By Amanda Gokee/VTDigger Demand for organic milk in Vermont has gone up during the pandemic, which is welcome news for organic farmers, particularly after a three-year period without growth in consumption. Cooperatives such as Organic Valley,  the largest farmer-owned organic cooperative in the United States, have responded by allowing some farmers to increase production. The cooperative…

By Brett Yates Rutland residents will see an increase in their water and sewer bills next year. On Dec. 21, the Board of Aldermen approved the Dept. of Public Works’ new rate schedule for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22), which begins on July 1, 2021. Rutland City bills households and businesses quarterly for water, wastewater treatment,…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger Outdated internet services, exacerbated by the pandemic, have plagued residents in rural Rutland County towns. Now, a new feasibility study provides a path forward for them. Last spring, Meghan Hill, who teaches English at Fair Haven Grade School, taught classes remotely from her home in Benson, a community with no access to cable or…

Officials urge vigilance, adherence to Covid travel and gathering guidelines By Polly Mikula For the second straight week, Vermont and the Northeast region have seen Covid cases decline. Governor Phil Scott called the trend a “promising sign,” before cautioning listeners at his regular Covid-19 press conference, Tuesday, Dec. 29, that it was “too early to…

Ski resorts attract crowds, but protocols appear to be working By Emma Cotton/VTDigger On the snowy ascent to Killington Resort, blue road signs instruct out-of-state skiers to turn away if they haven’t quarantined according to Vermont’s Covid-19 guidelines. The signs are a final plea by the resort, and the state, for those who haven’t followed the…

Prestige Real Estate of Killington is proud to announce the addition of a new real estate agent to its team, Liz Pulsifer Sailer. Sailer began providing marketing support over the summer and officially joined the Prestige team as a real estate agent in November. Her many years of marketing experience, project management and extensive knowledge…

It’s that time of year again when many of us start making New Year’s resolutions. After a tumultuous 2020, it may be more imperative than ever to strive for physical, mental, and emotional balance. The good news is that there is someone who might be able to help you reach those goals who’s closer than you think: your dog or cat. That’s right, Fido…

By Kevin Theissen After a year of living with the fear of Covid-19, many investors are hoping 2021 will bring a return to “normal,” even if the new normal may not be exactly like the old one. Optimism about the future has many investors feeling bullish, according to most of the sentiment surveys listed in…

By Merisa Sherman It happened on a bluebird day in March, as we were descending from the summit of Mt. Washington. We watched as an old mountaineer stepped out of the clouds below, diligently following the rocky, snow covered trail. He walked slowly, the long wooden handle of his mountaineering axe serving more like a…

By Mary Ellen Shaw Dating is often a time when you try to be good at something…even when you are not! With ski season just beginning I am reminded of my diehard attempts to strap on skis and get from the top to the bottom of Pico. It’s not that I had never skied before,…

By Dom Cioffi I take great joy in decorating my house for the holidays. It’s a lot of work, but it’s all worth it when the lights are on, the tree is up, and the house is filled with Yuletide imagery. I decorate early (usually the day after Thanksgiving) so I can enjoy the atmosphere…

By Gary Salmon This headline is not related to politics. The term is the goal of people who make windows for homes and businesses and the clearer the better for those of us looking through a pane of glass. Early glass windows were limited in size and had “waves” in them due to the primitive…

By Laurie D. Morrissey If you are out walking on an early winter morning, you might be lucky enough to see some of nature’s most beautiful and ephemeral sights: hair ice and frost flowers, both snow-white and delicate against the dull forest floor. Recently, a friend sent me a photo of hair ice, seemingly sprouting…

By Cassandra Tyndall So much has changed astrologically in the last couple of weeks. As we cross the threshold into a new calendar year, the sky is reasonably quiet, comparatively. Dec. 30 brings the Full Moon in Cancer. It’s been three years since the Moon has been at her most powerful without the influence of…

  Thursday, Dec. 31 at 6 p.m.—PUTNEY— Next Stage Arts Project invites the community to a free, virtual New Year’s Eve celebration on Dec. 31, 6 – 9 p.m. featuring performances from a variety of local musicians, puppeteers, poets, storytellers, business owners, and visual artists. Dinner will also be available for takeout, cooked in the…