By Kevin O’Connor, VTDigger The problem began last summer, when one of two black members of the Vermont Legislature received racially charged emails and tweets, and has continued as late as this week, when a Middlebury Jewish congregation found a swastika on its front door. Now an alliance of Green Mountain State religious congregations wants…

RUTLAND—Greg Cox of Boardman Hill Farm, Vermont Farmers Food Center and Vermont Farmers Market was honored as the chamber’s 2016 Business Person of the Year at the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce annual meeting Nov. 15, at the Paramount Theatre. Cox has been a farmer for 40 years and in 2007 helped to transform the…

Snowstorm drops 10+ inches days before World Cup at Killington KILLINGTON — Killington Resort has been blowing snow aggressively over the past month both to prepare the Superstar race trail for the Ladies Ski World Cup races, Nov. 26 and 27, and to open as much terrain as possible for skiers and riders.  Killington has…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger Fears and concerns after the national presidential election prompted the state Board of Education this week to a issue a statement about the need to ensure the safety of all students regardless of race, class or immigration status. Without elaborating, Education Secretary Rebecca Holcombe said there have been incidents recently…

The best weapon to stop fraud is you By Karen D. Lorentz Here’s a sample of a recent email (exactly as it appeared, with off-spacing), just one of several received that threatened something unless I responded: Dear Client, This is formal notice to you that your last month Invoice no: KT321U is already overdue and…

By Karen D. Lorentz The well-attended AARP Scam Jam was held at the Rutland Country Club, Nov. 15. Attendees said the event was informative, tremendously educational, and even shocking at times. Fraud is a huge multi-billion-dollar per year crime with seniors the most targeted cohort, noted Greg Machildon, AARP’s state director. Education is the way…

By Evan Johnson RUTLAND—As visitors head to the Rutland and Killington area for Thanksgiving and the FIS World Cup races on Nov. 26 and 27, Marble Valley Regional Transit (“The Bus”) is rolling out three additional routes during the weekend of the races, which will shuttle visitors between parking and event areas and downtown Rutland.…

By Evan Johnson KILLINGTON—Town officials say details regarding liability and insurance are upholding progress on fixing a leaky roof over the Killington town library. Library director Jane Ramos said the need is dire. “The shingles have failed,” she said. “If you look at the back of the building, you’ll see the shingles are falling off…

By Adam Federman, VTDigger.org The first prong of a major marketing campaign designed to rebrand the region and reverse years of demographic decline is scheduled to be unveiled this Friday, Nov. 25. The website, Killingtonvalley.com, is one small part of a multi-year effort that local business leaders, including the Rutland Economic Development Corporation and the…

By Julia Purdy “Gig economy” is a term relatively unknown in Rutland. Musicians and performers used the term “gig” to mean engagements from one-night stands in concerts or coffee houses to theater runs that had to be supplemented by the “day job” waiting table or driving taxi—something that would not impinge on one’s true career…

LUDLOW—The staff of Black River Good Neighbor Services has announced that they are accepting applications for the 2016 holiday food basket program. They ask that completed applications be submitted by Dec. 1. Food Program Administrator Krey Kellington and the entire BRGNS staff are eager to see that no person or family goes without food, and…

RUTLAND—Five Rutland-area businesses have been awarded a total of $104,141 in Regional Economic Development Grants sought by Rutland Economic Development Corp. (REDC) and provided by the State of Vermont. The awards were announced at REDC’s annual meeting last week. “Investment spurred by the grants will create 20 new jobs in the area and increase productivity…

POULTNEY—The future is now for the Green Mountain College women’s basketball team. With a roster comprised of virtually all sophomores and freshmen, the team has gelled over the past four weeks and is set to begin a new era of Eagles basketball as the team opens the regular season on the road Thursday at 5:30…

By Cal Garrison, a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s Horoscopes are coming out just as the Sun slips into Sagittarius, under the light of a Virgo Moon. With the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner it’s time to count our blessings and open our hearts as we approach the entrance to the Advent season.…

CSJ hires, promotes administrators RUTLAND—The College of St. Joseph has hired Nanci Gordon as director of development and alumni relations. Both an alumna and a dedicated advocate for the school, she will oversee the annual fund, the college’s efforts to seek grant funding, and its work to cultivate alumni. The Rutland High graduate received a…