By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org Advocates say low-income people are enticed by low weekly and monthly lease rates offered by two national chain rent-to-own stores doing business in Vermont, Rent-A-Center and Aaron’s. Advocates charge the national retailers with circumventing current regulations and exploiting low-income Vermonters. The companies lease used and new furniture and electronics at 14…

By Governor Peter Shumlin In my years of public service, I have never heard a clearer message from Vermonters than the one they sent this past November on school spending and property taxes. This issue goes right to the heart of affordability and economic opportunity in Vermont, because when property taxes rise and wages don’t,…

Photos courtesy of Jerry LeBlond Photo order: 1. Ron Ottino 2. Heather House 3. Jordan Foster 4. Will McKay 5. Scott Smith 6. Matt Beers 7. John Hbbs 8. Will Randall 9. Katie McFadden 10. Ashley Incognito 11. Murray McGrath 12. Patti McGrath 13. Polly Lynn 14. Kyle Finneron 15. Pete Mittendorf 16. Katie Carey 17. Kate Jackson  

Photo by Robin Alberti Guides snowboard with a visually impared athlete at Pico during the annual Winter Ski Festival this past weekend. KILLINGTON — On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 7-8, The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) in partnership with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports hosted athletes who were blind and visually impaired at its…

Cumulative team standing: week #6 1. Clock Tower 1 = 890 2. More Cray = 863 3. Ramrod = 861 4. Gorillas In the Mist = 840 5. Clock Tower 2 = 827 6. Writers Bloc = 823 7. KMS 2 Black Bear = 814 8. Ambassador A = 804 9. Slopeoakes = 785 10.…

Cal Garrison (a.k.a Mother of the Skye) writes weekly horoscopes for The Mountain Times. If you would like an emailed notification sent to you weekly, sign up for the newsletter, below.         Horoscopes for February 5 - February 11, 2015 Aries March 21 - April 20 You have your hands full trying…

By Kim Nania I never really thought about how bizarre our sport is until this winter, when I became a ski instructor. We wake up early to stuff ourselves into layers of clothes, to imprison our feet in plastic dungeons of doom (ski boots), and to secure our boots to laminated pieces of wood, in…

Photo by Robin Alberti Russian World Cup freestyle athlete Alexandr Smyshlyaev shows his trophy to Killington Elementary School students after a presentation at the school, Feb. 3. By Robin Alberti KILLINGTON — If you were fortunate enough to notice expert skiers hitting the bumps and flying the jumps down Highline trail recently, you got a glimpse…

Photo submitted Stephanie Bruno (center) of Fair Haven Vt. receives Shodan First Degree Black Belt. WEST RUTLAND — On Saturday, Jan. 17, Rick Smith, owner and head instructor at Legend Gates Shotokan Karate, and a panel of nine other Black Belts promoted Stephanie Bruno of Fair Haven Vt. to be the first ever Female Shodan First…

Photo submitted Dre Anderson continued his strong play this past week to lead the Saints to the No. 4 spot in the USCAA coaches poll. By Justin Lemanski, CSJ sports reporter The College of St. Joseph women’s basketball team was able to stay atop the USCAA rankings, and the men moved up to now sit…

By Karen D. Lorentz The Snurfer is back! In backyards and backcountry, it’s back to basics with surfing on snow. Just as backcountry skiing is returning to man’s early use of skis to climb up hills for sport — and the joy of sliding down — the snowboard is coming full circle and back to…

Photo courtesy of MemorEvents Devil’s Bowl Speedway owners Mike Bruno and Alayne Bruno; Barbara Quenneville and Vince Quenneville, Jr., winners of the 2014 John Bruno Award; Leon Gonyo, winner of the 2013 John Bruno Award; Helen Alexander, daughter of John Bruno pose together after accepting the John Bruno Award at the Banquet of Champions. RUTLAND…

Photo submitted Bartender Tom Joyce stands behind the bar at On The Rocs and prepares the “The Lumber ‘Jack’ Old Fashion.” By Tom Joyce It’s great to see our friends from Jack Daniels back on the Killington Road this week. I thought I’d bring a drink out of the archives to celebrate their return. I…

By Robin Alberti Jimmy Mee and The Freeze are a very popular Killington Mountain band and have been the mainstay for 28 years at the former Red Rob Inn. These days you can see them performing regularly on Fridays at the Highline Lodge from 7-10 p.m., or Saturdays at the Slopeside Lounge 5-8 p.m. in…

Photo by Robin Alberti Kids prepare for a guided snowmobile tour driving their own small sleds at Vermont Snowmobile Tours in Killington. Child size snowmobiles are available at Killington and Okemo. By Karen Lorentz It’s called après-ski—the activities enjoyed after slope time can be as memorable as your day sliding downhill. Assuming that you or…