By Robin Alberti KILLINGTON—Spring has been fickle this year and came late, creating a shortage of native food for them to eat. Consequently, many homeowners and businesses have been reporting bears getting into their trashcans and Dumpsters around the area. Last Wednesday, May 9, a large black bear was seen lying in a field just…

By Polly Lynn Mikula KILLINGTON— In the past, the prices at Killington town’s municipal Green Mountain National Golf Course “didn’t really compete well for Vermont or Killington residents,” said J.P. Longueil, interim head golf professional and general manager at GMNGC. There will be new rates this year as the golf course is under new management.…

Raft racers Ed Flynn (Trump); and Jeremy Prior and Sam Carr brave the high waters of the Ottauquechee River. [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="28" gal_title="Raft Race - Robin Alberti"]

By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger RUTLAND—A city firefighter who was fired late last year following his arrest while off-duty on charges of impersonating a police officer and later for crashing into a parked car while driving drunk has reached a plea deal that will allow him to avoid jail time. As part of an agreement…

By Robin Alberti The Paramount Theatre was buzzing with excitement Saturday night, as eight teams, sponsored by local businesses and groups, took the stage to move their lips and hips, all for a great cause. The second annual Lip Sync Battle was an entertaining fundraising event for The Wonderfeet Kid’s Museum. Anticipation was high when…

By Katy Savage RUTLAND— Erin and Jim Lorentz close off their front door every winter. They lay blankets on the floor to keep the cold air out and they seal off all their single-pane windows with plastic, but their house is still cold. “It’s freezing all the time,” Erin said. Their windows and doors are…

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…