By Julia Purdy The time is not far off when the metallic jingle of coins being collected from downtown parking meters will go the way of the ice wagon. A black square post stands in front of the Opera House on Merchants Row; its twin stands six parking spaces away toward West Street. They are…

By Adam Federman, VTDigger.org PITTSFORD—Top state transportation officials got a walking tour of the town’s sidewalks Friday, Aug. 12, to illustrate local frustration as the community awaits the long-delayed Route 7 upgrade. The Select Board and Rutland County legislators got together with Transportation Secretary Chris Cole and Highway Director Kevin Marshia to discuss infrastructure issues…

RUTLAND – Hoping to fill the Rutland Community Cupboard with a record amount of tuna, pasta, cereal, and peanut butter, Green Mountain Power announced a 34,000-item goal Tuesday, Aug. 23, for the 2016 GMP Fill the Cupboard Challenge. The current record for the event, 33,169, was set last year. Businesses, clubs, schools, sports teams, churches…

RUTLAND—The newest members of the CSJ community arrived on campus Thursday, Aug. 18, when freshmen and transfer students moved into the college’s residence halls and began to learn what it means to be a part of the CSJ family. Residence Life staff ­ helped unpack cars filled with plastic tubs, beanbags, boxed microwaves and mini-fridges,…

By Stephen Seitz PLYMOUTH— At a gathering in Plymouth, Sunday, Aug. 21, Vermont Republicans make it clear the economy is their top priority. A number of Republican candidates, including Lt. Gov. Phil Scott (governor), former state auditor Randy Brock (lieutenant governor), and Scott Milne (U.S. Senate), gathered at Camp Plymouth State Park this past Sunday…

Raises over $30,000 at food festival RUTLAND—The Vermont Farmers Food Center’s second annual Harvest Fest fed and entertained over 300 area residents and visitors in Farmers’ Hall on West Street Sunday, Aug. 14, in a successful renewal of the fundraiser and celebration that began last year. While the tallies were not quite complete at the…

By Mike Polhamus, VTDigger.org Vermont’s largest electric utility has committed to purchase 14 hydroelectric dams in New England and to get power from two others—a buy that will net Green Mountain Power an added 17 megawatts of energy production for just over $20 million. The dams will help the company, a subsidiary of Canadian-owned Gaz…

Dear editor, Phil Scott believes renewable energy is critical to our future and the future of our planet. But Vermont’s current energy policies are doing damage to our environment and to our economy. Today we are destroying Vermont’s ridge lines and landscape by building helter-skelter industrial wind projects so that we can produce electricity that…

Dear Editor, With state and national elections looming, marijuana legalization has taken somewhat of a back seat to the issues of war, terrorism, the shaky economy (Vermont’s and the country’s), huge deficits (ditto), the Brexit, the Zika virus, opiate addiction … the list goes on. The citizens of Maine and Massachusetts are dealing with contentious…

Dear Editor, I’d like to invite the public on a real tour of Kingdom Community Wind in Lowell, Vt. This educational tour is not the pretend walk Mr. Lindholm references in his letter to the editor, published in the Aug. 17-23 edition. These tours take place each summer from June through August and are open…

Dear Editor, Born and raised in Castleton, I have had the privilege of being involved in many different initiatives throughout the state. This past year—right after graduating college—I participated in the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization Competition and worked at the American Legion Auxiliary Green Mountain Girls State as well as the Governor’s Institute on the…

Sunday, Aug. 28 at 11:30 a.m.—ROCHESTER—This year marks Tropical Storm Irene’s fifth anniversary, and Rebuild Rochester invites the public to join in a celebration of community spirit and ongoing activism in Rochester Town Park, Sunday, Aug. 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Schedule of events 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: New town park dedication by Larry…

Saturday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m.—PLYMOUTH NOTCH— The documentary film “Irene: Ruin to Renewal,” which recounts Plymouth Vermont’s astounding recovery from the catastrophic storm, will premier at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in the large reception room Saturday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m., on the eve of the fifth anniversary of Tropical Storm…

Sunday, Aug. 28 at 12:30 p.m.—PITTSFIELD— The Pittsfield Picnic will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the devastation of Tropical Storm Irene, Sunday, Aug. 28 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. This year, the town will celebrate more than just community. In 2011, Tropical Storm Irene disconnected Pittsfield, by washing away the bridges on Route 100 on…

Sunday, Aug. 28 at 11 a.m.–PAWLET–Pawlet hosts a Flower Brook Community Watershed event at Edie’s Green in Pawlet, Sunday, Aug. 28, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. This event is free and open to the public–rain or shine. Come hear what Pawlet, Danby, and Tinmouth are doing to protect their towns from future flood events. There will also…