The Vermont Dept. of Public Safety is continuing to accept public and stakeholder feedback on Vermont’s initiative to modernize policing across Vermont. The latest document available for public review is a draft Statewide Policy on Police Use of Force. The ongoing opportunity for comment and feedback is part of Governor Phil Scott’s Public Safety Reform…

It also revealed the crucial role of government, not just in crises, new report shows The recession created by the Covid-19 pandemic, beginning in February 2020, ended the longest economic recovery on record. The highest-income Vermonters came out of that recovery better off. But no one else did. Those at the bottom had less income…

Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging (SVCOA) has named Cinda Donton of Rutland Mental Health Services – Community Care Network, and Doug Jones of Meals on Wheels of Rutland County – TRIO Community Meals, as the agency’s 2020 Community Partners of the Year. “We’re proud to honor Cinda and Doug for their significant contributions to SVCOA…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger Schools cannot ask students or parents about multihousehold gatherings, the Agency of Education announced just before Christmas, entirely reversing the state’s prior policy encouraging schools to do so. Gov. Phil Scott announced Tuesday, Dec. 22, he would slightly loosen prohibitions on multihousehold events over the holiday week, allowing Vermonters to gather with one trusted household…

Thanks to generous community support, the Vermont Foodbank is able to extend the Farmers to Families Food Box program into January and February, independent of the USDA. In partnership with the Abbey Group, Farmers to Families food boxes will continue to be available at multiple daily food distributions throughout the state through February. To keep…

On Thursday Dec. 17, Debra Poplawski-Wilson, 57, a former resident of Rutland passed away peacefully at her father’s home in Mendon. She bravely fought Glioblastoma Brain Cancer for 43 months and was considered a long-term survivor. The daughter of Eugene J. and Barbara P. (Grum) Poplawski she was born in Belleville, New Jersey on Nov. 17, 1963. Early…

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…