By Alan Keays, VTDigger Gov. Phil Scott says he will stand by his commitment to support legislation that would legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in Vermont. “I made that commitment. It’s a libertarian approach,” the governor said Dec. 1 during an interview on Vermont Public Radio’s “Vermont Edition.” However, he said that…

By Anne Galloway, VTDigger Financial analysts say the state will spend $31 million over a three-year period on tax incentives to towns for school district mergers. In fiscal year 2019 alone, taxpayers will subsidize $16.1 million in tax breaks for towns that merge school districts. The Joint Fiscal Office says that will be the high…

Pico Mountain is scheduled to kick off its 2017-18 winter season at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 15. The fifth annual Opening Weekend Food Raiser will take place on Dec. 16-17, when discounted lift tickets will be provided in exchange for food donations for low-income Vermonters. The Food Raiser is a partnership with Pico Mountain and local nonprofit organization BROC Community…

By Michelle Monroe, St. Albans Messenger As the threat of another government shutdown loomed on Thursday, Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., spoke with the Messenger about what is transpiring in Washington. “It’s wild,” Welch said, mentioning Jerusalem, impeachment and the House firearms vote, all of which had taken place the day before. On Wednesday, President Donald…

By Cal Garrison, a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s Horoscopes are coming out under the light of a Libra Moon. It’s time to run out and get our Advent calendars because the 12 Days of Christmas started on Tuesday, Dec. 12. The song that we sing to honor this period of time starts with…

Cal Garrison (a.k.a Mother of the Skye) writes weekly horoscopes for The Mountain Times. If you would like an emailed notification sent to you weekly, sign up for the newsletter, below. Want to hear more from Mother of the Skye? Check out Mother's Celestial Inspirations for a deeper look into this weeks horoscopes Mother of the Skye…

By Brett Yates If you had asked me in 2015 to name three people from Minnesota, I probably would have thought for a moment and then come up with iconic pop star Prince, Senator Al Franken, and the public radio raconteur Garrison Keillor. In 2016, Prince died of a fentanyl overdose. Now, two concurrent sexual…

CASTLETON—The Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS) Board of Trustees announced Friday, Dec. 1, that Castleton University’s Spartan Stadium will be renamed Dave Wolk Stadium in honor of his 16 years of visionary service as University President. Governor Phil Scott was on hand to read the official VSCS resolution, which lauded Wolk’s vision, values, passion, and dedication. The…

WOODSTOCK—Woodstock’s 33rd annual Wassail Weekend takes place Dec. 8-10. The weekend is filled with twinkling lights, historic decorated homes, breakfast with Santa, holiday spirit, and highlighted with sleigh bells and the clip-clop of hooves as riders dressed in Victorian-era costumes ride through and around the Village Green during the Wassail Parade. Full schedule of events…

Saturday, Dec. 9, 3 p.m.—WOODSTOCK—Wrensong presents “A Christmas Carol Concert” at the Norman Williams Library, Saturday, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. Wrensong is an a cappella choral group from Vermont’s Upper Valley. Nine singers and one instrumentalist will sing songs primarily from the Renaissance period. The program will include English, German, and French carols tracing the…

CASTLETON—Karen M. Scolforo, Ed.D., has began her tenure as President of Castleton University. Officially, her first day at the helm was Dec. 4. Scolforo is the fourth woman to lead the University since its founding in 1787, and the tenth president of the modern era. She joins the Castleton family after spending four years as…

Thursday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m.—RUTLAND—The Vienna Boys’ Choir (VBC), a beloved exponent of the choral repertoire for more than 500 years, plays the Paramount Theatre in Rutland, on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. The evening’s program will include favorites such as “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”), “Sleigh Ride” (“Troika”), and their compelling rendition of “Carol of the…

Saturday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m.—RUPERT—Join the Merck Forest and Farmland and the Vermont Woodlands Association on a winter tree identification walk at Merck Forest and Farmland on Saturday, Dec. 9, 1-3 p.m. Learn how to identify trees and shrubs in our winter landscape through this hands-on workshop. Bennington County Forester Kyle Mason will teach participants…

Friday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m.—RANDOLPH—Seven-time, All-Ireland accordion champion John Whelan teams up with American roots band Low Lily and Scottish-style fiddler Katie McNally for a spectacular holiday mini-fest of Celtic and Americana music at Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph on Friday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. “This diverse and energetic show will usher in…