By Erin Petenko/VTDigger The state’s K-12 schools can transition to “Step 3” of reopening this Saturday, allowing them to fully play fall sports, officials said at a press conference Tuesday, Sept. 22. Secretary of Education Dan French said the new rules “still require stringent measures” to limit the spread of Covid-19, but schools have more flexibility…

Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains have donated more than 81,000 packages of Girl Scout cookies to hometown heroes, those in the military, and to those simply in need this year. The donation was over four times the number donated last year, and a likely record for the council. The donations came about…

By Anne Galloway/VTDigger The Vermont congressional delegation and the governor issued statements Friday night, Sept. 18, mourning the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In the same breath, the two senators and congressional representative decried the news that the Senate majority leader will hold a vote for a Trump nominee to replace her before the end of…

By Rep. Jim Harrison Much like the runners entering the home stretch of a race, the sprint to the finish for the 2020 Legislature has begun. House or Senate rules that normally allow for the slow and deliberate process of bills are now routinely suspended to move things along. Legislative leaders have targeted Sept. 25…

Democratic nominee for Vermont lieutenant governor Molly Gray held a community forum in Rutland Saturday, Sept. 19. The event, organized by the Gray campaign and held at Main Street Park, was the third of eight socially-distanced public community forums to take place across Vermont in September. “Our campaign is committed to reaching every corner of…

Rutland County native founded Rotary International and is latest addition to sculpture trail The Rutland Sculpture Trail will expand early next month with the addition of a marble portrait of Paul Harris, a Rutland County resident who founded Rotary International, one of the world’s largest service groups. A larger-than-life bust of Harris, designed by Amanda…

On Friday, Sept. 18, Governor Phil Scott and Secretary Lindsay Kurrle of the Agency of Commerce & Community Development (ACCD) announced the launch of the Small Business Recovery Technical Assistance Program. The program will connect small businesses in need with five technical assistance teams across the state offering resources to help to address businesses challenges…

It was a sunny crisp Sunday morning, and Mission Farm Road was alive with celebration of new ministry for Church of Our Saviour at Mission Farm in Killington and for St. Thomas and Grace in Brandon. Sept. 20 was the first in person gathering and service at Mission Farm since the pandemic shut down in-person…

On Monday, Sept. 21, Killington/Pico Area Association president Hannah Abrams announced in an email the selection of its new executive director, Matthew Halik. Matthew hails from Woodstock and is an outdoor enthusiast who is well versed in sales, marketing and customer service. “Our mantra with this search was to ‘select, not settle’ and this is why we…

Artist Rob Mullen of Jericho, Vermont, began the Long Trail Painting Expedition in support of the Vermont Wildlife Coalition on Sept. 16. The expedition will see Mullen hike the 272-mile path over the next four weeks, allowing three weeks to hike and one week to paint (about 10 miles/day, plus painting). No stranger to art…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger and Brooke Geery On the evening of Friday, Sept. 18, Killington Fire Department member Connor McGrath noticed smoke coming from the popular Deer Leap area of Sherburne Pass in Killington. Assuming it was people illegally camping, he took his dogs and hiked up to kick them out. After bushwhacking through the woods,…

By Katy Savage Business owners in the tourism and hospitality industry, the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, are desperately seeking more funding to stay afloat. Perry Armstrong, the owner of Rain or Shine Tent Company in Randolph, said he’s contacted just about everyone he can in the Legislature and he’s testified in front of…

By Ed Larson Dressed in bright garb showing displaying his love of Ronald McDonald House efforts to provide lodging for the families of children undergoing medical treatment, Dwight Barnes of Deerfield, New Hampshire, walked into the South Main Street McDonald’s restaurant Monday, Sept. 21. Barnes showed enthusiasm that his goal will be reached, while taking…

Business owners navigate changes as lodge, bar restrictions are lifted By Katy Savage Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday, Sept. 18 that bars could reopen and lodges could operate at full capacity, but local business owners are wary of the details. “It is very misleading,” Trailside Inn owner Josh Eckler said, explaining that the state’s quarantine…

Castleton University will help meet regional healthcare employers’ needs by offering a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), beginning in the spring 2021 semester. The program offers a Clinical Nurse Leader concentration and a Nurse Educator concentration. It is designed for working nurses with a bachelor’s degree who wish to advance their careers. Castleton is…