On Tuesday, Sept. 2, The Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) announced its decisions on 2015 rate increase requests for insurance plans offered through Vermont Health Connect (VHC), Vermont’s online health insurance marketplace. The decisions are the result of a 90-day review and technical analysis that began with the insurers filing their rate requests by June…

POULTNEY — Do you know someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty to enrich the Poultney community in sharing his or her time and talents? If so, the Poultney Area Chamber of Commerce encourages you to nominate that person for the Citizen of the Year award. Presented annually, the Citizen of the Year…

RUTLAND—The board of directors of BROC-Community Action in Southwestern Vermont announces it has selected Carol Flint as BROC’s new executive director. Mary Jean Inglee, BROC’s board president, commented that “We are confident that Carol’s experience, knowledge, and integrity are a great match for the work, staff, and friends of BROC, and together we will continue…

By Lani Duke College classes resume CASTLETON — Castleton College President Dave Wolk recently recounted his school’s progress to an audience of more than 500 in the Casella Theater. He described the school as being “in transformation,” venturing into entrepreneurial areas with a new international student initiative designed to bring in talented students from foreign countries.…

By Lani Duke Rutland Plywood fire sends up more smoke The city of Rutland continues to uncover new information about the fire that flattened Rutland Plywood and those affected. Now we learn the Vermont Department of Corrections is affected. When the fire burned down the plant, it eliminated jobs for 15 of the 66 people…

By Brett Yates As I write this, the Phoenix Mercury are going head-to-head with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA Finals, which seems as good a time as any to reflect upon the tendency of the Women’s National Basketball Association and other relatively new pro sports leagues to employ singular nouns as team names, instead…

By Gerrie Russell KILLINGTON—The Killington Arts Guild hosted an opening reception for its new show “Vermont and Me” on Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Gallery on Route 4 in Killington. Family, friends and visitors in the area enjoyed refreshments and the work of many talented artists. Maurie Harrington, a Vermont watercolorist and the featured artist…

By Joe Rankin Living this far north, we’re attuned to signs of a waning summer: shorter days, cooler nights, red maples in low-lying areas turning their trademark color. But when the asters bloom, I know the curtain is coming down on summer. The asters are some of the latest blooming flower species in our region.…

For an update on this story please click here UPDATE: (Sept. 11, 2014) KILLINGTON  – Powdr, the owner and operator of our Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, has reached an agreement to sell its Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) assets—including the base area, parking, lower ski terrain and lifts, as well as water and snowmaking for…

State police have acquired 65 military rifles and an 18-ton armored vehicle through a federal program that allows state and local police to acquire surplus material from the military virtually without cost, records show. Local police across the state also obtained everything from Humvees to shotguns to generators through a program known as 1033, according…

Rep. Peter Welch recently unveiled bipartisan legislation to build upon the progress of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in shifting the reimbursement of health care providers away from the traditional “fee for service” model to a focus on improving the health outcomes of patients. Welch is the author of a provision in the Affordable Care Act…

WEST PAWLET — The Vermont State School Nurses Association has recognized Mandy Mayer, full time school nurse and health educator at the Mettawee Community School, as School Nurse of Year 2014. Mettawee Community School Principal Brooke DeBonis shared this news with the school faculty and staff via email shortly prior to the opening of school. DeBonis…

The widow of former Vermont Sen. George Aiken died Monday at age 102. Lola Aiken was a fixture in Montpelier after the death of her husband in 1984. A resident of the Gary Home, she could often be seen holding forth and discussing the news of the day at the Coffee Corner diner at State…

Friday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. — BRANDON — Why do we choose to reside here, play here, vacation here? Vermont is singular. It is known for its quality of life and diverse activities, but it is also known for its artists – and being surrounded by beautiful, engaging, hand-crafted works of art and the minds of…

Thursday, Sept. 11 at 9:30 a.m. — HUBBARDTON— On Thursday, Sept. 11, the Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site in Hubbardton will observe a day of remembrance. The site is open free of charge for those who wish to contemplate or honor heroes from the past and present. The museum and facilities will be open from 9:30 a.m. to…