By Sarah Mearhoff/VTDigger Vermont state lawmakers joined health care workers, teachers and others during a Monday afternoon press conference, Oct. 25, to increase pressure on Gov. Phil Scott to reinstate an emergency declaration amid rising coronavirus case counts in the state. The calls for a mask mandate and other mitigation measures come as Vermont continues…

By Angelo Lynn PROCTOR — Michael Ramsey, Proctor’s new town manager, said the best part of the job over these first two months has been “getting to know everyone around town who takes an active role in serving the community. I could go on and on with names, but let me just say that there…

By Virginia Dean It comes once a year — well, maybe October 2020 was an exception — and celebrations are beginning to ramp up with Woodstock residents and visitors getting their costumes and Halloween décor ready, making sure there will be plenty of cider donuts and candy. At the Norman Williams Public Library, from Oct.…

By Ethan Weinstein Following another week of near-record case counts, Governor Phil Scott announced no new restrictions but assured the public that the state will be ready to roll out vaccines for kids 5-11 as soon as they are approved. “I’m more hopeful today than I have been in weeks,” Scott said, citing boosters and…

Semi-annual community meeting focuses on future growth, return of events By Polly Mikula KILLINGTON — On Tuesday, Oct. 19, community members gathered at Killington’s Grand Hotel for the semi-annual update from the resort, town and Killington Pico Areas Association (KPAA) — part of the One Killington initiative to bring the community together. Attending such a…

Saturday, Oct. 30, 8 a.m. to noon — RUTLAND — The 16th annual Wheels for Warmth Tire Sale event is back this year. Established in 2005, Wheels for Warmth raises funds for provide emergency heating assistance to vulnerable Vermonters each winter; creates a resource of DMV-inspected tires that are deemed safe for at least one…

Sunday, Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. — RUTLAND — This Halloween Sunday, Grace Congregational UCC presents an in-person benefit concert in aid of the American Red Cross. Please join us in the spacious Grace Church sanctuary for frightful fun with the Grace Church Sanctuary Choir and Castleton Chamber singers, directed by Dr. Sherrill Blodget. Local…

Friday, Oct. 29 5-7:30 p.m. — WHITE RIVER JCT — WRJ VA Medical Center, 163 Veterans Drive, White River Jct. Open to the community! To reserve your arrival time for your family to walk through our 30 car display, please visit bit.ly/3b8J99q to ensure you have a time slot. Masks will be required while in…

By Kevin Theissen To help raise revenue to pay for President Biden’s Build Back Better Plan, Congress is considering a number of tax law changes, including adjusting estate taxes. One of the proposals would reduce the estate tax exemption to anywhere between $3.5 and $5 million, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2022. Another…

Saturday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. — KILLINGTON — Killington Mountain Bike Club, a chapter of the VT Mountain Bike Association, announces that it will host the first annual Haunted Hillside Relay Race, presented by Fox. The Fox Haunted Hillside relay is a fundraising event for the Killington Mountain Bike Club and will be held…

Saturday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. — QUECHEE — Join VINS for the day to celebrate Halloween. Our programs have a “Halloweeny” theme and includes Scales and Serpents and Owls in Myth and Legend. Schedule Animal artifacts 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Discover how much you can learn from pelts, bones and other…

Saturday, Oct. 30 at 9 p.m. — KILLINGTON — The legendary spine-chilling Wobbly Barn Nightclub opens its doors Oct. 30 for the most thrilling Halloween costume party in town! Wobbly Barn Nightclub is kicking off the season with the wizardly skills of DJ Stevie B on the 1’s & 2’s. You won’t want to vanish…

By Frank Kaczmarek My German mother was a highly superstitious soul, especially when it came to the natural world. Case in point, one day a “fairy ring” of mushrooms appeared in our yard. My mother became agitated and told me not to disturb the ring, for it was a “hexenringe” — a place, she believed,…

Carving jack-o’-lanterns is a Halloween tradition that both adults and children enjoy. It’s hard to resist an opportunity to carve a funny or scary face into a pumpkin that will soon make its way to the front porch, but there’s another irresistible element to carving pumpkins as well. Roasted pumpkin seeds make for a tasty,…

Stress can affect people’s lives at any moment. Some say that a certain measure of stress can be a good thing that pushes individuals to try their best to overcome obstacles. However, chronic stress is potentially dangerous for the mind and body. 2021 has been a stressful year for many people. A global pandemic that…