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A digest of the most important news in Killington, Rutland, Woodstock and the surrounding towns in Rutland and Windsor Counties. While we do our best to be “in the know” and share that knowledge with our readers, we are not clairvoyant (sadly). So please share tips with us! Email editor@mountaintimes.info.

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Submitted - Kelly Sweck (left) sold Five Elements to Sarah Lemery (right).

Five Elements Salon & Day Spa manager buys spa

July 24, 2024
Staff report When Five Elements Salon & Day Spa owner Kelly Sweck decided it was time to retire she decided the ideal buyer was the person who had been running the spa for the past five years: her manager Sarah Lemery. The sale of the business was finalized in May.  Lemery said she is “excited…

Donald “Don” Williams, 85

July 24, 2024
Donald “Don” Williams, 85, of Mendon passed away on July 10, 2024. Born on November 28, 1938, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Don was well known for his straightforward, honest demeanor, always telling it like it is, yet with a big hearted and kind spirit underneath. Don proudly served in the U.S. Army 1959 to 1962 and…

Dave Bienstock, 78

July 24, 2024
Dave Bienstock of Killington VT passed away from interstitial lung disease, peacefully on June 25, 2024, with his wife, Diane Benton, by his side. Bienstock, originally a music teacher from Brooklyn, New York, worked for many years at Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, New York. He was passionate about skiing and would travel to Killington to ski…

Vt turkey brood survey: report sightings July-August

July 24, 2024
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. (VTF&F) is asking for help with monitoring wild turkeys.  Since 2007, the department has run an annual online survey in August for reporting turkey broods. Beginning in 2021, the survey was expanded to include July. The use of citizen scientists in this way facilitates the department’s ability to collect important turkey…

‘Farmacy’ program notches 10 years

July 24, 2024
The Vermont Farmers Food Center (VFFC), Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC), and Community Health Clinics of the Rutland Region (Community Health) are celebrating the Farmacy Project’s 10th year this month. Farmacy, which began at VFFC as Health Care Shares, is a produce prescription program that provides fresh locally grown produce to people facing chronic diet-related…

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Five Elements Salon & Day Spa manager buys spa

July 24, 2024
Staff report When Five Elements Salon & Day Spa owner Kelly Sweck decided it was time to retire she decided the ideal buyer was the person who had been running the spa for the past five years: her manager Sarah Lemery. The sale of the business was finalized in May.  Lemery said she is “excited…

Roadwork continues after reopening, paving set for the week of Aug. 12

July 24, 2024
Killington Road reopened to two-way traffic Friday afternoon, July 19. The event was commemorated with a ribbon cutting ceremony and short procession of town and state rep vehicles. “We wanted to get the word out that Killington Road has reopened,” said Selectman Jim Haff. “However, the former detour up West Hill Road is also still…

Fire causes minimal damage at ShackletonThomas in the Bridgewater Mill

July 24, 2024
By Polly Mikula An electrical fire at the ShackletonThomas furniture and pottery headquarters in the Bridgewater Mill broke out last Friday afternoon, July 19. Firefighters rushed to the scene and swiftly put out the blaze with the help of a recently updated sprinkler system. No one was inside the ShackletonThomas portion of the building when…

Vermont athletes set for Paris Olympics

July 24, 2024
Runner Elle Purrier St. Pierre, rugby player Ilona Maher and rower William Bender will represent the U.S. By Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger Vermonters are famous for skiing and snowboarding off with Winter Olympic medals. But three athletes with Green Mountain State ties are aiming to sprint, grand slam or speed their way into Summer Games history. Montgomery runner Elle…

Wellness Revolution Rutland welcomes women to join the August session

July 17, 2024
Biking program builds health, empowerment, and community  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (Blue Cross VT) and Terry Bicycles are welcoming the return of the Wellness Revolution Cycling Program in Rutland for the 2024 season. This free program serves those who identify as women to help them break through barriers that keep them from getting…

‘They threw up a white flag’

July 17, 2024
Saving Evergreen for posterity By Julia Purdy When the Vermont General Assembly approved the bylaws for the then Pine Hill Cemetery in Center Rutland, the bylaws allowed lot owners to hold meetings if warned 15 days ahead. That was in 1860. That right was exercised 164 years later, on May 22, 2024, when 75 current…

Sunnymede Farm Store wins summary judgement

July 17, 2024
By Curt Peterson UPDATE, July 18: The HPC has chosen not to appeal the summary judgment regarding the Sunnymede store. On July 8, the Vermont Superior Court, Environmental Division, issued a summary judgement in favor of Sunnymede Farm’s application to construct a “farm store” on the former Lamb Farm property on Route 5 in Hartland.…

Rutland runway reopens, more upgrades on the way

July 17, 2024
After a seven-week closure, a newly renovated runway at Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport (RUT) is now open, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) reported, July 3 in a Facebook post.  “The runway has been rehabilitated with fresh pavement and LED runway edge lights, which are already a hit with pilots touching down and taking…

Rutland Library, City Hall explore relocating together downtown

July 17, 2024
By Adam Davis At Monday’s Board of Aldermen’s meeting, July 15, Mayor Michael Doenges unveiled a plan for the City of Rutland and Rutland Free Library to explore the possibility of co-locating at 88 Merchants Row, the Asa Bloomer Building. At 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, Doenges and Rutland Free Library Director Randal Smathers held a…

Where is the state road construction this week? 

July 17, 2024
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) published its weekly report of planned construction activities that will impact traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont, July 15-19 and ongoing. I-91 Springfield-Hartland: Multiple single-lane closures will be in place along I-91 southbound from north of Exit 9 to just south of Exit 7 while a paving…

Killington community supports Steve Finneron’s fight against ALS

July 17, 2024
As of Tuesday, July 16, a GoFundMe page to help former Killington Selectman and longtime resident Steve Finneron fight ALS-Lou Gehrig's Disease had raised $36,330 of its $40,000 goal with 191 donations. “I spoke with Sheila this morning and to say they are blown away is an understatement, they are both humbled by and grateful of…

Killington locals write a Hallmark movie

July 17, 2024
“A Very Vermont Christmas” will premiere on the Hallmark Channel, Saturday, July 20 By Adam Davis One night about five years ago, Killington resident Steve Kent told his partner Pam Rice that she had seen so many Hallmark Channel Christmas movies that she should try writing one herself. That playful remark became a challenge to…

Lightning strikes Hartland barn, twice

July 17, 2024
By Curt Peterson The saying “Lightning never strikes the same place twice,” was proven false in Hartland this week when bolts hit Cobb Hill barn, on a 275-acre farm in Hartland, twice at the same time. At 7:14 a.m., it was reportedly raining here and there, but no signs of a storm. Kerry Gawalt and…

Killington Road is now reopen

July 17, 2024
Detour ends in time for Wine Fest weekend By Polly Mikula By Polly Mikula The town of Killington celebrated the reopening of the base of Killington Road with a ceremonial ribbon cutting, Friday, July 19. On Friday, July 19, at 2 p.m. Killington Road reopened to two-way traffic ending the three month detour up West…

Dave Bienstock, 78

July 17, 2024
Dave Bienstock of Killington VT passed away from interstitial lung disease, peacefully on June 25, 2024, with his wife, Diane Benton, by his side. Bienstock, originally a music teacher from Brooklyn, New York, worked for many years at Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, New York. He was passionate about skiing and would travel to Killington to ski…