By Karen D. Lorentz Editors note: This is the first of a three-part series that explores how innovations at Okemo and Killington enabled them to become successful ski resorts that also contributed to the growth of the ski industry in Vermont, the East, and the nation. Vermont’s Killington Resort and Okemo Mountain have been, over…

By Sen. Bernie Sanders Yes. In the wealthiest country on Earth, let us Make America Healthy Again. Let us go forward together to lead the world in terms of life expectancy, quality of life, and human happiness. But let’s be clear. To accomplish those goals, slogans and rhetoric will not be enough. We need concrete…

Dear Editor, As the commercial healthcare industry launches a public defense of itself in the wake of the killing of United Healthcare’s CEO, many point to Canada and the UK as reasons to fear a single-payer healthcare system for Americans. These single-payer opponents ignore why so many of us want a single-payer system.  You know,…

By Brett Yates The Chittenden Select Board will have a new member next year. Joseph Casella announced on Dec. 23 that he would not seek reelection on Town Meeting Day. Casella joined the board in 2021 after running unopposed for a two-year term. He won a second uncontested election in 2023. Town Meeting Day is…

Saturday, Jan. 4, from 9 a.m. to noon.—KILLINGTON— Mini Shred Madness is back and will now take place at Killington Resort in Vale Yard (located at the base of Ramshead). Registration/check-in will take place on the 3rd floor of the Ramshead Base Lodge. A lift ticket will not be required to participate in this event.…

Saturday & Sunday, Jan. 4-5 at 3 p.m.—WOODSTOCK — Ballet enthusiasts and film lovers alike will have the chance to witness the creation of a legacy-defining production of “Swan Lake” as the Woodstock Vermont Film Series presents “Swan Song.” The documentary will screen on Saturday, Jan. 4, and Sunday, Jan. 5, at 3 p.m. in…

Vermonters Evan Fennelly and Barb Heath, and Aharoni Zisling of Pennsylvania, have been named 2024 Volunteers of the Year by Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, a nonprofit organization that empowers people of all abilities through inclusive sports. Recipients of the annual award exude tireless dedication, strong leadership and a big heart, Executive Director Erin Fernandez said. “This…

Jimmy Carter, the nation’s 39th president, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29, two months after turning 100 years old. During President Carter’s brief one-term administration (1977-81), he helped broker peace between Israel and Egypt. Still, his worldwide humanitarian efforts, post-presidency, best define the man who unselfishly gave himself to the nation and beyond. President Carter…

On Thursday, Dec. 11, Rutland Regional Medical Center’s James T. Bowse Health Trust (BHT) committee announced funding for three important projects in the Rutland region. The ARC-Rutland Area, Inc., Come Alive Outside, and the Tapestry Program of Rutland City Public Schools have been awarded funds over the next three years to implement important projects in…

The Killington Turkey Trot presented a check for $15,000 to the Pico Ski Education Foundation. Pictured from left to right: Kasie Munson, Killington Turkey Trot, Dan Cole, VP PSEF, and Missy Karr, president PSEF.

By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger The Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont approved its preliminary findings on Monday, Dec. 16, without making any recommendations about how to contain costs in the short term.  During the 2024 legislative session, as average education property taxes were slated to rise almost 14%, lawmakers created the commission as a…

By Debra Heleba, Extension Community Horticulture Program Director, University of Vermont Did you receive a poinsettia as a gift and wonder how to extend its life through the winter? Is your favorite houseplant dropping its leaves? Or are you already thinking ahead to spring and want to know when to start your seeds indoors?  The…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger The Conservation Law Foundation expects Vermont to miss its first legally mandated deadline to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 9%-12%. The group’s estimates marked the latest in a debate between state officials and data experts over the accuracy of the data used to assess Vermont’s compliance with its emissions deadlines.  A 2020 state law, known…

Green Mountain State maintains No. 2 ranking for outdoor recreation as part of GDP New data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on Dec. 19 reinforces outdoor recreation’s significant and growing impact on Vermont’s economy. The BEA found outdoor recreation created $2.1 billion in value added for Vermont in 2023, accounting for…

Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing announced Dec. 17 the recipients of the Transformational Tourism, Events, and Regional Marketing (T-TERM) Grant Program. The T-TERM grant program was created to help events and communities offering unique visitor experiences to expand and/or market themselves to attract more out-of-state visitors and increase overnight stays. “These grants are…