By Andrew Martin News & Citizen/VTDigger The number of fatal car crashes on Vermont’s roads has risen substantially this year. “We are up significantly from last year, more than double,” said Mandy White, spokesperson for the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Though theoretically fewer drivers are on the road because of the pandemic, the number of…

The Vermont Dept. of Labor announced Oct. 5 that the state is set to “trigger off” of the High Extended Benefits program, as of Oct. 10. This determination by the U.S. Dept. of Labor follows Vermont’s unemployment rate decreasing from 8.3% in July to 4.8% in August. A state’s unemployment rate is what drives its…

Dr. Devborah Birx said she was impressed with student, community response to pandemic during campus visit, Saturday By Alek Fleury/Vermont Cynic On a visit to the University of Vermont campus Saturday, Oct. 10, White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx praised UVM and the state for its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the…

By Karen D. Lorentz Eb Kinney was born in Rutland, grew up in South Dorset, and learned to ski at age 8 in the after school Junior Ski Instruction Program at Bromley Mountain. Like so many Vermont kids, he worked at the mountain for lift tickets while in school, first in daycare and then as…

VIP Tires & Service celebrated the opening of its new store in Rutland, making it the company’s second store in the Green Mountain State, and its 60th in New England. The new store is located at 133 Strongs Avenue, and officially opened on Wednesday, Oct. 7 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. VIP has numerous store…

Terry John Youngman of Orangeburg, New York, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 surrounded by his brothers and sisters and his two sons. He was the loving and proud father of Daniel, Patrick and the late Jacklyn Mary. Cherished son of Joyce and the late Frank Youngman. Beloved brother of Frank and wife Jocelyn,…

By Andy Kirkaldy Say what you will about the 7v7, all-passing, touch football Vermont high schools are playing this fall due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it doesn’t lack for entertainment value. Case in point: Friday’s game, Oct. 9, in which Middlebury Union hosted rival Rutland. The Tigers won, 24-21, when MUHS junior Nikolai Luksch…

Donors rally to continue celebration on sculpture trail after Covid-19 concerns cancel parade Covid-19 stopped the Rutland Halloween parade this year – and also inspired plans for an exuberant addition to the Rutland Sculpture Trail. Organizers have announced a larger-than-life sculpture will honor parade godfather Tom Fagan and the parade. It will be unveiled around…

By Katy Savage Many resorts have announced skiing and riding will be different this year, with advance reservations, social distancing on chair lifts and limited dining options, but sales indicate people are still eager to hit the slopes. Vail sold 850,000 season passes through September, which is up 18% from the previous year, Vail CEO…

Gov. Scott announces laws on cannabis regulation, police force Governor Phil Scott announced on Oct. 7 action on a range of bills, including the Legislature’s bill to create a regulated cannabis market in Vermont, which will be allowed to go into law without his signature. The new law establishes a cannabis control board that will…

By Curt Peterson Windsor Central Unified Union School District (WCUUSD) students learn via a two-days in-class, three-days via remote hybrid learning formula, in order to achieve 6-foot social distancing and protect students and faculty from Covid virus transmission. Vermont’s response to the pandemic has successfully contained the virus. The state continues to register the lowest…

Wright Construction Company (WCC) took home the bronze in Qualified Remodeler magazine’s 2020 Master Design Awards for the category of Addition Over $250,000 for a huge ski home in Ludlow. WCC worked with local kitchen and bath designer Jonni Huntley of Catamount Kitchens and Design to complete the addition. This Vermont vacation home is frequently…

By Gary Salmon So who put the rock underneath this yellow birch tree? No one, but it is somewhat a characteristic of birches to occasionally get away with seeds landing and germinating on mossy logs, uprooted trees, rotten tree stumps, or even rocks or boulders. The common thread here is that the seed must land…

It began as a hike like any other. We met at the trailhead and slung our backpacks on our shoulders and pulled our sunglasses down to block the blinding autumn sun, while relishing the warmth. We started one way, and then abruptly changed our minds; we would walk straight up the big ascent first: a…

By Dom Cioffi I was flipping through the tv channels this weekend when I caught an image of Kim Jong-un, the maniacal dictator of North Korea. I settled on the station for a moment and watched as an American filmmaker interviewed a family from Pyongyang, the country’s capital. The family being interviewed was obviously on…