Dear Editor, The debate has started again as to whether the U.S. Constitution should be amended in order to change the presidential election process. Some promote eliminating the electoral college in favor of a direct popular vote for president while others believe the electoral college should remain unchanged. Just as compromise solved the initial problems…

Dear Editor, With so many small businesses closing due to Covid hardships, and local markets and craft shows across the state forced to halt in-person operations, the businesses that do succeed are the ones that update their business model and get creative. The Vermont Farmers Market is no exception. Down to half capacity this summer…

By Angelo Lynn As all Americans wish fervently for a return to normal times, we are faced with twin crises that have shaken the country to its core: a meteoric rise in Covid cases and an erosion of trust in the truth — a casualty of four years of lies and misinformation spewed by a…

$908 billion Covid relief bill stalls over protecting companies from lawsuits By Kit Norton/VTDigger Unless Congress acts, the government will shut down Friday, Dec. 11, and Covid relief funding will expire Dec. 31. Both of Vermont’s senators are up in arms about the lack of action by Senate Republicans. U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said Senate…

By Mike Dougherty/VTDigger Covid-19 cases attributed to social events receded after the state’s ban on multi-household gatherings went intoeffect Nov. 13. Now outbreaks in facilities like nursing homes have become the primary driver of the ongoing surge, according to a new contact tracing data analysis released Friday, Dec. 4, by the Vermont Dept. of Health. Gov.…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger Education property taxes could rise an average of 9% next year, mostly as a result of the pandemic-induced recession, new pension obligations and, to a lesser extent, rising school spending, Vermont’s tax commissioner said earlier this month. This prediction was laid out in the so-called Dec. 1 Letter, a document the department is required…

By Polly Mikula Rutland Free Library has drafted a memorandum of understanding to purchase the former College of St. Joseph administration building, including the Giorgetti Library, with plans to move from its current location downtown within the next year. “We’re honored and excited to give the library a new home — so much time and…

At the recent annual meeting of BROC Community Action the 2020 Community Action Recognition Award recipients were announced. Those awarded were: Richard Wobby Since 2005 Richard Wobby has been a driving force behind the Wheels For Warmth initiative. The concept was launched by his lifelong friend, Governor Phil Scott. Wheels for Warmth has raised $558,000…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger Castleton University, Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College should all become one school, and the state should more than double its investment in the state college system, at least in the short term. Those are the key items in a long-awaited package of preliminary recommendations issued Friday, Dec. 4, by a special legislative panel.…

By Curt Peterson On Dec. 1 the Killington board of health voted unanimously to pursue a public health order (PHO) regarding an alleged septic system failure 287 Estabrook Road, a short-term rental property belonging to Killington Mountain House LLC (KMH) and Vincent Connolly. A Dec. 15 public hearing will determine whether the PHO will be…

High school senior Netanel Crispe is raising funds to restore and preserve the oldest Jewish known cemetery in Vermont, though many Vermonters are completely unaware of its existence. The East Poultney Jewish Cemetery  was first purchased by the Poultney Jewish community in 1873, and the Jewish cemetery marks the burial place of Vermont’s first Jews…

By Susan Durant Tim Owings and the Mission Farm Bakery have been part of the charm of Mission Farm for the past 23 years. Many a passerby remembers when the bakery was also a café offering simple fare for locals to stop by and enjoy.  More recently, Owings has maintained the bakery as a wholesale…

By Katie Jickling/VTDigger If all goes smoothly, doses of a Covid -19 vaccine could be distributed throughout Vermont this week, but likely won't be administered to anyone until next week. Doctors, state officials, and nursing home administrators are scrambling to get ready to offer the first doses, which will go to high-risk Vermonters.  Medical teams are…

By Polly Mikula and Katy Savage On Friday, Dec. 4, Governor Phil Scott announced that the season for youth winter sports would continue to be postponed due to surging Covid cases in the state. Scott originally announced the ban Nov. 24. Recreation and club sports activities have been on hold since Nov. 14, when the…

By Brooke Geery Dan Tilly has been home brewing cider, wine and beer for almost a decade. Though he dreamt of starting a beer company for years, he finally got down to business this year after the pandemic brought him back to Vermont from London. The Mt. Holly native teamed up with friend and fellow…