By Katy Savage PAWLET—Laughing Child Farm owners Tim and Brooke Hughes-Muse got into the business to provide healthy, organic food to friends and neighbors. They focus on one crop on their farm in Pawlet: sweet potatoes. The Hughes-Muses have grown 160,000 pounds of potatoes a year since they started in 2012. “All the work we…

Dan Cotter WOODSTOCK—The 165-year-old Vermont Standard, based in Woodstock and serving a 10-town area, has its first new publisher in 38 years, according to Phil Camp, Sr., owner and president, May 3. Newspaper industry veteran Dan Cotter began his duties as the 11th publisher in the history of the paper on Monday, April 30. Cotter…

Some Vermont students will soon be able to include a new honor recognition on their high school resumes and transcripts. On Wednesday, May 2, the Vermont Legislature approved a resolution in support of the Seal of Biliteracy, an award given in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages…

Staff report After threatening to close the College of St. Joseph last month, the board of trustees voted 13-3 to keep it open on Monday night, May 7. “I am very excited and very thankful that the trustees showed their support,” said CSJ President Larry Jensen. “The challenges haven’t gone away. We still have to…

By Stephen Seitz CAVENDISH—Following a special meeting on April 30, the Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) board has decided to permanently retain the principal’s position at Cavendish Town Elementary School. The original plan had been to hire an interim principal for a year, who would then be succeeded by a dean of students, subject…

By Julia Purdy The Killington Select Board has begun the process of unraveling several financial knots. Unlike the Gordian Knot, which Alexander the Great simply cut through with his saber, thus astonishing the world, Killington’s financial knots must be analyzed, untied and backed out, one by one. The bulk of the Killington Select Board meeting…

PROCTOR—Proctor residents are invited to a meeting to line up action plans to move community-identified priority projects forward May 16. Community volunteers will meet in the Vermont Marble Museum at 52 Main St. in Proctor May 16 to frame out action plans and work with a resource team of federal, state, business, and non-profit leaders…

RUTLAND – Now that spring has sprung, the gardening and gleaning seasons are right around the corner. As Vermonters in Rutland County consider donating extra vegetables to local food shelves, they can now take advantage of new Community Kitchen locations to lightly process excess fruits and vegetables, extending their shelf life. Community Kitchens across Rutland…

By Julia Purdy RUTLAND—Combination Pond, a former farm pond on Moon Brook nestled within a labyrinthine suburban neighborhood on the eastern edge of Rutland City, was the lively scene of the annual fishing derby Saturday, May 5, which draws families and anglers from all over Rutland County and beyond. Colorful bobbers dotted the water as…

By Katy Savage CASTLETON—It’s been a year since the town office building moved to its new location on Route 30. Until recently, the site lacked any landscaping beyond construction of the new building itself, said new Town Manager Mike Jones. Jones said a new bench designed and carved out of stone by local teenagers at…

RASTA’s DisasTour race saw its seventh year on Saturday, April 28, with great weather in which to pedal, paddle and run. Team Sports Connection placed first, with a time of 2:17:44.   DisasTour races through White River Valley, Saturday [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="20" gal_title="DisasTour"] Photos by Jerry LeBlond Photos by Jerry LeBlond

Always the first Saturday in May, Green Up Day this year is Saturday, May 5. A Vermont tradition since 1970, Green Up Day is a statewide event when over 22,000 volunteers come together to remove litter from roadsides and public spaces. 2020 will mark Green Up Day’s 50th anniversary. “Green Up Day epitomizes the essential…

2017 traffic tickets in central Vermont By Katy Savage Locals aren’t surprised that Vermont Public Radio recently found both Bridgewater and Plymouth had the highest traffic ticket counts in the state last year. Jim Haff got a ticket for going 10 miles over the limit in Bridgewater last year. “I forgot I was in that…

The annual Upper Valley Aquatic Club Swim Team Swim-A-Thon in White River Junction earlier in April was a record-breaker. Athletes swam a total of 8,761 laps in two hours, according to an April 25 news release. Fundraising efforts by UVAC swimmers and families garnered more than $10,000 in contributions for the community. In addition to…

By Julia Purdy PITTSFORD—Otter Creek overtopped its banks after days of continuous rain, flooding low-lying roads and fields in Pittsford near Gorham Bridge and at Depot Hill. The popular shortcut from Pittsford to Proctor was closed to traffic, although some couldn’t resist the fun of plowing through foot-deep ponds on the road, despite warns not…