By Lani Duke Raccoon tested positive for rabies WALLINGFORD — Authorities recently captured a raccoon on School Street in Wallingford that tested positive for rabies. Be wary of approaching any wildlife or domestic animals that are acting oddly. For information on rabies, call the Health Department, 863-7240. Fill the Cupboard food drive has begun Green Mountain…

By Kate Robitello Skin is quite amazing; it stretches, comes in all different colors and textures, and protects our bodies from environmental damage. Over the years advancements in technology, chemically created lotions and serums, and of course, the marketing efforts of major skincare companies have created the belief that it is necessary to spend a…

By Todd McLeish It rained heavily the first time I had planned to go on a hawk watch, and the trip to Mt. Tom in western Massachusetts was cancelled. But the rain brought with it a weather front the next day that created the perfect conditions for fall hawk migration in New England. And migrate…

By Cindy Phillips I love making new discoveries. If I learn something new, I feel I have had a productive day. Of course sometimes I feel like a total idiot because I learn something that apparently the rest of the world has known about for years. Last week, a co-worker pointed out that we can…

This larger-than-life, wooden motorcycle was set aflame at the finale of the Cirque de Feugo motorcycle pyrotechnics show held at The Foundry on Saturday, Aug. 30. The show preceeded fireworks, in conclusion of the Killington Classic events for the day. Photos by Robin Alberti

By John Herrick The Roxbury Fish Hatchery stood up to decades of storms since it was built in 1891, but when Tropical Storm Irene’s heavy downpours flooded the Flint Brook in 2011, some 70,000 nursling fish were swept downstream within hours. When fully operational, the hatchery sent 25,000 pounds of mature fish into Vermont waters…

Kent Pond in Killington reflects the sunset one calm night earlier this summer. Kent Hower casts a line into the glassy waters. Photo by Paul Holmes

By Polly Lynn Bethany Bosch, 29 of Wallingford, has completed the English Channel swim — joining only about 1,500 others (500 of whom were women) that have successfully made the journey solo.  Bosch has been training for four years to complete this feat. Bosch set out Sunday, Aug. 31 and after 17 hours and 34 minutes…

By Polly Lynn Sunday, Sept. 7 — RUTLAND – Vermonters for Vermonters will be hosting a benefit concert at the Vermont State Fairgrounds Grandstand from 2-8 p.m. Vermonters for Vermonters is a volunteer effort organized by citizens committed to raising funds and awareness to help combat the negative effects of drugs and addiction. The group…

PITTSFIELD — On Sunday, Aug. 24, the annual Pittsfield’s Picnic end of summer potluck community fundraiser was held in the town green. Townspeople enjoyed a fun-filled, beautiful sunny day featuring food, music, field games, dunk tank, silent auction and horseshoe tournament. “Many thanks go out to our neighbors, from near and far, who donated lots…

By Lee J. Kahrs BRANDON — For better or worse, Brandon has a budget. In this, the last town in Vermont to pass a municipal spending plan, voters approved a budget on the fifth try Tuesday by a vote of 534-472. But considering the austerity needed for voter approval, it is not exactly a time…

Following the results of the Aug. 26 primary election, State Senate candidate William Tracy Carris is pleased to announce that he will appear on the general election ballot as a Democrat. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Carris received 36.5 percent of the votes for a first place finish in the Democratic primary. “I am…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will receive a grant for $42,895 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this year to support bat research and monitoring related to white-nose syndrome. This funding will support conservation and recovery of the six cave bat species affected by the deadly fungal disease. Vermont is one of 30 states…

Margaret Ellen Ehmann, 86, died on Aug. 26, 2014 at her apartment in The Meadows in Rutland. She was born on Feb. 29, 1928 in Baltimore, Md. to Edgar and Mae Baker and was married to her high school sweetheart Preston Ehmann in 1949. She received her Bachelors degree in teaching from Winthrop University in…

Dear Editor, With all the news about the inability of a severely divided Congress to do much of anything except shift the blame to the other party, we can be proud that our U. S. Representative, Peter Welch, is bucking the trend.  For example, he worked across the aisle with Representative Trey Gowdy, a South…