Browsers take in the literary delights at the annual Bookstock literary festival, held in Woodstock over the weekend. By Stephen Seitz WOODSTOCK – It’s not called hoarding when you pile up the books. Cindy Martin of Andalusia, Ala., was one of many visitors who left with an armload of fresh purchases. “This is how I…

By Dave Wolk, Castleton University President There is a legendary and enduring section of sidewalk that runs parallel to Calvin Coolidge Library on the Castleton campus. Engraved in successive pavement stones are a series of names and dates: Rutland County Grammar School, 1787-1828; Vermont Classical High School, 1828-1830; Castleton Seminary, 1830-1876, State Normal School, 1867-1920;…

Only Eastern resort to make the list KILLINGTON —In an article published July 20, the New York Post named Killington one of “Five ski towns that are worth visiting in summer,” alongside the Western resort towns of Park City (Utah), Vail (Colorado), Jackson Hole (Wyoming) and Big Sky (Montana). Killington Town Manager Seth Webb said…

RUTLAND —On July 27, Optum announced it will donate 45 refurbished laptop computers to five public libraries across Vermont, in support of the state’s efforts to bring online access and Internet-based services to as many residents as possible. Optum, the information technology vendor for Vermont’s health insurance marketplace, Vermont Health Connect, will donate nine laptops…

GRANVILLE—On July 24 at about 3 p.m. Vermont State Police, White River Valley Ambulance, and Granville Fire Department were dispatched to a vehicle versus motorcycle accident with injury on Route 100 in Granville. Upon arrival it was found that the operator of a 2005 BMW motorcycle, Denver Wilson, age 33, of Swanton, Vt., had sustained…

RUTLAND—On July 20, 2015 at about 11:15 p.m., an officer of the Vermont State Police attempted to stop a vehicle on South Main Street in Rutland City for operating without its headlights on after dark. The vehicle failed to stop and drove into the parking lot of McDonald's. The vehicle slowed and one male passenger…

PITTSFIELD—On Saturday, July 25, at 1:30 p.m., the Vermont State Police and Pittsfield Fire Department responded to a two-vehicle crash with reported injuries on Route 100 in Pittsfield. Gordon Gibbs, age 33, of Castleton, Vt., and Richard Wilson, age 84, of Randolph, Vt., were involved in the crash. Both were transported to medical centers for…

On July 22 in Washington, D.C, addressing hundreds of low-wage workers who have gone on strike for a living wage, Sen. Bernie Sanders said legislation he introduced that day would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. “It is a national disgrace that millions of full-time workers are living in poverty and millions…

By Rob Roper We need to lower the cost of health care in Vermont, and the state, dealing with a structural budget deficit, doesn’t have the capacity to raise more taxes. So, what can we do? One simple, cost-free solution is to repeal Vermont’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws. What are CON laws? Basically, a…

Dear Editor, The Affordable Care Act, despite its name, is not making health care affordable. One in five people in Vermont are struggling with medical bills. Meanwhile, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, as a “non-profit,” will receive a tax break of over $15 million this year, while ten of its executives are paid up…

Dear Editor, I am writing to respond to the questions Jim Haff raised in his letters to the editor recently about our Irene flood reimbursements. These questions he raised have been addressed by the Selectboard at several public meetings and in letters to citizens, but I am glad to have the opportunity to address them again…

By Lee H. Hamilton The presidential election is 16 months away, but already we’re smack in the middle of the usual media scrum of campaign coverage, prognostication, and strategizing by many who have nothing much to do with the real campaigns. I’ve been following the rhetoric of both parties, and there are a few points…

By Dom Cioffi Toru Iwatani loved arcade games, especially pinball machines. In fact, he loved them so much that he spent all of his time studying their construction and design. He became so accomplished that at 22 years old he was hired by Namco, a Japanese arcade game maker. Iwatani was initially upset when he…

Courtesy of pinehillpark.org “Halfpipe” is highlighted in solid yellow. By Tony Accurso “Halfpipe” is an advanced riders trail located in the Pine Hill Park trail system of Rutland. The trail is divided into an upper and lower section.The upper section can be accessed at the Watkins Road intersection near “Freefall,” and the lower off “Sisyphus.”…

Submitted Zappa Plays Zappa Friday, July 31 at 8 p.m. — RUTLAND — Dweezil Zappa will continue the timeless musical legacy of his father, Frank Zappa, at the Paramount Theatre on Friday, July 31 at 8 p.m., with Zappa Plays Zappa. He will also be offering a guitar masterclass preceding his concert for $75. Dweezil Zappa is…