Submitted The Grafton Village Cheese Company (GVCC), a subsidiary of The Windham Foundation, recently announced the move of its retail store and cut and wrap operation from Brattleboro to the Okemo Valley. A long-time fixture at 400 Linden St. in Brattleboro, the company lost its lease when the building was sold to Retreat Farm in…

By Catherine Morrissey, Community News Service Editor’s note: Catherine Morissey reported this story on assignment from The Herald of Randolph. The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost. Floyd Van Alstyne has just as many stories and anecdotes as…

By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger Submitted   The latest data from the shows a small decrease in projected education spending and affirms previously anecdotal evidence on the major factors causing a projected increase in education property taxes. Health care costs, construction, special education, disappearing federal money and increased salaries are all contributing significantly to a projected $230…

Articles, municipal budget pass, Haff re-elected By Polly Mikula Whether to authorize cannabis retailers to operate in a defined business district on Killington Road passed by the smallest margin, just 21 votes (265 for to 244 against) on Town Meeting Day, March 5. Voters also approved a budget of $7,021,304 — up $419,050 over last year,…

Follows other area districts in region Submitted Staff report A number of area school districts made a last-minute decision to pull school budget articles from the Town Meeting Day ballot. The Mount Ascutney School Board removed a 2023-24 budget proposal from an approved Town Meeting warning on Feb. 12. Strafford school officials followed three days…

By Katy Savage Rutland City voters opted to not change the language of a charter to remove fluoride from the water. The measure failed by 687 votes (2031-1344) on Town Meeting Day, March 5. Some residents at public hearings in January had mixed feelings, saying fluoride in the city water is a violation of medical…

Submitted By Polly Mikula The Barstow school budget, Article 10, was defeated by just 4 votes — 379 (no) to 375 (yes). The proposed budget was $6,273,856, up about 12% over last year. But the actual education tax rate in Chittenden would increase 31%, from $1.38 after adjusted for the common level of appraisal to…

By Katy Savage Woodstock voters approved a 1% local option tax on Town Meeting Day, March 5. Residents voted in favor by a sizable amount, 997-308, after it was narrowly defeated 426-417 on Town Meeting Day in 2022 and went for a recount. The tax will add 1% to the state’s existing 6% sales tax…

Mountain Views Supervisory Union (MVSU) passed its $29,756,674 budget, an 11% increase over last year's spending; which translated into a 6% in the equalized tax rate. Tallies trickled in throughout the night. As of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, six of the seven district towns had reported results —only Woodstock, which was expected to pass the budget…

Dear Editor, School District administration have reviewed the paid advertisement written by former School Board Director Jim Haff running in the February 28 edition of the Mountain Times. The article includes a chart describing certain services proposed by Johnson Controls Inc (JCI) to the School District for improvements to the School District’s buildings.   The assertions…

  RUTLAND – Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) on Monday, Feb. 26, announced the recipients of the 2023 Rutland Regional Medical Center and Community Physician and Advanced Practice Provider of the Year awards. To be nominated for an award, individuals must meet the following criteria: Demonstrate dignity and respect toward patients and staff; exhibit excellence…

Tiffany Saltis, executive director of the Downtown Rutland Partnership since 2022, is leaving the organization in March 2024. She will return to the greater Burlington area to join the team at Ethos Veterinary Health, according to news release Feb. 27. Since 2022, Saltis has made significant contributions to our organization’s growth and success, including expanding…

Scammers demand immediate payment, threaten shutoff  Green Mountain Power (GMP) began alerting customers Monday, Feb. 26, about a sudden surge of scam calls. Dozens of customers have reported a caller threatening immediate power shut off unless they pay up right away. This is a scam, and GMP is urging customers to be safe and hang…

Author’s note: I use the male gender here to describe the skiers because women are usually not stupid enough to ski Lower O when it sucks. At least they didn’t this past weekend. Living here in Killington we just get spoiled, even with a desk job. Well, a moveable desk job, that is. This morning, I have…

 A few weeks ago, the U.S. State Department issued a level 3 travel advisory for Jamaica due to crime and lack of medical services. A level 3 travel advisory is classified as “Reconsider travel.” The only level worse is a level 4 advisory, which means, “Do not travel to this location.” It was further noted…