Healthcare workers have such a need for facemasks that the the Agency of Commerce and Community Development is reaching out to manufacturers and construction companies with a supply of N95 facemasks to consider assisting in the state’s response to the COVID-19 virus by making these masks available to healthcare providers immediately. N95 facemasks are a…

DMV to close  -The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will suspend all in-person transactions effective 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19. The DMV will continue to process registration and license renewals and various other services online, by mail, or via telephone. In-person transactions that cannot be…

What COVID-19 and oil prices mean for your retirement account By Patrick M. McGinn As of last week, major market indices in the Americas, Asia and Europe have fallen more than 20% from recent historical highs. Globally declining investor sentiment and increasing pessimism have contributed to some of the sharpest intraday trading losses since 1987.…

By Julia Purdy The public was invited to an informational meeting Thursday, March 12 to discuss the future of Tenney Brook in northwest Rutland, where on Nov. 1, 2019 a 150-year-old stone dam, which had sprung several leaks, was intentionally breached due to concerns about its condition and the safety of properties downstream. As with…

It depends how long the pandemic lasts By Art Woolf How will the coronavirus pandemic affect Vermont’s economy — with the understanding that Vermont’s economy is Vermont’s people? The simple answer is that it depends on how the pandemic unfolds in the world, the U.S. and in Vermont. The best-case scenario is that we have seen…

By Sen. Alison Clarkson The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing widespread disruption in our state and is a matter of grave concern to all Vermonters.  Together with other branches of state government, the Vermont Legislature is dealing with this crisis as best we can given that new challenges are being revealed every day and that…

By Rep. Jim Harrison With the rapidly changing landscape, some of this may be outdated by the time it is published and read. For current information and guidance on the pandemic, please visit: healthvermont.gov/covid19. If you have questions, call 211. If there was ever an unpredictable week at the State House, last week certainly fit…

By Curt Peterson As growth of COVID-19 is expected to be exponential, Gov. Phil Scott ordered all schools to close March 18 through at least April 6. “The orderly dismissal of schools is essential to support both the state’s response to COVID-19 and the needs of children and families across Vermont,” Gov. Phil Scott said.…

By Virginia Dean All resort operations at Pico and Killington were suspended Saturday night, effective March 15-22, in an effort to limit the spread and risks associated with COVID-19, according to Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington and Pico. “Our top priority is the safety of our staff, guests and local community,” said…

By Katy Savage As employees are out of work and students are out of school due to state-mandated closures, Vermonters are stepping up to help others in need. A handful of Rutland residents created Rutland County Mutual Aid, a website to connect people who need help with volunteers in light of the coronavirus. Within an…

Staff report On Monday, March 16, Governor Phil Scott ordered an end to dine-in service at restaurants and bars starting 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. The day prior, Sunday, Scott ordered schools to close by Wednesday, and the day prior to that, Saturday, all ski areas in the state had announced they would closed, too.…

On Tuesday, March 17,  Vail Resorts announced that all of its North American resorts and retail stores will remain closed for the 2019-20 winter ski season amidst the continued challenges associated with the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The decision follows the Company’s previously announced closure of its resorts from Sunday, March 15 through Sunday, March…

By Anne Wallace Allen/VT Digger and Brooke Geery Anyone seeking paper goods, cleaning products, chips, meat or frozen food were largely out of luck at many stores across the state, which have seen heavy traffic as worries about the COVID-19 virus have intensified. Grocery stores of all types and sizes are seeing runs on supplies, chiefly…

Dear Hut Friends, Like many small businesses and nonprofits, Vermont Huts has been monitoring the rapid evolution of COVID-19. We care deeply about the rural communities in which our huts are located, and the health and safety of our guests is our top priority. We also understand and fully support the need to “flatten the…

March 13, 2020—In light of increasing public health concerns, we are saddened to announce we have made the difficult decision to postpone all events originally scheduled to have been presented over the next 5 weeks starting today, March 13, 2020.  We are taking this step with the guidance of best-practice statements made by local, state…