By Karen D. Lorentz Before their use as recreation destinations, the mountains in Vermont presented formidable barriers to travel and trade, especially in the southern half of the state. The unbroken ridge was not as penetrable as the northern half where river valleys traversed the higher peaks. The Green Mountain range cut off the eastern…

CHITTENDEN — Mountain Top Resort has been recognized as the World’s Greatest Wedding Venue by World’s Greatest TV (WGTV), a show that spotlights companies excelling in their industries. After a rigorous selection process, the Vermont resort was chosen over numerous wedding venues nationwide, securing the title in the summer of 2024. The recognition was highlighted…

The Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) recently welcomed Paula Vanguilder, chairman of Neighbors Together, to speak about the organization’s ongoing community support efforts. Originally formed during the 2023 flood relief efforts, Neighbors Together has since expanded its outreach to provide mental health and addiction recovery support, cooking classes, school snacks, fresh flowers for seniors, and more.…

Members of the New England Hemophilia Association and their families went to Washington, D.C., to lobby Senators and Representatives for support. Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder where blood doesn’t properly clot and affects around 30,000 American adults and children. Vermont was represented by Ian Cornell, his brothers Kaleb Cornell and Levi Cornell, and their mother,…

By Habib Sabet/VTDigger State lawmakers in the Senate Committee on Institutions advanced a bill late last month that would put up guard rails for social media platforms designed to keep teens hooked. The bill, S.69 — known as the “Kids Code” by proponents — will land on the Senate floor for a vote this week after the week-long…

By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger Despite more than a year of political focus on the cost of Vermont’s education system, voters across the state by and large backed their local school budgets on Town Meeting Day. According to preliminary results compiled by the Vermont Superintendents Association, just nine school district budgets out of more than 119 statewide had…

By Matt Anderson Hello readers! I’m Uncle Matty, here for your help, but please be advised to swim at your own risk. I am not a doctor, therapist, lawyer, or man of the cloth. My professional certifications are limited to slinging cocktails and umpiring. If you have serious medical, financial, legal, or faith-based questions, please…

By Pearl Bellomo  Carve Bunnies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting women through action sports and the outdoors, is hosting its third annual ski trip at Killington and Okemo on March 14-16, drawing in over a hundred women from around the U.S. and Canada.  This three-day event provides free time and planned activities to hit…

Electrified scoop trucks to debut at South by Southwest and bring fun to fans across the USA What’s better than companies who want to preserve the world for future generations, unveiling the ice cream truck of the future? Rolling out two electric “scoop trucks,” a sweet collaboration between Ben & Jerry’s, Vermont’s popular ice cream…

by Greta Solsaa/VTDigger After months of a contentious campaign that pitted first-term incumbent Mayor Mike Doenges against veteran public servant Henry Heck, Doenges won comfortably with 56.4% of the vote with 2,075 ballots cast in his favor.  The defeated candidate Heck garnered 43% of the vote with 1,581 votes.  The newly reelected mayor celebrated with supporters…

VT Helplink, Vermont’s statewide resource for alcohol and drug use support services, is now available to connect with people in Vermont 24/7. For nearly five years, VT Helplink resource specialists have been available by phone and through chat at VTHelplink.org to provide information and referrals to people seeking substance use information and support services.  New this year,…

On Feb. 21, Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vermont) reintroduced the Peer Education and Emergency Response (PEER) Mental Health Act. This legislation would support peer mental health training for teachers, school personnel, parents, caregivers, and students.  With an alarming 76% of public schools reporting concerns about depression, anxiety, and trauma in students since the start of the Covid pandemic,…

By Julia Purdy, Rutland President Trump’s trade war with long-time trading partners, posing as protection, threatens to create waste, loss, and undue expense for American businesses and households alike. Tariffs are an outmoded tactic to bolster goods made in the U.S. against imports – but the tactic backfires as U.S. access to manufacturing materials is…

Dear Editor, I am writing to share my family’s ongoing struggle with Vermont’s judicial system and to raise awareness about the consequences of impaired driving.  Almost 4 years ago, my wife’s life was forever changed when she was involved in a head-on collision caused by a man under the influence. While she continues to suffer…

Dear Editor, On Oct. 29, 1943, my father, Etienne Aberth, an immigrant from Strasbourg, France, signed up with the U.S. Navy a little more than two weeks after his seventeenth birthday. He was assigned to the newly-minted cargo ship, USS Cepheus, and earned a bronze star during the invasion of southern France on Aug. 15,…