This Week’s News
Brandon Selectboard approves 13.4% budget increase despite pushback
t its regular meeting on Monday evening, the Brandon Selectboard approved a proposed FY25 budget of $3,796,180, representing an increase of 13.4% over the current year’s budget of $3,346,150.
Brandon voters agree to pursue land deal for tank
The Brandon Fire District #1 held its annual meeting at the Brandon American Legion on Monday evening.
Names Lost in Vermont, Part 15: Shortsleeve[s], Cole, Simes, Pistol, Bluebeach
Growing up in Fall River, Massachusetts, once a bastion of immigrants from Québec, as well as studying French since sixth grade, gives me an advantage in deciphering changed Vermont French-Canadian names.
Boy scout brings winter safety to Proctor trails
The star of this particular story is Mitchell Knowles. In February of 2022, while walking with his family on a trail in Burlington, he noticed an offering by a community group to help people explore the great outdoors during the winter months.
Legislative Report: Getting ready to advocate for Pittsford and Proctor
The start of the 2024 Legislative Session was gaveled in on Wednesday, January 3, without the usual fanfare of the beginning of a biennium.
Photos of the Week
Sports
Otter Valley wins on Senior Night
The Otter women welcomed the Wasps of Woodstock to Senior Night at the “House of Noise” on Friday, February 11 before a raucous crowd.
Otter Valley defeats Hartford, 36–34
The Otter Valley girls basketball team defeated the visiting Hartford Hurricanes, 36-34, on Friday, January 28 at the “House of Noise” in Brandon.
OV, Proctor, Westside winter sports teams kick-off the season
The COVD-shortened winter of the 2020-21 high school sports season is behind us, and the teams at Otter Valley are happy about that. The pandemic forced the school’s basketball programs, like those elsewhere, to play abbreviated seasons, and wrestling was sidelined for the entire season.
OV girl’s basketball drops opener
In a hard-fought season opening game in which the teams traded game-changing runs, the host Middlebury Union girls’ basketball team put together the decisive surge to outlast Otter Valley, 35-28.
Six Otters named to Second Team All-Stars
After a successful season this fall, 10 members of the Otter Valley football team received postseason recognition from the Division III coaches.

