Discover More from This Category: Featured
Economic impact of total solar eclipse could top $50m
April 3, 2024
State Treasurer Mike Pieciak released a report estimating the economic impact of the April 8 total solar eclipse could range between $12.9 million and $51.8 million. The actual economic impact rests on the total number of visitors who travel to Vermont for the eclipse, which highly depends on the April 8 weather forecast. “The economic…
All aboard the ‘Solar Express’
April 3, 2024
Sold-out train will run from Rutland to Burlington and back, aims to reduce hassles, traffic during April 8 eclipse Staff report While everyone knows about the Polar Express, on Monday, April 8, it’ll be the “Solar Express” that takes passengers from Rutland up to Burlington, to witness the solar eclipse in the path of totality,…
‘Storm of the year!’
March 27, 2024
Courtesy Killington Resort Snowstorms dumped 40 inches on Killington last week, with 24 inches of that falling in a white-out blizzard Saturday, March 23. The resort was able to reopen 100% of its terrain and thousands flocked to the slopes to enjoy the light fluffy snow as it fell Saturday. Sunday greeted skiers and riders…
Killington fire chief resigns
March 27, 2024
Killington leaders ‘sad’ to see him go By Polly Mikula Paul Ginther has resigned after just eight months as Killington’s fire chief. His departure follows other short tenures in the department; but this time circumstances differed greatly. Town leaders were unanimous in their praise of his performance and sorrow at his departure. Ginther’s resignation was…
MVSU board collects voter surveys
March 27, 2024
By Curt Peterson The Mountain Views Supervisory Union (MVSU) board has distributed a four-question survey soliciting input from voters regarding the failure of a proposed $99 million bond to finance a new district Middle/High School complex. MVSU serves the towns of Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading and Woodstock. The bond was defeated by about 60%…
Rutland scrambled to setup an emergency shelter for homeless transitioning out of hotels
March 20, 2024
Shelters, in Rutland and statewide, see minimal use By Katy Savage and Polly Mikula A sudden and unexpected state decision to move up to 100 homeless people staying in hotels to a temporary shelter in downtown Rutland caused chaos in the city and resulted in a lawsuit from Vermont Legal Aid. But after all the…
KMS student named finalist in UVM entrepreneurship competition
March 20, 2024
Pippa Scott is the sole Vermonter to make cut; winner receives full-tuition scholarship By Polly Mikula Pippa Scott, a student at Killington Mountain School in Killington, has been named one of five finalists in the University of Vermont’s inaugural Vermont Pitch Challenge, a new entrepreneurial-focused competition that gives high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from across…
Dick McCormack to retire after 3-decade Senate career
March 20, 2024
By Sarah Mearhoff/VTDigger After more than three decades representing Windsor County in the Vermont Senate, Dick McCormack plans to retire next January at the conclusion of his term. The veteran Democrat disclosed his decision to constituents on Town Meeting Day, March 5, and explained his thinking to VTDigger in an interview Monday, March 11. On the…
Deep snow smiles
March 14, 2024
By Paul Holmes Killington received 27 inches of snow in two days Saturday night through Monday, March 11. Skiers, riders and pups rejoiced!
MVSU seeks public feedback
March 13, 2024
By Polly Mikula Voter turn out was “huge” this past Town Meeting Day, March 5 — even a record in some towns in the Mountain Views Supervisory Union (MVSU) district. Reading had the highest percent of its registered voters turn out, at 59%. All other district towns were also higher than average at over 45%. Primary…
Be a Castleton University student, for a day
March 13, 2024
Courtesy VTSU Ross Conrad, former president of the Vermont Beekeepers Association, will lead a session on beekeeping during Castleton’s 1-Day University on Saturday, March 23. Free opportunity for the community by the community Castleton University is hosting a new event: A 1-Day University. Free and designed for the greater Rutland community, the inaugural event…
Rutland’s Social Tinkering organization expands reach with national spotlight
March 13, 2024
Last Wednesday, March 6, Rutland area nonprofit organization Social Tinkering was featured during the prime news hour between 5-6 p.m. on National Public Radio (NPR). The Social Tinkering team is thrilled that people are hearing about their work all across the nation, but that spotlight is just the beginning. The response they’ve received from people…
Vermonters rejected nearly one-third of school budgets
March 13, 2024
On Town Meeting Day 29 of 93 school budgets were voted down including four in Rutland County and two in Windsor County By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger Voters struck down close to a third of school budgets across Vermont on Tuesday, March 5, the highest proportion in at least a decade, according to the Vermont Superintendents Association. Twenty-nine…
Education spending ticks down as state gets affirmation of what’s driving costs
March 6, 2024
By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger The latest data from the Vermont Agency of Education shows a small decrease in projected education spending and affirms previously anecdotal evidence on the major factors causing a projected increase in education property taxes. Health care costs, construction, special education, disappearing federal money and increased salaries are all contributing significantly to a projected…
Vermonters rejected nearly one-third of school budgets
March 6, 2024
On Town Meeting Day 29 of 93 reported budgets were voted down By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger Voters struck down close to a third of school budgets across Vermont on Tuesday, March 5, the highest proportion in at least a decade, according to the Vermont Superintendents Association. Twenty-nine of 93 reported budgets were rejected, according to unofficial results…