Governor Phil Scott today (May 22) announced the resumption of additional business operations, including outdoor seating at restaurants and bars, hair salons and barber shops and some additional health services. “I believe these steps forward will be welcome news for many and because Vermonters are being smart to stay safe, our data continues to show…

By Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDigger New rules for dining establishments issued by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development Wednesday will allow restaurants to seat customers for dining outdoors beginning Friday, May 22, but they must follow protocols aimed to encourage physical distancing among other guidelines. Customers must make reservations or call ahead before going out to…

[YUMPU epaper_id="63277928" width="512" height="384"] A local resource guide for all matters COVID-19, Coronavirus in Rutland County, Vermont. Made possible by Rutland Regional Medical Center and other sponsors. To view articles as individual posts, click here.

By Katy Savage As Gov. Phil Scott allows Vermont lodging facilities to reopen, inn operators are preparing for a new normal. Many summer events that draw thousands of tourists have been postponed or cancelled this year and many are anticipating reservations will be down significantly as the guest experience changes drastically. The Woodstock Inn is…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wU-mBEPZkQ By Polly Mikula Claudio Fort, president and CEO of Rutland Regional Medical Center and Dr. Melbourne Boynton, Chief Medical Officer, discussed how the hospital is impacted as the state gradually eases the regulations that have helped to reduce the spread of Covid-19 during an interview Thursday, May 14, shown on PEGTV. At its peak, less than 10%…

Lawsuit is state’s first enforcing governor’s executive order By Polly Mikula “The state of Vermont alleges that Club Fitness of Vermont and its owner, Sean Manovill, are operating a fitness center in violation of Executive Order 01-20, Addendum 4,” Attorney General TJ Donovan stated in a press release Friday afternoon, May 15. “In seeking the preliminary…

This list includes the current road construction projects happening throughout Central Vermont. Most crews will cease work on the afternoon of Friday, May 22 in observance of Memorial Day. Activities will resume on Tuesday, May 26. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it. I-91 Hartland – A bridge replacement along Depot…

By Merisa Sherman It is an absolutely gorgeous Saturday morning in May. The daffodils, pansies and just mowed lawn are now covered with 4-6 inches of dense marshmallow snow and the sky is a stunningly bright blue. There atop the never-before-skied headwall, stands extreme skier and Pittsfield resident, Mark Bragg, prepping for one of the…

May 25-29—WOODSTOCK— Enjoy the “shear” joy of spring during Billings Farm’s Sheep and Wool Week, online May 25-29. It’s time for our sheep to get their annual haircuts! What happens to the wool after it is sheared? How does the wool become yarn? Billings will  answer those question in the virtual journey from sheep to scarf. Watch a professional sheep shearer make quick work of the wool in…

Golf opening Saturday, May 23, followed by Mountain Biking, June 6 https://youtu.be/YRRdeU2aP1g   Staff report KILLINGTON—Killington Resort announced Monday, May 18, that it will be opening summer operations this Memorial Day weekend. Its 18-hole golf course will open Saturday, May 23, to Vermont residents and non-residents who’ve quarantined for 14 days and the Bike Park Saturday, June 6, to…

Outdoor dining, close-contact businesses like salons, and others could be permitted to open by June 1. By Anne Wallace Allen/VTDigger With just one Covid-19 patient now in an ICU in a Vermont hospital, Gov. Phil Scott on May 15 continued to open the state to an economic recovery. Scott promised he would relax the stay home/stay…

By Polly Mikula and Colin Meyn/VTDigger Gov. Phil Scott announced Monday, May 11, that a “gradual reopening” of the retail sector will be permitted to begin on May 18. Scott said that all employees at retail outlets will need to wear face covering. Stores will also be required to stay under 25% of their maximum legal…

By Colin Meyn/VTDigger Some of the messages read like field reports: “The sidewalks between Price Chopper and Walmart had groups of people standing together no mask or social distances,” and others like warnings: “I want to make you aware of the health crisis that is ongoing at the floating bridge in Brookfield. Since fish were stocked…

Milk from Vermont dairies will be processed to feed Vermonters in need The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets has coordinated an effort to recover raw milk from being disposed while creating a new, temporary food supply for the Vermont Foodbank. In collaboration with the Vermont Community Foundation, $60,000 has been made available to…

By Julia Purdy Even when schoolchildren are required to stay home, the school meals program must go on. And this year, in addition to seeing that kids don’t miss out on nourishment, the program helps to relieve the extra financial hardship of parents being out of work as well as offering paid work to paraeducators,…