Courtesy of PBS Gina Bullard gets a bird’s eye view of the Connecticut River Valley in Outdoor Journal’s 14th season. ROCHESTER—“Outdoor Journal,” Vermont PBS’ venerable outdoor program, kicks off its 14th season Tuesday, Jan. 26, with stories that take viewers across the length and breadth of the northeast region. Hosts Lawrence Pyne and Gina Bullard…

PITTSFORD—In early January the Rutland Humane Society and Spring Hill Horse Rescue contacted the state police for help in investigating a group of emaciated horses being pastured off Kendall Hill Road in the town of Pittsford. Police reported that a humane agent from Spring Hill Horse Rescue found a chestnut mare and a palomino mare…

WOODSTOCK—On Thursday, Jan. 21, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) announced the selection of Miller Construction, Inc. as the contractor to replace Vermont Bridge 24 over Kedron Brook during the 2016 construction season. The bridge, located on Route 106 between Kedron Road and Bryant Road, was built in 1924 and is now in poor condition.…

RUTLAND—On Friday, Jan. 22, the College of St. Joseph announced a new Drive to CSJ Grant available to new, commuter students who begin at CSJ in Fall 2016. The new grant allows students to save on room and board costs while it helps cover the cost of the commute to campus. Students can experience the…

LUDLOW–Okemo Mountain Resort was recently named one of the 2016 Best Places to Work in Vermont. The annual list of the Best Places to Work in Vermont was created by Vermont Business Magazine, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Department of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor, the Society for Human Resource Management-…

By Robin Alberti Rotary member Jon Curtis adds fuel to the already-blazing fire of left over Christmas trees burned at Pasta Pot. By Robin Alberti KILLINGTON — This past Sunday, Jan. 17, the Pasta Pot in Killington hosted its first Bonfire and Snow Dance to benefit the Killington-Pico Rotary Club. Along with the trees that Rotary…

By Robin Alberti Like many of us, 4-year-old Leah Mrachek of Conn. is thrilled to play in the fresh snow. By Polly Lynn Skiers and riders in Vermont during the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend rejoiced when they woke up to over 7” of light fluffy snow Monday morning, Jan. 18. “Powder Day!” Killington…

By Robin Alberti A young snowboarder catches air with style. KILLINGTON — The groms threw down at the 2016 Mini Shred Madness held this past Saturday, Jan. 16 at Killington Resort. Sixty four youth competed in divisions made up of Super Grom (first time park riders, ages 9 and under) and Grom (park-riding experienced kids, ages…

KILLINGTON—Residents of Killington will engage in the process of strategic planning for the future of their town once again. The town’s commission guiding economic development and tourism will hold a town meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, and has invited the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) to facilitate. The meeting is a followup to…

By Stephen Seitz KILLINGTON — Melvin Neisner, Jr.’s dissatisfaction with former town manager Seth Webb has not abated, as evidenced by a lawsuit Neisner filed against the town in the closing days of 2015. Neisner is asserting that Webb and the town’s board of selectmen have bungled the use of town money in recent years,…

By Mike Polhamus, VTDigger.org Lawmakers Thursday, Jan. 14, rejected proposed rules allowing ATVs on state-owned land. The rules would have permitted four-wheelers on a 0.4-mile stretch of former logging road that would be called the Les Newell Connector Trail, near Stockbridge. Opponents of the rule said the Agency of Natural Resources lacked authority to adopt…

Courtesy of Karen D. Lorentz Photo One: The latest in technology for getting passengers to the top of the mountain is the heated-seat bubble chair at Okemo. Photo Two: Tow ropes were an early way to get up the hill. By Karen D. Lorentz Editor’s Note: In honor of Okemo’s upcoming 60th anniversary, this is…

Elizabeth Adams RUTLAND — On Tuesday, Jan. 19, Rutland Economic Development Corporation (REDC), the Small Business Development Center and the Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center moved to a collocation site at 67 Merchants Row in Rutland. The new REDC offices will join Castleton Downtown, which includes the Center for Entrepreneurship, Center for Community Engagement and…

By Steve Costello A female osprey, identified by the necklace of brown feathers across her chest, calls from her nest, on Lake Arrowhead. Seeking to recognize a leading Vermont environmentalist and honor the legacy of a legendary wildlife advocate, Green Mountain Power is calling for nominations for the 2016 GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award. Named for the…

The Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) has announced that the Innovations and Collaborations Grant program awarded $312,000 to 20 nonprofit organizations in Vermont in the fall of 2015. One of several competitive grant programs, Innovations and Collaborations supports projects that help nonprofits collaborate across sectors and regions to develop common solutions to community needs. “Year after…