Saturday, May 14 at 11 a.m. — CASTLETON — Mia Schultz, president of the Rutland Area Branch of the NAACP, will deliver the commencement address at Castleton’s 235th graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 14. Schultz is an educator, organizer, and problem solver — as well as an ardent champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and…

By Susan Shea Beneath the forest canopy, or overstory, of towering trees is a second layer of vegetation known as the understory. It is composed of shrubs, saplings, and understory trees that grow in the dappled shade of the overstory. One understory specialist is striped maple, a small tree that seldom grows more than 20…

By Brett Yates The Chittenden Chit Chat, a longtime municipal newsletter, appears poised to resume publication after a years-long hiatus. Chittenden Emergency Management Director Jan Sotirakis floated the idea during the Select Board’s April 25 meeting. “This has been bugging me probably ever since our team stopped working on it, but I really feel that…

By Rep. Jim Harrison There was no shortage of surprises last week in Vermont politics. Treasurer Beth Pearce announced she would not be seeking reelection this fall due to health reasons. And, clearly with inside information, Commissioner Mike Pieciak, who had just two weeks ago indicated he was leaving his post at the Department of…

Chaffee Art Center's Images of our World exhibit features the work of many talented photographers — professional and amateur. Rebekkah Ziel has a solo gallery showcasing her photography. There are also five feature walls by the following photographers: Robert Black, Matt Lerman, Denise Letendre, Jon Olender and Penelope Weiss. Chaffee artist members also have work…

According to John Bob Siemienowicz, governor of Rotary District 7870, covering 57 Rotary clubs in southern New Hampshire and Vermont, the district has reached $150,000 in funds raised for Ukrainian relief. This represents a $36,000 increase in funds raised in two weeks. Siemienowicz indicated that he expects donations to increase as more of the clubs…

By Katy Savage The Castleton Select Board unanimously decided Monday, May 9 to oppose the use of herbicides to control milfoil in Lake Bomoseen. Castleton joined the towns of Hubbardton and Fair Haven, which have also publicly opposed herbicides after outcry from residents. Castleton board members planned to write a letter urging the Lake Bomoseen…

Thirty-seven competitors from five states went head-to-head racing down the whitewater of the White River in Stockbridge on Saturday, May 7. It was the first annual Peavine Whitewater Race—a fundraiser for Ridgeline Outdoor Collective. After a mass start at the Route 100 bridge near Ted Green Ford, paddlers in a wide variety of solo and…

More than 70 businesses and organizations that employ Vermont workers have been selected to receive a 2022 Vermont Governor’s Award for Excellence in Worksite Wellness. Developed more than 20 years ago by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and presented in partnership with the Dept. of Health, the annual awards provide an opportunity…

By DJ Dave Hoffenberg You don’t want to miss Jacob Green, a new act coming to Jax Food & Games in Killington on Friday, May 20-21 at 9 p.m. They love him at the Public House in Quechee where he’ll be playing once a month, the next one being 6 p.m. Friday, May 27. Jacob…

RCHS would like to offer some helpful reminders of ways to keep your pets as safe as possible as it gets warmer. Open windows – As you start opening up your windows for a breeze, make sure your screens are in nice and tight, and be aware of pets, especially cats, that may jump or…

By Jack Lyons/VTDigger Since 1954, the 251 Club has been a collective for people who endeavor to visit all of Vermont’s 251 cities, towns and unincorporated communities. But last month, the club faced an unprecedented consideration: On July 1, Vermont will add the city of Essex Junction to its ranks when the village splits away…

By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger The Vermont House gave final approval on Monday, May 9 to a bill intended to ban racist and offensive school mascots, overriding objections that the legislation would erode school districts’ autonomy. S.139 would direct the Vermont Agency of Education to create a state policy for school branding, including mascots, slogans, logos and…

State Police responded to an aircraft crash on a runway at the Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional Airport in Clarendon around 1 p.m. on May 7. At the time of the crash the aircraft, a 1961 Mooney, was occupied solely by the pilot, William C. Giesey of Philadelphia. Giesey told police that while landing the aircraft, he…

By Brett Yates Pittsfield’s delayed Town Meeting proceeded without a hitch on Tuesday, May 3, according to town officials. Longtime moderator George Deblon presided over a gathering of “approximately 51” residents by the count of Town Clerk Tricia Fryer. “It was the quickest town meeting I think I’ve ever been to,” Select Board member Joyce…