Submitted Shades of green represent annual State-Local Tax Burden as a percentage of State income for FY 2012, with lighter shades representing lower, and darker shades representing higher percentages. Vt. ranks mid of New England states, 0.4 percent higher than U.S. average In Vermont 10.3 percent of total resident income went toward state and local…

By Christopher Biddle KILLINGTON—The town of Killington celebrated its achievements and looked to the future on Tuesday, Jan. 27, as town officials, business owners, members of the community and representatives from local and state organizations met for a followup Community Visit by the Vermont Council of Rural Development (VCRD). About 70 residents plus second homeowners,…

RUTLAND – The Paramount Theatre and Castleton University present an evening highlighting the primary process as part of the 14-month series, Project 240: Celebrating the American Experience on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at the Paramount Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and all attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a mock primary hosted by…

By Mikie Perkins Sue Veghte-Wilson, 80, and Marion Wright, 93, start their warmup exercises during a session of Bone Builders. By Mikie Perkins Twice a week, in the basement of the Mendon United Methodist Church, a group of seniors ranging in age from 50 to 93 gathers to stave off the effects of aging with…

A group of doctors representing six statewide physicians’ organizations came together Thursday, Jan. 28, with a single voice to caution the Vermont General Assembly and public to be fully aware of the potential risks of marijuana, and the possible implications of making it legal. As part of a press conference held Thursday at the State…

Shumlin delivered his sixth balanced budget to the Legislature on Jan. 21, highlighting the fact that it does not raise income, sales, or rooms and meals tax rate, while closing a $68 million budget gap and is the first since 2009 that does not to rely on the use of one-time funds to pay for…

Submitted The Child First Advocacy Center staff proudly holds its check for $8,000, granted by Merchants Bank Foundation. The Merchants Bank Foundation has awarded an $8,000.00 grant to the Child First Advocacy Center (CFAC) to help support victim recovery by providing alternative treatment options and prevention in Rutland County. The Child First Advocacy Center (CFAC)…

By Donald Dill The Challenge Committee poses for a photo at the 20th annual Flannel with Flair event. Pictured (l-r): Diane Mueller, Lisa Schmidt, Kevin Barnes, Joyce Washburn, Kathy Burns. Not pictured is Leslie Stuart. LUDLOW–On Saturday, Jan. 23, the Okemo Community Challenge (OCC) held its annual fundraiser, Flannel with Flair, at Okemo Mountain Resort’s…

Submitted Student Monica Schmelzenbach stands with Sen. Patrick Leahy and Rep. Peter Welch. RUTLAND–Mount Saint Joseph Academy senior Monica Schmelzenbach is one of a select number of Vermonters to receive a nomination for admission to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Being nominated for a service academy is a tremendous honor. Students are…

Courtesy of VTDigger.org Jeb Spaulding, chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges, told lawmakers recently about an effort to consolidate functions among the institutions to save money. In an echo of the school district consolidation efforts around the state, Vermont State Colleges, a public corporation, is looking for ways to save money through efficiencies of scale…

Courtesy of Same Sun of Vermont A crowd gathered outside Phoenix Books Rutland for its grand opening, Sept. 2015. RUTLAND — Vermont’s Phoenix Books has been shortlisted for the 2016 Publishers Weekly Bookstore of the Year Award, which highlights singular achievements in the bookselling industry. “This year’s nominees for the 2016 PW Awards reflect the…

KILLINGTON — A large contingent of blind and visually impaired skiers will be attending the 9th Annual United States Association of Blind Athletes Winter Festival with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports this weekend, Feb. 6-7, at Pico Mountain and Mountain Meadows. It is the largest gathering in the nation with 30 blind and visually impaired…

By Elizabeth Hewitt During the first two weeks of the year, fewer than half of the 41 beds at Maple Leaf Farm, a residential opiate treatment facility in Underhill, were full. For a facility that usually has a waiting list of 34 and a wait of two weeks to get a bed, that’s unusual. The…

Vermont is seeking 15 small business owners to participate in the Emerging Leaders Initiative beginning in April at Vermont Technical College in Williston, Vt. Emerging Leaders, established by the federal Small Business Administration, is a free, executive-level training program for entrepreneurs to learn how to establish a three-year strategic growth plan for their businesses. The…

On Wednesday, Jan. 20, at about 3:22 p.m., the Vermont State Police responded to a head-on automobile crash on Route 125 near West Market Road in Bridport, involving a 2004 Pontiac Vibe and a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The driver of the Pontiac, Thomas Scheufler, age 66 of Shoreham, Vt., was found dead at the scene;…