Discover More from This Author: Polly

Heroic panel inspires women in snow sports

November 30, 2022
By Karen D. Lorentz U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the Olympic National Governing Body of ski and snowboard sports in the United States, launched its Heroic women’s initiative at the 2022 Heroic Killington Cup. Held on day one of the sixth World Cup event hosted by the area, a panel of ski industry women leaders discussed the…

Warming weather is hurting bees

November 30, 2022
By Marin Howell/Addison County Independent Some may have been surprised when warm weather rolled in with the beginning of November, bringing sunny days and comfortable temperatures at a time when Vermonters are usually starting to bundle up for the winter. The unseasonably warm days threw off local bees as well, which proved to be detrimental…

Okemo Mountain School raises over $37,000 at its Ski and Snowboard Swap

November 30, 2022
This year’s Ski and Snowboard Swap had a record-breaking year and raised over $37,000 for Okemo Mountain School. The proceeds from the swap will go toward operating costs to keep tuition as affordable as possible for all students. The event was extremely well attended this year and customers were excited with their purchases, finding outstanding deals…

Climate plan’s costs are real; savings, not so much

November 30, 2022
Dear Editor, Listening to the presentation to the Climate Council on the cost savings they are claiming will be associated with the Climate Action Plan, I was reminded of the classic scene from “Caddyshack” where Bill Murray’s character tells the story of his compensation for a round with Dalai Lama: “Oh, there won’t be any…

Answers needed on switching state retirement health plan

November 30, 2022
Dear Editor, I offer this commentary to all retirees of Vermont state government, their families, and to all active state employees and their families, because this can affect them all. Gov. Phil Scott is strongly considering substituting a Group Medicare Advantage plan in place of the BlueCross BlueShield health insurance all retirees and active employees…

Woodstock names Duffy new town manager

November 30, 2022
  After a four-month search, Woodstock has a new town manager. Eric Duffy, 40, of  Stoneham, Massachusetts, was unanimously approved in a joint Select Board and Village Trustees meeting on Nov. 28. He starts his new role Feb. 1. “Eric had tremendous financial responsibilities, which he accomplished in a very award-winning way in his last…

CEDRR names Scott Graves StartUp Rutland director at Hub CoWorks

November 30, 2022
The Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR)  has hired Scott Graves as StartUp Rutland’s inaugural program director. Graves is relocating to the area from Gardner, Massachusetts. He was most recently an independent consultant for SMGraves Associates, a company he founded, which focuses on building sustainable enterprise through community-minded entrepreneurship. In his new…

Dating through the years

November 30, 2022
By Mary Ellen Shaw I was watching a talk show recently and one of the topics discussed was an article from a 1950 McCall’s magazine. It gave 129 options that women could use to get a date. If you are in the “senior age category” you would be quite amused at some of the techniques…

Gov. Scott promotes new IDEAL initiative focusing on municipalities

November 30, 2022
On Nov. 21, Governor Phil Scott and the Office of Racial Equity promoted a new state initiative that encourages and supports municipalities across the state in their efforts to be more inclusive, equitable and welcoming. IDEAL Vermont, which stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Action and Leadership, officially kicked off in October with its first 14…

Breanna Elaine wished upon herself, became her own shooting star

November 30, 2022
By Angelo Lynn/Addison County Independent BRANDON — It’s been almost a year since local singer-song writer Breanna Elaine, 25, quit her day job and dedicated herself to becoming a full-time professional musician. Since last January, she’s made her living singing and playing her guitar at venues of almost every sort. She’s done it as a…

Record crowds cheer skiers at Killington Cup

November 30, 2022
Slalom ends with rare tie for first, Shiffrin finishes Slalom 5th, 13th in Giant Slalom Mikaela Shiffrin could not hold onto her undefeated record in Slalom at the Killington World Cup for the sixth time this past Sunday afternoon — a record she hit the previous weekend in Levi, Finland, winning the most Slalom races…

Island Pond author publishes her memoir

November 30, 2022
Dear Editor, April Hudson has always been a writer. At the age 79, her dream of publishing her memoirs has finally become a reality. April has been a well-known resident in the small northern Vermont town. A true craftsman and artist, she opened a ceramic teaching studio and designed her own line called Hudsonware. She…

Gift-of-Life Marathon will honor longtime volunteer David Carini

November 30, 2022
Tuesday, Dec. 6 — CASTLETON —The 20th annual 2022 Gift-of-Life Marathon will honor longtime volunteer David Carini, and thanks to three local businesses, donors will receive Stefanie Schaffer’s new book as a gift for donating. The drive will be held Dec. 6 from noon to 5 p.m. at Castleton University; Dec. 14 and 15 from…

Plymouth Notch to celebrate the season with a holiday open house, Dec. 3

November 30, 2022
Saturday, Dec. 3 — PLYMOUTH — In 1923, with the press of a button, President Coolidge illuminated the electric lights on the nation’s Christmas tree during the first national tree lighting ceremony in Washington, D.C. To observe the holidays, the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site is hosting its holiday open house on Saturday, Dec. 3,…

The peril of OneCare’s failure

November 30, 2022
By Emerson Lynn Editor's note: Emerson Lynn is the former editor and publisher of the St. Albans Messenger. He is also the uncle of Polly Mikula, editor/copublisher of this publication. OneCare is the accountable care organization whose purpose it is to shift Vermont’s health care spending from a fee-for-service model to one in which hospitals…