Community Health Centers of Rutland Region Rutland Allen Pond 71 Allen Pond, Suite 403, Rutland, VT Phone: (802) 772-7992 Rutland Stratton Road 215 Stratton Road, Rutland, VT Phone: (802) 773-3386 Brandon 420 Grove Street, Brandon, VT Phone: (802)247-6305 Castleton 275 Rte 30 North, Bomoseen, VT Phone: (802)468-5641 West Pawlet/Mettowee 278 VT Route 149, West Pawlet, VT…

CEO Claudio Fort says hospital is “ok for now” on PPE By Polly Mikula On April 2, Governor Phil Scott announced new steps in the state’s plan to prepare for a surge in Covid-19 cases, and in turn, the need for additional hospital and medical capacity. “While we hope we will not need this extra…

  April 17, Governor Scott ordered the U.S. and Vermont  flags to fly at half-mast the 19th of every month of 2020 to honor those Vermonters who died from Covid-19. April 17, Governor Scott announced a phased restart of Vermont’s economy, where 1-2 people operations can open following strict safety and social distancing protocols. April…

5 ways to protect yourself and others Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with antibacterial soap and water. By doing this you eliminate viruses and avoid infection by then touching your eyes, mouth, and nose. Utilize hand sanitizer (60% alcohol or more) when hand washing is not an immediate option. Remain home…

By Polly Mikula Since the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Vermont on March 7, Governor Phil Scott and his administration has taken swift action to shore up the necessary supplies  for testing and treatment, expand medical facilities to handle a surge of patients should demand overtake hospital capacity, and implement mitigation measures for social…

Crews of 10 or fewer can now perform outdoor work with increases safety protocols   As modeling indicates continued progress in slowing the spread of Covid-19, Governor Phil Scott Friday, May 1, announced a third incremental, evidence-based step forward to put Vermonters back to work. If able to comply with outlined safety measures, the Governor’s…

State is planning to increase testing from 2,000-7,500 per day Governor Phil Scott and members of his administration on April 29 announced the state is significantly increasing and strengthening its testing and contact tracing programs in order to quickly identify, contain and suppress outbreaks of COVID-19. In mid-April, the Governor began taking steps to restart…

Karen Scolforo joined VSC chancellor Jeb Spaulding in announcing her resignation Wednesday night. Spaulding's resignation was anticipated, Scolforo's was not.  By Lola Duffort/VT Digger The president of Castleton University submitted her resignation Wednesday, becoming the second top administrator in the Vermont State Colleges to announce her departure during an extraordinarily turbulent month for the system.…

By Joyce Judy, president of Community College of Vermont The Vermont State Colleges System is weathering the roughest days of its 60-year history. The potential changes facing our sister institutions are painful and the challenges are real. While the Community College of Vermont (CCV) is not immune to these challenges, we are fundamentally unique, financially…

By Dr. Karen M. Scolforo, president of Castleton University You may have seen the recent news coverage regarding the challenges faced by the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS), many of which were highlighted last summer in the VSCS white paper, Securing the Future of the Vermont State Colleges, and exacerbated by the novel coronavirus global…

Dear Editor, With many people isolating at home to benefit public safety, and uncertainty the only certainty these days, it’s been inspiring to see how Rutland County has responded to the Covid-19 pandemic. From hanging up lights and rainbows to making masks and putting out signs encouraging people to wash their hands, stay one cow…

Dear Editor, The League of Women Voters urges everyone to participate in the 2020 Census, now underway. The U.S. Constitution requires the federal government count everyone living in the country every 10 years. Every household should complete a Census form (either online, by mail, or by phone) by Oct. 31, 2020. Participating in the Census…

Dear Editor, Closing NVU-Lyndon, NVU-Johnson, and Vermont Technical College’s (VTC) Randolph campus would migrate Vermont’s higher educational engine to the Champlain Valley. The Burlington metropolitan area already exerts economic and political dominance over the rest of the state. Depriving Vermonters of access to educational and cultural resources in this manner would be unfair and inequitable. The Vermont State College (VSC)…

By Richard Slusky The coronavirus pandemic has brought to light the many fractures in the U.S. health care system, particularly the inadequate access that many low- and middle-income people have to health care services when they are most needed, and their dependence on employer-sponsored health care plans. Perhaps it’s time to reconsider the concept of universal…

By Lisa Loomis, The Valley Reporter In the midst of this time of self-isolation and social distancing during Covid-19 our lives have changed in so many ways that it’s hard to keep up. A lot of these changes have been difficult and scary and painful. But at least one change in how Vermont conducts itself…