Mountain Times: How is the summer going? How does it compare to the past? Your expectations? Mike Solimano: Overall, summer is going better than we expected considering the “new normal.”  But the reality is that a large portion of our revenue in summer is generated from businesses we can’t operate. Weddings, conferences, and events have all…

By John Flowers The Slate Valley Unified Union School District (SVUUSD) on Tuesday, July 21, announced students would return to Orwell Village School this fall. It is part of a school re-entry plan in which students in kindergarten through 8th grade will attend classes on their respective campuses, and students in grades 9-12 will see…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger Before Covid-19 arrived in Vermont, middle school students in Bethel would start their days sitting in a circle in their advisory groups, with agenda projected on a screen. Owen Bradley, the principal at the White River Valley School, believes students could start the day together again next school year. But this time, he…

By Curt Peterson Windsor Central Unified Union School District (WCUUSD) interim superintendent Sherry Sousa’s presentation regarding reopening the district’s campuses drew a crowd to the Zoom meeting July 21. “It was surreal to be sitting in my kitchen, talking to my laptop and knowing more than 76 people were listening,” Sousa told the Mountain Times.…

By Virginia Dean Covid-19 has laid bare significant and unexpected economic, social, and political disruption. It has caused widespread increases in morbidity and mortality, for example, in addition to individual behavioral changes including fear-induced aversion to workplaces and other public gathering spots. Mask wearing, social distancing and stay-at-home orders have become the norm as world…

Governor Phil Scott, Friday, July 24, announced a state mandated mask requirement in public places—inside and outside. “Based on national and regional data on how the virus is spreading – and rather than waiting like other states have – I feel we need to act now to protect our gains, which have allowed us to…

State delays school start to Sept. 8 By Katy Savage Shortened days, delayed starts, partial remote learning, face masks and temperature checks — these are just some of the changes students can expect to see as the new school year approaches. Superintendents across the state are in the midst of developing plans to safely bring…

Remember the month of February, when the enthusiasm of a New Year and a new decade propelled you forward with excitement about your goals and dreams? It’s hard to believe February was just six short months ago. This week, the subtle influence of Jupiter and Neptune aligning may remind you of February and the person…

Rutland County’s Mentor Connector awarded $47,598 Mentor Vermont recently awarded four Covid-19 Response Grants, totaling $174,014, to youth mentoring agencies in rural communities in northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast Vermont. This one-time funding in response to the pandemic comes from a larger, $1.25 million three-year federal grant that the Vermont Dept. for Children and Families…

By Dom Cioffi Between the 17th and 20th centuries, the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire fought 12 separate wars. These wars make up one of the longest series of military conflicts in European history. Overall, these conflicts ended disastrously for the Ottoman Empire, which was stagnating as a world power. Conversely, the wars highlighted how Russia…

By Mary Ellen Shaw At this time of year your garden can be pretty full and sometimes you have too much of a good thing! What can you do to get the most out of your crops? The easiest solution is to freeze the items. That may involve a little work before they go in…

By Kevin Theissen We hear over and over again how important it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But being healthy for its own sake isn’t easy — especially when you’re facing down temptation or battling procrastination. For some, the monetary benefits of a healthy lifestyle may offer helpful incentive. Being healthy not only makes…

By Susan Shea There was a sucking sound as my rubber boot sank into the deep black muck. Naturalist Jon Binhammer and I were standing in the middle of a hardwood swamp in central Vermont. Above us, dainty red flowers clung to the still-bare branches of red maple trees and fat black buds encircled the…

Saturday, Aug. 1 at 10 a.m.—SPRINGFIELD—Have fun learning an updated version of vinegar graining to transform wooden surfaces and objects. There are infinite combinations of colors and patterns that can be achieved with a variety of household “tools,” such as bubble wrap, plastic cling wrap, cork, feathers, sponges, or even just fingers.  It involves base…

The current pandemic has changed the lives of many individuals, and businesses and non-profits are no exception. The annual FUNdraiser for the American Cancer Society, Hops for Hope 5K, for example, has usually taken place at Mount Snow in Dover, in the morning of their annual Brewers Festival. But to ensure the safety of its…