Castleton U. honors and transitions CASTLETON—The Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees recently named Castleton history professor Adam Chill the VSC Faculty Fellow of the 2017-18 academic year. The semi-annual fellowship award recognizes teaching and learning accomplishments of tenured faculty. Chill became a full-time faculty member in 2009, teaching European history. His research includes the…

CASTLETON—Honoring students who served their country, a ceremony was held at Castleton University April 24, inducting 10 undergraduates into the Castleton chapter of the SALUTE Veterans Honor Society. SALUTE is the only national honor society highlighting the achievements of student veterans. SALUTE membership recognizes their commitment to academic excellence, high principles and superior achievements throughout…

What is the price tag of a college education? According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2016–2017 school years was $33,480 at private colleges, and $9,650 for state residents at public colleges. For any high school senior that is a huge price tag. Rutland South Rotary Club understands that these college bound…

Teams of paddlers, cyclists and runners took to the river and roads around Rochester last weekend as the sixth annual DisasTour race. The triathlon event features a 15-kilometer bike, 12-kilometer paddle and a 9-kilometer run. The event benefits local nonprofits and remembers the 2011 tropical storm Irene. Adam Whitney won the men’s individual race with…

Are you ready for some softball? Killington Softball League is looking for a few good men and women to play. The league will start in late-May. Anyone interested in forming a team or playing on one should contact Commissioner Dave Hoffenberg at killingtonsoftball@gmail.com.

NORTHFIELD—Norwich University has been named a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security, through 2022. Also, the Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Crime Center recently certified Norwich as a National Center for Digital Forensic Academic Excellence (CDFAE). Both federal certifications designate Norwich’s cybersecurity…

Hissss for rattlesnake studies FAIR HAVEN—The Timber Rattlesnake Conservation Council has asked the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife for a moratorium on “invasive” studies of rattlesnakes. VF&W’s official figures show a population of only a few hundred living in western Rutland County, thought to live primarily in the Rattlesnake Ridge area of Fair Haven,…

Ponderosa Steakhouse remodeling to Ground Round Tom Maniery’s new Ground Round Grill & Bar restaurant is taking applications for more than 75 employees as it transforms from the former Ponderosa Steakhouse at 559 U.S. Route 7 South to an all-new restaurant. Maniery touts a “new facility and ambiance, expanded menu, and a new and unique…

WHITE RIVER JCT.—Upper Valley Aquatic Center has opened its new fitness center. The new space houses a much larger family-friendly locker room with private changing suites; a new group exercise studio for classes such as Yoga, Pilates, and stretching; and a physical therapy offices of Be Fit Physical Therapy. In keeping with the existing modern…

NORTHFIELD—Last week, Norwich University broke ground on a new academic building as well as renovations to Webb, Dewey and Ainsworth Halls in a combined $48.5 million project. This project is the second major construction project undertaken as part of the $100 million Forging the Future campaign. The five-year campaign is timed to culminate during the…

The United Way of Rutland County is pleased to announce that Caprice Hover is becoming its executive director. Most recently, Caprice has been the executive director of the Rutland County Parent Child Center. Hover replaces Jim Kahle who has been acting as interim executive director. Mr. Kahle is assuming the position of board chair. “I…

RUTLAND—The Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) has received Certificate of Need approval from the Green Mountain Care Board for a merger with Manchester Health Services in Manchester, Vt. “We are delighted to move forward with the merger,” said Ronald J. Cioffi, RN, CEO of the VNAHSR. “For more than 50…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board voted on the Fish & Wildlife Department’s proposal for antlerless deer hunting for 2017 at its meeting on April 26 in Montpelier. “We are recommending an increase in muzzleloader season antlerless deer permits this year to account for the increase in the deer population following another mild winter in…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is looking for volunteers to help count state-endangered little brown bats as they emerge at dusk at locations throughout the Champlain Valley. Vermont’s little brown bats suffered massive declines due to the deadly disease, white-nose syndrome. An estimated 90 percent of the state’s bat population has been lost to…

RUTLAND—Green Mountain Power earned top spots on Smart Electric Power Alliance’s annual energy storage rankings for 2016. GMP ranked No.10 for the most storage installed in the country, with two megawatts in 2016. GMP also scored the No. 9 spot for most watts per customer in 2016. This is the first year SEPA looked at…