PAWLET—Staff from the Pawlet Public Library and the Mettawee Community School recently met to solidify their partnership to promote reading through a grant from the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLIF). The grant program encourages libraries in Vermont and New Hampshire towns of 5,000 residents or fewer to partner with schools and childcare centers to encourage a…

‘Tis the season for gingerbread creations! Chaffee Art Center in Rutland held a gingerbread contest on Dec. 12. Creators of Chaffee Art Center’s winning house, titled “Good Tidings Farm,” Jill Talbot, Brandy Ellison, Alexandria Perone and Phoebe Forman said, “[Our] display embodies the spirit of giving exemplified by the seasonal bounties of the farm.  Our…

The Vermont Treasurer’s Office has a record $94.5 million in unclaimed property and Vermont Treasurer Beth Pearce wants to return it to Vermonters. In the one-month span Nov. 10-Dec. 10, 2019, the Treasurer’s Office returned $413,455.60 to 1,966 claimants, according to a Dec. 11 news release. With the holiday season underway, Vermonters can easily search…

By Grace Elletson/VTDigger Vermont is returning hundreds of thousands of dollars in unused housing vouchers to the federal government each year. A new report shows that the federal housing voucher programs have been underutilized because of a lack of case management support, inadequate affordable housing stock and an unwillingness by some landlords to rent to tenants…

Vermont is once again the healthiest state in the nation, according to the United Health Foundation’s newly released America’s Heath Rankings annual report. The state moved up three steps to reclaim the top spot in the Foundation’s 30th year documenting the nation’s health trends, challenges and opportunities. For nearly two decades, Vermont has ranked among the top five…

Decision will increase costs for school boards, taxpayers By Lola Duffort/VTDigger Last week, an independent arbitrator has sided with the union in negotiations for Vermont’s first-ever statewide health care contract for all school employees. The binding decision brings an end to a contentious bargaining process that first started in April. The deal will cover about 40,000 people —…

By Curt Peterson Windsor Central Modified Unified Union School District Superintendent Mary Beth Banios and the finance committee gave board members a taste of challenges faced in creating the FY2021 budget at the Monday night School Board meeting, on Dec. 9. The current budget, ending June 30, 2020, is about $20.1 million, which, based on…

By Xander Landen/VTDigger The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles has been quietly selling the personal data of Vermonters to private companies since at least 2004. The state agency has made more than $15 million on sales of the data over the past four years, and the practice has raised privacy concerns. State records show the DMV…

Eight fun and funny couples are lined up, and tickets are on sale for February’s Pack The Paramount “Newly”wed Game to benefit the Rutland Community Cupboard, BROC’s Community Food Shelf and the Salvation Army. The fourth-annual event presented by WJJR and Green Mountain Power, Feb. 8, will feature couples Chrispin and Renee White, Drew and…

Will also house Early Childhood Lab Castleton University has received a $200,000 grant from the Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation to support the revitalization of Granger House, which will be the new home of the president. “I am grateful for the generous support of the Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation,” said Castleton University President Karen M. Scolforo.…

By Lee J. Kahrs/ Brandon Reporter BRANDON — Brandon’s favorite birder has received a high honor from one of Vermont’s premier natural science organizations. Sue Wetmore has been named the 2019 Julie Nicholson Citizen Scientist by The Vermont Center for Ecostudies. The Norwich-based wildlife conservation organization works across North and South America conducting research and…

By Lee J. Kahrs, The Reporter PROCTOR — If there is a public vote on the potential sale of prized town-owned watershed land in Proctor, it will happen at town meeting in March. Voters also will decide whether any sale should hinge on keeping the land open to public use and protect the town’s resources.…

More than 400 highly-trained volunteer instructors make Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports’ mission of empowering individuals with disabilities possible. Out of that dedicated pool of volunteers, Vermont Adaptive program coordinators recognized this year’s four Volunteers of the Year at off-snow trainings this fall, according to a Dec. 16 news realease. Liz Mead of North Chittenden…

Gov. Phil Scott joined the community of West Windsor to celebrate the success of the Brownsville Butcher & Pantry, located at 871 Rte. 44, which opened in November 2018, during his weekly press conference Friday, Dec. 13. Through individual, local and state support, the Friends of the Brownsville General Store purchased and redeveloped the vacant…

By Karen D. Lorentz Okemo to set receive upgrades as part of Vail Resorts, Inc.’s $215 million investment for 2020 across its resorts. This investment builds on the approximately $190-$195 million that Vail Resorts had planned to spend on capital improvement projects in calendar year 2019. The majority of the new investment at Okemo will…