Courtesy Vermont General Assembly 
Local News
Five local organizations receive grants from Vermont Women’s Fund
June 19, 2024
The Vermont Women’s Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation announced the recipients of its 2024 annual grant round, June 17. A total of $365,180 was awarded to 36 organizations across Vermont; five of which went to organizations in Rutland or Windsor County. “The work these organizations do improves the lives of women and girls across…
Castleton Elementary School’s Carl Cougar crowned Slate Valley’s mascot champion
June 19, 2024
Castleton Elementary School’s Carl Cougar has been crowned champion of the first Slate Valley Mascot Madness competition for the 2023-24 school year. Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell presented the honors to Carl on Friday morning, June 14. The awarded trophy was designed and created by Middle School student, Deshawn Ingram, who used both the 3D printer and…
Chloe Masillo and Sophia Nisimblat recognized for excellence
June 19, 2024
The winners of two local scholarship awards, sponsored by the Greater Killington Women’s Club, were recently presented at the Woodstock Union High School Senior Awards Night ceremony. The Club disburses two $1,000 awards to graduating seniors each year. The Sherburne Academic Award is presented to a Killington or Pittsfield resident with the highest weighted GPA…
New England Cider Donuts opens in Ludlow
June 19, 2024
The grand opening of New England Cider Donuts at 29 Main St. in Ludlow was recently celebrated with a ribbon cutting. The new shop will offer local coffee, breakfast sandwiches, assorted baked goods, in addition to delicious cider and specialty donuts. In the summer it’ll also offer ice cream sundaes. Pictured: David Bennett, owner, cuts…
RRMC cuts ribbon for new scanner
June 19, 2024
The Diagnostic Imagining team at Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) recently celebrated the installation of a second computed tomography (CT) scanner with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new machine, according to a news release, June 13. The state-of-the-art CT scanner is a Revolution Ascend model manufactured by GE Healthcare. This new CT Scanner doubles…
Opinions/Columns
Vermont values under ‘atax:’ Vermonters rally to challenge threat to food, water, shelter
June 19, 2024
Dear Editor, A broad cross section of Vermonters gathered in the State House cafeteria to express their displeasure with the direction the state’s political leadership is taking them. (And that was April 25; things have not improved since.) Feeling ignored or otherwise discounted and marginalized, and in some cases, even mocked, the diverse group chose…
Universal School Meals: Delivering for Vermont children, families and schools
June 19, 2024
By Teddy Waszazak Editor’s note: Teddy Waszazak is a resident of Barre and the Legislative Policy Lead at Hunger Free Vermont, a statewide advocacy and education nonprofit working to end hunger in Vermont. As another school year comes to a close, all of us in Vermont have two exciting milestones to celebrate: the start of…
VTSU should renew its commitment to diversity office
June 19, 2024
Dear Editor, In the summer of 2020, the nation watched 8 minutes and 46 seconds of video of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of a detained man named George Floyd until Floyd was asphyxiated to death. It was horrific, and Floyd was only one of several people of color who died at…
Scott was right to veto H.887
June 19, 2024
Dear Editor, Our state Legislature is meeting this week to vote on overriding Governor Scott’s vetoes of legislation introduced during the latest session. One of the bills for consideration is H. 887, the annual “yield bill,” which funds our public education system through property taxes. Governor Scott has rightly vetoed this bill because, according to…
Biden’s ‘weakness’ isn’t his age, it’s his timidity
June 19, 2024
By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is publisher of the Addison Independent, a sister paper to the Mountain Times. On a few notable foreign policy issues, President Joe Biden, along with fellow Democrats and Progressives, need to reset their politics to match today’s reality. Specifically, how America manages immigration on its southern border needs…
Top Events
State News
Program to store carbon in forests grows in the Green Mountain State
June 19, 2024
By Cecilia Larson/Community News Service Editor’s note: The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost. Forged by the American Forest Foundation and the Nature Conservancy, a program that pays people to set aside forest to store carbon…
Two prescription drug bills aim to lower pharmaceutical prices
June 19, 2024
Governor Scott signed both into law By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger New legislation signed by Gov. Phil Scott May 30 will help patients afford prescription drugs, as rising pharmaceutical prices push up health care costs across the state. As legislators scrambled to wrap up the legislative session earlier this month, they passed two bills that aim to reform…
Gov. Scott announces $1.7m in transportation fund grants
June 19, 2024
Three projects in Windsor County are among the 11 to receive awards Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Downtown Development Board announced Monday, June 17, the allocation of $1,787,989 in Downtown Transportation Fund grants to support projects to improve safety, access, and transportation in 11 Vermont downtowns and villages across seven counties. “Revitalizing our downtowns is important…
Money available to protect against future flooding, no cost to towns
June 19, 2024
On Monday, June 3, Governor Scott and Vermont Emergency Management announced $90 million of federal funding is now available to Vermont municipalities to implement hazard mitigation measures that reduce future flood risk. These funds are available to all Vermont towns with no local match requirement. The federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides funds to…
Protect nesting loons and loon chicks by keeping your distance
June 19, 2024
Few birding experiences rival hearing the haunting call of the loon or seeing them glide by in protected coves on a lake. However, for the birds’ protection, Vermont Fish & Wildlife (VTF&W) is asking boaters and anglers to enjoy loons from a safe distance this summer. “Loons were removed from Vermont’s endangered species list in…
Arts & Entertainment
‘Boo’ Al brings Texas roadhouse music to Vermont
June 19, 2024
By Adam Davis On a recent late spring mid-afternoon, I took in a performance by the latest troubadour to join the Rutland-area music scene. “Boo” Al Gilberti commands the center stage of downtown’s Depot Park, attracting patrons with the lure of a carnival barker to the weekly farmer’s market taking place nearby. Clad in a…
Rutland Rugby to host Keith Page Invitational to honor memory of beloved clubmate
June 19, 2024
The Rutland Rugby Club will host the Keith Page Invitational (KPI) rugby tournament on June 22 to honor the memory of longtime club member Keith “Moose” Page and raise funds for the Silver Towers Camp. The KPI tournament was renamed in 2014 to honor the late Keith “Moose” Page, a beloved club member who passed away in…
Musician Sammy Blanchette headlines Singo Fundraiser
June 19, 2024
Monday, June 24 at 7 p.m. —LUDLOW—Jane McGarry is hosting a special SINGO Night on Monday, June 24, at 7 p.m., to raise funds for the United Church of Ludlow’s “Ring Out Love” Capital Campaign. Ludlow musician Sammy Blanchette, a.k.a. Sammy B, will perform the songs live, adding a unique twist to a fun event…
Consider these 7 tips to beat the heat
June 19, 2024
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid beverages that can dehydrate you, such as alcohol and caffeinated drinks. Keeping a bottle of water handy can help remind you to sip regularly. Wear Light Clothing: Opt for lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-colored clothing. These choices help your body…
Strawberry Festival continues with the fun at classic summer tradition at Middletown Springs Historical Society
June 19, 2024
Sunday, June 23 at 2 p.m.—MIDDLETOWN SPRINGS—The 49th "Annual Strawberry Festival" continues a long summer tradition at the Middletown Springs Historical Society on Sunday, June 23, from 2 p.m.- 4 p.m. The festival includes a craft fair, live music, a new exhibit about Dana S. Carpenter (1863-1940) business entrepreneur and beloved citizen of Middletown Springs,…
