By John Flowers Gov. Peter Shumlin on Wednesday, Dec. 17, put the brakes on the state’s multi-year quest to convert to a universal, single-payer health care system, saying the cost and financing scheme of such a plan would be “detrimental to Vermonters, employers and the state’s economy overall.” Shumlin made his comments at a news…

New years events that appeal to all tastes and styles By Stephen Seitz We don’t have to say goodbye to 2014 in front of the TV set sipping warm champagne. New Year’s Eve in Vermont offers plenty of choices for everyone, regardless of age. Here are some of the alternatives to Ryan Seacrest. Mountain View…

Photo by Robert Giolito Joel Blumenthal, Connor McGrath, Murray McGrath, Chales Piso, and Dave Coppock in the stretcher.  Missing from photo: Robert Giolito. During a recent weekly training, Killington Search and Rescue prepared for a scenario with a missing 9-year-old boy who was last seen at the trailhead on the Sherburne Trail. For the drill, KSAR…

“Pack to Give Back” event in Rutland prepares 500 boxes for those in need By Robin Alberti RUTLAND — The Vermont Foodbank hosted its first ever “Pack to Give Back” event in Rutland at its new distribution center located on Park St. on Monday, Dec 15. The event was sponsored in partnership with local businesses,…

By Cristina Kumka Killington to hold off on tax repeal idea; town may make hires The Killington Select Board agreed on Tuesday, Dec. 16, without a binding vote, to support hiring a full-time recreation director for an additional cost in the budget for the 2015/16 fiscal year and possibly hiring an assistant treasurer that will…

By Polly Lynn A cockapoo is breed of dogs that is a cross between the cocker spaniel and the poodle. It may not be the first breed one thinks about for search and rescue missions but owner Tom Levy says his dog Bluu is a natural. Weighing in at just 30 pounds, Bluu has no…

By Cristina Kumka Tucked inside one of Rutland’s redeveloping neighborhoods is a rare business that mirrors what’s happening around it — innovatively growing to better serve the community. Lenoci’s Fine Shoe and Leather Repair Shop started 82 years ago after John Lenoci, an Italian cobbler, made his way to Fair Haven then Rutland, working at…

LUDLOW – Okemo Mountain Resort has added kids’ snowmobile tours to its lineup of winter activities for families visiting the popular ski and snowboard resort. Pint-sized Polaris snowmobiles travel at a maximum speed of 8 mph. Kids love the look and sound of the Indy 120 XC – a real snowmobile built for kids. Each…

MOUNT HOLLY—This fall, the Mount Holly Town Library was one of only 12 libraries to be awarded a grant from the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF). The library received $2,000 worth of new books for the library’s children’s collection, plus a storytelling presentation at the Town Library for kindergarten through sixth grade. In spring 2015 CLiF…

Dear Editor, My name is Jessica Moore. I live in Burlington and have lived in Vermont all my life. I became a nurse because I wanted to help people, but the real world of health care is far from what I thought it was. I see patients every day who are diagnosed with debilitating and…

Dear Editor, The next session of the legislature starts in a few weeks. There was a very clear message that education and property taxes had reached the limit of Vermonters’ ability to pay. They want action to solve this problem. Governor Shumlin and legislators have heard the message. The cost of health care, clean-up of…

By Thomas P. Salmon In 1958, when I moved from Boston to Bellows Falls, Vermont was something of an economic and political backwater. The economy was stagnant and political loyalties were virtually unchanged since the Civil War. More people moved out than moved in. Not until 1963 did the human population exceed the bovine. Construction…

By Governor Peter Shumlin Earlier this week, I made one of the most difficult decisions of my public life when I announced that I cannot support a move to a publicly-financed health care system in Vermont at this time. I have advocated for such a system for much of my public life, but over the…

By Steve Costello With a national record set last year and a lack of a specific goal at the 2014 Gift-of-Life Marathon – 12 Days of Giving, a black-and-white definition of success seems elusive to a lot of observers. Since the GOLM wrapped up, I’ve been asked at least 100 times if the new GOLM…

Editor’s note: The Mountain Times receives many questions from readers every week about Killington Resort and Pico Mountain operations. In order to best answer some of the most common questions we will pose them directly to Mike Solimano, president and general manager for Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, who has agreed to respond in an…