By Mark Bushnell/VTDigger Charles Dickens had writer’s block in the worst way. It had been years since he’d laid down his pen while only halfway through writing “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” In desperation, some say, he turned to an unlikely assistant. The public was stunned to read that the great British writer had picked…

By Curt Peterson The Killington Select Board made some significant adjustments in zoning setback requirements during a hearing that was part of its Dec. 12 meeting. The area covered includes two “hamlets” within the town, and a section called “the valley," all on Route 4 on the East side of town. According to Town Manager…

By Curt Peterson Maggie O’Brien, the newest member of the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, will be helping update the 2015 Killington Town Plan, according to RRPC Special Projects Manager Ed Bove. O’Brien grew up in Farmington, New York, a small town of 14,000 between Lake Canandagua and Lake Ontario. She earned her degree in environmental…

By Katy Savage Digging into soil found no evidence of underground storage tanks at the Vermont Farmers Food Center — a relief to the organization’s leaders as they try to remedy an environmental contamination. “That was best case scenario, that’s what we were hoping for,” said VFFC Executive Director Heidi Lynch, explaining the process to…

By Victoria Gaither It’s out with the old and in with the new this ski season at Middlebury Snowbowl, located on Route 125 in Hancock. The Snow Bowl has a new logo, new snowmakers, and new behind-the-scenes improvements that will make the ski experience more enjoyable. Plus, a target opening date of Dec. 14, if…

By Liz DiMarco Weinmann There is an expansive physical space in Rutland, over 14,000 square feet to be exact, known as “The MINT – Rutland’s Makerspace” — where almost anyone, of any age, interest or skill level, can fulfill the popular mantra to “find your happy place.” Dictionaries define finding your happy place as “…a…

By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger A video of citizens violently apprehending an alleged shoplifter at the Rutland Home Depot has highlighted frustration over crime and the vigilantism that can crop up alongside it. The video of the incident, viewed more than 55,000 times on Facebook, appears to tell a deeper story than the arrest made in its…

Killington Resort’s team builds bikes to benefit local kids The Killington community gathered at The Foundry on Dec. 3 for Teddy Arbo’s 36th annual Holiday Toy Party. What started as a small dinner party in 1986 has grown into a community-wide event designed to put presents under the trees of needy Vermont families. “I’m just…

By Katy Savage When Mike Orlando bought property in Danby with a large hill and 30 acres three years ago, he knew what he wanted to do. “I knew right away it would be great to snowboard,” he said. Orlando, who rides at Killington Resort, spent three years cutting trees and building about 25 hiking…

By Victoria Gaither With Christmas just weeks away, Florence Christmas tree farmer Mike Gecha is busy. Gecha owns and runs Whipple Hollow Farms, a family business that only started selling Christmas trees two years ago. He explained, “We had some land that was just being used for farm hay. So we thought about how to…

Vermont inaugurated a national tradition By Julia Purdy High on Bethel Mountain Road outside Rochester, observant travelers might notice two prominent brown wooden signs flanking the road, with carved letters announcing the Riley Bostwick Wildlife Management Area and the Millionth Acre Tree Farm. Totaling 350 acres, these parcels represent the life work of Riley Bostwick,…

By Katy Savage The Board of Aldermen is considering sharp increases in parking meter rates and fines, with meter rates jumping from 25 cents an hour at some meters, to $1.50 an hour. Members of the Aldermen parking committee proposed doubling fines for expired meters to $30-$45 and suggested implementing a ticket forgiveness program in…

Staff report An employee of Charity’s in Killington was arrested for petit larceny on Dec. 1 after he was caught embezzling on video camera, according to Killington Police. Police said the employee, Randy Babcock, 31, of Rutland, admitted his involvement after police met with the owner and Babcock. The owner reported just under $500 dollars…

By Curt Peterson The Winsor Central Supervisory Union Board unanimously adopted Mountain Views School District as the new name for the consolidated seven-town district formed under Act 46 on Monday, Dec. 5. The new name will become effective July 1, 2023. Woodstock High students Aiden Keough-Vella and Owen Courcey, who served on the WCSU configuration…

Bruce Schmidt, the vice president of Okemo Resort, recently spoke to members of the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC), about the readiness of the Vail-owned resort for the 2022-23 ski season. Schmidt, a 37-year veteran at Okemo, indicated that snow-making and lift equipment had been upgraded to provide the mountain with improved snow making capability. He…