Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz will accompany the governor Gov. Peter Shumlin will travel to Paris this week to attend 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Shumlin joins governors Jay Inslee of Washington State and Jerry Brown of California at the summit, which brings together political leaders to develop a worldwide framework and…

Pilot program begins in January On Dec. 3, Green Mountain Power announced that it is the first utility in the country to offer home batteries to its customers, under an innovative filing. Vermonters now have the option to purchase the Tesla Powerwall home battery outright or lease it with no upfront cost. The cutting-edge battery…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger.org On Dec. 2, the Shumlin Administration recommended a 1-cent increase in the statewide property tax rates—the lowest increase in three years—for residential and commercial property for fiscal year 2017. Each year, the Agency of Education, Department of Taxes, and Joint Fiscal Office work together to predict what will be needed…

On Dec. 1, the Emergency Board approved Gov. Peter Shumlin’s recommendation to increase the cap on the Vermont Employment Growth Incentive for projects in economically distressed regions of Vermont. The approval allows for consideration of proposals that could create 200 new full-time jobs and $6.5 million in new payroll. Regions of the state that have…

Courtesy of KES Abigail Masillo, Hannah Black, and Heidi Alf tested the angles of solar panels at the angles of zero, 22, 40, 60, and 90 degrees. By Hannah Black, Grade 6 The Killington Elementary sixth-graders have been working on experiments with photovoltaic cells, also known as solar power. We split up into groups to…

By Robin Alberti A trio played at the Killington Active Seniors annual Christmas potluck luncheon. Bob Smith played the stand-up bass, Jack Herrington the guitar, and George Lions played the piano. KILLINGTON — The Killington Active Seniors meet every Wednesday at The Lookout for lunch, but this past week they met Monday, Dec. 7, for…

Courtesy of the Woods Resort Michael Jenkins KILLINGTON — On Dec. 4, The Woods Homeowners Association officially announced that Michael Jenkins has been hired as the new general manager. Jenkins and his wife are moving to the area from Brooklyn, N.Y. Jenkins’s most recent work experience was general manager/director of operations at La Marina in New…

Submitted Mark and Joan Brown present a check to Wounded Warrior Project for $19,000. Accepting it on behalf of that organization this year were brothers and WWII veterans Sergeant George “Bud” Taggart and Corporal Frank Taggart. BOMOSEEN — The employees of Brown’s Auto Salvage and Premium Recycled Parts North East support injured service members through…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger.org Gov. Peter Shumlin called on lawmakers Tuesday, Dec. 1, to fix the spending mechanism in the new education law known as the “Allowable Growth Percentage” before school budgets go to the printer in mid-January. “I want the legislature to act on this before school boards are submitting their budgets to…

Courtesy of Bright Cherry Media This map show where the happiest divorces happen It’s generally assumed that once any couple has reached the stage where their marriage is to be legally dissolved, things have reached a low point. Recrimination, bitterness, anger and sadness are common when a long-term relationship ends. Happily, however, a divorce doesn’t…

By Lani Duke State Fair makes membership change The Rutland County Agricultural Society plans to chart the course for potentially significant changes. Under a provision approved in 2014, members will vote on whether to expel one of its members because he is a convicted felon. It allows an individual to be removed from membership if…

By Lani Duke ARSU committee recommends Act 46 restructure The Addison-Rutland Supervisory Union’s Act 46 study committee has finalized its report with the recommendation that existing schools become a single supervisory district with a single board and a single budget by July 1, 2017. Voters in Benson, Castleton, Fair Haven, Hubbardton, Orwell, and West Haven…

RUTLAND—The Bowse Health Trust, a department of Rutland Regional Medical Center, recently announced that it has awarded $275,000 in grant funds to three new projects aimed at improving the health status of Rutland County residents. The projects will receive up to three years of funding starting in 2016, according to a Nov. 24 press release.…

RUTLAND—Meals on Wheels of Rutland County recently announced its participation in the Share the Love Event this holiday season, which helps to fight senior isolation and hunger “one Subaru at a time.” “The Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging cannot do its work or fulfill its mission unless we are united in partnership with a broad…

RUTLAND —  On Dec. 7, the Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region (CHCRR) announced that it is now operating a new practice location. Previously, Dr. Mark Logan made the decision to close his primary care office, Green Mountain Primary Care, located in the Allen Pond professional condominium complex at 71 Allen Street, in Rutland, VT. CHCRR…