By Katy Savage Face masks are required in all public areas in the Woodstock Village, regardless of vaccination status in Woodstock, after a 4-1 Trustee vote on Jan. 11. Trustees Daphne Lowe, Seton McIlroy, Bill Corson and Jeff Kahn supported the face mask requirement, while Brenda Blackman, the owner of First Impressions Salon and Spa,…

The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) has received a new grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) that will help protect native turtles. The grant will fund landowner outreach by CRC and wood turtle site assessment by project partner, The Orianne Society (TOS). Wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta), primarily found in river floodplains, and spotted…

Dear Editor, H 584 was just introduced in the Legislature. As Vermont high school students who worked closely on creating and developing this bill, we hope it will move swiftly through the Legislature and be passed into law. As schools across the country debate over teaching about race in the classroom, there couldn’t be a…

Dear Editor, The American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter (AAPVT) supports the direction that the Agency of Education is moving in adapting contact tracing and surveillance testing practices. The proposed model will only be successful with easy access to and adequate availability of rapid tests for all students, educators and school staff.  Keeping children safe is…

Dear Editor, I have attended and spoken at two recent Killington Select Board meetings, the public TIF hearing of Jan. 4 and the next meeting of Jan. 10. After attending both, I must begin to question whether the people of Killington are being provided a complete and accurate representation of discussions, questions and answers. At…

By Ben Smith Editor's note: Ben Smith is an emergency physician and medical director of the emergency department at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. American health care is in crisis. On NPR (“On Point,” Nov. 29) an ICU nurse recently said that anyone would leave the field if they were paid the same wage…

By John Flowers/Addison County Independent Though former State Rep. Willem Jewett retired from the state Legislature in 2016, the Ripton Democrat continued in private life what he’d become synonymous for during his 14 years in the Vermont Statehouse: helping other people. The only thing that stopped him was his own premature demise, at age 58…

Editor’s note: After two public meetings, Nov. 29 and Jan. 4, regarding the proposed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district in Killington, the town has compiled answers to frequently asked questions. These were updated on Jan. 10. At the meeting Jan. 4, the Select Board approved the TIF application to the state. In the next few…

By Virginia Dean The Shire Woodstock opened its doors to guests last Thursday, Jan. 13 under new ownership at 46 Pleasant Street in Woodstock. The 50-room hotel has been sold to Turnstone Ventures, a Boston-based real estate investment firm led by developer Jeff Glew. In a move that is growing increasingly common in the hospitality…

By Julia Purdy Editor’s note: This story follows up on “Rescuing Rutland neighborhoods, one house at a time,” dated April 12, 2018. Around 2017, the city of Rutland launched an innovative plan to convert vacant or blighted city-owned properties to functioning residences by offering selected addresses for sale to contractors, investors or new owners who…

By Virginia Dean For the last 38 years, Steve Finer has dedicated his time to helping those in need in the greater Killington-Rutland community. Now, he will be retiring as a volunteer from the Killington Fire and Rescue and the Rutland Regional Medical Center. “I was always taught that you have to give to your…

The VPR–Vermont PBS 2022 Poll asked hundreds of Vermonters how they feel about state leaders. A total of 600 people responded. Braun Research conducted the poll under the direction of Richard Clark, a professor at the University of Vermont. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president?…

By Andrew Campanella If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a parent, or have friends or neighbors who are. Baby Boomer, Gen X, or Millennial— the K-12 school scene has changed so much since we were kids. Understanding these changes can help moms and dads guide their children to greater learning, success, and happiness. So,…

Dear Editor, Now that the Rutland City School Board has reinstated the Raider name, it is time to move on for our community. A few people, not living in our great city of Rutland started this process, coupled with some members of the board, and even a now former humanities teacher at the high school.…

More than 400 highly-trained volunteer instructors make Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports’ mission of empowering individuals with disabilities possible. Out of a dedicated pool of volunteers, Vermont Adaptive program coordinators recognized this year’s three Volunteers of the Year at off-snow training this fall, which were held virtually due to the pandemic. Julie Kaye, of Hinesburg,…