Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports is accepting nominations for the Kellen Sams Memorial Leadership Award, recognizing volunteers, staff, and interns who demonstrate outstanding organizational commitment and leadership. Kellen Sams dedicated his life to outdoor experiential education and inclusive recreation. Established in his memory, the award highlights individuals who embody his passion for professional development, leadership,…

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, a nonprofit dedicated to providing outdoor recreation for individuals with disabilities, on Tuesday, March 18, announced a $500,000 matching gift from an anonymous donor to support its Vermont Adaptive Forever endowment fund. The gift, combined with financial commitments from every member of the organization’s board of directors, marks a significant…

By Karen D. Lorentz Having observed the development of skiing in Sweden, Vermont State Forester Perry Merrill envisioned similar recreational and economic possibilities for skiing in Vermont.  During 37 years on the job, he oversaw the purchase of 170,000 acres of forestland in 27 state forests and 32 state parks. He negotiated many long-term leases…

Nearly 500 acres of private land at the entrance to the popular Robert T. Stafford White Rocks National Recreation Area in Wallingford have been conserved in perpetuity as public land, according to the Trust for Public Land, which secured funding for the acquisition. The property is home to the popular Ice Beds Trail network and features views…

An investment of nearly $32 million has been allocated to the GE Aerospace facility in Rutland, according to a company news release last Wednesday, March 12. The money will be spent on new machines, upgrades, precision equipment, and specialized tooling to support the production of components for aircraft engines, the release noted. Specifically “specialized tooling…

Teams Clock Tower and Here We Go tied for the Killington Ski Bum Race Series season title with a perfect 900 points earned. Scores are based on the top three point-getters on each team, each week, with year-end standings taken from the top six finishes. First place in each category earns 50 points.  The local…

By Deborah J. Benoit Gardeners bid farewell to their outdoor growing spaces each winter and turn their attention to other ways to occupy their days. Magazines and seed catalogs provide inspiration, but there’s nothing like gardening indoors to satisfy your inner gardener.  Plant stands with grow lights are a convenient way to bring your garden…

By Governor Phil Scott Over the past few months, my administration has rolled out a plan to transform and strengthen our public education system. After last year’s double digit increase in property taxes, Vermonters made it clear that we need to make major changes to a system that no longer meets the needs of our…

Dear Editor, Justice should not be a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. In Vermont, the gap between legal needs and available resources continues to grow, leaving too many individuals and families without meaningful access to the justice system. This is not just a legal issue — it is a fundamental challenge to…

Dear Editor, For better or worse, the word “affordability” is the new buzzword. It is all over the news and in the public sphere. It was all over the campaign trail and the governor and our Legislature mention it in practically every other sentence. While this is a great thing, something we all should be…

Dear Editor, Thank you to our Killington community for supporting the Drive-Thru Lasagna dinner on Monday, March 3, at the Killington Public Safety Building. The event was sponsored by the Sherburne United Church of Christ, Killington’s Little White Church. A special thanks to our chef, Rob Merrill, who prepared and cooked 12 pans of lasagna…

Dear Editor, Lawsuits and similar threats against local nonprofits and their volunteers don’t just target individuals, they weaken our community. They deter public service, drain resources, and distract organizations from delivering vital services many of us rely on. It is a reality that well-meaning community members — in many cases our neighbors and friends —…

By Jonathan Haidt Editor’s note: Jonathan Haidt is the author of “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” a 2024 book which argues that the spread of smartphones, social media and overprotective parenting have led to a rise in mental illness. Vermont is at a critical…

In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Charity Clark announced the top 10 consumer complaints received by her office’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) in 2024. In keeping with past years, the top complaints involved vehicles, home improvement matters, and retail, which collectively represent 48% of all complaints filed in 2024. Attorney General Clark…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger Vermonters who work mostly from home earned 28% more than the average employee in the state in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau that was recently released.  Remote workers reported a median income of about $65,000 per year, well above the $51,000 median for all workers 16 and older, according to the…