By Curt Peterson U. S. Senate candidate Peter Welch, who lives in Norwich, received a warm welcome from 20 Rutlanders who gathered to greet him at Phoenix Books Saturday afternoon. The appearance was part of his “Welch Wagon Tour,” visiting all 14 Vermont counties. He had appeared with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Congressional candidate Becca…

Three are seeking two positions as assistant judge for Windsor County. Incumbent Michael Ricci, a 69-year-old Independent, is against Democrats Alison Johannensen and former assistant judge David Singer of Hartland. The position is unique. Each of the state’s 14 counties has two assistant judges — a tradition that dates back to the 1700s. Assistant judges sit…

Two candidates are seeking election to the newly created Rutland 3 district serving Castelton. Democrat Mary Droege, 60, is running against Republican Jarrod Sammis, 32. Q&A with Mary Droege, Democrat Droege is a faculty member at Castleton University where she teaches in the natural sciences department and manages the biology labs and the university greenhouse.…

Republican Brian Collamore of Rutland Town is the only incumbent as Sens. Cheryl Hooker, a Democrat, and Joshua Terenzini, a Republican, aren’t seeking re-election. Collamore is running against fellow Republicans Dave Weeks of Proctor and Terry Williams of Poultney. The Republicans face Democrats Anna Tadio of Rutland City, Joshua Ferguson, of Fair Haven and Bridgettte…

Republican Cindy Laskevich, 58, is challenging Democrat incumbent Rep. Mary Howard for the Rut-6 House seat, Nov. 8. Incumbent Mary Howard, Democrat Howard has lived in Rutland County for more than 40 years. She was elected to office in 2016 after serving as state’s attorney for Rutland county. Attempts to reach Howard were unsuccessful. Q&A…

Republican incumbent Reps. Arthur Peterson and Tom Burditt are running against Democrats Dave Potter and Ken Fredette to represent Rutland District 2. The district is served by two legislators for the towns of Clarendon, West Rutland, Wallingford, Tinmouth and Proctor. Tom Burditt, Republican Burditt, who lives in West Rutland, assumed office in 2011. He owns…

By Curt Peterson Hartland planning commission members feel a local proposal is in conflict with the Hartland town plan. Last week, they drafted a proposed memorandum addressed to the Act 250 commission spelling out the details of their opposition. On Oct. 26 the board made it official, and unanimously approved the final draft for delivery…

On Oct. 21, a month after the International Day of Peace on Sept 21, Barstow Memorial School planted a Peace Pole and joined the International Peace Pole Project. The Peace Pole began last spring as part of a Vermont Community Foundation Spark Grant in Chittenden. Students in the Helping Hands Club had begun the pole…

By Katy Savage After a year of debate and multiple public hearings, the Woodstock Select Board unanimously passed an amendment on Tuesday, Oct. 25 to allow on-farm restaurants in rural residential areas. The amendment will go into effect after 21 days and will allow restaurants of up to 2,800 square feet to open on properties…

By Alan J. Keays/VTDigger WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A jury on Friday, Oct. 28 found a Ludlow man not guilty in the death of an infant more than four years ago. Tyler Pollender-Savery, 26, had been charged in December 2018 with second-degree murder in the death almost a year earlier of 11-month-old Karsen Rickert, the…

Signed development agreement paves way for town plan to meet target dates On Oct. 28, the town of Killington took the next critical step in the Killington Forward project by signing a development agreement with Toronto-based Great Gulf, a residential and commercial real estate developer. While negotiations were time-consuming, the town was able to submit…

Ludlow police officer Ryan Palmer is challenging incumbent Mike Chamberlain for Windsor County sheriff in the Nov. 8 election. Palmer, a 35-year-old Democrat from Windsor, won the primary election with a $30,000 campaign— using most of his own money. Palmer’s campaign has focused on ending policing for profit. Palmer has been critical of Chamberlain running…

By Katy Savage Six candidates seeking three Windsor County Senate discussed the housing crisis, worker shortage, child care, and reproductive liberty, among other issues, at a forum in Ludlow on Oct. 13. Incumbent Democrat Sens. Alison Clarkson of Woodstock and Dick McCormack of Bethel are running with fellow Democrat Becca White of Hartford. The Democrats…

By Julia Purdy The small farming community of Chittenden, lying between Mendon and Pittsford, was about as peaceful and out-of-the-way as one could want ... with one exception: the Eddys. And on everyone’s mind: were they for real? This is not a story about Mary Baker Eddy (her married name), a New Hampshire-born spiritualist healer…

Earlier this month, the health and function of North Breton Brook in Castleton was improved through the removal of the Pelletier Dam off East Hubbardton Road. The dam, along with 15,000 cubic yards of sediment, was removed from the stream bed, reconnecting the river to its natural path and flow. The Pelletier Dam was derelict,…