Town Meeting ballot additions Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum in Rutland has gathered signatures to be put on the ballot in Rutland City with a request for $12,000; in Rutland Town, for $4,500; in Mendon, for $2,500; and in Chittenden, for $2,500, Executive Director Kheya Ganguly told the Rutland Herald. This year is the first time the…

You can’t outrun the radio FAIR HAVEN— Andrew J. Sipowicz, 21, of Granville, N.Y., learned he couldn’t outrun the reach of police radios Jan. 15. He fled from an officer who saw a man leave the Granville Cumberland Farms with two packages of beer soon after midnight, confirmed that the beer was stolen, and chased…

hroughout the Vermont’s Killington Resort has claimed the title of New England’s largest electric car charging hub with a total of 45 electric vehicle (EV) chargers throughout the resort’s properties. As a part of Powdr’s Play Forever sustainability efforts Killington Resort and Pico Mountain partnered with Tesla to add additional electric vehicles chargers throughout Killington Resort…

By Evan Johnson Castleton University’s cycling club rode into the national collegiate cycling scene earlier this month in Reno, Nev. At the 2018 Cyclocross National Championships, the club’s president, Andrew Borden, placed tenth in the collegiate division and 21st in the Under-23 men’s division. “That’s quite a haul for us Vermonters but I was super…

RUTLAND—In response to a growing need for trauma services and advanced practitioner training, College of St. Joseph has launched a new certification program designed specifically for professionals who deal with trauma and its emotional impact. Housed within the college’s Division of Psychology & Human Services, the CSJ Traumatology Institute was established to provide advanced education,…

portal Once considered out-of-sight, the state’s environmental permitting system just got a massive makeover that’s turning heads. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently launched the Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB). Now, for the first time ever, there is an online hub that gives anyone the ability to easily track permit applications and add public comments.…

RUTLAND—Based on an increase in numbers, Mount Saint Joseph Academy has decided to reinstate varsity football, as the two-year cooperative agreement with Poultney has now expired. The Vermont Principals’ Association has officially granted MSJ release from the cooperative. MSJ now awaits a Division III football schedule from the Vermont Interscholastic Football League. Coach Tucker Peterson…

By Julia Purdy ROCHESTER—The Rochester Public Library hosted its first Vermont Humanities Council-sponsored book discussion in at least a decade Thursday morning, Jan. 18, with Nancy Gallagher’s eye-opening contribution to modern Vermont history, “Breeding Better Vermonters,” a thought-provoking look at the notorious eugenics movement in Vermont, which was housed at UVM in the 1920s and…

RUTLAND TOWN—The Rutland Town Select Board has voted 4-1 to hire William Sweet to fill the vacant position of administrative assistant to the board. The sole dissenting vote came from board member Chris Kiefer-Cioffi. Mr. Bill Sweet is a lifelong Rutland Town resident who has served 24 years on the Rutland Fire Department. Sweet has…

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…