Judy O. Findeisen, a longtime Killington resident and avid skier, passed away on Jan. 22 at the age of 92. Born Oct.13, 1932, in Newport, Rhode Island, Judy was the oldest of Dorothy and Arnold Openshaw’s three children. She grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, swimming, horseback riding, and skiing. While attending St. Lawrence University, she…

Robert L. Reilly (“Riles),” 80, of Manahawkin, formerly of Long Beach Island and Belmar, died Wednesday, Jan. 1. Bob was born in South Amboy, New Jersey, and moved to Belmar as a child. He graduated from St. Rose Grammar and High Schools, both in Belmar. He attended Mt. Hood College in Oregon, where he achieved…

By Brett Yates Municipal officials have long wanted to install a wheelchair-accessible ramp at the North Chittenden Grange Hall, and thanks to a recent grant from the Vermont Dept. of Buildings and General Services, they finally have the money to do it. But one last hurdle has emerged. The state’s Municipal Energy Resilience Program intends…

Three leading housing organizations—NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, Shires Housing, and Housing Trust of Rutland County—have merged to form Cornerstone Housing Partners, a new entity dedicated to expanding and maintaining affordable housing and homeownership services across Rutland, Bennington, and Addison counties. The newly combined organization will provide a comprehensive range of housing services, including affordable rental…

By Auditi Guha/VTDigger He was called the N-word. His head was compared to a chimpanzee’s skull. A banana was waved at him with comments about him looking like he needed it. His arm was drawn on with a dark marker with remarks about how it could not be seen on his skin. Comments and memes…

The Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) announced Friday, Jan. 24, that the Agency of Natural Resources, Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Water Quality Division has awarded the RRPC a contract to administer water quality improvement programs in partnership with the 11 Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs) across the state of Vermont. Funded through the 604(b) Water Quality…

by Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger State officials unveiled the broad strokes of Gov. Phil Scott’s education proposal on Wednesday, Jan. 22, a plan that includes sweeping changes like consolidating Vermont’s dozens of school districts to just five and adopting a foundation formula. “We know that the work that we’re describing here is going to be really challenging,”…

By Bill Schubart Editor’s note: Bill Schubart is a retired businessman and active fiction writer, and was a former chair of the Vermont Journalism Trust, the parent organization for VTDigger.  The latest statewide count for unsheltered Vermonters is 3,458, a nearly 5% increase over 2023, the second highest rate in the country, and this is deemed…

Dear Editor,  As a resident of St. Johnsbury, I regularly hike up Observatory Knob. A half mile from my home, I get to walk through woods and meadows to a summit with panoramic views. The 117-acre conserved land features forests, open fields, and benches to rest — just a short walk from where people live.…

Dear Editor, A thriving, prosperous state is a goal that all Vermonters can agree to. That goal is easier to achieve with a growing population. More people means a larger selection of workers for businesses, government, and non-profits. It means more people earning incomes, supporting local businesses, and paying taxes to support government programs—many of…

By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is the publisher of the Addison Independent, as sister paper of the Mountain Times.  Early statewide conversations on school funding and housing offer some hope that progress on these two crucial issues will finally occur. In his inaugural speech, Gov. Phil Scott hinted his administration will actually put…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger The chair of the state’s Public Utility Commission told lawmakers on Thursday, while presenting a long-awaited report, that implementing the controversial clean heat standard could cost significantly less than others have previously suggested. However, chairman Ed McNamara concluded that the commission recommends that the state not move forward with it. Debate about…

The issues most important for the voters in Windsor-5 remain:   1.  Education financing 2.  State aid for school construction 3.  Accessible housing 4.  Adapting to more severe and frequent weather events. Close behind and contributing to the high costs of living and working in Vermont is:  5.  High cost of healthcare and health insurance. …

Cobra Gymnastics, in Rutland, is off to a fantastic start for its 13th season as a competitive program. It was voted the 2024 Xcel Vermont Club of the Year under USA Gymnastics for the third year in a row and continues to promote a healthy and quality competitive program for athletes age 6-18 in the…

As winter enthusiasts continue to embrace uphill travel at Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, resort officials remind guests of the importance of following designated routes and safety protocols. Uphill travel—whether by skinning or snowshoeing—offers an invigorating way to experience the mountain, but adherence to the resort’s policies is essential for ensuring the safety of all…