By Art Woolf The Vermont state labor department received 14,784 claims for unemployment for the week ending March 21. The huge spike in claims came in the wake of coronavirus-related layoffs. Michael Harrington, interim commissioner, told lawmakers Thursday, March 26, that the total number of claims — processed and unprocessed — is an all-time record. In…

By Polly Mikula After promoting a “Stay to Stay” pro-gram for the last two years and creating other incentives to get people to come to Vermont and relocate, Governor Phil Scott issued an executive order — and then an amendment strengthening that order —calling for visitors to, essentially, not visit. The Department of Tourism underscored…

By Erin Petenko and Xander Landen/VTDigger Vermont Gov. Phil Scott issued a “stay home” order on March 24 (effective March 25), then strengthened that order on March 30 with 14-day self-quarantining measures for those traveling in from outside the state. It’s the latest in a series of closures, bans and restrictions intended to keep people at home, away…

By Ed Larson In an update to employees, released March 26, General Electric stated it is supporting two employees at Plant #1 who have tested positive for COVID-19. G.E. indicated in the update that the company could not identify the employees involved or discuss specifics of their conditions due to privacy laws. The plant had been…

By Katy Savage As soon as area businesses were shut down due to coronavirus concerns, Pamela Martin started asking the community for help. Martin, who moved to Killington from New York three years ago, started a GoFundMe, called Killington Strong, to help businesses that closed and laid off service workers. Martin created the GoFundMe on…

By Lisa Lynn, VT Ski & Ride On the night of March 10, Jon Schaefer read an article about the spread of COVID-19. He turned off the lights and went to sleep. “Five minutes later, I woke up and knew what we had to do,” he said. Schaefer runs Berkshire East (the ski area in northwestern…

Zoom video conferencing becomes the new normal By Curt Peterson Municipal and School Boards are adapting to social distancing regulations that are evolving at a steady rate. In a March 30 press release Secretary of State Jim Condos announced “temporary changes to Vermont’s Open Meeting Law…in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.” H.681 eliminates requirement…

RUTLAND — Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging (SVCOA), administrators of the Rutland County Meals on Wheels program, issued an urgent call for volunteer support on March 25 to assist with Meals on Wheels deliveries to homebound older Vermonters throughout the area. “We’ve seen a drastic decline in the number of volunteer deliver drivers as the…

By DJ Dave Hoffenberg In Don McLean’s “American Pie” he sang about “The day the music died.” When Governor Phil Scott ordered all bars and restaurants to close, the music around here kind of did. This region has such a great variety of live music you can go see, well could go. Musicians now are…

By Dom Cioffi When I was a very young child, my mother took me to see the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus. It was an event that had a profound influence on me for many years. My mother used to vacation with her parents in Florida each February, and for several years I accompanied…

By Kevin Theissen Most children stop being “and-a-half” somewhere around age 12. Kids add “and-a-half“ to make sure everyone knows they’re closer to the next age than the last. When you are older, “and-a-half” birthdays start making a comeback. In fact, starting at age 50, several birthdays and “half-birthdays” are critical to understand because they…

By Cal Garrison a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s Horoscopes are coming out under the light of a Gemini Moon, that will turn Void-of-Course on March 30, and remain in that mode until it crosses the Cancer Cusp on the last day of the month. We could talk about the virus and the world-wide…

By Merisa Sherman When I was young, my mom used to feed us breakfast and send us out the door with instructions not to return home until 5 p.m. to get ready for dinner. I didn’t have a backpack or money or anything except the complete and utter feeling of freedom to create and imagine and…

Not at resorts, not if you have to travel to ski or ride By Lisa Lynn, VT Ski & Ride On March 24, Governor Phil Scott issued an executive order directing Vermonters to stay at home or in their place of residence, leaving only for essential reasons such as: personal safety; groceries or medicine; curbside…

At Chef Claude’s Choices Restaurant in Killington, Chef Claude is a master of fine cuisine. Visitors to his restaurant enjoy a variety of items including rotisserie meats and handmade pastas. Unfortunately, the restaurant is closed due to COVID-19, but never fear! Chef Claude has been sharing a few of his recipes on Facebook, complete with…