By William J. Mathis Editor’s note: William J. Mathis is managing director of the National Education Policy Center and vice-chair of the Vermont State Board of Education, and a Goshen resident. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization with which he is affiliated. It was June 26, 1997, when Governor…

By Jerry LeBlond The annual three-day Killington Wine Festival took place Friday-Sunday, July 14-16, at Killington Resort. The event kicked off with an Estate Wine Tasting Friday night at the Peak Lodge. Saturday was the Grand Tasting event under tents at the K-1 base area. Then Sunday the weekend concluded with a Wine and Nine…

By Alan Keays/VTDigger A Richmond man who recently settled a lawsuit for $100,000 with the city of Burlington over allegations that a former officer lied to make drug charges stick is now behind bars facing new drug charges. Michael P. Mullen, 26, was arraigned Monday in Rutland Superior Court on felony charges of possessing cocaine…

Giant trout, colorful banners, and sculptural riverine benches will soon bring new life and color to Bethel’s Main Street. Thanks to an Animating Infrastructure grant from the Vermont Arts Council and a series of creative partnerships, the Art on the River project will add vibrancy to a key stretch of town while also addressing practical…

By Evan Johnson Federal Emergency Management Agency staffers were in Vermont last week, appraising damage  to roads, bridges and other infrastructure from early July rain storms. On Thursday, July 13, a two-man team of public assistants plus a public affairs liaison drove from the Vermont Agency of Transportation office in Mendon to Brandon to observe…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger The head of Vermont’s largest agency was speaking Thursday, July 13, in Rutland when a little girl darted in front of him. “Can I get a high-five?” Al Gobeille, secretary of the Agency of Human Services, asked the toddler. She kept running, then whizzed past him again. “Maybe a fist bump?”…

By Polly Lynn Mikula “We’re here to celebrate Rutland County communities coming together toward a new effort to promote the entire region in the Killington Valley Initiative,” said Rutland Sen. Brian Collamore, Friday evening, July 14, at the estate wine tasting at the Peak Lodge in Killington, where the Killington Valley Initiative officially released its…

By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger RUTLAND – Rutland City’s grand list still tops $1 billion, but it has dropped over the past year by $10 million. The grand list is the assessed value of the property in the city. Recent figures prepared by the city’s assessor’s office show that the current grand list stands at…

By Alan Keays/VTDigger An attorney for the state says a Rutland businessman hasn’t lived up to a pledge to provide needed documents to finalize a settlement over the $650,000 environmental cleanup of his property. Assistant Attorney General Justin Kolber has now asked Judge Helen Toor to hold a hearing to determine how much money John…

Nationally, more than 22 million children receive meals through the National School Lunch Program during the school year. But when school is out during the summer, the USDA Summer Food Service Program reaches less than 4 million kids. To combat summer hunger, the Vermont Foodbank is distributing food to 225 food shelves and meal sites…

On Monday, July 17, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy announced that Vermont’s Department of Fish and Wildlife will receive a grant of $30,000 to support its work to control and counter white nose syndrome (WNS), the fungal disease that has devastated bat populations in Vermont and across the United States. Leahy, the vice chairman of the…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger WHITE RIVER JUNCTION—A national Veterans Affairs center headquartered in White River Junction is likely to be fully funded in the next fiscal year. In the version of a budget bill that passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, July 13, the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was fully funded at…

Saturday, July 22, 10 a.m.—QUECHEE—Join VINS to celebrate Magnificent Mammals Saturday, July 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The day will feature a variety of fascinating mammals introduced by wildlife presenters from around the region. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center will present New England Wildlife at 11 a.m. Join a naturalist to meet wild mammals that could be…

Tuesday, July 25, 8 p.m.—RUTLAND—Legendary rocker George Thorogood brings his band The Destroyers and their Rock Party Tour 2017to the Paramount Theatre on Tuesday, July 25, at 8 p.m. With more than 40 years of touring and recording, 15 million albums sold, and 8,000 live shows, George and his longtime bandmates—Jeff Simon (drums, percussion), Bill Blough (bass…

Tuesday, July 25, 7 p.m.—CASTLETON—Castleton University is pleased to present the Twangbusters as part of the 22nd Annual Castleton Summer Concerts at the Pavilion on Tuesday, July 25 at 7 p.m. at the Castleton Pavilion. Guaranteed to make listeners move their feet, this danceable blend of American boogie, blues, and bop has been playing together since 2011. Led by…