Episode no. 2 of My Side of the Mountain — overlooked stories of everyday life here in the Green Mountain State. 7-minutes.   By Ethan Weinstein Every night, once the sun sets, JoAnne Russo switches on her porch lights. Then, she waits. As the moths emerge from the darkness, Russo is ready with camera in…

By Katy Savage The Select Board voted Tuesday, July 3 not to acquire Faulkner Park, settling a two-year-long discussion that widely polarized the town. The board was unanimous in its decision at the special meeting, aside from Select Board member John Doten, who was not in attendance. After feeling intimidated by residents, Select Board chair…

By Riley Robinson/VTDigger On July 15, most Vermont parents will begin to receive a new monthly payment from the federal government, as part of the Covid-19 relief signed into law in March. This new monthly payment system is a revision to the existing child tax credit, which was first enacted in 1997. Usually, parents have received…

By Ethan Weinstein Inside St. Joseph Kervick, an assisted living facility, seniors walked and rolled toward a familiar face: Rob Zollman. Zollman runs a monthly drum circle at St. Jospeh Kervick, bringing music and activity to an excited group of residents. Zollman has been playing drums and other percussion instruments for over 40 years, and leading drum…

Salisbury mosquitos get a pass from insect control district, citizens reject pesticide use By John Vaaler Salisbury will no longer be sprayed for mosquitos by the Brandon Leicester Salisbury Goshen & Pittsford Insect Control District (BLSG), which voted at a meeting June 24 to suspend the town’s services starting July 1, the beginning of the…

By Kit Norton/VTDigger Gov. Phil Scott called Ford Motor Co.’s production of an electric F-150 pickup truck a “game changer” for Vermont as the state aims to drastically reduce carbon emissions in the coming years. Scott said during his Tuesday press conference, July 6, that the Ford F-150 Lightning, the name of the new pickup, could…

Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum to help welcome crowds back to the Paramount Theatre's stage downtown Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum, a children’s museum in the heart of downtown Rutland, will help to welcome local events back to The Paramount this fall with its ever- popular Lip Sync Battle returning to the stage Saturday, Sept. 25. As audiences from past years can attest,…

Dear Editor, I’m writing this, to welcome you new residents to Vermont. It’s been an intense year and a half; I’m sure you must feel relieved and grateful for having been able to find refuge and make a new start during such a challenging time. I, better than most, know what it’s like to pick…

Dear Editor, Education finance in Vermont is an often hard to understand and quite complex system. Act 59 of 2021 created the “Task Force on the Implementation of the Pupil Weighting Factors Report,” a group of eight Vermont Legislators who will spend time this sum- mer, as the name implies, determining the best path forward to implement the recommendations…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger A group of lawmakers tasked with proposing an overhaul to Vermont’s K-12 education finance system began their work on Tuesday, electing Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison, and Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro, to be its co-chairs. The charge of the Task Force on the Imple- mentation of the Pupil Weighting Factors Report, as the eight-member special…

Hiring to begin for 25-30 jobs Harbor Freight Tools, a tool and equip- ment retailer, has announced that it will be opening a new store in Rutland. The new store will be located behind Aldi market, Route 7 South in Rutland town. It is expect- ed to open late summer. An official opening date will be announced closer…

Dear Editor, I have never understood why vehicles needed to be able to go so fast. First, it could cut down on high-speed chases and crashes. For police, this could mean less time monitoring for speeders and focusing on more important things. Obviously you can go 60 mph in a 25-mph zone and still injure yourself…

By Madeleine May Kunin Editor’s note: Madeleine May Kunin was the 77th governor of Vermont, serving from 1985 until 1991. She is the author of “Coming of Age, My Journey to the Eighties.” Her new book of poetry is “Red Kite, Blue Sky.” The six conservative members of the U.S. Supreme Court flicked a green…

WEST HAVEN—Tanner Siemons made an authoritative statement at Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s Mid-Season Championships on Saturday, July 10, by winning on the half-mile track for the first time in his career and holding off some of the region’s top stars to do it. The Granite Stater headlined a decidedly youthful win list that also included Beau Reeves, Chris…

By Alis Headlam Editor’s note: This commentary is by Dr. Alis Headlam of Rutland. She was an educator for more than 40 years and retired in 2015. Horses wear blinders, called blinkers, so that they will not get spooked when they go into high density areas or traffic. When people wear self-proclaimed blinders they do so to…