The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) announced the launch of its second annual Two-Sentence Writing Contest on Feb. 22. Open to all Vermont and New Hampshire children aged 12 and under, the contest is free to enter, and prizes will be awarded to top submissions in each of four categories. This year’s contest challenges young writers…

By Curt Peterson The $99,000,000 bond for a middle/high school in Woodstock is not the only option, according to Killington Selectman Jim Haff. Four years ago a much less expensive proposal was presented to the Mountain Views Supervisory Union (MVSU), that would have fixed many of its failing systems and extended the useful life of…

By Dr. Vern Grubinger, UVM extension vegetable and berry specialist The first Census of Agriculture was conducted in 1840, when Vermont produced 3.7 million pounds of wool from 1.7 million sheep, and just $1.4 million of milk. Since then, data collected at regular intervals has documented ongoing, often dramatic, changes in farming. The most recent…

Courtesy the Dept. of Environmental Conservation Top: Barrier tape marks the limits of the construction site. Bottom left: Stone or rock check dams slow erosion in drainage channels. Bottom right: Filter socks (a manufactured tube filled with shredded material) slow stormwater runoff on long open slopes. All projects over 1 acre require additional state permits  With…

Roadmap was shaped by public input, focused on state resiliency Vermont health officials announced the release of the Age Strong VT 10-Year Action Plan, a comprehensive roadmap designed to address the evolving needs of . The strategic plan, titled “Age Strong VT: A Vision for the Future,” is the result of extensive public input. The…

By Chelsea Pond Pippa Scott, a Killington Mountain School student, speaks at Killington’s Grand Hotel about teen suicide. By Chelsea Pond The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost. On Sunday, Feb. 18, a frigid and…

  By Sarah Calvin On Wednesday, Feb. 21, the Killington Pico Area Association (KPAA) hosted a Select Board candidate forum for the public. Incumbent Jim Haff and challenger Andrew Gieda are vying for the open seat on the board and answered a series of questions, which they were given the day prior. Around 25 people…

MVSU Board of Directors Each of the seven district towns elects its own representative on the school district board of directors. Each town has two representatives, except for Woodstock which has six [due to its population which is about three times larger in population than the next biggest town in the district.] Representatives serves three-year…

Staff report On Wednesday, Feb. 14, the Mountain View School District (MVSD) administration received information about a potential threat to the Woodstock middle and high school. After speaking with police, they determined that the campus would be closed until law enforcement and crisis intervention agencies determined the campus was safe. The school district administration and…

By Curt Peterson Ouch! Owners of a modest $250,000 assessed home in Hartland may face a $1,100 property education tax increase for FY2025. Homeowners are angry and distraught — some fear they can’t afford to stay in their homes. Many blame local school districts, assuming their budgets are bloated. They’re not the only ones. Legislators…

Rutland Regional Medical Center announced Feb. 15 that it has been recognized as a 2024 Outpatient Joint Replacement Excellence Award recipient by Healthgrades, the leading resource consumers use to find a hospital or doctor. This achievement along with their 5-Star in Outpatient Total Hip Replacement reflects the organization’s dedication to clinical excellence and distinguishes Rutland Regional…

Courtesy RRMC Members of the Women’s & Children’s Unit and Birthing Center at RRMC pictured (l-r): Megen Hasbrouck, RN; Amy Williams, RN; Justine Franko, RN, manager of WACU; Leah Romine, RN, director Women’s & Children’s Unit; Jody McIntosh, RN; Becky Allen, RN; Chloe Harris, Dr. Ananda Boyer; Dr. Sarah Decker, Medical Director, Rutland Women’s Healthcare. Blue Cross…

Q&A with Killington Town Manager Michael Ramsey Staff report Submitted Town Manager Michael Ramsey enjoys a day on the slopes. In advance of the upcoming Town Meeting Day vote, March 5, the Mountain Times caught up with Killington Town Manager Michael Ramsey to clarify some of the more nuanced articles voters will be asked to…

                  Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Dept. of Economic Development (DED), Feb. 2,  announced the launch of the Rural Industry and Development Program (RIDP) to increase the amount of move-in ready industrial space, in an effort to shorten the timeline for the permitting and building of…

At the governor’s weekly press conference last Wednesday, Feb. 7, Gov. Phil Scott reiterated his call for the Legislature to prioritize regulatory reform to make it easier, less expensive, and faster to build housing the state desperately needs. “On January 10, I stood here with a tripartisan group of lawmakers and stakeholders to outline good,…