On Sept. 20, Sally H. Kirby, former finance director of Hunger Free Vermont, appeared in court for her sentencing on charges of embezzlement from Vermont’s leading anti-hunger organization. Kirby was sentenced to 15 months in prison with three years of probation and is ordered to pay full restitution of the stolen $165,000 plus additional expenses…

By Patricia Minichiello RUTLAND CITY—Wendy Wilton engaged in a terse exchange with a Rutland City High School English teacher and resident of Shrewsbury outside the rail Monday night. The city treasurer, speaking as a citizen during the Board of Aldermen meeting, made a passionate plea to the Board to proceed with caution on the issue…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger.org More schools in Vermont are taking advantage of a federal program that offers free meals to all students in low-income areas. In 2014, 29 schools in Vermont signed up with the “universal” meal program and began serving free breakfast and lunch to all students whether they qualified for free meals…

On Sept. 21, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) received an additional $16 million in federal highway funding after the state met all of its fiscal year deadlines for federally-funded projects. When states or other federal entities which are funded through the federal highway trust fund do not fully utilize their federal funds in a…

The Vermont congressional delegation announced Friday, Sept. 23, that Housing Vermont  received a $2 million grant to help provide affordable housing to low-income families in the state. “While the economy has certainly improved since the Great Recession, far too many people in Vermont and across the country are still struggling to get by on stagnant…

By Karrie Etzler Residents of Rutland City and its environs were graciously fêted at a three-course culinary soiree, hosted by the Grace Congregational United Church of Christ (Grace Church), under its community outreach program on Sunday evening, Sept. 25. The complimentary affair dubbed Welcome Table Dinner is a major event for the church, and is…

PITTSFORD—The Proctor Transfer Station on Deere Road in Pittsford will be open to Proctor residents from 12-5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 for trash, recyclables, yard waste and brush without charge. The Rutland County Solid Waste District will be at the transfer station to accept household hazardous wastes from 12-3 p.m. Proctor residents with questions…

FOREST DALE—Rev. Scott R. Carlson has accepted the pastorate of Living Water Assembly of God in Forest Dale. He will be moving with his his wife and son to Brandon and will begin pastoral duties officially Sunday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. The Northern New England District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Reverend Dennis Marguardt…

RUTLAND—Elisabeth Kulas, the executive director of the Housing Trust of Rutland County, will be recognized Thursday, Sept. 29, for promoting smart growth, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and strong communities through the development of affordable housing. Kulas, of Clarendon, will receive the Arthur Gibb Award for Individual Leadership from the Vermont Natural Resources Council at VNRC’s…

RUTLAND—The Rutland Garden Club recently accepted the Theresa Brungardt Award at the Vermont Recreation and Parks Conference at Lake Morey Resort, according to a Sept. 23 news release. Rutland Recreation and Parks Department nominated the Rutland Garden Club for the award for its outstanding design and creation of the 22 public gardens throughout Rutland City.…

Changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA, are here. Find out what it means for financial aid plans at a Paying for College workshop, hosted by Vermont Student Assistance Corp. The workshop, which is free and open to the public, will provide parents and students with information on the new…

BETHEL—A unique “do-it-yourself” revitalization project is bringing the community together to create the town they want. During the first weekend in October Main Street will come alive with a new (temporary) bike lane, pop-up shops and a youth center in vacant buildings, a beer garden and live music in empty parking lots, and murals and…

On Sept. 21, Green Mountain Power announced that it has reached an agreement with Enel Green Power North America, Inc. (EGP-NA) to purchase 14 small hydroelectric plants for a total installed capacity of 17 MW. These hydro plants are located in New England and will provide GMP customers with locally-generated, cost-effective energy. In addition, Green…

Student housing awarded tax credits RUTLAND—The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development awarded Castleton University’s downtown Rutland student housing $170,000 in tax credits on Sept. 22. The second and third floors of the Clement Building now house dorm suites for 40 students. The state split $2.26 million in tax incentives among more than 20…

ARSU sets homework guidelines The Addison-Rutland Supervisory Union has released guidelines for how much homework a grade school or middle school student should be doing at home. The rule of thumb for how much homework a student should do is about 10 minutes per grade level. First graders should perform about 10 minutes of homework;…