By Katy Savage Whenever Molly sees water, she can’t control herself. “She gets really hyper,” said Michael Cimonette. “Whether it’s a pool or a lake, she doesn’t care.” Cimonette, of Pittsford, has to hold Molly, his 1-year-old Labrador Retriever, back from running and jumping out of his truck to get to the water. “She doesn’t…

RUTLAND—In front of a sold-out crowd at the Paramount Theatre, Praveen Keshava, ophthalmologist and owner of Central Vermont Eye Care, and Sam Ho, a dance instructor at Cobra Gymnastics and Dance Center, were presented with the Mirror Ball Trophy as the Judges Choice at the eighth annual Dancing with the Rutland Stars. Mike McClallen, an…

By Katy Savage The Killington World Cup Committee has given 17 ski organizations across seven Northeastern states grants to expand youth skiing and riding. Local ski foundations and organizations received a total of $207,000 from the KWCC’s first grant awards. The KWCC formed last year. It raises money by selling VIP packages for the World…

By Abagael Giles CHITTENDEN—The Vermont Huts Association will build yet another new hut come Spring 2018. The announcement came less than a week after the organization installed the Chittenden Brook Hut at Chittenden Brook Campground, near Brandon Gap, on Sept. 28. On Thursday, Oct. 5, Executive Director RJ Thompson announced at the organization’s birthday bash…

By Katy Savage BENSON—Some days, the pumpkin in Dan and Holly Boyce’s backyard grew 50 pounds a day. In 86 days, the pumpkin grew from the size of a cherry to the weight of a ton. The Boyce’s 2,017-pound pumpkin broke the state record this year for the largest Atlantic pumpkin ever grown. “‘It was…

By Katy Savage Ninja warriors are coming to town. Allyssa Beird and Joe Moravsky, who compete on the NBC television show “American Ninja Warriors,” are making a special guest appearance for the inaugural WreckTangle Championship at Killington Resort Sunday, Oct. 7 from 12-3 p.m. Morvasky, 29, has been competing on the show for the past…

By Julia Purdy RUTLAND—Some 50 citizens attended a candidates’ forum at the Rutland Public Library Saturday, Sept. 22, sponsored by the Rutland chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Tabitha Pohl-Moore, president of the chapter, said that the focus of the forum was more about the issues than about party…

By Katy Savage As mountain biking trails are being blazed in the area, the sport is also growing in schools. The Woodstock High School Cycling Club launched at Woodstock Union Middle-High School this year under Todd Uva’s leadership. Uva, who has led mountain biking programs at Woodstock’s summer SOAK camp, presented the concept of the…

By Katy Savage Being a police officer took on a different meaning for James Baker when he became chief of the Rutland City Police Department in 2012. Instead of policing and stopping cars and hoping to find a criminal activity, he looked to the root cause of an issue. “The impact of the opiate crisis—I…

Staff report KILLINGTON—The U.S. Open of Mountain Biking is returning to Killington next year, Killington Human Resources Director Judy Geiger announced at the annual Killington Pico Area Association meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 26. The mountain biking competition, held Aug. 1-5, drew about 5,500 visitors to the resort in its inaugural year at Killington, Geiger said. Mountain…

By Lani Duke A lawsuit has been filed against the Castleton police chief. Officer Cheri McDermott, who was fired Dec. 3, 2017, filed the lawsuit Sept. 27, claiming Castleton Police Chief Peter Mantello planned to remove her and had said that women should not be police officers. The suit claims that she was treated more…

By Julia Purdy MENDON—An application for a land use permit has been filed with the Act 250 District Commission by Long Trail Engineering P.C. on behalf of the owner of the former Cortina Inn, Bhatka Development Company, LLC. The hearing before the Natural Resources Board for District 1 was held Sept. 12 at the Mendon…

The entertainment lineup for the World Cup Nov. 23-25 in Killington has been announced. Paul Oakenfold, KT Tunstall, Michal Franti and Guster (shown in photo) will provide free entertainment each day. Additional entertainment includes the World Cup Festival Village, fireworks, parades and a Friday night bib draw featuring top athletes. “Combining an expanded entertainment lineup with the United States’…

Staff report KILLINGTON—The U.S. Open of Mountain Biking is returning to Killington next year, Killington Human Resources Director Judy Geiger announced the annual Killington Pico Area Association meeting Sept. 26. The mountain biking competition, held Aug. 1-5, drew about 5,500 visitors to the resort in its inaugural year at Killington, Geiger said. Mountain biking has…

By Katy Savage WEST WINDSOR—About 300 people attended the opening celebration of the long-awaited Ascutney Outdoors Center on Sunday, Sept. 23. The 3,000 square foot building was designed and built by a number of volunteer community carpenters over the past 20 months at the site of the former base lodge, which burned in 2015. The…