By Curt Peterson Killington Select Board’s amendments resulted in an estimated municipal property tax rate of $.5569 per $100 of assessed value. “This is an increase of about 1.8 cents over last year’s rate,” Town Manager Chet Hagenbarth said at the meeting on Jan. 4. “But remember, the final tax rate isn’t decided until about…

By Tony Crespi For many skiers, new skis lining the racks of our area mountain shops bring a distinct appeal. And, with the pandemic impacting skiing dramatically last winter, many of us deferred on new skis and boots. Still, new, sharp skis are enticing. The graphics are unmarred! Still, how can you find the ski…

Jan. 15-17 — WOODSTOCK — Billings Farm & Museum will be open Jan. 15-17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend. Visitors of all ages will enjoy engaging activities indoor and out during the long weekend. In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Museum will air “A…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger The state is partnering with the National Institutes of Health to send 500,000 free Covid-19 rapid antigen tests to Vermonters’ homes in the coming weeks, Gov. Phil Scott announced Thursday, Jan. 6. On Jan. 11, the announced a site would be up on Jan. 12 where families could register to receive two…

By Brooke Geery Mini Shred Madness took over Red’s Backyard at Killington Resort on Sunday, Jan. 9. The sickness was real, in the best way possible, as groms ages 4-13 got the chance to session the hike park with a little help from the Woodward Killington park crew, Killington Mountain School and Killington Snow Sports…

By Brett Yates Aiming to reduce the town’s reliance on contractors, the Chittenden Select Board authorized the purchase of an excavator for use by the municipal road crew on Jan. 10. The town expects to spend $75,850 on the Volvo ECR50F, plus $10,900 on a trailer, manufactured by Kaufman Trailers, to transport it. Road Commissioner…

By Curt Peterson and Polly Mikula Thirty-eight people on Zoom joined at least three dozen others in person on Tuesday evening, Jan. 4, when the Killington Select Board approved the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District plan and financing plan and the state application. The application now goes to Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) who will…

By Tiffany Soukup In November, I was making soup to stock the freezer when I looked out my kitchen window and spotted a red squirrel rustling through the leaves in search of acorns. Both of us were preparing for harder days ahead — me for an upcoming hip replacement surgery, the squirrel for the approaching…

Dear Editor, It has taken post-World War II America a long time to figure out that police, firefighters and the military are not the only heroes in our society. It is true that country music singers, rappers, movie stars and billionaires have been getting more and more traction in recent decades. Outstanding individual pay-it-forward-type citizens…

By Kevin Theissen Are good physical and financial health driven by the same fundamental psychological factors? Many believe it’s true that people who value their future selves enough to regularly put money aside for their futures are likely to also make healthy decisions now to improve their health in the future. This concept is supported…

Dear Editor, All indications are that, with the new omicron variant, we are in for another surge in Covid hospitalizations. After more than a year and half into the pandemic, our health care workers are exhausted and our hospital facilities stretched. At the same time, those who do not wish to take the vaccine and…

A woman and her boyfriend were arrested after they broke into a Bridgewater residence around 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 1, struck a man with a hammer, slashed his tires, and stole multiple items. Police said Edwin O’Neil, 64, was hit “multiple times” with a hammer inside his home by Orlando Cruz, 37. Cruz and his…

On Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. the Rochester Fire Department was dispatched to 233 Bindrum Lane in Rochester for a report of a structure fire. When firefighters arrived, they found the single family log home owned by Jeremiah Bindrum, 48, fully involved with fire. Firefighters from Rochester, Hancock and Granville Fire Departments fought…

By Karen D. Lorentz The ski industry is rife with workers who began as ski-area “lifties” during their high school or college years and eventually became managers of various ski-area departments or even the mountains themselves. This is very true of males who have long dominated the industry in leadership roles, but we rarely see…

Dear Editor, The Rutland City Aldermanic Public Works Committee is preparing to re-examine the practice of fluoridation of the water supply. I made the request for this fresh look at the Nov. 1 Aldermen’s meeting, and the request was supported by 11 local and area citizens and approved unanimously by the board. Here are seven…