RUTLAND—Come Alive Outside’s founder Andy Paluch is stepping down after eight years of being at the helm of Come Alive Outside’s program delivery to pursue an exciting new career in commercial real estate. Paluch’s position as program director will be filled by Myra Peffer, founder and former executive director of the Wonderfeet Kids Museum in…

STRATTON – A game warden K9 played a crucial role in the successful rescue of a lost mushroom forager Monday, Aug. 12, on Stratton Mountain. Claudine Michaud, 74, went foraging for mushrooms at 12:10 p.m. Monday, at the end of Shepardson Road in Stratton, while her husband, who uses a wheelchair, waited in their vehicle. …

By Curt Peterson On Aug. 6 the Windsor Central Unified Union School District board unanimously approved acting superintendent Sherry Sousa’s presentation for reopening the district using a “hybrid” – mixed in-person and remote learning – plan to begin the first day of school, Sept. 8. But Sousa said some colleagues think schools remaining open past…

By Stephen Seitz When she was younger, Kelly Stettner never thought she would be an environmental activist. “My husband and I were walking along the river, and we saw all this trash piled up along the banks,” she said in a 2014 interview. “I said, ‘Can’t somebody do something about this?’ and my husband said,…

By Katy Savage After two failed attempts, voters approved the Slate Valley Union Unified School District budget by just 16 votes: 1324-1308 on Aug. 11. The $26.4 million operating budget is down about $91,000 from the previous year while the $16,394 per equalized pupil spending is up 1.99% and the equalized tax rate of $1.45…

By Katy Savage The Rochester-Stockbridge Unified School District budget passed 262-211 on Aug. 11 after voters defeated the original proposal in June. The $4.37 million budget is down about $37,000 from the previous year’s budget and down about $19,000 from the original budget proposal. “I felt positive about it,”  White River Valley Supervisory Union Superintendent…

By Curt Peterson On Aug. 11, 654 Hartland voters approved funding redesign and construction of the Three Corners intersection of Quechee Road, Route 5 and Route 12 to the tune of $1,425,000. There were 385 votes against the bond. The new intersection will be a simple four-way stop, and the Route 5 “bypass” will cease…

By Polly Mikula Same Sun of Vermont is wrapping up a 500-kilowatt solar installation at Rutland schools this month. The project is part of energy performance plan created by Johnson Controls and financed by energy savings generated through the plan, rather than taxes. “It works well in areas where there is no appetite for higher…

Vera Rivard, 16, of Derby, Vermont and Springfield, New Hampshire, will attempt an English Channel swim this week. Rivard is an Upper Valley Aquatic Club (UVAC) swim team member, she was the Vermont Sport’s Magazine Athlete of the Year 2019, and she is an open water swimming phenom. She arrived in Dover, England Aug. 8…

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION— Veterans living in areas of rural Vermont and New Hampshire will soon have another option to access medical and behavioral health appointments. The White River Junction VA Healthcare System has partnered with TeleHealth Access for Seniors who obtained donated smart devices for veterans. These devices will allow area veterans to access health care appointments,…

By Polly Mikula The Rutland Economic Development Corp. (REDC) and Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce held Zoom meetings Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 12 and 13, to present the new organizations goals, merger plan, and new leaders to members of both organizations. “The new working name is Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region,” said…

Prevent Child Abuse Vermont is very pleased to announce its first ever Lifetime Achievement Award to Morrisville resident David Yacovone. Prevent Child Abuse Vermont Executive Director Linda Johnson said in announcing the award “for nearly forty-five years Dave Yacovone has made it his business to help others, especially the most vulnerable among us, our children…

In response to uncertainties facing the Vermont high school class of 2021 as they plan for the future amid Covid-19, the Community College of Vermont (CCV) is giving students an extra month to enroll in its Early College program. Early College, supported by the Flexible Pathways Initiative created by Act 77, allows high school seniors…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger The Mill River Unified Union School District has announced students will not be returning to classrooms in September or October, although officials are leaving open the possibility of opening for in-person learning later in the year. The 900-student Rutland County school district, which serves Shrewsbury, Tinmouth, Wallingford and Clarendon, appears to be the first in…

RUTLAND – Attorney General T.J. Donovan announced Aug. 6 that Daniel Guyette, 31, of Rutland, has been arraigned on two felony counts of promoting a recording of sexual conduct by a child, and three felony and three misdemeanor counts of voyeurism. The charges brought against Guyette are the result of a criminal investigation—including the execution of…