Courtesy FB—Matt Stedina holds a large brown trout he caught in a favorite local river. 
Courtesy U.S. Ski Team—Alpine racer Mikaela Shiffrin is the winningest skier of all time. 
Submitted—Robert Hecker 
Vt legislature adjourns session May 11, 2024 
Courtesy Killington Resort—Killington Resort announced its packed summer events lineup Tuesday, May 7. Mountain biking, road races, golf, archery, obstacle course racing, live music, wine... options abound!
Local News
Robert Hecker appointed to Killington Select Board
May 15, 2024
By Curt Peterson Robert Hecker has been appointed to take Steve Finneron’s seat on the Killington Select Board. The announcement came after an executive session Monday night May 13. The position lasts until next Town Meeting Day vote, when voters will choose the person to fulfill the remaining year of Finneron’s term. Hecker was one…
Town resolves eminent domain
May 15, 2024
Deal with landowner called ‘win-win’ By Polly Mikula The town of Killington will not pursue an eminent domain hearing scheduled for May 20, having recently resolved the case with the landowner. Eva Nagymihaly and her sister, Theresa Rust, own land on the east side at the base of Killington Road to the intersection with Route…
Logging company fined for wetland and water quality impacts in Bridgewater, Thetford
May 15, 2024
The Agency of Natural Resources Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Vermont Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) announced May 8 that Thomson Timber Harvesting and Trucking LLC (Thompson Timber), a company that performs logging activities in Vermont, was fined $32,550 for violating the Vermont Wetland Rules and failing to follow acceptable management practices (AMPs) for…
Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum celebrates expansion
May 15, 2024
By Polly Mikula Saturday, May 11, Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum held a grand opening celebration from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Merchants Row downtown. While the museum relocated to its current location (66 Merchants Row) last spring, this was the first time the organization has celebrated that expansion. The move allowed Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum to tripled in size with new…
Killington Road reconstruction update: what to expect this week
May 15, 2024
Staff report Drilling and blasting will continue in Killington this week, starting at the intersection of Route 4 and Killington Road. A detour remains in place via West Hill Road. “Last week we did blast higher up to get a feel for the process, but also limited any delays along adjacent roads,” Markowski Excavating, Inc.…
Opinions/Columns
The magical mythical equalized pupil
May 15, 2024
By Tom Evslin Editor’s note: Tom Evslin, of Stowe, is a retired high-tech entrepreneur. He served as transportation secretary for Gov. Richard Snelling and stimulus czar for Gov. Jim Douglas. The Vermont Legislature is playing an expensive shell game — and planning worse. The “equalized pupil” is the shell under which the pea is hidden.…
Tell the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to protect the Connecticut River
May 15, 2024
Dear Editor, It has been 12 years since the relicensing process began for five hydroelectric facilities on the Connecticut River, and until May 22, there is an opportunity to comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The last time these hydro facilities were licensed was in 1979, and once the new licenses are issued,…
UVM, don’t punish student protesters
May 15, 2024
Dear Editor, As a pastor, I feel it is my professional and moral responsibility to speak to the crisis of conscience facing our nation and state. As of this writing, the civilian death toll in Gaza stands at around 34,654 according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. A third of these casualties are children. I do…
H.289: Good intentions on renewables but one big flaw
May 8, 2024
By David Bittersdorf Editor’s note: Dave Blittersdorf is the president of All Earth Renewables in Bristol. The Vermont General Assembly — in attempt to move the state to 100% renewable energy — is making changes to how the state’s utilities buy energy. Within the next couple of weeks, the Senate Natural Resources Committee will consider…
Act 127 made progress;but Excess Spending Threshold could undermine it
May 8, 2024
Dear Editor, As the Chair of the Burlington School District (BSDVT) School Board, I am fortunate to witness firsthand the profound impact of educational policies on our diverse community. Among these policies, Act 127 stands out as a beacon of progress in our continuous effort to achieve equity and finally address the inequity across Vermont’s…
Top Events
State News
Vermont Legislature adjourns after a contentious 2024 session
May 15, 2024
Session was shaped by debates over property taxes, housing shortages, flood recovery and public safety By Sarah Mearhoff and Shaun Robinson/VTDigger After a tumultuous day of dealmaking on housing, land use and property tax measures, the Vermont Legislature adjourned its 2024 session in the early hours of Saturday morning, May 11. The Senate gaveled out at 1:18 a.m.…
New data shows first decrease in Vermont opioid deaths since 2019
May 15, 2024
Overdose deaths in Vermont have decreased for the first time since 2019. According to the Dept. of Health’s newly released Annual Fatal Overdose Report, opioid-related overdoses resulted in the death of 231 Vermonters in 2023, a 5% drop from 2022 when 244 Vermonters died. The overdose report includes data on Vermonters who died of any drug…
Safe bet
May 15, 2024
After a week of long days and late nights, the regular session of the 2024 Vermont Legislature adjourned early Saturday morning just after 2 a.m. My best guess in the annual adjournment pool was 6:30 p.m. Friday evening, which turned out to be way too optimistic. When the Legislature finishes its work for the session,…
A lot accomplished this Legislative session
May 15, 2024
Vermont’s 2023-24 Legislative Biennium ended in the wee hours of Saturday morning May 11. The Senate gaveled out at 1:18 a.m. and the House about 2 a.m. This has been a hard session. It was begun in the wake of a natural disaster, with a state recovering from terrible flooding. Despite these challenges we managed…
Vt Legislature passes bill to create uniform ethical standards in local government
May 15, 2024
By Shaun Robinson/VTDigger Vermont lawmakers have passed a bill that would create new uniform ethical standards for many local government officials — a change that proponents said is long overdue. H.875 would establish a “municipal code of ethics” that’s similar to one for state officials that went into effect two years ago. The new code would apply to local…
Arts & Entertainment
Library event held to discuss the total eclipse
May 15, 2024
Friday, May 17 at 7 p.m. —SHREWSBURY—Scott Garren will present an overview of the recent total solar eclipse of April 8, at the Shrewsbury Library, 98 Town Hill Road, Shrewsbury. This is a follow-up to his program last December. Participants are encouraged to share their stories and impressions and to bring their photos to be…
Divided Sky fun run is Saturday in Ludlow
May 15, 2024
Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m.—LUDLOW—The third annual Divided Sky Fun(d) Run is a morning filled with fitness and community spirit. This event aims to support the Divided Sky Foundation and the Springfield and Rutland Turning Point Centers. Lace up your running shoes and meet at Jackson Gore, 111 Jackson Gore Road, Ludlow. Schedule: Friday, May…
Rockin’ the Region with Anders Osborne
May 15, 2024
There’s some great music this Saturday at Okemo, which I highly recommend. Music on the Mountain, a donation-based concert celebrating recovery, presented by The Phoenix, will be from 2 - 7 p.m. in the Jackson Gore Courtyard with performances by Anders Osborne, Dogs in a Pile, and Saints and Liars. I had the pleasure of…
Andrew Loose plays Grace Church
May 15, 2024
Sunday, May 19 at 4 p.m.—RUTLAND—There will be a trumpet recital featuring Andrew Loose, trumpet, and Alastair Stout, organ and piano at Grace Church, 8 Court St., in Rutland on Sunday at 4 p.m. Originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Andrew Loose is an accomplished jazz and classical trumpet recitalist, building a performance career in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh…
Race Around the Lake is this Sunday
May 15, 2024
Sunday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m.—BARNARD—Races begin and end at Silver Lake State Park, 20 State Park Beach Road, Barnard, with courses encircling Silver Lake on town roads, dirt roads and single-track wooded trails with intermittent views of the lake. The challenging 10K route pops out of the woods on Royalton Turnpike and loops back…
