New signs will remind public The Partners for Prevention, a program of Rutland Regional Medical Center, has joined with the Rutland Recreation and Parks Dept. to launch a campaign supporting new and improved signs to highlight safe and substance free spaces across the city’s parks and facilities. Organizers began putting the signs up this week…

By Peg Bolgioni Scott Corbett, director of the Allen Street Campus, has a phrase he often tells his students, “We are exploring and providing access to your backyard.” His philosophy is finding what engages a child and connect them with it, then the learning part is easy.  Located directly across from Rutland Regional Medical Center,…

Volunteers plant flowering trees, including cherry, pear, horse chestnut A small army of Rutland Blooms volunteers beautified Rutland’s northern gateway Thursday, May 20, planting flowering trees along a roughly half-mile section of North Main Street. “It felt great after a one-year hiatus due to Covid-19 to get out there with other volunteers and plant trees…

A Mettawee Community School sixth grader broke into an ecstatic dance and clenched her fists in the air, as her classmates applauded. Her physical education teacher Janna Webb had just announced that she had moved up from training wheels to official bike rider. It was a joyful example of success after a week of training provided…

Community-built wood playground no longer meets safety, development requirements By Polly Mikula Killington Elementary School’s (KES) wooden playground, Kids' Kingdom, has come to the end of its useful life and it will be removed in the coming weeks. The one-of-a-kind structure was build by the community 30 years ago. “The Dept. of Children and Families…

‘All are welcome here,’ says new Rutland campaign Building off a desire to make the greater Rutland community hospitable to everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community, a new coalition and campaign is heralding the message that “All are welcome here.” Initiated by Rutland native Avery Provin, the effort includes members of the local LGBTQ+ community members,…

Vaccinating 80% of the state’s eligible population may be achieved this week, the governor says By Polly Mikula Governor Phil Scott announced at the Friday, May 21, press conference that when 80% of Vermont’s eligible population — those age 12 and older — have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, the state will enter Step…

By Brett Yates Through a proposal aimed to boost LGBTQ Pride Month locally, Alderman Thomas Franco is hoping to help make Rutland City’s recent symbolic commitment to diversity and tolerance a little more tangible. On May 3, Rutland City officially adopted a declaration of inclusion, which “condemns racism and discrimination of any type and welcomes…

By Polly Mikula The forest fire that broke out Saturday, May 15, in Killington has been contained but is still smoldering. After initially being contained, it flared up again Wednesday and Thursday last week, requiring fire departments from 10 towns to provide mutual aid. Killington Fire Warden Tom Rock said they are still monitoring it…

By Tom Kearney/VTDigger Ibjar Meneses wasn’t expecting to open a brick-and-mortar business downtown during the pandemic.  He started selling tamales out of a local church where he volunteers, and when locals started asking if he also made tacos or enchiladas, he knew he was onto something. In downtown Rutland, which has long been working to fill…

Fair Haven, Castleton, Orwell and West Pawlet affected The Society of Divine Vocations has informed the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington that as of the end of this month the order is no longer able to provide pastoral coverage for four parishes in southwestern Vermont: Our Lady of Seven Dolors in Fair Haven, St. John the Baptist in Castleton,…

By Brett Yates The Mendon Select Board’s monthslong project to enact a firearm discharge ordinance entered a new stage on May 24 when the board agreed to solicit volunteers for a committee of residents that would help design the law. The board’s first draft would have prohibited gunfire within 500 feet of any road, highway,…

By Neil Allen On Monday, Brandon Town Manager David Atherton recommended that the town use the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds on wastewater projects. “Looking at the criteria, they are looking at water and wastewater projects,” he said. “The more we learn about it, the more I think we should put it towards wastewater.…

By Neil P. Allen On Monday, the Brandon Select Board agreed to provide goals and responsibilities for the Energy Committee now that the board has completed the preferred solar siting project. “We have been on hiatus for a few months,” said Jack Schneider, a member of the energy committee. “We are looking for direction forward…

By Neil P. Allen On Monday, the Brandon Select Board will return to in-person meetings beginning with its next meeting, with the option to access the meeting via Zoom. Select Board member Tim Guiles said, “We talked about this at the last meeting. With the guidelines changing, we could return to in-person meetings and continuing…