A year after Act 76, childcare offerings surge

A recent, massive infusion of new money into Vermont’s childcare system through a new law has helped create 1,000 new slots statewide and spurred a renaissance in the industry here in Addison County, which had sustained major losses in childcare offerings during the COVID pandemic.

Voters throughout Addison County — and particularly those residing in the Bristol area — will have extra incentive to show up at their respective polling places on Primary Election Day, this coming Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Dr. Bruce Hamory has given plenty of dire prognoses to patients during a half century of toiling in the healthcare trenches. On Tuesday evening, his grim forecast was not for an individual, but for an entire healthcare system — Vermont’s healthcare system … (read more)

One of Middlebury Town Manager Kathleen Ramsay’s biggest attributes, recalled former selectboard Chair John Tenny, was being able to “manage the storm, without being caught in the center of it.”

When a truck hauling gas caught fire on Route 7 last year, the Ferrisburgh fire chief thought it was a once in a career event. Then it happened again this week — and many firefighters turned out to help douse the blaze.

The number of bears in Vermont is higher than it’s been in 200 years. More and more Addison County residents are spotting the ursine visitors on their properties.

Local advocates and outreach workers shared their thoughts on the current status of the houseless community and how it has reacted to the recent suicide of one of its own.

Hunger in Addison County is reaching historic proportions, according to Jeanne Montross, longtime leader of the Middlebury nonprofit known as Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects, or HOPE.

Diana Herasim’s young life has surged like a comet, blazing a path from the rubble-strewn cities of war-torn Ukraine to the sprawling green farmland of a sedate Champlain Valley.

Local youth will have more opportunities to access free meals this summer, after several factors reduced the number of places kids could eat for free once school let out for summer vacation last year. 

District that serves Orwell students needed to pass spending plan before July 1 or else borrowing limit would be imposed.

At age 97, Joyce Egginton is finally able to relax after decades of writing on deadline for myriad newspapers and book publishers. On this sunny day in Middlebury, she generously welcomed a fellow scribe to her well-appointed apartment at the Residence at … (read more)

Parents and community members within the Mount Abraham Unified School District have in recent weeks taken to school board meetings to voice concerns and questions to district officials. 

Longtime lawyer Herb Olson spent a very memorable 15 years of his career (1987-2003) as a member of the Vermont Legislative Counsel, helping state lawmakers draft bills targeting healthcare, economic development, taxation and other weighty policy issues.

Local lawmakers on Monday listed a series of initiatives they believe will define the 2024 legislative session — including plans to address the state’s housing crisis and make Vermont better prepared to deal with major storm events — though they said it r … (read more)