The heavens may have opened last Saturday, Oct. 7, in Ludlow, but even the downpour didn’t seem to faze the over 400 people who braved the weather so they could enjoy the many different varieties of chili available at the Ludlow Rotary Club’s 32nd annual chilicook-off. Judges, town managers and Select Board leaders made certain…

  By Jody Boulay Editor’s note: Jody Boulay is a mother of two with a passion for helping others. She currently works as a community outreach coordinator for Addicted.org to help spread awareness of the dangers of drugs and alcohol. October is National Substance Use Prevention Month, which means more overdose prevention messaging should be sent to…

  By Maria Gigliello  Editor’s note: Maria Gigliello is the communications coordinator for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.  “They [Vermont Fish and Wildlife] need to be dispatched (tortured, beaten) the same way [as a trapped animal].” “You’re no better than the Ku Klux Klan.”  “Bunch of in-breds out there just shooting animals for fun.…

  Dear Editor, In 1973, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act became the first civil rights legislation protecting disabled people from discrimination. But no implementing regulations were enacted at that time. It took almost another four years, and consistent activism from people with disabilities culminating in a 26-day peaceful occupation of a federal building in San…

  Dear Editor, Given that the standard in Vermont concerning the disposal of food scraps as well as waste is to compost rather than to dispose it in the trash any longer, questions have arisen within my mind about whether it should still be permissible (read: legal) within the state to dispose of food scraps…

  Dear Editor, We’re being overwhelmed with advertising for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, but there are no ads for traditional Medicare. The reason for the MA ads is that the Medicare Advantage corporations are making huge profits. Medicare Advantage is privatizing Medicare. When you sign on for Medicare Advantage you are giving your Medicare dollars to an insurance…

  By John McClaughry Editor’s note: John McClaughry writes for the Ethan Allen Institute, a conservative think-tank. Of all the problems facing today’s America, the most seemingly intractable is the intertwined issue of the physically and mentally sick and homeless, family breakdown, drug and alcohol addiction, street violence, retail theft, gang warfare, random shootings, protest…

    Vermont State University (VTSU) Interim President Mike Smith released the voluntary faculty buyout plan to university faculty on Monday, Oct. 9, afternoon as part of the ongoing academic optimization efforts. Optimization calls for programs to be either maintained, sunsetted, moved, or consolidated to save as much as $3.35 million annually, to meet student needs…

  Vermont residents affected by July’s severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides now have until Tuesday, Oct. 31 to apply for FEMA assistance. This does not mean people should delay applying — the sooner people apply, the sooner FEMA can process your claim, a news release Oct. 11 from FEMA stated. Those with storm-caused expenses and live…

    The Vermont Dept. of Economic Development  announced Oct. 13 that the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) application portal will close on Monday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. Businesses who have yet to apply or are still completing their application will need to do so by Monday. “This $20 million grant program has been a…

    RUTLAND—In advance of the cold and flu season,is updating their visitor guidelines and asking the public’s help in curbing the spread of infectious diseases. “We are making some adjustments to our visitor guidelines,” said Dr. Todd Gregory, chief medical officer for the hospital, in a news release, Oct. 12. “We want to keep…

      A weekly report from the Agency of Transportation (AOT) lists of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways and interstates in the local region. The following are those that affect driving in Rutland and Windsor counties. I-89 White River Junction: AOT partners at NHDOT are working on a…

Mosher Excavating will finish work on the upper section of East Mountain Road (from Roundabout to the bridge) this week and will move to the lower section (Bear Mountain Road and down to Route 4) next week Oct. 23-Nov. 3, with that portion closed from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.  There will be signs at the…

The Agency of Natural Resources Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) fined Ascutney Fire District #2, the owner and operator of a public water system in Weathersfield,  of the Vermont Water Supply Rule (VWSR) on Oct. 13. It has been directed to bring the water system into compliance. Many Vermonters use public community water systems for…

  Company recently added 30,000 square feet and plans for multiple expansions  RUTLAND—Kalow Technologies, a leading contract manufacturer of packaging, beverage dispensing, ag tech, and 3D printing equipment recently leased and began renovation work on an additional 30,000 square feet of space at 155 Seward Road in Rutland. The additional space was acquired to meet…