By Julia Purdy Vermont is famous for its commercially valuable mineral resources, from marble, slate and granite to talc and calcium carbonate. But less well known is a rock that occurs throughout Vermont in the everyday landscape: schist. Although schist does not feature prominently in the state geologist’s reports of the time, in the 19th…

By Curt Peterson WOODSTOCK—The Vermont State Police Arson Investigation Unit has declared the Woodstock fire that destroyed the two-story building housing the offices of The Vermont Standard on July 16 as arson. Evidence taken from the building on July 18 is undergoing a second set of tests and the results are expected soon, said Standard…

By Kevin Theissen The Internal Revenue Service estimates that taxpayers and businesses spend 6.1 billion hours per year complying with tax-filing requirements. To put this into perspective, if all this work were done by a single company, it would need about 3 million full-time employees and be one of the largest industries in the U.S.…

Athletes elevate their game and push their limits KILLINGTON—Killington welcomes the second annual Under Armour Mountain Running Series, in its second of three races, Aug. 25. In partnership with POWDR, the trail running series is designed for running professionals and enthusiasts alike who want to experience trail running in some of the most beautiful and…

By Angelo Lynn Give Ethan Sonneborn, Bristol’s 14-year-old candidate for governor in the Democratic primary, a lot of credit. He entered the campaign because he thought it was important — crucial, even — to get involved and participate in the country’s democratic process. If individuals — each one of us — don’t care enough to…

Thursday, Aug. 23, 5 p.m.—WEST PAWLET—The West Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department is holding its annual auction on Thursday, Aug. 23 at the West Pawlet Firehouse, Route 153, West Pawlet. Viewing starts at 5 p.m. with auction bidding at 6 p.m. Auctioneer Chris Mars, son of the legendary auctioneer Bus Mars, will call an entertaining Vermont auction. Chris uses rapid-fire, staccato calls to entice…

By Becca Zidik St. Supéry Estate Vineyards embraces the very best of Napa Valley and French château  traditions to create award-winning wine. The flavors of St. Supéry Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay blend just as well as the traditions of the famed winery. With 100 percent estate grown grapes, the Sauvignon Blanc paints a picture reminiscent…

By Marguerite Jill Dye I was ecstatic at first, as I floated through the Clark Art Institute’s downstairs galleries filled with more than 80 magnificent works by “Women Artists in Paris, 1850-1900.” The stunning exhibit in Williamstown, Massachusetts was organized by the American Federation of Arts. “Her Paris” will remain through Sept. 3, but this…

By Dom Cioffi I begrudgingly get up between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. every weekday morning. I hate the act of getting out of bed that early. In fact, my first waking thought once my alarm goes off is usually, “Kill me.” I don’t wake up that early because I’m an early riser. On the…

Governor Phil Scott recently announced 239 Vermont schools have been awarded school safety grants totaling $4 million, which will fund infrastructure upgrades designed to improve school safety. This funding is possible through a $5 million funding package proposed by Scott and passed by the Legislature this spring. An initial $4 million in grants will fund…

Green Mountain Power is offering Tesla Powerwall 2.0 batteries to 100 eligible customers, free of charge. A $150,000 grant from the Vermont Low Income Trust for Electricity (VLITE)  will pay for the cutting-edge technology and installation in the homes of low-income customers with significant need for backup power reliability due to health and mobility issues.…

Allstate agency owners are coming together to support the Vermont Foodbank by holding a donation drive in their agencies until Sept. 15. Agency owners are calling on residents to support local families and youth as they begin the new school year by donating items for the Foodbank’s BackPack Program, an initiative that distributes kid-friendly, nonperishable,…

Melvin Bauer Neisner, Jr. (MB) came into the world on June 7, 1956 and left it on Aug. 12, 2018 surrounded by his family. His mother, Ellen Garson Neisner, and late father, Melvin B. Neisner, raised him in Rochester, New York where he became an Eagle Scout, one of his proudest accomplishments. He graduated from…

By Katy Savage KILLINGTON—Sick of long lines to the chairlift? For $6,500, you can have the entire base lodge and two lifts to yourself on Tuesday or Wednesday. Pico Mountain is now available to rent this winter season. Pico will provide food and an open bar at an additional expense. Pico Mountain Director of Operations…