By Julia Purdy N. CHITTENDEN—On Saturday, June 23, about 80 residents, friends and visitors gathered to witness the dedication of the Royal Baird memorial stone and flagpole in its new location at the junction of West Road and Stoney Hill Road in N. Chittenden. Royal (“Jack”) Baird joined the Marines at age 17 in 1943,…

By Lee J. Kahrs Environmentalists seek to block the state permit allowing the local insect control district to spray pesticides to control mosquitoes. The Toxics Action Center and the Environmental Natural Resources Law Clinic at Vermont Law School filed an appeal on June 13 with the state Environmental Court regarding the Vermont Department of Environmental…

By Katy Savage A new beauty school is coming to Rutland. Paige Carrara, 25, the owner of Blush Salon and Beauty Lounge, received a $10,000 loan from the Business Incentive Assistance Program to open what she plans to call the Paige Elizabeth Academy of Cosmetology. The business incentive program was created to encourage business development…

SPRINGFIELD—Five mosquito pools collected in Springfield have tested positive for West Nile virus at the Vermont Department of Health Laboratory. These are the first positive pools – or group of up to 50 mosquitos of the same species – of the 2018 surveillance season. The infected mosquitoes were collected by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and tested…

KILLINGTON—Despite steady, heavy rains on Saturday, June 23, more than 600 cyclists took to Vermont’s scenic roads to pedal for a cause, raising $280,000 for Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports’ year-round programs for people with disabilities. Held annually the Saturday after Father’s Day, the 8th annual Long Trail Charity Ride to Benefit Vermont Adaptive included…

By Katy Savage After navigating roadblocks preventing Lyft’s expansion in Vermont, a bill signed by the governor June 19 has made it possible for the ride hailing company to expand statewide. The popular transportation service available through an app went live in Rutland and Barre Sunday, July 1—the same day the bill (Act 3) went…

By Katy Savage WOODSTOCK—Five years after opening Worthy Kitchen, bringing local food and casual dining to the region, the restaurant owners have opened a new year-round creemee and frozen yogurt shop. Sweet and Salty, located by the Woodstock Welcome Center off Main Street, had a soft opening Wednesday, June 27. An official open and ribbon…

By Marguerite Jill Dye RUTLAND—“Children don’t belong in cages!” stood out among the powerful signs at Rutland’s “Families Belong Together” event. Over 150 demonstrators of all ages lined up along  Routes 4 and 7 at Rutland’s Main Street Park. There were 750 nationwide marches on Saturday, June 29, in 50 states. They protested abhorrence against…

Courtesy of Killington Resort KILLINGTON—The WreckTangle, a proprietary ninja obstacle challenge named after its rectangular shape, debuted at Killington Resort, Friday, June 22. The WreckTangle has 10 obstacles, which can be swapped out, including a quarter pipe finish. The thrilling obstacles are designed to be achievable and fun for kids and adults. Aspiring ninjas use skill, strength, creativity…

By Paul Holmes A bald eagle was out looking for breakfast on Kent Pond in Killington the morning of June 13. With an eagle-eye, patience and a stroke of luck, this early bird of prey caught a fishy feast in one fell swoop. Good catch! The same can be said of Killington photographer Paul Holmes,…

By Katy Savage and Polly Mikula On Sunday, July 1, recreational use and possession of pot will be legal. H.511 (Act 86) legalizes the possession and gifting of small amounts of cannabis by Vermont residents over 21, and it permits Vermonters to grow their own. The bill allows for the possession of 1 ounce of…

By Polly Mikula KILLINGTON — On Sunday, July 1, Killington businesses will no longer be obligated to collect a 1 percent option tax on sales, ending a 10-year local tax. Killington is first and only town in the state to rescind a local option tax, Doug Farnham, policy director for the state department of taxes…

WHITE RIVER JCT—Sweet Doe Dairy LLC, a newly established farm and creamery in Chelsea, announced the launch of Sweet Doe Gelato, New England’s first and only goat milk gelato, June 21. Three launch flavors – vanilla, chocolate and coffee – are now available in Co-op food stores in Hanover and Lebanon, N.H., and White River…

RUTLAND—The Paramount Theatre just announced a lineup of events in advance of its annual full-season announcement in mid-July. These five, first-rate events (exclusive only to the month of September) continue the tradition of excellence that theatergoers in central Vermont have come to expect and appreciate from the more than century-old performing art center at 30 Center St.…

By Alan J. Keays / VTDigger WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Vermont State Police say the death earlier this year of an 11-month-old boy from Ludlow has been ruled a homicide, with the cause of death determined to be asphyxiation from strangulation or smothering. While police are tight-lipped about their ongoing investigation, including if they have any…