By Jay Diaz Editor’s note: Jay Diaz is a general counsel for ACLU of Vermont. With Vermont’s primary election approaching on Aug. 9, it’s time for many voters to decide which candidates are best aligned with their values — and that includes candidates for county prosecutor. Vermont’s elected prosecutors, known as state’s attorneys, have tremendous…

By Mary Ellen Shaw I realized that I am “stuck” in the '50s when Venetian blinds are still my choice for privacy and keeping out the sun. Apparently, the majority of consumers have moved on to more modern options! About a year ago my husband picked up a replacement blind for one of our living…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger Rutland’s sewage treatment facility often releases untreated discharges into the Otter Creek and its tributaries, which then empty into Lake Champlain. In a new appeal of a recently approved permit, members of an environmental organization argue officials haven’t adequately planned to eliminate the discharges. In the recent appeal to the Environmental Division…

By Brett Yates The Pittsfield Select Board signed documents on July 21 to begin a municipal buyout of a flood-damaged home. The property at 593 Route 100 in Pittsfield reportedly faces structural and septic challenges owing to its proximity to a branch of the Tweed River. According to Board Chair Ann Kuendig, the homeowner reached…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger It’s been roughly a year since the Delta variant arrived in Vermont, reversing what had been a nearly Covid-free summer. Delta caused a surge in cases and hospitalizations, propelling what Health Commissioner Mark Levine deemed a new phase in the pandemic — only for Omicron to arrive in December, leading cases to…

Friday, July 29 — POULTNEY — The Slate Quarry Park Group, Inc. and the town and village of Poultney announced the grand opening of the Slate Quarry Park located at 76 Main Street in Poultney on Friday, July 29, at 5 p.m. A cordial invitation was extended to the public. Speakers at the grand opening…

Wednesday, July 27 — PROCTORSVILLE — The Town of Cavendish presents a newcomer to its continuing series of Wednesday evening concerts on July 27 at 6 p.m. when Sammy Blanchette will appear on the Svec Memorial Green in Proctorsville. Sammy Blanchette is a New England based singer/songwriter multi-instrumentalist who has been playing the Okemo Valley…

Tuesday, July 26—CASTLETON — Castleton University will host the sixth annual Early Childhood Educators Institute on July 26, 28, and August 2. The event will be held synchronously online with an optional on-campus session and celebration on August 4. The program’s live, interactive Zoom meetings allow early educators to participate from a location convenient to…

Dear Editor, Vermont Volunteer Services for Animals Humane Society would like to thank all the people that volunteered at our annual July 4 festivities in Woodstock. Thanks to friends and volunteers who were able to pull it off for another year! If any nonprofit organization would like to take over this event, we can assure…

Friday, July 29 — RUTLAND — Friday, July 29 the Amtrak Ethan Allen Express train will begin service between New York City and Burlington. On that day, a celebration will be held at the James M. Jeffords Rail Passenger Welcome Center, locally known as the Rutland Amtrak station, as the Ethan Allen Express arrives from…

Sunday, July 31 — CAVENDISH —The Cavendish Association of Trails will hold a guided nature trail walk on the Hardy Hill trail in Cavendish on Sunday, July 31 at 10 a.m. This trail is the gift of Pieter Van Schaik to the community and his intention is for it to be handicap accessible. The trail…

By Brett Yates The town of Pittsfield is looking to improve the public basketball court behind the town hall, where it intends to add new blacktop, lights, and fencing. During meetings this spring, the Pittsfield Rescue Plan Committee proposed using a portion of the municipality’s ARPA dollars to repave the court, but more recently, officials…

By DJ Dave Hoffenberg Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime is finally bringing their show to Rutland, after it got canceled last time for bad weather. Badfish is kicking off the Friday Night Live Concert Series on Center Street this Friday 7 p.m. Badfish has been around for 21 years, currently in their 22nd year. I…

Friday, July 22 at 5 p.m.— RUTLAND —The popular Friday Night Live summer music series will return to Center Street for three weekends in July and August. The free concert series features Badfish on July 22, All-4-One on Aug. 5, and Dean Ford & the Beautiful Ones on Aug. 19. In addition to music, families…

By Jonathan Dowds Editor’s note: Jonathan Dowds is the deputy director of Renewable Energy Vermont. New Hampshire households are about to get hit hard, really hard, by rate hikes that will increase electricity bills by more than $70 a month. These unprecedented rate hikes reflect surging natural gas prices and New Hampshire’s ill-fated decision to…