By Katy Savage The Pittsford Haunted House, dubbed one of the biggest and scariest in the area, started humbly over a dinner conversation about 40 years ago. A group of firefighters were brainstorming how to raise money for the department. Tom Hooker, who was a captain at the time, suggested a haunted house. …

  Staff report Killington village developer Great Gulf announced Thursday, Sept. 28, that the world-renowned Safdie Architects and PWP Landscape Architecture have been chosen as the design team for the future village at the base of Snowshed and Ramshead at Killington Resort. Also, Thursday, Great Gulf launched an updated website for the Killington project: LiveKillington.com.…

Staff report Killington village developer Great Gulf announced Thursday, Sept. 28, that the world-renowned Safdie Architects and PWP Landscape Architecture have been chosen as the design team for the future village at the base of Snowshed and Ramshead at Killington Resort. Also, Thursday, Great Gulf launched an updated website for the Killington project: LiveKillington.com. “We…

  Vermont’s moratorium on state aid for school construction is only in New England The School Construction Aid task force had its first working meeting last Friday, Sept. 22.  The task force is made up of a range of subject matter experts and key stakeholders and was formed to consider re-establishing a direct state aid…

  State Treasurer Mike Pieciak joined Governor Scott and state housing leaders to announce $55.5 million in housing investments from the Treasurer’s Office’s ”10% in Vermont” local investment program. The Treasurer’s Office awarded $50 million to the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA), $5 million to the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA), and $500,000 to the Northern…

  Staff report Mac’s Market is under contract with a new owner.  The family-owned grocery store, with locations in Woodstock, Stowe and Essex, is in the process of being acquired by the Associated Grocers of New England. “We’re under agreement with them,” said Mike Violette, the president and CEO of Associated Grocers. “Our plan right…

  Banyai’s arrest warrant expires, Pawlet files additional motions By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger With the 60-day warrant for Daniel Banyai’s arrest now expired, the town of Pawlet has requested an updated warrant seeking more oversight on the Rutland County Sheriff’s Department and Vermont State Police to ensure that Banyai is detained.  In a motion filed in state…

  About 500 of the world’s best mountain bike athletes are expected to compete in the Fox U.S. Open of Mountain Biking Sept. 23  in four events — a best whip competition, downhill race, dual slalom, and an enduro race,  “We’re excited to show off the Killington Bike Park. We’ve been putting a lot of…

  By Polly Mikula On Monday, Sept. 18, Killington Town Manager Michael Ramsey, received a letter approving the town for an $18,394,000 loan from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The letter was titled “FY23 Killington Forward – Killington Road Reconstruction Project.” The total note was broken into two loans as each USDA loan…

Voters will be asked to approve bond in March By Polly Mikula Voters in seven towns will be asked to approve an $80+ million project to build a new district middle/high school adjacent to the current structures in Woodstock at Town Meeting Day this March. “Slated to open in September 2026, pending voter approval, the…

  By Katy Savage The Vermont Farmers’ Market is returning to the Franklin Conference Center in Rutland’s Howe Center again this winter as the Farmers’ Hall building undergoes contamination cleanup.   The organization recently signed a new lease for the Howe Center, even as board members of the Vermont Farmers’ Food Center estimate Farmers’ Hall…

  City officials consider cleanup plan By Katy Savage A fire at the former dress factory on Cleveland Avenue in Rutland City was intentionally set the day after a body was found in the building, according to Rutland Fire Chief Bill Lovett. Firefighters arrived around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7 after receiving an anonymous 911…

  Vermont residents affected by July’s severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides now have until Oct. 12, 2023 to apply for FEMA assistance. “This does not mean you should delay applying — the sooner you apply, the sooner FEMA can process your claim,” a news release stated. Those with storm-caused expenses and live or own…

72% approve of Gov. Scott’s handling of the natural disaster By Lola Duffort/VTDigger About one-third of Vermonters were directly impacted by July’s historic flooding events, and 13% experienced damage to their home or place of work. That’s according to a new poll released Tuesday by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. The poll, which collected responses online…

  Staff report After years of discussion, Rutland City officials are reducing traffic lanes on Route 4 and Route 7 in 2024. The Board of Highway Commissioners voted 2-1 on Aug. 28 to reduce the lanes from four to two with a center turn lane.  Mayor Michael Doenges and Board of Aldermen President Michael Talbott…