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[flipbook id="69"]   Recognizing those who make our communities vibrant Community Profiles is dedicated to recognizing the important roles that individuals and businesses play in our local community. Through each of our efforts, we create a vibrant community in the heart of the Green Mountains. This section reflects on the importance of working together to make…

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By Richard Podlesney

Courtesy of Town of Killington DEBORAH SCHWARTZ The Town of Killington has named Deborah Schwartz as its new Town Manager, effective April 18, 2016. Schwartz, who has an extensive background in municipal management, having served in executive leadership roles for some of the nation’s leading airports, will become the seventh town manager since the Town…

By Christopher Biddle Matt Baatz By Christopher Biddle PITTSFIELD—Matt Baatz estimates that in the past year, he’s logged around 600 hours working on a fully stocked pizza oven made entirely from found and donated materials—in the middle of the woods. “Puddy’s,” as the site is called, was originally meant to be used for “luxury rewilding…

By Mike Faher, VTDigger.org It’s been the warmest winter on record in Vermont, with mean temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal and snowfall several feet below normal statewide, the National Weather Service reported at a meeting in Brattleboro Thursday, March 17. Such statistics meant that the gathering of state officials and emergency responders took…

RUTLAND–Mary Cohen, a longtime NeighborWorks and community leader, was appointed Wednesday, March 23, to be interim executive director of the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce, effective April 1. She fills the position left vacant by the resignation of Tom Donahue. “Mary will provide stable, proactive and energetic leadership to the Chamber staff and the Chamber…

Update on Killington Village progress By Karen D. Lorentz Some progress has been made concerning the Killington Village master plan and resort parking project permits that were issued by the District #1 Environmental Commission on Oct. 7, 2013, but then appealed. On March 7, 2016, Judge Thomas S. Durkin, who is presiding over the two…

By Stephen Seitz PITTSFIELD — ECFiber, officially known as the East Central Vermont Telecommunications District, is planning significant fiber optic cable growth this year and next. Now they want their customers to provide a little guidance as to where this growth should take place. “We’re in a position to have funding to move forward with…

Saturday, April 2 at 11 a.m. — LUDLOW — Okemo Mountain Resort brings back Hops on the Snow on Saturday, April 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This one-day beer festival, located in the Jackson Gore Courtyard, will feature new seasonal beers and cider. Enjoy spring conditions on the mountain in the morning, then quench your…

By Rep. Sarah Copeland Hanzas The Vermont House of Representatives has a proven track record of fighting for Vermont’s working and middle class families. These families are the backbone of the state and deserve a fair shot at success. Every March, the House passes a budget for the state that affirms our commitment to the…

By Rob Roper The Vermont House Ways & Means committee just passed out a $48.3 million package of new or increased taxes and fees. The list includes the fuel gross receipts tax that will add two to three cents to every gallon of home heating fuel, a new application of the 9 percent rooms and…

By Dave Correll The recent change in leadership at the Rutland Chamber comes at an exciting time for the Chamber and the Rutland Region, and allows us to take stock in how well-positioned we are for the future. Most importantly, the state of the Rutland Chamber is strong! The Rutland Chamber remains among the strongest…

Dear Editor, Nearly 97 percent of Vermont’s businesses are classified as “small” according to the Small Business Association (SBA). Statistics provided by the SBA report that between 2010 and 2013 Vermont had 77,726 small businesses and that, of that number, 60,067 businesses were without employees. These businesses primarily survive through contract work with other business…