On Friday, Sept. 26, absentee and early voting began for the General Election. From now until 5 p.m. or the close of the town clerk’s office on the day before the election (which, for the General Election is Monday, Nov. 3,) any registered voter may request a ballot from their town clerk, whether in person,…

A bald eagle sits on a nest near Barnet along the Connecticut River. Bald eagles, once endangered, are now on the rise. During the 2014 nesting season,Vermont’s loon population had a record success, producing 65 fledglings (chicks that survived to leave the nest) on lakes and ponds throughout the state. Loons faced dramatic declines in…

It was a brutal course by all estimations. Those who finished the fastest ran up some of Killington Resort’s steepest peaks and didn’t stop until they got to the finish line. A helicopter and drones scanned across more than 16 miles of rugged trails cut specifically for more than 12,000 Spartan racers who participated Saturday…

Cal Garrison (a.k.a Mother of the Skye) writes weekly horoscopes for The Mountain Times. If you would like the horoscopes to be emailed to you weekly, sign up for the newsletter, below. Horoscopes for September 18 - 24, 2014     Aries March 21 - April 20 The desire to keep your head above water…

On Monday, Oct. 1, Vermont will become the 15th state to ban the use of any handheld portable electronic device while driving. It is already illegal to use a handheld electronic device while traveling in a work zone and texting is prohibited statewide. Use of a mobile device will be permitted if an approved hands-free…

WOODSTOCK – A new Lincoln Inn will open soon. Under the new ownership and management of Mara Mehlman, the Lincoln Inn located at the covered bridge about five miles west of downtown, has undergone renovations. The floors have been redone, the walls given a fresh coat of paint, and the inn is now open for…

Applications due Oct. 1; auditions held Oct. 3 and 7 RUTLAND — The nineteenth annual Really Big Show will be held at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. This year’s show is will include a variety of exciting performances, showcasing local performers. Show auditions are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 3 and Tuesday,…

CHESTER – Marking its 40th year, Chester’s Fall Festival on the Green drew in large crowds to browse the crafts, sample the food, and relax in the beer garden. Nancy Rugg, one of the festival’s organizers, said she has been involved for the past three years. She said planning begins in winter. “We’re compiling a…

First forum held Sept. 30 in Bridgewater WOODSTOCK—More than a year ago, members of the school boards in Bridgewater, Pomfret and Woodstock formed a joint committee to study existing models of providing elementary education in each town and to seek out potential alternatives. The joint committee now invites parents, taxpayers and citizens from these towns…

KILLINGTON — Amid a weekend that was crazy with Spartan Races, a lot of people found the time to stop by the Summit Lodge to support local resident Dan “Froggie” Reilly with the extensive list of surgeries that he has had to endure. You couldn’t have asked for better weather. It was a bluebird day in…

RUTLAND — Police violated a Rutland man’s constitutional rights when they stopped him because of a snow-covered license plate and then searched his car without probable cause, according to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont (ACLU-VT). The suit, filed in Rutland Superior Court, alleges that police violated Greg Zullo’s right…

ROCHESTER — Rochester VT 73 Bridge 13 opened Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m., 24 hours ahead of schedule. The crossing over Brandon Brook has been closed since Sept. 11 in order to replace a temporary culvert with a permanent structure. The temporary culvert was installed as an emergency repair in 2011 after Tropical Storm Irene…

By Dom Cioffi Autumn is upon us and with it comes a host of seasonal activities – one of the most popular being the annual trek to the apple orchard. When I was a child apple picking meant picking apples. It meant driving to a hillside orchard, pulling your car directly into the aisles, climbing…

Saturday marks the long awaited return of the Kenny Mehler Band to Rutland. Kenny Mehler is no stranger to the area, as he’s been playing it since 2001 and he’s been a regular in the Killington scene in the winter. Now, you get a fall bonus: a first time appearance at The Local on Merchant’s…

  Saturday, Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. — WOODSTOCK — On Saturday, Sept. 27, Billings Farm & Museum will participate in the tenth annual “National Museum Day Live!” presented by Smithsonian magazine, which allows complimentary admission for two for the day. On National Museum Day, over 1,400 museums nationwide will open their doors free-of-charge to Smithsonian magazine…