USDA Covid-19 study findings show government programs were crucial The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Sept. 8 report indicated that food insecurity in the United States for the year 2020 remained level, as compared to pre-pandemic 2019 numbers. This result proves that with adequate federal and state government support it’s possible to solve hunger in Vermont…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger These days, birds are susceptible to a scourge of threats — pests, diseases, habitat loss and climate change among them. Still, one species has been thriving in Vermont: the common loon. This summer, across the state, more loons laid eggs than ever before. In 1983, seven pairs made nests in Vermont. This…

After purchasing a new home, buyers often want to put their own fingerprint on the property. Homeowners anticipate the day when their homes are transformed into spaces that reflect their style and not the preferences of previous owners. When deciding how to renovate interior spaces, homeowners will make some relatively temporary changes, but they also…

By Brett Yates On Sept. 13, the Chittenden Select Board approved a proposal to redesign the intersection of Holden Road and Dam Road, with a cost not to exceed $2,000. Currently, drivers heading south on Holden Road approach a fork just below its junction with Mountain Top Road and the bridge over East Creek, bearing…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger A conversation about welcoming refugees has returned to Rutland City. Five years ago, plans to resettle 100 people from Syria spurred a deep divide in Rutland, but the first inkling of a plan to welcome people fleeing Afghanistan has received broad support — even from those who strongly opposed the previous plan in…

By Fred Thys/VTDigger and Polly Mikula Up to 100 Afghan refugees could be coming to Vermont if the federal government signs off on a new request from the state and its nonprofit partner. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of State Friday, Aug. 27, to resettle…

By Katherine Lazarus BRANDON — After a hiatus, Brandon Music reopened on Sept. 4 with a rocking Celtic performance by Gypsy Reel. “We’re absolutely delighted to be reopening,” owner Edna Sutton said. “It’s really lovely that people are supporting us. We’re grateful to the Brandon community and beyond, and [our supporters] understood why we needed…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger and Polly Mikula Results from the 2020 census have revealed the deep impact of Vermont’s shifting population. Somewhat unsurprisingly, Chittenden County gained more people than any other part of the state. But another, perhaps less predicable, trend has also emerged: Ski communities, and areas popular with tourists and seasonal homeowners, had a…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger Lauren Gitlin knew something was wrong when she found Potato, among the more energetic goats on her Tunbridge dairy farm, lying in the field where she had been grazing that day. On the afternoon of July 31, Gitlin, the owner and sole operator of Villa Villekulla Farm in Tunbridge, had come to gather…

The Dorset Equine Rescue (DER) is very excited to announce the launch of its new program, the Vermont Hay Bank. After working on this project behind the scenes for almost a year, the program will open on Oct. 5. The Vermont Hay Bank is designed to function as a temporary safety net for Vermont horse…

Submissions judged by Vievee Francis The Sundog Poetry Book Award is open to all Vermont-based poets who have not published more than one full-length collection. Final judge Vievee Francis will select the winning manuscript and write an introduction for the book. The winning poet will receive a cash prize of $500, 50 copies of the…

RUTLAND—Every three years Rutland Regional Medical Center is required to assess the health needs of the community. The results of this review, the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), helps to identify and prioritize areas of need throughout our community. The 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) was made public on Sept. 1, and the findings…

It’s not long before newborns who need their parents to cater to their every need become toddlers who can’t wait to go exploring on their own. The curiosity can come quickly, which underscores how important it is for parents to childproof their homes. Childproofing is essential in the nursery where children tend to spend much…

Days after the Vermont Agency of Human Services announced it would investigate wait times for medical appointments at the state’s health care organizations, other regulators are joining the fray, according to a press release distributed by the agency on Friday. The Green Mountain Care Board, an independent organization that regulates health systems, and the Dept.…

By Katherine Lazarus BRANDON — Students at Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union will greet a higher than usual number of new teachers and other school staff this school year. According to Superintendent Jeanné Collins, 57 new employees will take their positions in various jobs and duties throughout the district. “Federal Covid funds are being used to…