By Katy Savage Local public service departments are busier than ever and some can’t find enough volunteers. Rutland City Fire Chief William Lovett said his department is fully staffed with 27 full-time firefighters, but the volume of calls has increased since the pandemic, putting a strain on public service departments that were already struggling with…

Dear Editor, Editor’s note: this was submitted as an open letter to the Killington Select Board on Dec. 10. As the Select Board leads the effort to bring a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) District to Killington, it appears obvious that the Board and SP Land are orchestrating an effort to promote this project in the…

February is National Black History Month that started as a method of remembrance with regard to the vital events and people in the history of the African diaspora. Today, it is an important month of both remembrance, recognition, and education. It is a time for people of any color to look at the incredible figures…

The homeless animals at the Rutland County Humane Society (RCHS) would love to be added to your holiday list this year! Some of the items on this year’s wish list include: animal bedding (new and used blankets and towels), 13 and 33 gallon trash bags, paper towels, brooms and dustpans, cat toys, litter pans, canned…

By Peter Sterling Editor’s note: Sterling is the interim executive director of Renewable Energy Vermont. Talk to anyone who has tried to bring renewable energy to Vermonters and they will tell you the same thing: despite our green reputation and the thousands of Vermonters who have asked for leadership to avoid the existential crisis climate…

Christmas Eve family service & pageant, candlelight service Friday, Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. — RUTLAND — Celebrate the Christmas season with us at two Christmas Eve services. Join our Christmas Eve family service & pageant with music from Grace Church children, youth choirs and instrumentalists. To keep everyone safe, attendance at…

Correctly installed car seats and proper use are key to arriving safely The holidays are a time to travel and see friends and family. In addition to the special consideration we all must give to preventing the spread of Covid-19, Vermonters are reminded that this time of year also brings with it unpredictable winter weather…

Friday, Dec. 24 at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. — KILLINGTON — Killington’s Little White Church on Route 4 is hosting two Christmas Eve services on Friday, Dec, 24. The Protestant Service is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and the Catholic Mass is scheduled for 7 p.m. All ages are welcome at both services and masks…

By Alan J. Keays/VTDigger A mother accused of transporting her 9-year-old daughter from Nevada to Vermont for so-called “sexual training” with a man who worked as a CNN producer is facing felony sex abuse charges. The mother’s identity is being withheld because doing so could identify the victim of the sexual abuse. John Griffin, 44,…

By Merisa Sherman “Vermont must be beautiful this time of year …all that snow.” What a great way to trick your best friend into heading up to Vermont for the holidays! The phrase gets repeated over and over again throughout the movie, as Danny Kaye successfully manipulates Bing Crosby into changing their plans from New…

Governor Phil Scott has joined the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development’s (HUD) House America initiative, according to a news release Dec. 15. Through this national partnership, HUD and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) have encouraged state, county, municipal and tribal nation leaders to commit to using a portion of the historic…

Dear Editor, Jonathon Spiro was the perfect president to lead Castleton University through the dual challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the proposed merger of Castleton with its northern brethren. He was and still is completely committed to the university’s success, to its students and its faculty and its staff, and to its role in…

Friday, Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. — LUDLOW — The United Church of Ludlow will hold its annual Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24. Adults, families and kids of all ages and faith backgrounds are welcome to join. This traditional service will feature scripture, lessons, music, and lighting of the Advent…

By Karen D. Lorentz It’s interesting when a person who is responsible for overseeing the grooming of ski trails has never skied. That’s the case of Okemo’s grooming and trail maintenance team leader John Boudro who has long answered the call of the mountains in another way. Born and raised in Windsor, Vermont, Boudro graduated…

By Bill Forman When the Founders drafted the Constitution, they could scarcely have foreseen the arrival of household assault weapons, Senate filibusters or, in all likelihood, Kings of Leon sending a cryptographic video into space and then auctioning off the iPhone it was played on. But all of these things have come to pass, one…