legations that their product in July of 2018, a jury ordered Johnson & Johnson, the New about the possible Imerys Talc Canada. vide safe, high-quality prod- contains asbestos, a known Johnson & Johnson to pay York Times, through the Free- contamination in baby powder “However, it is simply not in ucts to our customers.” Audits complete as SMCS prepares to move forward SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – A Services, provide important The forensic audit, con- from October 2017 through policies, which all agree must with and what it will take to forensic and certified inde- information to the organiza- ducted by the BerryDunn December 2018. Auditors all be addressed. Governance reverse the financial trends. pendent audit, both ordered tion’s leadership as it consid- accounting firm, reviewed talked to employees inside the and financial management are The audit confirms what we by Springfield Medical Care ers necessary changes that will documents, such as bank organization. Auditors found among the priorities as deci- believed to be the case – in- Systems’ Board of Directors help the health system move statements, check disburse- no evidence of funds being sions are made for the organi- creased patient revenues did and shared with the state of toward a strengthened finan- ments, credit card statements, used improperly, such as for zation’s future. not exceed the growth in ex- Vermont’s Agency of Human cial outlook. and payroll distributions, personal gain. “It’s important to note that penses, which led to a low “Our Board ordered this the audit did not reveal any- cash position.” audit to explore and review thing that could have affected The audit shows that ap- records and review and imple- patient care,” Halstead added. proximately two-thirds of ment improvements to inter- “We will implement changes SMCS’s loss was due to in- nal controls, so we can keep necessary to help get us back creases in employee benefit providing quality care to this on solid financial footing.” costs. It also shows SMCS pro- community,” said Michael The full audit of SMCS vided approximately $2 mil- Halstead, interim CEO. “The was also conducted by Berry- lion in charity care for mem- forensic audit does show that Dunn and covers the time pe- bers of the community. at times, former leadership riod ending Sept. 30, 2018. It The auditors noted that the did not report to our Board shows a significant operating SMCS provided them with all all of the information that was loss and also provides specific of the sufficient and appropri- needed to make strategic de- guidance to leadership about ate evidence in order to com- cisions. That is something we financial challenges. plete their examination. are fixing.” “This is the audit informa- “This audit information will In order to safeguard the or- tion we were expecting,” said prove valuable as we complete ganization’s assets, the forensic Halstead. “Since our manage- the difficult, but necessary audit suggests that the Board ment team arrived in Spring- job of working with the com- and leadership should review field to see the situation up munity to secure the financial Audits of SMCS and Springfield Hospital show more inside financial information to the public. internal controls, training, close, we had a good sense of future of this organization,” PHOTO BY SHARON HUNTLEY and the Board’s investment the numbers we were dealing added Halstead. Jones & Lamson project building momentum BY JOE MILLIKEN and Environmental Protection or PCB fluids in the concrete The Shopper Agency on this project since floors, and oil that seeped from our acquisition,” Bob Flint an underground tank that was SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – In a said in a recent interview. “The used to store fuel for heating Springfield Selectboard meet- Southern Windsor County Re- the building to name a few. ing held Jan. 14, the discussion gional Planning Commission They also mentioned a clean of the environmental clean has been by our side through- up of the adjacent river bank up and demolition of the for- out this entire process and has that took place last fall in which mer Jones & Lamson machine helped facilitate much of the metal and stone grinding waste tool plant building, located at funding for assessment work at was cleaned up. 280 Clinton St. in Springfield, the site.” Also discussed was the over- picked up steam. Empty since The agenda at the meeting all structural damage to the 1986, the building was pur- was to look at some of the ex- building itself, through a study chased out of bankruptcy by isting conditions and structural map completed by Heritage the Springfield Regional Devel- concerns on the property, some Engineering, based in Perkins- opment Corp. in 2003. details of the corrective action ville. The maps indicate large At the meeting, the recent plan itself, and the schedule. sections of the building that partially completed corrective The various areas and degrees are completely unsound. Also Jones & Lamson Machine Co. in Springfield, Vt. action plan draft was discussed of contamination, over some 20 reviewed were severe problems PHOTO BY ALAN LAMPS with Dan Voisin of Stone Envi- years of site investigation, were with asbestos and the various ronmental; Bob Flint, executive explained during their slide- costs and procedures needed to final corrective action plan can begin. fore the end of 2019.” director of the SRDC; and site show presentation. “The firm dispose of the waste, as well as will be complete and put out “Once the DEC approves the In addition to applying for the manager Trish Coppolino from Stone Environmental, based in the continued plan of the “trail to bid sometime this spring. partial corrective action plan, community development block the Department of Environ- Montpelier, is our environmen- extension project” or expan- From there, the plan is to start we will move forward with an grants, which will be submitted mental Conservation, all key tal site engineer and who wrote sion of the existing bike path the demolition process some- application for a community in June, some additional site in- players in the development of the partial corrective action that runs alongside the vacant time in the fall, which would development block grant to vestigation inside the building the plan, which took approxi- plan,” Flint added. building. take approximately 30 weeks to assist with the costs of demoli- and the design and permitting mately two and a half years to The quantity and variety of Moving forward and after complete. The bike path project tion, which will be filed by the process of the entire redevelop- develop. contaminants are wide, in- receiving and closing any ques- could take longer, as approval town of Springfield,” Flint con- ment project will take place be- “The SRDC has been work- cluding coal gas manufactur- tions from the Selectboard, from the environmental protec- cluded. “The project will then fore the final corrective action ing with the Department of En- ing waste, soil gas contamina- residents, and property own- tion agency is still required be- be put out to bid and we are plan is developed and before vironmental Protection Agency tion, polychlorinated biphenyl ers near the building site, the fore the construction approval hoping that work will begin be- the actual demolition begins.

INDEX CONTACT US ATTENTION! Opinion...... 6A DEADLINES OFFICE ADDRESS: The Vermont Journal & The Church Services/Obituaries ...... 7A 8฀High฀Street฀•฀PO฀Box฀228฀•฀Ludlow,฀VT฀05149 Shopper acquired The Message of the Week in April of 2018. Sports News ...... 1B BILLING ADDRESS: The deadline for all content is Friday at 12 p.m. for Arts & Entertainment ...... 2B - 3B PO฀Box฀116฀•฀Rutland,฀VT฀05702 Due to the similar coverage areas, all of the content goes the following Wednesday publication. Outdoor News ...... 4B PHONE NUMBERS: into The Vermont Journal & Business Directory/Classifieds ...... 5B Ph:฀802-228-3600฀•฀Fax:฀802-228-3464 The Shopper. You can call us EMAIL YOUR SHORT, 2-3 EMAIL YOUR BOX / DISPLAY EMAIL YOUR PRESS RELEASES, Legal Notices ...... 6B - 8B WEBSITE: at 802-228-3600. SENTENCE CALENDAR EVENTS ADS AND CLASSIFIED LISTINGS ARTICLES, AND PHOTOS Calendar ...... 6B - 10B www.VermontJournal.com [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 2A | February 20, 2019 The Shopper Conservation plant sale deadline extended WALPOLE, N.H. – The tors, and drought resistant. For the CCCD and will benefit con- be received by the Conser- Cheshire County Conservation this reason, they are healthy, servation efforts in Cheshire vation District no later than District has extended the order hardy plants adapted to our County. Thus, in addition to Feb. 26, 2019. Checks should deadline for their 2019 Con- local growing conditions and improving your landscape you be made out to “CCCD” and servation Plant Sale. Orders beneficial to both the grower are helping fund conservation mailed to 11 Industrial Park are now due to the district no and wildlife. Once established, projects in your local commu- Dr. Walpole, NH 03608. later than Feb. 26. Community they require less watering, fer- nity. For more information and Plan to pick up your order members should browse their tilizers, and pesticides, saving to receive order forms, contact at our Plant Sale Pick-Up 2019 catalog for offerings of you time and money. Join us the Conservation District of- Day, currently scheduled fruit trees, berries, shade trees, for “Supporting Pollinators in fice at 603-756-2988 ext. 115 or for April 27, 2019, from 9 HCRS new staff shrubs, groundcover, perenni- Your Backyard,” a workshop send an email to lola@cheshire- a.m. – 1 p.m. at Alyson’s Or- als, medicinals, summer blubs, that may inform your purchas- conservation.org. chard in Walpole. Additional SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – HCRS welcomes the following new employ- wildflower seed mix, and local ing Friday, Feb. 22, 4:30-6 p.m., To view the 2019 Plant Sale workshops that day include ees, front row from left: Christine Metcalf, DSP-Community in mushrooms. Shipping costs are at the Hannah Grimes Center Catalog and print order forms, a “Mushroom Innoculation” Springfield; Hilde Hyde, clinician II in Hartford; Kimberley Betit, included. in Keene. visit www.cheshireconserva- workshop at 10:30 a.m. and DSP-Community in Brattleboro; and Cecilia Olsen, behavioral Many of the species we offer All proceeds of the plant sale tion.org/plant-and-seed-sales. “Getting Started with Fruit interventionist in Hartford. Back row from left: Nicolas Plante, are native, attractive to pollina- help to cover operating costs of All orders and payment must Trees” at 11:30 a.m. residential specialist in Brattleboro; Stephany Churchill, clinician I in Hartford; Amelia Gilchrist, Intern in Hartford; Sonya O’Neil, respite provider in Hartford; and Stacy Kilburn, case manager in Springfield. Sheila Wolfe named Employee of the PHOTO PROVIDED Month for Mt. Ascutney Hospital Cabin Fever sale at WINDSOR, Vt. – Mt. Ascut- their community. along with a strong work ney Hospital has announced As a patient access repre- ethic. Learning each depart- that Sheila Wolfe, patient access sentative, Wolfe is responsible ment’s unique ways, being Baptist Church representative/registrar, has for greeting patients and reg- a dependable ‘go-to’ person been selected as January 2019 istering them for procedures for many, and even provid- N. SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – housewares, holiday items, and Employee of the Month. The or stays, ensuring complete ing skilled coverage at the The North Springfield Bap- much more. There will also be monthly award recognizes em- and accurate patient infor- switchboard and in the ED. tist Church will be holding an assortment of plants, toys, ployees who have demonstrat- mation and insurance details. These, and her flexibility and their annual indoor Cabin and books. For more informa- ed sustained service excellence Heather Rumrill, Wolfe’s willingness to provide cover- Fever Sale March 2 at the tion, call the church at 802-886- in their respective departments supervisor, points out that she age whenever and wherever church, 69 Main Street in 8107. and have displayed compas- is not only skilled at patient needed makes her a valuable North Springfield, from 9 This is the first church rum- sion, a caring approach, and registration, but has mastered asset to Mt. Ascutney Hospi- a.m. to 2 p.m. A soup and mage sale of the year and gives continuous hard work within the role for multiple depart- tal – and a great Employee of sandwich luncheon will be many people the opportunity to ments and shifts throughout the Month.” served from 10:30 a.m. to 1 purchase items for their homes MAHHC. “All of our de- Wolfe, who lives in Wind- p.m. Other features of the at very reasonable prices. Crys- TREE SERVICE partments are unique, with sor, has been a member of sale are a food sale, Rada cut- tal Pudvah is chair of the rum- Got dangerous trees in your their own requirements and the MAHHC staff since lery, a rummage sale to in- mage sale and Angel Cioffi is yard? We’re here to help! processes,” explains Rum- 2017. clude clothing and footwear, chair of the luncheon. Sheila Wolfe, Employee of the rill. “To all of them, Sheila Avoid Month. brings a demonstrated ability property PHOTO PROVIDED to adapt to the environment damage, injuries, or Bellows Falls Area Senior Center news insurance claims, BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – The 18 Tuttle St., Bellows Falls, VT register early as there is limited and cut Bellows Falls Area Senior Cen- 05101. space. those ter, in conjunction with AARP, Cars have changed. So have Please bring a scrapbook or trees down Iron Stains? is excited to announce free tax traffic rules, driving conditions, refill pages, pictures, adhesives, today! Smelly Water? preparation for the 2019 tax and the roads we travel every tools, other cropping materials season. Free simple tax prepa- day. Some drivers have never such as paper, cardstock, craft- Call G. W. Tree Service! Hardness? We also ration is available for low- and looked back since they got their ing supplies, and a bag lunch. Free Estimates - Fully Insured Install moderate-income residents first driver’s license, but even The center is excited to an- Over 20 Years of Experience Radon & Arsenic across the state and Walpole, the most experienced drivers nounce Chair Yoga lessons be- 802-591-0366 N.H. regardless of age. can benefit from brushing up ginning Wednesday, Feb. 20 at WE CAN HELP! Removal AARP Tax-Aide counselors on their driving skills. By tak- 12:15 p.m. with instructor Em- Systems are volunteers who are trained ing a driver safety course, they ily Lyons. This class is free and each year on state and federal will learn the current rules of open to all area seniors. GET YOUR tax regulations and are certified the road, defensive driving Ongoing activities at the cen- by the IRS to provide free tax techniques, and how to operate ter include: preparation services. Volun- their vehicles more safely in to- • Multiple Bone Builders pro- LOCAL teers will be available Mondays day’s increasingly challenging grams – six classes a week. and Wednesdays until April 15. driving environment. • Basic Tai Chi for fall preven- NEWS Appointments are required for Come join us for cabin fever tion Thursdays, from 12:15-1 this service. Please call the se- scrapbooking day out! This is a p.m. Please contact instructor WITH US! Serving VT & NH nior center at 802-463-3907 to no-frills event just time to fin- Susan Williams 802-376-5173 800-252-8484 Since 1984 make an appointment. ish up some unfinished proj- for more information. vermontjournal.com The center will be hosting ects, hosted by Tina White. In- • Treadmills and exercise 802-228-3600 an AARP Driver Safety Course cluded in your registration fee bikes are available for use dur- Friday, April 26, from 9:30 a.m. are refreshments, new Creative ing center hours. to 2:30 p.m. Bring a lunch with Memories catalog, workspace, • Chair caning meets Mon- you. There is a cost for this assistance, use of punch, border days at 1 p.m. course. Please prepay to reserve maker, custom cutting system, • Wednesday’s art class is now your spot by mailing a check and Cricut. Early bird registra- visual arts encompassing scrap- made out to AARP to BFASC, tion deadline is Feb. 25. Please booking, adult coloring, and stamping. Bring your own ma- terials and have fun socializing. $75 for a 2x3 B&W Ad • The Knit and Stitch group Deadline is Feb. 21 for the Feb. 27 Edition meets Mondays and Wednes- da