Staff report A recount of ballots had no change on the outcome for Woodstock’s proposed 1% option sales tax. The option tax was narrowly defeated 425-415, with 23 blank in the recount on Thursday, March 10. On Town Meeting Day, March 1, the outcome was 426-417, with 24 blank. “Instead of a margin of nine,…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. said the recent warm spring weather and melting snows is causing bears to come out of their winter dens in search of food. The department released recommendations Monday, March 14, to take down bird feeders and keep them stored until December, to avoid attracting bears. “Although we typically recommend…

Rutland Community Cupboard receives $36,584 in donations Responding to a desperate call for help, the greater-Rutland community stepped up, far exceeding the goal of the Green Mountain Power Fill the Cupboard Challenge, setting a new record, and providing more than $36,500 to the Rutland Community Cupboard. “The outpouring of support is humbling and beautiful,” said…

A skiing love story with Sara Zelle Namkung By Brooke Geery The Killington app leaderboard community has grown ever tighter as the season has progressed, and so when the announcement for the top vertical feet in February hit social media, some of the fixtures on top of the list were confused. “Who is Sara N.?”…

By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger Larissa and Jim Haas, now the owners of Rise Up Bakery in Barre, bake bread in their wood-fired oven — focaccia and sourdough and earthy rye. The couple met in Ukraine and started making bread in Larissa’s home there. Since 2018, Larissa and Jim have sold fresh bread in Vermont from a…

By Victoria Gaither Vermont is more than 4,500 miles away from Ukraine, but for Daniela Blaga Carr, it might as well be at her back door in Mendon. “My home country is Romania, which borders Ukraine on the northern side. I grew up very close to the Ukrainian border,” said Carr. To watch what is…

Staff report In a letter sent to Windsor Central Supervisory Union parents, at 7:54 p.m., March 9, Superintendent Sherry Sousa announced that the district's elementary schools would move to voluntary mask wearing on Monday, April 4 — three weeks after the governor announced general guidance for unmasking would take effect (March 14). "I’ve spoken with…

By Brett Yates With Bob Baird’s decision to step down at the end of his term, Chittenden voters had a vacancy to fill on the Select Board on Town Meeting Day. In an uncontested election for a two-year term, Dave Sargent won 182 votes. As the newest member of the board, Sargent is not really…

By Curt Peterson Local school district boards have been scrambling after the state announced last Thursday, March 3, that new guidelines would stop advising mandatory masking within school buildings after March 14. The new guidelines came out just three days after the state’s previous guidelines (setting an 80% vaccination theshold for schools to unmask) went…

By Katy Savage After a recount, Rutland City finally has new School Board members. The ballots were recounted Sunday, March 6 after a very tight race. Ten candidates battled for four open seats, with the third, fourth and fifth candidates getting within five votes or less of each other. But the recount didn’t change the…

Celebrate the final days of KBL with a smashing good time March 20, spring skiing/riding won't be adversely affected, resort says — and new lodge to open in November They say all good things must come to an end, and after a run spanning more than six decades, the classic K-1 Lodge (formerly known as…

By Katy Savage Woodstock’s 1% option tax is heading for a recount. The option tax, which would add 1% to the state’s 6% sales tax locally, failed 426-417 on Town Meeting Day, March 1. Woodstock Town Clerk Charles Degener said the close vote was rare for the town. “The last time we had a recount…

Staff report Two people, including a toddler, died in head-on collision on Route 103 in Chester on March 2, according to police. Police said a minivan traveling erratically without headlights crossed the center line and struck another car near Peck Road. The driver of the minivan, Janice Bergeron, 80, from Rockingham sustained significant injuries. She…

Staff report Woodstock’s varsity girls' hockey team defeated Hartford’s 5-1 in the Division 2 state championship game on Monday evening, March 7. It was the program’s first championship in its history. The game was held at Gutterson Fieldhouse, a 4,035-seat hockey arena in Burlington, where the UVM Catamounts men’s and women’s ice hockey teams play…

By Brett Yates The Pittsfield Rescue Plan Committee will hold its first meeting on March 24 at 6 p.m. at the Town Hall, with additional virtual access via Microsoft Teams, the Select Board determined on Thursday, March 3. Pittsfield will receive $165,306 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), last year’s $1.9 billion federal stimulus.…