By Brooke Geery Wearing a mask is a lot more fun if it’s colorful and exciting, and Vermont’s artist community knows that! Several local artists have gotten in on the action, producing stylish creations that make wearing a mask just a little bit better. Ashley Carter of Sweet Potato Accessories in Mendon has been hard…

The Dept. of Forests, Parks, & Recreation (FPR) announced Aug. 14 that long-time State Parks Director Craig Whipple is retiring. “Under Craig’s leadership, our world-class state park system has expanded, modernized, and become more accessible,” said Michael Snyder, commissioner of Vermont Forests, Parks, and Recreation, the department that oversees Vermont state parks. “And even as…

By Stephen Seitz When she was younger, Kelly Stettner never thought she would be an environmental activist. “My husband and I were walking along the river, and we saw all this trash piled up along the banks,” she said in a 2014 interview. “I said, ‘Can’t somebody do something about this?’ and my husband said,…

By Polly Mikula Same Sun of Vermont is wrapping up a 500-kilowatt solar installation at Rutland schools this month. The project is part of energy performance plan created by Johnson Controls and financed by energy savings generated through the plan, rather than taxes. “It works well in areas where there is no appetite for higher…

Vera Rivard, 16, of Derby, Vermont and Springfield, New Hampshire, will attempt an English Channel swim this week. Rivard is an Upper Valley Aquatic Club (UVAC) swim team member, she was the Vermont Sport’s Magazine Athlete of the Year 2019, and she is an open water swimming phenom. She arrived in Dover, England Aug. 8…

  Hannaford Supermarkets announced Aug. 13 a $20,000 donation to support Vermont families as they seek to meet the most basic needs for themselves and their children during a period of economic hardship resulting from the coronavirus global health pandemic. The donation includes $10,000 each to Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and BROC Community…

By Polly Mikula The Rutland Economic Development Corp. (REDC) and Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce held Zoom meetings Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 12 and 13, to present the new organizations goals, merger plan, and new leaders to members of both organizations. “The new working name is Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region,” said…

This November, incumbent governor Phil Scott will face off against Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman to keep his job. Scott easily won the Republican nomination, besting his closest opponent John Klar with over 70% of the vote, while Zukerman garnered 44% of the vote to nearest opponent Rebecca Holcombe's 35%. In the Lt. Gov. race, Molly…

By Brooke Geery With nearly all events cancelled due to Covid-19, no one would have been surprised if Rutland’s annual Art in the Park festival didn’t happen this year. But by limiting the number of vendors and attendees, the Chaffee Art Gallery was able to host the event for the 59th year on Aug. 8-9.…

By Polly Mikula Andrew Gieda, a Killington resident and business owner, was desperate to hear from his wife, Maria, on Monday to know that she and their 2-year-old son Robert were safe after violent protests erupted in Belarus, Sunday. Internet and phone access was cut off throughout Belarus during and after a contentious election. But…

By Katy Savage Gov. Phil Scott announced earlier this month that fall sports can resume starting Sept. 8, but many teams have been practicing all summer. When Scott lifted restrictions on recreational activities and group gatherings in June, school teams started holding voluntary practices and conditioning sessions, with notably high attendance. The Woodstock Union High…

Ten candidates are running for lieutenant governor this year. The following is a brief introduction to the names you will see on ballots in the Aug. 11 Primary Election. Information was culled from the candidates’ websites and interviews. Candidates are profiled here in alphabetical order. Since Vermonters can vote in only one party’s Primary, these are…

Lieutenant governor race is crowded Staff report Vermont’s primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 11. Two prominent Democratic candidates, David Zuckerman and Rebecca Holcombe, are facing off for the gubernatorial nomination, while Gov. Phil Scott’s challengers on the Republican ticket are relatively unknown —John Klar, Bernard Peters, Douglas Cavett, Emily Peyton. Whoever wins the Democratic primary would have a steep…

By Julia Purdy A proposal to expand Depot Park and create an Amtrak “gateway” to make downtown Rutland more welcoming is sure to strike a note of nostalgia among old-time Rutlanders for the large passenger depot that graced the site now occupied by the downtown plaza parking lot. The old Rutland passenger depot appears in…

New organization will more efficiently serve region, businesses, aid community development RUTLAND—Two of Rutland County’s key community and economic development organizations have decided to merge. The boards of Rutland Economic Development Corporation (REDC) and Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously Thursday, July 30, to create a merged, streamlined organization to better serve their members…