Safety concerns cancel ice fishing derby BENSON—Low water levels, rainy weather forecasts, and poor ice conditions led to Fair Haven Rotary Club’s cancelling its planned 45th annual Great Benson Ice Fishing Derby. This cancellation was only the second time the event has been cancelled. Organizers decided to continue with the cash raffle, though, with such…

RUTLAND—The Vermont Foodbank announced the promotion of Genna Williams to the position of branch manager for its Rutland distribution center. Williams spent the past year and a half as the Vermont Foodbank’s southern region gleaning coordinator, leading teams of volunteers to harvest fresh produce from area farms rescue thousands of pounds of fresh produce. A…

CASTLETON—Castleton University, in partnership with Vermont PBS, invites Vermont high school students to participate in the 22nd annual Castleton Videofest. High school students throughout Vermont and the surrounding area are encouraged to enter submissions in any of four categories: documentary, experimental/animation, narrative fiction, and public service announcements/advertisements. Scholarships of $1,000 will be awarded for first…

It is hard to imagine ourselves in a situation where we don’t have the ability to make sound decisions regarding our health care. Yet planning for a time when we might not be capable of making important medical decisions is crucial for each of us. It is something people of all ages should be thinking…

March 7 ballots to decide school unification Addison-Rutland Supervisory Union voters will decide whether to create the Slate Valley Unified Union District March 7. If passed, the measure would merge the Castleton, Hubbardton, West Haven, Fair Haven, Orwell, and Benson school districts into one, served by an 18-member board. Those same voters considered the measure…

New partner at AM Peisch RUTLAND—AM Peisch & Company, LLP recently admitted Andrew P. Simonds, CPA, as a partner. A 2008 graduate of Castleton University, Simonds received public accountant certification in 2012 after earning a masters of accounting with a concentration in forensic accounting from Florida Atlantic University. Rutland doctor studies prostate cancer survival RUTLAND—Radiation…

Good Neighbor Services installs camera surveillance LUDLOW—Citing recent dumping and shoplifting activity, the Black River Good Neighbor Services thrift store and food shelf has installed new electronic surveillance equipment that the executive board and staff wish was not necessary. “We’ve had some shoplifting in the last few months,” said Executive Director Audrey Bridge. “Also, people…

A New Jersey man died from injuries sustained while snowboarding at Killington Resort on Saturday morning. According to police, James Meyers, age 26 of Toms River, N.J. was snowboarding with friends Feb. 11 at Killington when he left the trail and collided with a tree. He was not wearing a helmet.  He was transported to…

CHITTENDEN—American naturalist John Muir stated, “Keep close to Nature’s heart … and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” While students at Barstow Memorial School cannot spend an entire week in the woods, they are frequently “washing their spirits” clean and…

School choice applications accepted at MRUHS WALLINGFORD—Mill River Union High School is accepting school choice applications from any high school student in grades 8 through 11 who is interested in attending a public high school outside his or her home district during the 2017-2018 school year. Students who wish to take advantage of this opportunity…

Vermont Cannoli will be open at its new location at 145 South Main Street in Chester, Vt. for President’s Day weekend. Hours are Fridays from 3-7 p.m. and Sundays from 11-4 p.m. Authentic Italian cannoli is are made with hand-dipped, homemade ricotta. Overstuffed small and large cannoli come in three flavors:  traditional with chips of pistachio, almond,…

WALLINGFORD—Marc and Lisa Williams have opened The Village Community Acupuncture, located at 271 South Main Street in Wallingford. Acupuncture as a healing modality dates back over 2,000 years, and can provide relief from pain, infertility, depression, anxiety, digestive issues, arthritis, as well as help with smoking cessation, addiction and other conditions. Treatments are available on…

Castleton mom questions school snacks list CASTLETON—Nicole Wilkins told the Castleton School Board the school snack policy needs revision, when the board met Feb. 1. The school sends parents a list of snacks that students may bring to school with them, and offers snacks that children may buy at school for one dollar. However, numerous…

Lakes Region benefiting from improved broadband FairPoint Communications recently announced the completion of broadband expansion projects in Poultney, Wells, and West Pawlet, plus 17 other Vermont towns. To Beth Fastiggi, state president for Vermont at FairPoint, the project completion brings greater productivity, business competition “past the storefront, and … learning beyond the confines of a…

By Karrie Etzler There was no better place to be last Friday night, Feb. 3, than College of St.Joseph, where the opening of this year’s Green Mountain District Music Festival brought together the brightest and best musicians for a night filled with spectacular performances. A total of 64 schools, elementary through the high school, participated…