By Curt Peterson Maybe it was the recent significant snowfall and cold temperatures — whatever the reason, a half dozen Hartland residents tuned into Zoom Monday evening, Feb. 10, for a discussion/review of the articles that will be on this year’s Town Meeting ballot. The in-person crowd at Damon Hall was only slightly larger. Town…

By James Kent Doris Reed is no ordinary skier. At 89 years old, she proves age is but a formality. You’ll find her resilience, determination, and passion on the slopes of Pico and Killington most days of the week. Reed’s story is more than skiing; it’s about living life to the fullest every year, every…

Killington Mountain School senior Rocco Jones has been awarded the Western Golf Association’s Chick Evans Scholarship, a full, four-year housing and tuition scholarship for golf caddies. The Evans Scholarship, the nation’s largest privately funded scholarship program, is valued at approximately $125,000 over four years. Jones, a Chittenden resident, was among four caddies from Sankaty Head…

Joseph M. Davis, 38, of W. Rutland, passed away on Jan. 17. He is survived by his wife, Jessica Morse-Davis; mother, Debra Davis; sister, Christine Messer and husband, Chris, along with their children, Allison, Hannah, and Zachary, as well as his extended family and friends.  Joe enjoyed fishing, playing the guitar, and online gaming. He…

By Ekaterina Raikhovski Editor’s note: This story is via a partnership with Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship Christian Poupart grew up in Contrecoeur, Quebec, a small city where “there’s more people on the ice during the winter than in the village.” But even people like Poupart, who’s been ice fishing his…

Rudolph “Rudi” Michael passed away on Jan. 20. A free and uninhibited spirit, Rudi was a jester and mentor to a large circle of close and devoted friends, young and old, who join in remembering him for his generosity and his rascally humor. Rudi was born July 1, 1938, in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, the second…

Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) installed the first Mamava Lactation Pod in Rutland County on Jan. 27, offering a private and accessible space for nursing parents. The state-of-the-art pod is located on the main level near the Allen Street entrance and accessible via the Mamava app. The initiative began in September 2024 when a new…

By Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger Seeking an epic story? The Rutland Free Library can offer Homer’s “The Odyssey,” a sprawling saga of angry gods and mythical monsters. Or J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” a page-turner rife with man-eating trolls and boulder-throwing giants. Or J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, a seven-part crusade against an evil wizard and a deadly curse.…

By Curt Peterson On Saturday, Jan. 11, six Killington Search and Rescue (KSAR) volunteers found a lost hiker deep in the snowy forest. It may have been the luckiest and unluckiest day of his life. According to Killington Police Chief Whit Montgomery, the call citing a lost hiker needing rescue came from the Vermont State…

By Polly Mikula Vermont lawmakers have introduced a bill to ban cell phones and other electronic devices in public and independent schools from the start of the school day until dismissal — often called bell-to-bell — and prohibits schools from using social media to communicate with students. The bill, H.54, is intended to reduce the burden on…

By Victoria Gaither Okemo’s Women’s First Fridays series is off to a great start, connecting female skiers and riders. The series kicked off Dec. 6 at Okemo’s Jackson Gore and has since gained popularity among women searching for something different on the slopes. Fran Madson from Ludow attended the first Dec. 6 event and said,…

By Karen D. Lorentz What started out as a fun winter sport on a school trip and a hobby — perhaps inspired by his artistic mother — led to a new vocation and lifestyle for Jerry LeBlond. Born in 1946 and raised in Biddeford, Maine, a coastal French speaking community, until the  6th grade when…

By Staff Report After an injury cut her 2024 season short, Killington native Taylor Dobyns is back on the Freeride World Tour (FWT), ready to reclaim her place among the world’s best freeride skiers. Dobyns, who qualified for the prestigious FWT Pro Circuit last year, received a season wildcard for 2025 and has already made…

Judy O. Findeisen, a longtime Killington resident and avid skier, passed away on Jan. 22 at the age of 92. Born Oct.13, 1932, in Newport, Rhode Island, Judy was the oldest of Dorothy and Arnold Openshaw’s three children. She grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, swimming, horseback riding, and skiing. While attending St. Lawrence University, she…

Robert L. Reilly (“Riles),” 80, of Manahawkin, formerly of Long Beach Island and Belmar, died Wednesday, Jan. 1. Bob was born in South Amboy, New Jersey, and moved to Belmar as a child. He graduated from St. Rose Grammar and High Schools, both in Belmar. He attended Mt. Hood College in Oregon, where he achieved…