By Brett Yates Two Chittenden residents want to organize a year-round, “nature-based” preschool for local families who’ve struggled to find full-time, affordable childcare in the area. Although the proposed Chittenden Forest School would offer most of its instruction outdoors — even in the winter — it would also need a facility for naptime and occasional…

By Curt Peterson This year’s Australian ballot and face-to-face floor vote at Hartland’s Town Meeting, March 7 will be fairly non-controversial. There are six uncontested officers – a town moderator, one selectperson, one lister, first constable and two library trustees. Select Board member Mary O’Brien is stepping down from the board mid-term, and two candidates…

By Curt Peterson  On March 7 Hartland voters will be asked to approve, via Australian ballot, the fiscal year town budget of $3,480,358 — $2,992,315 of which will be raised by taxes. This represents a 6.85% increase over the previous year’s budget. If a property owner is paying $2,000 in taxes, the proposed budget will…

Jamisyn Baker, 17, of Rutland was crowned Miss Vermont Collegiate America 2023 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2022.  Jamisyn will represent Vermont at the national Miss Collegiate America pageant in June.  Jamisyn is currently an active student at Rutland High School. She is a part of the Spanish National…

By Curt Peterson After public comments from four residents, three of whom were in favor of the reconfiguration of the Hartland Three Corners intersection, selectman Clyde Jenne moved to accept the $1,283,889.50 bid to complete the project at the Monday, Feb. 21 Select Board meeting.  Chair Phil Hobbie seconded the motion.  Hobbie and Jenne were…

By Victoria Gaither It was a dream come true when Als Allan, a certified professional dog trainer and owner at Mountainside Mutts in Rutland on Route 4 took over the Norman Rockwell Museum building a year ago. "This building had been on sale for over eight years. There were very few people with a commercial…

By Paul Holmes Two bald eagles take advantage of the warm weather and hunt for food on the open waters  of the Ottauquechee River on River road across from the Riverside Cemetery on Feb. 15.

The Killington Active Seniors celebrated the 90th birthday of Kathy Kirchner at its weekly luncheon held at the Lookout on Feb. 15. Kathy, although a new resident of Killington, was a season pass holder at Killington into her early 80s along with her late husband, Ted. Growing up in Connecticut, she became a teacher and…

By Karen D. Lorentz Icebergs, oceans and ski-racing suits might seem an odd couple, but the recent World Championships provided a graphic reminder that climate change is real by having U.S. competitors clad in a speed suit featuring large chunks of icebergs sailing in the ocean. The design was based on a satellite photograph of…

Staff report  The Brandon Select Board is looking for a new town manager since David Atherton resigned.  The Brandon Select Board posted the position, offering a salary between $80,000 and  $100,000 in early February.  The board also voted Jan. 30 to create a citizen advisory board of up to five people to help find a…

By Curt Peterson  The town of Hartland received two bids for completion of the controversial Three-Corners intersection reconfiguration project on Friday, Feb. 10. Both bidders were present when the bids were opened. The lower of the two bids, presented by Notts Excavating, Inc. of White River Junction, is $1,283,889.50, just about $35,000 more than the…

By Dave Gil de Rubio, Last Word Features Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m.—RUTLAND—With inflation ratcheting up and Ukrainians fighting for their homes and freedom in a war halfway around the world, it’s hard to look on the bright side of the road. But that’s where someone like guitar-playing singer-songwriter Keb’ Mo’ comes in.  On…

By Polly Mikula The second public hearing for Killington’s TIF bond was about half as well attended as the first hearing on Jan. 30, but drew many new attendees. About eight residents attended in person at the Public Safety building with 27 others attending via Zoom.  The hearing again began with an overview of Killington…

By Katy Savage Otter Valley Union High School in Brandon, Fair Haven High School and Christ the King in Rutland were among 21 Vermont schools that received hoax calls purporting to report shootings the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 8. Slate Valley Union Supervisory Union Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell said she was informed by a school resource…

Rutland city voters will consider a 1% sales option tax on Town Meeting Day, March 7. The option tax has been discussed by the Board of Aldermen several times in the past but this will be the first time it’s put before voters. The option tax was last considered in 2017 when David Allaire faced…