Alana Fichman
Local readers meet local writers
A recent successful talk this January launched the start of a project to incorporate more events into the Vernon Free Library's repertoire.
Library staff is committed to bringing in more local authors to meet the community in events that are free to the community.
Townspeople seek help to create and cultivate community
Vermont Council for Rural Development speaks about process of creating shared goals, spaces, and resources for far-flung towns in the state
Some of the 44 people who assembled in the combined auditorium/cafeteria at Vernon Elementary School were disappointed at the turnout, hoping more would come to hear about what the Vermont Council for Rural Development could do for the town. More people came to town meeting after VY closed, one...
Planning under way for repairs to historic Green River Covered Bridge
Project must take place over the summer after issues of funding and property ownership are addressed
The end of the road is still far away from inside the Green River Covered Bridge project. The 1830 bridge on Jacksonville Stage Road will receive an anticipated $550,000 of repairs this coming summer to update its load from 4 to 8 tons if several key pieces fall into...
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A little effort with big rewards
Lunchtime at school is not always the easiest place to be a kid. For some kids, lunchtime is the least of their worries. Especially when they have a special meeting planned. An example of such a pair is Betsy Gentile and Heidi Henry. This match, facilitated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Windham County, has been meeting since Heidi was in elementary school. Gentile, Heidi's “big,” as they say, would come from work and share a table in the classroom...
Town administrator settles in
Becky Stone is already busy in her new position as town administrator. She was hired in December amid preparations for grants, budget reviews, and the upcoming Annual Town Meeting. Once hired, she accepted immediately. Today, she remains unperturbed and is busy planning for a proposal for a Town Highway Structures Grant from the state Agency of Transportation, which will seek money to reinforce the Green River Bridge, whose load rating was reduced from 8 tons to 4 tons last fall.
Town comes together after a tragic 2014
A pair of homicides that occurred in town in quick succession last year have led to a gathering of community. On Aug. 21, 2014, Shane Brodeur, 26, shot and killed his partner, Katelyn McFadden, 20, and then himself. Exactly three months later, Town Lister Robin O'Neill fatally shot her ex-fiancée, Steve Lott, 60, and his 28-year-old son, Jamis Lott. She has pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. The devastation to this small town was met in part...
Two BUHS students honored in Sanders’ annual essay contest
Two Brattleboro Union High School students were named among the top 20 finalists from more than 400 Vermont youths in a State of the Union Essay Competition organized by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Ryan Taggard won second place in the contest, and Friedemann Schmidt, an exchange student from Leipzig, Germany, placed as one of 20 finalists. The annual competition, now in its fifth year, is an opportunity for high-school students across the state to identify the issues they find most...
Entergy, town agree to VY value
Entergy and the town have agreed to a property value of $250 million for the recently decommissioned Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant as of April 1. This figure represents a $30 million decrease from the past tax year, when the plant was still active. Selectboard Chair Patty O'Donnell believes the current agreement “was a very generous proposal,” and said that Entergy was easy to deal with. She acknowledged at the Jan. 19 Selectboard meeting that residents can expect taxes to...