By Curt Peterson Killington selectmen reviewed a resolution Monday night, March 28, making the Killington Fire and Rescue (KF&R) organization a department within the town after more than 65 years of independence. Previously, KF&R, nee Sherburne Volunteer Fire Department, has been its own corporation staffed entirely by volunteers. At one time it owned its own…

$75,000 awarded for Killington trails, $141,488 for Velomont By Polly Mikula The Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC), a division of the Forests, Parks & Recreation branch in the Agency of Natural Resources, has selected 24 projects throughout the state to receive $4,546,813 in community grants. It was a competitive process with over $7.1 million…

Cobra Gymnastics wrapped up its regular season with success at the Vermont State Championships on March 19 and 20. In total, 322 gymnasts competed in 12 different levels over the weekend, all hoping to achieve individual and team state titles. For some individuals, a qualifying spot for the Vermont Regional team was also a coveted…

By Katy Savage Cannabis retailers won’t be allowed in Woodstock village since it failed 80-53,during the annual village meeting on March 24. There were 13 blank votes. “We’re going to definitely respect the voters,” said Victoria Littlefield, who chairs the Woodstock Cannabis Review Committee. While cannabis won’t be sold in the Village, which encompasses most…

Staff report The Canadian government announced March 17 that fully vaccinated travelers will no longer need Covid-19 test results to enter Canada by air, land or water, effective April 1. “After a challenging two years, we all want the Canadian economy, including the tourism sector, to rebound and grow,” said Randy Boissonnault, PC MP, the…

Killington chairlifts through the decades tell a tale of challenges overcome, improved experiences By Karen D. Lorentz The decommissioning of the K-1 Base Lodge, which began after a final “tear down party” on March 20, 2022, was the last step in the transformation of the Killington K-1 base area to the thoroughly modern base worthy…

Staff report After abruptly closing in January due to contamination, the Vermont Farmers' Food Center (VFFC) is planning to reopen by next fall. A work plan was recently submitted to the Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) detailing next steps for mitigation after high levels of tetrachloroethylene (TCE), a carcinogen, was found in the soil beneath…

Mud challenges local road crews By Katy Savage Some town officials are calling this mud season the worst ever. Killington Town Manager Chet Hagenbarth said eight roads were “borderline passable” over the weekend. “They were the worst I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” Hagenbarth said. ”It was so unusual how bad it was.” Hagenbarth almost…

By Jack Lyons/VTDigger A 30-year effort to reintroduce passenger rail service to Burlington is scheduled to succeed this summer. Rail travelers will be able to board in Rutland and travel to Burlington on the trail, and Burlington residents will be able to travel south — all the way to New York City and points beyond…

Vermont drops guidance for masking indoors, at school By Polly Mikula Starting Monday, March 14, it’s ok to for everyone to unmask in public, including indoors and in K-12 schools, the state announced Thursday, March 3. “As our statewide hospitalization rate is low, and hospitals are no longer facing the Covid-related strains of the recent…

By Victoria Gaither The start of the sugaring season in Central Vermont never gets old for locals. In fact, for Rutland residents Art and Cindy Trevino, warmer temperatures and the end of February is the time to pull out the buckets, lids, drill, hammer, hooks, and spile. “I love sugaring because it gives us something…

By Katy Savage As the threat of Covid-19 apparently dwindles, local towns and organizations are rescinding their face mask policies. The Woodstock Village Trustees and Select Board unanimously voted to no longer require a face mask in public buildings during a joint meeting on Feb. 28. “Individual businesses may still make their own requirements,” Woodstock…

By Curt Peterson Killington Treasurer Lucrecia Wonsor said the town will receive $156,624 from the state as the town’s share of the rooms and meals and alcohol option tax paid during the fourth quarter of 2021, (paid Nov. 13 through Feb. 8, according to Wonsor). The previous record revenue from fourth quarter options taxes, $131,205,…

Five of Vermont’s 14 counties (including Rutland) are considered high risk, per CDC, and should not unmask By Polly Mikula The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed its Covid-19 precautions Friday, Feb. 25, by allowing people in areas of low and moderate transmission to remove masks indoors. “This new framework moves beyond just…

By Katy Savage Growing up, Spencer Wood didn’t know he had a disability. Wood, a Pittsfield native, was diagnosed as a baby but his parents didn’t tell him until he was 10 and they didn’t let his disability get in his way. “We didn’t want it to be a crutch,” his mother Barb Wood said.…