Former owner of Mendon establishment to repurpose name Staff report The former Holiday Inn on Route 7 in Rutland Town will now be called the Cortina Inn. If that name rings familiar, it is. The Cortina Inn was for years a popular local destination but stood vacant until recently repurposed as Vista Senior Living, an…

By Kevin Theissen The University of Michigan’s index of Consumer Sentiment (UMCSENT) showed an increase in optimism in early December — and it had nothing to do with the Michigan Wolverines winning the Big 10 Championship for the first time in 17 years. The UMCSENT was up (+4.5%) month-to-month, although it remained down year-to-year (-12.8%).…

By Merisa Sherman A young man was banging on doors, a large blue cardboard poster under his arm. In the center was a large black and white photo of a random mountain in Vermont. It was taken from an off angle, and you could see the wing of the plane in the corner of the…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger Becca Balint, the president pro tempore of the Vermont Senate, is running for the state’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, she announced Monday morning, Dec. 13. “I’m running because I believe that, even with the challenges of today, we cannot back away from fighting for each other,” the Windham…

By Katy Savage The Woodstock Select Board has disbanded the town hall renovation committee after the 10-person volunteer group failed to make a recommendation to improve the building after five years. Select Board members decided Dec. 7 that they’ll appoint a new municipal committee in January. “It is disappointing, of course,” Jill Davies, the co-chair…

One woman’s quest for 10k and 100 days… By Brooke Geery The end of 2021 is rapidly approaching, but this ski season is really just beginning. At least, for most people. Not for me. I’m clocking in at day 27 as of press time. Sure, everyone has a different definition of a “day” when it…

By Curt Peterson With indoor winter sports already underway, the WCSU School Board met Monday evening to review policies instituted by Superintendent Sherry Sousa. After intense discussion, board members voted 10-6 in favor of endorsing Sousa’s protocols. Put briefly, indoor middle and high school sports, such as basketball and hockey, will be open to spectators…

Dear Editor, A news story published by WCAX Nov. 21 said that Brattleboro police are warning Vermonters that “fentanyl-laced marijuana” has been found in our region, and that it caused one person to overdose Saturday. The next day, similar reports were published by the Brattleboro Reformer and MyNBC5. I felt an immediate need to address…

By Bob Stannard Editor’s note: Bob Stannard of Manchester is an author, musician and former state legislator and lobbyist.  Bang! Bang! Maxwell’s silver hammer Came down upon his head Clang! Clang! Maxwell’s silver hammer Made sure that he was dead — The Beatles And so happy Christmas for black and for whites, (War is over…

By Karen D. Lorentz Just as the mail gets delivered in rain, snow, hail and dark of night, the workers at Okemo Mountain Resort debuted the new Quantum Six Express chairlift as scheduled on Saturday, Dec. 11 — despite the unseasonable rain. After early morning haul line de-icing, the six-seat chairs were put on the…

By Curt Peterson Killington has adopted a new parking ordinance — and violations will be expensive. “We want people to know: the new ordinance is going to be enforced,” Town Manager Chet Hagenbarth told the Mountain Times. Effective Nov. 1 through April 1, all parking on any street is prohibited. “Because of snow,” Hagenbarth explained.…

Help us make a child’s Christmas special this year! We are again a local drop-off location in the Ludlow area. Help us fill the tree and truck with books, toys, clothing and more this holiday season! There is no greater joy than a child receiving a Christmas gift on Christmas Day! Drop off unwrapped items…

Ribbon cutting slated for Dec. 17, public open house Dec. 18-19 Officials from Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports will officially open the doors to their second permanent home in Vermont, Murphy’s Annex at Vermont Adaptive – Mt. Ellen, Sugarbush, with a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. An open house will be…

By Dom Cioffi Many, many decades ago, my grandmother bought herself a lake property. She had been ill for some time and was looking for a place to recuperate. In hindsight, it’s clear she was severely depressed, but back in the 1940s, they simply called it “exhaustion.” The property was old but my grandfather, being…

By Curt Peterson Starting in January the Select Board will start meeting in the community room at the new public services building on Killington Road that seats 50 – 60 people safely and comfortably, according to Killington Town Manager Chet Hagenbarth. Access will still be available virtually via Zoom. Links will continue to be posted…