By Brooke Geery Dan Tilly has been home brewing cider, wine and beer for almost a decade. Though he dreamt of starting a beer company for years, he finally got down to business this year after the pandemic brought him back to Vermont from London. The Mt. Holly native teamed up with friend and fellow…

Holiday decorating events provide festive decorations across the area Killington In Killington, many residences and buildings are decked out, but the real show is inside them. Take the “tree tour” of participating businesses to view beautifully decorated trees that can be bid on to take home. It’s bit of a departure from the traditional Vermont…

Governor Phil Scott is encouraging families and businesses to help show that "Vermont Lights the Way," an effort to literally brighten communities and neighborhoods around the state by decorating homes, businesses, trees or other creative ideas to help celebrate the holidays during the pandemic. “I know how hard this pandemic has been, especially as we…

Rutland artist Carrie Pill creates original paintings daily as part of self-imposed #Snowvember challenge By Brooke Geery As of the end of November, Carrie Pill has created a new piece of art every day for 90 days. The Rutland-based artist first participated in a daily painting from life challenge put on by Strada Easel in…

By Katie Jickling/VTDigger Tom Canavan lived alone in his Rutland home, defiantly independent, until Sept. 24. It was only when Canavan’s memory started faltering and he wandered from the house that his family persuaded the 94-year-old to move into Rutland Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, where his wife Mary spent her final years. His children dropped him off…

As Covid-19 cases rise, what triggers a decision to go to remote learning? By Lola Duffort/VTDigger and Polly Mikula As Vermont struggles to contain a record-breaking surge in Covid-19 cases and officials brace for superspreading holiday get-togethers, one question is on the tip of the tongue for every teacher, parent and principal. “I get asked multiple…

By Polly Mikula Governor Phil Scott said he was "cautiously optimistic" at the regular news conference, Tuesday, Dec. 1. Thus far, the mitigation measures enacted Nov. 13 banning multi-family gatherings among other restrictions, have decreased the rate of Covid-19 spread, he said. But it's too early to tell what the effect of the Thanksgiving holiday…

By Brooke Geery Killington welcomed skiers and riders back to the slopes on Friday, Nov. 20, giving passholders exclusive access for three days before opening to the general public on Monday, Nov. 23. In a season that will definitely be like no other, excitement was high, but expectations were tempered after a week of warm…

By Curt Peterson On Nov. 18 Steve Finer of the Fire Department signed the purchase and sale agreement for the former Killington Fire and Rescue (KF&R) fire house on Killington Road. The price to be paid is $415,000. The buyer is Fireside Properties, LLC, one of several local companies owned by Stephen Durkee, and title…

Adherence to prohibition on gatherings is critical to prevent worst-case scenario By Polly Mikula In the first three weeks of November, Vermont has added more Covid cases than in the first five months of the pandemic combined  (March-July) — 40% of the state's total cases. “With the amount of virus in our communities right now,…

Staff report While schools seemed to be limiting the spread of Covid-19 fairly well initially, a number of cases have recently been reported in Rutland County. Earlier this month, a preschooler at Orwell Village School tested positive and last week there were three confirmed cases in Rutland City Public Schools — each at a different…

By Brooke Geery Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 9 p.m.— In its eighth season, the History Channel show “Forged in Fire” challenges “world-class bladesmiths [to] re-create historical edged weapons in a cutthroat competition.” On Nov. 25 at 9 p.m., one of those bladesmiths will be Kyle Farace, originally from Windham, Vermont. Farace, 34, now lives in…

The Longest Season in the East to Open with Woodward Killington Pop-Up Park, Multiple Lifts and Ample Terrain to Ensure Proper Physical Distancing; Opening Day Parking Reservations Available Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 a.m. Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard destination in Eastern North America, and part of POWDR, will kick off the…

By Lee J. Kahrs BRANDON — The Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union wants as many kids in the schools as possible, but is poised to turn to all remote learning if necessary. The bigger concern right now is the holiday season. Rumors have been flying that Otter Valley Union High School is planning to send all…

K-12 schools grapple with holiday exposure risks to Covid-19, potential outbreaks, staffing By Curt Peterson An explosive increase in Covid-19 cases across the U.S. and now Vermont are inspiring many reactive decisions — perhaps none more consequential than those regarding education. Education Secretary Dan French said at the Nov. 13 pandemic press conference the state…