Approvals and rejections CASTLETON—Castleton voters eliminated the traditional lister’s position in favor of a professional assessor, in a 638-489 vote. Voters in Castleton approved, 686-478, construction of a new town office during their March 1 balloting; they also approved, 762-396, use of a surplus that had come to more than $56,000 in the construction project.…

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders announced Tuesday, March 8, that his office will host three open houses next Tuesday, March 15, in Windsor County. The senator has a five-member team of constituent advocates dedicated to helping Vermonters on a wide range of issues. The most typical inquiries are from people looking for help with Social Security,…

MENDON—On Feb. 23, the VBA Board of Managers announced that Therese (Teri) Corsones of Mendon will succeed Robert (Bob) Paolini as executive director of the association, effective May 1, 2016. Teri Corsones has been a VBA member since 1982, following her graduation from Cornell University Law School that year. Corsones practiced law in Rutland for…

RUTLAND—Beginning in early March, Community College of Vermont (CCV) Job Hunt Helper Darrell Hughes will be on hand at the Rutland Free Library for six hours a week to offer jobsearch services to library patrons and job seekers. Job Hunt Helpers can help with finding employment opportunities in your area, writing a resume and cover…

By Donald Dill Marji Graf, CEO of the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, welcomes Genevieve Johnson of Twigs and Thistle, a thrift boutique in Chester, to the Chamber. CHESTER — Twigs and Thistle, a thrift boutique featuring gently used clothing, opened Feb. 13 at 287 Main Street in Chester. Genevieve Johnson is the new owner.…

Courtesy of Linda Maness Local 22 and 44’s Chief Meteorologist Sean Parker visited the Mettawee Community School on Tuesday, Feb. 23. He was greeted by MCS Principal Brooke DeBonis and school administrative assistants Cheryl Chalmers and Sue King (pictured l-r). Parker gave presentations to students in grades K-6. WEST PAWLET — Earlier this winter Mettawee Community…

Honored for dedication to patients, clinical excellence and volunteer work RUTLAND – Rutland Regional Medical Center announced Feb. 25 that critical care physician Harvey S. Reich, M.D., FACP, FCCP, has been named the hospital’s 2016 Physician of the Year, and Laura M. Cohen, ACNP, ANP-BC, has been named its inaugural Advanced Practitioner of the Year.…

Rutland City Frozen ground, wet neighborhoods A leaking line connected to a fire hydrant on North Street Extension brought out the City Public Works Department the morning of February 23. Northbound traffic squeezed into a single lane while crews salted the road and chipped ice away. Although solving the problem sounded simple—“Turn a valve; clean…

POULTNEY GMC woos VYCC, returned Peace Corps volunteers Green Mountain College recently announced its offer of discounted Green Mountain tuition for Vermont Youth Conservation Corps volunteers. The school has also announced the new Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program to provide scholarships for returned Peace Corps volunteers taking the school’s M.S. in Environmental Studies program. Poultney…

RUTLAND — On Feb. 29 the Rutland Natural Resources Conservation District (RNRCD) announced that it was awarded a Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC), Ecosystem Restoration Program Grant ($82,500) to hire an Engineering Contractor to prepare a design for a stormwater swirl separator and install it at the outfall of an existing 36-inch drainage pipe,…

By Kevin O’Connor, VTDigger.org The New York Times calls it “the paradox for reporters covering the Democratic presidential race.” On one hand, there’s “Mr. Sanders’ dim view of the ‘corporate media,’ as he refers to it,” Times reporter Jason Horowitz noted in a recent story. Sanders frequently says, “The corporate media talks about all kinds…

Courtesy of KMS Jud Bartlett speaks at the KMS guidence evening. KILLINGTON — Killington Mountain School hosted a College Guidance Night on Friday evening, Feb. 12, led by Middlebury College Admissions Officer, Karen Bartlett, who spoke about the college process from an admissions perspective. Karen Bartlett was joined by her husband, Jud, an alum of both…

Courtesy of PEGTV Host Tom Donahue will update the community as the election results come in on Tuesday, March 1 on PEGTV channel 21. Tuesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. — RUTLAND — PEGTV, Rutland County’s public access television station, will be broadcasting live high definition election night coverage on PEGTV cable channel 21 on Tuesday, March…

RUTLAND — The Homeless Prevention Center, a nonprofit committed to providing services to prevent or re-house those experiencing homelessness, has been selected as a beneficiary of the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program for the month of March 2016. For every blue Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag with the good karma messaging purchased at Hannaford, Green Mountain…

On Feb. 19, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) announced the Strong Communities, Better Connections (SCBC) Grant awards. This year the organizations have funded three projects that help align land use planning and community revitalization efforts with transportation investments. Grant winners: The town of Chester…