By Curt Peterson Some people aren’t fans of returning to full-time, in-class learning. Who they are may surprise you. But pro-reopening voices have echoed loudly across the country and state — nowhere, perhaps, more so than at the virtual National Safe School Reopening Summit on March 24.  First Lady Dr. Jill Biden said, “Classrooms are…

All adults 16-plus can sign up for a Covid-19 vaccine Staff report Vermont teens age 16-18 became eligible for vaccine signup early on Saturday, April 17 at 10 a.m. The full age band (including 19- to 29-year-olds) followed Monday, April 19 at 6 a.m. About 47,000 have registered, or 40% of that age group, said…

The 'Base Camp at Bear Mountain' development includes 156 units, capacity for 872 occupants By Curt Peterson Killington/Pico Ski Resort Partners’ application to Killington's Development Review Board (DRB) went smoothly until questions came up about safety and fire protection. When Selectman Jim Haff and DRB members Roger Rivera and Vito Rasenas raised those issues, the…

By Brett Yates The town of Mendon expects to receive $99,992.68 in aid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the $1.9 trillion stimulus package signed on March 11 by President Biden. The first payment will occur within 60 days of the law’s enactment, followed by a second payment one year from that date. While…

Pinwheel gardens are sprouting up this month to bring awareness to child abuse and how healthy relationships within families, schools and communities can work to eliminate child abuse and neglect. Community Health is among local organizations participating in the awareness campaign. “Child abuse awareness is as important as ever during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Jill…

By Ralph Pace Don Stevens, chief of the Nulhegan Bank of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, spoke to members of the Ludlow Rotary Club during its recent weekly meeting. During his comments, Stevens described the historical background of the Abenaki, its geographic location in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Canada, and the influx of southern tribes from…

By Curt Peterson After two years as Killington town planner and zoning administrator, Preston Bristow has submitted his resignation to Town Manager Chet Hagenbarth to be effective April 30. He submitted the letter Monday, April 19. Bristow, 67, a long-time Woodstock resident, said he really likes the town and all the people he has dealt…

RUTLAND—In only their second competition of the season, the Cobra gymnasts trusted their training and delivered their routines at the Vermont state championships April 10-11 in Essex.  The 40-member team is divided into five different levels of the USA Gymnastics Xcel Program. Following strict Covid policy, each gym in Vermont was assigned a different time to…

By Xander Landen/VTDigger A consulting firm hired to examine Vermont’s corrections system has proposed five plans for redesigning it in the coming years — all of which involve closing the state’s only prison for women. The proposals, presented to legislators Tuesday, April 13, would increase the number of beds in the state’s prison system to more…

Vermont will receive $ 104,438,131 from FEMA to support the state with emergency protective measures to store, handle, transport, distribute, and administer the Covid-19 vaccine in accordance with the state vaccination plan. These funds are being awarded to support the Vermont Agency of Human Services in order to address this immediate threat to life and…

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) issued a grant invitation for new infrastructure projects that improve access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, April 14. In 2020, awards totaled $3 million for construction and planning projects throughout the state. “These projects make it possible for more people to walk and bike safely in Vermont communities,”…

Dear Editor, Editor’s note: The following is an open letter to the Vermont Legislature from 30 business associations in response to PPP taxability. We, the undersigned organizations, representing cumulatively more than 9,500 employers with more than 200,000 employees implore you to conform with the federal treatment of forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in the…

By Rep. Jim Harrison In the not-too-distant past, Vermonters would call the State House and leave a message for their legislator, which would then be hand-delivered by a page. Additionally, the State House had advocates for most sides of any initiative that could share information or answer legislators’ questions. Of course, there were emails, but…

By Governor Phil Scott Editor’s note: Governor Phil Scott announced April 17  that he will allow H. 315 to become law without his signature and issued the following letter to the General Assembly. Pursuant to Chapter II, Section 11 of the Vermont Constitution, H.315, An Act Relating to Covid-19 Relief, will become law without my signature for…

By Madeleine May Kunin Editors note: Madeleine May Kunin was the 77th governor of Vermont, serving from 1985 until 1991. She is the author of “Coming of Age, My Journey to the Eighties.” In the old days, back in the 1970s, issues like child care, equal pay and paid family and medical leave, were labeled “Women’s…