By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger.org More schools in Vermont are taking advantage of a federal program that offers free meals to all students in low-income areas. In 2014, 29 schools in Vermont signed up with the “universal” meal program and began serving free breakfast and lunch to all students whether they qualified for free meals…

On Sept. 21, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) received an additional $16 million in federal highway funding after the state met all of its fiscal year deadlines for federally-funded projects. When states or other federal entities which are funded through the federal highway trust fund do not fully utilize their federal funds in a…

By Polly Lynn Mikula In last week’s edition, Sept. 21-27, an advertised political cartoon was published that offended many readers. While the cartoon (in addition to all letters and op-eds we publish) does NOT necessarily reflect the opinion of the newspaper or any of its staff members, many readers and businesses were confused about this…

Dear Editor, Recently, I heard a debate between the two major candidates for Vermont Attorney General, Democratic Chittenden County State’s Attorney T. J. Donovan and Republican private lawyer Deborah Bucknam. Their answers to one question showed that the Republican candidate was out of touch with political morality and reality. The question was whether the candidates agreed…

By Angelo S. Lynn In Rutland, the struggles that town and city have gone through in its reckoning to become a refugee resettlement site provide important lessons other Vermont communities seeking similar refugee status should consider. For starters, Vermont residents should know the national refugee resettlement program is operated under an arm of the U.S.…

By Emerson Lynn If we had to come up with the lyrics to summarize Republican Scott Milne’s campaign against incumbent Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, they would be contained in the late 1960s song by Peggy Lee, “Is That All There Is.” The song is a soulful lament drawn from a long-ago writer who, staring at…

By Karen D. Lorentz Editor’s Note: This part three in a series of articles on Killington hosting the Audi FIS World Cup Women’s Giant Slalom and Slalom races on Nov. 26-27, 2016. “It’s a dream come true,” commented Pres Smith when asked about Killington hosting the upcoming World Cup events. Reached at his home in…

The Vermont congressional delegation announced Friday, Sept. 23, that Housing Vermont  received a $2 million grant to help provide affordable housing to low-income families in the state. “While the economy has certainly improved since the Great Recession, far too many people in Vermont and across the country are still struggling to get by on stagnant…

College of St. Joseph’s athletic teams were in full swing this past week, with five games played cumulatively. The men’s soccer team has found its groove, going 2-0 this week and currently riding a five game winning streak. They are now 5-4 on the season and are looking like a true contender. The women’s volleyball…

By Matt Baatz Six-Hour Challenge The first wave of intrepid racers lined up on the top of Tweed. Downpours in the wee hours of the morning were enough to make the course, henceforth known as the “gnarled albatross” for the route’s peculiar resemblance to a seabird, not just techy and hilly but downright treacherous. Fourteen-year-old…

WOODSTOCK—The Woodstock Inn & Resort is offering the community an opportunity to own a piece of Suicide Six history. The ski area has donated 60 chairs from the 38-year-old, recently dismantled Chair #1 to Woodstock Ski Runners (WSR) for fundraising. All proceeds will benefit the WSR youth ski programs, with 50 percent of the funds…

QUESTION: Boris and Cliff are playing in a tournament. On the 4th hole, both balls rest on the green. As the balls are somewhat close to the hole, Cliff uses the flagstick to determine which ball is away. In the act of measuring, he drops the flagstick and moves the ball. Cliff says there is…

Oct. 3-9—CHESTER—Teams are now being formed for Spinzilla 2016, a week-long spinning marathon being held Oct. 3-9. Online sign up is open through Sept. 30 at spinzilla.org. The competition begins on Oct. 3 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Oct. 9 at 11:59 p.m. Organized by the Spinning and Weaving Group of The National Needlearts Association…

By Karrie Etzler Residents of Rutland City and its environs were graciously fêted at a three-course culinary soiree, hosted by the Grace Congregational United Church of Christ (Grace Church), under its community outreach program on Sunday evening, Sept. 25. The complimentary affair dubbed Welcome Table Dinner is a major event for the church, and is…

PITTSFORD—The Proctor Transfer Station on Deere Road in Pittsford will be open to Proctor residents from 12-5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 for trash, recyclables, yard waste and brush without charge. The Rutland County Solid Waste District will be at the transfer station to accept household hazardous wastes from 12-3 p.m. Proctor residents with questions…