RUTLAND – To honor the lives lost and families affected by the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, College of St. Joseph will host a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. The entire community is invited to join students, faculty and administration in remembrance of the victims of the Feb. 14 mass shooting in Parkland,…

RUTLAND—Always wanted to live in Vermont? Here’s your chance to move to the Green Mountains—and live in a free, super-efficient smart home! Green Mountain Power (GMP), Naylor & Breen Builders, the United Way of Rutland County, NBF Architects and Rutland Mayor Dave Allaire kicked off GMP’s Rutland Innovation Home Contest Monday, Feb. 26, a national…

CASTLETON—Castleton University announced Friday, Feb. 23, that as part of a comprehensive response to a projected operating loss of $1.5 million for the current year, it will restructure its current workforce through a combination of layoffs, position eliminations, and early retirements. The restructuring will also enable the University to minimize a projected shortfall for the fiscal year…

By Karen D. Lorentz KILLINGTON—Hairball greets families arriving at Ramshead with hi-fives, a good morning or a “Yo” if it’s a teenager, and always a smile. He’s Killington’s first—and only—monkey-ambassador. Scenes of green-jacketed mountain ambassadors interacting with and helping guests repeat every day at Killington Resort. Glenn Jacobi gives “tame the Beast tours” and promises…

KILLINGTON—Thursday, Feb. 15 marked 100 consecutive days of skiing for the 2017-18 season. And Jackie and Jim Nimal from Killington skied all of them—perfect attendance. That includes the Saturday in January when Killington was unfortunately closed due to severe cold and wind conditions. That day they skied Pico mountain. Jackie and Jim Nimal were last…

Michael Botti KILLINGTON—Come gather to celebrate and share the life and times of Michael Botti, a.k.a. “Mikey.” All are welcome to join. The celebration will be held at the Lookout Tavern in Killington, Mikey’s favorite spot. Lookout owners Joy and Phil Black have generously offered to host the reception starting at 9 p.m. on Saturday,…

By Karen D. Lorentz KILLINGTON—With parents who were avid skiers, Kristel Fillmore was one of the lucky kids who skied from an early age. Although she was born in Somers Point, N.J., her parents took the family to Pico Mountain where Fillmore learned to ski at 4 years old. Taught by instructors in the Pico…

By Polly Lynn Mikula KILLINGTON—On Town Meeting Day, March 6, voters in Killington will be asked to approve general fund expenditures of $4.4 million, of which $3.17 million will be raised by property taxes. This represents a tax rate of $0.41— a 4.4-cent increase per $100, or 11 percent, over last year. The three candidates…

Students in Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, and Woodstock can attend any of the four elementary schools Students and families in the new Windsor Central Unified District (WCUD), which consists of the towns of Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, and Woodstock) can now choose which of the four district elementary schools they would like to…

RUTLAND—The Rutland Region Workforce Investment Board (RRWIB) in collaboration with the Rutland Economic Development Corporation (REDC) recently announced Real Careers @ Rutland County, a pilot program funded through the Vermont Department of Labor. The program will engage high school seniors and recent graduates in training and education for locally available jobs. While on graduation night…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon When the new session began on Jan. 3, I was reassigned to the House Government Operations Committee, one of 14 House committees that meets on a daily basis to delve into various proposals and bills. What does Government Operations do, you may ask? As Deputy Secretary…

RUTLAND—The Pines at Rutland Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation was recently awarded National Health Care Associates’ Customer Service Cup for 2017. This award is a culmination of consistently high customer service scores throughout 2017 from families and patients at the 99 Allen Street center. Since 2012, National Health Care Associates (NHCA), the manager and operator…

A powerful report showcasing the results of public investment in clean water projects during 2017, titled “The Vermont Clean Water Initiative 2017 Investment Report,” was released by the Secretary of Administration. According to a Feb. 6 news release, it shows how public funds are being applied to clean water projects and the impact these dollars are…

Make-A-Wish Vermont and ArtsRiot in Burlington have teamed up for a truly Vermont-style fundraiser with the Second Annual Vermont Beardies: the Contest To Find the Best Beard in Vermont. Bearded Vermonters are invited to enter their magnificent scruff and encourage their friends to support Make-A-Wish Vermont through social media appeals. Contestants will compete online in…

By Karen D. Lorentz Diane Mueller is the sixth woman to actively operate a Vermont ski area with her husband but has done so for longer than most — now in her 36th season and just two seasons shy of Suzanne Smith’s 38-year record at Killington. Mueller follows Janet Mead, 1937-1954, at Pico (solo owner/operator…