News Briefs

By Brett Yates Following a petition drive led by local business owners, Pittsfield residents will have a chance to overturn the town’s new “local option” tax on hotel rooms, restaurant meals, and alcoholic beverages, which voters approved just over a month ago. The town clerk verified 47 signatures from registered Pittsfield voters demanding a reconsideration…

The Upper Valley Aquatic Center (UVAC) in White River Junction made two significant announcements this spring: the hiring of Ian Quinn as its head swim coach and the receipt of a $24,999 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to improve accessibility at the facility. Quinn, who previously served as associate…

POMFRET — The Pomfret Trustees of Public Funds have announced the availability of two $1,000 scholarships for graduating seniors of Woodstock Union High School. These scholarships, rooted in Pomfret’s history and commitment to education, are open to students residing in Pomfret who plan to pursue further education. The Mabel E. Vaughan Educational Trust Fund, established…

Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) marked National Doctors’ Day on March 30 with a heartwarming and colorful tradition: original artwork created by local students. This year, nearly 400 drawings from kindergarten through 4th-grade students across 11 Rutland County schools were displayed throughout the hospital, honoring the care and dedication of RRMC’s physicians. The annual celebration,…

Staff report The Vermont Economic Progress Council (VEPC) approved Rutland’s application for a master TIF district Thursday, March 27, with conditions. “The Board of Aldermen will need to approve a boundary adjustment at their April 21 meeting,” said Jolie Frechette, a communications & PR agent hired to help with Rutland’s TIF. “Once the paperwork is…

Green Mountain Power crews worked to restore over 36,000 customers who lost power due to the severe ice storm Saturday and Sunday. Killington, Okemo and Pico Resorts were all closed Sunday and Pico remained closed Monday. Students in Mountain Views School district did not have school Monday either as Killington Elementary remained hard to access…

An investment of nearly $32 million has been allocated to the GE Aerospace facility in Rutland, according to a company news release last Wednesday, March 12. The money will be spent on new machines, upgrades, precision equipment, and specialized tooling to support the production of components for aircraft engines, the release noted. Specifically “specialized tooling…

Teams Clock Tower and Here We Go tied for the Killington Ski Bum Race Series season title with a perfect 900 points earned. Scores are based on the top three point-getters on each team, each week, with year-end standings taken from the top six finishes. First place in each category earns 50 points.  The local…

On Sunday, March 9, about 50 members of the Pico Ski Club, coaches and parents embarked on a ski adventure from the top of Pico to the base of Ramshead at Killington via the Interconnect trail (mostly used by Snocats). The group returned to Pico via The Bus.

CHITTENDEN — Mountain Top Resort has been recognized as the World’s Greatest Wedding Venue by World’s Greatest TV (WGTV), a show that spotlights companies excelling in their industries. After a rigorous selection process, the Vermont resort was chosen over numerous wedding venues nationwide, securing the title in the summer of 2024. The recognition was highlighted…

The Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) recently welcomed Paula Vanguilder, chairman of Neighbors Together, to speak about the organization’s ongoing community support efforts. Originally formed during the 2023 flood relief efforts, Neighbors Together has since expanded its outreach to provide mental health and addiction recovery support, cooking classes, school snacks, fresh flowers for seniors, and more.…

Members of the New England Hemophilia Association and their families went to Washington, D.C., to lobby Senators and Representatives for support. Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder where blood doesn’t properly clot and affects around 30,000 American adults and children. Vermont was represented by Ian Cornell, his brothers Kaleb Cornell and Levi Cornell, and their mother,…

The Attorney General’s Office announced that Emily St. Peter, 46, of Rutland, Vermont, was arraigned today on one count of felony Medicaid fraud. The charges brought against Ms. St. Peter are the result of an investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit (MFRAU), which found Ms. St. Peter had falsely…

BROC Community Action was the beneficiary of the Mission Farm Veteran’s Day coat drive event in Killington. BROC received a significant donation of new and lightly used winter coats from the coat drive. These coats are essential to keeping area friends and neighbors warm during the cold winter months. If anyone is looking to contribute,…

Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) nurses held a day of action  in front of the State Fair Grounds at the crossroads of Route 7 and Allen Street on Thursday, Nov. 14 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. The event was meant to bring attention to ongoing contract negotiations with the hospital.