By Brett Yates The weird, inclusive Vermont gubernatorial debate held on Oct. 9 has managed—at a time when political debates tend to be dispiriting and unpopular—to become something of a national phenomenon. The complete broadcast is available on YouTube. Reddit was responsible for drumming up some of the initial fascination when a user who had…

Secretary Voter registration deadline fast approaching Secretary of State Jim Condos reminds all eligible voters that the voter registration deadline for the Nov. 4 General Election is 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 29. Vermonters can register at their Town Clerk’s Office or by filling out a Voter Registration Form from the Secretary of State’s website and…

WOODSTOCK — The young “Pumpkin Bowling Champion” dressed in monster costume tries the next challenge: to eat a doughnut hanging from a string at a past Halloween celebration at Billings Farm and Museum. This year, the 21st Annual Family Halloween will take place Sunday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children in costume receive…

RUTLAND – With a big push from dozens of groups and businesses, donors set a record in the just-completed GMP Fill the Cupboard Challenge. Far surpassing the 20,000-item goal set earlier this year, 27,199 food items were collected to benefit the Rutland Community Cupboard. GMP will also donate $5,000 to the Cupboard next summer, 25…

A new nationwide report released by the After-school Alliance ranks Vermont as 4th in the nation for after-school programming. The “America After 3 p.m.” report, based on a comprehensive survey commissioned by the after-school Alliance and conducted by Shugoll Research, highlights the progress Vermont has made over the past decade in providing quality after-school programs.…

By Laura Krantz, VTDigger.org Vermont ranks 39th in the nation for gender equality in local, state and national elected office, according to a report published last week by Representation 2020, a national group that promotes women in politics. The state is second highest in the nation for women in the lower house of the Legislature,…

LUDLOW — Friends of Ludlow Auditorium (FOLA) will sponsor a Candidates Forum on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium. The forum will feature candidates for the Windsor County Senate seats in Montpelier as well as the newly-created Rutland-Windsor (RW-2) seat in the House. The RW-2 seat will represent Ludlow, Mt Holly, and Shrewsbury. The…

CAVENDISH — The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will hold an informational meeting and debate for Cavendish voters on Thursday, Oct. 23, starting at 7 p.m. at the Cavendish Town Elementary School on Main Street in Proctorsville. Since only one local office is contested this year, that of State Representative, the evening will focus on…

The Nov. 1 deadline is approaching for the Vermont Writers’ Prize, an annual competition sponsored by Green Mountain Power and Vermont Magazine that provides an opportunity for Vermont writers to showcase their talent. “Entries are already coming in for this year’s prize,” said Dorothy Schnure, corporate spokesperson for Green Mountain Power. “We are always amazed…

By Tom Brown, VTDigger.org A national Republican political action committee launched a six-figure statewide media campaign during the first week of October in support of GOP legislative candidates in Vermont. The Republican State Leadership Committee is airing television and radio ads, urging Vermont voters to “vote for a brighter economic future” by choosing Republicans in…

By Julia Purdy On October 31 in small-town England, fireworks and the fires of Bonfire Night will blend their smoke with the thick autumn mists that drift across a moonlit sky. Families will stream through the dimly-lit streets, energized by the cold air and the excitement of the festival. It’s All Hallows Eve! In ancient…

By Barbara Mackay Autumn is coming to a close. The brilliant fall foliage is past peak, if not already layered in the compost bin. The last geese are honking their way toward winter homes. Predictions are proffered (sometimes cheerfully, mostly not) for how cold and snowy this year’s winter will be. Sources for seasonal predictions…

By Scott Funk Some of the most dramatic changes of aging can be centered on the holidays. Each family has its own customs. Whether that means placing an ancient and honored menorah in the front window, or being the first house on Main Street to light and decorate a tree in the big bay window,…

KILLINGTON — On Saturday, Oct. 11, the Killington Mountain School cycling team headed to Rochester, N.Y. for the Ellison Park Cyclocross Festival, where they competed in another great weekend of cyclocross. Coach Brad Ramsay explained that the course was set on a hillside, and had more climbing than most, which also meant a lot of fun…

WEST HAVEN–The winged warriors of the Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) tour will make their official debut at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sunday, October 26, with a start time of 1 p.m. The event was rescheduled from Oct. 18. SCoNE will be join the “Vermont Freedom & Unity” event. A successful test had been…