Four local nonprofit organizations received $5,000 grants from Heritage Family Cares 4 You’s (HFCares4U). The 2023 recipients were Community Cupboard, Vermont Farmers' Food Center, Vermont Achievement Center and Northshire Day School.   People who donate at least $15 annually to HFCares4U become “Friends of the Foundation.” Friends have the opportunity to vote for the…

  Alpine Bike Works in Killington is now the first east coast retailer authorized to ship Giant bicycles direct to customers across the country.   The new program was announced in early April and allows select retailers who meet the stringent requirements set forth by Giant to ship Giant bicycles nationwide.  It comes at a…

  One evening last week, I received a phone call from one of our region’s most thoughtful volunteer fundraisers, a soft-spoken community leader I admire tremendously. After we discussed the purpose of her call — to secure hosts for an event to benefit a vital housing nonprofit — we proceeded to other topics. When she…

  By Curt Peterson About a dozen of Ed Finley’s neighbors and friends were gathered by their vehicles on a Clay Hill Road meadow in Hartland to witness release of a red-tailed hawk that had been rehabilitated at Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS). The event was a unique memorial dedicated to Finley, resident on…

  Mark Foote, 30, became the department's first full time paid firefighter (other than the chief),  as well as the head of the EMS program at the end of April. “My medical first response kind of career, if you will, started when I was 16 years old,” Foote said. “I’m not a native to Killington,…

  Glenn Burres, 58, was named Assistant Fire Chief, a 25 to 30-hour a week part-time position in the beginning of April. Burres moved to Killington about 16 years ago after retiring as the deputy chief of a fire department in Newburgh, New York. “I worked up from being a firefighter up to deputy chief…

  The new municipal dept. now employs three plus volunteers, seeks growth to ensure shorter response times By Polly Mikula KILLINGTON — Over the past three years, fire and rescue services in Killington have undergone some of the most radical changes in its history: In 2020, the new Public Safety Building was completed; in 2022,…

  Slate Quarry Park,  located at 76 Main Street in Poultney, has received a 2023 Vermont Public Places Honor Award  as one of Vermont’s exemplary public places.  Slate Quarry Park is a pocket park sited in a central location on Poultney’s Main Street. It was constructed in 2021-2022 and is built of varying hues of…

By Victoria Gaither When permanent cosmetic tattoo makeup artist Angelly Graves moved to West Rutland two years ago with her husband, Miguel Graves, she knew right away it was home. “I love this community; we tried Miami. I like some things about Miami, but I am calm, and it’s calm here,” said Graves.  Graves is…

By Victoria Gaither Two new attorneys, Kevin Gustafson and Justin Schoville,  have taken over the Killington Real Estate practice from attorney Marylou Scofield.  Gustafson and Schoville moved into the building on March 1 and took up office space on the first floor at 335 Killington Road in Killington.  In a phone interview, Schoville said, “We…

  FAIR HAVEN—On Friday morning, May 19, Vermont State Police (VSP) seized 25 firearms —which included rifles, handguns and a semi-automatic weapon — as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition, crack cocaine and fentanyl from a drug distribution organization in Fair Haven.  The Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, Field Force, and Tactical Services…

  By Kate O’Farrell and Patrick Crowley, VTDigger In a vote that led to multiple resignations, the Green Mountain Unified School District upheld the “Chieftains” name for its high school mascot during a meeting on Thursday night, May 18, in Chester. According to an emailed statement from board chair Deb Brown, the board voted 6-5 that the “Chieftains”…

By Katy Savage A Mendon was arrested May 21 after police said he struck a vehicle with an axe  and threatened to cut people's heads off at Gifford Woods State Park in Killington. Vermont State Police arrested Ralph Schneider, 61 over a dispute that allegedly started about headlights.  Police said Schneider was mad at three…

By Brooke Geery Not many people can say they’ve covered New York’s Central Park with snow, but Greg Hiltz can. A select few people can say they’ve pulled off making enough snow for a World Cup course in one night, and they’d probably have to thank Hiltz for it. In his 45-year career making snow…

By Katy Savage Pickleball enthusiast Dean Matt made a stop in Rutland on May 21 as he attempts to break a pickleball world record.  Matt, who calls himself The Pickleball Pilot, is playing pickleball in 48 states in 48 days to become the fastest person to play a game of pickleball in all 48 contiguous…