This Week’s News
Brandon budget and all articles pass; Tim Guiles re-elected to selectboard in town’s only contested race
In Brandon’s one contested race during Town Meeting Day voting, incumbent Selectman Timothy Guiles won re-election to a three-year term over first-time challenger Marielle Blais in a fairly tight race, 466-396.
Town Meeting previews
Town Meeting Day is next week. Click here to see a preview for your town.
Bald Eagle removed from endangered list; but bumblebee, and others, are added
Seven species and three critical habitats received updated conservation designations on Vermont’s Endangered and Threatened Species List, including the highly anticipated de-listing of the bald eagle after over a decade of restoration efforts.
Schools with 80% vaccination rate can remove masks Feb. 28
Masking in schools — among the last remaining Covid mitigation measures in place for students — will soon be optional for schools with a student vaccination rate of over 80%, Governor Phil Scott announced at his regular press conference Tuesday, Feb. 15.
Zion Growers pursues Marble building
In addition to planning for the annual Town Meeting, Feb. 28-March 1, the Proctor selectboard heard an update on plans to revitalize the former Marble Museum complex at 52 Main Street by Zion Growers, which would operate an industrial hemp processing facility.
Photos of the Week
Sports
Field hockey love
A couple of weeks ago, an out-of-town sports team came to Brandon to donate a day of free labor. Brandon’s economic development and recreation director Bill Moore welcomed the help and put the Castleton University field hockey team to work moving a big pile of woodchips at the Seminary Hill Park playground and painting picnic tables at Estabrook Park.
Cosmos, Otters embody sportsmanship
This past Saturday, the Otter Valley field hockey team met visiting Springfield in which both teams came out as winners by seeing close-up what good sportsmanship means.
OV wins State Championship!
The Otter Valley boys’ golf team dominated the field at the Manchester Country Club on Thursday, Oct. 10 to win the Division II championship by a 22-stroke margin.
Eagles pull away to topple OV in high scoring battle, 44-20
The Mount Abraham-Vergennes cooperative football team converted seven Otter Valley turnovers into 30 points on Saturday as the Division II Eagles won for the time this season, 44-20, at the visiting Otters’ expense.
OV field hockey starts fast, blanks host Tigers 5-0
When the Middlebury and Otter Valley union high school field hockey teams met in the 2020 Division II playoffs the Otters prevailed in double overtime.