By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org A bill that would prohibit Vermont public school teachers from striking passed the House Education Committee on an 8-3 vote Tuesday, March 17. Under the bill, teachers cannot strike and school boards cannot impose contracts. The bill, introduced by Rep. Kurt Wright, R-Burlington, originally required mandatory binding arbitration in contract…

By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org Wardsboro Elementary School children want a turnip to be the state vegetable—the Gilfeather turnip, grown in and around Wardsboro. On Tuesday, a dozen students told the House Committee on Forest and Agriculture Products to consider designating their hometown’s prized root as Vermont’s state vegetable. The students were informed by Rep.…

By Richard Podlesney Killington artist Peter Gould works on murals in the children’s room at the Sherburne Memorial Library on River Road. The work has been commissioned by the Town of Killington and Friends of the Library. The colorful murals depict toys and stuffed animals on shelves and beautiful Vermont landscapes complete with rolling hills,…

By Lee J. Kahrs BRANDON — Former Brandon Town Manager Robin Bennett has resigned, reaching a $12,578 settlement in principle with the town that officially closes the book on her 18-month tenure. The deal was announced following a brief executive session of the Brandon Select Board on Monday morning, March 23, at the Brandon Town…

First time city has received a report with no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies RUTLAND — The City of Rutland has earned its fourth unqualified audit opinion with the completion of the FY 2014 audit.  City Treasurer Wendy Wilton presented the audited financial statements to the Board of Aldermen on Monday, March 16, at the Board’s…

By Robin Alberti Also held March 15, the Vermont Specialty Food Days took over Bear Mountain, drawing a large crowd. KILLINGTON — Spring at Killington means soft snow, abundant sunshine, live music and surprising events both on and off the snow. The Nor’Beaster spring celebration kicked off this past weekend, March 14 and 15 with the…

By Robin Alberti Get last laps in on the terrain park at Bear Mountain at Hibernation park jam on March 28, before the metal goes back into the shop after a great season. Saturday, March 28 — KILLINGTON — Send Bear Mountain parks out in style! Another great season with Killington Parks is once again coming to…

Photo by Bruce Pike Lynn Dyer Pratt uses watercolor paint to create realistic, yet contemporary, works of art. By Gerrie Russell KILLINGTON — The annual meeting of the Killington Arts Guild was held on Sunday, March 22 at the gallery above Base Camp Outfitters. A special guest for the afternoon was Lynn Dyer Pratt, a signature…

By Rutland Regional Medical Center Olivia Lyons, a senior at Rutland High School presents a check to Sarah Bache and Amy Walters of the Women and Children’s Unit at RRMC. RUTLAND – Rutland High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society presented a check for over $500 to the Women and Children’s Unit at Rutland…

RUTLAND — Maple Leaf Treatment Center has recently completed a two year long effort to restructure and strengthen programming to address and meet the changing needs of people struggling with addiction, announced William Young, the executive director of the newly re-named Maple Leaf Treatment Center, March 19. Last year 142 people from Rutland County were treated…

RUTLAND—Trees beautify our surroundings, help save energy, nurture wildlife and protect our waterways. For over 15 years the Rutland Natural Resources Conservation District has offered its annual spring sale of tree seedlings, berry bushes and other plants. All stock is bare-root and is available at a very reasonable cost. The Rutland Conservation District has sold…

KILLINGTON — On March 21 at approximately 1:04 p.m., the Vermont State Police-Rutland Barracks received an Emergency 911 call from Michael Ferragamo, age 30 from Saugus, Mass. Ferragamo advised, he was snowboarding on the Ridge Run Trail at Killington Ski Resort and became lost after going off the trail, out of bounds. With the assistance of the…

By Lani Duke Pawlet revises town plan, asks for citzen input PAWLET—The Pawlet Planning Commission is asking town residents for input as it works to revise the Town Plan, using data gathered by a townwide survey that is available online. Questions include respondents' years in Pawlet, age, use of social and other media, and a…

Courtesy of KES KES students think like engineers, using creativity for problem solving skills. Third-graders visualize fractions Third-graders are using pattern blocks, paper rectangles, pizza circles and drawings to help them develop visual images of how fractions or combinations of fractions can equal a whole. Using these tools, third-graders come to understand that two halves,…

By Lani Duke Spring is just around the corner in area community gardens CLARENDON—Clarendon Congregational Church at 279 Middle Road has begun to plan its community garden's 2015 planting season, which will begin May 23. Registration/liability release forms are due May 7. Although plots are free, the church asks registrants for a $25 deposit with…