Dear Editor, As the Vermont Legislature considers its budget deficit, a viable alternative is to increase the sales tax on liquor and tobacco. Vermont presently has the lowest sales tax on liquor in the nation. With these increased taxes Vermont can close its budget gap, save money in social services, and improve the health and…

Dear Editor, By now you should already know the outcome of the vote: 176-153 in favor of Chris Bianchi. I’m glad I ran for office and happy I spent the time and effort putting together the data from the town report about the Town of Killington having a deficit. The independent auditor did come out…

By Lee H. Hamilton The question usually comes toward the end of a public meeting. Some knotty problem is being discussed, and someone in the audience will raise his or her hand and ask, “Okay, so what can I do about it?” I love that question. Not because I’ve ever answered it to my satisfaction,…

By Governor Peter Shumlin As we head into the second half of this year’s legislative session, it’s a good time to evaluate the progress that has been made in the two months since the session began. In January, I laid out a number of priorities to keep Vermont moving forward that included cleaning up Lake…

Dark green indicates states whose voters have already approved legalizing recreational marijuana: Colorado, Washington state, Alaska, Oregon and Washington D.C. Lighter green indicates states where legalization of recreational use is projected in the coming years. Map courtesy of Barney Warf, professor of geography at the University of Kansas Researcher forecasts next states to OK recreational…

Courtesy of the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum Bring back the old! Vintage ski racing is back at Pico Mountain , Saturday, March 14. “Reunion” recalls the early skiing era KILLINGTON—Dust off those old wooden skis, your VR17s, or your Rossi Stratos and compete against Vermont’s finest! The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum and Pico…

By Laurence Matson 1st: Laurence Matson.  2nd: “Kangaroo Mouse with Broken Leg”: This is Laurence’s most popular photo, as calculated by the number of hits it has received on his online gallery (50,000+ in 2010). We think it’s a good metaphor for Laurence’s current situation!  3rd: “A VSPB I”: Owl face, front angle, taken in…

Courtesy of Okemo archives Obituary By Karen D. Lorentz There will be a celebration of the life of Gordon Robbins at Okemo Mountain Resort on March 13 at 7 p.m. in the main base lodge. Robbins died suddenly on Feb. 27 at the age of 73. Born and raised in New York, Robbins was an…

By Julia Purdy RUTLAND —There’s a new kid on the block—a free web application that takes participatory democracy to a new level. It’s NewGrassRoots and it’s the invention of Ben Brown, who grew up in Rutland and calls himself “a cross between an ornery farmer and the mad scientist in the basement.” NewGrassRoots (NGR) belongs…

RUTLAND – Green Mountain Power and groSolar are pleased to announce the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) have awarded the 2015 Project of Distinction Award to Stafford Hill Solar Farm in Rutland. The award was presented this week in Boston at PV America, an annual trade show and conference designed…

By VermontVacation.com/Dennis Curran Signs of spring have begun, with longer days, warmer temperatures and maple sap beginning to run. Robert “Ted” Young of Andersonville Maple holds up a morning sampling, ready to savor the sweet flavors of spring.

By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org Voters rejected just 20 school budgets on Town Meeting Day, about half the number that went down a year ago. All told, 37 school budgets were defeated in 2014. Jeff Francis, executive director of the Vermont Superintendents Association, said March 4, that 226 budgets passed this week and the rest…

Building A remains standing (left) but  towers B-D  (right) were gutted by the fire that broke out early Saturday. By Polly Lynn Largest fire in a decade, chief says KILLINGTON— Just after midnight Saturday morning, March 7, firefighters from across the region were called to the scene of a major fire at 48 Innsbruck Lane,…

March 14 is Pi Day! Students learn the parts of a circle, calculate the diameter, circumference, and area of circular and spherical objects, and read books such as “Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi,” available in the KES Library.

Incumbent Mill River Union High school board chair Brownson Spencer lost his seat to last-minute write-in candidate Len Doucette in an election coup. Doucette received 269 votes to Spencer’s 134. Although Spencer had served on the board since 2008, he especially lost favor with the public over an unfortunate remark in February about special education…