KILLINGTON — Steve Finneron, chair of the Fire Department Facilities Committee, provided the Selectboard with an update on the committee’s work at the Selectboard meeting Tuesday, May 19.  He noted the Committee has met close to ten times since December. They have toured the fire station, reviewed the facilities assessment/ building feasibility study completed by…

By Lani Duke “Maker space” considered further RUTLAND — Peter and Rick Gile, a father-and-son team who do business as Two Bad Cats, LLC, are not yet ready to pick a building or solicit grant money for the “maker space” they hope to develop in Rutland. Right now they and Rutland Economic Development Corporation are…

By Lani Duke Sweet potato farm receives grant PAWLET—Laughing Child Farm of Pawlet is the recent recipient of a $20,000 Working Lands Enterprise Initiative grant. Owners Tim and Brooke Hughes-Muse plan to apply the grant to the building of a new $107,000 barn for the largest sweet potato farm in the state. The couple hopes…

Photo by Robin Alberti Thomas Hirchak KILLINGTON — The former Grey Bonnet Inn & Resort was up for auction Tuesday, May 19, but no spectators registered to bid for the 41-room property on Route 100. The auction was to be held at 2 p.m., conducted by Thomas Hirchak Company, with registration and inspection starting at…

Photo courtesy of the Ontario (Canada) Ministry of Natural Resources Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. is receiving many reports of hungry bears getting into trash containers as well as raiding bird feeders, bee hives and chicken houses. “Human conflicts involving bears are rapidly increasing this spring,” said Chief Game Warden Jason Batchelder. “Vermont’s wardens are…

Courtesy of VTF&W Picking up young wildlife can do more harm than good, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. It is also against the law. Watching wildlife is enjoyable, especially when young animals appear in the spring. But it’s best to keep your distance. Picking up young wildlife can do more harm than good,…

New taxes and spending cuts explained By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org “It’s finally over,” said Rep. Brian Savage, R-Swanton, summing up the way many lawmakers felt about the legislative session, which adjourned a little after 11 p.m. Saturday, May 16. Legislators couldn’t leave the House chamber fast enough. By the time the House Speaker and the…

RUTLAND — The Rutland Transfer Station on Gleason Road has announced closures for upcoming holidays. The station will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day, and Saturday, July 4 for Independence Day. They advise to please plan ahead for those days. Starting Monday, May 18, the recycling center at the station will…

Submitted Photo 1 Colette Myhre and Tom Huebner Photo 2 Helen Poro and Tom Huebner RUTLAND — Rutland Regional Medical Center honored 215 employees for dedicated service and accomplishments recently at its Annual Employee Awards Banquet. The 215 employees have given 3,385 years of collective service to Rutland Regional. “I extend my sincere gratitude to these…

Courtesy of KMS A KMS teacher held class outside one sunny day last week KILLINGTON—The connections between the study of biology and conversational French may not be immediately obvious, but Killington Mountain School faculty members Lee Elliot and Christine Hartnett have found common ground within their two subjects and are working together to create an…

Castleton College's list of local partnerships surpasses 400 affiliates CASTLETON—As Castleton continues to expand far beyond the campus borders, so does its growing list of community partners. Since the opening of Castleton Downtown on Merchants Row in Rutland in January, the college’s list of community partners has come to incorporate more than 400 campus-wide affiliations…

ROCHESTER—During the week of May 18, construction is scheduled to continue on the new Bridge 19 over the White River on Vermont Route 73 in Rochester. The deck is scheduled to be poured on Wednesday, May 20, depending on weather conditions. There will be concrete truck traffic through town on the day of the pour,…

By Lani Duke Voters approve police station CASTLETON--Voters narrowly approved building a new police station, 362 to 345, on May 12. It will be an addition to the newly constructed and opened Castleton Volunteer Fire Station at a cost of $300,420, most of that coming from selling school buses already owned by the town. Some…

By Lani Duke Food drive falls short RUTLAND--The National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive in Rutland was a bust this year. Held the second Saturday in May annually, it is an effort to restock food pantries at a time of the year when they are likely running low and summer vacation means children may…

Up late? Early riser? Regardless, if you’re like most Americans, your sleep is taking a big hit. According to a new Sleep Number study conducted by an independent research firm, Americans sleep an average of 6.7 hours per night (experts recommend eight hours). But, only 5.68 hours of that are considered restful. If that’s not…