CASTLETON—The Castleton State College Rotaract Club, a chapter of Rotary International, focuses on community service and professional development. The club has been active since May of 2013 in several local community projects as well as international endeavors. In February of 2015, club members, together with fellow Rotarians from Vermont and New Hampshire, plan to visit…

RUTLAND–On Thursday, Oct. 23, the board of directors of Heritage Family Credit Union announced their choice of Matt Levandowski to succeed long-time President/CEO Ron Hance upon Hance’s retirement in January 2015 after 36 years of service. Levandowski is currently the senior vice president of retail and marketing at Heritage Family. Levandowski brings over 21 years…

By Lani Duke Aldermen continue to ponder new pool RUTLAND—After receiving a 40-page report from the Aquatics Group consulting firm, the Aldermen voted to continue studying whether to build a new pool at Giorgetti Park. Built in 1970 and upgraded in 1994, White Pool brings in $21,800 in annual revenue, against $90,278 in operating costs.…

Student book thief caught CASTLETON—Former Castleton State College student Heather Berenyi recently was charged with allegedly pawning college texts that she had checked out from the college library, to finance her heroin addiction. The thefts started becoming obvious last spring. She allegedly also stole books from other students at the school. She sold most of…

Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. — RUTLAND — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) announces a series of Health Care After Retirement Sessions, for Vermonters retiring soon or just becoming eligible for Medicare. If you’d like to find out more about Medicare and Medicare products, including information on Vermont Medigap Blue℠—affordable Medicare supplemental coverage…

“What (f)lies beneath”—avian blood-suckers By Meghan Oliver When you find a bird feather in the woods and stoop to pick it up, does your mom’s voice echo in your brain? Can you hear her say, “Birds have lice, don’t pick that up!” Mom was mostly right. Birds can have lice (although you won’t catch lice…

By Julia Purdy The Freeman’s Oath—renamed the Voter’s Oath in 1994—is unique to Vermont. Like so much that is exceptional about Vermont, it is traceable to our very beginnings. It may come as a surprise to many that Vermont does not appear in the list of the original 13 colonies, because it was never a…

By Cindy Phillips One of the partners at my firm is on an extended business development trip to China. I received an email from him this week and the last line read, “Please water my plant.” I walked into his office and saw a wilted piece of greenery, leaves drooping almost to the floor. I…

By Dom Cioffi Like most people, I live under the false sense that I’m actually in control of my life. Even though I’ve spent countless hours reading and contemplating the idea that free will and control are illusionary, I still manage to approach my day-to-day life under the perception that I’m directing the show. This…

Dear Editor, The Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) and Vermont Health Connect (a.k.a. Shumlincare) are weakening the economy and over time both will become less affordable. Both plans help specific groups by giving them a greater slice of the economic pie. But the law reduces the pie itself by reducing the amount that Americans work.…

Dear Editor, This letter is in support of Marc Brierre for State’s Attorney. As an officer for the Vermont State Police, I’ve known Marc as a prosecutor for all of my time in the Rutland area. In one of my very first cases in Rutland County, Marc went out of his way in a small…

Dear Editor, My vote and endorsement in this election will go to Job Tate to represent the district of Chittenden, Mendon, Killington and Bridgewater. Job has a young family and is running to make sure that that his young family and others have a place in Vermont. As an elected official Job will take this…

Dear Editor, Marc Brierre began his career with the Rutland County State “Attorney” office over 30 years ago as a prosecutor. He handled his case load and assisted where and when needed. Life was a bit easier then. Throughout the years he changed, learned, grew and garnered the experience of those around him. This includes…

Dear Editor, Let me start by saying Anne Gallivan’s modesty and her penchant for listening instead of talking make her a lousy campaigner. But those qualities, combined with her intellect, honesty, ethics, persuasiveness and her ability to compromise make her an excellent legislator! What makes her unique is that she has no hidden agenda. She…

Dear Editor, It is time once again for the voters of Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington and Mendon to decide on representation in Montpelier. As your current representative, I want to use my experience to work with a strong voice. My views align best with a Democratic party platform, but I have voted with an independent voice…