RUTLAND–Already with a strong presence in the Opera House in the heart of downtown Rutland, Castleton University is planning a two-floor, efficient living space nearby that could become a model for others. In collaboration with Mark Foley, Jr., Castleton and Green Mountain Power will leverage energy innovation to bring empty space back to life.

KILLINGTON — This season’s weather has challenged us at every turn, wrote officials for Killington Resort in a Feb. 25 newsletter explaining conditions at Pico Mountain. “The lack of natural snow, or even consistently cold temperatures, has left us with limited terrain and diminished business levels. With no relief evident in the long-range forecast, we have…

RUTLAND—On Feb. 26, after completing a corrective action process that began last summer, Rutland Mental Health Services (RMHS) has received full-designation status from the Vermont Department of Mental Health (DMH) and Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) for its mental health and developmental disabilities programs for Rutland County. Following a designation process that…

On Feb. 27, 2016, when the morning sun rose over Pico Mountain to nourish the joy of Anne Richwagen’s daily awakening, it found the flame of her life had quietly and peacefully flickered out. Anne Richwagen, 80, of Rutland, Vt. and Goose Pond, N.H., had fulfilled her goal of introducing the wonders of love and…

Dear Editor, There is a problem with the ski industry, and it is the way ski areas pay their snow sports instructors. They only pay them for when they are interacting with a student. So what that boils down to is they require you to be at work at a certain time and if no…

Dear editor, This is an open letter to Governor Peter Shumlin. We request that you (Shumlin) request the immediate resignation of Commissioner of Vermont Department of Health, Dr. Harry Chen, for his attempt to influence voter decision on fluoridation by sharing misinformation in a Rutland Herald commentary dated Saturday, Feb. 20 on the issue of…

By Rick Davis The recent Picus report on Vermont’s education spending suggests the state can save money by reducing spending on special education. While I agree generally with that statement, we need new thinking about how we get there. Artificial spending targets or extra tutors aren’t the answer. If we want to reduce spending and…

On Monday, Feb. 29, Gov. Peter Shumlin provided an update on the situation in North Bennington after last week when five private wells in North Bennington showed varying levels of a potentially harmful chemical called PFOA. Test results received Thursday, Feb. 25, indicated that while there is no contamination of the public water source. The…

Sen. Bernie Sanders received a perfect score (100 percent) Feb. 24 from the League of Conservation Voters for his environmental voting record in 2015. Sanders has a 95 percent lifetime score. “On climate stuff he’s been the most aggressive voice in the Senate,” environmentalist and co-founder of 350.org Bill McKibben said of Sanders. Among his…

Susan L. Donegan, commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR), announced Feb. 26 that Continental Indemnity Co., a subsidiary of Applied Underwriters, Inc., has paid Vermont $335,000 and owes 16 Vermont businesses an additional $352,000. An investigation conducted by the department revealed that between 2007 and 2015, Continental had overcharged a number of small…

The Witch By Dom Cioffi It’s customary for me to come home after work and immediately wash dishes. This is something I’ve done for years. I don’t know why; it’s just an activity I have to complete before I relax in to the evening’s activities. This past week, I came home, dropped my bag by…

By Robin Alberti

Courtsey of KMS

By Karen D. Lorentz Cyber security was one of the nationwide issues discussed at the recent National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Eastern Winter Conference and Trade Show held at Killington Resort. Because a data breach is a topic that poses a risk to all, The Mountain Times contacted cyber security expert Anne De Vries, who…

By Karen D. Lorentz As if the weird El Niño weather were not enough of a challenge to operating a ski area, several thorny societal issues were discussed at the recent National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Eastern Winter Conference and Trade Show held at Killington Resort. Among the more serious topics were those on website…