This Week’s News
Brandon Fire District seeks voter approval for new water tank
Back in 1878, Brandon hired an engineering firm from Pennsylvania to dig a trench, by hand, from Fern Lake to the village, at a cost of $40,000 (approximately $1.1m today).
Brandon firefighters continue their rescue training
More than forty firefighters and backcountry rescue volunteers met at the Rochester office of the U.S. Forest Service last Saturday.
Hard Tellin’: How to reinvigorate unpopular family holiday traditions
This Christmas will mark the 18th year that I have been forcing my kids to make homemade gifts for each other.
Names lost in Vermont, Part 14: Preedom and Rabtoy/Robeston
My recent research on the McGee family pulled me into the perplexing story of Angeline, wife of Lewis McGee of Chittenden, Vermont.
I worked for a crook (and lent money to another)
In the fall of 1945, I worked for a crook. I was a high-school junior that year (Middlebury High School, Class of ‘47) who was always looking to make some extra money.
Photos of the Week
Sports
Otter wrestling places first in 20th OV invitational
On the strength of second-place finishes in five weight classes, the Otter Valley Union High School wrestling team on Saturday took first place in its own tournament.
Proctor baseball going to Cooperstown
For the second time in the last decade, Proctor’s varsity baseball team will journey to Cooperstown, NY to play on the Championship field at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Otter girls’ basketball gains first win of season
The Otter Valley Union High School girls’ basketball team on Saturday broke through for its first win — at the expense of visiting Vergennes in overtime.
Three at the buzzer lifts Otter boys’ basketball over Eagles
About two seconds remained in the boys’ basketball game at Mount Abraham Friday evening when Otter Valley Union High School freshman guard Connor Denis launched a contested three-pointer from the arc’s right side.
OV Wrestling has terrific tourney at MUHS
A deep Otter Valley wrestling team walked away from last week’s 50th annual Hubie Wagner Invitational Tournament in Middlebury as the team champions.

