By Kim Jackson POMFRET—On Thursday, Feb. 26, an open house and walk-through of the current Pomfret School campus will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Voters are being asked to vote at Town Meeting on March 3 on a proposal to create a joint district school between the communities of Bridgewater and Pomfret. If the…

New benchmark study outlines tourism trends and economic impact Visitors to Vermont are spending more than ever, according to a report released Feb. 11 by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing. The 2013 Benchmark Study of the economic impact of tourism says there were an estimated 12.8 million visitor trips to Vermont in 2013.…

By Stephen Seitz KILLINGTON—Just over one year ago, Jane Ramos officially took over as library director at the Sherburne Memorial Library, replacing Gail Weymouth, who had held the position for the 30 years prior. The year has been eventful, Ramos reflected, saying she would like the community to know that there is much, much more…

By Polly Lynn KILLINGTON—On Feb. 10, Tao Smith, head of Killington Mountain School, announced the final public phase of the Trails Initiative campaign in a letter to the KMS community and its supporters. Back in July 2013, KMS had announced its goal of improving the venues at Killington for local training programs while supporting a…

Following incidents of lost skiers at a number of Vermont ski areas in recent weeks, on Friday, Feb. 13, the Vermont State Police and Department of Public Safety issued a public reminder to skiers and riders about the dangers of skiing/riding out-of-bounds, especially during a period of extreme cold. With a recent three- to four-foot…

Currently there is a high risk for avalanche, search and rescuers and police reported Friday, Feb. 13. Vermont generally isn’t prone to avalanche, but open slopes over 30 degrees should be avoided, experts explained. Places like Smuggler’s Notch for ice climbers can be potentially problematic, or steep slopes at or above tree line. The recent…

By Polly Lynn KILLINGTON — Just a week and a half after Betty Hughes submitted her application to become a three-STAR accredited preschool, she received news that the school received the distinction. “I just got an email from the AOE [Agency of Education] that I did, in fact, reach my goal of earning recognition from…

By Karen D. Lorentz Last year, I happened to ride a chairlift with a man demoing skis that I had read about. But when I asked him how he liked them, he answered, “I guess they’re ok, but I really don’t know what to look for.” With a huge and constantly changing array of skis…

Learning science and engineering with Legos KILLINGTON—”How slow does your car go?” asked students in Amy Simonds’ sixth grade class at Killington Elementary School as they worked in teams to build and program Lego® cars that use gears to travel as slowly as possible. The culminating activity was a “snail race” competition to see which…

KILLINGTON—Killington Elementary School is participating in the Whole School Energy Challenge and during the upcoming February break, the last week of February, the school will embark on a “hibernation vacation.” This is when we will unplug and turn off all the electronics, such as smart-boards, computers, and projectors. KES will do this because after using…

By Gerrie Russell, Killington Arts Guild While the bitter cold temperatures persist outside, the Killington Arts Guild turns its attention to warmer thoughts with its new show “Spring Promise.” An opening reception for the new show was held on Friday, Feb. 13, at the gallery. Friends, family and visitors enjoyed refreshments and the work of…

CAVENDISH—The Cavendish Community and Conservation Association will hold an informational forum for Cavendish voters on Tuesday, Feb. 24, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the town offices on High Street. The discussion will address each ballot issue, including town and school proposed budgets. Other articles requiring a vote will be discussed, including Article 4 that asks…

KILLINGTON—The Town of Killington municipal employees will be recognized for their efforts in workplace wellness by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports and the Vermont Department of Health on March 25, in Burlington. The Town of Killington is one of 92 businesses that will receive an award for 2014. This is the fifth…

By Lani Duke Trout study hooks kids CASTLETON—Brook trout have moved into Castleton Village School, teaching students in grades six through eight about biology as the piscine swimmers hatch from eggs, eat, poop, and grow up before the students’ eyes. Trout Unlimited supplies eggs from the Vermont state hatchery in Roxbury; this year is the…

By Lani Duke RRA eyes Strongs Ave. improvements RUTLAND—Rutland Redevelopment Authority executive director Brennan Duffy hopes to bring beautification and safety improvements to Strongs Avenue, bringing it up to the standard for Downtown. He plans to urge the city’s Community and Economic Development Committee to apply for construction grant funds to be used for sidewalks…