By Karen D. Lorentz Since 1916, the National Park Service, with the help of volunteers and park partners, has taken care of and safeguarded more than 400 places, with more than 275 million visitors every year. Visits to our national parks allow us to discover American history in all its diversity, enjoy wonderful hikes and…

By Stephen Seitz LUDLOW—With the aid of the Black River Academy Museum, sixth-grade students at Ludlow Elementary have been studying their town's history by living some of it. Last Saturday, the students shared what they learned with the public in a walking tour of the town. Students dressed in period costume and portrayed Ludlow residents…

By Stephen Seitz RUTLAND — Whither White's Pool? That is the question facing voters in March. If approved, a new pool would cost approximately $2 million, according to estimates. "The city has had a pool since 1929," said Cindi Wight, superintendent at Rutland Recreation & Parks Department. "Everyone from seniors to children can remember using…

HARTFORD—The White River Junction V.A. Medical Center has joined seven other Veterans Administration (V.A.) hospitals in a program that interviews veterans about their life stories and makes the transcribed oral histories part of the patients’ medical records. The program, called My Life, My Story, uses stories to foster a sense of connection between health care…

By Lani Duke Solar expansion ignites local flares PAWLET—About two years ago, Northeast Community Solar had begun laying out a solar field on Route 30, north of Blossom's Corner in Pawlet. The Vermont Public Service Board had granted the company a certificate of public good for the locally-funded, 150-kilowatt project, designed to provide power for…

By Jasper Craven, VTDigger.org After weeks of discreet coordination around who would replace her as Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Transportation, Sue Minter resigned from the agency Thursday morning, Sept. 10, before announcing her intentions to run for governor in 2016 in an email sent out minutes later. “I am running for governor to…

An ATV connector trail proposed on 7,988-acre Les Newell WMA in Stockbridge Two public hearings will be held to receive comment on a new rule proposed by the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) that would allow the Agency Secretary to designate connector trails for use by all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on public lands owned by the…

The Vermont Agency of Transportation and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will air its findings on a study to expand regional intercity passenger rail service at a public meeting held Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. at Hotel Coolidge on 39 South Main Street in White River Junction, Vt. The study, known as the Northern…

By Robin Alberti The Rutland Fairgrounds are abuzz with the annual Vermont State Fair running this year, Sept. 4-12. Livestock and agricultural contests, food, music, rides,  and entertainment packs each day at the fair. Schedule at vermontstatefair.org.

Farrell Distributing Company of South Burlington, Vt., and g.housen, Inc. of Keene, N.H. have reached an agreement that will transfer ownership of g.housen’s portfolio of beverage brands in Vermont to Farrell Distributing, the companies announced Sept. 14. Both companies said the transaction would strengthen their businesses and improve service to suppliers, retailers and beverage consumers.…

PITTSFORD — The Rutland County Humane Society (RCHS) is working with VT-CAN (a low cost spay/neuter clinic in Vermont) to host a low cost spay/neuter clinic for Rutland County cats on Monday, Sept. 28 in Pittsford. Prior registration is required. Female cat spays are $60 including rabies and distemper shots. Male cat neuters are $50 including rabies and…

By Kate Robitello Lucia Rullo holds a bag of veggies that she just bought from Ryan Yoder of Yoder Farm at the Rutland Farmers Market in downtown Rutland. Instilling the importance of buying local in the future generation By Kate Robitello I asked Lucia Rullo, a young shopper at the Rutland Farmers Market last week,…

Courtesy of  Sierra Club South Woodstock’s Roger Payne received the Sierra Club’s Earth Care Award. He discovered that whales sing songs! Retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and Alan Rusbridger, who recently retired as editor of The Guardian newspaper in London, are among those who received awards from the Sierra Club this year. Most of…

Submitted This wooden lion went missing from Bentley’s in 2012. WOODSTOCK — Stonewall of Woodstock, Corp., operator of Bentley’s Restaurant, announced a substantial increase to the reward being offered for the safe return of a (30-40 pound) wooden carousel lion that went missing in April 2012. A treasured artifact of great sentimental and historical value,…

RUTLAND —Rutland Veterinary Clinic and Surgical Center has once again achieved the highest level of veterinary excellence following a thorough evaluation by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).  The clinic became accredited in 1963 and has continued to remain accredited for over 50 years. Only the top small animal hospitals in the United States and…