By Katy Savage QUECHEE — Joel Parker and his family lived near Boston but they drove two hours to Vermont every weekend. They skied in the winter and cycled in the summer. “Then we got the idea of why don’t we just live here,” Parker, 39 said. Parker, his wife and children, ages 11 and…

Mueller family will enter purchase agreement after 36 years at the helm By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger LUDLOW — Triple Peaks, LLC, owned by Tim and Diane Mueller and their children Ethan and Erica Mueller, announced Monday, June 4, they have entered into a purchase agreement with Vail Resorts, Inc. Triple Peaks, LLC is the parent company…

RUTLAND—Seven local high school students are busy preparing for the 54th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference, hosted by Virginia-based SkillsUSA in Louisville, Ky., June 25-29. SkillsUSA is a career training organization that recognizes promising students in the trades, technical fields, and service professions. The theme for this year is “Champions at work, job-ready day…

By Stacey Peters and Colin Meyn, VTDigger The education secretary released a long-awaited — and for many anxiety-inducing — report Friday, June 1, recommending which school districts should merge. Acting Education Secretary Heather Bouchey recommended 18 consolidations, under a mandate written into the school district consolidation law, Act 46. In some cases, the secretary recommends that groups of…

By Stephen Seitz WOODSTOCK—Bridge 51, which crosses Kedron Brook on Route 4 in Woodstock Village, will be open this Friday, May 8, according to a statement from the Vermont Agency of Transportation. The work remaining includes rubbing the concrete finish of the new bridge rail (by hand), installing the signs, and line striping. The bridge…

By Katy Savage CLARENDON — The state is testing 20 private and public water wells near the Rutland airport after finding five wells were contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals. “Our hope is that that this set of sampling will finally define the degree and extent of impact of the water supplies,” said Matt Moran, an environmental…

By Katy Savage CASTLETON—A man was pronounced dead after he was found submerged in 5 feet of water in Lake Bomoseen last weekend. Richard Grimly,  73, of Rutland was pronounced dead around 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27.  Police said Grimly was found in the water near his overturned kayak. Police haven’t received autopsy results yet.…

By Katy Savage RUTLAND—After canceling a sold-out show and shutting down for two weeks due to a broken roof truss, the Paramount Theatre reopened June 1. The Vermont Fire and Safety issued a certificate of occupancy June 1, declaring the building safe for patrons. The theater closed after a routine inspection in May found one…

Walker Grant (Preston Walker Grant, Jr.), a resident of Killington for nearly 40 years, died March 19, 2018, in Port Charlotte, Fla., where his winter home was. At his request, no service was held. He donated his body for medical research. Mr. Grant was 80 years old, born in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 21, 1938…

By Rob Roper After watching the debate in the State House over the $15 minimum wage it is hard to see how any rational or compassionate person could have, at the end of the day, supported the policy. The potential good that it may have done for a small minority of people was far outweighed…

Saturday, June 2, 9 a.m.—GRANVILLE, N.Y.—Run or walk on a rail trail through the bucolic Washington County (N.Y.) countryside at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 2, at the ninth annual Rail Trail to the Footbridge 5K trail race in Granville. Events include a 5K race and Fun Walk, along with a 1K Kids’ Fun Run. The 5K is a…

Saturday, June 2, 2 p.m.—ORWELL—Come to the Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell on Saturday, June 2, for a guided history walk from 2-3:30 p.m. This is one of many special walks and hikes across the country to celebrate National Trails Day. Mark Brownell, retired history teacher and board member of the Mount Independence Coalition, the site…

Tuesday, June 5, 6 p.m.—CAVENDISH—The Cavendish Energy Committee will sponsor a workshop on Tuesday, June 5 at 6 p.m. to be held in the Cavendish Town Office meeting room on how to create a pollinator-friendly habitat. The speakers will discuss, among other issues, how a solar array field can significantly help in the fight to…

Saturday, June 2, 10 a.m.—CHITTENDEN—Chittenden Public Library is excited to welcome Mr. Chris and Friends: A Family Music Event on Saturday, June 2 at 10 a.m. This summer, the reading program is all about Libraries That Rock and Chittenden is kicking things off with a morning of music with Chris Dorman, founder of Music for…