BETHEL—A one-of-a-kind university popped up in central Vermont in 2014, and it has been attracting interest across Vermont and the nation. Bethel University (BU), a “pop-up university,” offers free mini-courses to anyone and everyone. Classes meet in the town hall, the school, the library, and in homes and businesses all over town on topics as…

TINMOUTH — On Jan. 27, at approximately 1:28 p.m., members of the Vermont State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Vermont Route 133 in the area north of Vermont Route 140 in Tinmouth. Investigation determined that Brennan R. Howard, age 18 from Middletown Springs, was traveling northbound when he reached for a water bottle…

RUTLAND — On Jan. 26, troopers from the Rutland State Police Barracks responded to a report of a car break-in at Northwood Park in Rutland Town. Maxine Garfinkel, age 80 from Rutland City, advised that she parked her vehicle to walk with a friend before running errands and noticed when she returned that her window was…

By Lani Duke Hubbardton fire shows perils of remodeling HUBBARDTON—Trapped between walls and dropped ceilings, a fire took down a Hubbardton home erected about 225 years ago. Missing from the townscape is the one-and-one-half story, post-and-beam Cape Cod-style house at 2750 Black Pond Rd. The fire started in a chimney, with its smoke becoming visible…

By Lani Duke Rutland City On the ballot Rutland City voters will see an added pair of bonds on their March 1 ballot. The Aldermen had already approved a $2.5 million bond to replace White Pool and a $19 million budget. One of the added bonds is for an equalization tank to stabilize water pressure…

By Donald Dill Marji Graf( on the right), CEO, Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomes Green Mountain at Fox Run Women’s Center for Binge and Emotional Eating to the Chamber. Pictured:Kari Anderson, president and clinical director; Shiri Macri, primary clinical therapist. LUDLOW—There’s only one women’s center for binge and emotional eating in the country,…

By Lani Duke New town manager sets goals for Castleton CASTLETON—Town Manager Mark Shea has begun his new three-year contract with the town, planning to make securing a new town office his top priority. Hopes are the Select Board will have a town office item ready for the 2017 Town Meeting Day ballot. Safety officer…

By Lani Duke Rutland City Combination Pond makes the ballot City voters will consider a non-binding ballot item on the future of Combination Pond and associated waterways. Alderman Gary Donahue cast the only vote against putting the pond on the March ballot during the Board of Aldermen’s Jan. 19 meeting. Both city and state officials…

Courtesy of PBS Gina Bullard gets a bird’s eye view of the Connecticut River Valley in Outdoor Journal’s 14th season. ROCHESTER—“Outdoor Journal,” Vermont PBS’ venerable outdoor program, kicks off its 14th season Tuesday, Jan. 26, with stories that take viewers across the length and breadth of the northeast region. Hosts Lawrence Pyne and Gina Bullard…

PITTSFORD—In early January the Rutland Humane Society and Spring Hill Horse Rescue contacted the state police for help in investigating a group of emaciated horses being pastured off Kendall Hill Road in the town of Pittsford. Police reported that a humane agent from Spring Hill Horse Rescue found a chestnut mare and a palomino mare…

WOODSTOCK—On Thursday, Jan. 21, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) announced the selection of Miller Construction, Inc. as the contractor to replace Vermont Bridge 24 over Kedron Brook during the 2016 construction season. The bridge, located on Route 106 between Kedron Road and Bryant Road, was built in 1924 and is now in poor condition.…

RUTLAND—On Friday, Jan. 22, the College of St. Joseph announced a new Drive to CSJ Grant available to new, commuter students who begin at CSJ in Fall 2016. The new grant allows students to save on room and board costs while it helps cover the cost of the commute to campus. Students can experience the…

LUDLOW–Okemo Mountain Resort was recently named one of the 2016 Best Places to Work in Vermont. The annual list of the Best Places to Work in Vermont was created by Vermont Business Magazine, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Department of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor, the Society for Human Resource Management-…

Elizabeth Adams RUTLAND — On Tuesday, Jan. 19, Rutland Economic Development Corporation (REDC), the Small Business Development Center and the Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center moved to a collocation site at 67 Merchants Row in Rutland. The new REDC offices will join Castleton Downtown, which includes the Center for Entrepreneurship, Center for Community Engagement and…

By Steve Costello A female osprey, identified by the necklace of brown feathers across her chest, calls from her nest, on Lake Arrowhead. Seeking to recognize a leading Vermont environmentalist and honor the legacy of a legendary wildlife advocate, Green Mountain Power is calling for nominations for the 2016 GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award. Named for the…