By Curt Peterson Killington selectmen and planning commissioners met via Zoom on Wednesday, June 10, to hear what progress has been made on the “Killington Road Master Plan.” According to traffic engineer Evan Detrick of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB), project cost could reach $33,200,000 and involves rebuilding almost 4 miles of Killington Road, from…

Family encourages blood donations in Rutland man’s memory The family of Pete Giancola, a well-known local musician, is urging the greater-Rutland community to donate blood in his memory at the 2020 Mini Gift-of-Life Marathon (GOLM) blood drive. Giancola died in March after a 10-year battle with cancer, and relied on hundreds of blood donors who…

By Katy Savage Eric Mallette caught the “theater bug” when he was 19 and working as a college intern at the Paramount Theatre. “I remember the magic I felt walking through the doors,” Mallette said. It’s where he realized the power theater has. “I remember thinking how exciting it was to be part of something…

The Rutland County Humane Society (RCHS) would like to remind pet owners that pets need special care during the hot summer months. When the temperature rises, dogs and cats should be inside with air conditioning or fans, or in the shade if they’re outside.  All animals need access to lots of clean, cold water to help…

The Bowse Health Trust will start its 2020 grant cycle with letters of intent due on July 15, 2020, according to a news release June 5. Agencies invited to write full proposals will submit them by Oct. 1. Successful letters and projects will have the potential to improve the health status of the Rutland region by…

Demonstrators call for an end to systemic racism in Rutland and beyond By Aliya Schneider Protestors were met with honking, cheering, and gestures of support as they protested along Main Street in Rutland on Sunday, June 7. “Black lives matter!”; “No Justice! No Peace!”; “Say his name. George Floyd” and  “Say her name. Breonna Taylor”…

By Curt Peterson Following a short presentation by Jim Haff (Killington), chairman of the Windsor Central Unified School District buildings and grounds committee, the district board approved investing up to $130,000 to install a “super” dehumidifying system, complete some related electrical work and do some deep cleaning to get the Prosper Valley School in Pomfret…

By Virginia Dean Recent news reports indicate that one of the major industries in Vermont that has been hit the hardest by the pandemic is the dairy farm. According to the state Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts, 14 small to medium farms (out of a total of 677 as of January 2020) have stopped milking.…

By Brooke Geery There were 300 bags of groceries at the Castleton Lodge in Killington on Tuesday, June 9, as vehicles began to arrive for the town’s latest grocery giveaway event in partnership with the resort and local fundraisers.  The event was live-streamed by local Internet celebrity Brian Hughes. Killington President and GM Mike Solimano…

CHESTER — A body discovered Thursday, June 4, in a creek near Wymans Falls Road in Chester has been identified as Joshua A. Webster, 39, of Springfield, according to a report released June 6.  Webster had been reported missing in March, according to the Hartford Police Department. Subsequent investigation into his disappearance included the Chester…

BETHEL—On June 7 at 2:30 p.m., troopers from the state police responded to a two vehicle fatal crash on Interstate 89 northbound in Bethel. Initial investigation shows that both vehicles were traveling northbound on I-89 when a Kia Optima, operated by Jakim Brewster Hopkins, 32, from Brooklyn, New York, hit the rear of a Toyota…

WOODSTOCK—On June 4, at 2:45 p.m. Woodstock Fire & Rescue was dispatched for a report of black smoke in the Dunham Hill area that was called in from Church Hill. Another call was made at 3 p.m. by a neighbor for a fully involved structure fire located at 1274 Dunham Hill road, owned by Richard Terwelp.…

Program aids local businesses, addresses food insecurity Killington Resort announced Monday, June 8, a newly launched employee and community-centric philanthropic platform called Play It Forward designed to support the local community during Covid-19 and beyond. As part of Killington Resort’s Play Forever corporate responsibility commitment to protecting the environment and enabling participation, Play It Forward engages charitable…

If you happen to be driving through Ludlow and spot a triangular purple box hanging from the branch of an ash tree, it’s not the result of a Covid-19 regulation. It was placed there by Bob Brandt, a member of the Regional EAB Resource Committee (REREC). EAB stands for the emerald ash borer. These traps…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger and Polly Mikula The coronavirus pandemic has transformed nearly every aspect of the American education system. And high school graduations, a hallmark springtime rite of passage, will be no exception. Many of the touchstones of such ceremonies — large crowds, a handshake from the principal — are forbidden by public health directives. So schools…