In the fall of 2021, Vermont received $4 million through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to make existing housing and community-based service facilities provide mental health services more accessible, safe, compliant with the ADA, or expand their capacity to provide services.  Rutland Mental Health is one of 19 locations to receive funds allocated by…

Staff report Rutland town may revise its trespass policy after receiving a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Vermont. ACLU of Vermont Staff Attorney Hillary Rich sent the letter to the town on Feb. 8, explaining the ACLU examined public records from 2020 to 2022 and found Rutland Town police issued at…

By Katy Savage In the wake of an alleged threat at Woodstock Elementary School in which parents felt left in the dark, the School Board is tightening its policy around communication with parents.  The School Board policy committee met Feb. 13 and changed the language of its School Crisis Prevention and Response Policy to include…

Killington town has plans for a 250-300 unit development, if the TIF bond for a municipal water system passes (Article 5) By Polly Mikula In addition to safe drinking water, one of the most popular promises of a municipal water system in Killington is the possibility for a significant workforce housing development. Last Thursday, Feb.…

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…