By Rep. Jim Harrison Over the past two weeks, the House and Senate Appropriation Committees held public hearings on the FY24 budget, which begins on July 1, 2023. A quick tally on the various asks on Friday afternoon, March 3, came up with over $700 million in new spending, which is well beyond what might…

Over 100 Vermont businesses from diverse industries completed the 2023 annual economic survey in January regarding the outlook of Vermont’s small- to medium-sized businesses. Of the business owners who responded, 80% have fewer than 25 employees.  The survey, presented by Davis and Hodgdon CPAs and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, revealed that there is more…

Staff report Incumbents Cathy Solsaa and Kevin Kiefaber were reelected to the Rutland City School Board of Commissioners  on Town Meeting Day along with newcomers Ryan Carney and Heather Hauke.  Mary McDonald fell short of getting a seat.  Solsaa was the top vote-getter with 1,478 votes, followed by Ryan Carney with 1,446 votes and Heather…

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Staff report The Barstow Unified School District passed by a large margin 307 to 77 on Town Meeting Day. "The BUU board worked hard to bring forth a responsible budget that puts the needs of students first, and the support of voters made it possible," Superintendent Kristen Hubert said in a statement. 

By Brooke Geery It was an exhilarating weekend of banked slalom action at The Beast as the ninth edition of Slash and Berm banked slalom took over the Stash terrain park. The Slash and Berm is held in partnership with the resort and our friends at Darkside Snowboards and Burton Snowboards with all proceeds benefiting…

By Aubrey Weaver Editor's note: Aubrey Weaver is a reporter with Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program. The Senate Judiciary Committee heard from familiar faces on a familiar policy last week: THC potency limits for cannabis concentrates.  A bill in the committee, S.72, would remove the current…

Staff report A Woodstock police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave after he was arrested for drunk driving. Kaleb McIntire, 33, of Bridgewater, had been with the department since 2020. He was arrested for suspicion of DUI on March 2 after Vermont State Police responded to a domestic disturbance on Braley Hill Road…

By Katy Savage A second Act 250 hearing for the Base Camp at Bear Mountain housing development project lasted just 20 minutes and generated almost no questions on Tuesday, Feb. 28.  “We will make a decision as quickly as we possibly can,” Act 250 board member Devon Fuller said at the meeting. The applicants, Ottauquechee…

By Karen D. Lorentz Sixty-four years ago on President's Week, the Killington Ski Area was discovered by skiers, and they’ve flocked to the area ever since, making it the leader in Vermont and the East in skier visits. That four Pomalifts were running on Killington Mountain that first season was testament to the vision and…

By Katy Savage  About 80 Woodstock residents braved a foot of snow on Saturday, March 4 to attend Town Meeting at the Woodstock Town Hall.  Another 20 attended via Zoom.  Much of the discussion in the 2 ½ hours focused on eliminating the three elected lister positions and replacing them with auditors. The article ultimately…

Staff report Rutland city has a new mayor. Mike Doenges, who served as the Board of Aldermen president, beat incumbent Mayor David Allaire on Town Meeting Day, March 7 by 393 votes in unofficial results.  Allaire had been mayor since 2017. Doenges received 57% of the vote and voter turnout was about 25%.  Rutland city…

March 1-May 31—QUECHEE—Experience the beauty of owls through the artwork of painters Betsy Smith and Diana Clegg Brown. Betsy Smith’s artwork is a celebration of the amazing natural world around us, from distant galaxies to the fascinating wild creatures with whom we share our sacred Earth. Her preferred mediums are watercolors and acrylics, and she…

Saturday, March 11—BARNARD—Experience dinner plus over four hours of music, including New Orleans jazz & swing, roaring 20s dance swing & new world soul from the African diaspora at the Barnard Town Hall. Here’s this year’s musical line up: •5:30 p.m.  Michael Zsoldos & Ben Kogan (New Orleans jazz/swing) •7 p.m Speak Easy Prohibition Band:…

By Bonnie Kirn Donahue Bonnie Kirn Donahue is a UVM Extension master gardener and landscape designer from central Vermont. Winter in New England brings snow, ice and…salt. Salt can be a great asset in the winter for deicing roads and walkways. Salt prevents ice from forming by lowering the freezing point of water, creating safer…