By Emma Cotton/VTDigger RUTLAND — The pandemic has exacerbated an existing shortage of foster homes in Rutland and throughout the state as an increased number of kids need a safe place to live. In Rutland County, 153 kids and teens are in the foster care system, marking a 39% increase from the yearly average of 110.…

By Ethan Weinstein Critical Race Theory (CRT) has sparked partisan fury across the nation in recent months. Now, those debates have come to Rutland. Roughly 70 people met at the Vermont State Fairgrounds in Rutland Wednesday night, June 16, to discuss the presence of CRT in school curricula and what they perceive as the theory’s…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger RUTLAND — After a decade of population decline, Rutland City officials are beginning a conversation about redrawing the lines of its political districts, which would change voting locations for many city residents.  “Some serious adjustments are going to have to be made,” said state Rep. William Notte, D-Rutland, who represents Ward 4.  The…

On June 22, Celia Ryker of Bridgewater Corners will release "Walking Home: Trail Stories," a memoir of thru-hiking Vermont’s Long Trail at age 60. "Walking Home" is “a fascinating narrative,” said Jennifer Belton, former White House Library director. The memoir weaves stories of Ryker’s childhood and lost family members alongside luscious descriptions of the Long…

RUTLAND—The United Way of Rutland County (UWRC), the largest non-governmental fundraiser for local services in the community, announced June 9 that the search team has appointed Kathleen Taft as associate director. She joins Ashley Bride, who assumed the UWRC executive director role in March 2021. The board of directors partners with the community and the…

By Ethan Weinstein Tuesday, June 22 through Thursday, June 24 Green Mountain National Golf Course (GMNGC) is hosting the American Junior Golf Association’s (AJGA) Killington Junior Golf Championship, presented by Junior Golf Hub. Cancelled last year due to Covid, the Killington Junior Golf Championship, now in its 11th year, features some of the country’s best…

Family encourages blood donations to combat severe shortage In hopes of drawing friends, colleagues and fans, one of Rutland’s iconic blood drives has been renamed for local musician and businessman Peter Giancola. The move comes at a time when the American Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage as hospital demand — due to…

RUTLAND—The Regional Partners for Prevention (RPP), a program of Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC), will join with Farrell Distributing for their third annual Sticker Shock campaign, which will take place on June 28. Sticker Shock is a national campaign to reduce underage drinking by limiting youth access to alcohol. The campaign is designed to discourage…

Future funds will pay for more creative, customized elements aimed to inspire and bring ‘magic’ into the play space By Polly Mikula Soon after Killington Elementary School students departed for summer break on June 11, excavators showed up. A week later, the community-built wooden playground that had welcomed students to school for over 30 years…

School district outlines donation regulations By Curt Peterson Windsor Central Unified Union School District board member and Policy Committee Chair Lou Piconi (Woodstock) reviewed the proposed naming policy the district hopes to employ when raising funds for the new $80 million middle/high school complex as well as other projects and programs on the drawing boards. …

Resort will host the FIS Ski World Cup on Thanksgiving weekend 2021 and 2022 Staff report On June 10, Killington Resort and U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the national governing body of Olympic ski and snowboard sports in the U.S., announced a two-year agreement for Killington Resort to host the women’s FIS Ski World Cup. The…

By Brett Yates After a months long effort, the Mendon Select Board has abandoned its proposal to restrict gunfire within town limits. “I’m going to say no. I don’t think it’ll work,” Selectwoman Valorie Taylor concluded at the board’s last meeting, Monday, June 14. Negative public opinion appeared to play a major role in the…

By Brett Yates After significant delays and cost overruns, the Rutland City Dept. of Public Works (DPW) expects by November to see the substantial completion of the wastewater system overhaul authorized on Town Meeting Day in 2019, when voters passed a $7.4 million bond to fund a package of four sewerage improvements. At that time,…

By Katherine Lazarus Banyai was permitted to build a storage shed as an accessory building for his permitted house, even after the Environmental Court ordered him to remove the building earlier this year.  Banyai’s neighbors, the Huletts, filed an appeal on the permit, which was heard Thursday, June 10. Richard Hulett Jr., member of the…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger The administrators of a Facebook group called “Killington Locals” chose a new featured photo for their page on Thursday: two sheep peeking over the backseat of a Volvo.  The picture marked the end of a journey for the sheep in question, who escaped from their new home at Mission Farm on Sunday, June…