Discover More from This Author: Polly
Squirrel talk: What does that noise mean?
November 30, 2022
By Laurie D. Morrissey Even if you’ve never ventured farther into the forest than an urban park or a college campus, you’re probably familiar with Sciurus carolinensis, the eastern gray squirrel. While it’s easy to identify gray squirrels by sight, however, recognizing the various sounds they make is more complicated. Their vocalizations – squeaks, moans,…
Driver shoots himself after traffic stop on Sherburne Pass
November 30, 2022
Staff report KILLINGTON—On Tuesday, Nov. 29 at approximately 2:15 p.m. a Rutland County Sheriff's Deputy stopped a vehicle on Route 4 in Killington near the top of Sherburne Pass for a motor vehicle infraction. After the deputy approached the vehicle and identified himself to the lone male in the car, the driver informed the officer…
A new Santa Claus is coming to town and ‘he is a uniter’
November 30, 2022
By David Goodman/VTDigger Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman, a VTDigger podcast on local and national issues with politicians, activists, artists, changemakers and citizens who are making a difference. Santa Claus is coming to town. But the person shimmying down the chimney may not be the rotund, bearded…
Adopting a stance
November 30, 2022
By Dom Cioffi Eighteen years ago this week, I wrote a letter to a young woman I barely knew. In that letter, I summarized the first months of an infant boy — the same boy she gave up for adoption earlier that spring. Every year since, I have written that young woman at Christmastime. I…
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…