By Victoria Gaither Stefanie Schaffer is exceptional, not because she survived an accident in the Bahamas that left her a bilateral amputee, but because she has the guts and determination that only a person who suffered such a personal loss can turn into strength. The Rutland resident wrote her memoir, “Without any Warning: Casualties of…

By Rep. Jim Harrison A few years ago, Pat and her sister Carol were helping my father-in-law clean out his house for a move. They came across a desk and file cabinet that were labeled MT. They wondered what that meant. Dad laughed and replied that it was cleaned out = empty = MT. Likewise,…

By Steve James and John S. McCright, Addison Independent SALISBURY — Rob Kenna looked kind of helpless outside his home off West Shore Road in Salisbury last Monday afternoon, Feb. 21. He didn’t have his glasses, he didn’t have his car, he didn’t have his phone. And he was standing there watching flames leap from…

By Katy Savage As the threat of Covid-19 apparently dwindles, local towns and organizations are rescinding their face mask policies. The Woodstock Village Trustees and Select Board unanimously voted to no longer require a face mask in public buildings during a joint meeting on Feb. 28. “Individual businesses may still make their own requirements,” Woodstock…

By Curt Peterson Killington Treasurer Lucrecia Wonsor said the town will receive $156,624 from the state as the town’s share of the rooms and meals and alcohol option tax paid during the fourth quarter of 2021, (paid Nov. 13 through Feb. 8, according to Wonsor). The previous record revenue from fourth quarter options taxes, $131,205,…

31,000 square foot building on Nanak Way is reimagined, Act 250 permit pending By Curt Peterson A new hotel is proposed for the site behind Hillside Inn on Nanak Way in Killington. The owners made a presentation to the Development Review Board (DRB) on Jan. 20, and have responded to a list of conditions set…

By Katy Savage Growing up, Spencer Wood didn’t know he had a disability. Wood, a Pittsfield native, was diagnosed as a baby but his parents didn’t tell him until he was 10 and they didn’t let his disability get in his way. “We didn’t want it to be a crutch,” his mother Barb Wood said.…

By Liz DiMarco Weinmann Despite the predictions of grumpy groundhogs and other miscreant mammals (plus Buzz the Hornet at NVU-Lyndon), who declared we are not done with winter, we can take solace in the fact that the calendar decrees March 20 as the first official day of spring. And, this year March 2 marks the…

Killington Resort announced the advancement of Megan Canty to director of human resources, March 1. “We’re thrilled to be able to promote from within as we continue to build a strong, passionate team. Megan will, no doubt, make immediate contributions to Killington and Pico in her new role. She brings a wealth of experience to…

By Brooke Geery Pico played host to the second edition of 2021/22 Mini Shred Madness last Saturday, Feb. 26. Despite warm temps in the leadup melting out much of the snow, the park crew was able to put together a special setup at the bottom of the Exhibition trail for the kids to enjoy, with…

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources awarded Farm & Wilderness, a Plymouth-area summer camp and conservation non-profit, a $50,000 Clean Water Initiative Program grant for planning and permitting the removal and site restoration of Rockefeller Dam in Plymouth. The removal of the Rockefeller Dam and site restoration will improve water quality in Woodward Reservoir, through…

Staff report Rutland City’s Town Meeting results are delayed after the city ran out of ballots. Rutland City Clerk Henry Heck ordered about 25% more ballots this year in anticipation of high turnout, likely driven by a large turnover of school board candidates. But, this is the first time in 14 years he ran out.…

By Karen D. Lorentz As a member of the Vail Resorts family of ski areas, Okemo has two programs that seek to reinforce excellent service so that guests can have the Experience of a Lifetime, which is the company’s mission. Okemo Communications Manager Bonnie MacPherson noted that recognition awards are an important part of promoting…

By Brett Yates On Feb. 17, the Pittsfield Select Board rescinded its townwide mask mandate for public spaces. Gov. Phil Scott signed a law in late November to give municipalities the right to require the wearing of facial protection in indoor gathering places, including businesses, to slow the spread of Covid-19. The Pittsfield Select Board…

By Brett Yates According to the Weybridge-based environmental organization Bee the Change, there are 17 species of bumblebees native to Vermont. Over the last 25 years, seven of them became endangered, and of those, four have now disappeared altogether. “Our species has begun to crowd out others, and the race against extinction on our planet…