By Curt Peterson A convoy of haying equipment and workers started out from Braintree on Monday, May 26, to harvest 47 acres across from Harpoon Brewery for landowner John McGrail of Shepherds Brook Farms. Their journey was cut short when a 20-foot tall, 27-ton self-propelled John Deere forage harvesting machine, avoiding collision with an oncoming…

By Curt Peterson HARTLAND—In mid-April, Town Manager John Broker-Campbell met with four representatives of the Ladies Benevolent Society (of the First Congregational Church of Hartland—UCC), a.k.a. “the Hartland Bees.” Responding to (very) small group dynamics, the women were able to get Broker-Campbell to relax and say a little about himself.The young town official has lived…

By Curt Peterson The almost 14% average education tax increase last year shocked Vermonters into taking serious interest in education finance. The governor, the Legislature and local school board members blamed each other and/or alleged bloated school budgets. Now the education system itself is the focus for all stakeholders.  One group, Vermont Rural Schools Community…

By Curt Peterson Select Board chair Phil Hobbie and vice-chair Tom Kennedy made an official visit to the Hartland Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, April 2. The official topic was tying up any remaining loose ends regarding a complicated transaction — readoption of the expiring 2017 Town Plan to prevent a gap while the planners…

By Curt Peterson Dartmouth Health recently released results of a comprehensive survey meant to determine how healthcare needs are being addressed in their “service area,” which includes Hartland and Woodstock. The survey project was performed by Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, Visiting Nurse and Hospice for VT and NH, Mt. Ascutney…

By Curt Peterson Sunday afternoon, March 16, mild temperatures, and a loyal fanbase from every generation found Damon Hall filled with folks cheering local young woman Jenna Rice, singing pieces from her latest five-song album, “Salt and Strawberries.” Her earlier albums are “Bottle Collection” (2019) and “Chapters Turn and Bridges Burn” (2021). Rice, 27, radiating…

By Curt Peterson Mountain Views School District (MVSD) Superintendent Sherry Sousa is aware of recent friction but she’s focusing on the future. In the five years she has been superintendent, Sousa has faced the “mean side” of school culture — bullying and racism — and invested significant time and effort trying to steer student energy…

By Curt Peterson On Feb. 18 Hartland resident Rebecca Maxham assumed her role as one of two community nurses in the very busy Aging in Hartland (AiH) program, replacing Katie Williams, her popular predecessor. Maxham will join Nancy North, who has been serving Hartland seniors with Williams for some years. The community nurses provide at-home…

By Curt Peterson The terms of two of the five seats on the Hartland Select Board are expiring at Town Meeting in March. Both Tom Kennedy and Clyde Jenne are hoping to be re-elected to their positions.  A third man, David Dukeshire, would like to replace Jenne on the board. It’s a horse race, and…

By Curt Peterson Maybe it was the recent significant snowfall and cold temperatures — whatever the reason, a half dozen Hartland residents tuned into Zoom Monday evening, Feb. 10, for a discussion/review of the articles that will be on this year’s Town Meeting ballot. The in-person crowd at Damon Hall was only slightly larger. Town…

By Curt Peterson On Saturday, Jan. 11, six Killington Search and Rescue (KSAR) volunteers found a lost hiker deep in the snowy forest. It may have been the luckiest and unluckiest day of his life. According to Killington Police Chief Whit Montgomery, the call citing a lost hiker needing rescue came from the Vermont State…

By Curt Peterson Hartland Winter Trails (HWT) has two 50th birthday events coming up — a concert with refreshments featuring Andrew and Noah Van Norstrand starting at 7:30 this Friday, Jan. 24, at Damon Hall, and a new format tiki-torch night event across from the firehouse from 2-8 p.m. on Feb. 8. In 1974 Henry…

By Curt Peterson On the Friday, Jan. 10 Merisa Sherman delivered a petition to town hall with the requisite signatures required to add an article to Killington’s Town Meeting Ballot on March 4. Bearing 73 signatures, the petition asks voters to expand the town Select Board from its present three-member configuration, to a five-member body.…

Hartland residents speak out about proposed 173-foot tower By Curt Peterson After the Hartland Select Board and planning commission each received notice that IT&W (Industrial Tower & Wireless) and/or Crown Coastal Inc. (a large NYSE listed corporation headquartered in Dallas) was proposing to erect a 173-foot tower with a 80-square-foot base on leased property next…

By Curt Peterson Industrial Tower & Wireless (ITW) of Massachusetts has plans to erect a 174-foot steel communications tower on a site on Town Farm Hill Road in Hartland. Obtaining necessary approval for the project is complicated, with opportunities for public and town government input, according to Kevin Reed, whose informed post on the Hartland…