The Federal Emergency Management Agency visited Vermont Tuesday Nov. 5 to assess damage from floods and winds on Nov. 1. Vermont Emergency Management Director Erica Bornemann has requested the Preliminary Damage Assessment to determine if the state qualifies for a federal major disaster declaration following the storm. Teams from the state and FEMA will…

After an appeal process, the federal government denied Killington a grant for a Tropical Storm Irene project, but decided to pay for another project. The town will have to pay FEMA back $137,000 for replacing a culvert on Stage Road following the storm in 2011, but the town won’t have to pay back $196,000 it…

By Xander Landen/VTDigger Some Vermont hemp farmers are in a “panic” over hemp regulations proposed by the federal government this past week that would strictly regulate the amount of THC — the psychoactive chemical found in the plant when it’s harvested. The rules, released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday, Oct. 31, would bar farmers…

Castleton University student journalists are teaming up with University of Vermont students to provide news stories for local papers that otherwise might not get written. Funded by a $2,000 grant through UVM, Castleton students will be working with Castleton resident and former New York Times freelancer Martha Molnar to report and write stories that will…

Photos Courtesy of Killington Resort Staff report Killington Resort became the first resort to open for skiing and riding in the East on Sunday, Nov. 3. About 100 attended opening day  to ski and ride the mountain’s two uppermost trails—Rime and Reason. The first day was limited to the mountain’s season pass holders and those…

  By Curt Peterson Ben Ford, chair of the Windsor Central middle school/high school project committee presented “financial feasibility study” results to the Windsor Central Unified Union School District board on Oct. 23. The new building as designed may cost $63 million. Adding upgrades and deferred maintenance on the district’s other campuses, including The Prosper…

  Staff report After five years, a vacant restaurant building in Mendon has new life. Flannels Bar and Grill opened Oct. 10 with local beer and comfort food served by seasoned staff in the former Tap House on Route 4. Josh Bartholomew, the owner and chef, got his start in the industry working at the…

  By Curt Peterson The Windsor Central Unified School District Board unanimously added two new articles Oct. 28 for approval by district voters at Town Meeting 2020. The articles developed during negotiations between the district and the Barnard School Board pursuant to a possible merger of Barnard Academy into the WCUD. Barnard had been resisting…

  By Virginia Dean The corporate headquarters of Starbucks in Chicago has confirmed that it will open a new location at 37-41 North Main Street in Rutland this spring. The Development Review Board gave its nod in September 2018. The store will feature a drive-thru and two retail stores including the Mexican restaurant Chipotle and…

  By Karen D. Lorentz SKI Inc. 2020, released on Oct. 29, is must reading for anyone interested in what’s happening in the ski industry or trying to keep track of the consolidations and emergence of major ski companies. Or understand the changes and how they are transforming the ski business. The subtitle may be…

By Julia Purdy Rutland Rec’s 60th annual community Halloween parade will wind through downtown with floats, clowns, marching bands, far-out costumes and, of course, candy on Oct. 26. Trophies will be awarded for Most Original, Best in Parade and Most Creative. Barbie Spaulding, who transforms her home at 52 Bellevue Ave. into a haunted house…

By Matt A. Sheen This Saturday the streets of Rutland, Vermont are going to be overrun with ghosts, ghouls, blood-sucking fiends, and all other manner of supernatural oddities and locals couldn't be happier about it. Rutland City will be celebrating its 60th annual Halloween Parade. The visual spectacle won't be limited to the macabre. Some…

By Virginia Dean Work to repair the Lincoln Covered Bridge in West Woodstock is coming along as expected, according to Joseph Poston, senior project manager of Wright Construction of Manchester, New Hampshire. “We’re making good progress and anticipate an early winter opening,” said Poston. “We’ve removed most of the siding and three-quarters of the timber…

K9 Cobalt and his handler Officer Nate Harvey of Rutland have been selected for a once in a lifetime opportunity: to win a fully outfitted K9 Tahoe from Vested Interest K9, a non-profit organization that donates to working dogs. K9 Cobalt is the sole working K9 for the City of Rutland, and one of only…

Staff report As town officials threaten to take the Bridgewater Mill Mall to tax sale, a court decision has given permission for the association to foreclose on one of the owners. A judge denied Leo Werner’s motion for an injunction to prohibit foreclosure sale on his condominium unit on Oct. 16. Werner, who purchased a…