Thursday, May 12 at 4 p.m.—MONTPELIER— Over three Tuesdays in May, artists and arts leaders from across Vermont will come together to learn from each other and begin re-imagining how the arts can support communities during and after the pandemic. The three forums will be facilitated by international arts consultant Eric Booth, and feature panels…

Saturday, May 9—WEST RUTLAND—Millions of Americans donate food in the National Letter Carrier Food Drive on the second Saturday in May every year to help fight hunger in their communities. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s food drive is postponed; however, there is still a need locally during this difficult time. The town of…

Each and every day a new woman becomes a mother for the first time or all over again. Being a mother changes a person’s life in dramatic ways. Mother’s Day is a great time of year to honor mothers, aunts, or any female you always looked up to and attempt to give back just a…

By Brooke Geery A frequent staple at the Rutland Farmer’s Market, Pattanit Smansook opened a brick and mortar store front serving Thai food and sushi in Rutland on April 13, 2020. Little Bangkok Thai and Sushi Cafe, located at 162 No. Main St. in Rutland, in the Stonybrook plaza, is a welcome addition to the…

Killington joins others in sign campaign KILLINGTON—The Killington Pico Area Association (KPAA) is pleased to announce the arrival of Killington’s very own Covid-19 public service announcement lawn signs. KPAA Executive Director Mike Coppinger, explained: “Many communities across Vermont, and I’m sure the country, have similar community health and welfare signs. We felt it would be…

The Rutland Rotary club lives by the motto “service above self” and is continuing to make efforts to support the community in the face of Covid-19. Recently, Rotarians Chuck Rose and Bob Amelang helped turn 600 pounds of ground beef into Salisbury Steak for Meals on Wheels. And another of their objectives is the clean…

Free online lyme disease prevention curriculum for children May is Lyme & Tickborne Disease Awareness Month. With Vermont children schooling and playing at home, tick bite prevention is extremely important, according to a news release from vtlyme.org. Students can learn about tick bite prevention and how to identify signs and symptoms of a tickborne illness…

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Governor Phil Scott is calling all Vermonters into service with the launch of a new website allowing people to sign up for volunteer assistance to support the state’s response to Covid-19: vermont.gov/volunteer. The website directs those with medical and healthcare skills (nurses, pharmacist, EMS, physician assistants, veterinarians, mental health workers, etc.) to the Medical Reserve…

By M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM Vt Veterinary Association The coronavirus pandemic has left many worried about the safety of their pets and whether or not the virus can be transmitted to/from their pets. This is especially true given the recent news that the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, has been confirmed in…

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers guidance for parents As public conversations around the Covid-19 coronavirus increase, children may worry about themselves, their family, and friends getting ill. Parents, family members, school staff, and other trusted adults can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a…

Staff report Vermonters are staying home and staying safe during the Covid-19 emergency, but for many that has meant getting by with no access to the internet at home. The difficulty has been particularly challenging for students who are adapting to remote learning, individuals in need of telehealth care, and workers who could earn an…

If you have had a loss of income, you could qualify for more health care subsidies On Wednesday, April 15, Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) announced an emergency regulation requiring commercial insurers to waive cost-sharing requirements, such as co-payments, coinsurance or deductible requirements, for the diagnosis and treatment of Covid-19. The emergency…

Over 80,000 Vermonters have filed unemployment claims since the middle of March. The state unemployment fund covers 46% of weekly gross earnings averaged over the past three quarters. On top of that, the U.S. Congress passed the CARES act adding $600/week to claimant’s benefits. The state allows for up to six months on unemployment (with…

Staff report Before the Covid-19 surge prompted 80,000 people to file for unemployment starting in mid-March, about 500 claims came into the department each week. The department handled the phone calls associated with those claims using about 15 staff members. The department now has 150 people handling calls, interim Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington…