Thanks to Covid-19, masks aren’t just for Halloween this season. But on Oct. 28, the Community of Vermont Elders (COVE) will celebrate the year’s spookiest holiday - and Covid safety awareness - with a virtual awards ceremony for the winners of COVE’s Best Covid Halloween Mask. “We have spent the last seven months struggling to…

By Brooke Geery Rutland The parade may be cancelled, but that’s no reason to stay home. There’s plenty to do in Rutland on this spookiest Saturday of the year. Start your day at the Farmers’ Market in Depot Park. From there, enjoy the Halloween Parade decorated windows, and take a stroll to see the Rutland…

Here is a list of road construction projects happening throughout Central Vermont. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it. I-91 Hartland – Motorists will see lane reductions Northbound and Southbound, with reduced speeds enforced in the work zone for bridge replacement operations. Bethel – The bridge along Route 12…

Vermont aims to understand how Covid-19 has affected the use and need for telecommunications services for telehealth, telework, and remote learning across the state The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed and exacerbated gaps  in Vermont’s broadband infrastructure that have left too many Vermonters vulnerable during the public health emergency.  “This status quo is simply unacceptable,” said…

On Oct. 21, Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos encouraged Vermont voters to make their early voting plan, and to return their voted ballot using the safe, secure early voting option of their choice. “While voting during the Covid-19 health crisis may feel different from how many of us are used to voting, we have…

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Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos announced on Oct. 14 that a record number of ballots have been cast early in the Nov. 3, 2020 General Election as compared to ballots cast early in prior elections. As of the end of the day on Oct. 13, 110,016 Vermonters have voted early in the 2020 General…

Saturday, Oct. 24 and Wednesday Oct. 28—The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, along with several local, state and federal conservation partners, will be celebrating World Fish Migration Day on Saturday, Oct. 24 and Wednesday, Oct. 28 with in-person and online activities. World Fish Migration Day is a global day of recognition to raise awareness about…

Governor aims to prevent influx from high risk areas Following the decision by the State of New Hampshire to close indoor skating facilities for two weeks, Governor Phil Scott Oct. 16 issued an executive order prohibiting Vermont’s skating rinks from accepting new reservations for use beginning that Oct. 16, at 5 p.m., through midnight on…

Dear Editor, Donald Trump and the Republican Senate majority have long conspired to tilt the balance of power toward the pockets of billionaires. Now they’re stacking the Supreme Court with another hard-right, corporate-friendly ringer who will inflict even more damage on ordinary Americans. Throughout her confirmation hearings, Amy Coney Barrett claimed she was not “on…

Dear Editor, Senator Cheryl Hooker of Rutland County has our vote and support. As our State Senator, Cheryl Hooker has championed the needs of all citizens of Rutland County. Should you contact Senator Hooker with a need or issue, she promptly responds with accurate information and assistance. As educators in Rutland County for two decades,…

Dear Editor, While serving as a member of the Otter Valley Unified Union School Board, I attended a workshop about how to strengthen and sustain public engagement. I chuckled when I heard the phrase “crickets and pitchforks,” referring to the two typical reactions elected officials receive from the public: silence and outrage. I was excited…

Dear Editor, Think your vote for the Legislature doesn’t matter? You might want to consider the new “red tag” rule that prevents hundreds of Vermonters from filling up their heating oil tanks AND shames them in front of anyone with an internet connection. Read on if you value your dignity and privacy. H571/Act 76, the…

There are strict limits on what “poll watchers” can do As Election Day nears, President Trump has increasingly threatened to instigate voter intimidation. First, he has insinuated that he will deploy law enforcement officers to root out election-related crimes at the polls or call up the National Guard. (Spoiler alert: voter fraud is vanishingly rare).…