By Marji Graf LUDLOW—The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce had a strong start to 2018. Marji Graf spoke to the Chester Select Board on Jan. 3 regarding Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce accomplishments in 2017 and goals for 2018. On Jan. 10, the chamber held a free education seminar on cybersecurity and protecting…

By Mike Dougherty Gov. Phil Scott signed into law a bill legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, making Vermont the first state to pass a legalization measure through legislation rather than a voter initiative. In a letter notifying the Legislature, Scott expressed “mixed emotions” about signing the bill, which allows possession of specific amounts of marijuana by…

By Evan Johnson Local business and community leaders came out early Monday morning for a legislative breakfast that featured updates and discussion on bills progressing through the state legislature in Montpelier. Rep. Butch Shaw (R - Rutland 6) said recent bills concerning paid family leave, a carbon tax, increasing the minimum wage and simplifying Act…

By Alan J. Keays/VTDigger MONTPELIER—State police say that a pistol a man displayed during a standoff, Jan. 16, on a field at Montpelier High School, prompting nine officers to open fire and kill him, was a BB gun. A day after the shooting, police said Wednesday their investigation has identified the silver handgun Nathan Giffin,…

By Evan Johnson Killington visitors and locals hauled their Christmas trees to Charity’s Tavern and Restaurant on Sunday evening for bonfire and fundraiser. The event was a benefit for the Killington-Pico Rotary club and Vermont Special Olympics, which will hold the 2018 Winter games at Pico Mountain, March 18-20. Special Olympic Vermont Athlete Jack Rasmussen…

(Click for full image) By Karen D. Lorentz “Wow, that is inspiring but I don’t think my knees will last that long!” So said a 30ish male at Okemo, reacting to members of the 70+ Club racing, including some in their eighties and one in his nineties. Another man quietly confided he was 75 and…

RUTLAND—The Cobra Gymnastics Team is rolling into 2018 with success and excitement for the rest of their competitive season.  In a time when USA Gymnastics is undergoing a hard evaluation, the Cobra girls continue to show their prowess of strength, focus and dedication, all under the healthy coaching models of Shelby Collett and her staff. …

Woodstock Union High School Innovation, Design, Engineering and Action (IDEA) students have learned to be empathetic by designing for it. Creating devices that simulate the challenges that arise from concussions, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), ALS, and dyslexia, students hope that experiencing the frustration that comes with these disabilities will bring about understanding, and maybe some…

FAIR HAVEN— Fair Haven Union High School will once again join in the fight against cancer by sponsoring Coaches vs. Cancer games. This year they will compete on the court with Otter Valley. The public is invited to attend the Coaches vs. Cancer night to cheer on the Slaters. The games, which take place at…

By Evan Johnson When Nancy Mark retired from a career in education, she wasn’t ready to walk away from the classroom. After retiring from her role as principal at the Mettawee Community School in Pawlet, she took an online English as a Second Language (ESL) course and signed up with Vermont Adult Learning to begin…

By Evan Johnson The owners of the Cortina Inn in Killington have a plan to breathe new life into the space. This spring, the Cortina will close operations in early April as it begins work to become residential care facility with specialized units for memory care that would house 75. “We did a market study…

Performance apparel company Under Armour announced the race dates and locations for the second annual Under Armour Mountain Running Series. In partnership with Powdr Corp, the trail running series is designed for running professionals and enthusiasts alike who want to experience trail in challenging mountain environments across North America. Powdr’s mountain resorts provide diverse climates, changing…

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has arranged for a shipment of 25 surplus computers to five Vermont Schools through the U.S. Senate’s Computers for Schools programs.  Overseen by the Senate’s Sergeant At Arms, the program was established to offer surplus computers to classrooms across the country. Leahy worked with Vermont Agency of Education officials to identify…

By Evan Johnson RUTLAND—After serving a lengthy jail sentence, reentering a community and adjusting to an unstructured life can be a daunting task. Thanks to a group of volunteers in Rutland, that obstacle becomes easier for offenders to overcome. Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA), is a relatively new program at the Rutland County Community…

RUTLAND—Rutland Blooms, a donation-funded city beautification program that has planted thousands of flowers and hundreds of flowering crabapples, maples and other trees in Rutland, presented the City of Rutland with a $25,000 grant Thursday in support of the Center Street Marketplace. The funding, which comes from Rutland Blooms donors, will pay for landscaping and plantings in the…