Called on out-of-state employers to “pardon” employees for a snow day to take advantage of weekend storm, extend their stay in Vermont With Vermont’s biggest snow storm of the year rolling across the region Sunday through Monday morning, Feb. 12-13, Governor Phil Scott declared Monday a “Powder Day” and urged regional winter enthusiasts to take…

Feb. 17-25—RUTLAND—The 15th annual Winter Fest will take place Feb. 17-25 with many activities and opportunities to be part of the community. The event starts off on Friday, Feb. 17 with a community skate at Giorgetti Arena and concludes on Feb. 25 with a Wonderfeet Winter Dance at The Palms Restaurant. During the week there…

WOODSTOCK—Yankee Bookshop first opened in November 1935, making it Vermont’s oldest continuously operated independent bookshop. This month, the owners of Phoenix Books, a Vermont-owned bookstore with locations in Essex, Burlington, Rutland and Chester, purchased Woodstock’s Yankee Bookshop. Michael DeSanto and Renee Reiner met with Susan Morgan, who bought the shop in 2001, for the closing…

By Evan Johnson KILLINGTON—At its Feb. 7 meeting, the Killington Select Board unanimously approved a measure to sell a 229-acre parcel of forest to the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF). Kate Wanner, a project manager for the Trust for Public Land (TPL), and Chris Mattrick, district manager for the Rochester Ranger District, presented a plan…

By Evan Johnson PROCTOR—Cyclists and pedestrians in the town of Proctor are looking for a safe way to get around, and in the coming months, a new bike path may become a reality. Last year, the town received a $27,000 VTrans Bicycle and Pedestrian Program grant to perform a scoping/feasibility study for shared use bicycle…

By Adam Federman, VTDigger CASTLETON—The owner of an e-cigarette store in Castleton says he will close his business rather than pay a $50,000 civil penalty the attorney general’s office is seeking. Adam Tredwell, owner and president of Vermont Vapor, said claims that he violated the Consumer Protection Act’s prohibition against “unfair or deceptive acts and…

On Saturday, Feb. 11, Killington loyalist Jackie Nimal and Rob Kovalesky (center of photo in red and pink jackets) celebrated their 100th day on the slopes with family and friends. The day marked personal milestones for them  in the Killington Resort’s 100 Ski Day Club for the fifth consecutive ski season, Kovalesky said. “I was…

RUTLAND—The Boys and Girls Club of Rutland celebrated the launch of the book, “We Are One Rutland,” a book created by Rutland Youth, exploring diversity in Rutland and how it enriches the community. Many youngsters at the Boys and Girls Club of Rutland were interviewed, photographed and wrote stories for the newly released book. The…

By Evan Johnson For 17 years, visitors picking up a morning coffee on the way to the mountain or a sandwich for the long drive home could count on a friendly face at the Killington Market. According to her friends and co-workers, Ann Seibert was reliable, friendly and hardworking. In 2011, when Tropical Storm Irene…

Workers and businesses split By Erin Mansfield, VTDigger Workers say raising the minimum wage will help them spend money at local businesses, but local businesses say paying workers more will cause them to raise prices. Those were the competing messages of witnesses who spoke at a public hearing on the minimum wage Thursday, Feb. 9,…

By Lani Duke The four candidates for Rutland City’s mayor outlined their qualifications for the job on PEGTV Feb. 9. Mayor Christopher Louras touted his record, while Alderman David Allaire opposed that record and Rutland Downtown Partnership Executive Director Michael Coppinger presented himself as the candidate most likely to make change; the final contestent Kam…

This past weekend, Feb. 4-5, seven dancers from Cobra Gymnastics & Dance Center performed in the seventh annual Dance Showcase-Beauty in Diversity, to benefit Puppets in Education at the Main Street Landing Black Box Theatre in Burlington. Cobra Gymnastics & Dance Center was invited to participate in the fundraising dance event after a local past…

Lakes Region benefiting from improved broadband FairPoint Communications recently announced the completion of broadband expansion projects in Poultney, Wells, and West Pawlet, plus 17 other Vermont towns. To Beth Fastiggi, state president for Vermont at FairPoint, the project completion brings greater productivity, business competition “past the storefront, and … learning beyond the confines of a…

By Karrie Etzler There was no better place to be last Friday night, Feb. 3, than College of St.Joseph, where the opening of this year’s Green Mountain District Music Festival brought together the brightest and best musicians for a night filled with spectacular performances. A total of 64 schools, elementary through the high school, participated…

RUTLAND—Educate yourself about your Rutland City mayoral candidates by watching PEGTV’s live mayoral forum on Thursday, Feb. 9, on Channel 21 starting at 7 p.m. All four mayoral candidates were invited to attend, who include Dave Allaire, Chris Louras, Mike Coppinger and Kam Johnston. Candidates will answer questions from moderator Tom Donahue and those that…