By Lee J. Kahrs/Brandon Reporter BRANDON — It takes a village to do great things, and in Brandon that means establishing a new, independent bookstore. Former Briggs Carriage Bookstore co-owner Barbara Ebling and Phoenix Books owner Mike DeSanto have teamed up with the help of a community advisory council to open The Bookstore. The shop,…

By Katy Savage Three public water systems in the state have issued Do Not Drink notices after industrial chemicals were found in their water supply.  Two of those three are local schools. Killington Mountain School and Mount Holly School, as well as Fiddlehead Condominiums in Fayston, had per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exceeding the state limit…

With a local woman described as a miracle acting as its ambassador, the 2019 Gift-of-Life Marathon regained its magic and surpassed its goals with a life-saving demonstration of community spirit and love. Buoyed by efforts by 23-year-old Stefanie Schaffer, who was nearly killed in a boat explosion in 2018 and received massive quantities of blood…

The Killington Mountain School head of school search committee has announced it’s found three finalists to replace Head of School Tao Smith. A total of 30 people applied for the position after Smith announced he’s leaving the school in July after about 20 years.  Ten semi-finalists were chosen and after they visited the school Dec.…

Airbnb has announced three forward steps in protecting hosts, guests and communities, including a new party house ban, guest standards and dedicated line of communication for  town officials to reach Airbnb in 2020. Between August 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019, Airbnb reported .05% of trips on Airbnb had a safety-related issue reported by a…

It’s that time of year again! That time when everyone puts off their health and fitness goals until the New Year, sigh. We understand that allure of starting fresh in a new year. But, we want to challenge you now, to get a kickstart your journey to a healthier life. That is why this year…

Upping the competition Ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll tell you I have a highly competitive streak. I don’t deny it. In fact, I point to it as a contributing factor in the many successes I’ve had in life. When I was very young, I had a hard time losing at anything. It wasn’t…

By Mary Ellen Shaw It’s fun to take a look back at Christmas in the ’50s when we lived in simpler times. I don’t think the world was as materialistic back then. Christmas lists that were compiled by me and my friends didn’t have many items on them and those that made the list didn’t…

by Susie Spikol Tucked behind a stonewall on the edge of a hardwood forest, my 6-year-old students and I spy on an Eastern gray squirrel as it climbs out of a tree cavity and scurries down to the ground. There is a dusting of snow. My students, bundled in vibrant snowsuits, are the only flash…

This week’s horoscopes are coming out under the light of a Leo Moon. Undoubtedly there’s a lot going on right now. The way things look, Lucifer and the Archangel Michael are arm wrestling over humanity’s fate and no one knows how it will all pan out. I wouldn’t touch the astrological end of things with…

Last week, Vail Resorts Chief Executive Officer Rob Katz and his wife, Elana Amsterdam, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Elana’s Pantry, announced significant contributions totaling more than $2.8 million to further strengthen emotional wellness programs in more than ten mountain communities where Vail Resorts operates. The Vermont Community Foundation received just over $245,000.…

Starting Tuesday, Dec. 17, U.S. riders in 23 cities and states will see a new ride feature: Uber Ski. Vermont, New Hampshire and northern New York are all part of the new, premium service. This option lets you order an Uber trip with confirmed extra vehicle space or a ski/snowboard rack for those moments when…

By Merisa Sherman A small toddler, with mousy brown hair and huge oval eyes looks up at her mom while they wait in their line. There are many children here, waiting for there time to sit upon the knee of the man who will hopefully bring him their greatest treasure, if only they were good enough…

Fans of “Vermont Wild,” Adventures of Fish & Game Warden series are welcoming a new volume this holiday season, with the release of Volume 6, featuring an teenager on a sky blue ATV trying to outrun a game warden. The new book contains a wild chase down Brandon streets. Volume six contains more than a dozen new, true…

By Tony Crespi Ironically, although ski writers (and adventure travel writers) are often asked questions about mountain gear – “What’s a great ski for carving? What’s a great glove? Is there a boot bag that is truly better than the one at the mall?” etc. — we really aren’t all gear geeks! Still, having been…